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New York Knicks CEO James Dolan has sent a scathing response to a fan's email branding him an 'alcoholic' and claiming: 'You most likely have made your family miserable.' The extraordinary message was sent to Irving Bierman, the father of filmmaker Aaron Bierman, after the lifelong Knicks supporter wrote to the businessman to criticize his handling of the basketball team. In the email obtained by Deadspin , dated January 23, Dolan also labels the fan a 'hateful mess' and adds: 'Start rooting for the Nets because the Knicks don't want you.' Scathing reply: New York Knicks CEO James Dolan (above) responded to a fan's angry email by branding him an 'alcoholic' and claiming: 'You most likely have made your family miserable.' Dolan has seen his side display miserable form this season and was pictured looking dejected courtside at Madison Square Garden on Tuesday night as his team lost to the Boston Celtics. they are currently bottom of the Atlantic Division with a woeful record of 10 wins and 41 defeats. As images of the CEO slumped in his seat circulated online, some suggested Dolan had fallen asleep while watching his lowly team flop to defeat. The poor performances are wearing thin with fans - particularly Irving Bierman, whose son Aaron directed the movie The Jack Ryan Story in 2009. Mr Bierman wrote to Dolan claiming he was 'utterly embarrassed' by the Cablevision boss's dealings with the Knicks. Under fire: Dolan has seen his side display miserable form this season and was pictured looking dejected courtside at Madison Square Garden on Tuesday night as his team lost to the Boston Celtics . He added: 'Sell them so their fans can at least look forward to growing them in a positive direction Obviously, money IS NOT THE ONLY THING. 'You have done a lot of utterly STUPID business things with the franchise. Please NO MORE. Respectfully, [Aaron Bierman's dad].' In Dolan's frank reply he also wrote: 'You are a sad person. Why would anybody write such a hateful letter. I am just guessing but ill bet your life is a mess and you are a hateful mess. Subject: I have been a knicks fan since 1952 . At one stage I thought that you did a wonderful thing when you acquired EVERYTHING from your dad. However, since then it has been ALL DOWN HILL. Your working with Isaiah Thomas & everything else regarding the Knicks. Bringing on Phil Jackson was a positive beginning, but lowballing Steve Kerr was a DISGRACE to the knicks. The bottom line is that you merely continued to interfere with the franchise. As a knicks fan for in excess of 60 years, I am utterly embarrassed by your dealings with the Knicks. Sell them so their fans can at least look forward to growing them in a positive direction Obviously, money IS NOT THE ONLY THING. You have done a lot of utterly STUPID business things with the franchise. Please NO MORE. Respectfully, . [Aaron Bierman's dad] . Dolan: Frank response . Mr Bierman . You are a sad person. Why would anybody write such a hateful letter. I am just guessing but ill bet your life is a mess and you are a hateful mess. What have you done that anyone would consider positive or nice. I am betting nothing. In fact ill bet you are negative force in everyone who comes in contact with you. You most likely have made your family miserable. Alcoholic maybe. I just celebrated my 21 year anniversary of sobriety. You should try it. Maybe it will help you become a person that folks would like to have around. In the mean while start rooting for the Nets because the Knicks dont want you. Respectfully . James Dolan . 'What have you done that anyone would consider positive or nice. I am betting nothing. In fact ill bet you are negative force in everyone who comes in contact with you.' The Knicks are in last place in the Eastern Conference and team president Phil Jackson, in his first season in that role, has admitted that 'so far, my experiment has fallen flat on its face'. Struggling side: Oklahoma City Thunder guard Russell Westbrook scores during the first half of NBA basketball game against the New York Knicks two weeks ago . | Lifelong fan told James Dolan he was 'utterly embarrassed' by the club . Adds: 'You have done a lot of stupid business things with the franchise' In scathing reply Dolan calls the supporter a 'hateful mess' and 'alcoholic' Also writes: 'I just celebrated my 21st year of sobriety. You should try it' | af93e615819faa44723804c1ede18c346cc3a4f9 |
Australians attending next year's Gallipoli centenary Anzac Day commemorations have been warned by the government to be vigilant in the wake of increased terrorism threats. The Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade has released preliminary advice on the risk facing travellers heading to Turkey for the event on the Gallipoli Peninsula in April. While there is currently no indication terrorist groups intend to attack Australians in Turkey, the department warns people should 'exercise a high degree of caution'. Foreign Minister Julie Bishop, pictured giving a speech at the National Press Club in Canberra, has voiced her fears over a possible terrorist attack at next year's Gallipoli centenary Anzac Day commemorations . Australian visitors sllently mourn at the 99th anniversary of the Anzac Day in Canakkale, Turkey, last year . Foreign Minister Julie Bishop said Turkey was on the front line of the ongoing wars in Iraq and Syria. 'The security environment is volatile,' she said, in a statement. She said terrorists have been active in Turkey before and ISIL poses an extra threat to the region. However, the Gallipoli peninsular is far from Turkey's borders with Iraq and Syria. A group of visitors from Australia during the 2013 Anzac commemorative services in Gallipoli . Australian soldiers pay their respects during the ceremony celebrating the 99th anniversary of the Anzac Day in Canakkale last April . The Department of Veterans’ Affairs, who is managing events to commemorate the 100th anniversary of the Anzac landings at Gallipoli, said that a spill-over from the Syrian conflict could lead to attacks against targets in Turkey, including Ankara, Istanbul or areas close to the Syrian border. Although they said there's no indication that terrorist groups have intentions to attack Australians or Australian interests in Turkey currently, there will still be tight security arrangements in place for the Anzac Day commemorations next year. Turkish authorities will screen all visitors on arrival, while all bags will be searched and prohibited items confiscated. | Travellers warned of dangers by Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade . Foreign Minister Julie Bishop described relations in region as 'volatile' Department of Veterans’ Affairs fears spill-over from Syrian conflict . | 76dc66044f93c000897066e29e05eafe5073318f |
(CNN) -- Hip hop star Snoop Dogg faces a drug charge after border agents searched his tour bus along the same stretch of a west Texas highway where singer Willie Nelson was busted in 2010, a Texas sheriff said. Snoop Dogg, whose real name is Calvin Broadus, "freely admitted" that three prescription bottles filled with marijuana cigarettes were his, a statement from the Hudspeth County, Texas, Sheriff said. The entertainer's representatives did not immediately respond to CNN's request for comment. The rapper, like Nelson, is an outspoken proponent of pot and he is known to have a license to use prescription medical marijuana in California. The bust happened early Saturday at his bus approached the U.S. Border Patrol Checkpoint located in Sierra Blanca, Texas, at the U.S.-Mexico border about 85 miles southeast of El Paso, the sheriff's statment said. "During a routine check of U.S. citizenship the inspecting Border Patrol agent detected the odor of marijuana emitting from the inside of the vehicle and requested the driver to pull into the secondary inspection lane for further inspection," the statement said. A drug-detection dog sniffing inside the bus "alerted to a trash can located at the rear of the vehicle where a red prescription bottle containing rolled marijuana cigarettes were located," the statement said. Two other containers with marijuana, weighing in all total of 0.130 pounds, were also found, it said. "Snoop Dogg freely admitted that the marijuana belonged to him and he was placed under arrest by U.S. Border Patrol agents and detained," it said. He was cited for possession of drug paraphernalia, given a court date of January 20 and released, the sheriff said. Willie Nelson settled his November 2010 Hudspeth County pot bust with a plea deal that reduced his marijuana possession charge to possession of drug paraphernalia and imposed a $500 fine. The west Texas prosecutor who handled Nelson's case had suggested Nelson, a treasured icon in the Lone Star state, could pay just a $100 fine if he'd serenade the court with his 1975 hit "Blue Eyes Crying in the Rain." The judge quickly vetoed that offer. "You can bet your ass I'm not going to be mean to Willie Nelson," Hudspeth County Attorney C.R. "Kit" Bramblett told CNN at the time. Bramblett was in court Monday and unavailable to comment on how he might handle Snoop Dogg's prosecution. CNN's Carolyn Sung contributed to this report. | Snoop Dogg admits prescription bottles with marijuana were his, Texas Sheriff says . The rapper faces a charge of possession of drug paraphernalia . The Hudspeth County, Texas, sheriff frees Snoop Dogg, giving him a January 20 court date . Willie Nelson paid a $500 fine last year for a similar charge in the same Texas town . | 52f4df4abdefeaf997877adb69367ebbc3b2e56c |
The rugby team of West Point military academy has been disbanded and players disciplined over an email chain involving crude sexual references and suggesting a ‘hostile team environment or a culture of disrespect towards women.’ Players on the rugby team of the elite New York institution—a veritable assembly line into the highest echelons of the American military—shared emails that have now been deemed to be in violation of the Cadet Disciplinary Code. Shared between the entire rugby team be several players, the emails reportedly contained rankings of a sexual nature of female cadets and other women, as well as references to rape, incest, and homosexuality. Marching orders: Elite military academy West Point's rugby team has been disbanded after an investigation found players had been exchanging lewd emails as part of a culture hostile to women . This, as reported by the Sunday Times June 2. The Times was also told by a former cadet who was privy to the emails ‘there were jokes about putting people in cages…while being leashed’ and that sexual references were made about a female cadet ‘eating a burrito.’ ‘The females were referred to as manly, disgusting, sluts and fat,’ said the source. U.S. Defense Secretary Chuck Hagel spoke at West Point last weekend during a ceremony in which 14 rugby team members were allowed to graduate. Inside jokes: The emails reportedly contained crude references to rape, incest, and homosexuality and referred to some women as 'manly' In his address, the secretary referred to sexual harassment as ‘debilitating, insidious, and destructive forces’ in the American military that ‘must be stamped out.’ A statement from school officials said the implicated cadets were made to complete a supervised ‘intense respect rehabilitation program’ involving self-assessments. Chief West Point spokesman Lt. Col. Webster Wright told the Army Times it is undetermined for how long the team will remain disbanded and that the investigation is ‘ongoing.’ ‘Despite doing some really silly, sophomoric things, they stood up and they accepted full responsibility for this as the leadership of the team. This was unprofessional conduct and not what we would expect from future leaders of the army,’ Webster said. Demotion: The disbanding is indefinite and the more senior players faced punishment as severe as loss of rank . In all, about 60 cadets were punished following the rugby team investigation. In addition to the rehabilitation program, Webster said punishment of the senior players included 120 hours of marching in uniform carrying rifles, demotion, and loss of leave. Though the controversy was not reported until far more recently, the West Point Rugby team’s official Facebook page has read ‘Due to unforeseen circumstances, the West Point Rugby team will not be participating in the 2013 CRC 7s tournament in Philadelphia’ since May 20. Common? Sixty team members were punished in all, though 14 of the players were allowed to graduate in a ceremony in which U.S. Defense Secretary Chuck Hagel called sexual harassment a military scourge . | 60 players punished after investigation into email chain showed lewd, inappropriate references to homosexuality, incest, and rape . U.S. Defense Secretary Chuck Hagel spoke at the elite military academy's May 25 convocation, where he called sexual harassment a 'debilitating, insidious, and destructive force in the American military' | 2de103168bb8dd796ff8c56a92685fb023d069b6 |
By . Daily Mail Reporter . PUBLISHED: . 21:30 EST, 1 January 2014 . | . UPDATED: . 21:42 EST, 1 January 2014 . Most of us will be somewhat guilty of indulging in a few - OK, quite a few - celebratory cocktails while ringing in 2014 this week. But who knew how the order you place at a bar could speak volumes of your potential political leanings? According to two years of consumer data gathered from GFK MRI and analyzed by the right-leaning National Media Research Planning and Placement, voting habits can be realized according to drink choices. While the results were varied, the summary findings concluded that Democrats go for clear liquors, such as vodka and gin, while Republicans are more likely to opt for something darker, such as whiskey. What your favorite drink says about your politics: Democratic drinkers are more likely to sip Absolut and Grey Goose vodkas, while Republican tipplers are more likely to savor Jim Beam, Canadian Club and Crown Royal, according to consumer data supplied by GFK MRI . You must be a Democrat! A new survey shows that people who are more likely to be opt for clear liquor, such as vodka, would vote Democratically . And so you're a Republican? People who choose darker spirits, such as whiskey, are more likely to vote Republican, a new consumer data survey says . There were also a variety of bipartisan beverages, including Captain Morgan Spiced Rum, Malibu Coconut, Johnnie Walker Black and Segram's 7 Crown. Democrats, according to the analysis, drink more champagne and sparkling wine, the traditional drink to ring in the New Year. Researchers also looked at what likely and unlikely voters drank. According to the data, someone who chose Kendall-Jackson or Robert Mondavi wines is highly likely to vote, and they’re likely to vote Republican. Whereas someone who savors a Chateau Ste. Michelle Merlot, one of Washington State’s top producers, or Smoking Loon, are likely to cast ballots for Democrats. By comparison, the least likely voters were drinking harder stuff: Don Julio tequila, Jagermeister, Smirnoff Twist and Belvedere. The analysis tracks with both stereotypes and electoral data. The most fervent Democratic partisans drink expensive champagne and brandy, while the GOP¿s base voters drink modestly priced wine, says a new media survey by National Media, a firm that tracks demographic and consumer data . For example, older people – those who stereotypically like to enjoy a nice glass of wine – vote far more frequently than their young counterparts, those who may be mixing Jagermeister with Red Bull. Will Feltus and a team of researchers at the Republican firm used nearly 50,000 interviews from 2012 to 2013 to complete the analysis. To Feltus, the data shows that while Democrats appear to drink a wider variety of booze, Republicans are drinking stronger liquor. 'We added up the size of the bubbles (on the graph) – the blue bubbles are almost twice as large as the red bubbles,' Feltus said. However history doesn't seem to match up with the analysis. Democrats who are least likely to turn out on election day also spend heavily on high-priced booze, including Grey Goose and Absolut vodkas, and Patron tequila, according to the graph . Democratic President Harry Truman reportedly enjoyed drinking bourbon, which is supposedly a Republican beverage. The same can be said Democratic former President Lyndon Johnson, who enjoyed drinking a Cutty Sark scotch and soda on his ranch in Texas. Republican former presidents, too, didn't totally stick with the analysis. Former President Gerald Ford enjoyed a gin and tonic, while former President George H.W. Bush drank vodka martinis – both drinks on the Democratic side of the spectrum. | Consumer data gathered over two years from over 50,000 interviews has attempted to realize voting choices according to drink choices . Results varied, but summary findings concluded that Democrats tend to go for clear liquors, such as . vodka and gin, while Republicans are more likely to opt for something . darker, such as whiskey . | ad19f688dbd8c8e06e3a544f28c6ae0933b81450 |
New York (CNN) -- The young New York student whose tale of hard work and endurance in the face of homelessness has captured many hearts -- and whose recognition in the prestigious Intel science competition has already given her much to celebrate -- will be attending the president's State of the Union speech. "Well, you know the SOTU attracts the most powerful people in the world, and I think Samantha can teach them a lesson in perseverance," New York Rep. Steve Israel said. Israel, head of the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee, has extended his plus one to Samantha Garvey, a 17-year-old homeless science superstar from Brentwood, New York. Garvey was told last week at the shelter her family had been staying in that her study on the ribbed sea mussels of Long Island's salt marshes had earned her semifinalist recognition in Intel's science talent search and a potential $100,000 scholarship. Two days later, after county officials heard Garvey's story, they announced that a three-bedroom home in Bellmore would be rented for the Garvey family as part of Suffolk County's affordable housing program. The Garveys were living in a shelter after being kicked out of their home on New Year's Eve. Israel called Garvey "an inspiration," and said he thought her presence would be an important influence on attendees of President Barack Obama's address on January 24. "The same people that will praise Samantha with one hand might be the same people that will slash budgets for science and education on the other," Israel said. Her story, he said, was one of staying steadfast in the face of adversity. Israel said he had plans for himself and Garvey to meet with multiple White House officials before the speech. The next day, Garvey will find out if she made it to the Intel finals. | New York Rep. Steve Israel invites homeless science scholar to speech . Samantha Garvey found out she was Intel semifinalist last week . Two days later, she was given a home by county officials . | bb2ab6929ba269e726722ff9e8ddcf3f1d7a2d4e |
Republican Ted Cruz of Texas took to the Senate floor on Tuesday to discuss the shutdown debate in remarks that headed deep into the night -- a dramatic step in defense of his high profile and controversial plan to prevent any funding for Obamacare. "I intend to speak in support of defunding Obamacare until I am no longer able to stand," he said. "All across this country, Americans are suffering because of Obamacare. Obamacare isn't working." Cruz, who began speaking shortly after 2:40 p.m. ET, was alone for nearly an hour before being joined by Sen. Mike Lee, a Utah Republican. The tea party allies engaged in an extended dialogue that was part stamina test for Cruz and part political theater for the rest of Capitol Hill. Cruz was later briefly joined by other Republican senators, Rand Paul of Kentucky, another tea party favorite, David Vitter of Louisiana, and Sen. Marco Rubio spoke as well. "How many more Americans will have to see their wages or their hours cut as a result of this ill-conceived law before we do something about this?" Vitter asked. As Cruz got going, he raised a number of points about the issue at hand. "This fight is not about any member of this body. This fight is not about personalities. Look, most Americans could not give a flying flip about a bunch of politicians in Washington. Who cares? Almost all of us are in cheap suits with bad haircuts! Who cares?" he said. He also read from the Dr. Seuss children's classic "Green Eggs and Ham" to his daughters as the night wore on. There was also a sharp exchange with Sen. Dick Durbin of Illinois, who was was the first Democrat to question Cruz during his remarks. Cruz's comments were not -- in and of themselves -- a filibuster, a practice made famous by Jimmy Stewart in the 1939 movie "Mr. Smith Goes to Washington," when Senate business was brought to a halt through one lengthy, uninterrupted speech. They were, however, part of an ongoing attempted filibuster by some Senate conservatives. Cruz and a few others in the Republican caucus are trying to prevent the Senate from taking up the government funding bill passed last week by the GOP-controlled House of Representatives. Cruz and his tea party allies support the House bill, which removes funding for the implementation of President Barack Obama's health care law, but don't want to give Majority Leader Harry Reid and other Senate Democrats a chance to amend the measure by restoring Obamacare funding. Reid had filed a motion to break the filibuster before Cruz rose to speak. The clock was already ticking on the Senate's first key procedural vote on the matter, which will take place shortly after 1 p.m. ET on Wednesday regardless of what Cruz does. Reid needs 60 votes in order to break the attempted filibuster and formally kick off debate on the House bill. There are 54 members of the Democratic caucus, which means the support of at least six Republicans will be required. Once the formal debate has started, however, Reid will only need 50 votes to make changes to the House measure. "Any senator who votes (to move forward with debate on the House bill) is voting to give Harry Reid the authority to fund Obamacare," Cruz told CNN's Dana Bash on Monday, firing a warning shot at his fellow Senate Republicans. GOP infighting over how best to prevent a government shutdown while defunding Obamacare escalated further on Tuesday, as Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell, R-Kentucky, publicly dismissed Cruz's more confrontational strategy. "I don't think that filibustering a bill that defunds Obamacare is the best route to defunding Obamacare," McConnell said on the Senate floor. "All it does is shut down the government and keep Obamacare funded, and none of us want that." Cruz's GOP critics believe his strategy is politically suicidal, arguing there is no way to stop Obamacare as long as Democrats maintain control of the Senate and Obama himself remains in the White House. They believe that trying to do so by forcing a shutdown -- or preventing a hike in the debt ceiling next month -- will backfire by harming the economy and damaging the Republican brand. Some Republicans, like McConnell, would at least like the opportunity to force vulnerable Democrats to cast a politically tough vote on the House plan. Republicans have "a rare opportunity to defund this law with a simple majority," McConnell added. "We should have that vote." It remains to be seen how much pressure Cruz and his tea party backers will ultimately put on other Republicans. McConnell is up for reelection in 2014, and his conservative GOP primary challenger wasted no time Tuesday blasting the minority leader for opposing Cruz's stance. "Like so many other crucial fights, Mitch McConnell has caved to Harry Reid on Obamacare and is refusing to fight to defund this disastrous legislation," Matt Bevin said. "I am proud to support conservatives like Senator Ted Cruz in his fight to defund Obamacare, and I promise the people of Kentucky: I will never cave to Harry Reid." For his part, Reid argued on the Senate floor that "just as the economy begins to gain steam, some Republicans in Congress seem determined to derail four years of progress." "They're obsessed with defunding health care," he said. "They're pushing us closer and closer to a government shutdown that would tank the economy." | Cruz in marathon protest speech on Senate floor . McConnell rejects Cruz strategy for government funding and Obamacare . Cruz wants to stop Senate votes on House plan, knowing Democrats will amend it, fund Obamacare . Harry Reid says the Senate's first key procedural vote will occur on Wednesday . | d25cc0f019e5ea0a5a532725dd71bb7934cf7b2a |
Cristiano Ronaldo has had quite a career. From Sporting Lisbon, to Manchester United, to the very top at Real Madrid. To celebrate his third Ballon d'Or title, and second in a row, one Ronaldo fan has created a flipbook animation of his most memorable moments, shown while walking through the streets of Manchester to Madrid. Beginning outside Old Trafford, Ronaldo's home between 2003 and 2009, the creator heads south to London, all the while replaying highlights of his best moments in Manchester red. The flipbook animation begins outside Old Trafford in Manchester, eventually moving to the Bernabeu . Ronaldo is seen lifting one of his three Ballon d'Or trophies as the creator travels south to London . Ronaldo's famous free-kick against Portsmouth in January 2008 is illustrated in the flipbook . Walking through the capital, Ronaldo's famous free-kick against Portsmouth in January 2008 flips by. On to a plane, the next chapter of Ronaldo's career is seen. An £80 million move to Los Blancos. The video shows all of Ronaldo's best and most important goals, detailing why he has been crowned the world player of the year for two seasons running. And at 29, he is in his prime, with 35 goals in 30 matches in all competitions this season. As the flipbook arrives at the Bernabeu, it appears there is plenty still to come from the man staking a claim as the best to have ever played the game. Moving away from England, the creator boards a plane to Madrid, where Ronaldo's later career is shown . The video finishes inside the Bernabeu, where Ronaldo now calls home at the age of 29 . Ronaldo roars after picking up his third Ballon d'Or at the gala event in Switzerland on Monday evening . Richard Swarbrick hand painted the amazing moments from Cristiano Ronaldo's career . Subscribe to Swarbrick . Twitter | Facebook . For business enquiries contact Danny Fleet . Thank you to Honours for kindly letting Copa90 use their music. Listen to more of their wicked tracks. Twitter | Facebook . For business enquiries contact Jonny Simon . | Cristiano Ronaldo won his third Ballon d'Or title on Monday evening . One fan of the Real Madrid man has created a flipbook animation . The clip shows his career from Manchester United to Real Madrid . In the background, the creator travels from Old Trafford to the Bernabeu . | 45229cf259f47ce418cd56d7961063a1fe63f1dc |
By . Jason Groves . and Becky Barrow . PUBLISHED: . 20:43 EST, 4 March 2014 . | . UPDATED: . 04:40 EST, 5 March 2014 . David Cameron risked a row with the Tory Right last night after ignoring calls to help middle-class voters hit by the 40p tax rate. In a major speech on the economy, the Prime Minister promised that further savings from public spending would be used to fund tax cuts. But Mr Cameron, who confirmed the Government would accept a rise in the minimum wage to £6.50 an hour, appeared to indicate that any future tax cuts would be targeted at the low-paid. Ignored: David Cameron, pictured addressing the economy and apprenticeships, did not mention the tax . He made no reference to raising the starting point for paying 40p tax, which is emerging as a key Budget demand among Conservative MPs. Senior Tories are pushing for the tax threshold to be raised from £41,450 to £44,000 to ease the pain on higher earners. Kwasi Kwarteng, a member of the Tory Free Enterprise Group, last night urged the Prime Minister to ensure that any tax cuts are shared by middle-class voters as well as the low-paid. Mr Kwarteng said: ‘We need to do something about the 40p tax rate as well. People on £42,000 cannot be described as wealthy, particularly if they are trying to bring up a family in the South East. We need to help these strivers, who are doing the right thing, to get on. ‘The current threshold sends out a bizarre message. If you earn £42,000 you start paying 40 per cent tax, but you have to earn £35,000 to earn the equivalent of the Government’s benefits cap. That gap is far too narrow.’ In May 2010, the month that the Coalition was formed, a worker became a higher rate taxpayer when their salary hit £43,875. But Chancellor George Osborne has repeatedly lowered, or frozen, the level at which a worker starts to pay tax at 40 per cent. Today you are a higher rate taxpayer if you are paid £41,450. The ‘starting salary’ will barely rise for the next two years, increasing by just 1 per cent a year to £41,865 in April this year and £42,285 in April 2015, according to the Government’s figures. Traditionally, it would have been increased at a far more generous rate, rising in line with inflation, but the Chancellor scrapped this plan. Accountants Grant Thornton estimate that this so-called ‘fiscal drag’ will see 4.6million people paying 40p tax by the time of next year’s General Election, up from 3million in 2010. Mike Warburton, the firm’s senior tax partner, warned: ‘It is no longer only the rich who are drawn into paying higher rate tax.’ He said recent tax changes have been ‘too harsh on the squeezed middle’, catching people who do not consider themselves well-off, such as teachers, senior nurses and middle managers. Mr Cameron, who has made clear his desire to cut taxes if the Conservatives win power outright in 2015, yesterday said that security came from ‘having more money in our pockets’. But Nick Clegg accused the Prime Minister of having a ‘brass neck’ by posing as a champion of tax cuts. The Deputy Prime Minister claimed that the Tories had initially opposed Coalition plans to raise the starting threshold for paying tax to £10,000. But Mr Cameron also used his speech in Coventry to attack Labour’s economic plans, warning that more borrowing would leave the next generation ‘crippled with our debt’. Not convinced: Nick Clegg accused the prime minister of having a 'brass neck' by posing as a tax cut champion . He also took a swipe at both Labour and church leaders who have criticised the Government’s welfare reforms, saying ministers had a duty to tackle the ‘failure’ of the welfare state that left five million people on out-of-work benefits at the height of the boom in the last decade. ‘I don’t care whether you are the leader of the Labour Party or the leader of the church, this kind of failure is just wrong,’ he said. ‘It’s wrong to let our own people do nothing, with no purpose in their lives, dependent on benefits. ‘It’s wrong to let our own people do nothing, with no purpose in their lives, dependent on benefits. It’s wrong that we open our doors and communities to such rapid levels that they can’t manage. ‘And wrong that we ask British taxpayers to fund this situation with their hard-earned money.’ | Conservative leader made no reference to tax cuts for rich in major speech . Tory Free Enterprise Group urging PM to share load with low-paid voters . 40p tax rate is emerging as key Budget demand among Tory MPs . | 9c587e95f682a30a7fbd52980bf711d4868a6ca9 |
(CNN) -- A group calling itself the "Iran cyber army" claimed responsibility Tuesday for hacking into a number of Voice of America internet pages, according to reports from both Voice of America and Iran's semi-official Fars News Agency. The group displayed a message on Voice of America's Farsi page, calling for an end to U.S. "interference" in the Muslim world. "Ms. Clinton, do you want to hear the oppressed voices of nations from the heart of America?" the group asked. "The Muslim world does not believe in U.S. deceit. We tell you, stop intervening in Muslim countries." The action was taken "in response to the propagation of lies and plots of anti-revolutionary sites," Fars reported, claiming that a total of 95 sites affiliated with Voice of America were hacked. Fars said that Voice of America acts as "part of the United States' spying organizations." Voice of America indicated that the cyber attack may have been launched in response to a recent ABC interview with Secretary of State Hillary Clinton. During the interview, Clinton referenced the State Department's opening of Twitter accounts in Arabic and Farsi, stating, "We want to be joining young people who, like young Americans, seek their right to express their views." Voice of America noted that websites in other languages -- including Azeri, Dari, Pashtun, and Urdu -- were also targeted by the hackers. The Iranian government is among a number of regimes in the broader Middle East and Muslim world targeted by protesters in recent weeks. Thousands of security officers cracked down on landmark sites in Iran's capital and other major cities Sunday, striking at throngs of protesters with batons and rushing others on motorcycles, according to witnesses. | Voice of America web pages have been hacked by an Iranian group . The group is calling for an end to U.S. "interference" in the Muslim world . The move may have come in reaction to the State Department's opening of Arabic and Farsi Twitter accounts . | 2b88b5c56cca231da1c01628495f1d344b309d58 |
Police arrest two men, both 21, after Barton suffers facial injuries outside Garlands night spot in Liverpool City Centre . QPR captain will NOT press charges, say Premier League club . By . Sportsmail Reporter . PUBLISHED: . 04:08 EST, 4 June 2012 . | . UPDATED: . 10:17 EST, 4 June 2012 . Joey Barton was injured after being punched outside a Liverpool nightclub in the early hours of the morning. The controversial QPR midfielder was involved in a fight with two men outside Garlands nightclub in Liverpool city centre. Barton decided not to press charges. A picture of the incident, apparently showing a shirtless Barton being held back by police and a woman, appeared on Twitter. Altercation: The picture that shows a shirtless Joey Barton with a police and his girlfriend outside Garlands nightclub, on Eberle Street in Liverpool . A Merseyside Police spokeswoman said: . 'Merseyside Police were called to Eberle Street in Liverpool city . centre at 5.30am this morning following reports of an altercation. 'On arrival officers found a 29-year-old man who had sustained injuries to his face. The man left the scene voluntarily. 'Two 21-year-old men from the L13 area . were arrested at the scene for a public order offence. They are . currently in police custody.' QPR's press officer Ian Taylor confirmed on Twitter that Barton will not press charges and claimed the midfielder was on his way home with his girlfriend when he was taunted by two men singing offensive chants. The club: Garlands where Joey Barton's alleged altercation took place . 'Joey Barton was involved in an incident in Liverpool City centre in the early hours of Monday morning,' Taylor posted. 'Barton was on his way home from a night out with his girlfriend when two men sang offensive chants and then proceeded to hit the midfielder. 'Police were immediately on the scene and arrested one man. Barton decided not to press charges and left with his girlfriend soon after. It was alleged that the footballer had to be 'physically removed' from Garlands by security staff before he was punched outside. Property entrepreneur Martin Makepeace, a friend of Garlands staff, wrote on Twitter: 'Just spoke to the lads at Garlands Liverpool who told me that Joseph Barton was physically removed from the club before the fracas outside.' Nobody from the club was available to confirm the events leading up to the attack . Off you go: Barton was sent off in the final game of the season . News of the fight was widely commented on on Twitter, with 'Joey Barton' and 'Garlands' trending on the social media site. @JoshGore-11, who claimed to have been at the scene, said Barton had 'looked in a bad way' after the fight. The Liverpool-born footballer has a long history of controversy on and off the pitch and has become well-known for his opinionated tweets. Last month he was given a 12-match ban by the Football Association after being sent off during QPR's defeat at Manchester City on the final day of the Barclays Premier League season. Moving on: Joey Barton joined QPR in the summer after being given a free transfer from Newcastle . He elbowed one Manchester City player, kicked out at a second and attempted to headbutt a third. QPR are also carrying out an internal investigation into the incident. In 2008, Barton was given a six-month jail term after admitting assault and affray during an incident in Liverpool, he was released after 74 days. He was also fined around £60,000 while at Manchester City in 2004 after he stubbed a lit cigar into the eye of his young team-mate Jamie Tandy during the club's Christmas party. Barton was also suspended by City for after a training-ground altercation with team-mate Ousmane Dabo. He was charged with violent conduct by FA and received a four-month suspended sentence at Manchester Crown court. QPR's Joey Barton was punched in the face after being involved in an altercation with two men outside a nightclub in Liverpool city centre in the early hours of this morning. Sportsmail details some of the other incidents that have been bad news for Barton. 2004: February - Barton red-carded for the first time in Manchester City's FA Cup fourth-round tie at Tottenham, for two bookable offences. April - Barton storms out of Eastlands before kick-off after being axed from team to face Southampton. July - Criticised by City manager Kevin Keegan for causing mass brawl in a pre-season friendly at Doncaster. December - Stubs lit cigar in the eye of young team-mate Jamie Tandy during City's Christmas party. Fined six weeks' wages by the club. Forced to pay four weeks' salary - approximately £60,000 - immediately, with a further two weeks suspended for a year. Tandy later sued Barton, winning £65,000 in damages. 2005: July - Involved in altercation with a 15-year-old Everton fan at City's team hotel in Bangkok during a pre-season tour. Fined eight weeks' wages by City after being found guilty of gross misconduct. 2006: September - Drops his shorts in the direction of Everton fans following City's 1-1 draw at Goodison Park. December - Shown the second red card of his career - this time a straight red - for a two-footed lunge on Abdoulaye Faye in City's 2-0 home defeat to Bolton. 2007: May - Suspended by City after training-ground altercation with Ousmane Dabo, which leaves his team-mate needing hospital treatment. Charged with assault, and on July 1 2008 receives a four-month suspended jail sentence. Also punished by FA with a 12-match ban - six matches of which are suspended and a £25,000 fine. December 27 - Arrested in Liverpool city centre after a late-night incident and later charged with common assault and affray. Remanded in custody and misses Newcastle's New Year fixtures, being released on January 3. 2008: May 20 - Jailed for six months after admitting common assault and affray. 2009: May 3 - Sent off against Liverpool for late challenge on Xabi Alonso. Receives subsequent criticism from Newcastle manager Alan Shearer and is suspended by the club two days later. 2010: November 10 - Punches Blackburn winger Morten Gamst Pedersen during a 2-1 defeat for Newcastle at St James' Park. Accepts an FA charge and is banned for three games. 2011: August 1 - Newcastle transfer-list Barton after a series of Twitter comments criticising the club, making him available on a free transfer. He joins QPR on August 26. 2012: January 2 - Scores but is then sent off as QPR lose 2-1 at home to Norwich in the Premier League. January 26 - Unleashes an online tirade against the Football Association, labelling them an "Orwellian organisation" in need of a 'drastic shake-up'. May 13 - Sent off for elbowing Carlos Tevez on the final day of the season at Manchester City. Knees Sergio Aguero, sending the striker to the ground, and attempts to headbutt Vincent Kompany before being ushered off the field. May 14 - In the wake of the dismissal, launches an expletive-laden Twitter attack on Shearer, his former manager at Newcastle and current Match of the Day pundit, before turning on the programme's presenter, Gary Lineker, saying: "back under your stone you odious little toad..." May 23 - Banned for 12 matches and fined £75,000 after being charged with two acts of violent conduct against Aguero and Kompany. He accepted the former, but denied the later and requested a personal hearing, where the verdict went against him. Sorry we are unable to accept comments for legal reasons. | Police arrest two men, both 21, after Barton suffers facial injuries outside Garlands night spot in Liverpool City Centre . QPR captain will NOT press charges, say Premier League club . | 699fc0441179a3cf82b303cbe25bd5a3be551ea0 |
Villagers scored a major victory over the wind farm and green lobby yesterday. A High Court judge ruled their right to preserve their landscape was more important than the Government’s renewable energy targets. Mrs Justice Lang said building four 350ft turbines would harm the character and appearance of a beauty spot on the edge of the Norfolk Broads. Artist's representation: THe proposed Hemsby turbines would have powered 5,000 homes . The proposal from Sea & Land Power and Energy had already been rejected by both council and government inspectors. In what will be seen as a landmark ruling, the judge agreed, saying lower carbon emissions did not take ‘primacy’ over the concerns of the people of Hemsby. Maria Ellis, a landscape gardener who petitioned against the turbines, said: ‘This has been hanging over us for ages because the company kept proposing it over and over again which just smacked of arrogance. ‘Norfolk is renowned for its open skyline which has inspired stories and poetry and literature. The site is on a hill between two villages and we already have wind turbines to the north, west and east. ‘It is overdevelopment, you can’t cover the hills and dales in turbines.’ Tory MP Brandon Lewis, who lives in Hemsby, said: ‘This decision should really set a precedent for planning officers, inspectors and courts to give weight to the feelings of local people in protecting their environment. It really shows that local people who are organised and feel passionately can have an impact and make a difference. Extensive: Hemsby residents already have to put up with the Blood Hill . Wind Farm near their homes in Norfolk . ‘In Great Yarmouth, we have several wind farms nearby, and renewable energy is a huge part of our economy. Wind energy is important but it has to be in the right place and should not have a negative impact on the community or the countryside we love.’ The proposed wind farm was fewer than 300 yards from the edge of the Broads national park and around 800 yards from homes in Hemsby. Villagers said they feared over-development because there were already three wind farms within three miles. Ministers have made onshore and offshore turbines a central plank of their plans to plug Britain’s looming energy gap. At least 340 farms are up and running with many more planned. Suffolk-based Sea & Land had said their four turbines could supply 5,500 homes – or around 14 per cent of the energy needs of the Great Yarmouth borough council area. But the local planning inspector kicked out the bid, saying: ‘The development would result in material harm to the character and appearance of the area because of its scale and location and the cumulative impacts of other similar developments.’ The inspector said the existing wind farms were ‘visually prominent in this simple, attractive, tranquil landscape with its scattered villages and farmsteads’. Sea & Land took the case to the High Court in London, insisting that the East of England had failed to meet its energy targets for 2010 and was unlikely to meet the Whitehall target to generate 17 per cent of energy from low-carbon sources by 2020. Yesterday Mrs Justice Lang backed the inspector, saying Sea & Land’s point about its 2009 proposal was ‘unarguable’. ‘I do not accept that the inspector ought to have disregarded the local landscape policies in the light of the national policies,’ she said. ‘As a matter of law it is not correct to assert that the national policy promoting the use of renewable resources ... negates the local landscape policies or must be given primacy over them. ‘This is simply a case of policies pulling in different directions: harm to landscape and the benefits of renewable energy. The inspector was required to have regard to both sets of policies and to undertake a balancing exercise.’ Yesterday Roy Pinnock, an expert in planning law at the firm SNR Denton, said the case may bolster other villagers fighting wind farm projects. ‘It shows planning is all about balancing competing interests, and there will be a complex web of considerations in each case,’ he added. ‘There is a great emphasis on renewables, but this shows no one can claim that any particular outcome is preordained and it’s crucial that developers make an irresistible case for their development.’ Sea & Land can now take the case to the Court of Appeal. Cally Smith, of the Broads Authority, said the turbines would have had a ‘significant and adverse impact on the protected landscape of the Broads’. She added: ‘This is not acceptable. There are other places which are better suited to accommodate development such as this.’ But Robert Norris of Renewable UK, the trade body for the wind industry, said the judge was wrong to suggest the case would have a wider impact. ‘It is absolutely vital for any developer to look at the impact on the landscape and wildlife before they can even think about going ahead with a project, but planners also have to consider the need to keep the lights on by generating electricity from sources that are clean and meet our carbon targets.’ | Proposal for 350ft turbines rejected by council and government inspectors . Judge rules building four turbines on edge of Norfolk Broads would harm character and appearance . Residents fight 'overdevelopment' in picturesque countryside . | 4e2ad13ae117d50b2eb637788fc8e52f0d28a9b3 |
A tiny rural town in Utah put on its first-ever Christmas light parade this week in the latest gesture aimed at making the holidays special for a dying little girl. Addie Fausett, 6, watched the parade of floats Tuesday night in front of the small post office in Fountain Green, Utah, the Deseret News reports. It's there where nearly 300,000 Christmas cards from around the world have arrived in the last month for Addie, whose story had garnered attention across the country. Special moment: 6-year-old Addie Fausett is held by her mother, Tami Fausett, during the light parade on Tuesday. Nearly 300,000 Christmas cards from around the world have arrived in the last month for Addie . Addie has an undiagnosed illness that has halted her growth since she was 3 and is now causing cerebral atrophy. Doctors say she has less than one year to live. She hardly talks anymore, struggles to walk and sleep and weighs less than 25 pounds. She can't play with other kids because her illness causes behavior problems. Her grandmother came up with the idea to ask people from around the globe to send her Christmas cards to cheer Addie up. Days before the first Facebook post by grandma Maree Jensen, Addie told her mom she wanted friends like her two older sisters and to be able to laugh and play. Cards, letters and gifts have arrived from across the country and world — exceeding even the wildest expectations her family had when they came up with the idea. The flood of mail has been so much that the Fountain Green post office has had to get help from nearby post offices to sort it all. In addition to colorful cards, letters, stuffed animals and toys there have been monetary donations. Those have helped the family plan a dream trip for Addie: to Sea World in San Diego. Seasons greetings: Cards, letters and gifts have arrived from across the country and world for Addie— exceeding even the wildest expectations her family had when they came up with the idea . Illness: Addie has an undiagnosed illness that has halted her growth since she was 3 and is now causing cerebral atrophy. Doctors say she has less than one year to live . Addie's mom, Tami Fausett, was touched by the parade — which capped off a whirlwind month for the family. She held Addie, bundled up in a white blanket, as the floats went by on main street in Fountain Green, population 1,000. It is about a 1 ½-hour drive south from Salt Lake City. 'I think it is really awesome that so many people want to come and do this, and so many people showed up to watch as well,' Tami Fausett said. Fountain Green resident Nathan Beck, whose family made two floats for the parade, said witnessing the community rally around Addie has restored his faith in humanity. 'I think it has changed the way people think about Christmas in this little town,' Beck said. Most of the floats were modest, made with a few lights and decorations, but it was still quite an event for the tiny community. 'I just worked with what I had, bought a few lights made a little float for her, put her name on it,' said resident Jerry Beck. 'We love her.' | A tiny rural town put on its first-ever Christmas light parade this week in the latest gesture aimed at making the holidays special for a dying little girl . Addie Fausett, 6, watched the parade of floats Tuesday night in front of the small post office in Fountain Green, Utah . Addie has an undiagnosed illness that has halted her growth since she was 3 and is now causing cerebral atrophy . She hardly talks anymore, struggles to walk and sleep and weighs less than 25 pounds . | d67e9899613a610f7a1d4913fe8facfa57db3c0b |
WASHINGTON (CNN) -- President Obama and Iraqi Prime Minister Nuri al-Maliki voiced cautious optimism regarding the situation in Iraq Wednesday, noting greater stability and decreased violence as U.S. troops continue to cede control to their Iraqi counterparts. President Obama and Iraqi Prime Minister Nuri al-Maliki talk Wednesday at the White House. "I have no doubt that there will be some tough days ahead," Obama said during a joint appearance of the leaders at the White House. "There are still those who want to foment sectarian conflict. ... But make no mistake, those efforts will fail," he added. The president said he is committed to moving forward with a pledge to remove all American combat brigades from Iraq by the end of August 2010, as well as all U.S. troops by the end of 2011. Al-Maliki promised the Iraqi government would step up its efforts to prevent a return of widespread sectarian violence. "Those who thought that the Iraqi forces [would] be incapable of imposing peace and security [have been] proved to be wrong," he said. Watch al-Maliki speak about "strategic friendship" with U.S. » . In addition to meeting with Obama, al-Maliki is scheduled to sit down with Vice President Joe Biden. He will also meet with the secretaries of State, Defense and Treasury, and with House Speaker Nancy Pelosi. Some foreign policy experts have expressed concern that as the United States pivots from Iraq to Afghanistan, Iraq and its problems will be ignored. Responding to that criticism, one senior administration official said this week, "Our goal is, in fact as we formalize the relationship, to concentrate on other areas," but he suggested that Iraq would remain a U.S. priority. Hours before the two leaders met, at least five Iranian pilgrims were killed and dozens more wounded earlier Wednesday in an attack northeast of Baghdad. The violence came a day after a spate of bombings left at least 22 Iraqis dead and about 150 wounded. CNN's Jomana Karadsheh and Dan Lothian contributed to this report. | President Obama restates goal of removing all U.S. forces from Iraq in 2011 . Iraqi Prime Minister Nuri al-Maliki: Capable Iraqi forces have proven naysayers wrong . At least five Iranian pilgrims die in attack northeast of Baghdad . | 12c03f0926e71ae6895dce77a0cf58086cc2d7c5 |
By . Associated Press . and Reuters . U.S. military officials have grounded all F-35s while continuing to investigate a runway fire involving one of the fighter jets at Eglin Air Force Base in Florida. The Pentagon's F-35 program office, Air Force and Navy issued directives on Thursday ordering the suspension of all F-35 flights after a June 23 fire on an Air Force F-35A jet at Eglin Air Force Base in Florida. The Pentagon said U.S. and industry officials had not pinpointed the cause of the fire, which occurred as a pilot was preparing for takeoff. The pilot was not injured. An F-35A Lightning II Joint Strike Fighter pictured off on a training sortie at Eglin Air Force Base, Florida, in 2012 . The incident is the latest to hit the Pentagon's costliest weapons program, the $398.6 billion F-35 Joint Strike Fighter. It followed an in-flight oil leak that triggered mandatory fleetwide inspections of the jets last month. 'Additional inspections of F-35 engines have been ordered, and return to flight will be determined based on inspection results and analysis of engineering data,' the Defense Department said in a brief statement issued late on Thursday. Pratt & Whitney, a unit of United Technologies Corp. that built the engine, said it was working closely with Air Force officials who are investigating the fire and are inspecting all engines in the fleet. Spokesman Jay DeFrank said it would be inappropriate to comment further since the incident was the subject of an investigation. The Pentagon's F-35 program office has made determining the cause of the fire its highest priority and it is assessing the impact on flight tests, training and operations of the radar-evading warplane. A person familiar with the situation said it was premature to rule in or out any quality problem or manufacturing defect. Japanese Defense Minister Itsunori Onodera he wanted to discuss the F-35 problem when he visits the United States next week to tour U.S. bases and meet with Defense Secretary Chuck Hagel. A US Air Force F-35 Lightning II stealth fighter aircraft seen being run through pre-flight checks before launching at Eglin Air Force Base in 2013 . 'On my coming trip to the U.S. I plan to be reviewing troops and will have a chance to discuss the F-35 development on the ground,' Onodera told a regular news conference. 'I’d like to confirm the details of this accident.; . Japan has ordered 42 of the single-engine stealth jets that will be assembled locally by Mitsubishi Heavy Industries, maker of the World War II-era Zero fighter. Tokyo may order more F-35s when it decides the future of 100 of its older F-15s. Australia and South Korea said there had been no change to their plans to buy the fighter jets. Australia plans to buy 58 of the fighters and South Korea intends to buy 40. To date the JSF aircraft has accrued 15,000 flight hours While the F135 engine has successfully completed nearly 32,000 hours of testing,' a spokesman for Australia's Defense Minister David Johnston said. 'Single engine fighters are operated by many air forces and Defense remains confident the F-35 JSF will be reliable and safe.' Reuters reported on Wednesday that U.S. and British authorities were preparing directives ordering a mandatory engine inspection estimated to take about 90 minutes. British officials remained part of the discussions with U.S. officials and concurred with the U.S. recommendation to ground the jets, pending further inspection results, the F-35 program office said. The Pentagon said preparations were continuing for F-35 jets to participate in two UK air shows later this month, but a final decision would be made early next week. The fire has already derailed plans for an F-35 jet to fly by a naming ceremony for Britain's new aircraft carrier on Friday. The Royal International Air Tattoo (RITA) kicks off July 11 followed by the Farnborough International Air Show starting on July 14. | Industry officials have not pinpointed the cause of the fire, which occurred as a pilot prepared to takeoff . The Pentagon's costliest weapons program is the $398 billion F-35 Joint Strike Fighter . | f0db4e90a930c0bc45fcf85caaed5a323a637319 |
By . Daily Mail Reporter . PUBLISHED: . 16:11 EST, 29 August 2013 . | . UPDATED: . 10:11 EST, 30 August 2013 . A terrified teenage couple were confronted by armed police on their first holiday abroad - over a row about dirty hand towels. Francesca Stefanyszyn, 17, and her boyfriend Ged Sykes, 18, were checking out of their five-star hotel in Krakow, Poland, when staff demanded £41 to pay for the towels, which were lightly marked with mud. The young couple, who were on holiday earlier this month for Ged’s 18th birthday, said the situation escalated when they had no money to pay for them and staff called two 'burly' armed police officers who demanded their passports. Scroll down for video . Francesca Stefanyszyn, 17, and Ged Sykes, 18, were confronted by armed police on their first holiday abroad - over a row about dirty hand towels . Francesca, an A-level student, said: 'I was absolutely petrified. Our flight was two hours away and I thought I was going to be arrested or shot. 'We had used the towels to lie on when we visited a park and they were very lightly marked with soil. 'We had handed them in four days before we were leaving so the hotel could clean them but staff waited until we were getting picked up to be taken to the airport before they raised an issue. 'They told us they were stained but you could see they hadn’t even tried to wash them. 'We had no money left and couldn’t pay so they called the police. The teenage couple had used the towels to lie on during a visit to a park while on their holiday in Krakow . 'Two big officers arrived straight away carrying guns and blocked the exit so we were trapped in the hotel. 'They didn’t speak any English so we couldn’t explain our side of things and they just kept demanding our passports. 'They took them from us and then our taxi to the airport couldn’t wait for us anymore and drove off. The couple were terrified when hotel staff called the police and demanded they hand over their passports. Miss Stefanyszyn feared they would miss their flight home and be arrested . 'I was crying my eyes out. I thought we were going to be arrested or stranded in Poland. 'I’d never been on holiday without my parents before and I just didn’t know what to do.' Francesca phoned her father Taras, 49, who paid the 200 Zloty over the phone with his credit card. Mr Stefanyszyn had booked the trip for the pair, paying for flights, a five-night stay at the Crown Piast Hotel and transfers, as a present for Ged’s birthday. He said: 'It was early in the morning and I got a very distressed phone call from Fran. 'She had never been away on her own before and she was in tears. 'She felt very threatened by the two burly police officers who had turned up armed with guns and truncheons. 'I asked to speak to the manager but they were really aggressive with me on the phone and said he wasn’t around. 'If I hadn’t been able to pay over the phone they would probably have been arrested. 'There were no niceties and they were bang out of order. 'Fran and Ged brought the towels home with them for us to see and they weren’t even stained. 'They just had a few marks on them so I couldn’t believe how they had reacted. The couple were staying in the five star Crown Piast Hotel in Krakow, as part of a birthday gift to Mr Sykes from his girlfriend's father, Taras Stefanyszyn . 'They hadn’t even attempted to clean them. 'I think they saw two kids and thought they could get more money from them. 'It’s such a shame because I suggested Krakow when they were deciding where to go. I love the place and thought it would be a really safe place for them to go.' The couple only just managed to catch their flight home thanks to the intervention of Francesca’s father and washed the towels when they arrived home. It was the couple's first holiday alone together to celebrate Mr Sykes's 18th birthday . Francesca, who is of Ukrainian and Russian descent, said: 'All of the marks came out with just one wash. 'The whole thing was a horrible experience and it means I will be really cautious when I next go on holiday. 'I didn’t know how to deal with what happened and now I’m wary at the thought of travelling anywhere. 'I couldn’t stop crying and I dread to think about what would have happened if my dad hadn’t answered his phone.' Taras says he has contacted the hotel since the incident to complain but they have refused to apologise. A spokesman for the hotel said the matter was very important to them and that they would investigate it before responding properly. | Francesca Stefanyszyn, and Ged Sykes had no money to pay for damage . They had used the towels to lie on in a Krakow park . Staff at hotel called police over 'the lightly mud-marked towels' | b8fbdddcf3d5cd6d335852f4a5bcc1daf4538afe |
A man who was finishing his cup of coffee got more than just a caffeine buzz when he discovered what was lurking in his coffee cup. Ron Morais of Fredericton in New Brunswick in Canada removed the lid from his McDonald's morning brew to discover a dead mouse laying at the bottom. 'I always take the lid off to get my last sip of coffee. And when I took the lid off, there was a little bit of a surprise in my coffee cup,' he told CBC. 'It was a dead mouse.' Scroll down for video... Unwelcome surprise: A dead mouse was found at the bottom of a McDonald's coffee cup in Canada . Yuck: Ron Morais from New Brunswick said the mouse 'left a few presents in his drink'! The customer added that it looked as though the mouse had been in the cup for a while and left 'a few little, shall we say, presents' in the drink. His co-worker, Jennifer LaHaye was with Mr Morais at the time of the shocking discovery. ''Oh my God, there's a mouse in my coffee,' is what he says. I turn around and look at him,' she told the station. 'The first time I looked, I actually looked and it's real, he's not joking.' Morais said the idea of drinking an entire cup of coffee with a mouse in it made him feel a little ill. 'I kind of had a little queasiness in my stomach,' he said . McDonald's have issued a statement explaining that the local public health company and a pest control company investigated the franchise and found no evidence of a pest problem. McDonald's issued a statement to the station that the local public health company and a pest control company investigated the franchise and found no evidence of a pest problem . The company said it would investigate further and cautioned people not to jump to conclusions. Mr Marais has kept the cup in his possession for further analysis . The company has it will investigate further cautioning people not to jump to conclusions. Jason Patuano, the communications manager for the eastern region for McDonald's Canada, issued a corporate statement that underscored how seriously the chain takes food safety. 'We take allegations involving cleanliness and sanitation very seriously,' the statement said. 'Upon learning of this situation, the local franchisee immediately began an investigation, including working closely with the local public health authority who conducted an inspection this [Tuesday] morning following receiving a complaint.' A Department of Health restaurant inspection record on Tuesday said there was 'no evidence of pests,' and all food items were sealed. The restaurant was not given any warnings in the report. Morais said he wants to talk to McDonald's officials to discover how the mouse appeared in the coffee . McDonald's Canada also said a pest control company found no evidence of any rodent issues in the building. 'We are continuing to investigate this isolated incident and have reached out to the customer to obtain the product sample,' the statement said. Mr Morais has said he wants to talk to McDonald's officials to understand how the mouse appeared in the coffee. Incredibly, rather than planning lawsuits over the affair he is happy to joke about it all. 'I mean, hey, you know. I'm here. And I'm in better shape than the mouse,' he said. Positive outlook: I'm in better shape than the mouse,' he told CBC . | Ron Morais, of Fredericton, ordered a cup of coffee from his local restaurant . He found the dead rodent after removing the lid to take the last sip . The fast-food company, which just launched a campaign to promote the quality of its food, said it will launch an investigation . | 3b690c720a513098e83bd2d382da1b4fa09b389f |
Halloween has long been the biggest day of the year over on Today, with the morning show team always devoting much time and energy to their costumes, and this year was no different as the anchors got to show off their comedic chops as classic characters from the long running NBC variety show Saturday Night Live. Even better, the costume department was able to just run upstairs at 30 Rock and grab the same costumes and wigs worn by many of the performers from the actual skits, which provided for some striking likenesses between the actors and anchors. Scroll down for video . The gang's all here: The anchors of Today show off their Halloween looks (left to right) Willie Geist and Tamron Hall (Spartan cheerleaders); Natalie Morales and Peter Alexander (Mary Katherine Gallagher and priest); Al Roker (Blues Brothers); Julia Sweeney and Matt Lauer (Pat); Jenna Bush Hager, Savannah Guthrie and Meredith Viera (Mom jeans); Hoda Kotb and Kathie Lee Gifford (Wayne and Garth); Lester Holt (Blues Brothers) The perfect cheer: Willie Geist and Tamron Hall (above) showed off their dance moves as The Spartans, the spirited duo first played by Will Ferrell and Cheri Oteri . Mirror Image: Geist and Hall looked nearly identical to Oteri and Ferrell (above) Kicking things off live from New York was actual SNL player Kenan Thompson, doing a cold open appropriate for morning viewers as he delivered the weather as Al Roker. From there, the Saturday Night Live credits got reworked, introducing the Today team in a manner just like the SNL cast, as they hailed cabs, hopped on the subway, and, in the case of Hoda Kotb and Kathie Lee Gifford, guzzled wine. Then came the skits. The newest kids on the block, Willie Geist and Tamron Hall, gave America Today's take on the very spirited Spartan cheerleaders, complete with a cheer and some carefully choreographed moves to the 90s dance classic that is C + C Music Factory's "Gonna Make You Sweat (Everybody Dance Now)." Live from New York: The show even did their own version of the SNL title credits to kick things off . Superstar: Natalie Morales (above) got her Catholic school girl on as the very theatrical Mary Katherine Gallagher, a character made famous by Molly Shannon, with a little help from Peter Alexander as a priest . Diva's debut: Morales and Alexander did good work getting down the look and feel of Shannon's debut performance as Gallagher in 1995 with guest host Gabriel Byrne (above) Cheri Oteri and Will Ferrell they were not, but the two certainly had their moves down. And boy were they spirited. Speaking of spirited, Natalie Morales proved to have endless energy as she bounded out after Willie and Tamron as the very theatrical and dramatic Mary Katherine Gallagher. Joined by a dapper looking Peter Alexander, forced into the thankless role of playing the largely silent priest, Morales jumped, stretched and patted her pits just like Molly Shannon first did when she debuted the crazy Catholic school girl almost 20 years ago. Wine's world: The Pinot loving ladies from the show's fourth house, Kathie Lee Gifford and Hoda Kotb (above), proved to be pretty excellent drag kings, dressing up as Garth and Wayne, the basement dwelling rockers first played by Mike Myers and Dana Carvey . Double take: The ladies bore a striking resemblance to the original duo of Myers and carvey (above) It's Pat: Matt Lauer (above) dressed up as the lovably androgynous Pat, and even got a visit from the lady who created the character, Julia Sweeney (above) The morning show's resident sommeliers, Gifford and Kotb, stepped up to the plate next, and proved to be pretty impressive actors as they delivered a remarkably good performance as basement dwelling Queen aficionados Garth and Wayne from Wayne's World. And in her torn jeans and black wig, Gifford almost looked identical to the original Wayne, Mike Myers. Al Roker and Lester Holt followed the ladies, and while they didn't get to do much acting they did get to belt out a tune as they dressed up, and sang, like The Blues Brothers, the R&B duo created by Dan Akyrod and the late John Belushi. Even better, Akyrod sent in a video giving the duo his blessing. Mom's here: Jenna Bush Hager, Savannah Guthrie and Meredith Viera (above) showed off their derrieres as the ladies from the Mom jeans commercial, originally played by funny ladies Tina Fey, Amy Poehler, Rachel Dratch and Maya Rudolph . The original: Rudolph, Dratch, Fey and Poehler in the original commercial (above), which aired in 2003 during the show's Mother's Day episode . Then, for what seemed to be the finale, Matt Lauer came out as Pat, the androgynous beauty first played by Julia Sweeney, who was also on hand to do a little skit with Lauer. This marks a long running tradition of Lauer doing drag on Halloween, having previously dressed up as Pam Anderson, Jennifer Lopez and Paris Hilton. The show had one big surprise however, and ended on a very, very high note, when new moms Savannah Guthrie and Jenna Bush Hager pulled up at the end of the segment in a van and got out to reveal the final costumes of the day - the ladies from the Mom Jeans commercial. Memories: Lauer, as Pat, dreamed of one of Lauer's former drag costumes, Lauer as Pam Anderson . Fiercesome foursome: Morales, Alexander, Geist and Hall kept things going for another hour on Today's Take . Surprise appearance: Dennis Haskins even showed up to reprise his Saved by the Bell role as Mr. Belding (above) The commercial, which first premiered on SNL back in 2003 during the show's Mother's Day episode, was written by Tina Fey, and starred Fey, Amy Poehler, Rachel Dratch and Maya Rudolph showing off a new style of jeans that features pleats and a 9-inch zipper. An applique vest comes complimentary with each purchase. Hager and Guthrie, who were wearing the wigs from the original sketch, were joined by another mom too to round out their group - Meredith Vierra. The three even filmed their own version of the commercial. Everyone gets involved: Even the production team got in the Halloween spirit, dressing up as Conheads . Dancing in the street: Savannah really got into the spirit of her character, making her exit by exiting out of a minivan . Masterpiece theater: Lauer and Sweeney reenacted one of Pat's classic sketches . Following that reveal, there were more bits from the team, with Dennis Haskins showing up at one point in character as Mr. Belding from Saved by the Bell to host a mock talent show that featured Geist and Hall doing another bit and Morales falling into some boxes and delivering one of Coach Taylor's famous Friday Night Lights monologues as Gallagher. Haskins last appearance on the show came in 2013 on the same day his former Bell costar Tiffani Thiessen was also a guest, an appearance that became memorable after the two had a very awkward exchange on the air when Haskins asked to say hello to a visibly disinterested Thiessen. Darling derrieres: Hager, Guthrie and Viera took some time to show off the junk in their trunk . And there's more: Hager, Githrie and Vierra also filmed a commercial just like the original Mom Jeans ad . Social media response to this year's costumes was almost universally positive, with Twitter and Facebook users showing a particular affinity for the ladies looks as well as Mr. Geist's cheerleader. And while not exactly panned, people had little to say about Roker and Holt's take on The Blue Brothers. Not weighing in yet, though sure to do so soon, are current and past members of Saturday Night Live. Also staying quiet on social media were past Today anchors. Guess that's why they call it the blues: Lester Holt and Al Roker (above) sang and danced as The Blues Brothers . No shade: Holt and Roker had the classic Blues Brothers suit down (above) While also paying tribute to their friends, the Today move to do SNL costumes may have also been an attempt to give some press to the struggling show on a day when the morning show, which is having its own problems with viewership, is guaranteed to have one of their biggest audiences of the year. Now in its 40th season, SNL has been having some trouble bringing in viewers, with the show's recent episode featuring former cast member Bill Hader marking an all time ratings low for the program. The show will no doubt get some help this weekend however thanks to big name host Chris Rock and even bigger named musical guest Prince. Visit NBCNews.com for breaking news, world news, and news about the economy . Visit NBCNews.com for breaking news, world news, and news about the economy . Visit NBCNews.com for breaking news, world news, and news about the economy . Visit NBCNews.com for breaking news, world news, and news about the economy . Visit NBCNews.com for breaking news, world news, and news about the economy . | The anchors of Today did an impressive job portraying classic Saturday Night Live characters on their Halloween episode Friday . Highlights included Natalie Morales as Molly Shannon's Mary Katherine Gallagher and Willie Geist and Tamron Hall as the Spartan cheerleaders . Matt Lauer dressed in drag, possibly, as the androgynous Pat, and was visited by Julia Sweeney, who originally played the character . Also impressive were Hoda Kotb and Kathie Lee Gifford who played Wayne and Garth from Wayne's World, and looked just like the boys . The best costumes came courtesy of Savannah Guthrie, Jenna Bush Hager and Meredith Viera, who were the moms from the Mom Jeans commercial . The move by Today to remind viewers of SNL's former greatness may have well been a ploy to help the show as its ratings have sunk to record lows . | c638f4ea569015b57572332fc99f5cdeb3e2148c |
Beijing (CNN) -- Yao Ming fans in China reacted with shock and disbelief when they learned from U.S. media reports Friday night that their basketball idol has decided to retire. Fans took to the Internet Friday to express their feelings about the basketball star, who plays with the Houston Rockets in the NBA. "I did not expect his retirement to come so soon!" said a Netizen called Yilubaijiahei in a Sina Weibo microblog. What does retirement mean for fans? Another person who went by the name Tuzitouda in another tweet wrote: "I feel a little bit of sadness. If Big Yao retires, it is not only the end of an era, but also the end of my NBA-syndrome including those seasons when Yao played with the Rockets." Major news portals in China put the news on their front pages. "The U.S. media say Yao has formally decided to retire, Chinese superstar says goodbye to NBA," reads the headline of Tencent Sports. But Sina Sports, a section of Sina. com, one of China's biggest web portals, says its reporter reached Zhang Mingji soon after hearing the media reports. Zhang, who is one of Yao's agents, said Yao did not announce his retirement and did not inform the NBA and the Houston Rockets that he was doing so, as reported by the U.S. media. Yao's agent told CNN that he is giving a news conference in Shanghai on July 20 to talk about "his future career plans." Chinese sports writers and fans believe that Yao's retirement, of course, will happen sooner or later, although they hope it will be later. They hope the superstar could still play not only in the NBA but for the Chinese national team in the London Olympics next year. The Shanghai native, who stands at 7-feet, 6-inches, was the NBA's top overall draft in 2002, when he was signed by Houston Rockets. He is one of the most successful overseas players in the league. Voted an All-Star player eight times, Yao has chalked up a career average of 19 points, 9.2 rebounds and 1.9 blocks. His field-goal percentage was 52.4. In recent years, however, he struggled with foot and ankle injuries. He missed the 2009-2010 season. After playing only five games, he missed that last season, when he suffered a stress fracture on his left ankle. Yao has been undergoing treatment and training in recent months, but doubts about whether he could make a comeback persists. When asked about his future prospects, Yao himself was reticent. In an interview with a CCTV sportscaster last month, Yao said: "I don't know if I would join some champion team in the future. I don't even know if I can play again." Yao revealed that his left ankle injury was far from healed. "Walking or jogging is okay... but I need to get 80 percent of my strength back to play. I have got only 30 percent at most now." Last month, Yao brought his one-year-old daughter Amy to China for the first time since her birth in the United States. Yao said Amy is one incentive for him to return to the NBA. Yao told CCTV: "I wish she could watch me play and even win a championship, not only see through video highlights how her dad played before. She is definitely a big motivation for me to continue my role as a player, although my foot still needs a lot of treatment to meet the demands of the game." The 30-year-old Yao sounded mellow about this future in NBA. "A championship ring has become not so important in my plans," he said in the interview. "My main thought for the next 10 years is to look after my family and continue my community activities." The basketball superstar has set up the Yao Ming Foundation which he uses to attract donations and raise funds for charity, including building schools and supporting education. He has also joined campaigns to curb environmental degradation and promote animal rights, including multi-media campaign to curb consumption of shark's fins, which are considered a gourmet delicacy in China and Asia. If Yao retires, he would leave behind giant footprints in world of basketball and business. He helped expand the popularity of sports globally and specially in China. Yao is the icon of China's basketball. He was the pillar of the national men's team for many years, playing in world championships and the Olympics. He is also China's goodwill ambassador, the most recognizable face of China overseas. Thanks to Yao, the NBA has been successful in China. NBA games are televised in many TV and cable channels through the season. NBA stars have a big following in the mainland. Some like Jason Kidd and Shane Battier, like Yao, make a lot of money here from endorsing basketball sneakers and sports apparels produced by local companies, like Li Ning and PEAK. Yao Ming currently endorses Chinese brands such as China Unicom CDMA and China Life Insurance, as well as global brands such as Pepsi, Gatorade sports drinks, Visa, McDonald's and Apple computers. | NEW: Yao's agent tells CNN he will hold news conference on July 20 to discuss his future . Yao Ming was the NBA's top overall draft in 2002 . One Chinese media outlet says Yao did not announce his retirement . The 30-year-old basketball player has been plagued with injuries in recent years . | 4f2abbb301368426c4f0ece7dec3c46b072d47be |
These dramatic photographs show the streets of modern-day San Francisco torn apart by the after-effects of a violent earthquake. Buildings are reduced to rubble, huge craters have opened in the debris-strewn roads and uncontrollable fires have ripped through homes. Fortunately, these pictures are a clever amalgamation of images of the city today and after the devastating quake of 1906. Trip back in time: A women opens the door to her Mercedes on Sacramento Street while horses killed by falling rubble lie in the street . Wonders of the modern world: A crowd from 1906 stare out over the burning city - and a 21st century bus . Foundations: Shoppers blithely cross the street while workers begin the monumental task of rebuilding a destroyed San Francisco . Breathtaking: Mr Clover returned almost 20 times to get the exact position and light right for this picture of the fallen Valencia St. Hotel . They were created by photographer Shawn Clover, a San Francisco resident who wanted to reimagine the traditional 'then-and-now' concept. Mr Clover first selects a catalogue of historical photos and then takes new ones from the same spot, which he softly blends with the old. Once he has usable images, he has to recreate the exact conditions in which the original was taken - from where the photographer was positioned to where the sun is in the sky. I found that many of the original photos I planned to use were in fact unusable because the photographer was situated in a place where a building stands today,' he writes on his blog. 'Others now have trees blocking the view. 'My goal is to stand in the exact spot where the original photographer stood,' he adds. 'Doing this needs to take into account equivalent focal length, how the lens was shifted, light conditions, etc. Ghostly echoes: Mechanics Monument at Bush Street and Battery Street is surrounded by the shells of wrecked buildings from the past . Trash to tourism: Passing cable cars offer a view of the destruction of California Street. Cable cars at the time were crushed by rubble . Evocative: Fire fills the streets around Alamo Square - but does not quite reach the sunlit future - in one of Shawn Clover's mesmerising pictures . Broken windows: Cars park in front of the brand new US Courthouse, which survived the quake almost intact . 'I take plenty of shots, each nudged around a bit at each location. Just moving one foot to the left changes everything. He added: 'I kept running into delays. In the case of the Valencia St. Hotel, I had to return to the scene on Valencia between 18th and 19th four times before I managed to get it right. There’s quite a bit of conflicting information of exactly where this building once stood. 'And just when I was about to wrap things up, my dad announced that he had unearthed a local magazine published in late 1906 loaded with earthquake-aftermath photos that I had never seen in any library or online collection.' Photography was a common hobby by 1906 and thousands of photos have survived to this day. One photographer even flew his £46 camera on a kite to get aerial shots of the aftermath. Some colour photographs have even been found. Strange visions: Modern day business people and a child from 1906 face the camera while fire consumes a building on the corner of Franklin St and Hayes St . Fade out: Cheerful tourists pass by the Fairmont Hotel, which still stands, but is destroyed inside from the fires . Always prepared: Men pose in a tent city to house displaced residents while an armoured car turns left a corner . In ruins: Buildings fell, sinkholes in the streets opened up, railroad tracks bent, and collapsing bricks crushed cable cars during the disaster . The 42 seconds of intense shaking made building collapse, sinkholes in the streets open up, railroad tracks bend, and collapsing bricks crush cable cars. Four-day-long fires were responsible for 90 per cent of the destruction, with more than 30, caused by ruptured gas mains, destroying around 25,000 buildings on 490 city blocks. Many were started when firefighters untrained in the use of dynamite attempted to demolish buildings to create firebreaks, and the dynamited buildings themselves caught fire. Mayor Eugene Schmitz put out an authorization for the federal troops and police to shoot and kill looters. Thousands of tents and temporary relief houses went up to house 20,000 displaced people. Mr Clover has spent more than two years recreating the chaos in 1906 + 2010: The Earthquake Blend. Ode to San Fran: A tourist takes a photo of a cable car heading towards the California St incline - if only he could see the aimless people of the past . Masterpiece: Two girls stand before the partially destroyed Sharon Building in Golden Gate Park while students work on their art projects inside . Underground artwork: A woman walks dangerously close to a pit of rubble on 5th St by the US Mint . Standing tall: Pedestrians cross Jones St towards a pile of rubble on Market Street and the gutted Hibernia Bank . | Photographer Shawn Clover finds the exact spot each photo was taken and waits for the right light conditions . He studied archives of old photos taken at the time of the disaster . Around 25,000 buildings were destroyed by fire that raged for four days after the quake . | 26dd4abf7ae15a5ae4e12949f5bd5eccbc381f35 |
By . Belinda Robinson . This stunning property is ranked as America’s most expensive home and is up for sale in Florida for an eye-watering $139 million – for anyone who can afford it. The palatial 60,000 square feet home in Hillsboro Beach, Florida boasts incredible décor and is decked out in gold tones, marble pillars and crystal chandeliers. It is officially the most expensive home publicly listed for sale in the United States, according to retail experts and is being listed by Coldwell Banker residential real estate. Driveway: Le Palais Royal, the Most Expensive Palace in the U.S., Hits the Market in Florida for $139 Million . Marble: The palatial house is decked out in gold tones, marble pillars and crystal chandeliers . Stately: Visitors who enter through a vaulted foyer, can view the residence centers on a sweeping, $2-million staircase cased in steel-iron and gold leaf . The house, which is currently under construction, is known as Le Palais Royal and draws inspiration from the Palace of Versailles with gold leafing, stone walkways, balconies and six fountains. Its opulent features include: an Imax home theater, a 1,300-gallon aquarium and a subterranean garage with parking for 30 vehicles. Visitors who enter through a vaulted foyer, can view the residence on a sweeping, $2 million staircase cased in steel-iron and gold leaf. And it doesn’t stop there. The second-floor presidential suite comes complete with private outdoor terrace with a plunge pool. View: Le Palais Royal has the most stunning ocean views from many of its windows . French: The magnificent, French-inspired Beaux Arts masterpiece sits on Florida's Atlantic Coast . Decor: Its opulent features include this beautiful dining room with palm trees outside the windows . There are three additional master suites and sport Jacuzzis all with ocean views throughout the property. It also has 11 bedrooms and 17 bathrooms. Ocean view: The estate's pool is close to a private beachfront where owners can relax and enjoy the house . Parking: Along with a pool, Le Palais Royal boasts a 492-foot private dock that can accommodate up to a 185-foot mega yacht . The house has an infinity pool with LED lighting, water slide, fire pit and swim-up bar set beneath a 12-foot cascading waterfall which also features a Jacuzzi on top of it. Designed for year-round enjoyment, an entertainer’s courtyard includes a summer kitchen, a pizza oven, an outdoor lounge and an entrance to an indoor spa and massage rooms. For owners who have to park their yacht somewhere, Le Palais Royal has the perfect solution - a 492-foot dock capable of accommodating seafaring vessels up to 185 feet in length. Leisure: Designed for year-round enjoyment, an entertainer's courtyard includes a summer kitchen, a pizza oven, an outdoor lounge and an entrance to an indoor spa and massage rooms . Waterfall: The house caters for leisure time with an infinity pool that has LED lighting, water slide, fire pit and swim-up bar set beneath a 12-foot cascading waterfall which also features a Jacuzzi on top . Relax: The house comes with this pool and four acres on Millionaires Mile which includes 465 feet of private beachfront . Occupying four acres on Millionaires Mile, the estate also includes 465 feet of private beachfront and is slated for completion in 2015. The $139-million price tag tops the Beverly House, the one-time home of publishing magnate William Randolph Hearst that reentered the market at $135 million this year. However, the Manor, a Holmby Hills estate formerly owned by Candy and Aaron Spelling and currently occupied by Formula One heiress Petra Ecclestone, is currently being shown off market for $150 million. Home entertainment: This is certainly one way to enjoy an evening at home with this incredible structure that houses a television in it along with two marble statues on each side . Walkway: The house, which is currently under construction has gold leafing, chandeliers stone walkways and balconies . Opulent: There is an incredible amount of attention to detail in Le Palais Royal's interior . Welcome home: William P.D. Pierce of Coldwell Banker Residential Real Estate has the listing for the highest-priced palace in the U.S. market . | The palatial 60,000 square feet home is in Hillsboro Beach, Florida . The house is currently under . construction and is known as 'Le Palais Royal' It draws inspiration from the . Palace of Versailles with gold leafing . The price tops the Beverly House, the home of . William Randolph Hearst . | b36d205d1071796b9c2c89d1b1136602af2a37b8 |
The daughter of the missing AirAsia captain today made an emotional plea for her father to come home, telling him: 'I still need you'. Captain Iriyanto disappeared in airspace thick with storm clouds between Indonesia and Singapore while piloting Flight 8501 with 162 people on board yesterday. His picture was posted on social media by his 22-year-old daughter Angela Ranastianis with the heartbreaking message: 'Papa, please come home, I still need you. Bring back my papa.' Cpt Iriyanto's father said the last time he saw his son was at the funeral of his other son who died of diabetes last week. 'Papa, come home, I still need you': Angela Ranastianis, the daughter of missing AirAsia pilot Iriyanto, has made an emotional appeal for her father to return safely after posting this picture with him online . Double tragedy: Cpt Iriyanto's father, Suwarto (above) said the last time he saw his son was at the funeral of his other son who died of diabetes last week . Suwarto, who has only one name, told the BBC he hoped he would see his son again, but accepted it would be God's will if he didn't. At Iryanto's house in the East Java town of Sidoarjo, neighbours, relatives and friends gathered to pray and recite the Quran to support the distraught family. Their desperate cries were so loud, they could sometimes be heard outside where three LCD televisions had been set up to monitor search developments. 'He is a good man. That's why people here appointed him as our neighbourhood chief for the last two years,' said Bagianto Djoyonegoro, a friend and neighbour, adding that despite being busy with his job, Iryanto was always very active in the community and attentive to the needs of the people around him. Cpt Iriyanto's nephew told Indonesian news outlet Detik.com his uncle, who is married with two young children, was 'a very caring person'. He said: 'He is always helping people because he is a very caring person. If there is a sick relative who needed help and even money, my uncle would be there. 'If there are money problems in the family, he would surely help.' Many recalled him as an experienced Air Force pilot who flew F-16 fighter jets before becoming a commercial airline pilot. AirAsia said the captain had more than 20,000 flying hours, of which 6,100 were with AirAisa on the Airbus 320. Captain Iriyanto disappeared in airspace thick with storm clouds between Indonesia and Singapore while piloting Flight 8501 with 162 people on board yesterday. Picture, right, is his daughter Angela Ranastianis . The last communication from the cockpit to air traffic control was a request by one of the pilots to increase altitude from 32,000 feet (9,754 meters) to 38,000 feet (11,582 meters) because of the rough weather. Air traffic control was not able to immediately grant the request because another plane was in airspace at 34,000 feet, said Bambang Tjahjono, director of the state-owned company in charge of air-traffic control. By the time clearance could be given, Flight 8501 had disappeared, Tjahjono said. The twin-engine, single-aisle plane, which never sent a distress signal, was last seen on radar four minutes after the last communication from the cockpit. Earlier today, an Indonesian official said objects have been spotted in the sea by a search plane hunting for a missing AirAsia jet. Jakarta's Air Force base commander Rear Marshal Dwi Putranto said he had been informed that an Australian Orion aircraft had detected suspicious objects near Nangka island, about 100 miles (160km) south-west of Pangkalan Bun, near central Kalimantan, or 700 miles (1,120km) from the location where the plane lost contact. 'However, we cannot be sure whether it is part of the missing AirAsia plane,' he said. 'We are now moving in that direction, which is in cloudy conditions.' Distraught family members of passengers from the missing AirAsia flight try desperately to comfort each other at the crisis centre of Juanda International Airport in Surabaya, Indonesia . Relatives of missing Air Asia QZ8501 passengers cry at Juanda International Airport in Indonesia as they wait for any news about their loved ones . AirAsia Flight 8501 carrying 162 people disappeared yesterday in airspace thick with storm clouds on its way from Surabaya in Indonesia to Singapore. First Admiral Sigit Setiayana, the Naval Aviation Centre commander at Surabaya air force base, said 12 navy ships, five planes, three helicopters and a number of warships were taking part in the search, along with ships and planes from Singapore and Malaysia. He said visibility was good: 'God willing, we can find it soon.' A rescue official said today that, given the route of the plane, he believed the most likely scenario was that it crashed. 'Based on the co-ordinates that we know, the evaluation would be that any estimated crash position is in the sea, and that the hypothesis is the plane is at the bottom of the sea,' National Search and Rescue chief Henry Bambang Soelistyo told a news conference. The plane's disappearance and suspected crash caps an astonishingly tragic year for air travel in south-east Asia. The Malaysia-based carrier's loss comes on top of the still-unexplained disappearance of Malaysia Airlines Flight 370 in March and the downing of Malaysia Airlines Flight 17 in July over Ukraine. The last communication between QZ8501's pilot and air traffic control was when he requested to increase his altitude to 34,000 feet due to bad weather . A weather map at the time the plane went missing shows 'vigorous thunderstorms' along the flightpath . At the Surabaya airport, passengers' relatives pored over the plane's manifest, crying and embracing. Nias Adityas, a housewife from Surabaya, was overcome with grief when she found the name of her husband, Nanang Priowidodo, on the list. The 43-year-old tour agent had been taking a family of four on a trip to Singapore, Malaysia and Indonesia's Lombok island, and had been happy to get the work. 'He just told me, 'Praise God, this new year brings a lot of good fortune,'' she recalled, holding her grandson tight while weeping uncontrollably. Nearly all the passengers and crew are Indonesians, who are frequent visitors to Singapore, particularly on holidays. The Airbus A320 took off yesterday morning from Indonesia's second-largest city and was about halfway to Singapore when it vanished from radar. The jet had been airborne for about 42 minutes. An AirAsia flight - which was an Airbus A320-200 with the registration number PK-AXC (pictured above) - that departed Surabaya early Sunday morning was meant to land at Changi Airport . There was no distress signal from the twin-engine, single-aisle plane, said Djoko Murjatmodjo, Indonesia's acting director general of transportation. The last communication between the cockpit and air traffic control was at 6.13am local time (2313 GMT Saturday), when one of the pilots asked to increase altitude from 32,000ft (9,754m) to 38,000ft (11,582m), Mr Murjatmodjo said. The jet was last seen on radar at 6.16am local time, and was gone a minute later, he told reporters. Malaysia-based AirAsia has a good safety record and had never lost a plane. But Malaysia itself has already endured a catastrophic year, with 239 people still missing from Flight 370 and all 298 people aboard Flight 17 killed when it was shot down over rebel-held territory in Ukraine. AirAsia said Flight 8501 was on its submitted flight plan but had requested a change due to weather. Sunardi, a forecaster at Indonesia's Meteorology and Geophysics Agency, said dense storm clouds were detected up to 44,000ft in the area at the time. 'There could have been turbulence, lightning and vertical as well as horizontal strong winds within such clouds,' said Sunardi, who like many Indonesians uses only one name. | Captain Iriyanto disappeared in storm clouds while piloting Flight 8501 . Daughter posted heartbreaking message: 'I need you. Bring back my papa' His father said he last saw his son at funeral of his other son last week . Relatives and friends gathered to pray and recite Quran at the pilot's house . Captain Iriyanto had 20,000 flying hours, with 6,100 on AirAisa's Airbus 320 . | 9b16b290edf10c55d265fc0669430619df33102b |
A mother-of-three fell victim to a rare flesh-eating bug twice, leaving her fighting for her life after giving birth to two of her children three years apart. In December, shortly after giving birth to her daughter Krystal, Maggie Ashe fell into a coma. The bacterial infection Necrotising fasciitis (NF) was ravaging the 33-year-old's body, eating away at her body. 'The bug ate away at the fat and muscle in my stomach and hip,' she said. 'It looked like a shark bite.' Scroll down for video . Maggie Ashe, 33, has suffered a deadly flesh-eating bug twice, after giving birth to her youngest two children, Krystal, centre, and Lucas, right . Ms Ashe, who suffers flashbacks from her ordeal, has been left with crater-like depressions . It is the second time the mother-of-three has developed the life-threatening disease, which can be triggered by minor ailments including chicken pox. Ms Ashe’s first pregnancy passed without incident. But in September 2010, while 34 weeks pregnant with her second baby, she developed a pea-sized lump on her thigh. 'I didn’t know what it was,' she said. 'But two days on it was dark and was the size of a melon. 'I was taken to hospital and was so delirious I asked doctors to chop my leg off. The bacterial infection necrotising fasciitis ate away at her stomach and legs, pictured, leaving crater-like depressions . Ms Ashe, a full-time mum, was given painkillers and antibiotics but slipped into unconsciousness. She woke up 10 days later to find a huge area of infected flesh had been removed from her thigh. Her baby, Lucas had been delivered by emergency caesarean – though she was initially so delirious that thought he had died. It was another three days before Ms Ashe was allowed to see her baby - as doctors warned she was still infectious. And even then she was unable to hold her son. She said: 'I just said, "hello my baby boy" and stared at him.' Lucas' traumatic arrival meant it took some time for Ms Ashe to bond with her son. The ordeal left her needing a 12-inch skin graft to repair the crater left in her leg. Having recovered, the 33-year-old thought everything had gone smoothly when she gave birth to her youngest child, Krystal, in December. But just days after her birth, Ms Ashe's stomach began to blister and she was rushed to the Blackpool Victoria Hospital. 'It looked like something from a horror film,' she said. 'I don’t remember anything else – I fell into a coma.' Following further surgery, Ms Ashe was discharged from hospital at the end of January and is now recovering at home in Blackpool, Lancashire. She said the whole experience has left her fearing the extensive cosmetic surgery she needs to repair her badly damaged skin. Doctors say they are baffled as to why she developed the disease twice. Public Health England said: 'Necrotising . fasciitis (NF) is a bacterial infection that affects the soft tissue . and fascia (a sheet or band of fibrous connective tissue separating or . binding together muscles and organs). Ms Ashe first developed the infection after giving birth to her son Lucas in 2010. At 34 weeks pregnant she noticed a pea-sized lump on her thigh, which spread to the size of a melon within two days. She fell into a coma, waking 10 days later thinking her baby had died . 'It can occur following a cut or some other opportunity for the bacteria to enter the body, such as surgery. 'The bacteria can also enter through weakened skin, like a blister. Sometimes there is no obvious entry point . 'NF is a rare but serious condition. 'One of the early signs is intense and severe pain which may seem out of proportion to any external signs of infection on the skin. 'There may be a small cut or scratch on the skin, for example, but the pain will be very bad. 'As it progresses, fever, diarrhoea and vomiting can develop, with the person eventually falling unconscious as the infection overcomes them.' 'The bug ate away at the fat and muscle in my stomach and hip,' MS Ashe said. 'It looked like a shark bite.' | Maggie Ashe developed necrotising fasciitis (NF) after giving birth . 33-year-old first suffered bacterial infection in 2010 after son Lucas was born . The bug ate away at her leg and hip after starting as a pea-sized lump . She fell into a coma, waking 10 days later thinking her son had died . She thought everything had gone to plan after daughter Krystal was born . But days later in December, her stomach began to blister . She was rushed to hospital where she fell into a coma for seven days . She said: 'The bug ate away at the fat and muscle in my stomach and hip' Doctors said they are baffled as to why she suffered the infection twice . NF is a rare but serious condition that can be triggered by a minor ailment . | 7b434a1a587b4ee47a712d0bfd0b491849fa7c88 |
By . Ray Massey . PUBLISHED: . 09:24 EST, 7 November 2012 . | . UPDATED: . 09:52 EST, 7 November 2012 . Cash-strapped motorists were given some pre-Christmas relief as supermarkets sparked a price war by slashing up to 2p a litre at the pumps. Asda said it would be reducing petrol and diesel prices by 2p a litre from Thursday as Sainsbury's, Morrisons and Tesco said they would match the cut from the same time. Motoring groups welcomed the news. Cutting prices: Asda has slashed the price of petrol and diesel by 2p per litre from Thursday . It comes after new research showed that motorists are paying a record 81p a litre in tax - both duty and VAT – to the Treasury putting pressure on Chancellor George Osborne to freeze a planned 3p per litre tax hike planned for January. Asda said its reductions would mean motorists paying no more than 131.7p a litre for petrol and 137.7p a litre for diesel. Asda petrol trading director Andy Peake said: ‘Today's move shows that we are once again leading the way in reducing the price at the pump. ‘Unlike other retailers, our price cuts benefit everyone across the country, meaning that no one filling up at Asda will be forced to play a postcode lottery.’ Relief: Morrisons has said it would match Asda's price cut from Thursday - in addition to its existing offers to higher spending shoppers . Sainsbury's head of fuel, Richard Crampton, said: ‘With Christmas on the horizon we know that this can be an expensive time of year so we're delighted to announce that from tomorrow we will be lowering our petrol and diesel prices by up to 2p per litre.’ Morrisons said its 2p per litre cut would be in addition to existing offers to higher spending shopper. The reduction also comes into force from Thursday morrow morning and will be up to 2p-a-litre off unleaded and 2p-a-litre off diesel at all Morrisons petrol stations giving motorists a potential 17p-per-litre saving at the pumps. Persuaded?: Pressure is on Chancellor George Osborne to postpone next year's planned duty increase . Mark Todd, Petrol Director for Morrisons, said: ‘We’re always keen to offer motorists the best value we possibly can and it’s great to be offering these savings in the run up to Christmas.’ Morrisons has 305 petrol stations across the UK and is also running a ‘Fuel Britannia’ offer giving a 15p a litre discount to customers who spend £60 in store until Sunday 11th November 2012. A Tesco spokesperson said: ‘Tesco is dropping the price of unleaded and diesel by up to 2 pence per litre from tomorrow morning. As Britain’s biggest petrol retailer with 490 forecourts, more motorists will make savings at the pumps at Tesco than at any other fuel retailer.’ AA spokesman Paul Watters said: ‘This is excellent news. Yet again the supermarkets are leading the pack in cutting the price at the pumps. Let’s hope others follow their lead.’ Motorists are paying a record amount of tax from petrol to the Government – 81p on every litre, new figures reveal today. Campaigners say the strain on the UK’s 33 million drivers add to the pressure on Chancellor George Osborne to postpone next year’s planned duty increase. For a typical litre of petrol costing 138.3p at the pumps, some 81p goes to the Treasury in the form of fuel duty and VAT, according to figures obtained from the House of Commons Library. Fuel duty is paid at a flat rate of 57.95p per litre. But VAT is levied on the base cost of the fuel AND on the duty – making it a ‘tax on a tax.’ Matching the cut: Sainsbury's also reduced petrol and diesel prices to help consumers over the Christmas period . The 81p tax equals a record set earlier this year which helped persuade the Chancellor to postpone an earlier proposed tax increase. Ministers will not discuss in advance the Chancellor’s Autumn Statement which takes place on December 5 although sources point out that ministers had cancelled or postponed several previous duty increases. A Treasury spokesman said: ‘The Government recognises that the rising price of petrol is a significant part of households’ day-to-day spending. ‘Since coming to office the Government has listened to the concerns of motorists about high pump prices and acted. Fuel is now 10p a litre lower than under the previous government’s plans.' | Asda, Sainsbury's, Morrisons and Tesco all to cut petrol and diesel prices by 20p a litre from Thursday . Motorists are paying a record 81p per litre in tax, new study reveals . | 8f92219d81387fb44506f11ec754f236150cbe3e |
By . Alex Ward . PUBLISHED: . 03:22 EST, 8 April 2013 . | . UPDATED: . 06:07 EST, 8 April 2013 . People preferring not to wash their dirty linen in public are a bit more picky about the state of their bedding in hotels, according to a survey. The next biggest complaint was drunk or noisy next-room guests, followed by building work going on close to the hotel. Guests also cared little for poor quality food at their hotel or for being hassled by travel reps to go on excursions in the poll by insurance company Direct Line. What annoys Brits most on holiday: Dirty linen and grubby towels according to some 77 per cent of holidaymakers in a recent survey . Travel reps flogging excursions was also particularly annoying but other guests bagging the best sunbeds annoyed only 31 per cent of the 2,004 UK adults surveyed. Despite the British obsession with talking about the weather, rain ranked only eighth on the list. Commissioned by Direct Line travel insurance, company boss Tom Bishop said: 'We put a lot of thought, effort and money into our annual breaks, so it’s not surprising that we expect the hotels, guest houses, restaurants and travel companies to put the same amount of effort in. 'Once you arrive on your holiday, if there is any aspect of it that you are unhappy with, don’t be "typically English" – make sure you get something done about it.' 1. Dirty bed linen and bath towels (77 per cent) 2. Drunk / noisy neighbours late at night (72 per cent) 3. Building works by accommodation (72 per cent) 4. Poor quality food at hotel (70 per cent) 5. Being hassled by reps to go on excursions (51 per cent) Brits also try to save their cash while on their break by sneaking food from the hotel breakfast buffet for lunch, not tipping and lying about their child’s age, a survey by the International Currency Exchange (ICE) has found. Some 32 per cent of the 2,000 survey participants did not leave tips at bars and restaurants while 29 per cent said they used their room’s mini bar fridge to keep store-bought drinks and snacks cool rather than consume the hotel’s supplies. Tom Johnson, Head of ICE's online business said: ‘We can understand how holidaymakers often feel entitled to the food from the breakfast bar. ‘We seem to be relaxing our British reserve as far as this cost saving trick is concerned but it was shocking to find out that tips are falling by the wayside in a bid to save money.’ We're sorry but reader comments are currently unavailable. | Study finds 77 per cent of Brits are most annoyed by dirty linen while on holidays . Drunk and noisy neighbours annoyed 72 per cent . Also in the top five were building works close to the hotel and poor-quality hotel food . | f9474cfd291cc4c995c600555861b5c57b2c772d |
(CNN) -- Poachers threaten to drive the majestic African elephant to the brink of extinction, just as they have the long-persecuted northern white rhino. But poachers aren't the only culprits. Very wealthy hunters, mainly from the United States, are picking off elephants in their zeal to bag the biggest tusks and trophies and rise within the ranks of the global trophy hunting fraternity. There's reason to believe that,as a result of meaningful actions taken by African governments as well as the U.S. government to restrain trophy hunters, this intentional killing may subside. Two African countries, Botswana and Zambia, have just outlawed trophy hunting. And the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service has temporarily stopped issuing permits for hunters to bring home their elephant trophies from Tanzania and Zimbabwe, where hunting is legal and poorly regulated. Robert Mugabe, the corrupt strongman of Zimbabwe, has allowed so many natural resources within his country to be looted that it makes perfect sense that he cannot be trusted to provide safeguards for the elephants of his country. In 2012, the most recent year for which data are available, hunters received permits to import 204 elephant trophies from Zimbabwe and 36 from Tanzania. Another 261 elephants were shot and killed in Botswana. Now, thanks to the U.S. import ban and the hunting prohibitions in the two African nations, 500 elephants are likely to live this year -- since hunters won't kill them if they can't bring back the parts. Unfortunately, hunters can still import trophies from elephants killed in South Africa and Namibia, an inexcusable gap in the regulatory efforts to curb the ivory trade. It's time that all African nations with elephants join Botswana, Kenya and Zambia in barring trophy hunting. Elephants are much more valuable to the economies of African nations alive than dead. An elephant can be watched throughout his lifetime, and there's an enormous and growing pool of ecotourism customers waiting for that thrilling experience. On the other hand, the creature targeted by the hunter dies after a single bullet tears up his insides, meaning the revenue gained is merely a one shot deal. What's more, the pool of people who want to kill elephants for fun is tiny and declining. The pictures and the memories for the ecotourists will last a lifetime, and it's a trip they'll never be ashamed to recount to their grandkids. Photos: Tourist trophy hunters chase African wildlife . Safari Club International, the lobbying arm of the trophy-hunting crowd, seeks to rationalize such actions by saying that the money derived from such hunts will help animals on the ground, in part by stimulating the flow of money into local communities in their range states and helping to fund conservation efforts. But that twisted logic -- kill them to save them -- does not fit with 21st century reality. If American trophy hunters were sincere, they could invest their wealth directly to fight illegal killing. Anti-poaching teams on the ground need help because poachers, often associated with terrorist groups, slaughtered an estimated 22,000 African elephants last year to sell trinkets in the global marketplace. That number is unsustainable, and wild elephants are plainly in crisis. Alas, American trophy hunters are out to kill elephants for the same reason as poachers. They admit it. Here is what Safari Club International says in its official online record book: . "An elephant with really good ivory (100 pounds, or 45 kg, per tusk used to be the magic number, though these days 70 pounds, or 32 kg, is considered very good) is generally considered Africa's top hunting trophy. Trophy quality is determined by the weight and beauty of the tusks." I ask myself: Would a poacher put it any differently? Against tremendous pressure from a small cadre of hunters and others who want to trade in ivory, including the folks at Safari Club International, the United States has taken strong steps against the trade in ivory goods. In February, the Obama administration took aim at poachers by further tightening restrictions on this trade within America's borders. After China, America is the world's largest market for ivory products. The United States and the rest of the world need to do more -- and quickly. At a time when we ask poor Africans to stop killing elephants to trade in ivory trinkets, is it too much to ask rich Americans to stop killing elephants for trade in trophies for display in their homes? Good heavens, isn't this so obvious? Several members of Congress are trying to pressure the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service to lift its recently imposed import restrictions on elephant trophies from Tanzania and Zimbabwe. The Obama administration should reject this lobbying effort. Crass displays of hunting conquests shouldn't come by depriving our world of one of the grandest creatures to leave its footprints on the savannahs and in the forests of Africa. | Wayne Pacelle: Poachers, as well as wealthy U.S. hunters, are killing African elephants . Pacelle: Elephants are more valuable to African nations' economies alive than dead . He says U.S. import ban and the hunting prohibitions in two African nations may help . Pacelle: It's time that all African nations with elephants ban trophy hunting . | a9918e455bdcfe216645be850010745d75a5b065 |
Washington (CNN) -- You could read the entire 1,582-page, $1 trillion omnibus spending plan announced in Congress Monday night. Or you can check out our handy cheat sheet of some of the key winners and losers in the plan. Winners . Little kids: Big winners. Funding for the Head Start and early Head Start programs would jump by $1 billion. That's $1 billion more than last year's low point after budget cuts. The mentally ill: Social-worker-turned-Senate-Appropriations-Chairwoman Barbara Mikulski, D-Maryland, has long pushed for mental health programs. This year she got them an additional $173 million dollars more than their funding level with last year's budget cuts. Disabled veterans and surviving families: No longer would a planned cut in pensions hit "medically" discharged military retirees or military spouses or children who depend on military pensions. Federal workers and active military: A 1% pay raise would come to both groups of furlough- and sequester survivors. Details of the $1 trillion spending bill . G-men: The FBI stands to gain $700 million+ over the funding it got following last year's budget cuts. Social Security Administration: The agency gets a hefty $651 million increase to help it make up for budget cuts in the past. Seated handshakes: The photo of Mikulski and House Appropriations Committee chairman Hal Rogers, R-Kentucky, sealing the deal is a double win: a more natural-looking, lawmakers-at-work shot than the traditional standing handshake. And it masks the significant height difference between the two powerful lawmakers. Obamacare: (And see below.) No gain in funds, but no loss of funds, either. Given the razor-sharp opposition to the health care law, a spending bill that doesn't get snagged in the Obamacare debate (and vice versa) could be considered a win. Obama looks to bypass Congress to press 'Year of Action' Appropriations committees: Think of it as a reality game show that no one would enjoy. The chairmen and staffs of the House and Senate appropriations committees had less than a month to agree on 12 detailed spending bills and fold them into one 1,582-page document that both parties could sign. Losers . EPA: The deal restores some of the funds cut by sequester to the Environmental Protection Agency, but not all. In a summary of the measure, Republicans boasted that with this bill, they have cut the EPA's funding by 20% since 2010. IRS: The tax agency's funding has been cut to 2009 levels, according to the Republican House Appropriations Committee. And just to send a more direct message, this appropriations bill states that the agency cannot use its funds to target citizens or groups based on their ideology. TSA: You have millions of passengers to screen everyday and now Congress has capped the number of employees you can hire. If passed, the deal would set a limit of 46,000 TSA screeners and require the TSA to find a way to make half of the traveling public eligible for "expedited" screening by the end of this year. Senators seek compromise on unemployment standoff . Russia: Two reasons. 1. Sen. Mark Kirk, R-Illinois, told CNN the deal fully funds a U.S. missile defense system in Romania, which the Russians do not like. 2. The measure makes it harder for the United States to buy weapons from Russia, including some controversial helicopters. To get around the ban, the omnibus requires the Pentagon to reveal the number of anti-aircraft missiles the Russian weapons agency has sold to Syria's Bashar al-Assad. Obamacare: (And see above.) If the Obama administration needs more funds to implement the health care law, it isn't going to get them from Congress. The bill doesn't add any funding and also blocks the administration from dipping into a prevention fund as a backup pool of money. Generals and admirals: Flag and general officers in the military would see a cut in their staff expense budgets under this plan. The president of Afghanistan: The bill specifically prohibits any of its funds from going to "the direct personal benefit of the president of Afghanistan." Portrait artists: The bill bans government officials from spending money to have a portrait made. Jerry Brown: No funds for you. The California governor hoped to get some federal funds for his dream of a $60 billion high-speed rail line between L.A. and San Francisco. But Republicans successfully blocked the idea in this deal. Obama, Maria Shriver to talk women's poverty issues . | Little kids, the mentally ill and G-men are among the winners . Russia, Jerry Brown and the IRS are among the losers . Obamacare -- both a winner and a loser . | 56df758cc86111b4764b6f269ada4f2c7482c243 |
A shocking fistfight that erupted between a teenage girl and her teacher has been caught on camera. The brawl between Marlina Martinez, 15, and an unidentified teacher occurred on Monday at Cesar Chavez High School in Stockton, California. Martinez was charged with assault following the fight and suspended for five days before a meeting to find out if she will be expelled from school. The teacher is under investigation and on paid administrative leave. Scroll down for video . Trouble: The teacher and 15-year-old pupil began a dispute on Monday about the student's use of make-up in the class . Brawl: The female student was charged with assault following the incident at her school in Stockton, California . The violence broke out after Martinez was reprimanded by her teacher for applying make-up at the end of the math class. The 15-year-old then called her mother to demand that the teacher hand the phone back. The teacher then promptly confiscated the phone. The dispute escalates to loud shouting before Martinez told RGJ.com that she was pushed by her teacher. The teacher and student can been seen grappling and rolling on to the floor before other students intervened to break it up. The teacher and Martinez both had bruises and scratches following the fist fight. The incident was caught on camera phone by another student before he posted the footage on Facebook. Tussle: Martinez was reprimanded by her teacher for applying make-up at the end of the class resulting in a dispute which turned physical . Grappling: Footage of the fight was posted on Facebook by another student who caught the incident on her smartphone . Charges: Martinez said that the teacher should not have confiscated her belongings in the classroom . The school district described the . incident as 'regrettable' and said that the teacher had been put on paid . administrative leave pending an investigation. A spokesman said that they have seen the smartphone video but could not clearly say what had happened. Martinez admitted that she should not have spoken to her teacher in the manner that she did but that the woman should have walked away and pushed a security button in classrooms which is available if a student gets out of control. Outbursts: Cesar Chavez High School in Stockton, California . | Marlina Martinez, 15, facing an assault charge following brawl in classroom at Chavez High School in Stockton, California . Teacher, who has not been identified, is on paid administrative leave following investigation . | 387cd94efaa1bbd20e74d5e92f846997a92a807e |
By . Dan Bloom . PUBLISHED: . 05:41 EST, 21 November 2013 . | . UPDATED: . 05:56 EST, 21 November 2013 . Is this the lumpiest road in Britain? A 94-yard village street with just 16 semi-detached homes has residents fuming after they counted 80 potholes. They will have to endure the bumps through winter as there is no money left to repair Rothbury Avenue, South Tyneside - and there is no guarantee it will be done next year either. Driven potty: Winter has only just begun but residents of bumpy Rothbury Avenue in Monkton Village, South Tyneside, have counted 80 potholes. There is no money left to fix them until at least next spring . Appalling: How one resident described the road, claiming it was the worst in Britain - is yours even worse? Funding gap: Labour South Tyneside Council says it will not prioritise the street because it is a minor road . Frederick Lazenby, 80, has launched a petition calling on South Tyneside Council to fix Rothbury Avenue, in Monkton Village. He said: 'It's in a terrible state. It has been like this since I moved in 30 years ago. It has just got worse and worse. 'There . are a lot of old people in the street and those in wheelchairs are . having difficulty getting across the road. Those driving cars are . finding the road terrible as well. 'They are trying to dodge them but you can't anymore - there are that many of them. 'It is definitely worse than any other street in Britain that I know of.' Resident Frederick Lazenby, 80, said: 'Those in wheelchairs are having difficulty getting across the road' Residents of the street's 16 houses have threatened to sue the council if their cars are damaged by the bumps . A Nightmare on Rothbury Avenue: The street in Monkton Village, South Tyneside, is just 94 yards long . South Tyneside Council says repairing the road will cost £5,157, a price it cannot afford - because its road repairs budget has already dried up. Executive director Mike Conlon said: 'The council's current mainstream road resurfacing budget is fully committed for the current year. Councils across England and Wales have united to claim potholes will hit 'crisis point' this winter. They begged the government for more cash, saying years of spending cuts meant projects already 'on the back burner' were being delayed further and further. Transport chairman for the Local Government Association, Cllr Peter Box, blamed 'decades of underfunding by Whitehall'. He said in March: 'We're now facing a bill of £10.5 billion to bring our roads up to scratch. Unless something changes we risk swathes of Britain's road network becoming dangerously strewn with potholes, particularly if flooding and severe winters become more common.' Potholes appear over winter when water repeatedly freezes and thaws inside cracks in the road surface, opening them wider. Most councils use instant 'emergency repairs' to fix danger potholes, but these have to be followed up with a permanent, more expensive fix which many authorities say they are struggling to afford. 'Rothbury Avenue will be considered for resurfacing during the next financial year commencing in April 2014. 'It . should be noted, however, that there is no guarantee that funding will . be available. The street is a quiet cul-de-sac and major roads and bus . routes will take priority.' He added there had already been 'extensive' pothole repairs carried out in recent years . to keep the road safe. Resident Brenda Melia, 67, said: 'I am disgusted at the decision. There is another winter ahead . and it is only going to get worse. 'It . is going to cost the council more in the long-term. If my car is . damaged when reversing I'll be claiming off them, that's for sure.' Her husband Dennis, 69, added: 'The . council keeps going on about Monkton Village being Jarrow's jewel in the . crown and yet they are allowing the road outside our homes to get into . this state. It is damaging the look of the area. 'What . would happen if I had to put my house up for sale and a prospective . buyer came and saw the state of road? There's no way I could sell it at . its true value.' Another resident, who did not want to be named, said: 'I think it is very dangerous. In this street 80 to 85 per cent of residents are old aged pensioners. I am 80 years old and my wife is 79. 'There is a lady in a wheelchair who has to travel up the street to find a safer part of the road to cross. The whole surface of the road is falling to pieces.' 'I am appalled by the state of it. If it was Councillors' Row it would be done immediately. It is only going to get worse when the bad weather comes.' Abandoned: Residents in Rothbury Avenue claimed the road would have fixed if it was on 'Councillors' Row' | Rothbury Avenue, South Tyneside, has just 16 houses but 80 potholes . Resident: 'People are trying to dodge them but you can't anymore' South Tyneside Council says there is no money left for £5,000 repair . | da799164b0711e0d2400444609ce6c206021fcec |
(CNN) -- Two men convicted of killing a British soldier on a London street last year were sentenced Wednesday, one to life in prison and the other to a minimum of 45 years. In a brutal attack recorded on closed-circuit TV and by bystanders, Michael Adebolajo and Michael Adebowale hit soldier Lee Rigby with a car then hacked him to death with a meat cleaver and knives in May 2013. The Islamic converts, through testimony or their lawyers' arguments in court, indicated they killed Rigby for Allah. Cellphone footage replayed at the trial showed Adebolajo, still clutching a cleaver in his bloody hands, ranting that the killing was "an eye for an eye, a tooth for a tooth" for British soldiers killing Muslims overseas. They were convicted of murder in December. Adebolajo will spend life in prison. Adebowale received a sentence of at least 45 years. Rigby, who had served in Afghanistan and was off duty when he was killed at the age of 25, left behind a wife and a young son. The prosecution had asked for the maximum possible sentence: life imprisonment without parole. But defense lawyers argued Wednesday for leniency. Barrister David Gottlieb told the court that the victim was chosen because he was a member of the armed forces and that no one else was hurt in the attack. Prosecutor Sue Hemming said the pair "reveled in one of the most appalling terrorist murders I have ever seen." "Not only was the attack brutal and calculated, it was also designed to advance extremist views," she said in a prepared statement. "As a solider, Fusilier Lee Rigby was targeted in a clear act of revenge, deliberately carried out in full view of members of the public for maximum impact." Family members attended court Wednesday to hear the sentences handed down. Outside the court, demonstrators from the English Defence League, a far-right group, carried signs calling for capital punishment to be restored. Britain abolished the death penalty in the 1960s. 'I am a soldier of Allah' At the trial, the prosecution said that the pair -- both born and raised in Britain by families of Christian Nigerian origin -- deliberately attacked an unarmed man from behind, using a vehicle as a weapon, and that they murdered him and mutilated his body. At trial, Adebolajo denied the charges of murder on the grounds that he had acted from religious conviction. He converted to Islam in 2002 to 2003, while at a university. Adebowale, who did not take the stand, converted to Islam more recently, in 2008 to 2009. In court, Adebolajo gave a matter-of-fact account of his actions. He declared himself a warrior for Allah and said he saw al Qaeda as his "brothers in Islam." He testified the only way he knew that Rigby was a soldier was because of his backpack. Summing up the case before the jury deliberated, Judge Nigel Sweeney reminded jurors of what happened in the 13 minutes between Rigby's body being dragged into the middle of a road near the Woolwich barracks and the arrival of police. The judge also cited details of Adebolajo's police interview and witness testimony, including that he loved al Qaeda and that he had tried to cut off Rigby's head because it was the proper method under Allah. When asked at the trial what his defense to the charge of murder was, Adebolajo said: "I am a soldier. I am a soldier of Allah." May: 'Sickening and barbaric' Though Adebowale did not give evidence at the trial, his lawyer, Abbas Lakha, echoed Adebolajo's testimony regarding their intent. The judge told the jury that the defense's argument -- that Rigby's killing was an act of war or of retaliation -- did not apply. Adebolajo and Adebowale were found not guilty of attempted murder of a police officer in the case. The prosecution had argued that when they ran toward the police vehicle that responded after Rigby's murder -- with Adebolajo holding a knife and Adebowale a gun -- they intended to kill an officer. However, the defense argued that the two men wanted to be killed by police. The gun was not loaded. At the time of the verdict, Home Secretary Theresa May said the "sickening and barbaric murder" of Rigby had "united the entire nation in condemnation." "Violence and extremism of any kind have absolutely no place in our society and cannot be justified," she said. CNN's Kellie Morgan, Marie-Louise Gumuchian and Carol Jordan contributed to this report. | NEW: Michael Adebolajo is sentenced to life in prison for killing UK soldier . NEW: Michael Adebowale is sentenced to at least 45 years in Lee Rigby's death . The pair hit Rigby with a car, hacked him to death with meat cleaver and knives . Adebolajo, a convert to Islam, indicated he believed himself a warrior for Allah . | 215dfe5330d421509442441b5dab7a0b8ea542ea |
Gary Anderson is ready to compete with the big boys again at the World Darts Championship after a traumatic last few years affected his performances on the big stage. Having reached the final in 2011, the world No 4 hasn’t produced his best at Alexandra Palace in the last three years after losing his brother Stewart to a heart attack in September of that year and seeing his dad pass away six months later. But Anderson, who plays his first-round match on Saturday night, has enjoyed a good year on the tour and is now hoping to recapture the form that took him to the brink of the world title four years ago. After a few tough years Gary Anderson is finding his best form at the right time for this year's championships . The Alexandra Palace crowds haven't drawn the best from Anderson since his appearance in the 2011 final . He told Sportsmail: ‘I’ve always said that family come first and it was hard. People were talking about my finishing but I couldn’t give two damns what they thought or said. ‘If anyone in the world says “that’s just the way it goes” then they’re idiots. ‘I’ve only ever played darts for me and when it’s going well I’m enjoying it and I’m happy. For me, darts is just a game that I’ve played since I was 24 and it has turned out to be my job. ‘I’ve had too much on in the past few years, but now everything has settled it has been a good year.’ Anderson changed his darts after his narrow 4-3 defeat by eventual champion Michael van Gerwen in the third round last year in a bid to rediscover his form. He has also welcomed a new addition to the family - his eight-month-old son Tai. Anderson will face one of Mike McGrath or Scott Kirchner in his first round match on Saturday . Anderson was knocked out by eventual champion Michael van Gerwen last year, leading to a change of darts . And the lift in his spirits have seen his results improve this year, so much so that he enters the tournament as the No 4 seed when last year he was as low as No 18. On the birth of his son Tai, Anderson said: ‘It was a huge weight off my shoulders and I’m enjoying things just now which makes my darts a lot easier for me. The last couple of years I wasn’t enjoying my darts, but I have this year.’ Anderson will face either Mike McGrath or Scott Kirchner in the first round at Alexandra Palace, and he admitted that he doesn’t know too much about his potential opponents. ‘It’s always a bad thing because I like to know who I’m playing against,’ the world No 4 said. ‘You can’t keep a tab on every player in the world and in the last few years I have had really tough games in the first round. But that is the way it is now because there are so many good players these days.’ | Gary Anderson hasn't performed on biggest stage since 2011 final . Anderson lost his father and brother in the year after final defeat . But World No 4 is finally back in form and looking to compete with the best . | bf0db25f7bb984b64508a1c95ddaca1a25be342c |
(CNN) -- MotoGP championship leader Casey Stoner claimed his 10th pole position of 2011 on Saturday to boost his bid for a ninth victory this season at the Japan Grand Prix. After 14 of 18 meetings, the Australian holds a 44-point lead over world champion Jorge Lorenzo, who will start Sunday's race second on the grid for Yamaha at Motegi. He broke Lorenzo's 2008 lap record with a time of one minute 45.267 seconds to earn his first pole at the circuit, where he won last year's race. Stoner's teammate Andrea Dovizioso qualified third ahead of another Honda rider, Dani Pedrosa, while American Ben Spies claimed fifth for Yamaha. Honda's Marco Simoncelli completed the third row for Honda, while fellow Italian and seven-time world champion Valentino Rossi was seventh for Ducati. Hiroshi Aoyama, in 11th, was the highest-placed Japanese rider for what will be an emotional day. Motorcycling's top names had initially refused to travel to Motegi due to health fears after the Fukushima Daiichi nuclear power plant was damaged during March's earthquake and tsunami. They backed down after MotoGP officials refused to cancel the race, but Stoner arrived late to reduce any exposure to radiation and Lorenzo told reporters that he had been washing with bottled water despite experts insisting the Motegi area is safe from any fallout. But the riders have helped raise $140,000 for the "We are for Japan" campaign, with Aoyama to present the check to local officials before the race. "Everything has gone very well so far this weekend. We've been fastest in all but one session, so it's been fantastic," 2007 world champion Stoner told the MotoGP website. "We'll have to watch the weather as this will affect the set-up. There's also a chance of rain, so it could get complicated. Jorge has been riding fantastic, as has Dovi and Dani, but there is no doubt that the Honda suits this track." | Casey Stoner will start Sunday's Japan Grand Prix at front of the grid . Honda star sets new lap record at Motegi as he heads off Jorge Lorenzo . Riders have raised more than $140,000 for the "We are for Japan" campaign . Stars had initially refused to compete in Japan due to radiation fears . | 022b50e462964776125b41050126739b8c492d4c |
By . Daily Mail Reporter . PUBLISHED: . 14:03 EST, 22 August 2012 . | . UPDATED: . 15:07 EST, 22 August 2012 . Country singer Taylor Swift offered comfort and solace to her grieving boyfriend Conor Kennedy during a visit to his mother's grave at the weekend. The 22-year-old Grammy winner . accompanied the eldest son of RFK Jr., and his other . siblings, to the St. Francis Xavier . Cemetery in Massachusetts. The Kennedy clan has been gripped by grief since Mary Richardson Kennedy, 52, tragically hanged herself this past spring. Support: Taylor Swift joined her boyfriend Conor Kennedy and his siblings on a visit to his mother's grave at the St. Francis Xavier Cemetery in Massachusetts over the weekend . Solemn moment: Conor sought comfort in his country singer love . But Taylor has provided joy amid the . heartache for Conor, 18, with the pair enjoying their fledgling romance at . the family's Cape Cod estate this summer. The pair walked hand-in-hand to the Hyannis cemetery and stopped for hugs. Conor . was wearing a grey T-shirt and shorts, with Swift looking summery in a . red floral print A-line dress, Ray Ban sunglasses, and leather shoes. The . couple, who was seen caressing just a day before, appeared solemn at . his mother’s grave, and at one point appeared to bow their heads in . prayer, as did Kennedy’s siblings. Paying their respects: Taylor is now a fixture among the Kennedy clan . Joy amid the heartache: The young lovers shared a light moment during the sombre visit . Tragedy: Conor's mother Mary Kennedy committed suicide in May after battling depression . According . to the New York Daily News, Kennedy also reached down to clear some brambles and . overgrown grass from his mother’s yet-unmarked grave. Mary . Kennedy hanged herself on May 16 in a barn behind the couple’s . home in Bedford, New York, amid bitter divorce proceedings and a battle . with depression and addiction. Swift, who is said to be worth as . much as $80million, reportedly purchased a $5million Cape Cod mansion . next to the Kennedy’s sprawling estate. Part of the family: Taylor seemed at ease with Conor's clan, including his sisters Aiden (third from right) and Kyra (second from right) Inseparable: The pair held hands as they left the graveyard . Before the sombre visit, the young couple attended mass together. Their romance has not been without controversy however. Victoria Gifford Kennedy today claim the Taylor crashed her daughter Kyle's wedding in Boston on Saturday. The mother of the bride said Conor was invited to her daughter's nuptials to Liam Kerr, but failed to RSVP. Resting place: Religious statues and American flags adorn the grave site of Mary Richardson Kennedy in Saint Francis Xavier Cemetery; at one point, Conor cleared away overgrown grass from her grave . '[Swift and Conor] texted me an hour . before the wedding and asked if they could come. I responded with a very . clear 'Please do not come.' They came anyway,' she told the Boston . Herald. She made it clear she did not want Swift detracting attention from her daughter on big day. 'I personally went up to Ms. Swift, . whose entrance distracted the entire event, politely introduced myself . to her and asked her as nicely as I could to leave,' she added. 'It was . like talking to a ghost. She seemed to look right past me.' But Swift's spokesperson shot back at . the claims, saying: 'Taylor was invited to the wedding and the bride . thanked her profusely for being there.' Paying respects: Robert F. Kennedy Jr., left, kneels with his children, including Conor, right, at her casket, after her funeral on May 19th; her body was later exhumed and moved across the cemetery . Tragic end: Mary Richardson Kennedy was found dead in the barn outside her Bedford, New York home in May, after a bitter divorce dispute and battling depression . | Mary Kennedy, 52, committed suicide in May after battling depression . | 754da5b2791f4788ca927074e6d567a34611c966 |
Los Angeles (CNN) -- Columbus Short's wife swears the "Scandal" actor threatened to kill her and himself with a knife last week. The allegation is part of Tanee Short's affidavit filed Tuesday asking for a restraining order to keep her husband away from her and their 2-year-old daughter. She also filed for divorce after almost nine years of marriage, citing irreconcilable differences. A judge signed a temporary restraining order and set a hearing for May 6 to decide whether it would be extended. Columbus Short, 31, plays Harrison Wright, a member of fixer Olivia Pope's team, on the hit ABC series. In a statement Thursday to CNN, the actor said he would refrain from sharing his side of the story. "As you all know, lately my personal life has been subjected to a lot of press. As much as I would like to provide my side of events, my counsel has instructed me that a Court of law is the only and proper venue to deal with such matters," Short said in the statement. "Accordingly, I must refrain from making any comments even though that is very difficult for me under the circumstances. Thank you to my fans for your continued support during this difficult time." According to court filings, the actor has been to jail at least three times for violence in the past three months. Tanee Short's sworn statement described an April 7 incident at the couple's Los Angeles County home when her husband allegedly was intoxicated and threatened to hit her with a wine bottle after he "dumped the wine on me." He then "grabbed a knife from the kitchen" and "pinned me on the couch and began to choke me," she said. "He placed the knife close to my neck and threatened to kill me and then kill himself." Her husband demanded they play "a game he called 'Truth or Truth'" in which he randomly listed "names of people we know and accused me of having an affair." He stabbed the couch or other furniture each time she denied an affair, she said. Tanee Short said she grabbed her daughter, ran to her car and drove away. She realized after driving two miles that one of her tires had been slashed, she said. The affidavit also described two alleged incidents of violence in February at the couple's home. In each instance, Columbus Short was taken to jail by police who responded to his wife's 911 call, the statement said. The actor woke his wife on the morning of February 3 and choked her before chasing her around the house and "constantly threatening me," she said. He "pushed me and started screaming that I need to leave" during a February 18 argument, she said. She called police with her nanny's cell phone after her husband shattered her phone, according to the sworn statement. Short was charged with felony battery after a fight in which he allegedly punched and knocked out a man at a West Los Angeles restaurant last month, the Los Angeles County District Attorney's Office said in a statement. He was released from jail on $50,000 bail. HLN's Selin Darkalstanian and CNN's Joan Yeam contributed to this report. | NEW: "I must refrain from making any comments," Columbus Short tells CNN . Tanee Short alleges three violent incidents with her husband in three months . Columbus Short was arrested at his home twice in February, wife says . A judge ordered the actor to stay away from his wife and home . | f967e27bdc8bfb876561d82ccb7db590987a74d4 |
As Mexican drug cartels pump cut-rate methamphetamine into the U.S. at increasingly alarming rates, the DEA has reported record seizures of the drug at the California-Mexico border. 14,732 pounds of the drug were seized by the San Diego field office in the last fiscal year, ending September 30, according to U.S. Customs and Border Protection reports. That's a whopping 63 per cent of all reported seizures by both land, sea, and air ports across the nation. As Mexican drug cartels pump cut-rate methamphetamine into the U.S. at increasing rates, the DEA has reported record seizures of the drug at the California-Mexico border . 'The Mexican cartels are flooding the U.S. marketplace with their cheap methamphetamine,' Gary Hill, the special agent in charge of the DEA's San Diego operations, told U-T San Diego. 'We have seen the trend of the price of meth decreasingly tremendously since 2008,' he added. Once produced mostly stateside, regulations on many of the precursor chemicals used to make the addictive synthetic drug have pushed manufacturing to Mexico, where labs now account for an estimated 90 per cent of production. A pound of meth can be purchased by undercover agents for $3,500 as opposed to the $11,800 it would cost for an equal amount of cocaine. 'The overhead is tremendous for cocaine,' Hill said. But for meth, 'the overhead is minimal. They oversee the manufacturing. There is no middleman.' The Sinaloa cartel and the Knights Templar are the groups doing the most business, producing the drug and overseeing smuggling routes into California. A pound of meth can be purchased by undercover agents for $3,500 as opposed to the $11,800 it would cost for an equal amount of cocaine . 'That’s our supposition,' Hill told U-T San Diego said. 'They control the gateway at San Diego and they seem to be the ones who are most involved in manufacturing the methamphetamine, so it kind of goes hand-in-hand.' Once into the West Coast, the drug is spread using distribution hubs to the north. Agents find meth shipped from Los Angeles making its way to Atlanta, Chicago, New York, North Carolina, Seattle, San Francisco, Montana, and even Canadian cities. 'What we noticed first was an increase in smuggling among teens,' said Joe Garcia, the interim special agent in charge for U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement Homeland Security Investigations in San Diego. 'Initially it was marijuana, then there was a shift to hard narcotics, where meth was the main hard narcotic being smuggled.' The smuggling is done in fairly small quantities, hidden in sealed food cans, spare tires, engine compartments, and even strapped to the bodies of pedestrians. Not all of the smuggles are Mexican. In one June case a 21-year-old U.S. citizen was discovered hiding three pounds of the drug under her clothing. A 62-year-old U.S. citizen was arrested in April concealing meth inside of cheese. Bob Hood, the CBP's assistant director for the San Ysidro Port of Entry says the trend has been pedestrians with drugs on their person. The Sinaloa cartel and the Knights Templar are the groups doing the most business, producing the drug and overseeing smuggling routes into California . As meth can be liquified and hidden into gas tanks, windshield wiper fluid, and juice bottles before being reconstituted in labs, DEA agents are having to search deeper into vehicles into difficult places to search. There has been a 300 per cent increase in seizures of the drug at California entry ports since 2009. In turn, prosecution has jumped, with more than 60 cases of meth seizure at ports of entry involving one kilo or more in 2014 prosecuted by the San Diego District Attorney's office compared to only eight cases in 2013. Meanwhile over 2014 marijuana, cocaine and heroin seizures dropped. 'We're seeing as much if not more meth than marijuana,' Hood said. There has been a 300 per cent increase in seizures of the drug at California entry ports since 2009 . And that increase has led to serious repercussions across California, says Meth Strike Force coordinator Angela Goldberg. 'We are seeing a lot of health consequences, such as big increases in meth deaths and emergency room visits, along with public safety consequences, such as more arrests and more people in jail who test positive for meth,' she said. 'It’s very hard to get past these drug cartels. They’re very good at what they do.' There were 267 meth-related deaths in 2013 according to the San Diego County Medical Examiner's Office: 190 overdoses, 22 motor vehicle accidents, 21 homicides with victims who tested positive for the drug, and 23 suicides. | More than 14,000 pounds of the drug were seized by the San Diego field office last year . There has been a 300 per cent increase in seizures of the drug at California entry ports since 2009 . | 8552e98c823563ba1ddbd04cac27189dff209d7d |
Rio Ferdinand insists the England team will remain behind the likes of Germany unless coaches stop holding back naturally talented players such as Wayne Rooney. In an extract from his autobiography #2sides, the former England captain picks over the Three Lions' performance at the World Cup having been in Brazil as a pundit and witnessed their miserable campaign. Ferdinand reckons the Germans, along with Holland and Spain, are streets ahead and the QPR defender pinpoints mistakes at grassroots level. Rio Ferdinand wants to see talented young players given the freedom to develop naturally . Ferdinand was in Brazil working for the BBC as a pundit during the World Cup this summer . 'We’ve got far too many coaches who tell talented young players how to play rather than letting them develop naturally,' said Ferdinand in the extract on his Facebook page. 'All I heard on the sidelines when I was growing up was about hard work and tackling. A good tackle would be applauded as much, if not more, than a great bit of skill. Tackling is a great part of the game. But, for me, the skill factor overrides everything else. 'The best players have the best skills because it’s something they’ve done all their lives in their own, original, unstructured ways. 'Look at Cristiano Ronaldo: unstructured street football as a kid. He just played and played because he loved to play. The Brazilian Ronaldo, Maradona, Wayne Rooney, Franck Ribery … all these guys are street footballers and originals who did things their way. Wayne Rooney was cited as an example of pure, natural talent by his former Man United team-mate Ferdinand . Cristiano Ronaldo, another United old boy, is also mentioned by Ferdinand in his new book . 'I’ve often spoken about this with Wayne and Cristiano. Wayne told me a few times how coaches wanted him to play in one position and he refused, saying, "No, I want to play here, because I’m the best and that’s what I’m doing." 'With guys like that, from a young age they’ve got their own ideas and they understand football and they know what they’re good at. Unfortunately, some coaches see that as a threat and won’t embrace it.' To read more from #2sides ahead of the release this week, click here. | Rio Ferdinand says coaches hold back talented youngsters . Ferdinand wants to see kids be allowed to develop naturally . The QPR defender insists it is an English problem . The ex-captain watched England in his role as pundit at the World Cup . Ferdinand discusses his time in Brazil in his autobiography #2sides . | 5baec854306867f17d296576adc7cb88a4590015 |
When Max Payne was released all those years ago on PS2, a well-known gaming website recommended you bought on that console it if was the only means of playing the game. See, Max Payne was a PC title, ported and scaled down for console - and during that transition, the quality of the experience suffered slightly. The same is true of the Battlefield games. If you're after jaw-dropping visuals, photo-realistic character models and want to see the Frostbite 3 Engine in all of its glory, either wait for next-generation offerings or play it on a high-powered PC. If you can't wait that long, current-gen will suffice - but expect the overall experience to take a hit. Stunning: to get the best out of Battlefield 4, you must play it on a high-end PC or wait for next-gen consoles . At its core, BF4 is a multiplayer game, and this is by far its strongest hand. There are 10 maps in total, all perfectly designed to cater to your gameplay style - whether that's finding a 'quiet' spot and sniping enemies with a high-powered rifle, dog-fighting in a jet-plane or engaging in naval combat. Destructive environments make a comeback, but its 'Levolution' that steals the show. This introduces massive, destructive events that drastically change the map when certain criteria are met. These events are best discovered for yourself, even if they become slightly predictable the more you play. There are also plenty of new modes from Obliteration - that sees two sides fighting to defuse a bomb, to Commander, that caters to the ever-growing second-screen gaming market. The latter sees you get a tactical map of the battlefield where you can direct your team to different points of interest, send in supplies and warn your troops of impending attacks. There's no ignoring the fact that the campaign, although incredibly entertaining while it lasts, ultimately feels tacked on. It's not helped by a stats counter, rewarding you for killing foes and headshots, that seems completely out of place and acts as a reminder that this is multiplayer game at heart. Any emotional punch the plot tries to deliver is hence crushed as enemies are not seen as 'living things' but a means of ending the level with the highest score possible. Still, the five-or-so-hour-long single-player is leagues better than its predecessor's bland effort, featuring set-pieces that give even the most far-fetched Call of Duty moments a run for their money. Plus, it even features a more than capable performance from its leading men, particularly The Wire's Michael K Williams. A blast: the single-player story may be lacking in emotion, but it's still a very enjoyable, five-hour thrill ride . Sadly, there's no avoiding the AI problems. Enemies will run right past your teammates and make a beeline for you, take cover right next to your squad mates and launch grenades at every given minute. These gripes don't massively detract from the experience, but are noticeable throughout the entire campaign. Even so, Battlefield 4 is a compelling package - one that serves to satisfy both those waiting for a full-fat Call of Duty: Ghosts campaign, and keen multiplayer gamers. Battlefield 4 is out now. Test PC was powered by Nvidia 680GTX graphics card in SLI ( a single GTX680 was able to run the game at maximum settings at a smooth framerate, too). Follow us on Twitter: @DailyMailGames and on Facebook: Daily Mail Games. | Next-generation graphics look stunning on PC but Frostbite 3 Engine takes a hit on console . Vastly-improved single-player campaign but it's short-lived . Brilliant multiplayer that caters for all types of gamers . 'Levolution' mechanic is fun to start with but can wear thin . | 2ec471ad164b11fd54b268ce99f490fd340689a5 |
When Louis van Gaal took over at Manchester United earlier this summer, the future looked bleak for Ashley Young. There appeared to be no place for the 29-year-old in Van Gaal's favoured 3-5-2 formation and, after a poor campaign under David Moyes last season, Young looked almost certain to be offloaded. Five games later, however, and Young looks to have saved his United career by reinventing himself as a wing-back in the mold of Dirk Kuyt, who caught the eye at the World Cup with some industrious displays for Holland. VIDEO Scroll down to watch Ashley Young's Sportsmail freestyle . Show of strength: Ashley Young (left) goes shoulder to shoulder with Glen Johnson . Catch him if you can: Raheem Sterling bursts away from Ashley Young in United's 3-1 win over Liverpool . Impressed: Louis van Gaal has given Ashley Young plenty of game time during United's pre-season tour . VIDEO Van Gaal demands a lot and the players have responded . But is Young really cut out to play that role week in and week out in the Premier League? Four goals - two of them against Real Madrid - and a series of penetrating crosses and dribbles during United's pre-season tour of America provided a reminder of Young's attacking qualities. But his defensive limitations were exposed against Liverpool on Monday morning. A lapse in concentration allowed Raheem Sterling to run in behind him leading to Phil Jones hacking down the Liverpool midfielder and conceding a penalty - which Steven Gerrard duly dispatched. An isolated lapse may be, but Young has never been known for his defensive qualities. When Sir Alex Ferguson or David Moyes needed an auxiliary right back in the absence of Rafael, they always turned to Antonio Valencia. The Ecuadorian has more physical presence and big-game defensive experience than Young who, after all, has only impressed in his new role in meaningless pre-season friendlies. No Shaw thing: £30m man Luke (left) has been told to improve his fitness by Louis van Gaal . Competition: Antonio Valencia has been preferred at right in the past that Ashley Young . Bulking up: Ashley Young takes part in a opening training sessions before United's victory over Liverpool . Focued: Ashley Young concentrates on his exercises during United's open training session last week . In the Premier League last season Young managed a little over a tackle a game (1.14) compared to Valencia's 2.32. In 20 games, Young managed to block just one shot and make 10 interceptions. Valencia by comparison blocked six shots and made 39 interceptions - although he did play nine more games. Valencia also made more headed clearances and won a higher percentage of tackles than Young, who also fails in comparison to Rafael and Luke Shaw - who will also be challenging for the wing-back spots. In defence of Young, however, Rafael for all his attacking qualities still has a tendency to jump into tackles. Valencia has not been as potent going forward as Young, while Shaw will have to prove he is able to step up to playing for a big club like United. It is clear that none of Van Gaal's options are perfect but he has seen something in Young that Ferguson and Moyes didn't. The Dutchman has been keen to get his players thinking on and off the pitch and it was interesting that Young was chosen to speak alongside the Dutchman at a press conference last week - something which rarely happened under Ferguson and Moyes. Spot on: Dirk Kuyt scores a penalty for Holland against Costa Rica at the World Cup . Making his mark: Dirk Kuyt tackles Pablo Zabaleta (left) and shows his crossing ability during the World Cup . Tight marking: Dirk Kuyt gets to grip with Lucas Biglia of Argentina during the World Cup . Young spoke well and it may be that Van Gaal is hoping he can reinvent and tutor the winger in a similar way to how he used Kuyt at the World Cup. Kuyt, a former striker turned winger, impressed for Holland as a left wing back and the pair share certain similarities. Young too is a good athlete and hard worker able to get up and down the pitch well. Young also prefers to play on the left rather than the right - 'as a right-footed player, you can cut inside, have a shot and link up with the midfielders and forwards' - and with doubts over Shaw's fitness, he may well start United's opening League game against Swansea on August 16. Defensively Young will have to improve if he is to keep his place in the team but he is very much the in-form man. And if Young keeps scoring and proving a threat going forward it will be hard for the Dutchman to ignore him. However this experiment turns out, Young at the moment deserves praise for reigniting his United career and the Old Trafford faithful will be hoping to see a new and improved man wearing the No 19 shirt this season. | Young scored four goals during United's pre-season tour of America . 29-year-old seemed certain to leave Old Trafford earlier this summer . Young has played at left and right wing back in United's pre-season games . Young faces competition from Luke Shaw, Antonio Valencia and Rafael . Louis van Gaal used Kuyt as a left wing back during the World Cup . | 1c5e27a7f5c455fd221b27cbaaeeccb01bfffd79 |
By . Wil Longbottom and Hugo Gye . Last updated at 2:36 PM on 21st December 2011 . Up to 10,000 women took to the streets of Cairo yesterday to protest against the horrific abuse by soldiers. They were surrounded by a cordon of male protesters as they marched through the centre of Egypt’s capital. And their actions forced an apology from the military regime behind the violence of the past five days. March: A woman holds up a photograph of a protester being dragged along the ground by police . Anger: The protest is one of the first to be led by women - though many had male chaperones . Many carried shocking pictures of . women being dragged by the hair, kicked and stripped – including the . ‘girl in the blue bra’ who was kicked and beaten with metal bars. ‘They say they are here to protect us, . but they are stripping us naked,’ the marchers chanted. Even before the . demonstration was over, the military council governing the country . issued an apology for what it called ‘violations’. It expressed ‘deep regret to the great . women of Egypt’ and reaffirmed ‘its respect and total appreciation for . the women of Egypt and their right to protest, effectively and . positively participate in the political life on the road to the . democratic transition’. And it promised it was taking measures to punish those responsible for violations. Demands: Anger has been mounted over the military government's heavy-handed treatment of demonstrations . United: The women came together from all social and religious backgrounds . But the protesters have little faith in their rulers. The attacks came during clashes since . Friday as troops broke up protests by activists demanding the end to the . rule of the military, which took power after the fall of Hosni Mubarak . in February. Clashes saw military police chasing . young men and women through Tahrir Square and nearby streets, beating . them with clubs and sticks. The images of abuse drew harsh words . from U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton, who described them . as ‘a systematic degradation of Egyptian women’. 'They say they are here to protect us, but they are stripping us naked,' the marchers chanted. 'The girl dragged around is just like my daughter. They do that and then call us thugs,' said Um Hossam, a 54-year old woman in traditional black dress and a veil. 'I am a free woman and attacking this woman or killing protesters is just like going after one of my own children.' Yesterday morning, in the second dawn raid in as many days, troops and riot police descended on Cairo's Tahrir Square in a bid to evict protesters. Dr Ahmed Saad, a volunteer at the field hospital in the square, said a 15-year-old was in a critical condition after being shot. Clashes: Protesters hurl rocks at Egyptian soldiers during a dawn raid in Tahrir Square, Cairo, this morning . Violence: Egyptian protesters hurl rocks at security forces with one holding a stolen riot shield. At least 14 people have been killed since clashes erupted on Friday . Egypt's general are coming under mounting criticism over the excessive use of force by troops against unarmed protesters, including women. Since the latest outbreak of violence on Friday, at least 14 protesters have been killed. Security forces initially succeeded in removing protesters from the square, but they returned a short time later using a different route. They then pulled out following clashes in which protesters hurled rocks at them. The military took power after an 18-day uprising forced long-time leader Hosni Mubarak to step down 10 months ago. They have since been accused by activists and rights groups of mismanaging the transition period, human rights abuses and failing to revive the ailing economy or restore security. Evicted: Soldiers and police managed to force protesters out of Tahrir Square this morning, but they soon returned . Crackdown: Egyptians step over a blood stain running along a street near Tahrir Square. The military has been accused of using excessive violence . Unrest: A woman walks past a mural that reads 'down with the army council of thieves' in Cairo, Egypt. Protesters want the military to hand over power to a civilian authority . On Monday, a member of the military council sought to discredit the revolutionaries behind the ongoing protests and spoke of a conspiracy to 'topple the state' Major General Adel Emara defended the use of force by troops and refused to apologise for the brutality shown, particularly toward female protesters. U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton, addressing students at Georgetown University yesterday, accused security forces of specifically targeting women. 'And now, women are being attacked, stripped and beaten in the streets,' she said. 'This systematic degradation of Egyptian women dishonours the revolution, disgraces the state and its uniform and is not worthy of a great people.' Rest: An Egyptian protester takes some time out off Tahrir Square. A 15-year-old is in a critical condition after being shot this morning in a raid on the demonstrators . Salvage: A volunteer collects burnt manuscripts from the ruins of the Scientific Institute of Egypt which was torched yesterday . Navi Pillay, UN human rights chief, called on ruling generals to arrest and prosecute officials behind the crackdown. Some newspapers in Egypt have been critical of the crackdown. Independent Al-Tahrir featured a composite picture of Maj Gen Emara addressing a news conference with the iconic image of soldiers stamping and beating a half-naked woman behind him. Mocking his use of the patriotic card in defence of their record, the words 'Egypt always come first' are written below the image. But others have reacted angrily to further protests. A retired army general told a newspaper this week that the protesters should be thrown into 'Hitler's ovens' - a reference to the gas chambers used by Nazi Germany in the Holocaust. | Teenager shot by soldiers after they attempt to remove protesters . At least 14 killed since violent clashes erupted on Friday . Former general calls for protesters to be thrown into 'Hitler's ovens' U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton accuses military of targeting women . | 8ccdc336a1793269d654175927500b2692428d12 |
By . Sophie Jane Evans . PUBLISHED: . 12:53 EST, 12 March 2014 . | . UPDATED: . 13:03 EST, 12 March 2014 . Sixteen injured dogs and puppies have been rescued from a 'house of horrors' where they were allegedly being trained to fight. The animals were discovered mauling each other at the backyard of the property in Santa Paula, California, at around 9am (4pm GMT) yesterday. They were found in a bloodied state - suffering from deep bite wounds, severe jaw injuries and with several teeth knocked out. WARNING: GRAPHIC CONTENT . Saved: Sixteen injured dogs and puppies have been rescued from a 'house of horrors' where they were allegedly being trained to fight. The animals were discovered mauling each other at the backyard of the property in Santa Paula, California, at around 9am (4pm GMT) yesterday. Above, one of the rescued dogs . Injured: The animals were found in a bloodied state, suffering from deep bite wounds and severe jaw injuries. Left, a dog named Luther is pictured with horrific facial injuries, while, right, another sports a bloodied leg . The dogs were taken to Santa Paula Animal Rescue Center, where eleven of them are believed to have received medical treatment. Two of these were forced to undergo life-saving surgery at Ohana Vet Hospital, according to the centre's Facebook page. Police are now investigating the horrific incident, but no arrests have yet been made. Santa Paula Animal Control were initially called to the house in Ventura County following reports that 'a number of dogs' were screaming and barking in the backyard, according to NBC4. 'House of horrors': The backyard in Santa Paula, California, where the injured dogs and puppies were found . Recovering: The dogs were taken to Santa Paula Animal Rescue Center, where eleven received medical treatment. Above, a canine is pictured recovering at the rescue centre following the fight in Ventura County . Horrific: Two of the dogs were forced to undergo life-saving surgery at Ohana Vet Hospital. Above, a vet examines the mouth of one of the critically injured dogs . They discovered some of the animals fighting each other, while others were lying in cages or bleeding heavily on the floor. Animal controllers managed to separate the dogs - including pit bulls, English bulldogs and Boston terriers - before calling the police. Officers later said they had found evidence of . the animals being trained to fight, including an agitator stick and the . animals' cropped ears and clipped tails. Meanwhile, evidence of dog breeding is also believed to have been discovered on the property. Traumatised: Police are now investigating the horrific incident, but no arrests have yet been made . Trained to fight Officers said they had found evidence of the animals being trained to fight, including an agitator stick and the animals' cropped ears and clipped tails. Evidence of dog breeding was also discovered . The dogs' owner, who was not at home at the time, denied any allegations of wrongdoing, according to police. Instead, he said he had 'tried to do something nice' by rescuing the dogs off the streets - adding: 'I want them to be around kids and family.' Today, the rescue centre said two puppies, Luther and Lonnie, had been 'caked in dried blood and faeces' following the vicious fight. But now, the animals have been washed, comforted and given medical treatment. 'Abused': The dogs' owner, who was not at home at the time, has denied any allegations of wrongdoing . Meanwhile, a dog called Leon who suffered 'multiple oral injuries' and 'a separated jaw' in the conflict is expected to make a full recovery. Owners in Santa Paula are allowed three dogs per household - and are required to be financially responsible for their pets' housing and medical expenses. The Santa Paula Animal Rescue Center is collecting donations for the injured dogs via its website: sparcsaveslives.org. | Sixteen dogs found fighting at house in Santa Paula, California, yesterday . Discovered in bloodied state, suffering from bite wounds and jaw injuries . They were taken to animal centre, where eleven received medical treatment . Two of the dogs were forced to undergo life-saving surgery at vet hospital . Police said they had found evidence of dogs being bred and trained to fight . This included an agitator stick and animals' cropped ears and clipped tails . Officers are now investigating incident, but no arrests have yet been made . Owner, who was not at home at time, has denied allegations of wrongdoing . | a0c82f4badb7059b8e5b044e07d01b7ac3a2b7a3 |
(CNN)"This used to be a land of bandits, wolves and bears," says Daniele Kihlgren, surveying the countryside around ancient houses of Santo Stefano di Sessanio. High above the barren Gran Sasso hills in Italy's central Abruzzo region, this tiny hamlet, barely changed since medieval times, was in danger of reverting to its wild past until Kihlgren showed up with a vision. "When I first got here on my motorbike, I was wandering, totally lost. This unspoilt place, with no traces of modernity, struck me like Saint Paul on the road to Damascus," he says. Kihlgren, an Italian-Swedish businessman, has since made it his life's mission to rescue such crumbling villages by turning them into high-end resorts that blend in with their surroundings. Sextantio (Via Principe Umberto, Santo Stefano di Sessanio; +39 0862 899112) in Santo Stefano is one of several so-called "diffuse hotels" that eschew the usual hotel model of grouping rooms and facilities under one roof. Instead, Sextantio's 29 rooms, spa, wine bar, restaurant and reception lie scattered in separate buildings formerly used as barns, stables, pigsties, wine cellars and farmers' or shepherds' lodgings. Wood and stone cottages have been restyled as suites, the village dungeons serve as a wedding room and a former witch's lair now hosts business meetings. The hotel even makes use of a medieval brothel. Santo Stefano di Sessanio is a maze of cobbled streets, steep stone stairs, arches, vaults, gargoyles, hidden grottoes, frescoed loggias and crumbling walls covered in ivy. There are also ruins -- the remains of the houses collapsed during the 2009 earthquake that rocked nearby L'Aquila. Slaughtered pig . Kihlgren gives me the grand tour, describing his early days trying to acquire property in the hamlet -- leading to surreal situations for both him and the villagers. "When I knocked at people's doors offering to buy their dwellings, they thought I was crazy," he says. "Once a local slaughtered a pig right in front of my eyes with Bach playing in the background." Today the village may be marginally less rustic, but Sextantio's charm lies in its sympathetic use of historic structures. At the reception, housed in a former donkey stable at the hamlet's entrance where nativity scenes are staged at Christmas, the concierge hands me the biggest and heaviest room key I've ever encountered: 30 centimeters of pure iron. "That way you'll never lose it," she says. A path leads to my room -- La Bianca -- one of the closest cottages to the reception (the farthest one lies 200 meters away). I open the squeaky bolt of a heavy wooden door and enter a snug, warm room filled with the scent of embers and orange peel -- a perfume created by the hotel to evoke a typical hearth scent. Old furniture, including a spinning wheel and museum pieces, are juxtaposed with modern sculptures and sleek, luxurious bathroom facilities. Showering in the elegant white resin tub is an experience. Rinsing involves using a pitcher to collect running water from a low tap, a throwback to the past. There's no television, phone or minibar, but it's not totally offline. There's a powerful Wi-Fi signal throughout the buildings. Bird's nest . Lying back on my wrought iron king size bed, I spot an old bird's nest among the wood ceiling beams. "This is what I call 'authentic' Italy," says Kihlgren. "I wanted to restyle the buildings as we found them and bring back to life the so-called secondary human heritage: that of poor, outcast communities who for centuries stood as Italy's shame. "That's why I kept the cracks in the walls and the fireplace hearth soot: these are layers of history. "Sextantio is the opposite of colonialist tourism. Clients here want to discover the village identity and mingle with locals." Outside, in the center of the hamlet, silence rules. No cars are allowed. Just 50 residents still live here and, walking around, I come across elderly women sitting on doorsteps and art restorers at work. Occasionally a passerby looks at me shyly, but greets me with a hello. "Even when the hotel is fully booked you'll feel on your own," says Annunziata Taraschi, who has an unusual job as Sextantio's anthropologist, collecting the village's oral tradition and lost customs. While that might be great for guests, locals aren't so sure. "It's one thing coming here as a visitor, and another living here" says Dina Rusciolelli, owner of La Bettola di Geppetto, the village tavern. "After a while you can go nuts." There are no complaints about the food though -- a mix of gourmet and traditional. Sitting at the scarred wooden tables of the Cantinone, a large dining room 50 meters from reception, Franco Cannioli serves me pan bagnato -- a dish of bread and vegetables -- with cured meats, lentil soup, pecorino cheese, pears and nuts. Bloodsucking witches . There's a glass of Montepulciano di Abruzzo red wine on the table. Evening meals are taken in La Locanda Sotto gli Archi, the hotel's grotto restaurant located on the other side of the hamlet where chef Simone Iezzi serves a daily changing menu that includes signature dishes like ricotta cheese ravioli, pork chops and fried breaded porcini mushrooms. After an afternoon nap, I'm greeted in the hotel's tea room and craft shop by Giovanna Fiorenzi, who sits at an old spinning frame making wool carpets, bed covers and giving weaving lessons to guests. She also spins a few old tales, telling me about spirits haunting the woods and witches who suck the blood of crying babies. She serves licorice and artichoke herbal tea alongside traditional Ferratelle waffles. She also makes Genziana, a sweet and sour alcoholic drink made from Gentian roots. There's a crystal bottle of Genziana and a crackling fire waiting for me when I get back to my room in evening. The next morning I'm woken by birdsong and light filtering through small, wooden-framed windows. Breakfast is a buffet table laden with homemade yogurt, pies, ricotta cheese and a ham leg over in the restaurant. It's fine to wander over there before getting ready for the day to savor one of the great treats of these hamlet hotels. How many other hotels offer guest the chance to stroll outside through a mountain village, taking in great views and fresh air, while wearing pajamas? Other 'diffuse' hotels . Scicli Albergo Diffuso sits among the ruins of a temple and has Baroque dwellings spread across a UNESCO-listed historical center. Its Diffuse Breakfast features the best of Sicily's pastries. Via Francesco Mormina Penna, 15, Scicli, Sicilia . The spa area at Aquaesinis, a traditional farm in Sardinia, used to be a wine cellar. Vegetables were once stacked in the romantic suite while the family suite used to be a hen house. Via C.Battisti, Cabras; +39 0783 392251 . The stones of Matera town offer a stunning background for Le Grotte della Civita featuring grotto rooms, rock bathtubs and animal feeders turned into sinks. The reception area is a former monastic cell and the restaurant sits inside a crypt. Via Civita 28, Matera; +39 0835 332744 . Il Borgo di Sempronio dates to 849 AD. Several rooms were once part of a convent. The Degustation Room, an old mill, serves Tuscany's top cured meats and cheese. (Via del Pretorio, 3 Semproniano; +39 0564 986226) | Sextantio is a so-called "diffuse hotel" based in the Italian village of Santo Stefano di Sessanio . Instead of being based under one roof, these hotels spread their facilities across different buildings in a village . Sextantio uses barns, stables, pigsties and even an old brothel to create an upscale rural hotel . | b18fc8ede2008bbaa1a173362106c88dcc9be943 |
By . Andrew Levy . PUBLISHED: . 13:30 EST, 9 January 2013 . | . UPDATED: . 06:41 EST, 10 January 2013 . Care home staff waited for 40 minutes before calling an ambulance after a 100-year-old dementia patient fractured her skull in a fall. Great-grandmother May Ward, who was described as being ‘full of life’, was being lifted in a hoist from a chair to her bed when she fell 5ft and hit her head, an inquest heard yesterday. Instead of immediately calling for help, Shasha Wei, from China, and Rumyana Ivanova, from Bulgaria, lifted her on to her bed and changed her bloody clothes. May Ward, who died of multiple injuries after falling out of a sling her two carers were using to hoist her out of bed at Meppershall Care Home in August 2010 . A 999 call for an ambulance was not . placed until 40 minutes later. When paramedics arrived they discovered . the former pub landlady heavily bruised and vomiting blood. She died the . next day in hospital. Inquiries later revealed that Miss . Wei and Miss Ivanova, who started working in the UK in 2009, were . unfamiliar with the bucket sling and possibly moved her too quickly. The inquest heard Mrs Ward did not . have the correct straps attached to her legs in the sling. This allowed . her to pitch forward on to the floor when one of her carers let go of . her. A jury yesterday returned a verdict . of accidental death at an inquest the two women were not asked to attend . because they had returned to their respective countries and were beyond . the coroner’s jurisdiction. The Health and Safety Executive said it was investigating the case. After the hearing Mrs Ward’s son . John, 62, a retired Royal Mail manager, from Rugby, Warwickshire, said . the family were ‘frustrated’ that the pair had not been available to . explain the delay in calling for help. May Ward died of multiple injuries after falling out of a sling her carers - from China and Bulgaria - were using to hoist her out of bed at Meppershall Care Home in Bedfordshire (pictured) ‘They were key witnesses,’ he said. ‘Now we may never know what really happened. ‘I am concerned about the 40 minutes – . the time between the accident happening and the paramedics arriving . could have been a lifesaver.’ His wife, Lesley, 56, said: ‘It’s devastating. She was always pleased to see us, liked to chat and was full of life.’ May Ward and her husband initially ran a country club and a pub in west London before taking over the Prince William Henry pub (pictured) in Blackfriars, central London, according to her son . Coroner Edward Thomas said it was not . clear why Mrs Ward was moved by her carers after her fall because they . were not present. ‘They should not have moved her,’ he added. He would be writing to the Care Quality Commission to ask them to ‘look more closely at care in homes’. Mrs Ward had been living at . Meppershall Care Home in Shefford, Bedfordshire, for six years when she . was fatally injured on August 27, 2010. The home received a 'poor' rating in a Care Quality Commission (London offices pictured) inspection report around the same time as manager Judith Eglen started working there in December 2009 . May Ward's son, John Ward, said she was born in West Tottenham, north London, and met her husband William Ward while she was a cook in the RAF. Her husband died in 1989, after the two had successful careers as publicans. Ms Ward has four grandchildren and six great grand-children - three girls and three boys, her son said. She and her husband initially ran a country club and a pub in west London before taking over the Prince William Henry pub in Blackfriars, central London, according to Mr Ward. They retired in 1980 and moved to Kenton, Middlesex, and Ms Ward was taken into care in 2004. The care home manager at the time, Judith Eglen, was sacked in the wake of Ms Ward's death, the inquest heard. She began work at the home in December 2009, around the same time it received a zero-star, or ‘poor’, rating in a Care Quality Commission inspection report, the jury heard. That was uprated by the watchdog to a one-star rating in May 2010, around three months before Ms Ward's death and around the same time the new slings were purchased. Ms Eglen told the court that she and the two carers involved re-enacted the lead-up to Ms Ward's fall for her family and the deputy manager a few days after her death. She said Ms Ward was dropped from about 5ft but the carers were ‘good’ at their jobs. ‘Our conclusion (after re-enacting the fall) was that they did everything correctly but they moved too quickly,’ Ms Eglen told the court. The widow, whose husband William, a . former RAF chef, died in 1989, had previously been in good physical . health. Months earlier she had received a telegram from the Queen . marking her centenary. Detective Constable Philip Freebrey told the . inquest in Hatfield, Hertfordshire, that both carers said Mrs Ward . became agitated when she was moved. ‘Shasha was controlling the hoist device and Rumyana was supporting Mrs Ward,’ he said. ‘She was let go by one of the carers, . causing her to jerk forward out of the sling to the ground. The sling . was in perfect working order. It would appear from later investigations . that it was not used correctly.’ Health and Safety Executive officer . Ruth Boulton said: ‘There was evidence that the carers had been trained . to use a sling before but not this particular device. ‘The language barrier, though they could speak English, could have made a difference to the care.’ Former care home manager Judith . Eglen, who was sacked four months after Mrs Ward’s death, described how . Miss Wei and Miss Ivanova showed her what had happened before the fall. ‘She was hoisted about the height of . the bed before she slipped and fell,’ she said. ‘My initial report . indicated that the carers had perhaps moved her too quickly.’ Nurse Beatrice Ngarama, who was . called to treat Mrs Ward, said: ‘When I got to her, her face was . obviously swollen and she was already changed and in bed. ‘I wouldn’t have moved her from the . floor because I did not know the extent of her injuries.’ A post mortem . examination showed Mrs Ward died from two fractures of the skull and a . brain haemorrhage. Her right leg was also broken. In November 2009, a Care Quality . Commission inspection found ‘significant shortfalls’ at the care home, . which is owned by GA Projects Ltd, including ‘moving and handling’ of . patients. Bedfordshire Police said it had . considered neglect charges against Miss Wei and Miss Ivanova but dropped . the case due to ‘insufficient evidence’. The Health and Safety Executive can . bring criminal charges against employees, directors and companies. A . spokesman said: ‘We cannot comment while an investigation is live.’ | Grandson of 100-year-old May Ward has called her death a 'disgrace' Ms Ward died after falling out of sling her two carers weren't trained to use . She sustained multiple skull fractures, a broken leg and a black eye . Put back to bed and changed clothes, which could have worsened injuries . Jury at inquest gave a verdict of accidental death . | 9b7d2d4e91cf85ffd5dac73a78be0462550db1c7 |
On their way? new arrivals in the French port of Calais . The UK has abandoned identity checks on illegal immigrants trying to sneak into the country from Calais. In a huge security downgrade, Border Force officials no longer photograph or fingerprint immigrants found stowing away in lorries at the Channel ferry port. Instead, they are handed to French police, who free them, enabling them to try again and again until they succeed. The scrapping of fingerprinting means that if the migrants reach Britain and apply for asylum under a false identity, claiming to be refugees, immigration officers have no way of identifying them as having previously tried to enter Britain illegally. As a result, they cannot expose their new identity as fake. Economic migrants, criminals and terrorists can now slip much more easily through the net. This contrasts with the increasingly strict checks on holiday-makers, who have to hand over their passport which contains biometric information to confirm their identities. Tory MP Peter Bone last night called for the ‘extraordinary’ and ‘disturbing’ loophole to be closed. The scandal, which makes a mockery of Government promises of tougher immigration controls, has been going on for more than three years. It came to light during an official inspection, which published its report two weeks ago. The security gap also means migrants’ details cannot be checked against prints and photos taken in the EU country where they first enter Europe – often Italy, Greece or Malta. Under the rules, migrants are meant to live in the EU country where they arrived while their asylum claim is processed there. But many immediately head straight for Britain because the benefits system is more generous. Once in the UK, they can avoid being sent back to the original country of entry by lying about their identity. Terrorists and foreign criminals can create horror stories about their past lives and pretend to be refugees. Economic migrants seeking a ‘better life’ are also able to fabricate tales of needing urgent asylum, claiming they come from war-torn countries. This creates havoc in the UK’s overburdened asylum system as officials try to sort out who is a genuine refugee. The Border Force claims it catches 8,000 would-be illegal migrants in lorries in northern France each year. But this official tally is now in doubt because a migrant whose identity goes unchecked in Calais can make multiple attempts as a stowaway to get to Britain while being counted again and again as a new ‘catch’. John Vine, independent chief inspector of Borders and Immigration, who wrote the report, said: ‘It seems odd that ordinary travellers are subject to 100 per cent checks when those travelling illegally are not subject to this regime. People attempting to enter the UK concealed in freight vehicles, who are discovered by Border Force, are no longer fingerprinted at Calais.’ Loophole: The change in policy was revealed in a highly-critical, independent review of Britain's border controls . British border officials stopped processing ‘clandestines discovered in freight vehicles’ at the port in January 2010. They blamed the lack of available ‘detention’ facilities. However, the chief inspector has called for the Home Office to ‘reconsider’ identity checks to protect UK borders. Mr Bone said last night: ‘It is very disturbing that the Border Agency is not doing the basics when it catches illegal immigrants. By definition illegal immigration is a crime and it is very hard to see why it should be treated any differently from any other crime. ‘If we stopped fingerprinting burglars because we lacked detention facilities there would be uproar. Ministers will now have to explain why this offence should be treated differently. The Government needs to take urgent action to correct this extraordinary situation.’ Charlie Elphicke, Tory MP for Dover, said he had been assured that the Home Office would review the situation. He added: ‘It is clearly important that we have the tightest possible border security. The report is clear these people should be fingerprinted and it is right that the Home Office is going to review it.’ Last night the Home Office said scrapping checks freed up the Border Force to concentrate on searching vehicles for stowaways and was decided by the last Labour government. A spokesman added: ‘Would-be illegal immigrants found by Border Force in freight vehicles are handed to the French authorities for processing, including fingerprinting where appropriate.’ However, during a Daily Mail investigation, migrants caught on the lorries said they had not been fingerprinted or photographed by either the British or French authorities. Syrian Rami Kazaz, 35, told the Mail: ‘The British officials hand us over to the French police who let us go. ‘I don’t know of anyone found on a lorry who has had their fingerprints checked. This encourages us to try again.’ Fawzi Aloui, a 29-year-old Tunisian, said he was fingerprinted and photographed in Lampedusa, Italy, after fleeing there by boat from the North African coast three years ago. ‘They checked my identity thoroughly. I have tried to get through to Britain on a lorry every night for three months in Calais. Each time I am caught, the British take no details of who I am or ask which country I came from. I have not been fingerprinted by the French either.’ People-trafficking gangs smuggle at least 30 migrants every day to this country from Calais. | Huge security downgrade gives illegal immigrants endless chances . French police free them allowing them to try to enter Britain again and again . Critics describe loophole as 'disturbing' and call for it to be closed . | e1ba68676dcbf0647965f32a567f666aa4861a16 |
By . Tamara Cohen, Political Correspondent . PUBLISHED: . 20:07 EST, 18 March 2014 . | . UPDATED: . 20:07 EST, 18 March 2014 . If a grey squirrel is quietly foraging in your garden, you may, unknowingly, have broken the law. Ministers have conceded defeat in the battle against grey by scrapping a little-known piece of legislation which makes it an offence not to alert the authorities if you find one on your land. Enacted in 1937 in an effort to halt the advance of the invasive creature, it attached a stiff penalty of £5 - £295 in today’s money - for failure to ‘give notice to the relevant department’. That way, a man from the ministry could turn up and dispatch the alien grey pest in order to protect the native red squirrel population. There are now fewer than 15,000 red squirrels in England, compared to more than 3 million grey squirrels . Perhaps not surprisingly, the Environment Department (Defra) admits it has not taken any calls in recent years - and with numbers of grey squirrels now in the millions, it now has been announced the law will be taken off the statute books. Groups dedicated to protecting the British red squirrel oppose scrapping the law - saying ministers should not admit defeat in the battle against the grey squirrel. It is some 140 years since wealthy Victorians released the greys, imported from America as a curiosity, onto their estates and unwittingly let them spread like an epidemic across Britain. The grey carries a virus, which does not affect them but kills native red squirrels. There are now just 10,000-15,000 reds in England, (120,000 including Scotland) but around three million greys. Solicitor-General Oliver Heald told a committee of MPs: ‘The order requires occupiers to report the presence of grey squirrels on their land to facilitate the eradication of that species’. ‘However, it is no longer considered feasible to eradicate grey squirrels, so the requirement to report their presence on one’s land is no longer useful or observed...people will no longer be required to report sightings of grey squirrels on their land.’ Solicitor-General Oliver Heald argued for the removal of the law from the statute books . The Grey Squirrels (Prohibition of Importation and Keeping) Order 1937 was proposed by Conservative MP for Lancaster Herwald Ramsbotham who told MPs at the time: ‘There is a very formidable indictment against this animal... The cost of harbouring such an undesirable alien has already been considerable, and is likely to increase, unless we do something about it.’ Janet Wickens of the Red Squirrel Survival Trust, a charity which protects the threatened British variety said she felt ‘uncomfortable’ about scrapping the law. ‘It is nonsense now because who do you report it to, and what do you expect to happen?’, she said. ‘But while I can see the sense of getting rid of it, we said we would prefer it to stay on the books. We didn’t feel comfortable supporting this move because it’s one step closer to accepting an invasive non-native species and giving it the right to live here. ‘If it comes to the point that we are able to reintroduce the red squirrel to certain areas, it would be useful because it would put an onus on landowners to be aware of the need to remove grey squirrels. Once a law is off the statute books, it’s very difficult to get it back on again.’ Chi Onwurah, the Labour MP for Newcastle Central, told Mr Heald: ‘I want the Minister to recognise the fact that red squirrels are still present in Northumberland - I understand that it is the only English county in which there are still red squirrels in significant numbers.’ Yesterday David Bullock, head of nature conservative at the National Trust, said the law had already been superseded by a more recent one - the Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981 - which lists the grey squirrel as a pest, so it can be culled by someone with a licence and it is illegal to let a captive one loose. Mr Bullock added: ‘They are technically a pest and have to be dispatched, like Muntjac deer and Japanese knotweed. So that’s more powerful than anything from 1937. But in practice we would not expect someone to get rid of one themselves, as grey squirrels bite and spread disease - so it’s best to call the local authority for advice.’ | Law was designed to help eradicate grey squirrels . Grey squirrels carry a virus than kills their red counterparts . There are now fewer than 15,000 red squirrels left in England . Law has been dropped because grey squirrels are now so entrenched . | 7a09c47b44095a27a439d245b69e29ab67462d7e |
Sean Keen was jailed for 18 years after being found guilty of a string of sexual offences . A former Hare Krishna worshipper who spent a decade in a temple learning to be celibate has been jailed for a string of sexual offences on women and children. Sean Keen spend ten years in the temple in Canterbury, Kent, following the strict religion which forbids sex, unless for procreating, and alcohol. But after leaving, the 50-year-old embarked on a campaign of drunken sexual abuse which saw him rape a woman on several occasions and give a child a love bite. He was jailed at Canterbury Crown Court for 18 years by a judge who described him as a sex obsessed 'tyrant'. The court heard how Keen became a member of the International Society for Krishna Consciousness and practised at the temple for ten years before the attacks. Despite vowing to remain celibate and refrain from drinking, he took up a five-can-a-day lager habit and violently raped a woman on several occasions. He also forced a dog to perform a sex act on him, and sexually abused children. Keen was convicted of three counts of sexual assault and four cruelty charges. During his trial in August, the court heard how one victim said Keen had treated her like a prostitute. Prosecuting Christopher May said: 'He was really angry and he had her by the throat. 'She kept saying "No". 'She struggled with him and they ended up on the floor. He really scared her and said he could snap her neck like a twig.' Canterbury Crown Court (pictured) heard the man repeatedly raped a woman and abused children despite having vowed to remain celibate after leaving the Hare Krishna temple . One of his victims claimed he had used her 'like his toy' and 'as if she were a prostitute for his pleasure'. The court heard that two of the people who were assaulted by the man had considered suicide after being forced to endure his 'mental torture'. Hare Krishna is a religious movement developed in the 1960s based on a set of Hindu principles. Its followers worship Vishnu, the Hindu deity and supreme god of Vaishnavism. Hare Krishna principles fall into four categories; cleanliness, mercy, austerity and truthfulness. Daily washing and refraining from illicit sex unless for having children are considered ways to stay clean, while not eating meat or eggs are considered acts of mercy towards animals. Austerity encourages followers not to indulge greed or addiction, so alcohol, cigarettes and hard and soft drugs are forbidden. Gambling and lying betrays Hare Krishna's definition of truthfulness so are also prohibited among followers. Judge Adele Williams said: 'You have shown no real remorse or insight into what you put your victims through or the anguish and long-term psychological damage you have made them suffer. 'You were obsessed with sex and became a tyrant.' Following Keen's conviction a spokesperson for the International Society of Krishna Consciousness (ISKCON) said: 'The individual in question has no current affiliation, position or association with the International Society of Krishna Consciousness (ISKCON). He has not had any contact with the organisation for over ten years. 'His actions are abhorrent and criminal and we do not condone them in any way. They are not only a gross violation of our morals, values and code of conduct, but are morally reprehensible for any member of society. 'We have every confidence in the judicial system and believe his sentence should reflect the gravity of his crimes. Our thoughts and prayers are with the victims and their families.' | Sean Keen worshipped the strict faith for ten years in Canterbury, Kent . The 50-year-old vowed to be celibate and refrain from alcohol when he left . Found guilty of the repeated rape of a woman and offences against children . Canterbury Crown Court heard he forced a dog to perform sex act on him . Sentenced to 18 years in jail after being branded a sex-obsessed 'tyrant' | fb2dd7e7cc6fa645996d7869c5832dea08045bc1 |
New Orleans (CNN) -- When Kenneth Purcell emerged from his New Orleans home after Hurricane Isaac churned through the city in August, he couldn't believe what he saw. Nearly all of his neighbors had poured out into the streets to help each other clean up. It was a completely different environment than the one he'd seen seven years ago, after Katrina struck. "People started cleaning up their yards and helping neighbors that had gone away," Purcell said. "It was this silent but perfectly coordinated and synchronized effort." This is what made him and his wife, who was expecting their second child, to cancel a trip they booked to Florida in order to escape the stress of the Isaac aftermath. Purcell says it's the same sentiment that has brought people from all over the county to New Orleans in the years following Katrina and has helped spur the city's entrepreneurial movement. He moved his company, iSeatz, a travel-and-entertainment booking engine, back to New Orleans in January 2008 after relocating to New York post-Katrina. The move back to New Orleans caused him to lose almost all of his employees in New York and forced him to establish a new staff. Perhaps surprisingly, it would also prove to be a good business decision. "The new people that I hired were here because they wanted to be," Purcell said. "They wanted not just the company to be successful, but they wanted the company to help the city be successful." An influx of entrepreneurs . Entrepreneurship has spiked in New Orleans, a city that suffered a population exodus and struggled to get back on its feet after Katrina's destruction. The Greater New Orleans Community Data Center says that 427 of every 100,000 adults in the city started a business between 2008 and 2010 -- the most recent period for which data is available -- compared to a national rate of 333 of every 100,000 during that time. It is now one of the the fastest-growing cities in America, according to the U.S. Census Bureau. Forbes recently called New Orleans one of the biggest brain magnets in the country, praising its "communal camaraderie and business incubators that have helped many of the startups get off the ground." "I've practiced in New Orleans for almost 40 years and I'm more excited about the future of the city today, than I ever have been," said Marcel Wisznia, owner of Wisznia Architecture and Development and a veteran entrepreneur. "I've invested a lot of my life in this community and it's an exciting time for us." This past May, Wisznia developed Beta, a shared workspace for local startups in a historic downtown building. The space is filled with 20-something entrepreneurs in a range of fields, from tech and fashion to art and music. It's currently at 65% occupancy, and Wisznia expects it to be almost 85% full by the end of the year. He said he's observed a progression of new startups in the city in recent years -- and the catalyst for this entrepreneurial spark was Hurricane Katrina. "What Hurricane Katrina did is move a whole new generation of young people that didn't have ties to the community, that weren't complacent, that were aggressive, that were entrepreneurial, that wanted to make a difference, socially and financially," he said. Chris Boyd runs Apptitude, his mobile-application development company, from Beta. After spending nine years in the tech industry in Houston, he decided to start his own company. Boyd was in the process of moving to New York when he heard about NOLAbound, a program that brought 25 professionals from all over the country for an inside look at the entrepreneurial community in New Orleans. Boyd, a Louisiana native, asked city business insiders whether New Orleans could be a viable home for his company. "I had three key questions: Is there a tech scene here? Is it sustainable? And if I were to open a business here, would I be able to survive?" Boyd said. "And the answer was yes, absolutely. Everybody I talked to told me, yes." So he changed his articles of incorporation from the state of New York to Louisiana and moved to New Orleans in June. Boyd now meets with a new startup every week and networks with other Web developers through groups like NOLA Meetup and gnocode, which connect people in the city's emerging tech scene. He also started his own weekly meetup, Objective Crunk, to help local developers make apps for Apple's mobile operating system. Unique challenges . Still, entrepreneurs face hurdles launching and growing tech companies in New Orleans, which has traditionally lacked the startup culture now thriving in Austin, Texas; New York and other cities. New Orleans does not have a deep pool of developers, venture capitalists and other tech talent. "As companies start to scale, they need high-level management to help grow," said Tim Williamson, co-founder of the Idea Village, a nonprofit that nurtures New Orleans entrepreneurs. "While we're seeing people with profile start to move to New Orleans, we need more of them." On the surface, Williamson said, New Orleans would seem to be at a competitive disadvantage compared to other cities. "We don't have any Fortune 500 companies, we don't have tremendous wealth," he said. "But there's something special here that's making this work." Williamson sees the city as a laboratory of innovation and change. "I think that this is a moment in time and history where we're right in the middle of a renaissance period, where the next generation of economic and civic leadership is being nurtured and cultivated here in New Orleans," Williamson said. Entrepreneurs here say that community engagement is what makes New Orleans different. It's why Jennifer Medbery chose New Orleans as home to her startup. A Connecticut native and Columbia University graduate, Medbery moved to New Orleans in 2008 and taught at a charter school for one year before launching Kickboard, software that provides a centralized location for teachers to record their students' progress. New Orleans has the largest proportion of students -- almost 80% -- attending charter schools of any city in the nation. Medbery believes the entrepreneurial spirit in New Orleans is unique. "The entire entrepreneurial ecosystem in New Orleans understands that when one rises, we all rise. And so as a community, business leaders here are very committed to each other's success, because it's all part of New Orleans redefining itself." | Entrepreneurship has spiked in New Orleans in the seven years since Hurricane Katrina . A new breed of tech startups are taking root in the rebuilding city . Entrepreneurs say New Orleans' community spirit helps them succeed . City resident: "What Hurricane Katrina did is move a whole new generation of young people" | 10783ee39709115fde143b2297e2793d9f9cf3e9 |
(CNN) -- Homeland Security Secretary Janet Napolitano on Friday canceled the controversial virtual fence along the U.S. border with Mexico, citing technical problems, cost overruns and schedule delays since its inception in 2005. The Secure Border Initiative-network, a high-tech surveillance system to reduce border smuggling, so far has cost taxpayers almost $1 billion for two regions in Arizona, covering just 53 miles overall on the 2,000-mile border, according to a homeland security report. Napolitano announced "a new path forward for security technology" along the border that is tailored to the needs of each region and provides "faster deployment of technology, better coverage, and a more effective balance between cost and capability," she said in a prepared statement. "There is no 'one-size-fits-all' solution to meet our border technology needs," Napolitano said about her decision to end the problem-plagued virtual fence. Her new plan would use mobile surveillance systems, drones, thermal imaging devices, and tower-based remote video surveillance, she said. "Where appropriate, this plan will also incorporate already existing elements of the former SBInet program that have proven successful, such as stationary radar, and infrared and optical sensor towers," Napolitano said. Sen. Joe Lieberman, I-Connecticut, chairman of the Senate Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee, lauded the decision. "The secretary's decision to terminate SBInet ends a long-troubled program that spent far too much of the taxpayers' money for the results it delivered," Lieberman said in a written statement. "From the start, SBInet's one-size-fits-all approach was unrealistic. The department's decision to use technology based on the particular security needs of each segment of the border is a far wiser approach, and I hope it will be more cost effective." Rep. Bennie G. Thompson, D-Mississippi, ranking member of the House Committee on Homeland Security, said the virtual fence "has been a grave and expensive disappointment since its inception." Thompson said he is glad that homeland security officials are "finally listening to what we have been saying for years -- that the sheer size and variations of our borders show us a one-stop solution has never been best," he said in a prepared statement. "I applaud them for taking this critical step toward using a more tailored technologically based approach to securing our nation's borders." The decision ends the work of federal contractor Boeing to build the virtual fence, and the homeland security agency will conduct open bidding for the new border plan, agency officials said. Boeing spokeswoman Jenna K. McMullin said in a statement that the firm remains "committed to providing valuable solutions and supporting" the federal agency. "We appreciate that they recognize the value of the integrated fixed towers Boeing has built, tested, and delivered so far," McMullin said. "We are proud of the accomplishments of our team and of the unprecedented capabilities delivered in the last year that provide Border Patrol agents increased safety, situational awareness, and operational efficiency." Napolitano said "unprecedented" manpower, infrastructure and resources along the border will complement her new border security plan. The U.S. Border Patrol is better staffed than at any time in its 86-year history, having nearly doubled the number of agents from approximately 10,000 in 2004 to more than 20,500 in 2010, according to a homeland security report. Immigration and Customs Enforcement has increased the number of federal agents deployed to the Southwest border, with a quarter of its personnel currently in the region. President Obama has also deployed 1,200 National Guardsmen to the border. In fiscal years 2009 and 2010, federal agents seized more than $282 million in illegal currency, more than 7 million pounds of drugs, and more than 6,800 weapons along the border -- increases of more than $73 million, more than 1 million pounds of drugs and more than 1,500 weapons compared with 2007-2008. Also, the Border Patrol's nationwide apprehensions of undocumented immigrants decreased from nearly 724,000 in 2008 to about 463,000 in 2010, a 36 percent reduction, indicating that fewer people are attempting to illegally cross the border, a homeland security report said. | Homeland Security Secretary Janet Napolitano cites cost overruns and technical problems . The virtual fence for the 2,000-mile border was conceived in 2005 . So far, taxpayers have spent almost $1 billion for only 53 miles of virtual fence in Arizona . | 450047e641ab5983689484d50bdd25f03ce7c9d8 |
Editor's note: For 85 years, Yankee Stadium has hosted some of the greatest moments in sports. On Sunday, the Yankees will play their last game before the stadium is torn down. Former Yankee pitcher Jim Bouton played on the 1963 American League All-Star team and in two World Series. He wrote the classic baseball book, "Ball Four," named as one of the "Books of the Century" by the New York Public Library, and has been a sportscaster and actor. For Bouton's web site, click here . Jim Bouton was photographed as a rookie in 1962 at Yankee Stadium, before the renovation of the ballpark. EGREMONT, Massachusetts (CNN) -- I'll never forget my first day in The House that Ruth Built: April 9, 1962, the day before opening day. I made the team that spring as a non-roster player, having pitched in the Texas League (AA) the year before. And I had just turned 23. The Yankees had scheduled an afternoon workout, but I was so excited that I couldn't sleep and I drove in from my parents' house in New Jersey at 7 in the morning. After introducing myself to a skeptical guard, he led me down two flights of stairs and through a hallway, where I was greeted by the clubhouse man Pete Sheehy (who died in 1985 and for whom the room is now named). The Yankee clubhouse in 1962 was like a large subterranean living room. A wall-to-wall grayish green carpet muffled all sound, and the overhead lighting was subdued. Three walls of walk-in wood lockers faced a wall of large frosted windows that cast shafts of light from the street above. Everything was painted a muted gray green to match the carpet, including the exposed ductwork in the ceiling above. A cleat-dented wooden stool sat in front of each locker. And hanging in the lockers, with military precision, were the classic Yankee uniforms. "Your locker is right here by the door," said Pete. I couldn't help smiling when I saw Whitey Ford's nameplate just one locker away. I asked Pete if this was the same room that Babe Ruth and Lou Gehrig and all those guys used. He pointed to a locker across the room where he used to bring "a bi-carb and coffee" each day to the Babe. Pete returned to his duties and I touched my uniform reverently. With no one around, I decided to try it on. Perfect fit. I adjusted my hat in a mirror. That looked good, too. iReport.com: Share your memories of Yankee Stadium . Then I grabbed my glove and went out to the field -- you know, just to get oriented. After sitting in the dugout a few minutes, I trotted out to the mound. Looking up at the three tiers of stands was like being in the Roman Coliseum. Of course, I had to toe the rubber and look in for the sign. Fortunately, at that hour of the morning, it was just me and the pigeons. What would it be like to pitch there when the stands were filled with people? My big chance came on May 7, 1962, in the second game of a double-header against the Washington Senators, in front of a real crowd that included my Mom and Dad, my brothers and a whole bunch of neighbors from New Jersey. I was thrilled and scared at the same time -- maybe a little more on the scared side. I walked the bases loaded with nobody out. Then I fell behind 3 and 1 on the fourth hitter. My next pitch was a little bit high and manager Ralph Houk stepped out of the dugout - either to calm me down or remove me from the premises. But the umpire, bless him, called it a strike and Houk stepped back into the dugout. The inning seemed to last forever, but I finally got out of it and ended up pitching a complete game shutout. Maybe the worst shutout in history - 7 walks and 7 hits. After the game Houk said to me, "any more shutouts like that and we're going to need a new bullpen." The best part was when I walked into the clubhouse after the game. I arrived a few minutes late because I'd done a TV interview in the dugout. And when I opened the door, there was a path of white towels leading to my locker -- and Mickey Mantle was laying down the last towel. This is my favorite memory of Yankee Stadium. Unless it was Mantle's 9th inning walk-off home run in '64 World Series that beat the Cardinals 2-1, which also happened to be my first World Series win. After that it was all down hill. In 1968 a sore arm got me traded to the Seattle Pilots for a bag of batting practice balls. That's the year I kept a diary that became Ball Four -- a book that also mentioned Mantle hitting a home run with a hangover -- which got me banned from Old Timers Day at Yankee Stadium for 28 years. My eventual return to Yankee Stadium came after my son Michael wrote a letter to the New York Times, saying the Yankees should let bygones be bygones and invite me back. It was such a beautiful letter the Yankees were embarrassed into inviting me. After 28 years, Yankee Stadium was a different place -- a strange and garish place. A makeover in 1973-75, under the new owner George Steinbrenner, added cantilevered stands that destroyed the elegant upper façade, and exterior elevators which spoiled the view of the of the lower facade. Inside, the grayish green carpet was now bright blue and featured a giant Yankee logo. The honest ceiling with its exposed pipes was now a dropped ceiling with stark white tiles. Everything was painted blue and white -- the Yankee colors, get it? Now, instead of restoring the stadium, they're going to tear it down. Raze the clubhouse where Pete Sheehy made coffee for Ruth. Destroy the dugout where Stengel slept. Bulldoze the field where Mantle roamed and level the mound where Larsen pitched the only perfect World Series game. And they're going to build an underground parking garage on the site! This will no doubt be "The Garage that Ruth Built" -- which could produce a reverse "Curse of the Bambino." If you check the current standings, you'll see this may already be happening. The opinions expressed in this commentary are solely those of the writer. | Former Yankee Jim Bouton recalls his debut at Yankee Stadium in the 1960s . Bouton played alongside stars Mickey Mantle and Whitey Ford . Bouton: Now the legendary sports venue is going to be torn down . | 15050103702a56981c082c69c415f8667f1f2115 |
Port-Au-Prince, Haiti (CNN) -- Like cholera itself, Haiti's protests against the United Nations spread Thursday to the capital, Port-au-Prince, as angry people took to the streets demanding the global body get out of their country. Similar demonstrations erupted earlier this week in the northern coastal city of Cap-Haitien after assertions that U.N. peacekeepers from Nepal were responsible for starting the cholera outbreak that has claimed more than 1,100 lives and spread to eight of the nation's 10 departments. The United Nations has denied that its forces were responsible for the outbreak. In Port-au-Prince on Thursday, a planned protest began peacefully in the center of the city but turned violent as it moved toward the presidential palace, with one woman overcome by tear gas, witnesses said. At the central square, Champs de Mars Plaza, several hundred young men moving in a pack blocked traffic by setting fire to tires in the street and overturning Dumpsters. Several threw rocks at a campaign poster for presidential candidate Jude Celestin, whose candidacy has been endorsed by outgoing president Rene Preval. Others threw Molotov cocktails at the poster. Some Haitians have said Celestin is a symbol of what is not working in the country, and that Preval's endorsement of him means the election -- set for November 28 -- will not be fair. Near the presidential palace, which was destroyed in the January 12 earthquake that killed more than 200,000 people and left more than 1 million homeless, stores were closed and few cars were in the streets, though pedestrians were moving about freely. A sprawling makeshift tent city that is home to thousands of people who lost their homes in the quake is located in the area. "The Haitian government is never do nothing for us," said Pierre Aliodor, a protester who lives in the camp. "And we know the international government is still spending a lot of money for the Haitian people. But Preval, with his government, he still keeps their money to take back to the United States to buy some house." Since the earthquake struck, neither he nor his wife had received any help from the government or from any of the many nongovernmental organizations that are in Haiti, Aliodor said. Aliodor called for elections to be delayed. "This is not election time," he said, adding that both Preval and the U.N. forces should depart, "because they are not good for the Haitian people." In another part of town, dozens of Haitians -- most of them young and male -- attacked a government tractor that was being used to clear barricades blocking the streets. In addition to the 1,110 reported cholera deaths, another 18,382 people have been hospitalized with the disease, the health ministry reported. The hospital death rate was 4.0 percent, far above the none to 1.0 percent that infectious disease experts said they expect in developed countries. In Washington, Mark Ward, the acting director of the Office of U.S. Foreign Disaster Assistance at the U.S. Agency for International Development, said U.S. authorities have "a lot of confidence" in the Haitian government's response to the outbreak. The U.S. government strategy for aid in Haiti is to focus on prevention, he said, citing the need for clean drinking water, the addition of chlorine to the water supply, the ready availability of oral rehydration salts, education of the populace about how to protect themselves from getting the disease, and money to expand treatment centers. "We're going to invest a lot of money in their health system in the next five years," said Thomas C. Adams, special coordinator for Haiti. "Every hour that the efforts of medical and relief workers are obstructed means more deaths of Haitians from cholera," said Dr. Mirta Roses, director of the Pan American Health Organization (PAHO). "We understand the frustration of many Haitians with the tragic situation that has developed as a result of systemic poverty, the January earthquake and now the cholera epidemic. But relief and medical workers are as critical to saving lives as rescue teams were after the earthquake." In Cap-Haitien, a cholera treatment center at the main stadium is being operated by Medecins Sans Frontieres, also known as Doctors without Borders. Before the recent unrest, the organization was planning to open another center in a different part of town, said Dr. Lea Guido, PAHO representative in Port-au-Prince. On Wednesday alone, the center took in 100 patients. PAHO said the unrest had led it and other United Nations agencies to discontinue much of their work supporting cholera treatment centers, training health personnel, and delivering supplies to affected communities. "The last shipment of medical supplies was delivered over the weekend, and we had to postpone distribution planned for Monday," said Guido. "The airport was closed, and many roads remain blocked. We have not been able to ship new supplies to the area at all this week." Beginning Monday, residents of Cap-Haitien, which has been hard hit by the outbreak, began demonstrations against U.N. peacekeepers. The northern port city is in the North Department, the Haitian province that has the highest fatality rate from cholera, 7.5 percent. "Experience shows that without access to health care, the rate could rise to as much as five times that figure," PAHO said in a statement. Health workers at Hopital Universitaire, the city's main hospital, treated at least six patients with gunshot wounds. "MINUSTAH shot them," said a man pushing a wheelbarrow holding one of the wounded. He was referring to the U.N. forces in Haiti by their acronym. At Cap-Haitien's Justinien Hospital, Dr. Wilton Cheruben told CNN that 37 people with bullet wounds had been treated between Monday and Wednesday night. The victims included a 9-year-old and a 14-year-old who were shot in the mouth; a 6-year-old was shot in the back and an 11-year-old was shot in the arm, he said. "Right now, we don't have any anesthetics, and the people really need some help," he said. In Cap-Haitien, PAHO staff members have been confined to their living quarters since Monday. Roses said Thursday it was impossible to identify the origins of the epidemic in Haiti "with currently available data." Rita Colwell, a cholera expert at the University of Maryland in College Park and the Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health in Baltimore, said the reported links between the outbreak and peacekeepers is not based on evidence. "The evidence is not clear at all to be making any charge whatsoever for importing the disease," she said. "We've been jumping to conclusions without evidence, without facts." U.N. officials said the demonstrations have disrupted logistical operations, including the supply of clean water and proper sanitation. The U.N.'s World Food Programme reported that one of its warehouses had been looted and that food supplies were burned. The private charity Oxfam suspended water chlorination projects and other private charities pulled out of the Cap Haitien area. U.N. staffers have suggested the violence is politically motivated and said it's especially troubling just ahead of Haiti's presidential elections. Journalists Dmitri Foucard and Osman Jean Junior contributed to this story from Port-au-Prince . | Demonstrators blame U.N. peacekeepers for the cholera outbreak . Protests have been ongoing in the northern city of Cap-Haitien . Aid agencies say the protests are hampering treatment . | a2a2e9d9c0fe05516e639bde41ea3e332e20386d |
By . Tom Gardner . PUBLISHED: . 11:27 EST, 29 November 2013 . | . UPDATED: . 04:16 EST, 30 November 2013 . Canada has cashed in on the Britain's property boom by selling its Mayfair embassy for £306milion - more than six times the value placed on it just 14 years ago. The stunning building, in London's historic Grosvenor Square, has been the Canadian High Commission since 1960. It failed to sell for £50 million in 1999, but today it was confirmed a deal has been struck with an Indian property tycoon. Desres: Canada's Mayfair embassy has sold for £320million - more than six times what it was put on the market for in 1999 . In demand: The super rich are keen to snap up some of London's most exclusive properties, such as the Canadian embassy in Grosvenor Square, as they come on the market . The Canadians sold the property, which . is the equivalent of three football pitches in total size, through . Savills estates to the developer for £306 million. But stamp duty on non-residential property is four per cent which means the taxman will get just £12.2 million from the mega-deal. The 160,000 sq/ft property is expected to be transformed into £1billion apartment block. Macdonald . House is the latest in a series of embassy sales which has seen . diplomats moving away from traditional buildings and into . state-of-the-art new builds. High finance: An Indian property magnate bought the palatial building for £306m and plans are being drawn up for it to be converted into apartments worth £1bn . Paltry: Stamp duty on non-residential property is four per cent meaning tax man gets just £12.2 million from the mega-deal . It is located at One Grosvenor Square, . one of the world's most exclusive addresses and is a stone's throw from . dozens of Michelin starred restaurants. Around 20 bidders battled it out to get their hands on the prized asset, which was once the US embassy. Abhishek Lodha, managing director of . Lodha Group which bought the building, said: 'The acquisition of this . marquee asset overlooking London's most renowned garden square, in the . heart of Mayfair and in close proximity to Bond Street and Mount Street . is a great opportunity for our company. Location, location, location: The Canadian Embassy, circled, is in London's historic Grosvenor Square in Mayfair - one of the most exclusive addresses in the word . 'One Grosvenor Square is the best address in the world and we will create a world class development which befits the status of this address.' The property is the equivalent of three football pitches in total size . The Canadians plan to revitalise Canada House on Trafalgar Square with the sale part of a cost-saving exercise. Gordon Campbell, Canadian High Commissioner, added: 'There was exceptional interest from international parties for the property on Grosvenor Square. 'We are looking forward to the move to Canada House on Trafalgar Square, Canada's traditional home in the United Kingdom, in the next year. 'We thank Lodha Group for their keen interest and welcome this new phase in the project.' Over the past nine months, a total of 20 Embassies or diplomacy related buildings have been sold or considered for sale according to Wetherell Estates and Diplomat magazine. The Brazilian embassy, on Green Street, Mayfair, fetched £40 million, with one agent describing the diplomatic market as a 'goldmine'. Peter Wetherell, from Wetherell estates, has seen prices for residential properties in the area shoot up over the past year. He said: 'In Mayfair alone, residential buildings are currently worth at least a third more than office buildings. 'Wetherell recently sold the former Brazilian Embassy on Green Street for £40 million, and this has heightened awareness in the diplomatic community that the missions are sitting on a property goldmine.' The Nepalese government are understood to be trying to sell their embassy on Kensington Palace Gardens, but this has infuriated the Gurkhas who see the building as a thank you from the British for their war efforts. | Developers are planning £1bn luxury apartment complex on the site . Exclusive property sold for six times the value placed on it in 1999 . Indian property magnate outbid around 20 others to secure the building . Stamp duty on non-residential property is four per cent . Taxman gets just £12.2 million from the mega-deal . Sale is part of a massive cost-cutting effort by Canada . | f96054c9a20e19989d09fbac3838704f0d93b470 |
By . Zoe Szathmary . A California pastor who allegedly used a pair of pliers on a 13-year-old boy's nipple at a group home has pleaded guilty to beating and assault charges. Lonny Remmers, 56, of Corona pleaded guilty to charges: inflicting bodily injury on a child as well as assault with a deadly weapon, according to the Los Angeles Times. Pastor: Lonny Remmers allegedly used pliers on a 13-year-old boy's nipple . Darryl Jeter Jr., 30, and Nicholas Craig, 24, two members of Remmers' Heart of Worship Community Church, reportedly took the victim to the desert in March 2012 and made him dig his own grave, according to affidavits obtained by the Times. Jeter and Craig allegedly ordered the boy to get into the grave, threw dirt on him, and beat him with belts, the victim's account in the affidavit said. The boy was naked with visible wounds when Jeter and Craig brought him back to the group home, according to witness Steven Larkey's account in the affidavit. Larkey told police he heard screaming in the shower, and found out someone rubbed salt into the boy's wounds. The victim was reportedly zip-tied naked, maced, then placed in the shower the next day, according to the affidavit. Larkey told police he saw blood inside the shower. Parishioners: Darryl Jeter, left, and Nicholas Craig, right, reportedly ordered the boy to dig his own grave, told him to get inside it, threw dirt on him and beat him with belts . Remmers reportedly used pliers on the boy's nipple during a group Bible session on the same day, with 'approximately 12 other people in attendance,' according to the affidavit. The victim told police he was placed at the home after living with his mother and sister because 'he was being disciplined for his behavior and not accepting responsibility for his actions,' according to the affidavit. The Press-Enteprise reported that the boy sexually assaulted his younger sister. Remmers has not been sentenced yet; the maximum sentence is two years, the Times said. Jeter and Craig 'were placed on three years of formal probation and must complete a year in custody.' | Pastor Lonny Remmers, 56, allegedly used a pair of pliers on a 13-year-old boy's nipple during a group home's Bible session in March 2012 . Darryl Jeter Jr., 30, and Nicholas Craig, 24, two members of Remmers' Heart of Worship Community Church, reportedly took the victim to the desert that same month and made him dig his own grave . Jeter and Craig allegedly ordered the boy to get into the grave, threw dirt on him, and beat him with belts . The victim told police 'he was being disciplined for his behavior and not accepting responsibility for his actions' It has been reported that the boy was at the group home because he sexually assaulted his younger sister . | 07fd954ff033645801f6766c9a893090f812c038 |
The Falkland Islands government announced Tuesday that the British territory will hold a referendum on its political status. The vote is intended to affirm islanders' desire to remain a self-governing territory of the United Kingdom and to reject claims of ownership by nearby Argentina. The Argentine government in recent months has stepped up its rhetoric over the Falklands, saying that the U.K. is exploiting the resources of the islands it calls Las Malvinas. The British defeated Argentina in a 1982 war over the territory. "We have thought carefully about how to convey a strong message to the outside world that expresses the views of the Falklands people in a clear, democratic and incontestable way," said Gavin Short, chairman of the Falklands legislative assembly. "So we have decided, with the full support of the British government, to hold a referendum on the Falkland Islands to eliminate any possible doubt about our wishes." The vote will take place in the first half of 2013. The Argentine government did not immediately respond to the announcement. Short accused the Argentine government of misleading rhetoric that implies that there is local support for Argentine rule. "We certainly have no desire to be ruled by the government in Buenos Aires, a fact that is immediately obvious to anyone who has visited the islands and heard our views," he said. This year marks the 30th anniversary of the war. The Falklands have been under British rule since 1833. Britain won the 74-day war that began with an Argentine invasion attempt, but Argentina still presses claims to the islands, which are home to more than 3,000 people. The most recent controversy regarding the Falklands happened last month, when Argentina released a video boosting its Olympic team that was filmed on the islands. The advertisement showed Argentine field hockey star Fernando Zylberberg training in the streets of Port Stanley in the Falklands. The video ends with the slogan: "To compete on English soil, we train on Argentine soil." The British government accused Argentina of exploiting the Olympic Games, which will take place in London this year, for political ends. In March, six Nobel Peace Prize laureates wrote a letter to British Prime Minister David Cameron, urging him to hold talks with Argentina on the future of the Falkland Islands. The letter called on Cameron to "review the British government's position of refusing to dialogue on this matter." The British government has repeatedly stated its position that the residents of the islands should be the ones to determine their fate. The planned referendum seeks to do just that. "We are holding this referendum not because we have any doubts about who we are and what future we want, but to show the world just how very certain we are about that," Short said. | The Falkland Islands will hold a referendum on its governance . The vote has the backing of the British government . Argentina also claims the British-held islands . | a0656a9cb3679facf12091146fe3537c61799c90 |
Travelling Galatasaray fans caused chaos by lighting up the Emirates with flares during their Champions League clash on Wednesday, but the trouble started well before they reached the stadium. Thousands of Turkish fans walked to the ground accompanied by a police escort, although that did not stop them letting of flares under a bridge near Finsbury Park and throwing the flaming missiles into a local pub frequented by Arsenal fans. Camera phone footage shows the frenzied supporters marching past The Tollington Arms in Holloway and launching several flares that burst into flames at the pub's entrance, narrowly missing some of the patrons before being stamped out as both sets of fans goad each other. Thousands of Galatasaray fans march past the Tollington Arms pub in Holloway . The Turkish supporters launch flares at the pub which burst into flames at the entrance . The flares narrowly miss Arsenal fans at the pub before being stamped out by patrons . Sportsmail understands that Galatasaray fans were issued 3,000 tickets and although 12 flares were confiscated at the turnstiles, fans still managed to smuggle more into the ground - causing a disturbance when they were thrown on to the pitch during the first half of Arsenal’s 4-1 win.. A fire steward was hit by a flare and Arsenal fans were reportedly pelted with coins and bottles, while over 100 seats at the stadium were damaged. Riot police were ordered into position in front of Galatasaray fans after flares were hurled on to the pitch. Several flares were thrown on after defender Felipe Melo had put in a two-footed lunge on Alexis Sanchez in the 36th minute. The Gunners led 2-0 at the time following two goals from Danny Welbeck. Both clubs could face sanctions as a result, with UEFA confirming it may take action after considering the report of its match delegate. Galatasaray supporters lit flares and threw them on to the pitch during their 4-1 defeat by Arsenal . The incident occurred late in the first half and caused a brief stoppage in play as stewards removed the flares . A section of the 3,000 travelling Galatasaray fans in one corner of the Emirates started the trouble . Disturbance caused a brief stoppage in play as the pitch was cleared - UEFA may take retrospective action . Galatasaray keeper Fernando Muslera removes one of the flares during the Champions League clash . Muslera and Wesley Sneijder came over to their own fans in an attempt to calm them down . Laurent Koscielny walks by as Galatasaray fans throw flares onto the far end of the Emirates turf . The presence of the Galatasaray fans certainly enhanced the Emirates atmosphere but their side were woeful . One Galatasaray fan gives a one-fingered salute as the supporters around him go wild amid the smoke . A number of flares were lit in the middle of the Galatasaray section as the fans chanted in unison . Turks are renowned for their love of pyrotechnics, which are supposedly banned from English grounds . Galatasaray fans throw flares into the tunnel area at the centre of the away section as police officers watch on . The flares smothered the stadium in smoke and the match was disrupted for a couple of minutes . Galatasaray fans are renowned for their passionate support, following the team all over Europe . The game was briefly disrupted as Galatasaray captain Wesley Sneijder sought to diffuse the tension by jogging over to the visiting support and appealing for calm. Goalkeeper Fernando Muslera collected the flares and dropped them on the sidelines, at which point helmeted riot police and stewards filed along the advertising hoardings. Firecrackers had also been let off by Galatasaray's travelling contingent, who were stunned into silence when Sanchez fired the Gunners into a 3-0 lead with four minutes of the half remaining. The Metropolitan Police confirmed there had been six arrests, two of which were for entering the ground with flares. 'We are aware of a number of flares being ignited and thrown on to the pitch at the Emirates Stadium,' a police spokesperson told Press Association Sport. 'There were also some flares thrown near to the Tollington Arms on Hornsey Road. 'Police will be reviewing CCTV footage from inside the stadium and of the surrounding streets.' Riot police with dogs lined up on the pitch at the final whistle as the Galatasaray fans were kept behind . Police were deployed at the end to try and prevent a repeat of the scenes in the first half . Hundreds of Galatasaray fans advanced through north London with flares and banners before Arsenal game . A flare was set off under a bridge near Finsbury Park in north London by some of the 3,000 travelling fans . A huge banner and a flare were set off under a bridge near Finsbury Park as police escorted the fans . Galatasaray fans always leave a lasting impression and they certainly lit up north London . Supporters of the Turkish club stopped outside the Emirates Stadium and pointed and chanted . Galatasaray supporters run towards the Emirates Stadium with their arms aloft ahead of the clash . Like our Arsenal Facebook page here. | Galatasaray fans caught on video throwing flares into Tollington Arms . Turkish side also disrupted Champions League clash with flares on pitch . Fernando Muslera and Wesley Sneijder removed the flares and appealed for their own fans to calm down . UEFA said action could be taken against both clubs following investigation . Flares also set off under a bridge near Finsbury Park by Galatasaray fans . Huge police presence escorted 3,000 Turkish supporters to Emirates . Metropolitan police confirm six arrests were made . | a227dca8f4415af36276a8aea14c1475223479a0 |
Beijing (CNN) -- Chinese state media is dismissing reports that former President Jiang Zemin has died, calling them "pure rumor." Speculation swirled throughout the day Wednesday that the 84-year-old leader had passed away. On Thursday, the Xinhua news agency denied those reports, citing "authoritative sources." "Recent reports of some overseas media organizations about Jiang Zemin's death from illness are pure rumor," the news agency said. When reporters asked the foreign ministry spokesman Hong Lei about Jiang's health at a news conference Thursday, he directed them to the Xinhua report. "Xinhua has sent out a relevant report. Please look up the report," he said. Pressed further, Hong added, "Xinhua has made it clear. I have no more to add." During his 13 years as general secretary of the Communist Party and nearly 10 years as president, Jiang mixed economic freedom and political control to move forward the so-called 'market socialism' introduced by his predecessor Deng Xiaoping. Under his leadership, China began to emerge as the world's fastest growing major economy. Jiang also saw the peaceful handover of Hong Kong from Britain to China and that of Macau from Portugal while repeatedly threatening to use military power against Taiwan if it declares independence. CNN's Xiaoni Chen contributed to this report . | NEW: Foreign ministry points to Xinhua report when asked about Jiang . Xinhua news agency attributes its information to "authoritative sources" Speculation had swirled that the former president had died . As president, Jiang saw the peaceful handover of Hong Kong from Britain . | 61e137b37db0b3157c04fab0a5f4314fe4b03931 |
(CNN) -- It reads like something out of a Japanese monster movie: Enormous angry hornets invade cities, dive-bomb unsuspecting civilians, and inflict horrifically painful and in some cases fatal stings. But it's not science fiction, it's real. Every year around this time, the Asian giant hornets move into cities in China, Japan, Taiwan, the Korean Peninsula and other areas in Asia to forage for food for their young, and that's where the trouble starts. More than 40 people have died so far this season from the powerful stings and scores have been hospitalized. Emergency response teams are on the hunt for the nests to destroy them before the insects do more damage, and authorities have set up medical units to treat the injured. So what do the hornets have against city dwellers? Nothing, really. The hornets just happen to be in an unusually desperate situationn -- largely due to humans. The revulsion and panic that people feel when they read about these incidents or see pictures on TV and on the Internet should be about something more than fear. It should provide a moment to consider the impact of humans on their environment--one that can end up biting them back. Asian giant hornets don't eat much solid food as adults; instead, they forage for food for their young, often stealing the larvae of honeybees or other insects, but sometimes they forage for scraps of fish in city garbage cans. Then they fly incredible distances to deliver the food, arriving exhausted and starving. They get their only nutrition from their children. That's right: The babies feed the parents. These grub-like hornet larvae enjoy the meal their parents have brought them, then the parents tap on their heads, which prompts the larvae to offer up a few drops of clear liquid. The amino acids and other nutrients in this liquid fuels the adult hornets, and they fly off in search of more food. Sounds aggravating, doesn't it? I'd be angry, too, if I had to go to that much effort to feed my young. At one time, the hornets could forage through forests and fields to find a meal for the kids. But now, as those wild areas are paved over, the hornets find themselves on our turf. Their search for food is as desperate and fast-paced as it ever was, only now they must contend with parking lots and apartment buildings where they once only had to battle other insect foes. This is not the first time that we humans have moved into wild areas and found ourselves doing battle with wild creatures as a result. One example: In the 19th century, great swaths of Brazilian wilderness were hacked down to make room for plantations. Once people started living in areas that had been wild, they found themselves exposed to new diseases that had never before posed much of a threat to humans. The assassin bug, a bloodsucking insect native to the region, helps transmit a disease called Chagas disease. It had never before been widespread among humans; its reach was primarily confined to other jungle-dwelling animals. But once people moved into the insect's habitat, the disease began to spread among us and continues to do so. The deaths inflicted by the Asian giant hornet threat are indeed tragic. But they also serve as a reminder that nature is fierce and powerful. The hornets are not invasive; in this case, it is the humans who are invasive. There can be consequences to moving in on another creature's territory. The Asian giant hornet is feeling the pressure that species all over the world are experiencing. The only difference is that the hornet has found a way to push back. Can you blame it? The opinions expressed in this commentary are solely those of Amy Stewart. | Amy Stewart: Asian hornets have killed, injured many in Asian cities . She says they're venturing great distances for food as their habitats are vanishing . Human intrusions have long touched off battles in nature, Stewart says . Stewart: The hornets are not invasive; in this case, it is the humans who are . | 84cb9e67c1e8c816efdf59b4df9601ea2731e6f1 |
By . Damien Gayle . PUBLISHED: . 03:26 EST, 6 August 2012 . | . UPDATED: . 03:51 EST, 6 August 2012 . They are well known for the bad tempers and aggressive, territorial behaviour. But now it appears that llamas have become the latest recession-busting weapon in the fight against countryside crime. The aggressive south American pack animals have long been kept with goats and sheep to guard against predators, but now farmers in the UK are employing them to deter crooks. Instinctively alert and aware: Llamas have become the latest recession-busting anti-crime measure to be employed by British farmers . A survey by the insurance company NFU Mutual has found they are among some of the more unusual improvised security measures used by its members to keep their valuable property safe. Thefts cost farmers in the UK 52.7million last year, an annual rise of six per cent, the company has estimated. Other improvised methods of protecting farm equipment include keeping noisy flocks of geese to alert homeowners of intruders and storing expensive quad bikes in a pen behind a Friesian bull. But llamas are the most novel means of security the company has identified. The animals, which are of the same genetic family as the camel, have long been used by farmers in the Americas to defend livestock. Instinctively alert and aware of their surroundings, llamas draw attention to intruders - human or otherwise - by making a startling alarm call. If this is insufficient to deter the invader, the animals have been known to give chase, going on the attack with stout kicks and bites. They have, on occasion, even been known to kill predators as big as dogs or coyotes. There have been no recorded incidents of llamas bringing down UK farm robbers yet, but a survey of NFU branch offices found more that three quarters believed members were more concerned about crime than a year ago. Farmers have responded by taking more precautions, using CCTV, locks and alarms becoming to secure their possessions - however, such measures are expensive, especially in these straitened times. Fierce: Llamas respond to intruders by making a distinctive alarm call before going on the attack and have even been known to bring down coyotes . The majority of survey respondents (71 per cent) said the bulk of rural thefts were planned, with criminals preferring to operate under the cover of darkness. The survey also revealed precious supplies such as high-priced power tools, heating oil, red diesel and quad bikes were most likely to be targeted by criminals. Theft of metal and chemicals has been identified within the survey as growing trends over the last twelve months. Chemicals used for crop spraying can cost more than £600 for 10 litres. NFU Mutual believes chemicals like these are now being targeted by organised gangs who ship them abroad to meet demand across Europe. Poor economic conditions and rising commodity prices are thought to be behind the surge in rural crime. Lindsay Sinclair, Group Chief Executive of NFU Mutual, said: 'the countryside has long been seen as an easy target for criminals. 'Encouragingly, country folk are not taking the blight lying down, fighting back with both high-tech security measures as well as more innovative schemes.' | Rural crime up 6 per cent, says survey by NFU Mutual . | fa5b6ae21d2c3135f8649bad5444bd2652c8e232 |
A luxurious spa with facials and massage, gourmet in-room dining menu and high-end suites with the best beds money can buy... all the things to be expected at any five-star hotel. At The Wagington, though, the VIP guests enjoying the decadent comfort and first class service are of the four-legged variety. The luxury pet hotel opened its doors on Tuesday in Singapore, hoping to welcome the furry friends of the country's wealthy residents. Lapping up the luxury: A new five-star pet hotel has opened its doors in Singapore . Checking in: The Wagington is a 27-suite hotel catering to pampered pooches . The 27-suite hotel, where Junior Suites start from SGD$115 (£55) per night, is in a 4,317 square-foot colonial house in upmarket Demsey Hill. Pampered pooches will enjoy grand suites with faux leather orthopedic memory foam beds and an in-room menu of kangaroo, rabbit and frog meats. The 96 square foot Royal Suite features a crystal chandelier. There is a 32-inch TV that plays canine-themed films, and pool where the residents can swim under supervision. Work it out: Four-legged guests can work out on the treadmill . Pampered pooches: There is a spa offering facials, massages, mud packs and 'pawdicures' For those more interested in relaxing, the spa offers a range of treatments and salon services, including aromatherapy facials, massages, micro-bubble baths, mud packs and 'pawdicures'. The spa is open to all pets, not just hotel guests. There is also a limousine service to ferry guests from the hotel to their homes at the start and end of their stay. Owner Estelle Taylor, who invested $700,000 in the business, says that they cater to an 'exclusive' market who don't mind splashing out on the very best for their pets. Safety first: One of the hotel residents is buckled into a special life jacket before their swim . Paddle time: The canines enjoy leisure time in the bone-shaped pool . First class service: As well as supervised swimming, there is a limousine service and dog films on TV . 'We have a clean beautiful home, a comfortable bed when we are away - your best friend should be left in a place that's just like home,' says Taylor, 31. 'If we deserve the best in life, shouldn't your most loyal companion deserve it equally?' The exclusive hotel doesn't let in any riff-raff though. They will be enforcing a strict policy of not admitting 'aggressive' pets. All guests will undergo a 'temperament test' before being allowed in, as well as checks for ticks and fleas. Only the best: Gourmet in-room dining and orthopedic memory foam beds await these furry friends . Exclusive: Guests are checked for behavioural issues and fleas and ticks before being admitted . | The Wagington - for cats and dogs - has opened in Dempsey Hill, Singapore . Pampered pooches treated to gourmet dining, swimming pool and spa . 96 square foot Royal Suite boasts a chandelier and memory foam bed . | dc52d1f87b5ae50c0d85bc5d5051b376c613c4d9 |
By . Helen Pow . PUBLISHED: . 20:49 EST, 22 November 2012 . | . UPDATED: . 20:53 EST, 22 November 2012 . An eccentric Texas millionaire has been accused of sexually abusing eight teenage boys. Stanley Marsh 3, who is famous for burying 10 vintage Cadillacs nose-down in an Amarillo field in the name of art, is facing a raft of lawsuits alleging he supplied the boys with cash, cars and alcohol in return for sexual favours. The lawsuits also claim the millionaire's wife, Wendy Marsh, and business partner David Weir, knew of the abuse and covered it up. Lawsuit: The eccentric Texas millionaire, Stanley Marsh 3, pictured left, has been accused of sexually abusing eight teenage boys and wife Wendy, right, allegedly knew about it . Mr Weir allegedly went as far as to force the boys to sign a waiver regarding his colleague's behaviour while they were in the office as employees or guests. Mr Marsh, who inherited his grandfather's oil and gas fortune and previously owned TV station KVII, is set to challenge the claims, which label him as a 'serial abuser' in court, according to The New York Times. The boys, aged 15, 16 and 17 at the time, are charging sexual assault and intentional infliction of emotional distress and are suing the 74-year-old for unspecified monetary damages. Amarillo police have interviewed six of the plaintiffs and searched Mr Marsh's offices, removing certain items, as part of a criminal investigation into the alleged abuse. Cadillacs: Mr Marsh is famous for burying 10 vintage Cadillacs nose-down in an Amarillo field, pictured . Mr Marsh's lawyer Kelly Utsinger told The Times his client was cooperating with the police. 'Any suggestions about the truth of these allegations needs to be reserved until the evidence is fully developed,' he said. 'We will file responsive pleadings that challenge and deny these allegations.' Mr Marsh put Amarillo on the map with the famous Cadilac Ranch he created in the 1970s. The bizarre attraction inspired a Bruce Springsteen song a decade later which only boosted its popularity. He is also known for owning a pig with tattooed wings on its sides. The city's residents are giving their millionaire neighbour the benefit of the doubt and not letting the allegations taint his mechanic masterpiece. Memorable: Mr Marsh put Amarillo on the map with the famous Cadilac Ranch he created in the 1970s . 'I think most people in Amarillo appreciate it as a work of art, and really don't think of it in the context of its donor any more than people concentrate on whatever Van Gogh's psychological problems were in appreciation of his art,' State Senator Kel Seliger, a Panhandle Republican and the city’s former four-term mayor, told The Times. 'One should always take allegations of indecency with a child seriously. But at this point they are just that, they're allegations.' But the allegations aren't the first he's faced relating to youngsters. Nearly 17 years ago, he was arrested on charges of kidnapping and aggravated assault after he was accused of threatening a high school student with a hammer and locking him in a chicken coop. He paid a $4,000 fine and the assault and kidnapping charges were dropped. | Stanley Marsh 3 is facing lawsuits charging him with sexually abusing eight teenage boys . Millionaire allegedly supplied the boys with cash, cars and alcohol in return for sexual favours . Lawsuit claims his wife, Wendy, and business partner, David Weir, knew of the abuse and covered it up . Known for putting Amarillo on the map with Cadillac installation and other eccentric works of art . | 4c350ca5dbd0c20af9599e5ba04832b030166152 |
(CNN) -- How can a Boeing 777-200ER passenger jet go missing for more than a day? Turns out, it's not so easy. That's not just because the state-of-the-art jetliner has a wing span of nearly 200 feet and a length of more than 209 feet. It's also because it's bristling with communications gear, including radios, automatic beacons, GPS and computer communications systems, according to CNN aviation correspondent Richard Quest. In addition to carrying UHF and VHF radios, the planes -- which cost more than $250 million apiece -- are equipped with Aircraft Communications and Reporting System technology. Embedded in the plane's computers, it tells the airline how the aircraft is performing -- speed, fuel, thrust. "If anything fails, it will send a signal to Malaysia Airlines," Quest said. The deadliest commercial airline crashes . Though officials do not know what happened to Flight MH370, whatever it may have been must have been catastrophic, he said. "Planes don't fall out of the sky at 36,000 feet." Asked to detail the communications devices aboard the missing jet, Boeing spokesman Doug Alder said, "It's not appropriate for us to discuss that right now." Still, there is precedent for a modern jetliner to fall from the sky while "in the cruise" and lay hidden for months, Quest said. On June 1, 2009, Air France flight 447 was en route from Rio De Janeiro to Paris' Charles de Gaulle International Airport when communications ended suddenly from the Airbus A330, another state-of-the-art aircraft. "One of the first things we had was a series of ACARS messages that showed failure of the aircraft and degradation of the systems," Quest said. "What we didn't know was why. We knew what had gone wrong; we knew how it had gone wrong; we didn't know why it had gone wrong." It took four searches over the course of nearly two years to locate the bulk of flight 447's wreckage and the majority of the 228 bodies in a mountain range deep under the ocean. It took even longer to find the cause of the disaster. In May 2011, the aircraft's voice recorder and flight data recorder were recovered from the ocean floor after an extensive search using miniature submersible vehicles. It was not until July 2012 that investigators published their report, which blamed the crash on a series of errors by the pilots and a failure to react effectively to technical problems. France's Bureau of Investigation and Analysis detailed how the pilots failed to respond effectively to problems with the plane's speed sensors or to correct its trajectory when things started to go wrong. When ice crystals blocked the plane's pitot tubes, which are part of a system used to determine air speed, the autopilot disconnected and the pilots did not know how to react, the report said. "The occurrence of the failure in the context of flight in cruise completely surprised the crew of flight AF 447," the report said. The crew responded by over-handling the aircraft, which destabilized its flight path and caused further confusing readings, the report said. "In the first minute after the autopilot disconnection, the failure of the attempt to understand the situation and the disruption of crew cooperation had a multiplying effect, inducing total loss of cognitive control of the situation." The Airbus A330 went into a sustained stall, signaled by a warning message and buffeting of the aircraft, the report said. "Despite these persistent symptoms, the crew never understood they were in a stall situation and therefore never undertook any recovery maneuvers." The pilots responded by pointing the nose upward, rather than downward, to recover. "That rewrote our understanding of what happens in massive crashes like this," Quest said. "In 447, you had a minor malfunction of the aircraft, and the pilot flew the airplane in a way that caused it to crash." Plane was 'at safest point' in flight . | The Boeing 777-200ER is bristling with communications gear . In 2009, Air France 447 crashed into the ocean en route from Rio to Paris . It took nearly two years to locate the bulk of the wreckage . | 7a2ab66c087e8178670a5ef2c5e7466427ef54e6 |
(CNN) -- He's used to making waves in the pool, but Ryan Lochte has caused a few ripples of excitement on social media after tweeting out a photo of himself in front of what he claims was 10,000 calories worth of food, including piles of chicken and asparagus. It's not clear whether the five-time Olympic gold medalist was about to tuck into the food in one sitting, but eating what amounts to around four times the recommended daily calorie intake for an adult male would not be unusual for someone like Lochte, says a leading sports nutritionist. "It's quite a lot of food!" Lewis James, a lecturer in nutrition at the UK's Loughborough University, told CNN. "I would expect someone like Ryan Lochte to have 10,000 calories in a day but in one meal it sounds like quite a lot." Lochte, who turns 30 at the beginning of August, isn't the first swimmer to reveal a gargantuan appetite. His former U.S. swimming teammate Michael Phelps once famously claimed to consume 12,000 calories a day, before later saying it was a myth. Swimmers' grueling training schedules, combined with their larger bodies, mean they require many more calories than most other top athletes, James says. "Generally, if you look at athletes, most of the guys that are larger don't do so much exercise," he explains. "The guys that tend to do a lot of exercise and have a lot of hours of training tend to be smaller. Look at the typical Tour (de France) cyclist -- they are somewhere between 60-75 kilos, most of those guys. "So they are doing an awful lot of activity but their body weight is a lot lower, so they have less weight to sustain essentially," he adds. "During a day on the Tour de France, you'd perhaps expect total energy expenditure to be between 6,000-7,000 calories for most of the cyclists." Unlike Tour riders, who can top up their energy reserves with energy bars and fluids en route, swimmers can't do the same, explains James. "People like Ryan would be training for very long periods at a time, (meaning) they have long periods of their days when they don't get any food in at all." "You've got someone who has a higher requirement (for calories) but technically has less hours to consume that requirement because he's in a pool for three to four hours a day." You are what you eat, so the saying goes, and it seems athletes are only going to be as good as their last meal. "Everyone should be working hard to make sure they have got the appropriate diet for their sport or their event, making sure they are well fed and have consumed the right nutrients at the right times so that we can really maximize performance," James says. "Messing your diet up or not eating properly in a lot of events can really impair your performance." Read more: Olympic athletes' extreme eating habits . | Five-time Olympic champion tweets photo of 10,000-calorie meal . Elite swimmers require so much energy because of their size and grueling training schedule . Most athletes requiring endurance are a lot smaller, says UK nutrition expert . "Messing your diet up can really impair performance," Lewis James says . | 6fd442a9d4fbfa1f568f47faf665b1c8b462e719 |
(CNN) -- One of the most watched cases in China in the last few decades reached a conclusion of sorts on August 20th as Gu Kailai was declared guilty of murder and sentenced to death with a two-year suspension, meaning an almost certain commutation. The one-day trial of Gu on August 9th was, quite literally, a spectacle: something meant to be watched. (But not recorded, apparently, except by approval, even pencils were confiscated from the pre-selected audience.) Gu, the wife of the fallen high-ranking Chinese politician Bo Xilai, had been charged in the death of Neil Heywood, a British businessman. Gu confessed to poisoning Heywood, allegedly because he threatened her son following a botched business deal. The case has caught the attention of many because of the prominent status of the defendant and its steamy mix of allegations of murder, corruption, and even sex. But does it tell us anything new or interesting about the Chinese legal system? I think not. China's legal system is heavily politicized. The Communist Party controls key appointments through a nontransparent process. Judges have no security of tenure and can be dismissed at any time. Courts must answer to local governments, who hold the purse strings and pay judges' salaries. The court president, typically an official who hears no cases, can effectively dictate the decision in any case, whatever the judges who heard the case might think. And while there's no doubt that in many cases politicians don't interfere -- who has the time? -- the system as a whole does not give courts and judges the resources to resist orders from senior politicians when they do come. Few doubt that those orders have come in the Gu case, in all likelihood from the summit of political power in China, the Standing Committee of the Communist Party's Political Bureau. Before his fall, Gu's husband seemed headed for the Standing Committee himself. This makes the case too politically important to be left to chance, that is, to the whims of a judge deciding on the basis of evidence presented in court. Certain questions must be avoided: What did Bo Xilai know and when? Can powerful politicians in China cover up a murder? As for Gu's sentence, that too couldn't be left to chance. Bo Xilai may be in disgrace, but he was still a high flyer before his descent. The post-Mao leadership has established a solid tradition of not killing losers in political fights, and it's in the interest of everyone to extend that protection at least as far as spouses. Gu's suspended death sentence was widely predicted and comes as no surprise at all; such sentences are virtually always commuted to life imprisonment after two years, and can ultimately be reduced down to as little as fifteen years following commutation. Timeline: Bo Xilai's fall from grace . Given all of this, most China-watchers assume that proceedings in this case have been tightly controlled to ensure that only the officially approved narrative emerges. They assume that the verdict was decided in Beijing before the opening gavel sounded, and that the proceedings were merely a performance for the benefit of the public, a kind of judicial Shakespeare-in-the-park, but without the drama. That's the conventional wisdom. And at times like this, it's the job of the think-outside-the-box expert to explain why the conventional wisdom is wrong. But it's not. In fact, the trial is as predictable as it is banal. If anything is surprising, it's the degree to which it utterly fails to upset our assumptions about how Chinese politics and the legal system work. A criminal trial, for example, is normally at the place of the crime or where the defendant lives. But Gu's trial took place in Hefei. We all know the reason: too many possible sympathizers in Chongqing. The decision to have it in Hefei was political, not legal. Gu seems to have tried to hire a lawyer experienced in defending anti-corruption cases, as is her right under Chinese law. But one account of the trial says the government vetoed her choice, and she had to be represented by a local lawyer with no known experience in criminal law. Chinese law generally requires trials to be public, and the official report of the proceedings ritualistically invoked the term "public trial" to describe the proceedings. But they were in no sense public: the audience was carefully selected. The real lesson in this case, then, is twofold. First, it offers us no reason to change our understanding of the Chinese legal system as directly subservient to politics when sufficiently powerful politicians choose to get involved. Second, it reflects the cynicism that seems so pervasive in Chinese society. Nobody I know, Chinese or foreign, with the remotest knowledge of the Chinese legal system thinks that anything of importance will be decided as a result of what went on at the Gu trial. Those who were waiting for a sign of fundamental change in the system will have to keep waiting. Editor's Note: This op-ed has been updated to reflect news of the verdict of Gu Kailai. The opinions expressed in this commentary are solely those of Donald Clarke. | Gu Kailai, wife of the disgraced Chinese politician Bo Xilai, is charged with murder . Donald Clarke: Her one-day trial was a spectacle for the benefit of the public . He says few doubt that Gu's sentence has been determined by the Communist Party . Clarke: The Gu case tells us that the Chinese legal system is still subservient to politics . | ee3ce9b40f5f2fdca15fe5415ad13907b79f1a0d |
Hong Kong (CNN) -- To the casual observer, the Chinese Communist Party may seem like a monolithic, united entity. In recent years, its leadership has ruled collectively, rather than by the hand of a paramount leader, which was a characteristic of the Mao Zedong and Deng Xiaoping eras. But while the party outwardly stresses harmony and unity, political analysts believe its estimated 80-million-strong members are divided along deep-rooted factional lines with varying perspectives on social, economic, political, military and foreign affairs. CNN looks at what makes the Chinese party machine tick. Who are the key factional powers within the party? The Chinese Communist Party is broadly divided between informal "elitist" and "populist" coalitions, according to China expert and Brookings Institution analyst Cheng Li. Other analysts conceive of the split in different terms, such as between liberal-minded reformist and conservative hard-liner camps. Li argues the core elitist faction is the "taizidang," or so-called "princelings" -- the offspring of former revolutionary leaders and high-ranking officials. Another elite, albeit fading, faction is the so-called "Shanghai Gang," or followers of Jiang Zemin, who served as mayor of Shanghai before becoming China's supreme leader in 1989. The populists are dominated by the "tuanpai" -- politicians who cut their teeth in the Chinese Communist Youth League, the party's nation-wide organization for youth aged 14-28 to study and promote communism. The league is also a training ground for party cadres. But any analysis of these factional allegiances must be treated with caution -- as an educated but speculative discussion at best -- given the lack of official information and the complexities influencing politicians' backgrounds. "Factional lines are often unclear, shifting or overlapping, conditioned by old alliances, family interconnections, conflicts, rivalries, shifting loyalties and pragmatic tactical considerations," according to CNN's Beijing bureau chief, Jaime FlorCruz. "In some cases, these affiliations are also conditioned by the members' work patron/protégé experience, i.e. with or under whom they worked and rose to power." How are these factions oriented? Broadly speaking, the factions run along socioeconomic and geographic divides. The elitist coalition tends to represent business interests, including entrepreneurs and the rising middle class of China's affluent coastal regions, according to Li. The princelings typically have prestigious backgrounds as the descendents of former party heroes, tending to have credentials governing affluent provinces along China's eastern coast. For example Bo Xilai, the disgraced politician once tipped for political stardom in China, is the son of Bo Yibo, a former Politburo member who last served as vice-chairman of the Central Advisory Commission during the Deng era. Some politicians have sought to round out their resumes with credentials across geographic and socioeconomic lines. Bo famously adopted a populist approach invoking Mao nostalgia during his tenure as party secretary of Chongqing, while Xi Jinping -- widely expected to become China's next president -- left a prestigious post in Beijing to work in rural Hebei for three years. Li says the elitists are currently headed by Wu Bangguo, Chairman and Party Secretary of the National People's Congress (the national legislature) and Jia Qinglin, Chairman and Party Secretary of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference (the advisory body of delegates from different political parties and parts of Greater China.) Both are protégés of former president, Jiang. As the name implies, the populist coalition tends to promote an agenda representing the concerns of the urban and rural poor, including migrants and farmers. The tuanpai core faction typically comes from humble backgrounds and worked their way up the ranks via the Chinese Communist Youth League in Beijing and inland provinces. Li says the populists are currently led by President Hu Jintao and Premier Wen Jiabao, who have accordingly promoted policies such as eliminating agricultural taxes, developing inland cities and promoting affordable housing. A further contrast, Li says, is that princelings tend to have a great depth of experience in economic policy, including banking and foreign trade and investment, whereas the tuanpai tend to be more skilled in rural administration. Hu's heir apparent, Xi, is a princeling, whereas Wen's likely successor, Li Keqiang, represents the tuanpai. What is the Politburo Standing Committee? The 18th Congress of the Communist Party will officially unveil the new members of the Politburo Standing Committee, the innermost sanctum and supreme decision-making body of the Communist Party — and by extension the leaders of China's government. Party members typically occupy its highest positions. Members are typically drawn from those already on the standing committee, as well as the broader Politburo overseeing the Communist Party. The standing committee is a subset of the Politburo. It is also possible that a non-Politburo member could be promoted directly into the standing committee, as in the case of Xi and Li Keqiang during the 17th party congress. Members must also fall within the unofficial retirement age of 68 (i.e. born from 1945 onward), says Li. Beyond these basic criteria follows what Li calls an "extraordinarily complicated and multi-faceted deal-making process" to narrow the pool to nine members. Speculation is rife that the upcoming committee will be cut to seven members. While the closed-door process involves complex factional negotiations and power struggles that few in the outside world are privy to, Li says the overriding factor is "patron-client" ties, meaning departing members attempting to prolong their influence and protect their interests by placing their protégés onto the committee. This involves compromise and deal-making behind the scenes. How will these factions be represented in future? China watchers widely expect that two of the current standing committee members, Xi and Li Keqiang, will retain their membership. Their factional inclinations are reflected in their policy priorities, says Li of the Brookings Institution. Xi is focused on the private sector, market liberation in foreign investment, and Shanghai's role as a financial and shipping center. In contrast, Li Keqiang emphasizes affordable housing, basic health care and clean energy. This equilibrium extends within the upper echelons of the leadership, which is about evenly split between the elitists and populists, according to Li. Most analysts concur that the era of charismatic, paramount leaders ended after Deng Xiaoping, replaced by relatively colorless technocrats who governed through collective leadership. What does this mean for China's future? Out of necessity, this balance has led the elitist and populist coalitions to adopt a collaborative approach of collective leadership rather than a zero-sum game mentality, underpinned by shared fundamental goals: "to ensure China's socioeconomic stability as well as the survival of Chinese Communist Party role at home, and to enhance China's status as a major international player," Li said. The analyst says this collective leadership style is the "defining feature of today's Chinese elite politics." | Chinese Communist Party not monolithic, united entity . Analysts say party broadly divided between informal "elitist" and "populist" coalitions . Upper echelons of Chinese leadership about evenly split between the elitists and populists . Party adopts collaborative approach of collective leadership rather than zero-sum game mentality . | 5fce05efefce8a13603de68971ae5c822dd2ab40 |
By . Associated Press . The first surgeon general ever forced out of office by the president after he campaigned hard against the dangers of smoking during the Richard Nixon era, died Tuesday, at the age of 87. Dr. Jesse Steinfeld died yesterday morning in a nursing home in suburban Pomona, California, following a stroke he suffered about a month ago. 'He laid the groundwork for us to be better people and make the world a better place,' his daughter Susan Steinfeldm, of La Canada Flintridge, said after announcing his death. Dr. Jesse Steinfeld (left) worked with President Richard Nixon (right) as U.S. Surgeon General from 1969 to 1973, he passed away on Tuesday . Steinfeld was a cancer researcher and taught at the USC medical school before serving as Nixon's surgeon general from 1969-1973. In office, Steinfeld won the ire of the tobacco industry for his stubborn efforts to publicize the hazards of smoking. He changed cigarette package labels that lukewarmly stated tobacco use might be connected to health problems. Steinfeld's label boldly warned: 'The surgeon general has determined that smoking is hazardous to your health.' He issued a report in 1971 that argued for tighter restrictions on smoking in public to protect people from secondhand smoke. Dr. Steinfeld, pictured in 1970, was a strong campaigner about the dangers of smoking . He promoted bans on smoking in restaurants, theaters, planes and other public places - decades before such prohibitions became commonplace. 'It's a good lesson for everyone on how long it takes to change public opinion,' said another daughter, Mary Beth Steinfeld of Sacramento. Steinfeld refused to meet with tobacco industry lobbyists and hung signs around his office that read, 'Thank you for not smoking,' she said. Steinfeld believed his anti-tobacco stance led to Nixon's request for his resignation at the start of Nixon's second term. 'He always used to talk about how he thought the tobacco companies were pressuring Nixon to get rid of him,' Mary Beth Steinfeld said. After Steinfeld left, the position of surgeon general remained vacant until President Jimmy Carter appointed Dr. Julius Richmond in 1977. The only other surgeon general to be forced out of office was Dr. Jocelyn Elders, who was fired in 1994 during President Bill Clinton's administration, the Los Angeles Times reported. Steinfeld was also vocal on other controversial issues, arguing that television violence has a bad influence on children, promoting the fluoridation of water and bans on the artificial sweetener cyclamate and the pesticide DDT. Steinfeld later served as the Director of the Mayo Clinic Comprehensive Medical Cancer Center and as a professor at the Mayo Medical School. He also was the president of the Medical College of Georgia, in Augusta, from 1983-1987, when he retired. In addition to his two daughters, Steinfeld is survived by another daughter, Jody Stefansson of Pasadena, California; his wife, Gen, of Pomona, California and two grandchildren. | Dr. Jesse Steinfeld was a cancer researcher before serving as Nixon's surgeon general from 1969-73 . He issued a report in 1971 that argued for tighter restrictions on smoking in public to protect people . Steinfeld died in a nursing home a month after suffering a stroke . | fdcf4ed5d6b1eb7f70c40bc9904f9eaa12b0a98f |
Liverpool manager Brendan Rodgers has denied that the club put pressure on England boss Roy Hodgson to rest Raheem Sterling for the Three Lions' Euro 2016 qualifier against Estonia on Sunday. Sterling started in the victory against San Marino the previous Thursday but was left out of the starting line-up on Sunday, although he came off the bench to win the free-kick from which Wayne Rooney scored the only goal. Rodgers insists that Sterling never said he did not want to play and that it was Hodgson's decision to leave the forward out of the starting XI. Raheem Sterling (right) was left out of the starting line-up as England played Estonia last Sunday . Roy Hodgson said that Sterling told him he was too tired to play in the Euro 2016 qualifier . Brendan Rodgers claims he did not tell England to rest the Liverpool star... calling reports 'rubbish' Of the players England used against Estonia, only Gary Cahill has played more minutes this season than Raheem Sterling... Gary Cahill 1164 minutes played . RAHEEM STERLING 1079 mins . Jack Wilshere 1064 mins . Jordan Henderson 1035 mins . Calum Chambers 995 mins . Joe Hart 990 mins . Leighton Baines 990 mins . Phil Jagielka 919 mins . Danny Welbeck 836 mins . Wayne Rooney 758 mins . Fabian Delph 741 mins . 'I'm fed up reading about this club v country, claims we intervened and put pressure on Roy Hodgson,' Rodgers told The Independent. 'I've read we sent a dossier to the FA on Raheem Sterling and Daniel Sturridge and I'm having showdown talks with Roy Hodgson on Sunday and all sorts of rubbish. 'The decision not to play him was a managerial decision. 'I haven't said a single word but have to say I have never seen such rubbish written over the past few days.' Rodgers feels Sterling is not being fairly treated and does not believe the criticism will end any time soon. 'At no point did Raheem Sterling say he didn't want to play for England,' he added. 'The boy is being hung out to dry and I dare say the criticism will continue for a few more weeks to come because of this.' Sterling replaces Liverpool team-mate Jordan Henderson in the 64th minute for England against Estonia . Sterling responded to criticism via Instagram (above) with the message: 'Be yourself don't please anyone' Rodgers believes Sterling is being 'hung out to dry' and could face more criticism in the coming weeks . VIDEO Sterling rest row rumbles on . | Raheem Sterling was left on the bench as England beat Estonia . Roy Hodgson said player told him he was too tired to start . Brendan Rodgers denies he put any pressure on Hodgson . Liverpool boss says it was Hodgson's decision to rest him . Believes Sterling is being 'hung out to dry' and will face more criticism . | 4ee0166a1cafcc36dcf5f7f786d338d1a22424bd |
By . Emma Innes . Dr Max Pemberton says he would rather have HIV than Type 2 diabetes . The thought of HIV strikes fear into the hearts of many people. In contrast, Type 2 diabetes is rapidly becoming normalised and many people see it as a mere inconvenience, or even an inevitable part of ageing. But now, one doctor has claimed he would rather have HIV than Type 2 diabetes. Writing in The Spectator, Dr Max Pemberton said: ‘As a doctor I can tell you that, medically speaking, I’d rather have HIV than diabetes. ‘While this might sound shocking or surprising, the facts speak for themselves: the prognosis for those with Type 2 diabetes is much worse than for those with HIV.’ Dr Pemberton goes on to explain that it is now very rare for someone to die of HIV in the UK and that, in fact, people with the virus have a very similar life expectancy to people who are HIV-negative. He says that, assuming patients take their medication, they experience very few problems as a result of being HIV-positive. In contrast, he says the situation is very different for people with Type 2 diabetes. Dr Pemberton, a psychiatrist in the NHS, says people with Type 2 diabetes are more than twice as likely to have a stroke as people without the disease. He says they are also four times more likely to have heart disease and that 20 to 30 per cent of patient have kidney problems which can lead to the need for regular dialysis. He added that diabetes can also lead to blindness, foot ulcers and amputations. He explained that HIV can be treated very successfully with highly active antiretroviral therapy (Haart) which prevents the development of the opportunistic infections that kill people with untreated HIV/AIDs. Dr Pemberton says HIV (pictured) can be treated effectively leaving patients with few health problems. In contrast, he says Type 2 diabetes is progressive even with treatment and causes a host of health problems . He says many people believe that Type 2 diabetes can also be easily treated with medication but that this is not the case. Dr Pemberton explained that the disease is progressive meaning people usually end up needing insulin injections and that they suffer serious consequences from having the disease. He concludes: ‘To put it starkly, the latest statistics show that because of Haart, HIV now no longer reduces your life expectancy, while having Type 2 diabetes typically reduces it by ten years.’ | Max Pemberton says HIV is now easily treated with antiretroviral therapy . He says this means patients experience few health problems . In contrast, he says diabetes is progressive regardless of treatment . He says it can cause heart disease, strokes, blindness and amputations . He says HIV no longer reduces life expectancy while diabetes does . | 4a13a7357d8e74c479baf241429327cb5bd368fa |
(RollingStone.com) -- Louis C.K. will host "Saturday Night Live" on November 3 along with musical guest Fun., NBC announced during the show's Saturday broadcast. While the episode will mark C.K.'s debut as an "SNL" host, he's no stranger to the show, having worked as a writer for Robert Smigel's animated "Saturday TV Funhouse." Louis C.K. selling Tig Notaro's instantly legendary comedy set . The comedian, who is currently in the midst of a national standup tour, recently announced that he will be taking an extended hiatus from "Louie," the award-winning show that he writes, directs, produces, edits and stars in. 'Louie' going on hiatus until 2014 . He expects to resume shooting in October 2013 with a return to the air in May 2014. His "SNL" appearance will come just after the end of his standup tour's seven-night run in New York City. See the full story at RollingStone.com. Copyright © 2011 Rolling Stone. | Louis C.K. will host "Saturday Night Live" on November 3 . The group Fun. will join Louis C.K. as the musical guest . NBC announced the news during this weekend's broadcast . The comedian is currently in the midst of a national standup tour . | 5288b5f909c8a4e836bb36568e332b8f4777a759 |
A Government website has beaten The Shard and the 2012 Olympic Cauldron to be named the world’s best design. Gov.uk saw off nearly 100 competitors in the Design Museum’s Design of the Year 2013. The basic-looking site features links to pages such as ‘Housing and local services’, ‘Driving and transport’ and ‘Inside Government’. Surprise: A Government website has beaten The Shard and the 2012 Olympic Cauldron to be named the world's best design . It has only two small pictures – of the Cabinet Office and of a couple outside a house to promote an energy scheme. The site promised to save the public £50million by bringing together all Government departments in one place. It was described as ‘well thought out yet understated’ by the judging panel and – in a reference to fashion – ‘the Paul Smith of websites’ by museum director Deyan Sudjic. ‘Gov.uk looks elegant and subtly British thanks to a revised version of a classic typeface, designed by Margaret Calvert back in the 1960s,’ Mr Sudjic gushed. The font used on the site is Gill Sans - the same as that used on Keep Calm And Carry On merchandise. Winner: Gov.uk saw off nearly 100 competitors in the Design Museum's Design of the Year 2013, including The Shard, pictured . Winners in seven categories - architecture, digital, fashion, furniture, graphics, product and transport - were shortlisted for the award. The website, which won the digital section, was chosen over the six other category winners, which included a modernised Parisian tower block in the architecture section and the Morph folding wheel for wheelchairs in the transport section. Television presenter and member of the judging panel Griff Rhys Jones said the Gov.uk site was ‘a clear winner’. He added: ‘It’s a vote of confidence in the idea that the Government can lead the way with simple and clever design.’ Prime Minister David Cameron claimed the win was ‘another example of Britain’s world class design talent standing out on the global stage’. Gov.uk was designed by the Government Digital Service and launched in autumn 2012. It has promised to save the public £50million by bringing together all Government departments in one place. Internet users can perform basic tasks like renewing car tax or checking the balance of a student loan from the site, as well as accessing information on everything from income tax to claiming benefits. But many more complicated problems must be dealt with by phone and some services need password access. The Designs of the Year awards, now in its sixth year, aims to celebrate ‘the most original and exciting designs, prototypes and designers in the world today’. Previous overall winners have included the London 2012 Olympic torch and the ‘Hope’ poster designed by Shepard Fairey for Barack Obama’s election campaign. Success: The website also beat off stiff competition from the 2012 Olympic Cauldron . | Gov.uk saw off nearly 100 competitors in Design of the Year 2013 . Basic-looking site features links to . pages like ‘Housing and local services’ | cc2d93f824094a2a0d2e2445effa97affc291dba |
By . Simon Tomlinson . PUBLISHED: . 11:06 EST, 1 February 2013 . | . UPDATED: . 12:11 EST, 1 February 2013 . Actress Kristin Chenoweth was reduced to tears after being screamed at by an airline supervisor who refused to let her fly with her beloved dog, it was claimed today. The Glee star tried to board an American Airlines flight from Dallas to LA with her service dog Madeline when she was confronted by a gate agent who claimed she didn't have the correct paperwork. When she protested, the agent apparently became 'verbally abusive', leaving her so shaken up she burst into tears. 'Burst into tears': Glee star Kristin Chenoweth claims she was screamed at by an American Airlines supervisor who refused to let her on board with her service dog Madeline (pictured) Airline officials later realised they had made an error and allowed her on the plane. After the flight on Tuesday, the singer tweeted: 'American Airlines: Dallas flight attnt supervisor Ms Kidwell. Abuse not okay. #tripfromhell'. American Airlines told TMZ: 'We have been in touch with Ms Chenoweth to offer our apologies for the misunderstanding. 'We refunded the [$125] cabin pet charge as soon as we realised the mistake. We hope she will consider flying American again in the future.' Blazing row: When Kristin protested, she claims the agent became 'verbally abusive', but officials later accepted they had made a mistake . 'Misunderstanding': American Airline has apologised to Ms Chenoweth and refunded $125 cabin pet charge . In November, Kristin and Madeline starred in an hilarious Funny or Die video about relationship problems to promote the American Humane Association’s Hero Dog Awards. In the clip, she turns to a . relationship counsellor to talk about her relationship with her . long-suffering dog Sammy, played by Madeline. Describing their problematic . relationship, Kristin said: 'Sometimes we'll just be talking and right . in the middle of a conversation he'll just get up an walk away. 'He just whines and I don't want to introduce him to any of my friends.' The dog lovers starred in the clip to promote the airing of the awards on the Hallmark Channel on November 8. | Star screamed at by gate agent when she tried to board Dallas to LA flight . Staff member claimed she didn't have right documents to take dog Madeline . American Airlines later apologised and offered refund for 'misunderstanding' Kristin tweeted: 'Dallas flight attnt supervisor. Abuse not okay. #tripfromhell' | 5e6ad70ea49f89a69be0a187efc0bfb8a727a852 |
Analysts are right to assess the level of national preparedness to climate change -- but well-intentioned efforts to rank countries can inadvertently sow hopelessness among those considered to be ill-prepared. A recent University of Notre Dame Global Adaptation Index (ND-GAI) ranks Norway, New Zealand, Sweden, Finland and Denmark as the world's best prepared nations. At the bottom of the adaptation index lie Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), Central African Republic, Eritrea, Burundi and lastly Chad. The report says that the highest ranked countries "face moderate exposure to climate change, but they have good capacities to deal with the potential climate risks, including high access to amenities such as electricity, sanitation and clean drinking water. In general, they are also less dependent on natural capital, are better prepared for natural disasters and practice good governance." Such preparedness assessments focus on existing conditions and capabilities and fail to account for emerging technological opportunities that might be easily adapted by those with the least access to conventional infrastructure and capabilities. This narrative overlooks the fact these same countries have also developed a wide range of local capabilities that enable them to adapt to major natural disasters as illustrated by the case of the Sahel region. As argued by Simon Batterbury (University of Melbourne, Australia) and Michael Mortimore (Drylands Research, UK), Sahelian adaptation to drought is "a combination of skill and technique, both learned and invented, and has been combined with deliberate efforts by households and communities to reduce their vulnerability." The authors conclude that the lessons of Sahelian adaptation offer strong indications of the ability of communities to adapt to the challenges of future climate variability and uncertainty. Their adaptation "should be facilitated rather than driven from the outside," they conclude. The challenge is to strengthen local capabilities through endogenous technological innovation in fields such as energy, agriculture, health and environmental management. But doing so will require acknowledging the pro-active, creative and innovative capabilities of local communities. Harnessing technology . The second important element of innovation is the capacity of the less resource-endowed communities to harness emerging technologies and put them to creative uses. In the 1970s, Africa was written off as a region for technological innovation and was defined as destination for low and simple devices dubbed "appropriate technology." The celebrated story of the widespread usage of mobile phone has rebranded the continent as a place where emerging technologies can find novel and unanticipated uses. The invention of mobile money transfer in Kenya is a good example of an African response to poor banking infrastructure. The global mobile money market is currently valued at $15 billion and is projected to $278.9 billion by 2018, growing at an estimated annual rate of 82.4%. The importance of this African creation lies in its global impact. The carbon footprint of mobile phones relative to landlines has yet to be calculated. When this is done it will add a new dimension to Africa's contributions to the use of climate-smart technologies. Similar examples of technological leapfrogging are evident is countries such as DRC which is listed as among the least capable of adapting to climate change. The country, which is about the size of Western Europe, had the same length of paved road network as Rwanda, which is about 80 times smaller. The rapid expansion of road networks and economic growth in DRC resulted in urban traffic chaos. The country, through the work of women engineers, has responded by leapfrogging to the use of robot technology to control traffic in Kinshasa. Alternative energy resources . There are other areas of direct relevance to climate change that African economies could provide leadership. The first is renewable energy. Advances in solar and wind energy technology (and the associated smart power management systems) are making renewable energy competitive with fossil fuels. Their widespread adoption is likely to favor poor nations in the tropics that are not committed to traditional energy infrastructure. Access to information on emerging technologies often limits Africa's leapfrogging capabilities. This is being remedied by the expansion of technical education and internet connectivity. Future efforts to adapt to climate change will be guided by emerging African strategies that seek to focus on leveraging technological innovation for sustainable development. Comparing the preparedness of countries to climate change helps to focus attention on the need for concerted national adaptation strategies. But failing to account for the adaptive potential of all nations can create despair among the poor and complacency among the rich. It is possible that some of the ideas that might help the global community to adapt to climate change might come from the poor. Read this: Why small nations must unite for climate revolution . Read this: Island paradise seeks beach-goers . More from Marketplace Africa . | ND Gain Index: Many African countries are least prepared for climate change . Among the lowest ranked were Chad, Burundi, Eritrea, CAR and the DRC . The annual index ranks countries "based on their vulnerability to climate change.. ...and their readiness to adapt to the droughts, superstorms and natural disasters that climate change can cause" | 300165c1a1d44c7b59615b99c9ab85bed3e7ec6b |
By . Mail On Sunday Reporter . PUBLISHED: . 20:02 EST, 2 November 2013 . | . UPDATED: . 18:24 EST, 29 November 2013 . It is a case of Pride and Extreme Prejudice. Colin Firth, still best known for playing Jane Austen’s romantic hero Mr Darcy, is slain in cold blood on the set of his latest movie. In The Secret Service, currently being filmed in Surrey, the actor puts well-mannered Georgian etiquette behind him to play the suave, highly trained British spy Jack London. But as these pictures show, it appears his character meets a brutal end at the hands of his sniggering nemesis, The Villain – played by Samuel L. Jackson. Action shot: Colin Firth and Samuel L Jackson film the final scenes of their latest movie 'The Secret Service' at a church in the south of England . No laughing matter: In the shocking final scenes of the Matthew Vaughn directed feature Firth's character 'Uncle Jack' gets shot in the face by Samuel L Jackson, who is pictured giggling . The role is a return to type for Jackson, who played another stone-hearted hitman, Jules, in Pulp Fiction. But the scene might not be all it seems, as the movie is based on a comic book series known for its fantastical plot twists. Meanwhile, a new Darcy is about to hit TV screens in the form of actor Matthew Rhys. He will play the character in a BBC adaptation of Death Comes To Pemberley by P. D. James. The three-part drama picks up on the lives of Darcy and wife Elizabeth six years after Pride And Prejudice leaves off. Suited and booted: Matthew Rhys strides out as Darcy in the new BBC drama Death Comes to Pemberley . | Brit actor filming alongside Pulp Fiction star Samuel L Jackson . They are filming The Secret Service on a set in Surrey . Firth's character meets a bloody end after shootout . | a1cccfe7aab26fd0015399bd46db74db2735b108 |
(CNN) -- Bruce Windsor is known as many things: church deacon, soccer coach, father of four. But facing potential financial problems, he's now known as something else: suspected bank robber. Bruce Windsor listens Friday as a judge tells him he faces kidnapping and robbery charges. Police say the 43-year-old owner of a real estate company walked into the Carolina First Bank in Greenville, South Carolina, late Thursday with a mask and a handgun. In court documents filed Friday, police said he forced two bank employees into an office at gunpoint and demanded money. Police arrived minutes later with the suspect still inside, touching off a tense 90-minute standoff before he released the hostages and surrendered. His actions were "out of character" for a man who has never been in trouble with the law before, friends and relatives said. His tearful sister, defending him as he stood before a judge, said, "He must have just snapped under the pressure." In his initial appearance for a bond hearing, Windsor was in an orange jail jumpsuit, shackled and with his hands cuffed. In a quiet voice, he answered "yes, sir" as the judge explained the charges to him: two counts of kidnapping, one count of robbery and two counts of pointing firearms at a person, charges that could carry more than 30 years in prison if convicted. A police detective told the judge Windsor said he had been experiencing financial problems. But police spokesman Cpl. Jason Rampey told CNN they could not yet say for certain whether money problems were the motive for the alleged robbery. His attorney said in court Windsor had been married for 16 years and was the father of four children. Reports say the oldest is 11. Attorney Sidney Mitchell told the judge he was "a model citizen up until yesterday,' and we've obviously got a lot of talking to do with him," Rampey said. The judge allowed his family to stand with him during the court appearance. His sister clutched his arm, crying through most of the brief hearing. His wife stood behind him, appearing to rub his back. His pastor at Brushy Creek Baptist Church, where Windsor is a deacon, stood at his side. His sister told the judge Windsor coaches one of his children's soccer teams and picks them up every day from school. "He would never, ever hurt his family," she said in a halting voice. Sobbing, she said, "I can't imagine the desperation that must have caused this." The incident, she said, "doesn't even register." Windsor then spoke up, saying, "I've never stolen anything in my life." But the judge reminded the court "this is a very serious incident," setting the bail at just over $1.5 million. On Thursday, SWAT officers surrounded the Carolina First bank as the suspect allegedly made the hostages move with him at gunpoint inside until he surrendered. Bank owner Art Seaver, who nervously watched the standoff unfold at the scene, met with his employees before they reopened Friday morning for a "time of reflection and a time of healing." Asked if everything was back to normal, he told CNN affiliate WSPA, "No. What is normal?" Two different images of Windsor unfolded the day after the incident. The man his pastor called "one of the best fathers I know, anywhere" and the man court documents said "forced the victims to move with him at gunpoint during the attempted robbery. The victims were held by the accuser against their will for over an hour." Rampey said Greenville's crisis negotiating team just happened to be training on Thursday for hostage scenario when the call came in for the real thing. As SWAT officers took up positions outside, negotiators talked to the suspect, who then allowed the hostages to go. SWAT officers said in court documents they "challenged the subject at gunpoint" before he lay down on the ground and surrendered. No shots were fired and no one was injured. | Police say man robbed a Carolina First Bank in Greenville, South Carolina, Thursday . Suspect, Bruce Windsor, 43, owns a real estate company and is a church deacon . He had no criminal history but was facing financial difficulties, detective testifies . Robbery resulted in a tense standoff with two bank employees held hostage . | 9c8732b0f17734a2988a7d2b14a911b5fc0ad63f |
(CNN) -- While a growing chorus in Washington, including President Barack Obama, House Speaker John Boehner, multiple Cabinet secretaries, and some political pundits, criticize deep, automatic spending cuts set to take effect on March 1, the White House and Congress have yet to come up with an alternative to avoid them. CNN Explains: Sequestration . Special coverage on CNNMoney.com: America's Debt Challenge . TIME.com: A guide to sequestration . With the imposition of at least some of them appearing more and more likely, here's a look, by the numbers, at Washington's self-imposed budget austerity (aka "sequestration" or the "sequester"): . The real impact of automatic cuts and why they may happen after all . 2 - Provisions in the Budget Act of 2011 that can result in automatic spending cuts: Appropriating funds over newly established spending caps for years 2012-2021, where the extra amount is automatically cut, and failure of Congress to enact specific deficit-reduction legislation, which has happened. $1.2 trillion - Total amount of the potential sequestration cuts, over 10 years. This is based on the amount not cut from the deficit by the congressional "super committee" created by the Budget Control Act of 2011. CNNMoney.com: The 2011 debt ceiling deal . $85 billion - Amount of deficit reduction necessary for fiscal year 2013 in order to postpone the automatic spending cuts from taking effect March 1. Senate Democrats offer plan to avert mandatory cuts . Boehner says sequester bad policy but punts to Senate Democrats . Approximately $16.5 trillion - The United States national debt. CNNMoney.com: What you need to know about the debt ceiling . 9.4% - Reduction in non-exempt defense discretionary funding if sequestration takes effect. By the numbers: Recent defense spending . 8.2% - Reduction in non-exempt nondefense discretionary funding if sequestration takes effect. 2% - Cuts to Medicare if sequestration takes effect. 7.6% - Cuts to other non-exempt nondefense mandatory programs if sequestration takes effect. 10% - Cuts to non-exempt defense mandatory programs if sequestration takes effect. 10 - Number of days after the end of a session of Congress during which the Congressional Budget Office must submit a sequestration report on the current fiscal year. About $130 million - Amount of lost funding if sequestration takes effect from the Department of the Interior to Native American tribes. About 1,200 - Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) workplace inspections that would be cut. Up to $902 million - Reductions in loan guarantees to small businesses if sequestration takes effect. CNNMoney.com: White House details pending budget cuts . Up to 766,000 - Number of health care-related jobs that could be lost or eliminated due to 2% cuts in Medicare spending under sequestration, according to a recent report from the American Hospital Association, the American Medical Association, and the American Nurses Association. Kerry: Cuts would hit foreign aid, diplomatic security . Panetta: World is watching U.S. on budget . CNNMoney.com: Spending cuts to hurt homeland security . | Approximately $16.5 trillion - The United States national debt . $1.2 trillion - Total amount of the potential cuts, over 10 years . $85 billion - Deficit reduction needed to postpone cuts through September 2013 . 2% - Cuts to Medicare if "sequestration" takes effect . | c15dd70e7ec80aca662217a221dbd080ed68b7ed |
By . Daily Mail Reporter . PUBLISHED: . 00:20 EST, 13 May 2013 . | . UPDATED: . 05:01 EST, 13 May 2013 . Avid fans of the Doctor have been blamed for causing a stampede for online tickets to the Proms - prompting the system to crash and touts to sell them for more than ten times their original value. The Doctor Who Proms will return for the show's 50th anniversary - and prompted a rush to snap up tickets to the two exclusive performances. The huge demand for tickets - and subsequent crash of the official website - was criticised as 'atrocious organisation'. Sell out! The stampede for tickets meant many were left disappointed as they could not get tickets online or on the phone . More than 100,000 tickets sold online, while the rest were bought over the phone, by post or in person from London's Royal Albert Hall . Visitors were greeted with error messages and hopeful attendees complained of spending four hours trying to get tickets to various shows. Hopeful attendees were left disappointed when their attempts to purchase tickets were abruptly terminated online, or kept for hours on the telephone. Some tickets were already being sold by touts before the weekend was out, with tickets for the much-anticipated Last Night of The Proms advertised for £1,250 - when tickets should have cost between £27 and £95, The Daily Telegraph reported. One customer told the Daily Telegraph he would formally complain after spending two hours online and on the telephone, but continuously met 'error' messages . A record 114,000 tickets for the BBC Proms 2013 have sold since booking opened on Saturday, a 17 per cent rise from last year. More than 100,000 tickets were sold online, while the rest were bought over the phone, by post or in person from London's Royal Albert Hall. The Proms is the UK's premier classical music festival - and ticket sales have seen a 17 per cent rise from last year . Dr Who fans have been blamed as crashing the website as they clamoured for tickets . Fans had hoped to hear Murray Gold's music from the past eight years, early Doctor Who compositions and the work of the BBC Radiophonic Workshop. But despite the attacks, BBC Proms director Roger Wright described the 'record-breaking' sales as a 'thrill', the BBC reported. Wright, who is controller of Radio 3, urged people to continue looking. He added that there were still tickets available for the 'vast majority of events' and that 'you can always come and Prom on the day'. The 2013 programme has revealed a diverse programme - featuring rap and punk amid the Elgar and Wagner. The revelation led to the corporation being accused of dumbing down the eight-week festival. The inclusion of rap for the first time is an attempt to attract a younger audience. The Urban Classic Prom includes rappers Maverick Sabre and Fazer, as well as soul singer Laura Mvula, interspersed with pieces by modernist classical composers. Another of the concerts, a 6 Music Prom put together by the radio station’s Steve Lamacq, includes performances from punk veterans The Stranglers and former Catatonia singer Cerys Matthews. | Record 114,000 tickets for the BBC Proms 2013 have sold since booking opened on Saturday - a 17 per cent rise from last year's sales . Disappointed customers brand ticketing site 'atrocious' | 48bff9510e45a84f2b337f17b713d6e4dc3d91c2 |
The FBI has joined a search for a 21-year-old college student who disappeared from a busy Philadelphia bar early Thursday morning after getting separated from friends. West Chester University senior Shane Montgomery was last seen leaving Kildare's bar in the Manayunk neighborhood around 2am Thursday and hasn't been seen since. According to WPVI, the agency has plastered Montgomery's face on digitized billboards across the city offering a reward of $25,000 for credible information regarding his disappearance. Vanished: Police say Shane Montgomery, 21, was home from West Chester University and met up with some friends on Wednesday night at the crowded Kildare's bar in the Manayunk neighborhood, before disappearing . Officials have also begun interviewing staff from the bar, along with friends and family, and have reportedly administered lie detector tests. An FBI spokesperson told WCAU-TV that taskforces from the agency often get involved in cases where people have disappeared under 'suspicious circumstances.' On Sunday, authorities were searching the cold waters of the Manayunk Canal as members of Montgomery's family watched from the banks. 'I want to find Shane and I want to bring him home,' said his mother, Karen Montgomery, to NBC Philadelphia, . Volunteers had been aiding local authorities in the search, but on Sunday family members issued a statement asking them not to gather. 'I just wanted to reach out and remind everyone we are NOT meeting today until we are given the okay from the Marine Unit and Search and Rescue,' a statement on a Facebook page for the search read. Worried: Montgomery's parents, Kevin and Karen, watch as police marine units search the waters for their son on Sunday . Search unit: A Philadelphia Police Marine Unit tried to search the depths of the Manayunk canal in Philadelphia on Sunday . Missing person: A Crime Scene Unit member searches the canal in Manayunk for Shane Montgomery on Saturday . 'We would like the authorities to be able to do their search thoroughly and without any unintentional interferences from the volunteers.' 'Thank you for the continued prayers, positive thoughts, donations, and shares, as well as a big thank you all the people who have come out in the cold to help us look for Shane.' Police say Montgomery was home for Thanksgiving when he met up with some friends on Wednesday night at the crowded Kildare's bar. Authorities say he became separated from them and was escorted out by a bouncer around 2am Thursday after stumbling on a bar stool. In the wake of his disappearance, Jim Townsend, the director of operations at Kildare's, came forward to shed light on what happened when Montgomery was last seen. A search of the records at the bar turned up a tab for Montgomery totaling $17, which Townsend told WPVI was for three craft beers. Support: Hundreds of volunteers gather in St. John the Baptist church in Manayunk to organize a search for 21-year-old Shane Montgomery . Reward: Montgomery, who is still unaccounted for, was last seen leaving Kildare's Irish Pub in Manayunk very early Thanksgiving morning, and there is now a $25,000 reward for information on where he is . Missing: Shane Montgomery was last seen Thanksgiving Eve around 1:45am as he was leaving Kildare's bar along Main Street in Philadelphia . He said that Montgomery did not appear intoxicated and though he bumped into the DJ table accidentally, he was polite about it. An employee at Kildare's, who is a relative of Montgomery's, walked him to the exit around closing time and security saw him leave the door and turn south on Main Street. Montgomery's cellphone pinged near the CVS Pharmacy, located less than a mile from Kildare's, about an hour after he was last seen at the bar, but that signal could be picked up at a radius of 4,500 feet. The search began on Thanksgiving, after the college senior, who was visiting his family over the Thanksgiving holiday, did not return to his parents' home that day. Upset: A woman is comforted by another during a candlelight vigil for Shane Montgomery, at a park across from Kildare's Irish Pub in Manayunk on Saturday . Lost: Police say 21-year-old Shane Montgomery was home from West Chester University and met up with friends Wednesday night at a crowded bar . Distinctive: This is a photo of the Celtic cross tattoo on Montgomery's shoulder . On Saturday, about 200 volunteers helped search Main Street in Manayunk and the nearby banks of the Schuylkill River. Authorities have used K-9s, helicopters and marine units as part of the search. The search was so widespread that the city cancelled a Christmas tree lighting ceremony and caroling activities and instead the organization held a candlelight vigil at the Canal View Park. Montgomery is a liberal arts major and a former high school runner. He is 5-foot-11 and 130 pounds, with short brown hair and green eyes, with a Celtic cross tattoo on his shoulder. Witnesses say he was wearing a buttoned- down gray shirt, gray hoodie and jeans when he left the bar. | Shane Montgomery, 21, left a Philadelphia bar about 2am Thursday . He was kicked out for tripping over after being separated from friends . When he didn't come home his parents reported him missing . The FBI was interviewing bar staff, family and friends and had conducted lie detector tests . Volunteers asked not to aid in search on Sunday, as Philadelphia Police Marine Units entered the frigid waters of the Manayunk Canal . The reward for reliable information was increased to $25,000 on Monday . | fcd334bf069e1391b83afaf1b5a2de7f0ab8eec2 |
Ukip is set to secure a £1.5 million pot of taxpayers' cash by forming a new European-wide political party. The funding follows the formation of the Alliance for Direct Democracy in Europe, a pan-European political party which is dominated by Ukip. East Midlands Ukip MEP Roger Helmer said if the Eurosceptic party did not take the money it would go to ‘integrationist organisations’ promoting ever-close union. Ukip leader Nigel Farage has formed a new Alliance for Direct Democracy in Europe to secure taxpayer funding . But the decision has sparked a fresh row within the party – with some MEPs fiercely opposed to taking the Brussels funds. MEP Gerard Batten said there had been no consultation with members, adding: ‘I think the feeling among the activists is that they won't be in favour of it.’ According to BBC2's Newsnight, the new party could be approved by the European Parliament later this week, with the funding - which could be used on research, administration and advertising, but not for the UK general election campaign - following in April next year. The new party, currently made up mostly of Ukip MEPs, is entitled to £1m of European Union funding next year, Newsnight reported. An accompanying foundation, called the Initiative for Direct Democracy in Europe, will support ADDE and is entitled to a grant of £580,000. Mr Helmer told the programme the money could otherwise be available to ‘the German or other foundations which promote further integration’. He said: ‘We are going to be criticised by those who say 'you should turn your back on this money, you should take a principled stand and refuse it'. ‘But it doesn't make any difference to the taxpayer. ‘If we don't take the money, it will not go back to the member state of the taxpayer. It will simply go to those other foundations committed to further European integration.’ Socialist MEP Martin Schulz (left) is the president of the European Parliament, while Jean-Claude Juncker (right) is president of the Commission . He added: ‘We think that if there are resources available, we want to get them. ‘So the question for any Ukip supporter who has a reasonable issue here is - would you rather this money, which is British taxpayers' money, would you rather this money was given to one of the German or other foundations which promote further European integration, or would you rather some of the money goes to us to oppose European integration? ‘We are doing it precisely so we can liberate some of that money that would otherwise go to integrationist organisations.’ But Mr Batten said Ukip had rejected the idea of creating a new party, which is a different organisation from the Europe of Freedom and Direct Democracy political grouping formed by Nigel Farage and his allies in the European Parliament. Mr Batten told Newsnight: ‘I'm not interested in being part of a European political party. The members of Ukip weren't asked. There's been no consultation.’ MEP Roger Helmer said the money would go to ‘integrationist organisations’ if Ukip did not take it . The idea was rejected in 2011 following an ‘expensive’ referendum,’ he said. ‘I can't think of any arguments that would make me want to join. I think the feeling among the activists is that they won't be in favour of it.’ Tim Congdom, who ran against Mr Farage for the party's leadership in 2010 and led the internal referendum campaign opposed to forming a Pepp, said: ‘In 2011 Ukip held a big internal debate on the issue. ‘The party membership voted two to one against Ukip's affiliation to a Pepp.’That was the clear and unambiguous democratic verdict of the party membership after a big debate extending over several months. ‘I am much saddened that the leadership should now have decided to ignore and overrule the clearly expressed view of the party membership.’ It is understood that that party's ruling National Executive Committee backed the decision, giving individual Ukip MEPs the choice of whether to sign up. All but two of the party's 24 MEPs are expected to be on board, with just Mr Batten and Julia Reid opposed to the move, a Ukip source in Brussels said. The news comes after a chaotic few days for Ukip, which saw Kerry Smith quit as a candidate in a top target seat after being forced to apologise for a series of offensive comments. In recordings of phone calls obtained by the Mail on Sunday, the would-be MP was said to have mocked gay party members as ‘poofters’, joked about shooting people from Chigwell in a ‘peasant hunt’ and referred to someone as a ‘Chinky bird’. They were revealed just days after he was reinstated as the party's general election candidate in South Basildon and East Thurrock. He initially apologised and explained that he had been under great stress at the time of the comments and taking strong pain killers. But in a statement, he said: ‘I have this evening offered my resignation as Ukip PPC (prospective parliamentary candidate) for South Basildon and East Thurrock. ‘I want the best for South Basildon and East Thurrock and I want to see the real issues discussed that touch the lives of people. ‘Therefore I have chosen to resign so that Ukip can win this seat next May.’ | Funding follows formation of the Alliance for Direct Democracy in Europe . The pan-European political party in EU Parliament is dominated by Ukip . Party claims the money would go to 'integrationist organisations' if not . But the decision has sparked a fresh row within the party . | c4e7e3429ecf2f674c086ec5b2c06563879df5c8 |
By . Daily Mail . PUBLISHED: . 20:36 EST, 17 March 2013 . | . UPDATED: . 20:36 EST, 17 March 2013 . Gerard Depardieu has delivered a withering verdict on his homeland. 'France is sad and I think the French are fed up,' the star declared. He said the problem is 'especially the lack of energy'. The Government, he added, 'doesn’t know how to do its job' as President Francois Hollande has 'never held a ministerial post'. Withering attack: Gerard Depardieu said 'France is sad' and the French are fed up under President Hollande . The 63-year-old actor's broadside came during a TV interview in Belgium, where he resides. Many of France’s wealthiest figures have decamped across the border to avoid the threat of a 75 per cent tax rate. But Depardieu, who last year accepted Russian citizenship from Vladimir Putin, said it was 'not quite true' he moved to Belgium for tax reasons. Referring to the central in-the-sticks region, where President Hollande made his early political career, the film star told Notele: 'He just had the Correze, which is in deficit.' Exile: The 63-year-old is welcomed by Russian President Vladimir Putin in the Black Sea resort, Sochi . Depardieu sparked bemused annoyance from the French and anger from politicians when he accepted President Putin's offer late last year in a move that was widely perceived to be a refusal to pay taxes. Sporting a two-headed eagle brooch -- a symbol of Russia -- and framed by a large ham drying in the background, a relaxed Depardieu spoke from the Belgian village of Nechin, near the French border, where he has set up home. 'It was not quite true,' he said of the claim he left France over a tax row, adding that he already paid '50 percent' tax in Belgium. He was not in Belgium 'to make money', he said. Not only is Nechin only 125 miles from Paris’s Charles de Gaulle airport, he explained, but having friends in the village and the high quality of the local meat were also factors that tempted him away from France, he said. Coffers: The actor claims to have paid 145 million euros in taxes in 45 years of working in France . But he nonetheless judged Hollande’s fiscal policy to be 'a bit over the top'. French Prime Minister Jean-Marc Ayrault and Culture Minister Aurelie Filippetti, both of whom were highly critical of Depardieu’s flight abroad, also received a verbal swipe from the actor. 'You can’t criticise someone who pays 87 percent tax,' said the star of Cyrano de Bergerac and Green Card. Depardieu has said that he paid 85 percent tax on his revenues in 2012 and that over 45 years of working and running businesses in France he had paid 145 million euros to state coffers. In the interview he also revealed his plans to buy a restaurant near Nechin and, on the film side of things, said he had projects in both the United States and, of course, Russia. | Film star denied that he moved to Belgium to avoid 75 per cent tax . He said the local meat and proximity to the airport were also factors . 63-year-old claims he paid 145m euros in 45 years working in France . | 00cba0fc3d9dcbfeba2e0a5c940c4fe7f242fa9c |
Beirut, Lebanon (CNN) -- If cranes are a visual barometer of the economic vibe of a city then central Beirut is buzzing. Targeted car bombings linked to the ongoing Syrian conflict have raised anxiety and hurt overall growth in the Lebanese capital in recent years. But this seems to be a city that endures when it comes to real estate. During the boom years towards the end of the last decade, total sales rose by 36% here hitting nearly $9.5 billion in 2010, according to Bank Audi. And even though there was a slowdown last year, real estate purchases fell just 2.4% to $8.7 billion. According to local property expert Freddie Baz, financial troubles elsewhere in the world have failed to dampen local or international interest in Lebanon's high end property market. "Despite figures which show some kind of slowdown or stagnation, there are 400 real estate projects which are ongoing in Beirut, corresponding to close to 2 million square meters of development," Baz said. One such initiative is the 3 Beirut project in the center of the city's bustling business district. Although a couple of years behind schedule, the structure designed by British architects Foster & Partners is comfortably selling units priced as high as $10,000 per square meter ($929 per sq ft), senior adviser to the project, Farris Fara, told CNN. Elsewhere, developers like Karim Basal have been throwing up boutique, modern apartments with a total area between 30 and 70 square meters to cater for modern city living. On the city's waterfront, meanwhile, British design firm Stow is making a statement with the edgy Le Yacht Club leisure and residence development. This particular area of the city has had huge support from Lebanese investors based abroad. Over the last 6 years, there's been nearly $100 billion of net inflows into the country, more than half of which came in the midst of the financial crisis between 2008 and 2010. "At the end of the day, they (Lebanese investors) are working all over the world, Europe, GCC (Gulf) countries but they all need to come and own part of the country," said general manager of Le Yacht Club, Walid Kanaan. Kanaan said he has sold a fifth of the flats ahead of the delayed opening in April with almost all going to Lebanese people outside the country. While these investors may not suffer the first hand effects of car bombs or other violent spillover from Syria, Beirut's continuing appeal is a sign that this city has been shaken but not toppled during another period of regional uncertainty. See also: London's insane luxury basements . See also: Paris metro stations get stunning second life . See also: Can tiny emirate outshine Dubai . | Property in Beirut has grown impressively despite war in neighboring Syria . Real estate purchases totaled $8.7 billion in 2014 alone . Roughly 400 building projects are currently underway in the Lebanese capital, local experts say . | dd483bbfb98ddcfadb32e78c8bb736e0e639df07 |
(CNN) -- This month, Inside the Middle East explores the struggle to preserve traditional Arab culture in a rapidly changing world. Rima Maktabi shares four personal stories from people in the region who are leading the fight to protect, promote, and adapt their heritage. Palestyle . Journey deep into the heart of Baqa'a, Jordan's largest Palestinian refugee camp, located on the outskirts of the capital, Amman. In Baqa'a, meet several women on a mission to save hand-made Palestinian embroidery, an age-old art in danger of disappearing with the recent influx of modern sewing machines. But the women found an unlikely ally in their quest: 29-year-old Zeina Abou Chaaban, a Dubai-based fashion designer who is marketing their "Palestyle" half a world away, in the upscale malls of the United Arab Emirates. Amin Maalouf . Meet Amin Maalouf, a renowned Lebanese-born French author whose romantic tales of Arab mythology have enlightened international readers -- both in the east and west -- for decades. In a rare interview with Inside the Middle East, he tells us how being inspired "by everything" allows him to bridge his two cultures and identities. His message to the youth in the Middle East is simple: Only they can write their own future. Little Armenia . Welcome to Burj Hammoud, a working class, predominately Armenian community on the outskirts of Lebanon's cosmopolitan capital city. Take a tour of this vibrant neighborhood with filmmaker and intellectual Nigol Bezijian. Born in Syria, raised in Lebanon, and educated in the United States, Bezijian has first-hand experience of this cultural melting pot. See the sights and sounds of Lebanon's Little Armenia, and hear why Bezijian comes here to get his "cultural fix" and reconnect with his roots. Caracalla Theater . In 1970, Abdel Halim Caracalla opened a fledgling dance theater in Lebanon. Today, the Caracalla Theater has produced internationally-acclaimed performances in major cities and venues around the world, from the U.S. to China. With the help of his children -- director Ivan and choreographer Alissar -- Caracalla has also opened a popular dance school to promote the art of Arabesque in the Arab world. But in some conservative circles, not everyone is a fan. Watch the February show at the following times: . Wednesday 1 February: 1030, 1730 . Saturday 4 February: 0530, 1930 . Sunday 5 February: 1230 . Saturday 11 February: 1230 . Sunday 12 February: 0530, 1930 (all times GMT) | This month, IME explores the struggle to preserve Arab traditions in a modern world . Individuals share their personal stories of protecting, promoting and adapting heritage . Rima Maktabi meets Palestinian women who are making a fashion splash in Dubai . Plus, author Amin Maalouf, Caracalla Theater in Lebanon and Lebanon's "Little Armenia" | 9cb4a4591e376dadf57ad6c83aeeab6a9b524c42 |
The United States Coast Guard is sending one of the largest ships in its fleet to rescue an Australian fishing boat that is trapped in Antarctic ice. The Coast Guard dispatched icebreaker Cutter Polar Star to the Antarctic Chieftain's location approximately 900 miles northeast of McMurdo Sound, Antarctica. The 399-foot Polar Star, which has 150 crew members and its home port in Seattle, Washington, was given the exact coordinates by Rescue Coordination Center New Zealand last night. Scroll down for video . Cutter Polar Star (pictured) was sent to the rescue by Rescue Coordination Center New Zealand last night . The 399-foot Polar Star is one of the most powerful non-nuclear ships in the world. It will battle 35 mph winds, heavy snowfall and break through miles of ice to rescue the Antarctic Chieftain . Antarctic Chieftain (pictured) called for help after it suffered damage to three of its four propeller blades . The 207-foot fishing vessel called for help after it suffered damage to three of its four propeller blades. The Chieftain has lost its ability to maneuver and is completely stuck in the ice. There are 27 crew members aboard the trapped vessel. US Coast Guard Vice Adm. Charles Ray said: 'The seas of Antarctica are treacherous and unforgiving. 'This incident is a sobering reminder of the importance of the US icebreaker fleet as we see increased human activity in the polar regions.' The Polar Star will open a channel through several miles of nine-foot thick (above) ice to reach its destination . The heavy icebreaker had just completed Operation Deep Freeze when it was sent to rescue the Chieftain . Polar Star Capt. Matthew Walker said he is 'confident' in his ship's ability to reach the Antarctic Chieftain . The cutter will travel more than 330 miles to reach the Chieftain and is scheduled to reach the boat at approximately 10pm tonight. To get there on time, the Polar Star will have to battle 35 mph winds, heavy snowfall and break through multiple miles of nine-foot thick ice. Once the boat is free, a fishing vessel from New Zealand and will escort the Chieftain to the nearest safe harbor. Capt. Matthew Walker, the Polar Star's commanding officer, said: 'The considerable geographic distances and extreme environmental conditions make this a complex rescue mission. 'However, we're confident in our ability to reach the Antarctic Chieftain and committed to ensuring the safety of life at sea no matter the challenges.' The heavy icebreaker had just finished its annual mission, Operation Deep Freeze, to break a channel through the sea ice of McMurdo Sound to resupply and refuel the US Antarctic Program's station on Ross Island. Commissioned in 1976, the Polar Star is one of the largest ships the Coast Guard has and one of the most powerful non-nuclear vessels in the world, according to the Coast Guard's website. This is what it looks like from the Polar Star when the cutter is breaking a channel through Antarctic ice . | Cutter Polar Star was sent to rescue the Antarctic Chieftain last night . Boat is trapped in ice about 900 miles from McMurdo Sound, Antarctica . The fishing vessel suffered damage to three of its four propeller blades . Icebreaker will battle 35 mph winds, heavy snowfall and nine-foot thick ice . The Polar Star is one of the most powerful non-nuclear ships in the world . | 2d660e732d9a981697ec8ae1e077feb46df2785d |
New Delhi (CNN)A court in India's troubled northeastern region has freed a female activist who has been on hunger strike for 14 years in protest against special powers given to the military to combat rebels, her lawyer said Friday. Irom Sharmila, 42, started her hunger strike in 2000 after 10 civilians were killed in a shooting blamed on the army in Manipur state. Sharmila -- also known as the "Iron lady of Manipur" -- has demanded the repeal of India's Armed Forces (Special Powers) Act (AFSPA) because it gives sweeping powers to the military to search properties, detain suspects without warrants and shoot on sight. Since 2000, Sharmila has been arrested 14 times for trying to kill herself, prompting authorities to force feed her under a law that makes attempted suicide illegal, her counsel Khaidem Mani told CNN. But Mani challenged the attempted suicide charge, citing the country's history of hunger strikes. Mahatma Gandhi used the same mode of protest during the nation's independence struggle, he told the sessions court in Imphal East, a district of Manipur. "I also argued that a hunger strike was no crime," he said. The magistrate ruled there was insufficient evidence to prove she was attempting to commit suicide. In doing so, he overturned a lower court's attempt to put her on trial for attempted suicide. After the court ordered her release, Sharmila resumed her hunger strike, her lawyer added. Last year, India's Vice President Hamid Ansari admitted there had been "serious complaints of misuse of the AFSPA." "This reflects poorly on the state and its agents," a statement from his office said. Meantime, Amnesty International called Sharmila's arrests "farcical," saying she should not be taken into custody again. "The judgment must end the farcical cycle of arrest and re-arrest that this brave activist has faced for so long. Authorities must not detain Irom Sharmila again but engage with the issues she is raising," said Shemeer Babu, the rights group's program director in India. Activists and non-profit organizations have repeatedly urged the Indian government to scrap the AFSPA. In 2005, a government-appointed committee recommended the law be abolished. Its recommendations remain under the government's "consideration," India's Deputy Home Minister Kiren Rijiju told the national parliament last month. Manipur is an impoverished, landlocked state in India's remote northeastern belt. For years, many Manipuri tribal communities have resisted the authority of Delhi, claiming that they have suffered neglect from the central government. This disaffection has given rise to occasional outbreaks of violence. | Irom Sharmila, 42, started her hunger strike in 2000 . She is protesting against wide-ranging military powers against rebels . Court argues there was insufficient evidence to prove she was attempting suicide . | a5afc4d86364fc25980e6671138735e905e66875 |
(CNN) -- Jennifer Lawrence isn't just an Oscar-winning actress. She's now a chart-climbing singer, too. Lawrence's song "The Hanging Tree" from "The Hunger Games: Mockingjay -- Part I" debuted at No. 12 on the Billboard Hot 100 chart. That chart tracks the top 100 popular songs in the U.S. each week, and Lawrence's single is sandwiched between Nick Jonas' "Jealous" and Meghan Trainor's "Lips Are Movin'." That's not bad for an actress who's claimed she has a "tone-deaf" singing voice. "I do not like singing in front of other people. That's my biggest fear," Lawrence told David Letterman on "The Late Show" in November. "I'm, like, scarred from my childhood because I have a mother who would just tell me that I was amazing at everything and that I could do everything, and I can't." Oh, but it would seem she can. According to Billboard, Lawrence is just the 13th acting Oscar winner to also notch a spot on the Hot 100 chart. She follows in the footsteps of stars like Bing Crosby, Julie Andrews, Cher, Jamie Foxx, Meryl Streep and Jennifer Hudson. "The Hanging Tree" was written by "Hunger Games" author Suzanne Collins and Lumineers musicians Jeremiah Fraites and Wesley Schultz. Lawrence shares a credit on the song with James Newton Howard, who provided the score for "The Hunger Games: Mockingjay -- Part I." The soundtrack for the movie, which features Lorde, Bat for Lashes, Charli XCX and CHVRCHES, is proving just as popular as Lawrence's song. Since its debut November 17, it's remained in the top 10 on Billboard's Soundtracks chart and is at No. 40 on Billboard's Top 200 albums chart. "Mockingjay -- Part I," the third installment in the four-part "Hunger Games" franchise, has also been the expected hit at the box office. It's earned $231 million domestically since it opened November 21. 'Hunger Games: Mockingjay - Part 1': What's the verdict? | Jennifer Lawrence's "Hunger Games" song debuts at No. 12 . Called "The Hanging Tree," she sings it in the latest "Hunger Games" movie . Lawrence has joked that she can't sing and hates doing it . | b2f53eac1a52d02b254df8deee42670dd749799c |
By . Jill Reilly . PUBLISHED: . 12:53 EST, 8 October 2012 . | . UPDATED: . 04:36 EST, 9 October 2012 . Treo the IED sniffer dog spent years in hostile territories hunting out bombs and weapons hidden by the Taliban. But now he is retired the most taxing task he carries out is playing fetch with his owner and former handler Sergeant Dave Heyhoe in Congleton, Cheshire. Treo, a black Labrador saved the lives of scores of British soldiers in Afghanistan and was even awarded the canine equivalent of the Victoria Cross for his services. Scroll down for video . Man's best friend: Sergeant David Heyhoe with his dog Treo, in Congleton, Cheshire East. The dog spent years in hostile territories hunting out bombs and weapons hidden by the Taliban . Discovery: Treo's heroics include finding a 'daisy chain' improvised explosive device (IED) while working as a forward detection dog in Sangin, Helmand Province, in March 2008 . Yet as a puppy he was a badly behaved . rebel in danger of being put down until intensive Army training turned . him into the gutsy canine described by his handler as the best military dog he has served alongside. Treo was attached to 104 Military Working Dog Support Unit, Royal Army Veterinary Corps. He instantly proved his worth in on his first patrol in a war zone finding a stash of weapons hidden in a hut at the back of a mud-walled compound. He . made an impact as within weeks of Treo’s arrival, the Royal Marines . were intercepting enemy radio messages mentioned targeting the 'black . dog' Treo's other . notable heroics include finding a ‘daisy chain’ improvised explosive . device (IED) while working as a forward detection dog in Sangin, Helmand . Province, in March 2008. A daisy chain is two or more bombs . wired together and concealed by the Taliban on the side of a path to . maximise casualties among soldiers on patrol. On alert: Treo was responsible for saving many lives by detecting around 46 bombs during his six-month tour of Afghanistan in 2008 . Perfect pairing: According to the Army, his actions have also saved other soldiers and civilians from death or serious injury . In September 2008, Treo saved another platoon from guaranteed casualties when he again found a daisy chain. According to the Army, his actions have also saved other soldiers and civilians from death or serious injury. It can be common practice for handlers to request another dog if they believe they’ve got too close to their charge but Mr Heyhoe told the Sunday Times he would not swap Treo. 'You have to understand each other, recognise the slightest change in each other.' 'The trick is to channel your fear, knowing that this will make both you and the dog concentrate better. Although he was a black dog in 50C heat, I never doubted him.' During the tour, only one man was . killed, Justin Cupples, 29, who was Mr Heyhoe’s roommate. The Taliban took the opportunity to activate another hidden explosive just after an incident which had left Heyhoe and Treo out of action . As he dealt with the death of his friend Heyhoe described himself as a 'broken man.' Support: Sergeant David Heyhoe with Treo and two of his comrades . Man's best friend: Dave Heyhoe and Treo pictured in Afghanistan . He returned to Britain and retired from the army, suffering from post-traumatic stress disorder. But he credits Treo with helping him through the darker days: 'He’s a proper dog who never gives kisses, but the times when I needed him, he’d sit beside me. He knew when I was suffering.' Both Prince Charles and Gordon Brown . have been introduced to the Labrador on his return to Britain from his . many six-month tours of duty. In 2009 Treo was honoured with the . Dickin Medal from the People’s Dispensary for Sick Animals for his . conspicuous gallantry and devotion to duty. Sgt Heyho accompanied Treo to the award ceremony at the Imperial . War Museum in London, describing Treo as his ‘mate and best canine . friend’. PDSA director general Jan McLoughlin said at the time: ‘We look forward to honouring Treo with the Dickin Medal. Fresh start: Treo can now enjoy his retirement in Congleton away from the dust and danger of Helmand . Happy retirement: These days Treo's biggest task is playing fetch with his master . Two of a kind: After Mr Heyhoe returned to Britain with post-traumatic stress disorder, he says his dog helped him through . 'It is recognised throughout the world as the animals’ Victoria Cross. Treo is without doubt a worthy recipient.’ A Defence source said: ‘There is no doubt that Treo has saved many, many lives through his expertise.’ The life of a sniffer dog and his handler is fraught with danger and last month an Army dog was posthumously awarded the PDSA Dickin Medal . Theo, a 22-month-old springer spaniel cross suffered a fatal seizure just hours after his handler, Lance Corporal Liam Tasker, 26, was shot dead by the Taliban in March 2011. The pair uncovered 14 bombs and hoards of weapons in five months on the front line - more than any other dog and handler in the conflict. Military chiefs hailed them for saving the lives of countless British soldiers in Afghanistan. It’s All About Treo: Life and War with the World’s Bravest Dog by Dave Heyhoe is published by Quercus at £19 . VIDEO: Treo the sniffer dog in action! | Treo, a black labrador, has spent years sniffing out bombs and weapons hidden by the Taliban . Treo’s heroics include finding a 'daisy chain' improvised explosive device (IED) while working as a forward detection dog in Helmand Province . Within weeks of Treo’s arrival, the . Royal Marines were intercepting enemy . radio messages discussing targeting the 'black dog' | 4ad62e18db2d985b4e030446cb4a5070ee99ede0 |
(CNN) -- European champions Bayern Munich opened their Bundesliga title defense with a comfortable 3-1 victory over Borussia Moenchengladbach in the Allianz Arena Friday. It was very much business as usual for Bayern in their first league match under new coach Pep Guardiola once Arjen Robben had given them an early lead. Just like in May's Champions League final win over arch-rivals Borussia Dortmund, it was Franck Ribery who set up Robben for the first goal, the Dutchman chipping goalkeeper Marc-Andre ter Stegen. The 12th minute strike was the first of the German campaign and was quickly followed by a Mario Mandzukic goal. Tony Kroos hit the woodwork as Bayern looked to move out of sight, but Brazilian defender Dante's own goal gave the visitors a lifeline just before the break. Bayern were awarded two penalties in quick succession in the second half, both for handball against Alvaro Dominguez . Ter Stegen kept out Thomas Muller's first effort to keep his side a single goal adrift, but when a second spot kick was awarded almost straight away, he could not repeat the trick from David Alaba's 69th minute effort. Bayern won the title by a record 25 points last season on the way to a treble as they added the Champions League and German Cup in Jupp Heynckes' final season in charge. Fomer Barcelona boss Guardiola took over in the summer and his first competitive match saw defeat to Dortmund in the German Super Cup, but a German Cup victory and three points in their league opener have followed. In France, the Ligue 1 campaign also began with the champions Paris St Germain in action at Montpellier. They trailed to a 10th minute goal from French midfielder Remy Cabella, but Maxwell earned them a point with the equalizer on the hour mark. Under new manager Laurent Blanc after the departure of Carlo Ancelotti to Real Madrid and with icon David Beckham retired, PSG still kept new signing Edinson Cavani on the bench from the start in the Stade de la Mosson. Cabella scored with a fierce shot after robbing PSG star striker Zlatan Ibrahimovic to give the home side the early advantage. Ibrahimovic nearly made amends but his effort was parried away by Geoffrey Jourdren in the home goal. Brazilian Maxwell grabbed a share of the points as he netted after an Ibrahimovic assist. Montpellier's Moroccan defender Abdelhamid El Kaoutari was red carded with 18 minutes left but the home side held out. "We expected a better result," Blanc told AFP. "But we created too little for my taste and made too many mistakes which allowed Montpellier to score." Big spending Monaco open their campaign Saturday at Bordeaux, a former club of Blanc, who led them to the title in 2009. | Bayern Munich win season opener in Bundesliga title defense . Bayern beat Borussia Moenchengladbach 3-1 in Allianz Arena . Arjen Robben scores opening goal of the German campaign . Paris St Germain held 1-1 at Montpellier in French season opener . | f1b0bd8e1d4ccdf4afa06a62060ab375d29b8432 |
Officers investigating the disappearance of Madeleine McCann are hunting a British paedophile who was in Portugal when a series of sex attacks linked to the case took place, it has been reported. Roderick Robinson, 77, was arrested at a campsite in the Algarve in 2010 and extradited to Australia - where he was wanted for the 1998 rape of an eight-year-old. He escaped to the Far East following another conviction in the UK in 2012. Now it is believed that police think he may have evidence about a suspected paedophile ring that operated in the region where the three-year-old went missing in 2007. Briton Roderick Robinson when he was arrested in Pattaya, Thailand. Police reportedly want to speak to him in relation to a suspected paedophile gang in the Algarve which could be related to the disappearance of Madeleine McCann . Missing: Madeleine McCann went missing in 2007, during a family holiday in Portugal. Police reportedly want to talk to a paedophile who may be connected to a suspected paedophile ring in the region she disappeared . The British citizen was arrested at an Olhao campsite, where he had been staying for two months. He had spent the last decade on the run. At the time of the arrest, the Portuguese police said they had no evidence suggesting that the man had committed any crimes in Portugal but investigated his time in the Algarve and the reasons that brought him to the region. 'Roderick Robinson is a notorious and dangerous sex offender. He has shown a pattern of disturbing behaviour wherever he has travelled,' a source told the Sunday Mirror. 'He may have vital information which could shed light on the mystery surrounding the disappearance of Madeleine McCann. 'He is wanted on an international arrest warrant after failing to notify British police of his whereabouts and it is vital he is found without delay.' Scene: Madeleine went missing from a holiday apartment at the Ocean Club resort (pictured) in Praia da Luz as her parents dined at a nearby tapas restaurant. She had been left in the apartment with her twin siblings . Possible sighting: A street in the Praia Da Luz resort where an Irish holiday maker and his wife claim they saw a mystery person with a child at about the same time as Madeleine McCann disappeared in May 2007 . Robinson received six months in prison after accepting a plea deal for indecently assaulting the child in Australia and fled to Thailand after he was released, but Thai authorities deported him back to the UK when they found out about his past. He settled in Brighton, East Sussex, but, despite being made to sign the Sex Offenders Register, was convicted of molesting two girls, five and seven in 2012. He received a year-long sentence but it was suspended for two years. He changed his name and fled to the Far East soon after. A Scotland Yard spokesman said they do not comment on ongoing investigations. Madeleine, then aged three, went missing on May 3, 2007, from a holiday apartment in Praia da Luz, Portugal, as her parents Kate and Gerry dined at a nearby tapas restaurant. The toddler, who lived in Rothley with her family, had been left in the rented apartment at the seaside Ocean Club resort, along with her siblings, twins Sean and Amelie. The toddler, who lived in Rothley with her family, had been left in the rented apartment at the seaside Ocean Club resort . Last month Scotland Yard announced that a paedophile suspected of abducting Madeleine McCann had been linked with attacks on another five British girls. They include a ten-year-old who was sexually assaulted in Praia da Luz two years before three-year-old Madeleine vanished from the resort in the Algarve, British police revealed yesterday. The attack took place in the ‘heart of the resort’ in 2005 but the victim, now thought to be 19, did not tell her parents at the time. She only came forward following an appeal by Scotland Yard last month about a lone sex offender already thought to have targeted 12 British families holidaying in the region between 2004 and 2010. Their apartments were broken into and five young girls were assaulted in their beds by a predator who police believe may be a local binman described as ‘smelly and pot-bellied’. Since the appeal six other British families have come forward to report that their children aged six to 12 fell victim to the offender over the same period. Five of those children – including the ten-year-old molested in Praia da Luz – were sexually assaulted and there was one ‘near miss’ when the intruder was disturbed in neighbouring resorts. Police have received 500 calls about the mystery man said to have ‘a vile interest in young, white, female children’. Meanwhile, the parents . of missing Madeleine McCann thanked the public for their unwavering . support yesterday as they marked the seventh anniversary of their daughter's . disappearance. Kate . and Gerry McCann were joined by around 100 well-wishers, friends and . relatives at a prayer service in the centre of Rothley, Leicestershire. The . open-air service, conducted beside Rothley's War Memorial, saw candles . lit for all the children around the world who have been taken away from . their parents against their will. Speech: During the ceremony, Mrs McCann gave a reading adapted from the words of a song. 'Here we are again, and more significantly, here you are again,' she said. 'Having your support has made a huge difference' Prayer: The service, conducted beside Rothley's War Memorial, saw candles lit for all the children around the world who have been taken away from their parents against their will. Above, tributes to the missing children . Speaking . earlier this week, Mrs McCann revealed that she privately returns to . the Portuguese resort where her daughter disappeared to 'walk those . streets' and 'look for answers'. She told . the BBC that she returns quietly to Praia da Luz at least once or twice a . year to feel close to her eldest daughter, who would now be 10 years . old. Mrs . McCann's comments came as she backed a revamped alert system, known as . Child Rescue Alerts, which is triggered when missing children are . kidnapped or their lives are at risk. 'When a child is abducted, families are devastated and entire communities are torn apart,' she said. 'The agony of not knowing where your child is is almost impossible to imagine.' She urged members of the public to sign up for system, which will be overhauled later this month. Search: Speaking earlier this week, Mrs McCann (pictured with her husband, Gerry) revealed that she privately returns to the Portuguese resort where Madeleine disappeared to 'walk those streets' and 'look for answers' | Police are reportedly looking for child molester Roderick Robinson, 77 . He may be connected to paedophile ring in region Madeleine went missing . He was arrested at a campsite and extradited to Australia over a child rape . After a further conviction in 2012, he changed his name and fled to Far East . | 4191fede6438282b648f5c15fc2783d97098fcd1 |
By . James Rush . An inquisitive toddler had to be rescued by firefighters after getting her head stuck in a toilet training seat. Emily Pitt got her head wedged in her older brother's training seat after trying it on as a hat. Her mother, Sarah Pitt, at first laughed when her young daughter wandered into the living room with the seat around her neck - but then had to ring 999 when she was unable to get it off. Emily Pitt had to be freed by firefighters after she got her head wedged in her older brother's training seat . Ms Pitt, 35, said: 'I thought they would just give me advice on how to get it off - we spent 45 minutes trying to get it off and she was wedged in tight. 'We had to show her Peppa Pig on my iPhone to keep her quiet. The fire brigade showed up and carefully cut her free - I'm so grateful to them. 'Emily now keeps talking about how the firemen came and rescued her.' Emily wandered into the bathroom of their home in Tadworth, Surrey, on Saturday afternoon where she found her older brother Owen's training seat. She then toddled into the lounge with the seat around her neck, prompting her parents to contact the emergency services when they were unable to get it off. Mother-of-four Ms Pitt said: 'She wasn't in pain or anything - the seat wasn't tight around her neck or anything like that. Emily (right) wandered into the bathroom of their home in Tadworth, Surrey, on Saturday afternoon where she found her older brother Owen's training seat (left) 'Obviously, we wanted to get it off without hurting her. Firemen spent about five minutes cutting it off with a hacksaw blade. 'I would like to warn other parents that if their child gets in the same situation, ring 999 rather than attempting to cut it off yourself. 'Parents aren't trained to do things like this - but luckily firemen are.' She added: 'Emily's not the smallest two-year-old. She's quite big. It was a first for us and the fire station. 'It just goes to show I suppose that toilet training seats definitely shouldn't be used as a hat.' Emily's father Adam added: 'All my little girl keeps talking about is how the firemen helped her.' | Emily Pitt became wedged in training seat after she tried it on as a hat . Her parents initially laughed when she toddled into their living room . But they had to ring 999 when they were unable to get the seat off . | f604c721b8aadf6da9c9ede2111662c39c92dabc |
(CNN) -- Scientists say they "serendipitously" discovered that a drug used to treat a type of cancer quickly reversed Alzheimer's disease in mice. "It's really exciting," said Maria Carrillo, senior director for medical and scientific relations for the Alzheimer's Association. "They saw very positive and robust behavior effects in the mice." In the study, researchers at Case Western Reserve University School of Medicine gave mice mega-doses of bexarotene, a drug used to treat a type of skin cancer called cutaneous T-cell lymphoma. Within 72 hours, the mice showed dramatic improvements in memory and more than 50% of amyloid plaque -- a hallmark of Alzheimer's disease -- had been removed from the brain. The study was published Thursday in the journal Science. Gary Landreth, the lead researcher at Case Western, cautioned that even though his results were impressive in mice, it may turn out not to work in people. "I want to say as loudly and clearly as possible that this was a study in mice, not in humans," he said. "We've fixed Alzheimer's in mice lots of times, so we need to move forward expeditiously but cautiously." Mice -- and humans -- with Alzheimer's have high levels of a substance called amyloid beta in their brain. Pathology tests on the mice showed bexarotene lowered the levels of amyloid beta and raised the levels of apolipoprotein E, which helps keep amyloid beta levels low. Landreth said he hopes to try the drug out in healthy humans within two months, to see if it has the same effect. Those participating in the trial would be given the standard dose that cancer patients are usually given. Researchers tested the memories of mice with Alzheimer's both before and after giving them bexarotene. For example, the Alzheimer's mice walked right into a cage where they'd previously been given a painful electrical shock, but after treatment with bexarotene, the mice remembered the shock and refused to enter the cage. In another test, the scientists put tissue paper in a cage. Normal mice instinctively use tissues in their cage to make a nest, but mice with Alzheimer's can't figure out what to do with the tissues. After treatment with the drug, the Alzheimer's mice made a nest with the paper. Carrillo said one of the major advantages of bexarotene is that it's already been approved by the Food and Drug Administration for use in humans, which means the researchers can move into human trials sooner than if it were a completely new drug. The Alzheimer's Association is funding Case Western's next phase of research, which will involve using bexarotene at the levels used on cancer patients, Landreth said. Since the drug does have some side effects -- it can increase cholesterol, for example -- he hopes to use it in even lower levels as the study goes on. Landreth said his lab had been working on other drugs for Alzheimer's for 10 years when a graduate student, Paige Cramer, decided to try bexarotene, which works on a receptor involved in amyloid beta clearance. Some other drugs that worked in mice were too toxic to use in humans. "We're really lucky that bexarotene is a great drug with an acceptable safety profile," he said. "This doesn't happen very many times in life'" CNN's William Hudson contributed to this report. | "They saw very positive and robust ... effects in the mice," an Alzheimer's official says . Researchers found improvements in mice's memories after they got the drug . The lead researcher cautions that not all good results in mice are seen in humans . | 83cb47770e4107d10525a6788f982b272ea1d68d |
A small, finely carved stone female head has been unearthed by archaeologists in South Shields. The face is said to represent Roman goddess Brigantia - who was once worshipped on the banks of the Tyne - and has been buried for more than 1,800 years. It was discovered by a volunteer on the community archaeology project WallQuest at Arbeia Roman fort in the north eastern town. The face (pictured) is said to represent Roman goddess Brigantia - who was worshipped on the banks of the Tyne - and has been buried for more than 1,800 years. The eyes, nose, mouth and hairstyle are all delicately carved, and traces of pink paint still survive on the statue’s face, and red on her lips . The eyes, nose, mouth and hairstyle are all delicately carved, and traces of pink paint still survive on the statue’s face. There are also traces of red paint on the lips. On the stone's head is a mural crown, carved into the form of a town wall with battlements, symbolising that Brigantia was a so-called ‘protecting goddess’. Brigantia was goddess of the Brigantes - a tribe whose territory included what is now the North East. A statue of Brigantia was found near Dumfries in southern Scotland in 1731, and also wears a mural crown. Evidence that this northern goddess was worshipped at South Shields was also found when an altar dedicated to her was discovered in 1895 - only 328ft (100 metres) away from where the current discovery was made. A statuette of Brigantia in the Museum of Brittany . Brigantia was the goddess of Brigantes, a Roman tribe which occupied what are the now the six northernmost counties of England. Like many Celtic goddesses, Brigantia was associated with rivers and wells. The eyes, nose, mouth and hairstyle of the recently uncovered stone head are all delicately carved, and traces of pink paint still survive on the statue’s face, and red on her lips. On her head is a mural crown in the form of a town wall with battlements, symbolising that she was a so-called ‘protecting goddess’. A statue of Brigantia was found near Dumfries in southern Scotland in 1731, which also wears a mural crown. Evidence that this northern goddess was worshipped at South Shields was also found when an altar dedicated to her was discovered in 1895 - only 328ft (100 metres) away from where the current discovery was made. ‘The Roman army was anxious to placate the goddess of what may have been seen as an inhospitable and hostile region, and these finds suggest that there may have been a shrine to Brigantia - the northern goddess - somewhere close to the present excavation site,’ said WallQuest project manager Nick Hodgson. ‘The Roman army was anxious to placate the goddess of what may have been seen as an inhospitable and hostile region, and these finds suggest that there may have been a shrine to Brigantia - the northern goddess - somewhere close to the present excavation site,’ said WallQuest project manager Nick Hodgson. The head was found in an aqueduct channel that was filled in during AD 208 to make way for the enlargement of the Roman fort. The aqueduct became a supply base for Hadrian’s Wall. The head was discovered by a volunteer on the community archaeology project WallQuest at Arbeia Roman Fort (marked). It was buried in an aqueduct channel that was filled in during AD 208 to make way for the enlargement of the Roman fort. The aqueduct became a supply base for Hadrian’s Wall . Brigantia was the goddess of Brigantes, a Roman tribe which occupied what are the now the six northernmost counties of England. Like many Celtic goddesses, Brigantia was associated with rivers and wells. The gatehouse at South Shield's Roman Fort is pictured . The head (pictured) will go on display at Arbeia Museum in the spring, following conservation work . ‘It looks as if the shrine got in the way of the extension to the fort and had to be demolished, and the statue was broken up then,’ continued Mr Hodgson. The head will go on display at Arbeia Museum in the spring, following conservation work. There will also be an opportunity for volunteers to join the WallQuest project at Arbeia and help look for the other missing parts of the statue. Alex Croom, keeper of archaeology at Tyne Wear Archives and Museums, said: ‘The Romans believed that every place had a deity which looked after that location and perhaps they thought Brigantia must be the one. ‘The statue would have been painted and part of a shrine.’ Other representations of gods found at South Shields include Mercury and Mars. Archaeologist Dr Clive Waddington will give two lectures on 19 October, at the Jubilee Hall in Rothbury. He will discuss recent excavation he led at Low Hauxley overlooking Druridge Bay near Amble. The dig came about because cliff face erosion at Low Hauxley meant that a Bronze Age burial site was in danger of being lost. The dig revealed evidence of what may have been an early prehistoric tsunami event, burial cists and an Iron Age house rebuilt in Roman times. | The stone head was discovered at Arbeia Roman Fort in South Shields . Its eyes, nose, mouth and hairstyle are all delicately carved . There are also traces of pink and red paint statue’s face and lips . It is thought the head depicts Brigantia, goddess of the Brigantes . This was a tribe whose territory included what is now the UK's North East . The stone head will go on display at Arbeia Museum in the spring . | 96857bc6426ae1b9744cc977f98913064e56db58 |
By . Candace Sutton . A Japanese harpoon whaling ship has rammed a conservationist protestors' vessel in dramatic scenes in icy seas off Antarctica. Video released by anti-whaling organisation, Sea Shepherd, shows the Japanese ship the Yushin Maru 2 crashing into the bow of the Bob Barker on Sunday in the Southern Ocean off the South Pole. Sea Shepherd claims the collision was deliberate and part of a sustained attack by three whaling ships on the protestors. Scroll down for video . Collision: Japanese whaling vessel Yuhsin Maru No. 3, left, and Sea Shepherd's the Bob Barker collide in the remote, icy seas off Antarctica . A Japanese harpoon whaling vessel cuts across the bow of the Sea Shepherd boat Steve Irwin in dramatic scenes in the icy waters off Antarctica on Sunday . A Japanese whaling boat cuts off the Bob Barker, the ship of activist group Sea Shepherd in the Ross Sea off Antarctica as the anti-whaling protestors attempt to stop the slaughter in the Southern Ocean . The Sea Shepherd boats, the Bob Barker and the Steve Irwin, were patrolling off Antarctica in the Ross Sea, the most pristine marine ecosystem on earth in which a high concentration of marine wildlife has remained mostly free from pollution, mining and fishing. Known as "the last ocean", the Ross Sea teems with large predatory fish, whales, seals and penguins. The Sea Shepherd vessels had sailed to the Ross Sea to interfere with a Japanese whaling fleet comprising the Yushin Maru, Yushin Maru 2, Yushin Maru 3 and the world's only whaling factory ship, the Nisshin Maru. Sea Shepherd claims the Japanese ships launched a sustained eight hour attack from around 1am Australian Eastern Daylight Time (AEDT) on Sunday. Sea Shepherd said its ships had positioned themselves off the Nisshin Maru's slipway to block the harpoon vessels from loading the corpses of whales they had caught onto the factory ship. The Nisshin Maru is chartered by Japan's Institute of Cetacean Research (ICR), which claims to be a nonprofit research organization of whales and dolphins, but which Sea Shepherd and Greenpeace say is just a Japanese Government-funded operation for slaughtering whales for profit. Japanese crewman aboard the Yushin Maru as it harpoons whales in the icy waters off the South Pole . Conservationists risked their lives in the icy waters of the Ross Sea, off the South Pole to stop Japanese crews whales in the earth's last untouched ocean . In Sunday's attack, which continued until 9am, the harpoon vessels overtook the Sea Shepherd ships, crossing their bows and coming within three to five metres in numerous "dangerous manoeuvres", Sea Shepherd claimed. It said the Yushin Maru 3 struck the Bob Barker and quoted the ship's captain, Peter Hammarstedt, and Siddarth Chakravarty of the Steve Irwin saying the two ships on several occasions had to steer out of the harpoon whalers' paths, narrowly avoiding potential collisions. 'The whaling vessels also made consecutive attempts to foul the propellers of the Sea Shepherd ships by dragging steel cable across the bow of the conservation ships,' Sea Shepherd said. Greenpeace claims the Nisshin Maru has twice rammed its vessel, the Arctic Sunrise, although the Institute for Cetacean Research contested Greenpeace was to blame. ICR says on its website Greenpeace and Sea Shepherd engage in dangerous 'sabotage' which endangers life at sea. 'Sea Shepherd group, one of several Greenpeace offshoots, joined the interference against Japan's whale research and, imitating Greenpeace methods such as illegal boarding and ramming of research vessels, started to use increasingly dangerous and violent sabotage methods which include entangling devices (propeller foulers), throwing and shooting of chemical-containing projectiles, smoke bombs and incendiary devices,' ICR said. Japanese whalers drag a minke whale harpooned in the Southern Ocean off Antarctica last year . A pilot whale is netted off the cove at Taiji, Japan, where a pod of dolphins was slaughtered in October last year . An Australian conservationist who witnessed Japanese crewmen herd a pod of dolphins into a cove off Taiji, Japan,heard the 'distressed cries' of the dolphins as they died . 'Such dangerous actions by these groups are not peaceful protest but unforgivable acts akin to terrorism that threaten human life at sea. 'Over and over again we have strongly condemned the harassment and sabotage actions by these groups and demand again that they refrain from further spreading violence under pretext of protecting whales.' Sea Shepherd's team of volunteers from around the world has photographed the ICR's harpooning of whales, and slaughter of dolphins in the Japanese port of Taiji. Australian Alana West told of the scene at Taiji last year, when the Japanese team herded a pod of striped dolphins into Taiji Cove and how she could hear 'the distress cries of the dying pod members'. 'Although the noise and confusion of the killing must have been terrifying for these dolphins, they did not swim to the other end of the Cove, as they so wanted to be with their pod members who were in fear and pain and were taking their last breaths,' Alana said. 'It was incredibly harrowing to witness.' | Dramatic video of Japanese whalers ramming boats off South Pole . Conservationists risk lives in icy waters to prevent slaughter . Protestors patrol earth's last pristine ocean to stop whale kill . Japanese claim killing whales is only 'scientific research . 'Sea captains tell of Japanese ships' eight hour attack . Volunteers tell of 'heartbreaking' scenes of dolphin killing . | 5476351085a22566c4def5419fb0d38380f8acc9 |
Abbottabad, Pakistan (CNN) -- Children in the Abbottabad neighborhood where Osama bin Laden lived said they noticed oddities at bin Laden's massive compound but were oblivious that the world's most wanted terror leader was hiding in the quiet city. Twelve-year-old Zarar Amjed Turk is one of the children who played with the eight or nine kids from bin Laden's house -- some of whom may have been the al Qaeda leader's grandchildren. "I don't know why they had security cameras installed outside the house," Zarar said. "We used to knock the door for 10 or 20 minutes then someone used to come to talk. That was strange for us." He said he didn't know the names of the kids he played with. "We used to play cricket next to their house. Whenever our cricket ball went into the compound, we knocked on the door and asked for the ball. But the guy always said our ball was lost, and gave us 50 rupees (59 cents) and asked us to buy a new one." Zarar had never heard the name Osama bin Laden before the terror leader's death last week. CNN's Nick Paton Walsh contributed to this report. | Children would knock on door for 10 or 20 minutes, one tells CNN . When a ball went into the compound, a man would pay them for it, a child says . Some of the kids they played with may have been bin Laden grandchildren . | b3a58a0bfbf15e1240e8a18bc150953d5ba05eaf |
By . Daily Mail Reporter . PUBLISHED: . 13:55 EST, 3 June 2013 . | . UPDATED: . 15:48 EST, 3 June 2013 . An adorable video of a father dueting with his tiny one-year-old son has captured hearts across the world with more than 300,000 views in just three days. Diogo Mello, 1, from Brazil, was filmed playing the Beatles 'Don't Let Me Down' on his ukelele alongside his father Christian Diego Mello, who then posted it on YouTube on Thursday. The double act showcases already musical Diogo, who will be turning two in a . month, showing off a big voice and early strumming skills. SCROLL DOWN FOR VIDEO . Duet with dad: Diogo Mello's dad Christian posted a video to YouTube of himself singing and duet with his almost-two-year-old son three days ago which has been viewed more than 300,000 times . Proud dad Christian accompanies his . son on guitar, pausing to let Diogo shout the chorus enthusiastically, . and occasionally prompting him with the lyrics. The pair are an accomplished . covers double act who have been performing Beatles hits together almost since Diogo's birth. The comments section for the video has lit up with people enchanted by cute little Diogo, and congratulating his father for teaching him the 'classics' early. 'How beautiful!' wrote Hailson Reis Souza Silv. 'The world really is not lost. This little boy is very talented and has good taste in music too!' 'Rock is still alive!' wrote Danilo Alencar. 'Great! You didn't let me down!' commented Marluce Fagotti. Little boy, big voice: Many of little Diogo Mello's new fans are hoping his dad posts some more YouTube videos of the tiny rocker . Christian Mello responded to his young son's fans on the page, 'I'm his Daddy!' 'Very proud of him. Big hug!' Diogo appears to be performing in his pyjamas. It is unclear whether or not a Yoko Ono figure stepped in and broke up the jam session to send the budding musician to bed. | Diogo Mello is only one but he's already got a YouTube video with more than 300,000 hits . Diogo and his father play a cover of The Beatles' 'Don't Let Me Down' in the video . Christian Mello says he and his son have been playing Beatles songs together almost since Diogo was born . | 96b1fc7f260715e8858f6dc2327e0e700b377d09 |
If the thought of walking along the edge of skyscrapers completely unprotected turns you queasy, it's probably best you look away now. Daring photographer Tom Ryaboi snaps the Toronto skyline from the top of skyscrapers as a pioneer of the heart-stopping photography movement rooftopping. To achieve these breathtaking photographs, he often has to evade security guards, dogs - and even urban falcons defending their nests. Scroll down for video . Daring photographer Tom Ryaboi snaps the Toronto skyline from the top of skyscrapers . The 28-year-old is one of the pioneers of rooftopping, which sees members scale tall buildings to take pictures of the streets below . Walking freely along the edge of skyscrapers, knowing full well that one slip would mean game over is part of the attraction for rooftoppers. This particular rooftopper has the audacity to do it in a clown's mask . To achieve these breathtaking photographs, he often has to evade security guards, dogs - and even urban falcons defending their nests . Fearless rooftopper stands on the very edge of one of Toronto's skyscrapers as a camera catches the pose. A fall would mean certain death . Tom Ryaboi is really pushing the boundaries here as he straddles two iron girders suspended above a skyscraper roof . Here Mr Ryaboi can be seen setting up his camera on the edge of a building at dusk . Tom Ryaboi can be seen here angling his camera for a downward shot of Toronto at night, with the CN Tower in the background . The 28-year-old, from Toronto in Canada, . has climbed more than 100 buildings and produced some of the most . stunning examples of the craze. Previouslty, when asked why Mr Ryaboi got into rooftopping, he said: 'It's addictive and I am . always looking for a higher roof in the city. But I still feel the buzz . whenever I reach the top and feel the wind. It's a pure rush of . adrenaline.' Disguising themselves so they can . carry out their daring stunts, the thrill seekers avoid security and . CCTV before climbing to the top of skyscrapers and hanging off . the edge - photographing the evidence as proof of their antics. He added: 'I . try to blend in as much as possible. In an office building I . dress like I work there, on a construction site I dress like the . workmen. 'It's in my blood. When I was a child one day, my dad came home from work and found me sitting on top of the fridge. 'They had no idea how I had got there, but obviously I just liked climbing things.' Rooftoppers often disguise themselves to get past security and to the top of buildings in order to capture the shot they want . The dangers of rooftopping are obvious as followers climb out to areas that are unprotected and thousands of feet above ground . A female rooftopper is seen here sitting on the edge of a skyscraper at night . Life continues below as rooftoppers capture scenes that are rarely seen by the general public . Canada's tallest building, the CN tower towering, poking above cloud level and photographed by an intrepid rooftopper risking his life on a nearby skyscraper roof . Rooftopping will often take its participants above cloud level . Mr Ryaboi clearly has a head for heights as he leans over some of Toronto's tallest buildings . A slow exposure of the streets of Toronto . A downward shot between two skyscrapers . This downward shot captures the sheer drop over which rooftopper Tom Ryaboi peers . Trainers on the rooftop ledge show just how close rooftoppers get to the edge . Part of the art's allure is the adrenaline rush photographers get when taking pictures in such dangerous locations . Up close and personal to the bright neon lights of a tall building in Toronto . | Photography craze of Rooftopping sees thrill seekers climbing to dizzying new heights for the perfect picture . | 383ad383760bf947b142607e1e54fb0ecdaff694 |
Luis Suarez appearing to bite Italy defender Giorgio Chiellini during the World Cup shocked the football community and will certainly live long in the memory. Now, just a few months on, some fans have amusingly recreated the infamous incident using the new FIFA 15 game. In pictures posted to Twitter, fans have claimed the game is ‘so realistic’ for letting them relive the moment that saw the Barcelona striker banned from football for four months. Luis Suarez's apparent bite on Italy defender Giorgio Chiellini during the World Cup shocked football and earned the frontman a lengthy ban . Fans have recreated the now infamous incident of Suarez's bite on the newly released FIFA 15 game . ‘FIFA 15 is so realistic’ said one Twitter user beneath an image that sees Suarez sinking his teeth into Holland's Daryl Janmaat. ‘Was playing the FIFA 15 Demo earlier got to say its pretty damn realistic,’ said another tweeter under an image of Suarez and new Barcelona team-mate Ivan Rakitic. Of course, the ability to bite a player is not actually a feature of the new game. Instead, the gamers have used the game’s replay mode to spot some odd player collision moments in the game. The glitches seem to show Suarez’s mouth sinking into players, and it doesn’t help his case that in some his eyes are closed and teeth bared in an apparent biting action. One fan on Twitter joked that FIFA 15 was so realistic beneath a graphic of Suarez appearing to bite Holland defender Daryl Janmaat . Suarez signed for Barcelona from Liverpool after the World Cup in a £75million deal. However he is still yet to make his competitive debut as he continues to serve his ban for biting Chiellini. And that is replicated in FIFA 15 - fans picking up the game will be unable to use Suarez in the game’s career mode for the entirety of his ban. However playing one of the game's other modes that has full squads available without suspensions - such as an exhibition one-on-one against another gamer - allows the hilarious images to be taken. Suarez's real-life ban until October 26 is replicated on the new FIFA 15 game when users play as Barcelona . Tottenham Hotspur's Eric Dier plays a game of FIFA 15 with a young fan following the game's release . | Images from the Fifa 15 video game appear to show the Uruguayan striker biting other football players . Suarez was infamously banned for four months during the World Cup for seeming to bite Italian defender Giorgio Chiellini . Fans have taken to Twitter mocking the striker with images from the game . It is not really a new feature, but rather a result of gamers positioning players in the game to make it look like another biting incident . In the game's career mode Suarez is serving his real-life ban until October . | ef3943550520472b6b58098f4d86b8f8447fc3f4 |
North Korean authorities say are holding a U.S. tourist after he apparently tried to claim asylum in the pariah state. The 24-year-old was arrested for improper behaviour while he was bring processed to enter the Communist dictatorship as a tourist, state media reported. The arrest was announced as Barack Obama issued a stark warning to North Korean despot Kim Jong-un of fresh economic sanctions over his nuclear ambitions. The U.S. President said he would stand 'shoulder to shoulder' with South Korea in opposing the North's plans for a fourth nuclear test. Sunan International Airport, Pyongyang: An American who came to North Korea on a tourist visa then tried to claim asylum in the pariah state has been arrested for improper behaviour, North Korean media reports . The American arrested by officials in North Korea was identified as Miller Matthew Todd - possibly putting his surname first. The official North Korean Central News agency said he had entered the country on April 10 with a tourist visa, but then tore it up and shouted that he wanted to seek asylum there. The brief report said he chose the North 'as a shelter'. In Washington, U.S. State Department spokeswoman Jen Psaki told reporters that the U.S. is aware of the report, but she did not confirm an American was being held. She said the department is in touch with the Swedish Embassy which handles consular cases for the U.S. because Washington does not have diplomatic relations with Pyongyang. 'There is no greater priority to us than the welfare and safety of U.S. citizens. We don't have additional information to share at this time,' Ms Psaki said. A large number of foreign tourists were in North Korea in mid-April to see events held for the anniversary of national founder Kim Il Sung's April 15 birthday. North Korea has been trying to boost tourism recently to generate income, but it also continues to be highly sensitive about the activities and conduct of foreigners who are allowed in. It remains ostracised internationally for its insistence on developing nuclear weapons. As the country threatened new nuclear tests Obama said it may be time to consider further sanctions. Stark warning: Addressing a joint news conference alongside South Korean President Park Geun-hye (left), Obama said threats by North Korea will get it 'nothing except further isolation' from the global community . Testing times: He made the comments hours after North Korea made its feelings on his visit clear, sending two DPRK patrol boats into South Korean waters, violating the maritime border and forcing its neighbour to respond with a series of warning shots. Finally the vessels withdrew . Nuclear ambitions: Kim Jong-un is threatening its fourth nuclear test - a move that has rattled nerves across south-east Asia, in particular Japan and South Korea . But Obama acknowledged there are limits to what impacts additional penalties can have on the country. 'North Korea already is the most isolated country in the world by far,' Obama said. 'Its people suffer terribly because of the decisions its leaders have made. And we are not going to find a magic bullet that solves this problem overnight.' It comes as North Korea . warned last month it would not rule out a 'a new form' of nuclear test . after the United Nations Security Council condemned Pyongyang for . launching ballistic missiles into the sea. Nuclear . expert Jeffrey Lewis, of the Monterey Institute of International Studies . in the United States, said this month that the reference to a new form . of test could mean simultaneous detonation of two or more devices as . part of a programme of more intense nuclear testing expected over the . next few years. Obama said the missile technology and nuclear weapons that North Korea is developing pose a direct threat to Korea and Japan, two very close U.S. allies in the region, but to the United States as well. Close allies: Obama said the missile technology and nuclear weapons that North Korea is developing pose a direct threat to Korea and Japan, two very close U.S. allies in the region, but to the United States as well . Close attention: Obama listens to a South Korean professor serving as a tour guide during his visit to Gyeongbok Palace in downtown Seoul. He said the missile technology and nuclear weapons that North Korea is developing pose a direct threat to Korea and Japan, two very close U.S. allies in the region, but to the United States as well . Great sorrow: Obama also noted that his visit comes at a time of 'great sorrow' for South Korea, which is mourning the loss of more than 300 people in a ferry that sank off the country's southwestern coast. The vast majority of the victims were high school students . 'We can't waver in our intention. We have to make sure that, in strong concert with our allies, that we are continuing to press North Korea to change its approach,' Obama said, presenting a united front in the presence of Park. The White House said it was keeping close tabs on activity at North Korea's nuclear test site, where commercial satellite imagery this week showed increased activity. Park said the assessment of her government is that North Korea is 'fully ready now' to conduct another nuclear test. 'This is a very tense situation,' she said. 'President Obama's visit to South Korea sends a strong message to North Korea that its provocative acts cannot be tolerated,' she said. North Korean leader Kim Jong-Un on a recent visit to an aviation station in an undisclosed area of the country. He is said to be possibly planning a new nuclear test . Obama also noted that his visit comes at a time of 'great sorrow' for South Korea, which is mourning the loss of more than 300 people in a ferry that sank off the country's southwestern coast. The vast majority of the victims were high school students. 'So many were young students with their entire lives ahead of them,' Obama said, invoking his two daughters, both close in age to many of the ferry victims. 'I can only imagine what the parents are going through at this point, the incredible heartache.' He said he was donating a magnolia tree from the White House lawn to the high school in honor of the lives lost and a symbol of friendship between the U.S. and South Korea. Egregious: Obama also said Japan's use of South Korean 'comfort women' during World War II was a terrible and egregious violation of human rights. Pictured: a group of Japanese protesters supporting former comfort women, or sex slaves, outside the Japanese parliament in Tokyo in 2005 . Fresh from his visit to Japan, where he dined yesterday with Prime Minister Shinzo at Tokyo's finest sushi restaurant, Obama also said Japan's use of South Korean 'comfort women' during World War II was a terrible and egregious violation of human rights. He said South Korean women were violated in ways that were shocking even in the midst of war. He added that those women deserve to be heard and respected and that there should be a clear account of what happened. As he addressed historical tensions between U.S. allies Japan and South Korea, he said the Japanese people and their prime minister understand the past must be recognized honestly. But Obama is urging Japan and South Korea to move forward because he says their interests clearly converge. | Obama was speaking with South Korean President Park Geun-hye in Seoul . He said threats by North Korea will get it 'nothing except further isolation' Comments come as North Korea is threatening its fourth nuclear test . Obama also expressed 'great sorrow' for South Korean ferry victims . | ecf061a818107ee2b7d23d87253e2aab2a20335e |
By . Alex Finnis . They may be one of the world's favourite pets, but it appears not everyone loves looking after cats - after five tiny kittens were found abandoned in a battered suitcase, with one stuck in the zip. The adorable nine-week-old cats were discovered In Cardiff when a passer-by opened the suitcase - and saw the five sets of eyes staring up at him. One had been stuck in the zip, another had a sore right eye and all five had dirty fur and fleas, but they were otherwise in a healthy condition. Purrked up: Five adorable kittens have been saved from a suitcase in a Cardiff back street . Ouch: One of the cute little cats was stuck in the zip and another had a sore right eye . The kittens are mostly white and have black and ginger markings. Three are male and two are female. They were found dumped on Clive Street in Grangetown, Cardiff, and the RSPCA are appealing for any information on the moggies. RSPCA animal collection officer Rachel Chapman said: 'They are lovely kittens. It is just so sad that someone has just left them. Saved: The RSPCA will make the kittens available for re-homing if the original owners do not come forward . Cute: There are three males and two females. All are mostly white with ginger and black markings . Help: Anyone with information about this incident should contact the RSPCA on 0300 1234 999 . 'We would rather the person called us first instead of just being irresponsible and abandoning their pets. 'The cats have been placed into our care and will be made available for re-homing if the owners do not come forward.' Anyone with information about this incident should contact the RSPCA on 0300 1234 999. Spotted: Google Street View of Clive Street in Grangetown, Cardiff . | Adorable kittens discovered by passer-by on Cardiff back street . They had dirty fur and fleas, and one had a sore right eye . RSPCA is appealing for information and plans to re-home the cats . | 9b9187473d4c9496a1d198349e367424ffcf31b9 |
SEATTLE, Washington (CNN) -- Software giant Microsoft apologized Wednesday for the apparent bad judgment that led to the head of a black model being swapped for that of a white model in an online advertisement. A black man in an online Microsoft ad was replaced with a white man, bottom, on the company's Polish Web site. The ad -- which showed three business people, one Asian, one white and one black -- was altered on Microsoft's Web site for Poland to place the head of a white man on a black man's body. "We apologized, fixed the error and we are looking into how it happened," said Lou Gellos, a Microsoft spokesman. He said that because the company was still reviewing how the swap occurred he could not comment further. On Microsoft's official page on the social network site Twitter, a posting calls the swap "a marketing mistake" and offers "sincere apologies." The episode drew widespread criticism on the Internet after Engadget, an influential tech blog, published news of the gaffe Tuesday. The business Web site CNET.com wrote that the change in models may have been made with the "racially homogeneous" Polish market in mind. CNET is a CNN.com content partner. | Microsoft apologizes for a gaffe in an ad on its Polish Web site . Ad was altered to replace a black businessman's head with that of a white man . "We are looking into how it happened," says a Microsoft spokesman . | 3afcbbdc9ab667c3ac0aee22a1a7686290af4a0a |
Women in South Korea are resorting to dangerous and painful surgery in their quest for a more western face. Demand for double jaw surgery, a bone-cutting procedure that involves realigning the upper and lower jaws to achieve a softer silhouette, has soared in the last few months . And now a photograph has appeared on a social networking site seeming to show a woman who has undergone surgery to lift the corners of her mouth into a permanent smile. Although the photograph, which appeared on Reddit, hasn't yet been authenticated the Huffington Post reports that there is a clinic in South Korea offering this procedure. A photograph of a young women who has seemingly undergone perma-smile surgery has appeared on social networking sites . The AONE clinic performs the ‘Smile Lipt’ procedure to both lift and curl drooping mouth corners by manipulating the facial muscles supporting the mouth. A Youtube video produced by the clinic about the procedure explains that some people have sagging mouth corners due to low strength of the muscles that lift the mouth edges, and overly strong jaw muscles that pull the mouth down. The video says that ‘even among ordinary people, some have beautifully upturned mouth corners,’ and that ‘in general Western people have longer mouths and higher mouth corners than Korean people.’ Once the procedure has been performed the mouth will always been turned up, even when the patient is not smiling. The Business Insider reports that plastic surgeon at the AONE clinic, Taek Keun Kwon spoke in 2012 about developing the procedure saying: . ‘Up until now, mouth corner lift couldn't be widely used due to its ineffectiveness and high risk of side effects such as scars. The before and after pictures are shown on the AONE clinic's YouTube video . The muscles in the yellow circle pull the corner of the mouth down if they are too strong and so are cut, while the red arrow and blue circled muscles are repositioned . An advertisement in a Seoul subway encourages women to have double-jaw surgery, one of the plastic surgery trends to hit Korea, in order to have a smaller face . ‘Downturned mouth corners give off gloomy and melancholy impression. 'On the contrary, upturned mouth corners create bright and smiling appearance as well as confident expression. ‘It is very difficult to elevate mouth corner by just excision and closure of the skin around the mouth corner area. To turn up the mouth corner effectively, it is necessary to weaken the lip depressors to gain unopposed mouth corner lift.’ It appears that there is a growing number of people willing to risk the side effects of such a procedure which include scarring and ‘over correction’ to achieve a ‘upturned’ look. A drooping mouth 'gives off gloomy and melancholy impression' according to surgeon Taek Keun Kwon . The results of the procedure (right) lengthens the mouth as well as lifting the corners . South Korea has one of the highest rates of plastic surgery in the world so it is little wonder that such a niche procedure has its origins in the country. It remains to be seen whether the slightly cat-like look will become popular, but thus far the reaction to the photo on Reddit has been more comical than admiring with two top rated user comments being ‘joker’ and ‘Imagine trying to eat noodles or soup with this!' | New plastic surgery offered in South Korea to curl lips upwards . The AONE clinic performs the 'Smile Lipt' to correct 'drooping' lips . Involves manipulating the muscles that support the mouth . Picture on Reddit shows girl who allegedly has had the operation . | 2a124b750079b56419da3c1349e37fddb6c90125 |
(CNN) -- Michelle Knight squeezes her eyes shut and cries as she listens to the 911 call that led police to rescue her from the house where Ariel Castro held her hostage for more than a decade. In the recording, fellow captive Amanda Berry begs police to come quickly, before Castro gets home. "Help me, I'm Amanda Berry," she says. "I've been kidnapped and I've been missing for 10 years. And I'm here, I'm free now." That frantic call six months ago finally brought authorities to the Cleveland home where Berry, Knight and Gina DeJesus had been Castro's prisoners. The moment when police rescued them, Knight recalled in an interview broadcast Wednesday on the syndicated "Dr. Phil" talk show, was a "roller coaster of mixed emotion." "I wanted to kiss the ground that I was walking on and thank God for letting me get out of that hellhole," Knight told host Dr. Phil McGraw. But Knight wiped away tears as she listened to the 911 call Berry made after escaping on May 6. It makes her sad, she told McGraw, because of what Berry left out when she called for help from a neighbor's house. "She didn't mention us," Knight said. 'Finally being heard' Castro lured Knight into his vehicle from a Family Dollar store in Cleveland in 2002, promising to give her a ride. She endured more than a decade of torture, rape, starvation and beatings, held captive inside his home. In August, Castro was sentenced to life in prison plus 1,000 years after he pleaded guilty to 937 counts, including murder and kidnapping. He committed suicide in his prison cell in September. Knight, Berry and DeJesus have since been trying to readjust to life as free women. Knight, whose disappearance generated the least public notice of the three, has been the most outspoken. "After 11 years, I am finally being heard, and it's liberating," she said in a powerful statement at Castro's sentencing, describing the abuse she endured. Knight was Castro's first victim, and her interview with "Dr. Phil," which aired Tuesday and Wednesday, marks the most detailed remarks any of the women have made publicly so far about their experience. It provides a detailed glimpse into some of the horrors she suffered, her relationships with the other women, and the day when she got her first taste of freedom after 11 years in captivity. 'We thought somebody was breaking in' It started when she heard a pounding sound coming from downstairs, Knight told McGraw. Castro had gone out for the day, Knight recalled. He told them he was going to visit his mother, then buy them some food. Police were outside, trying to get in after Berry's 911 call. But at the time, Knight says, she thought robbers were coming in and she asked DeJesus to turn down the radio. "So we're hiding, because we're scared. We're terrified. We didn't know that the cops were down there," Knight said. "We thought somebody was breaking in, because it was a bad neighborhood. So we're sitting there hiding behind a dresser." Knight says she heard an officer shout, "Police!" But she still didn't feel safe -- until she saw a badge. "I just ran," she recalled. "I jumped on her (the officer) and I never let go." Knight returns to Cleveland house where she was held for 11 years . 'I had to help him drill holes in a wall' Since their release, accounts have depicted Knight as someone who cared for the other victims during their captivity while also enduring great suffering herself. Castro, Knight told McGraw, would tell her of his plans to abduct other women. "I begged him not to bring any more there to suffer the hell I went through," Knight said. But it wasn't long before Knight learned that she wasn't the only captive. In 2003, Castro abducted Berry and brought her to the house. The next year, he kidnapped DeJesus. Knight said Castro made her get ready for DeJesus' arrival. "He was telling me that I needed to help him prepare another room," Knight told McGraw, "and I didn't want to prepare that room. ... I had to help him drill holes in a wall, to put the chains through, to hook us together." The two quickly developed a close bond, Knight said. When Castro tried to abuse DeJesus, Knight said she often stepped in. "He went to hit her and I would stop him and take the hit," she said. "I would jump in front of her. ... I know how it feels to be hurt, and I didn't want her to go through that." Delivering Berry's baby . Asked by McGraw how she feels about Berry, Knight said, "We're OK. Not the best of friends, but OK." She described the day when Castro forced her to help deliver Berry's baby in a swimming pool. "He told me if the baby didn't come out alive, that he would blame me," Knight said. "And at that moment when the baby didn't come out breathing, I knew if I didn't get her to breathe, that he would kill me right then and there." Knight said she laid the baby on its back, started doing compressions on her chest and breathed into her mouth. "Five minutes later," Knight said, "she started screaming." Knight said she became pregnant herself at least five times while in Castro's home. Each time, she said, Castro beat her brutally until she miscarried. "Every time got worse than the other," she told McGraw. "By the third time that I got pregnant, it was kicking, jumping on my stomach, like if I was a bed." Castro, Knight said, "didn't want a girl like me to have a kid." "I was a girl that couldn't be broken, a girl that couldn't be underestimated," Knight said. "When he figured out he couldn't control me very much, he didn't want to give me a kid." A troubled past . During Knight's time in captivity, her case got less media attention than the disappearances of Berry and DeJesus, whose family members posted fliers and held candlelight vigils for them. That was something that Castro never let her forget, Knight said. "The first thing he'll say to me, 'Where's your family? Why don't you have any? They must not really love you.' And it would hurt, 'cause I knew my family didn't care, and I knew they weren't there for me," Knight said. Knight's grandmother, Deborah Knight, told The Plain Dealer in May that the family had concluded that Michelle had left of her own accord because she was angry that she had lost custody of her then-2-year-old son. That conclusion was supported by police and social workers, she told the newspaper. Her mother, Barbara Knight, issued a statement to the "Dr. Phil" show. "Michelle, my daughter, has been the victim of long-term and profound and unspeakable torture. Her point of view has been altered by that monster and what he did to her," the statement said. "What I have heard that she said about me breaks my heart. That is because what she now believes, while not true, increases her pain. I love my daughter. I always have and always will. I pray that someday she will heal enough to know that again." CNN's Michael Pearson, Martin Savidge, Pamela Brown and Chelsea J. Carter contributed to this report. | Michelle Knight describes the dramatic police rescue that freed her . "I wanted to...thank God for letting me get out of that hellhole," Knight tells Dr. Phil . Knight recounts the day she delivered Amanda Berry's baby inside Castro's home . "I was a girl that couldn't be broken, a girl that couldn't be underestimated," she says . | 355325c6ed8c2e9a121cc5357b82a0ed6394d7ed |
James Bond will return - and this time it's to be in a plot which his creator Ian Fleming dreamed up almost 60 years ago. The world's most famous spy will feature in a new novel by Anthony Horowitz, in which he infiltrates the glamorous world of 1950s motorsport to foil an attack on a grand prix race. Originally titled Murder on Wheels, the story was created by Fleming before his death in 1964 for a 007 TV series which was never made. Scroll down for video . Kept in reserve: A new Bond novel will be based on a plot which Ian Fleming, 007's creator, dreamed up years before Sean Connery introduced the spy to Hollywood in 1962's Dr No (pictured). The plot was never used . Unlike most of the ideas for the series, assembled in the late 1950s, Murder on Wheels was never turned into a short story by Fleming and did not become part of the blockbuster film series. It has now been handed to the best-selling novelist and screenwriter Anthony Horowitz, who said: 'How could I possibly refuse?'. The book features original characters such as M and Miss Moneypenny, has the working title Project One and is due for release in September next year. Mr Horowitz - who recently wrote a new adventure for Sherlock Holmes - said: 'It's no secret that Ian Fleming's extraordinary character has had a profound influence on my life. 'So when the estate approached me to write a new James Bond novel, how could I possibly refuse? Big shoes to fill: Ian Fleming (left) created the idea in the 1950s and it will be written by Anthony Horowitz (right) 'It's a huge challenge - more difficult even than Sherlock Holmes in some ways - but having original, unpublished material by Fleming has been an inspiration. This is a book I had to write.' The prolific author's screenwriting credits include Midsomer Murders and Foyle's War, and his Alex Rider series about a teenage spy has sold more than 19 million books. He follows in the footsteps of authors including Kingsley Amis, William Boyd and Sebastian Faulks who have written new Bond books since Ian Fleming's death. Mr Boyd's book, Solo, was published last year and featured Bond embroiled in a civil war in 1969 Africa. The Bond books inspired one of the most successful film franchises in Hollywood history, beginning with Dr No in 1962, and have sold more than 100 million copies. Kept under wraps: Most of Ian Fleming's ideas were turned into books or films, but a few are kept by his estate . Yet a small number of plots created for 007 by Ian Fleming have still not been used, and they are kept tightly under wraps by his family. His great-niece Jessie Grimond said: 'There are a few plot outlines which he never used and which, till now, have never been published, or aired. 'Given that Anthony is as brilliant a screenwriter as he is a novelist, we thought it would be exciting to see what he would do with one of them.' | Idea was by the late Ian Fleming, who created ubiquitous spy character . It featured in his work for proposed Bond TV series that was never made . Bond hits glamorous world of 1950s racing in story Murder on Wheels . Book featuring M and Miss Moneypenny due for release in September 2015 . | 9e436a118b9c46198d596af7d736d8522000f904 |
(CNN) -- A 44-year-old male teacher from my hometown is set to be released after just 31 days of incarceration for raping a 14-year-old girl who later killed herself. Someone believed Cherice Moralez of Billings, Montana, when she accused her 49-year-old teacher, Sandy Rambold, of forcible rape. He confessed, faced charges and then should have received a sentence commensurate with the crime of rape. But the legal process played out over three years, and just before her 17th birthday, Moralez, shamed and shunned by classmates, shot herself. District Judge G. Todd Baugh sentenced Rambold to just 30 days. (The public outrage that followed caused Baugh to attempt a review of his own sentencing, a move the Montana State Supreme Court denied.) "He'd suffered enough," Baugh said of Rambold at the initial sentencing, and besides, Moralez, "older than her chronological age," was "as much in control of the situation" as her teacher, he said. "Obviously a 14-year-old can't consent," the judge explained in the wake of public outrage, but this wasn't "some violent, forcible, horrible rape." It wasn't, said the judge, "this forcible beat-up rape." Where does this bizarre line of reasoning come from? We need only look around for clues at a media culture that regularly tells young girls that growing up means shedding all signs of pink princess innocence for a porn version of sexy. A culture that celebrates Robin Thicke singing, "I know you want it" at the VMAs as Miley Cyrus -- having made the lightening quick transformation from teen role model to sex object, whose job it is to give pleasure to a grown man -- twerks in his crotch. We reward girls and young women who take off their clothes, tell them that their sexual availability and sexual power are their most important assets. We grant them record deals, reality TV shows, and global news coverage. Once they cross over, slut-shaming and Judge Baugh-like sentences enable men like Rambold to take full advantage -- as long as it's not "this forcible beat-up rape." We rarely hear from young women themselves about what it's like to traverse this cultural terrain. So I asked members of the SPARKteam (girl activists ages 13-22 from SPARK Movement) to talk about what happened to Cherice. What does it feel like to be 14 and want to be wanted, to experience this new kind of power and illusion of control? Erin, 18, says she immediately identified with Cherice, because "I was her. I remember being 14 and talking to 30 year-olds on the Internet. I was feeling really alone and struggling to come to terms with who I was. I wanted to have some kind of social (and sexual) connection with people. That's what led me to leer in chat rooms and talk to men who were more than twice my age. Maybe they would love me and maybe I could feel less insecure." Erin knows firsthand how easy it is "to get caught up in your undying feelings for someone, especially someone who is manipulating you into loving them. At 14, you think that you know everything -- you think this person isn't doing anything wrong by having a relationship with you, and that no one understands. He becomes your world. You think that you're in love, when what you're really in is abuse." "When you're 14," 15-year-old Luci says. "It seems like the rest of the world is against you, especially if, as the judge described Morales, you're 'a troubled kid.' I can get that, and I can see why Cherice found refuge in a relationship with her teacher. When I was her age, there was this one teacher who everyone at my school adored. He saw potential in me that I was too insecure to see in myself. I looked like I could be in college. He treated me like I was grown up, so I thought I was more mature than I really was. But that's the thing: Looking older than you are in no way equals being emotionally mature." Celeste, 20, implicates Judge Baugh's unquestioned participation "in a culture where representations of Latinas prioritize sex appeal. Baugh's claims speak volumes about the way women of color are hypersexualized. Cherice was only 14, but when Baugh looked at her he saw someone older who was therefore experienced enough to understand, and even control, a sexual situation. She did not fit his image of 'youth' and 'purity,' so this 70-year-old Judge did not see a young girl who was victimized, but a sexually viable woman." Because the lines are blurred, we need judges who are educated and aware enough to see through the subterfuge of sexism and racism, who do the right thing -- whether in Steubenville, Billings, or my hometown. Whatever else is going on in girls' lives, whatever media messages we all receive about the commodification of their sexuality, we need to send a clear message that rape and sexual assault are crimes for a reason, that justice has nothing to do with how mature a girl looks or acts and everything to do with her suffering and her right to human dignity. The opinions expressed in this commentary are solely those of Lyn Mikel Brown. | Lyn Mikel Brown: Montana teen raped, teacher confessed, then judge gave one month sentence . Judge said girl looked older, was in control, teacher had "suffered" Brown: Culture's distorted message about girls gives men like rapist -- and judge -- a pass . Brown: Girls struggle to navigate this terrain; judges must be wise enough to understand it . | 6a0baeda22f1ebd362bfdee214b5c6342b0d88d3 |
(CNN) -- A Denver woman called 911 when her husband began to hallucinate and speak of "the end of the world." For 13 minutes, the wife spoke of fear -- for herself, their three scared children, her husband. Richard Kirk wanted his wife to shoot him, she told 911. She screamed when he went to the family safe and grabbed a gun. The 911 operator heard what sounded like a gunshot. The wife went silent on the 911 call. Responding police found her dead Monday in the family home with an apparent gunshot wound to the head, authorities said. She was identified as Kristine Kirk by CNN affiliate KWGN. Kirk admitted that he killed his wife -- "without questioning," a police document says -- when an officer put him in the backseat of a patrol car, the probable cause document says. Those harrowing events, provided by authorities, are now being investigated by Denver police, who are looking at how 911 handled the 13-minute emergency call and whether Kirk was using marijuana or another drug, authorities said Wednesday. "This is under investigation," Denver police spokeswoman Raquel Lopez said about the possibility of marijuana use. Colorado became the first state in the nation to legalize the sale of recreational marijuana, allowing pot stores to open for business on January 1. At a court hearing Wednesday, Kirk, 47, was ordered held without bail on an accusation of first-degree murder, Denver court records showed. In response to questions about the incident, Denver police posted on its Twitter page: "We will report the truth, even if mistakes were made." In response to apparent questions about the handling of the 911 call, the police posted another tweet: "No indication the call taker erred. Very tough call to handle, please give benefit of doubt." The city of Denver auditor's office this year began studying police response times, which have grown longer in recent years, the Denver Post reported. The report is expected in June, and police have cited fewer officers and limited budgets for hiring more officers since 2008 as causes for longer response times, the newspaper reported. Lance Kirk, brother of Richard Kirk, told KWGN that he was stunned to hear of the incident. "I know that wasn't Richard -- let's just say that," Lance Kirk told the news outlet. "I hope there are some answers that come out about this. "My heart goes out to those three boys and Kris' family -- mom, dad, sister and brothers," Lance Kirk added, referring to his sister-in-law. "This is a terrible thing." Neighbors, family and friends told the station they knew the couple as loving and devoted parents. "Whatever those boys are going through right now, my thoughts and my prayers are with them, and I hope that they find peace," neighbor Kristin Fynewever told the affiliate. Other neighbors told CNN affiliate KCNC that the couple's three young sons are all in grade school. "I used to go to school with them and they were really nice kids and they didn't deserve for this to happen to their mom and their dad," neighbor Alesa Moskal told KCNC. Police: Motorist called 911 several times before he died in road-rage shooting . CNN's Mariano Castillo, Stefan Simons, Kara Devlin and Dottie Evans contributed to this report. | NEW: Police investigate whether husband may have been using marijuana . NEW: Husband Richard Kirk is ordered held without bond on murder accusation . NEW: Authorities are also reviewing 911 call handling and response time . NEW: Longer police response time is an ongoing issue in Denver, newspaper says . | 74ebfecece7417f3c12722edf5ea260a7bffcb24 |
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