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(CNN) -- It always made me laugh to hear stories about the insanity that would go on between Robin Williams and Gilbert Gottfried during the making of the movie "Aladdin." The truth was Robin and I didn't bump into each other once during the making of that film. I recorded the Parrot role, and he recorded the Genie separately. So when I saw the film for the first time at the premiere, I was able to laugh along with the rest of the audience at Robin's performance. I had never heard it before. Where I did run into Robin quite often was in the place where he was most at home, in the comedy clubs. Robin would pop into places like Catch a Rising Star and the Improv in New York, would run onstage and just explode. I remember in particular one night, back in those days, when he was hot from his TV hit, "Mork and Mindy," and I wasn't yet well-known. I was just building a reputation in comedy circles, and I was about to go up onstage at the Improv. I was standing in the section right outside the restroom where the comics waited to be introduced onstage. All of a sudden, the club door opened and Robin popped in. The people in charge of the club said, "OK, we're putting Robin on next." I couldn't really argue with that; he was certainly a bigger name than I was. But to my amazement, Robin told them, "I have a bunch of people in the audience tonight, and I would really like to make sure they see Gilbert first." Opinion: Robin Williams can't be dead . I went up onstage. I did quite well and as I walked offstage, Robin came up to me wiping his eyes from laughing and said to me, "Oh Gilbert, you really baked my cookies." I of course took this as a strange sexual double entendre, and I always do, but Robin meant it as a sincere compliment. He was a fixture of the comedy club scene back then, one of the celebs who'd pop in to try out material, or in Robin's case, just burst out with any craziness that would pop into his head. But he was also generous to his fellow stand-up comedians: There were a number of times when Robin was onstage and I was at the club, and he would call out to me and invite me to play with him onstage. Riffing with Robin Williams was extremely invigorating -- and extremely exhausting. I knew I had to be on my toes every second. And when we would actually connect onstage, it was electric for me. Patients' families remember Robin Williams as 'comedic Mother Teresa' To see Robin perform was an experience. He was more than a comedian. He was a comedy force of nature. I remember hearing that Robin was once doing a press junket in Germany. One of the reporters asked him, "Why is it that Germany is not known for comedy?" Robin answered, "Well, you killed all your funny people." I laughed out loud when I heard that. I thought, how sick and how wonderfully truthful. When I heard the news of Robin's passing, it was a double shock. It was stunning that he was now gone and that, according to police, it was apparently suicide. I've known people who have committed suicide, and my shock always reveals how little I knew about them. Robin had spoken in the press about his substance abuse issues over the years, and he was dealing with it in rehab. I had heard at one point he was prescribed pills and that he didn't want to take them because he was afraid it would interfere with his comic creativity. I thought, when I heard that, of his idol, Jonathan Winters. Robin worshipped the comedian, who died last year. Winters had his own problems and also was afraid medicating would interfere with his comic creativity. Complete coverage on Robin Williams . I can't say that I had a close relationship with Robin -- it was mainly kibitzing back and forth in the clubs. The few times we'd have a conversation that would become serious, he or both of us would quickly veer off into jokes or silliness. Now, in retrospect, it may have been that Robin joked so much and was always "on" perhaps to hide something. Of course, that's just dime-store psychology. The last memory I have of him was a benefit that comedian Bob Saget was organizing at the comedy club Carolines on Broadway to raise consciousness about scleroderma. It was a fun night. Jimmy Fallon was there performing, as was Robin and myself. After the show, Billy Crystal stopped by. He had been doing a show and was unable to make the benefit. He and Robin greeted each other. Then Robin came over and spoke to me. We chatted for a little bit, and Robin said to me, "Would you like to join us? We're going out for dessert." The three of us went to one of these showbiz bar-restaurants in Times Square. It was the middle of the night, and we sat eating our desserts and exchanging comedy showbiz stories, memories and anecdotes. There was a lot of laughing -- a good time. On our way out of the place, we passed by another table where, surprisingly, comedy great Mel Brooks was sitting. I didn't know Mel, so Billy and Robin both approached him and were talking to him, and I stood off to the side. Robin Williams and the dark side of comedy . Robin went out of his way to tell Mel how funny I was at the benefit. He repeated some of my jokes and Mel laughed. This was once again Robin proving what a generous person he was. Later, out in the street as he got in a cab, Billy yelled to me, half-jokingly, but quite truthfully, "I guess we'll talk in another 30 years." I was left on the dark street with Robin. He told me he was going to a meeting for substance abuse. We said one or two more things and laughed and then we hugged each other. Afterward, Robin warmly said, "Bye," and I stood there as he turned around and walked off into the darkness. | Gilbert Gottfried and Robin Williams did voices for "Aladdin" but didn't bump into each other . They did meet in comedy clubs, where Williams was at home, generous to others, he says . It was always invigorating, exhausting performing together, Gottfried says . Gottfried: Last memory of Williams was a night out in New York, where he was gracious . | 545f225e8c34452ca8d65c9f7980e129716ef735 |
A Washington state grandmother could lose an eye after she bravely rescued her grandson who was being viciously attacked by an otter as he swam in a river on Thursday. Roxane Leilani Grove's grandmotherly instinct kicked in as soon as she heard the screams of her 8-year-old grandson, Bryce Moser, and then saw the horrible sight of an otter biting him aggressively in a swimming hole in the Pilchuck River - about 30 miles northeast of Seattle. 'I could see that it was biting into his head and it had its claws around him,' Grove told KOMO News. Scroll down for video . Attacked: Roxane Leilani Grove and her grandson Bryce Moser, left, with their injuries from an otter attack at Pilchuck River, Washington . 'I just . swam out there and I grabbed the claws to pull it off of him. 'I just remember trying to hold it as tight as I can and yelling "Get . him out of the water! Get him out of the water!"' Grove managed to get young Bryce out of the water but not before suffering her own injuries. 'It just started biting on me and biting on me and it felt like little knives just going in,' Grove told the TV station. The . pair were taken to a hospital where Grove reportedly received hundreds . of stitches to her face and head as well as the eye injury and Bryce . received nine staples in his head. State . and federal wildlife agents in Washington are trying to trap the otter . and it will likely be killed unless it is a female with pups, because it . has pounced on people, said Capt. Alan Myers of the Washington . Department of Fish and Wildlife. 'We're doing everything possible to capture than animal as soon as possible,' Myers said Friday. 'This is an extremely rare incident. Otters are not known to be aggressive toward people.' The boy's mother, Tabitha Moser, saw the four-foot otter attack her son and her mother saved him. A state worker was unable to find the otter, so expert trappers were called in from the U.S. Department of Agriculture Wildlife Services, Myers said. They'll try to trap it with a foot snare or tranquilize it. 'We're not sure if it's a hyper-aggressive male protecting territory or a female protecting its young,' Myers said. An eight-year-old boy and his grandmother were attacked by an otter in Washington's Pilchuck River . 'There's a lot of liability in trying to relocate an animal that's been hyper-aggressive, and it would likely be euthanized. If it's a female with pups, there's another possible outcome if we can find a good location.' But the otter would have to be killed in any case so its brain could be tested for rabies, if that's a concern for doctors treating the boy and his grandmother, he said. 'There are no known cases of otter rabies in Washington,; he said. 'That's an extremely remote possibility.' The grandmother was treated at Harborview . Medical Center in Seattle and the boy at Providence Medical Center in . Everett, the boy's mother, Tabitha Moser told KING. The attack took place in Washington's Pilchuck River - about 30 miles northeast of Seattle (pictured) 'All of a sudden I just heard him scream for his life. He was just bobbing up and down in the water and as he came up there was something all the way on top of his head,' she told KING. The otter continued to attack as they left the water. 'Even after it got into the river and out of our way it stood on its hind legs looking at us like, 'Don't do it again; don't come in here,'' she told KING. Myers said he has not heard of any other otter attacks in Washington but there have been some around the country. Lake Conner Park has been closed, and signs have been posted along the Pilchuck River warning people to beware of the otter, Myers said. | Roxane Leilani Grove is seen with bloody scratches covering her face in a picture taken after the attack . The incident occurred in the Pilchuck River - about 30 miles northeast of Seattle - on Thursday . Her grandson, Bryce Moser, needed stitches for bites and is seen in the photo covered in bandages, kissing Grove . State and federal wildlife agents in Washington are trying to trap the otter and it will likely be killed unless it is a female with pups . | e45eb0edc82efce55c364c2f711ff6c50214e1cf |
With its blend of old and modern architecture, Castle Keep really is a tale of two centuries. It started out at the end of the 18th Century as a folly designed by architect James Wyatt, but was given a new lease of life 30 years ago by Italian artist and property developer Michele Bacciottini, who built its large extension. The result is a unique property that is part castle, part modern eco-home. Along with its tower and ‘living wall’, it also has a roof garden and a secret door leading to a spiral staircase. Graham Porter, 44, who lives in the unique home with his girlfriend Rebecca, 43, bought it for £990,000 in May 2012 after only one viewing. Scroll down for video . A home of two halves: Graham and Rebecca outside the unique property Castle Keep with its living wall . ‘It was certainly different from all the houses we’d seen at the time,’ says Graham, who owns an IT business. ‘Who’d have thought we’d end up living in a castle, especially as we weren’t particularly looking for one, although I have always been fascinated by them.’ When the folly was built, it was in the grounds of the mansion that would later become the prestigious Wycombe Abbey girls’ school, in High Wycombe, Buckinghamshire. When Graham first saw the property, it required some renovation, but he could see the potential. ‘I knew immediately that I wanted it and we moved in after a couple of months – a lot quicker than we expected,’ he says. The spiral staircase is like something you’d expect to find in a Harry Potter movie. As we walk through the kitchen, Graham opens a secret door – the front of which is a spice rack – revealing the staircase, which is within the turret section of the house. The staircase automatically lights up as you enter. Graham behind the secret door which leads to a spiral staircase . At the top of the staircase is a terrace with views of surrounding woodland and, as the decking includes several glass panels, you feel as if you’re walking on air when you look down. Graham and Rebecca use the terrace for dining but also have planting boxes there. ‘We grow various herbs in each box and the one we normally grow chives in became a nesting area for a mallard, which produced ten beautiful ducklings,’ says Graham. The spiral staircase has access to all three floors of the house but the property also has another, solid oak staircase, stretching from ground floor to roof level. The house, which has four bedrooms and three bathrooms and is on the market for £1.25 million, is heavily insulated and has solar panels. There are also triple-glazed windows throughout the main property, with double glazing in the top turret windows and in the building’s conservatory. The large bespoke kitchen is modern with solid oak worktops, attractive stone floor and picture windows that overlook a pond surrounded by exotic foliage, including palms, ferns and bamboo. There is a meandering pebble water feature and duck house to add to the tranquil setting. ‘The pond attracts lots of species of birds and wildfowl and is a constant source of enjoyment to Rebecca and me as we love nature and wildlife,’ says Graham. Kitchen fittings that form part of the sale include a large American-style fridge, gas/electric range cooker, washing machine and dishwasher. ‘We love entertaining and the kitchen is perfect for dinner parties,’ says Graham. Another feature of Castle Keep is its 'living wall' which extends from the ground to the roof terrace (pictured) The main living room is light and airy, with a wood-burning stove. It backs on to the conservatory/dining room which has underfloor heating and overlooks the garden, which encircles the property. On one side of the garden is a large summerhouse that would make an ideal studio, office or gym in a relaxing and picturesque setting. Another attractive feature of Castle Keep is its vertical ‘living wall’, which extends from the ground to the roof terrace. Various species of bird nest in its abundance of flora and an irrigation system waters the plants. Close to Castle Keep is a park, which has a leisure centre and open-air pool, local cricket and tennis clubs, and woodland and river walks. ‘High Wycombe has a great range of shops and there are excellent schools in the area,’ says Graham. ‘Travel to London is also easy.’ The couple are hoping to move to East Sussex as they would like to have more land. ‘We’d also like a bigger pond, so we can enjoy our love of wildlife. However, we’ll be sad to leave the area and our lovely castle,’ says Graham. | Castle Keep began as an 18th Century folly designed by James Wyatt . It was given an extension 30 years ago by an Italian property developer . Now it is the home of Graham Porter, 44, and his girlfriend Rebecca, 43 . Mr Porter bought the property in 2012 for £990,000 after only one viewing . Among its features is a roof top garden and a secret spiral staircase . The home in High Wycombe, Buckinghamshire, is on the market at £1.25million . hamptons.co.uk, 01494 677744 . | b590d129cd15e1a2e058551a2cfa54c8f644254e |
WASHINGTON (CNN) -- A member of the royal family of Abu Dhabi who was captured on videotape torturing an Afghan grain dealer has reportedly been detained, a senior U.S. State Department official told CNN Saturday. Sheikh Issa bin Zayed al Nahyan, pictured here, allegedly tortured a business associate on videotape. The official said the government of the United Arab Emirates, which includes Abu Dhabi as one of its seven emirates, told the State Department that Sheikh Issa bin Zayed al Nahyan is under house arrest pending an investigation, but that the United States has not independently confirmed the development. The videotape emerged last month in a federal civil lawsuit filed in Houston, Texas, by Bassam Nabulsi, a U.S. citizen, against the sheikh. Former business partners, the men had a falling out, in part over the tape. In a statement to CNN, the sheikh's U.S. attorney said Nabulsi is using the videotape to influence the court over a business dispute. The tape of the heinous torture session is delaying the ratification of a civil nuclear deal between the United Arab Emirates and the United States, senior U.S. officials familiar with the case have said. The senior U.S. officials said the administration has held off on the ratification process because it believes sensitivities over the story can hurt its passage. On Saturday, Human Rights Watch called the sheikh's reported detention "a significant development" but said the UAE government needs to do more to restore confidence in its judicial system. "The videotape of this episode shocked the world," said Sarah Leah Whitson, Middle East director at Human Rights Watch. "The report of the arrest was reassuring, but now the government needs to make the details public. Secretive prosecutions will not deter further abuses and torture." On the tape, Sheikh Issa appears to burn with rage. Apparently believing he was cheated in a business deal, the sheikh was trying to extract a confession from the Afghan grain dealer. With a private security officer assisting, Sheikh Issa is seen stuffing sand in the Afghan's mouth. As the grain dealer pleads and whimpers, he is beaten with a nailed board, burned in the genitals with a cigarette lighter, shocked with a cattle prod and led to believe he would be shot. Salt is literally poured on his wounds. The 45 minutes of torture appears on a nearly three-hour-long videotape shot in late 2004 in the desert outside Abu Dhabi. It was made at the direction of the sheikh himself. The tape has been viewed by CNN. Watch portions of the tape and Nabulsi tell his story » . After international concerns over the tape mounted in late April, Abu Dhabi's government issued a statement saying it deplored the contents of the video and planned an immediate and comprehensive review of it. The sheikh, who holds no official government position, is the half-brother of the UAE's ruler, President Sheikh Khalifa bin Zayed Al Nahyan. Human Rights Watch sent a April 28 letter to the president imploring him to form "an independent body" to probe both the torture and and the "failure" of the UAE's Interior Ministry "to bring those involved to justice." The group reiterated that call Saturday. As for the grain dealer, UAE officials say he survived the ordeal, and said the sheikh and the grain dealer settled the matter privately by agreeing not to bring formal charges against each other. However, Nabulsi's attorney, Anthony Buzbee, said the grain dealer can't be located and it is not known whether he is alive. | State Department official says member of Abu Dhabi royal family reportedly detained . Investigation continuing after videotape shows sheikh torturing grain merchant . Videotape emerged last month in federal civil lawsuit filed in the United States . U.S. senior officials say case is holding up a U.S. nuclear deal with the UAE . | 14ad25b8836536c9a83a610182972b7aefaf8ae0 |
By . Anna Edwards . PUBLISHED: . 07:41 EST, 29 March 2013 . | . UPDATED: . 12:09 EST, 29 March 2013 . Across the UK, millions have woken up to a . bright and sunny first day of the Easter Bank Holiday - and the clear . weather is expected to continue for the weekend. But while the weather might be cheerful, the UK is bare of any blooms, because of the spate of bad weather. The unseasonably cold winter has wreaked havoc on flower crops, causing them to bloom by up to four late. Last year a couple were pictured basking in glorious sunshine amid of field vibrant daffodils in Northumberland - a stark contrast to the bleak picture this year . A year later: The fields are bare of any brightly coloured flowers, after harsh weather conditions thwarted the usual blossoming of daffodils . They were hampered further still as snow showers froze the ground and smothered any young shoots. After weeks of bitterly cold winds, driving rain and thick snowfall, the clouds have parted in time for the four-day break. The Met Office has predicted sunny spells across the country, with temperatures of around 5C and 6C. This is still below the average . temperature for the end of March - which normally sees the thermometer . creeping into double figures - but will be practically balmy in contrast . to the wintry weather that has punished the UK in recent weeks. Barman Oliver Tempest carries a barrel to the Tan Hill Inn, Tan Hill, North Yorkshire. The pub opens today for the first time in nine days after roads around were blocked by eight foot snow drifts . The Met Office has predicted milder weather conditions - just in time for an Easter trip to the pub . Cold feet: Ducks walk around Britain's highest pub, the Tan Hill Inn, Tan Hill, in North Yorkshire . A digger continues to clear snow from the roads leading to Tan Hill, North Yorkshire, which was covered in 8 ft high snow drifts . Cold easterly winds will remain firmly in charge of our weather but for the majority of the UK it should be dry. However, until Sunday the wind will be less strong and it will therefore feel a little less bitter. There will also be some sunshine with the best of this in western areas. But it will stay cold with frosty nights and sub-zero temperatures forecast for Saturday night. Rural Wales is expected to experience lows of -3C to -4C, and elsewhere the thermometer will drop to -1C and -2C. Frank Saunders, Met Office Chief . Forecaster, said: 'The prospect of drier and brighter weather will be a . welcome relief for many but the prolonged low temperatures will mean . that any lying snow will be slow to thaw. This family didn't let the chilly weather get in the way of their Bank Holiday stroll on the beach in Southsea, Hanmpshire . Chilling out: A hopeful ice cream seller surveys the promenade at Southsea, Hampshire, as walkers braved the cold temperature . Making the most of the bright weather: This group were clearly determined to enjoy the clear, sunny spells . 'This will maintain sharp night-time . frosts and a risk of ice, and people should be aware of the potential . for tricky driving conditions if they are travelling this weekend.' Met Office spokesman Sarah Holland . said: 'There will be an east and west split, as there will be some . showers along the east coast of the country - but nothing like the last . few days. 'The sunniest weather will be across the west and north west of the country. 'Because there is a band of high pressure over the UK, we will have more settled weather conditions.' Families wrapped up today to go punting on the River Cam as the coldest March in 50 years draws to a close. Many huddled together under blankets as the freezing conditions continue in Britain over the Easter weekend. Wrapped up tourists punt down the River Cam, as the Easter weekend is set to be dry in many areas . Families wrapped up today to go punting on the River Cam as the forecast promised milder weather . Almost two million Brits are expected . to fly away this Bank Holiday to escape the Artic chill - around 30 per . cent more than average. There has also been a rush for last-minute holidays to sunny climes, such as Egypt and Gran Canaria. Airports and roads across the UK are . unaffected by the annual Bank Holiday crush, as many people take . advantage of the weekend to make long trips. There are no reported long delays, and flight departures remain largely on time. Ms Holland explained why the recent weather has been so horrendous. The last relief flight was made in Dromara Hills, County Down last night, to try and save stranded animals . A ewe with her lamb, which is protected by a plastic anorak from the winter chill, as they rest in a field of snow near Eggleston, County Durham . She said: 'March is usually a month . of contrasts but this March we have predominantly had cold weather as an . area of high pressure has become established to the north of the UK. 'This is what we call "blocked" weather, and, with low pressure to the south of the UK the resultant . easterly winds have brought cold air from Siberia/Western Russia/Eastern . Europe. 'It has certainly been prolonged and the . effects of low temperatures, frost, ice and more recently snow have . caused significant impacts to travel and infrastructure, with limited . periods of quieter weather to take stock. 'There are many factors that could be . contributing to the persistence of the blocked weather, such as El . Nino/La Nina, Arctic sea ice, Solar UV output, the North Atlantic . Oscillation, and others. 'These don’t work in isolation, but all combine to influence climate on both regional and global scales. 'It may also be a very natural thing as once a blocking pattern sets up, it can last for a number of days or even weeks. 'This . is especially true if the block is particularly well established . vertically through the atmosphere, as it takes a lot for weather . patterns to displace it.' A ray of sunshine! Lilly Lyon, 14 months, enjoys a break in the weather at Platt fields Park, Manchester . Last night an RAF Chinook makes the final drop of emergency food supplies for animals cut-off by the deep snow drifts in Dromara Hills, County Down. All air support has now been withdrawn from the relief operation to animals stranded in the snow in Northern Ireland. RAF Chinook and Irish Air Corps helicopters had been dropping emergency food supplies to farms in high-ground areas of counties Antrim and Down, but the Department of Agriculture said it was now re-directing resources to the ground. DUP MLA Paul Frew has said it is too . soon to end aerial support: 'This decision by the Department of . Agriculture minister will cost farmers more livestock.' The . helicopters made food drops to thousands of stranded animals, which . were mostly in the Glens of Antrim which has suffered from severe snow . fall. But the department defended its decision and said efforts were being re-focused on the ground. Tracey Green and her children Arron and Chloe walk past banks of snow on Good Friday near Harecroft, West Yorkshire . Good Friday fun: Cyclists navigate a snowy road lined with tall banks of ice and snow near Colne, Lancashire . Melting away: The scene near Haworth, West Yorkshire shows the green fields slowly thawing . A spokesman for the Department of Agriculture and Rural Development (DARD) said: 'Over this week we have worked tirelessly to assist many farmers who have experienced difficulties due to the recent severe weather.'We have assessed the situation on a continuing basis and air support has been stood down for today. 'Given that road access has been dealt with we are now redirecting our resources from aerial support to ground support, and over the next few days we will continue to offer farmers help to move their fodder to inaccessible stock.' Since Monday, 22 helicopter flights have delivered 46 fodder drops to animals isolated on high ground in the Mourne Mountains and Glens of Antrim. A further 45 farmers have transported feed to remote areas using DARD's Softrak vehicles. The milder conditions will bring a huge relief to one couple, who had to abandon their home after they became snowed in. Christian pilgrims carry the Easter Cross over the snow covered fields to head to a Good Friday service at St Andrews Church near Northumberland . Determined cyclists head out on a cycle path through the snow in North Yorkshire . The big thaw: Thick icicles dangle from a bush in a country lane in Sandridge, Hertfordshire . The recent cold weather snap has created a a stunning effect of icicles in all different shapes and colours . Barry Jenkins and partner Kate Mason . were greeted with a huge when they opened the front door of their . farmhouse in a remote part of North Wales. They had to dig their way out after drifts almost reached the top of the door frame. With . food and fuel running low after days of being cut off, and with no sign . of a thaw, the couple decided to leave their isolated home near Glyn . Ceiriog, near Chirk, and travel on foot through the snow-swept terrain. On . Wednesday, Barry and Kate packed rucksacks full of provisions and . clothes as they left their home to escape the Arctic conditions. They are now staying in Oswestry until conditions improve. Regions . Actual (deg C) Difference from 1981-2010 average (deg C) Actual (mm) Percentage of 1981-2010 average (%) UK . 2.5 . -3.0 . 62.2 . 65 . England . 2.9 . -3.3 . 63.4 . 99 . Wales . 2.8 . -3.0 . 86.2 . 74 . Scotland . 1.6 . -2.5 . 50.3 . 36 . Northern Ireland . 3.0 . -2.9 . 78.9 . 83 . England and Wales . 2.9 . -3.3 . 66.6 . 94 . N England . 2.0 . -3.5 . 54.0 . 72 . S England . -3.2 . 68.4 . 118 . | Most of UK will experience sunny spells as milder weather arrives . Overnight temperatures will still be sub-zero and frosty . West of the country set to have best of the sunny weather . March on course to be the coldest in 50 years . | e273c3a9ae2497413e37f0636544dc75746f0525 |
By . Alex Greig . PUBLISHED: . 01:01 EST, 23 June 2013 . | . UPDATED: . 01:01 EST, 23 June 2013 . Police have questioned an Iowa man who placed an antique coffin for sale on Craigslist which contained a full skeleton, for the bargain price of $12,000. Dave Burgstrum of Council Bluffs placed the coffin for sale in order to pay property taxes on a hall belonging to a now-defunct chapter of the Independent Order of Odd Fellows. Police noticed the unusual ad, inspected the remains and deemed it illegal to sell them. For sale: This appears to be the advertisement placed by Dave Burgstrum for the antique oak coffin - but there's no sign of the skeleton, which could have made for a nasty surprise for the buyer . According to Iowa law, without proper identification papers, human remains can not be legally sold. The bones were sent to Karen Foreman, chief investigator for the Pottawattamie County Medical Examiner’s Office, who examined the remains on Friday, reports The Daily Nonpareil. Foreman said the bones would be sent to the Iowa State Medical Examiner’s Laboratory to be examined by an anthropologist but that identification is extremely unlikely. If the bones are of Native American descent they will be returned to a Native American organization. Burgstrum placed the coffin and human remains up for sale with a succinct description: 'Oak coffin on stand' in an ad that's still live on Craigslist. He told The Daily Nonpareil that a local historian told him that the skeleton was donated to the organization by a local doctor after he retired in the 1880s. The Independent Order of Odd Fellows (IOOF) is a global altruistic and benevolent fraternal organization that has its roots in British Oddfellows organizations of the 17th century which promotes helping others and personal and social development. The coffin itself dates to the 1900s, but Burgstrum can't explain how the bones came lay inside it. 'They were just there as long as anyone could remember,' he said. Odd: The Independent Order of Odd Fellows is a benevolent society with roots in 17th century Britain . Burgstrum told the Daily Nonpareil that the coffin was used in a ritual conducted by the Independent Order of Odd Fellows, which has a long history in Council Bluffs, beginning in 1852. Along with his brother Dan, Dave Burgstrum is a fifth-generation Odd Fellow, but said membership had dwindled in the last two decades leaving a large property tax on the hall and no donations to pay it. The hall, which is located in the 700 block of First Avenue, and Odd Fellows memorabilia, are in the care of Dave, Dan and Dave's wife Linda. | Dave Burgstrum of Council Bluffs put an antique coffin up for sale on Craigslist - but neglected to mention it already came with a skeleton . Burgstrum was attempting to raise money for a hall that belongs to a chapter of Independent Order of Odd Fellows, a benevolent society . The skeleton was allegedly donated to the Odd Fellows by a local doctor in the 1880s . Police investigated the remains and deemed ownership of them illegal due to a lack of identification . The remains have been sent to a laboratory for potential identification . | e168d1abe3362c92061a066795981c6769809b3e |
By . Katherine Faulkner . PUBLISHED: . 02:01 EST, 26 March 2012 . | . UPDATED: . 18:44 EST, 26 March 2012 . This is the moment when a father . thought he was seeing his son die as a hot air balloon burst into flames . after hitting 132,000-volt power cables. Watching from another balloon, Martin Griffiths feared the worst as 18-year-old Adam drifted into the overhead lines. As he landed in a nearby field, Mr Griffiths, 42, heard bolts of electricity blasting through the canopy of his son’s craft. Hit: This is the dramatic moment the balloon crashed into the cables and was set alight, caught on camera by bystander Rachel Smith at about 6pm on Sunday . Drama: Three teenagers were left suspended 15 metres above the ground as they waited for the overhead cables to be turned off . Then the small basket under the balloon containing Adam and his two companions was set ablaze by showers of sparks. Convinced that Adam had been killed, Mr Griffiths sprinted back to the scene. He added: ‘I had landed a couple of . fields along when I heard the bang. I thought Adam was dead. The basket . was on fire and he was stuck in the cables.’ As the passengers, Colin Giggle and a . girl aged 16 who has not been named, cowered in the bottom of the . 9ft-square basket, Adam doused the flames with a fire extinguisher. Adam . was unhurt, Mr Giggle suffered a burned shoulder and the teenager’s . hair was singed. Terrifying accident: Pilot Adam Griffiths, 18, suffered burns when he and two teenage passengers crashed into an electricity pylon, absorbing 132,000 volts . Then, after their brush with death, . the passengers – who had not been in a hot air balloon before – and . their pilot played I-spy as they dangled 45ft off the ground for five . hours waiting for the power to be switched off so they could be brought . down by rescue teams. Mr Giggle, 52, said they had to ‘curl . up like hedgehogs’ as they smashed into the wires, adding: ‘It was like . being inside a firework. There were a lot of sparks. ‘This sort of thing kills people – we were very lucky to walk away from the scene. ‘As we dropped below the wires we were . waiting for contact, thinking it would cause a spark. When the wires . twanged on the basket we did think, “This will hurt”. ‘The experience definitely used up one of my nine lives.’ Adam and his father were in two of six . balloons that had taken off together from a field at Riseley, . Bedfordshire, on Sunday afternoon. They had travelled about ten miles . when a gust blew Adam into pylons near Bozeat, Northamptonshire, just . before 6pm. Adam, from Rushden, Northamptonshire, said: ‘I did panic after hitting the wires. ‘There was quite a bang when we hit the power lines, and then I saw there was a fire in the basket. ‘It is all a bit of a blur really, but it was scary. ‘You go through all these things in . your training but it still doesn’t come into play until it actually . happens.’ And he added: ‘It won’t put me off flying balloons. I’ve been . doing it since I was a baby.’ Rescue: Emergency services had to wait until 11pm for the power to be turned off so they could get to the hot air balloon . Mr Giggle, himself an amateur . aeroplane pilot, said the waistcoat he had been wearing was ‘full of . holes on the back’ from where he was hit by ‘little gobbets of fire’. He added that the trio passed the time . with games as they waited for rescue. The marketing data manager said: . ‘We played I-spy. But after we had “g” for “grass” and “p” for “pylon” we didn’t have many more ideas. ‘The wind picked up and the basket was . moving to and fro, but there was nothing we could do. We did get very . cold, but you just cope.’ When they were rescued at 11pm, each of them was harnessed to a fireman who abseiled down the pylon. Hanging: The three passengers had to put out a fire started on impact with the pylon . Danger: Pilot Adam Griffiths and two others were forced to cower in the basket for five hours while waiting for the electricity to be turned off . The incident is being investigated by the Air Accidents Investigation Branch. However, Mr Griffiths believes a sudden change in wind direction caused the ‘freak accident’. He said the £25,000 Cameron N-77 . balloon had been destroyed in the accident, but added: ‘I’m just so glad . Adam’s all right. It could have been so much worse.’ Despite his ordeal, Mr Giggle is . determined to have another flight, joking: ‘I will be going up in a . balloon again as I want to experience a normal landing.’ Deflated: The balloon's limp outline is shown silhouetted against the Northamptonshire sky as it drapes over the power cables . Blocked: Police diverted traffic away from the scene as the trio were trapped above ground for five hours . | Wind blew the trio into a Northamptonshire pylon carrying 132,000 volts . Pilot Adam Griffiths, 18, and his two passengers suffered minor burns . They were left hanging between 6pm and 11pm last night . | b476ee7f69493cb5649b7372f9e44a7d2153c914 |
The United States' top military general said Wednesday that half of the Iraqi army is incapable of putting their sectarian differences aside to fight off the Islamic State. Gen. Martin Dempsey, Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, told reporters travelling with him on a trip to Paris that 24 of the Iraqi army's 50 brigades were too heavily comprised of Shiites to effectively work together with other religious sects to combat ISIS. U.S. military assessors who spent the summer in Iraq found that the other 26 brigades could partner with the U.S., but they would need additional training and equipment, Dempsey said, according to the Associated Press. Scroll down for video . Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Gen. Martin Dempsey, pictured here testifying before the Senate Armed Services Committee yesterday, told reporters traveling with him to Paris on Wednesday that half of the Iraqi army won't fight ISIS . Dempsey's admission to reporters today follows testimony he gave to a Senate committee on Tuesday indicating that he would consider advising the president to put boots on the ground in Iraq if the United States' strategy to form a broad international coalition against ISIS fails to ward off ISIS. President Barack Obama has unequivocally ruled out ground troops in Iraq in numerous public statements, but Dempsey revealed to members of the Senate Armed Services Committee on Tuesday that the president told him privately 'to come back to him on a case-by-case basis.' Dempsey told the senators that U.S. forces could engage in 'close combat advising' if the circumstances called for it. While making it clear he was speaking hypothetically, Dempsey suggested that American troops could find themselves 'accompanying' Iraqi troops on a mission to retake the city of Mosul, for example. The general's affirmation that the president may have to send U.S. troops on a combat mission after all was panned as an about-face by the White House and the first step towards the 'mission creep' that dovish Democrats had been nervous about all along. The White House rushed to reiterate that Dempsey was not foreshadowing military action and was merely explaining how he would advise the president in a hypothetical scenario. But on Wednesday Dempsey again alluded to boots on the ground while speaking with reporters about the situation in Iraq. Dempsey repeated the administration's claims that only Iraqis, working together, could save their country from the hands of ISIS and no amount of U.S. military might would be able to do that for them. Iraq must form an inclusive government that represents the three major religious sects in the county if it wants to defeat the Islamic State, he said. And then, according to Fox News, Dempsey added, 'I'm telling you, if that doesn't happen then it's time for Plan B.' Progressive activist group CodePink, known for its anti-war protests, showed up at the hearing Dempsey was testifying at on Tuesday to show its opposition to boots on the ground in Iraq. Dempsey indicated on Tuesday that the U.S. could shift forces into combat roles in Iraq if the circumstances called for it . The general also theorized that the Iraqi government may be willing to revisit its decision not to give the U.S. military legal immunity in the country if the President Obama agrees to send troops to Iraq to train its army. 'There will likely be a discussion with the new Iraqi government, as there was with the last one, about whether we need to have' them approve a U.S. military presence in the country, Dempsey said. The Iraqi government's refusal to sign a status of forces agreement granting the U.S. army immunity after the conclusion of the Iraq war led to a withdraw of American troops in 2011. A vocal group of Republican lawmakers, including Arizona Sen. John McCain, the ranking member of the Senate's Armed Services committee, have claimed that if the U.S. had left a residual number of troops in the country at that time, Iraq would not be in the quagmire it is today. Dempsey was in France today meeting with his foreign counterpart there as President Obama was in Tampa, Florida, to receive a briefing on the campaign to roll back ISIS. Obama will meet with U.S. Central Command chief Gen. Lloyd Austin during his trip, as well as other CENTCOM commanders. CENTCOM oversees military operations in the Middle East, including Iraq and Syria. According to the White House Obama will take time to speak with other service members working to implement his strategy in Iraq to thank them for their hard work. | General Martin Dempsey told reporters on Wednesday that 24 of the Iraqi army's 50 brigades were not fit to battle ISIS . They're unable to put sectarian differences aside to work together to roll back the terrorist group, he said . The 26 brigades would need additional training and equipment, Dempsey said . The top military general's admission comes the day after he suggested that U.S. troops could be asked to accompany Iraqi forces on a combat mission . | 6425729c9219ab0893b458cdfda82b798b1526f4 |
A tiger has escaped its enclosure and mauled a female keeper to death before being shot dead today. The tiger found its way out of an enclosure at Cologne Zoo in western Germany before, entering an adjacent storage building and attacking a 43-year-old keeper. The animal was then shot dead by the zoo's director immediately after the attack on Saturday morning. Tragedy: Tigers wander around the enclosure at Cologne Zoo from which an animal escaped and killed a keeper . Escaped: Zoo officials said the tiger (not the one pictured) mauled a keeper after getting through a gate which had not been closed properly . Police spokesman Stefan Kirchner said the zoo’s director used a rifle to shoot the animal dead through the storage building’s skylight before it could make its way to the visitor areas. Mr Kirchner said it was unlikely that members of the public had witnessed the incident, which occurred at around noon today. The police spokesperson said the tiger had likely escaped as a nearby gate had not been shut properly. Killed: The tiger which mauled its keeper before being shot dead was said to be this male called Alti . A news station camera man films the enclosure from which the make tiger escaped this morning . Zoo director Theo Pagel then went on to describe the incident as 'the darkest day of my life'. The newspaper reported on its website that the tiger was a male called 'Altai.' It said a planned late-night opening of the zoo has been canceled. The zoo was founded over 150 years ago and houses some 10,000 animals from 700 species. | Tiger escaped enclosure and mauled keeper in storage building . Director at Cologne Zoo, western Germany shot animal dead after incident . | aa64afd75ee1b93b6cde05e9d36182c8c4d5fc80 |
(CNN) -- The folks at Amazon and Google must have been wringing their hands on Monday when Apple CEO Steve Jobs showed off a new service called iTunes Match. That all-important "one more thing" from Apple's software presentation is part of the iCloud Web application and storage suite. It was a coup of sorts -- and Apple's win over competitors could be attributed to Jobs' experience at Pixar Animation Studios, which he co-founded. Here's what Apple pulled off: With a free iCloud account, all songs purchased from iTunes can be accessed from any Apple gadget or computer with iTunes installed. (Amazon has done something similar with Cloud Drive.) For $25 a year, iTunes in the Cloud stores a maximum of 25,000 songs on Apple's servers, ready to access from various gizmos. And, importantly, Apple did this with the blessing of the music industry. Amazon and Google, on the other hand, couldn't get the record labels to agree to their terms. Cloud Drive and Google's Music Beta require users to upload every single track to their servers, a process that can take hours or days. Apple, the largest music retailer, somehow managed to convince the labels and publishers to go along with its plan to use a scan-and-match process. iTunes Match looks at the user's music library and grants the keys to high-quality versions of those songs. It uses a don't-ask-don't-tell policy: Napster who? How did Apple pull off something Amazon and Google couldn't, despite them launching cloud-music services first? For one, Apple has a history with the music industry as long as any technology company's. "It's really hard to get the labels to give you the rights that you need," Jobs said in a 2003 interview at the first All Things Digital conference. "And I don't see them sprinkling those rights around everywhere, letting a thousand flowers grow quite yet." In that interview eight years ago, Jobs described the vast divide between technology and entertainment executives, and he talked about how he bridged it. "One of the things I learned at Pixar is the technology industries and the content industries do not understand each other," he said. "In Silicon Valley and at most technology companies, I swear that most people still think the creative process is a bunch of guys in their early 30s, sitting on a couch, drinking beer and thinking of jokes. No, they really do. That's how television is made, they think; that's how movies are made." Likewise, record executives can't relate to technical people, Jobs said. "People in Hollywood and in the content industries, they think technology is something you just write a check for and buy," Jobs said. "They don't understand the creative element of technology. "These are like ships passing in the night," the Apple co-founder added. Music execs also may have seen Google as an enemy because its search engine is a popular place to find websites serving pirated albums, according to an article in the Hollywood Reporter. For the ribbon-cutting of the iTunes Store in 2003, Apple broke through the barriers with a list of predictions, Jobs said. Apple executives provided the record labels with a glimpse into their crystal ball, and nine months later, Jobs' team was getting calls from the music companies, he said. "The record companies, the most important thing they do is not distribute music," Jobs said. "It's picking which of 500 people are going to be the next Sheryl Crow. That's what they do. And some of them do it quite well. And it's an intuitive process. There's not enough data." (Hey, Sheryl Crow, remember her?) "It's not surprising that they didn't understand Napster," Jobs said. "It's not surprising that they didn't understand that distributing their content over the Internet was the next big wave." Because technology companies treat record labels like clearing houses for content, Silicon Valley bigwigs have trouble getting through the door, Jobs suggested. So it was perhaps Jobs' expertise from Pixar, during his exodus period from Apple, that has given him the edge to secure risky deals with entertainment giants first. | Apple is the first big tech company to secure cloud music storage deals . The record companies may have taken a bet on Apple because of their history together . Steve Jobs said technology companies don't see eye to eye with entertainment execs . | da16a2291f94a0aa0b8334f8c085efe666884594 |
By . Daily Mail Reporter . Last updated at 4:07 PM on 12th August 2011 . Silvio Berlusconi will tonight hold an emergency cabinet meeting to bring in reforms aimed at dealing with Italy's mounting debt crisis. The Italian prime minister is expected to slash public spending and impose new taxes on the wealthy in an effort to slow the rate at which the country is piling on debt. The meeting - set for 7pm local time - comes in response to demands from the European Central Bank (ECB) for urgent measures to spur economic growth and balance the budget by 2013. Troubled economy: Silvio Berlusconi, Italy's prime minister, left, and finance minister Giulio Tremonti attend a debate in the upper house of parliament in Rome . European markets have swung wildly this week on rumours that indebted eurozone governments are teetering on the brink of a new debt crisis. After days of criticism for a lack of clarity on its plans, Berlusconi's centre-right government looks set to levy a 'solidarity tax' on high earners and raise the tax level on the financial sector. The measures were agreed in late-night discussions between Mr Berlusconi and economy minister Giulio Tremonti; but other steps, notably those concerning pension reform, remain to be decided. The government must make €20billion of extra savings and revenue to meet its new balanced budget target and reassure investors it can control debt running at 120 per cent of gross domestic product. Mr Berlusconi and Mr Tremonti held a series of meetings yesterday with President Giorgio Napolitano and Bank of Italy Governor Mario Draghi as they scrambled to nail down details of the package. The 'solidarity tax' would take the form of an extra 5 per cent on income above €90,000 and a 10 per cent addition to tax on income above €150,000, business daily Il Sole 24 Ore reported. The tax rate on financial income is set to jump from 12.5 per cent to 20 per cent, with the exception of income from government bonds - the sale of which are crucial to Italy's continued solvency. Further measures could include a bid to raise the number of working days in a year by ensuring that non-religious public holidays, such as the June 2 anniversary of the founding of the Italian Republic, are celebrated on a Sunday. The market chaos which threatened to spin Italy's borrowing costs out of control last week has eased since the ECB intervened to buy up huge chunks of the country's debt. While Italy's budget deficit is below the euro-zone average and should shrink to around 3.2 per cent of gross domestic product this year, the country's sovereign debt passed the €1.9 trillion mark in June. But the continuing fear among investors that the eurozone's third largest economy is running an insustainable course have led to sharp falls on Italian stock markets. Stock market regulator Consob today announced a temporary ban on short-selling financial stocks in a bid to calm the volatility that has hammered Italian bank shares. In response, the main Milan index was trading nearly 2 percent higher earlier today. Despite its huge public debt, Italy had remained on the sidelines of the eurozone crisis until last month when doubts about the government's unity and capacity to control its finances triggered a massive sell-off of Italian bonds. Proud history: Tourists at the Pantheon, Rome. Many local public services will be privatised after demands from the European Central Bank . Italian media reported that Prime Minister Berlusconi was considering issuing a special video message to explain the austerity plan, which will fast-track a number of measures contained in a €48billion package passed last month. But major disagreements remain and sensitive reforms to the pension system remain undecided, with Berlusconi's Northern League coalition partners and Italy's biggest trade union both strongly opposed to any cuts. Yesterday, Mr Tremonti told a parliamentary committee that the ECB had demanded measures to break down barriers to competition in services and the professions and free up rigid labour market rules. The recommendations included privatisation of local public services, more flexible employment contracts, easier hiring and firing to free up the rigid labour market and cuts to public sector pay. Additional measures included increasing the retirement age for women working in the private sector and a change in rules on when workers can retire based on their pension contributions. Mr Tremonti said the proposals on hiring and firing and cuts to public sector pay, both of which would raise fierce political opposition, were not in the government's plans. | Government set to introduce 'solidarity tax' on richest . Moves to cut holidays to increase productivity . No agreement on public sector pensions . Italy's sovereign debt passed €1.9 trillion mark in June . | 6ec6d82bf80a21b5ab765370495531ecfebbe838 |
Physicist Stephen Hawking arrived united his first wife as they attended the London premiere of his biopic The Theory Of Everything to see themselves portrayed on screen by Eddie Redmayne and Felicity Jones. Hawking and Jane Wilde, who divorced in 1995 after 30 years of marriage, have become closer since his 2006 split from his second wife and appeared on friendly terms as they arrived to see the Oscars-tipped film at the Odeon in Leicester Square. They also mingled with Redmayne and Jones, who have been widely praised for their portrayals of the renowned physicist and his first wife in the tale of their early relationship, Hawking's first steps in his career and his diagnosis with motor neurone disease. Scroll down for video . Poignant: Eddie Redmayne and Felicity Jones were joined by their real-life counterparts Stephen Hawking and his first wife Jane Wilde at the premiere of his biopic The Theory of Everything in London on Tuesday night . Uncanny: Redmayne and Jones (left) portray the former couple (pictured on their wedding day, right) from the renowned scientist’s days as a PhD student through to him being honoured by the Queen in 1989 . Praise: Hawking has already lauded the 32-year-old's portrayal of him on the big screen, admitting he kept mistaking Redmayne for himself . The film, which has already been tipped for awards season success, is based on Wilde's book Travelling to Infinity: My Life With Stephen. Largely centred on the former couple's relationship, it covers the period from Hawking's days as a PhD student at Cambridge until 1989 when he was named a Companion of Honour by the Queen. In an especially poignant moment for Redmayne, he was joined by Hawking in front of photographers as the pair prepared to watch the early years of his life played out on film. Speaking on the blue carpet, the 32-year-old actor admitted that despite having crossed paths with the professor during his own student days at Cambridge, he still felt starstruck at the prospect of playing him. He said: 'I'd been a student at Cambridge and seen Stephen across campus, heard his voice, but I was pretty ignorant so when I read the script, everything was a revelation. 'Stephen and Jane let Felicity and I into their lives, so we felt an enormous amount of responsibility to get it right.' When asked about the possibility that the role will land him a nod at next year's Oscars, the modest star added: 'I try not to listen to buzz because it's a fleeting thing and if you listen to the good stuff you automatically take on the bad stuff, so I try to put my fingers in my ears and just keep putting one foot in front of the other.' Looks like they're old friends: Eddie Redmayne looked thrilled to see Professor Hawking's first wife Jane Wilde . Working closely: Redmayne and Jones were introduced to Hawking and his ex-wife several times before filming took place . Man of the hour: The actor beamed as he stood next to the renowned scientist on the custom-made blue carpet at the London screening . Buzz: Redmayne led the cast at the premiere of the highly-anticipated new movie, which has already been tipped for awards season success . Loving: They may have split in 1995 after 30 years together but Hawking and Wilde have become close since his divorce from his second wife . Esteemed opinion: Jones has revealed that she was nervous ahead of learning what the genius thought of the film . Inspiration: The Theory Of Everything is adapted from Wilde's book Travelling to Infinity: My Life with Stephen, about their 30-year marriage. They have grown closer since his divorce from second wife Elaine Mason in 2006 . Wilde, who was married to the genius from 1965 until 1995, also got to come face-to-face with actress Jones, who plays her on the big screen. Jones, who looked stunning in a white Dior lampshade-style gown, spoke highly of the woman she plays on the big screen, now a professor of Romance languages, who once famously described physics as her then-husband's 'mistress, his one true love'. She gushed: 'Jane is incredibly open, she showed me photos of her and Stephen when they first met and I really felt I was getting this glimpse into an intimate side of their lives. 'Stephen and Jane have this wonderful unsentimental approach to life and such wit, so wherever we could we wanted to put that into the film.' Hawking first met Wilde, who was a friend of one of his sisters, when he was a graduate student at Cambridge and shortly before he was diagnosed with motor neurone disease. Portrayal: Jones plays Wilde when she first met Hawking at Cambridge university through to 1989 in the widely-praised project . Warm greetings: Jones appeared delighted to catch up with Wilde and has previously insisted it is 'her film' Troubled: Wilde, now a professor of Romance languages, has famously described physics as her then-husband's 'mistress'. The pair wed in 1965 and divorced 30 years later . The perfect couple: Redmayne and Jones made an attractive pair as they walked the blue carpet in Leicester Square together . Androgynous: Maxine Peake, who plays Hawking's second wife Elaine Mason in the film, was also at the London premiere . Scandal: Hawking married his nurse Mrs Mason in 1995 after leaving Wilde four years earlier. They went on to divorce in 2006 . The couple became engaged in October 1964 and were married the following July, with Hawking later saying that the engagement had given him 'something to live for'. Their eldest child, Robert, was born in 1967, followed by Lucy in 1970 and Timothy in 1979. As Hawking's condition declined, he began to require crutches to walk and slowly lost the ability to write. He reluctantly started using a wheelchair in the late 1960s and by the late 1970s his speech could only be understood by family members and close friends. During a 1985 visit to the European Organisation for Nuclear Research on the border of France and Switzerland, Hawking contracted pneumonia and was so close to death that Wilde was asked if his life support should be turned off. She refused and Hawking underwent a tracheotomy which removed what was left of his ability to speak, and left him needing round-the-clock care. One of his nurses was Elaine Mason, played in the film by Maxine Peake, who would go on to become his second wife. Hawking started using a computer programme called the 'Equalizer', which allows phrases, words or letters to be selected from a collection of around 3,000 - a method he still uses to speak today. Dapper: Redmayne looked suave in a blue checked suit, white shirt and black tie as he soaked up the attention . Teamwork: The pair's performance has already sparked an Oscar buzz ahead of next year's Academy Awards ceremony . Vision in white: Jones went for a demure long-sleeved Dior lampshade-style dress in white, which she paired with metallic shoes . Eclectic: The daring choice of dress boasted a quilted effect and embroidered detail on the front of one sleeve . Windswept: Jones's full skirt also looked particularly dramatic when the cool breeze ran through Leicester Square . Say cheese! The pair appeared to be in high spirits as they cosied up on the blue carpet for photographs . The programme used an American accent, and despite the others now available Hawking has said he wants to stick with it as it has become part of his identity. Meanwhile, his marriage to Wilde was under increasing strain and in 1990 Hawking told her he was leaving her for Mrs Mason. They divorced in 1995 and he married the nurse that September. Hawking and Mrs Mason divorced in 2006, after which Hawking's relationship with Ms Wilde, his children and grandchildren improved. The cast were also joined by celebrity guests including Sarah Ferguson, Duchess of York, who looked demure in a short black dress. Actress Maxine Peake, who plays Mrs Mason in the movie, was also present. Hawking, whose most famous work A Brief History of Time helped change the face of cosmology, has already revealed that he was so impressed by Redmayne's performance that he kept mistaking the actor for himself. Real life couple: Redmayne's beautiful fiancee Hannah Bagshawe supported him at the glitzy event . Joyous: The couple looked loved up as they laughed on the blue carpet. They are preparing to wed in the coming months . Stunning: Redmayne's fiancee Miss Bagshawe supported him at the London premiere of his new movie The Theory Of Everything on Tuesday . He said: 'I thought Eddie Redmayne portrayed me very well. At times I thought he was me. 'I think Eddie’s commitment will have a big emotional impact,' said the physicist, who shed a tear when he first saw the film. Meanwhile, Jones recently revealed that she was taken aback when first meeting twice-married Hawking - because he asked her for a kiss. She told the Daily Telegraph: 'He watched about an hour of filming and Eddie and I were waiting to see what he thought. Then an assistant appeared with a note from Hawking which said: “Would you ask Felicity if she will come and give me a kiss?” 'It showed his rather flirtatious nature and this amazing capacity he has to not take himself too seriously. I loved him. 'It’s so nerve-wracking meeting these people whose lives you are getting so involved with and you don’t want to make a fool of yourself, especially with someone like Stephen who has changed the world in so many ways. Eddie and I just sat there trying to make conversation and not seem like we are total idiots.' Royal seal of approval: Sarah Ferguson was among the well-heeled guests at the glittering premiere . LBD: The Duchess of York showed off her recent weight-loss in a short black dress with sheer detail, and a pair of platform shoes . Marilyn moment: She got a little windswept on the blue carpet as she stood in her elegant ensemble . Burst of colour: Laura Bailey refused to let winter dull her day and went for a multi-coloured pussy-bow dress with scarlet satin heels . Family time: Richard Madeley arrived at the screening with his daughter Chloe . Look a blue: The TV presenter-turned-fitness guru showed off her athletic figure in a navy lace off-the-shoulder number . Gosh, you're so embarrassing! Richard jokingly grimaced as his daughter planted a kiss on his cheek . Line-up: Eddie and Felicity were joined by other cast-members for a full group shot with Hawking, the man of the hour . | Former couple joined actors for the premiere of The Theory Of Everything at the Odeon in Leicester Square . Film which tells of Prof Hawking's relationship with first wife Jane Wilde has been tipped for Oscars glory . Couple divorced in 1995 after 30 years of marriage but became closer when he split from second wife . Wilde, now a language professor, once described physics as her then-husband's 'mistress, his one true love' Redmayne and Jones have been widely praised for their portrayals of renowned physicist and his first wife . | e714d376b72547563336967d7ba05dcdbaededbe |
(CNN) -- Microsoft's Windows Phone 8.1 just got an upgrade with the voice of Cortana. If you're an avid video game player, you're probably thrilled. Cortana is a character in the popular Halo video games series. She's sexy and smart and tries to save the world. So how does Microsoft's Cortana compare with Apple's Siri? We'll find out. But here's the interesting question: Why are Cortana, Siri, and basically all "virtual assistants" female? Sure, there's the biological factor, i.e., our time in the womb predisposes us to prefer the sound of a woman's voice. And then -- as CNN's Brandon Griggs pointed out -- there's also tradition. Ever since World War II, automated navigation systems in airplanes have used female voices, which stand out in the male-dominated cockpit. And let's not forget straight-up sexism, whose logic goes something like this: "Well, if it's an assistant, it has to be female, right?" All of these reasons certainly contribute to the choice of a female voice for the increasingly popular "virtual assistant" feature on smartphones, which understands commands and in some cases talks back. But let's not discount the influence of a certain AMC television program that has a hypnotic hold on Western culture right now: "Mad Men." Have you noticed that trendy clothes are tight-fitting right now? And ties are skinny? And fedoras are everywhere? Heck, even Lucky Strike's sales are booming. It's the Mad Men factor, and this phenomenon also makes everyone want a female assistant. But in 2014, assistants are about as rare as those IBM Selectric typewriters from Season 1, so we'll take the next best thing: the virtual version. Most of us have to make our own coffee, hang up our own coat, and set our own appointments. But by golly, having Cortana or Siri call someone for you makes you feel like a regular Don Draper, if just for a moment. Roger Sterling sure is a selfish rake, but wouldn't it be great if you had an assistant to do your shopping for you -- just like Roger? With Siri and Cortana, you at least have someone make your shopping list. Of course, we draw the line at boss-secretary romance. Let's not get carried away. A person and a computer program? No one would ever be weird enough to fantasize about falling in love with an operating system. Unless you count the $481 million in ticket sales from "Her," a movie with this exact premise. But perhaps I haven't convinced you. For example, you might be wondering how there can be a distinction between the sexist reason for wanting a female assistant and the Mad Men reason. Isn't it the same thing? No. From fashion to furniture, everyone wants a little Mad Men in their life. And whatever form "a little Mad Men" takes, it must resemble the show as closely as possible. Mad Men creator Matthew Weiner takes pride in the deadly accuracy of his period details, and so do we, when we recreate aspects of the show in our lives. If all the assistants on Mad Men were men, everyone would want a male virtual assistant right now. Also, let's not forget that everyone roots for the female characters Joan Holloway and Peggy Olson, both of whom begin the show as assistants. They both break through the glass ceiling (in very different ways) on their way to the top of the advertising hierarchy. We want them to succeed, and we agonize over the injustices heaped upon them in their ascent. Whatever our gender, we also want female assistants, just like Joan and Peggy eventually have when they become powerful. There's a twist to this story. Cortana, the artificially intelligent character from Halo, was based on the ancient Egyptian queen Nefertiti. Some scholars believe Nefertiti ruled Egypt after the death of her husband, Pharaoh Akhenaten. Viewed from this perspective, Cortana represents not only a helpful, soothing voice, but also an eventual ruler. For those who are predicting world domination by robots, the choice of Cortana is certainly something to ponder. | Microsoft's Windows Phone 8.1 just got an upgrade with the voice of Cortana . David Wheeler: Why are Cortana, Siri, and basically all "virtual assistants" female? He says there's biological factor, tradition, sexism, and the popularity of Mad Men . Wheeler: Having a virtual assistant like Cortana makes us feel like Don Draper . | e2b75b5c012ea4267d78045bf3aeb8afc3f26304 |
A New York woman said she was left shaking after finding a letter inside a Saks Fifth Avenue shopping bag purportedly written by a man in a Chinese prison factory that was mass-producing the distinctive carry-all. Stephanie Wilson, 28, an Australian who lives in Harlem, said she found the message while reaching into the bad for a receipt and it said 'HELP HELP HELP'. The desperate cry was written in blue ink on white-lined paper and included a passport-sized photo of a man - who called himself Tohnain Emmanuel Njong - in an orange jacket, as well as a Yahoo email address. 'I read the letter and I just shook - I couldn't believe what I was reading,' Wilson said in an interview with DNAinfo New York. Desperate cry: New York-based Australian expat Stephanie Wilson, 28, found this letter hidden within her Saks Fifth Avenue shopping bag, purportedly from a man who was enslaved in a prison factory that was mass-producing the bags in China. The department store have since confirmed they make the bags in the country, but have not said where . The note said: 'We are ill-treated and work like slaves for 13 hours every day producing these bags in bulk in the prison factory. Thanks and sorry to bother you.' Wilson said she found it in September 2012 after buying a pair of Hunter rain boots and passed it on to the Laogai Research Foundation - a Washington, D.C.-based advocacy group founded to fight human rights abuses in Chinese prisons - who began investigating. But Njong's Yahoo email address bounced back, so the nonprofit was unable to locate him. Harry Wu, the founder of Laogai Research Foundation, spent 19 years in a Chinese prison factory, known as laogai., and that Njong took a huge risk both writing and sending it. 'There would be solitary confinement until you confess and maybe later they increase your sentence - or even death,' Wu said. His organization referred the letter to the Department of Homeland Security, which investigates allegations of American companies using forced labor to make their products. Homeland Security officials confirmed to DNAinfo that they were made aware of the letter, but could not say if they investigated it or are currently looking at Saks in connection to it. A DHS official said it's not the first plea letter from China that has ended up on American shores. According to DHS senior policy adviser Kenneth Kennedy, the department was made aware of a woman in Oregon who made international news in 2012 when she discovered a similar letter detailing abuse and grueling labor in a Chinese prison when it fell from a Halloween decoration she'd bought at Kmart. The Oregon letter was anonymous, though The New York Times later tracked down the man who said he wrote it. Distinctive: The black and white Saks Fifth Ave bags are commonplace in New York and Los Angeles. The department store have confirmed they have them made in China and investigating the claims made in the letter . A representative for Saks Fifth Avenue confirmed that the store was notified of the letter by the Laogai Research Foundation in December 2013 and said the company took the allegation seriously and launched an investigation. Saks also confirmed to DNAinfo that the store's shopping bags are made in China, but didn't have any further information. Two U.S. laws make it illegal for imported products to be made using slave, convict or indentured labor. DNAinfo managed to track down a man who claimed to be Njong, admitted to writing the letter and knew specific details about what was in it. He said he wrote the letter during his three-year prison sentence in the eastern city of Qingdao, Shandong Province. Njong said he a wrote a total of five letters while in the prison, some in French that he hid in bags emblazoned with French words, and others in English. Njong, who is now 34, said he had been teaching English in the southern Chinese city of Shenzhen when he was arrested in May 2011 and charged with fraud, a crime he said he never committed. He said he was held in a detention center for 10 months while awaiting a government-sponsored lawyer and was barred from contact with the outside community. Njong said each prisoner was required to meet a daily production quota of what they working on - bet it shopping bags, electronics or sewing garments - and that they were given a pen and paper to record their productivity. This is what he used to pen the letters, hiding under his covers at night so no one would see. Njong's family did not know where he was for the whole time he was prison, because he was not permitted to contact anyone following his arrest. He said he was discharged from prison in December 2013 after receiving a sentence cut for good behavior and finally reunited with relatives, who presumed him dead. After struggling to find work in his home country, Njong recently moved to Dubai and secured a job that will allow him to stay there. He said that though his imprisonment ran its course without intervention, he was happy that his letter made its way into at least one person's hands. 'It was the biggest surprise of my life,' Njong told DNAinfo. 'I am just happy that someone heard my cry.' | Stephanie Wilson, 28, found the letter in September 2012 after purchasing boots at Saks Fifth Avenue . Written by a man calling himself Tohnain Emmanual Njong, who included a passport photo . Pleaded for help and that he was working 13-hour days to produce the bags . DNAinfo New York tracked down the man in China, who has since been released from prison . Said he wrote of them and was amazed one managed to be found . Saks confirmed their shopping bags are made in China and are investigating . | c9d3f03804cb27f647185898e9accc6bd6a87e48 |
A row has broken out after Ryanair pilots accused the airline of putting cost-cutting ahead of passenger safety by forcing crews to fly with limited fuel in order to save money. Speaking anonymously on a Dutch television programme, four pilots said they often found themselves on the brink of making distress calls during flights because their planes were so low on fuel. But Ryanair has strenuously denied the pilots' claims that they are under pressure from management to carry as little fuel as is legally allowed to help keep costs down. Safety concerns: The Ryanair pilots spoke anonymously to Dutch television programme KRO Reporter . The pilots said on the programme that the 'stress' of the situation was affecting their decision-making while at the helm of . passenger jets. When asked by Dutch television programme KRO Reporter if he ever felt pressure to take less fuel on a journey than he would like, one unidentified pilot replied: 'You feel it everyday.' Another explained that the less weight a plane carries, the less fuel it burns, making flights more cost efficient. Former Ryanair pilot Ian Somner, who also appeared on the programme, described an 'oppressive regime' at the airline where he said staff were 'bullied' by management. The claims emerged after the airline was told to carry out a review of its fuel policy in September when three of its planes were forced to make emergency landings in Spain on one day when they started to run out. 'Oppressive regime': Ryanair boss Michael O'Leary has denied claims pilots are under pressure to fly with as little fuel as is legally allowed . But the airline told the MailOnline today that the claims, published in the Sun newspaper, were 'false rubbish'. A spokesman said: 'These claims have no validity and originate from a Dutch TV programme which featured anonymous contributors in darkened rooms. 'The reason these anonymous contributors did not want their identities revealed is because there was no truth to their claims.' Ryanair said all its pilots were allowed to take as much fuel as they wished to take, which in all cases was more than the minimum reserve amount. The spokesman added that Ryanair was issuing defamation proceedings against the Sun in the wake of its article. 'Bullying': Former Ryanair pilot Ian Somner likened the airline's management to an 'oppressive regime' on the programme . | Four Ryanair pilots told a Dutch television programme they are being forced to fly with the minimum amount of fuel allowed by law to keep costs down . They claimed they are regularly on the brink of making distress calls because their planes are so low on fuel . Ryanair has insisted its pilots are allowed to take as much fuel as they wish to on their flights . | 16e0f6254da48c5a78c90432033937f2f485f12e |
By . Nick Mashiter, Press Association . Gary McAllister believes Coventry's Ricoh return can give them a platform for a Barclays Premier League comeback. The former Sky Blues manager wants the club to unite ahead of their homecoming against Gillingham on Friday. It will end a 13-month exile in Northampton after a rent dispute with the stadium's owners, Arena Coventry Limited, saw them to play 35 miles away. But McAllister, who also made 200 appearances for the club in two spells, thinks the return can provide a catalyst for success. 'It's a one-club city and they don't want to get ahead of themselves but Coventry have a proud history in the Premier League,' he told Press Association Sport. 'It was a club who were established in the Premier League, there were flirtations with relegation but they managed to stave it off until they went down (in 2001). I remember one particular escape at Tottenham (in 1997). 'I hope this pulls everyone together and I'm sure they will get some proper attendances now. There's a good hardcore fanbase in Coventry and they can use that to push back up to where they should be.' Captain: McAllister (right) is embedded in Coventry's history after two spells as a player and one as manager . Hopeful: McAllister (left) alongside David Batty (right) of Leeds United during their playing days . Manager: McAllister (left) was not only a player - he managed the club between 2002-2004 . McAllister was boss at Highfield Road while plans for the Ricoh were put in place but left a year before they moved in during the 2005-06 season. But he can recall the anticipation around the club as they prepared to move from their home of 106 years. 'It's been quite sad seeing the Sky Blues fans up on that bank at Sixfields. I was a fan of Highfield Road, I liked the atmosphere but it was an old stadium,' said the ex-Leeds and Liverpool midfielder, who was in charge of Coventry between 2002 and 2004. 'It was exciting, Highfield Road had served them well but the club needed to move forwards yet it sent them into a downward spiral. With the way it was structured it became very messy and difficult to understand from the outside. 'I'd gone by the time the team went there but I've been invited back and it's a magnificent stadium. 'I know how passionate the Coventry fans are and I had good years there; we had a fantastic side which played nice football and it's good too see they are home.' The Sky Blues are 15th in Sky Bet League One after finishing 18th last season, following a 10 point deduction for exiting administration without agreeing a Company Voluntary Arrangement. Pressley had been heavily linked with the Huddersfield job before Chris Powell was appointed and McAllister knows his fellow Scot has not gone unnoticed. 'It's no surprise when a job comes up Steven's name is mentioned and that's going to continue to happen,' he said. 'People are aware of what he's done under very difficult circumstances.' Home: The Sky Blues will make a triumphant return to the Ricoh Arena this week, after 13 months away . Legend: Coventry hero Darren Huckerby (right) with Arsenal's Matthew Upson (left) And former Highfield Road favourite Darren Huckerby agreed. Huckerby, who made 109 appearances and scored 34 goals during three years with the Sky Blues, also feels they must escape the third tier. 'The manger has done a good job under difficult circumstances and a lot would not have had it,' said the 38-year-old. 'They have to try to get out of League One and back into the Championship because a club of their stature and history should not be knocking around League One. 'And bringing players in now will be more attractive. I don't know what their financial situation is, I'm sure they will be reserved, but showing players around the Ricoh is better than 35 miles away. 'I'd like to think it shouldn't have got to that stage but everyone stuck to their guns. 'A club of Coventry's size should not be messing about at other people's stadiums.' | Coventry have been playing their home games in Northampton . They were made to play there because of a dispute with stadium owners . This Friday sees them return to their Ricoh Arena home . Gary McAllister believes this could kick-start a return to the Premier League . McAllister made 200 appearances for the Sky Blues, and has managed them . Ex-player Darren Huckerby also believes they should be higher . | b683a1dd605d2cda2ae0e58a327db293017b7fae |
By . Snejana Farberov . A 10-year-old California girl's personal plea to Pope Francis has been answered when her detained father, who is facing deportation, was released Friday. Mario Vargas was freed from a detention facility in Louisiana after he posted $5,000 bond. A relative who saw his daughter, Jersey Vargas, on television asking the pontiff for a miracle during a public audience helped with the funding, said his wife, Lola Vargas. 'When she left, her wish was that her father would be home,' she told The Associated Press in Spanish. 'Thank God she is going to get her wish.' Ask, and you shall receive: Just days after Pope Francis met with 10-year-old . Jersey Vargas (pictured), who pleaded with him to help spare her father from deportation, the child was reunited with her parent . Tears of joy: Jersey (center) cries as she gives interviews after greeting her father Mario Vargas-Lopez (second right) as her brother Yancy Vargas, 8, (center left) looks on at Los Angeles airport, California March 29, 2014 . Reunited: Mario Vargas-Lopez was freed on bond from a detention center in Louisiana three days after his daughter asked Pope Francis for help in stopping her father's deportation . Mr Vargas' release came after his daughter, of Panorama City, Calif., addressed the pope this week as part of a California delegation that traveled to urge the Vatican to prod President Barack Obama on immigration reform. The girl and a teenager went as part of the 16-member group to represent the American children of immigrant parents who are afraid their families will be divided by deportation. The president and the pontiff met for the first time Thursday. 'I feel very happy and proud because I'm finally going to have my dad back and we're going to be reunited,' Jersey told the AP late Friday before boarding a flight from Rome to Los Angeles. She said her father was also heading to Los Angeles, and that she hoped he would get there before her arrival Saturday. Together at last: Jersey said she has not seen her father in two years, and that the separation was hard on their family . DUI rap: Mario Vargas was arrested last year in Tennessee and convicted of driving under the influence . 'I haven't seen him in two years,' she said. 'It's been very hard since my dad hasn't been home. My mom has had to be the provider for my family, she's been the mother and father for two years.' Mario Vargas was arrested in Tennessee in September on a drunk driving charge and served a six month sentence. Upon his release he was detained by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement and held in a Louisiana detention facility until he could appear before a judge for removal proceedings, said Bryan Cox, agency spokesman in New Orleans. A judge had approved the bond request several days before the girl met with the pope, but the money was not available until late this week, said Vargas' attorney, Alex Galvez. The bond amount was not changed as the result of his daughter asking the pope to intercede, Cox said. Vargas-Lopez is required to stay in communication with ICE and tell agency officials where he is pending his next court appearance, Cox said. Emotional: The 10-year-old burst into tears when she came face to face with the pope, telling him that her father was suffering . No special treatment: ICC officials said t Vargas' bond amount was not changed as the result of his daughter asking the pope to intercede . 'Him being released on bond in no way translates into special action on his behalf,' Cox said. 'This was standard procedure.' Galvez agreed that the release was unrelated to the daughter's visit with the pope. He said her message to the Catholic leader was related to the larger need to improve an immigration system in the United States that separates families. Lola Vargas said she had been gathering money to pay for her Mexican husband's bond but didn't have enough until one of his cousins called, surprised to see the girl on TV, and offered to help. Her husband had gone to Tennessee to look for work in construction and had been sending money to his family in California, she said. Juan Jose Gutierrez, an immigrant advocate who coordinated the trip to Italy, said the archdiocese of Los Angeles helped get the group a key spot so they could speak with Pope Francis amid the crowds. Little Jersey, a chatty and outgoing fourth-grader from Panorama City, arrived in the Vatican Wednesday as part of a delegation from Southern California that traveled to Rome to deliver 1,300 letters to the pope written by children of undocumented immigrants. The advocates were hoping to have a few minutes to speak to the pontiff, but the slender little girl was the only one out of her group to squeeze her way to the front of the crowd. When she finally came face to face with Pope Francis, the 10-year-old burst into tears, telling the leader of the world’s 1.1billion Catholics, ‘My Father is suffering.’ Pontiff's promise: Pope Francis gave Jersey a blessing and promised her to speak to President Obama about U.S. parents facing deportation when he meets him Thursday (pictured) She also gifted the pope with a handkerchief embroided by her mother with the words 'nido de amor,' which means ‘nest of love’ in Spanish. 'That napkin represented my family – my mom and dad – until they got separated. Their nido was destroyed,' the girl revealed to OC Register. In return, the Holy Father gave Jersey a blessing and a kiss on the forehead. 'I told him to pray for my family and to ask the president to stop deportation because it's separating my family,' Vargas told Fox News Latino. Jersey, who is a U.S. citizen, said the pontiff then whispered in her ear that he was going to discuss the deportation issue with Mr Obama. | Jersey Vargas, 10, traveled to Vatican City in 16-person delegation of American children whose immigrant parents are facing deportation . Fourth-grader was only one in her group of speak to Pope Francis face to face, asking him to talk to President Obama about her father . Jersey gave pontiff embroidered handkerchief and in return got a kiss on the forehead and a blessing . Girl's father, Mario Vargas, was released from detention center two days later after relatives posted $5,000 bond . | 91005546b9a011f2d846bd6a073298c69f60b16d |
(CNN) -- An ash cloud from a Chilean volcano is disrupting air travel in Australia and New Zealand once again, airlines said Wednesday. "Volcanic ash from the eruption of the Puyehue Cordon Caulle volcano in Chile continues to cause flight disruptions to the Qantas network," the airline said in a statement. "At Qantas safety is our first priority and a number of flights have been canceled or rerouted to avoid the volcanic ash cloud." Qantas and Jetstar suspended Wednesday flights to and from Queenstown, Christchurch and Wellington. Qantas flights between Sydney and Buenos Aires are delayed. The June 4 eruption of the volcano in the Chilean Andes mountains sent plumes of smoke more than six miles into the air. The ash cloud forced the shutdown of flights in and out of several Australian cities last week. Chile is on the so-called "Ring of Fire," an arc of volcanoes and fault lines circling the Pacific Basic that is prone to frequent earthquakes and volcanic eruptions. | Ash cloud from Chilean volcano is affecting parts of Pacific region . Two airlines cancel some flights between Australia and New Zealand . The June 4 eruption has already impacted air travel . | bcefea1f04bbcd702ad57c62d856bc53e669c54d |
(CNN) -- It's been billed as an astronomical equivalent of the Large Hadron Collider, offering new insights into the formation of the universe and so powerful that it might even detect alien life. The Square Kilometer Array (SKA) is an international effort to build the world's largest radio telescope, one which will probe the dark heart of space shedding new light on dark matter, black holes, stars and galaxies. "It will have a deep impact on the way we perceive our place in the universe and how we understand its history and its future," says Michiel van Haarlem, interim director general of the SKA project. "We know we are going to discover things that we haven't already. It's going to be very exciting," van Haarlem said. Taking its name from the total size of its collecting area, the SKA telescope will consist of 3,000 dish antennas, each one around 15 meters wide. Construction is slated to begin in 2016. Collectively the surface area of all the dishes will amount to one square kilometer -- hence the name -- all combining to detect radio waves that penetrate the Earth's atmosphere, emitted by stars, galaxies and quasars. Two other types of radio receptors -- aperture antennas and array antennas -- will combine with the dishes to provide continuous frequency coverage from 70 MHz to 10 GHz. "It's not like an optical telescope where you see an image of the sky directly. What you do is measure signals from the antennas and process them," van Haarlem says. Around half the antennas will sit in a "central core region" made up of three separate five-kilometer clusters. The remainder will extend out in five carefully aligned "spiral arms" stretching out ever more sparsely over an area in excess of 3,000 kilometers (1,864 miles) or more. The configuration, say scientists, will create the most sensitive radio telescope ever built. Currently, that honor is held by the Very Large Array (VLA) in New Mexico, says Alastair Edge, from Durham University -- a leading UK center for astronomical research. "(VLA has) just undergone a very large refit. Telescopes themselves haven't changed but the computing at the back end has changed dramatically," Edge said. See also: Mapping out a new era in brain research . At the moment, we simply don't have the computing power for the SKA telescope to perform at full tilt, Edge says. Van Haarlem concurs. "We're talking about huge computing hardware that still needs to be developed. There's a big challenge there," he said. Supercomputers capable of performing billions and billions of operations per second will be required, but the results will be spectacular, van Haarlem says. "We will have high-resolution images where we will actually peer into the center of what is going on in galaxies," van Haarlem said. "We will also have the big picture where we can make surveys of vast areas of the sky to map out the large-scale structure of the universe." The project is entering a crucial stage with an announcement on where the array will be based expected imminently. Two locations, one in South Africa's Northern Cape, the other in western Australia, are in the running. Brian Boyle, project director of the Australia/New Zealand bid, extols the virtues of Western Australia's "intrinsic radio quietness" and the "excellent geophysics" of the proposed Australian site. Meanwhile, SKA South Africa project director Bernie Fanaroff says hosting the "world's largest science project" would be extremely important to the country and the continent. "It could carry immense importance for the perception of Africa -- by Africans and by the rest of the world," Fanaroff said. "It has already attracted a lot of young people into science and mathematics in South Africa and from other African countries and it's attracted a lot of top-rate scientists," he added. Recent reports suggest that South Africa is favorite to host the SKA, but van Haarlem wouldn't be drawn on the matter. Wherever the location, the effort to build and operate the SKA will be an international one, with 20 countries and 70 institutions already on board, as well as private backers. And whatever the outcome of the bids, it will be a while before the array is up and running with construction slated to start four years from now and full operation not expected until 2024. The total cost is estimated at €1.5 billion (around $2 billion). But it will be money well spent van Haarlem thinks. "If it only tells us when the first stars and galaxies formed then it would have already contributed a huge amount to our understanding." Alastair Edge agrees. "It is possibly the most complex experiment we could possibly do. It has huge potential for allowing us to determine the distance to every galaxy in our local universe," Edge said. "The Large Hadron Collider produces a certain amount of data per hour. This will produce the same amount of data in the space of a couple of minutes." | The world's largest radio telescope will uncover secrets of the history and future of the universe . Extraterrestrial life may also be detected by Square Kilometer Array telescope . 3,000 dishes will be used in an array which will spread over massive area . South Africa and Australia bidding to host the project which will start construction in 2016 . | 2e06cffc037c50668dc2df9fd691bb804edd6f73 |
London, England (CNN) -- Stepping on the London subway train five years ago, the thirtysomething marketing manager never imagined her morning commute might eventually lead to the Paralympic Games. Now, that's exactly where Britain's Martine Wright is setting her sights. Wright lost both legs when a suicide bomber blew himself up on a subway train near London's Aldgate station on the morning of July 7, 2005. She also suffered a fractured skull and severe arm injuries. Though she was one of the most seriously hurt that day, Wright is now aiming for a spot on the British Paralympic volleyball team in 2012. "I would love, absolutely love, to be part of the Paralympics in 2012," Wright told CNN affiliate ITN last month. "I mean, if you had said that to me five years ago, I would have thought that you were absolutely mad. But to go back to London, where I was born, and to do something so positive -- after I left on such a negative -- would be absolutely amazing." Four bombs were set off that day in July, on three subway trains and a bus. Fifty-six people were killed, including the four bombers, and more than 770 were wounded. The bombings happened the day after the International Olympic Committee announced London would be hosting the Olympic and Paralympic Games in 2012. Wright said she made a promise to herself and her family after the attacks to "grab every single opportunity" that she could. "I think I've done more now than what I did before," she told ITN. "I've learned to fly planes, and I've jumped out of a plane, learned to ski again." She competed for -- and won -- a place on Britain's sitting volleyball squad. The British Volleyball Federation announced her place on the team last month, and this week the team is competing at the 2010 Sitting Volleyball World Championships in the U.S. state of Oklahoma. Some 640 athletes from 20 countries are taking part in the event, the biggest major international competition before London 2012, according to Lisa Wainwright, chief executive of Volleyball England, the sport's national governing body. John Bestebroer, the head coach of the women's team, calls the championships "a great training opportunity for 2012." Sitting volleyball is a version of the sport that allows anyone to participate, including those with a disability. The men's event has been part of the Paralympics since 1980 and the women's since 2004, according to British Volleyball. International volleyball rules apply in the sitting version, with certain amendments for disabled players: During play, a player must touch the court with some body part between the buttocks and the shoulders, and players are allowed to block serves. Also, sitting volleyball is played on a smaller court with a lower net. Wright told London's Evening Standard that the 2012 Games will have an added poignancy because her last real memory before the bombings was celebrating with colleagues when London was chosen to host the Olympics. She was the last person pulled from the station that day, and Wright said she feels she's one of the lucky ones. "Even on your darkest days, there will always be someone that's worse than you are, unfortunately," Wright told ITN. "There were 52 people that day who were definitely worse than me, 'cause I'm still here." | The July 7 bombings in 2005 killed 56 people, including four suicide bombers . Martine Wright lost both legs and suffered severe arm injuries following blast on a subway train . Wright is now aiming for a spot on the British Paralympic volleyball team in 2012 . Bombings came one day after London was announced as the host for the 2012 Paralympic Games . | 0a03ba4e2d247acacfddd4e53270a008b5c1fff0 |
Some of the world's greatest players will be in Brazil and match-winners will be plentiful. Jamie Redknapp picks his 10 to watch at the World Cup. HE must be hurting with people saying he’s not the best player in the world anymore. I’ve never seen him walk around the pitch as much as this season at Barcelona — he needs to up his tempo. If he does, he can do what Maradona did and win the tournament for his country. Rumour has it he’s been saving himself for this — let’s hope it’s true. Up the tempo: Rumour has it Lionel Messi has been saving himself for the World Cup - he must deliver . I was unsure about the Brazil star for a while, but he had a fantastic Confederations Cup last summer, devastatingly good. There is more pressure on him than any other player at the World Cup: he’s the pin-up, the home talent, the hope of a nation. It’s not a vintage Brazil side but he is the one man who can produce a moment of genius. Pin-up: There is a lot of pressure on Neymar and he will hope to repeat his Confederations Cup displays . The player of the year’s confidence will be sky high after winning the Champions League. If he catches fire, Portugal have half a chance of doing very well. The Real Madrid forward can score any way — left foot, right foot, headers and free kicks — and is backed up by an organised Portugal side that is used to the heat. Sky-high confidence: And if Cristiano Ronaldo catches fire, Portugal could do very well . Yes, he dives but Robben has so much ability and skill. Louis van Gaal wants to play him centrally instead of on the wing and he could thrive there. Good players need to be in the game, not peripheral figures on the wing. Playing in the middle will allow him to produce more magic. Central figure: Holland might play Arjen Robben through the middle so he can influence games . If he’s fit, he will terrorise England and anybody he plays against. He’s an absolute phenomenon who is capable of doing things no-one else can. It will be a real shame if he’s not quite right as the World Cup needs him on fire. But I’ve had knee operations and know it can take a while to feel 100 per cent. Phenomenon: The World Cup needs a fit-and-firing Luis Suarez, who is capable of doing outrageous things . I love watching him. He makes Spain tick with his ability to outpass or outdribble his opponent from midfield. Manipulates the ball so well, seeing a different game to everybody else. Is a step ahead of everyone. If Diego Costa is fit and Iniesta can feed him, Spain will be so dangerous again. The manipulator: Andres Iniesta makes Spain tick and will be the main supply line to Diego Costa . I was never a fan of his at Manchester City because he was poison in the dressing room. In some ways, I’m not sure why I’m picking him on this list. But the AC Milan striker is still box office and you never know what he is going to do. His pace and power will cause trouble for England’s defenders and Phil Jagielka and Gary Cahill will be hoping he is not in the starting XI. Was Italy’s star when they reached the Euro 2012 final and will either destroy his own team or the opposition. Watch this space. Pace and power: Mario Balotell is capable of destroying opponents... and his own side . He is either going to set the tournament alight or get dropped. This is the biggest tournament of his England career. Rooney has never scored at a World Cup and that’s not good enough for a man of his ability. He can produce the magic England will need to get out of such a tough group. No middle ground: Wayne Rooney will either set the World Cup alight or be dropped by England . Croatia have got lots of good technical players, but Rakitic is the best of the bunch. A skilful playmaker, he dribbles well and was hugely impressive in the Europa League final for Sevilla. He will surprise people in Brazil and could earn himself a big move after the World Cup. Best of the bunch: Playmaker Ivan Rakitic is Croatia's star and may surprise some people in Brazil . Hazard started the season looking like a world beater and ended it fading away and falling out with Jose Mourinho. The Chelsea playmaker needs to bounce back and inspire this very exciting Belgium team. He has the ability to go from standing still to sprinting in the blink of an eye, which makes him horrible to play against. One criticism would be that he needs to add more goals to his game — he only managed one from open play in his last 16 games of the season. Now is a good time to start. Bounce back: Eden Hazard was brilliant at the start of last season but faded away towards the end . Lionel Messi (Argentina)......................7/1 . Neymar (Brazil)......................................12/1 . Sergio Aguero (Argentina)................14/1 . Cristiano Ronaldo (Portugal)................14/1 . Fred (Brazil)..........................................20/1 . Luis Suarez (Uruguay)...........................22/1 . Gonzalo Higuain (Argentina)............22/1 . Diego Costa (Spain)...............................25/1 . Jo (Brazil).............................................28/1 . Thomas Muller (Germany)...................28/1 . Robin van Persie (Holland)................33/1 . Romelu Lukaku (Belgium)....................33/1 . AND WHAT ABOUT THE ENGLAND BOYS? Wayne Rooney.....................................40/1 . Daniel Sturridge...................................66/1 . Steven Gerrard..................................200/1 . | Wayne Rooney and Mario Balotelli will either be brilliant or a disaster . Luis Suarez could be phenomenal if he is 100% fit . Arjen Robben, Eden Hazard and Andres Iniesta complete the list . | 52c11d5a2537d35cc98ed2ba8e577ef8ecf81416 |
Brussels, Belgium (CNN) -- The United States is prepared for "any contingency" when it comes to dealing with North Korea, Secretary of Defense Leon Panetta told CNN. "We're within an inch of war almost every day in that part of the world, and we just have to be very careful about what we say and what we do," Panetta said Wednesday on "The Situation Room with Wolf Blitzer." During a wide-ranging interview at NATO headquarters in Brussels, Panetta and Secretary of State Hillary Clinton talked about Syria, the Secret Service and North Korea. The two were in Belgium for meetings to prepare for a NATO summit in Chicago next month. Panetta's assessment of North Korea followed last week's launch by Pyongyang of a long-range rocket. Despite the failure of the launch -- with the rocket breaking apart 81 seconds after liftoff, it drew condemnation from the United States and countries in the region. When asked whether the threat posed by North Korea kept him awake at night, Panetta said: "Unfortunately these days, there's a hell of a lot that keeps me awake. But that's one that tops the list." Since the failed rocket launch, there has been speculation that North Korea would carry out a nuclear test -- something it did before following a failed rocket launch. Panetta said a nuclear test would be considered a provocation and "worsen our relationship," though he refused to discuss specific action the United States would take in response. International leaders had urged North Korea to cancel the launch, but Pyongyang refused to back down, insisting the operation is for peaceful purposes. North Korea said the rocket was designed to carry an observation satellite, though the United States, South Korea and Japan said it was a cover for a long-range ballistic missile test. The use of ballistic missile technology is a violation of U.N. Security Council Resolution 1874. Kim Jong Un, the grandson of Kim Il Sung, became the new head of the secretive regime in December, following the death of his father, Kim Jong Il. The leadership transition has added to uncertainties about Pyongyang's intentions. "We really are waiting and watching to see whether he can be the kind of leader the North Korean people need. If he just follows in the footsteps of his father, we don't expect much other than the kind of provocative behavior and the deep failure of the political and economic elite to take care of their own people," Clinton said. Clinton said it was too early to determine if there was a prospect for a shift in relations on the Korean peninsula with the younger Kim, who lived outside of North Korea for a time. "We believe that he may have some hope that the conditions in North Korea can change. But again, we'll watch and wait," Clinton said. "He gave a speech the other day that was analyzed as being some of the same old stuff and some possible new approach. " As a result of the launch, the United States has suspended an agreement reached in February to provide food aid to North Korea. North Korea has been plagued by famine for years and unable to feed its 25 million people. The country lost a million people to famine in the 1990s. A report last year by aid agencies, who were invited to North Korea, found that the food shortage was so severe that North Koreans were being forced to forage for wild grasses and herbs. "The United States, as you know, was willing to try to reach out to him, which we did," Clinton said. "We had several high-level meetings. We agreed to provide some food aid in return for their ending some of their uranium enrichment and missile development, and they do what has been already termed by Leon (Panetta) and the rest of the world as a provocative action. "It's hard for us to tell right now, is this the way it will be with this new leader or does he feel like he has to earn his own credibility in order to have a new path for North Korea?" North Korea had drawn world attention with the announcement of the launch, which came during a two-day nuclear summit in South Korea that brought together leaders from the United States, Russia, China and dozens. The launch also coincided with celebrations surrounding the 100th anniversary of the birth of its late founding leader, Kim Il Sung. The regime had invited international journalists and space experts to view the launch pad and the satellite, and called the effort "an inspiring deed and an event of historic significance." The last time Pyongyang carried out what it described as a satellite launch, in April 2009, the U.N. Security Council condemned the action and demanded that it not be repeated. When asked about recent comments made by Republican presidential hopeful Mitt Romney who said North Korea's rocket launch highlights the "incompetence" of the Obama administration, Panetta said: "It's pretty clear that this administration took a firm stand." "The fact is it was provocative, and we have made it very clear to them they should not taken any additional, provocative actions," Panetta said. "I think that was a clear, strong message that not only our country, but the world sent to North Korea. That's the way, frankly, that United States ought to behave." On the unrest in Syria, Clinton said it was a "long shot" that Russia and China would change their position and allow for a U.N. Security Council resolution that calls for an end to the violence and a transition of power. Russia and China have previously vetoed resolutions condemning the violence in Syria. "There doesn't seem to be any willingness on their part to go further than where we are right now. But this is a fast-changing situation," Clinton said. There are a number of countries concerned about what will happen if Syria descends into a civil war or cause a regional conflict, she said. "I don't think we're half way through this story yet," Clinton said. On the alleged misconduct involving prostitutes by Secret Service agents and military personnel in Cartagena, Columbia, Panetta called allegations "disturbing." "The reason it was disturbing is that whether it takes place in Colombia or any other country or in the United States, expect that our people behave according to the highest standards of conduct," Panetta said. "That obviously didn't happen here. As a result we're investigating the matter, and as a result of that investigation we'll hold these people accountable." CNN's Chelsea J. Carter contributed to this report. | Hillary Clinton and Leon Panetta sit for a joint interview at NATO in Brussels . Panetta says a nuclear test by North Korea would be a provocation . He refused to discuss what specific action the U.S. would take against North Korea . Clinton says it was too early to know if Kim Jong Un will follow the lead of his late father . | 18786a71ad5ff96d6773bd41f734c79b3a136078 |
Cristiano Ronaldo goes in search of the all-time European Cup goalscoring record in Bulgaria’s Vasil Levski stadium on Wednesday with coach Carlo Ancelotti admitting: 'He is the best player I have ever coached.' The words of praise came with Ronaldo just three goals from Raul’s Champions League scoring record of 71. The man Manchester United fans tried to tempt back with a 20ft banner and a light aircraft at the weekend has 68 Champions League goals and is homing in on the former Real Madrid captain’s haul. Real Madrid superstar Cristiano Ronaldo is closing in on Raul's European goalscoring record . Former Manchester United ace Ronaldo is currently three goals behind former Real Madrid striker Raul . 1. Raul - 71 goals . 2. Cristiano Ronaldo - 68 . 2= Lionel Messi - 68 . 4. Ruud van Nistelrooy - 56 . 5. Thierry Henry - 50 . 6. Alfredo Di Stefano - 49 . 7. Andriy Shevchenko - 48 . 8. Eusebio - 46 . 8= Filippo Inzaghi - 46 . 10. Didier Drogba - 42 . For mere mortals the gap might be too big to bridge in one match but having already scored 25 hat-tricks in his career Ronaldo has a chance to equal that other famous Madrid No 7 on Wednesday night. Messi is also chasing down the record and drew level with his footballing nemesis after scoring against Paris Saint-Germain on Tuesday. Ronaldo overtook Messi last season scoring 17 goals in 11 games in Real’s Champions League-winning campaign, including a penalty in the final. He has scored 53 goals in 52 games in Europe for Madrid, vastly improving his average at United. Ancelotti joked before the game. 'His greater strike rate is all down to me playing him in a position where he can score more goals he knows that.' At the weekend Ronaldo made a mockery of the idea that he might be slowing down as he approaches his 30th birthday by breaking the 20mph barrier in his run that led to Real's second goal on Saturday. Madrid doctors believe he is back operating at the same speeds as before the injury problems that marred his end to last season and also inhibited him during the World Cup. He has had difficulties with his left knee and his left hamstring and he has already missed one game this season – Real Madrid’s away defeat by Real Sociedad. But the sprint against Villarreal seems to suggest he is back to his explosive best. Carlo Ancelotti has said Ronaldo is the best player he has ever coached during his managerial career . Barcelona's Lionel Messi has also scored 68 goals in Europe after he netted against Paris Saint-Germain . It’s not the first time this season he has shown his athletic prowess – he leapt to over 2.6 metres for the headed goal he scored in Real Madrid’s 8-2 win over Deportivo recently. It’s little wonder United fans keen on his return don’t seem too worried about the fact that he will turn 30 next February. His goal at the weekend meant he had reached 10 goals in a league season earlier than any player in the club’s history and faster than anyone in La Liga since Pahinho for Deportivo in 1954. Madrid’s opponents Ludogorets nearly took a point from Liverpool in their opening group game and play their first home match in the Champions League. They do so without genuine home advantage, however, because their 6,100 capacity Ludogorets Arena does not meet UEFA’s minimum requirements and so they must play 324 km away in the national stadium in Sofia. Around 5,000 fans will make the five-hour trip to watch their team and many of the the remaining 40,000 tickets have been snapped up by Bulgarian supporters in the capital as anxious to see Ronaldo as they are to see how Ludogorets fare. Ronaldo, here scoring against Atletico in the 2014 Champions League final, has won two European Cups . VIDEO All Star XI: Ronaldo highlights . | Cristiano Ronaldo scored a hat-trick for Real Madrid in their win over Athletico Bilbao . The Portuguese star is three goals behind former Real Madrid ace Raul . Cristiano Ronaldo is in line to start against Bulgarian outfit Ludogorets . Barcelona's Lionel Messi, like Ronaldo, has scored 68 goals in Europe . Carlo Ancelotti has heaped high praise on Ronaldo by stating he is the best player he has ever coached . | 54c0c38191a5e77fcc278f50962ccb9a822dc667 |
By . Alex Greig . PUBLISHED: . 14:54 EST, 13 October 2013 . | . UPDATED: . 01:55 EST, 14 October 2013 . Law enforcement officials in Maine have said they will review a complaint filed by PETA about a local lobster and crab processing plant after the organization took a secret video of plant workers. The footage was made by a PETA member who obtained full-time employment at the plant and wore a hidden camera to film its processes. Plant owner Linda Bean, of iconic retailer L.L. Bean fame, says her company Linda Bean's Maine Lobster meets or exceeds all industry and government regulations or standards. SCROLL DOWN FOR VIDEO . Decapitated: A worker impales a lobster on a spike by its head and pull the body off while the creature is alive . Seeing orange: Maine Lobster owner Linda Bean says PETA's claims against her are unfounded . Denial: Linda Bean says her factory's practice of ripping the claws and head off live lobsters and grinding live crabs' organs off isn't cruel . District Attorney Geoffrey Rushlau says that in Maine, animal cruelty covers all sentient beings. The Merriam-Webster online dictionary defines sentient as 'responsive to or conscious of sense impressions.' Linda Bean's attorney Stephen Hayes told the Bangor Daily News that he does not consider lobsters to be sentient beings. PETA held a news conference on Tuesday to unveil the video of what they claim is cruel and inhumane treatment of lobsters and crabs in Portland. Clean break: The Linda Bean Maine Lobster worker pulls the body apart from the head as the lobster desperately moves its legs . Standard practice: The lobster's valuable claws are torn off before its head is removed . The video shows a Linda Bean's Maine Lobster worker showing the PETA operative the ropes. First up, he shows how to prepare live lobsters by ripping their claws off then tearing off the head. 'They're a little feisty. They're very alive. Uh, so you just rip off their claw, like I said,' he says, pulling off the live lobster's claws. 'And just shove it in straight,' he demonstrates, removing the creature's head by impaling it on a blade and tearing off the body. 'Rip off their skull.' 'Even a lobster, after you rip their claws and their tails off... they'll crawl across the floor and everything,' he says. 'And they don't die right away. I mean, they'll live for hours.' The bodies are thrown in a heap. At one point, one man jumps up and down on the bin of still-moving lobsters. Animal advocate: Dan Paden of PETA told reporters about the organization's discoveries on Tuesday in Portland (shown here at a previous PETA event) Sentient: Whether or not a lobster is conscious and can feel pain is a question before the District Attorney . Next, a worker demonstrates how to process live crabs. The live crabs' shells are struck or torn off. Their exposed organs are then pushed against spinning blade to remove them. 'Right where the mouth is, they come down on that spike,' says the worker, repeatedly smashing the live crab against the spike, pulling off the crab's shell then holding it against a spinning wheel as its legs still move. 'Get both sides and, like, find the guts inside,' he says, spinning off the creature's innards. 'See how they're still walking around?' he says, throwing the crab on a conveyerbelt. 'They're alive after you rip their things off?' asks the PETA operative. 'Yep,' comes the reply, adding that the crabs remain alive 'until they hit the boiling water,' and laughing. Mutilated: Live crabs are bashed on a spike to remove their shell, then their organs are ground off on a spinning wheel . The mutilated crabs are then boiled alive. Bean's attorney says that PETA's demands for more humane ways of killing lobsters is hypocritical, since the organization's aim is to stop all animals being used for food. The Maine Department of Marine Resources and the Maine Lobstermen’s Association also have criticized PETA’s attack on Bean’s processing plant. Rushlau told the Bangor Daily News that he will review the case further before deciding whether or not to take action. | An undercover PETA operative made a video of processes at Linda Bean's Maine lobster plant . The video shows live lobsters having their heads and claws torn off . Also filmed is cruel treatment of live crabs, which have their organs ground off on a wheel . Law enforcement officials are reviewing PETA's complaint . | 530f1b0d97366f2f06bd44bb4bd5609cbee4810a |
In a recent opinion piece published in Uganda's New Vision newspaper, president Yower Museveni argued that the country's Tourism Promotion Board does little to market the country properly. According to Museveni, the east African nation is a 'better destination' than Spain for holidaymakers, but because of poor promotion, visitors are simply unaware. The tourism board, he writes, only promotes Uganda as having 'some chimpanzees and so on.' Ugandan president Yower Museveni wrote opinion piece for New Vision newspaper arguing that the Tourism Promotion Board does not market the country properly. Pictured: Sipi Falls in Mount Elgon . 'The biggest problem with tourism is poor promotion,' the president (pictured) wrote in his opinion piece . In his piece, Museveni even goes so far as to say that Uganda's Tourism Board should be renamed the 'tourism suppression board'. 'The biggest problem with tourism is poor promotion,' he wrote. 'In Europe, people go to the Mediterranean coast. 'I visited Spain, it is very hot and humid in the summer. 'I think Uganda would be a better destination than some of those destinations.' According to Museveni, Spain is too hot and humid in the summer - and Uganda would be a much better . He further argued that Uganda was 'a good place on globe where you go and have a nice life'. 'We are right on the Equator but because of the high altitude, we have snow-capped mountains, but even when there is no snow, the climate is very mild - very good for the human beings.' Earlier in November, Museveni made similar remarks while opening the 39th World Congress of the African Travel Association. During the conference, the president called many parts of Africa - such as its tropical forests, lakes, rivers and snow-capped mountains - miracles and, as such, great tourist attractions. He also called upon tourists to take advantage of Africa's beautiful climate. 'The climate is very mild,' he insists. 'Very good for human beings.' Pictured: Kidepo Valley National Park . Though the president also insisted that peace is prevailing in most part of Africa, and that 'pockets' of conflict and strange diseases cannot severely affect the tourism industry, The Foreign and Commonwealth Office (FCO) advise against all travel to the region of north eastern Uganda with the exception of trips to Kidepo Valley National Park. Visitors are warned about the high threat from terrorism in the country, however, it seems that the Ebola outbreak has been confined to the other side of the continent. Three specific cases of the outbreak have been contained by the country and Uganda has likewise contained two outbreaks of the Marbug virus, which the president also highlighted in his opinion piece. | Argued for better tourism promotion in New Vision newspaper op-ed . Condemned tourism board, calling it the 'tourism suppression board' Insists that Uganda is a 'better destination' than countries like Spain . | 3f63d4d8c2a5d736f693880e5fadbb243a7b7d21 |
(CNN) -- Two children -- who were among five in a suburban Atlanta house without any adults -- died and another is in critical condition after their home went up in flames, a fire department spokesman said Saturday. Firefighters arriving shortly after 11 p.m. Friday found three of four sides of a Decatur, Georgia, home on fire, according to DeKalb County Fire and Rescue spokesman Eric L. Jackson. "Crews kicked in the door and were met with heavy smoke," he said. Two children managed to get outside on their own, but the other three were inside the house when firefighters arrived. Firefighters found them fairly quickly, taking them outside to treat them, Jackson said. A third child was later located farther inside the house. "They were bringing the kids out and that's it," neighbor Shantel Ammamoo told CNN affiliate WSB. "They were gone." The fire department spokesman said that a 3-year-old and 4-year-old died as a result of the fire. A 10-year-old was in critical condition Saturday morning at Atlanta's Egleston children's hospital. The pair who got out on their own -- ages 4 and 9 -- are "doing pretty good," according to Jackson. As to the house, the fire spokesman called it a total loss. The fire department spokesman said that the children's mother went to the hospital, located about six miles away, but neither she nor any other adult was home when the blaze broke out. Jackson said that local police are involved in the case, and that "charges are forthcoming." He didn't specify what these charges might be, or who they might face them. | NEW: Neighbor: "They were bringing out the kids and ... they were gone" A 3-year-old and 4-year-old die due to the fire; a 10-year-old is in critical condition . Two children who got outside are "doing pretty good," according to fire spokesman . "Charges are forthcoming" in relation to the blaze, the Georgia fire spokesman says . | f19281158eef45a4e7b76466df2a00da02812a63 |
(CNN) -- Former U.S. Surgeon General Joycelyn Elders told CNN Sunday she supports legalizing marijuana. The trend-setting state of California is voting next month on a ballot initiative to legalize pot, also known as Proposition 19. The measure would legalize recreational use in the state, though federal officials have said they would continue to enforce drug laws in California if the initiative is approved. "What I think is horrible about all of this, is that we criminalize young people. And we use so many of our excellent resources ... for things that aren't really causing any problems," said Elders. "It's not a toxic substance." Supporters of California's Prop. 19 say it would raise revenue and cut the cost of enforcement, while opponents point to drug's harmful side-effects. U.S. Attorney General Eric Holder said in a letter, obtained by CNN Friday, that federal agents would continue to enforce federal marijuana laws and warned Prop. 19, if passed, would be a major stumbling block to federal partnerships between state and local authorities around drug enforcement. His letter was a response to an August letter from several former directors of the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration urging the White House to block Prop. 19 if it's approved next month. Elders stressed the drug is not physically addictive and pointed to the damaging impact of alcohol, which is legal. "We have the highest number of people in the world being criminalized, many for non-violent crimes related to marijuana," said Elders. "We can use our resources so much better." | Joycelyn Elders tells CNN resources can be better spent . She says the drug's illegality is criminalizing young people . "It's not a toxic substance," she says . California's Proposition 19 would legalize marijuana use in the state . | e12743c8b16737ea93b095629ff6f6eb57690edf |
By . Daily Mail Reporter . BT Sport has sent shockwaves through the football world by outbidding Sky and ITV to secure exclusive rights to broadcast top European matches. The telecommunications giant has agreed a stunning £299million a season, three-year deal to show all 350 Champions League and Europa League games from 2015/16. It represents a staggering coup for the fledgling channel - which only launched in August this year - to have beaten off Sky, which has dominated the live football landscape in Britain for more two decades, while ITV has broadcast the Champions League since 1992. Mega deal: BT Sport has blown its rivals out of the water with a staggering £900m deal to show Champions League football . End of an era: ITV - originally with Bob Wilson anchoring the show - have shown the Champions League live since its creation in 1992 . It means that, for the first time, fans will have to pay to watch European matches, which have always been shown on terrestrial television. Although BT Sport says it will make a handful of matches available for free, including the finals of both competitions, supporters will have to buy BT broadband or pay a subscription to watch through their Sky box. Making some matches free will appeal to sponsors, which was ITV's main trumpcard in its relationship with Europe's football governing body, Uefa. Gavin Patterson, BT chief executive, said: 'I am thrilled that BT Sport will be the only place where fans can enjoy all the live action from the Uefa Champions League and Uefa Europa League. 'Both tournaments are world class and firm favourites with many. The live rights will give a major boost to BT Sport and give people yet another reason to take our terrific service.' Overpriced: TV rivals Sky said the company has overpaid for the rights . The BT channels are also showing live FA Cup games and live football from the top leagues in Germany, Italy, France and Scotland plus the FA Women's Super League. Away from football, there will also be rugby union and women's tennis, plus MotoGP coverage from next year. Mr Patterson added: 'BT Sport has got off to a strong start with customers enjoying what we have to offer. We have attracted millions of customers by giving sport back to the fans, and we can assure people who want to catch all the action, that European football will be far more accessible and affordable with BT.' Sky, which is thought to have nearly matched BT's bid, said its rival had paid 'far in excess' of its own valuation for the rights to the European matches. A statement from Sky read: 'We bid with a clear view of what the rights are worth to us. It seems BT chose to pay far in excess of our valuation. 'There are many ways in which we can invest in our service for customers. We take a disciplined approach and there is always a level at which we will choose to focus on something else. If we thought it was worth more, we'd have paid more. 'Nothing changes until 2015 and we look forward to 18 more months of live Champions League on Sky Sports. We will now re-deploy resources and continue to bring customers the best choice of TV across our offering.' | Fledgling channel sends shockwaves through football world with deal . Three-year agreement will see it broadcast 350 European games a season . It means there will be no Champions League on terrestrial TV for first time . Fans will have to join BT broadband or pay monthly subscription . Channel will show handful of games for free, including the final . | 4366f889db7c5a4b76ada132e37d8ee74c4147f7 |
Many of the ads included quotes from 'expert European doctors' who endorsed Lysol as a contraceptive . By . Margot Peppers . It may sound unbelievable now, but there was a time when douching with Lysol was the most popular form of contraceptive. Despite the fact that the antiseptic soap was ineffective and sometimes caused vaginal burns, inflammation and even death, ads in the Twenties and Thirties continually pushed it as a safe and gentle method of birth control, even up until the Fifties. One such ad describes Lysol as 'the perfect antiseptic for marriage hygiene,' claiming: 'The fact that it is used as an . antiseptic in childbirth is evidence that it is safe and mild enough for . even the most sensitive female membranes.' How times have changed: It may sound unbelievable now, but there was a time when douching with Lysol was the most popular form of contraceptive, aggressively marketed as 'safe' and 'mild' The method is also alluded to in an episode of Boardwalk Empire in which Nucky's mistress Margaret Schroeder is seen concealing a pregnancy prevention kit. Today, of course, a bottle of Lysol - which is commonly used as a toilet cleaner and disinfectant - comes with warnings on the label that read 'flammable' and 'for external use only'. But in the days when contraception and abortion were illegal and seen as deplorable, Lysol was viewed as a cheap and easy solution which could be purchased over the counter. The Lysol of the Twenties and Thirties contained much more potent ingredients than the Lysol of today, with chemicals that caused irritation and burning. According to Andrea Tone's 2001 book Devices and Desires: A History of Contraceptives in America, it was completely ineffective as a contraceptive. Convenient: In the days when contraception and abortion were illegal, Lysol was viewed as a cheap and easy post-coital solution which could be purchased over the counter . Deadly concoction: Not only was the antiseptic soap an ineffective form of birth control, but it was also harmful and sometimes caused vaginal burns, inflammation and even death . In fact, in a 1933 study, nearly half of the 507 participants who used Lysol as a form of birth control ended up falling pregnant. 'Manufacturers would use euphemisms to refer to birth control. They took advantage of consumers' hopes' What's more, according to MotherJones.com, by 1911 doctors had recorded 193 poisonings caused by Lysol and five deaths from uterine irrigation. Still, advertisers continued to encourage its use, aggressively marketing it as gentle and safe and using the terms 'marriage hygiene' and 'feminine hygiene' as euphemisms. One of the ads from that era calls Lysol a 'certain' way to 'destroy germs in the presence of organic matter.' Fraudulent: Advertisers used the terms 'marriage hygiene' and 'feminine hygiene' as euphemisms and quoted 'expert doctors' endorsing Lysol who did not even exist . The ad continues: 'For years Lysol has been the choice of hospitals and clinics, for every surgical purpose, even in the delicate operations attending childbirth.' It concludes with a doctor's endorsement of the antiseptic: 'I prescribe its regular use in marriage hygiene for the health and peace of mind of every wife.' Later investigation by the American Medical Association found that the many European doctors quoted as experts in these ads did not even exist. Firmly in the past: Douching with Lysol (pictured in its modern form) was the most common form of birth control until 1960, when the oral contraceptive pill was introduced on the market . 'The fraud of the Lysol douche was a byproduct of illegality,' Dr Tone writes in her book. 'Because birth control couldn't be advertised openly, manufacturers would use euphemisms to refer to birth control. They took advantage of consumers' hopes.' Douching with Lysol was the most common form of birth control until 1960, when the oral contraceptive pill was introduced on the market. | Many of the ads included quotes from 'expert European doctors' who endorsed Lysol as a contraceptive . Later investigation by the American Medical Association found that these doctors did not exist . | ce9f374a46931231884bf6bc84749e2e9500c494 |
New York (CNN) -- A "pocket dial" mistake can result in an unwanted phone call, annoying for the recipient and potentially embarrassing to the caller. But a new study found a staggering number of those apparently accidental calls in New York City are made to emergency responders, jamming up 911 lines in a city that has prided itself on its ability to respond in a crisis. Nearly 4 million of those calls were made to the city's emergency call centers in 2010, according to a recent Winbourne Consulting report, commissioned by the city after a massive blizzard delayed first responders and left Mayor Michael Bloomberg open to criticism. That's more than one-third of some 11 million emergency calls made in New York each year, the study found, which was released Friday. Those calls were 19 seconds or less. Authorities determined that they were likely accidental and say unnecessary communications add an increased burden on emergency response systems. "The increased proliferation of cellular telephones has caused a dramatic increase in the number of accidental 911 calls made," the report said. In 2011, the Federal Communications Commission issued a report estimating that 70% of all 911 calls -- intentional or mistaken -- were made from wireless devices. The consulting firm recommended implementing a citywide information campaign to alert the public of the issue and to streamline systems between the police and fire departments, among other recommendations. | Nearly 4 million apparently accidental calls were made to emergency call centers in 2010 . That's more than one-third of some 11 million emergency calls made in New York each year . Authorities say it is an increased burden on emergency response systems . | 0bbd3201cd1f7e96283f9eca1caa04e2c959cc26 |
By . Daily Mail Reporter . and Associated Press . PUBLISHED: . 14:50 EST, 17 July 2013 . | . UPDATED: . 15:41 EST, 17 July 2013 . The South Beach, Florida, mansion once owned by Italian designer Gianni Versace - and the place he was fatally shot - is headed for the auction block. The extravagant ten-bedroom home, known as Casa Casuarina, was originally built in 1930 and features a 54-foot long mosaic pool . lined with 24-karat gold, numerous frescos, ornate . statues, arched doorways and an open air courtyard. Fisher Auction Company is handling the sale, which is scheduled for September 17. Scroll down for video . Sold! Gianni Versace's former home in South Beach, known by most as Casa Casuarina, was sold at auction today to the firm behind fashion label Jordache for $41.5million . Design marvel: Though the designer behind Villa by Barton G, refurbished the 23,000 square foot space, the style is very much in keeping with the lavish tastes of its former owner . Palatial: Peter Loftin, a telecom entrepreneur, bought the mansion in 2000 and resided there before its conversion into a boutique hotel in 2009 . The 23,000-square-foot mansion had . previously been listed for $125million, before the price was slashed in . November to $100million, and again in May to $75million. In 1997, the 50-year-old Versace was . killed in front of the property by a man who later committed suicide. Tourists can still routinely be spotted taking photos in front of the . house. The property had been operating as a ten-room boutique hotel but had closed. The . house - whose most recent owner was telecoms magnate Peter Loftin - had . its asking price cut by $50million after failing to find a buyer for . more than a year. He initially asked $125million for . the property, making it the most expensive house on the market when it . was first put up for sale a year ago. Bargain! The mansion had previously been listed for $125million, before the price was slashed in November to $100million, and again in May to $75million. Its last asking price before auction was $50million . Expansion: The home was totally remodelled by Versace himself after he fell in love with the property . Unique: There are not many homes as utterly lavish as the house where Versace lived until his death . Pool: But only an extravagant multi-millionaire could afford to buy the Miami Beach mansion . Dark past: It was outside this house where legendary designer Versace was killed by a lone gunman . But in November he was forced to take $25million off the asking price, and he then lowered it by another $25million six months later. Mr . Loftin bought the luxury mansion in 2000, three years after Versace's . murder, and converted the residence into a boutique hotel and private . club in 2009. Those who have toured the incredible . property maintain that the once gold-lined swimming pool and museum quality . frescoes are just a few of the lavish features that contribute to the . hefty price tag. In fact, such is its value, property experts refer to the luxurious villa as a 'trophy property'. Boutique: The Versace motif remains on the floor of one of the hotel suites, a tribute to the designer who spent $33million renovating and expanding the property after he bought it in 1992 . Prints and patterns: The villa was originally built in the 1930s by architect Alden Freeman as an homage to the oldest existing house in the western hemisphere in Santo Domingo . Lavish: The hotel still features the murals and frescoes painted on the walls and ceilings by Mr Versace, a detail that contributes to the hefty price tag . Ocean view: Villa by Barton G looks out onto the Atlantic from its Miami Beach location, an exclusive section of the South Beach strip . A step in the wrong direction: Mr Versace was tragically killed at the entrance to Casa Casuarina in 1997 by Andrew Cunanan who committed suicide shortly after . The now legendary Italian designer . bought Casa Casuarina in 1992 for just under $10million after supposedly passing by and falling in love with it. Originally built in the 1930s by architect Alden Freeman, the Miami Beach property was somewhat dilapidated until Versace invested $33million into restoring and improving it. Once an architect himself, the . flamboyant designer added a 6,100-square-foot south wing and a 54-foot pool . lined with 24 karat gold. Illuminating: A skylight brightens up the original interior designed by Gianni Versace in the famously ornate home that he bought in 1992 after falling in love with the property . Grandeur: The couturier added a 6,100-square-foot south wing to the property and covered the courtyard in thousands upon thousands of individual mosaic tiles . Guest suite? The property cost Mr Versace $10million and though he plugged $33million of his own money into its renovation, after his death his family made a quick sale for only $20million to its most recent owner . Residential palace: The one-acre property features ten bedrooms, 11 bathrooms, seven fireplaces, a garage for 12 cars and a guesthouse . The impressive courtyard he covered in thousands upon thousands of individual mosaic tiles while elaborate . frescoes were painted across the property's walls and ceilings. Icon: Missed by the fashion world, the late Gianni Versace was once an architect . Indeed it was Versace's pride . and joy until the fateful June day of 1997 when Andrew Cunanan . assassinated him in cold blood on the very steps of the house. When Donatella Versace scrambled to sell . off the designer's assets, Mr Loftin gained from a quick bargain and . bought the villa for a cool $20million. After residing there himself for a . number of years, he turned the opulent property into a boutique hotel. The property is now known as Villa . by Barton G after the events impresario Barton G Weiss who renovated and re-styled it . Nowadays, according to the hotel's website, the decor 'takes up style where fashion designer Gianni Versace left off.' Boasting 23,400 square feet, the ornate . house includes seven fireplaces, a guest house and a parking garage . large enough for a dozen cars, and all within a one acre plot. For the past three years hotel guests have enjoyed the surrounding attractions of Miami's historic Art Deco district while re-energizing from the day poolside or in one of two of the residence's lounges. WATCH: World's most expensive homes - Casa Casuarina . | Casa Casuarina in Miami had not found a buyer since going on the market . Asking price of mansion was cut from $125million to $75million over a year . The ten-bedroom home is going up for auction on September 17 . | 0e0d27e04adda776ee995712f6810d0f4dc94c51 |
It starts with a tweet. The recruit has been slowly and carefully chosen from his local community -- perhaps at a mosque, or gym, or cafe -- by an al Qaeda recruiter, aiming to send a Westerner to fight alongside radicals in Syria. According to a defector from the ranks of the Islamic State in Iraq and Syria (ISIS) -- whose stronghold in the Syrian town of Raqqa punishes smokers and insists women wear a veil -- the jihadist group runs a series of internet welcome chat groups to begin the process of indoctrinating and filtering potential recruits from outside Syria. The defector agreed to an interview with CNN but wanted to hide his identity, but his story was ratified by a witness and his extensive knowledge of life inside Syria under the ISIS. He fled Syria when two of his relatives were killed in the violence, and is now hiding in Turkey. He said that European recruits were more sought after and treated in a different class by the recruiters. "There was special treatment for the Europeans," he says. "One British guy said he was called Ibrahim, then told me he was from Manchester. One asked my emir [his unit's head] if he should fight in his own country, or come to Syria. He was told if God doesn't give you martyrdom in Syria, then he could wage war in his own country." Western officials have told CNN they are deeply concerned at not only the growing numbers of Western passport holders who have traveled to Syria to fight, but also the potential for more and more of these radicals to return to the West and continue that jihad through acts of domestic terrorism. Hundreds of British and French citizens have traveled to Syria, according to multiple official estimates, and several have returned. A Briton was recently convicted of terror offenses after spending time inside Syria with radical groups. U.S. officials have become increasingly concerned about American passport holders attempting the same, and anxieties have been amplified by the U.S. State Department confirming that Moner Mohammad Abu-Salha, from Florida, became the first American citizen to die as a suicide bomber in Syria last month. Recruiters are the gateway from the West to ISIS. The first contact is made over Twitter, when the recruit might send a message to ISIS's Twitter accounts saying "Can I talk to Hakim," for example, the source said. The Twitter account is then followed back, enabling a direct message to be sent with the e-mail address of the ISIS recruiter. The conversations that continue, the defector said, over Google Chat, Skype and Twitter, are extensively monitored by the emirs and supervisors of the recruiting unit. While the defector didn't speak English, he says he used online translating apps to talk to French and English recruits. "There are questions I am allowed to answer," he said, "and then things I must ask my supervisor. Specific questions about religion. I have to get their permission to message anyone. I can't talk on Skype, as everything is written down, so they can monitor everything." The defector added his supervisor often dealt with the European recruits. He said the online chats, intended to provide basic information about life under the ISIS caliphate, or strict Islamist state, lasted about two weeks, and sometimes each chat could last hours. He said some of the potential recruits asked curious questions. "I remember one guy asked me for a video of a public execution", he said, "but one that's not been put online before. Strange ones too about marrying Syrians girls. I got mad once when I was asked if someone could marry three or four girls." When the recruit is ready to come to Syria, a different part of ISIS assists, and the defector said he was not supposed to meet those he helped recruit. He said the recruitment was first aimed at filling ISIS ranks inside Syria, and that the return of these radicals to their home countries was carefully regulated by the emirs, or senior commanders, of ISIS. Each recruit's passport was taken from him on arrival and the defector recalls seeing dozens of foreign passports held in the same office, and overhearing one foreign recruit discussing how he might return home to act as a recruiter. The defector was himself jailed for one day by ISIS for overstepping the permitted topics of conversation with recruits, and says he fled Syria with the clothes on his back after his relatives were killed. He says he still fears for his life and has given his phone number to only three people. "I didn't think ISIS lied to me," he says, "but they did play with my mind." | Islamist defector says Twitter, Google Chat and Skype used to recruit foreign fighters . West is concerned foreign fighters will return to home countries with terrorist plots . Defector says foreign fighters are recruited over weeks . He says one recruit wanted to see an execution video; others asked about marriage . | f454f3f2f6c0207b9c5b4de34d3664d95c2e9164 |
By . Rob Cooper . Updated: . 00:40 GMT, 6 December 2011 . A young mother has told how she feels lucky to be alive after thugs hurled a 2ft slab of concrete from a bridge on to her car. Lisa Horne, 26, was on a dual carriageway heading home after Christmas shopping with her mother when the block slammed into her bonnet and shattered the windscreen. The incident last Thursday on the A12 near Brentwood, Essex, is being linked to another on the same road less than an hour later which left a woman fighting for her life. Lucky: Lisa Horne, left, with her mother Stella who was also in the car with her when it was hit by a concrete block. Both women astonishingly escaped uninjured . Police are treating both incidents as attempted murder. Mother-of-two Miss Horne said: ‘I was . very lucky to have walked away from it. If I had been travelling 1mph . faster it might have come straight through the windscreen and things . would have ended differently. ‘The police are right to describe it as attempted murder.’ She added: ‘I can’t understand how anybody could do something like that. They need to be caught to prevent it happening again.’ Weapon: This is the 1ft x 1ft rock which hit Lisa Horne's Vauxhall Astra when it was thrown from Fryerning Bridge near Ingatestone . Damaged: This is the Vauxhall Astra at the roadside after it was hit by the rock while travelling at 55mph. It damaged the bonnet and shattered the top of the windscreen but did not penetrate it so Lisa and Stella escaped uninjured . The second attack, less than three . miles away, left a 57-year-old passenger fighting for her life with head . and chest injuries. She is now stable in hospital. Meanwhile, police in Shrewsbury . launched an investigation after concrete blocks were dropped from a . bridge on to a road in the town. A West Mercia Police spokesman said: . ‘Fortunately, no one was hurt.’ Today Miss Horne spoke for the first time about her ordeal. She told a press conference: 'I . was running low on petrol so I wasn’t driving very fast. Scene: The attackers threw the rock from this bridge in Ingatestone onto Miss Horne's car. Police are now investigating 30 other incidents since 2008 . Feared death: Lisa Horne, 26, swerved across the road after the windscreen of her Vauxhall Astra was smashed by a block thrown from a bridge . 'It was as if someone had put their hands over my eyes and I heard a bang and my windscreen just shattered. 'It . was the loudest bang I’ve ever heard. I swerved across the road and . luckily I had my mum in the car. She said “Lisa get over to the hard . shoulder”. 'I couldn’t work out what had come off the bridge. A few cars went past and hit it.' Terrified: Lisa Horne and her mother Stella fear that if they had been travelling faster than 55mph on the dark road they could have been seriously injured. Miss Horne says she will no longer drive in the dark . Miss Horne added: 'The policeman who was . there said "You’re very lucky to have walked out of this". Somebody was . looking down on us that night. 'I’m scared it’s going to happen to someone else and I want them caught. I certainly won’t be driving in the dark.' She said: 'I cannot understand why someone would do that. I just cannot understand they are just not normal people to do something like that. 'It is not fair, you could have taken peoples' lives away and left my children without a mum.' Second attack: The interior of the Nissan which was hit by a second concrete block last Thursday on the same stretch of road. A 57-year-old woman is still in hospital after that attack . Smashed: The full extent of the damage to the Nissan car and shattered windscreen can be seen here. Police are treating both attacks as attempted murder . Her mother Stella told the press conference that she could not understand the mentality of the thugs who hurled the rock. 'I just don't know how they went home that night and slept,' she said.'They could have killed four people within half an hour. 'I just don't understand how people could do that. I cannot sleep thinking about it.' Essex Police say a 2ft block, which . smashed through the windscreen of the Nissan, may have been used as a bollard at a . nearby house. Scene of attack: Police on West Hanningfield Bridge over the A12, where the second concrete block was thrown onto a Nissan car . Officers are examining clues from a . forensic examination of both bridges. Detectives are also looking into . more than 30 similar incidents from the past three years to identify any . links. The force has increased patrols in the area and is appealing for information from the public. Detective . Chief Inspector Keith Davies said: ‘Even a stone thrown from a bridge . can be fatal, but when you look at the size of this concrete, it is . amazing that the consequences were not far, far worse.’ Appeal: Police and press at West Hanningfield Bridge in Essex after the second attack last Thursday. Police are calling on witnesses with any information to come forward . Last night the road was closed again after someone thought they saw someone throwing a block from a nearby bridge. However, after finding nothing suspicious during a search of the area, police later reopened the road. A spokesman from Essex Police said: 'This was a genuine report and we would encourage such calls. 'We . are sorry for the disruption. But motorists and the surrounding . communities understand that safety is of paramount importance as is . catching the perpetrators behind these attacks.' Danger area: The red pin at Ingatestone is the scene of the first attack . and the second red pin is the bridge at West Hanningfield. The blue pin . indicates where a suspected attacker was seen on Sunday but this has . now been discounted . Heavy weight: The bucket-sized piece of concrete dropped from the A12 bridge . Mindless: The concrete block was flung from West Hanningfield Bridge pictured . | Lisa Horne, 26, and her mother 'lucky to be alive' after walking away uninjured . 'I just heard a bang' says driver who doesn't remember pulling car over at the roadside . Mother Stella says: 'I don't know how they can go home and sleep... they could have killed four people' 57-year-old woman still in hospital after second concrete block attack 40 minutes later . | 117cbd9bafbb62406b2456bec492dd76ac2f76eb |
Police have made five arrests in connection with the death of three teenage girls who were killed by a hit-and-run driver while trick-or-treating. Twins Lexi Perez and Alexandra Perez and Andrea Gonzalez, all aged 13, were in Santa Ana for Halloween when they were hit by a truck while crossing the road. Officers made arrests on Sunday morning during the search for two suspects who are believed to have fled the scene in the aftermath, dumping their damaged SUV before escaping on foot. Authorities would not release any information about those in custody or being questioned. Scroll down for video . Victims: Twins Lexi Perez and Alexandra Perez, 13, were run down and killed by a hit-and-run driver while out trick-or-treating in Santa Ana, Southern California, on Friday night . Tragic: Andrea Gonzalez, also 13, was killed as she tried to cross the road with their friends . Police are still searching for the two suspects in the car at the time the three girls, including the twins (pictured) were hit. They were said to be in costume and carrying candy bags at the time . A witness told the Los Angeles Times the girls were wearing costumes with black leggings and dark clothing when they were hit in a crosswalk near an elementary school about 6:45 p.m. Friday. Magaly Huerta, the twins' aunt, says her family is in complete shock. She told ABC 7 : They killed what we love the most. Why couldn't they stop the car when they saw my nieces? Why they couldn't do anything? I know God will punish them sooner or later.' The girl's mother said: 'I cannot believe this.' The Alexandra and Lexi Perez Huerta Memorial Fund Facebook page was created Saturday and asked for donations for the girls' funeral expenses. Family, friends and residents left flowers and lit candles for the trio following the tragic incident. Some remained at the memorial site all day as they tried to come to terms with the loss. A 2001 Honda CRV, the vehicle which is believed to have been driven into them, was found nearby after officers said the suspects sped off and headed north. Sharon Stewart, who cuts hair at a nearby barber shop, told the Times that she was eating outside when she heard what sounded like a terrible crash and screaming. She said she turned around and saw a car leaving and people yelling, so she got in her car and followed. Stewart said she saw a young man run from the scene and heard him yelling at what she thought was his companion. A 2001 Honda CRV, the vehicle which is believed to have been driven into them, was found nearby after officers said the suspects sped off and headed north . Maria Ramirez, 14, who lives about a half block from where the hit-and-run occurred, told The Orange County Register that she attended middle school with the twins. She last saw them at school Friday, she said. 'I can't believe it happened,' Ramirez said of the deaths of her friends, while she gathered late Friday night on the sidewalk with dozens of onlookers. 'They were fun, good girls.' Jeff Evans, who was trick-or-treating with his eight-year-old daughter nearby at the time said he heard squealing tires, looked over and saw the gruseome scene. He told the O.C Register: 'When we got over here, there was already a tarp over two girls,' Evans said. Briana Magana, 13, said she attended Santiago Charter Middle School with one of the victims. She told the paper the pair had attended a school dance earlier in the day and had later gone for lunch at McDonald's. 'It's unbelievable how something like this could happen,' Briana said. 'She always had a smile, she would light up the room, and she was just a really good student.' Vigil: Brianna Diaz, 12, left, and Sandra Anderson, 13, light a candle at a street-side memorial at North Jacaranda Street and Fairhaven Avenue in Santa Ana . Memorial: Billy and Rose Weatherley offer silent prayers at a make-shift memorial where three 13-year-old girls were hit . One witness followed the SUV involved in the incident. When they stopped they reported seeing two men get out of the vehicle and flee on foot. Department Cpl. Anthony Bertagna told the station: 'Witnesses say the vehicle was traveling at a high-rate of speed. I didn't see any skid marks, so it doesn't appear they slowed down whatsoever. 'They left these three young women laying in the street, and left without calling, without stopping, without rendering aid. It's hard to even fathom doing that.' 'At this point, we need the community's help, anybody that saw these individuals. Did they call somebody? Did they get picked up? Were they seen running on foot past the freeway?' Bertagna said. 'People are going to be talking about this. These individuals could be talking about this.' Rachel Emenakes brings flowers to a street-side memorial in Santa Ana, California for the three teenage trick-or-treaters killed. She hopes the outpour will help the family . Scene: The trio who were hit were all said to be in costume and carrying candy bags at the time . Police cordon: Witnesses said they heard the squealing of tires and ran over to see tarp sheets already over two of the girls . Response: Paramedics rushed to the crash site but two of the girls were pronounced dead at the scene. The third died while she was being taken to hospital . | Twins Lexi Perez and Alexandra Perez, 13, were killed in Santa Ana . Andrea Gonzalez, also 13, also died when she was hit crossing the road . Police made multiple arrests on Sunday after an SUV was dumped . Witnesses say they saw two suspects flee the scene after leaving the car . The twins' aunt Magaly Huerta said they had 'killed what we love the most' Two were pronounced dead at the scene, one died a short time later . The impact of the crash caused the girls to be thrown more than 100ft . Girls were said to be wearing black leggings and dark clothing . | 3a9de96f4ef3520c3e83407b6861d1b63092bb6e |
Dozens of demonstrators today stormed restaurants and targeted white diners in New York and California as part of a 'Black Brunch' protest against alleged police violence. Carrying banners, the chanting protesters entered a number of venues in New York City that they identified as 'white spaces', including midtown eateries: Lallisse, Maialino and Pershing Square. Once inside, they 'disrupted' customers' meals by reading out the names of African-Americans killed by police, including Michael Brown, 17, who was shot dead by officer Darren Wilson last August. Addressing staff and patrons, they shouted: 'Every 28 hours, a black person in America is killed by the police. These are our brothers and sisters. Today and every day, we honor their lives.' Scroll down for video . Protest: Demonstrators today stormed restaurants in New York and California as part of a 'Black Brunch' protest against alleged police violence. Above, diners show their support at Forge restaurant in Oakland . Chanting: Carrying banners, the protesters entered a number of venues in New York City that they identified as 'white spaces', including midtown eateries, Lallisse and Pershing Square. Above, a New York venue . Targeted: Once inside, they 'disrupted' customers' meals by reading out the names of African-Americans killed by police, including Michael Brown, 17, who was shot dead by officer Darren Wilson last August . 'A war on black lives': Alongside an image of protesters inside a New York restaurant, Sharmin Ultra (above) tweeted: 'We interrupt your brunch time to let you know there is a war on Black lives. We will not stay silent' On the scene: LA Times reporter Lee Romney (above) uploaded a photo of protesters clapping and chanting inside Forge restaurant in Franklin Street, Oakland, saying: 'Manager of Forge: 'I think it's beautiful'' In each restaurant, they also asked diners to stand and raise their fists in the air 'for black life', according to Yahoo! News. At several venues, 'a good number' of customers apparently did so. Throughout the day, many of the three dozen protesters - who also targeted 'predominantly white' restaurants in Oakland, California - posted photos of the 'Black Brunch' demonstration online. Alongside an image of protesters inside a New York restaurant, Sharmin Ultra, tweeted: 'We interrupt your brunch time to let you know there is a war on Black lives. We will not stay silent.' Another, using the handle @telushk, wrote: 'We're asking brunchgoers to STAND for black life. A good number in the last spot stood or raised their fists. #blackbrunchnyc #BlackBrunch.' Source: Vine (BeLife) En route: Addressing staff and patrons, the protesters (pictured heading to another restaurant in California) said: 'Every 28 hours, a black person in America is killed by the police. These are our brothers and sisters' Making a point: In each restaurant, they also asked diners to stand and raise their fists in the air 'for black life'. At several venues, 'a good number' of customers apparently did so. Above, the protesters in California . Trying to silence the protest? According to protester Camila ibanez, Belgian restaurant Resto (pictured) in New York City tried to silence the demonstration by raising the volume of the venue's music . And LA Times reporter Lee Romney uploaded a photo of protesters clapping and chanting inside Forge restaurant in Franklin Street, Oakland, saying: 'Manager of Forge: 'I think it's beautiful'.' This afternoon, the hashtag #BlackBrunch was trending in the U.S.. Although the demonstration has been largely peaceful - with no arrests made - there have been several reports of protesters getting into heated discussion with staff and customers. And while many have applauded the nonviolent tactic online, other social media users have mocked it and some have even criticized it as 'pathetic' and 'ridiculous'. Criticism: While many have applauded the nonviolent tactic online, other social media users have mocked it and some have even criticized it as 'pathetic', 'ridiculous' and 'tomfoolery', including this Twitter user (above) Mocking the demonstration: A Twitter user called Ted joked: 'How dare folks go out for an omelette with friends and family on a Sunday! #BlackBrunchNYC #BlackBrunch' Bob Owens said the protest was 'the most desperate and pathetic cry for relevance I've seen in a long time' Twitter user Adam Bohn wrote: '#BlackBrunch Yet another example of childish, community organized tomfoolery under the guise of 'activism'. Grow up.' Meanwhile, Bob Owens said: '#BlackBrunchNYC is the most desperate and pathetic cry for relevance I've seen in a long time.' And a user called Ted joked: 'How dare folks go out for an omelette with friends and family on a Sunday! #BlackBrunchNYC #BlackBrunch.' According to protester Camila ibanez, Belgian restaurant Resto in New York City tried to silence the demonstration by raising the volume of the venue's music. Another target: Although the demonstration has been largely peaceful, there have been several reports of protesters getting into heated discussion with staff and customers. Above, Lallisse in NY was also stormed . Motivated guests: Some protesters also interrupted diners at Tacabaya (pictured) in Berkeley, California . The protest comes just months after police killings of unarmed teenager Brown in Ferguson, Missouri, and 43-year-old father Eric Garner on Staten Island sparked nationwide demonstrations. The rage of demonstrators was then further ignited in November when two grand juries chose not to indict the officers responsible for Brown and Garner's deaths - Wilson and officer Daniel Pantaleo. On December 20 last year, gunman Ismaaiyl Abdullah Brinsley, 28, shot dead two officers in the line of duty in Brooklyn, New York, before committing suicide at a nearby subway station. The protest comes just months after police killings of unarmed teenager Michael Brown (left) in Ferguson, Missouri, and 43-year-old father Eric Garner (right) on Staten Island sparked nationwide demonstrations . Earlier in the day, Brinsley had posted a photo of a gun on Instagram, with the caption: 'I'm putting wings on pigs today. They Take 1 Of Ours... Let's Take 2 of Theirs #ShootThePolice #RIPErivGardner #RIPMikeBrown… This May Be My Final Post. I'm Putting Pigs In A Blanket.' This morning, tens of thousands of officers from across teh country lined the streets of Brooklyn for the funeral of one of the two deceased cops - Wenjian Liu - who emigrated from China aged 12. | Demonstrators today stormed 'white spaces' in New York and California . Declared: 'Every 28 hours, a black person in America is killed by police' Asked diners to raise their fists in air 'for black lives' - which many did . However, some mocked it, while others deemed it 'pathetic' and 'stupid' | a75c22573d2cf0257479feba5df89ea06f1501fd |
Supermarket chain Coles has been banned for three years from advertising that its bread is made or baked on the day it is sold. Coles was also ordered to display a Federal Court notice in its stores and on its website informing shoppers that it had broken Australian consumer law by falsely advertising bread products as 'Baked Today, Sold Today' and 'Freshly Baked In-Store'. The ban only applies to products that are partially baked off-site and then finished in-store. Scroll down for video . The Federal Court has banned Coles from advertising its par-baked bread from being baked fresh on the day it is sold for three years . It does not apply to those that are made from scratch inside Coles bakeries. Federal Court Judge James Allsop made the ruling on Monday after Coles was found guilty in June for making false, misleading and deceptive representations in relation to the freshness of its Cuisine Royale and Coles Bakery products. Coles has been banned from promoting its bread as baked on the day it is being sold or made from fresh dough for three years. It must tell consumers of the ban and that it had been found to have made the false, misleading and deceptive representations by advertising bread as fresh when it had been made and partially baked and then frozen, sometimes months earlier overseas. In a statement to Daily Mail Australia, a Coles spokesman said the supermarket giant would obey the Federal Court ruling, 'including the publication and in-store display of corrective notices'. 'Packaging and marketing materials for the affected bakery products were changed some time ago, and a final check of stores will be complete within 7 days to ensure any affected signage has been removed,' he said. Coles said it would obey the court ruling which includes informing shoppers that it had broken Australian consumer law . The spokesman also added it was never Coles' intention to mislead its customers. 'But we accept that we could have done a better job in explaining how these products are made, and we have already made changes to ensure customers are properly informed,' he said. 'Whether baked from scratch in-store or "par baked" by our suppliers and finished in our ovens, our bread and baked goods are excellent quality products which taste great and remain popular with customers.' Consumer advocacy group CHOICE has welcomed news the Federal Court decision. 'Credence claims such as "freshly baked" or "baked today" can lead consumers to pay a premium in the mistaken belief they are purchasing a superior product,' CHOICE Head of Media Tom Godfrey said. 'Consumers should have confidence that there is truth in product labels. 'The court decision over Coles' conduct is a step forward for consumers and sets a very strong standard that misleading and deceptive representation will not be taken lightly.' 'The average consumer would have found Coles' "Baked Today, Sold Today" and "Freshly Baked In-Store" claims hard to swallow when it was revealed that breads were actually partially baked and frozen as far away as Ireland, then shipped to Australia and finished off in-store months later.' The court is yet to make a decision on whether to fine Coles, which faces penalties of more than $3 million. | The ban only applies to baked products that are partially baked on-site . In June, Coles was found guilty of making 'false, misleading and deceptive' statements . The court is deciding whether or not to fine Coles, which faces penalties of $3 million . A spokesman for the supermarket said they would obey the court ruling . He added Coles never set out to mislead its customers about its products . | 0ac6593bf796cc8a7f1f53bfef1061ca8251f905 |
(CNN) -- Lotus Renault driver Robert Kubica has confirmed that he will not be fit in time for the start of the 2012 Formula One season. The 26-year-old Pole, winner of the 2008 Canadian Grand Prix, missed the whole of this season after suffering serious injuries following a rallying crash in February. There had been some hope that Kubica would be fit enough to start the new campaign, but he released a statement on the team's official website confirming this would not be the case. Kubica said: "I have come to the conclusion that I am not yet certain to be ready for the 2012 season. This was a difficult decision to make, but it is the most reasonable one. "I know that Lotus Renault need to prepare for next year, and further extending deadlines would not have been the right thing to do. On a personal level, my recovery is very encouraging and my doctors keep being impressed." Kubica added: "I just need more time, as I want to be 100% ready before I commit to anything driving related." Team principal Eric Boullier also released a statement, saying: "Everybody in the team is, of course, very disappointed. Robert not driving in Australia at the start of next season is not what we were all hoping for. "However, he has taken a very mature decision, acting in the best interests of Lotus Renault GP. As a team and as a family, we remain 100% behind him and we'll help as much as we can." Kubica suffered a partial amputation of his forearm and compound fractures to his right elbow, shoulder and leg in the accident in Andorra last February. He subsequently had three operations and has undergone a lengthy period of rehabilitation but has so far not driven a car. Kubica's decision leaves the team with a choice of three drivers to fill its two seats, Vitaly Petrov, Bruno Senna and Romain Grosjean, unless they look outside their current line-up. | Robert Kubica's Formula One return with Renault has been delayed . Renault had been hoping the Polish driver would be fit for the start of the 2012 season . But Kubica has not fully recovered from serious arm injuries sustained in a rally crash . | 02153906eefb3102a7dfb6d43c0a8f6e4c6af426 |
On guns, President Obama needs a "Plan B." The president himself recognizes that the votes probably aren't there to pass any significant gun legislation through Congress. In his State of the Union address, he was reduced to pleading with Congress to allow a vote at all, never mind actually enact anything. Even if Congress were seized by a sudden change of heart, the measures the president has proposed seem unlikely to achieve much. Universal background checks would be a baby step forward. But until state governments join background checks to some effective system of gun licensing, the checks are very easily evaded. A felon or domestic batterer or disturbed person need only find a person with a clean background to buy a weapon for him. But here are two things that can make a real difference -- without a vote in Congress. First: The president can direct the surgeon general to compile a scientific study of the health effect of individual gun ownership. Photos: Coming to grips with guns . The basis of the whole gun debate in the United States is the belief by millions of Americans that they need a firearm in the home to protect themselves from criminals. Testifying to Congress last month, a gun advocate named Gayle Trotter presented a vivid image of how guns might be used. "An assault weapon in the hands of a young woman defending her babies in her home becomes a defense weapon, and the peace of mind that a woman has as she's facing three, four, five violent attackers, intruders in her home, with her children screaming in the background, the peace of mind that she has knowing that she has a scary-looking gun gives her more courage when she's fighting hardened, violent criminals." Thrilling. Also wholly imaginary. Such Rambo-like defenses of home and hearth do not happen in real life, unless the home also happens to contain a meth lab. (The oft-cited statistic that gun owners draw in self-defense 2.5 million times a year is a classic of bad social science.) Incidents like these, however, do happen -- and tragically often: . "A fourteen year-old girl jumped out of the closet and shouted 'Boo' when her parents came home in the middle of the night. Taking her for an intruder, her father shot and killed her. Her last words were 'I love you, Daddy.' " That true story, reported in the Boston Globe in 1994, appears on page 70 of the classic study "Private Guns, Public Health" by David Hemenway, director of Harvard's Injury Control Research Center. It's just one of thousands of similar incidents in the United States every year. Hemenway again: "Between 1990 and 2000, an annual average of 320 children zero to fourteen either committed suicide with guns or were accidentally killed by guns." American children are much more likely to suffer these tragedies than children in other countries. States with more guns suffer more than states in which guns are less common. Complete coverage: Gun Debate . Claims that homeowners often use guns for legitimate self-defense dwindle away on close examination. What the gun owner claims as self-defense often looks, on closer examination, more like trigger-happy recklessness. Here's another case, as reported by Hemenway. "Two women, aged thirty-four and forty, were driving home from work when one cut the other off on a congested highway. Their rage escalated as traffic crawled for miles and the women flashed their headlights and hit their brakes. Both vehicles left the interstate, heading for home. At the first traffic light, one woman left her car and approached the other, perhaps to end the confrontation. The woman in the car shot the approaching woman in the face, killing her." Self-defense? Maybe. But the shooter herself wasn't so sure. She was recorded weeping, "Oh, my God, I shot her. Oh, my God, I can't believe I shot her. Oh, my God, I can't believe she's dying." As for guns in the home, Hemenway reports studies find that "(G)uns are used far more often in the home to intimidate and frighten intimates than to protect against intruders." These are facts about guns that are well-known to the social scientists who study gun injury but poorly understood by the general public. Read more: Obama in Chicago to talk guns . Fifty years ago, Americans contended with similar public ignorance -- and similar industry misinformation -- about the hazards of cigarette smoking. The argument was settled by the famous surgeon general's report of 1964. Congress in the mid-1990s forbade the federal government to fund its own research into the health risks presented by guns. By now, however, enough research has been done by privately funded scholars that the surgeon general could write a report based on existing material. Such a report would surely reach the conclusion that a gun in the home greatly elevates risks of suicide, lethal accident and fatal domestic violence. The first step to changing gun policy is to change public attitudes about guns, as Americans previously changed their attitudes about tobacco and drunken driving. The surgeon general can lead that attitude change with more authority than any other public official. The second step that might be taken -- again without the need for any congressional vote -- is for the Senate to convene hearings into the practices of the gun industry analogous to those it convened into the tobacco industry in the 1990s. Read more: Gun focus shifts from ban to checks and trafficking . So many gun accidents occur because guns almost never indicate whether a bullet is present in the chamber. A gun owner might remove the gun's magazine and believe the gun unloaded, when in fact it still contains one potentially deadly shot. Why not require guns to be equipped with indicator lights? Why not require that guns be designed so that they will not fire if dropped? We have safety standards for every consumer product, from children's cribs to lawnmowers, except for the most dangerous consumer product of them all. Not only that, Congress has actually immunized makers of that product against harms inflicted by unsafe design. Gun makers often design their weapons in ways that present no benefit for lawful users but that greatly assist criminals. They don't coordinate the issuance of serial numbers so that each gun can be identified with certainty. They stamp serial numbers in places where they can be effaced. They reject police requests to etch barrels to uniquely mark each cartridge fired by a particular gun. They sell bullets that can pierce police armor. They will not include trigger locks and other child-proofing devices as standard equipment. They ignore new technology that would render guns inoperable by anyone except their approved purchaser. Why? Why? And why? U.S. gunmakers have never been required to answer these questions. But one Senate subcommittee chairman with subpoena powers could cast much needed light on an industry whose record makes the tobacco industry look a paragon of transparency and accountability in comparison. There's a gun agenda that need not depend on politics and that will not snatch a single weapon from any owner, whether law-abiding or not. If Congress stalls on the president's ambitious legislative schemes, the president should fall back on this Plan B to publicize what guns really do to those who carry them -- and what gunmakers do to their customers. | David Frum: Obama may not have votes for gun legislation to pass . He says president's "Plan B" could be a surgeon general's report on hazards of guns . Senate could hold hearings to ask gun manufacturers about actions they could take . Frum: Why isn't the most dangerous consumer product in America being regulated? | 38e3335947a7bd678027b48f5610f90ae9028e74 |
LONDON, England (CNN) -- You're sitting in an airport lounge and seize the chance to check your e-mails before your flight departs. You log on and are tempted by a wireless Internet provider offering free Internet access. So, do you take it? Wi-Fi users have been warned to protect their computers against potential hackers at Wi-Fi hotspots. Security experts warn that hackers may be masquerading as free public Wi-Fi providers to gain access to the laptops of unsuspecting travelers. All it takes, they say, is a computer program downloaded from the Internet, an open access point and a user who has ignored basic security advice. "The difficulty for travelers is differentiating between a good Internet access hotspot and a rogue, or somebody trying to actually glean credentials from you. The issue is that you don't necessarily know the difference between a good and a bad one," computer security expert Sean Remnant told CNN. In 2008, AirTight Networks dispatched a number of so-called "white hat" hackers to 27 airports around the world to test the vulnerability of their Wi-Fi systems. They found that 80 percent of the private Wi-Fi networks tested were open or poorly protected. The wireless security company also found that basic services at several airports, including baggage handling systems, were vulnerable to hackers. Operators were using Wired Equivalent Privacy, known as WEP, which was found to provide inadequate protection to hackers as early as 2001. One year after the survey was conducted, CNN Business Traveler met Remnant at London's Heathrow airport, which was not included in the original survey, to test the potential dangers to unprotected Wi-Fi users. Watch what happened when we took a hacker to Heathrow » . Armed with a laptop, our "white hat" hacker took a seat in the crowded departure lounge at Terminal 3 and proceeded to scan the airwaves with his laptop, using a program he downloaded form the Internet called Airodump. "It dumps everything in the air," Remnant explained. "So if I execute the command to start Airodump, instantly I'm seeing probably 20 wireless networks with four or five of those having relatively weak server security." "There are several risks just on this screen," he continued. "One is that we actually don't know whether the public networks are legitimate or not." The original survey conducted by AirTight Networks found the most common name for rogue Wi-Fi points was "Free Public Wi-Fi." "You'd have no idea if somebody sitting down to a laptop was a casual traveler trying to collect their email from an open port, or actually they were setting up a rogue access point," Remnant said. "Your security guys in the airport aren't going to spot someone doing this because it's a technical thing," he added. Once connected, the hacker would have access to everything on your screen, from passwords, to bank account details, to the contents of e-mails. Do you suspect you've been a victim of Wi-Fi hacking? Tell us your story in Sound Off . And it's not just happening at airports. The rapid spread of Wi-Fi networks to cafes, hotels and even entire cities is providing hackers with more opportunities to ply their trade. Last month, Venice rolled out what is believed to be Europe's most extensive Wi-Fi network. According to mobile media company Jiwire, there are now more than 273,000 free and pay Wi-Fi locations in 140 countries. The majority can be found in the United States, China, the United Kingdom and France. And most hotspots are located in hotels, along with cafes and restaurants. However, the Wi-Fi Alliance, an industry group that tests and certifies Wi-Fi equipment, says the increased availability of Wi-Fi has not led to a rise in hacking cases. "We certainly haven't seen any kind of sudden epidemic of hackers in open hotspots or anything like that," said the group's marketing director, Kelly Davis-Felner. She said all Wi-Fi enabled devices have in-built security measures, and all users need to do is to switch them on. The most up-to-date wireless security system is WPA2, which provides greater protection than its predecessors WPA and WEP. "If you're updating Facebook, or checking your personal e-mail or surfing the Web, there's really no reason at all to worry about using an open network," Davis-Felner said. "Any kind of online shopping or banking or anything that would require you to exchange sensitive data over the airwaves, then we advise people to exercise caution." The best way to protect sensitive information is to use a Virtual Private Network, or VPN, which encrypts the data moving to and from your laptop. Kiran Deshpande, president of AirTight Networks, had this advice for travelers: "Connect only to the networks that you trust. Make sure that your communication is secure, disconnect the wireless when you stop using it, and maintain the list of wireless connections that you use on your laptop so that you don't accidentally connect to networks that may spring up when you're traveling." | Security experts warn Wi-Fi users to be more vigilant against hackers . Experts say it's difficult to distinguish between legitimate and rogue networks . Wi-Fi Alliance says spread of Wi-Fi hasn't led to an 'epidemic' of hacking . Users urged to protect their networks, use VPN for sensitive data . | 907c7e8cf8299426275f8bb636cb176c2d377122 |
By . Tom Gardner . Police dashboard-mounted cameras normally catch the worst of human behavior. But one fixed in a patrol car has captured the heart-warming moment an officer took time out of crime fighting to play football with a lonely youngster. Footage from the in-car camera was uploaded by Rosenberg Police Department in Texas to their Facebook page, with the caption: 'While a 2 minute game of football might not mean anything, to some it could mean everything!' Scroll down for video . All alone: The youngster is spotted playing by himself in a residential car park in Rosenberg, Texas . The video of the touching incident, which took place on Saturday afternoon in a residential car park, has now gone viral - being shared more than 4,000 times in the first few hours. The officer has been praised for reaching out to the community and helping to engage with the 10-year-old, who now says he wants to be a policeman or a professional football player. Posting comments on the police force's Facebook page under the video, Billy Mulligan said: 'You guys have got community policing nailed down perfectly. Play time: The officer leaves his car and asks the youngster to throw him the ball . Catch: The officer fires off a few of his best throws for the 10-year-old to catch . 'The way you showcase the good work you do should be replicated in forces everywhere. Too many are too scared to show the human side of the uniform. Keep doing what you do best!' Laura Navarro added: 'I love it!!!! I was watching from my office across the street and I was touched...' Not all of the 449 comments were in . praise of the officer's community engagement techniques, with some accusing him of wasting police time. However, . David Craven said: 'I'm responding to two comments about wasting tax . payers money. You really need to think about that because the officer . just saved you money. 'The impression this officer left on that young man will last forever. Praise: Within hours of the footage of the officer playing with the lonely child, it had been shared more than 4,000 times across social media . Community spirit: The youngster says he now wants to be a police officer or a professional football player . 'The likelihood of this young man getting involved in crime took a sharp dive down. He will look at the police differently and probably not get in trouble which YES will save you money not being in jail wasting YOUR hard earned tax dollars. 'Great job for looking at the future officer's. As for the above two listed individuals, get off you computer, grab a football, walk outside and wait for someone to change your life. WE ARE ON OUR WAY.' | Patrol spotted the forlorn youngster in a car park . Officer from Rosenberg Police Department pulled over to play catch . Video of the moment has gone viral - shared 4,000 times in a few hours . Police department inundated with comments praising officer's action . | 8521f458074bc8e76d9a58ef5cb511b30ca0ee5f |
By . Associated Press . PUBLISHED: . 18:34 EST, 1 February 2014 . | . UPDATED: . 06:28 EST, 2 February 2014 . Fellow Republicans on . Saturday debated the fallout over new allegations that Gov. Chris . Christie made inaccurate statements about his knowledge of lane closures . orchestrated by top aides as apparent political payback. Some . said the accusations could derail any hopes of Christie running for . president in 2016 if he can't shake the scandal soon, while others were . quick to express faith in the governor while discrediting his accuser . and questioning his motives. A letter released . Friday by a lawyer for a former Christie loyalist who ordered the . closures on the heavily traveled George Washington Bridge said evidence . exists suggesting the governor knew about the closings as they happened . in September, which would contradict Christie's previous assertions. Governor Chris Christie will need to prove he didn't know about the lane closings if he wants to run for president . The . governor's office has denied the claims by David Wildstein, a former . executive with the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey who was . among four people who lost their jobs in the scandal. Reaction . among top Republicans on Saturday appeared mixed, with most believing . he could weather the storm but acknowledging the latest allegations . hurt. 'It's not good for him,' said Matt . Beynon, a Republican operative who worked on former Sen. Rick Santorum's . 2012 presidential campaign and still has him as a client. 'The longer . the story goes on, the worse it gets for him. If this is still an issue a . year from now, he's going to have trouble pulling the trigger. ... Gov. Christie will have to think long and hard about running.' But Ken Langone, a co-founder of Atlanta-based Home Depot Inc. and a staunch Christie supporter, expressed no such reservations. 'I . have complete faith and trust that the governor is telling the truth, . and I continue to believe that he would be a superb president if he were . elected in the future,' Langone said. David Wildstein, former Port Authority of New York and New Jersey Director of Interstate Capital Projects and an ally of New Jersey Governor Chris Christie, said Christie knew about the lane closures . Matt . Mackowiak, a Texas-based Republican consultant, agreed that Christie's . chances on a national stage won't be harmed so long as he has been . honest about what he knew. 'As long as he was . telling the truth, he is fine,' Mackowiak said. 'But if he knew about . this, it brings him in directly and adds - potentially - dishonesty to . the charges.' Christie, who has kept mostly to . the sidelines during the run-up to this year's Super Bowl, which his . state his hosting, received a smattering of boos and some cheers during a . pre-game ceremony in New York on Saturday. He didn't appear affected by . the crowd's reaction during the Times Square ceremony. As . the new head of the Republican Governors Association, Christie's . priority this year is raising money for the party's gubernatorial . candidates around the country. Republicans maintain that donors are . staying loyal to Christie so far. 'My donors . are saying they believe what Gov. Christie is saying. They're giving him . a lot of rope,' said Ray Washburne, who leads the Republican National . Committee's fundraising effort. Gov. Chris Christie made inaccurate statements during a news conference about the lane closures near the George Washington Bridge, according to a letter released Friday . 'He's not . raising money for himself,' Beynon added. 'If you're a donor in . Cleveland, you're thinking about (Ohio Gov.) John Kasich and not Chris . Christie.' The head of the state legislative . panel looking into the traffic jams said Wildstein's new allegations . validate the skepticism committee members have expressed throughout the . probe, an investigation Christie once referred to as the Democrats' obsession and some state Republicans have called 'a witch hunt.' Assemblyman . John Wisniewski, a Democrat, said he doesn't know what evidence . Wildstein may have but said it could be an email or document that fell . beyond the date range called for in the original subpoena. Wildstein . is among 20 people and organizations close to Christie who must comply . with a new round of subpoenas by Monday, though Wisniewski said almost . all the recipients have requested more time. When . Wildstein, a former political blogger who has known Christie since high . school, appeared before the legislative panel, he asserted his right . against self-incrimination and refused to answer any questions. His . lawyer, Alan Zegas, has said Wildstein would testify if granted immunity . from prosecution. Wildstein has been . identified as the person who ordered the lane closings. He resigned from . a $150,000-per-year job that he got with Christie's blessing because of . the scandal. 'Any time you have disgruntled . employees leave an operation you always wonder what's going to happen," Mackowiak said. 'You could see this coming. Their lives have changed . forever.' Chris Christie will not be able to run for president in 2016 if he is proven as being dishonest . | Some republicans believe that if Christie can't shake the scandal soon that he won't be able to run for President in 2016 . Evidence revealed by former Christie loyalist David Wildstein indicates Christie knew about the lane closures and that he lied . The governor's office has denied the claims and some Christie supporters still believe that he will be able to run . | 2eed91f1f0fa56f36cc060566f60577f3420fbca |
The Ebola virus is continuing its rampage throughout West Africa with the number of people infected doubling every three to four weeks. So far, more than 8,000 people are thought to have contracted the disease, and almost half of those have died, according to the World Health Organisation. In the battle to stem the virus, health organisations are turning towards data generated by social media and mobile technology - with some hoping it may even help find a cure. Scroll down for video and interactive map . Text messages are helping in the fight against Ebola in Sierra Leon with people receiving public health text alerts and sending messages about food security to aid agencies . For instance, text messages are helping in the fight against Ebola in Sierra Leone, with people receiving public health text alerts and sending messages about food security to aid agencies. The initiative was started by the Word Food Programme (WFP) in an effort to source information about household food security for those at risk. So far, more than 850 people have responded to a survey which was sent to mobile phone subscribers randomly by location, and involved answering ten text messages. '[An] advantage of mobile data collection is that is it quicker than sending around teams to do face to face surveys around the country,' said Jean-Martin Bauer, a WFP food security analyst. Researchers are collecting mobile phone mast activity data from operators and mapping where calls to helplines are located. Pictured is an example of mobile phone data collected from Côte d'Ivoire to monitor Ebola by Flowminder.org . The Ebola virus is continuing its rampage throughout West Africa with the number of people infected doubling every three to four weeks. So far, more than 8,000 people are thought to have contracted the disease, and almost half of those have died, according to the World Health Organisation. Pictured on the left is a health worker, and on the left a demonstration hoping to stem the spread of Ebola . Big data is the term used to describe extremely large data sets that can be analysed to reveal widespread patterns, trends, and associations. The amount of data is usually so large that it requires a computer to process the information, rather than just a person or group of people. Big data is usually used to better understand human behaviour and trends within society - both on the small scale and globally. 'In a public health emergency, where the situation of communities is changing by the week, this helps WFP have more timely information to shape our response.' The Red Cross and Red Crescent also hope to extend a text message-based system used to advise people about Ebola in to seven West African nations. The facility will allow the charities to send SMS messages to every switched-on handset in an area by drawing its shape on a computer-generated map. Meanwhile, the BBC has started sending Whatsapp alerts that include short audio clips and low-resolution photos to people threatened by Ebola. Within just four hours of launching the service, more than 1,000 people signed up for its Ebola alerts, which are sent in both English and French. As well as sending alerts, technology is helping health agencies monitor trends in outbreaks by their speed, number and location. Zoom in on the interactive map to see areas affected by the Ebola outbreak. Move the markers on the bottom bar to change the date . This year has seen the worst outbreak in history of the Ebola Virus Disease (EVD). The outbreak has a mortality rate of around 50 per cent. This scene shows bodies being taken away in Sierra Leone . One example is Harvard University's HealthMap which flagged up a 'mystery haemorrhagic fever' nine days before the World Health Organisation announced the Ebola epidemic. The fever was seen developing in the forested areas of southeastern Guinea by a free online tool known as HealthMap on March 19. Ebola emerged in 1976 in two simultaneous outbreaks in Sudan and near the Ebola River in the Democratic Republic of Congo. There are several strains which vary in how dangerous they are to humans, but death rates have reached as high as 90 per cent. In the current outbreak that is just over 50 per cent. It is introduced into humans through direct contact with the blood, organs or other bodily fluids of infected animals including fruit bats, which are eaten as a delicacy. The virus then spreads between humans through direct contact with blood, organs or other bodily fluids of infected people. Symptoms include fever, intense weakness, muscle pain, headache and sore throat followed by vomiting, diarrhoea, rash, impaired kidney and liver function, and in some cases, both internal and external bleeding. People are infectious as long as their blood and bodily fluids contain the virus and the incubation period can range between two and 21 days. Although the disease has no cure, modern medical treatment and quick isolation help hugely to bring the death toll down. The US group behind the software started putting out alerts and providing information to the World Health Organisation, which reported its first confirmed case of Ebola on March 23. Since then, the HealthMap team has created an interactive Ebola map, free to use by anyone who wants to see where the disease is spreading. The map, run by scientists in Boston, uses algorithms to scour tens of thousands of social media sites, local news and government websites to detect and track disease outbreaks. It then filters out irrelevant data to identify dangerous diseases and map their locations with the help of health experts. 'It shows some of these informal sources are helping paint a picture of what's happening that's useful to these public health agencies,' said HealthMap co-founder John Brownstein. Ebola is transmitted by human contact, which means knowing where people are moving can provide valuable insight to researchers trying to contain the outbreak. 'Big data has really changed epidemiology,' Madhav Marathe, director of Virginia Bioinformatics Institute's Network Dynamics and Simulation Science Laboratory told International Business Times. Mr Marathe has been working with the U.S. Department of Defense for almost a decade to help track diseases like and predict how they might spread. In addition to using information send via text message, the team have turned to updates on social networks such as Facebook and Twitter. A project by the group, dubbed '#HackEbola', gathers the data put out by local ministries of health and publishes the results online. Meanwhile, the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) is collecting mobile phone mast activity data from operators and mapping where calls to helplines are located. While this data has proved valuable, experts claim that more resources are needed to analyse the data faster. If they manage this, scientists believe big data analytics could help provide an off-the-shelf Ebola vaccine. But that may still be some way off. 'We're learning all this from scratch - we've never had this level of data before,' Qlik's David Bolton told the BBC. 'So it's probably too early to say whether big data analytics is having a meaningful impact on the rate and spread of the disease, but at least it is helping us decide where to allocate our resources.' Ebola is transmitted by human contact, which means knowing where people are moving can provide valuable insight to researchers trying to contain the outbreak. Liberia and Guinea are thought to be the worst affected areas . | So far, more than 8,000 people are thought to have contracted the disease, and almost half of those have died . Text messages are helping in the fight against Ebola in Sierra Leonne with people receiving health text alerts . BBC has started sending Whatsapp alerts that include short audio clips and photos to people at risk from Ebola . As well as sending alerts, social media is helping health agencies monitor trends in outbreaks by their location . Harvard University's HealthMap flagged a 'haemorrhagic fever' nine days before Ebola was formally announced . | 130c9dfe4b38cda08b34c62245fddd46b6788936 |
(CNN) -- Rescuers in Iran worked furiously Tuesday to free people trapped under rubble, a day after a powerful earthquake rippled through a rural stretch of villages in the country's southeastern region, Iranian media reported. Iran's Press TV said aftershocks followed the 6.5 magnitude Monday quake that struck at least 70 villages in Kerman province. Iranian authorities recorded seven deaths and dozens of injuries so far, but authorities expect the casualty toll to rise in the quake -- just over 60 miles away from the site of a deadly tremor that killed 30,000 people seven years ago in the city of Bam. Iran's Islamic Republic News Agency reported that scores of people are trapped in the debris of buildings that have been destroyed. Many such sites are in hard-to-reach locations, making any rescue operations even more difficult. Are you there? Share earthquake stories with CNN iReport . Jessica Sigala, a U.S. Geological Survey physicist in Golden, Colorado, thinks the number of deaths could range from between 10 to 1,000, based on statistics and information about past earthquakes. She said that while this latest event was similar in magnitude to the Bam quake, which measured at 6.6 magnitude, the Monday quake struck a more remote region about 63 miles away from that city. "That's an important thing to realize. That distance will help decrease the fatality rate as well as the damage," she said. "There isn't a big city anywhere to be seen." But, she said, that doesn't mean the quake wasn't felt through the region. In fact, said Kerman governor Esmail Najjar, the tremors were felt as far away as Hormozgan province, which lies on the Persian Gulf, and Sistan-Baluchestan province, which borders Afghanistan and Pakistan. It was also felt in Bam and other cities, such as Zahedan, Khash and Iranshahr. "Considering the dimensions of the damage, the death toll is expected to rise," Najjar was quoted as saying by the IRNA news agency. The high-impact zone's population -- which Najjar estimated at between 5,000 and 6,000 people -- was widely dispersed. The quake's epicenter was around the town of Hosseinabad. Many of the structures in the quake-hit region use adobe as construction material, and that can crumble in earthquakes, Press TV reported. Photos in Iranian media showed pictures of rubble and people huddled outside damaged buildings. Images showed some bodies wrapped in sheets and people crying. Javad Kamali, a deputy governor for Kerman province, told the IRNA that the tremor knocked down phone lines throughout the region. Military and law enforcement workers could communicate only using wireless technology, he added. Relief and recovery teams, some from outside the area, have converged around the village of Hosseinabad, between the towns of Fahraj and Rigan, Kamali said. In addition, IRNA reported that Kerman province's disaster council convened an emergency meeting to assess possible damage and coordinate potential aid and assistance efforts. Iran lies on a series of seismic fault lines and experiences earthquakes almost daily, and at times, they have had devastating consequences, such as the quake in Bam. Last year, an earthquake struck Hormozgan province in southern Iran, injuring about 700 people in the port city of Bandar Abbas, state media reported. And there's been plenty of activity in recent months as well. In early November, a 4.9-magnitude earthquake in the northwestern Lorestan province injured at least 80 people, according to IRNA. One person died two months earlier when a quake measuring magnitude-5.5 struck southern Iran, and in August three were killed after a 5.7-magnitude tremor in northern Iran, several state news agencies reported. CNN's Joe Sterling contributed to this report . | NEW: Aftershocks are felt after the quake . The death toll is expected to rise, state-run media says . The strike was centered in a largely rural area . Iran experiences quakes almost daily . | 26694829d84f175d7640795188ce321ff448066f |
Australians were warned today that the British are about to become unbearable - thanks to a series of recent and upcoming events that will have everyone beating their proud chests for weeks to come. An Australian newspaper has given notice to its readers that the imminent birth of a royal baby, Andy Murray's win at Wimbledon, The Lions victory over the Wallabies, the Tour de France and, by the looks of things The Ashes, Britain has much to shout about - and will keep on shouting. 'Pity the poor 100,000 Australians living there, but hazards abound here at home - rugby tourists still lurk in Australian hotels, lolling about in self-satisfaction after their test victory,' says Sydney's news.com. Australians were warned today that the British are about to become unbearable - thanks to a series of events to make us unbearably proud - including Andy Murray's Wimbledon win . An Australian newspaper has given notice to its readers that the imminent birth of a royal baby will also contribute to a swelling of British pride . And of course, Sydney's Daily Telegraph also listed The Lions victory over the Wallabies as one of the things the nation would be 'shouting about' Why England is magnificent: . 1) London, one of the greatest cities in the world! 2) The Royal family! 3) Proper pubs and proper beer! 4) Shakespeare! 5) The food! Toad in the hole, crumpets and Sunday roast!Whereas with poor old Australia... 1) Animals that kill you are everywhere. 2) Everywhere is too far away from everywhere else. 3) Nothing good on television. Ever. 4) Incomprehensible sports. 5) Very bad losers when we beat them at sports with proper, rather than 'Aussie', rules. But in an attempt to boost the spirits of everyone Down Under in the face of an unstoppable swelling of British pride, the paper has listed 10 points that it says are worth reminding Britons about. For a start, there is the weather, with cricket officials at Trent Bridge, where the first of the Ashes is being played, looking at the skies and wondering just when rain will stop play. Then there is the English beer, bitter and lager, the bitter being bitter and warm, the lager tasting like gnat's p**s. As for British beaches, well, says they website, they are 'mostly armoured with pebbles or cobble stones as opposed to sand, necessitating deck chairs and barring long walks or lazing about on a towel. And the water is freezing.' British food is also under attack, with . chicken tikka masala taking over from fish and chips, with one English . food critic describing the meal as 'the culinary equivalent of . Liebfraumilch.' Holidays? When they go overseas, Britons . tend to cluster in enclaves, says the paper, where they eat British food . and avoid interaction with foreigners, apart from the waiters. England's James Anderson celebrates after bowling Australia's Michael Clarke during the first Ashes cricket test match between England and Australia. The paper has listed 10 points that it says are worth reminding Britons about to stave off boasting . Next there's the huge cost of paying for transport to get from Heathrow airport to Gatwick to fly on to, say, Ibiza, followed by at least three hours to get through customs, security and then allowing for flight delays. There's also the question of British . happiness - while Australia is in the top five in a recent survey, . Britain came in as the 10th happiest nation among developed economies. And of course, Britain is a nation . divided. The paper says that the north and south of England hate each . other, the Scots hate the English, the Welsh hate the English, the . English hate everyone and everyone hates the Welsh. The paper also critcises the English beer, . bitter and lager, claiming the bitter is bitter and warm, the lager . tasting like gnat's p**s. But Australian beers are also often crticised . for being tasteless and weak . It claims when Britons go overseas, they tend to cluster in enclaves, eat British food and avoid interaction with foreigners. The same could be said for the high number of Australians who congregate in Australian themed bars . On the economic and job front, says the paper, the UK's economy is 'basically down the toilet. Don't let a Pom fool you with stories about the greatness of the English pound.' Unemployment in Australia is at 5.7 per cent, while in Britain it's 7.9 per cent. Finally, there's those sporting wins. The paper says it should be pointed out to all British rugby bores that the Lions side is a composite team of British and Irish players. 'And if the Poms win the cricket, remind them who Keven Pietersen, Jon Trott and Matt Prior are. 'They're South Africans.' | News.com.au also criticises English beaches, beers and food . The weather is also mocked as is the nations general state of 'misery' Paper point out that victorious Lions side includes Irish players . | 01ee4d22b57cd8f2630885bba3853c3b8b0fea51 |
(CNN) -- The driver of a large motor coach that crashed in Oregon late last month, killing nine and injuring 39, had worked 92 hours in the seven days leading up to the crash, far exceeding the 70 hours allowed, according to the U.S. Department of Transportation, which Tuesday ordered the Canadian bus company to cease operations in the United States. The transportation department said the Vancouver-based company, Mi Joo Tour & Travel Ltd., poses an "imminent hazard to public safety" because of its failure to take basic measures to ensure that its drivers are properly rested. In a 10-page order, the department outlines a list of accusations against Mi Joo Tour & Travel involving its conduct before and after the crash. The DOT said the company failed to test the driver for drugs and alcohol after the December 30 crash. It also accused the company of continuing to operate in early 2012, when it ordered the company to discontinue operations because of its failure to pay fines. Those fines also involved the company's failure to conduct drug and alcohol tests. Bus company in crash had history of DOT violations . The deadly accident happened as one of Mi Joo's small fleet of buses was returning to Vancouver, British Columbia, from Las Vegas, police said. The bus skidded on ice on Interstate 84 near Pendleton, Oregon, crashed through a guardrail and tumbled down a steep embankment. A CNN check of a DOT website, billed as a convenient way for passengers to check on bus company safety records, did not yield any information on the company's history of violations. But in response to a Freedom of Information Act request from CNN, the DOT turned over inspection reports showing the company had been cited for 11 violations in 2010 and eight violations in 2011. The 2010 violations included one "Acute" violation, which led the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration, an agency within the DOT, to place the company on "conditional" status. After a 2011 inspection, the motor carrier administration gave Mi Joo a "satisfactory" rating. During both reviews, the company was ordered to comply with all rules. Other records also show Mi Joo's operating authority was revoked in 2008 after the motor carrier agency informed the company that it did not have proof of insurance on file. The license was reinstated after two weeks when the company provided proof that it had the required insurance. In its order this week, the administration says it has discovered a "deterioration in your safety management controls and widespread safety violations that demonstrate a continuing and flagrant general disregard" of the rules. "Mi Joo does not monitor its drivers' hours of service to ensure that its drivers do not violate" work-hour restrictions," the order says. DOT investigators said Mi Joo does not require its drivers to maintain driver logs and supporting documentation. Transportation department officials this week defended its inspections of Mi Joo, saying the FMCSA has a "robust compliance program," conducting almost 1,900 compliance reviews in 2012 and more than 100,000 roadside inspections. It said its consumer website contains the most recent compliance reviews and that rules for what is included on the site are vetted during a public review process. "Don't risk your life ... by making an uninformed decision," the department says in one promotion for the site. In news releases and other material, the SAFER website -- for Safety and Fitness Electronic Records -- is promoted as a way for travelers to determine whether bus companies are safe. | U.S. Department of Transportation bans Canadian bus company in fatal crash . Driver in crash that killed nine worked 92 hours in seven days, agency says . Bus firm Mi Joo Tour & Travel Ltd. has history of violations, records show . | d2d4b04ae2ece09c2ac484bd348102db1abf547a |
By . Mike Dawes . Fabian Cancellara announced his withdrawal from the Tour de France on the race's first rest day on Tuesday, becoming the latest big name to exit, albeit the Swiss did so voluntarily. Unlike previous winners Chris Froome, Alberto Contador, Andy Schleck and 25-time stage winner Mark Cavendish - all of whom crashed out - Cancellara chose to abandon the race prior to the Alps and Pyrenees in order to prepare for September's Road World Championships in Spain. Cancellara said in a statement released by his Trek Factory Racing team: 'I will travel home now and take a little break. The season has been long for me, starting back in Dubai (in February). Goodbye: Swiss rider Fabian Cancellara has withdrawn from the Tour de France ahead of the eleventh stage . Finding it tough: Cancellara was one of the best riders on the cobbled section in the fifth stage . Taking a break: Cancellara says he will take a short break at home ahead of the Roal World Championships . VIDEO No rest for Tour de France 'survivors' 'I have done 59 days of competition this season so far and I have another big goal at the end of this season: the World Championships. 'It's not a secret that I'd like to be in my best shape there, so it's important that I take some rest.' Cancellara was fifth over the stage five cobbles, a day which he began as one of the favourites for stage victory. Chasing: Cancellara follows fifth stage race leader Vincenzo Nibali on the cobbles . His departure, coupled with the exits of Schleck and Danny van Poppel, leaves Trek with six remaining riders. The Tour continues with Wednesday's 11th stage, the 187.5km route from Besancon to Oyonnax. Down and out: Mark Cavendish crashed during stage one of the Tour de France in Harrogate . Called it a day: Froome abandoned the Tour during the fifth stage between Ypres to Arenburg Porte du Hinaut . Retired: A doctor tends to Spain's Alberto Contador after his crash during the tenth stage . | Unlike Chris Froome, Alberto Contador and Andy Schleck, he chose to abandon the race rather than being forced out because of a crash . He withdrew in order to focus on September's Road World Championships . Cancellara said he would travel home and take 'a little break' The Tour continues on Wednesday, with the 187.5km eleventh stage . | 6c0c260fce239d612291a35f0d842d9de9438e3f |
One in ten people going through a divorce try to turn mutual friends against their partner, a study found yesterday. It also said half try to cheat their husband or wife over the financial settlement and seven out of 10 cannot separate their emotions from the process of deciding where their children will live. The survey by law firm Slater and Gordon comes amid renewed Government efforts to persuade people mired in divorce to swallow their pride and end their marriage amicably. Dirty tricks: One in ten people going through a divorce try to turn mutual friends against their partner, a study by Slater and Gordon has found. It also said half try to cheat their husband or wife over the financial settlement . It added that the majority of couples are too far gone in acrimony to make rational decisions in their children’s best interests, and that many are actively trying to damage their ex. Based on polling of more than 1,000 divorcees, the study said two out of three people said their divorce had harmed their children’s wellbeing. Seven out of 10 said they ‘could not separate the emotions they felt from the practicalities of resolving financial issues and the residency of their children.’ Around half of those asked said they fought their spouse for more than they knew was a fair share of their money and property. Pain: One in 10 people going through a divorce said they way they had conducted themselves had hurt their children unnecessarily (file picture) The same number said they thought their spouse would be trying to get more than was fair, so they decided to ‘fight dirty from day one’. A third said they went for more than was fair solely to ‘get one up’ on their former partner. Almost as many, 31 per cent, said they did not like being aggressive but felt that they would not get a good settlement unless they took a combative approach. A minority of divorcees, the survey found, were willing to try to do serious damage to each other or their children to satisfy their desire for revenge. One in 10 tried to turn people against their spouse ‘to make them suffer’, while more than a third said they wanted their former husband or wife to suffer because they were suffering. And one in 10 said they way they had conducted themselves had hurt their children unnecessarily. Meanwhile, one in seven went to court to try to embarrass their former partner, and the same number tried to persuade a judge that they were a victim. Liz Cowell of Slater and Gordon said she hoped new Government legislation that requires divorcing couples to consider mediation, in which they agree to settle their affairs with the help of a single mutual adviser, would help to calm angry husbands and wives. ‘These findings don’t surprise me one bit,’ she said. ‘We have all dealt with clients where one party has let their anger influence their decisions during a separation. ‘Often we find that clients coming in here won’t even consider being in the same room as their ex. But after a few months people calm down and see that an amicable separation and mediation can actually be quite a good way of resolving issues without spending a lot of money and heading to the court room.’ 'Beyond reach': Yesterday, analysts of marriage declared the 'conscious uncoupling' style of mutually agreed break-up claimed by Gwyneth Paltrow and Chris Martin (pictured) is beyond the reach of ordinary couples . But other analysts of marriage said it was hard for couples to rise above their bitterness and that the ‘conscious uncoupling’ style of mutually agreed break-up claimed by Gwyneth Paltrow and Chris Martin is beyond the reach of ordinary couples. Harry Benson of the Marriage Foundation think tank said: ‘The good divorce is a myth. ‘It has been said for years that couples can divorce amicably and minimise harm to their children. These findings blow that idea out of the water. ‘It is very hard for people without enormous resources to be quite as amicable as Gywneth Paltrow and Chris Martin. Most people find it hard to uncouple consciously without the kind of rancour that harmd the children.’ Mr Benson added: ‘In fact where couples hide their conflict and behave amicably it can be more damaging for the children, because children do not see the split coming and cannot understand why mummy and daddy do not love each other any more.’ | One in ten going through divorce try to turn mutual friends on partner . Half attempt to cheat their husband or wife over the financial settlement . And 70% can't separate emotions from deciding where children will live . Figures revealed yesterday in a survey by law firm Slater and Gordon . Government is trying to persuade couples to end marriage amicably . | ec29ddc7b4b8bc0c8b2aab59d2251bfa011ea8c7 |
(CNN) -- Screaming children are the bane of many a single passenger. Now, amid all the grumbles of childless passengers and harassed parents, airlines are offering the warring factions a chance to sit further apart.. Recently, Scoot Airlines, Singapore Air's budget brand, became the latest carrier to unveil child-fee seating zones. The program, called "Scoot in Silence," follows on the heels of AirAsia X -- the long-haul arm of the Asian budget carrier -- launching a "quiet zone" on their flights. The operations are similar: under-12s are banned from the zones and cordoned off from the remaining passengers via a curtain, galleys and the exit doors (the space that usual separates business class from economy). Contrary to how it might seem, Azran Osman-Rani, AirAsia X's CEO, maintains the measure is as much for the benefit of families as it childless travelers. "It's cute how some parents have written back and said, 'This is a brilliant idea,' because they feel less stressed and guilty if their child is restless. Now, if someone's giving them an evil stare, they can just say, 'Well, if you're going to complain, you should have sat in the quiet zone.'" In general, Air Asia X assigns random seats, unless passengers pay a $15 fee allowing them to choose where to sit. Whether that choice is to perch at the back of the plane grouped with spouses and spawn, or up front, where it's free from minors, the fee is the same. By introducing quiet zones, Osman-Rani is hoping to drive passengers, be they families or singles, towards paying the fee. So far, it's been successful -- the number of passengers paying to choose a seat has risen "several percentage points". Read more: Place your bids for business class . Helane Becker, an airline analyst with Cowen and Company says she assumed from the start that the trend was financially motivated. "I kind of viewed it less about cordoning off children, and more as just another way for airlines to charge fees," she says. Still, some airlines argue the measure is more operational. Japan Airlines has taken a different if similar track on their Tokyo-Honolulu route, where they have introduce a curtained "women only" section in the last four seats of economy. The idea is to give women privacy to breastfeed and do their makeup. The seats don't generate any added income, but they do help free-up the bathrooms. "About 60% of our passengers are women, and the in-flight lavatories are always crowded before landing. This resolves the long line," says Jian Yang, a spokesperson for the airline. Becker says that to a certain extent, passengers segregate themselves. "While kids are cute, they can definitely be a distraction, especially if you're trying to get stuff done for work. That's why a lot of businessmen chose to sit in economy plus. Meanwhile, a family of four or five usually wants to sit together, and it's easier for them to do that in the back," she notes. Interactive: Which airlines have wi-fi? Abu Dhabi's Etihad Airways has taken a different approach. Rather than separate the two groups, they've introduced "The Flying Nanny," an in-flight team of child experts that play with, calm and otherwise distract children from causing a scene. "We looked at what it's like to enter an aircraft from a child's perspective. Many are small, and it's daunting to board a plane and not know where you're going, or to have to sit there and not be able to walk around," explains Aubrey Tiedt, the vice president of guest services. Etihad Airways has paired up with Norland College, England's premier childcare institute to train the all-female staff of nannies on child psychology, sociology and child development. The carrier hopes to have 500 trained by the year's end. The nannies, who are recognizable by their bright orange aprons, can help with feedings and give advice on diaper changing, though their main purpose is to entertain. They come armed with a special kit, full of cardboard, crayons, colored paper and star-shaped stickers and will help kids create anything from sock puppets to paper animals. "It's about making them feel special, which also makes them feel calm," explains Tiedt. | Scoot Airlines is the latest carrier to offer child-free zones. Japan Airlines has a small, women's only section on their Honolulu route. Etihad has introduced in-flight nannies to calm children aboard their flights. | 828828dea1b208be6ec34704c73322b3ccfa175b |
The convicted women were immediately transferred to prison . By . Daily Mail Reporter . PUBLISHED: . 16:30 EST, 27 November 2013 . | . UPDATED: . 16:30 EST, 27 November 2013 . An Egyptian court has today jailed 14 women said to be Muslim Brotherhood members for 11 years for belonging to a 'terrorist organisation.' A court in the Mediterranean city of Alexandria also sentenced six men, said to be Brotherhood leaders, to 15 years. Authorities have also ordered the arrest of two leading activists for demonstrating against a disputed protest law. Egyptian courts have jailed 14 women members of the Muslim Brotherhood organisation for belonging to a 'terrorist group' the day after anti-government protests in Cairo . Security forces disperse protesters against the newly released protest law at Talaat Harb Square . The men were found guilty in absentia of inciting the women to block key roads in the city during the uprising between supporters and opponents of ousted Islamist president Mohamed Morsi on October 31. The convicted women were immediately transferred to prison. Seven girls in the same group on trial were sent to a juvenile detention centre until they reach the age of 18, state media said. Their sentencing is the latest in an ongoing government crackdown against Morsi's supporters since the army toppled him on July 3, AFP reports. More than 1,000 people have been killed during clashes between pro- and anti-Morsi groups, while thousands have been arrested, mostly Islamists. On Tuesday, the authorities appeared to widen their campaign when police used water cannon and tear gas to disperse secular and pro-democracy groups, protesting against a law passed at the weekend regulating demonstrations. The law requires protest organisers to give at least three days' written notice before holding demonstrations. Tuesday's clampdown triggered a stand-off between authorities and some prominent activists who led the revolt against long-time ruler Hosni Mubarak in 2011. Tempers flared again on Wednesday when the general prosecutor ordered the arrest of Ahmed Maher, founder of the April 6 movement that spearheaded the 2011 revolt against Mubarak, and Alaa Abdel Fattah, a prominent activist. Egypt has issued a protest law that bans demonstrations without a prior notice . Thirteen members of Egypt's constitutional drafting committee suspended their membership on Tuesday to protest against the arrest of activists and protesters in Cairo . 'The two are accused of inciting protesters to hold demonstrations that broke the protest law,' the prosecution said, according to state news agency MENA. The report added that 24 other protesters who joined the demonstration had been ordered detained for four days. Judiciary and other sources said about 60 protesters were detained, including prominent activist Mona Seif, founder of a campaign against military trials of civilians. She was held after joining a protest on Tuesday outside the Shura Council, where Egypt's new constitution is being drafted. Seif and a group of 15 other women and 12 men were later released in the middle of the night on a desert road some 10 kilometres (about six miles) south of Cairo. 'The ministry of interior alleges that each one of us had been dropped at her house, which means that all of us are living in the desert,' Seif wrote on Twitter. The interior ministry later approved a demonstration against the protest law in downtown Cairo's Talat al-Harb Square which hundreds of people attended Wednesday. 'New opponents within own camp' Analysts were puzzled by the law, especially since the revised constitution would guarantee freedom of expression. 'By passing such a law the government is creating opponents within its own camp,' said Hassan Nafea, political professor at Cairo University. 'It is alienating true young revolutionary groups such as Maher's April 6 movement and others who led the January 2011 revolution.' Nafea said it was unlikely the new law signalled the emergence of a police state but said: 'There is a lack of cohesion and cooperation... and there is political immaturity among officials.' Michele Dunne of the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace said Egyptians were increasingly 'objecting to the ascendancy of the military and the re-emergence of the secret police. 'Egyptians won't be patient for long with a state that failed to deliver services, abused human rights, and monopolised economic benefits.' Egypt's cabinet, however, vowed to press on with its enforcement of the law. 'The cabinet will support the police in implementing the law with full force and determination. It respects the freedom of expression but as long as it does not turn into chaos,' it said. Under the law, security forces must first verbally warn protesters at prohibited demonstrations to disperse before using water cannon or tear gas, and should only gradually escalate to the firing of birdshot if other means fail. | Court in the Mediterranean city of Alexandria also sentenced six men . Arrest also ordered for 2 leading activists also ordered today . Comes days after law was passed regulating demonstrations . The convicted women were immediately transferred to prison . | a40f7e67180e4edaab5ad05a732d99953e935f7c |
By . Rob Draper . Follow @@draper_rob . Andre Schurrle is too young to be weighed down too much by the burden. His first World Cup has gone well and his status in world football is being elevated every time he comes on and makes an impact, so whatever happens now the Chelsea player should have fond memories of 2014. Yet even at the age of 23 he is aware of the sense of unfulfilled expectations. While the rest of the world is allowing itself to be overwhelmed by the consistency of the German national team reaching their fourth consecutive World Cup semi-final, the feeling in Germany is somewhat different. Characteristically the nation is dwelling on what more could be achieved, the feeling being that this generation of players have been in gestation for some time now. VIDEO: Scroll down to watch Klopp analyses Germany's chances . Ready: Schurrle, who scored in the last 16 against Algeria, says his side are ready to win the World Cup . Through: German centre-back Mats Hummels' header sails over the goalkeeper and in off the bar . In reality it is time they gave birth to something special and won a trophy. ‘We have this feeling,’ said Schurrle after the 1-0 win against France. ‘We are really close and we all feel we have a big chance to win the World Cup. In the last few years we have come close in tournaments but now we want to win it. 'We want to go to the final and win the title; that was our goal from the beginning. It is going to be tough. But it doesn’t matter who we play, we look at ourselves and how we play.’ Per Mertesacker, the Arsenal centre-half who endured the disappointment of being dropped before the game, has expressed the same thought. Triumph: Hummels celebrates beating scoring the quarter-final's only goal to put Germany through . All together: The team spirit within the German squad has developed as this team has grown up together . ‘We finished the last two World Cups in third position and that is really consistent,’ said Mertesacker. ‘What we need in Germany after all these years is a title. We are talking about titles and trophies.’ Indeed. Before the game against France in the Maracana, Germany manager Joachim Low hung up a signed Germany shirt from the 1954 team in the dressing room. On Friday, as they prepared to take on France, Low wanted to remind his players that it was 60 years to the day that Germany had won their first World Cup, which at the time was a shock performance dubbed the ‘Miracle of Bern’ but which laid the foundations of the post-War successes of German football. Since then there have been World Cup wins in 1974 and 1990, along with European Championship triumphs in 1972, 1980 and 1996. Joy: Mertesacker, Schweinsteiger and Neuer celebrate beating France to reach a fourth consecutive semi-final . Expectation: 18 years is a long time without a trophy for a team that always reaches the semi-finals . But while an 18-year gap between trophies would be nothing to worry about in England, for Germany it is beginning to nag. ‘It’s quite a performance it you are constantly in the semi-final,’ said Low on Friday night. But he was aware of the subtext of the questioning and added: ‘And yes, we will try to make the next step.’ This is the German generation that came of age in 2009, winning in the European Under-21 championships in Sweden against England. In the final that night in Malmo their team included Manuel Neuer, Benedikt Howedes, Mats Hummels, Sami Khedira and Mesut Ozil, all of whom started against France and who represent the heart of Germany now. The England team, beaten comprehensively 4-0 that night, included only Theo Walcott and James Milner who now feature for England, though Joe Hart would have played had he not been suspended for the final. VIDEO Klopp analyses Germany's chances . Superb: Neuer's strng save in the final moments against France has earned him plenty of praise . It was Neuer and Hummels who took the plaudits in the Maracana. Neuer is so good ‘he could play in midfield for Germany’ said Low, referring to the ‘sweeper-keeper’ style of the German No 1. His ability to pass with his feet allows him to come well out of his box to clear up long balls, which permits the German back four to push up high. ‘He is the best in the world,’ said his Bayern team-mate Jerome Boateng. His last-minute save, pushing away Karim Benzema’s strike, was almost nonchalant, a throwback to Oliver Kahn and Peter Schmeichel, goalkeepers schooled in handball who had that ability to stand tall and simply punch balls away. ‘I try to copy the style of a handball goalkeeper when a forward is one on one,’ said Neuer, who played the game at school. There was some respite for Germany in the euphoria of the quarter-final win. Until now, Low and his team have endured criticism in Germany for the style of their football against Ghana and the unconvincing manner of their win against Algeria. Golden generation: Neuer has progressed through from the U21 squad with many in this team . ‘If other teams won the World Cup this way they would be seen as clever,’ said Thomas Muller. ‘People would rave about them. 'I don’t want to end up winning the World Cup and find that we have to be apologising for it, saying: “Sorry we only won the final 1-0.”’ Muller need not worry. The mood has eased somewhat after victory against France and Germany seem to be evolving into something impressive here. The hosts will be without Neymar and Thiago Silva for Tuesday’s semi-final in Belo Horizonte and it now looks, with their creative spark gone, that only sheer willpower and determination will get Brazil over the line to the final. For Germany, the opportunities are suddenly opening up. VIDEO Neymar can be replaced - Ronaldo . | Germany have reached four World Cup semi-finals in a row . But last trophy came at Euro 1996 . German performances have not overwhelmed public at home . Joachim Low's men beat France in quarter-final, face Brazil in semis . | 0d2e5117e46f36b148098452ca2d67daa142767d |
As professional athletes go, Vince Wilfork is pretty recognizable. At 6-foot-2 and 325lbs, the New England Patriots star couldn't even go incognito if we wanted. But when the two-time Super Bowl champion sidled up to a fan wearing his jersey in the Bahamas, the unobservant Patriots supporter was clueless. A video shot by Wilfork's wife Bianca and posted to her Instagram shows the massive NFL star leaning on a railing next to the fan in the No. 75 jersey. Clueless: This fan in a No. 75 Vince Wilfork jersey didn't recognize his favorite player when he introduced himself in the Bahamas . Wilfork's wife Bianca posted the video to her Instagram account on Sunday - proving that even her 6-foot-2, 325lb husband could go undercover if he wanted . 'You a Patriots fan?' Vince Wilfork asks. The fan nods. Mrs Wilfork asks: 'You know whose jersey who have on?' 'Yeah, Vince.' Mrs Wilfork responds: 'His. You've got his jersey on,' pointing to her massive husband. Big man: Head coach Bill Belichick (left) and defensive coordinator Matt Patricia are dwarfed by the massive Wilfork in this photo moment after the Patriots won Super Bowl XLIX on February 1 . Finally, it dawns on the fan that he's in the presence of his favorite NFL player. Wilfork, a 33-year-old defensive tackle, has played in four Super Bowls with the Patriots and just collected his second ring after the New England victory in Super Bowl XLIX on February 1. This isn't the first time a fan has failed to recognize his favorite player when confronted with him in real life. In 2013, Jimmy Fallon sent New York Mets pitcher Matt Harvey out on the streets of his city to interview Mets fans. Many of them told the ace that Harvey was their favorite player - without any realization that he was the one holding the microphone. | Wilfork spotted a fan wearing his No. 75 New England Patriots jersey while on vacation in the Bahamas . | f73541e59a7671d1109d8ce7547f87574770960a |
These incredible pictures show how storms have stripped some of Britain’s top beaches of millions of tonnes of sand - leaving them strewn with rocks and green slime. Experts say the effects of last year’s severe storms is only now being felt along some of the most beautiful coastal parts of the UK. Fistral Beach, Bude and Perranporth in Cornwall have been all but decimated, leaving the British Costa looking drab and lacklustre. Scroll down for video . Storms have stripped some of Britain's top beaches of millions of tonnes of sand. Pictured: Fistral Beach . Fistral Beach, Bude and Perranporth are now strewn with rocks and green slime. Pictured: Fistral Beach . The images from Fistral Beach in Newquay, Cornwall - a world famous spot for surfing - show it stripped of its golden sand and covered in stones and seaweed. Officials say the beach has lost 125.37 cubic metres of sand per metre of beach - or the equivalent to half a billion bags of sugar. The popular holiday spot in Newquay, Cornwall, is regarded as Britain’s finest surfing location and regularly hosts international competitions. It also sits under an iconic hotel which appeared in the film The Witches. Before the sand shifting occurred, Fistral Beach in Cornwall was a popular destination for tourists and surfers . Experts say that British coastline is only now feeling the effects of last year’s storms. Pictured: Fistral Beach . But so much sand has vanished that the once golden shoreline is now dotted with razor-sharp rocks which are covered in slippery green seaweed and algae. Lifeguards say their job has become harder as the submerged rocks pose a danger to swimmers and surfers. To their dismay, boffins have warned it could take years for the sand - now languishing offshore in mountainous sandbanks and bars - to return. The shoreline poses a threat to tourists with its razor sharp rocks. Pictured: Fistral Beach . Lifeguards admit that their jobs have been made harder due to these submerged rocks. Pictured: Fistral Beach . Similar sand loss has been seen along the coast - including Perranporth and Bude. Greg Spray, RNLI lifeguard manager for Newquay, said: 'The winter storms altered the topography of many of Cornwall’s beaches this year, and the shifting sand has created some strong rip currents and exposed bedrock on some beaches. 'As a result the lifeguards have worked extremely hard all summer advising the public of the hazards and keeping people as safe as possible. It could take years for the sand - now languishing offshore in sandbanks - to return. Pictured: Fistral Beach . 'The beach is an ever-changing environment and lifeguards continually monitor and assess the conditions to ensure the flagged bathing areas are situated within the safest area of the water, and the hazardous areas are clearly highlighted.' Saber Atmen, of Fistral Beach Surf School, said the newly exposed rocks are restricting surf lessons. He said: 'I’ve been here for 11 years and this is the worst I’ve seen it. It was pretty bad in 2005 or 2006, but it’s never been worse than this. 'We can’t go in the sea at any time of the day. We’re having to work around it and try to avoid the high tide by two hours. 'If we did it at high tide, it could potentially be dangerous.' Gerd Masselink, a professor of coastal geomorphology, from Plymouth University said there had been a 'dramatic' loss of sand and gravel from several famous Cornish beaches. Locals have experienced the effects of shifting sand in Fristal Beach in the past - though never this dramatic . Newquay's Fristal Beach was once regarded as Britain's finest surf destination, regularly hosting competitions . He said most of the missing sand has been deposited in sand banks and bars deeper offshore. Perranporth lost 210.28 cubic metres of sand per metre of beach - about a million tonnes of sand. Bude lost almost all of its beach, although some locations such as St Ives have actually gained sand. He said: 'So far we haven’t seen much recovery. This is bad news for tourism. 'After last winter’s storms it might take another four years for the beaches to recover.' Malcolm Bell, head of Visit Cornwall, added: 'It would be lovely to get the sand back as soon as possible but nature will take its time.' | Effects of last year's severe storms only now being felt in coastal UK . Fistral Beach, Bude and Perranporth have been hit particularly hard . Experts believe it could take years for the sand - now offshore - to return . Shoreline now comprised of razor-sharp rocks covered in slippery algae . | 2b14fd630456847a5aa107ddca74576dfb14b414 |
By . Mark Duell . PUBLISHED: . 07:10 EST, 25 June 2013 . | . UPDATED: . 04:09 EST, 26 June 2013 . Footballer Phil Neville has put his luxury apartment up for rent for £15,000 a month. The former Everton and Manchester United star is looking for a tenant for his home in Beetham Tower in Manchester - but it will set back the new occupant an eye-watering £180,000 a year. Thought to be one of the city’s most expensive rental properties ever, the 45th-floor apartment boasts four bedrooms and stunning near 360 degree views from its floor-to-ceiling windows. Astonishing: Thought to be one of the city's most expensive rental properties ever, the 45th-floor apartment boasts four bedrooms and stunning near 360 degree views from its floor-to-ceiling windows . For the kids: While bedrooms occupy the top floor, most of the bottom floor is a custom-built playroom . Looking for interest: The estate agents said they have had 'quite a few enquiries about this property since we put it up for rent but have yet to find a tenant' Washing the dishes: The view from the kitchen in the astonishing 45th-floor apartment in Manchester . Footballer: Phil Neville, 36, a former England defender who retired from football at the end of the season, lived in the tower (right) with his wife Julie (pictured together left), 37, and their children Harvey, 11, and Isabella, nine . Neville, 36, a former England defender who retired from football after leaving Everton at the end of the season, lived there with his wife Julie, 37, and their children Harvey, 11, and Isabella, nine. The property has been on the market to sell since 2010, when it had an asking price of £4million before being reduced by £250,000 - but it remains for sale at £3.75million. The couple hope to find a tenant while searching for a permanent owner for the three-storey luxury home, which was designed by Kelly Hoppen and features a black and white colour scheme. Named The Orchid Suite, the home is described as ‘5,000 sq ft of pure luxury’ by the estate agents - and even comes with five parking spaces. Children's playroom: The couple hope to find a tenant while searching for a permanent owner for the luxury home, which was designed by Kelly Hoppen and features a black and white colour scheme . On the rental market: The flat is being marketed by property management company City Centre Chic, which specialises in finding Manchester's most luxurious homes for footballers and entrepreneurs . Under the sea: The Little Mermaid and Finding Nemo-themed children's bathroom in Neville's apartment . For a princess: This bedroom has 'Isabella' carved in to the bed headboard (left) and a walk-in wardrobe (right) Queen of the castle: The walk-in wardrobe in the girl's bedroom of the Manchester home with the doors open . It also includes a chandelier hanging . over a spiral staircase, enclosed balcony areas, a gym, studio, . limestone flooring, ‘intelligent’ lighting schemes and a shower which . doubles as a steam room. The apartment also has his-and-hers . dressing rooms and chutes which connect each bedroom’s laundry baskets . to the utility room below. And while bedrooms occupy the top floor, most of the bottom floor is a custom-built playroom, created for Harvey and Isabella. The . flat is being marketed by property management company City Centre Chic, . which specialises in finding Manchester’s most luxurious homes for . footballers and entrepreneurs. Family: Photographs of Phil and Julie Neville's children Harvey, 11, and Isabella, nine, can be seen on the wall . Glamorous property: Jennie Platt, founder and managing director of property management company City Centre Chic, said the flat is 'definitely the most expensive apartment we have ever marketed' Master bedroom: The apartment also has his-and-hers dressing rooms and chutes which connect each bedroom's laundry baskets to the utility room below . What a view: Named The Orchid Suite, the home is described as '5,000 sq ft of pure luxury' by the estate agents - and even comes with five parking spaces . Manchester skyline: The flat includes a chandelier hanging over a spiral staircase, enclosed balcony areas, a gym, studio, limestone flooring, 'intelligent' lighting schemes and a shower which doubles as a steam room . It has already had one star occupant - music mogul Simon Cowell, 53, who rented it while filming Britain’s Got Talent in Manchester. 'This is definitely the most expensive apartment we have ever marketed - it’s like a mansion in the sky' Jennie Platt, City Centre Chic . Founder and managing director Jennie Platt said: ‘This is definitely the most expensive apartment we have ever marketed - it’s like a mansion in the sky. ‘This is in a prime location and on another level of luxury. We have had quite a few enquiries about this property since we put it up for rent but have yet to find a tenant. ‘Because of the transfer window, this is one of the busiest times of year for us in terms of new players, managers and football executives coming to Manchester.’ | Flat on 45th floor is 'one of Manchester's priciest rental properties ever' Phil Neville lived there with wife, 37, and children Harvey, 11, and Isabella, 9 . Property has been on market to sell since 2010, when it had £4m price . Estate agent says city centre apartment is '5,000 sq ft of pure luxury' Includes chandelier hanging over spiral staircase and enclosed balcony . Limestone flooring, ‘intelligent’ lighting schemes, gym and steam room . | 70fcfba960a2c3e1f9ef9a67b518e0a9749d4806 |
By . Alex Ward . PUBLISHED: . 06:56 EST, 13 August 2012 . | . UPDATED: . 09:01 EST, 13 August 2012 . Former Yahoo boss Terry Semel has sold his Malibu mansion on 'billionaires' beach' for $13million less than its asking price. The estate on Carbon Beach, Malibu, in California with 151ft of beach frontage and nine bedrooms sold for $37million after it was listed in May for an asking price of $50million. Semel's house is on the strip of beachfront mansions known as 'billionaires' beach' for its many wealthy homeowners, who have included Pierce Brosnan, Courtney Cox and John Travolta. Price cut: Former Yahoo CEO Terry Semel has reportedly sold his Malibu mansion for $37 million, $13 million less than his asking price . Complete with nine bedrooms, 13 bathrooms, a huge outdoor swimming pool and 10,317 square feet of living space, it is clear from his asking price that Semel had high hopes when selling the property. In describing the property, TMZ reported the listing agents Hilton & Hyland saying on their website: 'This building can be appreciated as a stand-alone piece of art.' Sensational sea view: With more than 10,000 sq ft of living space, the house also boasts a 151ft ocean frontage on 'billionaires' beach' Malibu mansion: The estate includes nine bedrooms and several living and sitting rooms . Real estate art: The listing agents described the house as 'a stand-alone piece of art' Big family home: Listed as a single family residence, the house has plenty of room for guests with a separate two storey pavilion . Decadent dip: Just feet from Carbon Beach, Malibu there is a large swimming pool and jacuzzi . Bathroom beach side: There are 13 bathrooms in the house . Semel resigned as CEO of Yahoo in June 2007 after six years in the top job before handing over to co-founder Jerry Yang. During his tenure, he made more than $500million so perhaps knocking $13million off the asking price for the house was not a big deal. The real estate sale comes as investment banker William Chadwick put his house, just half a mile down the coast from Semel’s property, back on the market at $45million after attempting to sell it two years ago. Yahoo boss: Semel was CEO of Yahoo! for six years until 2007 during which he earned more than $500million . Billionaires' beach: Known for its many wealthy homeowners, the houses on this Malibu beach have been home to celebrities such as Courtney Cox (left) and Pierce Brosnan (right) | Terry Semel's mansion on Carbon Beach, Malibu, was listed for $50million . Sold for $38million: $13million below the asking price . The house has nine bedrooms, 13 bathrooms and 151ft beach frontage . | 94f9b2ef7ed6306185326b1c89740f762320bd18 |
Brazil's third-place play-off against Holland on Saturday was a chance for a redemption following their jaw-dropping 7-1 humiliation to Germany in the World Cup semi-finals. However, in Brasilia the horror show continued as they were comprehensively swept aside 3-0 by a far superior Dutch team. Goals from Robin van Persie, Daley Blind and Georgino Wijnaldum completed a miserable few days for the hosts as they try to repair their footballing reputation. Here, Sportsmail dissects how Brazil's media have reacted to the 3-0 defeat. VIDEO Scroll down to watch Pele on Brazil's disaster World Cup and livid Brazil fans . Condemned: Brazil have been critisiced by their media following their third-place play-off defeat to Holland . On the mark: Holland captain Robin van Persie gave them the lead with an early penalty in Brasilia . Double trouble: Daley Blind put Holland 2-0 ahead with his first ever goal for his country . Three and easy: Georgino Wijnaldum (centre) completed the 3-0 third-place play-off victory for Holland . Correio na Copa leads with the damning headline 'Ridiculous' following the loss to Louis van Gaal's side. The paper continues with: 'After humilation against Germany, the Selecao suffers a blackout in the third place play-off and says goodbye to the tournament in a melancholy way.' The hosts were much fancied to win a record sixth World Cup, especially following their Confederations Cup success last year, but arguably have regressed since their 3-0 victory against Spain in that final. Ridiculous: The front page of Correio na Copa states that Brazil exited the World Cup in a melancholy way . Correio's summarisation is an accurate reflection amongst the Brazilian papers as Agora Sao Paulo headlines with 'Knockout!' Alongside that a picture of David Luiz accompanies the front of the newspaper - as the defender again had a torrid time at the heart of the World Cup hosts defence. Agora continues it's scathing criticism of Brazil's performance by stating that Scolari's side are a mere 'punching bag for the big teams' after conceding 10 goals and scoring just once in their last two matches. Knockout: Agora Sao Paulo damningly reflects that Brazil resemble a punching bag for the bigger nations . | Brazil media react to the World Cup hosts 3-0 defeat to Holland in the third-place play-off on Saturday . Correio na Copa and Agora Sao Paulo slam Luiz Felipe Scolari's side . Goals from Robin van Persie, Daley Blind and Georgino Wijnaldum gave Louis van Gaal's Holland victory . | f902ba7694e23c5ba652f4ba6e9e3e3651a2f47c |
By . Tony Bassett . PUBLISHED: . 07:56 EST, 28 March 2013 . | . UPDATED: . 09:52 EST, 28 March 2013 . Telecom giant Orange still offers the worst customer services for broadband users in Britain, according to the latest quarterly report from industry regulator Ofcom. The company attracted more complaints over its broadband service than any of its rivals between October and December last year. Orange first replaced TalkTalk as having the most complaints when previous figures were released at the end of the year. 'Getting worse': Regulator Ofcom claimed Orange was the worst for complaints about broadband service and that customer anger is increasing . Coming second: TalkTalk was overtaken as the 'most complained about' service but is still second on Ofcom's table . The new report - Ofcom's eighth - shows the service provided by Orange seems to have got even worse. The company received 0.70 complaints for every 1,000 of its customers - up from 0.50 per 1,000 customers three months ago. TalkTalk was the second most complained about broadband provider, although the number of complaints continued to fall. They received 0.33 complaints per 1,000 customers. It came as another survey showed Britain . faces a broadband 'postcode lottery' with dramatic variations in speed . within cities, despite the increasing availability of 4G, a new study . suggests. In the worst case . - Birmingham - there is a difference of up to 89 per cent between the . fastest and slowest broadband, the report found. Further swathes of consumers are 'stuck in the slow lane' in London, Bristol, Northampton and Glasgow, the study showed. But in the Ofcom table, Sky received fewest complaints about broadband - 0.08 per 1,000 customers. Orange has also overtaken T-Mobile by receiving the highest number of complaints about its pay monthly mobile service. The firm received 0.21 complaints for every 1,000 customers - mainly because it withdrew its free broadband offer, but T-Mobile still received higher than average complaints. Bandwidth: Where you live in the UK can have startling effects on the speed of the internet service you receive, according to new research . O2 received fewest complaints about a pay monthly mobile service - just 0.06 complaints per 1,000 customers. BT . Vision still attracts most pay TV complaints - 0.24 for every 1,000 . customers. This is six times greater than the industry average. Ofcom . says complaints slightly increased compared with the previous . three-month period because of problems with service provision and . complaints handling issues. Virgin Media also drew a high number of complaints, while Sky had fewest - a mere 0.02 for every 1,000 customers. TalkTalk kept its position as Britain's most complained-about landline provider with 0.36 complaints per 1,000 customers. Although the figure has declined slightly, the rate remains at nearly double the industry average. Customers are most unhappy about service faults and customer service issues. BT also attracted higher-than-average complaints, while Virgin had fewest - just 0.11 complaints per 1,000 customers. The . report found that complaints about pay-monthly mobile services had . increased slightly, while the level of complaints about the other three . categories had fallen. Claudio . Pollack, Director of Ofcom's consumer group, said: 'It's encouraging to . see a continuing decline in the total volume of complaints, and we hope . these figures will incentivise providers to further improve their . performance. 'We're committed to providing consumers with valuable information to help them choose a provider that best suits their needs.' A . spokesman for Orange (now part of EE) said: 'We are of course . disappointed by these latest results and will take on board the findings . of the Ofcom report as we strive to offer our customers the best . service at all times.' | Consumer reveals the providers with most complaints - and Orange is worst . TalkTalk come second in table of customer woes compiled by Ofcom . Comes after researchers found wildly differing broadband speeds . Speed of download can be nine times slower in the same city . | 7cc2c8a984d2b3e7d9acda1be9d7f2e32832eb96 |
By . Dan Bloom . PUBLISHED: . 01:17 EST, 12 December 2013 . | . UPDATED: . 01:30 EST, 12 December 2013 . Gay couples who wed less than a week ago have had their marriages annulled after Australia's highest court struck down a law allowing the nation's first same-sex unions. The weddings were legalised in the capital Canberra on Saturday after regional authorities enacted a gay marriage law - but it was challenged by the government, which said it was invalid. Today the High Court of Australia agreed, shattering the dreams of more than a dozen couples who had already married this week. Tearful: Activist Rodney Croome with couples outside the High Court of Australia after a gay marriage law was struck down today. He said: 'marriage equality is not about protest or politics... it's about love' Devastated: Chris Teoh and Ivan Hinton had their wedding, pictured, on Saturday. It will now be annulled . Glenda and Jennifer Lloyd, pictured with their marriage certificate, had wed only days before the historic ruling . This couple, named as Krishna and Veronica, was one of dozens who attended the High Court ruling today . Australia's Prime Minister is against gay marriage and the national Marriage Act was amended in 2004 to define weddings as 'between a man and a . woman'. The government told the High Court that having different marriage laws in different states would cause confusion. The Australian Capital Territory, which passed the law in . October, said it should stand because it governs couples outside the . federal definition of marriage as being between members of the opposite . sex. Today the court sided with the government, saying the two laws could not run side-by-side. Ivan Hinton, who married his partner Chris Teoh on Saturday, had only received their marriage certificate . on Wednesday and had already applied to change their surnames to . Hinton-Teoh. Outside court he said he will always consider Teoh his husband and added: 'This was an unprecedented and historic opportunity. I wouldn't have missed it for the world.' Upset: A couple hug outside the court. Australian Prime Minister Tony Abbott is against same-sex unions . Emotion: Couples embrace each other after the ruling, which defeated a regional law made in Capital Territory . Glenda and Jennifer Lloyd embraced as couples faced the media today outside the High Court of Australia . The court said in a statement: 'The Marriage Act does not now provide . for the formation or recognition of marriage between same sex couples. The Marriage Act provides that a marriage can be solemnised in Australia . only between a man and a woman. 'That Act is a comprehensive and exhaustive . statement of the law of marriage.' Rodney . Croome, national director of the advocacy group Australian Marriage . Equality, said his group knows of about 30 same-sex couples who have . married since Saturday, though the actual number may be slightly higher. Conservative: Australian Prime Minister Tony Abbott is against gay marriage and blocked two bills . The court decision nullifies their marriages as it means . the local law under which they were wed was invalid. Outside the court in Canberra, a tearful Croome, flanked by several same-sex newlyweds, said the ruling was a defeat for marriage equality but there had been a 'greater victory'. 'That victory was the nation saw for the first time, I believe, what is really at the core of this issue,' he said. 'They've seen that marriage equality is not about protest or politics or even about laws in the constitution, ultimately. Marriage equality is about love, commitment, family and fairness.' The ruling has effectively barred any other Australian states from legalising same-sex marriage, and the decision can now only be taken by the government. However, Prime Minister Tony Abbott opposes gay . marriage and his coalition blocked two federal bills last year that . would have allowed legal recognition of same-sex partnerships. Lyle Shelton, managing director of Australian Christian Lobby, which opposes same-sex marriage, praised the court ruling and said common sense had prevailed. As for the ruling's impact on the newlywed couples, Shelton said it was 'really sad that they were put in a position' in which they were allowed to marry before the court handed down its judgment. The ruling comes a day after India's Supreme Court struck down a 2009 lower court decision to decriminalize homosexuality. The verdict to reinstate gay sex as an 'unnatural act' as part of a 153-year-old colonial law prompted dismay from human rights groups across the world, which condemned the ruling as 'medieval and regressive'. Homosexual acts in India, in many parts a deeply conservative country, are punishable with life in jail. | Nation's highest court quashes regional law approved just weeks ago . More than 20 couples had already wed and will have marriages annulled . Activist: 'Marriage equality is not about protest or politics... it's about love' Yesterday India recriminalised homosexuality under 153-year-old law . | 7e64bad140c7355d18a0affc28510c17af280442 |
By . Wills Robinson . PUBLISHED: . 09:03 EST, 11 March 2014 . | . UPDATED: . 11:39 EST, 11 March 2014 . In the late 1930s, the jet engine was confined to a collection of sketches produced by a British engineer. His initial designs were ignored, but the blueprints would end up revolutionising the planes are powered and, 80 years on, they still influence the way aircraft is put together. Now the paperwork which documented the development of the turbojet engine is being sold at auction, and is expected to fetch at least £30,000. Concept: A 1941 drawing of the first prototype jet engine, using the ideas of inventor Frank Whittle. It is part of a collection of paperwork which documents the development of the first turbine-powered engine . Secret sketch: The jet expansion chamber designed by one of Sporborg's engineers. The collection of sketches and letters are expected to fetch at least £30,000 at auction . The paperwork collection of memos and . letters were kept by Henry Storborg, whose engineeering company produced . prototypes for inventor Frank Whittle. The . documents, which were marked as 'secret', include specification and . memos which led to the completion of the first turbine-powered engine in . 1937. Sporborg was the senior director and chief engineer of Thomson-Houston BT-H. He kept the material knowing it was of great scientific and historic importance. The material is now being sold by auctioneers Bonhams, and is expected to be sold for at least £30,000. Among the documents is the original 1938 contract between the Air Ministry, Whittle's firm Power Jets Ltd and BT-H. There are also technical pencil drawings showing the engine as it was developing. What resulted from these first engines was the 'jet age' that would go on to transform air travel. First design: The Gloster Meteor was Britain's first operational jet, and was used by the Allies during WWII . Turbojet: The designs kept by Sporborg led to the production of the first turbine engine, the W2BWelland, which powered the first jet planes . Though Whittle had submitted his first . patent for the jet engine in 1930 it was only eight years later that . the Air Ministry took an interest following the creation of a prototype. In . 1939, the ministry's director of scientific research, David Pye, was . shown a demonstration of the prototype and was totally convinced of its . importance. The ministry . then placed an order for a flyable version and Whittle began work on the . Type W1.The following January the ministry placed an order for a larger . more advanced engine, the W2. Linked: The expansion chamber would be connected to the main jet engine's turbine design . Top secret: Minutes from the meeting where the upgrade from the W2 engine, the first turbine-propelled design, to the more advanced Mark II was discussed . With the Germans developing their own engine, the race was on, and this archive logs the important stages of the development through the early years of World War Two. One letter from David Pye, the air minister, in January 1940, records the moment that the ministry decided the project was valuable. It was written to Sporborg and states: . 'I hope that if you are fully aware of the great importance that the . Air Ministry attach to the development of this Whittle engine you will . take all steps in your power to ensure that no unnecessary delay occurs . in the completion of these engines and that you will do all you can to . assist Power Jets Limited in their work.' Looking to the future: A letter from the Air Ministry urging Sporborg to continue the jet-building programme, which was advancing military aircraft at the time . The . documents also highlight the strain and stresses between the various . parties as they tried to complete the project in time to influence the . war. The jet-powered Gloster Meteor finally entered service with the RAF in July 1944. Matthew . Haley, head of the books and manuscripts department at Bonhams, said: . 'Whittle had offered his idea to the Air Ministry in 1930, but it wasn't . until much later that they become interested, after he had joined with . Sporborg's company to make them. Official g-ahead: A telegram from Air Vice Marshall Tedder belatedly giving permission for Sporborg's engineers to build the prototype jet engines . 'These documents were commercially sensitive and because it happened during the war there was an added level of classification. 'Sporborg saved the documents he deemed important; the cream of the crop. 'When we think of aeroplanes in World War Two we probably think of Spitfires, but not long after the war we entered the jet age because of Whittle's work. The archive will have wide appeal.' While Whittle and BT-H were developing their jet engine, the Germans were also working on their own. Hans von Ohain had started work on a prototype in 1935, and after the war told Whittle: 'If you had been given the money you would have been six years ahead of us. 'If Hitler or Goering had heard that there is a man in England who flies 500mph in a small experimental plane and that it is coming into development, it is likely that World War II would not have come into being.' Innovative: Frank Whittle applied for the first jet engine patent in 1930. He had completed the first prototype by 1937 . The 'Jet Age' saw the development of aircrafts powered by turbine engines, rather than propeller blades or pistons. The term was coined in the 1940s, but most of the early jet planes were military designs rather than commercial. Frank Whittle would lead Britain into Jet Age, producing the first engine in 1937, but he was nearly beaten by a German, who completed his design just five months later. Whittle applied for a patent of his design in 1930, after rising through the RAF ranks from an apprentice mechanic to reporting to the man in charge of the research. His ideas were initially shot down, and his patent ran out in 1935, but some of his colleagues invested in his future ventures. Competition: Whittle was up against German physicist Hans von Ohain in the race to complete the first design . Whittle set up a small company called Power Jets in 1936, which began work on a prototype engine. The same year Hans von Ohain, a young physics and aerodynamics student at . Germany's . University of Göttingen, applied for a patent for a 'Process and . Apparatus for Producing airstreams for Propelling Airplanes.' The race to design the first turbojet engine was on. Whittle was on a shoestring budget while von Ohain, whose family were from the Prussian aristocracy, had a virtually unlimited amount of money. But Whittle made the breakthrough on April 2, 1937, after fitting a simple drainage system to his design to stop fuel from pooling in the combustion chamber. Fighter plane: The Me 262 had a similar design to the Gloster Meteor, but became operational first when it was drafted into the Luftwaffe in 1944 . Two years later, despite ignoring his ideas for years, the Air Ministry tested his prototype and decided they would use it in military aircraft. Many would be used during the Second World War and Whittle was able to pilot his first jet-propelled plane in 1945, reaching 606mph. Hans von Ohain had started work on a . prototype in 1935, and after the war told Whittle: 'If you had been . given the money you would have been six years ahead of us. 'If . Hitler or Goering had heard that there is a man in England who flies . 500mph in a small experimental plane and that it is coming into . development, it is likely that World War II would not have come into . being.' Despite creating the first engine, the Germans produced the first operational jet-powered fighter plane, the Me 262 Schwalbe. Initially it was beset by engine problems, but it became a part of the Luftwaffe in 1944. Whittle's 1928 thesis and 1930 patent had led to a true revolution in . military and civilian air travel. Thirty years after fighters and . bombers had been hard-pressed to exceed 200 mph, their successors were . traveling at 10 times that speed, and long-distance travel times were . halved. | Henry Sporborg's company manufactured engines in the 1930s . They produced early prototypes for inventor Frank Whittle . Documents include 'secret' drawings, specifications and memos . Kick-started the 'Jet Age', which would go on to revoluntionise air travel . It led to the design of the Gloster Meteor, Britain's first operational jet . | 94400931804bb300952c94ec19b0d41cd6616633 |
Ed Miliband had dinner with Hollywood star George Clooney and his glamorous British wife Amal, it has been revealed. The Labour leader was invited to the exclusive gathering at the London home of top human rights lawyer Geoffrey Robertson. Mrs Clooney is a barrister at Mr Robertson’s London chambers, Doughty Street. Mr Miliband was invited to the soiree to be briefed on proposals to introduce fresh sanctions against Russia. Scroll down for video . George Clooney and Amal Alamuddin Clooney wore 'Je Suis Charlie' badges at the Golden Globe awards last night . The Labour leader is now considering plans to ban a string of Russian officials from entering the UK, the Telegraph has reported. Mrs Clooney wants the UK government to introduce US-style travel restrictions on Russian citizens allegedly behind the murder of whistle-blower Sergei Magnitsky. Mr Magnitsky died after months of prison beatings after revealing government corruption. Under measures adopted by the United States, 34 police chiefs, judges and tax officials involved in the Magnitsky case are banned from entering the country. Campaigners now want to see similar measures imposed in Britain. The high-powered dinner took place at Mr Robertson’s London mansion. Anti-Putin campaigner Bill Browder, whose firm Hermitage Capital Management was the victim of the £150 million fraud after being raided by Russian police, briefed Mr Miliband on his case. Ed Miliband was invited to the exclusive gathering at the London home of top human rights lawyer Geoffrey Robertson (right) Mr Clooney is understood to have read Mr Browder’s forthcoming book on the case, Red Notice: How I became Putin No 1 Enemy and told the gathering that it could be made into a film. One source told the Telegraph that Mr Miliband appeared “very keen” on the proposals afterwards. The revelation comes after Mrs Clooney used her first Golden Globes red carpet appearance yesterday to make a political statement - pinning a 'je suis Charlie' button on her Dior handbag in support of France following a series of terrorist attacks last week. She was joined by her husband and several other stars who flashed the viral phrase for cameras. 'I am Charlie' is a statement of solidarity with Charlie Hebdo, the satirical magazine where eight journalists were murdered - along with two policemen and two bystanders - by Islamist fanatics last weekend. Dame Helen Mirren, Kathy Bates and Diane Kruger also voiced their support. Mr Clooney and Amal Alamuddin married at the palazzo Ca Farsetti in Venice last year . Film producer Harvey Weinstein wrote in a Variety column that he hopes stars use the Golden Globes as a chance to pledge solidarity with French journalists who were killed last week. 'There's always champagne on the table. I hope we can all raise glasses and that someone like Tina, Amy or George Clooney will urge us to toast with 300 million viewers around the world: 'Je suis Charlie, je suis juif, je suis Ahmed,' he wrote. Mrs Clooney, a British human rights lawyer, told Elle that she was wearing a Dior gown and carrying a handbag that was 'customized in solidarity with the French people who've gone through a terrible week.' | Miliband was invited to the gathering at home of lawyer Geoffrey Robertson . Mrs Clooney is a barrister at Mr Robertson's London chambers . Miliband briefed on proposals to introduce fresh sanctions against Russia . | 7adb02a21d0e35667e61712b4b7112d911589243 |
By . Jaymi Mccann . PUBLISHED: . 13:02 EST, 19 May 2013 . | . UPDATED: . 13:02 EST, 19 May 2013 . The number of people dying from unbearable heat in big cities could almost double because of climate change, according to new research. A study in Manhattan found the number of fatalities caused by global warming will far outstrip the reductions in those perishing from the cold. It follows a report last year by the Health Protection Agency that warned heat related deaths in the UK will increase by more than 10,000 annually - a fivefold rise. The study found that heat related deaths in new York could rise by 91 percent in the 2080s . The latest paper used projections from 16 global climate models under two different greenhouse gas emissions scenarios to predict temperature related deaths in the 2020s, 2050s and 2080s. In one, heat related deaths rose by 91 percent in the 2080s, compared to the annual average of 369 in the Big Apple's most densely populated borough in the 1980s. The decrease of 34.1 percent in the 340 cold related deaths during the same period meant an overall rise in temperature related deaths of 31 percent. Another table based on alternative calculations predicted a 50 percent increase in 'heat' deaths and a 22.1 percent fall in 'cold' deaths, a net rise in 'temperature related deaths' of 15.5 percent. The scenarios also forecast heat deaths will rise by 21.5 percent or 22.2 percent in the 2020s and cold deaths fall by 12.2 percent or 11.1 percent, a 5.3 percent or 6.2 percent increase in temperature related deaths respectively. The HPA fears old people restricted to their homes and patients in hospital will be unable to cope . And in the 2050s heat deaths will rise by 36.9 percent or 49.4 percent and cold deaths fall by 17.3 percent or 21.5 per cent, a net rise in 'temperature' deaths of 10.9 percent or 15.4 percent. The researchers said their findings published in Nature Climate Change highlight the importance of public health risk management in response to global warming. They said rising temperatures in urban areas may lead to increased heat related mortality as well as reduced cold related mortality but until now the overall annual effect has been largely uncertain. The impacts on estimated annual mortality from the different models and scenarios were similar in the 2020s, but began to diverge in the 2050s and differed substantially by the 2080s. The pattern of divergence in mortality mirrors a similar pattern in projected warming. Large increases in the percentage of annual mortality occurred in May and September, when absolute mortality associated with temperature is relatively low at present. The Manhattan based study said that the number of people dying from global warming will be far more than the number who will be saved from the cold . The researchers suggest that adaptation planning strategies for the public health sector may need to consider promoting vigilance outside the traditional high 'heat risk' months between June and August. Professor Patrick Kinney, of Columbia University, New York, said: 'The impact of warming temperatures on population health is of increasing concern to health practitioners and policy makers. 'Urban areas such as New York City are especially vulnerable to temperature extremes owing to the high concentration of susceptible populations, as well as enhancement of temperatures due to the urban heat island effects. 'Temperatures in the New York City region increased by 2 C between 1901 and 2000, substantially exceeding global and US national trends. Preparing for and preventing temperature related health problems has beenidentified as a high priority topic by New York City's government.' The urban 'heat island' phenomenon relates to big cities where buildings and asphalt help capture the sun's light resulting in warmer temperatures. Added Prof Kinney: 'All 32 projections yielded warm season increases and cold season decreases in temperature related mortality, with positive net annual temperature related deaths in allcases. 'Monthly analyses showed the largest percentage increases may occur in May and September. 'These results suggest that, over a range of models and scenarios of future greenhouse gas emissions, increases in heat-related mortality could outweigh reductions in cold-related mortality, with shifting seasonal patterns.' At the moment 2,000 people in the UK die every year as a result of heat waves, mostly the old and vulnerable who find it difficult to cool down. But by 2080 the temperature in towns and cities could rise by 10C, peaking at up to 40C (104F) in London, in the summer for several days. People in big cities, such as Hong Kong (pictured), could suffer as a result of rising temperatures . The HPA fears old people restricted to their homes and patients in hospital will be unable to cope. In a report on climate change, the Government Agency predicted almost 12,000 'heat related deaths' by the 2080s, an increase of more than 500 per cent. The problem is even worse if the 'heat island effect' is included. Rising temperatures could also mean that British people may contract exotic illnesses at home as new species of mosquito, that carry tropical diseases such as dengue fever and chikungunya, could migrate to the UK. | A study in Manhattan found the number of deaths will increase by 2100 . It found that heat related deaths in NYC could rise by 91 percent in the 2080s . Health Protection Agency say heat related deaths in the UK will increase by 10,000 annually . | 83c15afa0b2d9032b178a10946bf54874cb61c23 |
A panelist on a CNBC current affairs show accidentally outed Apple CEO Tim Cook live on-air this morning, to the embarrassment of his co-hosts. Simon Hobbs was one of several co-hosts when New York Times columnist Jim Stewart appeared on CNBC's Friday edition of Squawk on the Street to talk about an article he's written that explores the dearth of openly gay CEOs. Speaking about how former CEO of BP Lord Browne became the first person at a Fortune 500 company to publicly acknowledge that he is gay, Stewart said there's a 'corporate culture that prevents powerful gay men from going public.' SCROLL DOWN FOR VIDEO . Faux pas: Simon Hobbs commented that Apple CEO Tim Cook is openly gay - something that has never been confirmed nor denied by Cook . Crickets: Hobbs's comment was met with dead silence from the other panelists before Jim Stewart (far left), shaking his head, said that Cook is not openly gay . 'You’d think CEOs especially are measured by objective criteria, financial performance,' Stewart said. He went on to say that he had contacted a number of CEOs for a comment for his story and received a 'very cool reception'. Then co-host Simon Hobbs piped up, saying, 'I think Tim Cook is fairly open about the fact he’s gay at the head of Apple, isn’t he?' Speculation: Despite his sexuality being the subject of much speculation in the tech industry, Apple CEO Tim Cook has never confirmed that he is gay . For a moment, a deafening silence filled the studio as the hosts look awkardly from one to the other before Stewart, shaking his head in disapproval, responds with a succinct, 'No.' Hobbs tried to recover, 'Oh, dear, was that an error? I thought he was open about it.' The panel mentioned a recent New York Times article that all but outed the CEO, but Stewart declined to comment. 'I don’t want to comment about anybody who might or might not be. I’m not going to out anybody,' he said. Despite much speculation about his sexuality, Cook has never commented about whether or not he is gay. He's been an advocate for the Employment Nondiscrimination Act, which would make it illegal for employers to fire staff based on their sexual orientation, and mentioned in a speech he gave last year that he has been discriminated against. 'Since these early days, I have seen and have experienced many types of discrimination and all of them were rooted in the fear of people that were different than the majority,' he said. | CNBC's Squawk on the Street co-host Simon Hobbs outed Apple CEO Tim Cook live on-air . During a segment about the dearth of openly gay CEOs, he said, 'Tim Cook is fairly open about the fact he’s gay' Cook has never confirmed nor denied that he is gay . Hobbs's comments were met with silence from the rest of the panel . | 244d6af0cf929f993a2ed2de0ede4f57d501eade |
With President Barack Obama set to lay out his strategy to deal with ISIS on Wednesday, Secretary of State John Kerry left for the Middle East on an urgent new diplomatic drive with a single sales objective: Shore up support from Sunni Arabs to defeat what Kerry calls ISIS' "genocidal agenda." Kerry has said the United States will build "the broadest possible coalition of partners around the globe to confront, degrade and ultimately defeat ISIS." "Almost every single country has a role to play in eliminating the threat and the evil that (ISIS) represents," Kerry said Tuesday before leaving on the trip that will take him to Saudi Arabia and Jordan. The Obama administration has already gathered about 10 countries as part of a global coalition to beat back ISIS. But the strength of the coalition could hinge on whether it includes members from the Middle East, where ISIS poses the biggest threat. Obama laid out Kerry's marching orders during an interview last weekend with NBC News. "I think that it is absolutely true that we're going to need Sunni states to step up, not just Saudi Arabia, our partners like Jordan, the United Arab Emirates, Turkey. They need to be involved. This is their neighborhood. The dangers that are posed are -- are more directed at them right now than they are us," Obama told NBC's "Meet the Press" on Sunday. "And that's part of the conversation that John Kerry's going to be having this week" Americans want efforts to dismantle ISIS to be undertaken by a coalition, according to a CNN/ORC poll released Monday; 60% said Washington should undertake military action against ISIS "only if other countries participate." Kerry's Middle East strategy . In order to get a buy-in from Arab states, Kerry will take specific arguments to different countries. One key to his effort will be the new Iraqi government announced on Monday, which Kerry called a major milestone. Kerry hopes the new government will attract Sunni Arab help as it fights ISIS and bolster Sunni opposition to the group. The needs in any effort to defeat ISIS are great: military support, including air power, arms, training, and intelligence. U.S. officials say Arab partners will be asked to contribute what they can. The effort was given a boost on Monday when the Arab league agreed to take urgent measures to combat ISIS and other extremist groups, reflecting a new sense of urgency in the region. Obama looking for for congressional support on ISIS . Kerry's coalition-building tour will first take him to Jordan, which borders both Iraq and Syria and is likely to play a major but discreet role in the coalition. Jordan is already hosting hundreds of thousands of refugees from neighboring Syria. In Saudi Arabia, Kerry will hold talks in Jeddah with the foreign ministers of six Gulf Arab states, Iraq, Egypt and Jordan. Kerry must also convince the Gulf allies to dry up funding to ISIS, which comes from many of their own nationals and stop the flow of foreign fighters into Iraq and Syria, considered the lifeblood of the group. Another critical aspect to this will be driving a wedge between Sunni Arabs and ISIS, and delegitimizing the group's ideology. Saudi Arabia, in particular, is seen as having a critical role to play in convincing other Sunni Arabs that ISIS is the enemy. The kingdom has been very effective in beating back al Qaeda in its territory, and officials and analysts say it has a unique religious credibility and legitimacy to combat ISIS now. There are already efforts within Middle East countries to root out extremists. Last week, Saudi Arabia arrested more than 80 extremists suspected of planning to carry out terrorist attacks both in the kingdom and abroad, and the UAE issued a statement last week saying it was ready to "join the international community in an urgent, coordinated and sustained effort to confront a threat that will, if unchecked, have global ramifications for decades to come." The UAE statement also called for a "clear plan for direct intervention against ISIS." Support, but slim chance for military intervention . But don't look for countries in the Middle East to join specifically with the United States and Western partners on a military campaign. Officials have downplayed suggestions of Arab military involvement, although have privately suggested even some minor participation from countries such as the UAE and Saudi Arabia would be important symbolic gestures about the need for Sunni Arab states to take responsibility in fighting extremism within their own region. What is unclear is whether Kerry, who visits the region the day after Obama delivers his speech laying out his strategy for combating ISIS, will make specific requests this week for a military campaign to combat the group in either Iraq or Syria. Arab diplomats say without concrete details on what type of military campaign the U.S. envisions, it will be hard for their leaders to sign up, no matter how badly they may want to. Another question is what happens after the campaign against ISIS. Arab diplomats say similar extremist groups are operating in Libya, the Sinai in Egypt and Yemen that pose a threat to the entire region and about which Washington and its Arab partners must have a conversation. With its laser focus on ISIS, Arab diplomats complain the United States is not connecting the dots about the alarming trends in the region. "Without a tacit understanding of how we are going to work at extremism in general, it's going to be tough to move ahead," one Arab diplomat said. "You want us to join you in Iraq and Syria and then when we see a problem in Libya or Yemen or Egypt and you say forget it? I don't think that is how it's going to go. You can't be with us on one issue and be against us on another." Which is why Kerry must carefully balance the concerns of a region nervous about a multitude of threats with the narrow U.S. interests in combating ISIS. U.S. officials say a series of airstrikes last week against armed Islamist factions in Tripoli, Libya, were conducted by Egypt and the UAE. While neither country has acknowledged the action publicly, the move sent an important message to Washington that the region is ready to take measures into its own hands if the United States does not take their concerns into account. The U.S. saw competing Arab interests in aiding the Syria opposition contribute to the growth of extremists groups like ISIS. A similarly uncoordinated effort against the group could give birth to new, and potentially equally frightening, problems. Terror fears could help GOP in midterms . Senator apologizes for invoking names of slain journalists in policy argument . | John Kerry is off to the Middle East to shore up support in the fight against ISIS . The trip will take Kerry to Saudi Arabia and Jordan just after Obama lays out strategy . By shoring up Sunni support, the U.S. looks to delegitimize ISIS' caliphate claims . Kerry will look to win what support he can, but military involvement will be a tough sell . | f63e7affd211dea0ce309b4abf74f6a7cecf3b1b |
(CNN) -- A Mississippi judge Wednesday evening issued a temporary injunction forbidding the release of any more prisoners pardoned or given clemency by outgoing Gov. Haley Barbour, whose actions created an uproar. The pardons include four convicted murderers and a convicted armed robber who were released Sunday. The five now must contact prison officials on a daily basis as their fate is adjudicated. The pardons are "a slap in the face to everyone in law enforcement and Gov. Barbour should be ashamed," said state Attorney General Jim Hood. The process of releasing 21 other inmates has been halted, said Hood, who sought the court order. A court hearing on the matter will be held January 23. Hood said Barbour violated Mississippi's Constitution because the pardon requests for many inmates were not published 30 days before they were granted, as required. "He's tried to rule the state like Boss Hogg and he didn't think the law applied to him," Hood told CNN's Anderson Cooper on Wednesday night, referring to a character in the 1980s TV series "The Dukes of Hazzard." "These families are afraid out here," Hood said of relatives of crime victims. Hinds County Circuit Court Judge Tomie Green issued the injunction, saying it appeared some pardons, including those for the four murderers, did not meet the 30-day requirement. Any inmates released in the future must meet the standard, Green ruled. On his way out the door, the Republican governor approved full pardons for nearly 200 people, including 14 convicted murderers, according to documents the Mississippi secretary of state's office released Tuesday. The four murderers who received full pardons last week -- David Gatlin, Joseph Ozment, Charles Hooker and Anthony McCray -- were cited in Green's order. They were all serving life sentences and worked as inmate trusties at the governor's mansion, said Suzanne Singletary, spokeswoman for the Mississippi Department of Corrections. Trusties are inmates who can receive additional rights through good behavior. Hood told "AC360" it's possible that those who didn't meet the 30-days requirement may have to return to prison and complete their sentences. Barbour said Wednesday that some people misunderstand the clemency process and believe that most of the individuals were still jailed. "Approximately 90 percent of these individuals were no longer in custody, and a majority of them had been out for years," he said in a statement. "The pardons were intended to allow them to find gainful employment or acquire professional licenses as well as hunt and vote. My decision about clemency was based upon the recommendation of the Parole Board in more than 90 percent of the cases," Barbour wrote. "The 26 people released from custody due to clemency is just slightly more than one-tenth of 1 percent of those incarcerated." Half of the people who were released were placed on indefinite suspension "due to (chronic) medical reasons because their health care expenses were costing the state so much money," Barbour said. Hood said he is questioning the release of many of the 175 individuals who received full pardons. Barbour's full pardon of Gatlin has intensified fears that the man will try "to finish what he started," one of his surviving victims said. "I feel like my safety is in jeopardy," Randy Walker, who was shot and wounded by Gatlin, said Wednesday. "I wonder if he's going to finish what he's started." Gatlin walked into a trailer in 1993 where his estranged wife, Tammy Ellis, lived and shot her in the head as she held her 6-week-old baby in her arms. Walker, the woman's friend, survived a gunshot wound to the head. Gatlin was convicted of murder, aggravated assault and burglary of a residence. Speaking in an interview with CNN's Soledad O'Brien, Walker and Tiffany Ellis Brewer, Tammy's sister, expressed concerns about the release and fears that Gatlin may intend to target them. "I'm married and have a family again," Walker said. "I feel the safety for them is an issue. Anybody that might be with me at the time that he decides to do something would be in jeopardy." Gatlin's pardon also raised concerns from John Kitchens, the prosecutor who saw him sent to prison. "Haley Barbour is insane for granting a pardon to this criminal," said Kitchens, who is now in private practice. Brewer said Barbour -- who left office this week -- hasn't responded to questions about the pardon. "He will not comment on anything. We have no answers as to why he has done this. I would like to think he did not have all of the facts of the case, if he did have all the facts," she said. "Apparently, we haven't had a really good man for our governor." Barbour's successor, Phil Bryant, was inaugurated Tuesday. Brewer shared the fears of those families watching convicted killers of their loved ones get blanket pardons and go free. "I'm sure that they feel basically the same way as Randy and I do. We're both fearful for our lives, our families' lives, and we will live with this for the rest of our lives," she said. Gatlin's whereabouts were unknown late Wednesday. Barbour, who served eight years in office, had previously granted full pardons to three other convicted killers in 2008. Another three were awarded conditional or indefinite releases during his time in office -- meaning the governor, in total, granted reprieves to 20 convicted murderers, the documents showed. Since the conservative governor took office in 2004, 222 people were granted clemency for a wide variety of crimes. Those who have been granted full pardons include shoplifters, rapists, burglars and embezzlers. There were also a number who were found guilty of either manslaughter or homicide, who were given unconditional pardons. CNN's Ed Lavandera, Rich Phillips, Vivian Kuo and Joe Sutton contributed to this report. | Attorney general likens Barbour to "Boss Hogg" State Attorney General Jim Hood wins temporary injunction . Some misunderstand clemency process, Haley Barbour says . Attorney general calls pardons "a slap in the face ... to law enforcement" | 8651363a15bd8f307bbca7acd2475983d5db4e3a |
When it comes to beating the buzzer, this is a near-impossible move. During the Utah Jazz’s Friday night game against the Oklahoma City Thunder, Trevor Booker managed to do something that has been called everything from a 'circus shot' to 'the craziest thing of the NBA season'. With only 0.2 seconds left on the clock, Booker executed an over-the-head slap of the ball with two hands that landed with a swish, in what will undoubtedly become the basket of the year. Making the move even more incredible is that NBA rules require 0.3 seconds to complete a full catch and shooting motion, so any shot Booker made at the time had to be a tap. Scroll down for video . 0.2 seconds left: Utah Jazz forward Trevor Booker hit one of the quirkiest shots in NBA history on Friday night against the Oklahoma City Thunder . Volleyball: Using two hands, Booker tapped the ball up and over his head . Wait ... : The kept traveling heading straight for the basket . Swoosh: Incredibly, Booker landed the basket, much to the shock of the players and the stadium . Ecstatic: An over-the-moon Booker cheered and yelled after landing the amazing shot . The amazing shot saw Utah take the lead into halftime with 50-44. However, they ended up losing to Oklahoma 99-94. However, as Eric Freeman from Yahoo! Sports blogged, Bookers basket 'probably should have counted for another six points'. After the game, Booker maintained the shot was no fluke. 'I know you won't believe me but I really do practice those shots,' he said, according to Business Insider. 'My cousin Jordan Hill (of the Los Angeles Lakers) texted me after the game, he was like ''they probably won't believe it, but we practiced those shots all the time growing up''.' Another look: Booker maintains he has practiced this exact shot before . Up and over: There wasn't enough time of the clock for him to be allowed to catch and shoot . Boom: The moment has already gone down in NBA history . | Moment occurred Friday night when Utah versed Oklahoma City Thunder . Trevor Booker tapped the ball with two hands for an over-the-head shot . The basket was quickly called 'the craziest thing of the NBA season' | 879603119d00d0d622feaa007b40b65bf08b04f2 |
Joe Root has a knack for niggle when it comes to Sri Lanka but is focusing only on upsetting the odds when it comes to England’s one-day future. A combination of five defeats in six limited-overs series, injuries to key men and the fact that not a single Englishman made the International Cricket Council’s one-day team of the year does not bode well. However, Root - who got under the skin of both Mahela Jayawardene and Angelo Mathews in past skirmishes - is adamant they can launch a genuine bid for a first 50-over World Cup, starting on their seven-match tour of Sri Lanka later this month. Joe Root believes England can win next year's World Cup to be held in Australia and New Zealand . ‘There’s not an expectation for us to do well, which could work out for us,’ Root said. ‘We know we have the squad of players to do really good things and a lot of young, exciting players. Not a lot of people have seen what they can do yet. Again, that could play into our hands.’ One man who believes Root’s optimism is misplaced is India legend Sachin Tendulkar. He was at Lord’s on Friday to launch his autobiography and, when asked if England had a chance to lift the World Cup - which begins on February 14 in Australia and New Zealand - said: ‘Anything is possible in this sport but going by current form I don’t think England will be that competitive.’ Root (right) will be part of the England squad touring Sri Lanka in November . Investec, the specialist bank and asset manager, is the title sponsor of Test match cricket in England. Visit investec.co.uk/cricket or follow us @InvestecCricket. | England are bidding to win their first 50-over World Cup next year . World Cup begins on February 14 in Australia and New Zealand . England face a seven-match tour of Sri Lanka later in November . | ce4c1963d5c9339d15846655d866674c007e27e5 |
By . Daily Mail Reporter . PUBLISHED: . 19:13 EST, 26 May 2012 . | . UPDATED: . 19:14 EST, 26 May 2012 . Education officials are investigating claims that a school broke rules to coach pupils in advance about a crucial national curriculum exam. The Mail on Sunday has seen dozens of examples of coursework from children attending Eastbury Primary School in Barking, East London, which suggest they were told in advance about the contents of the Standard Assessment Tests (SATs) writing paper recently taken by ten and 11-year-olds across the country. Schools can open the exam paper only one hour before the test is due to begin, and teachers are forbidden from coaching children. The Mail on Sunday has seen dozens of examples of coursework from children attending Eastbury Primary School in Barking, East London, which suggest they were told in advance about the contents of the SATs . A complaint was first investigated by the London Borough of Barking and Dagenham in March and the school was cleared. Now another claim is being probed by the Standards and Testing Agency (STA), the executive body of the Department for Education and Skills which is responsible for the SATs exams. Copies of work from children’s exercise books, which were passed to Mail on Sunday by a source, reveal they were asked to complete several pieces of creative writing both in classrooms and as homework from March this year. The exam paper – which the pupils sat on May 15 – contained instructions to complete similar pieces of work. The allegations are particularly harmful because the school’s headmistress, Carole Thomas, is training to be an inspector with the schools’ regulator, Ofsted. The source said: ‘Teachers were told to let pupils watch YouTube videos on very specific subjects and to prepare Powerpoint presentations for them so they were fully informed.’ The first allegations were investigated by the London Borough of Barking. A spokesman said: ‘A thorough investigation of a previous allegation of “coaching” very firmly concluded that there was absolutely no substance to the claims and no case for the school to answer. 'The headteacher at Eastbury is someone in whom the local authority has real confidence.’ | Claims are particularly damaging to the London school as the headteacher is training to be an inspector . | 75d0a69218c40bb152dc1d73ca2ccba0777f356a |
LASHKAR GAH, Afghanistan (CNN) -- Toiling in what is the opium capital of the world, farmers in southern Afghanistan are swapping out their poppy plants for wheat crops. A farmer harvests wheat in a field on the outskirts of Kabul, Afghanistan, last summer. The farmers are participating in programs sponsored by the U.S. Agency for International Development, which is offering seeds, fertilizers and improved irrigation to the region in an effort to stop poppy crops and, ultimately, the production of opium and heroin. Observers have noticed a significant decline in the opium trade in Afghanistan, with the number of poppy-free provinces increasing from 13 in 2007 to 18 in 2008, according to a U.N. report released last year. Opium cultivation in the country, which has 34 provinces, dropped by about 20 percent in a year, the U.N. reported in August. "It's a challenge to deliver assistance in a war zone -- you can hear fighter jets flying above us right now," said Rory Donohoe, a USAID development officer. "At the end of the day, what we found is successful is that we work in areas that we can work," he told CNN in a recent interview in Helmand province. "We come to places like this demonstration farm where Afghans can come here to a safe environment, get training, pick up seeds and fertilizer, then go back to districts of their own." Watch Afghans speak about the change in their farming practices » . Many of Afghanistan's northern and eastern provinces have already benefited from USAID alternative farming programs, which have doled out more than $22 million to nearly 210,000 Afghans to build or repair 435 miles (700 kilometers) of roads and some 2,050 miles (3,300 kilometers) of irrigation and drainage canals. Giving Afghan farmers improved access to markets and improved irrigation is successfully weaning them away from poppy production, according to officials at USAID. Over the years, opium and heroin -- both derivatives of the poppy -- have served as a major source of revenue for the insurgency, most notably the Taliban movement that once ruled Afghanistan. "If you can just help the people of Afghanistan in this way, the fighting will go away," said Abdul Qadir, a farmer in Lashkar Gah. "The Taliban and other enemies of the country will also disappear." | USAID offering seeds, other help to encourage Afghan farmers to grow wheat . Agency trying to wean Afghan farmers from poppy production . Poppy plants used to produce opium and heroin . Opium, heroin has been a major source of revenue for the Taliban . | db5bc72803732b42b0714604f1f8901235936d7d |
By . Leon Watson . PUBLISHED: . 06:12 EST, 30 April 2013 . | . UPDATED: . 07:14 EST, 30 April 2013 . A nurse was sacked after she paid a pound into a vending machine only for it to start spitting out free cans of pop. Melanie Milner was captured on CCTV helping herself to 27 tins while working in Blackpool as a mental health nurse for the Lancashire Care NHS Foundation Trust. Milner kept 16 of them and gave the rest to her colleagues but her employers reported her to police for theft and she was dismissed for gross misconduct in January last year. Nurse Melanie Milner was captured on CCTV helping herself to 27 tins while working in Blackpool as a mental health nurse (file picture) She got her job back after appealing her sacking and was handed a written warning to appear on her file for two years. Milner, from Ingol, Preston, has now been given a 12-month caution order by the Nursing and Midwifery Council after referring herself to the tribunal. Panel chair, Lesley White, said: 'Ms Milner has shown deep remorse and shame for her actions and a determination to ensure that they do not recur. 'The panel is of the view that she has demonstrated insight into her actions and how they impact on the profession and her colleagues. 'The panel considers that this caution order is necessary to mark the importance of maintaining public confidence in the profession, and to send to the public and the profession a clear message about the standard of behaviour expected of a registered nurse.' She had accepted a police caution for the August 2011 theft and was then sacked for gross misconduct. Milner did not attend a London hearing of the NMC but apologised in a letter. The Nursing and Midwifery Council, which has its headquarters in Portland Place, London, gave Milner a 12-month caution order . She wrote: 'I would like to express my deep regrets and remorse for my actions and apologise for my actions. 'It was disrespectful, wrong and lacked the professionalism that you and my colleagues expect from a qualified nurse. 'While I cannot alter what has transpired, I have taken steps that this will not occur again, and made the right decision by informing the NMC. 'It was an inexcusable lapse in judgment and moral behaviour on my part. While it was an embarrassing experience it is an experience I intend to learn and grow from.' MPs said her dismissal was excessive and an 'overreaction'. Mark Hendrick, Labour MP for Preston, said: 'She shouldn't have taken what didn't belong to her and should have made whoever was responsible aware. 'However, the investigation has dragged on and it seems they have over-reacted.' Ben Wallace, the Conservative MP for Preston North and Wyre said the incident could have been sorted out between Milner and her line manager. He added: 'I think it is a bit heavy-handed.' Milner is now free to continue in the profession without restrictions. A Lancashire Care NHS Foundation Trust spokesman said: 'This is an extremely regrettable situation as the Trust sets very high standards for its staff in terms of their conduct while at work. 'This matter was investigated and dealt with in accordance with trust policies.' | Melanie Milner filmed helping herself to 27 tins . Nurse kept 16 of them and gave the rest away . But bosses reported her and she was dismissed . MPs said her dismissal was an 'overreaction' | 5944fecdd7e169b758177f3a58c13c360d8333c5 |
A meteor streaking though the night sky above the English Channel has been captured on camera. The fireball, which was filmed off the coast of Dawlish in Devon by a webcam, appears to burn up in the sky before disappearing. The footage was spotted by the operators of a live webcam set up beside a section of railway line in Dawlish. The blazing fireball footage was captured at around 1am last Wednesday. It flares brightly above Lyme Bay, just off the caost of Devon, for a few seconds before vanishing close to the horizon. Lyrids - Apr 18-25 . eTA Aquarids - Apr 19-May 28 . June BoötidS - Jun 22-Jul 2 . Delta Aquarids - Jul 15-Aug 20 . Alpha Capricornids - Jul 15-Aug 15 . Perseids - Jul 17-Aug 24 . Kappa Cygnids - Aug 3-25 . Alpha Aurigids - Aug 25-Sep 10 . September Perseids - Sep 5-21 . Draconids - Oct 7-10 . Orionids - Oct 14-31 . Southern Taurids - mid Sep . Northern Taurids - mid Oct - early Dec . Leonids - Nov 10-24 . Geminids - Dec 7-16 . December Leo Minorids - Dec 5-Feb 4 . Coma Berenicids - Dec 12-23 . Ursids - Dec 17-25 . Simon Dean, one of the operators of the webcam at Dawlish Beach Camera, said he had been watching the live camera footage when he saw the fireball. He said that he often checks the camera to watch night-time repairs being carried out on the railway track after it was damaged in storms last year. Mr Dean, who lives in Sleaford, Lincolnshire, said: 'The camera has a night time mode and I just happened to be looking at it when I saw this bright light move across the sky. 'I wasn't really sure what I saw so I asked Neil Salter who runs the camera to send me the footage so I could have another look. 'We are not really sure what it is, but it looks like it could be a meteor.' After the footage was posted on the webcam's Facebook page, other residents in Devon began reporting seeing similar things. Steve Wilson said that his mother in law and daughter saw the fireball from Braunton in North Devon. Karen Corbett from Torquay also said she saw the meteor. Officials at the UK Meteor Observation Network said they had not received any reports of meteor sightings in the area. The nearby Norman Lockyer Observatory in Sidmouth said it was currently looking through its sensors to see if it had detected the meteor. The camera overlooking Dawlish Beach, Devon captured the fireball in the sky on the right of the image above . The daytime view from the webcam above shows that the meteor appeared somewhere above the Channel . Experts have said the fireball is likely to be a meteor a few inches across that broke apart in the atmosphere . Some have suggested the fireball may have been a sunlight flare reflected from the panels of an Iridium satellite. However, as the course of these satellites is well known, such flares can be reliably predicted and none were expected to occur above the UK on that date. Dr Marek Kukula, public astronomer at the Royal Observatory Greenwich, said: 'It certainly looks like a meteor to me – it brightens erratically and seems to expand and contract in the close-up shots as if it’s breaking apart. 'A ‘flare’ of reflected sunlight from an Iridium satellite would brighten smoothly and look more symmetrical. 'The other possibility I considered was a ship’s distress flare, but the speed and trajectory seem wrong for that. 'This kind of bright meteor or "fireball" is not particularly rare but, as the video shows, they’re quite brief and so often go unnoticed. 'To me it looks like the object either disappears behind a bank of clouds near the horizon or just disintegrates in mid-air. The erratic flaring of the fireball above as it traveled across the sky makes it likely that it was a meteor . The fireball flares up brightly for a few seconds before disappearing close to the horizon over Lyme Bay . 'A meteor this bright is probably a few centimetres to a few tens of centimetres across. 'From the video it’s hard to say whether any of it survived to fall into the sea or whether it just burnt up completely in the atmosphere.' The day before the video, residents in York also reported seeing a fireball in the sky. Last June a large green fireball was spotted passing over the UK and was caught on camera by the Norman Lockyer Observatory in Devon. On that occasion the bolide meteor was reported to have broken into several pieces as it entered the Earth's atmosphere. Dr Kukula added: 'The spread of cheap CCTV recording in recent years means that many more of them are now being picked up - which is useful for scientists, both because they can get a better idea of their actual frequency and because the meteor’s trajectory and apparent speed can give valuable information about where it came from. ' The weekend was also due to be the peak for the Alpha Centaurid meteor shower, although these are supposed to be only visible in the southern hemisphere. The next major meteor shower due to be visible in the Northern Hemisphere will be the Lyrids that will peak on 22 April shortly before dawn. | Dawlish Beach Webcam filmed the fireball as it broke apart in atmosphere . The meteor was spotted on live footage by webcam operator Simon Dean . Experts say the meteor may have been a few cm to a few inches in size . It is thought to have broken apart in the atmosphere, causing it to flare . | 97ea4450e1cd663d20fed61ef4e357fbc9a4ecb0 |
ATLANTA, Georgia (CNN) -- As half of the famed hip-hop duo OutKast, Antwan "Big Boi" Patton is known for his bass-booming, chart-topping smash hits. His recording studio in Atlanta is lined with plush velvet, stocked with Courvoisier and has a swing hanging from the ceiling -- a place to settle in and do his work. Antwan "Big Boi" Patton will be performing live with the Atlanta Ballet beginning Thursday. As a choreographer for the Atlanta Ballet and a dancer for years, Lauri Stallings' world revolves around pirouettes, cou-de-pieds and battement tendus. The stage at Atlanta's Fox Theatre is her work home. His only experience with ballet was seeing the "Nutcracker" as a child. Her experience with hip-hop: "None at all." But the curtain will be rising Thursday in Atlanta -- a hip-hop mecca that is home to Jermaine Dupri, Ludacris, Young Jeezy and Lil Jon -- for the first of six performances of a collaboration between Big Boi and the Atlanta Ballet: a work called "big." See Big Boi talk about the unconventional show » . On paper, Big Boi and Stallings couldn't be more different. But it is their two styles, from seemingly opposite ends of the artistic spectrum, that both say make the show so innovative. As bass boomed through the ornate, faux-Egyptian halls of the Fox Theatre as a ballet dancer was hoisted in the air, the point couldn't be any clearer. See photos of dancers preparing for their "big" debut » . "It's definitely one of the funkiest hybrids I've ever seen," Big Boi said. Big Boi's contemporary style may seem inherently different from the traditional and classical sounds that normally echo through an Atlanta Ballet performance. But, Stallings said, as a choreographer it's not a stretch to equate one of hip-hop's biggest names with some of the most venerated composers who are usually the backdrop for traditional ballets. "For me [Big Boi's music] sounds like Shostakovich, Stravinsky a little ... just today's Stravinsky," Stallings said. "Big" came about almost matter-of-factly. In an interview at his studio, Big Boi -- whose unprepossessing size belies his energy -- said the Atlanta Ballet's artistic director, John McFall, approached him at a fundraising event and proposed a collaboration. Big Boi said he had a split-second of uncertainty about a ballet project, but was intrigued by the prospect and quickly immersed himself in the work. Stallings said the show is a dream marriage of artistic aesthetics that has been a long time coming -- and in this duality of differences, anything goes. Audience members will be pulled on stage. Dancers will weave their way through the audience. Big Boi and a live band will perform some of his greatest hip-hop collaborations. But the greatest collaborating may be the pairing created by Stallings and Big Boi when Giuseppe Verdi's "La Traviata" is intertwined with "Morris Brown," a cut from OutKast's "Idlewild" soundtrack. Those contrasts -- "physical but sublime, beautiful but ugly, loud but soft," in Stallings' words -- are exactly the feelings this fusion ballet is intended to evoke, both artists said. Watch Stallings explain the fusion of hip-hop and ballet » . "Its very moving, sophisticated, elegant but at the same time it will tear your back off," Big Boi said. Collaborations between ballet companies and pop artists are uncommon but not unheard of. The Joffrey Ballet performed a multimedia work with a rock score, "Astarte," in 1967, an event so novel it made the cover of Time magazine. In recent years, ballets to the tunes of Prince, Elvis Costello and other artists have begun to pop up. The Joffrey opened the door for the ballet to use new techniques to reach those who may never have attended a ballet otherwise, said Christine Knoblauch-O'Neal, a professor of ballet and musical theater at Washington University in St. Louis, Missouri. "Although it may seem off the traditional path, it's certainly in the realm of ballet collaborations," she said. "I think it's always a wonderful moment when someone first experiences classical ballet within the context of their life ... and ['big'] seems like the ideal one to do that." For some of the dancers of the Atlanta Ballet, the show is a chance to perform alongside one of their idols and deviate from their rigidly classical performances. "A lot of the ballets in the past have been very structured and very classical," dancer Courtney Necessary said. "I have a hard time even calling this a ballet -- it's mostly about movement and being very organic, and finding the beat in music and sometimes going against the beat. The stuff we are doing is nothing like what you would think of as classical ballet." Big Boi hopes to hype the crowd by debuting his newest single, "Sir Lucious Leftfoot Saves the Day," as the last song of the night. Stallings and Big Boi hope the show, which has received growing buzz in the ballet and hip-hop communities, will help bring together a hip-hop crowd that may not have ever chosen to go to a ballet and a classical crowd that might never have heard songs like "Bombs Over Baghdad." "You [hope] to open up people's minds to different avenues that they might not think they can or cannot take," Big Boi said. "Really the combinations are endless ... when you have creative minds and art forms coming together." The joining of those forms is a risk Big Boi and Stallings hope will pay off and perhaps unleash a new wave of productions. "We get to [take] a fresh look of the possibilities of tomorrow," Stallings said. "You should leave with your senses so wide open that we're hoping that you experience your life a little different after it." If "big" is successful, the show could tour, Big Boi said. But at the least, he said, he expects the audience to enjoy the work's energetic spirit. "If you come in there with your tie on, you might have your bow tie leaning to one side when you leave," Big Boi said, "because you're definitely going to move." E-mail to a friend . | Ballet opening Thursday features live performances from OutKast's Big Boi . Choreographer, Big Boi hope fusion of styles opens the minds of audience . One number features "La Traviata" mixed with "Morris Brown" from "Idlewild" Big Boi: Show is "one of the funkiest hybrids I've ever seen" | 17a9c339529e887ab4370745db2b5e9b2e7a4f85 |
By . Sadie Whitelocks . PUBLISHED: . 14:04 EST, 1 November 2013 . | . UPDATED: . 14:31 EST, 1 November 2013 . One of the world's rarest collection of gemstones has gone on public display for the first time at Sotheby's auction house in New York. The dazzling hoard of sapphires, emeralds, diamonds and pearls, are just a slice of what Paris-based jeweler, Alexandre Reza, has accrued since the end of World War II, when his fascination with gems began. Some of the creations on show in the new exhibit include a ring featuring a giant 52.31 carat sapphire and 101 white diamonds and a pearl pendant the size of an eyeball. Dazzling: The jewelry of Parisian jeweler Alexandre Reza has gone on public display for the first time at Sotheby's auction house in New York - here is a ring featuring a giant sapphire and 101 diamonds . An exact replica of the pearl and diamond necklace Francis I - the King of France from 1515 to 1547- gave to his wife, makes for another must-see piece. Mr Reza, now in his nineties, is lauded as the 'greatest gem collector of modern times.' Indeed, Sotheby's notes that his stash surpasses 'even those of legendary royal collections.' He followed in his jeweler father's footsteps and began his career as a . diamond expert in the mid-forties. Showstopper: Another equally impressive pieces on show is this giant pearl pendant, complete with white and yellow diamonds . Early on, he traveled the world, sourcing and supplying gems to brands such as Boucheron, Bulgari, Cartier, Chaumet, Gerard, Harry Winston, and Van Cleef & Arpels. By . the 1960s he was designing his own jewelry and in 1981 he founded his eponymous boutique on the Place Vendome in Paris. After achieving rapid success he established retail . presence in Geneva, Cannes and Monaco. Must-see: An exact replica of a necklace Francis I - the King of France from 1515 to 1547- gave to his wife . Glamorous: These blackened white gold earrings are set with over 200 diamonds . Colorful collar: This necklace features 600 diamonds and nine sapphires . His designs were popular among the rich and famous, with clients including 'Rat Pack' entertainer Sammy Davis Jr., . American socialite Florence Gould and the Sultan of Brunei. Many of his customers were also Middle Easterners, who craved yellow-gold and colorful gems, rather than the platinum and white diamonds offered at Cartier and Boucheron. One of the more bizarre requests he received was to turn two giant emeralds into wheel-shaped earrings for a maharajah’s elephant. On show: The choker, crafted by Mr Reza in 1975, is just one of the 30 items on display at Sotheby's . Get the set! This emerald bracelet has a matching necklace and earrings . However, Mr Reza took the decision to close shop in 2008 after being diagnosed with Alzheimer's. But thankfully his son, Oliver, who led followed a successful career in international banking in New York came to rescue. In . June 2012, he returned home and re-opened the Alexandre Reza salon. Recently he completed own jewelry pieces with an eye towards expanding his father's collection. Celebrated jeweler: Alexandre Reza took the decision to retire in 2008 after being diagnosed with Alzheimer's . Continuing the legacy: In early 2008, Mr Reza's son, Oliver (pictured) returned to lead the company following a successful career in international banking . Keeping it in the family: This gold, emerald and diamond ring was designed by Oliver Reza - who plans on expanding his father's collection and keeping his name alive . He said of the new exhibit: 'My family and I . are honored to . . .share both the Alexandre Reza archives and new . creations with jewelry collectors around the world. 'This exhibition will showcase my father’s legacy as a jeweler, and the work that we create today in his honor.' The Extraordinary Jewelry of Alexandre Reza will be open to the public for viewing from November 1 to 13 at Sotheby’s New York. It will then travel on to London, Doha and Beijing in 2014. | 30 pieces by the Paris-based jeweler have gone on public display for the first time at Sotheby's auction house in New York . The exhibition will run from November 1 to 13 before moving on to London, Doha and Beijing in 2014 . | 1deca1c3371f6137af4cc30975e11708225e3a55 |
Children at an exclusive £15,000-a-year London prep school have been injured today after a ceiling collapsed during assembly. Seven pupils at the Gems Hampshire School just off the Kings Road in Chelsea were taken to hospital with minor injuries this morning. A school spokesman said that a piece of plaster believed to measure around 20 sq metres fell from the ceiling of their main hall. Ceiling collapse: Seven pupils at the Gems Hampshire School just off the Kings Road in Chelsea, pictured, have been taken to hospital with minor injuries this morning . London Ambulance Service have said that 15 children were checked for injuries and seven had to be taken to a nearby hospital. More than half a dozen had to be treated for injuries, including dust in their eyes and bruises. London Fire Brigade also attended the scene, but said no one was trapped. Building work: The independent school's website states that in 2004 the school underwent 'comprehensive structural improvements' to create a 'state-of-the-art school' The GEMS Hampshire School is a mixed-sex private day school for children aged three to 13. It is believed that a large section of plaster fell from the ceiling in the hall of the school that was founded in 1928. A spokesman said: 'This morning sections of plaster fell from the ceiling of the school hall at the GEMS Hampshire school in Chelsea. 'The school was immediately evacuated and the emergency services were contacted. Seven children were taken to the Chelsea and Westminster Hospital with minor injuries and all have been discharged. Their parents were informed immediately, and all parents at the school were also contacted. 'Before children were allowed back into the school the London Fire Brigade and the district surveyor from the Royal Borough of Kensington and Chelsea independently verified that pupils were safe to return to classrooms. 'A safety assessment is currently being conducted to determine the causes of this incident. The parts of the building affected have been cordoned off. 'Our priority is the welfare of the pupils that have been affected and we will do everything possible to support them.' The independent school's website states that in 2004 the school underwent 'comprehensive structural improvements' to create a 'state-of-the-art school' A spokesman for the Royal Borough of Kensington and Chelsea Council said: 'Council officers will be visiting the site to assist, as appropriate, in any investigation into why this ceiling collapsed'. | Piece of plaster at Gems Hampshire School in Chelsea fell from ceiling . 15 pupils aged between nine and 12 treated for injuries at London school . Seven were taken to hospital after suffering bruises and dust in their eyes . Private prep school, just off the Kings Road, costs £15,000-a-year per pupil . | 501d185d3886e4d35c8655a8737c73074d320b6e |
BEIJING, China (CNN) -- Fireworks, athletes and pageantry on a scale never before seen in the Olympics opened the Summer Games in Beijing on Friday as the Asian nation kicked off the biggest and most scrutinized Games in history. Fans celebrate the Opening Ceremony of the 2008 Olympic Games in Beijing, China, on Friday. Chinese President Hu Jintao declared the Olympics officially open, retired Chinese gymnastics champion Li Ning was carried through the air to light the Olympic cauldron, and pyrotechnics exploded throughout Beijing as the crowd of 91,000 at National Stadium cheered wildly. It was a stunning display from the nation of 1.3 billion people. Some media observers believe that the Opening Ceremony may be the most-watched television event in history. IOC President Jacques Rogge spoke of China's long-held ambition to host the Olympics. "Tonight, that dream comes true," he said. Rogge mentioned the Sichuan earthquake, saying the world was moved "by the great courage and solidarity of the Chinese people." Emotion was high, as Friday's Opening Ceremony not only officially started the Summer Games but was a symbolic expression of a nation seeking its place as a global superpower. Watch the excitement in Beijing as the ceremony begins » . The ceremony began at 8 p.m. local time (8 a.m. ET) on the eighth day of the eighth month of 2008 -- in a country where eight is the luckiest number. The opening was an artistic mix of performance and light depicting China's 5,000 years of history. Fireworks shot off across the Chinese capital as thousands of drummers, acrobats, martial artists and dancers performed under a light display at the National Stadium. Children representing each of the 56 ethnic groups in China marched out into the stadium, called the "Bird's Nest" because of its notable appearance. Dancers merged with objects that depicted China's ancient Silk Road, its Great Wall and ancient imperial past. Acrobats swirled around a giant sphere, depicting China's ambitions in space. Watch why the Olympics mean so much for the Chinese » . Delegations from Afghanistan, Taiwan, North Korea and the United States were welcomed by huge cheers. But the loudest roars were saved for the Chinese participants. Waves of emotion greeted China's delegation as it entered National Stadium, led by flag bearer and basketball superstar Yao Ming. U.S. President Bush was joined by Russian Prime Minister Vladimir Putin and more than 100 heads of state, heads of government and sovereigns expected to attend, the International Olympic Committee said. The joy in Beijing was countered by grave news in Europe. As the Opening Ceremony was under way, Georgia's president said that his country was under attack by Russian tanks and warplanes. While in Beijing, Bush and Putin met to discuss the conflict. Earlier Friday, the anticipation over the Beijing Olympics was unmistakable in China's capital city. Thousands were on hand early at Beijing's Tiananmen Square to witness the traditional flag-raising ceremony by soldiers of the Chinese People's Liberation Army. Blog: Anticipation was at fever pitch . This version of the Olympics brings with it controversy, discord that began in 2001 when the 2008 Games were awarded to Beijing. Criticism over China's policies on human rights for its citizens, its policies in Tibet and the persistent pollution across the country have been the focus of much international scrutiny and media attention. Watch protests in Germany over China's Tibet policies » . For some world leaders, the decision to attend was a tough call. French President Nicolas Sarkozy threatened to boycott the Games because of human rights abuses in Tibet but later changed his mind. "It's inevitable that people from different countries may not see eye to eye," Hu said recently, "so we should try to expand our common ground on the basis of mutual respect." Political leaders do not attend Olympic opening ceremonies as a matter of protocol -- Bush is the first American president to attend them outside the United States -- but China seemed determined to have as many there as possible. "They want those leaders to confirm the fact that China has returned to great power, prominence in the world," said David Zweig, a political analyst at Hong Kong University of Science and Technology. "They really want to say to the people of China that we, the Communist party of China, have done a great job." Watch why China has invested so much in the Olympics » . As for the Games, an estimated 10,000 athletes from 205 countries will compete in 28 events for about 300 gold medals. The first medals will be awarded Saturday, and China hoped to claim the first gold of the Games. See a timeline of moments to watch for » . The Olympics will offer plenty of drama. China has put a priority on finishing first in the overall medal standings. Government officials have said they expect nothing less than a repeat gold medal from 110-meter hurdler Liu Xiang. Watch how pressure is building for the athletes » . On Sunday, swimming competition begins, along with U.S. swimmer Michael Phelps' quest to win eight gold medals, more than any individual in a single Games. Even if he fails, Phelps could become the all-time leader in gold medals. Also Sunday, an early showdown in basketball as the U.S. basketball team led by stars Kobe Bryant and LeBron James faces host China and Yao Ming. Watch an exclusive CNN interview with Yao » . CNN's Kevin Drew and Emily Chang contributed to this story. | Olympics Opening is under way, marking beginning of Summer Games . 2008 summer Olympics is most expensive on record . Anticipation building grows who will light Olympic cauldron . More than 10,000 athletes to compete for about 300 gold medals . | 1a153481ac07cb61f099827e69ca9c24ed8e9774 |
By . Joshua Gardner . PUBLISHED: . 10:56 EST, 17 October 2013 . | . UPDATED: . 12:09 EST, 17 October 2013 . A black Saturday Night Live actor fed up with the show’s years long lack of any black female cast members says he refuses to dress in drag to fill the gap. Kenan Thompson played many notable black women like Whoopi Goldberg during his first seven seasons on SNL but, as he show enters its sixth straight year without a black woman, Thompson says someone else can pick up the slack. With just one other black man in this season’s cast and with six new cast members—all of them white—the person who will play this year’s Whoopis and Oprahs and Michelle Obamas remains to be seen. SNL cast member Kenan Thompson has played many women, including Whoopi Goldberg, but this week he said no more. In protest of his show's lack of female black women, he won't fill the void . In a chat with TV Guide, Keenan suggested there’s a lack of top-notch black female talent making it to SNL auditions. ‘It's just a tough part of the business,’ Thompson says. ‘Like in auditions, they just never find ones that are ready.’ Over its nearly 40 years on the air, SNL has had a grand total of four black women on its cast: Yvonne Hudson, Danitra Vance, Ellen Cleghorne and Maya Rudolph. After Rudolph’s departure in 2007, the show lacked a female of color and has ever since. Four black women: In its nearly 40 years on the air, Saturday Night live has hired just four black women. The first was Yvonne Hudson, right. She was on for one season in 1980-1982. Danitra Vance, left, spent the 1985-86 season on the show . No more: After Ellen Cleghorn, left, left the cast in 1995, there wouldn't be another black woman until Maya Rudolph in 2000. Rudolph left in 2007 and there hasn't been a black woman on the show since . For critics of the show’s casting habits, the most recent selection of six new cast members, all of them white and only one of them female, was salt in the wound. Thompson’s refusal to wear drag in order to fill the void leaves viewers wondering who will and even Thompson doesn’t have the answer. Token? In the midst of the furor over the show's recent casting of six more people, all white, SNL announced Kerry Washington would host in November. She'll be only the 5th woman of color to host since season 35 . ‘I don't know. We just haven't done them,’ he said. ‘Maybe [Jay Pharaoh] will do it or something, but even he doesn't really want to do it.’ Thompson and Pharaoh are the only two black cast members in this, the 39th SNL season. In the wake of the scandal, SNL made a conspicuously timed announcement: Kerry Washington, the black star of hit show Scandal, will host the show in November. But whether producers made the hosting choice to placate critics seeing red because of so much white on SNL, booking Washington doesn’t change the makeup of the cast. And over the course of the last 90 episodes of the classic comedy series, only four women of color—two of them black and two Latinas—have been tapped as hosts. There is hope for black comediennes, however. Jay Pharaoh suggest to theGrio that Thompson is wrong and that the talent is definitely out there. ‘They need to pay attention,’ Pharaoh said as he described the comedy chops of black actress Darmirra Brunson and called out SNL casting directors. ‘Why do I think she should be on the show? Because she's black first of all, and she's really talented. She's amazing. She needs to be on SNL. I said it. And I believe they need to follow up with it like they said they were going to do last year.’ They're out there: While Thompson says talented black women aren't auditioning, his only black castmate Jay Pharaoh says actress Darmirra Brunson (left and right playing Beyonce and Rihanna) would be the perfect SNL addition . | Kenan Thompson has played Whoopi Goldberg, Star Jones, and Bobbi Kristina Brown . Now in his eighth year on Saturday Night Live, Thompson says he's done with drag . SNL has not had a black female cast member since Maya Rudolph in 2007 . The show has hired four black women in 40 years out of about 100 cast members who've appeared in the show . | f96a0e2f299c12a49745e290b0ac12ce06f8fe01 |
This teenager is lucky to be alive after he was impaled on a tree branch. Had the branch pierced his stomach just one millimetre the other way, he would have bled to death or be paralysed, doctors said. Declan Clark, 13, slipped while climbing a tree and a branch pierced his bowel in a neighbour’s garden in Rosyth, Dunfermline, Scotland. Lucky to be alive: Declan Clark, 13, made a lucky escape after this tree branch impaled his stomach and burst his bowel when he slipped while climbing the tree . Bleeding profusely, he was rushed to hospital for a three and a half hour operation which saved his life. He is now fitted with an external stoma bag while his bowel recovers. His father John, 44, said: ‘It wasn’t until afterwards that the surgeon explained if the tree had been one millimetre to the left he would have bled to death. ‘If it had went a millimetre the other way he would have been in a wheelchair for the rest of his life. ‘It was a very lucky escape. Hopefully . the bowel will repair itself and at the end he will only have a big scar . from his naval up to his chest.’ Life-saving surgery: Had the branch pierced his stomach one millimetre the other way, Declan could have bled to death or paralysed. Instead, he now has an external stoma bag while his bowel recovers . Miraculously, the branch shot straight back out of Declan’s stomach so none of it was still in his body as he was taken to Victoria Hospital in Kirkcaldy on July 20. Mr Clark, a joiner, said Declan had been playing with other children and jumped off a railing onto the fir tree. He said: ‘It was a million-in-one chance as he must have been at the right angle to go straight down and crush the top of the tree. ‘We reckon if it had been my younger son he wouldn’t be here, as when Declan landed his legs were just at the right height to touch the ground. Brave boy: Declan gave his parents John and Tracey (pictured) a real scare but he has hardly shed a tear according to his father . ‘He fell forward and the tree sprang back out, it burst his bowel but they never found any part of the tree in his body. ‘They took him to Kirkcaldy to get prepped for going to Edinburgh but they had to operate immediately.’ He spent seven days in hospital after the operation and now must use the stoma bag for six months while his bowel heals. Mr Clark said: ‘I can’t praise my son enough, he’s hardly shed a tear. ‘I can’t thank the people at Victoria Hospital enough as well, they were just amazing.’ The offending tree has been cut down. | Declan Clark pierced his stomach after he slipped while climbing a tree . The tree branch could have killed him or left him in a wheelchair had it impaled him one millimetre the other way . He was rushed to hospital and had three and a half hour life-saving surgery . The 13-year-old has an external stomach bag while his bowel recovers . | ddfffe975602dd65e4592f9fe6a45527acd6dc45 |
By . Mario Ledwith . When Sean Conway took to the sea, hoping to become the first person to swim the entire length of Britain, his friends told him that the challenge would kill him. Three million strokes later, and weighing a stone lighter, the weather-beaten adventurer managed to paddle across the finish line today. The 32-year-old expected to steadily creep 1,000 miles northwards over an arduous two months when he left Land’s End in Cornwall on June 30. Scroll down for video . Record: Sean Conway, 32, arriving at John O'Groats after the first ever 1,000-mile swim up Britain . Celebration: He finishes after swallowing more than 50 litres of seawater and plummeting in weight . But the warnings of his friends almost rang true, as the swimmer was forced to battle the elements over a torturous four months. He faced a string of hazards along the way, swallowing more than 50 litres of seawater, battling bouts of seasickness and experiencing severe weight loss from the physical exertion of swimming ten miles every day. The list of hazards even resulted in the swimmer growing a ‘ridiculous beard’ in a bid to deter jellyfish after being stung ten times on the face. Mr Conway, from Leckhampton, Gloucestershire, had to eat pureed food during breaks from swimming as his jaw was too cold to chew. Adventurer: The record-breaking swim is the latest of Mr Conway's adventures. He climbed Kilimanjaro dressed as a penguin and cycled 16,000 miles through six continents in 116 days with a fractured spine . Tough: Mr Conway described himself as a 'nutter' but said the experience was 'a dream come true' But arriving at John O’Groats – the British mainland’s most northerly point – the swimmer broke into tears as he sealed his place in the record books . He had spent just 90 days of the 136 swimming, with the remainder on dry land due to bad weather hampering his effort. Each time he left the water – sleeping in a yacht or onshore accommodation – his coordinates were mapped and his support boat returned to the same spot to resume the swim when it was safe to do so. Speaking after exiting the water the self-confessed ‘nutter’ described the experience as a ‘dream come true’. Vision: Zimbabwe-born Mr Conway has fantasised about reaching the harbour - staring at photos for motivation . Emerging: Crowds gathered to see the swimmer clamber out of the waves after 136 days journeying . Bad weather: Some of the days he was forced to get on dry land to recuperate during horrific storms . Sting-protection: Mr Conway 'had to grow this ridiculous beard' in the two months he was at sea . Although his feat will not be recognised by the Guinness Book of Records, due partly to him wearing a wet suit and occasionally using flippers, he does not mind. ‘I didn’t do it for the record books,’ he said yesterday. ‘I did it for different reasons – for me, and to prove it can be done, and that anybody can do anything if they put their mind to it. ‘The hardest part was trying to deal with the weather, the cold, and jellyfish in the face. I had to grow this ridiculous beard to stop the stings. ‘Guinness felt it was too difficult to attempt, and they probably did not want to be associated with it, but I have proved a lot of doubters wrong – though I’m not sorry it’s over!’ Journey: Marching out into the Cornish sea two months ago, Mr Conway did not know what he faced . Start: Setting off from Sennen Cove Bay at the start of the Speedo Swimming Britain Challenge . Exhausted: He was met at the finish by Babette, his mother, 60, who said: 'He has a strong will and mind' He was met at the finish of his ordeal by his mother Babette, 60, who said: ‘I’m so proud of him. This is his biggest adventure – he has a strong will and a strong mind.’ After tasting his first endurance event at the age of ten, when he swam a mile across a lake, the adventurer went on to climb Kilimanjaro dressed as a penguin and cycled 16,000 miles through six continents in 116 days, much of it with a fractured spine. Mr Conway, who was born in Zimbabwe, revealed that he had been fantasising about swimming into the harbour, even keeping a picture on his computer to visualise the scene. In a toast, he said: 'The hardest part was trying to deal with the weather, the cold, and jellyfish in the face' Almost conceded: 'Just a week ago I thought I might have to give up and finish next summer,' he said . Team support: Mr Conway's team embrace him as he struggles to stand on dry land . He said: ‘I’ve been dreaming of swimming into the John O’Groats harbour for a very long time. ‘I had a screengrab of the harbour on my laptop and I’ve been looking at it for ages. To finally be here and be warm and dry and on land is a good feeling. ‘Just a week ago I thought I might have to give up and finish the attempt next summer, with the bad weather, but we had a few good weather windows and I was able to finish it.’ | 32-year-old became first person to swim the 1,000-mile coast of Britain . He was stung by jellyfish ten times leaving his jaw too numb to eat . Set off on June 30 clean-shaven, arrived today exhausted and bearded . | 689b845364179638c0ff1f2d1fbc13db0db1e447 |
By . Sara Malm . A Chinese public official has been sacked after he was pictured ordering an employee to carrying through a flood to avoid getting his shoes wet. Wang Junhua was visiting an area where two young people had died as a result of recent flooding, when he ordered his subordinate carry him after realising the sodden ground would ruin his cream leather shoes. Mr Wang, the deputy director of the government office of Guixi city, Jiangxi province, has now been removed from his position, authorities confirmed. Bad boss: Wang Junhua, deputy director of the government office of Guixi city, Jiangxi province, forced his subordinate to carry him through a flood so he would not ruin his shoes . According . to local media Mr Wang was visiting the site where two students . drowned, and had not bothered to wear appropriate footwear. Instead . he had selected cream coloured leather shoes, and instead of getting . them wet, he had employee Ding Xianbao give him a piggyback. Hu . Peng, a local who witnessed the incident, said: ‘The guy looked . arrogant and bored. 'It was clear that he came to the site in order to . score some cheap publicity points. But when he saw that he might have . to get his feet wet his real personality surfaced . ‘He . ordered this guy to hoist him on his shoulders and he rode him like he . was a donkey. I felt sorry for the guy - he was humiliated.’ Sacked: . Mr Wang, the deputy director of the government office of Guixi city, Jiangxi province, has now been removed from his position . 'Publicity points': Mr Wang was visiting the affected area after two students died in the floods . Communist . Party officials removed him from his post when they learned about the . piggy back and denied that the man had ordered the subordinate to carry . him, saying that Ding had volunteered. But . they admitted it was still wrong, with one saying: ‘It was not within . his remit to order another human being to become his drudge. ‘This . is not how things work in China. If he didn't want to get wet feet, he . should have brought along rubber waders, not turn a worker into his . personal transportation.’ The man is appealing his job loss but party officials say their decision is ‘final'. Rainstorms . and floods sweeping eastern and southern China since mid-June have left . 14 people dead, four missing and up to 3 million people affected. China's central Hunan Province was one of the worst hit, where seven people have died. Also badly affected was Jiangxi province in the east where another five . people lost their lives and in Guangxi Zhuang, an autonomous region in . the south of the country, where another two people perished. | Public official Wang Junhua visited flooded area where students died . He did not want to ruin his shoes, so made subordinate carry him . Mr Wang has now been fired from government office of Guixi city . | 747162c5ed8702fd687af7f4ddfd128a5fb19633 |
Tom Cleverley has targeted an England recall after completing his last-ditch switch to Aston Villa. The midfielder moved to Villa Park on a season-long loan from Manchester United after the Premier League sanctioned the deal. Villa made a late move before the transfer deadline after initially calling off a permanent deal on Monday because of the player's wage demands. They then had to wait to see if they had completed the paperwork on time before the move was confirmed on Tuesday. VIDEO Scroll down for archive footage of Cleverley scoring sublime goal in England training . New challenge: Tom Cleverley (left) completed his loan move to Aston Villa from Manchester United . Cleverley was out of favour at Old Trafford and has also lost his place in the England squad after playing in seven of their 10 World Cup qualifiers. England host Norway in a friendly on Wednesday and go to Switzerland on Monday for the start of their Euro 2016 qualifying campaign without him. And Cleverley, who was left out of the Three Lions' World Cup squad this summer, wants to force his way back into boss Roy Hodgson's plans. 'I have got to get back playing and hopefully as a by-product of that I can get back in the England team,' the 25-year-old, who has 13 caps, told the club website. 'The thing I am concentrating on though is trying to come in and hit the ground running so I can help Aston Villa. Out of favour: Cleverley was in danger of finding himself frozen out at United if he did not secure a move . 'Playing football is what matters most to me and I'm looking forward to getting back to what I know I can do. This is the kind of club where I can do that. 'The prospect of working under the manager (Paul Lambert) and Roy (Keane, assistant manager), who were both fantastic midfielders in their playing careers, made the decision to come to Villa an easy one. 'I'm looking forward to working with them, but also the other really good midfield players that the club have, like Fabian Delph, Ashley Westwood and other new lads like Kieran Richardson, Joe Cole and Carlos Sanchez.' Villa had agreed an £8m fee with United, but walked away on Monday after failing to agree personal terms. All change: Cleverley was a regular under previous boss David Moyes but not under Louis van Gaal . Everton also tried to sign Cleverley on transfer deadline day, but failed to strike a deal, which then saw Villa resurrect the move. They are believed to have a deal in place to make the loan permanent. 'It's a team that plays the style of football I like,' Cleverley added. 'They play with high energy, they pass and move and there are a lot of good young players. The manager told me the way that he'd like me to play and it all sat perfectly for me. I'm very happy to be coming down to play for Villa.' Lambert added: 'Tom brings big game experience to the club, he's played international football for England and he still has great potential to kick on in his career. 'There's a lot of good football ahead of him if he performs the way we think he can perform and we're delighted to have been able to bring him in to join the group.' | Midfielder joins on season-long loan from Manchester United . Cleverley fell out of favour at Old Trafford under Louis van Gaal . 25-year-old played in seven of England's World Cup qualifiers . Everton also tried to sign Cleverley on transfer deadline day . | 9d63848824a038253e4faed7f41e1275b4b85232 |
(CNN) -- The Victoria and Albert Museum in London, UK has acquired two models of the world's first 3D-printed gun. The 'Liberator' pistol is the invention of Cody Wilson, a Texan law student whose company Defense Distributed caused a furore in May when it made blueprints for its firearm freely available on the internet. The distribution of the designs led to Wired magazine naming Wilson as one of the '15 Most dangerous People in the World'. In theory, once downloaded, the designs would allow anyone with access to a 3D printer to make their own gun. Video shows test firing of 3-D printed handgun . A few days after Wilson conducted his first successful test of the pistol, the U.S. government forced Defense Distributed to take the plans down. Wilson complied, but not before the design had been downloaded over 100,000 times. The V&A museum has two copies of the Liberator pistol on display as part of London Design Week. The two prototypes on display -- one extant and one disassembled to show its components -- are part of a new collection of 3D objects. According to the curators, the guns "represent a turning point in debates around digital manufacturing." The Science Museum in London also has a Liberator on display. In an interview with CNN, Wilson said that he felt the museum's curators appreciated the Liberator pistol as a design object, but also appreciated the political ideas the weapon conveyed. "The curators of the museum's digital collection understand Liberator and our other pieces are first and foremost articles of political thought-practice," Wilson said. Wilson says that in his view 3D printing is still in its infancy, and that it will become more significant in the future: "I see digital manufacturing playing a bigger role in our lives." While he thought that the mainstream firearms industry is no longer as powerful as it once was, Wilson said he thought that the spread of weaponry will gradually increase, and that in future it will be easy for almost anyone to get a gun: "I think gun-making culture is on an understandable decline, but the barrier to entry to this culture will be lowered." U.S. requires group to remove 3-D gun instructions from its website . Considering it as a design object, Wilson believes that the Liberator's unusual shape has been part of its success: "Looking back, I would change nothing of the design. It was curious, boxy, alien. Its strangeness allowed it a better examination -- both as an article of design and as a concept." Alongside the 3D printed gun, the museum also acquired four other items which point to the future of design, including a homemade toaster constructed from odds and ends for just $6 and a futuristic armchair with elongated "ears" to create an artificial private space. 3-D printed guns a boon for criminals? All the items were bought through the Design Fund to Benefit the V&A. Martin Roth, the museum's director, said: "The generosity of supporters of the Design Fund ensures that the V&A is able to acquire for our permanent collections some of the best and most exciting design projects of our time. "This year's acquisitions reflect an interesting combination of new technologies working with traditional crafts." NASA sending 3-D printer into space . | London museum acquires world's first 3D-printed gun . The firearm is the invention of Texan law student Cody Wilson . The U.S. State department banned Wilson from distributing the gun's plans in May . | a1d2363333c8824ffe410f75f3e6c8b924d3eb97 |
Gary Sims, 55, choked to death as he took part in the pickled egg eating contest at the Boar's Head Inn . A former Royal Marine choked to death during a 'friendly' pickled egg eating contest in his local pub, an inquest heard. Father-of-two Gary Sims stopped breathing after stuffing three eggs into his mouth in a bid to win the challenge. The 55-year-old crashed off his chair and his eyes rolled back, prompting friends and staff to attempt the Heimlich manoeuvre, before ringing 999. Despite their best efforts Gary - known as Joe to his mates - suffered a cardiac arrest and died in the ambulance outside the Boar's Head Inn in Berkeley, Gloucestershire. The hearing heard the egg eating race was sparked after Mr Sims saw a friend buying an egg at the bar in June this year. He promptly bought six eggs, each costing around £1, and issued the challenge. Friend Alex Thackeray said: 'At 9pm a friend of his decided to buy pickled eggs, at which Gary issued a challenge, and more eggs were purchased. 'The two decided to have a race to see who could eat the quickest, with Gary putting all three in at once. 'He swallowed then took a swig with his pint to wash them down. 'I recall him trying to look at me directly before his eyes rolled in his head and he fell backwards. 'Initially it was believed he knocked himself out. Several of us picked him up and put him in the chair. 'It was very clear he was not breathing.' Gloucester Coroner's Court heard an ambulance was called immediately and a call handler issued advice over the phone. The friends tried to perform the Heimlich manoeuvre without success before attempting to unblock his airway with their fingers. They also performed CPR, which was then taken over by ambulance crew members. A second crew arrived, but further efforts to save him failed and was declared dead at 11.04pm. Fellow drinkers desperately tried to save Mr Sims by performing the Heimlich manoeuvre, before ringing 999. A post mortem examination found a 22mm-long piece of egg white lodged in his right airway. A blood test revealed at the time of his death he had 136 milligrams of alcohol in 100 millilitres of blood - the legal limit for driving is 80 milligrams. Mr Sims suffered a hypoxic injury due to shortage of oxygen to the brain, which led it to swell. Coroner Katy Skerrett concluded that his death was the result of an accident. She said: 'While drinking he entered a friendly competition or challenge with another drinker as to who could eat the pickled eggs the quickest. 'He started to choke and despite the efforts of his colleagues and paramedics, they could not save him.' Mr Sims, who lived in Berkeley, was also as a former contractor who had worked on the decommissioned power station at Berkeley for around five years. | Father-of-two Gary Sims was with friends in the Boar's Head Inn . The 55-year-old challenged a friend to a pickled egg eating contest . He bought six eggs, each costing around £1, for the 'friendly competition' Mr Sims started choking after putting three eggs in his mouth at once . Fellow drinkers attempted to perform the Heimlich manoeuvre to save him . He died in the ambulance outside the Boar's Head Inn in Gloucestershire . Coroner concludes that his death was the result of an accident . | 1292ea546013ac8a6fdff127bc94824795c48876 |
By . Lizzie Parry . PUBLISHED: . 16:04 EST, 12 December 2013 . | . UPDATED: . 18:17 EST, 12 December 2013 . A new two-part drama series will tell the story of the 'crime of the century' through the eyes of the criminals and the police whose job it was to bring them to justice. To mark the 50th anniversary of the Great Train Robbery, the BBC has taken a fresh look at the untold story behind the well-known folklore. The country was left stunned after a train was hijacked and robbed, just 35 miles from its London destination in August 1963. A 15-strong gang launched a raid on the overnight service from Glasgow at the Bridego Railway Bridge in Ledburn, Buckinghamshire in the early hours of August 8. The cast of A Robber's Tale, play the gang responsible for plotting and carrying out the Great Train Robbery in August 1963. Centre is actor Luke Evans, who plays mastermind of the crime, Bruce Reynolds . The cast of A Copper's Tale, including DCI Bradbury played by John Salthouse, left, DI Williams played by Robert Glenister, second left, DCS Tommy Butler played by Jim Broadbent, centre, and DS Slipper played by Nick Moran . Led by the charismatic Bruce Reynolds, who is played by bright actor Luke Evans, 34, the group of mid-level criminals and a corrupt solicitor pulled off the infamous heist, making off with £2.6million. The bulk of the huge haul of money was never recovered. The gang fled the scene, seeking shelter at Leatherslade Farm. It was after police officers uncovered their hideout that incriminating evidence led to the arrest and conviction of most of the gang. Leader Reynolds escaped the law for five years after going on the run, but was eventually tracked down and jailed for 25 years in 1969. The mysterious crime baffled and frustrated police, but thrilled the general public with the press hailing the gang 'plucky heroes'. The first film, A Robber's Tale, focuses on the story of Bruce Reynolds as he masterminds the raid on the Royal Mail train. It is followed by the second installment, A Copper's Tale, telling the story from the perspective of DCS Tommy Butler, the police officer leading the investigation aimed at bringing the gang to justice. The films, written by Chris Chibnell - the man behind the hit ITV drama Broadchurch - will be shown on BBC One on consecutive nights next week. In a scene from the production, the train robbers can be seen hauling the £2.6million from the London-bound Royal Mail train . The 'crime of the century' was masterminded by Bruce Reynolds, played in the BBC production by Luke Evans, 34 . The first installment, A Robber's Tale, will examine the planning and preparation in the lead up to the great heist in August 1963. Reynolds, right, is seen with fellow gang member Charlie Wilson, left, played by Jack Roth . The Torchwood and Doctor Who writer, said his depiction aims to tell the untold side of the much-debated crime. He said: 'It is a piece of modern folklore so you grow up knowing there was this extraordinary event. 'I was born in 1970, so it was seven years before I was born but I always knew of its place in British history but also there is a sense of myth to it as well.' 'I had always known the general sense of the story but when I started to research both these films I had a much greater sense of the detail of it,' he added. 'What's happened in the ensuing years is the stories of the escapes, the journey to Rio, all the stuff that happened after they were sent to prison, most of the attention has gone on that side of the story. 'Whereas I think the detail of the planning and the detail of how the robbery took place and what happened afterwards has been absolutely lost. 'That is what excited me when I was researching it, to go there is a huge story here. The robbery was well-rehearsed and thoroughly planned. The gang targeted the overnight Glasgow to London Royal Mail train, striking at Ledburn in Buckinghamshire . Bruce Reynolds, played by actor Luke Evans, spent five years on the run before being jailed for 25 years in 1969. He was released in 1978 . Mastermind behind the Great Train Robbery, Bruce Reynolds, left, and fellow gang member Ronnie Biggs, right . Buster Edwards, left, and Bob Welch, right, were also among the 15-strong gang of robbers which made off with £2.6million . 'There is a huge story on the side of the guys who carried out the robbery and actually the absolutely untold story of the Flying Squad, the story of Tommy Butler, a guy who never gave a press interview, and his team of policemen who took the robbers down. 'There is a huge side of the story that I thought I don't know about, and I have certainly never seen it told in a drama... so that was the thrilling thing. Speaking to the BBC about his role, he said: 'In real life the great train robbers spent a lot of time with each other, so what you are very aware of is that they would never ever do anybody in.'They never gave up names of the crew – even if they went to prison. So there was this camaraderie, this real sense of friendship between them. So we [the cast] hung out a lot.'The first film sees what happens as the robbers retreated to a farmhouse to divide up their stash and keep a low profile. The second installment sees Jim Broadbent, pictured, take on the role of DCI Tommy Butler . Chief Superintendent Tommy Butler led the Flying Squad, the team who worked to bring the Great Train robbers to justice . It also explores the fall-out after driver, Jack Mills, got hurt and why even their best laid plans had to be changed causing some members to be on the run for the rest of their lives.In one of the stills, the robbers are seen forming a human chain to unload the bags, carrying the money which is the equivalent to £40 million today.The story is then turned on its head as DSC Tommy Butler, played by Jim Broadbent, gets to work with six of the best officers from across London.Speaking about taking on a real life figure, Jim said: 'In some ways it’s a challenge and in some ways it’s a great help because you’ve got the research you can do, archive footage, documented material.Adding: 'Interrogation scenes are always nice to do in a way, particularly with a good script and good actors. It was fascinating how all the interrogations varied with different characters.'Though Reynolds was undoubtedly the gang’s leader, it was Ronnie Biggs, a relatively minor player, who would achieve the greater fame during the decades he spent on the run.‘When I took on the role of Biggs,’ says actor Jack Gordon, ‘I only knew about him from reading about his antics in the tabloids.'During filming my affection for him grew and grew. I’ve come to see that, even though he was a criminal, he was no monster. He was a decent bloke, a committed family man. People enjoyed his company. He was a chancer.'The Great Train Robbery: A Robber's Tale and A Copper's Tale will be shown on BBC1 on December 18 and 19 at 8pm. The team of officers are hard at work in A Copper's Tale, in their bid to track down and catch the gang behind the Great Train Robbery . The two films will air on consecutive nights next week on BBC One . | Writer Chris Chibnell said he was compelled to share the unknown side of the mysterious 'crime of the century' Two-part drama will air on BBC One on December 18 and 19 at 8pm to mark the 50th anniversary of the heist . A Robber's Tale tells the story of the planning masterminded by Bruce Reynolds, played by actor Luke Evans . A Copper's Tale reveals the story of DCI Tommy Butler, played by Jim Broadbent and his quest for justice . | b0aaf455b4d0aa0a041ad6aa69b8c850bdf4abe2 |
(CNN) -- The Arkansas medical examiner has ruled the death of a man shot while handcuffed in the back of a police car as a suicide, the state crime lab announced Monday. Chavis Carter, 21, died July 29 while in the back of a Jonesboro, Arkansas, police car. The police report from that night shows officers detained Carter after learning there was a warrant for his arrest in Mississippi and searched him twice before leaving him handcuffed in the backseat of a patrol car. "At the time of discharge, the muzzle of the gun was placed against the right temporal scalp," the crime lab's report states. Police said they discovered a .380-caliber Cobra semi-automatic pistol when the found Carter's body slumped over. Many people in Jonesboro were skeptical about the shooting, as was Carter's mother. "I think they killed him," Theresa Carter told CNN on Wednesday. "I mean, my son wasn't suicidal." She also said her son was left-handed and had called his girlfriend to tell her he would contact her from jail. She wondered how police could find a bag of marijuana and not find a gun when they searched her son. There have been several protests in Jonesboro by citizens who don't believe the police explanation. Police have released a video in which an officer dramatizes how someone could shoot themselves while in the back of a police car. The officer was the same height and build as Carter, police said. They also have released the interview room video of a witness who said police were standing outside the car when a shot was fired. The autopsy also showed that Chavis Carter tested positive for marijuana, amphetamines (including meth) and benzodiazepines, classified by the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration as depressants. Jonesboro police said the investigation into Carter's death is ongoing. | Crime lab concludes suspect shot himself in right temple . Chavis Carter was handcuffed in the back of a police car . The 21-year-old had been searched for a weapon twice . His mother has said he was not suicidal . | bce833ff4e283ed9f5020458a8c5badfa2013608 |
(CNN) -- A hot air balloon burst into flames and crashed Friday night in Virginia after apparently hitting a power line, prompting a search for the wreckage and the three people believed to have been on board, authorities said. The incident happened over Doswell, 25 miles north of Richmond, around 7:30 p.m., Federal Aviation Administration spokeswoman Kathleen Bergen said. Preliminary information indicates the balloon apparently struck a power line and then caught fire, according to Bergen. Witnesses reported the balloon ablaze and crashing somewhere northeast of Meadow Event Park, according to Virginia State Police spokeswoman Corinne Geller. Images from the scene show one balloon well above the ground, with its basket in flames. About two hours later, authorities still didn't know exactly where the balloon ended up. Nor did they know the condition of the one pilot and two passengers thought to be on board, according to Geller. "We've been actively searching," the state police spokeswoman said. "At this point, we have found no wreckage." There was no rain at the time, Geller said, though severe storms rolling through could complicate the search. The incident came one day before the scheduled start of the inaugural Mid-Atlantic Balloon Festival, which is set to run through the weekend. On its website, the event's organizers invite people to "get up close and personal with 20 hot air balloon teams from across the country." The event has been canceled in light of Friday's incident, according to a post on the festival's Facebook page. CNN's Chandler Friedman and Aaron Cooper contributed to this report. | NEW: The balloon apparently hit a power line, an FAA spokeswoman says . NEW: The Mid-Atlantic Balloon Festival is called off due to the incident . Images show the balloon well above the ground with its basket on fire . Authorities haven't yet found the balloon or the 3 thought to be on board . | 635d009983aebac0a0dca1cf65a37a7769718e2d |
Children trapped on a mountain by Islamic State militants in Iraq are drinking blood from their parents to stay alive, it emerged today. Their horrendous plight was revealed after some 8,000 Yazidis were finally able to escape down Mount Sinjar where they have been under siege from jihadist fighters for the last week. Those fleeing have made it to relative safety at a camp in Dohuk Province in Kurdistan, where they have told horrific stories of the 30,000 who have been left behind. Sky News correspondent Sherine Tadros, who is at the camp, said: 'One man has just told us how he saw four children die of thirst. 'There was nowhere to bury them on the mountain so they just put rocks on their bodies. 'Another man was saying the children were so thirsty, their parents started cutting their own hands and giving them blood to drink.' Desperate: Displaced Yazidis are clawing for food and drink to stay alive in the desert, with children allegedly drinking their parents' blood . Those fleeing have made it to relative safety at a camp in Dohuk Province in Kurdistan, where they have told horrific stories of the 30,000 left behind . Hundreds of other families have also made it across the border after trekking for hundreds of kilometres through sweltering temperatures to safety . They are being given food, water and medical treatment at shelters in Turkey and Syria after being driven out of their town by ISIS more than a week ago . Hundreds of other families have also . made it across the border after trekking for hundreds of kilometres . through sweltering temperatures to safety. They . are being given food, water and medical treatment at shelters in Turkey . and Syria after being driven out of their town by ISIS more than a week . ago. Some have been . forced to pay smugglers their life savings to take them on perilous . journeys across the border into Turkey, sometimes through minefields. They . are among several gruelling treks to freedom the community has taken . after they were sent scattering to the four corners by the insurgency, . which has trapped around 30,000 others on Sinjar Mountain with no food . or water. Refuge at last: Displaced Iraqis from the Yazidi community look for clothes to wear among items provided by a charity organisation at the Nowruz camp, in Derike, Syria . Fleeing jihad: Syrian Kurdish fighters battled Islamic State militants to carve an escape route to tens of thousands trapped on a mountain top . Displaced: Thousands of Yazidis have trekked for hundreds of kilometres to make it across the border after they were driven from their town by ISIS more than a week ago . Scattered: A graphic showing the various escape routes the Yazidis have taken, often through hundreds of kilometres of desert terrain, after being attacked by ISIS . Around 2,000 Yazidis have made it to a refugee camp in Derabon, a small village near Zakho on the Iraqi Kurdistan-Turkey border. But with no passports, many are having to sit tight and hope the uprising is crushed or pay smugglers to help them avoid the official border crossing at Habur. One mother who suffers agonising rheumatism told how she and her three young children waded through the Tigris River, tip-toed her way through a minefield and climbed through a barbed-wire fence to make it into Turkey. Half-way through the five-hour journey, Amal said the smuggler wanted her children to leave her behind because she was too slow, but they chose to carry her instead. The 43-year-old told The Times: 'My . sons gathered around me and they refused. We were not afraid of dying . there. We were afraid of dying at the hands of the Islamic State.' Another teenager has not been so lucky. Amer . Omar Pajo said he watched his father get shot in the head by ISIS . gunmen as they fled to the mountains and his mother later succumbed to . dehydration. Starving: Yazidi children scramble for food at the Nowruz camp in Derike, Syria after trekking hundreds of miles to escape ISIS . Suffering: Sick children from the Yazidi community wait for treatment at a clinic at the Nowruz refugee camp in Derike, Syria . Persecuted: A former senior Iraqi politician warned that the country risks becoming another Syria unless a way to preserve its unity is found . The family sold . the last of their belongings to pay a smuggler to get them to Derabon, . but now he doesn't have the $600 to pay another trafficker to get him . across the border. Meanwhile, . another 130 U.S. troops have arrived in Iraq on what the Pentagon . described as a temporary mission to assess the scope of the humanitarian . crisis facing thousands of displaced civilians trapped on Sinjar. The British Government also remained . under pressure today to consider military intervention as more aid was . delivered to the mountain top. International . Development Secretary Justine Greening confirmed that a third round of . successful UK air drops took place last night. The supplies included two C130 consignments containing 2,640 reusable water purification containers filled with clean water. More . than 500 shelter kits to provide shade in temperatures of more than 40C . (104F) were also inside the packages. There have now been five . successful drops over three nights. But . Prime Minister David Cameron has insisted the UK will not intervene . militarily - despite increasing calls from experienced commanders . yesterday for it to join the US in air strikes on IS targets. Taking shelter: Iraqi Yazidi refugees escaping from attacks by the Islamic State settle into their makeshift home in the Turkish city of Sirnak . Ms . Greening, who announced £8 million in new assistance last week: said: . 'As thousands of Iraqi people remain cut off away from their homes, we . are focused on getting help to those in need, particularly those trapped . on Mount Sinjar. 'After . last night the RAF have successfully made five drops, including . thousands of containers filled with clean water that can also be used to . purify dirty water and hundreds of shelter kits.' Islamic State, which sees Shi'ites as . heretics who deserve death, has seized a series of towns in northern . Iraq, in a sweeping advance that has left the Iraqi government reeling . and prompted tens of thousands to flee. The group has declared religious rule in a caliphate straddling Syria and Iraq, offering . both Christians and members of the ancient Yazidi sect, whom it calls . 'devil worshippers', the stark choice between conversion to Islam or . death. It came as a . former senior Iraqi politician warned that the country risks becoming . another Syria unless a way to preserve its unity is found. Hajem . Hassani, previously speaker in the Iraqi parliament, said if the . society did not come together, it would leave the door wide open to the . Islamic State (IS). He told BBC Radio 4's Today programme: 'This is probably one of the hardest times Iraq is facing. 'If we don't come together, then probably we will open the door too wide for the IS or other terrorist organisations. 'We . need to take the control...(or) it definitely will take us to the . Syrian path if we are not very careful and finding ways to solve the . problems.' Asked whether . newly-appointed prime minister Haider Abadi understood the need for an . inclusive government, he replied: 'He should do.' Sustenance: Refugees who fled across the border wait to receive food after reaching a camp in the city of Sirnak in Turkey's Silopi district . Meanwhile, unrest continued in Baghdad, where Iraqi troops imposed heightened security as international support mounted for a new prime minister to replace Nouri al-Maliki, who has called on the armed forces to stay out of politics amid fears of a possible coup. Tanks and Humvees were positioned on Baghdad bridges and at major intersections on Wednesday, with security personnel more visible than usual. About 100 pro-Maliki demonstrators took to Firdous Square in the capital, pledging their allegiance to him. The embattled premier has grown increasingly isolated, with Iraqi politicians and much of the international community lining up behind Haider al-Abadi, a fellow member of his Shiite Dawa party tasked by the president with forming a new government that can unite the country in the face of an onslaught by Sunni militants. Widespread discontent with al-Maliki's divisive rule has reached the point where both Saudi Arabia and Iran - regional rivals often bitterly divided over Iraq - have expressed support for al-Abadi. The United States, the European Union and the United Nations have also expressed support for new leadership. But al-Maliki, whose bloc won the most votes in April elections, has thus far refused to step aside and rejected the appointment of al-Abadi as unconstitutional. Al-Abadi was selected by the main Shiite alliance which includes al-Maliki's bloc, but the Islamic Dawa party says al-Abadi 'only represents himself.' | Horrific stories of 30,000 Yazidis trapped by Islamic State jihadists emerge after 8,000 escape down the mountain . Hundreds of families have made it across border into Turkey and Syria after trekking for days in 45C temperatures . Minority sect has been sent scattering in all directions after Islamic State jihadists stormed their town a week ago . Some families have been forced to pay smugglers to take them through rivers and minefields to make it to safety . Another 130 U.S. troops have arrived in Iraq to assess the crisis facing 30,000 Yazidis trapped on Mount Sinjar . British Government also remained . under pressure to consider military intervention to rescue the refugees . | dbaa02d8c0cd3cce464ba49c470b92cdf722ed6e |
By . Ryan Gorman and Helen Pow . PUBLISHED: . 13:06 EST, 6 August 2013 . | . UPDATED: . 14:15 EST, 6 August 2013 . A Pennsylvania father and former Little League coach is being hailed a hero for wrestling to the ground a crazed gunman moments after the man allegedly shot dead three people at a city planning meeting on Monday night. Bernie Kozen was pictured today talking to sheriff's deputies as the victims authorities say were killed by scorned resident Rockne Newell, 59, were identified as Chestnuthill Township Supervisor David Fleetwood, Gerard Kozic, 53, of Saylorsburg and James LaGuardia, 64, of Saylorsburg. Newell is accused of shouting 'You took my property, ****suckers!' before opening fire on the monthly Ross Township municipal meeting after feuding with the city over living conditions at his home. He was charged with three counts of murder, two counts of attempted murder and two counts of aggravated assault on Tuesday. Scroll down for video . Hero: Bernie Kozen, pictured near the shooting scene on Tuesday, August. 6, 2013, wrestled the gunman to the ground . Tragic: The three victims were killed on Monday night at the Ross Township Municipal Building, in Saylorsburg, Pennsylvania . Kozen told The Pocono Record he . was helping one of the men injured in the spray of bullets when Newell . 'walked by me into the meeting room, I guess to shoot more people.' He recounted the gunman shouting: 'You took my property, ****suckers!' At . that moment, Kozen courageously pounced on the shooter and tackled him . to the floor before using Newell's own weapon to shoot him twice in the . leg. 'I came up behind him . and wrestled the gun from him,' Kozen told the newspaper, adding that he . had the help of another brave witness. Witness Cleoria Campodonico described the horror inside the usually dry meeting. Victim: Chestnuthill Township Supervisor David Fleetwood, pictured, was among the three men killed . 'I'll never get those images out of my . head. Those poor, innocent people,' she said. 'David Fleetwood pushed me . out of the way and got shot twice in the belly.' Fleetwood was as a man you could count on, his friends said on Tuesday. 'He'd . give you the shirt off his back,' Township Manager Dave Albright told . The Record, choking back tears. 'He'd do anything for you. Just in the . things that he did here at the township but also as a friend.' Gerard Kozic's wife, Linda, and Frank Pirano Jr. were also injured in the shock shooting. Newell had reportedly been in an ongoing dispute with the city about a junkyard on his property. 'I heard more than 10 shots,' said The Pocono Record reporter Chris Reber, who was at the meeting. 'It was automatic, like a string of firecrackers.' State . police said about 15 to 18 residents and town officials were at the . building, a short drive from Newell's property, when the gunfire erupted . at around 7:19 p.m. Two people died at the scene, and a third person died after being flown to a hospital. A woman, presumably Mrs Kozic, was undergoing surgery late Monday. One person was shot . in the leg, two were shot in the stomach and one was shot in the head, . according to the Pocono Record. Investigators said Newell began shooting as he approached the building and continued as he walked into and through it. He . then went back out to his vehicle in the parking lot, retrieved a . handgun and returned to the building, firing more shots, police said. Suspect: Rockne Newell is accused of killing three people dead at a Ross Township board meeting last night . Horrific: Rockne Newell is alleged to have opened fire on the Ross Township board meeting Monday night . From all over: Emergency reponders from multiple agencies poured into the scene after the first 911 call just before 7:30 Monday evening . Reber said the gunman, armed with a long gun with a scope, shot through a wall into the meeting. 'The thing that got my attention: . plaster flying out, blowing out through the walls. Witnesses would later . tell me they saw pictures exploding away from the walls,' Reber said on Monday evening. He said he crawled out to a hallway, exited the building and took cover behind a vehicle. 'The gunman was this guy wearing a . blue Hawaiian shirt,' he said. 'I saw him go back out to his car, a . silver Impala, and get another gun. 'It wasn't real to me until I went back inside and saw people bleeding.' Reber was the first to flag up Kozen's heroics. 'Bernie Kozen was there tending to the man and he . (the shooter) didn't see them,' he explained. 'Bernie bearhugged him . and took him down. He shot him with his own gun.' Rep. Matt Cartwright, who represents the state's 17th District Cartwright called Kozen a 'true hero.' When asked at his arraignment on . Tuesday whether he owns any property, Newell said: 'They stole it from . me. That's what started all this.' Disrepair: Newell's property was compared to a junkyard in local media reports about his feud with officials . Search: The home of alleged shooter 59-year-old Rockne Newell is seen early Tuesday, August 6, 2013 in Saylorsburg, Pennsylvania . Junk collector: Debris litters the yard of alleged shooter and self-confessed junk collector Rockne Newell . He then asked if he'll get any medical attention. 'I . got a .44 slug on my leg. Hospital says its still in there. They gave . me no pain medication and sent me on my way. I'm bleeding all over the . place,' he said. Newell had been in a long-running . dispute with township officials over the dilapidated condition of his . property, state police Capt. Edward Hoke said. The township supervisors voted in . February 2012 to take legal action against Newell for violating zoning . and sewer regulations, according to meeting minutes posted online. Last October, Newell set up a . fundraising page online and was trying to raise $10,000 to pay for legal . fees in his battle with the township. 'Ross township took me to court & . the court ruled I have to vacate my home of 20 years,' he wrote on the . page called saveRockyshome. 'I live on SSI which comes to $600 a month I . have no money to clean it up.' Bearhug: Kozen, West End Open Space Commission executive director, pictured, bear-hugged the gunman and took him down, according to a witness . Hard: Kozen, pictured, tackled Rockne Newell, who was on Tuesday arraigned on homicide charges and other counts . Newell said his two rescue dogs 'will be put to sleep because no one else will take them.' The property includes an old camper in . the front yard filled with wooden pallets, pieces of what appear to be . old railroad ties and trash. A garage leans and appears close to . collapse, and a propane tank sits inside an old dog house. State police, who guarded the property early Tuesday, were awaiting a search warrant so they can enter it. In June, the Pocono Record wrote a . story about what it said was an 18-year fight between the township and . Newell over his property. Monroe . County Court in August 2012 sided with the township and ordered Newell . to vacate and never again occupy or use the property unless he had the . permits to do so. Alleged shooter: Newell, pictured left and right, was angry about a property dispute . Investigation: Pennsylvania State Police are searching Newell's dilapidated home and yard (pictured) Violations: Newell has a longstanding dispute with the township authorities over his home (pictured) The report said Newell had been living out of a car, a 1984 Pontiac Fiero, and in abandoned buildings since being ordered to vacate. Newell told the paper he was unemployed for years after an injury from a crash and had nowhere else to go. 'They have no right to kick me off my property,' he told the newspaper. 'They call my property an eyesore. When I bought it, it was one of only three properties on the entire road that didn't have what they call junk.' Newell was in police custody after being treated at the hospital Monday night. Ross Township has about 5,500 residents . Newell told the Record this past June he couldn’t afford the septic hookup fees, and eerily complained about his perceived treatment. 'If I lose this property, I have nowhere else to go,' said Newell, adding 'what they're doing to me, what they've been doing to me for so long, it's wrong.' Authorities have yet to bring charges against Newell but are holding him while his property is searched. He has been released from hospital where he was treated for gunshot wounds to the leg. | Bernie Kozen wrestled a crazed gunman moments after the man shot dead three people at Ross Township municipal meeting on Monday night . Victims were identified as Chestnuthill Township Supervisor David Fleetwood and residents Gerard Kozic and James LaGuardia . Kozen shot suspected gunman Rockne Newell in the leg with his own weapon . Newell has had a ongoing dispute with the township over junk in his yard . Was trying to raise $10,000 to fund his legal battle against authorities . | 40c2c92888ab4478ff9c69857339ec0bba32d024 |
Manchester City's pre-season campaign got off to a disappointing start as Manuel Pellegrini's side began with a surprise 2-0 defeat to Dundee at Dens Park. The Premier League champions, who gave debuts to summer signings Fernando and Willy Caballero, looked out of sorts as the Scottish side scored twice in the first half to seal a memorable victory. Gary Harkins gave the Championship winners the lead on 27 minutes, converting the rebound after Caballero had saved his penalty following a foul by youngster Jason Denayer. VIDEO Scroll down to watch some of Manchester City signing Fernando's tricks for Porto . Surrounded: Manchester City substitute Samir Nasri is put under pressure by a trio of Dundee players . New boy: Summer signing Fernando (right) gets away from Dundee's Luka Tankulic (left) Debut: Willy Caballero pulls on the Manchester City shirt for the first time after joining from Malaga . On the spot: Dundee's Gary Harkins watches Caballero save his first-half penalty at Dens Park . Second chance: Harkins scores from close range after connecting with the rebound from his saved penalty . All smiles: Harkins celebrates scoring the opening goal in front of the home fans . VIDEO New faces on show as City return to action . Dundee: Adam, Irvine, Mcpake, Trialist, Dyer, Mcbride, Thomson, Trialist, Harkins, Mcalister, Trialist . Subs: Letheren, Davidson, Riley, Macdonald, Roberts, Stewart, Benedictus . Goals: Harkins, Tankulic . Manchester City: Caballero, Bossaerts (Richards 46), Kolarov (Leigh 46), Denayer (Rekik 46), Boyata (Nastasic 46), Navas (Garcia 46), Fernando (Zuculini 46), Rodwell (Nasri 46), Huws, Jovetic (Negredo 46), Guidetti (Sinclair 46) Trialist Luka Tankulic added a second 11 minutes later, converting a cross from Harkins with the help of a deflection off defender Dedryck Boyata. This meeting had been eagerly anticipated from the minute it became known City were travelling north to face Paul Hartley's side, who were similarly fresh from their own title conquest at the end of last season. The visitors have a trio of players still at the World Cup and plenty more recovering from their exploits in Brazil but Pellegrini still sent out a fairly strong side to Tayside which included summer signings Willy Caballero, their new goalkeeper from Malaga and Fernando, their much-vaunted £12m capture from FC Porto, while Spanish winger Jesus Navas and Montenegro striker Stevan Jovetic took their usual places. They took time to grace the Dens Park surface the night before as fans from both sides rolled up to catch a glimpse of the English champions being put through their paces in the build-up to for this late afternoon kick-off. Big impression: Trialist Luka Tankulic (left) scores Dundee's second goal against Manchester City . Going nowhere: City midfielder Javi Garcia brings down Dundee's Phil Roberts during the second half . Battle: Dundee's Kevin McBride (left) tussles for the ball with City striker John Guidetti (right) There were no prizes at stake for this pre-season encounter which had been billed the champions vs champions but the hosts were buoyed by taking a 27th minute lead. Harkins was barged inside the box by Denayer and wasted no time in stepping up to take the resultant spot-kick. His effort was saved by Caballero but the former Kilmarnock and St Mirren man did enough to force home the rebound. Then, on 37 minutes, Dundee had the audacity to go even further ahead. This time Harkins hooked a cross into the box where Tankulic was waiting to send a shot out of the reach of Caballero with the aid of a deflection. City, not surprisingly, made nine changes at half-time, with another new signing, Bruno Zuculini, also getting his first taste of action since joining Pellegrini's side. First team stars Samir Nasri, Alvaro Negredo and Matija Nastasic all joined the action at the break, but none could help the visitors mount a second half comeback. In control: Dundee's Willie Dyer (right) attempts to turn away from City winger Jesus Navas (left) Peter MacDonald, the Dundee substitute, even had a chance to make it 3-0 on 73 minutes as he beat the City offside trap, but his delicate lobbed effort flew just wide. City continue their tour of Scotland with a game against Hearts at Tynecastle on Friday evening before jetting off to the USA for games against Sporting Kansas City, AC Milan, Liverpool and Olympiacos. | Fernando and Willy Caballero made their Manchester City debuts but lost . The Scottish side scored twice in the first half to seal the win . | 71b2fd92d076bd3bd2834e241568f2ab832aacd4 |
Stag party: Aidan Burley and his fiancée Helen Boyle . A Tory MP who attended a stag party where guests chanted Nazi slogans has issued a second apology in a desperate bid to save his career. Aidan Burley was with 12 Oxford-educated friends, some of whom chanted ‘Hitler, Hitler, Hitler’, at a restaurant in a French ski resort. The ‘stag’, who was seated next to the MP, wore an SS uniform and later posed giving the Nazi salute – illegal in France. Labour last night called for David Cameron to sack Mr Burley, a senior aide to Transport Secretary Justine Greening, for bringing ‘shame on the country’. Mr Burley, the MP for Cannock Chase in Staffordshire, was filmed by journalists from the Mail on Sunday raising his glass before a fellow guest made a speech saying: ‘Let’s raise a toast to Tom for organising the stag do, and if we’re perfectly honest, to the ideology and thought process of the Third Reich.’ The MP did not raise his glass during the speech. He did appear to pay the bill for the meal, although he later said he had paid only his share. Yesterday Mr Burley said on Twitter: ‘Deeply regret inappropriate behaviour by some guests at stag party I attended and I am extremely sorry for any offence caused.’ It followed a similar statement he had made on Saturday. But . his apologies were denounced as ‘too little, too late’ by Twitter users . who called for him to be sacked. Downing Street made no comment but . Tory sources said they were ‘investigating’ the allegations. Scroll down for video . SS uniform: Accountant Mark Fournier gives a Nazi salute, which is illegal in France . Members of the stag party may face prosecution in France, where it is a crime to wear Nazi uniform in public except in a film or play. Mr Burley, 32, has known the Prime Minister for at least five years and the pair ‘high five’ when they meet, according to Mr Burley’s friends on the stag night, who joked the MP was ‘the candidate for Berlin East’. The Nazi incident happened on December 3 in Restaurant La Fondue, an upmarket venue in the centre of the ski resort of Val Thorens. The MP, elected in 2010, sipped wine as one of the group taunted a waiter for being French. The man in the Nazi uniform was accountant Mark Fournier, 34, who was frequently addressed by the others as ‘Himmler!’ It was his businessman brother John Fournier, 37, who gave the toast celebrating the Nazis. At various points through the evening, members of the group were chanting, typically two or three of them. At no stage did the journalists – who were in the resort researching a different story – witness all 12 chanting the names of Nazi leaders or other slogans at the same time. As they left the restaurant, Mark and John Fournier agreed to be photographed and, without prompting, performed Nazi salutes. Asked why he was dressed as he was, Mark Fournier said: ‘We wanted to see how a Nazi outfit in the middle of France would go down. The answer is not that well at all.’ Another said: ‘We are trying to intimidate as many people as possible. A lot have been quite offended, especially one guy who was both Jewish and gay.’ The group moved on to the British-themed Frog and Roast beef pub, where some put on German accents and started chanting: ‘Mein Fuhrer! Mein Fuhrer! Mein Fuhrer!’, ‘Himmler! Himmler! Himmler!’ and ‘Eichmann! Eichmann! Eichmann!’ Himmler and Eichmann were senior SS officers directly responsible for the Holocaust. The MP did not join in with this chanting. In his initial apology on Saturday Mr Burley, who is engaged to TV fashion presenter Helen Boyle, said: ‘There was clearly inappropriate behaviour by some of the other guests and I deeply regret that this happened. I am extremely sorry for any offence that will undoubtedly have been caused.’ Mark Fournier has not responded to requests for comment, but his brother John told the Mail on Sunday: ‘[Mark] was dressed up in an outfit as a tongue-in-cheek laugh and there was nothing more to it than that. It was just a bunch of lads having a good evening.’ He denied raising a toast to the ideology of the Third Reich. | Calls for David Cameron to sack Aidan Burley after incident . 'Stag' wore an SS uniform while others chanted 'Hitler, Hitler, Hitler' | 731c199c2a8fdabd8f5480e0a6accc9828e1e429 |
By . Anna Hodgekiss . PUBLISHED: . 05:57 EST, 5 March 2014 . | . UPDATED: . 12:06 EST, 5 March 2014 . A mother-of-five has a rare skin condition which means she can draw on her own skin and watch it disappear - like an Etch a Sketch. Sarah Beal, 43, from Arley, Warwickshire, has such sensitive skin that the slightest scratch can cause it to swell. But she has also realised that the condition - known as dermatographia - allows her to create patterns . and pictures on her skin which disappear within an hour. Bizarre: Sarah Beal has a rare condition called dermatographia, which allows her to create patterns and pictures on her skin . Rare: Dermographism or 'skin writing' is a type of urticaria, or hives - where a raised, itchy rash appears on the skin. Ms Beal said: 'I grabbed a spoon from my kitchen draw and with the handle I drew a heart on my arm. When I saw the heart appear on my skin, I loved it' Art: Ms Beal says the Etch a Sketch comparison is 'pretty accurate - although I wish a good shake was enough to get rid of the itching' Dermographism or 'skin writing' is a type of urticaria, or hives - where a raised, itchy rash appears on the skin. Ms Beal said: 'My skin is so sensitive that sometimes even clothes can feel uncomfortable. “When I lie in bed, the quilt can feel like needles pressing into me. 'I can scratch my arm or my back and long lines will come up on my arms where I’ve scratched. 'But I think being able to draw on my skin is so cool - it’s my party trick. She added: 'The etch a sketch comparison is pretty accurate - although I wish a good shake was enough to get rid of the itching.' Dermatographia is thought to be caused when the cells under the surface of the skin release histamines under the slightest pressure. Histamines are chemicals released in the body as part of an allergic reaction, causing the skin to swell. Temporary: Ms Beal's 'etchings' disappear within the hour. She said: 'I think being able to draw on my skin is so cool - it's my party trick' Reation: Dermatographia is thought to be caused when the cells under the surface of the skin release histamines under the slightest pressure. Histamines are chemicals released in the body as part of an allergic reaction, causing the skin to swell . Ms Bell only discovered her dermatographia just three years ago. She said: 'It just came out of nowhere. At first I just thought my skin was getting more sensitive as I got older. 'I’d scratched my skin one day and it got all itchy and raised, but it was nothing serious enough to do anything about. 'But as it got worse I knew something wasn’t quite right - I could give my back a scratch and before I knew it my skin would turn red and be really painful. 'Eventually I Googled the condition and I just couldn’t believe it.' She also discovered the unusual quirk of her condition just by chance. She said: 'I don’t know why I thought of it, but after seeing my skin raise at the slightest touch, I wondered if I could draw on it. Random: Ms Beal discovered the unusual quirk of her skin condition just by chance. She said: 'I don¿t know why I thought of it, but after seeing my skin raise at the slightest touch, I wondered if I could draw on it' Dermographism or “skin writing” is a type of urticaria, or hives - where a raised, itchy rash appears on the skin. Dermatographia is thought to be caused when the cells under the surface of the skin release histamines under the slightest pressure. Histamines are chemicals released in the body as part of an allergic reaction, causing the skin to swell. In this type of urticaria, itchy weals occur after friction such as rubbing or stroking the skin. This itching may be aggravated by heat. Weals and red marks also often appear as lines at the sites of scratching, and generally last for less than one hour.' Antihistamines block the effect of histamine, and reduce itching and the rash in most people, but may not relieve urticaria completely. If urticaria occurs frequently, it is best to take antihistamines regularly every day. 'I grabbed a spoon from my kitchen draw and with the handle I drew a heart on my arm. 'When I saw the heart appear on my skin I loved it. 'It becomes quite itchy and sore afterwards, but I thought it was so interesting to see it stay on my skin like that. 'I quickly took a picture of it and uploaded it to Facebook before it disappeared. I have tattoos so I quite like the idea that you can draw on your skin. 'My friends and family think it’s really fun too.' Ms Beal who runs a cake and confectionery company, takes no regular medication to control her sensitive skin. She said: 'At the moment it’s quite bad, but I just grin and bear it. 'When it really flares up, clothes and bedding can be the most painful - it feels like my skin is filled with needles or tiny bits of glass. 'Some jewellery can be very painful to wear too, especially around my neck. 'I’ve also got two little dogs, and just the tiniest scratch from them can be agony. 'But I do like the fact that I can draw on my skin - it’s a little bit quirky and different, a great conversation starter.' Matthew Gass, from the British Association of Dermatologists, said: 'Dermographism or “skin writing” is a type of urticaria. 'Swelling is caused by the release of histamine from cells in the skin called mast cells. 'In . this type of urticaria, itchy weals occur after friction such as . rubbing or stroking the skin. This itching may be aggravated by heat. Painful: Ms Beal says that when her urticaria flares up, it can feel like her skin is filled with needles or tiny bits of glass . 'Weals and red marks also often appear as lines at the sites of scratching, and generally last for less than one hour.' He added: 'Antihistamines block the . effect of histamine, and reduce itching and the rash in most people, but . may not relieve urticaria completely. 'If urticaria occurs frequently, it is best to take antihistamines regularly every day. 'There . are many different types, including non-sedating and sedating . antihistamines, in addition to short acting and long acting types. 'The antihistamine tablets can to be taken for as long as the urticaria persists.' For more information of uticara,visit Allergy UK . | Sarah Beal has such sensitive skin that slightest scratch causes swelling . She suffers from dermatographia, which is a type of urticaria, or hives . Shapes appear on her skin and are thought to occur when the cells under the surface of the skin release chemicals under the slightest pressure . Says she discovered the unusual quirk of her condition just by chance . | 373407733c16f3fe65f0df23f51d0d189fb97c39 |
Horrifying stories of physical and sexual abuse suffered for decades by mixed-race and Aboriginal children at a home in Darwin is unfolding at a national inquiry. Children in care at the Retta Dixon Home were flogged with belt buckles, sexually abused in cars, raped in chicken sheds and chained up in bed 'like a dog', a royal commission heard on Monday. The Institutional Responses to Child Sexual Abuse hearing is sitting in Darwin to examine the home, which from 1946 until 1980, housed children of mixed descent as well as some unmarried mothers. The compelling evidence came from a number of former residents who told of immense cruelty by 'house parents' who oversaw cottages housing up to 12 children at a time in the home run by the Aborigines Inland Mission. Sandra Kitching (pictured) said when she spoke up in protest of a baby being abused that her 'house parent' tore her clothes off and chained her to her bed overnight on chains so short she couldn't sit or sleep properly . Sandra Kitching told the commission her house parent, George Pounder, force-fed an infant cabbage and cauliflower until she was coughing and choking. When Ms Kitching spoke up in protest, she said he tore her clothes off and chained her to her bed overnight on chains so short she couldn't sit or sleep properly. The baby died not long after, she told the commission . Lorna Cubillo, now 78, was born at Banka Banka Station in Central Australia and was taken away from her family in 1947 when she was aged eight and lived at the home until she was 16. One of the girls in her dormitory used to have fits 'and was chained up with a dog chain to her bed', Ms Cubillo told the commission sitting in Darwin on Monday. 'She was fed with an enamel plate and cup, just like a dog, and often had bad chafing around her ankle where the chain would rub.' Ms Cubillo told the commission that Des Walters, who along with his wife were the house parents of her dormitory, was a physically abusive man. 'He flogged me that much that after a while it didn't hurt anymore,' she said. 'I never cried though, and because he wasn't winning he turned the strap around and used the buckle. 'Sometimes he would hit me over the face and head and I would bleed.' He fondled her breasts, and touched her upper thigh in his car, she alleged. 'It was like I was being stalked and everywhere I went, he was there.' A dormitory at Retta Dixon Home where allegations of horrendous abuse is said to have occurred . Although a teacher at school seemed to suspect something was happening, Ms Cubillo never told anyone about the abuse because she was too scared it would get back to Mr Walters and he would beat her. Once, after swimming on a Sunday despite knowing it was against the rules, she said Mr Walters hit her so hard with the buckle end of his belt that he cut her breast. She eventually took court action against him in 1998 regarding the physical abuse, but never told anyone about the sexual abuse. She thinks that was why she lost the case. 'I have tried to get over what happened to me but I just can't get past it,' she said. One witness alleged a girl who failed to properly tidy a kitchen was woken by house mother, Judy Fergusson, and stabbed multiple times on her hands with a can opener until she bled. Children up to the age of 12 who wet the bed would be undressed and paraded in nappies in front of the other children, she said. Children were allegedly flogged with buckles, sexually abused in cars, stabbings and raped in chicken sheds . Former resident Kenneth Stagg said children became overly sexualised because of abuse by staff and other children. One witness, whose identity was suppressed, said boys at the home sexually abused her from the age of five. 'I thought it was normal behaviour and a part of life,' she told the commission. She was sent to foster care in NSW and said one of her foster parents told her it was because Retta Dixon staff were concerned girls would get pregnant. 'I think this shows the staff probably knew that sexual activity was taking place but they failed to protect the children from it,' she said. 'House parents' oversaw cottages housing up to 12 children at a time in the Darwin home . Mr Stagg told the commission under privilege that house parent Mr Henderson 'was well known amongst all the children as a molester'. 'All the children knew Mr Henderson was doing terrible things to the children in No. 2 cottage ... all of the children thought of him as a bad man.' A witness, known as AKU, who lived in a cottage overseen by Henderson said he sexually abused her about twice a week between the ages of five and 13. He once put her on his bed facing a mirror as he made her touch his genitals with her feet. He raped boys in the chook shed, she said. When she was 12, she 'accidentally slammed the car door and Don Henderson swung around and backhanded me in the face and broke my nose'. She said she bled for three days until Henderson's wife Barbara finally took her to hospital for treatment, telling the doctor she'd fallen out of a tree. None of the witnesses had sought redress, mostly they spoke of wanting an apology from the Aborigines Inland Mission and the government, of erecting a memorial, or of receiving counselling. 'The physical, emotional and sexual abuse I suffered at Retta Dixon took my childhood away and I can't get that back. No amount of money can give that back to me,' AKU said. None of the witnesses reported the abuse when it was happening. The remains of the Retta Dixon Children’s Home recreational hall in 1974 . | Inquiry into alleged sexual and physical abuse of children at Darwin home . Former residents told of cruelty by 'house parents' who oversaw cottages housing up to 12 children in the Retta Dixon home from 1946 until 1980 . Children were allegedly flogged with buckles and sexually abused in cars . Claims of stabbings, rapings in the chicken sheds and broken bones . | 2514a34d89406b911f5935d805e24135b9f97132 |
(CNN) -- Gordon Gekko-inspired suspenders may have faded from Wall Street and lunch isn't for wimps anymore, but if there's one thing that hasn't changed in the last two decades it's this: greed is good. With his new film director Oliver Stone is back to exposing financial chicanery, this time showcasing how complex and unfettered the system has become since his 1987 hit film "Wall Street." What did he find when he returned to the scene after more than two decades? After years of bank deregulation, Wall Street "got ridiculous, and I mean it's insane. It became a financial casino," he told CNN. That outrageous environment serves as the backdrop for "Wall Street 2: Money Never Sleeps," a follow-up film which, amid massive bank bailouts, sweeping financial reform in Washington and investigations into the practices of Wall Street's leading firms, couldn't be more timely. In the movie, Michael Douglas reprises the role of corporate shark Gordon Gekko. Fresh out of prison, he finds himself in a new financial era dominated by complex products and securities. "Money Never Sleeps," which is slated for release in September, is a "bookend" rather than a sequel, to the 1987 film, Stone says. Stone, whose father worked on Wall Street as a broker, set out to tell a morality tale about excess in the original film, with Gekko positioned as the bad guy. But judging by the recent financial crisis, not many Wall Streeters took Stone's message to heart. Instead of being seen as a villain in the 1980s, Gekko became a paragon of success for a generation of traders and business school graduates. Douglas, who won a Best Actor Oscar for the first "Wall Street," said he's always surprised at the reaction MBA students have to Gekko, the suspender-sporting character out to win at all costs. "They would come up to me and say, 'Hey Gordon, he's the man,'" he told CNN at Cannes, where the film premiered earlier this month. "And probably a lot of those guys...are heading up investing banking companies now," he said. In the follow up film, Gekko is looking to get back into the Wall Street game and finds a way through his estranged daughter's boyfriend, a young investment banker played by Shia LaBeouf. Joining the cast, which includes Susan Sarandon and Josh Brolin, was like "stepping into a cage of lions," LaBeouf said. "I felt like an underdog coming onto this set. I'm the 'Transformers,' kid. It's just like, it's daunting." LaBeouf and Carey Mulligan, who plays Gekko's daughter, play a young couple with ideals. (The couple has also been linked together offscreen.) But their integrity is tested and "everybody has double motives," Stone said. A director known for offering provocative viewpoints, particularly in political films like "W," "JFK" and "Nixon" -- his next film, "South of the Border," is about Venezuelan leader Hugo Chavez -- Stone initially wasn't interested in telling another story about Wall Street. When the producer of the original film and 20th Century Fox made a deal for a follow up film, Stone wasn't on board. "I didn't event want to do a sequel and I turned them down," he said. What changed? The financial meltdown of 2008, which unleashed the worst crisis since the Great Depression and caused the economy to suffer in Stone's words, a "triple bypass heart attack." The financial crisis "was an event of monumental importance socially, economically, for the United States," he said. "It wasn't a perfect storm, it was a systematic breakdown that was due because it's the way the system is run." While the director certainly harbors strong feelings about the financial system, he also had his fun with the film. He appears briefly, as does Charlie Sheen, who played Gekko's protégé Bud Fox in the first film. "I was having fun, you have to have fun," Stone said. Just like the original "Wall Street," "you have to take this with a grain of salt because it's so depressing otherwise." Mulligan says the film is first and foremost an entertaining story. "It's really about people enjoying it as a movie," she told CNN. "Because it's not just a lesson in finance, it's love stories and rivalries and a brilliant villain in the middle of it." | "Wall Street: Money Never Sleeps" is the follow up Oliver Stone's 1987 hit film "Wall Street" Stone discovered a "ridiculous" and "insane" system in Wall Street when making the sequel . Michael Douglas reprises his role as corporate raider Gordon Gekko . Shia LaBeouf plays the role of a young, ideal investment banker . | 7c8e89f1847891b4a8bc48b46f35e716a28be778 |
A man has accused Delta Airlines of losing his dog at LAX Airport. Frank Romano was told to hand his bull terrier Ty to a flight attendant as he boarded a plane from Los Angeles, California, to Tampa, Florida, on Friday night. But an hour later, he was in his seat when a flight attendant informed him Ty had chewed his way through the metal door of his portable plastic kennel and fled. Distraught: Frank Romano (left) was told on board a Delta Airlines flight that Ty (right) had been lost . The airline official later said they had in fact misplaced the kennel. 'It’s been very depressing. Very upsetting. I’ve been crying. I’ve been angry,' Romano told CBS. 'She said your dog bit through the kennel. And we need you to just identify the dog. And then she changed her story that they couldn’t find my dog. And that the dog had been lost for an hour.' 'I don't know how he could've bit through his kennel...it had a metal door and was made of hard plastic,' Romano told LAist.com. Romano adopted Ty last year while working at a pet store as a dog walker. Angry: Romano said he doesn't believe Ty the bull terrier (pictured together) bit through a metal door . Delta has said in a statement: 'Delta continues to investigate what happened, but early indications show that procedures were followed, and the dog may have compromised the kennel on its own. 'Delta immediately worked with LAX airport teams and the customer to locate the dog but was unsuccessful. 'We remain in contact with this customer, and we are fully supporting the search for their pet. 'Delta understands that pets are important members of the family and regrets this occurred while this pet was entrusted to our care.' | Frank Romano gave terrier Ty to airport staff in plastic and metal kennel . He was on flight from LAX to Tampa when he was told Ty had escaped . Delta Airlines staff said the 6-year-old dog bit through the metal door . | 76eba4b021b17c0bb8eeb5d3ce7aaab41e0936d9 |
(CNN) -- The Hillsborough County, Florida, sheriff on Wednesday offered a personal apology to a disabled man who was dumped onto the floor from his wheelchair while in deputies' custody. Brian Sterner has been using a wheelchair since a 1994 wrestling accident. "I am personally embarrassed and shocked by the horrific treatment Mr. Sterner received," Sheriff David Gee says in a statement on the department's Web site. A video now making the rounds on television networks and various Web sites shows a deputy tipping Brian Sterner, 32, out of a wheelchair at the county's booking center in Tampa on January 29. "I cannot and will not even try to offer an explanation for what is seen on the video, other than to say, that once it was brought to my attention, I immediately initiated an internal investigation," Gee said. Sterner had been picked up by sheriff's deputies on a warrant for a charge of fleeing and attempting to elude police in an incident in October of last year, his attorney said. "This deputy ... she looked at me, she didn't believe that I was a quadriplegic, I guess, and she walked behind me with those handles on the back of that hospital-grade wheelchair and she just dumped it straight forward," Sterner told Tampa television station WTSP. Watch the incident on tape » . As Sterner lay crumpled on the floor, two female deputies frisked him. "I told them how to pick me up and put me back in the chair, but without sensation -- I don't feel anything from my chest down -- so I didn't know they were broken then, my ribs," he added. John Trevena, Sterner's attorney, said the sheriff denied that his client's ribs were broken, saying that X-rays showed no fractures. Sterner spent five days in the jail's infirmary before being released on $2,000 bond, Trevena said. The deputy responsible for dumping Sterner from the chair has been suspended without pay, Gee said in his statement. The three supervisors who were on duty during the incident have also been suspended, but with pay, the sheriff's public information office told CNN. "The incident involving Mr. Sterner was not caused by a lack of training or procedure," the sheriff's statement said. "It represents aberrant behavior that is totally out of context with policies, practices and standards of the Hillsborough County Sheriff's Office. "Last year over 72,000 inmates were processed through central booking, more than 230 of them came to jail in wheelchairs," he added. Gee said he offered his personal apology to Sterner for "the treatment he received." "I want to assure him, and the public at large, that this incident is not indicative of the behavior of the over 3,500 men and women of the Hillsborough County Sheriff's Office who perform their duties with pride and professionalism on a daily basis," he said. Trevena said his client would likely not file a lawsuit in the matter, because Gee has pledged to "make it right." Watch a legal analyst discuss the incident » . "He was very apologetic, very contrite," the attorney told CNN in a phone interview Wednesday, referring to a conversation he had with the sheriff Tuesday. "I don't believe a lawsuit is going to be necessary. He said he will do anything and everything to make it right." Trevena said Gee is handing the matter over to the state's attorney to review for possible criminal charges. The lawyer said the arrest was a complete surprise to Sterner, who had received only a ticket after police stopped him in his hand-pedal-controlled car for failing to yield in October. At the time, the attorney said, Sterner also submitted to a blood test and no illegal substances were found in his blood. Sterner became disabled in a wrestling accident when he was 18, Trevena said. Sterner took his story to WTSP a few days after he was released from custody, his attorney said, and the station obtained the booking video from the sheriff's department. E-mail to a friend . | Surveillance footage shows Brian Sterner being dumped from his wheelchair . Sheriff David Gee: "I am personally embarrassed and shocked" The deputy seen in the video has been suspended without pay . Three supervisors who were on duty during the incident have also been suspended . | 0ce3b5db05a86d553cb278a804f305f4a4790df8 |
London (CNN) -- London fire officials were at the O2 arena Tuesday morning after two tour buses of the Grammy-nominated rock band Kings of Leon caught on fire, the Fire Brigade said. Kings of Leon was scheduled to play the arena Tuesday night. "The fire is under control and no injuries reported. Assessments are currently underway and we expect to make a decision in the next couple of hours as to whether tonight's Kings of Leon show will go ahead. We will keep our website updated so please check back throughout the day," the group said on its website. Sixty firefighters were battling the blaze near a loading bay of the facility, officials said. "Our crews are doing a fantastic job, especially given the levels of smoke down here which has lead to quite challenging conditions," the Fire Brigade said. The Kings of Leon has achieved tremendous success in recent years, scoring a multi-platinum album and several hit singles with their 2008 CD "Only by the Night." They are now touring to promote their fifth album, "Come Around Sundown." | The rock band Kings of Leon is scheduled to play the arena Tuesday night . Sixty firefighters are battling the blaze . The fire is under control, the band said . | 0ef04b1279de453231b66c27bb429537c5d67995 |
Charlton are closing on a deal to sign Tony Watt from Standard Liege. The 20-year-old, who shot to prominence when he scored Celtic’s winner in their 2-1 Champions League victory over Barcelona in November 2012, may join the Championship side on an initial loan with a view to a permanent deal. Watt began his career at Airdrie United but was snapped up by Celtic after impressing during the 2010-11 season. Scotland under 21 international Tony Watt (right) joined Standard Liege from Celtic last summer for £1.2m . He spent two years at the Scottish giants with mixed success before they loaned him out to Belgian side Lierse last season. And his eight goals in 17 appearances for the club caught the eye of Standard Liege who bought him last summer. The 20-year-old has been capped at Under 19, 20 and 21 level for Scotland but is yet to play for the senior side. But now Charlton are hoping to bring the young forward back to the UK, on loan initially . Watt celebrates with team-mates after scoring the winner against Barcelona in November 2012 . | Celtic sold Tony Watt to Standard Liege for £1.2million last summer . But now Charlton want to bring the striker back to the UK . The Championship side may opt for a loan deal initially . | 022bc468b129b910cf4a664ce0c6b23cce710280 |
By . Daily Mail Reporter . PUBLISHED: . 18:59 EST, 8 May 2012 . | . UPDATED: . 07:51 EST, 9 May 2012 . The court battle between supermodel Linda Evangelista and billionaire Francois-Henri Pinault over child support has ended as both parties announcing their acceptance of a deal. 'We are happy that we were able to reach an agreement for the benefit and well-being of our son, Augie,' Evangelista and Francois-Henri Pinault said in a statement issued through a spokesman. The former couple had been in an extensive legal process over how much Pinault should pay Evangelista for the care of their 5-year-old son. Conservative: Linda Evangelista leaves New York Family court, while ex-lover Francois-Henri Pinault is seen right at Roissy Charles De Gaulle international airport yesterday . Businesslike: Unlike prior appearances where she wore floral dresses, Evangelista opted for a sombre skirt suit on Tuesday . A Manhattan magistrate signed off on their agreement Tuesday and sealed it from public view. Evangelista, one of the biggest names in modeling in the late 1980s and early '90s, reached the pact Monday with Pinault, who runs a luxury-goods conglomerate and is now married to actress Salma Hayek. The settlement came in the midst of a trial that delved into their finances and personal lives, particularly the cost of living for the model and her son as she initially asked for $46,000 per month from the boy’s father. The trial forced both to testify in open court about touchy subjects, ranging from Pinault discussing Hayek's difficult 2007 pregnancy to Evangelista talking about how much she still commands for modelling jobs. Revelations: Evangelista's lawyer claimed Pinault . asked her to abort her baby, Augustin is now five (right), while . Pinault's revealed he and actress . wife Salma Hayek feared daughter Valentina (left) had Down's syndrome . Evangelista, 46, went to court for . Tuesday's brief session and stayed silent as she left, wearing . leopard-print pumps and a modest black suit. Pinault, 49, wasn't there, . though he had been for the other days of the trial, which started . Thursday. Evangelista had . said in court papers she spends $46,000 a month on armed bodyguards, a . 24-hour-a-day nanny and other expenses for the boy, whose formal name is . Augustin. Pinault, who makes about $4million a . year, had said through lawyer David Aronson that he was willing to pay . some support but not a potential $46,000 a month. Ready to party: Linda Evangelista appeared at . the Metropolitan Museum's Costume Ball the same night as she was thought . to have settled her child support suit against her former boyfriend . Francois-Henri Pinault . The intercontinental twosome dated - . sporadically, Pinault said - over about four months in late 2005 and . early 2006. Augie was born in October 2006. After . Pinault told Evangelista he didn't plan to raise the boy with her, she . willingly paid all the expenses herself at first from her roughly . $1.8million-a-year income. But . a big contract with L'Oreal ended in the last year or so, and she now . needs Pinault to chip in, her lawyer, William Beslow, said during the . trial. In spite of the widely-reported figure, her lawyer said she wasn't asking for any particular amount. Fashion: In her prior court appearances, Evangelista opted for more feminine looks . Pinault . is CEO of PPR, a holding company that owns Gucci, Yves St. Laurent, . Bottega Veneta, Boucheron and other fashion lines. Forbes estimates his . family's net worth at $13 billion. He and Hayek married in 2009 and have a 4-year-old daughter, Valentina. He also has two children from a previous marriage. The . Canadian-born Evangelista is a Vogue cover model many times over, . including on the current Italian Vogue. She was among the high-wattage . guests at Monday's night's Metropolitan Museum of Art Costume Institute . gala, one of the fashionable events on the society fund-raising . calendar. At the height of . her career, she famously said supermodels 'don't wake up for less than . $10,000 a day,' a remark she has insisted was a joke. | Linda Evangelista settled bitter child support with billionaire ex-boyfriend . Had demanded $46,000 in childcare support for her 5-year-old son . In court, Francois-Henri Pinault admitted he broke up with Evangelista when he found out she was pregnant . | f96c12c4648fff8b2129ded6ff38314e5a1bcaed |
NHS staff in Glasgow were forced to fill out a form to move an office printer to examine the possible effect it would have on different 'population groups' including gipsies and asylum seekers (file picture) NHS staff were forced to fill out a seven-page form just to move an office printer – to ensure that gays, gipsies and other minorities were not offended. In an illustration of the politically correct bureaucracy strangling the health service, staff had to consider the possible human rights implications of shifting the equipment. The ‘ludicrous’ form examined potential consequences for homeless people, gipsy travellers and asylum seekers – and even asked whether the move could encourage people to commit suicide. It comes at a time of growing crisis in the NHS, with some patients being denied life- saving drugs while others have to wait up to 24 hours in hospital A&E departments. Scottish Tory MSP Alex Johnstone said: ‘Ludicrous doesn’t even begin to sum up this incident. This level of waste and madness would never be tolerated in the private sector. 'At a time when the NHS is supposed to be responsible with budgets, this is hardly a shining example of efficiency.’ The existence of the human rights forms came to light during a review of a proposal to site two printers instead of three on two floors at the Glasgow offices of quango NHS Health Scotland. It listed 17 different ‘population groups’ such as transgender people, lesbians and the disabled, and asked how they could be ‘affected differentially by the policy [of moving the printer]’. Even the potential effect on ‘people involved in the criminal justice system’ featured in the bizarre audit. Among ten human rights issues explored were the right to a family life and to freedom of expression. An examination of the right to life under the European Convention on Human rights even asked if moving the printer could lead to suicide. Unsurprisingly, the Health Inequalities Impact Assessment concluded that in these cases there were no negative consequences. However, the review, undertaken by two members of staff, noted that there would be a ‘general impact on all staff of making more queuing likely for the printer’ but there could be a positive social impact as ‘the people who do printing are more likely to meet and chat at the printers which do exist’. In addition, staff members with mobility issues could ask ‘teammates’ for assistance if necessary. NHS Health Scotland describes itself as a ‘national Health Board working with public, private and third sectors to reduce health inequalities and improve health’. In 2007, it emerged that it was setting up a £1million-a-year Directorate of Equalities and Planning to ensure lesbians, gays and immigrants were not discriminated against by the NHS. Staff were forced to fill out the forms because they had to consider the possible human rights implications of shifting the printers. NHS Health Scotland said it was ‘committed to being a great place to work’ (file picture) Health campaigner Dr Jean Turner said: ‘It sounds a little bit like bureaucracy taking over reason. Anyone who has worked in an office knows all you want is a printer that actually works and does all that you require of it.’ A spokesman for campaign group TaxpayerScotland said: ‘This is a ludicrous example of out-of-control bureaucracy. This assessment was written by a taxpayer-funded civil servant who surely must have something more useful to do.’ NHS Health Scotland said it was ‘committed to being a great place to work’ which aims ‘to ensure all staff are treated fairly and consistently and with dignity and respect.’ A spokesman said: ‘To help us do this and to comply with the Equality Act 2010, we take time to impact assess new policies and practices. It helps us check we don’t unintentionally disadvantage any of our staff. ‘In this specific case, a concern was raised that reducing the number of printers... might make things harder for staff with disabilities affecting their mobility. We therefore conducted the impact assessment to make sure it did not.’ | NHS staff forced to fill out forms to consider human rights implications . 'Ludicrous' forms examined possible consequences for moving equipment . It listed different ‘population groups’ which could be 'affected' by the move . NHS Health Scotland said it aims ‘to ensure all staff are treated fairly' | 889865abab4bdda592639377ec4d3a1493a278fc |
New York (CNN) -- New York police Thursday were investigating a sucker-punch assault on a 23-year-old man for a possible connection to a series of attacks known as the "knockout game." In the latest assault, the unidentified man was walking on a street in the Bronx on Wednesday afternoon when he was punched in the head and fell to the ground, police said. After he was down, two other men punched him several times before running away. Nothing was taken from the man, and police were looking into a possible link to assaults around the country where teens randomly try to make strangers unconscious with a single blow. The victim suffered bruising and swelling to his face but refused medical treatment. At least eight suspected "knockout" attacks have been reported since October in New York, but police have said they see no evidence of a trend. Possible 'knockout' game victim: 'The whole group of kids laughed' Authorities have reported similar incidents in New York, New Jersey, Connecticut, Illinois, Missouri and Washington. In New Haven, Connecticut, police said there were seven reported incidents possibly connected to "knockout" assaults, but it was unclear if they were carried out by the same person. There were no major injuries in the attacks, which occurred in the same three- to four-block area on November 17-18. The assaults stopped after police questioned a suspect, though no arrest was made. "We have no reason to believe this is a hate crime," said Officer David Hartman, a New Haven police spokesman. Some previous assaults in the region have targeted Jewish people. Hartman said police believe the attacks were copycat crimes spurred by media attention. Youth violence expert Chuck Williams blamed the media and parents for what he called extreme aggression by America's youths. Negative attention, he said, is often rewarded. "That's America. America loves violence, and so do our kids," he said. "We market violence to our children and we wonder why they're violent. It's because we are." Williams, a professor of psychology and education at Drexel University in Philadelphia, said some young people are desperate for attention. He called it the "Miley Cyrus effect," where teens will do anything to get noticed, no matter how unconscionable. "These kids know the consequences," he said. "They want to get arrested. They want to get caught, because they want that notoriety. They know they won't go away forever because they're kids. It's a win-win all around for them." Police keep close eye on reports of disturbing 'knockout' game . | New York police look into a sucker-punch assault on a 23-year-old man . Investigators explore possible link to "game" where teens randomly punch strangers . Similar assaults reported in New York, New Jersey, Connecticut, Illinois, Missouri and Washington . | 85b993b42870ba7800b1b6f9a7723f09bb84025c |
(CNN) -- Pauline Phillips, better known to millions of newspaper readers as the original Dear Abby advice columnist, has died after a long battle with Alzheimer's Disease, her family said Thursday. She died Wednesday in Minneapolis, Minnesota, at age 94. Phillips' columns were published in an era when newspaper readers began to prize straight-talking, pithy advice about marriages, children, jobs -- just about anything that troubled people. Phillips wrote under the pen name of Abigail Van Buren, shortened to "Dear Abby" in newspapers. "Abigail" was taken from the wise woman in the Old Testament and "Van Buren" was one of her favorite presidents. The first Dear Abby column appeared in 1956, and Phillips solely wrote the advice feature until 2000, when she and daughter Jeanne began sharing the byline. Jeanne Phillips took the column over full time in August 2002, when the family announced that Pauline Phillips had Alzheimer's. "I have lost my mother, my mentor and my best friend," Jeanne Phillips said in a statement. "My mother leaves very big high heels to fill with a legacy of compassion, commitment and positive social change. I will honor her memory every day by continuing this legacy." Pauline Phillips strove to say more with less. Her direct style was captured in her favorite Swedish toast, according to the column's syndication service: . "Fear less; hope more. Eat less; chew more. Talk less; say more. Hate less; love more." What was your favorite Dear Abby advice? Before the digital era of journalism introduced such notions as "crowd sourcing" of the public and computerized metrics on readership, Phillips assembled her Q&A columns from queries mailed in from readers. She was able to quantify her following by the number of newspapers who bought her columns -- and by how many readers spent money on a stamp to mail her a letter. "Dear Abby" is the world's most widely syndicated column, having appeared in 1,400 newspapers with a daily readership of more than 110 million, the syndication service Universal Uclick said. In another example of her following, Phillips held a survey in 1987 asking readers to send a postcard or note -- anonymously if they wanted -- about whether they cheated on their mates. Almost 250,000 people responded within three months. Her twin sister was also a famous advice columnist. Esther "Eppie" Pauline Friedman Lederer, who died at age 83 in 2002 of multiple myeloma, was the author of the newspaper column "Ann Landers." Phillips, who was born July 4, 1918, in Sioux City, Iowa, ventured into journalism in 1955 at age 37. She called the editor of the San Francisco Chronicle and told him she could write a better advice column than what the paper had. Phillips was surprised when the editor agreed to interview her. She described herself as "an average, middle-aged housewife who had been happily married to the same man for 17 years and had reared two 'reasonably normal' teenagers," according to a statement by the syndicate. She had never written professionally, though she studied journalism in college. But she asserted she could write an advice column "because all of her life she had been an amateur 'wailing wall without portfolio,' " the syndicate said. Dear Abby: Kyra Phillips remembers her mentor . Editor Stanleigh Arnold "wanted only to get this self-styled journalist out of his office, so he asked her to write sample replies to some previously published columns. She did, and the rest, as they say, is history," the syndicate said. The first "Dear Abby" column appeared in the San Francisco Chronicle on Jan. 9, 1956, the same year it was first syndicated. Phillips advocated "equal rights for women, minorities, people with mental illness and those who are physically challenged," and her column "promoted AIDS awareness and education, hospice care, the living will, organ donation and also raised awareness about gender apartheid suffered by women in Afghanistan," the syndicate said. When asked of her greatest accomplishment, Phillips often stated: "Surviving." In a 1990 interview with CNN's Larry King, Phillips explained the bottom line of dispensing advice: . "There is always an answer, even if it's say, look, pal, you can't change anybody but yourself. You got to play the cards that are dealt you and you have to live with this, do the best you can. But you got to accept what fate deals you," Phillips said. She is survived by her husband of 73 years, Mort Phillips; daughter Jeanne Phillips; grandchildren, Dean Phillips, Tyler Phillips, Jay Phillips, Hutton Phillips; and two great-granddaughters, Daniela and Pia. Private services have been held. People we've lost in 2013: The lives they lived . | NEW: "There is always an answer, even if it's...you can't change anybody but yourself," she said . Pauline Phillips was author of the Dear Abby column for decades . She used the pen name Abigail Van Buren . In 2002, she was diagnosed with Alzheimer's Disease . | caa257be96d4198128f63232110c04667b97dfe4 |
LONDON, England (CNN) -- One of Francis Williams' favorite stories to tell is about the time he was pulled over for speeding. As countries and companies plan to go to the moon, a debate heats up on lunar property rights. Williams, who had been in London on business, was driving home through the English countryside when a police officer stopped him and wanted to know two things: Was Williams aware of how fast he was driving? And, what was his profession? It turned out the response to the second question would help Williams resolve the first: "I said, 'I sell land on the moon,'" said Williams. "And [the police officer] said, 'Do you know, my wife has bought some of that.'" The answer to the first question was subsequently forgotten. Williams, who describes himself as the "Lunar Ambassador to the United Kingdom," is the owner of MoonEstates. He claims to have sold around 300,000 acres of moon land since he and his wife, Sue, founded the Cornwall-based company eight years ago. One-acre plots of lunar turf go for about $40. As proof of purchase, new property owners receive a silver tin containing a personalized "Lunar Deed" and a moon map with a tiny black X marking their tract's approximate location. Most of the land Williams sells is in the northwest, in an area known as Oceanus Procellarum, or Ocean of Storms -- a desolate lava plain formed by volcanoes billions of years ago. "I know the Japanese are [selling] further east," he said. Williams received his license to sell lunar land in the UK from Dennis Hope. In 1980, the Nevada-based entrepreneur claimed ownership of the moon after finding what he calls a loophole in the 1967 United Nations Outer Space Treaty, which forbids countries from owning the moon but, according to Hope, does not forbid individuals from owning it. Hope, who estimates he has sold over 500 million acres of moon land, said he immediately filed a "declaration of ownership" with the U.N. along with the United States and Russian governments. After 28 years, the moon mogul still has not received a reply. "I have never heard from them on that note ever," Hope told CNN in a phone interview. While the U.N. may have ignored Hope's lunar land claims for almost three decades, it is unlikely the organization will be able ignore what could soon become a question of increasing international importance: Who, exactly, does own the moon? "At some point the world community needs to come together and draft some new convention or treaty," said Paul Dempsey, director of the Institute of Air and Space Law and McGill University in Montreal. "It is an open wound that needs to be healed." Dempsey pointed out that at the time the U.N. drafted the Outer Space Treaty, there were only two spacefaring nations -- the U.S. and the Soviet Union. Now there are over a dozen. And many of them, including China, Russia, the U.S., India and Japan, want to go to the moon. NASA, for example, recently announced plans to return by 2020, eventually building a permanent base on the lunar surface. The Russian space agency, Roskosmos, has confirmed similar intentions. The burgeoning commercial space sector is also casting its gaze towards Earth's only natural satellite with companies considering everything from mining the lunar surface to building extraterrestrial resorts on it. "It is quite a complicated issue because it is international law we are dealing with," said Niklas Hedman, chief of the Committee Services and Research Section of the U.N.'s Office for Outer Space Affairs in Vienna. There are five treaties that govern international affairs in space, said Hedman. Two of them -- the Outerspace Treaty and the 1979 Moon Agreement -- deal with lunar law. The Outer Space Treaty provides a legal framework for the international use of space for peaceful purposes, including the moon and other celestial bodies. Widely considered the "Magna Carta of space law," this treaty lays down the fundamental principle of non-appropriation and that the exploration and use of space shall be the province of all mankind. According to the treaty, states bear international responsibility for national activities in space, including by non-governmental entities. The Outer Space Treaty says governments cannot claim ownership of the lunar surface and that stations and installations on the moon shall be open to others, said Hedman. The Moon Agreement builds upon the Outer Space Treaty but also says that any natural resources found on the moon are part of "the common heritage of mankind" - in other words, they must be shared. While 98 nations, including all the major spacefaring ones, have ratified the Outerspace Treaty, only 13 countries have approved the Moon Agreement -- Kazakhstan, Lebanon, Uruguay and Mexico, to name four. But Hedman said this does not mean the other 179 countries that have not ratified the Moon Agreement are free to make a lunar land rush. "They are still bound by the fundamental provisions [of the Outer Space Treaty]," he said, adding that "when enough states of the world have ratified a treaty, and it becomes binding, then certain fundamental provisions become binding even on states that have not ratified it." Henry Hertzfeld, a space analyst at George Washington University's Space Policy Institute, said he is not so sure the U.N.'s treaties provide an adequate answer to the question of lunar property rights. "These treaties don't really have any teeth to them in terms of enforcement," said Hertzfeld. "They are agreements on principle." Instead of focusing on who owns the moon, the international community needs find ways to incentivize future business activity on the moon by guaranteeing that rights to land and resources will not be preempted by competing interests, said Hertzfeld. "Owning property is not the issue, the issue is finding a mechanism for businesses to make a fair return on their investment," he said. "Otherwise there is no point in investing." But first, Hertzfeld said, there also needs to be a guarantee that there is something on the moon worth investing in at all. "My feeling is until we know what is there, we shouldn't mess with it," he said. ........................... Have you bought land on the moon? Would you consider purchasing lunar property? Leave your views and comments in the Sound Off box below. | 1967 U.N. Outer Space Treaty says no government can claim the moon . 1979 U.N. Moon Agreement says lunar resources "common heritage of mankind" Experts say treaties outdated, should be renegotiated . Companies and countries, including the U.S. and Russia, planning lunar trips . | 972a910170559006859e24e7debe220b812595ee |
(CNN) -- In Somalia, getting from point A to B can be a perilous business. Towns are remote, the roads that link them are poor and prone to attack, while the coastline is manned by pirates. So why are so many airline operators eager to launch routes to Mogadishu? Despite Somalia's many security woes, the aviation industry is experiencing an uptick. Mogadishu's Aden Abdulle International Airport -- which was essentially out of commission prior to 2010 following years of civil war, in-fighting and a reign of terror brought on by Al Qaeda -backed terrorist group Al Shabaab -- has been expanding. "Before 2010, there wasn't really an airport, just a runway. Now, we have 35 flights a day. The airport is booming," says Sean Mendis, Aden Abdulle's station manager. Security in the country is an on-going concern, though it has improved. Al Shabaab was forced out two years ago, allowing some local businesses to reopen and Aden Abdulle to beef up its security, which is currently under the purview of the African Union Mission in Somalia (AMISOM), the Somalia Civil Aviation and Meteorology Authority, the Somali police, the Somali National Security Agency, and SKA International Group -- the consulting firm charged with the airline's renaissance. "The airport is very different from the town. There are 17,000 troops protecting it. We have four x-ray machines and several security checks passengers have to pass through before boarding a plane," explains Mendis. These measures has given confidence to a range of carriers. Jubba Airways -- Somalia's unofficial national carrier -- has expanded its network and fleet considerably, and several neighboring outfits, like African Express and Fly540, have daily flights throughout the country. Last month, Air Uganda started flying three times a week to Mogadishu, and last year, Turkish Airways became the first major commercial airline to service the Somali capital in over 20 years. Mendis envisions more international carriers, particularly some of the Middle East's heavy hitters, launching routes soon. Watch: Turning around African aviation . Still, violence remains an everyday reality. Last month a car bomb was driven into a convoy of AMISOM troops near the airport. If anything, the country's lack of infrastructure and stability is actually boosting the airline industry. "The population is sparsely distributed throughout the territory. Traveling by land is dangerous -- not just because the roads are bad, but because of highway robbery. Police checkpoints charge you $50 just to pass through. For ordinary people, as well as UN peacekeepers, flying domestically is really the best way to go," says Christos Shepherd, head of business development and start-up airlines at aviation consulting firm Mango Aviation Partners. For big carriers, like Turkish Airlines, flying to Somalia represents a bigger strategy of gaining a foothold in Africa as a whole. In 2012, the airline expanded its network to include 15 destinations throughout the continent. "The most important geographic part of the world over the next 100 years will be Africa. In this respect, any destination (we fly to) in Africa will create more effective results than, say, a destination in Europe," says Ali Genc, Turkish Airlines' senior vice president of media relations. Despite the increase in competition, airfares remain remarkably high. Even low-cost carriers charge upwards of $500 for internal flights. "For the airlines operating these routes, the costs are very high -- much higher than they would be flying similar-sized aircraft with the same number of passengers in Europe, because you don't have the infrastructure, plus you're paying a premium to pilots and crew for being in a place they don't want to be," says Shepherd. Read more: The worst airports for delays . According to Ruben Gamero, the director of operations for African Express, combat pay is a common incentive for pilots. "All operators flying to Somalia have to be given a special permit, because the country is considered a hostile destination. We take into account every factor and calculated risk, and have never been involved in any unsafe or unstable situation," he says. Surprisingly for a country whose economy is in shambles, there are plenty of passengers willing to pay the fare. "Somalis are very resilient, and they get a lot of money from the diaspora," explains Mendis, who adds that U.N. and NGO traffic keeps the demand for seats high. African Express cites 90% occupancy, and Turkish Airlines says the load factor is increasing. "Judging by the amount of traffic the airport is seeing, I'd say there's plenty of profits to be had," says Mendis. | Business at Mogadishu's airport is "booming", with up to 35 flights scheduled each day. Last year, Turkish Airlines was the the first major carrier to fly to Mogadishu 25 years. Airlines are heartened by the tight airport security. Currently 17,000 troops protect the airport. Pilots and crew are paid more for operating in what is still classified as a hostile destination . | fb387dc07d6a3ffff9a51a951eb46e1689f6e777 |
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