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0c1c399067c5647d1224ad655285d6d91b12c615 | By . Lucy Waterlow . PUBLISHED: . 09:54 EST, 25 September 2013 . | . UPDATED: . 10:00 EST, 25 September 2013 . It's another three months till Christmas but if you want to deck the halls in truly ostentatious style, you better start saving now. For only those with the very deepest of pockets will be able to afford a very bling Christmas tree that was unveiled in Japan today. The Takashimaya department store in Tokyo displayed a £1 billion yen (£6m) festive tree. Deck the halls with gold: A sales clerk at Japan's Tokashimaya department store displays the £6m Christmas tree . How expensive are your branches: The tree is covered in ornaments made from the precious metal . Valuable: A security guard stands next to the gold tree . It has gold branches which have been adorned with cups, pots and candle stands, also made from the precious metal, and topped with a gold star. To add some festive colour, it was also decorated with red baubles, bows and flowers. The Christmas tree is on display as part of the gold products exhibition in Tokyo that is taking place this week. Midas touch: These lions and dragon statues are made from gold . Worth their weight in gold: The lion is 40kg and the dragon 1.8kg . A security guard stood watch beside the exhibit to ensure nobody tried to help themselves to an early Christmas present by taking one of the expensive decorations. But the Christmas tree wasn't the only exhibit on show worth millions. A pair of gold Chinese lions weighing 80kg were on show that are also worth £6m. Meanwhile, there was also a 1.8kg pure gold dragon that costs 27.5 million yen (£171,000). | Expensive tree on display at Takashimaya department store in Tokyo .
Covered in gold decorations .
Part of a gold exhibition in the city . |
0c1e3aef590236c44b08e462222eceeffbae89ed | (CNN) -- As Republican presidential candidates move closer to the key tests for their party's nomination, the highly charged topic of Israel and its conflict with Palestinians has come up with increasing frequency in speeches and debates. Most recently, Newt Gingrich sent a jolt through the discussion with his description of Palestinians as "an invented" people. His rivals, without disagreeing, accused Gingrich of speaking irresponsibly and potentially hurting Israel. Most people in the U.S. and around the world interpret the campaign pledges of love and support for Israel as an effort to win the Jewish vote. But the Jewish vote has little to do with it. The Republican candidates' passionate vows to support Israel have two objectives. First, they aim to capture the pro-Israel vote in a country where the vast majority of people side strongly with Israel and in a party where the most reliable primary voters, conservative Republicans and evangelical Christians, express intense feelings on the subject. Second, they seek to make President Barack Obama look weak on foreign policy with an issue people care about and where the GOP thinks it might score some points. There are many things you can say about how Obama handled the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. The one thing you cannot say is that it succeeded. His early missteps managed to make Israelis and Palestinians feel betrayed by Washington. The very public pressure Obama exerted on Israel, has, according to some polls hurt his standing among Jews and among Israelis. But the president's change in tone later helped him with both groups. Most Israelis now say they view him favorably. Among American Jews, Obama's approval may have sunk significantly to the low 50s, but that is still considerably higher than the approval he enjoys nationwide. Despite the views of serious analysts and the calculations of conspiracy theorists, Jewish voters are hardly the point. The numbers confirm that a Republican fight for the Jewish vote would mostly amount to wasted energy. The number of Jewish-American voters barely registers when compared with the size of the pro-Israel vote. Barely 2% of American voters are Jewish compared with more than 60% who consider themselves pro-Israel. Worse for Republicans, a large and consistent majority of Jews vote Democratic. Obama won the Jewish vote by an incredible 78% in the last election. Most American Jews have voted for Democratic presidents for decades. Even if half of them voted for a Republican this year, the prize during the primary is hardly worth the effort. The pro-Israel vote is another matter. Americans support Israel so strongly that for every Jew in the U.S., there are at least 30 non-Jews who say they side with the Jewish state. Support for Israel is at near-record highs, making a pro-Israel position a winning formula for Republicans and Democrats. It's not just Republicans candidates who proclaim their commitment to Israel. Despite his strained relationship with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, Obama frequently asserts support. He expressed that sentiment in June at a Democratic National Committee event, saying that "Israel's security will always be at the top tier of considerations ... because it's the right thing to do, because Israel is our closest ally and friend ... it shares our values and it shares our principles." Those are words pro-Israel voters, Jewish or not, want to hear. If Republican candidates were trying to help Israel rather than chasing votes, they might stop using it as a political issue. The most damaging change they can bring to the Jewish state's security is to turn support for Israel into a partisan matter. Until now, it is one of the few issues on which bitterly divided Republicans and Democrats usually agree. In fact, Gingrich's recent comments about Palestinians would not make him a lot of friends among Israelis. His incendiary remark -- that Palestine was never a state and Palestinians identified themselves as Arabs until recently -- does nothing to advance the cause of peace. However long Palestinians have seen themselves as a "people," they now share a common history and view themselves as one. The obvious response to Gingrich's rhetorical Molotov cocktail is, so what? Gingrich seemed to imply Palestinians do not deserve a state. But the best conceivable way to end the Israeli-Palestinian conflict is creating two states. That's why a majority of Israelis support the two-state solution. But for now, Republican candidates are worried about rounding up primary votes. One way to do that is by appealing to those with the most intense feelings and the greatest anxiety about Israel's security. More than 60% of conservative Republicans and evangelical Christians, according to a recent poll by the Pew Research Center, consider it "a very important goal" to protect Israel. For evangelicals, in particular, the issue could decide their voting choice. That's why Michelle Bachmann, for example, has spoken in almost mystical terms, saying "as a nation we have been blessed because of our relationship with Israel." Mitt Romney says his first trip as president will be to Israel. All candidates -- except Ron Paul, who wants to cut all foreign aid -- make support for Israel a cornerstone of their foreign policy. Once the Republicans choose their candidate and the race becomes a two-person contest, both sides will try to show they are the most committed to maintaining the strongest of ties and the greatest commitment to Israel's security. It will be a quest for the backing of Jewish voters, but more importantly, an effort to entice the much larger pool of Americans who consider themselves supporters of Israel. | Frida Ghitis says GOP candidates avow support for Israel more and more frequently .
She says they are not courting small Jewish vote as much as large pro-Israel vote .
She says if candidates really want to help Israel, they should back off inflammatory remarks .
Ghitis: Most Israelis back two-state solution; Gingrich's Palestinian comment hurts . |
0c1f68addb885fafdd6f068ec673acaea22c2523 | By . Kerry Mcdermott . PUBLISHED: . 06:12 EST, 11 March 2013 . | . UPDATED: . 13:41 EST, 11 March 2013 . A couple who routinely drugged their toddler daughter so they could 'catch up on their sleep' have been given suspended prison sentences. The drug addict mother, 41, and father, 40, regularly gave their two-year-old daughter the liquid paracetamol Medised - intended for children more than twice her age - for a year and a half so she was less likely to wake in the night and disturb their sleep, a court heard. Gloucester Crown Court was told the little girl also sometimes had the sedative Diazepam - used to treat severe anxiety and agitation. The parents admitted cruelty after drugging their toddler with Medised so they could catch up on their sleep . The girl had to be fed through a . nasal tube when she was born due to problems caused by her mother's use . of Diazepam and the heroin substitute methadone while she was pregnant, . the court heard. Instead . of weaning their daughter off the tube, the couple, from Nailsworth in . Gloucestershire, continued to use it routinely because it was easier for . them, prosecutor Kannan Siva said. They . went on to give her Medised on a nightly basis between the ages of two . and a three and a half so they could sleep, he added. The . little girl was taken into the care of an aunt in June 2011 after her . 'plainly selfish' parents, who met in rehab, told a social worker what . they had been doing. Judge . Jamie Tabor QC criticised the couple for their 'remarkably stupid' actions, and told them he would have jailed them were it not for the . fact it would deprive their daughter of weekly supervised visits from . her parents. The parents, whose identities cannot be revealed, walked free from court after being handed suspended sentences . Their offences were not malicious but . they were quite plainly selfish to spare themselves the tribulations of . parenthood, the judge said. 'Every . parent of a young child will have undergone sleepless nights because the . child is unsettled for one reason or another. You chose to adminster . Medised, which was not intended for a child that age, and you chose to . keep very quiet about it,' he said. 'I . see before me a wholly inadequate man who was rather struggling with . this child and a mother who was more concerned with herself than her . child,' the judge added. Both parents admitted being cruel to . their daughter between September 2009 and June 2011 by routinely . administering Medised - a liquid medicine typically prescribed to . children between the ages of six and 12 to relieve cold and flu . symptoms, fevers or headaches. Her mother admitted a similar charge . involving her daughter taking Diazepam, but denied that she had given it . to her daughter deliberately. 'Plainly selfish': The mother, 41, and father, 40, were given suspended sentences at Gloucester Crown Court . The couple's denial of a charge of administering methadone to their daughter was accepted by the prosecution. They had faced another charge of cruelty by using a feeding tube on the child, which was not proceeded with. Judge Jamie Tabor QC . The . woman was sentenced to 18 months suspended for a period of two years, . while the man was given a 12 month sentence suspended for the same . period. Both were placed under a curfew between the hours of 8pm and 6am for a period of six months. The . court heard the couple's daughter was eating normally within a month of . being taken into care and had grown into a 'bright little button'. Her parents have supervised access to their daughter at weekends. It might send the little girl 'off the rails' if she were to be deprived of the visits, the judge said. Her . aunt said in a recent statement: 'She is a much loved, beautiful and . bright little girl, surrounded by the people who love her deeply, . especially her mum and dad.' Giles Nelson, representing the girl's mother, said the couple met when they were both in rehab in 2001. 'I am afraid they went badly wrong as parents,' he said. Martin Steen, representing her father, said: 'He thought that by giving Medised he was relieving her [his daughter] and relieving himself. He now recognises he was wrong and is ashamed. He loves his daughter dearly.' Judge Tabor told the couple that with their own drug addiction histories they should have known better and what they had done was 'most remarkably stupid'. He said the mother had show no real effort to address her own addictions and was still taking the highest prescription of methadone he had ever seen. | Little girl was routinely given Medised at night from the age of two .
Toddler also took the sedative Diazepam, Gloucester Crown Court told .
'Plainly selfish' mother and father given suspended sentences . |
0c1f79d6c05ad45f689da04341748821f028d349 | By . Eleanor Harding . PUBLISHED: . 18:06 EST, 12 June 2013 . | . UPDATED: . 13:37 EST, 13 June 2013 . Author Zadie Smith said it was 'absurd' to suggest motherhood is a threat to creativity . It was once claimed that a pram in the hall is the enemy of good art. But Zadie Smith has launched an impassioned defence of writers with children – pointing out that Charles Dickens had ten. The White Teeth author, who has juggled her career with raising two children, entered an online debate over the late writer Cyril Connolly, who declared: ‘There is no more sombre enemy of good art than the pram in the hall.’ Miss Smith, 37, replied: ‘I have two children. Dickens had ten.’ Referring also to Tolstoy, who had fourteen children, she asked: ‘Did anyone worry that those men were becoming too father-ish to be writer-esque? The idea that motherhood is inherently somehow a threat to creativity is just absurd.’ Miss Smith, a Cambridge graduate, has two young children with her husband, poet Nick Laird. She urged the Government to help working mothers by addressing the high cost of childcare. ‘What IS a threat to all women’s freedoms is the issue of time, which is the same problem whether you are a writer, factory worker or nurse,’ she said. ‘We need decent public day-care services, partners who do their share, affordable childcare and a supportive community of friends and family.’ She added that having children had helped her creatively. ‘Two kids entertaining each other in one room gives their mother in another room a surprising amount of free time she would not have otherwise,’ she said. Defiant: Miss Smith argued the Government should do more to try and help working mothers with the high cost of childcare . Her intervention came after US author Lauren Sandler suggested that female authors should limit themselves to one child. Sandler, who is promoting her book on the subject, cited Susan Sontag and Joan Didion as her examples of successful writers who stuck to having one child. But it wasn’t long before other women writers took up arms, including Pulitzer Prize-winning Jane Smiley. Smiley wrote: ‘I have three children of my own and two stepchildren. ‘The key is not having one child, it is living in a place where there is excellent daycare and a social world that allows fathers to have the time and the motivation to fully share in raising kids.’ Adding her own comments, Miss Smith went on to name Marilynne Robinson and Toni Morrison as writers who have visited the labour ward more than once. Smith won the Orange Prize for Fiction in 2006 and her novel White Teeth was included in Time magazine’s TIME 100 Best English-language Novels from 1923 to 2005 list. In April, she was selected as one of Britain’s best young novelists by Granta, the literary magazine. | Author said the idea that motherhood is a threat to creativity is 'absurd'
'I have two children. Dickens had ten,' she replied .
Urged Government to help working mothers by addressing cost of childcare . |
0c1fc294580c4f655a01aa241561521d25193715 | Schools found ‘indoctrinating pupils about gay people’ will face being closed down under new rules designed to promote ‘British values’, the Government confirmed today. The Department for Education insisted it was ‘nonsense’ to suggest teachers would have to give lessons on gay rights. But a spokesman insisted Ofsted, which has introduced the new rules the wake of the Islamist Trojan Horse plot to radicalise pupils in Birmingham, was right to ensure schools were not breeding grounds for homophobia. Education Secretary Nicky Morgan said any schools found 'indoctrinating' children against homosexuality faced being closed down . A spokesman said: ‘Ofsted are rightly ensuring that schools do not indoctrinate pupils about gay people - or any other people - being inferior. ‘The same goes for schools that do things like make girls sit separately at the back of the class. Both are practices which go directly against the fundamental British values of tolerance and respect. ‘We believe schools should prepare all pupils for life in modern Britain. A broad and balanced curriculum is vital for this.’ But the spokesman said it was 'nonsense' to say children would be taught gay rights. Labour's shadow education secretary Tristram Hunt said Mrs Morgan 'clearly does not believe that LGBT rights are British values'. He said: ‘Compulsory sex and relationship education, including LGBT rights, in all schools is common sense, not nonsense. ‘Nicky Morgan should apologise for the offence that has been caused by claiming that it is nonsense for all schools to teach gay rights.’ It came after the Education Secretary Nicky Morgan – who said last week that she had changed her mind about gay marriage after voting against its introduction – warned schools not to ‘close minds’. She told the Sunday Times that schools must teach ‘pupils to respect other people even if they do not agree with them’. Ofsted chief Sir Michael Wilshaw will mark down any schools which do not 'actively promote' British values . Mrs Morgan said: ‘I should have thought this is a principle with which the vast majority of people would agree. All schools of whatever type have a duty to protect young people and to ensure they leave school fully prepared for life in modern Britain. ‘These values — democracy, the rule of law, individual liberty, and mutual respect and tolerance of those with different faiths and beliefs — are not new. The requirement to “actively promote” them is designed to reinforce the importance this government attaches to these values.’ Schools have been warned that those that fail to follow new rules on British values will be judged inadequate and could face closure by Ofsted inspectors. The move follows snap inspections by Ofsted at 40 schools, including those for Christian and Jewish pupils. They were launched in the wake of the Trojan Horse affair in Birmingham as part of the government’s efforts to combat extremism. Mrs Morgan is backing Ofsted chief Sir Michael Wilshaw who will say that any school suspected of not teaching a broad and balanced curriculum, of rapidly falling standards or of not preparing children for life in modern Britain will face no-notice inspections. For the first time the rules give inspectors the powers to downgrade schools where teachers are breaching the Equality Act, which encourages respect for lesbian, gay and transgender people as well as those of other religions and races. | Ofsted to check schools 'actively promote' British values to children .
Education department insists schools will not have to teach gay rights .
But spokesman confirms pupils must be taught gay people are not 'inferior' |
0c209bb1105f556605a7fd36598df62a6d41fb7b | WASHINGTON (CNN) -- Kansas Gov. Kathleen Sebelius will deliver the Democratic response to President Bush's final State of the Union address - a marquee assignment for a woman who leads a state with fewer than 2 million voters. Kansas Gov. Kathleen Sebelius speaks at a news conference in June 2007 in Washington. Sebelius became the 44th governor of the state of Kansas in 2003. She made her first run for governor on a pledge to make the state more business-friendly and increase government efficiency. The Kansas governor has a political pedigree: Her father, John Gilligan, was a Democratic governor of Ohio in the '70s. But the governor has paid her political dues, with stints as a Kansas state representative and state insurance commissioner. Since she moved into the governor's mansion, Newsweek has identified Sebelius as "one to watch." Time named her one of four "rising stars from the heartland," and short-listed her as one of the nation's five best governors. "Mark my words, Sebelius will be on everyone's VP short list in 2008," Democratic blogger Markos Moulitsas said on his Daily Kos Web site, as he applauded her 2006 success in wooing disaffected Kansas Republicans. Most of the national political figures to come out of Kansas have been Republicans, like President Dwight Eisenhower and former Sen. Bob Dole. But entering her sixth year as governor, Sebelius seems to be everyone's favorite pick to join that select group. The down-to-earth governor has certified red state appeal with a blue state edge: She loves NASCAR and college sports, running and the Rolling Stones. And the 58-year-old has an offbeat sense of humor. (Sometimes, perhaps, a bit too offbeat for some voters -- like the time she said during an election-year debate that Missouri roads scared her more than the World Trade Center attacks.) But the big draw for national Democrats is her skill at appealing to moderate GOP voters -- the only way a Democrat can win major office in Kansas. Sebelius has won two gubernatorial elections in a state with roughly twice as many registered Republicans as Democrats. Bush carried the state by at least 20 points in each of his presidential runs and no Democratic presidential contender has won there since Lyndon Johnson in 1964. When Sebelius was elected governor, Kansas faced a judicial order to increase school spending in the midst of its worst budget crisis since the 1930s. Under Sebelius' leadership, the Kansas economy has rebounded, resulting in low unemployment and the creation of thousands of jobs, according to a Kansas government Web site. Her first term was considered so successful that during her re-election run, a few Republicans tried to use it against her -- predicting she'd probably be tapped for a White House run before she finished a second term. So far, Sebelius has downplayed the scenario. But she has begun to have an impact beyond the Midwest. During her first term, she visited National Guard troops in Iraq. Last year, she took on a high-profile national assignment, serving as chairwoman of the Democratic Governors Association. If Sen. Hillary Clinton fails to capture the presidential nomination this year, many Democrats say Sebelius will remain high on any vice presidential short list. Democrats close to the campaign of Sen. Barack Obama told CNN Sebelius will announce after tonight's State of the Union speech that she's endorsing Obama. E-mail to a friend . | Kathleen Sebelius to deliver the Dems response to State of the Union .
Time Magazine short-listed her as one of the nation's five best governors .
Sebelius governs state with twice as many registered Republicans as Democrats . |
0c22e273f719f65a8db62a01fb2c8006d0bf8c7f | By . Martha De Lacey . Normally the drama happens on the stage, not in the wings. Not so in Covent Garden, where opera director Laurent Pelly has swapped the leading lady in his production of Giacomo Meyerbeer's epic opera Robert le diable just three days before opening night. American singer Jennifer Rowley has been dismissed in favour of Italian soprano Patrizia Ciofi, who flew in to London from Paris only yesterday to take over the role of Princess Isabelle. Jennifer Rowley has been replaced by Italian soprano Patrizia Ciofi in the Royal Opera House production of Giacomo Meyerbeer's epic opera Robert le diable . The decision was made during the final rehearsals, and an official ROH statement explained it was based on a 'mutual' belief that the role of Isabelle would 'not be right' for Rowley's Covent Garden debut. The last minute swap follows a spate of disruptive cast changes: Rowley was herself a replacement for original casting of Isabelle, German soprano Diana Damrau, who was forced to leave the production in June when she fell pregnant. Ciofi on stage at the Royal Opera House in La Fille du Regiment by Donizetti and directed by Laurent Pelly in April . The role of Princess Isablelle will now be played by Patrizia Ciofi, right, on all nights in Covent Garden apart from the final two, 18 and 21 Decmber, when Russian singer Sofia Romina will take over part . The opera is a supernatural romance set within the courts of medieval France. Ciofi will play Isablle on all . performances apart from 18 and 21 December when he role will be . performed by Russian Sofia Romina, herself a newcomer to the Royal Opera House. The Royal Opera House explained: . 'After much deliberation and consultation following the final rehearsals . of Meyerbeer's Robert le diable, it has been agreed between The Royal . Opera and soprano Jennifer Rowley that the role of Isabelle would not be . the right part for her debut at Covent Garden. 'The Royal Opera considers Jennifer Rowley an important voice of the . future, and we are keen to build a continued relationship with her. 'However, voices do develop, and we have to recognize that this role is . not ideally suited for her now more dramatic voice. 'Despite all efforts . until the last minute by all parties to make it work as well as . possible, it has been mutually agreed that Jennifer Rowley will not . appear in Robert le diable and will postpone her Covent Garden debut. 'The Royal Opera is proud to announce that it has been agreed that she . will return in 2015 in her celebrated role of Musetta in La bohème, and . another important role is under discussion for the future.' As well as the commotion surrounding the role of Isabelle, Marina Poplavskaya withdrew from her part as Alice due to a medical condition, returning later when no alternative could be found. Patrizia Ciofi took the role of Marie in the Royal Opera production of La Fille du Regiment by Donizetti, directed by Laurent Pelly, in April this year . Laurent Pelly's production of Giacomo Meyerbeer's opera opens on Thursday and runs until 21 December . After a number of unhappy people commented on the website about then change, specifically asking why Ciofi had not been chosen to replace Damrau back in June, the ROH added: 'We are sorry that the cast change causes disappointment. 'Patrizia Ciofi wasn't originally available to replace Diana Damrau, as she was not available for the rehearsal period, but we are extremely grateful to her for having jumped in with such short notice immediately after ending her last engagement in Avignon. 'We do of course take full responsibility for believing wholeheartedly in this casting six months ago, and I am sorry that the change now has caused disappointment and irritation. 'We still are very excited about Jennifer Rowley's voice, and we look very much forward to presenting Jennifer Rowley as Musetta - a role she has received much deserved acclaim for - and are discussing another significant role with her, as stated above. 'As for ROH having many last minute cast changes, I do agree that we have been particularly unlucky in the last year with too many cast changes, most of them due to illness or other circumstances beyond our control. 'We are very sorry for this, and I do assure you it is something that we never announce with a light heart. We will do all we can to prevent this and hopefully will have fewer cast changes in the future.' Comments on the Royal Opera House website reveal that fans have mixed feelings about the last-minute cast change... 'I am shocked and very disappointed. This is a very big mistake. It is . sad that people of London and around the world will not hear Miss Rowley . in this roll [sic] this year at your house!!' Mike . 'I hope all this annoying cast changing will not influence the planned . future DVD release that is announced on the website. This fantastic . opera needs more attention and more respect during preparation!' Sgett . 'This is very sad news to me...I have heard Jennifer Rowley sing and am . very sorry the people of London will not have that opportunity.' Wyona Mitchell . | Laurent Pelly's production of Giacomo Meyerbeer's Robert le diable .
Italian Patrizia Ciofi replaces American Jennifer Rowley as Princess Isabelle .
Rowley replaced original cast member Diana Damrau in June when German singer fell pregnant .
Rowley's voice was 'not ideally suited' |
0c232b0eccb97030f5c856d26aefd94d1ea6830b | What is it with Liverpool and England? It’s only four months ago that their players seemed to dominate the national team and the club had apparently provided a blueprint for potential World Cup success. Their rampant attacking - though ultimately fruitless - charge towards the title at the end of last season was powered by the core of England’s World Cup team; Glen Johnson, Steven Gerrard, Jordan Henderson, Daniel Sturridge and, most thrillingly, most promisingly, Raheem Sterling. But what seemed to be a relationship with multiple mutual benefits didn’t last long. First Gerrard retired, despite Hodgson wishing him to stay on. Then there was Brendan Rodgers complaining bitterly that England had ignored their post-match recovery plan for Sturridge last month after the Norway friendly, resulting in the striker’s injury. Now Sterling says he is too tired to play for his country. VIDEO Scroll down to watch Roy Hodgson: Raheem came to me complaining of tiredness . Raheem Sterling came off the bench during England's win in Estonia . Sterling won the free kick on the edge of the box which lead to Wayne Rooney's goal for England . Rodgers looks like a re-incarnation of Sir Alex Ferguson, with club always trumping country while Hodgson appears to have buckled under the pressure applied by the Liverpool manager. Hodgson of course would deny this. He argued passionately on Sunday night that dropping Sterling against Estonia was merely the most sensible option at the end of what has been a phenomenal six months for the 19-year-old. 'In this particular moment, it’s a no brainer situation,' said the England boss. Yet, when he adds, ‘I’m pretty sure when he goes back to Liverpool they’ll sort him out and come Sunday (against QPR) you’ll see him flying around,’ it’s difficult not to raise a Carlo Ancelotti-sized quizzical eyebrow. What was it about the 45 minutes against San Marino that so fatigued him? Sterling (second right) started on the bench after he complained of feeling tired during training on Saturday . Sterling speaks with Roy Hodgson on Saturday night as the player inspect the pitch in Tallinn . The mental strain of the game is the most widely held explanation, a suggestion at which Hodgson hinted. 'It isn’t quite as simple as the training you’re doing maybe taking some juice from your legs,' he said. 'There is an awful lot going on in your head as well.' Yet he would surely have been wiser simply to say that he had taken the decision on Sterling’s behalf, rather than revealing that the player had pronounced himself tired. If Hodgson had taken full responsibility for the situation, which he could have easily done after the match had been won and there was no risk of being ridiculed for a left-field selection, the story would all have been much less of an issue. Now it’s all about how much young players want to play for England and Sterling’s frame of mind, a much more loaded and unpredictable news agenda. Sterling has featured in 10 games for Liverpool this season and has played more than 1,000 minutes . Sterling played for Liverpool in their 2-1 win over West Brom on October 4 before joining up with England . Add in the fact that Hodgson himself was a short-lived and unpopular manager at Liverpool – scepticism for the current England side seems most pronounced on Merseyside – then the potential for misunderstanding and conflict seems ripe. Rodgers’ reaction this week will be fascinating. Will he be grateful Sterling had been given a break? Or annoyed that his young star has been thrust into the limelight? Certainly we know which questions are going to dominate his press briefings this week and they won’t be his potential tactics to take on QPR. Interestingly, we’ve been here before with England and Liverpool, in 1977. Then, one of Europe’s greatest ever teams stood on verge of dominating the European Cup and, although there was significant Irish, Scottish and Welsh contingent, within the side were a number of Englishmen. Ron Greenwood, who had just started as England manager, must have relished the prospect of fusing club and country. It never quite worked out like that. Brendan Rodgers looks like a re-incarnation of Sir Alex Ferguson by putting club before country . In his first fixture, Greenwood picked six Liverpool players in Ray Clemence, Phil Neal, Terry McDermott, Emlyn Hughes, Ray Kennedy and Ian Callaghan. A seventh, Kevin Keegan, his captain, had only just left the club to join SV Hamburg. The match was a friendly against Switzerland at Wembley and England drew 0-0, hardly the most inspiring start. And while Liverpool went on to add to their 1977 European Cup triumph in 1978, 1981 and 1984, through that period England struggled, Greenwood coming under pressure as his team only scraped into the newly-expanded 1982 World Cup finals and then failing to reach the 1984 European Championship under Bobby Robson. Ron Greenwood had Terry McDermott (second left) and Phil Neal (third left) in his England side . Steven Gerrard celebrates while playing for Liverpool but looks downcast while on England duty . Jordan Henderson has emerged as a key midfielder for both Liverpool and England . Clearly club and country can work in tandem, as Barcelona/Spain and Bayern Munich/Germany have proved in recent international tournaments. And even if four months on from the World Cup, it now looks like Arsenal will be providing the foundations of the England team, the national side still owes a huge debt to Rodgers’ Liverpool. I believe the manner in which his side took on the Premier League last season helped sway Hodgson towards a more attacking, youthful approach. Dr Steve Peters (left), the acclaimed psychiatric adviser, works with both England and Liverpool . Daniel Sturridge looks frustrated playing for England during the World Cup but celebrates at Liverpool . On Sunday night Jack Wlshere was talking about the ‘five-second fury’ in which the England players try to press to win the ball back within the first five seconds of losing. It was especially evident in Tallinn and it’s a tactic straight out of Melwood. The diamond with Sterling at its tip, the full backs pushing on: all have been made fashionable by Rodgers and have the potential to turn England into a force once more. In Steve Peters, the two managers even share a psychiatric adviser. Perhaps he can get their inner chimps to calm down and agree on a common strategy for Sterling. For England have so much to gain from Liverpool and Sterling thriving and maybe this time, unlike in the late 70s and early 80s, their energy can be harnessed to forge a successful national team. | Raheem Sterling did not start for England in Estonia after complaining of feeling tired .
Daniel Sturridge was not part of squad as he continues return from injury .
Brendan Rodgers is keen to put Liverpool's interests in front of England's - just as Sir Alex Ferguson did at Manchester United . |
0c234afca4f353a5284635464d31dda2b4ecc50a | (CNN) -- All the talk at Muirfield has been about which drought would be broken. Would world No. 1 Tiger Woods win his first major in five years? Could Lee Westwood complete his 18-year quest for a major title? No-one talked much about Phil Mickelson, on his own personal mission to end a British Open quest that began in 1991 at Royal Birkdale. But at the 20th time of asking, the man known as 'Lefty' produced some of the most dynamic golf of his career to electrify the galleries and finally wrap his hands round the Claret Jug. Four birdies on the final six holes saw Mickelson surge up the leaderboard, his last on the 18th green prompting tears as the enormity of his achievement sunk in. Starting the day five shots off the lead he won his fifth major at a canter, three clear of Sweden's Henrik Stenson in second, with Westwood joint third and Woods in a share of sixth. No wonder the 43-year-old told the gallery at Muirfield it was his finest ever round, a glittering career now only lacking one of the four golfing majors, the U.S. Open. "It's an amazing feeling," Mickelson told a press conference. "I hit some of the best shots I've ever hit, putted better than I've ever putted. "I needed to show up and play some of the best golf of my career and that's what I did. It's a day I'll always cherish. "I was behind the whole day. The putt at 13 was going to make the day go one way or another. It's very hard to make birdies here. "I had to compose myself up to 18 because when I walking up to the green I realized this championship was in my control. That's when I started to get emotional. "It's a special moment to be a part of the history this championship. This has been the biggest challenge of my career to capture this trophy." Day three: Woods hunting Westwood . The clear skies and bright sunshine that graced the opening three days of the 142nd Open were absent by the time the final round began to form a decisive shape. As the majority of spectators alternated between the final two groups, Mickelson was steadily, and stealthily, winding his way through the field under a blanket of cloud on the East Lothian coast. He reached the turn at two-under, by which time the frontrunners had begun to shed shots. Slowly but surely, the galleries got wind of his charge and made a beeline for Lefty. It was the 13th where the momentum swung his way, a birdie putt sparking a run that was to end with him posing for photos with the Claret Jug as the main grandstand was enveloped in late afternoon gloom. Another birdie on 14 moved him one shot behind then leader Scott, before two perfect blows to the par five 17th saw him infused with adrenalin as he seized the outright lead for the first time in the Championship. By this time Scott had carded four consecutive bogeys, the same run that saw him relinquish the lead 12 months ago at Royal Lytham to allow South African Ernie Els to claim his second Open title. Another Mickelson birdie on the final hole saw him punching the air, hugging his caddy Jim 'Bones' Mackay and breaking down as he realized he'd finally landed the one crown he wasn't sure his game was equipped to deliver. It was his second victory in a week after he won the Scottish Open and goes some way to repairing the desolation he felt after losing out on the U.S. Open crown to England's Justin Rose at Merion last month. For home hoppe Westwood, the final day only served to reinforce the widely-held notion that his game isn't sturdy enough to close out a major championship. Leading by two as he teed off in front of a supportive crowd at 2:10pm local time, he managed just one birdie and carded five bogeys. It meant he ended a 62nd major without topping the leaderboard, extending an unwanted record that weighs heavily around his neck. "I didn't play that badly -- probably not so well at seven, eight or nine," he explained to reporters. "Phil must have played really well for five under par this afternoon, especially with a breeze going. That is a special finish in a major championship." Woods too will rue missed opportunities as he goes in search of the 15th title that will end his half-decade without a major championship. Three birdies were canceled out by six bogeys and he could only watch from the 14th green as, only 30 yards away, Mickelson marched up the 17th on his way to a pivotal birdie to a rapturous ovation from the crowd. "It was frustrating. I played well," Woods told reporters. "I could just never get the speed right today. "I had a hard time adjusting to the speeds. They were much slower today, much softer. I don't think I got too many putts to the hole today. "I really had a hard time and left myself a couple of long lag putts early on when [the wind] was really blowing, and left them way short and didn't make those putts." | American Phil Mickelson wins the British Open at Muirfield by three shots .
A final five-under-par round of 66 helped the left-hander to his first British Open title .
Swede Henrik Stenson was second with Ian Poulter, Lee Westwood and Adam Scott third .
Tiger Woods dropped back to joint sixth on two over for the tournament with a final round 74 . |
0c25e0cd62589fde1b378606febbcc5a2bafc770 | These incredible pictures show the moment an elephant who was held in chains and beaten and abused for fifty years cried as he was released to freedom. Raju the elephant was left bleeding from spiked shackles and living on hand-outs from passing tourists after he was captured and tied up by his ‘owner’. But, after 50 years of torture, the animal cried tears of relief after he was rescued by a wildlife charity in a daring midnight operation – fittingly on American Independence Day. Scroll down for video . Raju the elephant was said to cry tears of joy as he was released from spiked shackles in the Uttar Pradesh area of India after fifty years of torture . North London-based charity Wildlife SOS stepped in to save Raju after learning of his plight in India . North London-based charity Wildlife SOS stepped in to save Raju from dying in his bonds after learning of his plight in India. Every . day, the majestic animal was forced to hold out his trunk and beg for a . few coins from passers-by – surviving only on plastic and paper for . food. However, last week, a . 10-strong team of vets and wildlife experts from the charity were joined . by 20 forestry department officers and six policemen to seize Raju from . his suffering in the Uttar Pradesh area of India. The . mission took place under the cover of darkness, as fewer people would . be around for the dangerous rescue and the animal could be protected . from the searing heat of the sun. Pooja Binepal, the charity’s UK spokesman, described the rescue as ‘incredibly emotional’ for the team. She said: ‘Raju has spent the past 50 years living a pitiful existence in chains 24 hours a day, an act of intolerable cruelty. Every day, the majestic animal was forced to hold out his trunk and beg for coins from passers-by - surviving only on plastic and paper for food . The elephant was left bleeding from spiked shackles and living on hand-outs from passing tourists after he was captured by his 'owner' Wildlife SOS vet Dr Yaduraj Khadpekar tries to free Raju from the chains which he was kept in for 50 years . Wildlife SOS founder Kartick Satyanarayan said: 'The chains around his legs had spikes which were cutting into his flesh - and each time he moved puss would ooze out of wounds. Pain and brutality were all he knew' ‘The team were astounded to see tears roll down his face during the rescue. It was so incredibly emotional for all of us. We knew in our hearts he realised he was being freed. ‘Elephants are not only majestic, but they are highly intelligent animals, who have been proven to have feelings of grief, so we can only imagine what torture half a century has been like for him. ‘Until we stepped in he'd never known what it is like to walk free of his shackles – it's a truly pitiful case. ‘But today he knows what freedom is and he will learn what kindness feels like and what it's like to not suffer any more.’ The daring rescue came exactly a year . to the day since the charity was alerted to Raju's plight by the Uttar . Pradesh Forest Department in India. A . confiscation process went through the courts as Raju's owner did . not have any legal documents for his possession meaning the charity . could rescue him from suffering. It is not known exactly how Raju came into his plight, as little is known about his early years, but the charity believes he was poached from his mother as a young calf. Once rescued, he was loaded into an open-top lorry, given additional sedation and escorted 350 miles to the charity's Elephant Conservation and Care Centre at Mathura . The daring rescue came exactly a year to the day since the charity was alerted to Raju's plight by the Uttar Pradesh Forest Department in India . The charity has now launched a campaign to raise £10,000 for Raju to help begin the start of his new life . Ms Binepal said: ‘The poachers either slaughter the mother, or they drive the herd into traps that are small enough only for the babies to fall into. The mother cries for her baby for days after he's been stolen – it is a sickening trade. ‘The calves are then tied and beaten until they submit to their owners – their spirits are effectively broken. ‘We discovered Raju's case was particularly tragic. ‘He'd been poached as a calf and then he has been sold on and sold on. Incredibly we believe he has had up to 27 owners – he's been treated as a commodity every two years of his life. ‘By the time we found him in July 2013 he was in a pathetic condition. He had no shelter at night, and was being used as a prop to beg from dawn until dusk from tourists visiting the sites of India. ‘He hasn't been fed properly and tourists started giving him sweet food items and because he was in a state of hunger and exhaustion he began eating plastic and paper. ‘His nails are severely overgrown, he has abscesses and wounds because of the shackles and continually walking on a tarmac road has led to his foot pad overgrowing.’ Once the court order was finally issued, a team led by Wildlife SOS founder Kartick Satyanarayan carried out two days of surveillance before launching the rescue. Pooja Binepal, the charity's UK spokesman, described the rescue as 'incredibly emotional' for the team . Raju, after his release, with reformed former mahout Sonu Ali who will care for him at the sanctuary . Over the weekend, Raju received emergency medical attention to his wounds as well as a bath and food . Mr Satyanarayan said: ‘As we watched we quickly realised we had to act as quickly as possible as his situation was so desperate and the cruelty so extreme so we decided to move the rescue forward by a day. ‘The chains around his legs had spikes which were cutting into his flesh – and each time he moved puss would ooze out of wounds. Pain and brutality were all he knew. ‘His cruel handler even tore out the hair from his tail to sell as good luck charms. The exploitation and abuse just had to stop.’ However, even on Thursday evening as the mercy mission began, Raju's owner tried to prevent his rescue. Mr Satyanarayan said: ‘He began to shout commands to terrify Raju – and try to provoke him. ‘It created an incredibly dangerous situation as a bull elephant could snap a human like a tooth pick if he becomes afraid or angry. ‘When that failed he then put a series of chains around his legs in an attempt to prevent us removing him – so viciously tight that were cutting into his legs. ‘But we stood our ground and refused to back down – and as we did so, tears began to roll down Raju's face. Some no doubt were due to the pain being inflicted by the chains, but he also seemed to sense that change was coming. It was as if he felt hope for the first time in a very long time. ‘We knew it was now or never so we made the drastic decision to move his transportation truck closer and then walk him 200 yards. ‘Every step would have been agony, but we had to take him, or he could have vanished forever. We decided we'd remove the shackles once we'd got him to safety.’ Incredibly, Raju calmly complied, despite every step causing searing agony. ‘It was as if he knew we wanted to help him,’ Mr Satyanarayan said. Once he was loaded, and given additional sedation, a convoy then escorted the five-and-a-half tonne elephant, 350 miles on the back of an open-top lorry to the charity's Elephant Conservation and Care Centre at Mathura. ‘Incredibly he stepped out of his truck and took his first step to freedom at one minute past midnight on July 4th, which felt so extraordinarily fitting,’ Mr Satyanarayan said. ‘The other elephants in the sanctuary awoke from their sleep as we pulled in and came to have a look – it was an extraordinary moment.’ Raju was then fed bananas, banana leaves, mango and bread and biscuits and given water before the charity's head wildlife vet Dr Yaduraj Khadpekar began the painstaking process of removing his shackles. Mr Satyanarayan said: ‘It took him and . two handlers 45 minutes to liberate him as they'd been wound round his . legs to prevent their removal and to cause pain if anyone tried to take . them off. ‘We all had tears in our eyes as the last rope which held the final spike was cut and Raju took his first steps of freedom. ‘The . entire team were exhausted, but incredibly elated as he has suffered . such unthinkable abuse and trauma for so, so long. He'd been beaten so . badly, his spirit is broken.' The rescue took place under the cover of darkness, as fewer people would be around for the dangerous rescue and the animal could be protected from the heat of the sun . A 10-strong team of vets and wildlife experts from the charity were joined by 20 forestry department officers and six policemen to seize Raju from his suffering in the Uttar Pradesh area . Over the weekend, Raju received emergency medical attention to his wounds as well as a proper bath and food. ‘It will be a long rehabilitation process, but we will teach him that humans don't mean pain and brutality, but it's going to take time,’ Mr Satyanarayan said. ‘When he is ready he will initially join two companion elephants called Rajesh and Bhola, who once also suffered unthinkable cruelty. ‘They've both been rehabilitated and once he settles he will learn how to live again by following their example, before he joins the rest of the elephants – including five flirtatious females to live out his days. ‘But for the moment he's tasting freedom for the first time in his life and he'll spend the rest of his life in a safe compound living out his days in dignity, free from suffering and pain.’ The charity has now launched a campaign to raise £10,000 to help Raju begin the start of his new life in a new enclosure which will allow him to roam with his adoptive family. | Raju was held in chains for more than 50 years after being poached in India .
The animal bled from spiked shackles and lived on hand-outs from tourists .
Team from North London charity Wildlife SOS travelled to India to free animal .
Raju cried tears of joy after being freed from suffering on American Independence Day .
Five-and-a-half tonne animal driven 350 miles away to safe conservation area . |
0c271efcb68f2ffb7c555f87d4c213927fcdf8b3 | Washington (CNN) -- Republicans' chances of winning control of the Senate in Tuesday's midterm elections are now up to 95%, according to CNN's Pivit, an analysis that combines experts' projections with political watchers' predictions on key races. The jump was driven largely by a Des Moines Register poll over the weekend that put Republican Joni Ernst 7 percentage points ahead of Democrat Bruce Braley in a Senate race seen as a must-win for Democrats. In that race, Pivit puts Ernst's chances at 88%. Pivit also offers bad news for Democratic Sen. Mark Udall in Colorado, whose chances are at just 6%, and Sen. Mark Pryor in Arkansas, who's down to 2%. Pivit's analysis suggests Democrats are in better shape in North Carolina, where Sen. Kay Hagan has a 69% chance of holding off Republican challenger Thom Tillis, and in New Hampshire, where Sen. Jeanne Shaheen's chances of beating Scott Brown are up to 81%. Republicans, meanwhile, look to have put Kentucky's Senate race out of reach. Senate GOP leader Mitch McConnell's chances of surviving a challenge from Democrat Alison Lundergan Grimes are up to 97%. Republicans need a net gain of six seats to capture a majority. Pick-ups in Montana, South Dakota and West Virginia are all but assured, and Democratic incumbents are facing uphill battles in Alaska, Arkansas and Louisiana, as well. Republicans are also hoping for wins in states like Colorado, Iowa, New Hampshire and North Carolina -- which would help solidify their chances of gaining a majority by providing insulation in case the GOP loses seats of its own in Georgia and Kansas. | After rosy polls, CNN's Pivit puts Republicans' chances of winning a Senate majority at 95% .
Pivit gives the GOP strong odds of picking off Democratic seats in Iowa, Colorado and Arkansas .
Democrats could hold seats in North Carolina and New Hampshire, the analysis suggests . |
0c2ae9c858f98b38c390577fb6de7c912f60decf | By . Katy Winter . PUBLISHED: . 07:07 EST, 21 February 2014 . | . UPDATED: . 09:48 EST, 21 February 2014 . The ‘Brad Pitt of chess’ has appeared in a new fashion campaign looking dark and dangerous alongside fellow brainbox Lily Cole. Denim brand G-Star RAW has created an 'intense' video featuring 22-year-old genius Magnus Carlsen and the flame-haired supermodel inspired by, er, chess. The unlikely couple enter a fantastical game surrounded by concrete and steel, and a few hundred doppelgangers, while looking hot in their street smart jackets and jeans. Lily looks fierce in the campaign video as she stares down Magnus in a surreal game of chess . Magnus, whose looks have seen him nicknamed the Brad Pitt of chess, has modelled for the brand before . The video starts with the intellectual beauties squaring off over a chess board, before they are sucked into physically becoming the pieces in the alternative campaign . Lily, 26, and Norwegian Magnus are meant to embody an ominous intellect in the campaign video. Eco enthusiast Lily graduated with a double first in Art History from Cambridge University and has since kept up a stream of academic and charitable pursuits alongside her modelling and acting career. Co-star Magnus is the third youngest person in history to gain . the esteemed title of Grandmaster. He was named the new chess World . Champion in November 2013 at the World Chess Championship in India, also . pocketing £1.4 million in prize money. The brooding European gained his label as the ‘Brad Pitt of chess’ when Dutch photographer Anton Corbijn captured him in the G- Star AW10 campaign. He has since been named one of World's Sexiest men in . 2013 by Cosmopolitan magazine alongside Hugh Jackman and Bradley Cooper. Magnus and Lily are multiplied by CGI . Although perhaps best known for her countless modelling achievements, Lily's flaming hair hides a formidable brainpower . Magnus, seen here looking sultry in the G-star SS14 campaign, was crowned chess World Champion last year at the tender age of 22 . Lily, here showing off the SS14 collection, holds a first class degree in Art History from the University of Cambridge . | Magnus was crowned chess World Champion last year at age 22 .
Has also enjoyed modelling career, earning nickname 'Brad Pitt of chess'
Appears in second campaign for G-Star, this time with Lily Cole as co-star .
Pair battle in surreal world of concrete and steel in dark video . |
0c2afb508d3b76072eeff9adb85e396394a58414 | By . Mark Duell . PUBLISHED: . 03:53 EST, 1 October 2012 . | . UPDATED: . 11:48 EST, 1 October 2012 . Bookies were counting the cost of Europe's Ryder Cup victory after a stunning final-day comeback was rounded off by a remarkable gesture of sportsmanship by America's Tiger Woods. Jose Maria Olazabal's side recorded a 14½ to 13½ outright win in Medinah, Illinois, following a string of heroic performances by the likes of Luke Donald, Ian Poulter and Rory McIlroy. They played their part in ensuring Europe retained the trophy they won two years ago, but it was Woods who handed them outright victory in the final match of the tournament. By beating Francesco Molinari in the final pairing of the weekend he could have at least ensured a 14-14 draw for the USA. Scroll down for video . The moment: Francesco Molinari of Europe (right) shakes hands with Tiger Woods of the USA (left) on the 18th green after halving his match with the American during the 39th Ryder Cup in Chicago, Illinois . He led going in to the final hole, but missed a three-foot par putt. And in a show of sportsmanship, he declined to force Molinari to make a . putt from a similar distance, thus conceding the hole to the Italian . and leaving their match all-square. The gesture handed Europe an outright win that few would have predicted at the . start of the day, leaving the European fans cheering - and the bookies . fuming after they saw a flurry of bets placed from the optimistic few who did fancy the unlikely result. The betting firms today admitted they were facing a combined . multi-million payout in what was their most expensive ever Ryder Cup, . despite the fact that just moments earlier they had been looking at their . ideal result of a draw. The unlikely comeback cost Ladbrokes . £650,000 and Coral £400,000, while other bookmakers also reported heavy . losses. Two punters even bet £500,000 on Europe to win as the odds fell . last night. Disappointment: It was a dismal three days for Tiger Woods in which he failed to win a single match . William Hill lost £500,000 - £400,000 of which was online, and £100,000 in stores. Paddy Power lost around £800,000, Betfred suffered a £400,000 hit and Sky Bet lost £500,000. Industry experts said the late drama cost UK betting companies around £10million in total. A Ladbrokes spokesman told MailOnline today: ‘No-one bets on a tie. It cost us just over £650,000 last night on Tiger’s miss. Tiger is not a bookie’s friend this morning. ‘At 8:20pm, Europe were 33/1 to win and USA were 1/50. It was a nightmare result. The USA were heavily backed pre-tournament. We were so close. It was our most expensive one ever.’ Europe's team staged a remarkable comeback to retain the Ryder Cup, battling from 10-6 down overnight - having trailed 10-4 - to beat the United States 14½ to 13½ in Chicago, Illinois. After Europe reached the 14 points they required to retain the cup, Woods knew heading to the 18th tee that the USA could no longer win. He later claimed neither he nor the USA wanted to salvage a tie. After Woods missed his final putt, he conceded one from a similar length to halve his contest with Molinari - a putt which he would have been expected to hold. A Sky Bet spokesman told Sporting Life: ‘While it was impossible not to get caught up in such a fantastic victory, Woods's miss resulted in us taking a really heavy beating. European win: Francesco Molinari of Italy celebrates with his caddie Jason Hempleman on the 18th green after halving his match with Tiger Woods on Sunday at Medinah Country Club . Despondent: USA's Tiger Woods walks off the course as Europe celebrate their win at the Ryder Cup . Savouring the moment: Players pour champagne on Europe's Justin Rose as they celebrate after winning . Emotional moment: Team Europe captain Jose Maria Olazabal of Spain reacts during his speech at the closing ceremony of the 39th Ryder Cup at the Medinah Country Club . Up we go: Europe golfers hold captain Jose Maria Olazabal on their shoulders as they pose for a team photo . ‘(But) our decision to pay out on . both (Martin) Kaymer and Molinari securing the winning points will have . made the night even more special for those who kept the faith.’ The European team said they drew . inspiration for the remarkable turnaround from Seve Ballesteros, the . Spanish former world number one who died last May aged 54 after a battle . with cancer. 'No-one bets on a tie. It cost us just over £650,000 last night on Tiger’s miss. Tiger is not a bookie’s friend this morning' Ladbrokes spokesman . A Coral . spokesman told MailOnline: ‘It was the biggest betting Ryder Cup we've . ever had. We took £1million. During the first two days confidence was a . bit shot. People didn't really back Europe then. ‘We . were staring at the ideal result when Woods was at the final hole. Had . it been a tie we would have kept everything we'd taken because no-one . backs a draw. But it was a £400,000 hit.’ Coral said that Ian Poulter is now at 50/1, down from 150/1, to be crowned BBC Sports Personality of the Year - and in any other year the golfer would be favourite for the prize. ‘But after such a vintage year for British sport, he is still behind the likes of Bradley Wiggins, Andy Murray, and of course our great Olympians and Paralympians,’ the Coral spokesman added. Winners: Ryder Cup hero Ian Poulter (left) celebrates with the trophy, while golfer Martin Kaymer (left in right) poses for a picture with his caddie Craig Connelly (right) Good times: Bottles of Moet champagne (left), with the individual names of the European golfing heroes, while Ian Poulter (left in right) poses with his caddie Terry Mundy (right) Having fun: Team Europe members dance around team captain Jose Maria Olazabal (centre) and the trophy . A William Hill spokesman told MailOnline: 'From a trading point of view we were USA supporters throughout. Tiger normally costs us because he wins, but this time he cost us because he lost. 'It was mad the way it changed it the last round. It was bonkers. It was an unbelievable night, but it cost us a fortune' Paddy Power spokesman . 'At the beginning of Sunday it was 7/1 for Europe to come back. When Ian Poulter was on the 12th on Saturday and it looked as if it would get even worse, Europe were at 9/1.' A Paddy Power spokesman said: 'It was mad the way it changed it the last round. It was bonkers. It was an unbelievable night, but it cost us a fortune.' And a Betfred spokesman said: 'It cost us a lot of money but sometimes you've got to pay out with a smile. It was a bad night for the bookies, but a great night for sport.' Team: Europe golfers (front row left-right) Nicolas Colsaerts, Sergio Garcia, and Graeme McDowell; and (back row left-row) Ian Poulter, Paul Lawrie, Francesco Molinari, Lee Westwood, captain Jose Maria Olazabal, Justin Rose, Luke Donald, Peter Hanson, Rory McIlroy and Martin Kaymer . Ecstatic: European fans are sprayed with champagne as they celebrate winning the Ryder Cup tournament . Magic: Martin Kaymer sinks the winning putt on the 18th before running over to celebrate with his team-mates . USA captain Davis Love III described the result as a ‘little bit shocking’ and said it was reminiscent of the competition's tournament in 1999, when the US overhauled a deficit of 10-6 on the final day. 'We were staring at the ideal result when Woods was at the final hole. Had it been a tie we would have kept everything we'd taken because no-one backs a draw. But it was a £400,000 hit' Coral spokesman . A devastated Woods added: ‘It was already over (on the 18th). We came here as a team - this is a team event. And the cup was already been retained by Europe, so it was already over. ‘You come here as a team and you win or lose as a team, and it's pointless to even finish. So 18 was just, hey, get this over with. Congratulations to the European team.’ That incident rounded off a dismal three days for Woods in which he failed to win a single match. BBC Sport presenter Clare Balding said on Twitter: 'Well that is a gracious thing for Tiger not to make Molinari hole out. Europe come back from 10-4 down to win 14.5-13.5 Incredible #RyderCup' The defeat was largely ignored on most US newspaper front-pages, but the Chicago Sun-Times and Chicago Tribune both carried reports, with the headlines 'Shock and Awww' and 'Medinah Meltdown'. 'Shock and Awww': The Chicago Sun-Times dedicated much of their front page on Monday to this picture . Less prominence: The Chicago Tribune (left) had a medium-sized piece on the front page about the Ryder Cup; while the Los Angeles Times (right) chose to have a small box at the bottom of its front page on Monday . Anguish: The Wall Street Journal (left) featured contrasting images on the front page, but the New York Times (right) decided to largely ignored the loss, like many other papers in the US . VIDEO: Tiger Woods graciously concedes defeat . | Industry experts say late drama cost UK betting companies £10million .
Unlikely European comeback cost Ladbrokes £650,000 and Coral £400,000 .
Two punters even bet £500,000 on Europe to win as odds fell last night .
Woods missed simple three-foot par putt on 18th green which lost match .
Bookmakers were hoping for draw because few punters had bet on that . |
0c2b1721abe846f3a3a69d96c712bef5a461d111 | (CNN) -- "The LHC is back," the European Organization for Nuclear Research announced triumphantly Friday, as the world's largest particle accelerator resumed operation more than a year after an electrical failure shut it down. Restarting the Large Hadron Collider -- the $10 billion research tool's full name -- has been "a herculean effort," CERN's director for accelerators, Steve Myers, said in a statement announcing the success. Update: First collisions at the LHC on Monday . Experiments at the LHC may help answer fundamental questions such as why Albert Einstein's theory of relativity -- which describes the world on a large scale -- doesn't jibe with quantum mechanics, which deals with matter far too small to see. Physicists established a circulating proton beam in the LHC's 17-mile tunnel at 10 p.m. (4 p.m. ET) Friday, CERN said, a critical step towards getting results from the accelerator. "It's great to see beam circulating in the LHC again," said CERN Director General Rolf Heuer. "We've still got some way to go before physics can begin, but with this milestone we're well on the way." Located underground on the border of Switzerland and France, the LHC has been inching towards operation since the summer. It reached its operating temperature -- 271 degrees below zero Celsius -- on October 8 and particles were injected on October 23. Now that a beam is circulating, the next step is low-energy collisions, which should begin in about a week, CERN said. High-energy collisions will follow next year. The collider has been dogged by problems. It made headlines early this month when a bird apparently dropped a "bit of baguette" into the accelerator, making the machine shut down. The incident was similar in effect to a standard power cut, said spokeswoman Katie Yurkewicz. Had the machine been going, there would have been no damage, but beams would have been stopped until the machine could be cooled back down to operating temperatures, she said. The collider achieved its first full-circle beam last year on September 10 amid much celebration. But just nine days later, the operation was set back when one of the 25,000 joints that connect magnets in the LHC came loose and the resulting current melted or burned some important components of the machine, Myers said. The faulty joint has a cross-section of a mere two-thirds of an inch by two-thirds of an inch. "There was certainly frustration and almost sorrow when we had the accident," he said. Now, "people are feeling a lot better because we know we've done so much work in the last year." Mark Wise, professor of physics at the California Institute of Technology, said he's just as excited about the results that will come out of the LHC as he was last year and views the September 2008 accident as a delay rather than a devastating event. Wise noted that Tevatron, the collider at the Fermi National Accelerator Laboratory in Illinois, has also had its share of failures but is generally considered to work just fine. "It's a horribly complicated piece of equipment, it's not like there's not going to be problems along the way," he said. "They will surmount those problems." The LHC will probably be in operation more than 20 years, Myers said. But it won't be that long before scientists could potentially discover new properties of nature. The as-yet theoretical Higgs boson, also called "the God particle" in popular parlance, could emerge within two or three years, Myers said. Evidence of supersymmetry -- the idea that every particle has a "super partner" with similar properties in a quantum dimension (according to some physics theories, there are hidden dimensions in the universe) -- could crop up as early as 2010. For some theoretical physicists such as Wise, finding the Higgs boson and verifying every prediction of the Standard Model of physics would be the worst outcome. He wants the LHC to deliver surprises, even if that means no Higgs. "When push comes to shove, the name of the game is 'what is nature,' and we're not going to know until our experimental colleagues tell us," Wise said. ATLAS and CMS are the general-purpose experiments designed to find the Higgs boson and other rare particles that have never been detected before. ALICE, another experiment, will explore the matter that existed some 10 microseconds after the Big Bang, said John Harris, professor of physics at Yale University and national coordinator of ALICE-USA. At that time, there was a "hot soup" of particles called quarks and gluons at a temperature of around 2 trillion degrees above absolute zero, he said. Although they have never been directly seen, these particles are theoretically the building blocks of the bigger particles -- protons, neutrons and electrons -- that form the universe as we know it. CNN's Elizabeth Landau contributed to this report. | LHC restarted more than a year after being shut down by electrical fault .
The full scientific program for the LHC wil probably last more than 20 years .
The LHC will look for the Higgs boson, quarks, gluons and other small particles .
Restarting $10B research tool described as "herculean effort" |
0c2b8a7d56bf5a534c991093f6661dd2a7f565fc | Couples who stay married into their 70s can look forward to an even better time together, research suggests. One reason, it found, is that men learn to appreciate their wives more. Mutual dependence within marriage becomes particularly important to men after 70, partly as compensation for the loss of male friends to death. Another reason is that men are more in touch with their feminine side as they get older and women become more masculinised, making for a more level physical and emotional playing field, the study found. Happy together: Married couples enter new bliss in their 70s, an American study has found . Happy couples also make the most of the empty nest after children have left home, and earlier stressful relationships with them become easier. Top US psychiatrist George E.Vaillant, professor of psychiatry at Harvard Medical School, who has just turned 80, took over the Harvard Grant Study in 1966. It has followed the lives of 268 men from age 19 to 92 years in the longest study of human development, starting in 1938. Prof Vaillant said the Grant study shows that ‘loving people for a long time is good’. He said ‘The most important finding proves that the only thing that really matters in life are your relations to other people. Support: Mutual dependence becomes particularly important to men after 70, partly as compensation for the loss of male friends to death . ‘Mutual interdependence comes later to some people than others, but most of the Grant men got there, which proves that the best marriages got better with time.’ Of the original 268 men, 242 survived early death with 173 marrying only once. In total, 51 of the 173 from once-only marriages remained happy for half a century, with 73 rated ‘so-so’ and 49 men remaining a lifetime in a poor first marriage. The study findings were based on regular interviews, with men sent a questionnaire eight times, and their wives four times and couples being interviewed together at the age of 30 and again at 80. During the period from age 20 to 70, only 18 per cent of both partners reported their marriages as happy for at least 20 years. By age 75 half of the surviving men did and by 85, the proportion of happy marriages rose to 76 per cent as reported by both partners - who also said they felt healthier than those in less happy marriages. Prof Vaillant said ‘Friendship and mutual dependence in marriage deepen late after 70. ‘Indeed, the study documented that, barring brain damage after age 70, marriages get better!’ He said men’s tolerance for mutual dependence increased with age and after 70, the men found their marriages more precious. More compatible: Men are more in touch with their feminine side as they get older and women become more masculinised . ‘As one 85-year-old hitherto very independent man acknowledged "You let your wife learn about you…" it was compensation for the loss by death of his many male friends’ he added. Prof Vaillant, who is giving a lecture in London tonight hosted by the relationship charity OnePlusOne said there were four reasons why marriages improve after 70. Firstly, the so-called empty nest becomes more of a blessing than a burden. Second, the age-related hormonal changes in hormone levels that take place in men and women tend to ‘feminise’ husbands and ‘masculinise’ wives, making for a more level physical and emotional playing field, he said. Third, the physical infirmities of aging make it plainer to both parties that mutual dependence is an advantage rather than a weakness. Finally there is a well documented U-curve to wellbeing over the lifespan, he said, with a low point in middle age when couples may have to deal with ageing parents and needy, possibly ungrateful, adolescent children. ‘At 80 that angst has passed’ he said. Increasing empathy between couples means ‘the best marriages get better with time’ he added. Penny Mansfield, director of OnePlusOne, said ‘I’ve studied relationships for over 30 years and never seen so much interest especially amongst young people in wanting to discover the secret of how to find the right partner and make a relationship last. ‘This study offers insight into why relationships matter and what makes them last. ‘Being able to scrutinise these men’s relationships over more than seven decades gives us a fascinating insight into enduring love. ‘For some, their long marriages were the outcome of a deepening intimacy, for others it was down to a life- long commitment to staying together.’ | Men appreciate their wives when they hit their 70s, study finds .
With age, men become more in touch with their feminine side .
The Harvard study has followed American couples since 1938 . |
0c2bc0b72f775ea86404d1474fa6618620093c7f | By . Chris Parsons . PUBLISHED: . 16:50 EST, 3 May 2012 . | . UPDATED: . 08:19 EST, 4 May 2012 . An American deep sea treasure hunter claims he has found the body of Osama Bin Laden - and plans to visit the spot because he 'doesn't have enough proof' the Al Qaeda leader is really dead. Bill Warren, 60, claims to have found the exact spot in the Northern Arabian Sea where the terrorist leader was dumped into the ocean by U.S. forces after being killed in a raid one year ago. Mr Warren, who is now trying to raise over $200,000 for a mission to dive for Bin Laden's body bag, says the Al Qaeda leader is buried around 200 miles west of the Indian city of Surat. Deep sea diver: Mr Warren, who claims to have discovered over 200 shipwrecks, said Bin Laden's body is buried 200 miles west of Surat, India . He claims that as the Navy apparently weighed down Bin Laden's body when they gave him an ocean burial hours after his death, his corpse has not moved from its position on the ocean floor. Mr Warren, who says he has found more than 200 shipwrecks during his treasure hunting career, pinpointed the location after studying satellite images given to him by a source at the Pentagon. The marine explorer is aiming to start his mission towards Bin Laden's body at the start of June, and that he may be able to find the body in 'under a week'. Mr Warren told Spanish newspaper El Mundo his search could also take up to three months, and that his biggest fear is being killed or sunk by the U.S. government. He said: 'I've located where it was thrown. I'm the only one with this information. It's 200 miles to the west of the Indian city of Surat. On the hunt: Bill Warren claims to have found the exact spot where Bin Laden is buried at sea, and plans to head there next month . Buried at sea: U.S. Forces buried Bin Laden in the North Arabian Sea by dumping his body from the USS Carl Vinson . U.S. forces dumped Bin Laden at sea to prevent his Pakistan compound in Abbottabad becoming a shrine . 'He's at the bottom of the ocean and the soldiers put weights on him.' Mr Warren had announced his plans to search for the location last June, a year after Bin Laden was killed by U.S. Navy Seals during a raid on his compound in Abbottabad, Pakistan. The explorer told TMZ at the time he 'dosn't trust the government' of President Obama that the remains are actually those of the Taliban leader. Bin Laden was disposed of overboard the USS Carl Vinson in the North Arabian sea following DNA tests, but Mr Warren remains unconvinced and wants to conduct the DNA tests himself. The warship received a SEAL team that carried Bin Laden's body after killing him in a raid on his walled compound in Abbottabad, Pakistan. His body was placed in a 'weighted bag', an officer made religious remarks and he was put on a flat board and tipped into the sea, the Pentagon said. Assassinated: Bin Laden was shot dead by U.S. Navy Seals in May last year . Mr Warren began diving commercially in 1972 and has ran several salvage companies since then, according to his website. The treasure hunter is currently in Afghanistan, on what he says is a contract with the nation's government to explore the Caspian Sea for shipwrecks. He said at the time: 'We do this because we are patriotic Americans and feel that President Obama failed to provide the proof.' The exact location of Bin Laden's body has never been revealed, partly to prevent the area becoming a shrine for Islamic extremists. | Bill Warren claims Al Qaeda mastermind is buried in Arabian Sea 200 miles west of Surat .
U.S. Forces gave Taliban boss ocean burial to prevent Pakistan compound becoming a shrine .
Treasure hunter Warren now needs $200,000 to dive and recover body . |
0c2be80b17ddc05073978422ccd26551d0e1e203 | A beauty queen has won a competition to be the face of a lingerie brand after proving she has an 'intellectually stimulating' personality as well as good looks. Belle Et Bonbon launched a search for a model to star in their latest advertising campaign earlier this year and asked applicants to prove they were smart as well as sexy. After 1,000 women applied, they have now revealed the winner as Camilla Hansson, 25, from Sweden. Winner: Camilla Hansson is the new face of lingerie brand Belle et Bonbon after they launched a competition to find the most 'intellectually stimulating' model . Beauty queen: Camilla was crowned Miss Sweden 2012 . The Nordic beauty is a former Miss Sweden and has represented her country in the Miss Earth pageant. But to win the chance to be the face of Belle Et Bonbon, she had to prove she is more than just a pretty face. Applicants were told that if they . were short-listed for the London casting, they would need to show their intellect, as well as be fitted in their lingerie. However, testing their brainpower did not involve undertaking an IQ test or passing a quiz on general knowledge. Instead, the candidates were interviewed on their life and career achievements, creativity, ambition and wit. Most 'intellectually stimulating': The Nordic beauty beat two doctors, a physicist, and two Oxbridge graduates to take the title . To be reach the interview stage, hopefuls had to provide a picture of themselves and describe their 'proudest moment', their 'definition of what it means to be intellectually stimulating' and their 'intellectually stimulating heroine'. Camilla, who has no academic qualifications, . impressed the judges to be chosen as the winner, beating two doctors, a physicist, . and two Oxbridge graduates in the final shortlist of fifty. She . told MailOnline: 'I love beautiful lingerie, and I saw an advert for . the Belle Et Bonbon search online, and submitted my entry, although I . didn't expect to be short-listed, let alone be named the face of the . brand. More than just a pretty face: The underwear brand quizzed finalists on their achievements and ambitions . Champion: Camilla said it was a lovely surprise' to win the competition which sought women with 'character, wit, ambition and style' 'I had to go along to an interview . with a panel from the brand to talk about my business career, my . ambitions and my achievements, as well as model the lingerie. I thought . it was a bit of fun, and didn't have any hopes for it, but was invited . back to the final round of interviews, where we went into even more . detail. 'Then, . amazingly, my phone rang a couple days later to tell me I was to be the . new face. I'm still getting over the surprise, but it’s a lovely . surprise.' When . launching the competition the brand stated on their website that they . were looking for 'women with character, wit, ambition and style'. They added: 'The sexiest, most seductive asset a woman possesses is her intellect, and we at Belle Et BonBon are seeking a new campaign face who has both the prowess and the gravitas to represent our brand.' Lily Cole, left, gained a double first class degree from Cambridge University where she studied History of Art, while Tyra Banks has a diploma from Harvard Business School . Christy Turlington, left, graduated from New York University with a degree in Comparative Religion and Eastern Philosophy while Cindy Crawford was class valedictorian at her high school and enrolled for a degree in chemical engineering at Chicago's Northwestern University. However she didn't complete the course after pursuing her modelling career instead . | Camilla Hansson, 25, from Sweden, won competition .
Belle Et Bonbon sought model with 'intellectually stimulating' personality .
But they didn't give them IQ test or general knowledge quiz .
They judged on achievements, ambitions, wit and creativity .
Camilla is a former Miss Sweden with no academic qualifications .
She beat two doctors, a physicist, .
and two Oxbridge graduates . |
0c2c585d3084fbaa9de06fd28f90e4fab8c1bd09 | Total number of London theatre-goers last year – 22 million. Total attendance at Premier League matches last season – 13.94 million. The after-party has been as embarrassing and depressing as the World Cup performance. Las Vegas has become the go-to destination for failed England footballers and it was along that gaudy Strip that Jack Wilshere chose to commemorate his putrid contribution on the great stage of Brazil 2014. Once our great white hope, now our big white dope, Wilshere drowned his and the nation’s sorrows by drinking and smoking in a casino’s swimming pool. Up in smoke: Jack Wilshere and a gaggle of friends enjoy the scene in Las Vegas . Joe Hart, who kept goal against Luis Suarez like a petrified rabbit, saw fit to join Wilshere in the company of boozy hangers-on and girls hanging out of their bikinis. Each to his own way of grieving, I suppose. Most in this country were caught in a confusion of shock and mourning after the quickest and most humiliating World Cup finals exit in England’s history. To his credit, the captain has had the decency to retire from the international game. One of the few to have worn the white shirt with distinction in recent years, Steven Gerrard honestly admitted he was on his last legs in Brazil. Not that he was the only Englishman left flagging in the slipstream of football’s high-speed development at this tournament. Inadvertently, however, Gerrard has been equally frank about the limitations of the domestic game which finds itself burdened with rekindling public interest in our national sport after its thorough World Cup dowsing. Gerrard reveals that this was biting advice to Suarez as he pondered his transfer to Barcelona: ‘I told him not to go to Arsenal. With all due respect to them, he is too good for Arsenal.’ Speaking his mind: Steven Gerrard (left) told Luis Suarez he was 'too good' to join Arsenal . Swansong: Ashley Cole heads to Roma . With those few words he exposed the delusional notion of the Premier League as the greatest in the world. Arsenal are one of the big five clubs in England. They qualify for the Champions League as regularly as that giant clock high behind one goal at the Emirates ticks off each unforgiving minute without a goal. Yet in the estimation of one of the iconic figures of our football they are not worthy of signing a truly world-class goal-scorer, even though he is psychologically flawed. That will come as interesting reading to Chile’s national hero Alexis Sanchez as he travels in the reverse direction, from Barcelona to Arsenal, in contradiction of the trend for most of the stars at this World Cup to move anywhere other than England. English footballers – with the exception of veterans like Ashley Cole and Frank Lampard as they venture in search of a last hurrah – shuffle between our own teams. So much of a muchness are they that a club like Southampton can sell off a whole bunch of its first team players and still express confidence that an incoming job-lot of cheap signings and an upsurge of youngsters will be good enough for another season of Premier League survival. Depressingly, they are probably right. Revolving door policy: New Saints boss Ronald Koeman has seen many of last year's first team depart . Worryingly, by cherry-picking those they perceive to be the most Saintly, Liverpool may turn into the next Tottenham – even as their resurgence has just carried them closer to the Premier League title than for many a season. Spurs thought mistakenly that it would be good business to spend the fortune Real Madrid paid them for Gareth Bale on a half a team of average players. Now Liverpool are doing the same with the Suarez money. Perhaps they are right that Rickie Lambert has a few goals left in his aging legs. Perhaps not. As for Adam Lallana, his mundane efforts in Brazil came as little surprise to those of us who saw pictures of him posing with his underpants exposed, as well as a grotesque tattoo. Given that this vain posturing was in inverse proportion to the way in he floundered out of his depth at the World Cup it is hard to resist the conclusion that here, as with Wilshere, is yet another young English footballer who is under the premature misconception that he is already a superstar. Since he will be injured for some weeks, we will have to wait to see whether Lallana can justify his £25million fee. Don't believe the hype: Adam Lallana cost Liverpool £25m yet does he already think he's a superstar? VIDEO Liverpool v Manchester City highlights . Not that he was alone among over-hyped youngsters who found themselves overwhelmed in Brazil. Defensively sound? Luke Shaw . Danny Welbeck never recovered from a poor start. Jordan Henderson was pedestrian. Luke Shaw, when his chance came, looked like another in the succession of left backs who are good going forward but dodgy at defending. Even Raheem Sterling disappeared after a bright beginning against what we came to realise was an Italian team almost as pathetic as England. The declining quality of the English footballer is playing into the descent of the Premier League. It is having a negative effect on the quality of the imports. Spain, Germany, France in the case of Paris Saint-Germain, even Italy now that Serie A is enjoying a renaissance, have taken over as the destinations of choice for the world class footballer. When the public discern more drama, entertainment and excitement on the London stage than at football’s theatres of dreams, the Premier League find itself caught somewhere between slipping into the wings and turning itself into a circus of cheap commercial thrills. And as its false idols admire themselves so narcissistically in the mirror, they may care to reflect on another revealing pair of statistics. Only one actor in every 50 on the London stage earns more than £20,000 a year. Average salary of the Premier League player - £31,000 a week. Jose Mourinho’s sanity was questioned when he sold David Luiz to Paris Saint-Germain and Juan Mata to Manchester United, while tempting Everton into paying a club record fee for Romelu Lukaku by lending him to them even though he seemed to need a goal-scorer at Chelsea. How the World Cup has proved the Special One right. Would PSG still have lavished £50m on Luiz after seeing his catastrophic performances for Brazil? Highly doubtful. Lukaku, only in the Belgian team because of injury to others, was dropped after an utterly ineffective first game and remained on the bench thereafter. Yet Everton have still shelled out £28m. Great bit of business: Romelu Lukaku joined Everton to boost Chelsea's coffers to the tune of £28m . Mata, did well enough at Old Trafford to grab a last minute plane ticket to Brazil but was left out of Spain’s team for the first two matches of their disastrous world title defence. Even then he was still only recalled as late substitute during their dead rubber third game. A meaningless goal in that match was hardly retrospective justification for a giant fee – but United’s £37m was already in Mourinho’s transfer chest. Along with all his marbles. The Glazer family are attempting to sell another multi-million pound chunk of their holding in Manchester United, after their appointment of Louis van Gaal revived the previously ailing share price. Which begs one awkward question: do the American owners not fully share the faith of the market in Van Gaal being the Dutch Sir Alex Ferguson? | Steven Gerrard exposed the delusional notion of the Premier League as the greatest in the world .
He told former team-mate Luis Suarez he was 'too good' to join Arsenal .
English footballers shuffle between our own teams .
Some over-hyped youngsters including Jack Wilshere, Adam Lallana, Danny Welbeck and Jordan Henderson flattered to deceive with England in Brazil .
Spain, Germany, France, even Italy, have taken over as the destinations of choice for the world class footballer .
Jose Mourinho was proved right after the World Cup with some brilliant business . |
0c2c87130e23a509791b976ca33ed92adfb6d904 | By . Andrew G Marshall . PUBLISHED: . 06:59 EST, 6 September 2013 . | . UPDATED: . 06:59 EST, 6 September 2013 . They seemed like a dream couple. When Jack and Amanda got married ten years ago, their friends and families joked that they were joined at the hip. 'We spent every free minute with each other,' Amanda told me. 'We'd go for long walks and cook supper. We loved the cinema, entertaining friends, adventurous holidays - and we had a great sex life.' But by the time Jack, 42, and Amanda, 41, came to see me for marital advice earlier this year, their pleasure in one another was a distant memory. It all changed when their children came along - daughter Emily, now eight, and their son, Tom, six. The couple admitted they had slept together only a handful of times since Tom's birth, had almost stopped talking to each other - and were at breaking point. Who's the boss? Always putting your child's needs first can ruin your marriage says a therapist (posed by models) With their children now 'the centre of their lives', as they both proudly described it, they had moved out of London to a bigger house with a family-size garden. As a result, Jack was spending long hours commuting, while the couple's free time was dominated by Emily and Tom's needs and even their social lives. 'We just want the best for them,' explained Amanda. 'Like all their friends, our two have after-school clubs most evenings. I spend much of my time ferrying the children to and from school, piano lessons, dance classes and tutors. They have swimming on a Saturday morning, and birthday parties in the afternoon and on Sunday. If we do have any free time left at the weekend, I make sure we do things the kids enjoy.' 'With the children hanging on to me and calling for me all the time, I just don't have the energy to ask Jack about his day at work, let alone have sex with him' That left Jack either falling asleep in front of the television after a long day at work or trying to be a 'good dad' by playing games with the children, with Amanda feeling ignored and under-valued at home as she struggled through the monotonous grind of cooking, cleaning and servicing the family's needs. 'With the children hanging on to me and calling for me all the time, I just don't have the energy to ask Jack about his day at work, let alone have sex with him.' Jack too, was deeply unhappy, insisting he was the very last of Amanda's priorities, beneath the children, housework, shopping and the family dog. 'Sometimes I wish Amanda and I could have some days to ourselves, when we don't follow the kids' timetable,' he said. 'It would be nice to go out as a couple, but the kids make such a fuss about being left with babysitters that we can't relax.' Worst of all, he confessed he and Amanda no longer slept in the same bed. 'The children have got into the habit of sleeping in our bed with Amanda, so it's just easier if I sleep in the spare room because I have to get up so early.' Marriage killer: Many parents don't want to acknowledge how overindulging their child has placed a wedge between them (posed by models) As a marital therapist, I have spent almost 30 years helping couples turn around their relationships and fall back in love again. I've written 11 books on the subject, answered countless letters to my website, given talks and appeared on numerous radio and TV shows. And it seems to me one fundamental issue is driving so much of the misery I encounter now: how to stop your children ruining your marriage. I know from experience that most parents don't want to hear my message. When they are giving their all to their children, they don't want to think they might ironically be creating the wedge that will eventually force them apart. But 'red carpet' kids, as I call them, are an increasingly common phenomenon. 'Prioritise your child's football practice over household chores and everyone else's activities, and you send the message that they are all-important' I've given them this nickname because, like mini-celebrities, who are cared for and indulged to the detriment of everyone else in the family. If you're not careful, they can kill your marriage stone dead. So why do we do we spoil our children like this? Firstly, it makes life easier in the short-term. Jack and Amanda let their children sleep in their bed because a peaceful night in the spare room is easier than a full-on fight at bedtime. Parental guilt also plays a part. There are any number of reasons for modern parents to feel guilty: not spending enough time with their children, not being able to afford everything their children want or need, losing their temper because they're stressed, not feeling 'good enough'... Children target adult guilt to get what they want. And finally, we all want to be liked. Too many parents are so fearful of upsetting their children and losing their 'friendship', they struggle to discipline them effectively. Survival guide: Andrew G Marshall has written a book on how to childproof your marriage . The long-term consequences of all this are just as disastrous for the child as the parents' relationship. Prioritise your child's football practice over household chores and everyone else's activities, and you send the message that they are all-important. Too important, even. Letting your child choose what you all eat, where you go and even their own bedtime sounds like every child's dream – but you are effectively making them 'head of the household'. Children who regularly wield this power at home struggle to make friends in the outside world as they haven't learned how to negotiate with, or defer to, others. Nearing adulthood once meant new privileges and freedoms. But today's red-carpet children, who already have everything they could wish for and rarely hear the word no? They end up reluctant to leave home. A lot of parents are so busy taking photographs and applauding as their children walk the metaphorical 'red carpet', they don’t see the problems they are creating until devastation is upon them. Don't let that be you. As I explained to Amanda and Jack, change is always possible. Just because something has been done one way until now doesn't mean it must continue. By learning to apply some of my very simple rules for family harmony, Amanda and Jack were able to improve their relationships with each other and their children beyond all recognition. So start rolling up the red carpet, and get your family and your marriage back on track too. 1. Put your children last. Prioritising . your partner over your children is good for your marriage and your . kids. Of course, there will be exceptions – if the children are ill, or . their first day at school and so on, but otherwise make sure you and . your partner go out for dinner together, send the kids to bed early, do . things the two of you love to do together. A happy marriage makes happy . children. 2. Be a 'good enough' parent. Accept . you're not perfect, that every parent makes mistakes and it's not the . end of the world if you send your child to school in a hastily . cobbled-together costume for the school play. 3. Recognise Your Needs. I . have met many mothers and fathers who, after years of downgrading their . own needs, felt 'entitled to do something for myself for once' - and . had an affair. Always putting your children first can cause resentment . to rebound in extraordinary acts of selfishness. Have a good think about . what YOU want and need in your relationship and family life – and make . sure you get it. 4. Talk. Make . sure you talk through your problems – don't silently hope they'll go . away. Problems fester if you don’t get them out in the open. 5. Put a lock on your bedroom door. You . wouldn't barge into a teenager's bedroom unannounced, so don't let your . children do it to you. Give yourself some privacy as a couple – they . can always shout 'Fire!' if they're in trouble. 6. Greet your partner first when he or she walks through the door – not your children. It shows how important they are to you. 7. Don't let your children interrupt when you are talking to each other. 8. Make unilateral decisions about your children. Parent as a team and don't compete for popularity with your children. 9. Prioritise sex. Intimacy keeps a relationship alive. Send the children to the grandparents for the night. It's important. 10. Make the children responsible for tasks around the house, so there's more time for you to be partners rather than servants. Article extracted by Mandy Francis from I Love You But You Always Put Me Last by Andrew G Marshall to be published by Macmillan on 12th September @ £12.99. Copyright 2013 Andrew G Marshall. To order a copy for £11.49 (p&p free) call 0844 472 4157. | Marital therapist warns against always putting your children first .
He said too many are being treated like mini-celebrities .
As a result, marriages are breaking down .
Andrew explains how to prevent your children ruining your relationship . |
0c2da51030933609232e4b18290ee1f9ba106e14 | By . Graeme Yorke . PUBLISHED: . 00:10 EST, 16 May 2013 . | . UPDATED: . 00:18 EST, 16 May 2013 . QPR striker Loic Remy has been bailed after he was arrested on suspicion of rape. The 26-year-old France international was being held by Scotland Yard's sex crime squad together with two other men. Three men have been bailed until September, the Metropolitan Police said today. Arrest: Loic Remy (left) was arrested on suspicion of rape of a woman believed to be in her thirties . A 34-year-old woman alleges that three men raped her on May 6 in west London. A spokesman for the Metropolitan . Police said yesterday: 'Officers from Sapphire are investigating an . allegation of rape which happened on May 6 in the west London area. 'The allegation was passed on to the . Metropolitan Police Service by Kent Police on 8 May after the . 34-year-old female victim reported it to them on the previous day, 7 . May. 'The victim alleges she was raped by three men. Goalscorer: Remy has performed well since joining Queens Park Rangers in the January window . 'On the morning of Wednesday, 15 May . three men, aged 26, 23 and 22, were arrested at an address in Fulham on . suspicion of rape - they remain in custody at a west London police . station.' Remy, who is paid £80,000 a week, joined QPR in January for £8million but was unable to help the team avoid relegation from the Premier League. New boy: Remy (left) left Marseille for Queens Park Rangers four months ago . International: Remy has played for France 18 times, scoring four goals . He is expected to leave the west . London club this summer, with top clubs such as Arsenal, Tottenham and . Liverpool reported to be interested in signing him. Remy will hope to be available for the already-relegated Rangers' final game of the season away at Liverpool on Sunday. A . QPR spokesman said yesterday: 'The club is aware of the allegations . regarding Loic Remy, but due to police investigations is unable to . comment.' Sorry we are unable to accept comments for legal reasons. | Player who earns £80k a week was held by Scotland Yard's sex crime squad .
Frenchman and two other men bailed until September .
Woman, 34, alleges three men raped her last Monday in west London .
Remy signed for QPR in January for £8m but is expected to leave . |
0c2ea2fa3d216ed7b00e0e7907ceef6ff03342c5 | Norwich produced an astonishing second-half fightback to stun Cardiff and claim a 4-2 victory at Cardiff City Stadium. The Canaries, unbeaten since their opening day defeat at Wolves, were awful during the first half and deservedly trailed to goals from Joe Ralls and Aron Gunnarsson. But quickfire strikes from Martin Olsson and Wes Hoolahan levelled matters early in the second half, before Michael Turner and substitute Cameron Jerome finished the job. Norwich's second-half fightback saw the Canaries claw back from a two-goal deficit to win 4-2 . Four goals in Norwich's second-half fightback saw the Canaries win 4-2 against Cardiff City . Cardiff: Marshall, Brayford, Connolly, Morrison, Fabio (John 46), Ralls, Gunnarsson, Whittingham, Pilkington (Adeyemi 69), Jones (Maynard 69), Macheda . Subs (not used): Cala, Le Fondre, Moller Daehli, Moore . Bookings: Ralls . Goals: Ralls (4), Gunnarsson (22) Norwich: Ruddy, Martin, Turner, Hooiveld, Olsson, Tettey, Johnson, Lafferty (Jerome 46), Hoolahan (O'Neil 84), Redmond (Garrido 88), Grabban . Subs (not used): Odjidja-Ofoe, Whittaker, Murphy, Rudd, . Bookings: Lafferty, Turner . Goals: Olsson (54), Hoolahan (58), Turner (71), Jerome (87) Such an outcome had looked highly unlikely as Cardiff, challenged to prove their Championship title credentials by manager Ole Gunnar Solskjaer, raced out of the traps. Inside a minute Kenwyne Jones had seen his goalwards glancing header hacked clear, but there was no reprieve for Norwich in the fourth minute. Ralls seized on Turner's loose pass and drove beyond Alex Tettey to send a left-footed drive into the bottom corner. It was the young midfielder's second league goal for the Bluebirds, almost three years after his first. The visitors were all at sea although Kyle Lafferty almost levelled with a curling strike which David Marshall did well to punch away to safety. Norwich fell further behind in the 22nd minute. Jones played in Anthony Pilkington down the right, and his cross was expertly tucked home by Gunnarsson. Having dominated the opening half an hour Cardiff sowed the seeds of their own downfall by surrendering the initiative during the final 15 minutes of the half and, aside from one excellent John Ruddy stop to deny Federico Macheda's volley, they were not to regain it. Cardiff's Aron Gunnarsson doubles Cardiff's lead in the first half as Norwich struggled to get a foothold . Cardiff's Aron Gunnarsson runs away in celebration after doubling Cardiff's lead over a frustrated Norwich side . Cardiff's Aron Gunnarsson is joined by Anthony Pilkington as the pair celebrate going 2-0 up . Cardiff let their 2-0 lead from the first half slip as a disastrous second 45 minutes saw Norwich net four times . The loss of Fabio to injury weakened the left-side of the Cardiff defence, with Declan John on in his place, and Norwich took full advantage. Firstly Hoolahan was given far too much room to get a ball into Lewis Grabban in the 54th minute. The in-form striker could not turn Sean Morrison but the ball fell kindly for Olsson to slot home from close range, on the Swede's return to the side after his ban for pushing referee Simon Hooper. Four minutes later Norwich were level. Nathan Redmond evaded Ralls and John to deliver a pinpoint cross for Jerome to power a header straight at Marshall, who could do nothing as Hoolahan gleefully dispatched the follow-up. Cardiff were rocked and they fell behind with 19 minutes to play. Tettey found space down the Norwich right and Russell Martin's mis-hit shot was turned in by Turner as Marshall appealed in vain for offside. The Bluebirds responded with Whittingham twice working Ruddy, and Turner being fortunate to only receive a booking after bringing down Nicky Maynard with the substitute through on goal. But former Cardiff striker Cameron Jerome put the result beyond doubt three minutes from time. Splintering the hosts' offside trap to round Marshall before tucking home. Neil Adams celebrates Norwich's 4-2 win at the end of the game after clawing back from 2-0 down at half time . | Cardiff went in 2-0 up at half time through Joe Ralls and Aron Gunnarsson .
Four different goalscorers for Norwich in second half confirm 4-2 victory .
Martin Olsson, Wes Hoolahan, Michael Turner and substitute Cameroon Jerome all net during an incredible second-half fightback . |
0c2f1a9ef6fc4b8c690917a84a4d79154b78c787 | ALTADENA, California (CNN) -- When she was laid off in February, Patricia Guerrero was making $70,000 a year. Weeks later, with bills piling up and in need of food for her family, this middle-class mother did something she never thought she would do: She went to a food bank. Patricia Guerrero was laid off in February. Desperate to make ends meet, she recently went to a food bank. It was Good Friday, and a woman helping her offered to pay her utility bill. "It brought tears to my eyes, and I sat there and I cried. I was like, 'This is really where I'm at?' " she told CNN. "I go 'no way;' [but] this is true. This is reality. This is the stuff you see on TV. It was hard. It was very hard." Guerrero is estranged from her husband and raising her two young children. She's already burned through her savings to help make ends meet, and is drawing unemployment checks. She has had to take extreme measures to pay for her interest-only mortgage of $2,500 a month. In fact, her mother moved in with her to help pay the bills. Guerrero even applied for food stamps, but was denied. Watch Guerrero describe going to food bank » . "I never used the system. I've been working since I was 15-and-a-half. I needed it now and it turned me down," she said. Stories like Guerrero's are becoming more common as middle-class Americans feel the pinch of an economic downturn, rising gas prices and a housing crunch, especially in a state like California that has been rocked by foreclosures. On Wednesday, a key government report on the battered housing market found new home sales fell to their lowest level in 13 years in February, suggesting the nation's housing market is still struggling. Americans also have been attending in large numbers foreclosure fairs where mortgage lenders, financial planners and counselors offer tips to hard-hit homeowners. "Our economy is struggling, and families in the 'Inland Empire' and across the nation are hurting," California Rep. Joe Baca said, referring to an area of Southern California in his district. "Our housing market is in a state of crisis due to rampant abuses of sub-prime lending, and unemployment is rising. At the same time, the cost of necessities such as gas, healthcare, and education continue to rise." Map: Foreclosures state-by-state » . Daryl Brock, the executive director of Second Harvest Food Bank in California's San Bernardino and Riverside counties, said his organization supplies food to more than 400 charities in metro Los Angeles, from homeless shelters to soup kitchens to an array of food banks. While the majority of people they help are working poor families, he said they have seen some major changes. In the last 12 to 18 months, Brock said, the agencies he supplies have begun seeing more middle-class families coming to their doors. "Our agencies have said there is an increasing number of people coming to them for help," Brock told CNN by phone. "Their impression was that these were not people they normally would have seen before. They seemed to be better dressed. They seemed to have better cars and yet they seemed to be in crisis mode." He added, "The only thing they can do is give us anecdotal evidence that they think it's because of the sub-prime mortgage meltdown and the housing crisis." See recent trends of foreclosure filings » . A former loan processor, Guerrero knows all about that, although so far she has been able keep her house. She used her tax refund to help pay many of her bills for the first two months, but now that money's gone. She says she's now in a middle-class "no-man's-land." "It just happened so fast. It happened in a matter of -- what -- two months," she said. She's eager to get back to work and to hold onto her home until the market turns. But for this single mom, every day it becomes harder to hang on. "It's just depressing," she said. "For me, I just don't want to get out of bed, but I have to. That's my hardest thing. I have to." E-mail to a friend . CNN's Gregg Canes contributed to this report. | Patricia Guerrero went from making $70,000 to drawing unemployment checks .
Desperate to feed her kids, she recently went to a food bank for the first time .
Expert says charities are reporting a rise in middle-class families at food banks .
Guererro: "It just happened so fast. It happened in a matter of -- what -- two months" |
0c2f9e902addfad93e5a937e9a72ebadf223d35d | Ukrainian security forces battled pro-Russian militants in the eastern flashpoint city of Slovyansk on Monday as Kiev tackled the gunmen who have overrun the region. Military gains were evident on the main highway into Slovyansk, a rebel stronghold, as government forces moved in. A CNN team on the ground saw a substantial number of militants bolster their defensive positions and checkpoints inside the city. One civilian car was hit in the fighting, its exterior damaged by bullet holes. At a local hospital, the CNN team saw several people injured from the heavy clashes. One woman had been shot in the head, probably in a crossfire, and two pro-Russian militants were also brought in. Ukraine's Interior Ministry said four people were killed and nearly 30 injured in the city. It quoted local residents as saying the attackers had shot at residential buildings and set them on fire. Militants blamed Ukrainian forces for the civilian casualties. In a separate statement, the Ukrainian Defense Ministry said a military helicopter was shot down "during a combat mission and patrolling in the area" of Slovyansk on Monday, but the pilots survived after it crashed into a river. They were later rescued. Ukraine's embattled new leaders have launched their most intensive effort yet to dislodge pro-Russian separatists who have reportedly seized government buildings in nearly a dozen cities and towns. Kiev authorities describe the separatists as "terrorists." But the rebels say they are defending Russian-speaking areas of the east against Ukrainian "fascists" trying to root out Russian influence in the country. In a statement Monday, Russia's Foreign Ministry accused the Kiev government of "continuing a war against the people of their own country." "We again urge the Kiev organizers of terror against their own people to come to their senses, stop the bloodshed, withdraw troops and sit down, finally, at the negotiating table to start a normal dialogue on ways to resolve the political crisis," the ministry said. Many experts say Russia may be provoking unrest in eastern Ukraine to justify an incursion. Riot-hit Odessa . The uprisings began when President Viktor Yanukovych, a supporter of closer ties with Moscow, was toppled by demonstrations led by pro-Western figures in February, namely in Kiev, the capital. Violence soon erupted in the east and south of the country, escalating dramatically last week. On Sunday, pro-Russian sympathizers smashed their way into a police station in the Black Sea port city of Odessa, demanding their detained comrades be released. In another victory for a violent crowd in east Ukraine and yet another humiliation for state authorities, police didn't try to stop them. Instead, they offered the crowd a deal, releasing 67 alleged enemies of the state if the furious crowd went home. Sunday's storming of the Odessa police station -- just two days after more than 40 people were killed in a street battle and deadly blaze in the city -- was one more example of how Ukraine's new Western-backed leaders are struggling to maintain law and order in the south and east of the country. It also raises questions about the ability of the army and police to confront an uprising that Kiev says is backed by Moscow -- an accusation the Kremlin denies. The men released Sunday had been detained over the weekend after bloody clashes between supporters and opponents of Russia in Odessa on Friday, which ended in the deadly blaze. Forty-six people were killed in the bloodshed -- the deadliest since Yanukovych was ousted. Video posted on YouTube appeared to show supporters of Kiev's government throwing Molotov cocktails at the building where pro-Russian separatists had reportedly taken up positions. The footage, which CNN could not independently confirm, showed people sitting on ledges trying to escape the fire and thick smoke. In an attempt to reassert Kiev's authority, Ukrainian interim Prime Minister Arseniy Yatsenyuk went to Odessa to appeal for unity while accusing Russia of provoking the clashes. Ukraine's Cabinet said it would offer financial assistance to the victims' families. "This is the wake-up call for the entire country, for reconciliation. We need to realize that Russians want to eliminate our country," Yatsenyuk said. His message is a tough sell in a city where so many now believe people who speak Russian are being killed and arrested by forces loyal to the Ukrainian government. Military action . Ukraine's government reported some progress over the weekend in its military campaign. Officials said security forces had regained control of a TV tower in Kramatorsk, some 10 miles (16 kilometers) south of Slovyansk. Residents in Kramatorsk reported hearing gunfire and a CNN team on the outskirts of Kramatorsk saw troop carriers moving toward the city center Saturday. Amateur video posted online -- the authenticity of which could not be confirmed by CNN -- showed burned buses, plumes of smoke and residents calmly observing it all. Saturday actually featured a rare bright spot in the volatility: the release of seven international military observers and five Ukrainians from the Defense Ministry who had been held hostage for eight days in Slovyansk. However, in another challenge to Kiev, separatist leader Valeriy Bolotov in Luhansk declared a state of emergency and announced the formation of a "South-East" army for the entire region. In a video statement aired on local stations, Bolotov introduced a curfew, a ban on political parties and his expectation that local law enforcement officials will take an oath of allegiance to the people of Luhansk. In Donetsk, separatists say they are preparing their own referendum on May 11 to ask residents whether they want sovereignty from Ukraine -- an echo of events that led to Moscow wresting Crimea from Kiev. Denis Pushilin, the self-declared chairman of the Donetsk People's Republic, told CNN the question on the ballot paper would read: "Do you support the act of state sovereignty of the Donetsk Republic?" to which voters can respond with "Yes" or "No." He said enough ballot papers had already been printed to hold the vote. Tensions with Russia . Separatists -- many of them of Russian descent -- say they believe the government in Kiev is illegitimate because it formed after what they call the illegal ousting of Yanukovych in February. Officials in Kiev accuse Moscow of meddling by supporting the separatists. NATO has estimated that up to 40,000 Russian troops are now near the border with Ukraine, which has made Kiev's government and neighboring nations wary of invasion. A senior U.S. official told CNN on Monday that the latest intelligence still showed 40,000 to 50,000 Russian troops on the border. "There has been no major change in force disposition or readiness and no indications of preparations for an invasion," the official said, adding that the U.S. continues to assess the situation. The troops are so close to the border, an invasion could happen with little or no warning, the official said. Russia and the West squared off diplomatically over the fate of Ukraine when Moscow annexed the Black Sea peninsula of Crimea in March after a hastily called referendum and Yanukovych's ouster. He was pushed from office after months of protests by people upset that he had turned away from Europe in favor of Moscow. French Foreign Minister Laurent Fabius warned Monday there could be fresh sanctions on Russia if Ukraine's presidential elections do not take place on May 25. Russia has condemned Kiev's military action in the volatile east. Dmitry Peskov, Russian President Vladimir Putin's spokesman, said Russia's government had received thousands of calls since Friday from people in southeastern Ukraine. The callers described the situation as "horrendous" and pleaded for Russia's involvement. "Most of the people literally demand active help from Russia," he said. The government in Kiev is bracing for further unrest in the run-up to May 9, a national holiday to commemorate the end of the second world war. Interim President Oleksandr Turchynov told local TV that checkpoints had been set up around the capital in case of possible "provocations." | Russia accuses Kiev of waging war on its own people .
Ukrainian forces clash with pro-Russian militants in the flashpoint city of Slovyansk .
Ukraine's Interior Ministry says four people were killed and nearly 30 injured in the city .
Kiev says it launched a military campaign to dislodge pro-Russian separatists . |
0c2fde9be9399d65330a55c1fd94587a53b3672a | In the coastal redwood forests of central California, scientists trying to unravel the mystery surrounding the reproductive problems of dozens of endangered condors think they have uncovered the culprit: the long-banned pesticide DDT. The soaring scavengers with wingspans wider than NBA players are tall were reintroduced to the rugged coast of Big Sur in 1997 after a century-long absence. Upon arrival, the birds found plenty to eat, with dead California sea lions and other marine mammals littering the craggy shoreline. While a good food source, sea lion blubber often has high levels of DDT, a pesticide banned in 1972 that has proven to be a persistent pollutant because it accumulates in bodies of creatures throughout the food chain when animals eat one another. Endangered: Condors on California's central coast are having reproductive problems because of DDT . Once used widely in agriculture, DDT was banned because it is a human toxin considered a possible carcinogen by the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Kelly Sorenson, executive director of Ventana Wildlife Society and a co-author of a new study on condors, said researchers who spent six years studying their reproductive problems have 'established a strong link' to DDT in the birds' food source. The peer-reviewed paper written by 10 condor experts, including biologists from the Los Angeles and Santa Barbara zoos and the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, is being published this month in the University of California journal 'The Condor.' 'In science, rarely is anything definitive but we've established a strong link between ... DDT and eggshell thinning in California condors,' said Mr Sorenson. Dinner time: Condors feed on the remains of a marine mammal on a beach in Big Sur . The eggshell mystery began in 2006, when a biologist inspecting a condor nest in the cavity of a redwood tree on the central California coast found the first thin shell. Over the next six years, the scientists observed condors feeding on dozens of sea lions, and found that the Big Sur condor population had a low hatching success — just 20-40 percent — for 16 nesting pairs. In contrast, 70-80 percent of southern California condors in the Tejon area had hatched successfully over the same time. The southern California condors are inland, and sea lions are not a food source. Biologists familiar with the ravages of DDT in bird populations immediately suspected the widely used pesticide as a factor. Tests since the 1970s have found high levels of DDT in sea lions; and studies have linked DDT's metabolized version, DDE, to egg shell thinning in birds, including brown pelicans and bald eagles. Majestic: Condors wingspans are wider than NBA players are tall . The condor study attributed at least eight of 16 egg failures to thinning from DDT. One shell found crushed in a nest was 54-percent thinner than normal. Thinning can also allow bacteria to more easily enter the eggs. But why did the sea lions have such high DDT levels in the first place? The scientists theorize that the sea mammals were exposed when they migrated to the central coast from southern California, where the Montrose Chemical Corp. dumped DDT with impunity for decades until the 1970s. The Montrose plant and the ocean off Palos Verdes where it dumped DDT are now listed as Environmental Protection Agency 'Superfund' sites. Less hatching: California condor eggs hatch less than half as much on the central coast than they do to the south . 'A vast majority of California sea lions have spent at least a portion of their lives in the waters of southern California, which is the most DDT-contaminated coastal environment in the world,' Mr Sorenson said. 'Northward movements of sea lions provide a pathway of DDT to condors in central California.' The study's authors and other experts agree that lead ammunition, not DDT, is the main threat to the survivability of condors. But Jesse Grantham, a former condor program coordinator for Fish and Wildlife who did not participate in the study, called the paper's findings helpful scientific evidence that will add to the overall picture of threats facing condor recovery. Another former condor program manager, Noel Snyder, was critical of the DDT study, however. He said it only looks closely at one potential cause of reproductive problems — DDT — and fails to properly evaluate the potential effects of other contaminants and factors that may be involved and more important. 'DDT is not the only thing that causes . eggshell thinning, and the authors of the paper don't present a . significant correlation of DDT with the thinning found, and thus do not . do a convincing job of linking DDT with the happenings in Big Sur.' Big Sur: Though beautiful, Big Sur is contaminated with DDT . Study author and Ventana wildlife biologist Joe Burnett defended the team's work, saying all data pointed to the pesticide as the problem. 'We collected data on many different environmental toxins but none, other than DDE, were even in the ballpark known to cause reproductive failure in birds,' Mr Burnett said. In the final analysis, the study's authors say the DDT problem will fade over time. 'Like bald eagles and other bird species previously affected by DDT, the thickness of condor eggshells should recover as contamination declines in the coastal environment,' said co-author Robert Risebrough, an expert on the effects of DDT on birds. | DDT pesticide was banned in 1972, but still pollutes the environment .
Despite the danger posed to the environment, it was only banned because it was considered carcinogenic to humans .
Central California condors hatch eggs at a fraction of the rate non-DDT affected condors do in southern California . |
0c303a0587b0a8c085bf8bdea9ad31b00e4253f2 | By . Matt Chorley, Mailonline Political Editor . PUBLISHED: . 05:05 EST, 30 July 2013 . | . UPDATED: . 08:48 EST, 30 July 2013 . It seems Nick Clegg is not cut out for a life on the open wave. After posing for the cameras as he joined commuters on board a river boat yesterday, the Deputy Prime Minister was back on terra firma this morning, ferried to work in the back of his ministerial limo. Unfortunately for the Lib Dem leader, a photographer was also on hand to picture the moment an aide held the car door open for him outside his home in Putney. In the back: Nick Clegg climbs into his government car today, in stark contrast to his trip down the Thames wife wife Miriam yesterday . On firm ground: The Deputy Prime Minister opted for a more traditional route to Whitehall this morning . With David Cameron still on his holidays in Portugal, Mr Clegg is the most senior minister in Whitehall. Keen to get his time in charge of the country off to a flying start, yesterday he took to the water with wife Miriam, with the couple see gazing into . each other’s eyes while other commuters paid little attention to the . fact the Deputy Prime Minister was on board. But luckily a photographer just happened to be there . to record the ‘impromptu’ trip as the couple drank coffee and exchange loving glances. At least in his open-neck shirt and . expensive suit, Nick Clegg looked more at ease than David Cameron did on . Friday as he attempted the casual look on holiday in Portugal with wife . Samantha. The Deputy Prime Minister and his wife Miriam, a lawyer, were returning to work yesterday after their own break in Spain. Nailing it: Mr Clegg later tried his hand at hammering a tac into a sofa during a visit to to Forest Sofa Ltd In Salford. Cheer up: The Lib Dem leader looked glum - maybe thinking about his fun boat ride yesterday . It . was the first time Mr Clegg has used the river bus for the half-hour . commute from his home in Putney, South-West London, to his Westminster . office. But his ministerial . car still had to make the trip, to carry paperwork for the Liberal . Democrat leader, who, Downing Street insists, is not running things as . Mr Cameron ‘remains in charge’ – even on holiday. Tomorrow Mr Clegg is expected to host the second of his new monthly . press conferences, taking questions from journalists on any topic. All smiles: Nick Clegg and wife Miriam Durantez Gonzalez gaze at each other during a half hour boat trip to work this morning . Bored boaters: Other commuters paid little attention to the Deputy PM as they travelled from Putney to Westminster . Lonely at the top: With David Cameron still on holiday in Portugal, Mr Clegg is the most senior government minister in Westminster . By . contrast Mr Cameron has faced criticism for not holding the 'take . all-comers' press conferences which became routine under Tony Blair and . Gordon Brown. As millions of people battled through . traffic jams or the crush on trains and buses, Mr Clegg looked relaxed . as he boarded the boat from his family home in Putney to Westminster. During . the half hour river journey the Cleggs enjoyed coffee from Costa – . notably snubbing Starbucks which has faced criticism for its low tax . bill in Britain. Stepping out: The Cleggs were seen walking in the sunshine this morning while other commuters braved traffic jams and over-heated public transport . Rested: The couple have just returned from a week in Spain, where Miriam's family are from . Downing Street has repeatedly stressed that Mr Cameron 'remains in charge' wherever he is in the world. But Mr Clegg has encouraged the idea that senior ministers 'hold the fort' when the PM is taking a break. The two men faced criticism after it emerged they would both be out of the country at the same time . | Lib Dem leader climbs into government car - while an aide held the door .
Couple returned to work in London after week-long holiday in Spain .
Deputy PM is most senior minister in Westminster while Cameron is away .
Prime Minister is in Portugal with wife Samantha and 3 children . |
0c30c9b48110ff38c389a4c105d7d527ecbbd9ca | (CNN) -- From the Nintendo 3DS's ability to grab titles on demand to the increasing popularity of retail sites like Steam and Direct2Drive.com, downloadable games will be everywhere in 2011. The days when you had to visit your local store, buy a title and insert a disc into your console to play a game are long gone. Thanks to new episodic titles ("Back to the Future," "Jurassic Park"), popular indie PC games ("Minecraft," "Recettear") and a growing range of smartphone apps and console-exclusive downloads, digital game distribution continues to grow. Whether you're playing on your PlayStation 3, Wii, Xbox 360 or mobile handset, here are five new and upcoming titles that exemplify the expanding breadth of what online game downloads have to offer. "X-Men Arcade" (PlayStation Network/Xbox Live Arcade) Revisit your misspent adolescence with a conversion of the popular side-scrolling 1992 arcade brawler starring Cyclops, Wolverine, Nightcrawler and other comic book favorites -- before they became movie icons. High-definition multiplayer cartoon action for up to six players takes top billing, as you use fists, laser beams and super powers to bludgeon Magneto's crew of villains, including Juggernaut, Pyro and The Blob. "Gemini Rue" (Wadjet Eye Games) A sci-fi point-and-click adventure set in a dystopian future that's drawn comparison to genre classics like "Beneath a Steel Sky," this retro-futuristic, film noir-flavored tale harkens back to PC gaming's early '90s heyday. It's available February 24, and anyone who owned an Amiga or IBM-compatible should appreciate its nostalgic pixel graphics and "Blade Runner"-style vibe. "Full House Poker" (Xbox Live Arcade) Arriving on the heels of interactive game show "1 vs. 100" comes Microsoft's next multiplayer social gaming experiment, which makes online poker tournaments possible for up to 30 players. Texas Hold 'Em showdowns, staffed by avatars, can be played for virtual chips, with hidden surprises -- including new tables, decks and outfits to unlock -- and the ability to compete against professional players. "MotoHeroz" (WiiWare, RedLynx) Following upon the success of popular speedster "Trials HD," developer RedLynx hopes to bridge the gap between side-scrolling platform hoppers and arcade racing with this candy-colored interactive rally for up to four players. Offbeat physics set the stage as you compete on more than 100 levels, with daily competitions, online leader boards and, oddly enough, single-player story options. These should provide a ready excuse to put pedal to the metal. "Bionic Commando Rearmed 2" (PlayStation Network/Xbox Live Arcade) This game picks up where the last downloadable mix of combat and grappling arm-powered action (and 1988 NES game) left off, adding a jump button, items to equip (love the grenade launcher!) and enhanced graphics. With puzzles to solve and bosses to battle, it should provide old-school fun for anyone who's ever dreamed of playing a disgruntled cyborg. | Digital game distribution continues to grow, thanks to new titles and smartphone apps .
"Gemini Rue" is a sci-fi point-and-click adventure set in a dystopian future .
With its bosses to battle and its puzzles, "Bionic Commando Rearmed 2" is old-school fun . |
0c30dd11d36659e7c1809a298fa43b7307106b4a | By . Mark Prigg . PUBLISHED: . 03:48 EST, 11 September 2012 . | . UPDATED: . 04:32 EST, 11 September 2012 . Nasa has revealed new pictures of Curiosity 'looking back' at one of its cameras on the martian surface. It comes as they confirmed the rover has now tested its robotic arm successfully, using a 1909 penny and a piece of rock from New Mexico to calibrate its instruments. The team admitted even they were surprised by the quality of images being sent back after dust covers were removed from the rover's main cameras. Nasa today released this incredible image of Curiosity on the red planet, showing off its wheels and four 'navcams' which act as the rover's eyes on the red planet. 'Wow, seeing these images after all the tremendous hard work that has . gone into making them possible is a profoundly emotional moment,' said . MAHLI Principal Investigator Ken Edgett of Malin Space Science Systems, . San Diego. 'It is so exciting to see the camera returning beautiful, . sharp images from Mars.' NASA's Mars rover Curiosity stepped . through activities on Sept. 7, 8 and 9 designed to check and . characterize precision movements by the rover's robotic arm and use of . tools on the arm. The activities confirmed good health and usefulness of Mars Hand Lens . Imager, or MAHLI, and used that camera to check arm placement during . several positioning activities. MAHLI took an image with its reclosable dust cover open for the first . time on Mars, confirming sharp imaging capability that had been obscured . by a thin film of dust on the cover during previous use of the camera. It took images of cameras at the top of Curiosity's mast, of the . underbelly of the rover and of MAHLI's own calibration target, among . other pointings. The camera's calibration target includes a 1909 Lincoln penny that . Edgett purchased for this purpose. The team calibrated the camera using a 'lucky penny' on the rover's mast . 'We're seeing the penny in the . foreground and, looking past it, a setting I'm sure the people who . minted these coins never imagined,' Edgett said. The penny is a nod to geologists' tradition of placing a coin or other . object of known scale as a size reference in close-up photographs of . rocks, and it gives the public a familiar object for perceiving size . easily when it will be viewed by MAHLI on Mars. 'The folks who drive the rover's arm and turret have taken a 220-pound . arm through some very complex tai chi, to center a penny in an image . that's only a few centimeters across,' said MAHLI Deputy Principal . Investigator Aileen Yingst of the Tucson-based Planetary Science . Institute. 'They make the impossible look easy.' The arm characterization activities, including more imaging by MAHLI, . will continue for a few days before Curiosity resumes driving toward a . mid-term science destination area called Glenelg. In that area, the . rover may use its scoop to collect a soil sample, and later its drill to . collect a sample of powder from inside a rock. Curiosity is five weeks into a two-year prime mission on Mars. It will . use 10 science instruments to assess whether the selected study area . ever has offered environmental conditions favorable for microbial life. A sample of basaltic rock from a lava flow in New Mexico serves as a calibration target for the rover's Canadian-made Alpha Particle X-Ray Spectrometer . Nasa today revealed stunning new images of Curiosity's wheel on the martian surface taken using the high resolution Mahli camera, which had its dustcover removed for the first time . Wheels down: Nasa used the newly uncovered Mahli camera to take a series of images of the rover's wheel on the red planet's surface . The new images also give tantalising views of the nearby mountains that Curiosity will eventually climb in its quest for for ingredients of life on the red planet . The images also reveal Curiosity's large wheels and distinctive tyre tracks, which leave morse code messages on the surface as it travels . VIDEO: NASA scientists explain where Curiosity rover currently is on its mission... | Engineers say seeing latest pictures were a 'profoundly emotional moment'
Robotic arm carrying out 'some very complex tai chi' to test its movement .
Piece of New Mexico rock and a 1909 penny being used to calibrate instruments . |
0c30f8b99da29f37d4151b54e279d9eec2fb2a8d | (CNN) -- New publisher Nollybooks is taking chick-lit and adapting it for a South African audience, with a series of romance novels by, and for, young black women. Nigeria's Nollywood film industry has revolutionized African cinema, and Nollybooks is hoping to do the same for South African publishing. Nigeria-born Moky Makura is a writer and TV presenter. When it came to starting her own publishing company, she made it her mission to get young women reading again. "There are lots of aliterate people in South Africa," she said. "They can read but don't read. "There isn't really a culture of reading here. The book buying public is white middle class women and I wanted to change that." But like any good story there's a twist -- it's romance without the smut. As Makura argues, "You don't need sex to have good storytelling." Makura says she took the decision to make the books sex free because it was a more responsible approach. "Because of the market we are selling to and because of the issues in Africa with AIDS and sex as a whole we didn't think it was important," she said. Novels in South Africa generally don't sell very well. A fiction book need only sell 5,000 copies to be considered a best seller. South African journalist and author Fred Khumalo says most South Africans can't afford to buy books and there is no culture of reading for leisure. That's why Nollybooks come with another twist. Rather than use a traditional book format, they are in the form of "bookazines," which include word puzzles and quizzes in their pages, and have a glossary of difficult words at the back. Makura said the aim was to make reading entertaining and fun -- quite a challenge in South Africa, where she says the commonly held perception is that books are purely educational. "I see Nollybooks as almost having a soap opera in your hand," Makura explained. In the world of Nollybooks the heroines are strong, confident, ambitious and know what they want. Titles include "Unfashionably in Love," about a fashion intern trying to attract the attention of her boss and "Looking for Mr. Right," which tells a cautionary tale of the internet dating game. Makura says it is important that young Africans have positive role models to whom they can relate. "We need African role models that have achieved things and didn't have to grow up in the West. "Even though the heroes in the books are fictional our books are written to a formula and one of them is that the heroines are strong and not the typical Mills & Boon slutty woman." The company also wants to nurture young talent and many of its writers have never had a book published before. Cheryl Ntumy, who is in her 20s and from Botswana, wrote "Looking for Mr. Right." "A lot of my friends were getting married and I found myself in a situation where I was still single so that got me thinking about writing a story," she said. "Internet dating is also something a lot of people talk about here so I decided to combine the two. "I was really trying to evoke girl power, an independent woman's message, because a lot of women in Africa have a strong sense of marriage and family and I felt it important for women to know that they didn't have to become that person and that it's okay to be single." Johannesburg-based English teacher Joan Buchanan says many of her pupils don't enjoy reading traditional novels because they struggle with context and vocabulary. She is convinced the Nollybooks stories are just what they need to develop a love for reading. "This is for me such a wonderful hand up because I don't have to say anything -- I'll let them sample the book and they'll do their own magic," she said. The success of Nollywood movies has shown that Africans hunger for their own stories and homegrown heroes, and Makura says it's time books provided them. "South Africans need more heroes, fiction and non-fiction, and we need to be creating and reading our own content," she said. | Nollybooks produces romance novels aimed at young South African women .
Founder says her mission is to get young women to read .
There is no sex in the novels because of the high incidence of AIDS in South Africa .
Nollybooks are in the form of "bookazines," with word puzzles and a glossary . |
0c315bbfe2008fb6a93e39244af99adf5e4b9eb0 | By . James Nye . Police in New York are hot on the heels of a women who stole replicas of the ruby slippers worn by Judy Garland in The Wizard of Oz. The well-dressed blonde lady was captured on surveillance footage at the Garden Inn on Staten Island making off with the $2,500 shoes at 2am around two weeks ago. The owners of the hotel said that the lady got help from two men to steal the slippers from a glass casing that sits in the foyer of the hotel. Scroll Down for Video . Wanted: Police have requested any information the public can give them on the where-abouts of this woman who is suspected of stealing a replica of the ruby slippers from a Staten Island hotel . 'The two guys tip the glass back. She took the shoes and put ‘em in her pocket book and went into the elevator,' Richard said Nicotra said. 'We see her getting off on the sixth floor with the shoes on.' The hotel's owner, Richard , told the Staten Island Advance that he and his wife bought the shoes in Paris: 'Displayed for the last several years, they were meant to remind guests that while 'there's no place like home,' the Hilton strives to provide something close. Nicotra said that he is feels, 'Disappointed'. 'You feel violated.' There are dozens of cameras at the hotel to protect the nearly $2 million in art that is hanging on the walls of the building. There's no place like home: The $2,500 slippers were snatched from this glass cabinet which was lifted up by two men while the lady removed the shoes . Slippers: The replicas were purchased in Paris by the owner of the Hilton Garden Inn on Staten Island . Offended: The hotel owners, Richard and Lois Nicotra, said they paid $2,500 for the glittery shoes . Two men and the woman exited the building after stealing the slippers and the woman in fact wore them as she left the building. 'The trio proceeds to the adjacent elevator and a camera picks them up on the sixth floor; the woman apparently donned the slippers in the elevator cab. When last seen, by an exterior camera, she's climbing into a taxi.' Legendary: The 1939 musical film The Wizard of Oz starred Judy Garland (center with her ruby slippers) alongside characters such as the Tin Man, The Scarecrow and the Cowardly Lion . | Copies of the famous slippers from the 1939 movie were stolen from Staten Island hotel two weeks ago .
Blonde woman captured on surveillance video stealing the shoes along with two other men .
The slippers were on permanent display at the hotel after being purchased by the owners in Paris . |
0c31e943b0da36369f177d3d5e9aecdb00b4c87f | By . Daily Mail Reporter . Tireless: Doreen Lawrence . The mother of murdered teenager Stephen Lawrence was honoured for her relentless pursuit of justice and her campaign against racism yesterday. Doreen Lawrence was presented with the Londoner of the Year Award by the Daily Mail’s Editor, Paul Dacre, at the London Press Club Awards. Stephen was 18 when he was stabbed to death by five white youths at a bus stop in Eltham, South East London, in 1993. Baroness Lawrence fought tirelessly for justice for her son and, in January 2012, Gary Dobson and David Norris were finally convicted of the murder. At the awards, the London Evening Standard won Daily Newspaper of the Year and The Mail on Sunday won Sunday Newspaper of the Year. One of the special honours of the day, the John Lewis-sponsored Edgar Wallace award for writing of the highest quality, went to Daily Mail and Mail on Sunday contributor Ian Birrell.The Daily Mail was praised by judges for its ‘constantly expanding roster of star columnists’, a history of ‘successful campaigning’ and its ‘juggernaut website’. At the awards, held at The Stationers and Newspaper Makers’ Hall, in central London, Mr Dacre said: ‘It is bitter sweet that the recipient of this award needs no introduction. ‘Who has not heard of Doreen Lawrence and her fight for justice for her son Stephen – brutally and senselessly murdered in a case that brought shame on London for more than 20 years. ‘I and the Mail team are proud of our own efforts to help achieve justice for Stephen. Two of the thugs are in jail and the case remains open in relation to others. But throughout that battle Doreen Lawrence has fought for the other Stephens as she calls them.’ Mr Dacre said Lady Lawrence had ‘become a powerful champion against racism’ and been ‘justly recognised’ last year with a seat in the House of Lords. Baroness Lawrence said it was ‘a privilege’ to accept the award. She thanked the Press for their support over the years, singling out the Daily Mail, which famously published a front page on February 14, 1997, branding five suspects as ‘Murderers’. She said: ‘I think that without having the Mail publish their faces, no one would know. They could walk around and nobody knew what they looked like.’ The other winners were: Scoop of the Year – Sunday People for Nigella Lawson and Charles Saatchi; Blog of the Year – Paul Staines of Guido Fawkes; Arts Reviewer of the Year – Ludovic Hunter-Tilney (Financial Times); Business Journalist of the Year – Simon Neville (Independent and Evening Standard); Broadcast Journalist of the Year – LBC Breakfast host Nick Ferrari. | Doreen Lawrence presented with Londoner of the Year Award . |
0c338c23877ae5aea0509d625c7ed2dbb84b8607 | After Marco Rubio won his inaugural Senate race in 2010 in Florida, he became the latest star of the Republican Party. The young, insurgent candidate was so impressive, talk of a presidential future quickly ensued. He entered the Senate with high expectations, having won his race with the support of the new tea party movement while simultaneously appealing to mainstream conservatives. But his journey has not been without roadblocks. Leadership on controversial topics has slowed his rise. Now, Rubio, 43, is working to right his perceived wrongs and shed his stereotypes as takes up the mantle once adorned by doing the work to launch a presidential run. Boosting his presence . The freshman senator is doing all the things necessary to make himself known. He's traveling to early presidential nominating states, heading overseas to beef up his foreign policy credentials, appearing on national TV to boost his name recognition and formulating policy ideas to demonstrate substance. On Wednesday, he delivered a "major address" on economic mobility and challenges facing the middle class. Little new came from it. It was a culmination of previously announced ideas and legislation he's already introduced this year and weaved in personal stories of childhood poverty as the son of Cuban immigrants and accounts of people struggling to make it in the middle class. "Too many are starting to believe the American Dream is no longer possible for people like them," he said. Alex Conant, Rubio's spokesman, said the senator has been developing these ideas "for months," since the 50th anniversary of the War on Poverty earlier this year. It's a comprehensive speech but one that could be delivered on the floor of the Senate, a place where any of the 100 members go to offer their policy prescriptions. Instead, Rubio's speech was aimed at garnering as much attention and clout as possible. In an attempt to appeal to the right, he spoke a few blocks from Capitol Hill at conservative Hillsdale College, which stresses the teaching of "constitutional principles." A coordinated media campaign that includes post-speech interviews is geared toward bolstering the significance of the speech. An alternative . Rubio's efforts to raise his profile and prove his substance is also an effort at differentiating himself from Democrats. His economic address comes the same week that President Barack Obama's summit on working families and the Clinton Global Initiative conference in Colorado that focused on jobs and the economy. It was attended by former secretary of state and potential Democratic presidential candidate Hillary Clinton. Hillary Clinton on wealth missteps: 'My record speaks for itself' Rubio's address contrasted the ideas they presented and, instead, took up themes Democrats have largely rejected, including a private option for Medicare and gradually raising the retirement age for Social Security. They are popular ideas within the Republican Party that would arguably save federal dollars. On jobs and economic mobility, Rubio detailed his ideas that include tax reform and tax credits for mothers obtaining an education and income-based student loan payments. He also backed a reduction of regulations and taxes and the repeal of Obamacare that he says prohibits employers from hiring, a far different platform from his Democratic counterparts. Kevin Madden, a former adviser to 2012 presidential candidate Mitt Romney, said Rubio is trying to fill a void. "He recognizes the Republican Party is very hungry for leaders who want to serve as a counterpoint to President Obama on the big policy issues," he said. To beef up his foreign policy resume, the member of the Foreign Relations Committee has put himself out front on related matters. He appeared on the Sunday talk shows to discuss the U.S. response to the chaos in Iraq where he backed air strikes, a position Obama hasn't pursued. A crowded field . But to get where he'll contrast his ideas against a Democratic presidential candidate, he needs to differentiate himself from his fellow Republicans. Rubio is doing what other potential presidential candidates have done. Sen. Rand Paul has delivered numerous policy speeches throughout the country; Gov. Chris Christie has been active outside New Jersey in his role as head of the Republican Governors Association; former Florida Governor Jeb Bush has begun strategically appearing at national conferences. They, and a dozen other potential candidates, have also traveled to early nominating states of Iowa, New Hampshire, South Carolina and Nevada. Rand Paul: Will his star continue to rise? There lies the problem: Rubio is just one of many climbers trying to reach the same summit. As many as four governors, three senators, a former senator and two former governors are contemplating a 2016 run. Rubio faces a difficult slog to rise above the noise that the Republican race is already making. In a June CNN poll, Rubio pulled 8% among potential GOP presidential candidates. His support is low, but he fell smack in the middle of the large pack and not much worse than the most popular potential candidate, Paul, who garnered 14%. In a fractured Republican Party that consists of social conservatives, fiscal conservatives, tea party activists and pragmatists, Rubio will have to find his niche. Rubio's rising star . After he won his Senate race, Rubio was the face of the tea party. He was considered one of the more conservative to enter the Senate. But as the Republican establishment struggled to embrace the tea party, he became the glue. Party leaders saw potential and a future in Rubio. He's young, He's Hispanic and he's telegenic. "It's a great day for the conservative cause. New people with new thinking, new ideas -- 21st century solutions," Jeb Bush said immediately after his victory. But politics is a volatile profession. Rubio's folly . Rubio's stock within the Republican Party plummeted last year when he held up the mantle for the Republican Party on immigration reform. He was part of a group of eight senators that forged an agreement, leading to the passage of comprehensive immigration reform. While he was dubbed "The Republican Savior" by Time Magazine for his work on a solution that has been unable to pass Congress for nearly a decade, conservatives called the bill amnesty for undocumented immigrants and conservative Erick Erickson called Rubio a "disappointment" on his blog Red State. "While some of us will be able to forgive Marco Rubio's rather rapid shift toward the very position he once vocally opposed, others probably will not be so forgiving," Erickson wrote. Bob Vander Plaats, CEO of The Family Leader, a social conservative organization in Iowa that has a large amount of political influence in the critical presidential caucus state, said people "really backed away" from Rubio after immigration. Rubio, he said, is going to have to explain himself to Iowa Republicans. Iowa voters are "a very discerning lot," Vander Plaats said. "They're willing to forgive. They're willing to try to understand." Although his immigration position was likely to appeal to independent voters and even Democrats, the outrage proved the position was unpopular among the base, which he needs in a presidential primary. After the immigration fallout, Rubio felt the heat and backed away from the national spotlight. He laid low and made little noise. Rubio's return . Rubio has mostly avoided the topic of immigration except to pivot away from the bill he helped pass through the Senate by endorsing a fragmented approach in the Republican-led House. He maintained his latest stance again Wednesday when he said a solution for the millions of undocumented immigrants can't happen before the border is secure and a worker verification system is in place. Since 2014 rolled around, Rubio has been carefully crafting his image as a well-rounded, versatile leader in the Republican Party. He has repeatedly appeared on the business channel CNBC to discuss economic policies without mentioning immigration. A smart move, Madden said, because "it's dangerous when you make your name on one issue." Madden, who has been watching his campaign, said Rubio is making the right moves, not only in the policy arena but the political one, too. "He's not making 2014 about Marco Rubio but making it about candidates across the country," Madden said. Rubio was the first of the possible presidential candidates to endorse Iowa Senate candidate Joni Ernst. He traveled to the state to fundraise and campaign for her. His endorsement and her subsequent win helps him build relationships and a national infrastructure in critical states. Media. Check. Policy. Check. Politics. Check. Now Rubio has the long, treacherous trek of finding the voters who support him. "Slow and steady wins the race," Madden said. How many ways can Romney say no to 2016? | Florida Sen. Marco Rubio is giving a major economic policy address .
It's part of a larger coordinated strategy to prepare for a presidential run .
One challenge is being noticed among the many other Republicans considering .
his lead on immigration caused discernment among the Republican base . |
0c33f791d5011031b4e03ade209ededf750c102b | (CNN) -- Collections of beautifully shot images of people's passions -- food, fashions, architecture, etc. -- helped make Pinterest a hit. Now Houzz, the interior-design platform, is turning similar photos into extremely popular mobile apps that tap into the home improvement craze. At its core, Houzz is an addictive, never-ending gallery of luscious images of home interiors and exteriors. Its website and apps are popular resources for people who idly dream of redoing their homes or moving into new ones. Home improvement and design, both the real and daydream variety, is a hot industry right now. Just look at the glut of home improvement and house-flipping shows that fill up channels such as HGTV. The home improvement product market is expected to hit $287 billion in 2013, according to the Home Improvement Research Institute. Houzz gently guides people through the process. You begin by looking at bathrooms, graduate to having a scrapbook of dream bathrooms, then read the Houzz tutorials on bathroom renovation and eventually hire someone through its directory or local experts on bathroom renovation. "Many times people start on the inspiration side but end up taking actions because of that," said Houzz founder Adi Tatarko. "People became very obsessed with it." Tatarko and her husband, Alon Cohen, were working full time and raising their two children in the Bay Area when they started a home renovation project four years ago. They had difficulty finding professionals and found that contractors too had their own frustrations with customers expecting too much. "There was lots of miscommunication in the process," Tatarko said. The couple started Houzz in 2009 as a side project, but the next year it went from a hobby to a full-fledged business. The Palo Alto, California-based company now has 120 employees, and its iOS app has more than 100,000 five-star reviews in the Apple App Store. Every month, 15 million people search Houzz by room, style or metro area -- more than half through a smartphone or tablet. The company has a library of more than 2 million images. The sheer volume of photos housed in Houzz means you can spend hours drilling down into your particular project, say, ideas for Mediterranean-style storage closets in Austin, Texas. Browsing high-resolution photos is the initial draw. You can save favorites into Ideabooks for later -- for example, a selection of outdoor wall gardens or midcentury modern living room chairs in a particular shade of yellow. But for Houzz, the money comes when people take action. Interior designers, contractors and architects upload many of the images. There are more than 250,000 such professionals active on Houzz. What makes the app more than just pretty pictures is the information that goes with each image. You can click to see the companies and people who worked on a project, ask questions about how they did certain things or where to find furniture or other products. The people who post images are good about providing answers. There also is a directory of professionals with reviews, sort of an Angie's List but with splashier visuals. Going local is a key part of Houzz's business. If you see a dreamy spread in a magazine such as Dwell, the information disclosing who worked on a house is only useful if you live in that area. Houzz shows examples of work from people close enough to hire, divided into 425 metro areas. A Houzz survey (PDF) of 100,000 people found that 84% of respondents were planning to decorate or redecorate, 40% were considering remodeling or building an addition, and 10% were planning on building a custom home. Online tools are an increasingly important resource for the people diving into these projects and the professionals hoping to get their business. Also, 18% of people said they were renovating to incorporate new technologies into their homes. While free to users, Houzz is making money from brand-name partnerships with big companies such as Kohler and Nest, and through a subscription marketing program for professionals. Investors said they are confident the company will be profitable -- it's raised $48.6 million in funding so far. Tatarko said she hopes Houzz will help more people jump from fantasizing about home improvement to picking up a hammer themselves or a phone to reach someone who uses hammers professionally. "Our homes are a very significant part of our lives," she said. "I think it (home improvement) was just so hard before, so people just stayed away from it." | Houzz caters to people who like photos of beautiful homes and dream of improvement projects .
Houzz's sites and apps attract 15 million users a month .
It draws people in with stunning photos and adds how-to guides and reviews of professionals . |
0c345c487752bf97ca291ce2f24151e2695537cb | (CNN)More than once accused of being culture-free, Australia's third largest metropolis has a culture all its own, shaped by a palm-swaying climate. Cultural survival in the river-looped city relies on respecting some vital local lore. In the words of one local paper, "You're not from Brisbane until you ..." Get undressed . This is the first lesson foreigners learn on visiting Brisbane, wedged along an eastern coastline lined with impressive beaches. Getting rid of unnecessary clothes is a question of survival. Too hot to bother with full and formal attire, dress code boils down to beachwear, skimpy dresses, shorts and thongs. Short-sleeved shirts will generally be more than accepted for business folk. Friendly reminder: In all of the country the 'thong' isn't a sexy strip of underwear, but the cherished Aussie term for flip-flops. Only Brisbanites, jibes the local Courier Mail newspaper, will reach for a cardy (a cardigan) if the thermometer falls below 22C (72 F) -- which it rarely does. The dream climate has sucked in sun worshipers from all over the world -- one quarter of the population are foreigners. Start using "Brissie" and "togs" Brisbane has its own lingo. A swimming costume is no longer a "cozzy," as for other Aussies. Or swimmers or bathers. Those in Brissie call them "togs." Oh, and in this sport-worshiping state, "The King" isn't Elvis but former homegrown sporting star Wally Lewis. Informalities come away like layers of clothes. "Mate," "hey," "ay" and "but" punctuate conversation. People here call Queensland Premier Campbell Newman "Can Do" -- to his face! They also debate the relative merits of the "Goldie" (Gold Coast) to the south, and "Sunny" (Sunshine Coast) Coast to the north. Like all Queenslanders, Brisbanites cop often unnecessary flak for speaking slowly, perhaps on account of the heat. Be ready for the storm . Subtropical climes mean rain -- buckets of it. And hailstones the size of golf balls -- they're declared "natural enemy" number one by Brisbanites. Lighting and thunder are also familiar villains. The storms are regularly spectacular and also very damaging. Severe flooding has hit the city and state in recent years. Living in the city means always carrying a lightweight waterproof -- and being ready to take cover from the storm. Live the River . The Brisbane River is the city's lifeblood. (And it's not uncommon for sharks to be caught in sections of the river). Unfurling 16 kilometers (10 miles) inland from the Pacific Ocean, it Big Dippers through the city around a series of beak-shaped headlands. The river is a ticket to ride through one of Australia's greenest urban settings. In forward-thinking Brissie, thickets of skyscrapers and urban bush land meet. You have to cruise the river to experience the city's most iconic public transport -- the ferries. Free CityFerries and faster CityCats zip round a network of 24 terminals, allowing passengers to hop on and off to lap up Brisbane's watery character. Ferries run from 6 a.m. to midnight, daily. Go walkabout . Outdoor activities are Brisbane's chief modus operandi. City overseers are prioritizing pedestrian and bike friendliness. Brisbanites wake up before dawn to dart about along verdant harborside paths or on the 24-hour CityCycle biking sharing plan. A circuit-walking trail links the foreshore Botanic Gardens, Parliament House and Old Government House. Pedestrians can follow it across the river, via the car-free Goodwill Bridge, and walk through South Bank's museums and restaurants. The stunning LED-lit Kurilpa footbridge will take you back to the central business district. Nicknamed "sticks bridge" (due to its spiky appearance), it was the world's largest solar-powered bridge until London's Blackfriars stole its thunder last January. The "tensegrity" construction relies on tension in the cables between the pillars to stay upright. Go suburban . Australian suburbia is the spread that doesn't fit in a Vegemite jar. Being a few miles upstream from the city center in Brisbane is no crime. In fact it's seen as a lifestyle plus. Hot to trot neighborhoods dot the riverbanks -- Fortitude Valley (or just the Valley) and Paddington have vibrant restaurant and bar scenes. Further along from trendy Teneriffe in New Farm is Bulimba. Proliferating swimming pools and architect-designed homes have seen median house prices here outstrip $1 million. But there's a breezy village feel among Oxford Street's bookshops, cafes and cinemas. Ferrying here, you'll get a sense of leaving the city behind, as bushy reserves surge. Picnic in a park . The picnic is the crux of Brisbane's public bonding culture. Locals head en masse to riverside parks for picnicking, barbies and mingling. With 1,820 parks and gardens, this is supposedly Australia's most bio-diverse capital. It aims to be its greenest by 2016 -- carbon neutral and crammed with trees. Sprawling greens, multipurpose pathways and barbecue areas flank riverbanks north (city side) and south. The Brunswick Street ferry stop will land you in New Farm Park. Some 18,000 people flood here every week according to management, "to picnic, play, eat, dance, ponder, gaze and wonder." You can also awe at the willowy Queenslander houses, perched high on flood-defying stilts. Get cultural . If you don't cross the Brisbane River, you risk missing all the culture concentrated on the southside. Comedian Barry Humphries -- aka Dame Edna Everage -- helped spark the great Brisbane cultural debate with the disparaging quip: "Australia is the Brisbane of the world." These days, cries of intellectual destitution are difficult to sustain among the billowing art and science institutions of South Bank. The capital for culture is Stanley Place. The white-stone-swathed "Cultural Precinct" is home to the Queensland Art Gallery and Gallery of Modern Art. Collectively they're known as "QAGOMA." Entry is free, barring special exhibitions. Love thy mall . Brisbane's "big country town" reputation of the past lives on in pockets of the beloved Queen Street Mall. The downtown strip is a mishmash of Seventies shops, ultra-mod glassy office tower-hotels and steel clad sunshades. The 26-point City Centre Heritage Trail shows you the colonial anachronisms among the flourishing skyscrapers. Church spires and Edwardian-Baroque facades from the 1800s mingle with neon casino lights and bar upon bar. Brisbane's love of blingy buildings and nightlife spawned its endearing tag, BrisVegas. Down a lager . Brisbane pub culture is perched somewhere between traditional drinking holes and sleek modern emporiums. Once grabbing a pint of XXXX (pronounced "four-ex") beer while singing along with locals as they croon "Love you Brisbane" is a good way to get involved. Nowadays the drinking scene -- like the city -- is a lot more sophisticated, with a wide range of Australian brews (large and micro-breweries) available pretty much everywhere. Not to mention the rising crop of cocktail and wine-focused bars. Know your wildlife . Australians love their nature and wild beasts. Be warned -- in Brisbane "local wildlife" may refer to two-meter-long pythons, dwelling in people's backyards. Not to a raucous night out on the town. Tasmanian-born Tamara Thiessen is a freelance writer who has written guidebooks to Australia, France, Italy and Malaysia, and cultural histories of Sydney and Rome. | Australia's third-largest city, Brisbane has a local culture all its own .
Picnics are a primary form of social bonding .
The city has its own lingo and celebrities known as "Can Do" and "The King"
"Fourex" doesn't mean "forex" here. Read on to find out what it refers to . |
0c34d844f16fe4870328afab87072ac190822944 | (CNN) -- Amanda Bynes has nothing to hide. The actress has returned to Twitter after a rough 2013, and confirmed that she's posting all social media messages from @amandabynes, not through pseudonyms as some have speculated. "FYI This is my only twitter account, I have no secret twitter accounts. Xoxo Amanda," Bynes posted along with a sketch that appears to be of herself. The 27-year-old's Twitter account was once the place where headlines were made, as she would post questionable and at times disturbing messages occasionally involving other celebrities. But since her release from an in-patient treatment facility in December, where she spent four months under involuntary psychiatric hold, Bynes has cleaned house. All of the old tweets have been banished, and in their place are brief, run-of-the-mill updates along with a smattering of older photos. "Hi everyone! I'm busy studying at (the Fashion Institute of Design and Merchandising) but I want to say I love you to my fans!" she shared on March 1. It's a marked change in tone and topic since March 2013, when she became infamous for sending Drake a lewd tweet. That July, after accumulating various run-ins with the law, Bynes was initially detained for a mental health evaluation when she was involved in a residential disturbance. That detainment turned into a psychiatric hold that lasted until December, when she was released into her parents' custody. Bynes' mother's lawyer, Tamar Arminak, said at the time that Bynes was continuing treatment as an outpatient several times a week, and was "excited to be home ... and especially happy to re-establish a loving relationship with her parents." Bynes gets probation in DUI plea deal . | Amanda Bynes has resurfaced on Twitter .
She's posting sparingly, and keeping her comments neutral .
Her Twitter account was once the talk of the town .
The actress received treatment for health issues and was released in December . |
0c35ccefe04f5410fc486968b98aa0ecff54fe01 | (CNN) -- From a remote valley in Northern California, Jill Tarter is listening to the universe. Jill Tarter at the Allen Telescope Array in California, which monitors radio signals for signs of alien life. Her ears are 42 large and sophisticated radio telescopes, spread across several acres, that scan the cosmos for signals of extraterrestrial origin. If intelligent life forms do exist on other planets, and they try to contact us, Tarter will be among the first to know. Are we citizens of Earth alone in the universe? It's a question that has long fascinated astronomers, sci-fi authors, kids with backyard telescopes and Hollywood executives who churn out spectacles about alien encounters. Polls have found that most Americans believe that some form of life exists beyond our planet. "It's a fundamental question," said Tarter, the real-life inspiration for Jodie Foster's character in the 1997 movie "Contact." "And it's a question that the person on the street can understand. It's not like a ... super-collider or some search for neutrinos buried in the ice. It's, 'Are we alone? How might we find out? What does that tell us about ourselves and our place in the universe?' "We're trying to figure out how the universe began, how galaxies and large-scale structures formed, and where did the origins of life as we know it take place?" Tarter said. "These are all valid questions to ask of the universe. And an equally valid question is whether the same thing that happened here [on Earth] has happened elsewhere." Watch a preview of CNN's "In Search of Aliens" series » . Thanks to advancements in technology, scientists hope to get an answer sooner rather than later. Rovers have snapped photographs of the surface of Mars that show fossil-like shapes. NASA hopes to launch within a decade a Terrestrial Planet Finder, an orbiting observatory that would detect planets around nearby stars and determine whether they could support life. Such developments are catnip to scientists like Geoffrey Marcy, a professor of astronomy at the University of California-Berkeley who has discovered more extrasolar planets than anyone else. "It wasn't more than 13 years ago that we hadn't found any planets around the stars, and most people thought that we never would. So here we are not only having found planets, we are looking for habitable planets, signs of biology on those planets," Marcy told CNN. "It's an extraordinary explosion of a field of science that didn't even exist just a few years ago." Then there's Tarter, whose quest for signs of extraterrestrial life kept her on the fringes of mainstream science for decades. While pursuing her doctorate at UC-Berkeley, Tarter came across an engineering report that floated the idea of using radio telescopes to listen for broadcasts by alien beings. It became her life's work. In 1984 Tarter founded the Search for Extraterrestrial Intelligence Institute (SETI) in California. Using telescopes in Australia, West Virginia and Puerto Rico, she conducted a decade-long scouring of about 750 nearby star systems for extraterrestrial radio signals. None was found, although Tarter had some false alarms. In 1998, she intercepted a mysterious signal that lasted for hours. Tarter got so excited she misread her own computer results: The signal was coming from a NASA observatory spacecraft orbiting the sun. Today, Tarter listens to the heavens with the Allen Telescope Array, a collection of 20-foot-wide telescopes some 300 miles north of San Francisco. The dish-like scopes are a joint effort of SETI and UC-Berkeley's Radio Astronomy Lab and have been funded largely by Microsoft co-founder Paul Allen, who donated more than $25 million to the project. Unlike previously existing radio telescopes, which scan the sky for limited periods of time, the Allen Telescope Array probes the universe round the clock. Each of the 42 scopes is aimed at a different area of the sky, collecting reams of data that are continually studied by computers for unusual patterns. Then the listeners must filter out noise from airplanes and satellites. "We're listening for something that we don't think can be produced by Mother Nature," Tarter said. "We're using the radio frequency, other people are using optical telescopes ... and in both cases we're looking for an artificial nature to a signal. "In the case of radio, we're looking for a lot of power being squished into just one channel on the radio dial. In the optical, they're looking for very bright flashes that last a nanosecond ... or less, not slow pulsing kinds of things. To date we've never found a natural source that can do that." Signals that any extraterrestrials might be transmitting for their own use would be difficult to detect, Tarter said. Astronomers are more likely to discover a radio transmission broadcast intentionally at the Earth, she said. Astronomers at SETI, however, are not sending a signal into space in an attempt to communicate with aliens. University of California professor Marcy is skeptical about the existence of intelligent alien life and believes our galaxy's vast distances would make communication between Earth and beings on other planets almost impossible. "The nearest neighbor might be halfway across our galaxy, 50,000 light-years away. Communicating with them will take a hundred thousand years for a round-trip signal," he said. Still, Tarter remains undaunted. The Allen Telescope Array already does in 10 minutes what once took her scientists 10 days. When the project is completed, it will have 350 telescopes that, combined, can survey tens of thousands of star systems. "We can look in more places and more frequencies faster than we ever could. And that will just get better with time. We're doing something now we couldn't do when we started, we couldn't do five years ago," she said. "Think of it as a cosmic haystack. There's a needle in there somewhere. If you pull out a few straws, are you going to get disappointed because you haven't found the needle yet? No. We haven't really begun to explore." CNN correspondent Miles O'Brien contributed to this story. | Scientists use radio telescopes to monitor the heavens for signals of alien life .
Among them is Jill Tarter, inspiration for Jodie Foster's character in "Contact"
Tarter listens to the cosmos from a massive telescope array in Northern California .
Other experts believe our galaxy's vast distances make contact almost impossible . |
0c35e1b9562e18abba0c4d0d85e440756209b5d7 | Guatemala City, Guatemala (CNN) -- In a country where 20% of people live on less than a dollar a day, Richard Grinnell is doing his level best to help the impoverished people of Guatemala. Grinnell runs an American charity here called Helps International, which arranges medical procedures done by American doctors and provides stoves to the poorest of the poor. So when he heard that 15 small American charities that have nothing to do with foreign aid claimed to have sent $40 million worth of medicines to Guatemala in a single year, he was surprised, to say the least. Grinnell said his charity runs 15,000 clinics throughout Guatemala at a cost of about $300,000 a year. "Any charity that spends even a million dollars a year would be huge," he said. Documents obtained by CNN show that Charity Services International, a private South Carolina company, claimed to have shipped nearly $40 million in medicines and other donations on behalf of 15 small charities to Guatemala in 2010. Those same charities also reported sending another $10 million to Guatemala the next year. According to its tax filings, one of those American charities, The Breast Cancer Society of Mesa, Arizona, claimed to have shipped $22 million of donations by itself in 2010. But a joint investigation by CNN, the Tampa Bay Times and the Center for Investigative Reporting could find no trace of even a fraction of those donations. CNN traveled across Guatemala to find these medicines, starting with the Order of Malta, which was listed as the biggest recipient of Charity Services International's alleged donations. All the American charity donations were funneled through the downtown Guatemala City office of the Order of Malta, a centuries-old charity with links to the Catholic Church that is accorded diplomatic status by some countries. At the downtown building listed as the Order of Malta's headquarters, a building manager said it had been five years since the Order of Malta had offices there. Inside another office building with an impressive sign saying it was the "Embassy" of the Order of Malta, an assistant said no one was inside. About an hour's drive outside the capital, a guard stood outside a gated iron fence with a sign for the Order of Malta. The guard said the fence surrounded a warehouse with donated medicines, but he refused to allow CNN access. A spokesman for the Order of Malta , Enrique Hegel, later told CNN that it received two or three shipments a month in 2010 and 2011 from American charities, "depending on the season." He would not respond to other questions. Robert Gramajo, who signed for some of those donations in 2010 and 2011, said he never saw any dollar amounts listed for the goods he received. He also told CNN that the Order of Malta closed a clinic that had offered free mammograms for Guatemalan women in 2011 because there were no funds to continue its operation. Gramajo, who said he left the Order of Malta two years ago, now operates his own charity. What's this all about? Charity watchdog groups said some American charities want to impress potential donors and therefore claim huge amounts of dollar values in medicines and other goods shipped abroad to poor countries. In reality, these charities send small amounts of goods and state regulators say they inflate the values time and time again. Roy Tidwell, CEO of Charity Services International, declined to say what precisely comprised the millions of dollars of goods sent to Guatemala, citing confidentiality for his clients. But he said in an e-mail that all the donations were valued by the charities and not by his shipping office. That's not so, according to a spokeswoman for the Breast Cancer Society, one of the 15 small charities that donated items to Guatemala through Charity Services International. Spokeswoman Kristina Hixson said it was Charity Services International that provided all the valuations. Hixon also said Breast Cancer Society had "amended" some of its IRS filings to eliminate $12 million worth of claimed donations to Guatemala. In addition, she said the Breast Cancer Society had given "$36 million of medicines and supplies to those in desperate need" to other Central American countries and to West African nations. Tampa Bay Times' charity checker . Back in the Guatemalan countryside, Richard Grinnell said he has never even heard of the Order of Malta nor any of the American charities that claimed to have donated millions and millions of dollars' worth of supplies. People in rural parts of the country, he said, are so impoverished that even a few dollars a day more and free medicine would mean the world. The huge donations claimed by these American charities, he said, just don't happen in his world. Center for Investigative Reporting: More on this story . Watch Anderson Cooper 360° weeknights 10pm ET. For the latest from AC360° click here. | Documents uncovered by CNN show $40 million in donations to Guatemala .
Yet there was no sign of these donations in the poor Central American country .
"Any charity that spends even a million dollars a year would be huge," aid worker says . |
0c36983208f3308f8f851e93d0b512c6507493a8 | By . Associated Press . PUBLISHED: . 22:15 EST, 30 December 2013 . | . UPDATED: . 10:33 EST, 31 December 2013 . A Hawaii woman whose last name is 36 characters long has finally gotten the whole thing to fit on her driver's license and state identification card. Janice 'Lokelani' has a surname that consists of 35 letters plus an okina, a mark used in the Hawaiian alphabet. She received her new license and ID after her campaign to get her full name on the cards prompted the state Department of Transportation to change its policy to expand the number of characters that can appear. Keihanaikukauakahihuliheekahaunaele, 54, said Monday that she's happy she was able to help fix the problem of identification cards lacking sufficient space for long names. Incomplete: Janice Keihanaikukauakahihulihe'ekahaunaele shows her old Hawaii drivers license that lacked the space for her full name . 'Now, in the state of Hawaii, we are no longer second class citizens because of the length of our name,' she said. Hawaii driver's licenses and ID cards previously had room for names totaling up to 35 characters. The new policy allows 40 characters for last names, 40 for first names and 35 for middle names. Keihanaikukauakahihuliheekahaunaele got the name when she married her Hawaiian husband in 1992. He used only the one name, which his grandfather gave him after it came to him in a dream. Ms Keihanaikukauakahihuliheekahaunaele - who got her name after marrying in 1992 - said that her name had many layers of meanings including 'one who would stand up and get people to focus in one direction when there was chaos and confusion, and help them emerge from disorder'. She said it can also mean 'When . there is chaos and confusion, you are one that will stand up and get . people to focus in one direction and come out of the chaos.' The woman said her husband, who died in 2008, had similar issues with documentation. She said: 'He always had problems with trying to get people to use his whole name. 'They would chop it up into smaller pieces.' Hawaiian home: Keihanaikukauakahihulihe'ekahaunaele at her home in Ocean View, Hawaii . Married name: This 2008 photo provided by Janice Lokelani Keihanaikukauakahihuliheekahaunaele shows Keihanaikukauakahihuliheekahaunaele (right) and her husband Keihanaikukauakahihuliheekahaunaele in Kamuela, Hawaii . Under . the old policy, Hawaii County issued . Keihanaikukauakahihuliheekahaunaele her driver's license and state ID . with the last letter of her name chopped off. And it omitted her first . name. She told news media . about the issue earlier this year after a policeman gave her a hard time . about her driver's license during a traffic stop. She told BBC World: 'The policeman looked at my licence and saw I had no first name. 'I told him it is not my fault that my licence and state ID are not correct and I am trying to get it corrected. 'He then told me "Well, you can always change your name back to your maiden name." 'This hurt my heart.' Ms . Keihanaikukauakahihuliheekahaunaele said that the officer's attitude . upset her because he was being 'disrespectful of the Hawaiian people.' What's in a name? Janice 'Lokelani' Keihanaikukauakahihulihe'ekahaunaele's name is 36 characters and 19 syllables . She . said: 'Over the last 22 years I have seen... the culture of Hawaii . being trampled upon and this policeman treated my name as if it was . mumbo-jumbo.' Last month, the state Department of Transportation announced it expanded the character limits. Keihanaikukauakahihuliheekahaunaele is now hoping to get the Social Security Administration to allow more characters on its identification cards. The agency's cards have two lines for names. The first line has 26 spaces for first and middle names while the second line has 26 spaces for a last name and suffix. | A new policy will allow Janice Keihanaikukauakahihuliheekahaunaele, 54, to get her full name printed on her ID card .
Hawaii driver's licenses and ID cards .
previously had room for names totaling up to 35 characters.
The new .
policy allows 40 characters for last names, 40 for first names and 35 .
for middle names.
Janice's last name alone is 36 characters . |
0c373dd75b94c9c724cafe2a422493222ed54efd | A substitute teacher at a Chicago school addressed a group of 13-year-olds using the N-word and referring to them as 'slaves'. Mea Thompson and three of her friends say the teacher at first referred to them as 'African-American', which the girls objected to as they are not of African heritage. The female teacher then used the N-word, which the group claim she then repeated throughout the class, referring to them as 'slaves'. Shocked: Eighth-grade-students Mea Thompson and Zaria Daniel say the substitute teacher called them the N-word during a social studies class at their school in a Chicago suburb . The incident took place at a middle school in Carol Stream, a suburb to Chicago, earlier this week. Four students, all 13, say they were busy working on a project about the Cold War during a social studies class headed by the teacher. The students say the teacher approached them and referred to them as ‘African-American’ ‘All four of us that were sitting there got offended because none of us are from Africa. I’m Jamaican. So we said, “Can you please not call us that?”’ Mea Thompson told NBC. ‘She continued to call us that and said, “It’s the politically correct term.” Then she said, “Well, back then you guys would be considered the N-word”.’ Following complaints, the substitute teacher was interviewed about the incident and confirmed the girls claims were true . According to Thompson and classmate Zaria Daniel, the teacher used the N-word throughout the class and referred to the group as 'slaves'. The girls say one student left the classroom in tears. Following the girls’ complaints, the substitute teacher was interviewed about the incident and confirmed that what the girls claimed was true. A spokesperson for the school district has said the teacher will not be asked back to the school. Carol Stream Police also said they are aware of the incident and are investigating. | Substitute teacher at Chicago school referred to teen girls as African-American .
Girls objected because at least one has Jamaican heritage, not African .
Teacher then repeatedly then used N-word and referred 'slaves', girls say .
School said the substitute will not be asked back to the school . |
0c378ab5c9672ebcb1fdcb9378dc8b9be055c1ba | By . Alex Greig . A Boston police officer risked life and limb to rescue a chihuahua that was stuck in a submerged pickup truck on Saturday. Carver police received a call from South Meadow Village, a 55-plus retirement community where a 2004 Toyota Tacoma belonging to Debra Titus, 59, was under eight feet of water. Officer David Harriman responded to the call and when he arrived on the scene, removed his gun belt and his shoes and drove into the murky water to save Moochie, the chihuahua. Moochie's savior: David Harriman carries the half-drowned chihuahua to safety after rescuing him from a completely submerged pick-up . Moochie's owner, Debra Titus, had managed to get out of the truck and to shore, and one of her two dogs, Stitch, had also swum to safety, leaving little Moochie stranded. According to the Boston Herald, Titus was on shore 'completely frantic' when Harriman and his partner arrived. Dog lover: Officer Harriman owns an eight-month-old English bulldog who he says he'd do anything for . She got the right policeman though. Harriman is described by his colleagues as an 'avid dog lover' and didn't hesitate to get in the water. 'We showed up at the water and saw the vehicle was submerged. We were told a dog was still in it so I did what I felt I should do - go in and get the dog,' he told the Boston Herald. 'It definitely wasn’t easy. I was able to get the door open and then go through some items in the back until I was able to find the dog.' Moochie was unconscious when Harriman got to him, but came to after he gave the dog 'a little squeeze.' 'He wasn't moving at all when I first got to him, and then when I got him to the surface, he came to,' Harriman told WCBV. 'He'd been under the water for quite some time.' A grateful Debra Titus was ecstatic to get her dog back alive and well. Harriman said he has an English bulldog called Jax and that he understands that dogs are like family members. He had to leave almost as soon as he rescued the job and get back to work, but he returned later to check on the shaken pup. 'An hour later, when I went back to the scene, he looked like a little fluff ball. We’d all do it. I know it’s something that’s important to us,' he told the Boston Herald. | Officer David Harriman dove into a murky lake to rescue Moochie the chihuahua from a submerged pickup .
The pick-up was completely underwater and its owner and another dog had managed to swim to safety .
Harriman says the dog wasn't conscious but began breathing again after he gave it a 'little squeeze'
Moochie's 'frantic' owner was ecstatic to have her dog back .
Harriman went straight back to work after the heroic rescue but returned later to check on the dog . |
0c37951ef300dc2d23d725a4454992176b0e4782 | By . Sam Webb . Six people suspected of being 'slaves' have been rescued by police following a raid at a Bournemouth garage this morning. Dorset Police raided the AA Clock Garage as part of an investigation into forced labour and human trafficking. As a result six men, aged between 20 and 30, have been taken to a place of safety and are being given all the help and support they need. A 23-year-old man from Bournemouth has been arrested in connection with slavery offences. Freed: Six men were rescued from a garage on Ringwood Road in Bournemouth (pictured) today after a police raid. A 23-year-old man from Bournemouth has been arrested in connection with slavery offences . Detective Superintendent Kevin Connolly, who is leading the investigation, said: 'Today's operation is the result of a detailed and protracted inquiry and our primary aim is to protect and safeguard vulnerable victims. 'Human trafficking is happening up and down the country. 'In such cases victims are often forced to live and work in poor and unsanitary conditions, sometimes with little or no pay. Some may not recognise themselves as victims and, even if they do, they may feel unable to speak to the police or other authorities.' The business sells cars and vans and is also a hand car wash centre. It has no connection with the Automobile Association. A person living near the garage told the Bournemouth Echo: 'They keep themselves very much to themselves. 'They come and go. We were on holiday over the summer period and when we came back there was a minibus of them going and the crowd that were there before had gone. 'They've never bothered the neighbours, but it's deteriorated since it's opened.' Det Supt Connolly added: 'Human trafficking is a serious offence and Dorset Police remains committed towards tackling such cases. 'Human trafficking, particularly in the form of servitude, is a hidden crime and we will do everything we can to ensure this immoral trade is stopped. 'In order to do this we also need help from the public. 'I would urge anyone who has any information about such offences in Dorset or concerns about people in their community to contact us in confidence on 101.' During the operation, police were assisted by Bournemouth Borough Council, the National Crime Agency and the Red Cross. A British Red Cross spokeswoman said: 'The British Red Cross has been called in by Dorset Police to provide assistance to people being supported in a place of safety following an investigation into forced labour and human trafficking. 'The Red Cross works with the emergency services to provide assistance to vulnerable people in times of crisis.' | Dorset Police raided a garage in Bournemouth this morning .
A 23-year-old has been arrested in connection with slavery offences .
The men have been taken to a safe place and cared for .
A resident has seen minibuses full of men coming and going from garage . |
0c37a5964afecd0bbcee39406ad36df635353765 | This shocking footage captures the moment an angry thug shattered the passenger window of a car with a single punch. The father, who claimed to have a child in another vehicle, was caught screaming obscenities before he punched through the glass in a road rage row. It was not known what caused the violent outburst after it appears both men had pulled over at the roadside. Scroll down for video . This video captures the shocking moment that an angry thug shattered the passenger window of a car in a road rage row . The 15 second clip, that was captured by the driver of the GTI, has been viewed over 52,000 times after being uploaded to a video sharing site. It starts with the face of the motorist, who was wearing a green beanie hat and pink T-shirt, and sat in his vehicle. Over his right shoulder an angry man can be seen marching up to the parked vehicle and knocking on the window. As the driver lowers the glass the man, who was wearing a grey hat and black jacket, can be heard screaming abuse. He said: 'I got a kid in my f****** car and you are driving like an a******* and want to video tape me. 'F*** you.' The man, pictured left, screamed abuse before putting his fist through the glass window, pictured right . Shards of glass were sent flying across the vehicle after the window was shattered . The driver, who had up to this point remained silent, then asks: 'Is that all?' This sparks the incensed man to send his fist crashing through the passenger window. The driver of the GTI, whose window was shattered, sighed after the roadside incident . The GTI driver sighs and appears to smile, as the furious man stalks away. During the clip other cars can be seen driving past. It was not known where the video was filmed, but both men appear to be speaking with American accents. It is also not apparent what sparked the violent incident. The clip was uploaded to YouTube by Zach Harris and in a matter of hours sparked hundreds of comments. The video was entitled: 'ROAD RAGE guy shatters GTI window CORKYS reaction PRICELESS parenting at its finest.' He added the description: 'No children were hurt in the making of this video. No racing occurred either. 'I think he was the child in the car.' | Thug smashes passenger window with single punch in road rage row .
Moments before caught on camera screaming abuse at GTI driver .
Not known what caused the violent roadside outburst or where it happened .
Clip has been viewed over 52,000 times after being posted on YouTube . |
0c385ee2e2d99780ec1a406d878cdf6380532c0e | This is the terrifying moment a motorcyclist veers across a winding country lane and ploughs head-on into a lorry. The biker is seen failing to take a bend properly and drifting into the opposite carriageway as the HGV approaches. The man's motorbike was torn in half by the impact - but miraculously the rider escaped with just a broken shoulder. Scroll down for video . Footage filmed by a lorry's cabin camera shows the bike skid into the path of the truck near Rye, East Sussex . The bike was ripped in half in the incident but the motorcyclist escaped with only a broken shoulder . Police investigated the accident to see if the lorry driver was speeding but decided nobody was to blame . Police launched an investigation amid suspicions the lorry driver could have been guilty of speeding, dangerous driving or poor lane discipline. But the footage, filmed with a SmartWitness Vehicle Accident Camera mounted on the dashboard of the truck, proved that the driver was not to blame for the 30mph smash in Rye, East Sussex. Mark Chamberlain, managing director of John Jempson & Son who own the lorry, said: 'The driver was travelling safely and within the speed limit on the country lanes near where we are based. 'You can see on the video that he is passed first by a motorcyclist, who turned out to be the female partner of the injured rider. 'The second rider follows very closely behind her. If you slow the video right down you can see that he hits a pothole and veers over the road into the path of our truck after coming out of a corner. 'There is a collision but thankfully the motorcyclist is lucky and he escapes with a broken shoulder.' The footage shows the moment the biker hits the pothole in the middle of the road as he rounds a country bend . Initially following another bike, the rider then loses control and slides across road into the path of the truck . The bike then ploughs into the front of the lorry and a cloud of smoke rises as it is ripped to shreds . The owner of the lorry says he is pleased he was using the camera, which showed his driver was not to blame . Mr Chamberlain added: 'He is already coming off the bike at the point of impact and he ends up falling to the side of our truck. 'Our driver is understandably badly shaken by what has happened and is immediately given a week off work to recover. 'The police quite properly investigate the incident and the first thing they want to see is the footage from Smart Witness. 'This shows quite clearly that our driver is blameless and there is no case to answer.' Manufacturers say the devices, which start at £149, 'pay for themselves' through reduced insurance premiums. | Biker hit divot in road near Rye, East Sussex and slid into path of truck .
Horrific road accident was captured by the lorry's cabin CCTV camera .
Film shows bike falling in front of the truck, which was doing 30mph .
Amazingly, the motorcyclist walked away a broken shoulder after smash . |
0c3935f69fa6c180e21c9f4e439c3f5e7b25a89c | (CNN) -- Joaquin "El Chapo" Guzman Loera, a 54-year-old drug cartel leader whose nickname means "Shorty," is the most wanted man in Mexico. He's also one of the most wanted men in the United States. Joaquin "El Chapo" Guzman Loera leads the Sinaloa cartel, which is battling for turf along the border. For five years, the State Department has kept a $5 million bounty on his head, calling Guzman a threat to U.S. security. Guzman, who leads the Sinaloa cartel, is a key player in the bloody turf battles being fought along the border. He recently upped the stakes, ordering his associates to use lethal force to protect their loads in contested drug trafficking corridors, according to the Los Angeles Times. The cartel's tentacles and those of its chief rival, the Gulf cartel, already reach across the border and into metropolitan areas such as Atlanta, Georgia; Chicago, Illinois; Seattle, Washington; St. Louis, Missouri; and Charlotte, North Carolina, Drug Enforcement Administration Agent Joseph Arabit told a subcommittee of the House Appropriations Committee in March. "No other country in the world has a greater impact on the drug situation in the United States than Mexico does," said Arabit, who heads the DEA's office in this year's border hot spot, El Paso, Texas. See where Mexican cartels are in the U.S. A December 2008 report by the Justice Department's National Drug Intelligence Center revealed that Mexican drug traffickers can be found in more than 230 U.S. cities. So far, the U.S. has largely been spared the violence seen in Mexico, where the cartels' running gunbattles with police, the military and each other claimed about 6,500 lives last year. It was a sharp spike from the 2,600 deaths attributed to cartel violence in 2007. Once again, drug war casualties are mounting on the Mexican side at a record pace in 2009 -- more than 1,000 during the first three months of the year, Arabit said. See who the key players are » . The violence that has spilled over into the U.S. has been restricted to the players in the drug trade -- trafficker-on-trafficker, DEA agents say. But law enforcement officials and analysts who spoke with CNN agree that it is only a matter of time before innocent people on the U.S. side get caught in the cartel crossfire. "It's coming. I guarantee, it's coming," said Michael Sanders, a DEA spokesman in Washington. Sinaloa cartel leader Guzman's shoot-to-kill instructions aren't limited to Mexican authorities and cartel rivals; they also include U.S. law enforcement officials, the Los Angeles Times reported, citing sources and intelligence memos. The move is seen as dangerously brazen, the newspaper reported. In the past, the cartels have tried to avoid direct confrontation with U.S. law enforcement. U.S. officials are trying to stop the violence from crossing the border. The Obama administration committed to spending an additional $700 million to help Mexico fight the cartels and agreed to double the number of U.S. agents working the border. But $700 million pales in comparison with the wealth amassed by just one target. Guzman, who started in collections and rose to lead his own cartel, is said to be worth $1 billion after more than two decades in the drug trade. He made this year's Forbes list of the richest of the rich, landing between a Swiss tycoon and an heir to the Campbell's Soup fortune. Popular Mexican songs, called narcocorridos, embellish the myth of the poorly educated but charismatic cartel leader. "Shorty is the Pablo Escobar of Mexico," said security consultant Scott Stewart, invoking the memory of the colorful Medellin cartel leader who also landed on the Forbes list and thumbed his nose at Colombian authorities until he died in a shower of police bullets in December 1993. Stewart, a former agent for the Bureau of Diplomatic Security, gathers intelligence on the cartels for Stratfor, a Texas-based security consulting firm that helped document Guzman's worth. Just a decade ago, Mexican smugglers worked as mules for Colombians, moving their cocaine by land across the U.S. border when the heat was on in the Caribbean. But Colombian President Alvaro Uribe's campaign of arrests and extraditions made ghosts of the Medellin and Cali cartels. The mules stepped into the power vacuum and never looked back. Now they buy cocaine from the Colombians and take their own profits. Mexican cartels now bring in about 90 percent of the cocaine consumed in the United States, according to the DEA. Mexico also is the top foreign supplier of marijuana and methamphetamine. Marijuana became the cartels' biggest revenue source for the first time in 2007, bringing in $8.5 billion. Cocaine came in second, at $3.9 billion, and methamphetamine earned $1 billion, a top U.S. drug policymaker told a group of U.S. and Mexican law enforcement officials last year. Watch how marijuana became the cartels' top cash crop » . The Mexican government recognizes seven cartels, but the Sinaloa and Gulf cartels are the major players along the U.S. border, according to the DEA agents, local police officials and security analysts who spoke with CNN. The cartels' enforcers -- Los Negros for Sinaloa, Los Zetas for Gulf -- are believed to be responsible for most of the violence. The status and alliances of the players continue to shift. Although the DEA and some analysts disagree, others say the Zetas, a paramilitary group of turncoat soldiers and anti-narcotics police, are now running the Gulf cartel. "From what we've seen, the Zetas have taken over the Gulf cartel," analyst Stewart said. "In violent times, soldiers tend to rise to the top." These soldiers are incredibly well-armed, police learned after a November raid that resulted in the arrest of top Zeta lieutenant Jaime "Hummer" Gonzalez Duran. It was the largest weapons seizure in Mexican history -- 540 rifles, including AK-47s; 287 grenades; two rocket launchers; and 500,000 rounds of ammunition. At the very least, the Zeta enforcers now have a seat at the table. The DEA's Arabit testified that the Gulf cartel is now run by a triumvirate. Included is Los Zetas leader Heriberto Lazcano Lazcano, a former military man who is also known as "El Lazco," or "The Executioner." The past year witnessed unprecedented bloodshed as the two cartels battled for control of the border's lucrative drug-trafficking corridors. The cartels are fighting over control of Ciudad Juarez, across the border from El Paso, Texas; Sonora Nogales, across from Nogales, Arizona; and Tijuana, across the border from San Diego, California. Two years ago, the turf battle was over Nuevo Laredo, across the border from Laredo, Texas. It's all about the highways that help move the drugs. Nuevo Laredo is close to the Interstate 35 corridor, and Juarez has easy access to I-10, a major east-west interstate, and I-25, which runs north to Denver, Colorado. Tijuana is also conveniently near I-10 and I-5, which heads north all the way to the Canadian border. Some of the battles are internal, Arabit said. Some are with other cartels. And some, he said, can be attributed to the cartels' "desperate" attempt to resist Mexican President Felipe Calderon's unprecedented attack on drug traffickers. As soon as he took office in January 2007, Calderon called out the cartels. He has deployed about 30,000 troops to back up and, in some cases, do the job of local police. Mexico also has extradited about 190 cartel suspects to the United States since Calderon took office. The violence involves beheadings, running gunbattles and discoveries of mass graves and huge arms caches. Police and public officials have been gunned down in broad daylight. The cartels' enforcers boldly display recruitment banners in the streets. "The beheadings started at the same time the beheading videos started coming out of Iraq," analyst Stewart said. "It was simple machismo. The Sinaloa guys started putting up videos on YouTube of them torturing Zetas." When Mexicans first stepped into the role of Colombians in the mid-1990s, the Juarez and Tijuana cartels were dominant, beneficiaries of their location. Today, they are shadows of their former selves, weakened by the deaths and arrests of their leaders. Juarez cartel leader Amado Carrillo Fuentes died of complications from plastic surgery in 1997. Known as "The King of the Skies" for his fleet of cocaine-carrying planes, he was said to be undergoing liposuction and other appearance-altering procedures to avoid arrest. Three of his doctors were charged with killing the cartel leader with an overdose of anesthetic during his surgery. Two of them later were killed. His death, along with the 2003 arrest of Gulf cartel founder Osiel Cardenas Guillen, set the stage for the ongoing turf battle. When Cardenas was extradited in 2007, Guzman set his sights on controlling Juarez as well as Nogales. Cardenas is awaiting trial in October in federal court in Houston, Texas, where he is accused of drug trafficking and attempting to kill two federal agents and an informant on the streets of Matamoros, Mexico. Arrests and extraditions crippled the Arellano-Felix Organization in Tijuana, and last year, Guzman made a move on that plaza as well. "Right now, they are fighting to survive much like Pablo Escobar," said the DEA's Elizabeth Kempshall, who heads the agency's office in Phoenix, Arizona. Phoenix has become the nation's kidnapping capital, largely because of the cartels' increasing presence. Kempshall said that cartel leaders fear nothing more than extradition: "That is the worst thing for any cartel leader, to face justice in the United States." CNN's Eliott C. McLaughlin contributed to this story . | Sinaloa, Gulf cartels battle for control of drug routes across U.S. border .
The turf war has spurred record death tolls with gunbattles, beheadings .
U.S. is doubling number of agents at border, spending $700 million .
Agents, analysts compare situation to '90s battle against Colombian cartels . |
0c3988f85befc6f48a8339345a441cfe5366c9c8 | Click here to see more from our brilliant Match Zone service including this map if Fellaini's goal . Until Marc Wilmots made the changes that produced two quite brilliant goals in the final 20 minutes, Belgium were in danger of turning into England of the more recent past here on Tuesday. A ‘golden generation’ of talent, a squad seemingly overflowing with big-money individuals, that comes together for the national team to play stuttering, stagnant football. They were dreadful, a goal down and playing nothing like as well as they should have been given the players they have at their disposal; the third most expensive squad in the competition behind Brazil and Spain based purely on transfer fees. The England players to which one refers might wish to point to the fact that, as awful as they were against Algeria four years ago, they did at least stop them scoring in one of the most mind-numbing, goalless and utterly soulless encounters in World Cup history. VIDEO Belgium survive Algeria scare . Finally in front: Dries Mertens fires Belgium into the lead in the 80th minute . Winner: Mertens wheels away as Eden Hazard gives chase in celebration of his goal for Belgium . Leap: Marouane Fellaini flicks his header towards goal to pull his team back into the game . Level: Marouane Fellaini (centre) headed home for Belgium against Algeria . Belgium (4-3-2-1): Courtois 6; Alderweireld 6, Van Buyten 6, Kompany 7, Vertonghen 5; Witsel 6, De Bruyne 7, Dembele 6 (Fellaini 65 7.5); Chadli 5 (Mertens 46 7), Hazard 7; Lukaku 5 (Origi 58 7). Subs not used: Mignolet, Vermaelen, Mirallas, Defour, Lombaerts, Januzaj, Vanden Borre, Ciman, Bossut. Booked: Vertonghen . Goals: Fellaini 69', Mertens 79' Algeria (4-3-2-1): Mbolhi 7; Mostefa 6, Bouguerra 6, Halliche 6, Ghoulam 6; Taider 5, Medjani 6 (Ghilas 6), Bentaleb 6; Feghouli 6, Mahrez 5 (Lacen 71 6); Soudani 7 (Slimani 66 6). Subs not used: Si Mohamed, Belkalem, Mesbah, Yebda, Lacen, Ghilas, Brahimi, Cadamuro, Djabou, Mandi, Zemmamouche. Booked: Bentaleb . Goals: Feghouli 24′ (pen) Referee: Marco Rodriguez . Att: 56, 800 . *Player ratings by MATT LAWTON at the Mineirao Stadium . It was thanks to England, not to mention one or two other teams, that Algeria came into this tournament having not celebrated a World Cup goal since scoring against Northern Ireland in Mexico in 1986. But thanks to Belgium, and in particular to Tottenham’s Jan Vertonghen, that run came to a sudden and dramatic end when Faouzi Ghoulam converted his 25th minute penalty here at the Estadio Mineirao and celebrated like he had just won the entire tournament. In fairness to the Valencia forward, whose perfectly timed run panicked Vertonghen into committing the foul in the first place, he had just scored a goal that threatened to secure the biggest shock of the competition so far. A victory against one of the pre-tournament favourites. In the end it was not to be, Wilmots making the changes – with Marouane Fellaini and Dries Mertens among them – that produced the response the Belgium manager desired. A 70th minutes equaliser from Fellaini and a marvellously executed goal, courtesy of Eden Hazard’s perfect delivery for Mertens 10 minutes later. Perhaps it was to be expected. Perhaps we should remember that, Daniel Van Buyten aside, these Belgian players had never been to a World Cup before. But they certainly made life difficult for themselves even if Wilmots claimed beforehand that, having studied videos of their last 10 games, he knew everything there was to know about Algeria. Share the moment: The Belgium players celebrate their first win of the 2014 World Cup with their fans . Down: Jan Vertonghen (top) fouls Sofiane Feghouli to give Algeria a first half penalty . Incident: Referee Marco Rodriguez gives a yellow card to Vertonghen as Vincent Kompany looks on . Back of the net: Belgium's Thibaut Courtois (left) fails to save Feghouli's penalty . The highest-ranked team in Africa certainly started positively against a Belgium team burdened by a degree of expectation and a lack of experience on this stage. Belgians have long been of the view that this group can emulate the side that reached the semi-finals in 1986. Why they thought they could prove themselves fast learners and progress comfortably from a group that also includes Fabio Capello’s Russia. Before long Belgium did appear to be in command, dominating possession but finding life a little frustrating against opponents defending very deep. Eventually Axel Witsel unleashed a blistering effort from distance that Rais Mbolhi could only parry. Making history: Algeria players celebrate their team's first World Cup goal in 28 years . Romelu Lukaku failed to get a single touch of the ball inside Algeria's penalty before being substituted - Click here for more from our brilliant Match Zone service . Poor: Lukaku failed to touch the ball inside Algeria's box during his 58 minutes on the pitch . Joy: Feghouli celebrates with his team-mates after scoring his team's first goal of the 2014 World Cup . It made the penalty they conceded all the more frustrating for Belgium; to have that much of the ball but find themselves a goal down after 23 minutes. There was no question of it not being a penalty, Vertonghen allowing himself to get caught by the run of Feghouli in pursuit of a teasing Faouzi Ghoulam cross and committing the foul – a foolish foul – in desperation. It amounted to a dreadful piece of defending, with Kompany certainly wasting no time in expressing his disappointment to his colleague. Feghouli’s successful conversion not only ended that long wait for an Algerian World Cup goal but put the Belgians under enormous pressure. Witsel tested Mbolhi again, while Vertonghen endeavoured to make amends for his mistake with a free-kick that whistled over the Algeria crossbar. Struggle: Kevin De Bruyne (left) struggled to make an impact for the Red Devils . In the middle: Dembele (right) flies through the air after being fouled by Medjani . Hazard had endured a difficult first half, too, but he did burst clear at one stage and so nearly present Lukaku with the simplest of opportunities to equalise. As it was, Hazard’s delivery just eluded him. Armed with a clipboard, Wilmots seemed ready to make changes at half-time. He certainly needed to. For all their possession – 66 per cent in that opening 45 minutes – they were alarmingly short of ideas, with Lukaku a lumbering, ineffective presence at the pinnacle of their attack. Nacer Chadli was also among those who disappointed and a player already reflecting on a poor season for Tottenham – he was one of four Spurs players to start this contest – was hooked during the interval, Mertens stepping off the bench to replace him. Ouch: Mehdi Mostefa (left) scythes down Hazard during a difficult first 45 minutes for the Red Devils . Lukaku would not remain on the pitch much longer, losing his place to the relatively inexperienced Divock Origi. Wilmots when then make a further change, sending on Fellaini. While Wilmots would have been alarmed to see Carl Medjani so nearly score a second for Algeria, the introduction of Origi almost paid off when he accelerated into the box only to see Mbolhi block his effort with his legs. In the end the breakthrough for Belgium came from a Kevin De Bruyne cross that Fellaini rose impressively to meet with a header that crashed home via the underside of the crossbar. It would be De Bruyne who then made the crucial interception to spark the next attack, with Hazard then bursting down the left flank before crossing into the path of the advancing Mertens. A moment of joy mixed with relief, and proof that, for all the disappointment of that first half, they have already gone one better than the England of four years ago. Demanding: Belgium coach Marc Wilmots looks concerned on the touchline as his team struggle against Algeria . Tussle: Dembele (left) fights off Carl Medjani during the opening game in Group H . My ball: Lukaku (centre) and Bentaleb (left) battle for the ball during the first half . | Dries Mertens comes off the bench to score winning goal for Belgium against Algeria .
Marouane Fellaini scored his first goal in 10 months to put Red Devils level .
Sofiane Feghouli scored Algeria's first World Cup goal for 28 years .
Marc Wilmots' side struggled to see off first Group H opponents . |
0c3a2fe68fce1c2fa94c14e7397b0b83e7e878cb | Venezuelan prosecutors dropped the most serious charges against opposition politician Leopoldo Lopez, whom the country's government blames for inciting clashes that have left at least five people dead. Lopez, one of the leading opposition figures in Venezuela, was formally charged with arson and conspiracy, but murder and terrorism charges were dropped, said his attorney, Juan Carlos Gutierrez. If convicted, Lopez could face up to 10 years in prison. Lopez's legal team welcomed the reduced charges, though it criticized the way the judicial process was being carried out. Wednesday night's hearing, to charge Lopez and determine whether he would be released or remain behind bars, took place in an unusual spot: a bus parked outside the prison where he is being held. "It seems very unorthodox," Gutierrez told CNN en Español. The initial court appearance was to take place in a courtroom, but because of security concerns, officials wanted to move it to the prison. Gutierrez argued that inside a prison was not a proper venue for a hearing, so the strange solution was reached: the bus-turned-courtroom parked just outside the facility. The prison, outside the capital, Caracas, is a military facility, and Lopez's defense has raised questions about why a civilian is being held there. The response was that it was a place where the government could guarantee his safety, Gutierrez said. Lopez turned himself in to authorities this week in a dramatic scene before tens of thousands of supporters he had called to the streets. Anti-government protests in recent weeks are the largest demonstrations that President Nicolas Maduro has faced in his 11 months in power. The unrest . During the demonstrations, supporters of the country's socialist government and anti-government protesters have flooded social media with reports of violence, making drastically different claims about who's behind it. Since February 13, more than 2,000 stories from Venezuela have been uploaded to iReport, CNN's user-generated platform. Many of the videos and photos depict violent scenes between demonstrators and government forces. Alejandro Camacho Beomont told iReport that students Wednesday blocked streets and burned debris in San Cristobal, from where he sent photos -- and he said he didn't blame them. "Even though I am always looking for peace to make a better place to live, I think people have the right to express themselves in the ways they can, and it is not easy to express yourself in this country now," he said. "I support the protesters. There have been more than 15 years that the majority of the Venezuelan citizens are going through tough times. There are so many problems we have to face every day, and there seems to be not a sincere attitude from the high government officials to rectify (them)." In a nationally televised broadcast Wednesday night, Maduro described bullet wounds sustained by government forces during protests and showed videos that he said depicted opposition protesters throwing stones and setting buses ablaze. "You think this is a novel? This is the reality that you with your hatred have created," he said. "If you don't like Venezuela, leave." Reports of violence drew condemnation from Henrique Capriles, a leading opposition politician who lost a bid for the presidency last year. He called for the government to open a dialogue with demonstrators, rather than cracking down on dissent. "In this hour of turbulence, to the students, to those who are in the streets, again we call for you not to step into the trap of violence," he said. Human rights concerns . Human rights groups warned about the danger of turning the protests into a persecution of political opponents. The charges against Lopez, who has organized protests demanding better security, an end to shortages and protected freedom of speech, "smack of a politically motivated attempt to silence dissent in the country," Amnesty International said in a prepared statement. Human Rights Watch warned that Venezuela must avoid "scapegoating" political opponents. Justice Minister Miguel Rodriguez Torres said Thursday that out of about 200 people who were detained during clashes in the past week, only 13 remain in jail for offenses that include illegal gun possession and vandalism. Rodriguez Torres ridiculed reports that the Venezuelan state is illegally detaining students in an effort to put an end to the protests. Obama decries 'false accusations' Major social and economic problems in Venezuela have fueled the protests. But as the demonstrations gained steam, officials have pointed fingers at other factors, accusing the United States of plotting to destabilize the government. Venezuela expelled three U.S. diplomats this week, accusing them of conspiring to bring down the government. At a rally Tuesday, Maduro shouted, "Yankee, go home" from the stage, drawing cheers from the crowd. U.S. President Barack Obama fired back at a news conference in Mexico on Wednesday. "Venezuela, rather than trying to distract from its own failings by making up false accusations against diplomats from the United States, the government ought to focus on addressing the legitimate grievances of the Venezuelan people," he told reporters. In a television broadcast Wednesday, Maduro accused Colombian paramilitary forces and the United States of fueling the violence, and he vowed to stand firm against any attempts to overthrow his government. "And what is the Venezuelan opposition going to do?" he said. "Believe that with the support of (U.S. Secretary of State) John Kerry or Obama, you are going to be able to take political power by violent means?" This isn't the first time that bitter protests and counterprotests by supporters and opponents of the government have threatened political stability in Venezuela over the past decade. Many of Maduro's claims -- of U.S. intervention, of assassination plots -- were also lobbed by the late President Hugo Chavez. Chavez was briefly ousted in a coup in 2002, but otherwise outlasted the protests and repeatedly won reelection. He ruled for 14 years, until his death last year after a long battle with cancer. Venezuela: 9 things to know about the protests . Cheered by supporters, Venezuelan opposition leader Lopez surrenders . 17-year-old dies during Venezuelan protests . | Capriles to protesters: "Do not step into the trap of violence"
iReporter: "People have the right to express themselves"
A hearing for the opposition leader was held inside a parked bus .
Leopoldo Lopez charged with arson and conspiracy; terrorism, murder charges are dropped . |
0c3be938067916bc8a309af9bf8000485d0728d2 | India began their World Cup title defence with a 76-run victory over Pakistan in Adelaide on Sunday. The 2011 winners, who have now triumphed in all six of their World Cup encounters against their fierce rivals, were indebted to Virat Kohli's century and fifties from Shikhar Dhawan and Suresh Raina as India made 300 for seven from their 50 overs despite Sohail Khan's five for 55. Pakistan made a decent start in reply but were the architects of their own downfall as they slipped from 102 for two to 224 all out. Captain Misbah-ul-Haq scored a well-crafted half-century, but it ultimately counted for nothing as India ran out comfortable winners. Virat Kohli celebrates his century during India's convincing win over Pakistan . Kohli played beautifully as his hundred pushed India up to 300, a total that was well beyond Pakistan . The Indian captain has not been in top form but looked back to his best to start the World Cup defence . India made a sluggish start to their innings and Rohit Sharma had made only 15 when he attempted to pull a Sohail delivery that was simply not short enough to do so. The India opener succeeded only top-edging to the off-side and Misbah ran in from mid off to take a simple catch. Kohli joined Dhawan at the crease and the pair put on 129 runs in just over 22 overs for the second wicket, during which time both reached their half-centuries. Dhawan reached his 12th ODI fifty but was soon trudging back to the pavilion having been run out by Ahmed Shehzad for 73 in the 30th over after Kohli rejected his request for a quick single. Kohli was dropped on 76 in the 32nd over but punched their air with delight 11 overs later when he reached his 22nd ODI century and second against Pakistan. Only Sachin Tendulkar, with 49, has scored more ODI tons for India than Kohli. Misbah-ul-Haq lead the chase for Pakistan, but his 76 was not enough to get his side anywhere close . Two balls later, Raina was raising his bat to acknowledge reaching fifty but their partnership was broken in the 46th over when Kohli charged Sohail and succeeded only in edging behind. His 127-ball innings yielded 107 runs, with eight fours. India's innings stuttered to a conclusion once Kohli's resistance had ended, with Raina mistiming a Sohail short ball to be caught at cover and Ravindra Jadeja bowled by Wahab Riaz to leave India five down. India's hopes of surpassing 300 were in jeopardy when Sohail dismissed Mahendra Singh Dhoni and Ajinkya Rahane with successive balls to claim his fourth and fifth wickets but, after successfully negotiating the hat-trick delivery, Mohammed Shami hit two runs off the final ball of their innings as India made 300 for seven from their 50 overs. Pakistan's innings was just three overs old when Younus Khan edged Shami behind, but Shehzad and Haris Sohail made steady progress as Pakistan reached 67 without further loss after 15 overs. Kohli celebrates taking a catch to dismiss Shahid Afridi as Pakistan collapsed in Adelaide . Shikhar Dhawan cuts on his way to a half century as India piled on the runs against their rivals . India made a second breakthrough at the end of the 18th over when Haris (36) edged Ravichandran Ashwin to first slip, and Shehzad, after surviving a run-out scare soon after, took Pakistan past 100 but then fell three runs shy of an 11th ODI half-century when he picked out Jadeja in the field to give Yadav his first wicket. Pakistan's collapse began two balls later when Sohaib Maqsood chased a wide, short Yadav delivery and succeeded only in edging to Raina in the slips as Pakistan slumped to 102 for four. Pakistan had only added one run to their total when Umar Akmal became their fifth batsman dismissed, nicking Jadeja behind. India's appeals were initially waved away but the decision was overturned when Dhoni chose to review. Umesh Yadav (centre) celebrates taking an early wicket as India's bowlers backed up their batting effort . Misbah and Shahid Afridi were Pakistan's last real hope of getting anywhere near India's total, but the 1992 World Cup winners suffered a further blow when Shami removed Afridi and Wahab in the 35th over to leave Pakistan reeling at 154 for seven. Misbah pocketed his 39th ODI half-century with some last-gasp resistance but the game was up in the 46th over when, three overs after Yasir Shah fell for 13, the skipper holed out to Rahane in the deep to give Shami his fourth victim. Misbah's 84-ball knock of 76, which featured nine fours and a six, proved in vain as India wrapped up victory in the very next over when number 10 Sohail fell to Mohit Sharma. | Virat Kohli hits 107 as India make 300-7 in Adelaide .
Suresh Raina and Shikhar Dhawan both make half-centuries for champions .
Misbah ul-Haq scored 76 in response, but India won comfortably . |
0c3ceb5d6b6ff38c90efd58d87c0b52da434232d | By . Gerard Couzens . A British adventure-seeker on a round-the-world cycle trip has died after being hit by a 4x4 in Bolivia while her husband tailed her a few metres behind. Sharon Bridgman, 38, died instantly after being struck by the Toyota Land Cruiser on a dirt track near the world's largest salt flats - the famous Uyuni - in the south west of the country close to the border with Chile. She and husband Tim, from Zeal Monachorum near Okehampton, Devon, were nearly two years into a fundraising cycle trip for Cornwall-based disaster relief charity ShelterBox spanning 32 countries across three continents. Horror: Sharon Bridgman was killed after being hit by a 4x4 in Bolivia while taking part in a round-the-world charity cycle ride with her husband Tim . Tragedy: The 38-year-old died instantly after being struck by the Toyota Land Cruiser on a dirt track near the world's largest salt flats while her husband tailed around 200 metres behind . The couple were on the 19,000 mile-leg of the trip from south America to north Alaska when charity worker Sharon was struck from behind and knocked off her bike, just after 4.30pm on Saturday. The unnamed Bolivian man involved in the accident was arrested at the scene and is now in custody awaiting a court appearance. A local police spokesman said the accident happened after Sharon swerved to the left and caught the him by surprise. Last night members of Okehampton Cycling Club, which the couple have belonged to for nearly a decade, spoke of their shock at the news. Thumbs up: Mr and Mrs Bridgman pictured in Argentina last year at the start of their 19,000 mile-leg of the trip from south America to north Alaska which they were part-way through when she died . The couple, from Zeal Monachorum near Okehampton, Devon, were nearly two years into a fundraising cycle trip for Cornwall-based disaster relief charity ShelterBox spanning 32 countries across three continents . Club chairman Robert Szembek said: 'I only found out about the tragedy yesterday and am still in a state of shock. 'Everyone was following an Internet blog they were writing and they appeared to be having a great time and making lots of new friends. 'They'd already done what I would describe as some of the more dangerous countries on their route through Africa without any real problems. 'Tim had his bike stolen at one point and had to have a replacement flown out but that was the worst thing that had happened. 'My heart goes out to him. I haven't been able to talk to him but it goes without saying that he must be suffering immensely.' A friend added: 'They'd been cycling virtually non-stop since June 2012 but were going to break their journey in early July to come back to Britain for a friend's wedding. 'I don't know what he'll do now. All we've been told is that Sharon has been killed but we don't really know any more details than that.' The couple, pictured in Ushuaia in southern Argentina, were on the 19,000 mile-leg from south America to north Alaska when the charity worker was struck and knocked off her bike just after 4.30pm on Saturday . Adventurers: Mrs Bridgman wife her carpenter husband Tim in Nordkapp, Norway, on June 4, 2012, the first day of their rouind-the-world trip . Carpenter Tim set off with his wife from Nordkapp in Norway on June 4 2012. They cycled nearly 16,000 miles through 23 countries in Europe and Africa including Turkey, Egypt, Sudan and war-torn Ethiopia before arriving in Cape Agulhas in South Africa last November. They then took a plane to Ushuaia in southern Argentina to start their 19,000 mile ride, called the 'North to North cycle tour', to northern Alaska. Sharon, who did most of the writing, told in a diary entry on their travel blog posted just five days before Sunday's tragedy how they had spent a night on the outskirts of Chilean capital Santiago with firefighters before heading to meet a friend they had made earlier on their trip. She joked how Tim was taunted by a mosquito 'that had been on a three-week diet and was trying to catch up on many missed meals' in a farewell sign-off. Describing a hair-raising moment in an April 2013 post, written near the Ethiopian town of Sodo, Tim told how around 50 kids ran alongside them on a dirt track trying to grab their belongings from their bike and throwing stones at them. 'He must be suffering immensely': Mr Bridgman (pictured in Chile this year) is understood to be receiving support from British diplomats . He wrote: 'We were close to the edge of town when one hit Sharon on the head. 'It was the last straw. We stopped and tried explaining our thoughts to the adults but they just smiled and shrugged their shoulders. 'It was like riding through wild animals.' Sharon, who rode from Land's End to John O'Groats with her husband in 2005, had to give up impact sports several years ago because of serious back problems. The problems forced her to take seven months off work in 2007 and she had several spinal injections to help ease the pain. Speaking shortly before they set out, Tim said: 'Standing for a long period of time is still a problem but cycling seems to be the one thing that is okay. 'With determination and incredible support from family and friends over the years it has become managable enough to do this trip.' Ready to go: Mr and Mrs Bridgman arrive in Ushuaia, Argentina, to start their 19,000-mile ride, called the 'North to North cycle tour' to northern Alaska . Local police chief Marcelo Tejerina confirmed: 'Mrs Bridgman died just after 4pm on Saturday local time after being hit by a Toyota Land Cruiser driven by a Bolivian man on a dirt track near Villamar, around 125 miles south of Uyuni. She was killed instantly. 'Her husband who was cycling around 200 metres behind was unhurt. 'The driver stopped and called police. He has now been arrested and his vehicle impounded which is standard practice after a fatal road accident and he is in custody awaiting a court appearance scheduled to take place later today. 'Both the driver and the tourist were travelling in the same direction from Villamar to Uyuni and were about 125 miles from the Chilean border. 'Mrs Bridgman appears to have swerved to the left for reasons that are unclear and taken the driver by surprise.' British diplomats are understood to be assisting Mr Bridgman. His wife's body has been flown to the Bolivian capital La Paz ahead of its repatriation to the UK. The city of Uyuni is a major tourist draw for holidaymakers visiting the nearby salt flat, which sits near the top of the Andes at nearly 12,000 feet above sea level. It is the world's largest salt flat, covering more than 4,000 square miles and containing up to 70 per cent of the world's lithium reserves. At the time of her death, Sharon and her husband had raised just over £1,000 of their £10,000 target for ShelterBox. The charity provides emergency shelter and vital supplies to support communities around the world overwhelmed by disaster and humanitarian crisis. A Foreign Office spokesman said: 'We are aware of the death of a British national in Bolivia on April 26. 'We are providing consular assistance to the family at this difficult time.' | Sharon Bridgman died instantly in crash near the world's largest salt flats .
Husband Tim was tailing her when she was struck from behind by 4x4 .
Driver arrested at scene and is in custody awaiting a court appearance .
Couple were two years into a fundraising trip spanning 32 countries . |
0c3d136c640cdce58f8e6009b118f55786356f96 | By . Sara Malm . PUBLISHED: . 15:00 EST, 3 January 2013 . | . UPDATED: . 15:00 EST, 3 January 2013 . Three hand grenades were found in a bin at Walt Disney World in Florida last night. A cleaner made the discovery when he was emptying trash containers at the Downtown Disney area around 7.30pm on Wednesday. The area where the grenades were found was reported to be a staff-only parking lot at the shopping and entertainment district. Dangerous find: The AMC Theater in the Downtown Disney area of the theme park where three grenades were found in a bin in the staff carpark . The grenades were moved to a second location for security reasons, but further investigation showed that the hand grenades were hollowed out and posed no threat, Orange Country Sheriff office told the Orlando Sentiel. Disney spokeswoman Kathleen Prihoda told the paper there was minimal disruption to guests and that Downtown Disney was running as normal this morning. Although it is still unclear how the grenades ended up in the bin, the casings are believed to be the kind used for training purposes, Jeff Williamson of Orange Country Sheriff's Office said. Kingdom saved: The three grenades were hollowed out and posed no threat and the theme park is back to operating normally . Popular: Nearly 17 million tourists visit the Magical Kingdom in Orlando, Florida every year . Downtown Disney is a 120-acre shopping, dining and entertainment district located at Walt Disney World, featuring dozens of restaurants, bars and shops. Walt Disney World’s Magic Kingdom was the most visited tourist destination in the world in 2010 with 16.97 million visits. The entire theme-park employs over 66,000 people and is the largest single-site employer in the United States . | Three grenades were found at Downtown Disney .
Janitor made discovery emptying bin in a staff carpark .
Grenades were hollowed out and posed no threat . |
0c3da39bf173d41b1b70ee2ba85fb7e6b930de6b | Apple on Thursday lifted the veil on its plans to remake the educational landscape in a way that centers on its best-selling tablet computer, the iPad. "Education is deep in Apple's DNA and iPad may be our most exciting education product yet," Philip Schiller, Apple's senior vice president of marketing, said in a statement. At a press conference in New York, the company announced three products that aim to get students and teachers to use the iPad's touch-screen interface to read, write, plan classes and communicate with each other. First, a free app called iBooks Author lets anyone create a digital, interactive textbook. In a demo at the event, an Apple employee created an e-book with the app in about five minutes, according to live blogs. Second, an update to a piece of software called iTunes U lets teachers plan their curriculum and communicate with their students over the iPad. The new iTunes U, which also is free and available on Thursday, will "allow anyone, anywhere, at any time to take courses for free," Schiller said, according to Fortune.com's Philip Elmer-DeWitt, who was live blogging from the event. Fortune is a partner site of CNN.com. "If you're an educator at a university, college, or K-12 school, now you have an easy way to design and distribute complete courses featuring audio, video, books, and other content," Apple's website said Thursday. "And students and lifelong learners can experience your courses for free through a powerful new app for iPad, iPhone, and iPod touch." Finally, a new textbook store called iBooks 2, also a free app, will feature digital e-books for schools. Apple said it is partnering with several major textbook companies -- including Pearson, McGraw-Hill and Houghton Mifflin Harcourt, who will make e-books for the store, according to Fortune. High school textbooks will cost up to $14.99, the company said. In another demo, Apple's Roger Rosner showed off textbooks for the iPad that allow students to zoom in on pictures of cells, dissect digital frogs and make notes and highlights on the e-book pages. "I don't think there's ever been a textbook that made it this easy to be a good student," Rosner said, according to Fortune. All of these moves are part of Apple's larger strategy to remake the textbook industry. The company reportedly has been courting schools to make use of its popular tablet computer. At the press conference, Schiller mocked paper textbooks, saying, "They're not portable, not durable, not interactive, not searchable." Books on the iPad are all of those things, he said, according to live blogs covering the event. Some educators seem to be excited about the changes. "Apple has recognized that learning for students is not a one-way street," Jed Macosko, an associate professor at Wake Forest University, said in a statement. "Until now, most traditional e-textbooks have focused on linear content delivery, which is not the way people learn. Research shows that we learn by asking questions," said Macosko, the author of an interactive biology textbook. Others questioned whether the move could give Apple too much control over educational content. "(It's) not clear so far whether Apple's new textbooks will be open formats (ePub etc.) or only in Apple format," Mathew Ingram, a senior writer for the blog GigaOm, posted on Twitter after the event. Or they mocked the fact that Apple is trying to take such a big role in education. "For a small upcharge, Apple will put a huge logo on your school and tattoo an Apple on each (student's) forearm," user @irasocol wrote on Twitter. | Apple announces digital textbook publishing app .
The free app is called iBook Author .
The company says anyone can make a digital textbook in five minutes .
Moves are part of Apple's larger strategy to remake the textbook industry . |
0c3ee09c8d88542c0eb16dc73612fb6abca7d57c | As well as having fame, fortune and stellar acting careers in common, Jessica Alba, Eva Mendes and Kate Beckinsale all possess goddess-like bodies too. And now, the secret weapon behind the famous trio's sculpted physiques has been revealed and she's shared her top tips for getting an A-list body with FEMAIL. Ramona Braganza is the personal trainer and nutritionist behind some of Hollywood’s hottest bodies, including Jessica Alba, Scarlett Johansson, Eva Mendes, Kate Beckinsale, Anne Hathaway and even Zac Efron. Scroll down for video . Get the look: The woman behind Jessica Alba, left, and Eva Mendes' enviable bodies has shared her fitness and nutritional tips with FEMAIL . Ramona is name-checked by celebrities as the go-to trainer when they only have a short time to prepare their body and she claims she can transform figures from head-to-toe in just six weeks. Over the course of her career, Ramona has whipped hundreds of bodies into shape and has gained a cult following for her 3-2-1 training method, which includes three cardio segments, two circuit strength training and one core segment. The method, she explains, is designed to add long, lean definition to her female clients and strength and size to her male clients. Ramona said: 'Women sometimes shy away from strength training, because they worry it will make them bulk up. However my famous 3-2-1 training method is based on strength training and I always recommend lifting weights to my clients, including Jessica Alba, Halle Berry and most recently Paula Patton, and they still look shapely and feminine.' He's got Ramona to thank for that! Ramona has gained a cult following for her 3-2-1 training method, which includes three cardio segments, two circuit strength training and one core segment, which the likes of Zac Efron follow . Workout buddy: Ramona, who works with Zac Efron, emphasises the importance of training smarter not longer. She says working hard for 30-45 minutes is better than exercising for longer periods (anything over and hour) and risking overtraining . Ramona shared her step-by-guide to achieving a celebrity body in a few simple steps. It all starts with pre-workout fuel and, she says, if you aren't eating the right foods before you hit the gym, you may be sabotaging your workouts. 'Eating the right foods at the right times will make a difference in the way you gain muscle tissue,' she says. 'Make sure you have a snack pre-workout such as rolled oats, eggs and toast, or if on the go, a handful of almonds or a protein shake like Everything But the Cow - it is a blend of soya protein and real fruit and will give you the energy you need to work hard. 'Giving your body what it needs includes restoring a natural balance. Training hard produces stress which in turn, creates free radicals which attack healthy tissue in the body. To help your body fight these free radicals, ensure you have a healthy intake of fruit and vegetables each day such as broccoli, berries and cherries.' A-list clients: Ramona, pictured, left, with Scarlett Johansson and, right, with Eva Mendes, believes that women should lift weights, as daunting as it may be . Helping Halle: Ramona says Miss Berry has learned to control her diabetes by limiting her carbohydrates to ones that do not cause a rapid rise in sugar levels, which also has the added benefit of weight control . Ramona says there are no excuses for not working out and if you suddenly find yourself away from a gym, then don’t skip a workout just because you don’t have any equipment. 'Try combinations that include single-legged squats, single-arm pushups, walking squats and sit-ups. A full-body workout can get you the sweat you need in 10 minutes,' she said. She also emphasises the importance of training smarter not longer. 'If you are one of those people that believes they need to spend as much as ten hours a day in the gym then I have news for you: It is better to train in an efficient effective manner at an intensity level that challenges you, say 30-45 minutes than exercising for longer periods (anything over and hour) and risking overtraining. Overtraining can break down muscle tissue and can even lead to injury over time,' she said. She also believes that women should lift weights, as daunting as it may be. 'I often see ladies in the gym not lifting enough weight. They are afraid of bulking up, but if not enough weight is lifted then not enough stress is put on the muscle to make a change,' she said. 'Women don’t need to worry about bulking up; hormonally women don’t have enough testosterone to look like men. Halle Berry, Jessica Alba and Kate Beckinsale and all lift weights and none look bulky but instead are enviably toned.' And while most of us use the scales to track our progress, Ramona says that number tells only half the story. 'Our body composition reveals ratio of fat to lean muscle tissue and while muscle weighs more than fat, it looks better on a body and it burns calories even while we sleep, so step away from the scales and trust how you feel in your clothes and in yourself.' Ramona also emphasises the important of rest and recovery - a time to rebuild muscle tissue and recharge energy supplies. She advises her clients to train three days on and one day off. It sure works! Ramona's method, she explains, is designed to add long lead definition to her female clients and strength and size to her male clients . Speaking about working with Jessica Alba, Ramona said: 'I can tell you that she’s just like everyone else. Jessica has had to work at it by exercising and eating right. 'What Jess understands is the 80/20 rule. While it’s fun to occasionally go for fancy diners, have dessert and a glass of wine, it’s equally important to prepare most of your meals during the week. 'Jessica has always enjoyed cooking. She knows that by doing so she can control what goes into her food. She eats plenty of fruits and vegetables and enjoys most dishes. Jessica eats only until she is full then puts the fork down. 'Once you are able to eat in moderation, use portion control and make consistent healthy choices most of the time.' When it comes to food, Ramona also believes that you should limit your carbohydrates to whole fruit, whole vegetable, whole grain breads, muffins, bagels, rolls, pasta, noodles, crackers, cereal, and brown rice and quinoa. 'Halle Berry has learned to control her diabetes by limiting her carbohydrates to ones that do not cause a rapid rise in sugar levels, this has had the added benefit of weight control',' she said. 'My final word to you is to commit to your goals, begin your plan and stick to it and you can achieve anything including looking hot like my Hollywood celebrities! 'It's within your reach it's all up to you to get the body you have always longed for!' Breakfast burritos . 7” whole wheat or corn tortilla . ½ cup egg whites . 1 oz. low fat cheddar cheese . ½ cup canned black beans, rinsed . 2 tbsp salsa . Heat skillet on medium setting. Using a paper towel lightly coat with olive oil. Scramble eggs. Add black beans until heated. Fold egg, beans, salsa and cheese into tortilla warp. Heat in oven at 170ºF or microwave for faster prep until warmed. Frittata with goat cheese, roasted tomato & rocket . 4 large egg whites (or ½ cup egg whites) Olive oil cooking spray . 2 tbsp fresh tomatoes, roasted . 2 tbsp goat cheese, crumbled . Quick on-the-go chicken Wrap . 3 oz. grilled skinless and boneless chicken breast . 1 cup baby spinach or any greens . ½ red pepper, cut in strips . 1 Tbsp vinaigrette salad dressing of your choice . 1 7” whole wheat wrap . Chop chicken and toss with vegetables and dressing. Place meat, vegetables and spinach onto tortilla, fold and enjoy. Quinoa Salad . 1 ½ cups Quinoa, washed and drained . 1 ½ cups water . ½ cup green bell pepper, diced . ½ cup roasted red peppers, packed in oil or water, chopped . ½ cup red onion, minced . 1 ½ cups sweet corn, fresh, canned or frozen . ½ cup green peas, fresh or frozen . 1 cup fresh basil, finely chopped . 2 cloves garlic, minced . 1 ½ Tbsp extra virgin olive oil . ¼ cup lemon juice, freshly squeezed . 15 ounces navy beans or garbanzo beans, drained . 1 Tbsp plum vinegar, or to taste . Place quinoa, water, corn and peas in a sauce pan. Cover. Simmer on low for 12-15 minutes. Remove and place in bowl. Fluff with fork and cool. Add red onion, basil, roasted peppers and beans. Blend the lemon juice, garlic, olive oil and plum vinegar in a blender and pour over quinoa and vegetables. Mix and serve. You can serve on bed of greens. Ramona is working with Everything But The Cow, a protein shake available from Holland & Barrett to encourage women to include more protein in to their diet . | Ramona Braganza works with Zac Efron and Kate Beckinsale .
Uses three cardio, two circuit strength training and one core segment .
Says Jessica Alba follows 80/20 eating regime .
Halle Berry has helped her diabetes by choosing the right carbs . |
0c3f81f10bb6b5f159d52315ecc15eee8a01860f | By . Gethin Chamberlain . PUBLISHED: . 16:02 EST, 8 September 2012 . | . UPDATED: . 08:41 EST, 9 September 2012 . Britain is frittering away tens of millions of pounds hiring an army of consultants to tell India how to run its own affairs. A Mail on Sunday investigation into contracts awarded to consultants has found that instead of money going directly to India’s poor and needy, much of it goes into the pockets of firms, some American, that are paid to hold meetings and produce reports. It hired a group of consultants - including one leading US university - to work on a £5 million deal to tell the Department for International Development whether it was wasting money. The UK Government insists it will continue to give the economic superpower £280 million a year until 2015 – despite India’s insistence that it does not want or need the money. The UK Government is spending millions of pounds hiring consultants across the world to tell India how to spend its money instead of giving it to those who need it most . The rapidly industrialising country, whose economy is ranked 11th in the world with a GDP of £1.85 trillion, is rich enough to run its own space programme and last month announced it would spend £52 million sending a probe to Mars next year. David Cameron has courted controversy over the UK’s vast payments to India, designed, many believe, to detoxify the Tories’ image as the ‘nasty party’. Just last month a powerful committee of peers urged the Prime Minister to abandon his policy on aid to the country, saying Ministers should ‘urgently prepare an exit strategy from Britain’s £1.1 billion aid to India’. The peers pointed out that sending millions of pounds to a country that can afford its own space programme provided a ‘perverse incentive’ for the Indian government to shirk its own responsibility for tackling poverty. India is rich enough to afford its own space programme and is spending £52m next year sending a probe to Mars . But The Mail on Sunday has discovered that since the Government announced an overhaul of Indian aid spending in 2010 in response to criticism, it has: . The Government awarded £5million to Duke University, North Carolina, to assess how affective its aid spending has been . The Department for International Development (DfID) has a staff of 90 and uses outside contractors for much of its work. The department also outsources its recruitment to private firms in India. The practice has raised questions about what its own staff are doing. In the past year, the UK donated £292.5 million to India, with £268.4 million from DfID’s budget, despite comments from Indian finance minister Pranab Mukherjee that India did not need British aid, which he described as ‘a peanut in our total development exercises’. India's Finance Minister Pranab Mukherjee, right, has said India does not need British aid . Last night, Tory backbencher Philip Davies said: ‘To spend any money at all on aid to India is unjustifiable, but for the money from the aid budget to be spent on US academics and Western consultants is both beyond belief and beneath contempt. ‘Clearly, DflD have so much money they don’t know what to do with it and it’s about time George Osborne cut the budget down to a much more affordable figure where the money could be spent on alleviating real poverty.’ Chancellor George Osborne is coming under pressure to reduce the amount of money awarded to the Department for International Development (DfID) Julian Morris, vice-president of research at the Reason Foundation think-tank and author of a recent report on foreign aid for the Institute of Economic Affairs, said: ‘When Britain’s national debt is growing, it is highly irresponsible to continue to fritter away our children’s future on pointless and even counterproductive foreign “aid”. ‘There is a major problem, because those consultants are powerful and vocal vested interests. ‘Some of them, as this investigation documents, even masquerade as charities and religious organisations.’ India also runs its own overseas aid programme, which is worth about £2 billion a year. Former International Development Secretary Andrew Mitchell – who was replaced last week by Justine Greening – repeatedly insisted that Britain’s aid commitment to India runs until only 2015. But last April DfID awarded a £7,506,606 contract to the Asian Institute of Development Studies at the University of Sussex for ‘research consultancy services’ as part of a six-year programme in South Asia. Last night the DfID said: ‘The new Secretary of State for International Development is looking carefully at DfID activity in India. As we have always made clear, DfID will not be in India for ever. We are currently discussing the future of our programme with the government of India.’ | UK Government awards £280m to India every year .
Indian finance minister says the country does not need aid from UK .
Allocated £5 million to consultants - including Duke University in North Carolina - to produce a report on how effective its aid spending has been .
Given £20 million to two consultancies – one in the US – to advise Indian state governments on how to run their own health services.
Hired Christian Aid to lead a group of management consultants working on a £24.5 million contract to advise Indian organisations on narrowing the gap between rich and poor. Some of the money will go on grants to Indian consultants .
Given the University of Sussex £7.5 million for consultancy on agriculture in South Asia.
Given £3.1 million to a consultancy firm to tell India’s housing ministry how to cut poverty.
Given £1 million to consultants to advise charities on how to support Indian and British government policies.
Spent £225,000 on office furniture for an overhaul of its Delhi facilities three years before the UK aid programme is due to end.
Given £353,827 to the Asian Institute of Development Studies at the University of Sussex to encourage South Asian climate change researchers to publish more papers. |
0c405da868e367f4be6077157f20206905adcd56 | By . Lucy Osborne . PUBLISHED: . 10:40 EST, 22 September 2013 . | . UPDATED: . 05:38 EST, 23 September 2013 . It may have been the official beginning of autumn yesterday, but summer was refusing to go quietly. Much of Britain basked in glorious sunshine over the weekend, despite trees and plants showing signs of the next season. Thousands took to parks, rivers and woodland to enjoy the first of the stunning autumnal colours while the sun was still shining. A woman strolls past the red and gold-leaved trees in Westonbirt Arboretum, Gloucestershire, on the first day of autumn today . Walkers enjoyed the changing landscape today on the Autumn equinox. Despite the change in colours, forecasters say the weather is unseasonably warm . Forecasters say temperatures are up to 6C higher than expected in September. Chloe Lester, 20, takes a break with her dog Billy in Hartington in the Derbyshire Peak district (left) while a man walks through the dropped leaves in Westonbirt Arboretum, Gloucestershire (right) Yesterday marked the autumnal equinox, nature’s first day of autumn, . when the sun passes directly above the equator and day and night become . nearly equal in length. But it felt more like summer across most of the country with blue skies and highs of 23C in some areas of the south east. The sunshine was perfect for brave skinny-dippers who stripped off at dawn yesterday in a world record attempt. They . failed to break it, but 180 people took part, jumping into the North . Sea off Druridge Bay, Northumberland. And the good weather is not quite . over yet. The Met Office said temperatures will be unseasonably warm . today. Even parts of Scotland can expect the mercury to rise as high as 23C, while parts of England could feel even warmer. A Met Office spokesman said temperatures are currently about six degrees higher than average for September. Purple heather was in full bloom at Bratley View, in the New Forest, a favourite spot with walkers and photographers . Photographer Mark Upton said he saw the heather and 'just had to go and take a picture of the stunning heather' He . added: ‘That [warmth] will last for the next couple of days but will . begin to become more changeable by the end of the week.’ Elsewhere, purple heather was in full bloom at Bratley View, in the New Forest, a favourite spot with walkers and photographers. Photographer Mark Upton, 25, from Portsmouth, said he had to stop when he saw the heather in the evening light. He said: 'It was a very spontaneous thing. I was driving through the New Forest and the light began to drop and I just had to go and take a picture of the stunning heather. 'The heather is in full colour and the leaves and grass is starting to turn a golden brown- mix that with the sunset and it's one of the greatest places to sit back and relax.' However, summer is not quite over yet. The Met Office say temperatures will be unseasonably warm tomorrow. Aberdeenshire should expect temperatures to rise to as much as 23C, while parts of England could feel even warmer. A Met Office spokesman said temperatures are currently about six degrees higher than average for September. Punters enjoy the warmer than average temperatures as they punt along the River Cam in Cambridge on Sunday . Nature marked the Autumn equinox with a stunning display of red, orange and yellow leaves . He said: 'Locally it will be very warm for this time of year. That will last for the next couple of days but will begin to become more changeable by the end of the week.' The warm weather was perfect for brave skinny-dippers who stripped off today at dawn in an attempt to break the world record. The hardy souls jumped into the North Sea off Druridge Bay, Northumberland, in an event supported by the National Trust. All proceeds raised were split between mental health charity MIND and the National Trust's conservation work along the Northumberland Coast. Although 180 people took part, it fell shy of the current skinny-dipping record of 506. Jax Higginson, the event organiser, said: 'It was perfect. The sea was like a mill pond and the sky was very clear. A sea of golden sunflowers at Newton Rigg College near Penrith, Cumbria gave the area a taste of summer today despite it being the first day of autumn . More than 100 people braved the cold to take part in a dawn skinny dip world record attempt at Druridge Bay in Northumberland . The record attempt raised money for mental health charity MIND and for the conservation work of The National Trust . 'It wasn't cold at all. People stayed in for ages, most people were in the water for ten to 15 minutes - I was in there for nearly half an hour. 'Everybody was just really feeling alive and being part of nature. 'Nobody was shy - everyone just took part fully. 'The atmosphere was really warm, there was a lot of love. 'Most of the registration money was going to charity so that's £2,000 straight away. 'A gentleman that came last year had his 72nd birthday yesterday and he took part again this year - I think it's now his birthday celebration. 'There was children aged five and six going in their with their parents.' | Today's Autumn Equinox marked by fantastic display of gold, red and brown .
Forecasters say unseasonably warm weather to continue for beginning of the week .
But will turn more changeable and chilly towards the weekend . |
0c4200f464d2e9b9a467d50dd8cf4654ca2ac7b9 | Jason Roy smashed a stunning century to set England Lions on course to take a 2-0 lead in their one-day series against South Africa A, although they were given a fright by the home opener Reeza Hendricks. Roy, who had top-scored in the low-scoring opening match in Bloemfontein with 43, piled into the South Africa A bowlers on a Kimberley pitch which justified its reputation as a batsmen's paradise, hitting 13 fours and six sixes after the Lions had been put in. The Surrey opener made 141, his first Lions century and his highest score in 50-over cricket, from only 110 balls before he was dismissed in the 40th over, ending a second-wicket stand of 198 in 26 overs with his captain James Vince. Jason Roy top-scored for England Lions with 141 as they beat South Africa A by 141 runs on Wednesday . Roy's innings helped England on their way to posting 376 for nine as they claimed a 2-0 one-day series lead . Vince fell agonisingly short of his second century of the tour six overs later, adjudged lbw for 99 from 95 balls, and although wickets tumbled late in the innings, Jonny Bairstow and Ben Stokes maintained the momentum for an imposing total of 376 for nine. There seemed a real danger that would not be enough as Hendricks and Dean Elgar responded with an opening stand of 142 inside 18 overs under the Diamond Oval floodlights. It was Lancashire left-arm spinner Stephen Parry, making his first appearance of the tour, who dragged the Lions back into the match with a tidy spell which earned him the wickets of Elgar, for 66 from 59 balls, and Dane Vilas. Liam Plunkett then claimed one wicket and Mark Wood a couple, but it was Stokes who finally removed Hendricks, driving to cover in the 37th over after making 141, the same score as Roy, from four balls fewer with 14 fours and five sixes. Alex Less readies himself to hit the ball during the match in Kimberley on Wednesday . Harry Gurney also took two wickets before Plunkett returned to claim the last two and end with three for 73 as South Africa A were dismissed for 306 in the 45th over, but Parry remained comfortably the most economical bowler. The Lions now have the first of three chances to clinch the series in Potchefstroom on Saturday, when South Africa's World Cup wicketkeeper Quinton de Kock is expected to boost the home team as he looks for match practice after an ankle injury. Tim Bresnan could come into contention for the Lions, as the Yorkshire all-rounder flew into Johannesburg on Wednesday, and Sam Billings hopes to recover from the nasty illness which ruled him out in Kimberley. Roy plays an expansive shot (left) and he salutes the crowd after reaching his half-century . | England Lions beat South Africa A by 70 runs in Kimberley on Wednesday .
Jason Roy top-scored with 141 as tourists posted 376 for nine in 50 overs .
Captain James Vince scored 99 as England went 2-0 up in one-day series .
South Africa A were bowled out for 306 inside 45 overs despite quick start . |
0c4207e721bb53b3e898c28db44254658cf63788 | By . Misty White Sidell . Despite their lack of cachet in the high-fashion realm, sales of bandage dresses are soaring on eBay – with the auction site reporting that purchases have doubled since last year. In the run up to the World Cup, eBay investigated how Brazilian trends have taken hold in the U.S. over the past few months. In looking at sales between March and May 2014 the site found that 500,000 bodycon dresses have been purchased by eager bidders worldwide. Unfashionable turns: Despite their lacking fashion quotient, bodycon dresses have doubled their sales on eBay in the U.S. over the last few months (pictured, Carmen Electra wears a bandage dress in Los Angeles in April, left; Minnie Driver appears in a Herve Leger dress, right) When broken down geographically, this . equates to 200per cent more bodycon dresses being sold on the site to . U.S.-based customers than during the same time period in 2013. Sales of . the style have increased by 93per cent globally. Another . popular trend in Brazil, ombre, which is fabric that gradates between . two colors or from light to dark, has risen by 45per cent in the U.S. and 56per cent globally. Approximately 60,000 ombre pieces have been sold on the site in these few months. Providing . even more evidence of a surging interest in Brazilian fashion is how . sales of the Rio de Janeiro-based brand Osklen have increased on eBay by . 62per cent in the U.S. and 69per cent worldwide. The . auction site also cites a rise in bikini sales as a sign that Brazilian . fashion trends are taking a greater hold in the global landscape. On the runway: Bandage dresses are still being shown at fashion week on the runway of Herve Leger (pictured, the label's fall 2014 collection) More . than one million bikinis have sold on the site between March and May – a . large amount that could also be attributed to the approaching warmer . months. However, eBay says that this number represents a year-on-year increase of 27per cent in the U.S. and 31per cent worldwide. | In the run up to the World Cup, eBay investigated how Brazilian trends have taken hold in the U.S. over the past few months . |
0c428f94592926ac1fb2c848430f1238dca8465e | (CNN) -- A radical Islamist group has claimed responsibility for the murder of Swedish journalist Nils Horner. The Fidai Mahaz group said on its website Tuesday that it had "targeted" the correspondent on the Wasir Akbar Khan 15 Road in Kabul. The brief statement, attributed to the group's spokesperson Qari Hamza, asserted that the slain man was a spy and "special worker" of British intelligence agency MI6. Neither the statement, nor any other part of the group's website, offered any proof that the splinter group was behind the killing, and officials have cast doubts on the veracity of the claim. "It is an ongoing investigation," Sediq Sediqqi, a spokesman for the Afghan interior ministry, told CNN. "The Afghan police force are working very hard to find out who really was behind this. "We cannot verify any claim by anyone or any group at this stage." Previous statements posted on the site claim attacks on American and other NATO troops, and on Afghan security forces. The group also said it was responsibility -- under a previous name -- for the assassination of Canadian permanent resident Arsala Jamal, who was the governor of the Afghanistan's Logar Province. The group's leader, Mullah Najibullah, also known by his nom de guerre Umar Khatab, is at odds with the Taliban leadership and has openly called them "traitors." His faction is opposed to the Taliban's attempts at detente. Qari Yusuf Ahmadi, a Taliban spokesman, told CNN that he had no idea who the group was, and said that the Taliban had no relationship with it. A dual British and Swedish national, Horner worked as a reporter for Sweden's Sveriges Radio, mostly covering Asia and the Middle East. The 51-year-old recently moved to Hong Kong and had visited Afghanistan several times previously. He was gunned down in broad daylight on a Kabul street Tuesday. A Lebanese restaurant near the site of the shooting was attacked in January. The brazen killing comes at a time when Afghanistan is preparing for next month's presidential elections, and ahead of NATO's planned withdrawal of troops by the end of 2014. READ MORE: Swedish journalist shot dead in Kabul . Masoud Popalzai in Kabul contributed to this report . | Fidai Mahaz splinter group claims it was behind the murder of Swedish journalist Nils Horner .
Many skeptical of the group's assertion .
Radical group is at odds with the Taliban -- and even more extremist .
Killing comes at a delicate time for Kabul and Afghanistan . |
0c4357bcb4976daa39958ff3c48454815b1230ea | His incredible diving header against Spain at the World Cup was voted Holland's 'Sporting Moment of the Year' on Tuesday night. And Robin van Persie was keen to share the moment with all generations of his family. The Manchester United striker posted an Instagram picture with his grandad Wim Ras after accepting the accolade at the Dutch Sports Gala in Amsterdam. Robin van Persie posted this Instagram picture with his 93-year-old grandad Wim Ras after winning the Dutch Sporting Moment of the Year award at the annual sports gala in Amsterdam on Tuesday night . Ras became a social media phenomenon when he joined the 'Persieing' trend during the World Cup . Van Persie's diving header in the 5-1 win over Spain was a highlight of the World Cup in Brazil . Ras, who is 93, became a social media phenomenon back in the summer when he recreated his grandson's 'Flying Dutchman' pose from that goal in a popular trend known as 'Persieing'. Van Persie captioned the Instagram snap: 'Another nice Picture with my family at the NOC NSF Sportgala 2014.' The Holland captain flew through the air to meet Daley Blind's cross-field ball and send a looping header over Spain goalkeeper Iker Casillas. Louis van Gaal (left) looks on as Danny Blind (second left) presents Van Persie with his award . Van Gaal, now Manchester United manager, was named Coach of the Year for Holland's World Cup run . Van Persie celebrates his goal in Manchester United's 3-0 win over Liverpool on Sunday . His goal drew the scores level at 1-1 and Holland went on to win the match 5-1, setting the tone for a brilliant tournament in which they ultimately finished third. Their World Cup boss Louis van Gaal, now in charge of Manchester United, was named Coach of the Year at the awards ceremony. Bayern Munich star Arjen Robben was named Holland's Sportsman of the Year. | Robin van Persie won the Sporting Moment of the Year award at the Dutch Sports Gala for his flying header against Spain at the World Cup .
The Manchester United striker posed with grandad Wim Ras .
Ras, 93, became internet sensation after mimicking grandson's flying pose on social media .
Louis van Gaal was named Coach of the Year at Amsterdam ceremony . |
0c44137262ec9074a439ec035e6bc22843ac90c1 | Nathaniel Clyne was the hero for Southampton as they knocked fellow Premier League side Arsenal out of the Capital One Cup with a 2-1 win at the Emirates Stadium. Alexis Sanchez's sumptuous free-kick gave Arsenal the lead but goals from Dusan Tadic and Nathaniel Clyne earned the visitors an impressive victory and a place in the Capital One Cup fourth round in the process. Here Sportsmail's Sami Mokbel gives his thoughts on the main talking points from the game. CLYNE SENSATIONAL AGAIN . How long before Nathaniel Clyne gets an England call-up? He’s been on the cusp of the senior squad in recent months, so his wonder strike last night will do his chances no harm at all. Nathaniel Clyne lets rip with a powerful long-range drive evading David Ospina for Southampton's winner . Clyne celebrates Southampton's Capital One Cup win against Arsenal with his team-mates . DIABY'S WELCOME RETURN . It was one of those ‘I was there moments’. Abou Diaby started his first game for Arsenal in 556 days against Southampton. The Frenchman’s injury problems have been well documented; now Arsene Wenger will hope he can stay clear of the treatment room this season. Abou Diaby made his first start for Arsenal in 18 months against Southampton in the Capital One Cup . The Frenchman was on the field for 67 minutes before being replaced by Santi Cazorla . EXPENSIVE CUP FAILURE . Arsenal Supporters’ Trust hit out at the £3million fee paid to owner Stan Kroenke. The amount was detailed in the club’s latest set of financial results, released last week, as payment for strategic and advisory services. And Trust spokesman Tim Payton tweeted: ‘Stan Kroenke imposes a 3 per cent ticket price rise on fans that raises circa £3m, then he bills Arsenal £3m for his advisory fees. How convenient!’ Like our Arsenal Facebook page. | Nathaniel Clyne was the hero for Southampton as they secured an excellent win away at Arsenal in the Capital One Cup third round .
Alexis Sanchez gave the Gunners the lead with a superb free-kick .
However Saints fought back admirably with goals from Dusan Tadic and Clyne sealing their place in the fourth round of the competition .
Abou Diaby made his first Arsenal start in over 18 months against Saints . |
0c44b878b9e44c7a5386515277875a4de5c15c25 | (CNN) -- Ronald Reagan once joked, "Politics is not a bad profession. If you succeed, there are many rewards. If you disgrace yourself, you can always write a book." Today, that joke would have to be updated to add that not only can you write a book, but you can also be on reality TV show, host cable news programs, run for office again and possibly even win. Disgraced politicians never die. They're like Jason from the "Friday the 13th" movies -- you just can't kill them. They keep coming at you like the political version of zombies. Sure, some fallen politicians still write books about their "adventures." Former Ohio congressman Bob Ney recently made the rounds on the talk show circuit to promote his new memoir. Ney, who resigned in 2006, served more than a year in prison after pleading guilty to corruption charges in connection with the Jack Abramoff lobbying scandal. But books are nothing compared to the other ways sullied politicians can profit off of their newly found infamy. Former New York Gov. Eliot Spitzer -- who resigned because he was caught frequenting prostitutes -- went on to host not one, but two different shows on cable TV. The first one was on CNN, and the second one was on Current TV. Then there's exploiting your scandal in the time between when you're indicted and convicted of the crime. Former Texas congressman Tom DeLay -- while under indictment and awaiting a trial date -- appeared as a contestant on the hit TV show "Dancing with the Stars." DeLay was later convicted of campaign finance violations and money laundering. But the guy who set the bar high for all disgraced politicians is former Illinois Gov. Rod Blagojevich. After being removed from office by the state legislature and while under indictment, Blagojevich wrote a book about his scandal, went on "The Daily Show" and "Letterman" and was a contestant on Season 9 of Donald Trump's "The Celebrity Apprentice." Blagojevich even appeared at the Wizard World Chicago Comic Con (a comic book convention), where he charged $50 for autographs and $80 for a photo with him. He was subsequently convicted of corruption charges and sentenced to 14 years in prison. Among politicians who don't end up in jail, some try hard to become elected officials again. They want to go back to the very place that caused their problems. It's like a recovering drug addict asking to work at a meth lab -- not a good combo. Just look at former South Carolina Gov. Mark Sanford, who is running to fill a recently vacated Congressional seat. As a refresher, Sanford disappeared for six days in 2009 while governor. At first, Sanford's office publicly stated that he was hiking the Appalachian Trail. However, we soon found out that he was actually in Argentina visiting the woman with whom he was having an extramarital affair. Sanford seeks 'redemption' in wild congressional race . Sanford later paid $74,000 to settle charges that he had misused state resources and campaign funds in conducting his affair. However, Sanford refused to resign and completed his term. Flash forward to March 19: Sanford came in first in a crowded field of Republicans in the GOP Congressional primary. Recent polls show him with a 10-point lead over his opponent in the Republican primary runoff scheduled for April 2. Sanford's quest for forgiveness in return to political life . And don't forget Anthony Weiner, the former Democratic Congressman from New York City. As most people, and all comedians, vividly recall, Weiner had "accidentally" tweeted photos of himself in his underwear to a young woman on Twitter. Weiner later admitted to having non-sexual but "inappropriate" relationships with various women on social media. Weiner resigned from Congress a few weeks after the scandal broke in June 2011. What's Weiner up to now? Apparently he has figured out how to use Twitter and is at least considering a return to politics. Weiner revealed he had spent more than $100,000 on polls recently to explore possibly running for office in New York City. What does it say about us that these disgraced politicians have success -- however fleetingly -- after their scandals? Is it because we are a forgiving lot who believe in second chances if the person has sincerely apologized and seeks redemption? Or is it because we are all infected with the reality-show mindset where we reward fame regardless of how it's attained? Plenty of people don't distinguish between whether a person is famous for good or bad reasons. All that matters is if a person has made it to that semi-exclusive club of celebritydom. After that, enough people will support the person to merit securing a book deal, being cast on a reality show and maybe run for office. Look, I'm all for redemption and second chances. But I'm also aware that just like we saw with Jason in "Friday the 13th" movies, the longer he's alive, the more damage he will do. The opinions expressed in this commentary are solely those of Dean Obeidallah. | Dean Obeidallah: Disgraced politicians can write a book, go on TV, run for office again .
Obeidallah: Fallen politicians never die, just like zombies .
Just think of Bob Ney, Eliot Spitzer, Tom DeLay, Rod Blagojevich, Mark Sanford, he says .
Obeidallah: Are we so forgiving because we reward fame regardless of how it's attained? |
0c44ee18d1ffd5e5bc121865aa965bb0fc62672f | The controversial surveillance program created by the NSA to collect records of any phone calls made to or from the United States was today deemed unconstitutional by a federal judge. U.S. District Court Judge Richard Leon announced on Monday that the extensive spying program likely breaks the Fourth Amendment, which is the right that protects Americans against unlawful searches and seizures. The ruling is a boost for exiled Edward Snowden who exposed details of the NSA's huge data collection program to the public earlier this year, and is now exiled in Russia. Big brother: The NSA was revealed to be keeping track of phone calls made or received by Americans both abroad and overseas . Politico broke the news that the judge's . ruling came in conjunction with a lawsuit brought to the court by a . conservative legal activist, Larry Klayman, and his client who are both . Verizon users unhappy about having their records stored by the National . Security Agency. The judge has ordered a preliminary injunction stopping the NSA from collecting Mr Klayman's and his client's information, though the ruling could reasonably be pushed to include any such individuals. 'Plaintiffs have a very significant expectation of privacy in an aggregated collection of their telephone metadata covering the last five years, and the NSA’s Bulk Telephony Metadata Program significantly intrudes on that expectation,' Justice Leon wrote in his brief. 'I have significant doubts about the efficacy of the metadata collection program as a means of conducting time-sensitive investigations in cases involving imminent threats of terrorism. 'I cannot imagine a more ‘indiscriminate’ and ‘arbitrary invasion’ than this systematic and high-tech collection and retention of personal data on virtually every single citizen for purposes of querying it and analyzing it without judicial approval.' Indefensible: Just last week, NSA director General Keith Alexander testified on Capitol Hill about how important the program was to keeping the nation safe against terrorist attacks . Judge Leon was appointed to the court by former President George W. Bush who put some of the most wide-reaching surveillance protocols into place, which in turn adds some bipartisan weight behind the ruling. The ruling comes after a continued public debate over the inherently private tactics of the nation's top spy agency. Man behind the news: The NSA's practices have been questioned since Edward Snowden released the files in June . The news about the phone collection program was initially revealed by leaker Edward Snowden, who collected files about the NSA himself while working as a consultant for the agency. He is now living in Russia and refuses to return to the US for fear of prosecution. Agency representatives have repeatedly stood by the program since it was unveiled, including director General Keith Alexander who was quizzed about it on Capitol Hill last week. General Alexander said in a Senate Judiciary Committee hearing on Wednesday that the number of global threats are growing - specifically in Iraq and Syria - and they pose what he called 'an unacceptable risk' to America. 'There is no other way that we know of to connect the dots... Taking these programs off the table is absolutely not the thing to do.' Alexander acknowledged the privacy concerns that have dogged the NSA since Snowden's document release and submitted that the NSA is now open to talking to technology companies for a better solution without compromising security. 'It's like holding onto a hornet's nest. We’re getting stung,' Alexander said. But, 'if we let this down I think we will have let the nation down,' he said. | Lawsuit argued it was illegal for the NSA to collect the phone records of a conservative lawyer and his client .
District Court judge Richard Leon ruled in their favor, said the NSA has to stop collecting their records .
Wrote that he 'could not imagine a more "indiscriminate" and "arbitrary invasion"' of privacy .
Cited the Fourth Amendment which protects Americans against unlawful searches and seizures . |
0c452a9cdeb5a7224ca8854376584695b7a1e4c0 | New York (CNN) -- A New York graffiti art exhibit that drew visitors throughout the world was painted over early Tuesday morning despite efforts by artists and fans to keep the popular outdoor attraction open. The whitewashing of the renowned graffiti haven known as 5 Pointz, a hulking warehouse in the Long Island City section of Queens, appears to mark the end of legal efforts by supporters to save it and even a last-minute attempt to secure landmark status for the building. A federal judge last week denied an injunction to stop the razing of the building by developers Jerry and David Wolkoff, the warehouse owners, who plan to transform the site into high-end condos. "I've been learning a lot in this whole battle," Jonathan Cohen, aka "Meres One," the 5 Pointz art curator, told CNN affiliate NY1. He added, "I guess I have a little less faith in the system." Jerry Wolkoff told CNN that he decided to paint over the walls now because the building will take several months to tear down, and he didn't want the artists' work to be ruined in the process. "I had tears in my eyes this morning when we painted over it," Wolkoff said. "I have nothing but admiration for the work they've done." Graffiti artists turn abandoned luxury liner into giant canvas . Wolkoff said the new buildings will have a "60-foot high wall" for the artists to paint on. He anticipates beginning the demolition in early 2014. The 5 Pointz is a massive canvass where "aerosol artists from around the globe paint colorful pieces on the walls of a 200,000-square-foot factory building," according to its website. The exhibit has been featured in several music videos and documentaries. @5PointzNYC, the official Twitter handle for the exhibit, sent this out Tuesday: "5 Pointz is gone, painted white overnight by the owner...with police protection." The exteriors walls of the warehouse chronicled decades of New York graffiti art. Banksy bids farewell to New York . | New York graffiti exhibit 5 Pointz painted white by building owners .
Action marks end of efforts to save site visited by artists from throughout the world .
The warehouse owners plan to build high-end condos after razing site . |
0c455ee3242ecbf9eb5223032e4a3c250266e07f | Hanford Nuclear Site, Washington (CNN) -- The federal government has set aside nearly $2 billion in stimulus funds to clean up Washington State's decommissioned Hanford nuclear site, once the center of the country's Cold War plutonium production. That is more stimulus funding than some entire states have received, which has triggered a debate as to whether the money is being properly spent. The facility sprawls across approximately 600 square miles of south-central Washington, an area roughly half the size of Rhode Island. It was built in the 1940s as part of the "Manhattan Project" to develop the first atomic weapon during World War II. Millions of dollars and thousands of jobs poured into the remote area about 75 miles east of Yakima where nine nuclear reactors were eventually built. During the Cold War, Hanford was a buzzing hive of activity, eventually becoming the main source of plutonium production for the nation's nuclear weapons program. Decades of improper radioactive waste disposal earned Hanford the notorious distinction of being most contaminated nuclear site in the Western Hemisphere. Today, the Hanford site is a virtual ghost town and those involved in the clean-up project say they will need every dollar of the federal stimulus funds. There are still millions of gallons of untreated contaminated groundwater, hundreds of buildings used for plutonium enrichment that need to be torn down, and underground tanks that are full of radioactive sludge. The stimulus money will reduce the clean-up time by years, according to Jon Peschong, who oversees the federal project at Hanford. "It was perfect work, ready to go for the stimulus package," Peschong said. "Each day that passes the conditions worsen [and] the receipt of the federal stimulus money allows us to reduce the costs and also allows us to reduce the clean up footprint much sooner, years sooner." The money is also created jobs for about 1,400 people at Hanford, including Joe Gill who manages a team that is tearing down equipment that is heavily contaminated by radiation. Despite the dangers of his job, Gill said it came just at the right time. "I had managed a production warehouse facility for one of the largest companies in the world, [I] thought I'd be there for 20 years," Gill said. "We laid off 8,000 people in three months and they closed down our plant, [and] those jobs aren't jobs you just read the paper and get." It is clear by watching Gill's team perform their time-consuming daily tasks that Hanford won't be decontanimated quickly. The workers have to suit up three to four times a day in protective gear. They break down contaminated equipment through a "glove box," allowing them to disassemble the equipment a room away through lead-lined gloves. Each time a worker removes their hands from the gloves, they must be wanded down by a colleague checking for any radiation exposure. The large scale of the project and years of cost overruns have led critics to complain that stimulus money is being misdirected at Hanford. A report by Sens. John McCain, R-Arizona, and Tom Coburn, R-Oklahoma, listed Hanford as one of 100 sites where stimulus money may have been wasted. The Hanford clean-up "has been plagued by massive cost and schedule problems - and almost no progress," according to the report. Gerry Pollet, who runs a Hanford watchdog organization, says he supports using stimulus money to rid the nuclear site of its radioactive waste. But he questions whether the funds are going where they are most needed. "You are not seeing the value that we should be seeing for the clean-up and the environment," said Pollet, who heads Heart of America Northwest. "They are picking the low-hanging fruit, the easy projects that give very nice photo opportunities. But that doesn't cost $2 billion. "Hanford is getting more money than many states in stimulus funds and you would expect to see real progress for clean-up [to] happen with those dollars." While debate continues over whether and how stimulus dollars should be used, the Tri-Cities area that surrounds the Hanford site -- which includes Richland, Kennewick and Pasco -- is reaping the benefits of the clean-up boom. Hanford began receiving stimulus dollars in March 2009, which helped the surrounding cities and towns avoid the catastrophe that has plagued other communities impacted by the recent economic downturn. The Tri-Cities area has one of the lowest unemployment rates in Washington State, and the housing market has barely been affected by the recent economic downturn, according to the Tri-Cities Industrial Development council. Ken Brutzman, who owns a local office furniture store, said his business was "at a standstill" last year before the orders from Hanford contractors started pouring in. Brutzman had to hire six temporary workers, two of which he may keep on full time, to deal with the boom in business. "We are on track to have best year ever," Brutzman said. His business has been in his family for three generations and will likely stay profitable for several more generations since the Hanford clean-up project is expected to take another 40 years. "It has my manufacturers raising their eyebrows saying, 'Wow how does that guy do that?'" | $2 billion being spent to clean up Hanford nuclear site in Washington State .
Hanford is the most contaminated nuclear site in W. hemisphere .
Stimulus funds creating jobs in and around the site . |
0c462042fb9d0bd6790f904650f5e86f5bf0a85f | (Rolling Stone) -- A quick glance at Billboard's Dance/Club Play Songs chart shows many unsurprising names: Britney Spears, Rihanna, Taio Cruz, Kylie Minogue and Florence + The Machine. Up above all of them, at the No. 1 spot, is Yoko Ono with a dance remix of her super obscure 1972 album track "Move On Fast." It's her sixth consecutive No. 1 dance hit. "Those are all incredibly creative people on the chart with me," Ono tells Rolling Stone. "I respect Lady Gaga very much. I feel a touch guilty that I'm up there. But it's all right, that happens." Rolling Stone: John Lennon and Yoko Ono's final years together . Producers have been remixing tracks from Ono's deep catalog of avant-garde music for the past decade. "At first I was prejudiced against the idea," she says. "I had the pride of a rocker. People can get very elitist very quickly, and that's how I was." When she was first approached about remixing "Walking On Thin Ice" she was especially resistant because that was the song John Lennon was working on when he died. "I was like, 'No, never! Don't change anything!'" she says. "It was a very sensitive subject for me." Rolling Stone: Yoko Ono's Plastic Ono Band concert with Lady Gaga, Iggy Pop and more . About 10 years ago she relented and allowed a variety of artists -- from Pet Shop Boys to Basement Jaxx to Felix Da Housecat -- to create dance remixes of her work for the albums Open Your Box and Yes, I'm A Witch. "When I first heard the songs I cried they was so beautiful," she says. "I was so dumb to be against it. Musically, it was as very, very rich experience for me to hear it." The album was a critical and commercial success, leading to the release of Move On Fast (The Remixes), which hits shelves on March 12th. The set features remixes of her catalog by Richard Morel, Digital Dog, Wawa, Chris The Greek and many more. "I never thought I would go into the dance charts," says Yoko. "I respect these producers so much now. I think one day the dance field is going to be very important musically. I mean, it's a high art now...I just feel great that people are dancing. I great and I feel it." Ono rarely steps foot into a dance club, even though many of them now regularly play her music. "I did go to a few clubs just so people can be like, 'Yes, Yoko was there!" she says. "But it does get a bit nerve wracking to go to those places. I would love to be dancing every night until dawn, but somehow it's not conducive for my life right now." See the original article on RollingStone.com . Copyright © 2010 Rolling Stone. | Yoko Ono allowed artists to create dance remixes of work on two albums .
"Move On Fast" is her sixth consecutive No. 1 dance hit .
"When I first heard the songs I cried they was so beautiful," Yoko says . |
0c476b5c07c9157e4bdb7a93ba12b08adb2517ce | By . Daily Mail Reporter . PUBLISHED: . 11:03 EST, 17 June 2013 . | . UPDATED: . 01:22 EST, 18 June 2013 . The father of NSA whistleblower Eric Snowden publicly appealed for his son to come home and begged him to stop leaking classified government information. Lonnie Snowden, 52, said in an interview on Sunday that he was also against surveillance programs being carried out on U.S. citizens. However he pleaded with his 29-year-old son, a former NSA employee, to come home despite the fact that he may face a prison sentence. Snowden, 29, has been hiding out in Hong . Kong since the start of this month when he outed himself as the . person who leaked classified information about the NSA's surveillance. Scroll down for video . Plea to his son: Lonnie Snowden, the father of NSA whistle blower Edward Snowden, holds up a picture of his son as a young boy as he begged him to return to the U.S. Lonnie Snowden told Fox & Friends: 'I’m here because I’m really . concerned about the misinformation in the media. He . is a sensitive, caring young man... He just is a deep thinker.' Mr Snowden said that his son was not a high school drop-out as has been reported but had missed several months of teaching because he was ill during his sophomore year. He completed his high school equivalency at a community college. Lonnie Snowden has other children and is keen to protect their identities following the scandal, he said. Mr Snowden senior also said that he is against any government surveillance program that snooped on its citizens emails and text messages. He said: 'In my opinion, they have no right. Not even under the guise of, ''We need to keep you safe.'' … Don’t tread on us.' The . concerned father begged his son to return to the U.S. despite the . threat that he may face a prison sentence, telling him not to leak or . say anything more. Underground: Snowden, 29, is currently hiding out in Hong Kong having leaked secrets about the National Security Agency's PRISM program . Shortly after Edward Snowden made the revelations, federal agents visited the Pennsylvania home of his father and stepmother. The 29-year-old is currently hiding out in Hong Kong having leaked secrets about the National Security Agency's PRISM program, which monitors millions of American citizens, to the media. His decision to reveal the national secrets have also left his girlfriend Lindsay Mills, 28, completely devastated. Lindsay had previously written on her blog about how she was ‘adrift’ at losing Snowden who she described as her ‘mystery man’. Family members have said that Lindsay is currently with friends on the West Coast, though she could still be in Hawaii, where she and Snowden had been living together. He never told Mills about his plan - saying only that he needed to leave for a few weeks and offering a vague explanation. The shocking leak of classified surveillance programs has sent shock waves through the nation. Some have hailed Snowden as a hero. Several high-profile members of Congress, both Democrats and Republicans, are calling him a traitor, including former VP Dick Cheney. His whereabouts are currently unknown - though he is believed to still be in Hong Kong. Devastated: Lindsay Mills, the 28-year-old girlfriend of Edward Snowden is believed to have been completely blindsided by his actions . | Lonnie Snowden, 52, said his son was not a high school drop-out as has been claimed . |
0c4785fc0058d9a7b87531e215ea8f1482fad624 | As the ash cloud spewed into the sky by Japan's most active volcano settled this morning, residents in the nearby city of Kagoshima began the clear up - for the 500th time this year. Sakurajima erupted last night, sending a plume of ash 5,000 metres into the air - the highest recorded since 1955 - shrouding the city in near-total darkness. But today, the cloud lifted to reveal a blanket of grey dust that covered roads, cars, shops and homes. Scroll down for video . Shrouded: This is how Kagoshima looked as darkness fell yesterday evening following the eruption - the 500th this year . Blanket of ash: A store worker, left, wearing a mask sweeps the pavement covered by ash this morning after cars drove with their headlights on full-beam yesterday as the ash descended . Hankies to the ready: People are seen walking in the central area of Kagoshima city, covering their mouths so as not to breathe in volcanic ash . Situated on the southern Japanese main island of Kyushu, the 1,117 metre (3,686 ft) volcano began erupting on the night of August 18, local time. Shopkeepers, housewives and municiple workers emerged with brooms and masks to sweep the fine debris away. But it may not be for the last time as volcanologists believe the mountain may spew out more ash this year than in the previous two decades. Clean up: A Kagoshima City staff clears volcanic ashes a day after Mt. Sakurajima erupted . Scary: These pictures were taken from the roads leading into Kagoshima as Sakurajima erupted . Plume: Sakurajima erupted last night, sending a plume of ash 5,000 metres into the air - the highest recorded since 1955 - shrouding the city in near-total darkness . Blowing smoke: Situated on the southern Japanese main island of Kyushu, the 1,117 metre (3,686 ft) volcano began erupting on the night of August 18, local time . Ominous: The vast wave of volcanic smoke from Mount Sakurajima flowed into an urban area in Kagoshima, shrouding the city in darkness . Masato Iguchi, a professor at the Sakurajima Volcano Research Center, said 2012 saw a record number of eruptions. Kyoto University’s disaster reduction research institute keeps close tabs on the volcano in order to avoid a repeat of its 1914 eruption, in which 58 people died. That episode was the most powerful volcanic eruption to hit Japan in a hundred years. At present, Sakurajima erupts on a small scale several thousand times a year, sending ash a few kilometres above its peak. | Sakurajima erupted last night, sending a plume of ash 5,000 metres into air .
Today, cloud lifted to reveal dust blanket covering roads, cars and homes .
It was the 500th eruption this year, a record for the region, sparking fears . |
0c48d96662fa4664b603e70e397b8c62cbfc257f | It's 7 a.m. in Tanauan, the Philippines, and the church bells are ringing for Sunday mass. It's May 2014 and I'm accompanying 11-year-old Jednel and his parents to the weekly service. Jednel is one of the children I have got to know through my work with children's charity Plan International. When Typhoon Haiyan wreaked havoc across the Philippines in November 2013, I was deployed to support the team. Jednel lives in a coastal village in Leyte, which was badly destroyed by the tsunami-like waves that followed the storm. Many of the people attending the church service lost family members and friends, many of whom are now buried in the mass grave outside on the main square. When the minister calls for prayers, the air is thick with sorrow. There is a common experience that, as an outsider, I cannot fully grasp. Everyone in here has sensed the risk of death. They have been so close to the end, but they have survived. Soon the air fills with a sense of power and energy. When the minister cracks a joke, laughter echoes out through the open doors. Now, having visited the Philippines three times over the past year (in November 2013, and then May and September, 2014), I truly believe the disaster recovery has come this far because of the remarkable resilience and spirit of the Filipino people. IMAGES: Before and After, six months on . Rush to rebuild . When I first arrived in Western Samar in November 2013, just three weeks after the typhoon, all I could see was piles of debris, reminiscent of apocalyptic destruction. Yet, in the middle of the rubble and burning waste, I could hear the sound of people hammering, already in the process of rebuilding their houses. Women were washing their clothes and hanging it between the few walls that were left of their homes. Children were running around in flip-flops looking for scrap metal and old glasses they could sell to help their families get food. I even heard people singing. A year later and a lot has happened; Jednel's school is being rebuilt, he is attending a temporary school, and plays with his friends on the weekend. The rubble and fallen trees have been cleared and the vegetation is lush and green. Shops have reopened and the streets are crowded with cars, bicycles and taxis, while the community is out in full force, selling fruit and sweets. Children can play freely on the beach and they are finally allowed to go swimming in the sea once again. Children among most vulnerable . Jednel has grown a great deal since last November. Now he is a confident, relaxed boy who welcomes me to the house of his great grandmother. He says he's still afraid of storms and bad weather, but the nightmares come more seldom. Plan International's priority is protecting children who are among those worst affected by a disaster, and among the most vulnerable after. After Haiyan, Plan set up "Child Friendly Spaces," providing a safe space for 21,000 children to play, learn and get much-needed emotional support -- while nearly 10,000 parents, children and community members were trained on how to avoid violence, abuse, neglect and exploitation. Over the past year, Plan has helped more than 40,000 children to return to school with its "Back to School" kits -- including bags, books and pens -- or by rebuilding classrooms, training teachers and supplying school equipment. Although we've come a long way from the devastating scenes my colleagues and I witnessed a year ago, work still remains. In Tacloban City, one of the areas worst hit by Typhoon Haiyan, Plan's "Building Back Better" project is working with the government and community members to help residents build a community that's better able to withstand the next powerful storm. As for Jednel, he now dreams of becoming a scientist and learning more about typhoons and climate change. We look out towards the calm ocean and I ask him what it's like to live in the Philippines, where a natural disaster never seems too far away. Jednel replies: "This is my favorite place. It's like a freedom, where my family can live and be happy and proud." For me, hearing his words is testament to the resilience of Jednel, his family and the Filipino community. | Spirit of Filipinos remains strong one year after typhoon made landfall November 8, 2013 .
Typhoon Haiyan is one of strongest cyclones ever recorded .
More than 6,000 people were killed, whole villages swept away by wind, water .
Storm surges flooded low-lying coastal regions, destroying homes and businesses . |
0c48e6adea706b4e322c8b8948079b33c8f5d101 | By . Sarah Michael . When Juliet Moody was told off for breastfeeding her youngest child in a café, she decided to fight back with humour rather than outrage. But Ms Moody, 36, never anticipated that the folksy pop song she penned and uploaded online to make fun of the anti-public breastfeeding lobby would strike such a chord with mothers around the world. The tongue-in-cheek Ruin Your Day - which she performs with 31-year-old Catherine Crowley, the other half of her band Sparrow-Folk – recently hit more than half a million views on YouTube and when combined with hits on Vimeo the song has been viewed over 800,000 times. Scroll down for video . Catherine Crowley (left) and Juliet Moody (right) of band Sparrow-Folk have struck a chord with their anti-breastfeeding outrage pop song Ruin Your Day . 'Everybody knows new mothers are exhibitionists,' the duo sings in the pop song. 'Taking every chance they get to ruin your day with t*ts. 'Pretending their little ones need a comfort or a feed. 'Taking every chance they get to ruin your day with t*ts.' Ms Moody said she and Ms Crowley, both from Canberra, had been blown away by the response around the world and the song had been translated into 10 different languages. The music video has received more than 800,000 views across YouTube and Vimeo . The video pokes fun at people who get offended by new mothers breastfeeding in public . 'We're so grateful for the response we've got and we've just been thrilled,' she told MailOnline. 'Hopefully people will lighten up about the issue and take the pressure off breastfeeding mums.' Ms Moody, a mother of four children aged between 15 months and 15 years, was breastfeeding her youngest child when another café customer made a snide remark under his breath. 'I was just breastfeeding in a café and he was a young man who obviously thought I was ruining his day by feeding my child,' she said. Ms Moody was inspired to write the song after a young man said something snarky to her when she was breastfeeding in a cafe . 'To be honest I'm paraphrasing him but it was along the lines that I should have a bit more respect. 'I was quite floored at a time. I'm not quite sure how respect comes into it.' Rather than respond directly to man, she used sarcasm to write a song and she thinks that's what helped the video go viral. '[The breastfeeding in public debate] has always been tackled from someone getting criticised and then it comes up in the media but we took the issue on head on,' she said. 'Because we used humour, instead of a responsive reaction, I think it's been empowering for people and I think that's why people have got behind it. The folk duo decided to fight the stigma against public breastfeeding with humour rather than outrage . 'I guess what we were trying to do was put the attention on the bystanders rather than the feeders.' Since releasing the song in February the folk duo have performed at the Adelaide Fringe Festival and they are in talks to take their show to the Edinburgh Fringe Festival next year. They're also currently producing their next film clip which will be released in early July. Ms Moody says the song is similar to Ruin Your Day and makes light of a social issue. 'It's something probably a bit more comical but we're looking at the battle of the sexes,' she said. Ruin Your Day has since been translated into 10 languages . 'It's kind of a marriage-related topic which we're keeping under wraps.' While the response to Ruin Your Day has been mostly positive, they have received some nasty comments online. 'Like anything when things go out on YouTube you only have to read the comments to see people's negative feedback,' she said. 'But not directly, we haven't had any direct negative comments. 'We're certainly aware that our view isn't the view of everyone. For us that just shows there's even more reason to put it out there.' | Ruin Your Day by Canberra band Sparrow-Folk goes viral around the world .
The song makes fun of people who get outraged by public breastfeeding .
Juliet Moody, 36, made the video with and band mate Catherine Crowley, 31 .
She wrote the song after being told off for breastfeeding in a cafe . |
0c49912fba749db319ae7b44b6ca002ecdbe0762 | Admission: Stephen Frost said some of the targets were 'written on the back of envelopes' Olympics chiefs have paid over the odds for contracts in order to meet self-imposed diversity targets, a senior official has admitted. Stephen Frost, head of inclusion at this summer’s Olympics, confessed that some targets were ‘written on the back of an envelope’ – but stressed that they had to be honoured. The comments are likely to infuriate those angry about the cost of attending the Games. They may also concern MPs, who last month expressed fears that the London Olympics will go way over its current budget of £9.3billion. The predicted cost of the Games when London won the bid in 2005 was £2.37billion. Addressing a diversity conference in Toronto, Mr Frost – formerly of gay equality organisation Stonewall – cited an Olympic ‘volunteer selection centre’ as an example of officials shunning the cheapest option. He said the successful bidder was a ‘little more expensive’ but had ‘guaranteed to do all the work we needed to make the venue more accessible’. Mr Frost said: ‘All this stuff we’d said in 2005 to get the Games . . . some of it was written on the back of an envelope, quite frankly. We then had to deliver it.’ The Oxford and Harvard graduate also claimed that East London was an ‘urban desert’ before London’s successful Olympics bid. ‘I think if any of you go to London, or have been to London, or know London well, the East End of London is transformed,’ he said. ‘And it’s been a real physical transformation. ‘An area that was an urban desert [with] burnt-out cars, wild cats, unexploded bombs from World War II, poisoned soil, dirty water . . . has now become a really really cleaned-up, thriving community with affordable housing, lifetime homes, medical centres, [and] new hospitals as well as venues built for legacy.’ Mr Frost said the privately-run London 2012 Organising Committee (Locog) had convinced more than 60 businesses to set up a guaranteed interview scheme for disabled people. ‘That for me is systemic change which has benefits, rather than token diversity.’ Politically correct: Volunteers at the 2012 Games are also being offered advice on how to deal with cross-dressing members of the public . He also revealed that car-makers that signed contracts with Locog must make vehicles adaptable for disabled drivers. ‘It’s going to be quite nice in London to see VIPs being driven around by disabled folks,’ he said. Other contract recipients include a minority-owned film company in East London; the Royal Association for Deaf People, which will offer interpretation services; a company run by visually impaired people that will provide cleaning products; and an Asian-owned bus company. In an interview with a Canadian newspaper, Mr Frost revealed he has consulted with gay former NBA player John Amaechi on the inclusion of gay and lesbian athletes at the Games, and worked with British Paralympic champion Dame Tanni Grey-Thompson on accessibility for disabled athletes and spectators. ‘The London vision will definitely empower change, enhancing the hiring of disabled people, including gays and lesbians and dealing with homophobia in sport, bringing cultural communities together,’ he said. ‘We’re not going to solve the world’s problems, but we are going to use the power of the Games for change.’ Last September, the Daily Mail revealed that volunteers at the 2012 Games are being offered advice on how to deal with cross-dressing members of the public. They have been told that if confronted by a man wearing a dress, they should direct him to both the men’s and women’s toilets to avoid causing offence. Volunteers have also been issued with a list of words or terms they should not use while on duty. Banned terms include carer or helper, to be replaced with personal assistant or support worker. Staff must also avoid ‘patronising’ young people, the guidelines state, adding that it would be wrong to say ‘young man’. | Olympics chiefs have paid 'over the odds' to meet targets that were 'written on the back of envelopes' |
0c4ae90a3c980408c87b4bfc0c6289d7b9099081 | For 21 years, fans wanting to pay their respects at Freddie Mercury’s last resting place have had nowhere to go. The singer was cremated after he died of Aids in 1991 but the whereabouts of his ashes remained unknown. Now fans believe a plaque spotted at a West London cemetery over the weekend could solve the mystery. Mystery: Freddie (left) was cremated after his death in 1991 but it is not known where they were scattered. Fans hope the tribute plaque discovered at London's Kensal Green Cemetery (right) could hold the answer . Final resting place? Dates on the memorial plaque thought to relate to the Queen singer (pictured centre) match his birth and death . Plaque: Farrokh Bulsara was Freddie's real name, and the French message translates as 'always to be close to you with all my love'. 'M' could relate to his former girlfriend Mary Austin who lived in London . The plaque is in place at Kensal Rise . cemetery and dedicated to Farrokh Bulsara, Mercury’s birth name. He . became Freddie Mercury after forming Queen in 1971. The French tribute to the great lead singer in Kensal Green Cemetery may be the clue fans have been searching for, because the dates engraved on it match those of his life and staff did not know it was there. The small plaque sits on a tall plinth among tributes to other individuals and reads: 'In Loving Memory of Farrokh Bulsara. Pour Etre Toujours Pres De Toi Avec Tout Mon Amour'. This translates as 'Always To Be Close To You With All My Love' and is signed off with a letter 'M'. The M could stand for his former . girlfriend Mary Austin, who received his £7million home Garden Lodge, an . eight-bedroom property in Kensington, London. A statement on the Kensal Green Cemetery's website says plaques like these 'can be provided for those whose cremated remains have been strewn in the Scattering Garden'. Clue: The plaque is a significant find in the west London cemetery (pictured) that contains other famous people including William Makepeace Thackeray and Anthony Trollope . Success: Freddie Mercury's band, which included celebrated guitarist Brian May, sold 300million records and the lead singer was a worldwide icon . The only one: Freddie's former girlfriend and life-long friend Mary (pictured in 1984) was the one who took possession of his ashes after the cremation . A spokesman for Mercury's estate refused to comment but fans believe this could be a discovery they have waited decades for. 'Everyone knows Freddie was cremated at Kensal Green Cemetery in 1991 but it has remained a . complete mystery as to where his ashes were finally laid to rest', one told the Daily Mirror. 'According to some biographies, his ashes weren’t even collected from Kensal Green for well over a year following his cremation. 'The discovery of this plaque is really exciting and may prove to be a major breakthrough.' Partner: Freddie Mercury and his love Jim Hutton, who believed that the singer's ashes had been scattered by a tree in his Kensington garden . At the heart of this latest twist appears to be Mary Austin, who the bisexual vocalist called his 'wife', and who inherited a great deal of his wealth. She also received his song rights, which continue to make huge sums, because Queen sold 300 million albums round the world and had a number of huge-selling number one singles like Bohemian Rhapsody. The singer's former partner, Jim Hutton, said in a 1994 interview he believed that Freddie's ashes were buried at Garden Lodge, adding: 'It’s become something of a riddle but I’m pretty sure his final resting place is at the foot of the weeping cherry tree overlooking the whole place.' But there have long been strong rumours that his remains may actually have been scattered on Zanzibar, the paradise island he was born on off Tanzania or on the shore of Lake Geneva, in Montreux, where he had a home. | Plaque with French tribute to star has been found in Kensal Green Cemetery .
He may also have been scattered on Zanzibar, Lake Geneva or in Kensington .
Plate uses his real name and could've been added by his 'wife' Mary Austin . |
0c4c211911fb1a69112c8b691320370f31f52afe | (CNN) -- There's an old saying in golf -- "beware the injured golfer." Well, on this occasion it was the sick golfer who came out on top on the opening day of the Arnold Palmer Invitational at Bay Hill, Orlando. Adam Scott, who had been suffering with flu-like symptoms, tied the course record Thursday after carding a 10-under 62 to move into a three-shot lead. "It takes your mind off (golf)," Scott told reporters after being asked about feeling under the weather. "The expectations lower, slows you down and almost takes your mind off what's going on, because you're not even feeling human sometimes. "I went out there today just trying to get the ball around. (I feel) pretty ordinary." Scott, the reigning Masters champion, may have felt ordinary but his golf was anything but as he produced a magical first round. The Australian hit two eagles and seven birdies on his first appearance at the tournament since missing the cut in 2009. "It's maybe a little surprising," added Scott after being asked about his impressive start. "I don't know where it came from, but the putter certainly got hot today. "But I like the changes they've made since the times I have not been here. And today was just one of those days where the hole was a bit like a bucket." Japan's Ryo Ishikawa and American John Merrick share second place after both finishing with rounds of 65. World No.1 Tiger Woods is absent from the tournament he has won for the past two years with a back problem. | Adam Scott tied the course record with an opening round of 62 .
Australian made seven birdies, two eagles and one bogey .
Masters champion had been suffering with flu-like symptoms .
Tiger Woods absent from tournament with back problem . |
0c4d05292024d4bb6efc48e2a40951c4336c8cad | By . Ryan Gorman . PUBLISHED: . 23:53 EST, 1 January 2014 . | . UPDATED: . 05:11 EST, 2 January 2014 . A Florida man who won a contest to see the ‘Breaking Bad’ finale in a showing with the cast was arrested Wednesday in a major drug bust. The San Carlos Park home of Ryan Carroll, 28, was swarmed by officers Tuesday in a massive operation that looked straight out of Hollywood. Mr Carroll gained a small amount of local notoriety after winning the nationwide contest in September. He was arrested and hit with multiple felony drug charges. Officers have not disclosed which drugs were found. Life imitating art: 'Breaking Bad' super fan Ryan Carroll (pictured in an earlier interview) has been arrested and hit with multiple drug charges . More than a dozen police vehicles descended on the quiet neighborhood, a witness told NBC 2.Deputies could be seen bringing out large boxes most of the day. ‘It was crazy. There had to be like 15 cop cars,’ the witness said, ‘And they were bringing out box after box of something.’ Another neighbor described the scene to Fox 4. ‘I came home at about 6 p.m. and there were still about 10 cop cars and they had this big bread truck and they were bringing boxes and boxes of something out,’ said Peter Ryther. Swarmed: More than a dozen police vehicles descended on the San Carlos Park home . Shock and awe: Neighbors were floored by the sheer number of police raiding the home, and surprised it happened in their nieghborhood . Neighbors told Fox 4 that Carroll had only been living in the house for six months, that he mostly kept to himself and never had problems with anyone. ‘I have never had any problems with the neighborhood. It's a family neighborhood, a nice neighborhood, so this was a big surprise,’ Mr Ryther added. Mr Carroll was hit with multiple felonies including possession of synthetic narcotics and possession of a controlled substance without a prescription, records showed. He was also given a misdemeanor charge of keeping a shop of vehicle for drugs, as well as for violating probation. Quiet area: The neighborhood is normally quiet, and Mr Carroll had mostly kept to himself . The New Year’s Eve raid came as a surprise to most. ‘I was just shocked, especially here,’ Ruthanne Coyne told NBC 2. ‘This is such a good neighborhood.’ We just saw lots of cop cars and lots of undercover cops throughout the neighborhood,’ Jim Mielke told Fox 4. Authorities are not saying which drugs were found in the home and a search of Florida criminal records did not show why Mr Carroll was on probation. 'Breaking Bad': Walter White (right) is shown in the hit television show cooking crystal meth with Jessie Pinkman . Mr Carroll became somewhat of a local celebrity after winning the September contest to go to Los Angeles and see the ‘Breaking bad’ premiere. In an interview before the trip he told NBC 2 why he loves the show, in which lead character Walter White turns to cooking crystal meth to pay medical expenses after being diagnosed with cancer. ‘It's just so addicting. It's such a good show,’ Mr Carroll said. ‘I think its addicting because people can relate to the main character.’ It appears some people can relate more than others. | Ryan Carroll's San Carlos Park home was searched by dozens of agents .
Boxes were brought out of the home all day, but authorities are not saying what drugs were found .
He was hit with multiple felony drug charges and for violating the terms of his parole . |
0c4e355e8fc483e468a736f0dadc6729c47324b5 | By . Daily Mail Reporter . PUBLISHED: . 14:23 EST, 17 April 2013 . | . UPDATED: . 14:25 EST, 17 April 2013 . A family whose 13-year-old daughter was fatally hit by a car as she crossed the road to her school bus four years ago has been awarded $90 million in a wrongful death suit. Ashley Davis was hit by a car as she crossed Brinkley Road in Prince George's County, Maryland on September 1, 2009 - as her classmates looked on - and died in hospital two weeks later. Her parents claimed the school system failed to provide a bus stop on her side of the road, forcing her to cross the street - and failing to fulfill their promise to provide safe transportation to school. Loss: Ashley Davis, 13, was killed as she walked across the road to catch the school bus in 2009 . After hitting Ashley, the car, a Lincoln Continental, struck a minivan and a 17-year-old boy, who was hospitalized but survived. John Costello, a lawyer for the family, told NBC Washington that the Prince George's County . School Board was 'negligent' towards Ashley. 'They had adopted a policy to . provide for safe transportation,' he explained. 'The policy was they were going to pick . up Ashley on her own side of the street. They never did. They forced her . to cross the street. She got killed crossing the street.' Her mother, Nycole Davis, spoke about her enduring grief. 'She was on her way,' she said. 'She was doing the right thing. She was going to . school. She was a good girl. She didn’t deserve this. If she didn't have to cross the street... she’d be graduating this year. She'd be going to prom this year.' Loss: Ashley, a high school freshman, suffered serious injuries in the crash and died two weeks later . Scene: She died as she was crossing this road outside her home; her family argued that the school had failed to pick her up on the correct side of the road - thus failing to safely transport her to school . Ashley was forced to walk over the . road to her bus after an original bus repeatedly failed to stop at the . right place, Costello said. The school board failed to provide a . safe bus stop for students who lived on the north side of the road, . according to court documents. At the end of the civil trial, the jury awarded the family $90 million plus medical expenses and funeral costs - one of the largest the county has ever seen, the Washington Post reported. 'The jury was upset that [the school board's] policy was not followed . for a full week and a little girl in her first year of high school ended . up suffering the consequences,' Costello said of the verdict. But lawyers warned the battle was not yet over. Ruling: A George's County Circuit Court jury awarded the family $90m but it will likely be appealed . NBC reported that often a verdict is capped around $100,000 when there is a lawsuit against a municipality . or school system, and Costello expected the board will appeal the verdict. Prince George's County Public Schools said: 'No judgment has been entered in this case. It is still under litigation.' But Ashley's mother said she did not care for the money. 'I didn't ask anyone to give me any money or anything like that,' she said. 'I just want someone held responsible for what happened to my daughter.' She added that her daughter was outgoing and popular, and enjoyed shopping, dancing and writing poetry. | Ashley Davis hit by a car as she crossed the road in September 2009 .
Her parents argued that the school board had broken its promise to safely transport her by making her cross the road for the bus .
Payout among the largest awarded in the county .
Attorneys said it is unlikely they will get $90m as the school will appeal . |
0c4e3b8f43772f90ae5a6856769bb28fe9dd57cb | A race row has erupted in one of Britain's wealthiest villages after offensive graffiti was plastered on the site of a proposed Sikh school. If the Khalsa Secondary Academy is built it would see more than 1,000 people flock into Stoke Poges, Buckinghamshire, from as far afield as West London. Tension in the village has grown over the past fortnight with angry locals venting their anger online and at parish council meetings. Now one racist hooligan has daubed 'NO P*** SCHOOL' and 'DON'T SELL TO P*** SCHOOL' on a sign at the proposed site. Race row: Someone has daubed this sign on the site of a proposed school with racist language in a village that opposes it . Up for sale: Pioneer House (pictured) is the site in Stoke Poges where developers are hoping to build a 850 place Sikh faith school . Residents in Stoke Poges have condemned the thugs responsible for the graffiti, claiming their objections to the school have nothing to do with race. But they feel the Slough Sikh Education Trust (SSET), which is behind the proposed faith school, could be fuelling rumours it is a race issue by circulating images of the graffiti. Saera Carter, vice chairman of the Stoke Poges Parish Council, said: 'It was discovered at 8:30am in the morning and seven villagers scrubbed it off within the hour. 'As a village we were offended by it. We don't want to offend our Asian neighbours or the SSET as we are a peaceful village. 'Sikhism is a peaceful religion but this is immature and inflammatory behaviour and it wouldn't surprise me if the SSET is turning this into a race issue.' Upset: Campaigners Avtar Singh Brar and Saera Carter from Stoke Poges, who are fighting the plans . Stoke Poges is known for the exclusive Stoke Park estate which featured in the James Bond classic Goldfinger. Recent figures ranked Stoke Poges as having the eighth highest concentration of £1 million properties sold in Britain. It is understood Mr Kandola has also sent the image to Dominic Grieve, the Conservative MP who represents Stoke Poges as part of the Beaconsfield Ward. In touch: Local MP Dominic Grieve is said to have been sent the image of the graffiti . Locals have said their opposition to the school is based on the proposed site - the current UK headquarters for Pioneer - being on greenbelt land. They say Stoke Poges doesn't have the infrastructure to deal with 1,000 people entering the village each day and also fear children will lose their right to free bus travel if the multi-million pound taxpayer-funded school opens on the site. When 222 parents at the village's primary school were asked if they would send their child to the Khalsa Academy, 93.25 per cent said no. The chairman of the Slough Sikh Education Trust yesterday has described the racist graffiti as 'unfortunate'. Nick Kandola said: 'The incident of graffiti at the proposed school site is unfortunate. 'We would much rather things like this weren't happening and, as a Trust, we would prefer to focus on the more important questions of how we can best deliver a new school in this location and serving this community. 'We do not want to draw unnecessary attention to this incident. 'We want to address the more fundamental questions about improving local educational choice and bringing forward an excellent planning proposition.' | Khalsa Secondary Academy is planned for exclusive village of Stoke Poges .
Sign on proposed site has 'DON'T SELL TO P*** SCHOOL' scrawled on it .
Opponents say those 'for' the school are turning it into 'race issue' |
0c4e81d5f7d519102a0aa6cac494532d65a7b38e | By . Lillian Radulova . Two pregnant women who threw bleach out a car window and hit a four-year-old girl have had their jail terms quashed. The pair have instead been placed on good behaviour bonds. Sarah Louise Roan, 21, and Lauren Jackson, 22, appealed against the severity of their sentences after they were handed at least six months in prison for hurling Harpic White and Shine from a moving car in northwest Sydney. Scroll down for video . Sarah Louise Roan, 21, (right) and Lauren Jackson, 22, (left) avoided their original six-month jail sentences for throwing bleach at a toddler at Kellyville Ridge last year . The bleach hit a mother and her four-year-old girl, who dropped to the ground and screamed: 'It's stinging! It's stinging!'. After the girl's eyes swelled up, her mother took her to hospital for treatment. She suffered no permanent injuries. On appeal, both women said they did not know they had hit the girl when Jackson threw the bleach out the window at Kellyville Ridge in May last year. Parramatta District Court heard that Roan was driving when she began throwing a series of items, including a pair of socks and a ball out the window, hitting an oncoming vehicle. The Parramatta District Court placed the pregnant women on good behaviour bonds after their appeal . Soon after, Jackson joined her in throwing things from the car, before yelling 'skanks' at two children, believed to be about eight years old. Jackson then threw the bottle of bleach. On appeal Jackson said she was 'upset' when she discovered the toilet cleaner gel had struck the four-year-old girl. The next day Roan handed herself into police. Jackson's lawyer Greg West argued that some of the facts of the case may have been 'misunderstood' by the magistrate on sentence and argued that neither woman deserved full-time custodial sentences. The four-year-old girl was splashed in the eyes when the bleach was thrown out of the car's windows. She was taken to hospital for treatment . He pointed out it could mean both being separated from their soon-to-be born children. Judge Norman Delaney quashed their sentences on Monday and placed Roan on a six-month good behaviour bond. Jackson was placed on a two-year bond for one count of assault occasioning actual bodily harm and a six-month bond for one count of assault. | Sarah Roan, 21, and Lauren Jackson, 22, received good behaviour bonds .
They admitted to throwing bleach out of their car window, hitting a toddler .
The four-year-old girl had to be taken to hospital for treatment .
Their lawyer pointed out that a harsh sentence could mean them being separated from their soon-to-be born children .
Their appeal was upheld, and their jail sentences were quashed . |
0c4eaf7c5263b7a6be99c4d4fb75d1e6707b05d8 | (CNN Student News) -- October 23, 2014 . Get ready for a geographical journey: We're taking you all over the world today on CNN Student News. The show starts with a report on recent attacks in Canada. We detail the discovery of a sunken, WWII-era U-Boat off the coast of North Carolina. And we explain the traditions surrounding Diwali in the world's second most-populated nation. On this page you will find today's show Transcript and a place for you to request to be on the CNN Student News Roll Call. TRANSCRIPT . Click here to access the transcript of today's CNN Student News program. Please note that there may be a delay between the time when the video is available and when the transcript is published. CNN Student News is created by a team of journalists who consider the Common Core State Standards, national standards in different subject areas, and state standards when producing the show. ROLL CALL . For a chance to be mentioned on the next CNN Student News, comment on the bottom of this page with your school name, mascot, city and state. We will be selecting schools from the comments of the previous show. You must be a teacher or a student age 13 or older to request a mention on the CNN Student News Roll Call! Thank you for using CNN Student News! | This page includes the show Transcript .
Use the Transcript to help students with reading comprehension and vocabulary .
At the bottom of the page, comment for a chance to be mentioned on CNN Student News. You must be a teacher or a student age 13 or older to request a mention on the CNN Student News Roll Call. |
0c4f6b9cede704f4b999167fce3300c1a2df2bcb | By . Daily Mail Reporter . PUBLISHED: . 05:18 EST, 29 July 2013 . | . UPDATED: . 10:18 EST, 29 July 2013 . A family's tears flowed at an emotional reunion with a mother who had disappeared more than three decades ago and who they believed was long dead. Betty Lukich, 69, left Bangor, Maine, in 1981 after an acrimonious divorce, leaving her four children and four of her sisters with no idea where she'd gone. They falsely believed she was dead after a brother rang them up drunk one day and told them he had buried her in a marijuana field behind his home in Indiana. 'We thought she was dead': Betty Lukich, 69, far right, with her sisters, from left, Virginia Allen, 72, Mary Inman, 75, and Laura Riegelmen, 78, for their first reunion after she left town more than three decades ago . Long-lost mother: Debra Carmona says of these pictures of Betty Lukich (left): 'My mom, as we knew her... This was the last photo we had of her before we lost touch' and (right) 'This is how I remember my Mom' Instead Ms Lukich, who was in her mid-30s when she moved away, spent the next 14 years driving an articulated lorry around the U.S., visiting all the lower 48 states save North Dakota. Another life: Betty Lukich aged 50 in 1995, when she'd been missing for 14 years . Yesterday, the family was finally reunited when Ms Lukich, now of Pheonix, Arizona, flew into Bangor International Airport for a month-long visit. 'I had to get away from it all,' she told the Bangor Daily News, which was on hand to witness the scene. Her daughter, Donna Keniston, was just 18 months old when Ms Lukich divorced her husband. She and her three siblings stayed in the Bangor area with their father. With tensions high between the two parents, visits from their mother were rare, she said. She was 12 the last time she saw her. 'My dad told us that my mother didn’t want us,' said Ms Keniston, now 50 and a grandmother herself. Then . one day, a brother of Miss Lukich - who is one of 13 siblings - called . one of her sisters still living in Maine to tell her she was dead. 'He . got drunk one day and called and said he’d buried her in the pot field . behind his house,' said Laura Reigelman, 78, of Glenburn, a small town . to the north of Bangor. With no news from their long-lost sister, the family soon began to believe the story. Reunion: Debra Carmona (right) is reunited with her mother Betty Lukich (left) who she hasn't seen since 1981 . Reunited: They falsely believed she was dead after a brother rang them up drunk on day and told them he had buried her in a marijuana field behind his home in Indiana . The family were finally reunited after Ms Lukich used the online family tree service www.heritage.com to connect with cousins living in central Maine. Today: Betty Lukich in 2013 following her emotional reunion with the family she hadn't seen since 1981 . They had stayed in touch with Ms Luckich's sisters and asked if they could let them know that she was still alive and how they could contact her. Ms Keniston only learned her mother was still alive in February - on the day of her grandson's fifth birthday. They spoke on the phone and connected over Facebook, catching up on 33 years' worth of lost time. Yesterday Ms Keniston, Ms Lukich and Ms Riegelman gathered at the Glenburn home of another sister, Mary Inman, 75, along with two more sisters: Virginia Allen, 72, of Winter Harbor, and Dorothy Ham, 77, of Brewer. The mini-reunion evoked many tears, according to The Bangor Daily News. Ms Lukich is set to stay in Maine for a month. When she returns to Arizona she says she has plans to move to North Carolina to live with another daughter. However, she admitted that Maine still held a special place in her heart. 'I missed Maine springs, summers and falls,' she said. | Betty Lukich, 69, left home in Bangor, Maine, after an acrimonious divorce .
'I just had to get away from it all,' she said . |
0c508aa4e91b933aac4e49e381b3b8252b0fe803 | Bournemouth FC players happened upon a surprise after checking into their hotel to find out the infamous Chuckle Brothers were also staying there. The comedy double act, whose real names are Barry and Paul Elliot, may be best known for their appearances on children's TV programmes - but it would seem they are also a hit with fully grown football players. Practically the entire side posed with the pair for a picture that former Republic of Ireland international Ian Harte posted on Twitter with the caption: 'Look who is in our hotel!!! Chuckle brothers To you to me ....' Players from the Bournemouth squad pose for a picture with comedy double act the Chuckle Brothers . Former Republic of Ireland defender Ian Harte proves the Chuckle Brothers are not reserved for children . The Chuckle Brothers were stars of children's television renowned for catchphrases like 'To me to you' The Cherries are currently riding high at the moment, having risen to second place in the Sky Bet Championship following their exciting 3-2 over Brighton and Hove Albion at the weekend. Substitute Yann Kermorgant fired them to their fifth league win on the spin after Lewis Dunk had fouled Callum Wilson in the box in the 75th minute. Bournemouth are also through to the quarter-finals of the Capital One Cup at the expense of Premier League side West Brom after Wilson scored a dramatic late winner at Dean Court. Callum Wilson (L) celebrates after sending the Cherries into the quarter-finals of the Capital One Cup . | Bournemouth players found out they were sharing hotel with Chuckle Brothers - Barry and Paul Elliot .
Ian Harte posted a picture of pair with the team to his Twitter account .
The Cherries have moved up to second place in the Championship and into the quarter-finals of the Capital One Cup . |
0c51226bf08f0c002e77403f0bf897fb3163925b | BEIJING, China (CNN) -- China's foreign minister Wednesday rejected criticism of its human rights record, accusing the United States of "clinging to a Cold War mentality" and "practicing double standards." Workers at the Beijing-Tianjin Intercity Fast Railway, a key project associated with the Beijing Olympics. Yang Jiechi was responding to questions about a State Department report released a day earlier that characterized China's human rights record as one of the most repressive in the world. The report was released five months before the Summer Olympic Games kickoff in Beijing. Although he chided the United States and other critics of its human rights record as "making confrontation," Yang stressed that China is "ready for dialogue with the United States, as long as it is done in an environment of respect and fairness." Despite rapid economic growth and social change in China, the report said the "authoritarian" Chinese government "continues to deny their citizens basic human rights and fundamental freedoms." It also said there was an increase in forced relocations in Beijing, with people being thrown out of their homes to make way for Olympic projects. "China's overall human rights record remained poor in 2007," it stated, citing tightening controls over religious freedom in Tibet and the Uyghur population. China announced Sunday that militants in Xinjiang's Uyghur Autonomous Region had planned to carry out two terror attacks, including one targeting the Olympics set to begin on August 8. China said it successfully thwarted both attacks. The autonomous region is home to about 19 million people, most of whom are Muslims and other minorities. Many of them oppose Beijing's rule. The State Department report also said China has increased its efforts to "control and censor the Internet, and the government tightened restrictions on freedom of speech and the domestic press" and bloggers. It cited a 20 percent increase over 2006 in convictions of citizens under what it called China's overly broad state security law that is often used to silence government critics. "The government continued to monitor, harass, detain, arrest, and imprison journalists, writers, activists, and defense lawyers and their families, many of whom were seeking to exercise their rights under law," the report said. "Individuals and groups, especially those deemed politically sensitive by the government, continued to face tight restrictions on their freedom to assemble, their freedom to practice religion, and their freedom to travel." The report, issued annually, surveys the human rights record of more than 190 countries around the world. In rolling out the report, Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice said: "No corner of the Earth is permanently condemned to tyranny. Change may take time, but change will come." E-mail to a friend . CNN State Department Producer Elise Labott in Washington and Beijing Bureau Chief Jaime FlorCruz contributed to this report . | China's FM rejects U.S. attack on human rights record, says "double standards."
Yang Jiechi says China ready "for dialogue with the United States"
U.S. State Dept. report comes five months before the Beijing Olympics .
Report emphasized forced relocations, human rights abuses, control of Internet . |
0c518067e0df811501e46b2e1cd1ce511f1645b7 | LONDON, England (CNN) -- A meningitis outbreak is threatening the lives of tens of thousands of people in Darfur, according to an aid agency expelled from the country last week. A Doctors without Borders medic helps a sick child in a Darfur refugee camp. Humanitarian organization Doctors Without Borders, also known as Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF), says it was preparing to vaccinate around 100,000 people in southern and western Darfur against meningitis, when it was told to leave the country. "We were in the process of organizing a vaccination campaign. At the moment there's no one there that can take over those activities, which is really worrying," Gemma Davies of MSF told CNN. The country's Ministry of Health officially declared a meningitis outbreak on March 2 at the Kalma Camp, which shelters more than 90,000 refugees in southern Darfur. "Living in such close proximity, the potential for this outbreak to spread quickly is quite high, Davies, MSF project coordinator for South Darfur, told CNN. "With no health care providers to give vaccinations, and with no one to manage the meningitis cases when they come, it's really concerning," she added. The vaccination campaign was due to begin on March 7, but it is now unclear if or when it will resume, as reports of government harassment of aid workers continue. Davies told CNN she experienced no harassment, and said government officials had been in contact with only the head of MSF's regional operations. "We haven't actually been given any reason on why we were expelled," she said. "We have absolutely no idea when we'll be able to return." Doctors Without Borders was among 13 aid agencies, including Mercy Corps and the International Rescue Committee, that were ordered by the government to shut down their operations in Sudan last week. So far the agency has confirmed 32 meningitis cases and four deaths, and has seen dozens of other suspected cases. Thousands of unvaccinated refugees and villagers are now exposed to the airborne disease in densely populated camps and villages throughout Sudan. "One of our priorities is to get another organization to take over our programs there," Davies added. The medical relief agency says it doubts though that other any other organizations have the capacity to deal with a meningitis epidemic. Davies also said she is worried about the cut-off of MSF's feeding and maternal delivery services: "We had over 100 patients on our feeding program that now won't be receiving any follow up." The decision by the Sudanese government to throw out the aid groups came a day after the International Criminal Court at The Hague issued an arrest warrant for Sudanese President Omar Hassan al-Bashir for war crimes and crimes against humanity in Darfur. However, not all international aid organizations are affected. Others including World Vision international continues its work, which reaches approximately 500,000 internally displaced people in South Sudan. The U.N. has received reports that international staff members of five non-governmental organizations had been detained for up to four hours. Speaking on the phone from Nairobi, an aid worker, who asked not to be identified for fear of further harassment, told CNN that his colleagues who remained in Khartoum were being intimidated and threatened by government agents. In some cases Sudanese government representatives "had started gathering banking details and confiscating computers, communications equipment and vehicles from the NGOs", a U.N spokesman said at a news conference last week. Last week, the U.N. warned that the loss of NGOs in Sudan would cause 1.1 million people to go without food aid and health care, and more than 1 million to have no access to water. Oxfam, whose work focuses on providing safe drinking water, was one of the aid groups who were told their registration to operate in Sudan was no longer valid. Ninety percent of their staff are Sudanese nationals, who mostly remain in country, unable to continue their relief work under threat of arrest. "These agencies are vital implementation partners for the United Nations and account for at least half of the humanitarian capacity in Darfur," said Catherine Bragg, U.N. Deputy Emergency Relief Coordinator at the news conference in New York. | Meningitis threatens hundreds of thousands of people in Darfur .
More than a million at risk of starvation after aid agencies expelled, U.N. warns .
Sources: Aid workers harassed and detained by the Sudanese government . |
0c527b3e2aa525364d2761ddde34cf062d891925 | Rising obesity levels are forcing health bosses to spend millions of pounds adapting hospitals and buying specialist equipment to handle larger patients . Rising obesity levels are forcing health bosses to spend millions of pounds adapting hospitals and buying specialist equipment to handle larger patients. Money is being been spent on reinforced beds, wider corridors and even larger morgue fridges as a result of the obesity epidemic. Hospitals spent an estimated £5.5million over the past three years, according to the Daily Telegraph which used Freedom of Information information from two thirds of NHS trusts. The figure will prompt concern about the cost of dealing with the UK’s obesity epidemic, with campaigners describing the increasing financial burden on the health service as ‘unsustainable’. Around a quarter of adults in the UK are classed as obese – the second highest rate in Europe - and a further 40 per cent are overweight. But the financial burden on the NHS is likely to deepen in the future as obesity rates continue to soar. Information provided by hospital trusts across England and Wales revealed that bosses have ordered corridors to be widened and operating theatre doors reinforced to cope with heavier patients. Queen Elizabeth Hospital in King’s Lynn forked out £30,000 on a storage fridge for the dead bodies of obese patients. At Yeovil District Hospital NHS Trust, a bariatric body cooling system that cools the bodies of obese patients who cannot fit in mortuary fridges was purchased for £15,000. Overall, the figures reveal the NHS spent £2million on bariatric equipment and adjustments in the last year, while around £1.68 million was spent the previous year. The NHS already spends an estimated £5.1billion a year treating obesity-related illnesses. Attempts to deal with the problem have led to unusual clinical decisions, with the National Institute of Health and Care Excellence recently advising doctors to refer obese patients to Weigh Watchers classes. The National Obesity Forum’s Tam Fry said that costs are likely to continue rising. Queen Elizabeth Hospital in King's Lynn spent £30,000 on a fridge for dead bodies which were obese . He told the newspaper: ‘We are not seeing the end of the obesity problem and people are getting fatter. ‘It has got to such a point that so much now has to be widened and strengthened. That runs to beds, hoists, wheelchairs and operating tables. And it also includes ambulances, morgues and crematoriums.’ Mr Fry added: ‘I think these costs will continue to increase. The problem is what we saw as “big” 20 years ago is now normal.’ Dr Aseem Malhotra, a director of Action on Sugar, said: ‘Inaction is not an option. I think diets should be made part of health policy.‘We need to tackle the root cause, the food environment - otherwise we will be crippled by the cost.’ A spokesman for NHS England said that it did not comment on the spending choices of individual trusts and clinical commissioning groups. | Money spent on reinforced beds, wider corridors and larger morgue fridges .
Hospitals spent an estimated £5.5million over the past three years .
Around a quarter of adults in the UK are classed as obese .
Queen Elizabeth Hospital in King’s Lynn spent £30,000 on a storage fridge for the dead bodies of obese patients . |
0c53448c94664b27b8acfd15e07285765f03b6bb | In one, a man dressed in red pajamas scratches his crotch; in the other, a woman does the same. These two anti-wool adverts are almost identical - but one has been banned from Times Square. The PETA video campaign featuring a man scratching himself while wearing unbuttoned red, long pajamas was deemed too racy for the New York tourist attraction, the animal rights group said. Scroll down for videos . 'Too racy': This PETA video campaign featuring a man scratching himself while wear unbuttoned red long underwear was deemed too racy for Times Square in New York, the radical animal rights group said . Revealing: In the video, the model is pictured reaching his hand down the sides of his pajamas - which appear to be opened low enough to show his pubic hair (pictured) - before scratching his crotch area . Anti-wool: The advert, banned by Neutron Media, uses the slogan 'Scratch Wool From Your Shopping List' In the video, the model reaches his hand down the sides of his clothes - which appear to be opened low enough to show his pubic hair - before scratching. In contrast, footage of a woman performing a similar action - but with no hair visible - was reportedly considered acceptable for display on a Times Square billboard. The female version of the advert, featuring the slogan 'Scratch Wool From Your Shopping List' and the hastag #WoolFreeWinter, was launched on Sunday, according to the New York Post. Situated on 42nd Street, between 7th and 8th Avenues, it aims to highlight the injuries sheep suffer during shearing in Asia, Australia and South America. Tourist spot: PETA vice president Dan Mathews said he was confused as to why the video had been banned from Times Square (pictured), saying: 'It's the era of twerking... I don’t see how scratching is a big thing' Permitted for display: In contrast, footage of a woman performing a similar action - but with no hair visible (pictured) - was reportedly considered acceptable for display on a Times Square billboard . Winter-themed The female version of the animal rights advert was launched on 42nd Street on Sunday . Speaking to the newspaper, PETA vice president Dan Mathews said he was confused as to why the male video had been banned by Neutron Media, which leased the billboard to the group. 'We’re living in the era of twerking, where people are simulating anal sex on TV,' Mr Mathews said. 'I don’t see how scratching is a big thing.' But despite his criticism, he added that he and other activists were pleased to gain advertising space during such a high-demand period. Highlighting the plight of sheep: The campaign, which features the hashtag #WoolFreeWinter (pictured), aims to highlight the injuries sheep suffer during the shearing process in Asia, Australia and South America . Another PETA advert is expected to debut at 1500 Broadway later this month. Above, the group's website . 'In previous times, advertisers didn’t want to give space to a group that encourages people not to shop,' he said. 'It’s nice to finally have advertisers allowing our message.' Another PETA advert is expected to debut at 1500 Broadway later this month. A Neutron Media representative was not immediately available for comment. | Video features man scratching his crotch while donning red pajamas .
Deemed too racy for display in Times Square in New York, PETA said .
In contrast, advert of a woman in similar pose considered acceptable .
PETA campaign uses slogan 'Scratch Wool From Your Shopping List'
It aims to highlight injuries that sheep suffer during shearing process .
Group's vice president criticized Neutron Media's decision to ban ad .
Said: 'It's the era of twerking... I don’t see how scratching is a big thing' |
0c537e5b1bfd0d684018d3ab9e1eddee30397f65 | By . Steph Cockroft for MailOnline . We're used to seeing them parade along our television screens, happily singing Hakuna Mutata or humorously saying 'simples'. But it seems Aleksandr Orlov, Timon and their meerkat pals have a secret dark side. A new study has found the cuddly creatures are 'nasty, brutish and short' - and are actually callous killers. Dark side: They might look 'cute and fluffy', but meerkats have a dark side and are 'nasty and brutish', experts claim . The study, carried out by a group of British and South African universities, found the dominant female meerkat uses violence to survive and often abandons other females once they give birth. It then brutally kills and eats their offspring to ensure they have enough food for their own pup and their pool of meerkat 'babysitters'. The study's leader, Dr Matthew Bell, from the University of Edinburgh's School of Biological Sciences, said the findings were all the more shocking because meerkats are 'cute and fluffy'. He said: 'Since meerkats are cute and fluffy, and have been saccharine, anthropomorphized poster children for happy family life, it comes across as more shocking. 'Contrary to the public perception meerkat lives are "nasty, brutish and short".' Meerkats have been used as loveable creatures on the Compare the Meerkat adverts since 2009 - but researchers say that, in reality, they are not as nice as the advert would have you believe . Timon, pictured here with Pumba in the Lion King, a Disney cartoon film, is also seen as a loveable creature . The study, published in July in Nature . Communications, looked at the effect of giving contraceptive jabs to . female helpers in groups of meerkats in the Kalahari Desert. The jabs . ensured the helpers could not reproduce for six months. During that period, dominant females were less aggressive towards the helpers, foraged more, gained more weight and had bigger pups. The female helpers provided more care and food for the dominant female's offspring. Dr Bell wrote: 'We've done the first clear experiment that measures the value that dominants gain from suppressing their subordinates. 'Such benefits have always been assumed, but never clearly confirmed.' Dr Andrew Young, an evolutionary biologist at Britain's University of Exeter, who was not involved in Bell's study, said: 'That's sort of the niche in which meerkats fit as a nice model, because there's very strong hierarchy but subordinates do still try to breed.' Meerkats are also competitive in captivity, according to Agnes Maluleke from the Johannesburg zoo. The zoo, which has 20 meerkats, has previously had to split up a group when a young pup challenged a dominant female. It turned into a vicious scrap that Maluleke described as 'fighting for life or death'. | New study shows the creatures are not as 'cute and fluffy' as they seem .
Experts say female meerkats kill and eat others' offspring to feed own pups .
Study leader said it is 'shocking' because they are used as poster animals .
Loveable meerkats used on Compare the Meerkat advert and Lion King . |
0c550db9045dd09d080a98b4addae224c8d24bca | A teenager is living a unique double life both as a man - and a woman. Some days Layla Warlow, 18, wakes up and chooses to wear a dress and heels to work, while others she's a man and dons baggy jeans and workmen boots. The youth centre volunteer from Swansea, South Wales, can spend as long as three months as her male counterpart Layton then suddenly switch to Layla for as little as a day. Scroll down for video . Layla Warlow can spend as long as three months as Layton then suddenly switch to Layla (above) Growing up, Layla preferred masculine clothes and originally thought she was transgender - a man born in a woman's body. But, at the age of 16, she realised that she missed the feminine side of herself and gradually realised that she identifies as bi-gender, a term used for people who move between both sexes. Some past employers have done a double take when Layla suddenly turns up for work dressed as Layton. Layla said: 'It is very confusing when I first meet someone. A lot of people just don't understand it as it's something they've never come across before. Layla says she has no control over whether she's going to be Layton (above) or Layla on a certain day . 'It isn't a case of me waking up and choosing to dress a certain way. I've got no control over whether I'm going to be Layton or Layla on a certain day. 'Living as bi-gender is extremely frustrating. 'As Layla, I wear lots of make up and love showing off my cleavage. Yet, when I'm Layton, the sight of my breasts make me cry and I hate my feminine body. 'It's painful but I bind my breasts and often wear a fake facial hair to give me a more masculine look,' she explains. The youth centre volunteer from Swansea, South Wales, identifies as bi-gender . Layla's unusual gender identity doesn't just affect her clothes, it also affects her sexuality. As Layton, she is attracted to women and, as Layla, she is attracted to men. 'Relationships are nearly impossible as I constantly switch between two genders. I've been on dates before and I do get chatted up but it never goes any further as they find it hard to come to grips with my situation,' says Layla. Her mannerisms even change, with friends saying that is she is much quieter and more giggly when she is Layla while Layton is outspoken and fiery. Layton loves football and is a bit of a lad and Layla prefers time alone and hates sports. Growing up with her aunt, Layla first began questioning her sexuality when she was 13, originally identifying as bisexual and then wondering if she could be transgender as she felt uncomfortable with her feminine body. As a child she preferred trousers to skirts and begged her aunt to let her cut her hair short. By the time she turned 16 she was dressing as a male every day for school and, soon after, began living as transgender, binding her breasts and wearing male clothes. Yet after two weeks she realised that she missed being a woman and found the term bi-gender while researching online. Layla says she has no control over whether she's going to be Layton (left) or Layla (right) on a certain day . Layla hopes to raise more awareness for bi-genderism, which has become a gender option on Facebook . She said: 'I found a bi-gender group on Facebook with hundreds of members and suddenly I didn't quite feel so alone. It was an amazing moment. 'I started talking to other bi-gender people from all over the world and at last felt comfortable in my own skin. 'Sometimes I envy people who know which gender they are supposed to be. For me, it's a constant battle. 'I have spent most of my teenage life in turmoil over this. Sometimes, I wonder why I can't wake up as the same person for the rest of my life but I've gradually learned to accept both Layton and Layla.' Being bi-gender has also caused problems for Layla finding work. After finding a bi-gender group on Facebook with hundreds of members shed suddenly didn't feel so alone . 'Most employers aren't very understanding when their feminine worker suddenly turns up dressed as a man. No I work at a youth centre and thankfully they're completely supportive of my gender. They even let me have two name tags depending on which sex I come into work as,' she says. 'I know some people may think it is an act, but it is something that I can't help. It is all subconscious - I even have to have two types of shower gel to please both genders. 'It has taken a while but I have finally accepted that I am bi-gender, it is just something people have to get used to and it is completely natural.' Layla has set up an LGBTQ Facebook group for people to go to for advice . Layla hopes to raise more awareness for bi-genderism, which has recently become a gender option on Facebook. She has set up an LGBTQ Facebook group (called LGBTQ nationwide) for people to go to for advice who may be confused over their sexuality and gender. Layla said: 'Making friends is so hard, they are always really confused when they have known me as Layton for two or three months all of a sudden he has transformed into a woman with no explanation. 'I have to explain myself to everyone and I wish there was more information available to people who have never heard of the term bi-gender - I still haven't met another bi-gender person. 'It has taken years for transgender people to become acceptable in society and I think it will be a long road ahead before people stop understand bi-genderism.' | Bi-gender Layla Warlow, 18, identifies as both sexes .
Thought she was transgender but missed her breasts after two weeks .
Now moves between Layton who fancies women, and Layla who likes men .
She is 'quieter and more giggly' when she is Layla and prefers time alone .
Layton is a 'lad' who is outspoken, fiery and loves football .
Relationships are 'nearly impossible' as she constantly switches genders . |
0c5775deb910d6df7d7ab00dfd84e3eac27836f3 | (CNN) -- The recent incident involving Chelsea and England captain John Terry and Queens Park Rangers' Anton Ferdinand has seen the issue of racism in football dominate the headlines. The decision by London's Metropolitan Police to launch an investigation into what occurred during the October 23 match follows allegations made by Manchester United's Patrice Evra of racial abuse from Liverpool striker Luis Suarez during an English Premier League clash. These two incidents are just the latest in a year which has seen the issue of race and football at the forefront of coverage of both club and international soccer. | London's Metropolitan Police are to investigate incident between Terry and Ferdinand .
Man Utd's Patrice Evra has also accused Liverpool's Luis Suarez a using a racial slur .
2011 has seen numerous incidents a racism in football . |
0c578b08b9f0cef41ae34ad95609f4b11160645f | (CNN) -- Far too many passengers are being stranded on board commercial flights in the United States in delays, an air passengers' rights group said Wednesday. Delta Air Lines, JetBlue, Continental Airlines, and US Airways received an overall grade of "F" on the air travel consumer report card. FlyersRights.org, in issuing what it calls an air travel consumer report card, said there were more than 1,200 tarmac strandings -- in which passengers are locked in planes on the runways -- in 2008. Delta Air Lines had the greatest number of tarmac delays longer than three hours. Southwest Airlines was rated the best for handling delays by letting customers get off delayed planes, as well as providing food, water and other items. The longest delay the organization found was a January 2008 Delta flight from Atlanta, Georgia, to Florida, in which passengers waited on the tarmac for more than 10 hours without food and water. "Too many Americans have been locked inside sealed airplanes, trapped in tubes on the tarmac, for three hours or more," said FlyersRights.org Executive Director Kate Hanni. "It's time for Congress to give airline passengers the legal right to get off planes stuck on the ground for three hours or more." Hanni -- who has been lobbying for an airline passengers' bill of rights -- also said America's economic situation has exacerbated the problems consumers face on the airlines because of layoffs. "Airlines are trying to maintain or increase their profit margins," she said. "They have decreased all of their goods and services related to flying." She added that a timely flight is "not just a matter of passenger convenience, it's a matter of public safety." "I wonder if heroic Captain Chesley 'Sully' Sullenberger and his crew could have performed as they did after seven, nine or even 12 hours on the tarmac?" Hanni asked, making a reference to the US Airways crew that made an emergency landing in New York's Hudson River in January. Hanni started her organization after she was stranded on the tarmac on an American Airlines flight in Austin, Texas, for more than nine hours in December 2006. Mark Mogel, the group's research director, said FlyersRights.org has about 24,000 members, many of whom donate money, services and lobbying help. The report card is based on government statistics, press reports, airline Web site data, reports on the group's hotline, and eyewitness accounts from January to December of 2008. It surveyed 17 airlines for various kinds of tarmac delays, their menu and contracts of carriage and customer service commitments and issued grades for these separate factors and an overall grade. As for the menu, Mogel specified that the menu grade is based on quantity, not quality. The survey was looking to see whether there would be food on board during a tarmac delay. Delta Air Lines, JetBlue, Continental Airlines, and US Airways received an overall grade of "F" and American Airlines received an overall grade of "D." United Airlines, Airtran and American Eagle got a "C." Alaska Airlines, Northwest Airlines and Frontier Airlines got a "B," and Southwest received an "A." Five other airlines -- Atlantic Southeast, Comair, ExpressJet, Mesa and Pinnacle -- didn't get an overall grade because some categories couldn't be completed. "The fact that some airlines have received A's and B's and others D's and F's on this report card also shows that providing decent customer service and avoidance of strandings is both achievable and should not place an undue burden on the airline industry or lead to higher ticket prices," the report's executive summary said. CNN's Joe Sterling contributed to this report. | FlyersRights.org graded airlines for tarmac strandings, menu, customer service .
Delta Air Lines had the most tarmac delays lasting longer than three hours .
Delta, JetBlue, Continental, and US Air got overall grades of 'F'
Southwest Airlines got an overall 'A' |
0c57cf1cd31d577d4bbfdd9b339d50fa6fbe48ec | By . Damien Gayle . PUBLISHED: . 13:03 EST, 1 November 2013 . | . UPDATED: . 15:46 EST, 1 November 2013 . Unlucky: Mary Roberts, who survived the sinking . of the Titanic, then endured a second shipwreck just two years later in . the North Sea near Whitby . Its owner survived the sinking of the Titanic and then endured a second shipwreck just two years later. Now the trunk Mary Roberts lost in her latter brush with a watery grave has resurfaced for sale on eBay. Miss Roberts spent a life at sea before finding fame by living through the infamous Titanic disaster in 1912, then surviving the sinking of the Rohilla in 1914. But her trunk had been presumed lost . to the North Sea since tempestuous winds smashed the steamship against . rocks to the west of Saltwick Nab, near Whitby, North Yorkshire. Wednesday . saw the 99th anniversary of the sinking of the Rohilla, where lifeboat . crews battled for 50 hours to pull 144 survivors from the wreck. As . the Rohilla sank Mary Roberts was brought ashore by lifeboat, and was . later quoted as saying the Rohilla sinking was worse to endure than the . Titanic. Miss Roberts had been a stewardess for White Star Line for several years when she signed on for the Titanic’s maiden voyage. When it launched, the RMS Titanic was one of the most opulent liners to have ever been built and the largest steamship in the world. It struck an iceberg on its maiden voyage from Southampton, England, to New York City and sank on April 15, 1912, claiming the lives of 1,517 passengers and crew. The crew of the ship had failed to heed warnings of ice in the North Atlantic and were sailing at speed through an ice field when it struck the huge floe. Those who either drowned or froze to death in the disaster died mainly because there were not enough lifeboats on the ship and those that were used were half-empty. There was no chance of survival in the -2.2C water. Miss Roberts was one of the lucky ones. She left the doomed liner on lifeboat Number 11, helping to look after a small baby until being rescued by the Carpathia. She would later note that the White Star Line stopped her pay at 2.20am, the exact time Titanic sank. Missing for 99 years: Pete Thomson, curator of . Whitby Lifeboat Museum, with Miss Roberts's trunk, which she lost at sea . when the Rohilla was dashed against rocks in heavy gales and . tempestuous seas in 1914 . But it was after only a short recovery that she felt the call of the sea again, signing on to the Rohilla as a nurse. A . ship of the British India Steam Navigation company, the steamer had . been commandeered by the government to operate as a hospital ship at the . outbreak of the First World War. It . was carrying more than 200 patients and crew when, amid fierce gales . and wartime black-out conditions at 4.00am on on October 30, it struck . Whitby Rock, a reef at Salwick, south of Whitby town. The . boat was only 660 yards from shore, but the storm force winds . complicated efforts to rescue survivors from the wreck and treacherous . seas. Whitby's life boat . could not make it out of the harbour, and had to be carried by hand . over an eight-foot sea wall and across rocks so it could be launched . from a nearby beach. A painting imagines the scene as the Titanic sank in the North Atlantic Ocean. Miss Roberts left the doomed liner on lifeboat Number 11, helping to look after a small baby until being rescued by the Carpathia . Miss . Roberts, one of only five women aboard the Rohilla, was among the first . 17 survivors rescued by the Whitby lifeboatmen, which went back to . rescue a further 18 before it too was smashed by the storm. But . by then, a further six RNLI lifeboats had arrived and valiantly . continued the rescue operation for a weary, wet two days, eventually . saving most of the 229 people aboard. Eighty-five lives were lost in the disaster. A photograph originally published in Popular Mechanics magazine shows life guards trying to get . line to the Rohilla as it fell to pieces. Miss Roberts was among the first people saved from . the ship by the Whitby lifeboat . Her trunk, an . intriguing relic of maritime history, has now been recovered by the . Whitby Lifeboat Museum, after its curator, Pete Thomson, spotted it on . for sale on eBay. He said: . 'It’s spooky, the fact that I have got this here now, 99 years later. Mary Roberts carried it on to the Rohilla and then she never saw it . again. 'When . the sea calmed down the rocks would be crawling with people picking up . items and it’s been missing for the last 99 years until it surfaced on . eBay for sale a month ago.' Mr Thomson, a former lifeboat coxswain, was not even aware of the antique’s existence until he contacted a friend who had attended the 90th anniversary in 2004 who happened to mention the trunk. Scavenged from the wreck? The box was found in a house clearance in York earlier this year, but its history before that is a mystery . 'If I hadn’t made that phone call I wouldn’t have got it. It was an absolute freak of luck. It’s such a coincidence, it’s almost as if the Lord’s looking out for us,' he said. Mr Thomson contacted the seller, an antiques dealer in Louth, Lincolnshire, who agreed to sell it to the museum for just £50. Made of tin, with wooden struts, the box was found during a house clearance in York earlier this year, but prior to that its history is unknown. The Rohilla was built in 1906 by . Harland and Wolff in Belfast, the same shipyard that would later . construct the equally ill-fated Titanic. Whereas . the Titanic sank in calm water, the weather during the Rohilla disaster . was tempestuous, with gales and huge waves battering against the ship . as it broke apart. Since . purchasing the trunk, Mr Thomson has been in contact with the . descendants of Miss Roberts, who didn’t know of its existence. The . trunk is now set to feature in a national World War One exhibition . focusing on the brave lifeboatmen who rushed to the aid of the stricken . vessels and their beleaguered survivors. Called . Hope in the Great War, the touring exhibition will celebrate the . courage and bravery of the lifeboat crews who risked their lives for . strangers during the First World War. | Mary Roberts was saved from the Titanic in 1912 and from the Rohilla in 1914 .
The trunk she carried aboard the latter ship was assumed lost at sea .
But it appeared on eBay after it was found in a house clearance in York .
Whitby Lifeboat Museum has now secured it for a forthcoming exhibition . |
0c583c71f1ceddb9569f6d8588f62108ca645b91 | New Delhi (CNN) -- We are all Malaysia Airlines Flight 17. The callous, brutal shooting down of an airplane carrying 298 human beings could have happened to almost any other aircraft, carrying any other people, from anywhere in the world. Indeed, in New Delhi, reports suggest that two Air India flights were nearby when MH17 crashed; one of them, Air India One, was carrying Prime Minister Narendra Modi from Frankfurt back to the Indian capital. Indian officials have been quick to offer their condolences to the families of the deceased. As a growing number of world leaders accuse Moscow of creating Frankenstein's monster, of giving Ukraine's pro-Russia rebels the heavy artillery that brought down MH17, New Delhi is so far remaining on the fence. In its ugliest hour, facing the likelihood of unprecedented sanctions, authoritarian Russia can count on at least one powerful ally: India, the world's largest democracy. Russia and India, bedfellows? Sound surprising? It shouldn't. Just last week, before the MH17 disaster, at a BRICS summit in Brazil, Modi expressed his country's deep affection for Russia. "Even a child in India, if asked to say who is India's best friend, will reply it is Russia," declared the Indian Prime Minister. Or consider how, at a speech in Moscow last year, then-Prime Minister Manmohan Singh said these words: "Russia has stood by India at moments of great international challenge, when our own resources were limited and our friends were few. ... Indians will never forget." Both Modi and Singh were pointing to decades of steady relations, starting with India's independence in 1947 and its brush with socialism in the 1950s, through the Cold War years and the breakup of the Soviet Union, up to the present moment, with the two nations in the middle of joint naval drills in the Sea of Japan. The special friendship has disappointed a number of India's other allies. Washington has been frustrated by New Delhi's silence on Russia's annexation of Crimea. Ukraine is even more upset. In an interview with the newspaper The Hindu, Ukraine's ambassador to New Delhi said it especially behooved India to "make a more clear statement on supporting Ukraine's sovereignty and territorial integrity," given its aspirations to be a U.N. Security Council member. On paper, it would seem that India and Russia are unlikely partners. They share little by way of history or culture, are run on completely different ideals of government and have opposing economic and demographic trajectories. According to a recent Pew survey, 45% of Indians have a "favorable" view of Russia. Meanwhile, 56% of Indians view the United States favorably. Surely the U.S. -- the world's second largest democracy -- would be a better official "best friend" for India? If only. As Indian commentator Rajeev Sharma put it in an essay last year, "the Americans are known to be fast in finding new friends when it suits their national interest and faster in dumping them for the same reasons." Russia has been a more reliable ally, according to Sharma. It has long been India's biggest source of arms and, unlike the United States, has largely avoided doing business with India's perennial enemy Pakistan. Opinion: Putin's big blunder . But if Russia becomes more and more isolated, how long would India stay loyal? At what point would considerations of trade, arms and energy give way to a vision of what India stands for? In the coming weeks and months, India's government -- a fresh set of leaders with a rare, sweeping mandate for change -- will begin to formulate its foreign policy. It will need to redefine India's place in the world. Put simply, you can't be everyone's friend. The collective opinion and moral stance of the world's largest democracy matters. It is easy to say nice things about relations with France, the U.S., Brazil and the UK, as New Delhi has done so adeptly in the last few weeks. It is much tougher to manage unpopular friendships. | India has a long history of friendship with Russia .
Ravi Agrawal: MH17 disaster tests the alliance, raises questions .
He asks, will world's largest democracy continue to side with authoritarian Russia? |
0c5913a7d5a8e494bfcdde1a1c1ea6b4b2998af0 | (CNN) -- A 37-year-old Bronx woman accused of a charity scam after the Connecticut school mass shooting was indicted Tuesday on a charge of making false statements to the FBI, prosecutors said. The federal indictment accuses Nouel Alba of Bronx, New York, of using "her Facebook account, telephone calls and text messages to falsely claim to be an aunt of a shooting victim and supply fictitious details about the aftermath of the tragedy in order to solicit donations on the pretext that she was collecting on behalf of the family for the child's 'funeral fund,'" the U.S. Attorney's office in Connecticut said. Donors sent money to a PayPal account controlled by Alba, prosecutors said. Remembering the Sandy Hook shooting victims . When the FBI agents investigating charity scams contacted Alba, she "falsely stated that she did not post information related to Newtown on her Facebook account, have contact with anyone about such postings, or recently access her PayPal account," the prosecutor's office said. Alba is charged with one count of making false statements to federal agents. The charge carries a maximum term of five years in prison and a fine of up to $250,000, prosecutors said. On December 14, a 20-year-old gunman shot up Newtown's Sandy Hook Elementary School, killing 20 children whose ages were 6 or 7 and six adults. He earlier killed his mother in their Newtown home. The gunman ended the rampage by killing himself, authorities said. On December 19, CNN's "AC360" broadcast a story about the alleged ruse and interviewed Alba, who denied involvement in the alleged scam. "This says -- this has your e-mail on it. Right there," said CNN investigative producer David Fitzpatrick. "This is about Noah Pozner's funeral." "I never sent that," Alba replied. Later in the interview, Alba identified one of her e-mail accounts presented by Fitzpatrick. "Yeah, that's one of my gmails. ...Yeah, my personal account," she said during the interview. "But I never set up any funds for anybody." Alba was arrested on December 27 and was released on a $50,000 bond, authorities said. "Investigators continue to monitor the Internet to uncover other fundraising scams arising from this tragedy, and any individuals who attempt to profit through these schemes will be prosecuted," U.S. Attorney David B. Fein of Connecticut said in a statement. Obama to detail gun-law proposals . CNN's Michael Martinez contributed to this report. | Nouel Alba accused of making false statements to FBI .
She allegedly posed as an aunt of a shooting victim soliciting donations for funeral .
She told CNN's 'AC360' she wasn't involved in alleged scam .
If convicted, Alba faces up to five years in prison and a fine of up to $250,000 . |
0c5a656446c516d921b9390273bb5a03bf6afd87 | By . Associated Press . PUBLISHED: . 05:51 EST, 7 June 2012 . | . UPDATED: . 14:05 EST, 11 June 2012 . An argument on live Greek TV turned violent after an extreme far-right Holocaust denier assaulted two left-wing deputies during a morning political show. Ilias Kasidiaris, spokesman for Golden Dawn, threw a glass of water at Rena Dorou, a member of the radical left Syriza party, when she made a reference to a court case pending against him. He then turned on Liana Kanelli, a prominent Communist party member, and punched her several times about the head. Scroll down for the video . One of Ilias Kasidiaris's punches lands on Liana Kanelli's face after she threw pieces of paper at him for hurling a glass of water at another politician . Former MP Elias Kassidiaris (second left) rains punches down on Liana Kanelli as TV host Giorgos Papadakis tries to help her . The fracas broke out on the private Antenna TV station during a political discussion ahead of Greece's repeat elections on June 17. Kasidiaris, 31, bounded out of his seat and hurled a glass of water across the table over Ms Dorou when she said there was a 'crisis of democracy when people who will take the country back 500 years have got into the Greek parliament'. Ilias Kasidiaris is a former MP for the Golden Dawn political party . He then turned on prominent Communist . Party member Liana Kanelli, who had got out of her chair with a . newspaper in hand and appeared to throw it at the Golden Dawn member. Talk show host Giorgos Papadakis ran over to Kasidiaris to attempt to calm him, shouting 'no, no, no', but Kasidiaris, who served in the Greek military's special forces, hit Ms Kanelli around the face three times. Kasidiaris was elected to parliament in the country's recent inconclusive polls. Deputies from all seven parties that won parliament seats in the May 6 polls had been invited on the show. A public prosecutor ordered his immediate arrest for the attacks. Government spokesman Dimitris Tsiodras said: 'The government condemns in the most categorical way the attack by Golden Dawn spokesman Ilias Kasidiaris against Liana Kanelli and Rena Dourou. This attack is an attack against every democratic citizen.' Mr Tsiodras called on Golden Dawn to condemn its member's actions. Golden Dawn, which vehemently denies the neo-Nazi label, has been accused of being behind violent attacks against immigrants. Just before the attack, Kasidiaris had thrown water at Rena Dourou who made a reference to an impending trial . The party won nearly 7 per cent of the vote on May 6, giving it 21 seats in the 300-member parliament. It was a radical increase from its showing in the previous elections in 2009, when the party won just 0.31 per cent of the vote. Greeks reeling from two years of austerity amid their country's vicious financial crisis punished the two formerly main parties, the conservative New Democracy and socialist PASOK at the polls, turning instead to radical smaller parties to the right and left of the political spectrum. The 300 deputies took up their seats for a day last month before parliament was dissolved and new elections called as no party had won enough votes to form a government on its own, and negotiations for a coalition government collapsed after 10 days. | Far right spokesman punched Communist party member several times in the head .
Ilias Kasidiaris is a former member of the Greek special forces .
Public prosecutor call for his immediate arrest for the attack . |
0c5aacf2a612aad6d0235b7dcf643992e586398e | By . Ian Drury . PUBLISHED: . 09:51 EST, 17 October 2012 . | . UPDATED: . 19:33 EST, 17 October 2012 . A lost squadron of Spitfires that has been buried in the Burmese jungle since the end of the Second World War is to be dug up and brought back to Britain. Aircraft enthusiast David Cundall spent 15 years and £130,000 of his own money tracking down the aircraft. Up to 60 planes were buried in transport crates at a secret location 40ft below ground at the end of the war to ensure they didn’t fall into enemy hands. David Cundall, from North Lincolnshire, discovered 20 Spitfires buried in crates in Burma - and they will now be excavated for display . Saved for posterity: At least 60 Spitfires are believed to be buried - and they will hopefully be proudly displayed once again thanks to the 16-year hunt . The Spitfires are believed to be in good . condition because they were waxed, wrapped in greased paper and had . their joints tarred by RAF crews. The excavation is due to start at the end of the month after an agreement was signed with the military regime in Rangoon. Mr Cundall, 62, a farmer from Scunthorpe, Lincolnshire, started his . treasure hunt in 1996 after hearing a throwaway remark from a group of . US veterans who said they once buried Spitfires in Burma. The fighter planes – of which there are only around 35 left flying in . the world – were shipped to Burma and transported by rail to a British . RAF base in August 1945. But they were deemed surplus to requirements and unsuited to the . ‘island-hopping’ missions to clear the Japanese of their remaining . strongholds in the Pacific. Mr Cundall tracked down an eyewitness who led him to the area where the aircraft were buried. He eventually located the buried planes using ground-penetrating radar equipment. His team dug a borehole and sent down a camera to look at the crates, which were said to be in ‘really good condition’. One of the Spitfires (pictured: the tail fins) being crated up in Burma in 1945 ready to be buried . Images showed the Spitfires inside the containers with their wings packed alongside them. The planes will now be dug up and brought back to the UK to be . reassembled. A Downing Street spokesman said: ‘We hope that many of them . will soon be gracing the skies of Britain.’ The deal went ahead after Prime . Minister David Cameron signed a heritage agreement with Burmese . President Thein Sein during his visit to the south-east Asian nation in . April. The excavation agreement was signed on . Tuesday by Mr Cundall, Burma's civil aviation chief Tin Naing Tun and . the Shwe Taung Paw company boss Htoo Htoo Zaw, Mr Cundall's partner in . the country . Mr Zaw said: 'This will be the largest number of Spitfires in the world. We want to let people see those historic fighters.' Mr Cundall's treasure hunt was sparked . in 1996 by a throwaway remark from a group of U.S. veterans who said . they had once buried Spitfires in the Burmese jungle. The Spitfires, of which there are only . around 35 flying left in the world, were shipped to Burma and . transported by rail to the British RAF base in August 1945. A place in history: A poster unveiling the Spitfire from around 1939 . Mr Cundall, from Scunthorpe, . Lincolnshire, persuaded the country's notoriously secretive regime to . allow him to search for the lost aircraft, winning their trust over 12 . visits. The married father-of-three doggedly . pieced together their possible location by speaking to the declining . number of Far East veterans . He said at the time: 'I’m only a small . farmer, I’m not a multi-millionaire and it has been a struggle. It took . me more than 15 years but I finally found them. 'Spitfires are beautiful aeroplanes . and should not be rotting away in a foreign land. They saved our neck in . the Battle of Britain and they should be preserved.' Permission to excavate the planes was granted because of the strengthening relations between London and Rangoon. In the past year, Burma has turned . away from the repressive policies of the previous military regime and . has taken a reforming democratic stance. A Downing Street spokesman said: 'We . hope that many of them will be gracing the skies of Britain and as . discussed, some will be displayed here in Burma.' Mr Cundall said the government had promised him it would not be making a claim for the aircraft. A law passed by the British when they . granted Burma independence in 1948 meant that anything left behind . automatically became the property of the Burmese government. Mr Cundall is understood to have struck a deal with the Burmese president to take 60 per cent of the profits. | Farmer David Cundall explored Burma for nearly two decades to find where the planes were buried in crates .
Spitfires believed to be in good condition due to careful containment . |
0c5acf5c0ec0c22ceab38d6c2971c187cafd28fd | (CNN) -- Everyone has their Denzel Washington moment. It might have happened while watching his first Oscar-winning role in 1989's "Glory." Or maybe it was sparked during 1992's "Malcolm X" biopic. It might've even taken you as long as 2001's "Training Day." But whenever it happened, even the most casual moviegoer can point to the movie -- and sometimes, the specific scene -- that made them realize Washington is a singularly gifted actor. Now nearing 60, Washington is still impressing at the box office, as his new action movie, "The Equalizer," is predicted to open at No. 1. Washington has been acting onscreen for close to 40 years and has filled almost every role possible, from icon and soldier to ladies' man and villain. In "The Equalizer," he slips back into the shoes of the avenger, playing a seemingly mild-mannered book lover who's also more than willing to execute bad guys when a young prostitute he has befriended (Chloe Grace Moretz) gets hurt. The movie itself has gotten mixed reviews, but critics agree that it's Washington that makes the running time worth it. "Washington keeps you watching this sleazy stuff -- let's stipulate to that before anything else," said The Wall Street Journal's Joe Morgenstern. For The New York Times, Washington's "craft and discipline endow even exploitative nonsense like this with a center of gravity." "The Equalizer" may not inspire another Denzel moment for fans, but one thing's clear: the gift still stands. | Denzel Washington is back at the box office this weekend .
The actor is said to be one of the best aspects of "The Equalizer"
Going through his filmography, we can all point to a film that made us a fan . |
0c5b58bcec70e55005dd2fe1a69598675251a8b2 | By . Steve Robson . PUBLISHED: . 05:20 EST, 23 May 2013 . | . UPDATED: . 07:37 EST, 23 May 2013 . He's not set to stomp onto our screens until 2014, but Godzilla already appears to be making his mark. These eerie images capture an abandoned Japanese fishing village, recreated in Steveston, Canada, for filming of the remake of the 1954 classic. The blockbuster, scheduled for release in May next year, revolves around the mythical prehistoric creature which terrorises Tokyo - and leaves a trail of destruction in the countryside. Haunting: A fishing boat lies abandoned in the Japanese fishing village recreated for the filming of a new Godzilla movie in Canada . Back to its roots: The new version of the Japanese classic Godzilla is said to a more faithful adaption of the original tale . Blockbuster: The new Godzilla will star Bryan Cranston, Aaron Taylor-Johnson and Elizabeth Olsen . Creators have said their latest version, which will star Bryan Cranston, Aaron Taylor-Johnson and Elizabeth Olsen, will stay more faithful to the original Japanese version. And judging by these pictures, producers are making every effort to make it as authentic as possible. Fishing boats lie marooned and abandoned in between run down old shacks and warning signs filled with Japanese writing. The spectre of Godzilla looms large everywhere. Terror: In the original tale Godzilla is said to be the result of a nuclear explosion and lives in the sea . Destruction: Godzilla has fiery atomic breath which raises the Japanese fishing villages to the ground . Authentic: The Japanese nuclear warning signs that the new Godzilla will try to stay closer to the 1954 classic . According to the original tale, the sea beast is blamed by fishermen for their poor yields. Investigating scientists, led by main character Dr. Yamane, are at first skeptical. But after being confronted by Godzilla, conclude that he is the result of a nuclear explosion. His encounters with human civilization result in a wave of destruction as his fiery atomic breath razed entire villages to the ground. The race is on to find a way of stopping the powerful creature before he destroys mankind. Since the 1954 film, Godzilla has become a worldwide pop culture icon, appearing in scores of films, video games, novels, comic books and TV series. The seaside town of Steveston, in Vancouver, Canada, has historic connections with Japanese fishermen, as large numbers settled there to work in the salmon canning industry. It as also been used a location for the TV show Once Upon A Time. The remake of Godzilla, which is rumoured to have a . budget of more than a $100million, will be Hollywood's second attempt to . recreate the classic. A 1998 version, starring Matthew Broderick, grossed almost $380million worldwide but was widely considered a flop. Second attempt: A 1998 version of Godzilla starring Matthew Broderick was widely considered a critical and commercial flop . Popular: The fishing town of Steveston in Canada has also been used as a location for the TV show Once Upon A Time . Ties: The seaside town of Steveston in Canada has historic connections with Japanese fishermen who settled there to work in the salmon canning industry . | Abandoned fishing boats, ruined shacks and nuclear warnings on display .
Filming taking place in seaside town of Steveston in Vancouver, Canada .
Japanese fishermen flocked to town to work in salmon-canning industry .
New version of 1954 classic starring Bryan Cranston set for release in 2014 . |
0c5ba15fb0830bdda219782d3387bbbef5e10200 | By . Daily Mail Reporter . PUBLISHED: . 07:35 EST, 21 August 2012 . | . UPDATED: . 13:49 EST, 21 August 2012 . Undead?: Pub landlord John Teagle, who was accused of being a vampire at his wife Elsa's village . A pub landlord accused of being a vampire by superstitious villagers in the Philippines has finally won a battle to clear his name. For the last five years John Teagle, the landlord of the Walmer Castle Pub in Margate, Kent, has been viewed with suspicion by the residents of Argawanon, on Cebu Island in the Philippines. Werina Onpoc, the aunt of his wife Elsa, who was born on the island, spread the vicious rumour after he refused to lend her cash in 2007. The 68-year-old dad-of-three, who married Elsa after meeting her 23 years ago through a lonely hearts ad, was shunned after the aunt told local radio that he was a ‘descendant of Dracula’ and drank . the blood of children. The aunt even told villagers that scars on Mr Teagle’s body - caused by operations to treat colon cancer - were wounds he suffered as he bolted from police hunting him for being one of the undead. Mr Teagle, who owns a holiday home on the island and regularly visits, said: 'It made me laugh at first - then I realised how serious it was.' Now his ordeal is over after Argawanon's Barrio Capitan - a kind of councillor - stepped in after the radio broadcast inflamed the situation. He interrogated the aunt and others who had made the claims against Mr Teagle at a 500-strong ‘council meeting’ on the island. The chief reprimanded those responsible for the vampire rumours and ordered them to stop. Mr Teagle said he was ‘very relieved’, but fears that some villagers still have a sneaking suspicion that he is a supernatural creature of the night. He told the Thanet Times: 'They were severely reprimanded but it still left a very bad taste. 'The deed was done. It’s gone away a lot now, but it’s not dead.' Elsa Teagle said that villagers in the Philippines . thought he was coming over from the UK to 'suck their blood' and take it back to the UK to sell to other vampires. The 49-year-old schoolteacher has three children with John including 22-year-old John Jnr, who helps run the pub, 21-year-old university student Oriana and schoolgirl Asia, 16. Lair: The Walmer Castle Pub in Margate, Kent, where alleged vampire John is landlord . An aerial view of Cebu in the Philippines, where landlord John Teagle's wife Elsa was born . Bloodsucker: Left, Christopher Lee as Dracula and right, the Philippine island of Cebu . Cebu, situated in the middle of the islands, is the most densely populated of the Philippines . It is just 250 km from north to south and 45 km across at its widest point . Its eastern coastline is popular hub for divers and the island's largest city, Cebu City, has an international port . Filipinos are known for being superstitious and the existence of Aswang, vampire-like creatures, is a centuries-long legend throughout the islands . While many use it as a story to tell children, some adorn their homes with garlic bulbs to keep them away . Mysteries, including kidnapped children, and tragedies such as miscarriages, are blamed on Aswang by the superstitious . She said: 'Many of my family - . including my mum and dad - still live on the island and it has been very . difficult for the last five years after John was accused of being a . vampire. 'Some people are very ignorant and when my aunt watched a vampire film on TV five years ago she thought it made everything true. 'She . thought John was coming over to Argawanon to suck the blood of the . villagers and then take it back to Britain to sell to other vampires. 'She read about a lack of blood supplies in the UK and put two and two together and came up with five.' She . added: 'It is causing a lot of friction in the family and some . villagers still believe John is a vampire even though the priest has . told them he is not and that vampires do not exist. 'It is very difficult for everyone, but the village is very superstitious and the rumours will take a long time to go away.' Last week Mr Teagle and Elsa were . visited by Father Ely Suico of St Vincent’s Parish in Bogo City, who had . defended them during the uproar in Argawanon. Father Suico said: 'In the Philippines there are still a lot of superstitious beliefs and lots of fears about things which cannot be seen. 'Especially now there have been films which have shown vampires, they really believe these must be true. 'I thought I must tell them about these things because it’s very unchristian.' | Pub landlord from Kent faced bizarre allegations that he was a bloodsucking vampire .
Philippine wife's aunt spread rumours after he refused her a loan .
Island village chief calls meeting to clear his name . |
0c5bbc09d83a09bbb1d80d5e1628a50c753b7acd | By . Deni Kirkova . PUBLISHED: . 12:51 EST, 5 January 2014 . | . UPDATED: . 05:44 EST, 6 January 2014 . Well-wishers hoping to meet the Queen were again left disappointed yesterday after she chose not to accept flowers for the second week in a row. A crowd of around 250 had hoped they would be in luck after she broke with the tradition last week. Sienna Wheeler, eight, who is in a wheelchair after a hip operation, had travelled to St Mary Magdalene church in Sandringham from Bury St Edmunds, Suffolk, with her sister Imogen, ten, and grandfather David Branton, 69. Sienna Wheeler, 8 (in the chair), and her sister Imogen look on at the Queen's car as it leaves . The Queen doesn't accept flowers from wellwishers for the second week running as she attends church . She said: ‘I don’t really mind that I could not give her my flowers. It was just a lovely to see her.’ The Queen broke with tradition last week by declining to accept flowers from children as she left morning service at St Mary Magdalene church. Around a dozen children including a girl in a wheelchair had hoped that she would have a change of heart and hopefully turned up with flowers today. But police officers monitoring the crowd told the youngsters that the Queen would still not be accepting them. Sienna's father: 'We brought flowers along, but the Queen didn't take them... We don't want a sob story' Her Majesty leaves church on the royal Sandringham estate in Norfolk without taking flowers today . The Queen, who was dressed in a beige . coat and matching hat, instead came straight out of church and was . driven away in her maroon Bentley, accompanied by her cousin Lady Mary . Colman. Some children left . their bouquets in a pile outside the 13th century church after police . said the flowers would be taken to Sandringham House later. Other . youngsters handed their floral gifts to guests of the Queen who were . walking the 600m back to Sandringham House with Prince Philip. One of the Royal guests who accepted flowers told the child's mother: 'I am sorry. It is a great disappointment.' Elizabeth Quintrell, 72, waited three hours in the cold with her great-granddaughters Kiera Quintrell, eight, and Megan Radford, six, only to be told that the girls would not be allowed to hand over their flowers. Mrs Quintrell of Peterborough, Cambridgeshire, said: 'It was a great shame. There were only a few children here with bouquets so it would not have taken very long. 'I brought the two girls to Sandringham House in the summer and they saw the place where the Queen has her Christmas tree. 'I told them we would come back over Christmas and they might be able to give her some flowers and they had been looking forward to it. A little boy watches the Queen leave last week, as he clutches a bouquet he had hoped to give her . 'We made some special bouquets with red, white and blue flowers and I got them up at 6.30am so we could drive over. 'It was quite disappointing to be told that the Queen would not be taking flowers personally, but I suppose if I was her age, I probably wouldn't want to do it either.' Sienna Wheeler, eight, of Bury St . Edmunds, Suffolk, who was in a wheelchair after a hip operation last . month was also told that she would not be able to hand over flowers to . the Queen. She and her . sister Imogen, ten, went to the church with their grandfather David . Branton, 69, but could only watch as the Queen got into her car. Sienna said: 'I don't really mind that I could not give her my flowers. It was just a lovely to see the Queen.' The little boy was comforted by his mother after the Queen broke with tradition by not stopping . Mr . Branton of Spalding, Lincolnshire, said: 'We did bring some flowers . along, but the Queen didn't take them. We were told to leave them and . the girls were happy with that. 'We don't want a sob story. The girls were just thrilled to see the Queen and they were warned that there was a chance that he Queen might not accept the bouquets.' Veteran Royal watcher Mary Relph said she thought the Queen's tradition of accepting flower outside church had now 'finished'. Speaking outside the church, she added: 'I don't want to say anything about it.' The Bishop of Rochester, the Right Rev James Langstaff, preached at the service today before joining the Queen at Sandringham House. Last week Buckingham Palace dismissed suggestions that the Queen was not accepting flowers as she did not want to be late for lunch. A palace spokesman said: 'Her Majesty is always grateful whenever people wish to present flowers and she accepted many flowers on Christmas Day. However, she does not accept them in person on every occasion.' | The Queen usually allows waiting children to present her with flowers .
Many families hoping to meet Her Majesty were left disappointed last week .
Today police informed hopefuls that she would still not accept flowers .
Among well-wishers was Sienna Wheeler, eight, who is in a wheelchair . |
0c5bd7639970b96fc2d9fb3a763af546db0e4646 | (CNN) -- CNN lost a much loved and respected colleague Monday with the sudden passing of photojournalist Sarmad Qaseera. A longtime member of CNN's Baghdad bureau, Sarmad had to flee his country in 2006 after death threats, eventually settling in the United States and continuing his work for CNN based out of Atlanta. He was 42. *** . In the darkest days of war and amid the chaos and despair it wrought, CNN staffers in Iraq could always count on Sarmad Qaseera to bring some light -- even humor -- to the worst of situations. He was unflappable, committed to the job and yet, at the same time, a goofball who could provide endless laughter when it was least expected and most needed. And perhaps above all, he had empathy and compassion for those who suffered most from the war. His sudden death on Monday has rocked his CNN family and a loving circle of friends and family, all of whom are trying to process how Sarmad could be taken so soon, and with so much more to conquer. From Saddam Hussein to CNN . After a childhood spent under Saddam Hussein's rule, Sarmad Qaseera used the dictator's overthrow as a springboard into a life incredibly well-lived. He came to CNN early in the war, a young cameraman recommended by his uncle Faris, himself a CNN staff member in Baghdad. CNN's Ingrid Formanek hired him in January 2003, just before the war began, mentoring a nervous, shy young man who knew not a word of English. "He was, in many ways, shell-shocked by life under Saddam, but was obviously keen to be working for CNN," Formanek said. "In the beginning, we had to try to bring him out of that shell -- something made more difficult because we had to use a translator just to give him the basics of what we needed. "When the war started a few months later, he had already picked up some English and his true personality started shining through and it wasn't long before he was out in the field shooting stories for us. "Sarmad was our personification of the Iraqi dream: Work hard, get out alive, take the ones you love with you if you can, find success in America and charm people along the way." Like so many Iraqis who worked with the West, Sarmad risked his life doing so. Eventually, after a very specific death threat, he was forced to leave. But he did take one special person with him: his invalid mother, Suad. He brought her to the United States and spent his own money initially to have her cared for in his apartment 24/7. He talked endlessly to her, not knowing whether she could hear or understand. Even when he was away on assignment, he would call or Skype and have Suad's nurses hold the phone or laptop next to her. You should have heard his Wolf Blitzer impression . Sarmad had a wicked (and sometimes ribald) sense of humor. His usual greeting to me, an Australian, was a full-throated "Kangarooooooo!!!!" Often, in the middle of editing a story, he was inclined to do his Wolf Blitzer impersonation: "Happening noowwww!" His other signature phrase was an enthusiastic "Number ONE!!!" which could be used in Sarmad's world for just about any occasion. He was a fixture in our Baghdad operation, ever cheerful and brimming with talent, and legendary for his ability to fall asleep just about anywhere, anytime. Equally legendary was the volume of his snoring; no one could, or would, share a room with Sarmad during Baghdad assignments. Within hours of the news of his passing, my Facebook feed and email in-box were inundated by photographs and recollections, anecdotes and tributes. 'A bright light' in a war zone . Former CNN'er Aneesh Raman put it well: "War zones sharpen edges. They harden souls. They are dark places. Which makes it all the more remarkable that those of us who met Sarmad in Baghdad remember him as such a bright light." He had many -- so many -- close friends in the CNN family. Correspondent Jomana Karadsheh described years of working alongside him. "From Baghdad to Beirut, Amman to Damascus, Islamabad to Tripoli, he really made some of the toughest assignments so memorable," she said. "He captured every story so beautifully, his pictures told it so brilliantly. CNN lost a gift today, but we all lost the man." Senior International Correspondent Arwa Damon, who spent much of the war living in Baghdad alongside Sarmad, echoed those thoughts in recalling his work covering the 2012 attack on the U.S. consulate in Benghazi, Libya. "He was the one who somehow saw and noticed things that we didn't," Damon said. "A piece of paper fluttering amid the ashes with 'Libya is sooooo important' scrawled on it. The remnants of the last meal in the kitchen. A flower that somehow survived the carnage." Damon and Qaseera won an Investigative Reporters and Editors Award for their coverage of the attack. Tommy Evans, a regular bureau chief for CNN in Baghdad during the war and now chief of CNN's London bureau, recalled going on a police patrol in Afghanistan with Sarmad and correspondent Michael Ware. "We were zipping through a dark, windy residential neighborhood when an IED went off," he said. "It felt like a mule kicked me in the chest." Evans, in the aftermath of the explosion, couldn't hear or see. "When my eyes did refocus, the air was so full of sand and dust I could no longer see Sarmad's truck in front of me. I was convinced it had been hit." Evans jumped from the truck and ran into the road. Standing there was Sarmad, a camera on his shoulder. "We asked each other frantically if the other was hurt. Then he looked at me and said, 'Tommy, I am so sorry,'" Evans recalled. When asked why, Sarmad replied: "I don't think I was rolling." "Later that night we got back to the safe house, covered with dust and a little blood. And we watched the tape. ... He was rolling," Evans said. Just weeks from U.S. citizenship . Sarmad worked for many years for CNN in Iraq, but more recently he covered many other stories, both "good news" assignments and conflicts, too. Correspondent Nima Elbagir remembered a funny moment with Sarmad while covering the uprising in Egypt. "I'm a good foot taller than Sarmad," she said. "So it made a lot of Egyptians laugh to see him dragging a camera case along to stand on when he was filming me. "When it kicked off inside Tahrir Square and we'd been separated he -- all 5-foot-nothing of him -- fought his way through to find me. We used to joke it was our 'Romeo and Juliet' moment, shouting each other's names through the crowd. We eventually took shelter in the KFC overlooking Tahrir Square, and as the mob swarmed outside the now-barricaded glass doors he calmly ordered combo meals for both of us." Another longtime CNN Baghdad bureau chief, Kevin Flower, described Sarmad's passing as a loss not only for friends and family, but for journalism as well. "He will be forever remembered for the infectious sense of humor and smile, but he should be remembered as a journalist's journalist. The best in class. He was a true professional in every sense of the word, who brought a whole lot of important stories to the world. With Sarmad, CNN was a better news organization." Sarmad Qaseera was taken far too soon. His American dream was still unfolding and he had so much more to give, as a professional and a man. Sarmad was to become an American citizen in the next few weeks, something he had been waiting for for so long. Ma'a as-salÄ . | Sarmad Qaseera died suddenly Monday at age 42 .
An Iraq native, he was a longtime member of CNN's Baghdad bureau .
He fled the country in 2006 after getting death threats .
He was just weeks away from American citizenship . |
0c5c69021e8845c222280cc6df2fdc76f1a919c4 | By . Daily Mail Reporters . PUBLISHED: . 11:40 EST, 6 January 2014 . | . UPDATED: . 13:21 EST, 6 January 2014 . The pilot who safely navigated an emergency landing on the Major Deegan Expressway in the Bronx on Saturday has been hailed as a hero, but he might have some explaining to do closer to home. Michael Schwartz, 50, was carrying two female passengers when he ditched onto the highway, but his wife Giovanna was not on the plane. And she doesn't seem impressed with his antics. 'Why don't you ask him? I'm sure he would be happy to tell you,' she told Lohud when asked about his pleasure flight. The pilot's wife told the site she only found out about the excursion on Saturday evening. Scroll down for video . Drama: The plane that pilot Michael Schwartz daringly landed on the Major Deegan Expressway in the Bronx is removed from the scene . Owner: The plane is registered to Michael Schwartz of South Salem, New York. But his wife wasn't on the plane and doesn't seem impressed with his exploits . Air traffic control tapes released on . Sunday shed light into the cockpit as student pilot Schwartz navigated . his broken plane into a dramatic emergency landing on the busy Bronx . expressway. Schwartz . had taken out two passengers, named as Kristina Terrell, 43, and Monica . Castillo, 20, for a trip around the Statue of Liberty on Saturday. Then he encountered engine troubles on the way back to Danbury, Connecticut. He . called air traffic control around 3:20pm asking for guidance and . remained levelheaded even when the controller didn't come up with a ton . of options for possible landing areas. 'Mayday, mayday...we're losing engine power,' the pilot of the Piper Pa-28 says. Crash: The small plane is pictured on a Bronx highway after the pilot was forced to make an emergency landing . Owner: The plane is registered to Michael Schwartz of South Salem, New York. But his wife wasn't on the plane and doesn't seem impressed with his exploits . In the call he asks for a place to . make an emergency landing, and the air traffic controller points out . that La Guardia Airport in Queens is five miles away. 'I'll never make it, where do I touch down?' At that point the air traffic controller struggles for a while to think up another option . 'I'm . not sure where you can touch down if you're not going to make it,' he . says before throwing out the idea of Harlem River or Major Deegan. He . quickly changes his mind on landing on the Major Deegan however since . its populated and points the pilot in the direction Van Cortlandt Park . which is 1,100 acres. By then it was too late. Only option: The air traffic controller suggested landing in Van Cortlandt Park, but Mr Schwartz was too far off . Shock: After safely landing the plane, Mr Schwartz reported back to Air Traffic Control that the plane was in surprisingly good condition . 'I'm at less than 1,000 feet,' Schwartz said just as he landed on the freeway. Mr Schwartz made the landing, saving himself and the two passengers and without hitting any of the cars on the freeway. 'Looks . like we made a pretty good landing here,' he said once on the ground. 'Looks like there isn't much damage to the aircraft at all.' Witnesses were astounded as the plane made its shaky descent on the highway. One quick-thinking maintenance worker rushed to help alerting cars to move out of the way as he saw the craft coming in. 'The propeller wasn't moving and it went down right over us,' Jarel Paul, who was driving along the road with friends, told the Daily News. He added that as they spotted the plane, one of his friends was yelling: 'It's flying low, it's low.' Scenic Saturday: The plane was on its way to Danbury, Connecticut after taking a visit around the Statue of Liberty . | Pilot Michael Schwartz and two female passengers were returning from flight around Statue of Liberty .
Schwartz made a daring landing on a busy highway in the Bronx after engine troubles .
A tape of his conversation with air traffic control was released on Sunday .
But the pilot's wife, Giovanna, was not on the flight and is not impressed .
'Why don't you ask him? I'm sure he would be happy to tell you,' she said when asked about the trip . |
0c5e9b76a7192b94493ba4f9669be1469c823d76 | Published: . 17:54 EST, 23 June 2014 . | . Updated: . 17:54 EST, 23 June 2014 . Captain Alastair Cook suffered further humiliation at Headingley yesterday as England fell towards their first-ever home Test series defeat by Sri Lanka. Cook’s position as captain will surely come under intense pressure after England allowed the tourists to set a daunting target of 350 with some woeful bowling. Cook was then out playing on to his own wicket when his side desperately needed him to contribute a big score. England ended day four on a humiliating 57-5. The prospect of a damaging series loss comes after Cook’s winter of despair in Australia featuring the 5-0 Ashes whitewash under his leadership. Humiliated: Alastair Cook captained England to towards their first ever Test series defeat to Sri Lanka . Under pressure! Alastair Cook could be in danger of losing captaincy after dismal run including Ashes whitewash . Senior batsman Ian Bell attempted to back Cook as captain but former Test great Geoffrey Boycott said on the BBC: ‘The captain is in terrible form. It is a recipe for resignation. I don’t know if he will but it is.’ With England only five wickets away from losing a match which had been theirs for the taking on Saturday afternoon, the man most likely to replace Cook in case of a sacking or resignation insisted he was still the right man for the job. ‘I’m sure he’s pretty disappointed, as we all are’ said Bell. ‘He’s got more hundreds than anyone in an England shirt and he’s one of the best batsmen I’ve ever played with. One innings and he’ll be flying again. But as a group we’ve got to help him. We’ve got to get right behind him and start performing as a team.’ Asked whether he thought Cook still had the desire to carry on, Bell replied: ‘Absolutely. No doubt.’ On a day when Boycott branded England ‘rubbish’ and ‘pathetic’ and a small section of the crowd booed them off at tea, Bell conceded that the defensive fields set for Sri Lanka captain Angelo Mathews — who made a world-class 160 — hadn’t worked. He said: ‘If you want to stop someone like that scoring runs, you get them out, don’t you? You don’t stop them scoring runs. But we didn’t take our chances.’ Shooting from the lip! Geoff Boycott (L), pictured with Shane Warne (C) and Michael Vaughan, branded England 'rubbish and pathetic' Support act: Ian Bell (L) backed Alastair Cook, saying he still has the hunger to succeed . Sri Lanka veteran Mahela Jayawardene said he felt some sympathy for England’s captain, but he was obviously revelling in Cook’s discomfort. ‘I feel for him, but it doesn’t help when you have arguments with commentators and past cricketers,’ he said. ‘That’s something you can’t control. ‘Under pressure England are not quite up to it. There are young guys in their side and they will get some tomorrow morning.’ ‘We were telling a couple of their batsmen that their idea of hurting us by hitting us on the head probably doesn’t work. And their field setting showed they were worried. They were quite chirpy at first, but quieter after first hour or so.’ Running scared: Mahela Jayawardene claims England's field settings told Sri Lanka they were worried . | Alastair Cook captained England towards first ever Test defeat to Sri Lanka .
Pundit Geoff Boycott called the slump 'a recipe for resignation'
Ian Bell backed his captain, claiming Cook still has the hunger to succeed .
Mahela Jayawardene sympathised with Cook but claimed England are worried . |
0c5ed2f28fb7835843e9c2d62a25e077a2cc99b5 | It was the scene of one of Prince Philip's most infamous gaffes. As he helped the Queen to open the new British Embassy in Berlin in 2000, the royal was memorably overheard describing the building as 'ghastly'. Now the Duke of Edinburgh is set to make a return to the city - and the embassy - after Buckingham Palace announced that the prince will travel with the Queen to Germany this summer. The tour, which will be the Queen's first to the country since 2004, follows an invitation from President Joachim Gauck, a former East German dissident. On her travels: Buckingham Palace has announced that the Queen and Prince Philip will visit Germany . Visit: The Queen's last visit abroad was in June 2014 when she made a state visit to France . Remembrance: The visit was to mark the 70th anniversary of the Normandy Landings on the 6th June 1944 . Mr Gauck and his partner, Daniela Schadt, were the guests of the Queen and Duke at a lunch at Buckingham Palace in November 2012. Buckingham Palace said in a short statement: 'The Queen, accompanied by the Duke of Edinburgh, will make a state visit to the Federal Republic of Germany from 24 to 26 June. 'Her Majesty and His Royal Highness are visiting at the invitation of the President of the Federal Republic of Germany, Joachim Gauck.' The tour will be the first international visit undertaken by the 88-year-old monarch since the state visit to France for the 70th anniversary of the D-Day Landings last year. Meeting: The Queen was invited by President Gauck (left) but is likely to meet with Chancellor Merkel as well . Regular visitor: The Queen, who last travelled to Germany in 2004, has made several visits to the country . Warm welcome: The Queen and Prince Philip wave to well-wishers in Potsdam during their 1992 visit . Partition: The Queen also visited during the Cold War in 1978, at the request of then President Walter Scheel . First trip: The Queen travelled to West Germany 10 years after the end of WW2. She is seen here in Stuttgart . During that trip, the Queen took part in a ceremony at Sword Beach, the scene of 683 British deaths, alongside David Cameron, Germany's Chancellor Merkel and President Obama. She also took the opportunity to reiterate her admiration for the men who fought during the Normandy campaign during a speech at the Élysée Palace, telling France's President Hollande: . ‘The true measure of all our actions is how long the good in them last. Each year has compounded in Europe the benefits of our victory in the Second World War. 'Seen in that light, those heroic deeds will stand out as much in 700 years as they do after 70.' Her Majesty has remained in the UK since returning from that visit, although the Duke of Edinburgh has made several trips to the Athlone Barracks in the German village of Sennelager near Paderborn. Regular visitor: The Duke of Edinburgh regularly visits the Athlone Barracks and the Queen's Royal Hussars . Colonel-in-chief: He last visited the regiment in November and handed out Afghanistan campaign medals . Meeting: Angela Merkel is likely to meet the royal couple and last met the Queen in February 2014 in London . His most recent trip was in November, when he welcomed home members of the Queen's Royal Hussars, who were among the last soldiers to leave Afghanistan. Prince Philip is the regiment's Colonel-in-Chief and regularly visits the men, as well as handing out combat medals to veterans. While it is not known whether a visit to the Barracks will be included in the itinerary for June's tour, a meeting with Chancellor Angela Merkel is almost certain. The 60-year-old politician has met the Queen several times, most recently during a state visit to Britain that she made in February 2014. Welcomed by the monarch to Buckingham Palace, the German premier offered Her Majesty an awkward handshake in front of the cameras before being whisked away for a private afternoon tea. | The Queen and Prince Philip will travel to Germany in June .
Invitation was issued by Germany's President Joachim Gauck .
It is not yet known if the royal couple will meet Chancellor Merkel .
The Queen's last visit to the country was in 2004 .
Prince Philip is a more regular visitor and last made the trip in November . |
0c6087a1b6004cc2de7c645b0337160ce1704659 | By . Graeme Yorke . Barcelona coach Gerardo Martino has revealed that Lionel Messi has been to see experts to determine why he has been vomiting during matches, but says there is no cause for alarm. Messi, 26, was sick on the pitch during Argentina's midweek friendly against Romania, and has been reported to have thrown up in other matches for his country and Barcelona previously. When asked about the subject on Friday, Martino admitted the bouts of vomiting were 'not normal' but played down the seriousness, adding that the issue has not been affecting the four-time World Player of the Year's ability to perform. Unwell: Lionel Messi was physically sick on the pitch during Argentina's draw against Romania . Under the weather: Messi reacts at the end of their international friendly against Romania . Back to the day job: Messi trains with Barcelona ahead of the Real Valladolid game . 'I've spoken with him and it happens regularly. I'm not a specialist but I understand it's not something normal,' Martino said ahead of this weekend's Primera Division trip to Real Valladolid. 'He's even been to see specialists at certain times and a solution hasn't been found yet, but there's no cause for concern It doesn't affect him doing his work at all. It's something he's had for some time.' Martino also heaped praise on 'irreplaceable' defender Carles Puyol following the centre-back's decision to leave the Catalan giants. Puyol, 35, announced earlier this week that he would bid farewell to Barca at the end of the season after 19 years at the club in which he has made 593 first-team appearances - second only to current team-mate Xavi in the club's history - and helped them win 21 trophies. Martino said: 'I think he's a footballer who is irreplaceable. I'm probably not the best-placed person to comment on this, because I've only worked with him for seven or eight months, but that's enough to say what I said. In the spotlight: An irresponsible member of the crowd used a laser pointer to shine a light on Messi . On the ball: Messi takes on Romania's Aleksandru Bourceanu, Aleksandru Chipciu, Mihai Pintilii and Dragos Grigore . 'He's the type of player that a club has only once every so often. Life goes on at Barcelona, and the club will look for a replacement, but he'll always be in everyone's heads because he leaves an indelible mark.' Puyol admits he does not know what his next step will be - save to take a bit of a break in the summer - but Martino has played down suggestions that the centre-back, who has won 100 caps for Spain, might immediately try his hand at football management. 'It's not that I don't see him as a coach, I've thought that he could, but he told me he's not looking there, at least now,' Martino said. | Messi was sick during Argentina's friendly with Romania .
Barca coach Martinio says it is 'not normal'
Martinio confirms forward has seen a specialist about illness . |
0c612a43b08f70e7718995278a1675c7a2cf0987 | By . Michael Zennie . PUBLISHED: . 08:35 EST, 31 December 2013 . | . UPDATED: . 17:16 EST, 31 December 2013 . A California man gunned down his wife and her two children in their home on Monday night before turning the gun on himself, police believe. Neighbors reported hearing the Fontana, California family arguing before the violence broke out. The mother's oldest son, 16, went to the house to check on the family after he had failed to hear from them and found them dead, authorities said. He discovered his mother and siblings, a 10-year-old boy and 12-year-old girl from a previous marriage, riddled with bullets. It was not clear how long they had been out of contact with the teen. Scroll down for video . Crime scene: Fontana police arrive at a home on Tuesday where a family of four were found shot to death . Probe: A detective, center, asks distraught neighbors questions in front of the home on Tuesday . The stepfather, said to be in his late . 30s or early 40s, was found dead with a single gunshot wound to the . head. Police believe he killed himself. A handgun was found and no suspect was being sought, police spokeswoman Martha Guzman-Hurtado said. 'Everything that has been confirmed so far indicates it could be a murder-suicide but that has not been confirmed,' Guzman-Hurtado said. 'They are questioning other people before making that conclusion.' Neighbors told the KNBC-TV that they heard screaming and gunshots about 10pm following an argument in the house. It appeared all four lived in the home, Sgt Imhof said. The victims appeared to be a family but identifications by the coroner are pending. Tragedy: A forensics specialist drives away from a home (in background) where a suspected triple murder and suicide occurred in Fontana, California. The victims were found by a 16-year-old relative . Neighbors in the quiet California neighborhood were shocked by the murders. Many said their children played with the boy and girl who were murdered . Detectives found the bodies and blood spread throughout the house but had stopped the investigation while they sought a search warrant. 'There is some amounts of blood in . different areas of the house,' Fontana police sergeant Doug Imhof told reporters. Jonathan Garcia, 22, lives across the street and was watching television at about 8.30pm when he heard yelling, he told the Associated Press. 'I hear "get down, get down!" I recognize that as a cop's voice,' he said. Garcia said he looked through the window and saw police in SWAT gear with submachine guns. 'So I come outside. They're all rushing at the house. There's a younger kid, probably 16 years old. He's screaming and yelling ... he's saying "that's my mom! That's my mom!"' Police handcuffed the frantic teen as he called for help, Garcia said, adding: 'They were still trying to figure out what happened.' Grisly: A forensics specialist removes a bag from the home where the bodies were found riddled with bullets . Busy: Camera crew keep a distance from a home where a suspected triple murder and suicide took place . Garcia said a woman outside the house was crying and kept screaming in Spanish: 'They're all dead, they're all dead. He killed them all!' Garcia said the family had lived in the home about three years. 'They were friendly. My dad talked to him (the husband) every now and then,' Garcia said. Guzman-Hurtado said the last time police visited the home was in June 2010 for an unspecified code-enforcement matter. 'It's a sad day in Fontana,' Guzman-Hurtado said. 'This is one of those days where we're all supposed to be celebrating with family, making new memories with family as we say goodbye to 2013 and welcome the New Year. It's not a day to be mourning lives lost.' The home is in Fontana, a city of about 200,000 people in San Bernardino County about 50 miles east of downtown Los Angeles. | Bodies found in blood-smeared home late Monday in Fontana, California .
Victims said to be boy, 10, girl, 12, their mother and their stepfather .
They were discovered by the mother's son, 16, who went to check on the family after he had been unable to contact them .
Neighbors reported hearing arguing before family was found dead . |
0c62d1d27e69a9dde4f6fb8d78b9b60a6bc5ed33 | MADRID, Spain (CNN) -- Human rights groups from the United States and Spain filed a lawsuit in a Spanish court Thursday, charging El Salvador's former president, Alfredo Cristiani, with covering up crimes against humanity. Alfredo Cristiani in 1994 shortly after he voted during the country's second round presidential runoff. The case involves the killing of six Jesuit priests, their housekeeper and her teenaged daughter nearly two decades ago during El Salvador's civil war. In addition, 14 former Salvadoran military officers are accused of war crimes, murders and state terrorism in connection with the massacre dating back to November 1989. Most of the slain Jesuits were born in Spain. They were killed at their residence at the prestigious Central American University, in El Salvador's capital, San Salvador. Reports at the time said they were tortured and then shot. It has become one of the most notorious episodes of El Salvador's 12-year civil war that pitted leftist guerrillas against the U.S.-backed conservative government. Some 75,000 people died. The case filed by two human rights groups in Madrid argues that justice was never done in El Salvador. Two military officers were convicted of murder in 1991 in the deaths of the Jesuits, but were pardoned in 1993 under an amnesty law approved by the national assembly. The case was taken to Spain's National Court, because of its involvement in other high-profile human rights cases. The same Spanish court issued an arrest warrant for former Chilean dictator Augusto Pinochet in 1998, while he was in a London hospital. For the rest of his life he fought legal battles -- first in England and later in Chile -- to avoid convictions. The Spanish court has also taken on human rights cases from other countries, including Argentina and Guatemala, testing a relatively new international legal principle known as Universal Jurisdiction. It contends that if justice for human rights abuses is not served in the country where the crime occurred, then a court in another country can intervene. The groups filing suits are the San Francisco-based Center for Justice and Accountability and the Spanish Association for Human Rights. Family members from at least two of the slain Jesuits will join the lawsuit later, the groups said. It could take the National Court weeks or even months to determine if it will accept the case. Spain and El Salvador have an extradition treaty. But a lawyer for the Center for Justice and Accountability told CNN that the most immediate practical effect of the case might be an effective ban on Cristiani and the 14 former officers from leaving El Salvador, for fear of arrest. If they were ever tried before a Spanish court and convicted on the charges, they could serve up to 30 years in prison. In an interview with CNN a few months before he was killed, university rector Ignacio Ellecuria praised then-president Cristiani, whom the human rights groups now accuse of covering up the crime. "We have to recognize that Cristiani is a man of his word, who keeps his promises," Ellecuria told CNN. "Personally I consider Cristiani an ethical, responsible person who will not offer to do what he can't or doesn't wish to do." Ignacio Martin-Baro, another slain Jesuit, spoke at the time about the chilling effect of the long-running Salvadoran civil war. "We have become used to violence," Martin-Baro said. "We have become used to living in a very dangerous world. We have learned to live, accepting death, extraordinary abnormal death into our lives." For years, the extreme right in El Salvador had accused the Jesuits of siding with the leftist guerrillas, according to a CNN report shortly after the killings. Uniformed troops were seen searching the living quarters of the priests at Central American University two days before they were killed, CNN reported. | Case involves killing of 6 Jesuit priests, their housekeeper and her daughter .
14 former Salvadoran military officers also accused of war crimes .
Most of the slain Jesuits were born in Spain .
One of the most notorious episodes of El Salvador's 12-year civil war . |
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