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At $83,200 a night, the Royal Penthouse Suite at Geneva's Hotel President Wilson is the most expensive hotel room in the world. Guests are not left wanting for much: the suite has 12 bedrooms and 12 marble bathrooms, plus a wraparound terrace with views of the Alps that have been said to move a handful of famous musicians to song (there's a Steinway piano, should the backdrop not be enough). VIPs traveling without an entourage can make use of the private staff -- butler, chef, personal assistant. While such super-premium suites are nothing new, it used to be that they were a one-off. These days, luxury hotel are clamoring to turn over space (and a lot of it) for these ultra-luxury abodes. Infographic: A short history of hotel room perks . "There were five-figure rooms in the '90s, but there were fewer," acknowledges Nikhil Bhalla, vice president of equity research in lodging at FBR Capital Markets. "Since then, the world has produced many more millionaires than what existed 20 or 30 years ago, so clearly the number of people who can easily afford these rooms has gone up many fold," he says. Last year, as part of a $140 million renovation, the New York Palace Hotel unveiled a couple of specialty suites, including a penthouse overlooking Central Park for $28,000 a night. According to Paul James, the global brand leader for Starwood's luxury brands, of the 40 or so new properties the hotel group has in the pipeline, about half will be outfitted with premium rooms. "We call them our e-wow suites -- short for 'extreme wow,'" he says, referring to suites at the W Hotels. Bhalla says that emerging markets are helping to push the demand for luxury rooms to new levels. "There's more money in the world today than there was five, or even two years ago. In countries like China or India, there's a whole new class and level of people moving up the economic ladder who can afford these luxury experiences. As other parts of the world get developed and their economies get bigger, I imagine that will continue to be the case." A new class of amenities . Given the price point, it's important these premium rooms offer more in the way of perks than generic shampoo bottles or a pillow chocolate. In many suites -- which these days mimic apartments, or even mansions in size -- bath products range from L'Occitane to Hermes. Butlers, private chefs, personal trainers, drivers and masseuses are on call (and often included in the price). There's usually extra bedrooms, dining and living rooms for hosting and offices for conducting work. Exceptional views and a prime location are a must, as is discretion (most suites have private entrances). Read more: Shhhh! These hotel rooms are a secret! According to Christopher Noton, the president of hotel operations for Europe, the Middle East and Africa for the Four Seasons, the real worth of a luxury stay is the service, not the space. "Our clients go from having multiple expectations to hyper-expectations, and what that means is that we must know who they are, how they act and what they want," he says. "If you want to be left alone, I sense that, and I make sure that happens. If you want to be fussed over, we'll fuss over you. Really, it's the total custom experience." High expectations? Of course, when someone's dropping that kind of money on a hotel stay, the pressure to make it perfect is heightened. "There are very high expectations, but then, there's a very high level of personal service," says James. Bhalla adds that the higher the price tag, the greater the importance of adding experiential elements to the package -- everything from stunning views of sporting events to NBA-sized basketball courts. "It's almost a funny thing to say at this price range, but at the end of the day, what people are looking for is value. If I'm spending $25,000 a night at a hotel, am I getting an experience that makes me feel it's worth it?" he says. | A rise in millionaires throughout the world has created a market for luxury suites . These swank rooms can cost as much as $83,200 a night . Perks include everything from private NBA-size courts to a Bentley rental . | 34d2a1f0d3d32d404b22241adda2c15d71dbb3f2 |
Atletico Madrid have reported that striker Mario Mandzukic broke his nose during Tuesday's 3-2 loss at Olympiacos in their Champions League Group A opener. The Spanish club said that the Croatian international will have surgery on this nose on Thursday. Mandzukic will almost certainly miss Saturday's La Liga encounter with Celta Vigo and could be out for as long as two weeks making him a doubt for Atletico's now crucial second Champions League game at home to Italian side Juventus on 1 October. Atleico Madrid are set to be without striker Mario Mandzukic (right) who has suffered a broken nose . The 28-year-old was elbowed in the face by Olympiacos midfielder Pajtim Kasami in the opening minutes of the match. After being attended by the team's medical staff, he returned to the field, heading in Atletico's first goal before half-time. Mandzukic has scored three goals in all competitions for his new side since his off-season move from Bayern Munich. Mandzukic (left) has impressed in his early Atletico career scoring three goals in all competitions . | Atletico Madrid will be without Mario Mandzukic for possibly two weeks . 28-year-old suffered a broken nose in their Champions League tie at Olympiacos . Croatia international scored in their 3-2 defeat on Tuesday . | f824ccb679ee6c0fe08d3aec86bf99d8e6b660c7 |
James Forrest could miss Celtic’s Champions League qualifiers as Ronny Deila seeks to resolve the player’s fitness issues once and for all. The winger netted the last-gasp goal that defeated Shakhter Karagandy and sealed a £15million jackpot in last season’s group stages. But a thigh problem has become the latest issue in a catalogue of injury and illness experienced by the 22-year-old over the past two years. Out? James Forrest (right, with Mikael Lustig and Adam Matthews) may miss the Champions League qualifiers . Deila views Forrest as an outstanding talent but will take all the time required to help him back into peak condition before selecting him for action. Celtic face Russian side FK Krasnodar in their first pre-season friendly this evening, with their European qualifier against KR Reykjavik just 12 days away. ‘James is out for some weeks,’ said Deila. ‘We will see what happens in terms of the qualifiers. We will take it from week to week. ‘I don’t want to rush James. He has been out for such a long time that he needs time to get his fitness up. I saw in training that he didn’t have the fitness needed to be consistent. ‘When he is fit, then he can start playing games. He is a very explosive player. When you are in and out, you can push too hard to get back and end up having to start all over again. ‘It’s very important that we take our time with him and get out his potential. If it continues the way of the last year or two then that will never happen because of all the injuries. ‘It’s better to keep him out for a good while now to really get him fit. From there, we can get him into games. James is an exceptional talent but you need that fitness to play game after game. The medical staff know what to do with him. It’s just about getting the time to do it.’ Get that sorted, please! New Celtic boss Ronny Deila is refusing to rush Forrest back into action . Deila is targeting a new wide player as Derk Boerrigter has also been frequently injured since arriving at Celtic from Ajax last summer. ‘It’s similar with Derk,’ he added. ‘He has been out for a long time but is working well. He seems okay but when you have been out for a long time it can take months to get on the same level again. ‘Derk and James are the quickest wingers we have. Last season, a lot of midfielders were used in wide positions. Finding another winger is something we will look at.’ Craig Gordon is, however, poised to become Deila’s first signing. The Norwegian revealed earlier this week that a deal for the ex-Scotland goalkeeper was close and it is now expected to be finalised within the next 48 hours. Travelling: Forrest is said to be out for weeks but was still with the squad as they flew to Austria . The Celtic boss has also insisted Celtic could afford Stromsgodset prodigy Martin Odegaard – but he has no immediate plan to move for the 15-year-old midfielder. Deila promoted the talented teenager into first team football while in charge at the Norwegian club. Odegaard – who has trained with Manchester United and Bayern Munich – has expressed a wish to work with his old manager again in the future. But Deila’s successor David Nielsen claimed he was too pricey for Celtic and would end up with Barcelona. ‘It’s incorrect to say that Martin is outwith our range,’ Deila told Norwegian TV. ‘Martin must do what is best for him and we will do what is best for us - we’ll see if our paths meet at a later date. ‘Martin is a good player but not even close to being a Celtic player at the moment. But there’s no doubt that he has the capability to be in the future.’ | The Bhoys have flown to Austria for a pre-season camp . Celtic poised to sign goalkeeper Craig Gordon . | 5de8251ce3266d3e0be7501990a28f8c33b40a19 |
New Orleans, Louisiana (CNN) -- Oil left on the surface of the Gulf of Mexico is breaking down naturally now that the flow of crude has been cut off beneath the surface, a Coast Guard admiral said Sunday after touring the scene. Rear Adm. Paul Zukunft said the remnants of Tropical Storm Bonnie did little to affect the oil slick, which is breaking down "very quickly." "The storm itself was not that significant," Zukunft told CNN after an aerial survey of the northern Gulf on Sunday. "We've had nine days of no new oil being released, so what we're seeing is the remnants of oil that was released nine days ago." BP crews managed to temporarily cap the undersea well at the heart of the three-month-old disaster on June 15. But efforts to close off the gusher permanently by drilling a relief well were delayed by the storm, which forced the ships involved in the process to evacuate the area. Those ships have returned to the area since the storm, he told reporters Sunday night. Zukunft told reporters that he saw only one large patch of emulsified oil, about 12 miles off Grand Isle, Louisiana, during his six-hour aerial tour. No oil could be seen in Louisiana's Lake Borgne, Lake Pontchartrain or Chandeleur Sound, while only a light sheen was visible in other parts of the Gulf. "The oil is basically approaching the end of its life cycle," he said. Oil had gushed from the ruptured well for nearly three months after the Deepwater Horizon rig exploded April 20, leaving 11 workers dead. Officials have said a relief well is the only permanent solution to the disaster, which saw as much as 60,000 barrels (2.5 million gallons) of crude spewing into the Gulf every day. Ships critical for drilling the well started evacuating Thursday and returning Saturday afternoon, once Bonnie lost her punch after crossing southern Florida. The weather forced officials to temporarily scale back efforts to search beneath the surface for leaking oil and permanently plug the leak, drawing some criticism from local officials that the federal government was overreacting to the storm. But retired Coast Guard Adm. Thad Allen, who is leading the federal government's response to the spill, emphasized the need to move and protect equipment before a storm. He said told reporters Friday that he was still "haunted" by the sight of submerged school buses "that could not be used for the evacuation" after Hurricane Katrina struck New Orleans in 2005. "We're going to be playing a cat-and-mouse game for the remainder of the hurricane season," Allen said. Sunday, Allen said officials were examining new oil deposits on the shoreline created by the storm, and booms that were in sensitive marsh areas caused damage during the storm and may need to be removed before another surge happens. But with the storm's passing, work on the relief well is scheduled to continue, he said. And by August 1, he said crews could begin pumping drilling "mud" into the ruptured well to force oil back into the reservoir below -- a process known as a "static kill." CNN's David Mattingly, Rich Phillips and Matt Smith contributed to this report. | NEW: Admiral says oil on the surface is breaking down "very quickly" NEW: Drill ships returned to the well site Sunday . Tropical Storm Bonnie forced ships to evacuate Thursday night . "Static kill" effort could start August 1, Allen says . | f930b84a7113e4e65148bb3c2915c61fa4ce8a85 |
(CNN) -- In the immediate aftermath of the Oregon school shooting, Chelsea Cooper turned to social media to express concern for her brother. "Praying for everyone at Reynolds!" she posted on Facebook. "My little brother is still there & I'm freakin out! I hate being states away :-( So stressful!." Her brother, Jared Padgett, 15, was a freshman at Reynolds High School in Troutdale. Cooper's fears about her brother were realized, but likely not in the way she imagined. Padgett was the shooter who killed another student and apparently took his own life, police said. Police found the teen's body in a restroom, law enforcement officials said. His victim, Emilio Hoffman, 14, was also a freshman. He was shot and killed in a locker room. The motive behind the shooting is under investigation. On social media he claimed to be a fan of heavy metal and weapons, but those who knew Padgett describe him in terms that don't appear to fit the profile of killer. During seventh and eighth grades, Padgett took part in track and field at Reynolds Middle School. He was also a member of the Junior Reserve Officers' Training Corps. A former teacher and coach there called him "a leader." "He was a hard worker and wanted to please everyone," the teacher said through tears. "He was just a good kid." The teacher said Padgett idolized his older brother who was serving in the military. Padgett's Facebook page reveals few clues, but does show that he was a fan of weapons and heavy metal music. His "likes" that he shared with his Facebook friends included knife and gun manufacturers, as well as makers of body armor. According to his profile, he was a fan of first-person shooter video games, and deathcore, metalcore and Christian metal bands. Before Padgett's fate was known, his sister's friends tried to offer words of comfort on Facebook. "I am praying for him to be okay," one friend posted. "They keep saying the shooter is dead but I wanna know who it is!!! I'm so stressed right now," Cooper responded. They joked that Jared needed to get a cell phone after the incident was over so they could get in touch with him easier. The chain of comments ended around midday Tuesday, a few hours after the shooting took place. A closer look: How many school shootings since Newtown . | Jared Padgett was a member of the JROTC . His sister publicly wondered about his well-being on Facebook . He was a fan of guns and heavy metal, according to his Facebook page . Padgett killed Emilio Hoffman, 14, before killing himself, police say . | 9472354903f4b013228435178bf1ea1cfbdde392 |
(CNN) -- When thousands of people converged on Madison, Wisconsin, for the Reclaim Wisconsin March this year in protest of Gov. Scott Walker, Jim Jorstad was there. Standing amongst the thousands of people at the state Capitol, Jorstad, director of technology at the University of Wisconsin-La Crosse, documented the historic moment and shared it with the world through the Internet. As the Arab Spring swept through Egypt in 2011, Ahmed Raafat of Cairo captured the people demonstrating in Tahrir Square with his Nikon and uploaded his videos and photographs online for the world to see. Cynthia Falardeau of Vero Beach, Florida, was part of a personal revolution. Falardeau is an advocate for her son, who has special needs. The Internet became a place for her to meet and share her experiences with parents who are in a similar situation. Through her online presence, she was able to bring support and awareness to parents of special-needs children. Although these three iReporters have little in common, they were able to share the stories that surround their lives through technology. The ability to express oneself online has become so important in today's world that the Human Rights Council of the United Nations recently passed a landmark resolution (PDF) about expression over the Internet. In the July 5 resolution, the council states that freedom of expression over the Internet is a basic human right. The U.N. said in the document that it "recognizes the global and open nature of the Internet as a driving force in accelerating progress." Even China, where strict censorship of the Internet led Google to end operations in the country, signed off on the resolution. In response to the resolution, CNN asked iReporters to share how the Internet has changed their lives. The responses, which included sharing photos with friends and connecting with family overseas, came from dozens of people around the world. Raafat explained that the Internet allows him to contribute to the revolution in Egypt. "We didn't have freedom, so the Internet served as a free space where we can express and share our views and opinions freely," he said. In his video, Jorstad stands in front of a multimedia presentation, with words such as "freedom," "explore" and "think" flashing in the background. "Through the Internet, we can connect with one another," he said. "It's a mechanism to share your content with the world, perhaps inspiring others." The Internet inspired Kristian Ortiz to share his story about being gay in America. The Virginia Beach resident says that through online forums, he can show people that being gay does not mean he is different from others. "I just want to show people we are normal," he said. John Mollison uses technology to give a voice to combat veterans. The artist and historian interviews veterans who were pilots in World War II, the Korean War and the Vietnam War, and then he draws their aircraft and shares their stories through his website. "A lot of these 'old guys' have turned into the grandfathers I never had," he said. "Without the Internet, these stories would likely be locked up in memories or relegated to the geek aisle of a bookstore." For many, the Internet is not only a place to share stories but to make a living. That's the case of Veronica Mendoza of San Juan City, Philippines. She transformed her presence on the Internet into a classroom, helping students like a group of hearing-impaired Filipino children create multimedia videos. "I'm earning a living and doing all the things I love through the Internet," she said. Beth Alice Barret also found a career online. The New Yorker was part of the dotcom boom, creating an online presence with her site. "The rapid growth of the Internet ... is exhilarating. It's a chance to express and promote a dream, an idea -- a career," she said. "I'm excited to be a part of a new world." It is the hope and promise of the Internet that inspires Omekongo Dibinga to connect with other people who aspire for global peace. The Washington resident works specifically in the area of genocide prevention in Central Africa, and through his work online, he is able to connect with people -- or, as he describes them in his video, peacemakers -- who care about bettering the world as well. "The Internet has shown me that more people are committed to ending atrocities in places like the Congo than just my colleagues," Dibinga said. For some, the Internet is a place of familiarity. Hannah Jones of Dallas, a former contestant on "America's Next Top Model," says that at the age of 8, she started playing games on the Internet. "In the fourth grade, I remember caring for my virtual pet," the 21-year-old said. She hopes that people continue to respect the Internet as more and more people across the world gain access to the Web. "It is the most valuable resource for information and communication," she said. "It is a neutral space for us to resolve issues and concerns throughout the planet as one united force." But perhaps the most common response from iReporters was that the Internet allows them to more easily connect with faraway people and places. Although Niena Sevilla lives and works in Saudi Arabia, she is able to stay in touch with her children who live in the Philippines. "I am inspired by the way the Internet has impacted me in terms of my career and my personal life," she said. Jerry C. Gonzales agrees. As an immigrant in New Zealand, he finds that the Internet can help ease the pain of homesickness. And Nyasha Chikwekwete of Alexandria, Virginia, can connect with her family in Zimbabwe. You never have to feel lonely on the Internet, she said. "You can always connect to someone," she said. Many iReporters added that it was not just the connection to people but places as well that made the Internet so powerful. Trevor Dougherty of Chapel Hill, North Carolina, used social media to help him travel to Japan. He says the conversations and connections he has made through sites like Twitter and Facebook vastly affected his life, inspiring him to become a world traveler. "Although the Internet has some weird and unfortunate aspects, it is largely a vehicle for all kinds of creative communication and collaboration. I think we should do everything we can to keep it open and free to use for everyone," he said. Despite the varying ways the Internet has changed people's lives, almost everyone who participated in the CNN iReport assignment said it was the instantaneousness that made all other aspects of it possible. "You are just a click away," Chikwekwete said. "If you have never been to a place you want to go to, you can just Google it and virtually be there." | U.N. council says freedom of expression over the Internet is a human right . CNN iReport challenged its community to explain how the Internet affected their lives . iReporters from all over the world sent in 60-second videos about why they use the Internet . Many people use the Internet to share information and connect with others . | f267f18d35e24042f3b0e30009fe2a2caf71c68e |
Jerusalem (CNN) -- The Syrian opposition is blaming pro-government militia members for the slaying of a prominent Palestinian militant in his house outside Damascus. He was Hamas member Kamal Hosni Ghanaja, a former deputy of Mahmoud Mabhouh, who was slain in Dubai in 2010, a death many observers blame on the Israeli spy agency Mossad. Mabhouh was one of the founders of Hamas' military wing. The Local Coordination Committees of Syria, which opposes the regime of Syrian President Bashar al-Assad, said the pro-government Shabiha militia tortured Ghanaja to death and "set his house on fire to destroy the evidence of their heinous crime." The killing comes amid tensions between Syria and Hamas and sectarian strife inside Syria. Ghanaja, also known as Nizar Abu Mujahid, was killed Wednesday by an "unknown group of men," Hamas said in a statement Thursday. It is investigating the killing and hopes to "expose the perpetrators involved in this heinous crime." Hamas official Ahmad Yousef said Israel could be behind the attack. "Because of the political and security vacuum on the ground, it will be for Israel's interest to take advantage and conduct something to that extent," he said. "The only party benefiting is Israel by the assassination of Hamas officials," he said. But Israeli Defense Minister Ehud Barak said, "it is possible that not only Israel was on the lookout for him." "He was not one of the greatest saints of our generation," he said. It is expected that Ghanaja will be buried in Jordan, Hamas sources said. "The brother Abu Mujahid served his lifetime devoting himself for the path of God in the ranks of the Islamic Resistance Movement, Hamas, and in the service of the Palestinian cause and his people," the group said. Hamas, which controls the territory of Gaza and opposes the existence of Israel, had long based its political wing in Damascus. But the movement's senior officials decided to leave Syria as the 15-month-long uprising against the al-Assad regime intensified, leaving a "security vacuum," Hamas' Yousef said. The Hamas offices remain open in Damascus, and lower-level officials -- some of whom have ties to Syria, such as family -- handle daily business, he said. Syrian government officials and supporters have resented the forging of closer ties between Hamas senior leaders and other regional rivals, such as Qatar, which is supporting the anti-al-Assad opposition, and Jordan, which has a peace treaty with Israel. Hamas leaders have discussed setting up its political wing in Jordan. Jordan's King Abdullah II met with Hamas Politburo Chief Khaled Mashaal and his delegation on Thursday to discuss a range of issues, Jordan's state-run news agency Petra said. The Local Coordination Committees said the Ghanaja "assassination" is the latest example of Syrian-Palestinian sectarian violence fomented by the government. The pro-regime militia called Shabiha has been entering Palestinian refugee camps under the guise of "safeguarding the camps" but they "commit murder and engage in kidnapping," the Local Coordination Committees said. It said the regime is recruiting "drug dealers, drug users, and other criminals" into the militia. The group said the Syria's "rejectionist policies" toward Israel "have only been attempts to enslave the people." "The Palestinian experiences in the past demonstrate that the Syrian regime views the Palestinian people as mere cards with which to gamble, regionally and internationally. A regime that kills its own people will not shy away from spilling Palestinian blood for the sake of its own survival," the Local Coordination Committees said. Some estimates say as many as 15,000 people have died in Syria in more than 15 months. CNN's Saad Abedine, Kareem Khadder and Guy Azriel contributed to this report. | Kamal Hosni Ghanaja was a former deputy of a top Hamas figure . Hamas senior leaders have departed Syria because of the uprising there . A Syrian opposition group says the Shabiha tortured Ghanaja . Ehud Barak says it is "possible that not only Israel" was on the lookout for Ghanaja . | f6f3befe269b08eaba902281381076cd6af1f086 |
By . Ruth Styles . PUBLISHED: . 09:05 EST, 16 August 2013 . | . UPDATED: . 09:50 EST, 18 August 2013 . An Israeli government official charged with promoting a positive image of Israel has been gagged after making a series of undiplomatic comments on social networking sites. Undiplomatic: Daniel Seaman posted a series of critical remarks on Facebook . Among the offensive remarks made by Daniel Seaman, the outgoing deputy director of the now-closed ministry of public diplomacy and dispora affairs, was one that criticised the Church of Scotland and another that asked: 'Is there a diplomatic way of saying "Go **** yourself?'" The gagging order means Mr Seaman can no longer speak or write on Israel's behalf, although he will retain his new role in the office of Israeli Prime Minister, Benjamin Netanyahu. Mr Seaman had written: 'I am sick of . the Japanese, of the Japanese "Human Rights" and "Peace" groups the . world over holding their annual self-righteous commemorations for the . Hiroshima and Nagasaki victims. 'Hiroshima and Nagasaki were the consequence of Japanese aggression. You reap what you sow... 'Instead, they should be . commemorating the estimated 50 million Chinese, Korean and other victims . of Japanese imperial aggression and genocide - not to mention nearly . 120,000 Allied military casualties who fought to defeat the genocidal . Japanese. These are who deserve to be and should be remembered this . week.' His remarks came to light after officials from the Japanese Embassy in Tel Aviv spotted the posts and alerted Israeli government officials. According to reports in Israeli newspaper Haaretz and the Telegraph, Japanese officials contacted Israeli foreign minister, Avigdor Lieberman, to ask whether Mr Seaman's comments were a reflection of Israeli government policy. Social media: Mr Seaman posted a series of undiplomatic comments on social networking site Facebook . Offensive: Mr Seaman's comments on Hiroshima were flagged up by the Japanese Embassy in Tel Aviv . The former head of the Israeli . government press office, Mr Seaman is noted for his confrontational . relationship with the press and for his robust views. Others posted by Seaman included a blunt response to the EU's decision to label Lebanon's Hizbollah a terrorist organisation ('half-a****'). And in response to the Church of Scotland's questioning of the notion of a Jewish homeland, he wrote: 'The Church of Scotland? The Calvinist, Presbytarian [sic] Church of Scotland? Why do you think we give a flyin **** what you have to say?' During Ramadan, Mr Seaman wrote: 'Does the commencement of the fast of the Ramadan mean that Muslims will stop eating each other during the daytime?.' He also turned his ire on Palestinian negotiator, Saeb Erekat, who had commented that Israel had a duty to return to its pre-1967 borders. 'Is there a diplomatic way of saying "Go **** yourself?"' he riposted. In a statement made to the Telegraph, the Israeli prime minister's office said: "These comments are not acceptable and definitely do not express the positions of the state of Israel." | Daniel Seaman made a series of derogatory remarks on Facebook . Targets included Japan, the Church of Scotland and the EU . He also hit back at Palestinian negotiator, Saeb Erekat . | bbe5ca411068bef5082221c984bfb8d3acee8581 |
(CNN) -- New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie blasted Democrat Mary Burke on Monday, saying the Wisconsin gubernatorial hopeful can't be trusted after her campaign hired a political consultant who appeared to plagiarize parts of her job plan from other candidates. "I don't think they were teaching plagiarism at Harvard Business School. I don't think they were teaching you to cut and paste other peoples' work and call it your own," Christie said at an event for Republican Gov. Scott Walker in Hudson, Wisconsin. Burke, a former Trek Bicycle executive who has a business degree from Harvard, fired consultant Eric Schnurer earlier this month after BuzzFeed reported that portions of her jobs plan were apparently plagiarized from former candidates in other states. Chris Christie builds profile as he eyes 2016 presidential run . "If you can't trust her honesty and her integrity when she tells you that this is her plan, why would you trust her honesty and integrity on anything else she tells you about what she'll do for Wisconsin or about Scott's record?" Christie said. "You shouldn't trust any of it." Burke's campaign did not return a request for comment from CNN. Her team added citations to parts of her jobs plan and fired Schnurer. According to the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, Burke said last week that her jobs plan did not violate her principles. "When you put together economic development plans, this is about bringing in the best ideas," she said. "And this is not anything more than bringing good ideas to Wisconsin, to the plans on how I'm going to move Wisconsin forward. And in describing some of these ideas, similar language was used by the consultant that was used in those ideas that he incorporated in other candidates' plans." Walker is in a tight race with his Democratic challenger. A recent poll showed Walker with a slim three-point advantage over Burke. Christie's appearance for Walker, a fellow potential contender for the 2016 GOP presidential nomination, came the same day as first lady Michelle Obama campaigned for Burke in Milwaukee. "She is in this for the right reasons," the first lady said at a rally for Burke. "She cares about people. She doesn't care about politics." | Chris Christie stumps for fellow Gov. Scott Walker in Wisconsin . Christie dings Walker's opponent, Mary Burke, over a plagiarism scandal . Polls show Walker and Burke are in a close race for governor . First Lady Michelle Obama campaigns for Burke . | 19bbd11313fe1ddbeb0b955957c13e09ae35f4b4 |
Herat, Afghanistan (CNN) -- Hundreds of protesters took to the streets Saturday across Afghanistan, the fifth day of demonstrations over the burning of Qurans at a U.S. base, officials said. Four civilians were killed and 50 injured amid protests near the United Nations office in Kunduz, said Saad Mokhtar, head of the city's health department. Twelve police officers were among the wounded. Gulam Mohamad Farhad, the intelligence head of Kunduz, said the protesters tried to burn down the U.N. building. The U.N.'s Afghan mission said all its staff in Kunduz and throughout the country are "unhurt." It denounced the attack on its compound, regretted the casualties and thanked Afghan police for their timely response to the violent protests. The mission also said it understands Muslim anger over the Quran desecration. "At the same time, we call upon those who would wish to express their legitimate religious sentiments to reject calls to violence, to exercise self-restraint and to avoid resorting to protests and demonstrations in order not to allow the enemies of peace to take advantage of the situation," the mission said in a statement. The protests began after NATO troops recently burned Qurans at Bagram Airfield. The burnings sent throngs of protesters to the streets and military bases, some chanting, "Death to America." A military official said the materials burned were removed from a detainee center's library because they had "extremist inscriptions" on them and there was "an appearance that these documents were being used to facilitate extremist communications." American officials, including President Barack Obama, apologized and said burning them was an unintentional error, but protests raged on nonetheless. In a letter to his Afghan counterpart, President Hamid Karzai, Obama called the act "inadvertent." Four U.S. service members have died in Afghanistan since the outrage turned violent. A gunman Saturday shot dead two American officers inside the Afghan interior ministry in Kabul and escaped. A Taliban spokesman said the attack, for which the group claimed responsibility, was in response to the recent burnings. NATO and Afghan officials are investigating and have not confirmed involvement by the Islamist militant group. The commander of U.S. forces in Afghanistan, Gen. John Allen, addressed the Quran burning issue during a visit to a military base where two U.S. soldiers were killed Thursday by a man wearing an Afghan National Army uniform. A protest over the burning of Qurans was taking place outside the base at the time of the killings. Allen called on troops to "show the Afghan people that as bad as that act was at Bagram, it was unintentional, and Americans and ISAF soldiers do not stand for this. We stand for something greater than that." The protests on Saturday took place in various provinces, including Laghman, Paktika, Baghlan and Nurestan, according to a spokesman for the interior ministry. In Laghman province, at least 15 people were injured when hundreds of protesters tried to attack the governor's house and office, authorities said. Police and soldiers intervened, with some injured in the confrontation, said Abdul Rahman Sarjang, a local police chief. Two civilians and an officer were in critical condition, Sarjang said. But protests in most of the northern regions ended peacefully, police spokesman Lal Mohamed Ahmadzai said. At least eight people were killed and 27 wounded in protests Friday, mostly in Herat province, according to Sediq Sediqqi, spokesman for the interior ministry. No international coalition members have been wounded in the protests, NATO's International Security Assistance Force said. The burning at Bagram was not the first time that damaging Qurans -- or even the threat to do so -- has provoked angry Muslim reaction. Terry Jones, the pastor of a tiny evangelical church in Florida, announced plans to burn the Muslim holy book on the ninth anniversary of the September 11, 2001, attacks on the United States. He was persuaded not to do it at the time, but he made good on the threat six months later. Two weeks after that, protesters in northern Afghanistan attacked a U.N compound, leaving 12 people dead. In Kandahar, three people were killed in one demonstration, and nine in another when police and stone-throwing demonstrators clashed. "The first belief among Muslims of all types is that the Quran is the word of God," said Shainool Jiwa, of the Institute of Ismaili Studies in London. "The words themselves, the typing, takes on a level of sanctity. There is a sacredness about it." But, she said, violent reactions to its burning are as much a sign of the times as an expression of faith. "There is a history behind this. It's much more reflective of the times we are in, the protests and anger," she said. "This whole issue has become politicized." CNN's Josh Levs and Richard Allen Greene contributed to this report. | Four civilians are killed and 50 people are injured in Kunduz, a health official says . Police: At least 15 are injured in Laghman protests . The protests start after NATO troops burn Qurans at Bagram Airfield . Taliban says Saturday's killing of two U.S. military officers is linked to burning . | 3285b7ee62b5fcba5a94f23a2bfd4a46d9cbf8cd |
(CNN) -- Lingering oil residue at the bottom of Gulf Coast marshes caused heart defects and hindered reproduction in a small fish seen as an environmental bellwether, researchers said Thursday. The Gulf killifish spends its whole life in the marshes of the Gulf Coast, with few in their lifetimes venturing more than a football field's length from where they were born. Because of that, they've been the subject of several studies since the Deepwater Horizon oil spill erupted off Louisiana in April 2010. The latest, conducted by scientists from Louisiana State University and University of California-Davis, found killifish embryos that were exposed to oiled sediments hatched at a rate 40% lower than those cultivated in samples from un-oiled sites. Those that did hatch were smaller, had lower heart rates and had cardiovascular deformities that were likely to hurt their chances of survival, said Ben Dubansky, an environmental toxicologist at Louisiana State University. "Early life exposure affects heart function, and these abnormalities persist until adulthood and make it harder for fish to survive, evade predators and eat," Dubansky said. The findings were published online this week in the peer-reviewed journal Environmental Science and Technology. Co-author Andrew Whitehead said the killifish is the "canary in the coal mine" for the Gulf Coast, where scientists are still trying to catalog the effects of the 2012 disaster. "They're the most abundant fish in these marshes," said Whitehead, a genome biologist at UC-Davis. "They're a really important forage species -- that means a lot of the fish that we care about commercially eat them. They're really important as that sort of middleman member of the community ... Their biology is going to reflect the quality of their local environment." Because the oil spread across the Gulf in patches, Whitehead said it's still too early to tell what the findings mean for killifish populations overall. The study this week isn't a direct sign that the numbers are shrinking, but it's a warning, he said. "Any animals that share a similar habitat to our killifish are going to be at similar risk to this species, and there are lots of commercial species that we care about that share the same habitat," he said. In earlier studies, scientists observed deformities in the gills of killifish. In this study, Whitehead said, "We brought the field into the lab" by collecting water and sediment samples from areas that had gotten hit by oil during the spill, introducing embryonic killifish and comparing the results to fish cultivated in samples from un-oiled sites. "What we found were pretty clear and dramatic and pretty obvious development differences in the embryos exposed to the oiled sediments," he said. Killifish are typically a few inches long and commonly used as bait. There's no sign that the oil components are accumulating in their meat, but the fish are suffering "massive biological effects" as their systems process the compounds, said LSU environmental toxicologist Fernando Galvez, another collaborator on the study. Researchers are still trying to assess the damage the spill did to the Gulf Coast, but fishermen in some parts of Louisiana say the catch has yet to recover from the spill. Oil company BP, which owned the ruptured well and is responsible for the cleanup, announced plans for nearly $600 million in restoration projects in Alabama, Mississippi, Florida and Louisiana this week. The new research was funded by the National Science Foundation and the Gulf of Mexico Research Initiative, the BP-funded effort to study the environmental impact of the Gulf spill. BP said in a statement Friday that while the company had not had a chance to review the data in the new study, "it is important to note that there are many sources of PAHs (polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons, or compounds in the oil that settled into the sediments) and other stressors that elicit the biological effects described in the killifish paper. These sources have existed for years in Louisiana marshes, and not all are associated with oil." BP says the spill has cost it more than $32 billion to date, including cleanup costs, compensation and penalties. It's currently in a federal court in New Orleans, seeking to avoid a finding of gross negligence that could result in another $17-plus billion in fines under the Clean Water Act. | Study links oil exposure to heart defects in Gulf killifish . The species is the "canary in the coal mine" for the Gulf Coast, scientist says . | 7e8f5fc1e6bf299f5a2de9442b7b6986503dc1ef |
By . Daily Mail Reporter . Last updated at 11:09 AM on 23rd January 2012 . A former NYPD officer who was sentenced to three years’ probation last week for tagging his nickname to an overpass in Queens says the latest graffiti isn’t his, though his checkered past says otherwise. Steven Weinberg, a 44-year-old retired officer, spent much of the 1980s vandalising walls and subway cars with his art. But Weinberg, who suffers from nerve damage from an injury sustained on the job over a decade ago, uses a cane to get around and says the latest bout of graffiti – which is in the middle of a highway overpass - isn’t his. Ex-cop by day, vandal by night? Steven Weinberg, who was forced out of . the NYPD due to a leg injury in 2001, was put on three years probation . Problem picture: This tag appeared in 2009, and has since been the heart of the City's case against Steven Weinberg, saying it shows that he is still active . Weinberg was convicted last week of putting his tag, Neo, along a Queens overpass in Bayside in 2009, but he insists it was a copycat. ‘I never admitted to doing this,’ he told the New York Post. ‘I never denied I used to do it, but I didn’t do this graffiti on the highway.’ The former officer, now married with a wife and young daughter, told the New York Daily News at his hearing last week that he stopped doing graffiti after he joined the force in 1995. The judge, however, didn’t believe his plea. ‘I know that you’re in chronic pain,’ Supreme Court Justice Salvatore Modica said. ‘I understand what you’re going through. It does not excuse the criminal behaviour.’ All over the place: Neo's tags have been spotted on walls, trains, and trucks . According to the News, prosecutors said Weinberg bragged about the tagging on a MySpace page. Back in the 1980s, when the city was full of graffiti artists and squeegee men, crime ran rampant on the streets of New York. Weinberg said that at the time, sloppy security allowed he and other artists to roam the streets and subways ‘like it was a playground at Mickey D’s.’ Regardless, he said he enjoyed the thrill, as well as the artistic aspects, not the drug culture that is often associated with graffiti. Around the corner: Neo started tagging in his neighbourhood of Queens . He receives an annual disability pension of $38,000 a year. Weinberg retired in 2001 after sustaining serious nerve damage to his leg. He was forced to pay a $700 fine at his sentencing last week. The judge also ordered him to participate in a programme in Brooklyn which teaches art history and how to use graffiti productively. The programme is called ‘Paint Straight.’ He told the Post: ‘I believe in rehabilitation. I think you cause more problems in society when you give people convictions on something like this, when you could have them contribute to society instead.’ With his work: The website Subway Outlaws served as an outlet for Neo to speak about his work, shown in a fuzzed-out photo here . | Steven Weinberg was prominent graffiti artist in 1980s . Joined NYPD in 1995 but left in 2001 because of injury . Fined $700 and put on three-year probation for 2009 tag on Queens overpass he insists he didn't do . | 635040abdc55fc8ce50fbe065e5710931001dceb |
It was Henry Cooper's manager who said that in Germany, 'You've got to knock them out to get a draw'. Almost 60 years since Our 'Enery was controversially disqualified in Frankfurt, Paul Smith became the latest Brit to fall foul of scandalous judging. The Liverpool super-middleweight pushed world champion Arthur Abraham to the brink in Kiel only to be left 'disgusted' by the scorecards. Paul Smith was left distraught after scandalous judging robbed him of the fight in Germany . Smith and world champion Arthur Abraham (R) appeared to be closely contested . Judges voted unanimously in favour of Abraham in another controversial decision from Germany . Smith is consoled by former world champion Ricky Hatton after the fight . After a nip and tuck fight that swung first to the champion and then to the challenger, the result appeared to be on a knife edge. But the ringside judges disagreed with two awarding Abraham the fight by six rounds while the other, disgracefully, gave Smith just one of the sessions. Visibly distraught, the 31-year-old said: 'What can you do? It's disgusting. It's the main thing I hate about boxing. Most of them [the judges] have never fought and they're robbing kids of life-changing opportunities. 'I proved I'm not British level. I did some things wrong but I did a lot of it right. I was outworking him every round. I was shading a lot of the rounds. It's Germany, I well and truly got my fingers burnt. Smith and Abraham trade blows during the fight in Kiel, Germany . Smith requested a rematch after the fight as promoter Eddie Hearns also complained about the verdict . Abraham is likely to chase a lucrative domestic fight against the winner from Robert Stieglitz or Felix Stur . 'I believe I did enough. At the end of the rounds I didn't think I was losing many of them.' Smith's promoter Eddie Hearn echoed his fighter's frustrations. He said: 'The sickening thing is the scores. These people can't be judging fights; they are not good enough. I can't help but laugh, how can you score that fight 11-1? 'The score cards go down in history but they won't reflect the fight. Paul has worked all his life for this opportunity and just wanted a fair crack at the whip.' Smith demanded an immediate rematch but that looks unlikely as Abraham chases a money-spinning domestic dust-up against old foe Robert Stieglitz or Felix Sturm who meet in November. Ironically, the latter is no stranger to claims of robbery from British fighters. Both Matthew Macklin and Martin Murray challenged the former middleweight world champion in 2011 but left empty handed after a split-decision loss and a draw respectively. Smith walks away 'disgusted' after the match was awarded to the home favourite . Smith has the dignity to congratulate his opponent after the end of the world title fight . Abraham admitted: 'Of course I would fight Paul again. I'm sure it would be another exciting fight. However the circumstances would need to be right. At the moment the most interesting fight for me would be Sturm or Stieglitz.' Smith, who remains the British champion, was philosophical on the morning after the night before. He tweeted: 'Listen I'm alive, I'm healthy and I've got an amazing family. Life's a bigger game than boxing. I've always said that. I'll be back!' | Paul Smith was defeated by world champion Arthur Abraham in Germany . English super middleweight left feeling 'disgusted' by scandalous judging . Smith immediately asked for a rematch, but Abraham is more likely to face the winner between Robert Stieglitz or Felix Sturm . | 8b838b017bae56055c9db61782073997c447051e |
By . Daniel Miller . PUBLISHED: . 23:47 EST, 12 June 2012 . | . UPDATED: . 04:18 EST, 13 June 2012 . Healthy: But six-year-old Tayler Gunn has been left terrified of putting on weight after his school sent him a letter saying he was close to being clinically obese . A six-year-old boy has been left terrified of putting on weight because his school nurse told him he was too fat. Tayler Gunn refuses to eat cheese, ham and spaghetti after being sent a letter from his school, Millhouse Infants in Laindon, Essex saying he was close to being clinically obese. When he was sent the letter, Tayler weighed three stone 5lbs and was 3ft 6ins tall. Since then he has grown two inches but has actually lost one pound in weight. His mother Leanne Kane, 25, of . Devonshire Gardens, Laindon, Essex, says: 'It is something he worries . about. It's ridiculous, I just keep telling him he's strong, he's not . fat, he's strong. 'It definitely affected him, and he is . really worried about his weight. 'I was so angry because I was given a . letter basically saying that I'm not looking after him properly, but I . do. He thinks he is too fat and he's six. It's just awful.' To try to help youngsters worried about their weight, MPs have made recommendations that all school children receive compulsory body image and self-esteem classes. It follows a report by the All Party Parliamentary Group on body image, which said more than half of the public has a negative body image and girls as young as five now worry about how they look. The parliamentary group report also said cosmetic surgery rates have increased by nearly 20 per cent since 2008 and blames media images of super skinny celebrities. As part of the same recommendation there was a call for a review into the Equality Act, suggesting it be amended to include appearance-related discrimination. Another recommendation was a review into whether the Equality Act 2010 should be amended to include appearance-related discrimination, which would be classed the same as race and sexual discrimination. Leanne, welcomed anything that could be done to help children, but says government involvement was one of the reasons Tayler was so self conscious about his weight. Lisa-Marie Jobson, principal of the San-Marie Stage School, both in Billericay, Essex believes classes to help children with self-esteem and body image issues would be a positive step. She said: 'I see things from two sides - I think in some ways it is important that children are aware of their bodies for health and medical reasons. Children should be aware of the importance of exercise and not getting over-weight. 'But I also think the Government could do more in teaching children that everyone is different. We all have different body shapes and we are all good at many different things. These realities should be appreciated. 'I would say that the ad agencies for TV . commercials have made big changes since I first came into the industry. The casting briefs we get these days are often looking for 'real . children' - they want children of all shapes and sizes, from all races. It didn't used to be like that. Anger: Tayler's mother Leanne Gunn with the letter sent by the school nurse. When it arrived, Tayler weighed three stone 5lbs and was 3ft 6ins tall. Since then he has grown two inches but has actually lost one pound in weight . 'As for the mags and brochures, they are specifically looking for perfect children. I don't think this is such a good thing as it puts a hell of a strain on young children. 'I find a lot of children are very self aware of their bodies and the children who come to us for dance classes are particularly aware. Many come for fun and exercise which is great - they are aware of body health. ' Clinical psychologist Zach de Beer said: 'Body image is a major issue and can lead onto other problems; commercial and cultural pressures are real. 'Any kind of bullying or verbal abuse, for whatever reason, is not acceptable and can have a catastrophic effect on some vulnerable young people.' | Tayler Gunn now refuses to eat cheese, ham and spaghetti . He has since grown two inches in height but lost one pound in weight . | 530096dc783294eac88ec27aef1b98a2ef2bda1e |
By . Lucy Waterlow . Forget the races, for many Royal Ascot is all about the fashion. That's why Channel 4 have hired style guru Gok Wan to be their fashion correspondent as the glamorous event begins today. Clothes expert Gok will be on hand every day to comment on 'who's who' while appraising racegoers' outfits. Gok's fashion picks: He recommends, clockwise from left, colour-blocking with this vivid yellow number, eccentric prints, modern but still demure and chic lace and a dress and jacket combination for those who want to keep covered up . Attendees must adhere to traditional style rules including wearing skirts and dresses of a 'modest length', dress straps of one inch or greater (no strapless dresses allowed) and hats instead of fascinators. Gok said fashionistas can stick to the guidelines while still keeping their look on-trend. He said: 'My career is based on challenging . tradition, but it's all about taking classic stuff and twisting that. When you see women on Gold Cup Day and they're all parading along with . their avant-garde hats and the latest trends, it's all full of . tradition. 'The hemlines are to the knee, the arms are covered, there are . all these rules and regulations. At the same time, there are little . moments of new trends.' Style watch: Gok will be the fashion correspondent for Channel 4 at Ascot . This year, his pick of the trends are florals, monochrome and lace. He said: 'Modern florals ooze femininity. If you're . an hourglass, look for a dress that has a deep v-neck and synched-in . waist to make the most of those gorgeous, Marilyn Monroe curves.' He added: 'For an effortlessly glamorous, classic My . Fair Lady look, pick monochrome. If you're slim, a figure-hugging dress . which finishes on or just below the knee will knock 'em dead.' Jackets and pashminas are allowed in the Royal enclosure and Gok says they are a good option 'if you're worried about putting too much on show – or the British weather.' Ascot's official style guide stipulates no strapless dresses or fascinators for women and morning suits for men in the royal enclosure. Gok said you can stick to the rules whilst adding a personal twist . He also believes lace will continue to be a big trend at this year's event. He said: 'If the thought of lace makes you . think of your gran's net curtains, think again. There are loads of . gorgeous, modern laces out there which look effortlessly chic. And a . mesh or sheer material on the sleeves gives a beautiful hint of flesh . whilst also giving you some coverage.' When it comes to footwear, he said nude heels, like those favoured by the Duchess of Cambridge, are always a winner. Be bold: Gok recommends clashing patterns and bold prints like these seen in the official Ascot style guide . On trend: Gok said floral prints like this will be another winner . 'A heel will make your legs look gorgeous . and a pointy toe will make your pins look even longer. Every woman . should own a pair of black or nude heels – they'll go with everything,' he recommends. But Gok's style tips aren't just for women. While he said men are more restricted in the Royal Enclosure on how adventurous they can be with their outfit, there are ways to make a morning suit reflect personal taste. Ahead of the trends: At last year's Ascot, the Queen showcased two of the looks Gok recommends will be big this year - colour-blocking, left, and floral print, right . Never out of fashion: Gok said nude heels, like those seen on the Duchess of Cambridge when she went to Derby Day at Epsom with Princes William and Harry in 2011, are a wise choice . He said: The only things you can use to express . yourself are your shirt-and-tie combination, and then your cufflinks. And then it's more hidden moments - the lining of your waistcoat or your . jacket – it's all about hidden personality.' The TV presenter said wearing a morning suit to front the Ascot fashion coverage will be an unusual experience for him. Take a chance: Of course you can get it wrong, but with clashing patterns, bright colours and bold prints a-plenty, chances are you will probably nail it. So be daring and give it a go, you mightjust surprise yourself! Get your underwear right: Get your foundations right and everything else should fall into place. Get the support you need in all the right places because that's the last thing you want to worry about on the day! Size matters: The fit of your clothing has to be right. If you are literally tied up like a turkey ready for basting, you're going to be uncomfortable. Be on trend: There's going to be a lot of monochrome and quite a lot of colour clash. Floral prints are a huge trend throughout the whole of the summer as well. It's going to feel very beautiful English garden. Of course, there will be the big-brimmed hats as well and this season we've gone very clean and neat with our tailoring, and we've put that on to prints as well. So expect to seeloads and loads of sharp lines. Royal Ascot is live on Channel 4 from June 17 – 21 and includes seven QIPCO British Champions Series races . | Style guru is Channel 4's fashion correspondent at this year's Ascot . He expects colour-blocking, floral prints and monochrome to be big trends . Said you can give Ascot's traditional style rules a modern twist . | 608d15fa38bcc3f8aa7f507e69c338a55109ba06 |
A Frenchman who was in contact with one of the Charlie Hebdo killers before the massacre has been arrested in Bulgaria while trying to enter Turkey. Fritz-Joly Joachin, a French citizen of Haitian origin, was intercepted at a border checkpoint in on January 1, a week before the Paris killing spree. Public prosecutor Darina Slavova said the 29-year-old had been 'in contact several times' with Cherif Kouachi, one of the brothers behind the newspaper attack. The arrest came as French police said as many as six members of a terrorist cell involved in the attacks may still be at large, including a man seen driving a car registered to the widow of one of the gunmen. Fritz-Joly Joachin (pictured), a French citizen of Haitian origin, was intercepted at a border checkpoint in Bulgaria on January 1, a week before the Paris killing spree . Frenchman Fritz-Joly Joachin is seen inside a Bulgaria courtroom after he was arrested while trying to cross into Syria. He had been in contact with one the Charlie Hebdo killers before the massacre, prosecutors claim . Links: Joachin had been in contact 'several times' with Cherif Kouachi (left) who with his brother Said (right) killed 12 people in an attack on the Charlie Hebdo newspaper offices before being killed in a hostage siege . The 29-year-old was arrested with a European warrant alleging he had abducted his three-year-old son and was likely to take him to Syria to be educated in the principles of radical Islam. The child has now been returned to his mother. A second European arrest warrant cited his possible association with one of the attackers and 'conspiracy in terrorism', a spokesman for the Haskovo regional prosecutor's office said. The chief prosecutor's office in the Bulgarian capital Sofia confirmed that the second warrant was issued on the grounds that Joachin was part of a criminal group planning terrorist acts. Merciless: Masked gunmen Cherif and Said Kouachi shoot a police officer dead as he raises his hands in a plea for his life after they stormed the offices of the French satirical newspaper Charlie Hedbo last week . The man has agreed to be sent back to France and a Haskovo court will make a final decision on the extradition on Friday, one prosecutor said. According to the initial arrest warrant, Joachin's wife told authorities on December 30 that he was likely to take their son to Syria, that he had converted to Islam 15 years ago and had become radicalised in recent years. Fritz-Joly claimed he was travelling with his son and girlfriend for a holiday in Istanbul. Cherif and Said Kouachi and their accomplice, Amedy Coulibaly, were killed Friday by police after a murderous spree at the satirical newspaper Charlie Hebdo and a kosher supermarket. The three all claimed ties to Islamic extremists in the Middle East. Two police officials said authorities were searching the Paris area for the Mini Cooper registered to Hayat Boumeddiene, Coulibaly's widow. Turkish officials say she is now in Syria. One of the police officials said the cell consisted of about 10 members, and that 'five or six could still be at large,' but he did not provide their names. The other official said the cell was made up of about eight people and included Boumeddiene. France said it will mobilise 10,000 soldiers today and its defence minister said the country remained at risk of further attacks. Details are emerging of the mystery man seen with France’s most wanted woman – Hayat Boumeddiene (pictured) Details are emerging of the mystery man seen with France’s most wanted woman – Hayat Boumeddiene – entering Turkey before she fled to Syria. Mehdi Belhoucine, a 23 year old French national was already known to the country’s security forces, but it’s now been revealed that his older brother was jailed for his part in sending fighters to the Pakistan-Afghanistan area. Mohamed Belhoucine, according to Le Monde, regularly released jihadist propaganda films produced by As-Sahab, Al Qaeda’s media outlet. The Prosecutor at his 2014 trial stressed ‘the depth of his convictions and his jihadist relay role of propaganda on the internet.’ Before being sent for training in Afghanistan, would be jihadists were shown the latest vidoes of fighting by Belhoucine in a safe apartment. His younger brother, then 18 and an electronics student, was often there but according to one witness he ‘just played on his console.’ When interviewed by police on another occasion two years later, he allegedly made no secret of the fact that he felt ‘particularly concerned by the situation in Afghanistan and Iraq but also in Palestine, Somalia and Chechnya.’ He said: “ I thought about going to one of these countries but not necessarily to take up arms initially. The idea would be to be there with them, to help them perhaps in the form of humanitarian aid. ‘And perhaps, if pushed, then if asked, to take up arms.’ Until named by police as the man who accompanied the wife of the killer of a policewoman and hostages in the Jewish supermarket, Amedy Couliblay, on a flight from Madrid to Turkey, Belhoucine had faded from view. Police in Turkey say that the slim, long haired man by Boumedienne’s side in a video released of her airport arrival, is Mahdi Belhoucine. There are now suggestions that Couliblay may have first met the senior Belhoucine brother in jail where he underwent further radicalisation. By Fidelma Cook, in France . | Fritz-Joly Joachin intercepted at border crossing in Bulgaria on January 1 . The 29-year-old had been 'in contact several times' with Cherif Kouachi . The arrest warrant alleged he planned to enter Syria with his son, 3 . A second European arrest warrant cited possible 'conspiracy in terrorism' | 8c9d1826b723b6bdfa5a5e2e63dfe4604218a1ec |
An Australian woman has gone into labour aboard a Malaysian Airlines flight from Malaysia to Brisbane, forcing it to make an emergency stop in Bali. The flight landed at 2.10pm local time after the woman was 'about to give birth' on Friday. Spokesman for Ngurah Rai airport managers Angkasa Pura, Herry A. Y. Sikado, says flight MH135 from Kuala Lumpur to Brisbane requested a priority landing. An Australian woman has gone into labour aboard a Malaysian Airlines flight from Malaysia to Brisbane, forcing it to make an emergency stop in Bali . The plane with 178 passengers on board landed and the woman was rushed to Kasih Ibu Hospital, Mr Herry said. MH135 departed for Brisbane at 4.14pm and the airport says flights are running to schedule. | An Australian woman has gone into labour forcing emergency landing . A Malaysian Airlines flightfrom Malaysia to Brisbane stopped in Bali . The plane with 178 passengers landed at 2.10pm local time and the woman was rushed to hospital . | 25d3d7753d69fdcfc8193015cdfa1617b9efca42 |
By . Meghan Keneally . PUBLISHED: . 09:19 EST, 24 January 2014 . | . UPDATED: . 14:21 EST, 24 January 2014 . Mitt Romney came on the Today Show this morning to weigh in on the security threats facing the Winter Olympics but added his two cents about the prospect of a Republican beating the likely Democratic presidential nominee, Hillary Clinton, should she decide to run. Asked by Savannah Guthrie on Today whether or not Mrs Clinton is beatable, Romney said: ‘I'm sure she is, because people recognize the country is just not doing what it needs to be doing’. He vehemently denied that he would ever run again after his failed 2012 bit, and then gave off a quick list of possible GOP contenders. Speaking of the past: Mitt Romney was in charge of the Salt Lake City Olympic Games in Utah in 2002, just months after the September 11 terrorist attacks, and said Russia seems to be handling security threats well . ‘This is a time for Chris Christie, Mike Huckabee, Jeb Bush, Mike Pence, John Kasich- a long list- Marco Rubio. There are a lot of folks who should have the chance to be our nominee and I'm going to support the one who gets the prize,’ he said. Romney’s visit to the New York City set came in conjunction with the mounting security fears for the winter Olympics that begin in a few short weeks in Russia near the Black Sea. The former Masssachusetts Governor was in charge of the 2002 Winter Games which presented their own set of security challenges given that they were held just months after the September 11 terrorist attacks. In spite of the disapproval he touted against Russia throughout the 2012 campaign, Romney was very complimentary of the Russian government’s efforts to secure the site and did his best to reassure any anxious viewers, saying he would 'absolutely' bring his family to the Games. ‘There's never been a Games that I know of that has been so targeted for specific threats as you're seeing at Sochi. At the same time, the level of security preparations appears to be at an unprecedented level,’ Romney said. ‘I believe the Games will be safe. That doesn’t mean there’s a 100 per cent guarantee anywhere in the world today. But this is, after all, a dangerous corner of the world. Changing tune: In spite of his harsh rhetoric against Russia during the 2012 campaign, Romney said that they were taking ever possible precaution in the lead up to the Sochi Games . ‘The specific threats that have been leveled suggest that this is an area that could be targeted and therefore there's a degree of risk associated with, well frankly life today in a world where terrorism exists.’ Romney said that while the warnings about the Black Widow terrorists and other specific women that appear to pose a threat to the safety of the Games may come as shocking and scary to some, he sees them as examples of the efficiency of the organizers. New priorities: Rather than running again, Romney said he is happy to have the extra time with his sons and family . ‘Extraordinary intelligence work- that's what happened with our Games that gave me confidence that they'd be safe,’ he said. ‘Now and then we'll hear reports of an individual they're looking for- that suggests they have pretty good intelligence so all in all, it seems to be a very effective security program, but again, no 100 per cent guarantee.’ One point that he parsed out was that he has a high level of confidence of the security at the ‘hard sites’ where the physical events will take place, keeping the athletes and spectators safe during the tournaments, but soft sites will remain an issue- just as they do throughout the world- because there is no way for security officials to check everyone in public areas. ‘Terrorists can move almost wherever they want to go. It only takes one person to go through a sieve of some kind and so a place like Sochi can be surrounded if you will,’ Romney said. ‘I think that people can recognize that the hard sites and the athletes will be safe and spectators when they're in the venues will be safe but it’s the soft places that you can’t be 100 per cent certain will be entirely safe, but my guess is that Russians have done everything humanly possible to protect the Games.’ He maintained that while he still views Russia as a ‘geopolitical adversary’ of the United States and the world since ‘their friends are some of the world's worst actors’ that is not justification enough to keep the Games away from the country. ‘I don’t think you hold off particular countries based upon their politics,’ he said. Lighter moments: Ann is shown messing with Mitt's seemingly immovable mane at one point . Flirty: Mitt is shown tapping Ann's derriere in a tender moment of the film, which begins streaming on January 24 and was shot over the course of the entire campaign . He did wade into the so-called Bridge-gate scandal that is gripping American domestic politics, however, taking a firm line of support for his 'close friend' Chris Christie. Romney's camp considered the New Jersey Governor as a possible vice presidential candidate and selected Christie to give the coveted keynote speech at the Republican National Convention and ended up selecting Wisconsin Senator Paul Ryan instead. He reaffirmed his statement that there are no hard feelings between the two and that he believes that Christie has handled the multiple scandals facing him as he gets off to a rocky start in his second term. 'I've been in touch with Chris and frankly what I think we've seen is a strong leader who took responsibility, he fired people who were responsible for the scandal and he has moved on as a leader and I do believe the American people want to see a strong leader in the White House and he is,' Romney said. The interview this morning also coincided with the release of a documentary about his presidential campaign, appropriately titled 'Mitt', on Netflix today. The filmmaker, Greg Whiteley, followed Romney and his family for six years as part of the making of the film, and though he was overall pleased with the final product, Romney said he was surprised by the fact that more personal moments between he and his wife and the family prayer sessions were included. 'There were some scenes I kinda wish he wouldn't have included. There are couple scenes where we're praying for instance and I knew he was in the room but I didn't think he was actually filming during our prayer,' he said. 'Gosh darn it he captured all that and then he had the chutzpah to actually use it!' 'Most of it's kind of fun as I watch my sons and my grandchildren and daughters-in-law interacting and supporting a guy who was under the microscope.' Visit NBCNews.com for breaking news, world news, and news about the economy . | Romney said that Russia appears to be making every effort to ensure the Winter Games are safe for athletes and spectators . Said that it is a good sign that they are releasing the names and pictures of specific terror threats because that suggests they have strong intelligence . The former Republican presidential candidate was in charge of the Salt Lake City Games in 2002, months after the September 11 attacks . Talked about how he has been in touch with his 'good friend' Chris Christie and thinks he has handled 'Bridgegate' well by showing strong leadership . Is disappointed that the documentary about his 2012 campaign included clips of his family praying . | 3ebea33bd3a748451b2ec84cc576450e76f0c5b0 |
By . Beth Stebner . PUBLISHED: . 08:50 EST, 5 September 2012 . | . UPDATED: . 16:02 EST, 5 September 2012 . Convicted: The father, whose face MailOnline has muzzed out to protect the identity of his daughter, was sentenced to six years . A young woman who was forced to live with a polygamous clan in Utah throughout her childhood thought she found reprieve when she was adopted by a Washington man. However, rather than help her recover from her traumatic experience, her adopted father repeatedly raped and molested her. The father, 42, who lives in Snohomish, Washington, was sentenced to six years in prison after being convicted of several charges of rape and incest in June. The girl, identified in court papers only as AJ, grew up in the polygamous commune in Utah. According to the affidavit obtained by MailOnline, AJ suffered 'physical and emotional abuse to such a degree that she would later be diagnosed with Post Traumatic Stress Disorder.' She was placed in foster care at the age of 12 after she was taken away from her birth parents at the clan. In 2006, AJ was adopted by her new parents, whose names MailOnline has not released in order to protect the victim's identity. After the adoption was complete, the new family moved from Utah to Snohomish. According to the Everett Herald, a therapist encouraged the family – including the girl’s adoptive father and mother – to explore ‘attachment therapy' to help AJ recover from the emotionally damaging years at the clan. The therapist recommended that the father, mother, and AJ– who was now 15 – fall asleep in the same bed as a means of bonding. Within a month of seeing the therapist, AJ's father began sexually assaulting her, oftentimes when his wife was asleep in the same bed. Sentenced: An adoptive father in Washington was sentenced to six years in prison for the rape and molestation of his adopted daughter . In a written statement, AJ said: 'When (my mother) was asleep, (my father) began touching me. We were all in the same bed.' She then described in graphic detail how her father would sexually assault her while her mother slept. Court documents state that AJ's mother was unaware of the incestual rape. Indeed, AJ's father would often side with his daughter when she was having arguments with her mother as a means of control and alienation. Presided: Snohomish County Superior Court Judge Ellen J. Fair, pictured, sentenced the father . Authorities are also continuing an investigation against the therapist, who made the recommendation for the adoptive parents to ‘bond’ with their daughter. The recommendation stemmed from the therapist’s perception that she had abandonment issues, as well as problems with attachment. The victim said that her father coerced her into . sex at least every week, saying there would be dire consequences if she refused. He told her that if she stopped having sex with him, he would reverse the adoption and ship her back to the polygamous community in Utah, adding that she would be forced to marry into the group upon her return. He also told her that he would kill himself, court documents stated. And so the raping and molestation continued, often when his wife was not around. During one incident, he was performing oral sex on her in her younger sister's bedroom. AJ told prosecutors that her sister told him that she was hungry. At that point, AJ said, her father said 'he was busy' and started having sex with her. She told the court that the abuse continued until she left for college in 2010. The young woman reported the abuse to her former psychotherapist in March 2011; she reported it to the police months later. Place of residence: The man and his wife live in Snohomish, Washington . In December 2011, investigators obtained judicial authorization to record telephone conversations between AJ and her father. When she confronted him about the years of sexual abuse, her father said: 'I understand where you are coming from, I can't argue with what you said.' In that same conversation recorded by investigators, he said to AJ: 'I took your trust. I took advantage of your love for me.' During the trial this week, the girl asked for her adoptive father and rapist to be put away as long as possible so she could heal and get stronger before she would have to run into him again. 'The best thing is a life well-lived in spite of everything you’ve had to endure up to this point.' -Superior Judge Ellen Fair . Superior Court Judge Ellen Fair sentenced him to six years in prison. Initially, the father’s defence requested a Special Sexual Offender Sentencing Alternative. If that had been approved, the father would have only been sent to prison for a year. He would have had to undergo intensive treatment and be regularly supervised by the Department of Corrections in Washington state. However, Judge Fair sided with the victim, citing the obligation of the law to follow her wishes. She dubbed the special sentencing ‘too lenient.’ In total, the father was charged with incest, rape of a child in the third degree, and two counts of child molestation. According to the Herald, he apologised to her in court while the victim wiped away tears. The judge told her: ‘The best thing is a life well-lived in spite of everything you’ve had to endure up to this point.’ | Girl was molested by birth parents for years in polygamous Utah group . Went to adoptive family in Snohomish, Washington . Father convicted of raping and molesting her for years . Therapist had encouraged adoptive parents to explore 'attachment therapy' and fall asleep in the same bed . | 9e8bb77495338536719ebb2fce404ee9655a088a |
Rugby coach Austen Howells, 40, led a secret double life as a doting father during the week and as a drug-taker at weekends. He was found dead following a massive binge at a stag do in Stockport . An NHS director's husband who led a secret double life of drug-taking and alcohol abuse died following a massive binge at a friend's stag weekend, an inquest heard. Rugby coach Austen Howells, 40, was hailed a 'superdad' by his family and wife Alex, who knew him as a health-conscious home-loving father of two who rarely drank. However, Mr Howells, from St Bride's Major near Cardiff, was known to friends as 'Mr all or nothing', who regularly snorted cocaine and took pills when he was out at weekends. His hidden life emerged last August after he died following a binge during a weekend away with 40 friends. A post-mortem examination found he had more than five different types of drugs in his system, including cocaine, amphetamines and methadrone. A coroner at an inquest in Stockport, Greater Manchester, today described his death as 'particularly tragic' and said he was a 'man who had everything to live for'. The inquest heard how Mr Howells had bought 150 tablets, which he had dubbed 'super pills', prior to the weekend away with his friends in August last year. He had stashed the drugs in his glasses case, hiding them from his wife, before travelling from Wales to Bredbury Hall Hotel and Country Club in Stockport with 40 friends for the stag do. The hearing was told Mr Howells was due to be master of ceremony for the wedding of bridegroom-to-be Benjamin Davies and rang him days before the stag weekend to say: 'How much shall I bring? 2/3 ounce?'. He also spoke of 'super pills'. Mr Davies, a former teammate, told the inquest: 'He would take cocaine most weekends and I believe there were periods when he was depressed. 'Austen was a different person on the weekend than he was in the week. 'In the week he was really homely and placid but on the weekend he used to let his hair down. Austen was "Mr all or nothing". If he was doing something like that he wanted everyone to be in it. 'He rang me the week before the stag to discuss how much cocaine to bring. 'He said something about 'super-pills', I can only assume he meant ecstasy tablets.' He said the health fanatic had become a regular drug user and was hooked on the painkiller Tramadol following an ankle injury. Mr Howells was found dead in a room at Bredbury Hall Hotel and Country Club in Stockport (pictured) on August 8 last year following night-out for a stag do with 40 friends. He had taken a cocktail of various drugs . The inquest heard that the stags had started drinking on the coach after meeting at a Wetherspoons restaurant in South Wales on August 8. Once arriving at the hotel, the group began drinking in the hotel bar and following an all-night binge Mr Howell's was found in his room, at about 5.30am, where he was 'talking gibberish', the inquest heard. Mr Davies saw cocaine on the desk and a friend went into his bag and opened the glasses case to see the haul of grey speckled pills. Mr Davies said: 'I assumed they were the pills he mentioned the week before on the phone, the super pills. 'He took about three in one go. Then I think he took another and gave me another.' He added that they went to another room where they drank more and Mr Howells pulled more from his pocket despite being 'right out of it' and 'delirious'. He said he got the impression that he was helping himself to more because 'it took a long time to kick in' and went on: 'He took another one. He would go round the boys and offer them it, share them out.' Mr Howells, a rugby player and coach, was hailed a 'superdad' but hid a secret life of drug-taking and alcohol abuse at weekends, according to friends . As the binge continued into the morning, three of Mr Howells' friends opted to stay with him rather than go to watch a St Helen's rugby match which they had travelled to Stockport for. Ejike Uzoigwe said: 'He was talking about "I have got something with me", what I would describe as pills, sort of bluish greyish. 'He didn't make any sense he was sweating, a bit agitated, he was going on about demons in his head. He would say, "think of a happy place think of a happy place".' He said that he and another stag party reveller James Donavan spent three hours with their friend before briefly leaving him in the room. When Mr Donovan returned at about 2pm, he found Mr Howells unresponsive on the floor. Tests found he had cocaine, amphetamines, methadrone, diazepam, tramadol and AMT, an ecstasy-type drug, in his system. Police also found text and Facebook messages in which Mr Howells had spoken of 'high grade stuff', adding: 'It's banging stuff got it from the horse's mouth.' One Facebook message said: 'Still haven't slept since Friday, on a bender got high-graded' while another read: 'Not going to make money, it's for the boys and Ben'. The Stockport hearing was told how Mrs Howells, 46, an executive director for NHS Wales, knew nothing of her husband's drug taking. The Welshman, who played rugby semi-professionally with Bridgend Ravens and was coaching with Maesteg, was described as a 'natural father' by Mrs Howells who he married in 1999. In a statement she said she loved her husband for his 'energy, life and fun' and added: 'Everyone loved him, he didn't judge people on status or job. 'He didn't like drinking or going out, he was a serious sportsman. He was a natural father. 'His friends called him superdad. We were happy and good family unit. The children had the healthiest lunch boxes. 'Rugby Sevens, that was his thing. He had never been a big one for going out.' She said that in the run up to his death they were in 'the happiest time' of their lives and had 'enjoyed a great family life'. Mr Howells' sister Samantha Freeman said her brother had been a 'stay-at-home dad' and an 'extremely doting father' who had never mentioned any drug use. She told the inquest: 'As a family Austen would always drive. A lot of people were shocked because Austen never used to drink alcohol.' She added that although he had seen a mental health nurse in relation to depression he was never diagnosed. Stockport Coroners Court heard that the quantity of the drugs individually did not kill Mr Howells outright, but that as a cocktail they are likely to have triggered his cardiac arrest. Recording a narrative verdict, coroner Joanne Kearsley said Mr Howell's was a 'young man who everything to live for'. She said: 'It is particularly tragic when someone who in many ways was clearly a talented, dedicated and respected individual who spent time developing and fostering youth talent, died in such a needless and senseless way. 'He appeared to be a man who lived an almost paradoxical life, health-conscious, sporty, family man but someone sadly who had an unhealthy long-standing drug habit. 'He brought the vast majority of drugs to that weekend, he wasn't the only person to take drugs. It is in my view quite a shameful day when I hear that such drug taking is prevalent in rugby circles. 'He was a young man who had everything to live for. He was clearly respected in the community, it is a waste of talent. I hope others here that message loud and clear.' | Austen Howells was hailed a health-conscious 'superdad' who rarely drank . But 40-year-old led a double life and took cocaine and pills at weekends . His wife, NHS executive director Alex, 46, knew nothing of his secret habits . Mr Howells was found dead after drugs binge during stag do in Stockport . Tests revealed he had more than five different types of drugs in his system . | a00c2d93b2bcfca782c9e63666335f5d13034737 |
Washington (CNN) -- To Republicans, President Barack Obama is a gift that keeps on giving when it comes to campaign fodder to use against Democrats. A line from Obama's economic speech on Thursday is giving Republicans more material to continue slamming their opponents as Obama surrogates. That tactic has been key to Republicans' midterm strategy this cycle, at a time when a majority of Americans -- 52% according to the latest CNN/ORC poll -- disapprove of the President's job. "I am not on the ballot this fall," Obama said at Northwestern University on Thursday. "But make no mistake: these policies are on the ballot. Every single one of them." Rep. Cory Gardner, the Republican nominee for Senate in Colorado, already played up the line during an interview Friday. "Well I think the President himself yesterday stated that his policies are going to be on the ballot," he said. "Those failed policies are what the people of Colorado are facing and voting on." And Republicans in three key states for control of the Senate have already jumped on those words in videos that made it online less than 24 hours after Obama spoke. Kentucky . When it comes to Democratic candidates setting up a sharp divide with Obama, Kentucky candidate Alison Lundergan Grimes has been one of the most visible, even pointing out in a recent ad, by saying "I'm not Barack Obama." But Sen. Mitch McConnell's ad released Friday looks to paint a different picture: . "Alison Grimes says this election is not about her support for Barack Obama and his failed policies," the ad's narrator says, before playing the clip of Grimes stating she's not the President. "But Obama himself says a vote for Alison is a vote for his policies." Kansas . Sen. Pat Roberts' campaign also pounced on Obama's comments -- even giving its take on the national backdrop to the president's policies. "Trillions in new debt. Obamacare. Nearly 10 million Americans unemployed," the Roberts' ad's narrator says. The ad cuts to Obama's quote from Thursday, and then ties him to independent candidate Greg Orman, painting him as a Democrat. "A vote for Greg Orman is a vote for the Obama agenda," flashes across the screen before the ad fades out. New Hampshire . Republican Scott Brown's campaign follows a similar formula in attacking Sen. Jeanne Shaheen. "He's not up for reelection, I know you're shocked to hear that," Brown quipped at a campaign event that opens his latest ad. "But his number one foot soldier Senator Shaheen is." The final words of the ad: "Send a message to Obama. Vote no on Shaheen." | In Kentucky, Kansas and New Hampshire, GOP Senate candidates are playing up the President's quote. The quote comes from a speech Obama gave in Chicago on Thursday. Some Democrats in red states have tried to distance themselves from Obama. | cfd0a4c81ce67af30a4433fe889bf64dc7e7d959 |
By . Daily Mail Reporter . PUBLISHED: . 01:09 EST, 23 January 2013 . | . UPDATED: . 01:10 EST, 23 January 2013 . Two Colorado police officers facing felony charges for shooting a massive elk known as 'Big Boy' by locals have resigned amid an ongoing internal investigation into its death. Sam Carter and Brent Curnow handed in their letters of resignation to the Boulder Police Department on Tuesday following the January 1 shooting which momentarily placed them both under arrest on Friday. 'The Boulder Police Department does not tolerate this kind of behavior,' Police Chief Mark Becknersaid in a statement obtained by ABC. 'Police officers and other members of this department will be held accountable for their actions and behavior, and we want the community to know how seriously we take this breach of trust.' Gunman: Boulder, Colorado, police officers Sam Carter and Brent Curnow, pictured, are accused of maliciously shooting the bull elk known as 'Big Boy' before attempting to coverup their crime . According to an arrest affidavit, . Carter told police the day after the shooting that he encountered an elk . on January 1 that he said was injured and needed to be put down. Carter . then blasted the animal with a shotgun, and Curnow, who was off-duty at . the time, came to pick up the carcass with the help of an on-duty . Boulder County sheriff's deputy, identified as Jeff George, the . affidavit states. Carter did not report the incident or . notify his supervisors that he had fired his weapon that night, though . he told investigators that he called in the incident and said he did not . know why dispatch had no record of it, according to the affidavit. However, cell phone records obtained from phone carriers for Carter, Curnow and George show the shooting was premeditated. Both men face felony counts of tampering . with physical evidence, attempt to influence a public servant and . forgery, as well as misdemeanor charges of unlawful taking of a trophy . elk, a Samson law surcharge, killing an elk out of season, use of an . electronic device to take an elk, and official misconduct, said District . Attorney Stan Garnett. Guardian: The elk had been seen around the community for several days before he was shot . Carter and Curnow could face prison time and the loss of their official police certifications. An internal investigation will continue past their resignation, according to police. The officers, who had been on paid administrative leave pending an internal investigation by the Boulder Police Department, were released on $20,000 apiece, the Denver Post reported. Carter texted Curnow at 2:56am, about ten hours before the shooting, on New Year's Day saying, ‘found wapiti (elk) you up?’ That was followed by a text at 4:14am saying, ‘Should I go hunting?’ Carter also texted George that night. At 2:45pm, Curnow texted ‘You should have killed it’ to Carter. Carter responded, ‘Oh he's dead tonight. His right side is broke off at main beam. And he looks a little smaller. He may not be wapiti, but he's gonna die.’ On thin ice: The two officers are facing multiple felony counts and misdemeanor charges, said District Attorney Stan Garnett . When Curnow texted ‘Get him’ to Carter after 10pm, Carter replied, ‘Too many people right now.’Two minutes before midnight, Carter texted ‘Elk down’ to Curnow. All of the texts and phone calls from that night had been erased from Carter and Curnow's phones when they were seized for evidence. Carter allegedly had also applied for a road kill permit with the Colorado Parks and Wildlife Department, saying the elk had broken an antler off. Investigators believe Curnow had sawed the antler off. Spirit: Many admired the elk for its grace . According to the Colorado Peace . Officer Standards and Training Board, a Colorado police officer could . lose his certification for any felony conviction or one of 43 . misdemeanors, including first-degree official misconduct. The neighboring Colorado community was shaken by the . loss of their beloved elk and held a walk to honor the creature while . accusing the local police department of cruelly misusing their . authority. Several dozen . residents of Boulder marched in a silent protest earlier this month, some blaring . elk calls on their outstretched cell phones. 'We're concerned about the larger . culture of misconduct that needs to be addressed in order for taxpaying . voters to regain trust in the department,' a resident involved in the . walk told CBS Denver. Remembering Big Boy: A woman holds her cell phone, which is blaring elk sounds, as she participates in a walk to honor Big Boy the Elk, who was shot to death by a police officer on January 1 . Memorial: Dozens of people in Boulder, Colorado marched in a silent protest to remember Big Boy on Sunday . The walk was just one in a series of events for the late Big Boy. The week prior, the community held a candlelight vigil in his honor. The massive creature was described as their 'guardian' by some. Curnow had been with the department for 14 years, according to the Boulder Daily Camera. The Daily Camera revealed that the suspended officer owns a taxidermy website, which advertises 'quality taxidermy at an affordable price,' according to the paper. It is believed that Curnow and Carter were going to cut up the animal for its meat. There were mixed reports from Boulder residents that the bull elk had been behaving aggressively before it was shot. Vigil: Days after the new year that brought news of the elk's death, hundreds of Boulder residents gathered for a vigil to remember Big Boy . Remembered: A mourner placed a framed picture of the elk on a Christmas tree . | Officers Sam Carter and Brent Curnow are facing multiple felony counts and misdemeanor charges . Carter and Curnow could face prison time and the loss of their police certifications . 'Big Boy' elk was described as local 'guardian' and was shot dead by Carter on New Year's Day . | 21c1dec58d71dec2f6f2ee741c4d4c51aa0204c6 |
By . Gerard Couzens . David Cameron has been labeled stupid by Argentina's ambassador to Britain in an astonishing attack over the Falklands. Alicia Castro rounded on the Prime Minister during a speech to the Argentine senate, calling him stupid and dumb . She accused him of being 'inefficient' for criticising Pope Francis' stance on the disputed Falkland Islands. Alicia Castro (left, pictured with former Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez, centre ) Argentina's ambassador to Britain has called David Cameron stupid in an astonishing attack over the Falklands . Her amazing outburst is set to inflame the already strained relationship between Britain and Argentina and lead to reprisals from Downing Street. The former air hostess, an admirer of Hugo Chavez, ambushed William Hague over the Falklands in May last year by asking him at a public meeting whether he was ready to 'give peace a chance' by opening talks on the islands' future. Her stinging attack on Cameron came at a meeting of the Argentine senate's Foreign Affairs commission. Using the Spanish word Malvinas for the Falklands, she said: 'Cameron was so stupid and inefficient when Pope Francis was chosen as the new papal leader because he broadcast what he had been saying about the Malvinas.' Asking if it was appropriate to describe someone as "stupid" in Parliament, she went on to dub Cameron 'foolish'. She added: 'We had the extraordinary luck to be blessed with an Argentine pope who is a Falklander.' Her stinging attack on Cameron came at a meeting of the Argentine senate's Foreign Affairs commission . Cameron criticised the new Pope's stance on the Falkland islands in March by saying he 'disrespectfully' disagreed with comments he made last year when he was cardinal in Buenos Aires that Britain had 'usurped' the islands from Argentina . Appearing to ignore the fact Argentina tried to take the Falklands by force in 1982 by invading the disputed territory and sparking a war with Britain, she added. 'Argentina does not represent a military threat to the United Kingdom or the inhabitants of the islands. 'What does constitute a military threat is the enormous military might of the United Kingdom in the south Atlantic.' David Cameron criticised the new Pope's stance on the Falkland islands in March by saying he 'disrespectfully' disagreed with comments he made last year when he was cardinal in Buenos Aires that Britain had 'usurped' the islands from Argentina. The PM also joked about the signal from Rome's Sistine Chapel signalling a new Pope after an overwhelming vote in a March referendum by islanders to remain British, saying: 'The white smoke over the Falklands was pretty clear.' Alicia Castro said at the time: 'It is striking that the prime minister should dare to rebuff the Pope.' The diplomat also made headlines by refusing an invite to attend Margaret Thatcher's funeral. In 2010, when she was Argentine ambassador in Venezuela, an ex-worker accused of her of bullying her and stealing cash. Castro rejected the claims in a letter published in Argentine daily Clarin. After the death in March of Hugo Chavez, who once claimed Halloween was terrorism implanted by the US in Venezuela, she said: 'He made us all see a better world is possible.' | Alicia Castro rounded on the PM during a speech to Argentine senate . Called him 'inefficient' for criticising Pope Francis' stance on Falklands . Set to inflame already strained relationship between Britain and Argentina . | 2dadcdc568cd6bca277fc9519d6e69ec2b6eb28a |
Washington (CNN) -- Almost two-thirds of Iowa's Republican political pros predict that former Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney will win the state's caucuses on Tuesday, but his campaign's margin for error over Texas Rep. Ron Paul is slim. As the candidates dashed around the state making their closing arguments to a volatile caucus electorate, CNN surveyed 64 Iowa GOP insiders -- including state legislators, local elected and party officials, senior advisers to Republican Gov. Terry Branstad, business and conservative interest group leaders, veterans of previous caucus campaigns, and a variety of other party activists -- to assess the shape of the GOP race. In the CNN Iowa GOP insiders survey, a solid majority of the 64 Republican political pros thought Romney would finish first over Paul. Who will finish first? • Mitt Romney: .....40 (63%) • Ron Paul: .....17 (27%) • Michele Bachmann: .....1 (1%) • Newt Gingrich: .....1 (1%) • Rick Perry: .....1 (1%) • Rick Santorum: .....0 (0%) • Too close to call/dead heat: .....4 (6%) Three other Iowa GOP insiders thought the race was just too close to call between Romney and Paul, and they picked those two to finish in a dead heat. And another predicted a four-way traffic jam for first between Romney, Paul, former House Speaker Newt Gingrich and former Pennsylvania Sen. Rick Santorum. While Santorum has been surging in the polls in the final week of campaigning, not a single Iowa GOP insider picked him to be the outright winner on caucus night. As one Iowa Republican explained, Romney has run a shrewder campaign than he did in his 2008 caucus effort, when he bet huge amounts of time and resources in the state expecting a victory, only to see former Arkansas Gov. Mike Huckabee rally born-again and evangelical voters for the win. "He has run a smart campaign; not the campaign that Iowa politicos would necessarily like to see, but the operation has done the right thing in Iowa from (managing) expectations to ads to finally deciding to play here," one GOP insider, who asked that his name not be used, said of Romney. "What isn't written about enough is the value of the time he put in Iowa four years ago and how he still has staff and an extensive array of 'super volunteers' around the state. He has had the money and now you are starting to see some enthusiasm at his events. He wins a close caucus." Indeed, when those same 64 Iowa GOP insiders were asked to predict the percentage of the caucus vote that each of the Republican White House hopefuls would capture, the race between Romney and Paul looked much tighter. Percentage of caucus vote expected . • Mitt Romney: .....24% . • Ron Paul: .....22% . • Rick Santorum: .....17% . • Newt Gingrich: .....15% . • Rick Perry: .....11% . • Michele Bachmann: .....7% . • Other: .....2% . • Jon Huntsman: .....1% . Romney is not without his challenges in the state. Some wonder whether his Mormon faith remains a barrier for him in a contest where 60% of participants in the 2008 GOP caucuses were born-again or evangelical Christians. But Romney's biggest challenge may be the feeling that he is too politically expedient. RELATED: Some Iowa Republicans want more options . RELATED: Will Iowa's evangelicals pick the GOP nominee? Asked what Romney's biggest hurdle in the state was, nearly two-thirds of the Iowa GOP insiders said that it was the perception that he tailored his positions depending on the politics of the moment -- far surpassing concerns over the health care reform measure he signed into law in Massachusetts or skepticism from born-again and evangelical voters. What do you think has been the biggest obstacle for Romney in Iowa? • Perception that he has changed views for political gain:.....64% . • Massachusetts health care law: .....22% . • Doubts about him among born-again/evangelical voters: .....14% . "As a supporter (of another campaign) in 2008, I remember the attacks we tossed his way four years ago," said one GOP Iowa insider. "The flip-flopper image remains." But that liability may pale compared to handicaps Newt Gingrich has faced in the state. Once the front-runner in Iowa, Gingrich has had to endure a barrage of negative attacks, particularly from super-PACs supporting Romney and Texas Gov. Rick Perry. And while Gingrich burst to the top of the pack in Iowa after the collapse of Herman Cain's campaign last fall, Iowa GOP insiders don't think he built the kind of political apparatus in the state that could buttress him as he's come under unrelenting fire. What do you think has been the biggest obstacle for Gingrich in Iowa? • The negative ads run against him: .....61% . • His lack of organization in the state: .....33% . • Doubts about him among born-again/evangelical voters: .....5% . • Personal baggage (volunteered): .....2% . "While his lack of organization is a major issue, he could have conceivably overcome it if his face hadn't been ripped off by negative ads, which are running almost every other commercial," observed one GOP Iowa insider. But another averred, "They have shown his record, which has been all over the map." Romney's main rival in the caucuses, Paul, also has problems making more headway in the state. While the 76-year-old congressman has been able to cultivate a devoted following with a blend of libertarian and isolationist appeals, there's a sense among many Iowa GOP insiders that that kind of exotic brew ultimately makes him unacceptable to most Republicans in a primary and most general election voters in the fall. What do you think has been the biggest obstacle for Paul in Iowa? • His stance on foreign policy: .....56% . • Perception that he can't win in the general election: .....46% . • Doubts about him among born-again/evangelical voters: .....0% . "His ideas are too extreme and he doesn't try to mainstream them," said another Iowa GOP insider. "Paul's supporters don't care that he can't win," cracked another. "His foreign policy stances ensure that he won't." Whoever wins on Tuesday, Iowa Republicans believe the party rank and file, along with larger-than-normal numbers of independents attracted by Paul's candidacy, will flock to the caucuses. Half of the Iowa GOP insiders expect their turnout will be above the 119,000 mark set in the 2008 caucuses. While some of that may be wishful partisan thinking, only 11% think that turnout will drop, while 39% predict it will be about the same as four years ago. The CNN Iowa GOP insiders were surveyed from the evening of December 27 through the morning of December 30. Most of the survey was conducted over the Internet; some interviews were conducted by phone. The Iowa insiders were given anonymity for their individual answers in order to encourage candid responses. And while some insiders were aligned with one or another of the presidential campaigns, more than two-thirds said they had not endorsed and were not working for any candidate in the race. Here are the names of the participants in the survey: Chad Airhart, Tim Albrecht, Bill Anderson, Lon Anderson, Becky Beach, Carmine Boal, Jeff Boeyink, Michael Bousselot, Danny Carroll, James Centers, Tim Coonan, Peter Cownie, Mikel Derby, Paula Dierenfeld, Brian Dumas, Ed Failor Jr., Susan Fenton, Brenna Findley, Christian Fong, Dave Funk, Tracie Gilbert, John Gilliland, Gary Grant, Pat Grassley, Adam Gregg, Sandy Greiner, Steve Grubbs, Chris Hagenow, Robert Haus, Erik Helland, Matt Hinch, Mark Hudson, Caleb Hunter, Stew Iverson, David Jamison, Eric Johansen, Jake Ketzner, Gary Kirke, Jeff Lamberti, Jill Latham, Don McDowell, Christopher McGowan, Bill Northey, Chad Olsen, Noreen Otto, Christopher Rants, Steve Roberts, Craig Robinson, Dave Roederer, Brett Rogers, Richard Rogers, Stacey Rogers, Nick Ryan, Renne Schulte, Rich Schwarm, Mike St. Clair, Suzan Stewart, Ted Stopulos, Cameron Sutton, Ed Wallace, Andy Warren, Nicole Woodroffe, Eric Woolson, Grant Young. | CNN surveyed 64 Iowa GOP political insiders days before the historic caucuses . Two-thirds say that Mitt Romney will win on Tuesday . Insiders also feel Ron Paul will finish in second place . | 787b20bedbb27d8b22a123c69cc5c5b349d83162 |
ISLAMABAD, Pakistan (CNN) -- Attackers in a Taliban-controlled area of Pakistan shot and tried to behead a Pakistani journalist on Wednesday, according to his employer GEO TV. Mosa Khankhel was reporting for GEO TV when he was killed. The slain correspondent, Mosa Khankhel, had been covering the recent peace deal between the Pakistani government and Taliban militants in Swat Valley when he was killed, GEO TV managing director Azhar Abbas said. "He is the first martyr of this peace deal," Abbas said, adding that he believes it is unlikely the deal will end the campaign of violence that has centered in Swat. Khankhel was traveling in a caravan with Sufi Mohammed, who was leading the peace deal negotiations for the Taliban, when he went missing, Abbas said. His body was found about an hour later. He had been shot three times and his killers had attempted to cut off his head. Abbas called on Pakistan's government to fully investigate the killing of Khankhel, who was the network's correspondent based in North West Frontier Province as part of GEO TV's Peshawar bureau. His death comes a day after Pakistan's government recognized the Taliban's interpretation of sharia, or Islamic law, in the entire Malakand Division, which includes Swat and its surrounding district. Watch questions raised by Khankhel's death » . The agreement marked a major concession by Pakistan in its attempt to hold off Taliban militants who have terrorized the region with beheadings, kidnappings, death threats, and the destruction of girls' schools. The regional government in the Swat valley struck the deal to allow sharia law, in return the Taliban agreed to a 10-day cease fire. The Taliban control of Swat -- which is about 100 miles northwest of Islamabad -- is the deepest advance by militants into Pakistan's settled areas, which are located outside its federally administered tribal region along the border with Afghanistan. The peace deal is the latest attempt by Pakistan's civilian government -- which took power last year -- to achieve peace through diplomacy in areas where Taliban and al Qaeda leaders are believed to have free rein. But analysts as well as critics within the establishment have warned that Pakistan's previous dealings with the Taliban have only given the fundamentalist Islamic militia time to regroup and gain more ground. Khadim Hussain, a professor Bahria University in Islamabad who studies Pakistani politics, said the government has set the stage for two contradictory, parallel states in North West Frontier Province. "If you leave them like that and you give ... a semblance of peace in a particular area, what does that mean?" Hussain said. "It means you're capitulating. It means you're surrendering the state to them. It means your submitting the state authority to them because they are running a parallel state." He said the government's decision amounts to a marriage of convenience made under duress. Swat has been overrun by forces loyal to Maulana Fazlullah's banned hardline Islamic group, Tehreek Nifaz-e-Shariat Mohammadi (TNSM) which has allied itself with Taliban fighters. TNSM was once led by Sufi Mohammed, Fazlullah's father-in-law, who is leading the latest negotiations. Sufi Mohammed was released from jail last year by Pakistani authorities after he agreed to cooperate with the government. He was jailed in 2002 after recruiting thousands of fighters to battle U.S. forces in Afghanistan. Fazlullah took over TNSM during Sufi Mohammed's jail stint and vowed to continue his fight to impose fundamentalist Islamic law in the region. Last May, Pakistan's government announced it reached a peace deal with militants in Swat Valley. In the months that have followed, the Taliban have seized control of the region and carried out a violent campaign against government officials, including local politicians. The head of the secular Awami National Party -- which represents the region -- was forced to flee to Islamabad amid death threats from the Taliban. Pakistan is under enormous pressure to control the militants within its borders, blamed for launching attacks in neighboring Afghanistan where U.S. and NATO forces are fighting militants. The United States -- using unmanned drones -- has carried out several airstrikes inside Pakistan on suspected militant targets, including one on Monday that killed at least 15 people, Pakistani sources said. Such airstrikes, which sometimes result in civilian casualties, have aggravated tensions between the U.S. and Pakistan. Pakistan's military operation in the region is unpopular among Pakistanis, but efforts to deal diplomatically with militants have not worked in the past. Pakistan's previous leader, Gen. Pervez Musharraf, reached a cease-fire deal with militants in South Waziristan in 2006 which was widely blamed for giving al Qaeda and Taliban a stronger foothold in the region. CNN's Stan Grant contributed to this report . | Journalist for Pakistan's GEO TV killed in Taliban-area of the country . GEO says Mosa Khankhel was shot and his attackers tried to behead him . Khankhel was traveling with Taliban lead negotiator when he went missing . Incident happened in Swat where Pakistan-Taliban agreed to allow sharia law . | 37044ab8d7a8fc8f8026f0353ad09747b22954cd |
New York (CNN) -- The New York City Police Department released surveillance video Thursday from a traffic incident a day earlier that led to Lindsay Lohan being charged with leaving the scene of an accident. But specifics about what exactly happened remained as unclear as the video itself. The black-and-white video, which covers less than 30 seconds, was shot by a private surveillance camera and obtained by police the night of the incident, according to NYPD Detective Marc Nell. Lohan was driving a Porsche Cayenne into the parking lot of the Dream Hotel off West 16th Street when she allegedly hit a pedestrian who is an employee of the restaurant next door, said Sgt. John Buthorn, a New York Police Department spokesman. LiLo: Why hasn't a certain Nickelodeon star gone to jail? The video shows a dark car with its headlights on passing through a group of pedestrians as it turns from the street into an entrance. As the car disappears into the entrance and out of the frame, a blurred figure is seen appearing to run after the car. Included with the surveillance video was a police description of the incident that does not directly state the pedestrian was ever struck by Lohan's vehicle. The description also clearly states the pedestrian remained standing and walking during the entire incident. Nell of the NYPD confirmed a Wednesday report that the alleged victim was treated at a hospital for a knee injury after the incident. The actress continued driving before parking her car and apparently leaving the scene shortly after midnight, Buthorn said. Police arrested her about 2:30 a.m. Wednesday, and she was given a desk-appearance ticket, meaning she was not jailed nor did she have to post bail.. Earlier this year, Lohan's five-year supervised felony probation in California from two drunken driving incidents in 2007 was lifted. She remains on unsupervised probation for a misdemeanor shoplifting convictions last year. Lohan has been in court at least 19 times since May 2007. Buthorn said police do not suspect drugs or alcohol played a role in the latest incident. Although the surveillance description never cites Lohan ever striking the pedestrian, "everything stands as is" and the actress will still be required to appear in court, according to the police department. A representative for Lohan told CNN, "As the facts of this situation come to light, it is going to be apparent there was no accident." Lohan is scheduled to appear in court on October 23, according to the Manhattan district attorney's office. Officials: Lindsay Lohan a suspect in burglary, but no charges planned . CNN's Leigh Remizowski, Alan Duke and Carolyn Sung contributed to this report. | The brief video does not make it clear whether an accident occurred . A police statement with the video does not directly state a pedestrian was hit . The statement does say the alleged victim remained standing and walking . Lohan is due in court on October 23 on a charge of leaving the scene of an accident . | ed4e7c9165f2bd16a5479ac9ec2d3f54cfd5100c |
(CNN) -- The United States does not know where ousted Libyan leader Moammar Gadhafi is and does not believe the National Transitional Council has a lock on his whereabouts either, a senior U.S. official told CNN Thursday. That information came after Anees al-Sharif, a spokesman for the new Tripoli Military Council, said anti-Gadhafi fighters had cornered the fallen Libyan leader and that he had no means of escape. Al-Sharif did not divulge a location. U.S. Defense Secretary Leon Panetta said earlier this week that officials believe Gadhafi is on the run. "I don't have any information as to exactly where he's located," he said. Two Libyan convoys passed through Niger this week, officials in that country said. Initial speculation was that Gadhafi was in one of those groups, but on Thursday a second senior U.S. official said the United States now has a list of officials from Libya who were in both convoys. There were "no marquee names," or anyone who was named in U.N. Security Council resolutions, the second source said. The official would not say who was in the convoys but said Gadhafi's security chief was not among them, refuting reports that said he left in the convoy. The Nigerien government is talking to the NTC about what the new Libyan leadership wants to do with those in the convoy but the NTC hasn't decided whether it's worth it to bring them back, the source said. Libyans are leading the search for Gadhafi. The Central Intelligence Agency has agents in the area, and the United Kingdom, France, Jordan and Qater have special forces in the country as well, NATO and U.S. defense officials tell CNN. However, the mission of those agents is not necessarily focused on hunting for Gadhafi. In Washington, Capt. John Kirby, spokesman for the Joint Chiefs of Staff, insisted Thursday that the U.S. mission in Libya is to protect citizens and "is not about capturing or finding Col. Gadhafi." Questions about Gadhafi's whereabouts intensified after the fall of Tripoli and reports that his wife, daughter, two sons and other family members fled to neighboring Algeria, which described its acceptance of the family as a humanitarian gesture. Gadhafi's forces in Bani Walid, one of the last loyalist strongholds, fired Grad rockets at opposition fighters Thursday, according to the NTC chief negotiator for the city, Abdallah Kenshill. He said the rockets were fired randomly and no fighters were injured. "Gadhafi loyalists are just trying to scare rebel ranks with the Grad explosions and booms," Kenshil said. Opposition fighers are advancing on Bani Walid from two directions, according to Kenshil. He also said opposition supporters inside the city attacked some of Gadhafi's military installations, capturing and destroying artillery and rocket launchers. Bani Walid is about 150 kilometers (some 90 miles) southeast of Tripoli. Meantime, NTC leader Mahmoud Jibril told reporters that Libyans have a choice between the past and the future. He warned that the "battle for freedom" was not over, especially in the southern part of the country. He also said that the "national confidence which aimed at bringing the regime down has not been achieved yet." But Jibril was confident the battle would be won if Libyans remained united. "And when the battle's really finished ... there will be an interim government and also a constitution which has been agreed." "My priorities are to finish the freedom, the fight of freedom," Jibril continued, "And to form a civil state and a democratic government -- regardless of the side or color they have to participate equally in all rights and duties. Also Thursday, the International Criminal Court asked Interpol to issue Red Notice arrest warrants for the fallen Libyan leader, wanted for alleged crimes against humanity. "Arresting Gadhafi is matter of time," said Luis Moreno-Ocampo, the chief prosecutor for the International Criminal Court in The Hague, Netherlands. A Red Notice allows Interpol, the international police agency, to widely circulate arrest warrants with an intention to extradite suspects to the criminal court. The International Criminal Court also asked for Red Notices on Gadhafi's son, Saif al-Islam Gadhafi, and his brother-in-law, Abdullah Al-Senussi, who served as the regime's intelligence chief. They are also wanted for alleged killings and persecution in the Libyan uprising that erupted in February. Saif al-Islam Gadhafi is believed to be in Sirte, one of the last pro-Gadhafi strongholds in Libya, said the first senior U.S. official. In addition, that official said another son in is believed to be in Bani Walid. A third son, Mutassim, is believed to be in a town whose name is not a familiar one, the official said. The official did not have the town's name and could not immediately remember it. Earlier, Kenshil said two of Gadhafi's sons had been spotted in Bani Walid. "We know that Saif al-Islam Gadhafi and Mutassim Gadhafi are inside Bani Walid," Kenshil said. "Eyewitnesses we know by name inside Bani Walid told us they saw them." Saif al-Islam Gadhafi was considered the most influential of Gadhafi's sons. Mutassim Gadhafi served as his father's national security adviser. Two other sons, Khamis and Saif al-Arab, are believed to be dead. CNN could not independently confirm any of the interim council's statements. Anti-Gadhafi fighters have made claims before about the arrests or killings of Gadhafi's sons which later were proved false. Gadhafi has not been seen in public in months. In recent days, a Syrian television station has aired several messages allegedly from Gadhafi. "Moammar Ghadafi himself incited violence against our peaceful message in a message broadcast on Al-Rai-TV," NTC member Kenshil said, referring to an audio message purportedly from Gadhafi aired Wednesday. "He asked his supporters to destroy the mosque where the negotiations with Bani Walid elders took place," Kenshil said. Kirby, the Joint Chiefs spokesman, told journalists at Pentagon briefing that the United States believes Gadhafi forces are still a danger and some troops continue to be loyal to the Libyan leader. Neither Kirby nor George Little, the new Pentagon spokesman who appeared with Kirby at the briefing, would comment on recent reports by CNN and others of shoulder-fired missiles and other weapons being looted from Libyan storage facilities, but Kirby did say the U.S. has told the NTC it needs to get control of the various weapons stashes around the country. Little also said the United States remains confident that chemical weapons material in Libya remains secure and said the material has been under constant watch for months. After the news reports about the looted weapons, the Obama administration again contacted members of the TNC to express their concern about those weapons getting into the hands of U.S. adversaries, according to a senior U.S. official. Two senior State Department officials confirmed that the State Department has intensified outreach to the TNC in the past few days, based on several reports about the missing weapons. "We don't know who grabbed them or where they are," the senior US official said of the missing weapons. "We are deeply concerned they are all accounted for. We are hoping the TNC will do what needs to be done." The official pointed out that the United States was concerned about Libyan surface-to-air missiles getting into the wrong hands even during the Gadhafi regime. It's also understood that some rebel forces broke into government warehouses in the early days of the conflict to arms themselves. The concern now is weapons that have been seized by loyalist fighters or that could have been sold to members of terrorists such as al Qaeda operatives in North Africa. A NATO source told CNN that the alliance believes some weapons have "gotten out" either to loyalists forces or other adversaries outside Libya. But he emphasized the alliance has "no idea of the quantity or even whether they're operational." A key issue is whether any of the missing weapons also have functioning battery power assemblies and firing mechanisms. He emphasized that NATO also has regularly talked to the TNC about the problem. Libya's new leaders, meanwhile, have imposed a Saturday deadline on Gadhafi loyalists to lay down their arms or face military force. The calm that prevailed during negotiations for surrender shattered in Bani Walid Thursday as loyalists fired on advancing opposition fighters. The anti-Gadhafi fighters were on a reconnaissance mission when they came under fire in Wadi Dinar, about 15 kilometers (9 miles) outside Bani Walid, Kenshil said. One opposition fighter was injured in the abdomen, he said. The opposition returned fire and killed a pro-Gadhafi fighter. Meanwhile, trucks armed with anti-aircraft guns and rocket launchers pulled into a base 30 kilometers (nearly 20 miles) southwest of the coastal city of Misrata Wednesday. The fighting force known as the Victory Unit was back from its patrol of the desert landscape separating Bani Walid and Misrata, loyal to the NTC. The 70-kilometer (44-mile) buffer zone had been quiet for the past two weeks amid negotiations between tribal leaders from Bani Walid and representatives from the NTC. "We don't want more bloodshed," said Antar Al Birra, the commander of the Victory Unit. "Too many people have died, so we hope the negotiations will be successful." Al Birra's forces are battle-hardened from months of heavy fighting, and with Gadhafi's forces against the ropes, he said the battle to take the city will be short. "If we are ordered to take the city, it won't take us long, maybe two or three hours," Al Birra said. Many soldiers on the front hope for a peaceful solution. But as Saturday's deadline loomed, many were anxious as hope of success began to fade. "Negotiations have completely failed," said Shamsaddin Ben Ali, an NTC spokesman. "We won't agree to their demands." These demands include NTC forces entering the city unarmed, refraining from searching houses and -- the most contentious -- a full pardon for the people of Bani Walid. "We won't grant amnesty because there are people with blood on their hands, and we want them to face a trial," Ben Ali said. "I predict fighting to resume on Saturday." CNN's Elise Labott, Barbara Starr, Adam Levine, Kareem Khadder and journalist Ian Lee contributed to this report. | NEW: Loyalists fire rockets at opposition fighters from Bani Walid . NEW: NTC leader says Libyans have a choice between the past and the future . The United States does not believe the NTC knows where Gadhafi is . Official: The U.S. mission is to protect citizens, not to nab Gadhafi . | eead78f47b474ea4ea1d059a846601fa10efca39 |
BASLE, Switzerland (CNN) -- Russia joined Germany and Turkey in the semifinals of Euro 2008 with a 3-1 upset win over the Netherlands after extra time in Basle on Saturday night. Roman Pavlyuchenko scored the Russian opener in Basle. Goals in the second half of added time from substitute Dmitri Torbinski and the magical Andrei Arshavin capped a triumphant night for the Russians. Roman Pavlyuchenko put Guus Hiddink's men ahead in the the 56th minute and they looked to be going through in normal time until Ruud van Nistelrooy stole an 86th minute equalizer for the Dutch. Hiddink's men will face either Italy or Spain in the last four after confounding the form book to put out the Dutch. Marco van Basten's team had gone into the quarterfinal match off the back of three convincing victories, but failed to reproduce their captivating football of the group stages and could have no complaints about the outcome. Dutchman Hiddink had said he would be considered a trator if he masterminded their downfall but paid compliments to his team who have been transformed since a 4-1 defeat to Spain in their opening match. "I don't know how far we have come since our preparation for the first match but usually the Dutch are a team who one cannot outdo tactically, technically or physically, but we did on all three counts," Hiddink told ITV Sport. "Of course we realised we couldn't give away too many freekicks to them but as you get tired you tend to commit more fouls. "However, my players responded really well and instead of relying on the counterattack they pressed for the winning goal." Russia were the more enterprising side from the start at the St. Jakob Park Stadium and striker Pavlyuchenko headed over when unmarked from an Igor Semshov cross. The Dutch may not have been producing the free flowing football of their qualifying group but offered a threat at set pieces with Rafael van der Vaart producing a curling effort from the right which van Nistelrooy should have converted. Both sides were relying on the counter attack in a cagey tactical affair and just after the half hour mark a classic Russian break saw Arshavin bear down on the Dutch goal to send in a low curler which Edwin van der Sar tipped around the post. Manchester United keeper van der Sar had to use all his near two meter height to tip over a thunderous effort from defender Denis Kolodin from the ensuing corner. Moments later Kolodin sent in another long range effort from fully 40 meters which nearly dipped under the crossbar. Van Nistelrooy was generally kept quiet in the first half but his sharp turn and shot from the right had to be neatly saved by Igor Akinfeev while Kolodin nearly handed the Dutch the opener near half-time as his sloppy pass found van der Vaart who shot straight at the Russian keeper. The second half was 11 minutes old when Arshavin found Sergei Semak whose cross from the right was neatly turned in by Pavlyuchenko. The Dutch keeper then had to be alert to keep out Pavlyuchenko for a second goal and Russia looked to be holding on for victory until van Nistelrooy struck in typical style with five minutes remaining. His tireless Real Madrid teammate Wesley Sneijder swung in a free kick from the left which the striker converted from close range at the far post. Extra time again saw the Russians pressing with the most menace and in the first period Pavlyuchenko hit the crossbar with a snap shot. The Russians kept pouring forward against a tiring Dutch side and Arshavin escaped down the left to send over a teasing cross which Torbinski turned in at the far post. Arshavin fittingly sealed victory as he received the ball from a throw-in and somehow beat van der Sar at the near post. "We didn't play football, and never got into the game," van Basten admitted after the final whistle. "Normally we should have been in better shape than the Russians. We didn't see that," he told the Associated Press. | Russia beat Netherlands 3-1 after extra time in Euro 2008 quarterfinal . Dmitri Torbinski and Andrei Arshavin score winning goals in added time . Roman Pavlyuchenko put Russia ahead with Ruud van Nistelrooy equalizing . Guus Hiddink's men will play either Italy or Spain in the semifinals . | 372583dff9fb705b983160d87ec36d1892f42d01 |
(CNN) -- Novak Djokovic's fiancee Jelena Ristic is pregnant with their first child, the tennis superstar announced on social media Thursday. World number two Djokovic tweeted: "Jelena is pregnant!!!We will be parents soon! #blessed Postacemo roditelji uskoro!!! #najsrecniji @JelenaRisticNDF" The couple are in the Greek capital Athens as Djokovic recuperates from the wrist injury which flared up in a semifinal defeat to Roger Federer at last week's Masters 1000 tournament in Monte Carlo. In further good news for the 26-year-old Serbian, Djokovic is now optimistic that he can play in the Madrid Masters tournament in a fortnight. "Fortunately, the situation with the injury is better than it first seemed," he told his official website. "However, I need to continue with the recovery process and full medical treatments. It means I will have to take a short break in order to recover as soon as possible." Djokovic and Ristic have been an item for eight years and last September announced they had become engaged with the intention of marrying in 2014. Ristic, who is from the Serbian capital Belgrade, heads up Djokovic's charitable foundation having studied business at Bocconi University in Milan as well as achieving a a Master's degree in Luxury Management and Services from International University of Monaco. The 27-year-old Ristic is renowned for her fervent support for six-time grand slam champion Djokovic, accompanying him to many of his tournaments on the ATP Tour. There was no immediate indication of when their first child is due. Federer's wife Mirka is expecting their third child around the time of the French Open. His twins Charlene and Myla were born in July 2009. | Novak Djokovic girlfriend Jelena Ristic is pregnant, he tweets . Djokovic and Ristic became engaged in September last year . Djokovic hit by wrist injury at Monte Carlo Masters last week . World number two now says he will be fit for Madrid Masters in a fortnight . | 71696f8638a8b78286671ef139023e4927905300 |
Washington (CNN)When Louisiana Republican Gov. Bobby Jindal recently finished a speech blasting the Common Core education standards, a room full of activists from the conservative American Principles Project jumped from their seats in applause. Less than a year ago, they might have rushed for the door. The scene of Jindal railing against Common Core -- the education standards embraced by more than 40 states -- stands in stark contrast to his enthusiastic approval of the program when it was first introduced. Jindal proclaimed to business leaders in 2012 that Common Core "will raise expectations for every child." In a short time, Jindal has gone from serving as a steward of the Common Core standards to one of the nation's chief critics. But what's more remarkable is that conservatives -- known for seeking ideological purity in their politicians -- aren't blasting Jindal as a flip-flopper as he considers a 2016 presidential run. Instead, they see him as uniquely positioned to be a leading advocate for their cause with the governor's office to back up. Indeed, many on the right have accepted Jindal's repentance and are propping him up as an unlikely model for the anti-Common Core movement. "Of the governors, he's been the most active in speaking out on the issue," Emmett McGroarty, APP's education policy director, told CNN. "Quite frankly, he is the governor who has done the most to remove his state from Common Core." This week, Jindal released an education proposal through his nonprofit advocacy network, "America Next," that in part recants his support. The paper seeks to absolve Jindal of his previous position by claiming he had been misled through "deception." "It was a bait-and-switch," Jindal told reporters Monday at a luncheon at the Heritage Foundation, a conservative think tank. "It wasn't what we've been told. It wasn't what we had been promised." But how did Jindal go from championing the program to becoming one of its leading opponents? In 2012, after Jindal and other governors implemented the program, Common Core became a lightning rod issue among grassroots conservative activists who bemoaned it as a "federal takeover of education." In 2013, Jindal began expressing concerns about the program after his staff held meetings with Common Core opponents in the state. While some of the most vocal opposition to Common Core came from conservatives worried about increasing federal control of local education, many parents also voiced concerns about the substance of the curriculum, particularly noting that their children found it confusing. Other savvy Republicans, particularly those with White House-sized ambitions, began to take note. At conservative gatherings over the next year, Common Core grew into one of the most talked-about issues. Suddenly, almost every conservative who had ever hinted at having presidential ambitions wanted to make it clear that they opposed the new standards. Former Arkansas Gov. Mike Huckabee, who once supported Common Core, came out against it. The rallying cry "repeal Common Core!" became -- and remains -- a consistent crowd-pleaser in speeches by U.S. Sen. Ted Cruz of Texas. In the context of the burgeoning presidential race, the opposition has one added bonus: It lets Jindal use Common Core as a proxy to outline a case against former Florida Gov. Jeb Bush, a consistent Common Core supporter who has also shown interest in running for president. Common Core fight a larger battle over the size of government . Jindal didn't become one of the movement's biggest proponents overnight. Activists cite his leadership and what they describe as tireless advocacy as handing the anti-Common Core movement new momentum. Anna Arthurs, a mother with school-aged children who has helped lead the grassroots push in Louisiana, said she first met with Jindal's staff in September 2013, bringing detailed information about the ills of Common Core. Over the next year, Arthurs and other activists lobbied legislators in Louisiana and the governor's staff to gather support. Finally, frustrated with the lack of results, Arthurs reached out to her legislator and demanded a meeting with the governor — and she got it early that summer. That first meeting came around the time when Jindal began to express his firmest opposition to Common Core. And when he flipped, Jindal flipped hard. By May 2014, Jindal began comparing the way Common Core was being implemented to "central planning" in Soviet Russia. Amid a separate education battle with the Department of Justice over the use of school vouchers in Louisiana, Jindal began to accuse Democrats of standing "in the schoolhouse door to prevent minority kids," comparing them to segregationists who fought against the civil rights movement in the 1960s and blocked black students from attending classes with white students. Arthurs, who sat next to the governor at the APP event last week, said that she believes Jindal's conversion was "genuine" and doesn't blame Jindal for his initial opposition. Instead, activists claim that Republican governors were duped by a massive public relations campaign and pressure from the National Governors' Association urging them to sign onto Common Core to secure funding for their cash-strapped states. "I don't really blame the governors," Arthurs said. "They heard an informercial... and they were all picking up the phone and ordering the product before it really ended. ... They didn't stop to ask the question: has this been tested?" Jeb Bush isn't saying 'Common Core' | Just a few years ago, the governor of Louisiana was an enthusiastic supporter of Common Core . Now, Bobby Jindal is leading the charge against the program . Why the switch? "It wasn't what we had been promised" | ab472a03b44b99f2e5d981deb6668a24221703fc |
LONDON, England (CNN) -- A U.S. professor claims he has identified the parts of the brain that help to make someone a good leader. Pierre Balthazard is using EEG to find out what parts of the brain are involved in leadership. Pierre Balthazard, an associate professor at the Carey School of Business at Arizona State University, also says he can use neuroscientific techniques to help people improve the skills that play a part in leadership. Balthazard uses electroencephalography (EEG) to produce a "brain map" of his subjects. By attaching electrodes to their heads, he says he can measure electrical activity generated by neurons in their brain. Much of his work has focused on calibrating the EEG data with standard psychometric tests, and now Balthazard says that just by looking at someone's brain map he can predict their capacity for certain traits linked to leadership. "From someone's brain map I can tell if someone would rank high, medium or low on a psychometric assessment of their transformational leadership, and just that is an earth-shattering finding," he told CNN. He has been working with the U.S. military to produce a model that will allow them to scan soldiers' brains for complexity. The idea is that more complex brains produce better situational awareness and adaptive thinking -- essential skills for the modern soldier, who must be able to transition from front-line combat to nation building. He refers to traits like complexity and transformational leadership as antecedents to leadership itself. But for Balthazard, the ability to assess these skills is only half the story. What really excites him is the possibility of brain training and improving leadership skills. "If you could only assess and not develop then it's only an exercise in social engineering, and that's of no interest to me," he said. Balthazard explained that brains can be trained using positive and negative reinforcement, in the same way that disorders like ADD are treated. A subject is wired to software programmed to recognize "correct" functioning of a specific part of the brain. If the brain isn't performing correctly, there is a negative reinforcement, such as a noise emitted from a speaker at an unpleasant frequency. "The brain is amazing at adjusting so it doesn't get the negative feedback," he told CNN. But others think it may prove difficult to develop something as intangible as leadership. Dr Bob Kentridge, a member of the Cognitive Neuroscience Research Unit at Durham University, in England, told CNN, "Even if you find differences in the brains of people with different leadership abilities, it's very difficult to say if that difference is just related to leadership. "It could be due to all sorts of things that might be fairly tangentially related to leadership." "Leadership is such a fuzzy quality that it's hard to say conclusively what you are changing," Kentridge added. "You might change things that contribute to leadership, for example people might learn to stay calmer in conflict situations, but is that the same as saying you're improving the leadership center of your brain?" So, what's inside the brain of a born leader? Interestingly, intelligence is not a requirement. "There's zero correlation between IQ and leadership," Balthazard told CNN. "Emotion control has a lot to do with leadership. People who lead very well tend to have a much more coherent brain on the emotional, right side, and more differentiated brain on the more rational, left side, that can assess more different options." Balthazard says that although he has identified brain profiles for antecedents to leadership, he stresses that before he can produce a set of exercises designed to improve leadership itself, he must develop a "leadership norm" -- a standard for what makes a good leader. He has currently analyzed the brains of between 200 and 225 subjects, including bankers and military leaders, and says he must test twice that amount before he has his "norm." But he said plenty of people are already going to neurotherapists to train their brain for skills linked to leadership, such as decision-making, cognition, and memory retrieval, and Balthazard says he'll soon be able to use neuotherapy techniques to develop leadership itself. "At some point in the next 18 months we'll have a seminal paper out that says we've done this. We're not there yet but I've seen it in the lab." If that happens, budding CEOs might be queuing up at neurotherapists to plug themselves in and turn themselves into the business brains of the future. | Researcher says he can spot a good leader just by scanning their brain . Pierre Balthazard is a business professor who uses neuroscientific methods . There is no correlation between intelligence and leadership, he says . He hopes to improve people's leadership by working on brain function . | 419a27edd446a48772b4dbc4129cfba0419b2a7b |
Just seconds had passed after the final whistle before one thug decided to hop the barriers, charge towards Nottingham Forest’s victorious players and start swinging. The Derby fan threw two punches at defender Kelvin Wilson — failing to land either — before being rugby tackled to the ground by Jamaal Lascelles and then escorted away by stewards. This east Midlands derby is one of the most frantic rivalries in British football but the last thing it needs is idiots like this. The man was arrested and faces a life ban. Stuart Pearce celebrates wildly after Ben Osborn's late winning goal as Forest beat rivals Derby 2-1 . The Derby fan swung a punch at Nottingham Forest defender Kelvin Wilson, who moved out out of the way . A Derby County fan is restrained after running onto the pitch at full-time to confront Forest's Kelvin Wilson . It was an afternoon to forget for home supporters. Their team had surrendered a lead — anyone who has watched Derby this season will know that is a rarity — and lost to their worst enemy. Defeats cut deep and the strife between the two teams continues to grow year-on-year. The roots of this intense rivalry are said to lie in the Industrial Revolution when John Heathcoat from Derby invented a machine that copied hand-made lace but as soon as the patent ran out Nottingham entrepreneurs stole the idea. The hatred was famously stoked by Brian Clough. In 1983, Clough, in his time manager of both clubs but then at Forest, told defender Willie Young: ‘Just do one thing for me, Willie. Play well in this match and I won’t ask another thing of you.’ Forest's Ben Osborn (right) celebrates after scoring his side's winner in injury time . Charlton might be in disarray after the sacking of Bob Peeters, but Watford’s charge under Slavisa Jokanovic continues apace after a 5-0 thumping. Odion Ighalo, who spends his career out on loan from the Pozzo family-owned Udinese, scored twice, with Craig Cathcart, Troy Deeney and Daniel Tozser also finding the net. The Hornets are in the top six, winning five of their last seven Championship games. But Forest lost 2-0 — against a team led by Clough’s old ally Peter Taylor, no less — and the manager lost it in the dressing room. Derby players had been pelted with coins and bottles by fans that day and running battles broke out near the train station. Situations are more controlled now but for Forest manager Stuart Pearce this fixture takes on added importance, much in the same way as it did for Clough. Pearce is the man who says he is ‘entrenched’ in Nottingham and in 1989 claimed he’d rather sign on the dole than play for Derby. ‘No disrespect but I could never work for that club in any capacity.’ Stuart Pearce celebrates as Britt Assombalonga equalises for Nottingham Forest in the second-half . Britt Assombalonga celebrates after equalising for Nottingham Forest after 74 minutes . He was rather more dignified at the iPro Stadium on Saturday after seeing his players fight his corner after an impassioned speech in the hotel beforehand. ‘You’ve either got to play for me to hear a team talk or you’ve got to pay a lot of money to come and listen to me at a leadership conference!’ he smirked when asked to reveal what he said. ‘Otherwise I’m not telling you.’ Pearce might have been telling us the reasons for parting with Forest had he not conjured a response from his players. They’d won just twice since September and were continuing to stagnate with no signs of revival. After securing a late winner, for once Pearce didn’t need to go firefighting. Pearce was under intense pressure after a poor run of results that had seen them slip to 13th in the table . ‘In some ways we might have to build and emulate Derby,’ he said. ‘They are an outstanding side, built over five years, from Nigel Clough’s days. Steve (McClaren) has taken the team on and they are a very good side. They have a fantastic set-up at this club.’ Forest owner Fawaz Al-Hasawi found his tyres had been let down and a number plate ripped off his car afterwards. ‘I don’t mind at all. The three points are more important,’ was his response, though Forest may seek compensation for the damage. There was nothing deflating about the visitors, though, who showed they may have the guts to match their manager’s style. Pearce chose not to celebrate afterwards, adding: ‘I just go inside myself, enjoy the moment, then look to go and win a game on Wednesday. I don’t drink, I gave up 11 years ago.’ He could have done with a stiff one after hauling himself from the brink. Derby could count themselves lucky they were not behind early on. With the score at 0-0, Jake Buxton pulled Michail Antonio to the ground with a tackle more suited to the rugby field, but the referee gave nothing. WHAT'S CAUGHT MY EYE... Scunthorpe suffered the misfortune of losing first-choice goalkeeper Sam Slocombe to a broken arm in their 2-0 defeat against Bristol City, only to find substitute James Severn suffer the exact same fate before half-time. Defender Andrew Boyce ended up in goal for 48 minutes and City only scored their second late on. Yeovil have finally won a game. Their last victory came on December 13 but a winner from Gozie Ugwu, on his debut, saw Gary Johnson’s side record an impressive win against Bradford. Chant of the weekend has to go to the Oldham fans at Fleetwood Town. The hosts were mocked for their fishing heritage, with Latics supporters singing: ‘Pies are sustainable.’ It got worse for Graham Alexander’s Cod Army, who lost 2-0 and are in danger of falling away in mid-table. Scunthorpe defender Andrew Boyce ended up in goal for 48 minutes during the 2-0 defeat against Bristol City . | Nottingham Forest beat Derby County 2-1 in the East Midlands derby . Ben Osborn rattled home the winner in stoppage time . The result eases the pressure on Forest manager Stuart Pearce . | 2aef1f0a6c4ad4943cf99ca5897285aab3876735 |
By . Ellie Zolfagharifard . The destruction caused by deforestation, wildfires and storms on our planet have been revealed in unprecedented detail. High-resolution maps released by Google show how global forests experienced an overall loss of 1.5 million sq km during 2000-2012. For comparison, that’s a loss of forested land equal in size to the entire state of Alaska. Scroll down for video and animations... Using Landsat imagery and cloud computing, researchers mapped forest cover worldwide as well as forest loss and gain. Over 12 years, 888,000 square miles (2.3 million square kilometers) of forest were lost, and 309,000 square miles (800,000 square kilometers) regrew . The maps, created by a team involving Nasa, Google and the University of Maryland researchers, used images from the Landsat satellite. Each pixel in a Landsat image showing an area about the size of a baseball diamond, providing enough data to zoom in on a local region. Before this, country-to-country comparisons of forestry data were not possible at this level of accuracy. ‘When you put together datasets that employ different methods and definitions, it's hard to synthesise,’ said Matthew Hansen at the University of Maryland. The forest cover maps also capture natural disturbances such as this 2011 tornado path in Alabama. In this map, the colours represent forest loss by year, with yellows representing loss closer to 2000 and reds representing later forest loss, up to 2012 . The Brazilian government yesterday revealed that deforestation in the Amazon increased by nearly a third over the past year. Satellite . data for the 12 months through the end of July showed that . deforestation in the area climbed by 28 per cent compared with a year . earlier. The total land cleared during the period amounted to 2,256 . square miles (5,843 square km)- an area almost the size of Delaware. The . figure fulfilled predictions by scientists and environmentalists, based . on figures compiled through the year, that destruction was on the rise . again. ‘You can't argue . with numbers,’ said Marcio Astrini, coordinator for the Amazon campaign . at the Brazilian chapter of Greenpeace, the environmentalist group. ‘This is not alarmist - it's a real and measured inversion of what had been a positive trend.’ ‘With Landsat, as a polar-orbiting instrument that takes the same quality pictures everywhere, we can apply the same algorithm to forests in the Amazon, in the Congo, in Indonesia, and so on. Professor Hansen looked at 143 billion pixels in 654,000 Landsat images to compile maps of forest loss and gain between 2000 and 2012. During that period, 888,000 square miles (2.3 million square kilometers) of forest were lost, and 309,000 square miles (800,000 square kilometers) regrew. The team found the deforestation rate in most countries increased. Indonesia's deforestation rate doubled in the study period, from approximately 3,900 square miles (10,000 square kilometers) per year in 2000-2003 to more than 7,700 square miles (20,000 square kilometers) in 2011-2012. ‘This is the first time somebody has been able to do a wall-to-wall, global Landsat analysis of all the world's forests - where they're being cleared, where they're regrowing, and where they're subject to natural disturbances,’ said Jeff Masek, Landsat project scientist at the Goddard Space Flight Center. A view of deforestation in the UK. Red shows forest loss in 2000-2012, blue shows forest gain in the same period, and pink shows both a loss and a gain in the area . The maps also illustrate the impact of politics on land cover. For instance, on the island of Borneo, the maps clearly show the border between Malaysia and Indonesia. Malaysia's heavy logging along forest roads is visible right up to the Indonesian border, where forests were still largely intact as of 2012. In Côte d'Ivoire, a civil war in 2002 corresponded with intense deforestation of several previously protected nature reserves. A different pattern of change appears in the southeastern U.S., where landowners harvest trees for timber and quickly plant their replacements' ‘Of this eco-region in the southeast, 30 per cent of the forest land was regrown or lost during this period,’ Professor Hansen said. Civil unrest in Côte d'Ivoire was associated with widespread deforestation in national parks, including Marahoué National Park. Other protected areas, such as Tai National Park, remained intact . ‘It's incredibly intensive. Trees are really treated like a crop in this region.’ In Alabama, Landsat detected miles-long streaks of destroyed forest. When the researchers examined the year-by-year record, they found the damage occurred in 2011 after a violent tornado season. Brazil cut its deforestation rate from approximately 15,400 square miles (40,000 square kilometers) per year to approximately 7,700 square miles (20,000 square kilometers) per year. ‘That's the result of a concerted policy effort to reduce deforestation, and it sets a standard for the rest of the world,’ Professor Hansen said. However, the Brazilian government yesterday revealed that deforestation in the Amazon increased by nearly a third over the past year. The border between Malaysia and Indonesia on the island of Borneo stands out in the Landsat-based map of forest disturbance. Red pixels represent forest loss between 2000 and 2012 . Satellite data for the 12 months through the end of July showed that deforestation in the area climbed by 28 per cent compared with a year earlier. Although scattered, the total land cleared during the period amounted to 2,256 square miles (5,843 square km)- an area almost the size of the U.S. state of Delaware. The figure, fulfilled predictions by scientists and environmentalists, based on figures compiled through the year, that destruction was on the rise again. ‘You can't argue with numbers,’ said Marcio Astrini, coordinator for the Amazon campaign at the Brazilian chapter of Greenpeace, the environmentalist group. ‘This is not alarmist - it's a real and measured inversion of what had been a positive trend.’ The maps, created by a team involving Nasa, Google and the University of Maryland researchers, used images from the Landsat satellite . A view of deforestation in Europe. Red shows forest loss in 2000-2012, blue shows forest gain in the same period, while pink shows both a loss and a gain in the area . | Maps show how forests experienced an overall loss of 1.5 million sq km . For comparison, this is equal to the size to the entire state of Alaska . Deforestation in the Amazon increased by nearly a third over the past year . Meanwhile, Indonesia's deforestation rate doubled in the study period . | ca32eb85eee30d2831aa2243e406b855f19cbdd9 |
(CNN) -- "BioShock: Infinite" is one of the most talked about games in 2011 and highly anticipated games for 2012. With a combination of fantastic art direction, immersive gameplay and deep storyline, the third installment in the franchise has attracted attention from gamers and nongamers alike. The series is the brainchild of creator and game designer Ken Levine. Levine, 45, has been working in the gaming industry since 1995 and had early success with "System Shock 2" and "Thief." But it's his more recent work in the creation and development of "BioShock" and "BioShock 2" that has garnered the most attention. In an interview for CNN.com, Levine talked about where he gets his inspiration for his games, growing up nerdy and being a self-proclaimed "media whore." Inspiration for games . Levine didn't start his career in gaming. During his college days, he turned his creative talents to writing plays. While working on his craft and worrying about his post-college years, Levine sought out the advice of playwright Jon Robin Baitz. Baitz, Levine said, taught him about the business side of writing and dealing with agents. So when an agent asked to turn a play Levine had written into a screenplay, he had his opening into the movie industry. But Levine ended up only selling one screenplay to Paramount and didn't like what he learned about having to write commercially, instead of strictly creatively, and how tough it was to be one of the legions of screenwriters in Hollywood. He began to "tool around doing different things" for the next seven years and was struggling to figure out what he was going to do. Eventually, his attention turned to something he loved doing as a child: playing games. "All of a sudden it occurred to me that there are actually people who make these," Levine said. "Could I become one of these people? I started looking at gaming magazines for ads from the game industry and I just tuned into (the job) 'game designer' primarily because I knew I couldn't draw, I couldn't program ... so what was I going to do?" Levine was hired by Looking Glass Studios and was ready to unleash his creative talents in the gaming world. He was particularly focused on creating unique and interesting worlds and allowing players to move freely through them (a unique concept at the time). He worked on the writing and design of 1998's "Thief: The Dark Project." "I'm not certain how the writing fell on me, but it did. They knew I could write and it sort of fell to me," Levine said. "I was able to bring an understanding of artistry and structure from when I was writing plays and in movies." "Thief" was Looking Glass' most successful title in sales and critical acclaim. But Levine was looking for a new challenge and joined two others in forming Irrational Games in 1997. He jumped at the opportunity to work on "System Shock 2" as game designer after playing (and enjoying) "System Shock." "I felt it was a real step forward in launching the gamer into a real environment that felt true," he said. "I also loved the feel of the characters -- that they felt like they were written in a naturalistic style. "They were just people and you found all these diaries of the people. It played out like some sort of novel. It has a natural, believable feel to it." It was during this time that Levine began to hone his skills for telling a creative and interesting story while still making it interactive for the player. "How do you get to those levels of interaction so they feel natural and exciting? And anticipate what the player is going to do -- that's always a challenge," he said. "System Shock 2" wasn't a commercial success, but it drew attention from critics for its forward-looking approach to how games should be played. Levine and his team began to build a culture of intellectual curiosity at their studio as a way of inspiring ideas and concepts for their games. In 2002, that free flow of ideas gave rise to the "BioShock" franchise. Levine said "BioShock" and "BioShock 2" are noted for their incorporation of historical philosophy and architecture movements -- inspired, he says, by a "nerdity that is pretty far-reaching and broad at the company." "We'll start up these conversations about the World's Fair or conversations about politics or about American history or conversations about social movements. And because we are a bunch of industry and culture and social movement nerds in the company, we are fascinated by all these activities," he said. "We nerd out on a very broad range of things and we bring those things to our games." For "BioShock: Infinite," Levine said, he tried to form a complete social perspective on the period in which the game takes place. A Public Broadcasting System documentary called "America 1900" served as the launching point for the upcoming game's themes of optimism and anarchy. The game is set in the United States in 1912, a time between the Civil War and World War I. It was also a time of great technological leaps that Levine said gave people an incredible sense of optimism. "You have, in the last 30 years of our lives, one major piece of technology and that's been the Internet. If you go back to 1912, they had, like, 10 different things on the scale of the Internet," Levine said. "They had electricity, cars, movies, records, airplanes, radio in a period of about 10 or 20 years. Their heads must have been absolutely spinning." It was also a time of great upheaval. An anarchist shot and killed President William McKinley in 1901 and an anarchist would assassinate Archduke Franz Ferdinand of Austria in 1914. A book entitled "The Devil in the White City" detailed America's first documented serial killer who stalked the 1912 World's Fair in Chicago and caught Levine's attention. "In all these stories, you have these incredible themes. One of great optimism and excitement for the future and one of this ominous feeling at the same time," Levine said. "This yin and this yang that was present in all of this research really made me excited to work on this game." Growing up a nerd . Levine said he was a nerd when he was growing up -- and that it wasn't the badge of honor that it can sometimes be today. He said he played "Dungeons & Dragons" by himself in his family's basement. He played war games from Avalon Hill, like "Luftwaffe" and "Panzer Blitz." His first console was an Atari 2600 that he got on his birthday and was "one of the best moments of my life." But he acknowledges that it was a lonely time. "By the definitions of the time, I was a nerd.," he said. "I couldn't help what I was. I couldn't pretend to like things I didn't like. I hated it to some degree, because I was made fun of for it. Now that I'm grown up, I'm not made fun of for it and it is sort of celebrated." Now, he points to events like the PAX convention, hosted by Penny Arcade, as a celebration of being a nerd. And people openly proclaiming to be a geek or a nerd is more evidence of the changing culture. "I'm very happy that kids growing up now, it is very much more accepted," Levine said. "(They) will not be made fun of because of what I went through as a kid. I'm very happy about that." "Media whore" When diving into a project like "BioShock: Infinite," Levine dives head first: researching everything he can about the time, the culture, the technology and the conflicts of his setting. He said he gets deeply invested in the concepts because he wants to be able to weave as complete a story as possible. Levine said he constantly reads and, with his Kindle, he can read wherever he is. He is a self-proclaimed history nerd and, while he doesn't read a lot of science fiction, was originally inspired by a book called "Red Mars," which he said revealed quite a bit about unintended consequences to him, a running theme in the BioShock franchise. "They were all excited about the colony on Mars because they thought they would leave all the problems of Earth behind -- racism, war, all that. What they forget is that on Mars they bring the problems with them because they bring the people with them," he said. "Things don't always happen the way they are created to, whether it is Ryan in 'BioShock' or Comstock in 'BioShock: Infinite.' " He also consumes other types of media voraciously and views it as part of his job because he needs to know what's going on. "I'm watching and re-watching 'Mad Men.' I'm watching and re-watching 'Breaking Bad.' I read comic books. I play video games. I'm a huge media whore." He said his appetite for media feeds his creativity for his projects. The more he reads and watches, the greater detail he can put in his games. Critics and players consistently point to the attention to the littlest details in the "BioShock" series as one of the standout elements in the franchise. Levine wants the players to feel as he would want to feel in the game's time period, like they belong. "I want to feel like if I went back in time and I was there that I wouldn't be that confused or surprised by what I saw. That would be my goal." | Ken Levine is the creator of one of this year's most talked about games, "BioShock: Infinite" He considered himself a nerd as a child and continuously spent hours playing video games . Levine also helped create 'System Shock 2' and 'Thief' along with 'BioShock 2' | c84a33e7b42b8af3ac30ff04c00a70009c85f7eb |
By . Daily Mail Reporter . PUBLISHED: . 14:20 EST, 11 December 2013 . | . UPDATED: . 15:38 EST, 11 December 2013 . Upstate New York is braced to receive an onslaught of lake effect snow by week's end. New Yorkers from Syracuse to Watertown could see as much as three feet thanks to the coldest temperatures to hit the region yet this season blowing across Lake Ontario. Other lakeside cities like Chicago and Buffalo also expected major snow from the second bitter arctic blast of the year, which is set to chill Americans from Cincinnati to Boston by Thursday. Lake effect: Cities across much of the Great Lakes region will see snow through the end of the week, with localized accumulation as much as four feet in some areas . Weather maps of the Great Lakes region show nothing but snow in the forecast through Friday, with the most intense precipitation in Upstate New York. Locally intense snowfall east of Lake Michigan, south of Lake Superior and east of Lake Ontario could reach a whopping four feet, according to Accuweather.com. Lake effect snow occurs when cold, dry air passes over the relatively warm water of the Great Lakes and picks up moisture. That moisture eventually freezes and falls in the form of snow. Enough already: Buffalo, new York (pictured) is no stranger to lake effect snow and received this blanketing at Thanksgiving. The city is now braced for another two feet by Friday . How it works: As cold, dry air blows across the relatively warm lakes, it gathers moisture and eventually releases it as snow . Frigid days ahead: The air currently blowing across the Great Lakes is the coldest arctic blast of the season and is due to stretch through the Midwest, the South and then chill most of the Northeast by Thursday . In addition to Upstate New York, parts of Michigan, Ohio and Pennsylvania also commonly feel the effects. Buffalo, New York is no stranger to lake effect snow and is expected to receive slightly less than the Syracuse area, with accumulation closer to two feet. Chicago saw a couple of inches of snow Wednesday morning as the arctic blast blew south. While the snowfall was brief, the city braced for extreme cold and wind chills that could feel like -25 degree Fahrenheit at their worst. While too far from any lakes for this round of snowfall, East Coasters from Washington, DC through New York City to Boston can expect the feel the coldest temperatures yet this season by Thursday as the arctic blast reaches south then blows northeastward. No reprieve: While New York City will be spared the lashing of snow it received on Tuesday, by Thursday the arctic chill causing massive lake effect snow will force temperatures from Washington, DC through New York to Boston down to the season's lowest so far . | New Yorkers from Syracuse to Watertown could see three feet of snow by the end of the week . The coldest temperatures of the year will smash through the Midwest and southeast Wednesday and reach New York City and Boston by Thursday . The arctic blast is expected to trigger an onslaught of lake effect snow east of Lake Ontario . | d6d08d4682dcd3f1e778f542d2b1292ec3ac1903 |
Tokyo (CNN) -- Japanese authorities arrested the last fugitive suspected in a deadly 1995 nerve gas attack on the Tokyo subway, police said Friday. He was caught in front of a comic book cafe in Tokyo after its staff alerted police of the presence of a man resembling the suspect. A fingerprint test positively identified the man as Katsuya Takahashi, 54, the only suspect in the gas attack case who remained at large, a spokesman for the Tokyo Metropolitan Police said. Takahashi is being held on suspicion of murder and attempted murder in relation to the attack, according to the spokesman. During the morning rush-hour in March 1995, members of the Aum Supreme Truth cult released sarin gas that led to the deaths of 13 people and sickened more than 5,500 commuters. Thousands of police have been on the lookout for the suspect. Last week, police apprehended another member of the doomsday cult. More than 200 members of the cult were convicted after the gas attack. Thirteen, including Shoko Asahara, the cult's blind guru, were sentenced to death. However, no one has been executed. The cult claims to be a benign religious group, but at the height of its activities in the 1990s, it preached the world was coming to an end and it must arm itself to prepare for various calamities. | Police use fingerprints to positively identify the suspect . They take him into custody in front of a comic book store after a tip-off . Members of a cult have been found responsible for the 1995 nerve gas attack . Thirteen people died after the gas was released in the Tokyo subway . | 63c8b2663853ddffd0256b9c32ce8af920e460c0 |
By . Lucy Waterlow . PUBLISHED: . 05:03 EST, 19 December 2013 . | . UPDATED: . 12:00 EST, 20 December 2013 . Indulgent: Some pudding portions contain a woman's RDA of sugar . Diets go out the window at Christmas and it's no surprise that many of our favourite festive foods are high in sugar. But with a few canny choices, you can cut down on your intake whilst still having a sweet Christmas. Health coach, Laura Thomas, 27, a self-confessed former sugar addict, discovered there's a huge difference in the amount of sugar in the same products from leading supermarkets. There's as much as 30g difference in the amount of sugar in a portion of Christmas pudding depending on whose offering you consume. Sainsbury's christmas pudding comes in at the highest in sugar with a huge 56g per portion - that's more sugar than the NHS recommend women consume in a day. In comparison, Waitrose Remy Martin Chanmpagne pud has 32g per portion. 'For what is essentially the same food, that's a big difference,' Laura told the MailOnline. She added: 'I was very shocked when I first realised just how much sugar was actually in a single Christmas pudding portion, especially when you consider it's nearly all of a women's 50g daily limit in one go (and it's not unknown for people to have two portions). 'You can suddenly see how the pudding, mince pies, chocolate and alcohol could really add up to mean people are easily eating and drinking three times their daily sugar limit without even thinking twice. I think it's useful for people to just be aware of this so they are careful with portion sizes.' Aldi and the Co-op's Christmas puds also came in high on the sweetness scale as they all had more than 50g of sugar per portion. More sugary by half : Sainsbury's Taste the Difference Christmas pudding has 56g of sugar per portion, left, almost double that of the Waitrose Remy Martin pud . A Sainsbury's spokesman said: 'Our Taste . the Difference Hidden Cherry Centre Christmas Pudding is a once a year . indulgent treat. It's very high fruit content, including the delicious . hidden cherry centre, means that this pudding is naturally higher in . sugar than a pudding with less fruit.' The NHS recommend men have 70g of sugar a day and women 50g. Eating too much sugar contributes to health problems including tooth decay, obesity and developing type-2 diabetes. Laura, who writes the blog happysugarhabits.com, said people don't need to deny themselves festive treats but they can cut down their sugar intake with some savvy choices and awareness of nutritional content. She said: 'I'm often unpopular at this time of year as I'm telling people not to eat mince pies and drink mulled wine. But with a few simple food swaps you can cut down on how much sugar you have so it won't ruin your Christmas.' Laura recommends: 'Keep sugar somewhat sensible by looking for puddings that are at least under 45g of sugar per portion and where sugar isn't the first ingredient. This at least means that the sugars are from the more natural fruit source rather than refined sugarcane.' When it comes to mince pies, there's also a vast difference between sugar contents between the various supermarket products. Sainsbury's Taste The Difference mince pies, left, are also high in sugar with 24.8g per pie compared to Heston from Waitrose mince pies which have 19.1g . Sainsbury's are the highest with their Taste the Difference Brandy Rich Mince Pies containing 24.8g per pie. Tesco Finest has 22g but Asda is far lower with 18g in their Chosen by You product. Laura said: 'A single mince pie can have up to 30g of sugar (six teaspoons) so look for ones that come in under 20g. Even better opt for a mini mince pie which tend to average around 7g of sugar per portion.' For an even healthier mince pie, Laura recommends ditching the supermarket varieties for baking your own. She said: 'By making your own mince pies you can cut the sugar and the fat by using just dried fruit alone to sweeten the pie and swapping sweet shortcrust pastry with filo or puff pastry.' She also recommends making your own mulled wine to cut down on sugar as pre-made versions will have more in order to preserve them for longer. Festive foodie: Laura Thomas says you can cut down on sugar and still have a sweet Christmas with some savvy choices . Aside from mince pie and Christmas pud choices, Laura recommends keeping your sugar intake down by snacking on other festive treats such as nuts, satsumas and cheese. If you do have chocolate she advises: 'Opt for dark chocolates over milk or white ones. Generally the higher per cent cocoa solids, the less sugar.' She added: 'Don't eat food mindlessly over the Christmas period for the sake of it. You don't need to eat every sugary food that's offered to you. Mark out which days you'll treat yourself, look forward to them, and have some control with the rest.' But there is hope for anyone who simply can't resist the sweet treats over Christmas and are happy to keep indulging till the New Year. Laura will be running a six week 'Mentor Me Off Sugar' programme from 6th Jan which she said will help people combat their sugar cravings for good. So next Christmas, you won't be at the mercy of your sweet tooth. For more information, visit happysugarhabits.com . PRODUCT GRAMS OF SUGAR PER PORTION . CHRISTMAS PUDDINGS: . Sainsbury's Taste the Difference Hidden Cherry Centre Christmas Pudding 56.1Aldi 12 Month Matured Christmas Pudding 52.1Co-op Loved by Us Rich Fruit Christmas Pudding 51.3Tesco Classic Christmas Pudding 47.6Asda Chosen by You Christmas Pudding 46.8 Heston from Waitrose hidden orange Christmas pudding 42.3Waitrose Rémy Martin Champagne Christmas Pudding 28.4 MINCE PIES: GRAMS OF SUGAR PER PIESainsbury's Taste the Difference Brandy Rich Mince Pies 24.8 Sainsbury's So Organic All Butter Mince Pies 23.6 Tesco Finest Mince Pies 22Asda Extra Special All Butter mince pies 20.7 Heston from Waitrose spiced shortcrust mince pies 19.1Asda Chosen by You Christmas Rich Fruit Mince Pies 18Co-op Loved By Us Mini Mince Pies 7.8 . | Sainsbury's Taste the Difference Christmas pud has 56g of sugar a serving . Women's RDA is 50g . Sainsbury's mince pies also sweet . Asda and Waitrose versions are lower in sugar . Too much sugar can cause tooth-decay and obesity . Health coach Laura Thomas said you can cut back with savvy choices . | 251021bed7d1fb398aca09af276f63ed5ebd604e |
(CNN) -- For some survivors of the Deepwater Horizon disaster, escaping the inferno of the doomed rig made them feel like they'd cheated death. But living with the scars of what they witnessed that night, and the memory of the 11 men who perished when the rig exploded off the coast of Louisiana a year ago, has in many ways taken their lives away. "I remember feeling invincible when it first happened. I remember driving in my truck on the way home after the rig exploded and (I) pushed the gas (pedal) to the floor and never let off it," says Daniel Barron. But the high Barron felt from surviving didn't last long. "You have that guilty conscience of, 'Okay, I made it, that's great, but then these guys didn't.' Was there something I could have done to save more people?" Barron says his guilt is compounded by physical and mental issues that are a result of the disaster. He suffers from memory loss, and has been diagnosed with post-traumatic stress disorder and depression, according to medical records provided to CNN. He witnessed one of his good friends, whom he calls a "fallen brother," die right in front of him when a second explosion rocked the rig. "It literally picked him up . . . like a child would throw a toy . . . and he ended up bouncing off of the pedestal for the crane," he told CNN's Anderson Cooper shortly after the disaster. "Just to see him get blown up like that, I mean, it was, it's heart-wrenching," Barron said. Barron says one night, the psychological pain and the guilt of surviving when so many friends did not, became overwhelming. "I had a 6-shot pistol and I just wanted it to be over," he says. His wife discovered him playing Russian roulette and persuaded him to hand over the gun before it was too late. Douglas Brown, one of Barron's fellow survivors, also speaks of the guilt of surviving the disaster. "I am thankful that I, I made it out alive but a lot of times, I don't -- there's a lot of times where I feel I should, I should have died there too, along with my friends," Brown said. Like Barron, Brown has been diagnosed with multiple mental issues including PTSD, traumatic brain injury, depression and anxiety, according to medical records. A third survivor, Matthew Jacobs, says he thinks of the 11 victims of the Deepwater Horizon every day and wakes up screaming from nightmares where he's re-living the explosions. "It's something that I just can't quit, you know, get out of my head," he says. Jacobs first told the story of his harrowing escape to Cooper in the weeks after the disaster. He expected to die as his lifeboat, which was being lowered 75 feet down from the rig, was filling with smoke and started to free-fall after another explosion. "I prayed for my family to let God know that I love my wife and that I love my kids," he said. In the year since, Jacobs and his wife have started divorce proceedings because of his mental issues including, post-traumatic stress disorder and depression, he says. Those mental issues are also corroborated by medical records provided to CNN. All three survivors say their physical and mental injuries have left them unable to work and they're suing their employer Transocean for lost wages and pain and suffering. While technically still employees, they have not set foot on a rig since the disaster and their employer stopped paying their salaries last December. They accuse Transocean of valuing profits over safety prior to the accident, and of valuing minimizing monetary losses over the welfare of its employees after it. In a statement, Transocean responded to their allegations writing: "From the first hours, Transocean has focused on providing support for its employees and the families of those who were lost aboard the Deepwater Horizon, including continued full pay and benefits for eight months following the incident and professional counseling for those in need. Today, more than one third of the Deepwater Horizon crew are back to work at Transocean and the entire company continues to be inspired by their courage and commitment." Transocean still pays for some of the three survivors' health care costs and gives them a small monthly stipend for room and board as required by law. The survivors were offered an additional six months of pay to drop any claims, but they declined, according to legal records provided to CNN. On the anniversary of the disaster, the survivors say they hope to one day put the accident behind them but also hope people never forget the 11 men who died that night on the Deepwater Horizon. "I would ask people just to remember them and pray for their families, because I know those families are still suffering," Brown says. Watch Anderson Cooper 360° weeknights 10pm ET. For the latest from AC360° click here. | Survivors say the scars from the disaster have taken their lives away . Medical records: Survivors have been diagnosed with multiple mental issues . One says he wakes up screaming from nightmares . Transocean says its focus is on providing support for employees . | 33f95fcb332984d8d9b0e8987978fbea6d617f67 |
Newcastle are reviving interest in signing Wilfried Zaha from Manchester United. The former Crystal Palace winger had hoped to be a part of Louis van Gaal's plans at Old Trafford, but Alan Pardew believes that he may be available this summer. Pardew had expressed an interest in taking Zaha on loan last January, but the young Englishman moved to Cardiff City instead. Wanted: Zaha in action against Newcastle in one of his few appearances for Manchester United . Playing time: The winger was on loan at Cardiff last season but wants to stay at Old Trafford . Zaha endured an immensely disappointing first season at Old Trafford under David Moyes, where the England under-21 international failed to start a single match in the Barclays Premier League before going out on loan. Zaha was Sir Alex Ferguson’s final signing as Manchester United manager, joining the club in a £15million deal and on a five-and-a-half year contract. Benched: Zaha failed to make an impression after being signed by Sir Alex Ferguson last summer . The player himself would rather stay in Manchester, with van Gaal's reputation for developing young talent a major attraction, but is understood to want at least some first team football. | Zaha wants to stay at Old Trafford . Louis van Gaal yet to decide if he wants to keep the £15m winger . Alan Pardew keen on signing the former Palace man . | 140ab8c983fc9f760d8c875cd986eeca8e61d850 |
By . Emma Reynolds . PUBLISHED: . 05:16 EST, 4 October 2012 . | . UPDATED: . 09:41 EST, 4 October 2012 . First, he submerged people and a Volkswagen Beetle deep below the ocean's surface. Now, he has built underwater homes for them to live in. Beautiful sculptures made by British artist Jason deCaires Taylor are transforming the seabed into a real-life city of Atlantis. Scroll down for video . Down where it's wetter: The beautifully made houses sit deep below the sea in a Mexican marine park . Lost world: The cleverly designed houses look like part of the fabled city of Atlantis . Sea life: Four hundred casts of Mexican people form the basis of Jason deCaires Taylor's man-made reef . His elegant new buildings in the Isla Mujeres National Marine Park, Mexico, will not only house his earlier works, but are designed to be homes for marine life. The houses took six months in total to . build and were transported from Cancun to Isla Mujeres by car ferry before a 40-ton crane was used to place them on the seabed. Two years ago, he sank 400 individually cast human moulds of the Mexican public into the water in the area to create the basis of his artificial reef. In June 2011, he lowered a concrete VW classic into the water, complete with a female figure curled up on the bonnet and with holes in the windows to let the fish in. The iconic car even features compartments inside so lobsters can make the vehicle their home. Life aquatic: The artist uses a porous pH-neutral concrete, painted with a special substance that encourages coral growth, providing the perfect habitat for sea creatures . Mysteries of the deep: Experienced diver DeCaires Taylor wanted to created a vision of humans 'living in balance with nature' Watery graves: The talented British artist has transformed seabeds across the world with his ethereal sculptures . DeCaires Taylor said: 'In a gallery, you get one perspective. Underwater, you can fly over the sculptures, go between them. Room at the inn? The magnificent reefs in the area are visited by 750,000 people every year - and now there are some new additions . 'The light is very different and is affected by the surface of the sea. It has a lost feel to it, which I really like.' There is also a practical, ecological . aspect to his art. 'When I became a diving instructor, I saw the . decimation of the coral reefs, so I got into the idea of making art as . artificial reefs,' he said. 'I wanted to create an image of humans living in balance with nature instead of in opposition to it.' DeCaires Taylor, . who has made similar creations around the world, uses a porous . pH-neutral concrete, painted with a special substance that encourages . coral growth, providing the perfect habitat for sea creatures. It . is hoped that the man-made reef will also reduce the pressure on . natural reefs in the area, which 750,000 people visit every year. The ambitious work does come at a price, however. His latest project at the park on the Yucatan Peninsula cost an eye-watering $200,000. 'I've been diving for about 18 years now and have clocked up over 4,000 hours underwater,' he added. 'All . my family and friends have been very supportive but aren't keen on me . exposing myself to the dangers of working underwater for such lengths of . time.' DeCaires Taylor created the . world's first underwater sculpture park off the coast of . Grenada in 2006, and the West Indies attraction is now listed as one of National Geographic's Top 25 Wonders . of the World. Ambitious and amphibious: DeCaires Taylor's latest project has cost an eye-watering $200,000 . Water babies: The lifelike statues have all been placed deep down on the seabed using a crane . Water hazard: Two years ago, the modern artist dropped an iconic VW Beetle on to the seabed . VIDEO: Jason deCaires Taylor transforms the seabed into a real-life city of Atlantis... | The beautiful house sculptures sit on the seabed deep below the surface . Jason deCaires Taylor is creating a man-made reef with his lost world . The mysterious city at a Mexican marine park also features a VW Beetle . | 864c89579da8b264d043006efa8dfa65bbd89844 |
Lawyers representing Boston Marathon bombing suspect Dzhokhar Tsarnaev asked a judge Tuesday to suspend jury selection for a month because of last week's deadly terrorist attacks in France. The 21-year-old's defense team said the bloody events in Paris that left 17 dead have again placed the 2013 marathon bombings 'at the center of a grim global drama.' According to the lawyers, a delay would allow some time 'for the extraordinary prejudice flowing from these events — and the comparison of those events to those at issue in this case — to diminish.' Scroll down for video . Appeal: Lawyers representing Boston Marathon bombing suspect Dzhokhar Tsarnaev (seen in courtroom sketch from January 5) asked a judge to suspend jury selection because of last week's attacks in France . Comparison: The defense said the bloody events in Paris have again placed the 2013 marathon bombings that killed three and wounded 260 'at the center of a grim global drama' Legal team: Tsarnaev's lawyers, David Bruck, left, Judy Clarke, center, and Miriam Conrad, right, have asked repeatedly to delay the trial and to move it outside Massachusetts . They said potential jurors have been instructed to avoid media reports about Tsarnaev's case, but were exposed to reports about the massacre in France. 'Almost immediately after the attacks, the press, politicians, and commentators drew parallels between the French attacks and the Boston Marathon bombing,' the lawyers wrote. In the marathon case, authorities say Tsarnaev and his older brother, Tamerlan Tsarnaev, planned and carried out the attack as retaliation for US wars in Muslim countries. Three people were killed and more than 260 were wounded when twin bombs exploded at the finish line April 15, 2013. Tamerlan was killed in a shootout with police days after the bombings. Dzhokhar, 21, could face the death penalty if convicted. In the Paris attacks, which began January 7 on the third day of jury selection in Tsarnaev's trial, two gunmen, brothers Cherif and Said Kouachi, burst into the Paris offices of the French satirical magazine Charlie Hebdo, killing 12 people. Stepped-up security: A Boston police officer and K-9 dog partol outside the federal courthouse in Boston last Monday for the first day of jury selection in the trial of Boston Marathon bombing suspect Dzhokhar Tsarnaev . On alert: In the harbor near the courthouse, heavily armed US Coast Guard boats plied the waters . Trail begins: More than 1,350 prospective jurors in the Boston bombing trial were called in to federal court in Boston last week to fill out lengthy juror questionnaires . A total of 17 people were shot dead in a three-day terrorist killing spree, including four hostages inside a kosher deli. The Kouachi brothers and a third gunman, Amedy Coulibaly, were killed by police in two raids. More than 1,350 prospective jurors in the Boston bombing trial were called in to federal court in Boston last week to fill out lengthy juror questionnaires. The judge will begin questioning individual jurors Thursday. Dzhokhar Tsarnaev's lawyers have asked repeatedly to delay the trial and to move it outside Massachusetts, where almost everyone seems to know someone connected to the marathon or personally affected by the 2013 bombings. Federal Judge George O'Toole Jr. has rejected the defense requests. Last week, officials in Boston drastically stepped up security measures in light of the attakc sin France. White SUVs from Homeland Security lineed up bumper-to-bumper in front of Boston's federal courthouse Friday while others periodically circled the block. Boston police officers patroled the perimeter on foot, and a dark special operations van was stationed near the entrance. In the harbor nearby, armed US Coast Guard boats plied the waters, and inside the court building officers with dogs roamed the hallways. Bloody Wednesday: A gunman gestures as they return to their car after their attack on the offices of French satirical weekly newspaper Charlie Hebdo (seen at rear) in this still image taken from amateur video shot in Paris January 7 . Perpetrators: Said (left) and Cherif Kouachi (right) targeted the magazine after it repeatedly published cartoons of the Prophet Mohammed, which some Muslims find deeply offensive . Boston police spokesman Michael McCarthy said his department was not aware of any credible threats. Boston's federal courthouse is used to heightened security, most recently in 2013, when notorious gangster James 'Whitey' Bulger was tried, convicted and sentenced there. Law enforcement officials will be keeping a watchful eye on the demonstrators and onlookers the proceedings periodically have drawn, as well as the hundreds of prospective jurors who have been filing in and out of the courthouse complex. They'll likely also be keeping tabs on social media, where Tsarnaev's supporters and bombing conspiracy theorists have been active. The heightened awareness extends to nearby businesses along the rapidly developing waterfront. | Dzhokhar Tsarnaev's lawyers said the events in Paris have again placed the 2013 marathon bombings 'at the center of a grim global drama' Defense told the judge potential jurors were exposed to reports about the massacre in France . | deacfd87803b7f7ca610c165cd2e80ca0561152a |
Spain may be home to World and European football champions but children playing the beautiful game on the country's streets could soon be in line for a fine of up to 1,000 euros (£825). The next Xavi or Andres Iniesta, who helped propel the national team to be the greatest side of all time, could face the financial penalties if a proposed law gets the green light. Spain's governing right-leaning Popular Party passed a draft version of the controversial Citizen Security Law on Friday. Spain may be home to the World and European football champions but children playing the beautiful game on the country's streets could soon be in line for a fine of up to 1,000 euros (£825) It wants fines from between £82.50 to £825 for 'the practice of games or sports activities in public spaces not designed for them,' according to El Huffington Post. The tax would come into force 'when there is a risk of damage to people or property' or when traffic is impeded. The plans have sparked outrage, with many critics saying it will hinder cash-strapped wannabe athletes in built-up areas from being able to hone their skills. Children in Spain could face being fined if they are caught playing football in the street . But the proposals are likely to be given the go-ahead, as the draft reform is expected to pass through parliament where the Popular Party has a majority. The wide-ranging legislation has already come under fire for proposing to fine demonstrators £500,000 if they insult cops or demonstrate near official buildings without permission. That has since been downgraded to a £30,000 fine. The Citizen Security Law was unveiled today which could mean huge fines for people caught filming a policeman to drinking on the street. Insulting or threatening police officers will now cost you anything between 1,000 euros to 30,000 euros. Growing your own cannabis for self-consumption used to be allowed under Spain's previous left-wing government. But now anyone caught cultivating the drug could face being fined tens of thousands of pounds. Demonstrations outside political figure's homes would be banned while Cunderos, the drivers of taxis who take addicts from the city to pick up their drugs on the outskirts, will also be penalised. Youngsters caught drinking in open spaces would have to pay more than their pocket money to get out of trouble. | The next Xavi or Andres Iniesta could be slapped with financial penalties . Spain's governing right-leaning Popular Party passed a draft version of the controversial Citizen Security Law . The plans have sparked outrage with many critics saying it will hinder cash-strapped wannabe athletes . | 23d2fdc73b688dfdc45c387df5852c58ccc75a97 |
By . Associated Press Reporter and Daily Mail Reporter . PUBLISHED: . 09:49 EST, 17 November 2013 . | . UPDATED: . 10:11 EST, 17 November 2013 . The grieving mother of one of the 19 wildland 'hotshots' killed in north-central Arizona has filed a $36 million claim against authorities, saying their negligence led to the death of her firefighter son. Marcia McKee, from Costa Mesa in California, filed a notice of claim on Friday accusing the state, Yavapai County and the city of Prescott of failing to follow proper firefighting procedures. McKee's 21-year-old son, Grant McKee, died in the Yarnell Hill Fire on June 30. Grieving: Marcia McKee, 49 (right) has accused the state of Arizona, Yavapai County and the city of Prescott of failing to follow proper firefighting procedures leading to the death of her son Grant, 19 (left) McKee is seeking $12 million apiece from the state, Yavapai County and Prescott. But she said she'll settle for $12 million within the next 60 days. In the claim, a precursor to a lawsuit, the single mom said she suffered tremendously when her 'best friend' and only son was taken away. It is the first claim from a family member of the 19 fallen members of the Prescott-run crew. 'It's . not supposed to be like this,' the 49-year-old wrote. 'No more Mother's Day cards . or phone calls. Nor will I ever get to see him walk down the aisle or be . called grandma. My life was also taken that day because he was my . life.' McKee, who works as a caretaker for an elderly person, recalled in her claim the last phone call she shared with her son in which she told him to be careful. According to the claim, Grant told her: 'What are the odds of me dying in a fire? Think about it, Mom.' Her attorney, Craig Knapp, wrote: 'The loss of his companionship, affection and love fully support the damages that she has requested in this notice of claim.' An investigative report by a team of national experts released in September found proper procedure was followed in the worst firefighting tragedy since September 11, 2001. The report, however, found communications lapses, including a 33-minute gap in radio traffic from the Hotshot crew in the hour before the men died. It did not determine if the tragedy was avoidable. Single mom: Marcia McKee (left) said her son Grant (right) was her 'life' Knapp called the report a whitewash with a goal of avoiding blame. He said any 'trusting, uninformed person reading the Yarnell Hill Fire report uncritically would think that the death of 19 men was just bad luck and no one's fault, which is false.' Spokesmen for Prescott and Gov. Jan Brewer declined comment Friday. Prescott Fire Chief Dan Fraijo claimed the 122-page report was a thorough analysis of the operations, training, equipment and firefighting protocols used that day. He told The Arizona Republic he didn't know what McKee was trying to achieve with the claim. 'I don’t know what she’s trying to accomplish by it. Just on the surface - and, of course, this is just an opinion on my part - I can’t see this thing going anywhere,' he said. McKee told The Arizona Republic she filed the claim to learn the truth about what happened in the fire. 'There . is no good answer right now,' McKee said. 'Nobody should have to go . through this. No family should have to go through this. But it’s the . only way to get answers.' Devastating: Grant McKee was among 19 'hotshot' firefighters killed in the June 30 blaze at Yarnell, Arizona . Jack Fields, chief civil deputy Yavapai County attorney, said the county is reviewing the claim and would make appropriate decisions once that's done. He declined to comment further. The claim names 13 entities or individuals, including Gov. Jan Brewer; Arizona State Forester Scott Hunt; Prescott Wildland Division Chief Darrell Willis, who oversaw the crew; Prescott Mayor Marlin Kuykendall; the Yavapai County Board of Supervisors; the state Department of Public Safety; and the Arizona Incident Management Team. The governments could settle or allow the case to be resolved in court. Grant McKee was training to be an emergency medical technician and had intended to work with the Granite Mountain Hotshots only for the summer. He was engaged to be married. | Mother of firefighter killed in Arizona blaze on June 30 seeking $36 million from the state, Yavapai County and the city of Prescott . California's Marcia McKee claims her son, 21-year-old Grant, died because of authorities' negligence . She believes the death was 'preventable' 'My life was also taken that day because he was my life,' she said . | 96d08fcb3ac14b21bbf0365e234072b1ef947c25 |
By . Alex Greig . Youth clothing retailer Urban Outfitters is causing controversy selling a cropped . monochromatic t-shirt that has the word 'depression' covering it in . different sized fonts. It's described as a 'Super depressing tee from Depression topped with an allover logo graphic.' The . t-shirt has been reduced from $59 to $9.99, but so far has just one . scathing review: 'Depression is not a fashion statement, UO should not . be promoting social stigma for depression by making it a catchphrase,' wrote the review, giving the item one star. Depressing: Many are offended by this t-shirt being sold by Urban Outfitters . In . fairness to Urban Outfitters, the brand that produces the t-shirt is . Depression, whose philosophy is 'Because living life the conventional . way is depressing.' 'Absolutely disgusting what urban outfitters are selling. Disgraceful. I don't know how that is allowed,' one Twitter user tweeted. 'This is vile, does Urban Outfitters not know how offensive and triggering these tops are?' tweeted another. The offensive t-shirt comes two years after the company pulled a controversial t-shirt . from its website after angry critics condemned it online. The offending item was a gray, V-necked t-shirt with the words, 'Eat Less' written in cursive across the front. The cotton t-shirt was photographed on a very slim, angsty-looking model and paired with a black mini-skirt. Offensive: This t-shirt was pulled from the Urban Outfitters website in 2011 after critics lambasted the retailer for glamorizing eating disorders . Write caption here . The description read, 'Eat less or more or however much you'd like in this seriously soft knit tee cut long and topped with a v-neck.' The Twitterverse exploded in disgust at the perceived glamorization of eating disorders by the clothing giant. Actress Sophia Bush wrote an open letter to Urban Outfitters on her blog addressing the t-shirt. 'You should issue a public apology, and make a hefty donation to a women’s organization that supports those stricken with eating disorders. I am sickened that anyone, on any board, in your gigantic company would have voted "yes" on such a thing, let alone enough of you to manufacture an item with such a hurtful message. Not fabulous: A 'Ghettopoly' board game is held by a demonstrator during a protest outside an Urban Outfitters store in Philadelphia. Many in the black community were outraged over the game, sold by the retail chain Urban Outfitters, that has 'playas' acting as pimps and game cards reading 'You got yo whole neighborhood addicted to crack. Collect $50...' 'It’s like handing a suicidal person a loaded gun. You should know better,' she wrote, adding that she intends to boycott the store. The hipster chain has managed to put many different groups offside with its products over the years, including Jewish people (a t-shirt emblazoned with 'Everyone Loves a Jewish Girl' and dollar signs), Irish people (St Patrick's Day shirts that read 'Kiss me I'm drunk, or Irish, or whatever') and African Americans (a board-game iteration of Monopoly called Ghettopoly). In 2012, the Navajo Nation filed suit against the company for creating a line of merchandise including underwear and a drinking flask and called it Navajo. | Urban Outfitters is under fire for selling t-shirts emblazoned with the word 'depression' Many are upset that the company has used the mental illness as a fashion statement . The company has come under fire many times over the years for its controversial products . The t-shirt has been reduced from $59 to $9.99 on the company website . | 3d38c477d76ffecfc5ab0b5793dac0432e1a926a |
By . Daily Mail Reporter . PUBLISHED: . 20:17 EST, 5 March 2014 . | . UPDATED: . 20:18 EST, 5 March 2014 . Drinking just one can of Coke a day could be bad for you, the World Health Organization said as it urged Americans to lower their daily amount of sugar. Under draft guidelines published on Wednesday, the health agency suggested sugar should make up just 5 percent of the total calories needed for a day - half of what it had previously suggested. The guideline means just one Coke, or six Oreo cookies, would be considered an excessive amount of sugar. Health warning: The amount of sugar in Coke and other sodas concerns experts from WHO . Who recommended the drop in sugar intake as a way to combat obesity and cavities, after its expert panel reviewed about 9,000 studies. Sugar has about 4 calories per gram, or 15 . calories per teaspoon. Under the 5 percent guideline, a person who takes . in 2000 calories a day would limit sugar to 25 grams. A 12-ounce can of . Coca-Cola has 35 grams of sugar, which is 10 grams over the allowance. One Oreo cookie has 4.5 grams, meaning you could eat only five and a half in one day. The guidelines will apply to sugars . that have been added to food, or are present in honey, syrups and fruit . juices. Sugar found naturally in fruits is not cause for concern. Dr Francesco Branca, WHO's director for nutrition, conceded the target was somewhat aspirational. 'We should aim for 5 percent if we can ... but 10 percent is more realistic,' he said. Americans and others in the West eat a lot more sugar than the recommended daily allowance of 25 grams. Their average sugar intake would have to drop by two-thirds to meet WHO's suggested limit. WHO's new guidelines have been published online and the agency is inviting the public to comment via its website until the end of March. Many doctors applauded the UN agency's attempt to limit the global sweet tooth. 'The less sugar you're eating, the better,' Dr Robert Lustig, a professor of pediatrics at the University of California and author of a book about the dangers of sugar, said. 'If the sugar threshold is lowered, I think breakfast cereal is going to have a really hard time justifying its existence,' he added, referring to sweetened cereals often targeted to children. Snack time: The guidelines will mean limiting the number of Oreos and cookies that are eaten . When WHO last revised its sugar guidelines more than a decade ago, it recommended sugar should be less than 10 percent of daily calories. The U.S. sugar industry was so incensed it lobbied Congress to threaten to withdraw millions of dollars in funding to WHO. A contentious reference to the sugar limit was removed from a global diet strategy, but the recommendation passed. Cut down: Draft guidelines suggest limiting the amount of sugar eaten daily . Lustig said WHO's new guidelines could alter the food environment by forcing manufacturers to rethink how they use sugar in processed foods like bread, soups, pasta sauces and even salad dressings. He called the amount of sugar in processed food an 'absolute, unmitigated disaster'. WHO's expert group found high sugar consumption is strongly linked to obesity and tooth decay. It noted that heavy people have a higher risk of chronic diseases, responsible for more than 60 percent of global deaths. Dental care costs up to 10 percent of health budgets in Western countries and cause significant problems in the developing world. WHO warned many of the sugars eaten today are hidden in processed foods, pointing out that one tablespoon of ketchup contains about one teaspoon of sugar and that for some people, including children, drinking a single can of sweetened soda would already exceed their daily sugar limit. There is no universally agreed consensus on how much sugar is too much. The American Heart Association advises limiting sugar to about 8 percent of your diet, or six teaspoons a day for women and nine for men. A study led by the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention published last month found too much sugar can raise the chances of fatal heart problems. Researchers found the average American gets about 15 percent of their calories from sugar, similar to other Western nations. New nutrition labels proposed in the U.S. will also require food manufacturers to list any added sugars, plus a more prominent calorie count. Sweet tooth: Health experts are concerned about the 'hidden sugar' in sweets and sodas . A chart shows the number of teaspoons of sugar found in cereals, energy drinks, hot chocolate and foods available in British supermarkets . Dr Branca said: ‘Obesity affects half . a billion people in the world and it is on the rise. ‘Sugar along with other risk . factors might certainly become the new tobacco in terms of public health . action. The consumption of a single serving of sugar sweetened soda . might actually already exceed the limit for a child. So certainly the . consumption of sugar-sweetened beverages should be done with great care. ‘It actually is one of the elements that has been more constantly associated to increase weight gain particularly in children.’ Earlier this week, Britain's chief medical officer, Dr Sally Davies, said she thought sugar might be addictive and that the government should consider introducing a sugar tax to curb bulging waistlines. The UK has one of the fattest populations in Western Europe. 'We have a generation of children who, because they're overweight ... may not live as long as my generation,' she told a health committee. 'They will be the first generation that lives less and that is of great concern.' The guidelines will now be discussed by . academics and medical experts before a final version is published. But . Dr Branca said food and drinks manufacturers should drastically alter . their products. | Guidelines recommend only 25 grams a day - 10 grams less than amount found in sodas . Rise in obesity and cavities has fueled fears of Western health crisis . | 6e937a639252a1835bf1aa77fc4cdc87367e6605 |
Police in Alabama have arrested former NFL fullback Le'Ron McClain on a synthetic marijuana trafficking charge. Tuscaloosa Police spokesman Sgt. Brent Blankley says 29-year-old McClain, currently a free agent, was arrested Wednesday after narcotics agents recovered 122 grams of synthetic marijuana, or spice. Agents told McClain they'd issue a warrant when tests results on the substance came back later in the day. Former Alabama and NFL fullback Le'Ron McClain appears in a photo after his arrest Wednesday. Tuscaloosa police have arrested McClain on a synthetic marijuana trafficking charge . McClain, originally of Fort Wayne, Indiana, was released in March after two seasons with the San Diego Chargers. He also played with the Baltimore Ravens and Kansas City Chiefs (pictured) in a seven-year career . The release said authorities told McClain not to leave Tuscaloosa. Patrol officers serving the warrant at the home of McClain's mother said they were initially told that he had left the state. Blankley says McClain is being held on $500,000 bond. McClain, originally of Fort Wayne, Indiana, was released in March after two seasons with the San Diego Chargers. He also played with the Baltimore Ravens and Kansas City Chiefs in a seven-year NFL career. At the Baltimore Ravens he made two Pro Bowls and was named a First-Team All-Pro in 2008. McClain last played in 2013 and has scored 16 touchdowns in his professional career. Synthetic cannabis is catch-all term for any designer drug that mimics the effects of cannabis. Alabama passed an act making it illegal in May 2010. Synthetic cannabis is catch-all term for any designer drug that mimics the effects of cannabis. File picture . Sorry we are not currently accepting comments on this article. | Former San Diego chargers fullback Le'Ron McClain arrested Wednesday . He was reportedly found to have 122 grams of synthetic marijuana . Police spokesman says McClain is being held on $500,000 bond . | 8abec82fc6ad7b71ab0dbbc2251fee4909483b9c |
(CNN) -- Britney Spears, Paris Hilton ... Sen. Barack Obama? The latest ad from John McCain implies Barack Obama is a megacelebrity -- like Britney Spears. A new campaign ad from Sen. John McCain -- which flashes shots of the two aforementioned megacelebrities -- calls Obama a megacelebrity, too, and questions his leadership ability. "He's the biggest celebrity in the world. But is he ready to lead? With gas prices soaring, Barack Obama says no to offshore drilling and says he'll raise taxes on electricity. Higher taxes, more foreign oil -- that's the real Obama," the ad's narrator says while crowds screaming, "Obama!" are shown. Responding to the ad, Obama spokesman Tommy Vietor said, "On a day when major news organizations across the country are taking Sen. McCain to task for a steady stream of false, negative attacks, his campaign has launched yet another. Or, as some might say, 'Oops! He did it again.' " The ad is the latest in a string of hard-hitting television commercials from the McCain campaign. Earlier spots suggest Obama is playing politics with the Iraq war, is against funding American troops and bears some of the responsibility for high gas prices. The campaign says the ad will run in 11 battleground states: Colorado, Iowa, Michigan, Missouri, Nevada, New Hampshire, New Mexico, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Virginia and Wisconsin. Watch the ad » . In a conference call with reporters announcing the ad, McCain adviser Rick Davis said of Obama's campaign coverage: "The focus on media, on events and activities, is much more something you'd expect from someone releasing a new movie." "What we decided to do was find the top three international celebrities in the world," he said. "And I would say that from our estimation, Britney and Paris came in second and third. So from our perspective, we have the biggest three celebrities in the world." Davis also brushed aside suggestions the ad will be viewed by the American public as going negative. "Will people think of this as negative advertising? Look, it's the most entertaining thing I've seen on TV in a while. I wouldn't anticipate anything about this being negative," he said. Steve Schmidt, another top McCain adviser, also said it was accurate to compare Obama to the two celebrities who, as one reporter said on the call, are often portrayed as "frivolous and irresponsible." "I don't poll Paris Hilton and Britney Spears, but I know they're international celebrities, so apples to apples," he said. A McCain adviser also told CNN's Dana Bash the ad targets Obama's "outrageous, narcissistic statements." "It has not gone unnoticed by this campaign that Obama makes outrageous, narcissistic statements suggesting that his candidacy is what the world has been waiting for. Excuse me?" the adviser said. "What's going to happen when he parts the sea? What about all the fish in the middle?" the adviser said. While Obama was overseas last week on his tour through the Middle East and Europe, the McCain campaign sarcastically addressed the Illinois senator's media coverage. In an e-mail to supporters last week, the McCain campaign said, "It's pretty obvious that the media has a bizarre fascination with Barack Obama. Some may even say it's a love affair." The campaign compiled clips of reporters praising Obama and made two videos set to music -- one with "Can't Take My Eyes Off of You" and the other to "My Eyes Adored You." The campaign also gave reporters covering McCain in Pennsylvania a fake European press pass. The pass featured a shot of the Statue of Liberty in front of an American flag, and the words: "McCain Press Corps/JV Squad/Left Behind To Report in America." The back had a picture of a man sporting a beret and a neck scarf, standing in front of a silhouette of the Eiffel Tower and pouring a glass of wine. | New ad from John McCain calls Barack Obama "biggest celebrity in the world" Ad shows images of Britney Spears, Paris Hilton . Obama campaign on McCain launching negative ad: "Oops! He did it again" McCain campaign says reporters cover Obama as they would a megacelebrity . | c4fc17470e99d95c485541179ef837cb949f8893 |
A company that helps you get back at your enemies by posting them parcels of glitter has been sold for more than $100,000. Mathew Carpenter, set up the ShipYourEnemiesGlitter.com only 10 days ago, on a whim. The 22-year-old Sydneysider, who admits 'he hates glitter' created the website that offers to mail a package full of the stuff to anyone, along with a letter telling the recipient they are a horrible person, anywhere in the world for $9.99. 9 News reported that after Mr Carpenter put the website up for sale on start-up marketplace Flippa. It was listed with a starting bid of just $1, and ended up selling for $105,927 after attracting 345 bids. The buyer is reportedly online entrepreneur Peter Boychuk. Scroll down for video . The next big thing: ShipYourEnemiesGlitter.com promises to send an envelope full of glitter to your enemies . An illustration on the website demonstrates the extreme frustration your enemy will experience when they receive an envelope packed with glitter . Although many people may think glitter is 'fun', they are wrong as it can be used as a harmless but intensely irritating torture . Mr Boychuk said in a statement through Flippa he plans on immediately reactivating the order form on the site and fulfilling all pending orders, which are said to be around 10,000. 'This was only intended to be a small side project. It’s taken on a life of its own, and I want to watch it continue to grow under a new owner,' Mr Carpenter said. Obviously revenge sells. An envelope full of millions of tiny, plastic pieces of glitter is all that is needed to tip someone right over the edge, with the sparkly misery promised to last weeks. The website was just a day old when Mr Carpenter spoke to the Daily Mail Australia earlier this month as their sales escalated rapidly. 'I'm a 22 year old dude that has too much free time apparently because now my plans for the next few weeks will consist of sending stupid glitter to terrible people,' Carpenter told Daily Mail Australia at the time. 'People call it the herpes of the craft world,' the website said. 'Pay us money, provide an address anywhere in the world and we'll send them so much glitter in an envelope that they'll be finding it everywhere for weeks.' In just 24 hours of the website launching it had gone viral worldwide, with over 1.3m visits, and 250k social shares. Rave reviews, as well as complaints from unhappy envelope recipients, indicate the product's effectiveness . The glitter will stick to every possible surface of the recipient's body and home and will continually and inexplicably appear for weeks after the ambush . Part of the appeal was that each package individually was 'wrapped with hate' by Carpenter himself for the incredibly low price of $9.99 per envelope. The hateful envelopes may seem harmless, with some people on Social Media initially expressing confusion at the concept due to their personal love of glitter. However, the frustration felt when covered with seemingly endless pieces of glitter cannot be fully understood unless one has experienced the twinkly torture. It sticks to clothes, skin, hair and furniture and somehow has the creepy ability to pop up when least expected for weeks after the glitter ambush. These envelopes from hell, also known in some circles as 'glitter bombs', were soon an overnight sensation, and just hours after launching the website was forced to suspend purchases. 'You guys have a sick obsession with shipping people glitter,' remarked Carpenter. The website has a helpful FAQ section, although they point out 'Yes, somehow we do have Frequently Asked Questions' The website enjoyed glowing reviews from thrilled customers, including gleeful Grady Chambers: . 'I bought this for my husband, he opened the mail before work & got it everywhere! He had to change, was late for work and might be getting fired, LOL!' However, Alma Henry warned people to not underestimate the power of glitter. 'For my one year anniversary I didn't know what to get my wife, so I bought this thinking it would be funny. 'It wasn't, I'm now divorced, broke and living with my best friend. I'd like to talk with the owner to get a refund and discuss damages.' A thrilled customer wrote a reference, explaining: 'I bought this for my husband, he opened the mail before work & got it everywhere! He had to change, was late for work and might be getting fired, LOL!' | Mathew Carpenter set up the ShipYourEnemiesGlitter.com only 10 days ago . The 22-year-old Sydneysider created the website for people to anonymously harass their enemies . Mr Carpenter could not keep up with the demand though, and put the website up for sale on start-up marketplace Flippa . The company was listed with a starting bid of just $1, and ended up selling for $105,927 . Online entrepreneur Peter Boychuk is reportedly the buyer of the website . | 07e0078203090e2af19be22e076e2e7e8ee8d0eb |
By . Daily Mail Reporter . A 46-year-old woman allegedly tried to buy methamphetamine from an off-duty police officer, claiming it was a birthday gift for her sister. Police said Heather Rodriguez pulled a glass pipe with meth residue from her bra when she asked the officer in Provo, Utah, if she could buy drugs from him on Monday evening. She allegedly said her sister asked her to buy the meth, and that she was holding the pipe for a friend. Charged: Police in Provo, Utah, arrested 46-year-old Heather Rodriguez on Monday, claiming she tried to buy meth from an off-duty officer . The Daily Herald reported that the officer called Provo police who arrested Rodriguez. The woman allegedly admitted to officers she was trying to buy drugs. She was booked into the Utah County Jail charged with suspicion of possession of drug paraphernalia in a drug-free zone and attempted possession of meth for distribution. Officials at the jail did not know if Rodriguez had an attorney. Arrested: Heather Rodriguez, 46, was booked into the Utah County Jail (pictured) on Monday charged with suspicion of possession of drug paraphernalia in a drug-free zone and attempted possession of meth for distribution . | Heather Rodriguez was arrested Monday evening in Provo, Utah . She allegedly pulled a meth pipe out of her bra when she asked an off-duty officer for drugs . She was arrested on several drug charges . | 6c90e5b7a1a7f7ad8482089cd29527c58cae00b8 |
By . Suzannah Hills . PUBLISHED: . 12:10 EST, 13 June 2013 . | . UPDATED: . 12:10 EST, 13 June 2013 . Anxiety: Stress can cause a permanent genetic change to men's sperm and even alter how their offspring's brains develop (stock image) Stress can cause permanent damage to a man's sperm and even stunt his children's brain development, a new study has found. Researchers have discovered that suffering anxiety or depression as an adult, teenager or even as a child could cause a lasting genetic change in a man's sperm. Scientists conducting a study on mice found that sperm damage caused by stress leads to offspring developing a 'blunted reaction to stress' - a trait associated with several mental disorders. Researchers at the University of Pennsylvania School of Medicine say this is the first time a link has been found between stress-related diseases potentially being passed from a father to his children. Previous studies have concentrated on how environmental challenges - such as diet, drug abuse, and chronic stress - felt by mothers during pregnancy can affect their offspring's neurodevelopment and increase the risk of certain diseases. In this study, published in the Journal of Neuroscience, male mice were exposed to six weeks of chronic stress, before breeding, either throughout puberty or only in adulthood. Examples of stress include suddenly being moved to another cage, being exposed to predator odour, noise or a foreign object in their cage. Male mice are ideal for such an experiment because they do not participate in offspring rearing, meaning any external factors outside of germ-cell formation are essentially eliminated. A team of researchers led by Professor Tracy Bale found that stress among male mice prompted a genetic change in their sperm that re-programmed a part of their offspring’s brain. They found that offspring from . paternal stress groups displayed significantly blunted levels of the . stress hormone corticosterone - in humans, it’s cortisol - in response . to stress. Professor Bale . said: 'It didn’t matter if dads were going through puberty or in . adulthood when stressed before they mated. We’ve shown here for the . first time that stress can produce long-term changes to sperm that . reprogram offspring brains. Researchers at the University of Pennsylvania carried out a test on male mice - finding that their sperm underwent a genetic change after they were exposed to stress . 'These findings suggest one way in which paternal-stress exposure may be linked to such neuropsychiatric diseases.' But researchers also point out that a reduced physiological stress response may reflect some evolutionary benefit passed on to offspring to ensure survival in what is expected to be a more stressful environment. Professor Bale added: 'Whether such diminished stress reactivity would be detrimental or beneficial to offspring likely depends on the environment into which they were born, as well as genetic background factors.' | University of Pennsylvania School of Medicine conducted study on male mice . Researchers found exposing mice to stress caused genetic sperm change . This change caused their offspring to have a blunted reaction to stress . | 0570a42a4b76a6e7ec0a02e42dd41361451139ae |
By . Emma Innes . PUBLISHED: . 05:31 EST, 7 March 2013 . | . UPDATED: . 07:13 EST, 7 March 2013 . Underground oceans could be bubbling up to the surface of Jupiter's icy moon Europa, scientists believe - making it the perfect place to look for life. A new paper has detailed the strongest evidence yet that salty water from the huge liquid ocean beneath Europa’s frozen surface actually makes its way to the moon’s surface – reinforcing suggestions that there could be life on Europa. The research suggests there is a chemical exchange between the ocean and surface, making the ocean a richer chemical environment. Illustration shows Europa in the foreground with Jupiter to the right and lo - another of Jupiter's moons - in the middle . The report was compiled by Professor Mike Brown, an astronomer . at the California Institute of Technology in Pasadena, California, and . Kevin Hand from NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory, also in Pasaden. The exchange between the ocean and the surface, Professor Brown said, ‘means that energy might be going into the ocean, which is important in terms of the possibilities for life there. ‘It also means that if you'd like to know what's in the ocean, you can just go to the surface and scrape some off.’ Europa's ocean is thought to cover the moon's whole globe and is about 60 miles deep under a thin ice shell. Scientists have long debated the composition of Europa’s surface. Now, using the Keck II Telescope on Mauna Kea, Hawaii, Professor Brown and Mr Hand have identified indications of the presence of a magnesium sulphate salt, a mineral called epsomite, that could have formed by oxidation of a mineral likely originating from the ocean below. The researchers started their study by mapping the distribution of pure water ice versus anything else. Then, at low latitudes - the area with the greatest concentration of the non-water ice material - they found a tiny, never-before-detected, change in the results. The two researchers tested everything from sodium chloride to Drano in Mr Hand's laboratory where he tries to simulate the environments found on various icy worlds. At the end of the day, the signature of magnesium sulphate persisted. Salty water from the huge liquid ocean beneath Europa's frozen surface makes its way to the moon's surface, scientists believe . The authors, who are publishing their report in the Astronomical Journal, believe that this magnesium sulphate is generated from magnesium chloride salt which originates in Europa’s ocean. The scientists also believe the composition of Europa's ocean may closely resemble the salty ocean of Earth. Europa is considered a premier target in the search for life beyond Earth, Mr Hand said. A NASA-funded study team is working with the scientific community to identify options to explore Europa further. ‘If we've learned anything about life on Earth, it's that where there's liquid water, there's generally life,’ Mr Hand said. ‘And of course our ocean is a nice, salty ocean. Perhaps Europa's salty ocean is also a wonderful place for life.’ Europa is the sixth closest moon to Jupiter and the smallest of the four Galilean satellites that belong to the planet. It was discovered by Galileo Galilei in January 1610 and is named after a Phoenician noblewoman in Greek mythology who was courted by Zeus and became the Queen of Crete. Europa orbits Jupiter in around three-and-a-half days with an orbital radius of 670,900km. It is slightly smaller than the Earth's moon, but at 3,100km in diameter it is the sixth largest moon and 15th largest object in the entire solar system. It is likely to have an outer layer of water, some 100km thick. The outer layer of the water is believed to be frozen with a liquid ocean underneath. It is one of the smoothest objects in the solar system with few craters on its surface, which is tectonically active and relatively young. | Water from the ocean inside Europa makes its way to the surface . This suggests that there could be life on Jupiter's moon . | fd624ca7aad1683631715a9f694ac136ea31dbdd |
Half of all women have a fall-back partner on call should their current relationship turn sour, it emerged today. A substantial percentage have kept another man in mind in case they end up single. And married women are more likely have a Plan B in the background than those who are just in a relationship. The back-up is likely to be an old friend who has always had feelings for them . Do you have a fall-back partner in case your relationship turns sour? Do you have a fall-back partner in case your relationship turns sour? Now share your opinion . It also emerged the back-up is likely to be an old friend who has always had feelings for the woman in question. But other candidates are an ex-boyfriend or ex-husband, a colleague - or someone who they have met at the gym. The survey of 1,000 women also found Plan B is also likely to be someone whom she has known for around seven years, who will be 'ready and waiting' because of 'unfinished business'. Furthermore, around one in ten women said their Plan B had already confessed his undying love, while one in five said they were confident he would 'drop everything' for her, if she asked him to. Slightly more than four in ten said they had got to know the man whilst they were with their partner, while a similar percentage said he was 'on the scene' long before. One in five said they were confident he would 'drop everything' for her, if she asked him to . Around one in four women who have a back-up plan have feelings as strong for him as they do for their other half. Incredibly, 12 per cent went as far as to admit their feelings were 'stronger' for Plan B, and close to seven in ten admitted they are currently in contact with him. But despite the secrecy involved in having a close friend or ex to turn to, around half of the women who took part in the poll said their other half was aware of the 'third party'. Of those, one in five said they were able to joke about it, but one in three said their man was 'uncomfortable' discussing him. One in four admitted their current partner had met their Plan B, while one in five admitted he was a friend of the man in her life. The good news for the nation's men is that one in three women said they 'doubted' anything would ever happen with the man in the background. Around half had a 'never say never' approach, while trouble may lie ahead for one in six who said they were 'seriously considering' rekindling their romance with the man in the shadows. A spokesman for online market research company OnePoll.com said: 'For our research to establish that 50 per cent of women in relationships have a 'Plan B' is a worrying sign. 'This news may cause a few men in relationships to think twice about not taking the rubbish out or choosing a night down the pub in favour of a cosy night in with his partner. 'This could spark fear in men across the UK and be great news for women looking for that extra bit of love and care so that their attentions aren't swayed. 'The saying that "the grass isn't always greener" clearly isn't deterring women of today. They understand that anything can happen and are ensuring they have a solid back up plan should things go sour with their current man' 'With sites like Facebook and Twitter, it's easier than ever to stay in touch with an old flame. Men need to be aware of any 'old friends' that turn up out of the blue that's for sure.' | Married women are more likely have a Plan B in the background . Back-up is likely to be an old friend who has always had feelings for them . Other candidates include ex-boyfriend/husband, colleague or gym buddy . | 351280f23366f956a83c0ed327cc0716ce0e8f86 |
By . Sara Malm . PUBLISHED: . 03:11 EST, 23 May 2013 . | . UPDATED: . 08:50 EST, 23 May 2013 . A Japanese 80-year-old has become the oldest man to reach the summit of Mount Everest. Extreme skier Yuichiro Miura conquered the 29,035ft peak at 9am local time Thursday morning, beating his 81-year-old rival, Nepalese Min Bahadur Sherchan, to the top. Mr Miura climbed Mount Everest five years ago, but just missed out on the record when Mr Serchan, a former Gurkha, accomplished the feat aged 76. Scroll down for video . Bold timer: 80-year-old Japanese adventurer Yuichiro Miura, right, pictured with a friend at 6,500 meters, has become the oldest man to reach the top of Mount Everest . He made it: Yuichiro Miura and his team of climbers stand on the summit of Mount Everest on Thursday . Close to the top: Miura calls his support team from the base camp on Wednesday before the last climb . Mr Miura and his son Gota called the support team from the summit to report the news. ‘This is the world's best feeling,’ Mr Miura said. ‘I'm also totally exhausted.’ His rival, Mr Sherchan, is at the base camp on Mount Everest preparing for his own attempt on the summit . next week. On his expedition's website, Miura . explained his attempt to scale Everest at such an advanced age: 'It is . to challenge (my) own ultimate limit. It is to honor the great Mother . Nature.' He said a successful climb would . raise the bar for what is possible, adding: 'If the limit of age 80 is . at the summit of Mt Everest, the highest place on earth, one can never . be happier.' Record breaker: Min Bahadur Sherchan, center, became the oldest person to climb Mount Everest in 2008 . Miura reached the South Col, the . jumping-off point for most final ascents, on Tuesday, according to his . website, which also posted pictures of him eating hand-rolled sushi . inside a tent. Gyanendra Shrestha, a Nepalese mountaineering official at . the base camp, confirmed that he had reached the summit on Thursday morning. Public broadcaster NHK showed footage of Mr Miura's daughter Emili talking with them via speaker phone in Tokyo, clapping when her brother told her they had reached the top. Mr Miura's new record will only last a few days if Sherchan is able to follow him. Miura's daughter, Emili Miura, said . he 'doesn't really care' about the rivalry. 'He's doing it for his own . challenge,' she said. The situation was not too different . five years ago, when, at the age of 75, Miura sought to recapture the . title of oldest man to summit the mountain. He had set the record in . 2003 at age 70, but it was later broken twice by slightly older Japanese . climbers. Yuichiro Miura rests as he goes through the South Col pass, left, and right, with his son, Gota, on their way to a camp at 8,000 meters (26,247 feet) during his attempt to scale the summit of Mount Everest . Not his first time: Miura, right, takes a break with his son, Gota, on their way to a camp at 6,500 metres . On his way: Miura says the feat, while difficult for a man of any age, will add 70 years to his physical body age - making him feel more like 150 years old . He reached the summit on May 26, . 2008, at the age of 75 years and 227 days, according to Guinness World . Records, however the record eluded him because Sherchan had scaled the . summit the day before, at the age of 76 years and 340 days. His daughter Emili Miura said her father decided to go . ahead with the expedition, despite having had four heart surgeries, because he felt that at . age 80, he was running out of time. Mr Miura fractured his pelvis and left . thigh bone in a 2009 skiing accident, and had an operation in January . for an irregular heartbeat, or arrhythmia, his fourth heart surgery . since 2007, Ms Miura said. Still competitive: Mr Sherchan will start climbing Everest next week to retake his record . On his ascent, Miura made a stop at . the rarely used Camp 5 to take a break between the South Col and the . summit. Almost all the climbers these days walk straight from Camp 4 to . the summit. Mr Miura was well-known long before his late-in-life mountaineering pursuits, as an extreme skier. He . skied down Everest's South Col in 1970, using a parachute to brake his . descent. The feat was captured in the Oscar-winning 1975 documentary, 'The Man Who Skied Down Everest.' In 1964, he briefly set a world speed . skiing record in the Italian Alps, reaching 107 mph. He also skied down Mt. Fuji using parachutes. It wasn't until Miura was 70, . however, that he first climbed all the way to the summit of Everest. When he summited again at 75, he claimed to be the only man to . accomplish the feat twice in his 70s. After that, he said he was . determined to climb again at age 80. Mr Miura was accompanied on the . expedition by his son Gota, 43, a two-time Olympian skier, who also . summited Everest in 2003 with his father. Mr Miura's rival, Mr Sherchan first began mountaineering in 1960 when he climbed . Mount Dhaulagiri, the 8,167-meter (26,790-foot) high peak in Nepal, . according to his grandson, Manoj Guachan. Always an adventurer, and unbowed by age, he walked the length of Nepal in 2003. Sherchan and his team said Wednesday . that they were prepared for their new climb, despite digestive problems . he suffered several days ago. Father and son: Miura has had three heart operations in recent years and suffered a broken pelvis and fractured thigh in a 2009 ski accident . 'Our team leader has just arrived . back at base camp and we are holding a team meeting on when exactly I . will head up to the summit,' Sherchan, who uses a hearing aid, said by . telephone from the base camp. 'I am fine and in good health. I am ready to take up the challenge. Our plan is to reach the summit within one week.' It takes three to four days for climbers to reach Camp 4 on South Col from base camp, and another day to reach the summit. There are only a few windows of good . weather during the climbing season in May for people to attempt the . summit. Sherchan's team is also facing . financial difficulties. It hasn't received the financial help that the . Nepal government announced it would provide them. Purna Chandra . Bhattarai, chief of Nepal's mountaineering department, said the aid . proposal was still under consideration. | Yuichiro Miura reached the summit of Mount Everest Thursday morning . He became the oldest man to ever climb the mountain aged 80 . Missed out on record five years ago when Nepalese rival beat him . His old foe Min Bahadur Sherchan, 81, is following close behind . | 8f871c28b013b41bb961c05415789ecea5ce80d4 |
By . Leon Watson . PUBLISHED: . 08:20 EST, 21 February 2013 . | . UPDATED: . 09:51 EST, 21 February 2013 . Scott Nicholls was speeding when he smashed into Emma Harold, 26, her younger sister Beccy Rutter, 25, and their friend Kate Wasyluk, 25 . A drunk driver who killed two best friends when he ploughed into them four years ago is set to be freed after serving just one month in prison. Scott Nicholls, then 20, was speeding and was over the alcohol limit with traces of heroin and ecstasy in his system when he caused the late-night horror crash. Nicholls smashed into Emma Harold, 26, her younger sister Beccy Rutter, 25, and their friend Kate Wasyluk, 25. The three young women were mown down . just yards from the entrance of St Clement's Hospital in Ipswich, . Suffolk, in the early hours of February 21, 2009. Miss Harold and Miss Wasyluk were tragically killed while Miss Rutter suffered horrific injuries. Nicholls, of Ipswich, was detained under the mental health act at his trial at Ipswich Crown Court in September 2009. His 12-year sentence was slashed by a . third to eight years, taking into account his guilty plea to a charge . of causing death by dangerous driving. The killer driver has spent the last four years in a mental health hospital and was released into prison in January. As well as having to cope with the . fourth anniversary of losing Miss Harold and Miss Wasyluk today, their devastated . families have been told Nicholls will be released by the end of this . month. They are now waiting for the call . from the probation service to confirm when he will walk out of the . prison gates into a new life of freedom. Today, furious Remy Wasyluk, 31, the brother of Miss Wasyluk, has called for a change in the law. He is demanding that criminals deemed unfit to serve in prison should be treated in hospital and then sent to jail to start their sentence. Echoing Mr Wasyluk's anger, survivor of the horrific crash Miss Rutter, of Ipswich, said she was very 'cross' that Nicholls has 'got off lightly with a lesser sentence'. Mr Wasyluk, of central London, said: 'We have been told he (Nicholls) will be released at the end of February, we don't know the exact date. 'I hope they (the justice system) wouldn't be so ridiculously insensitive as to release him on the same day as the anniversary.' Tragic: Kate Wasyluk, 25, relaxing with her mother Dot Richardson . Recovering: Emma Harold's younger sister Beccy Rutter (right), 25, pictured after the crash . Kate Wasyluk's Dot Richardson poses by her shrine to her tragic daughter . He added: 'It is very distressing for . all the families, hearing this news as we all have to cope with the . fourth anniversary. What makes it worse is he has only served just over . one month in prison.' Miss . Rutter, now 29, said: 'As a family we do try not to think too much about . him (Nicholls), but knowing he has only served one month in prison, for . taking two lives, makes me so cross. 'It feels like he has got off with a lesser sentence. 'Whether . he was sentenced to eight or 20 years, he would be out one day with the . opportunity of a second chance ' a second chance Emma and Kate will . never have.' Mr Wasyluk . added: 'The law needs to be changed. If someone is detained in hospital, . deemed too ill to go to prison, they should be treated and brought to a . position where they are aware of what has happened, and what they have . done. 'Then and only then should they be . sent to prison to serve their sentence. In this case, he would have . served a total of eight years, which is what he was ultimately sentenced . to. Miss Wasyluk's devastated . family has been told Nicholls will be released by the end of this . month . 'It seems only yesterday this all happened and now we are four years on and he has served just one month in prison. 'Four years in prison, we could have accepted whatever we felt about the length of sentence, but one month seems unjust.' He hit out as tragic Miss Wasyluk's mother, Dot Richardson, 58, told Nicholls to make the most of his new-found liberty. Mrs Richardson, of Ipswich, said: 'This year has been the worst. I tend to bury my head in the sand and don't really think about him (Nicholls), I'm not really interested in what happens to him whatsoever.' But she stressed: 'Having said that, it is a small town and you do hear things. It is extremely hard, it shouldn't be any different to any other year, but it is. The biggest insult for me would be if he came out and reoffended. 'This is his second chance ' I want him to take it. He is lucky to have it and must make the most of it. My friends tell me I have forgiven him and, although I can't say the words out loud, I think in my heart I have.' Honouring the memory of her older sister and friend, Miss Rutter said she could think of no more fitting tribute than to give her new baby girl their names. Azariah Emma Kate Rutter was born on January 28. Miss Rutter said she and her husband Liam were desperate to keep their memories alive. The devastated mother-of-three said: 'Emma was my sister and Kate one of my best friends, I loved them both like sisters. 'I wanted to do something to keep their memories alive and keep them with me at all times. 'Azariah will never get to meet her auntie or my friend and so I hope with her having their names she will feel a connection with them both.' She added: 'It was hard, I was worried about having her so close to the anniversary. She is doing really well, settling in at home. She is just gorgeous.' Miss Wasyluk's mother Dot said that when she heard Miss Rutter had poignantly honoured her daughter she was moved to tears. 'It blew me away. I knew she had given birth to another daughter and was keeping the name under wraps,' she said. 'I was expecting her to name Azariah after Emma but for her to honour Kate as well was amazing. Kate would've just loved it - it is a lovely way to remember them both.' | Scott Nicholls, then 20, mowed down three women in Suffolk . Emma Harold and Kate Wasyluk died and Beccy Rutter, 25, was injured . It happened yards from the entrance of St Clement's Hospital, Ipswich . | c48887d408be8eb649df9feae395a189b259d640 |
Victim: Angela Wrightson (pictured), 39, was found dead at her home in Hartlepool on Tuesday morning . Two teenage girls appeared in court today accused of murdering a 39-year-old woman. The girls, aged 13 and 14, are charged with killing Angela Wrightson, whose body was discovered at her home on Tuesday morning. A post-mortem examination found she died in Hartlepool, County Durham, as a result of blood loss and she had suffered 'substantial' injuries. The younger defendant appeared before Teesside Youth Court in Middlesbrough watched by her parents, who sat at the back of the courtroom. Her mother cried as she was brought into court in handcuffs, which were removed for the brief hearing. A security officer sat next to her. District Judge Martin Walker told the girl, who was wearing a fluffy jumper and black leggings, she would be held in secure accommodation. Separately, the 14-year-old was escorted into the warm courtroom in tears and she wiped her eyes with a tissue. Her father was in court for the hearing. She wore grey tracksuit bottoms and a hoodie, and was also in handcuffs, flanked by a guard. The judge said she would also be held in secure accommodation. Both girls confirmed their names, addresses and dates of birth but did not say anything else. No pleas were entered on their behalf and no details about the alleged offence were read out. The judge ordered that nothing should be published which could identify either of the defendants. Both girls will next appear before Teesside Crown Court this afternoon. Investigation: The scene on the street in Hartlepool, County Durham, where Ms Wrightson was found dead . Both girls will appear before Teesside Crown Court (right) charged with the murder of Ms Wrightson (left) Abbie Thomas, 19, a neighbour of the victim, said of her: ‘Everybody knew Angie - she was a bit of a character but she was totally harmless and could be really kind and lovely. ‘A couple of times she’s turned up at our door with pizzas for me and my boyfriend. We never asked for them, but she wanted to be nice because we’re nice to her.’ Sorry we are not currently accepting comments on this article. | Body of Angela Wrightson found at her home in Hartlepool . Post-mortem finds victim, 39, died as a result of blood loss . Younger defendants appear in court watched by their parents . | 417db2ed041b754ab0eca6087c4d7839cf918364 |
(CNN) -- One simple tweet can help push the start button for action, thanks in part to the viral nature of social media. Luke Crane, who says he works at Kickstarter and describes himself as a self-publisher of role-playing games, floated out a question on Monday evening: "Why are there so few lady game creators?" His inquiry touched on a controversy that's been brewing for a long time. Women's role in the gaming industry is part of a greater conversation about gender roles and stereotypes in the scientific, techie and geek spheres. These fields are often said to be dominated by men. But are they really? As the discussion continued, Twitter user Filamena Young apparently was the first person to start using the #1ReasonWhy hashtag. Others adopted it as well. Grievances were aired, issues were discussed, and the tag started getting more and more attention. Then, talk started turning into something more. The #1ReasonMentor hashtag popped up to help women interested in the video gaming industry to meet others who are working in the field, and vice versa. Here's a very abbreviated snapshot of the discussion: . . If you have trouble viewing this page, please visit Storify to see the post. After we at CNN saw this exchange taking place, we were inspired to share it with our reader community and keep the mentoring and leadership conversation going. Are you a female interested in the video game industry, or do you know someone who is? What female techies and geeks do you admire, and what qualities can best help a woman, or anyone, succeed? Do you have a mentor, or can you think of a good mentor for women interested in the video gaming world, or science and technology? And what suggestions do you have for those seeking a mentor, or for those who want to become mentors? Share your views in the comments area below or post your commentary on CNN iReport. You can find us on Twitter, too, via @cnnireport and @cnntech. | A question on Twitter helped spark two hashtags about women in the gaming industry . One focuses on social issues, the other aims to connect like-minded women . What advice do you have for those seeking a mentor, or looking to become one? Share your thoughts in the comments below or on CNN iReport . | 6a47ca69eacae4fbfcebe86b2ccaa8a854fe511e |
Following talks with the Pakistani government, Secretary of State John Kerry said the United States is making progress in the war on terror, and hopes to end the use of drone strikes "very soon." The secretary of state told a Pakistani television station that President Barack Obama has a "very real timeline" for ending the strikes. He did not provide specifics on the timeline. "We hope it's going to be very, very soon," Kerry said Thursday, according to a transcript provided by the State Department. "I believe that we're on a good track. I think the program will end as we have eliminated most of the threat and continue to eliminate it," Kerry said. He added that the cessation depends on "a number of factors" and that Washington is working on it with the Pakistani government. A State Department statement later addressed Kerry's remarks. "Today, the secretary referenced the changes that we expect to take place in that program over the course of time, but there is no exact timeline to provide," the statement said. However, it said, the goal is to get to a place where threats are eliminated and drones are not needed. "Now, we're all realistic about the fact that there is a threat that remains and that we have to keep up ... the fight in this and other places around the world," Marie Harf, a State Department spokeswoman, said. "So this was in no way indicating a change in policy. It's really been reinforcing things I think we've said for months on this." The United States ramped up strikes in the tribal region in the first few years of Obama's presidency. But the number of strikes in Pakistan has since dropped partly because of al Qaeda's decline in the country and more U.S. focus on threats from al Qaeda groups in other countries, such as Yemen. In May, Obama defended the use of drone strikes as a necessary evil, but one that must be used with more temperance as the United States' security situation evolves. America prefers to capture, interrogate and prosecute terrorists, but there are times when this isn't possible, Obama said in a speech at the National Defense University in Washington. Terrorists intentionally hide in remote locations and putting boots on the ground is often out of the question, he said. However, he urged caution and discipline. "To say a military tactic is legal, or even effective, is not to say it is wise or moral in every instance," Obama said at the time. "For the same progress that gives us the technology to strike half a world away also demands the discipline to constrain that power -- or risk abusing it." Increased oversight is important, but not easy, Obama said. Drone strikes in the tribal regions bordering Afghanistan have drawn heated opposition in Pakistan because of civilian casualties. The drone strikes have further roiled relations between the two nations, which flared following a 2011 raid by U.S. commandos on a compound in Abbottabad, Pakistan, that killed al Qaeda leader Osama bin Laden. | Obama has a "very real timeline" for ending the strikes, Kerry says . But the State Department says "there is no exact timeline" Obama: Increased oversight is important, but not easy . The number of U.S. drone strikes in Pakistan has dropped in recent years . | bf6b92c863ec74130e019c256ae0abd3c1bf0c61 |
By . Daniel Martin . PUBLISHED: . 17:58 EST, 17 October 2013 . | . UPDATED: . 05:14 EST, 18 October 2013 . Britain should be ashamed of the way it treats grandparents, Jeremy Hunt will say today. The Health Secretary will warn a million elderly are left forgotten and isolated because friends and relatives fail to visit them. Citing the example of Asian nations, he will say families should take more responsibility for grandparents and not leave caring to the state. Mr Hunt, who has a Chinese wife, will say he is struck by the reverence and respect for the elderly in the Far East. Health Secretary Jeremy Hunt (left) will warn today that a million elderly are left forgotten and isolated because friends and relatives fail to visit them. (Woman, right, posed by model) ‘In those countries, when living alone is no longer possible, residential care is a last rather than a first option,’ he will say in a hard-hitting speech. ‘And the social contract is stronger because, as children see how their own grandparents are looked after, they develop higher expectations of how they too will be treated when they get old. ‘If we are to tackle the challenge of an ageing society, we must learn from this. ‘It will only start with changes in the way we personally treat our own parents and grandparents. Each and every lonely person has someone who could visit them and offer companionship. A forgotten million who live among us – ignored to our national shame.’ Mr Hunt will make clear that some families have no option but to put older relatives in residential or nursing care and should not be ‘condemned for taking that difficult decision’. Mr Hunt will give his speech at the National Children and Adults Services conference in Harrogate, North Yorkshire, saying ‘entering old age should not involve waving goodbye to one’s dignity’. He will add: ‘According to the Campaign to End Loneliness, there are 800,000 people in England who are chronically lonely. Mr Hunt will make clear that some families have no option but to put older relatives in residential or nursing care and should not be 'condemned for taking that difficult decision'. Posed by models . ‘Some five million people say television is their main form of company – that’s 10 per cent of the population. ‘We know there is a broader problem of loneliness that in our busy lives we have utterly failed to confront as a society.’ The Health Secretary will also hit out at cases of abuse in care homes and pledge to beef up inspection of both public and private sector homes. ‘112,000 cases of alleged abuse were referred by English councils in 2012/13, the majority involving over-65s,’ he will say. ‘Something is badly wrong in a society where potentially one thousand such instances are happening every single week. ‘Which is why I am delighted that this year, for the first time, we have appointed a chief inspector of social care, Andrea Sutcliffe. Like all our new chief inspectors, she will act as a champion of the people who use the services – the nation’s whistleblower-in-chief.’ At the same conference, health minister Norman Lamb yesterday announced plans for tougher inspection checks to clamp down on rushed 15-minute care visits, which risk stripping people of their dignity. He said that, from April, the Care Quality Commission watchdog is likely to be tasked with looking at whether home care visits are long enough to respond to people’s needs. And inspectors will also consider looking at how working conditions might be impacting on care. ‘The current approach to home care is not fair on those who need support, it’s not fair on care workers and it is stripping away the human element,’ he said. ‘Fifteen minutes is not enough time to help people who are older or who have a disability to do everyday things like wash, dress and get out of bed. Some do not even get the chance to have a conversation with their home care worker, who may be the only person they see that day. Andrea Sutcliffe, the new chief inspector of social care, will act as a champion of the people who use the service . ‘These tougher checks would ask specific questions about the amount of time allocated for visits and whether staff are suitably supported to do this. 'This is particularly important because these are services delivered in private, behind closed doors. I want to build a fairer society, and that means providing better care in care homes, and in people’s own homes.’ Last night, Caroline Abrahams, a director of the charity Age UK, called for a ‘seismic shift’ in attitudes toward older people and ageing. She added: ‘As we get older, we are more likely to suffer illness and disability which can prevent us from getting out and about, and people’s social networks often shrink due to life-changing events such as retirement and bereavement which can increase the risk of becoming lonely. 'At Age UK we are extremely concerned that cuts to local authority budgets are exacerbating the problem of loneliness because they are causing the closure of many support services for older people, like lunch clubs, which can be a lifeline for those on their own. ‘These cuts are also pushing to breaking point many families who are trying to care for their older relatives in the absence of adequate support. 'Caring is often a 24/7 role that can have a huge physical and emotional impact on the carer.’ Inspiration: Jeremy Hunt with his wife Lucia Guo . The wife who taught Jeremy Hunt China's way of caring for the old . Jeremy Hunt became interested in the Asian way of caring for the elderly after marrying a Chinese woman. The Health Secretary met Lucia Guo five years ago at a conference in London where she was working as a recruiter for Chinese students. Her parents often travel to Britain and he is learning their language, Mandarin. ‘It’s quite halting, but my parents-in-law don’t speak English and so I get a chance to practise with them,’ he said last summer. Three in ten Chinese families have grandparents living in the same household and Confucius, who taught about the importance of the family and the need to respect your elders, is still a big influence in the country. In traditional society, it is considered shameful for children to refuse to look after their parents. The vast majority of elderly people would live with one of their children, with very few living alone. Old people’s homes were once virtually unknown. Confucian beliefs encourage the younger generation to respect their elders for their wisdom, and most important decisions are traditionally made by consulting them. There is less of a culture of youth in China, with younger people expected to defer to older people, let them speak first, sit down after them and not contradict them. However, in recent years, things have been changing in some of the growing cities – with fewer believing they have to look after their elders. As the middle class expands, many of them find they have little time to care for their parents. A poll has found that around a quarter of Chinese senior citizens now live alone – something that would once have been unforgivable. Mr Hunt, 46, who is the Charterhouse-educated son of an admiral, spent much of his twenties in Japan and may have learned about their reverence for the elderly during his time there. Described as ‘ferociously bright’, his wife comes from the city of Xi’an in north-east China, near the site of the famous Terracotta Army. The couple divide their time between London and his constituency of South West Surrey. They have two children: John, three, and Anna, one. | Jeremy Hunt will today warn a million . elderly are left forgotten because friends and relatives . fail to visit them . Citing example of Asian nations, he . will say families should take more responsibility for grandparents and . not leave caring to the state . | 5a344b023032cbb848bcb3c7a25a2f1d7efa57a7 |
By . Ben Endley . PUBLISHED: . 05:20 EST, 25 February 2014 . | . UPDATED: . 07:28 EST, 25 February 2014 . For many people approaching their 85th birthday, the ideal present is a jumper, socks or a new pair of slippers but Ken Partridge went for something altogether more adventurous. The retired joiner, from Oldham, Greater Manchester, who has battled prostate cancer, celebrated the day by jumping out of a plane at 15,000ft. Ken, who served with the Royal Army Medical Corps and was attached to the elite Ghurka regiment during his national service in 1947, vowed to do a parachute jump himself after seeing sky divers in action on TV. Ken, who served in the Royal Army Medical Corps and was attached to the Gurkha regiment in Malaya during his national service in 1947 came up with his sky diving idea after vowing his 85th birthday would be one to remember . After Ken got the go-ahead from his doctor he set up a Just Giving page with a sponsorship target of £2,000 to be donated to Cancer Research - he has already raised more than £700 . Great grandfather Ken comes in to land at the jump centre in Cockerham, Lancaster after exiting a plane 15,000 feet above . Old soldier Ken with an instructor after completing his 15,000ft skydive at Cockerham, near Lancaster last week . Now a great grandfather, he used skills he had learned on a computer course he did for his 80th birthday in 2009 and build a Just Giving donation webpage in the hope of raising £2,000 for Cancer Research UK. On the page Ken joked: 'It will be an . exciting and thrilling experience for me, it will raise much needed . money for a fantastic cause - and it will save money on burial costs . should the chute fail to open!' The widower first mentioned the idea to friends early last year and says they all thought he was mad and daughter Shirley Hutchinson, 60, also took some convincing. Ken in 1948 in Nee Soon during his stint with the Royal Army Medical Corps - he was attached to the Ghurka regiment . Ken (right) with a friend. Before jumping he joked 'it will save money on burial costs should the chute fail to open' Former soldier Ken spurned traditional offers of a jumper and a new pair of socks - and instead completed a parachute jump in aid of charity Cancer Research UK . Ken during National Service in 1948 in Malaysia - he came up with his skydiving idea after vowing his 85th birthday would be one to remember . Ken (right) relaxes with fellow troops in Taiping Perek during his national service in Malaya . A supply drop in Taiping Perek 1948 during Ken's stint with the Royal Army Medical Corps . Ken who has two children, five . grandchildren and five great grandchildren, said: 'When I told Shirley . about the skydive she was dead against it. 'She said "over my dead body will you do a sky dive". But she had to come round to the idea because I was so determined. 'She . wouldn't come and watch me so I had to get my son Keith and my . grand-daughter's husband to all come along. I'm sure they all think I am . mad. 'My grandchildren kept . saying "you're too old grandad" and others called me a daft old bugger . but there was no way I wasn't going to do it once I had my mind set on . it. 'My wife Alice died five . years ago and if she was still here now I don't know what she would say. 'I don't think she would be letting me do it either. As far as I'm . concerned you're never too old to do anything, you've just got to enjoy . yourself.' Last weekend Ken completed his mission at Cockerham, near Lancaster to raise money for cancer research - although daughter Shirley was too nervous to watch. Ken with grandaughters Lauren (left), Emma (second left), Kirsty (centre), great grandson Kieron (front), wife Alice and great grandaughter Amy (right) Then and now: Ken during national service in Malaya (left) and a recent photo of the 85-year-old . Ken with wife Alice, who died five years ago, pictured here in 1986. He has two children, five grandchildren and five great grandchildren . He added: 'I had seen people sky dive on the TV and in films and its something I had always wanted to do but never got round to it. 'Eighty-five is a milestone birthday and I just decided wanted to do something that I would never forget. 'I first mentioned it to my friends at the liberal club on my 84th birthday last year and they all thought I was mad. 'I don't think any of them thought I would go through with it. But then I rang around a few clubs to see if they would take me. 'Most of them only take people under 70 but then I found the Black Knights Parachute Centre. They said they would have me as long as I had a couple of tests and my consultant said it was ok. 'When I told my friends I had been for tests to see if I was fit enough to do it they all asked if I had gone to get my head tested too.' Ken boards the plane at the Black Knights Parachute Centre in Cockerham, near Lancaster . The plane climbing to 15,000ft from where Ken Jumped. He said: 'As far as I'm concerned you're never too old to do anything, you've just got to enjoy yourself' An army medal (left) awarded for Ken's service with the Royal Army Medical Corps and on holiday with late wife Alice in 1985 (right) After Ken got the go-ahead from his doctor he set up a Just Giving page with a sponsorship target of £2,000 to be donated to Cancer Research. He has already raised over £700 on his Just Giving page but says his fundraising isn't over yet. He added: 'The skydive was absolutely fantastic. When we got up there it was freezing. It was about minus 20 outside but I was well prepared for it with all the gear. 'The free fall was out of this world. It was like nothing I had ever experienced. 'It was a clear blue sky and it was just amazing. I can't describe how it felt when I hit the ground. I would definitely do it again, no matter what my age is.' 'One of the instructors told me that I am only the second oldest person to have done the free fall with them because a few years ago a 93-year-old woman did it. 'That means I will just have to go back when I am 94 to make sure I beat her. I am looking at abseiling now. The skydive has given me the adrenaline bug, I'm definitely not going to stop yet.' | Ken Partridge jumped last weekend to raise £2,000 for Cancer Research UK . The retired joiner from Oldham, Greater Manchester, beat prostate cancer . He was attached to elite Ghurka regiment during national service in Malaya . Before jumping he joked: 'I'll save money on burial costs if the chute fails' | 35f4074d080362d703831f0d5a1cceab491d9432 |
By . Nick Enoch . PUBLISHED: . 04:50 EST, 23 October 2012 . | . UPDATED: . 04:00 EST, 26 October 2012 . A 15-year-old boy has inspired Tesco's next best-selling ready meal - on his first day of work experience. Matthew Lilley, of March, Cambridgeshire, stunned industry experts at the supermarket giant when he devised its next mouth-watering hit. Product developers were so impressed with the student's beef and tomato homebake dish with bolognese sauce that they decided they would roll it out in their stores nationwide. Matthew Lilley, 15, of March, Cambridgeshire, stunned industry experts at Tesco when he devised its next mouth-watering hit while on work experience - Beef & Tomato Wedge Bake . Matthew spent part of his two-week placement at the company's head office in Cheshunt, Hertfordshire, developing and sampling his culinary creation - Beef & Tomato Wedge Bake -so it could be put on shop shelves this month. The youngster said: 'We were trying different types of food and I just thought beef and tomato would be a better combination. 'They came back with a sample to taste and it developed from there. It happened almost by accident but it is very exciting.' His homebake meal, which sells for £5 in a family-sized pack, has been available in select stores for nearly a week. Matthew added: 'Some of my friends at school have tried it and it seems to be getting very positive reviews. Pasta and pizza have overtaken British dishes such as shepherd’s pie to become the nation’s most popular ready meals. At the . same time, sales of TV dinners have increased by 9.5 per cent overall as . cash-strapped families cut back on restaurant meals and stay in . instead. Sales of . Italian chilled meals rose by 14.9 per in 2011, hitting £406.7million . and knocking British cuisine off the top spot it enjoyed in 2010. Its . sales rose by only 6.6 per cent, to £390.7million. The . chilled ready meals sector is now worth £1.2billion, according to data . released earlier this year by market research analysts Kanta Worldpanel. Supermarket . own-label products, which already account for 92.7 per cent of the . market, continue to go from strength to strength. Italian food enjoyed . particularly strong growth at Waitrose, Morrisons and Asda. Outside . of the top two, Indian meals came third with sales of £167.5million, . followed by Chinese food on £86million and Spanish cuisine on . £27.9million. French ready meals only managed to reach sixth place, on £26.3million. Trade . magazine The Grocer said British ready meals may have fallen out of . favour because consumers feel they could easily make the dishes . themselves. 'Beef and tomato homebake wasn't my favourite meal before but it is now because I made it!' The teenager's proud mother, Claire Lilley, 41, said he was now hoping to carve out a career in food product development after his eureka moment. Mrs Lilley, who manages two estate agents, said: 'Matthew got on really well at the placement and got some really positive communication from Tesco. 'He loved it there and it's unbelievable how well he's done.' She said Tesco had been so impressed with his imagination and ability that it had invited him back to do some more work experience. The company also told Matthew, who . attends Cromwell Community College, Chatteris, which qualifications and . what expertise he would need to succeed in the industry. 'Before . going on the placement, he wasn't sure what he was going to do but now . he really wants to try a career in this area,' said Claire. It . changed his focus about what he wants to do and is now looking at . moving onto a business studies course, as suggested by Tesco. Matthew . also carried out food tastings in restaurants and Tesco warehouses as . well as seeing how raw suggestions ended up as the finished product on . sale to the public. A Tesco spokesman said: 'We're really . pleased to be able to offer work experience placements and we get lots . of positive feedback from young people on the time they spend with us. 'Matthew brought lots of energy and ideas with him and it was great that we could turn those ideas into a finished product.' A spokesman said it was too early to ascertain how many units of his product had been sold, or provide a figure for predicted nationwide sales. A . crate of Matthew's special beef and tomato homebakes has now been . delivered to his home as a sign of gratitude from the company's chiefs. Matthew's mother, Claire Lilley, said Tesco had been so impressed with his imagination and ability that it had invited him back to do some more work experience . A recipe on www.greatlittleideas.com gives instructions on how to make a dish similar to Matthew Lilley's original culinary creation. Ingredients (to serve four people): . Four large potatoes, washed and cut into wedgesTwo tablespoons olive oilOne jar Homepride Chilli Cook-In Sauce . 500g beef mince . 150g grated cheese . How to make it: . Place the potato wedges into a pan . of hot water and simmer for 10 minutes. Then remove from the heat and drain. Place the potatoes into the ovenproof dish and brush the oil over the . potatoes. Bake the potato wedges in a preheated oven to 200ºC / Gas mark 6 for 15 minutes until crispy and browned. Meanwhile brown your mince in a pan, then pour over Homepride Chilli Cook-In Sauce and simmer until cooked through. Pour the chilli over your wedges, . then sprinkle over the cheese and return to the oven for a further 5 . minutes or until the cheese has melted. Hints and tips: . If you are in a hurry try using some ready made potato wedges and cook as directed on the pack instruction. | Matthew Lilley . developed his Beef & Tomato Wedge . Bake while on two-week . placement at company's head office in Cheshunt, Herts . He now hopes to pursue career as food product developer . | 06c89dab432a0bf62b94aa09bf67d642656e6b61 |
By . Ray Massey, Transport Editor . PUBLISHED: . 19:31 EST, 19 September 2013 . | . UPDATED: . 19:32 EST, 19 September 2013 . The number of parking tickets issued on a Sunday has rocketed after scores of councils introduced seven-day patrols. Figures show motorists are being stung by almost 900,000 parking fines a month at a cost of £30million – a 4 per cent rise on the previous year. And tickets issued on Sundays have increased by 13 per cent – with nearly 300,000 tickets issued on that day of the week in the first five months of 2013. Increase: Motorists are being stung by almost 900,000 parking fines a month at a cost of £30million - a 4 per cent rise on the previous year. While tickets issued on Sundays have increased by 13 per cent . It is believed the rise of Sunday shopping has prompted more town halls to crack down on parking on a day when rules were traditionally relaxed. And the AA says some traffic wardens had even ‘targeted churchgoers and choristers’. The figures were revealed by LV= car insurance in a series of freedom of information requests. The AA says some traffic wardens had even 'targeted churchgoers and choristers' The company said: ‘While there has been a general increase across all council areas, there has been a significant spike in the number of tickets being issued on Sundays.’ Westminster Council in London has given out the largest number of Sunday parking tickets so far this year at 16,464, followed by the London borough of Lambeth (6,590), Birmingham City Council (3,909), the London borough of Bexley (3,786) and Bristol (1,686). Councils across the UK now hand out an average of 162 parking tickets a day, compared to 154 in 2012, according to the LV= report. But drivers suffer a postcode lottery when it comes to rules on Sunday parking. John O’Roarke, managing director of LV=, said: ‘Parking on a Sunday is becoming increasingly difficult and it’s easy to get caught out if you don’t know the local rules.’ AA president Edmund King said it was ‘as if nothing is sacred’, adding: ‘It’s mean-spirited to fine people on a Sunday. ‘The traditional day of rest – when even motorists deserve a bit of relief – is being eroded in favour of revenue raising. Money destined for the collection plate is instead flowing into council coffers.’ | Motorists are being handed nearly 900,000 parking fines a month . Tickets issued on Sundays have increased by 13 per cent . The AA says some traffic wardens 'target churchgoers and choristers' | e32de69bba488379354ecb86d67deb46d7b4cc3a |
Per Mertesacker has described his frustration after Arsenal conceded late against Liverpool to squander a 2-1 lead. Arsenal came back from a goal down through Mathieu Debuchy and Olivier Giroud, only to let Martin Skrtel convert a header in the dying moments - and Mertesacker appeared to duck out of the way. 'We realised we had to stick together and find space [and knew] if we got chances in the second half we could have scored,' Mertesacker told Arsenal's official website. 'We did and then we tried to defend in the last minute, which we did but not as good as I thought [we could have]. Per Mertesacker (centre) ducks out of the way as Martin Skrtel (second left) powers in the header . Mertesacker (third right) does not put up much resistance as Skrtel powers home in the dying moments . 'Overall we have to take responsibility for our game - we want to dictate but we were on always on the back foot.' Last season Arsenal were thrashed 5-1 in the same fixture, but will still be disappointed to have only taken a point from this season's encounter. Arsenal sit 6th in the Premier League going into the Christmas period, 12 points off leaders Chelsea, and need to kick-start their season to close in on the top four. VIDEO: Scroll down to see Arsene Wenger describe his side's performance . Rickie Lambert is all smiles as Skrtel takes the acclaim from the Anfield crowd on Sunday afternoon . 'I'm not really pleased with the performance but we take the point now and we're looking forward to December 26,' Mertesacker continued. 'We have to dig in now and try to beat QPR. 'When you compare [the 2-2 draw] to last year, this is a much better result but I'm not very pleased with our performance. We can do much better and we have to find it.' On Boxing Day last year, the Gunners were top of the Premier League tree. This season though, it will take a strong second half for them to be rewarded with Champions League football come May. | Arsenal squandered a 2-1 lead to draw against Liverpool on Sunday . Martin Skrtel scored a header in the dying moments to secure the point . Per Mertesacker appeared to duck out of the way of the header . The German said Arsenal did not defend as well as he had hoped . The Arsenal Champions League checklist: five things the Gunners need to do to reach the top four . | 305efb2a12e4fda39a7ab7d61b252a0eac8634f8 |
He was a dashing D-Day veteran and she a blushing bride in white when they vowed to love each other in sickness and in health. For 65 years Harry and Mavis Stevenson stayed true to that promise, and when she died just 48 hours after her 89th birthday, he could not bear to be without her. Yesterday their nephew Stephen Cresswell told how 88-year-old Mr Stevenson died within minutes of his beloved wife after they spent their last night holding hands while they slept in a care home. Inseparable: Harry Stevenson, 88, died in a care home moments after he was told of the death of his beloved 89-year-old wife, Mavis. Above, the couple, who met as teenagers, celebrate their 50th wedding anniversary . Young love: The couple, pictured on their wedding day, started their courtship shortly before Mr Stevenson signed up to fight in the Second World War. After years apart, the couple refused to be separated again . He said: ‘The staff told Harry very gently that she had passed away and said he shed two or three tears. Then they tended to Mavis and the next time they looked over at Harry, he was gone. ‘It was less than ten minutes later. He was lying next to her in a separate bed at the time. They shared a room in the home and the staff had pushed the beds together the night before. ‘They told me he was holding her hand all that final night.’ He added: ‘Although it is incredibly sad it is also incredibly wonderful that right until the very end they were together and neither of them had to be alone. Their love lasted and they were devoted to each other. I can imagine them being together now, after their death, side by side.’ The couple from Derby refused to be separated throughout their life. When Mrs Stevenson’s health deteriorated, her husband insisted on moving into the care home as well so he could be with her. Mr Cresswell, 53, said that Mr Stevenson was in better health than his wife and relatives were not expecting his death on November 3. Devoted: While abroad as a Royal Marine Commando, Mr Stevenson sent heartfelt love letters to his sweetheart (above). He continued to pen the notes even after his hand was shot in combat . The couple met at a social club aged 16 and began courting before Harry signed up to fight in the Second World War on his 17th birthday in 1943. He became a Royal Marine Commando and took part in the D-Day Normandy landings. Later he was transferred to the Far East to fight the Japanese. But wherever he was he wrote to his sweetheart – even after he was shot in the hand. In one letter he said: ‘I am glad to know that you are still in love with me. I know you are, Mavis, and you should know that I am very much in love with you.’ Other letters found by Mr Creswell show that Mr Stevenson sometimes wrote to her twice a day – in the morning and in the afternoon. Mr Cresswell believes the couple’s bond was so strong because they were separated during the war and did not want to ever be parted again. True love: Mr and Mrs Stevenson's lifelong romance echoed the plot of popular romantic film, The Notebook . They married in 1949 and Mr Stevenson found a job as a joiner. He carried on working even after his hand was amputated as a result of lasting damage from his war injuries. After retiring, he volunteered as a cricket groundsman and umpire and continued to run half-marathons well into his 60s. Although the couple never had any children, they lavished love on their extended family and were renowned for their Boxing Day lunches. Mr Cresswell said: ‘They wanted to be together. There was no way of separating them. They were as close as any couple I have known. They never had a serious argument and were soulmates.’ The couple’s joint funeral is due to take place on Thursday. | Harry and Mavis Stevenson met at a social club when they were 16 . The couple refused to be without each other after years apart during WWII . Mrs Stevenson was moved into a care home after her health deteriorated . Her husband chose to move with her so that they wouldn't be separated . Mr Stevenson died moments after he was told of his wife's death . | dafa50c20e0415d520b22c53863c9cad3401df7f |
By . Ashley Collman . A horse named Spartacus fell over near Central Park on Wednesday, adding fuel to the debate over whether the carriage industry should remain in New York City. Those siding with Mayor Bill De Blasio's plan to ban horse-drawn carriages and replace them with electric cars gathered Thursday at the site of the accident to protest what they believe is a cruel industry. 'We are here today because yesterday eyewitnesses report that a bus drove very close to a carriage, spooking a horse who then began to run,' PETA spokeswoman Ashley Byrne said at the demonstration Thursday afternoon. Scroll down for video . Toppled: A carriage horse named Spartacus fell in Central Park on Wednesday. Animal rights activists claim the 15-year-old horse was spooked by a passing bus . Doing fine: A carriage industry spokesman said . the accident had nothing to do with a bus and that Spartacus was . inspected by a veterinarian who determined the animal was uninjured . 'After the horse bucked and started to run the carriage tipped over onto the curb, pinning the horse down. This is more tragic evidence of why it is time to take these dangerous cruel carriages off the streets of New York City,' Ms Byrne added. However, spokesman for the carriage industry maintains that the 15-year-old horse was not injured in the 'minor accident' and that buses don't even drive by E 59th Street and Fifth Avenue where the incident happened. Instead, they say a horse parked behind Spartacus unexpectedly pulled out of its spot and clipped Spartacus' back Wheel and tipped the carriage over - causing Spartacus to fall. Out and about: Spartacus' owner Tony Salerno (right) took him for a stroll on Thursday near a Midtown stable to show that the horse was fine . Their side of the story: The carriage industry says the horse fell over when another horse unexpectedly pulled out from behind and clipped a carriage wheel causing the carriage to topple over . Retire the horses: Animal rights activists gathered at the scene of the accident on Thursday, calling for an end of the carriage industry . Agenda: New York Mayor Bill De Blasio has expressed his intention to ban the carriage industry and replace them with electric cars . 'Several carriage drivers immediately came to the horse's aid, keeping him calm and laying down while they unharnessed him, got him untangled and righted the lightweight carriage before safely allowing him to get to his feet,' the Historic Horse Drawn Carriages of Central Park, LLC said in a statement. After the incident, Spartacus was taken to his stable in Midtown where he rested and was evaluated by a veterinarian. On Thursday, Spartacus' owner brandished Tony Salerno, 62, brandished a clean veterinarian's check and the Department of Health and Mental Hygiene confirm that the horse was not injured. Still, the accident only heightened tension on the issue and even Mayor De Blasio commented it at an unrelated event on Thursday. Horseless carriage: The electric car, designed to look like a classic motor, is being offered as an alternative to horses in Central Park . 'The one yesterday was not the first one -- it was one in a long line of accidents," De Blasio said.'And it's for a very simple reason -- horses don't belong on the streets of New York City. While De Blasio wasn't passionate about the cause when he was a member of City Council in 2007, he became the face of a horse-free park in 2011 when he said it was time to pursue 'more humane alternatives to the horse-drawn carriages'. That statement seems to have helped the mayor when he was running for office last year, and anti-carriage groups funded a serious ad campaign against Christine Quinn - his main Democrat rival. De Blasio got another supporter as well in the form of Broadway actress Kristen Chenoweth who tweeted Thursday: 'Please NYC. Let's get these horses off [the] street !!' Voicing her opinion: Broadway actress Kristen Chenoweth joined the anti-carriage side of the debate on Thursday when she sent out this tweet . Support: Actor Liam Neeson has said carriage horses should stay in the city . Actor Liam Neeson, who starred in Shindler's List and Taken, has become one of the horse-drawn carriage industry's main supporters after recently touring a stables where they are housed. 'It has been my experience, always, that horses, much like humans, are at their happiest and healthiest when working,' Neeson wrote in an April 14 editorial in The New York Times. Neeson believes the horse-carriage business is 'humane' and 'well regulated'. While four horses have been killed in collisions with motor vechiles, Neeson said that is a remarkably safe record for New York's traffic. And Neeson certainly isn't alone in wanting to keep the horses. A 'Save our Horses' petition started by the New York Daily News has garnered more than 20,000 signatures as of Thursday. On the same day as the accident, former French President Nicolas Sarkozy took his wife Carla Bruni and their daughter Giulia out for a ride on one of the carriages and all three smiled the entire time. After the ride, when asked if he thought the carriage industry should remain in New York, Sarkozy offered up an enthusiastic 'yes,' the Daily News reported. Family time: Former President of France Nicolas Sarkozy (left) took a ride in one of New York City's horse-drawn carriages Wednesday with wife Carla Bruni (middle) and their daughter Giulia (right) | The 15-year-old horse was caught on video laying on the ground Wednesday afternoon . Animal rights activists claim the horse got spooked by a passing bus . However, a carriage industry spokesman said buses don't pass by that part of Central Park and that the horse was uninjured . They say another horse pulled ahead of Spartacus and clipped the back wheel of the carriage causing it to topple over . Spartacus' owner Tony Salerno took Spartacus out for a walk on Thursday to prove the animal was fine . Mayor Bill De Blasio is seeking to end the carriage industry and replace the horses with electric cars . | 61d6d708c4c6294c5f6144a57c7f903843b75b5f |
Sharon West texted a friend at 5.20am before her cellphone died . Texas rancher found skull in an empty canal close to town where she went missing . The body parts of a missing teenage girl have been found scattered across a field, authorities confirmed. Investigators said the remains found in a field last October belonged to Sharon West, 14, who went missing on July 30. The girl had been staying with a family friend when she went missing in Fannett, Texas, a small town of around 100 people, an hour north of Houston. A rancher called authorities three months . later to report he had found a human skull in an empty canal on his . property close to the town. Tragic outcome: The remains of Sharon West, 14, who was missing for six months, were found in a field in Fannett, Texas, close to where she was staying with a friend . The Jefferson County Sheriff’s Office confirmed last Friday that the remains were of Sharon West, who had been identified using dental records. The girl's mother Sandra West confirmed that pyjama shorts and glasses found with the remains belonged to her daughter. An autopsy was underway to determine the teenager's cause of death along with toxicology reports. Missing: Sharon West as a child (left) and a more recent picture of the teenager . The night before she went missing, Miss West's boyfriend, Austin Meaux, said he had last seen her at the home of the family friend whom she had been living with on a short-term basis while her mother looked for work. He told police that he was still at the home after the rest of the family went to bed at 2am. The last contact with Miss West was at 5.20am when she texted a friend to say she was at a soccer field, a few miles from where she was staying. The spot was a popular hang-out for young people. She sent another text 40 minutes later before the signal for her cellphone died. Desperate search: Sharon West had been missing for six months when police confirmed that the remains found scattered in a Texas field belonged to her . Sandra West had set up a Facebook page while her daughter was missing. On October 20, the mother wrote: 'Sharon has been missing since July 30, 2011. She literally just vanished. There are so many stories, rumors, and scenarios about her disappearance. 'None of that matters. The only thing that matters is finding her. She has family and friends that love and miss her terribly.' A memorial service for Sharon West will be held on January 28 in Hamshire, Texas. | Sharon West texted a friend at 5.20am before her cellphone died . Texas rancher found skull in an empty canal close to town where she went missing . | a75c7cd298f362698dc2bbc90e37cfe6dc596d13 |
In his 20 years of practicing emergency medicine, Dr. David Newman says, he remembers every patient who has walked out of his hospital alive after receiving CPR. It's not because Newman has an extraordinary memory or because reviving a patient whose heart has stopped sticks in his mind more than other types of trauma. It's because the number of individuals who survive CPR is so small. In fact, out of the hundreds of CPR patients who have come to the New York hospitals where he has worked, Newman recalls no more than one individual a year making a full recovery. Since it was introduced to American physicians in 1960, cardiopulmonary resuscitation has become a staple of emergency medicine. Between 2011 and 2012, more than 14 million people in 60 countries were trained in CPR administration, according to the American Heart Association (PDF). But recent studies suggest that the number of lives saved by CPR isn't as many as your favorite TV police drama would have you believe. Initially, CPR combined mouth-to-mouth breathing with chest compressions to keep blood and oxygen circulating throughout the body until further measures could be taken to restart the heart. In 2008, the American Heart Association began teaching "hands-only CPR," in which the rescuer pushes down hard and fast in the center of the chest -- about 100 compressions per minute -- and forgoes rescue breaths. The new CPR procedure was developed to simplify the process and eliminate the "yuck factor" that potential rescuers could associate with putting their mouths on an unconscious victim. Studies showed that the modified procedure was as effective as chest compressions combined with artificial respiration. Yet despite advancements, the overall effectiveness of CPR remains disappointingly low -- although the practice still has its defenders. Exact survival rates are difficult to come by, as studies generally look at specific populations. A 2012 study showed that only about 2% of adults who collapse on the street and receive CPR recover fully. Another from 2009 (PDF) showed that anywhere from 4% to 16% of patients who received bystander CPR were eventually discharged from the hospital. About 18% of seniors who receive CPR at the hospital survive to be discharged, according to a third study (PDF). So when did the misconception about the effectiveness of CPR begin? Some researchers argue that television created the myth. Between 1994 and 1995, researchers from Duke University watched 97 episodes of "ER," "Chicago Hope" and "Rescue 911," taking note of when CPR was administered during each show. In these dramas, 75% of patients survived immediate cardiac arrest, and two-thirds were discharged from the hospital with full brain function, a stark contrast to the much smaller percentage found by medical studies. Newman says the few who do survive after CPR are what physicians describe as the "healthy dead": i.e. "a boy who drowned moments before," "a man who collapses while running a marathon" or someone experiencing a mild heart attack. More common are the "unhealthy dead": those with terminal illnesses, the chronically ill and patients who do not receive CPR within five to 10 minutes of cardiac arrest. "In these cases, (CPR) is unnecessarily burdensome, invasive and arguably cruel, with little to no chance of benefit," Newman said. Many survivors suffer abdominal distention or broken rib cages; some have severe brain damage from being without oxygen for so long. Still, trauma workers, including physicians, nurses and EMTs, are required to do anything and everything in their power to revive the patient unless an advance directive -- a specific written and signed order -- specifies that resuscitation should not be performed. Many veteran physicians have begun to opt out of the resuscitation practices they often administer to their patients. In a 2012 article published in The Guardian, "How Doctors Choose to Die," retired physician Dr. Ken Murray reveals that members of his profession frequently turn down everything from chemotherapy to CPR. He notes that years of witnessing and administering "medical care that makes people suffer" leads many doctors diagnosed with terminal illnesses to choose to spend their last months or years at home and without medical treatment. Murray recalls some fellow physicians who go as far as getting tattoos that read "no code" to remind rescuers to forgo any attempts at revival. Murray is still an advocate for learning CPR, but he warns against hoping for miracles. "People have too high expectations about what's going to happen," he said. "They think you're going to do CPR and 99 out of 100 times (the patient will) be revived, which is just not the case." Not everyone agrees. Saying that CPR is ineffective is "the wrong attitude" and a "self-fulfilling prophecy," said Dr. Michael Sayre, former chairman of the American Heart Association's Emergency Cardiovascular Care Committee. "If you expect it to go poorly, than it will." Instead, he says, we should be doing more studies: for example, comparing CPR teaching methods with cardiac arrest survival rates in major cities in the United States to understand how and when the technique is most effective. In some cities that have less CPR training, the survival rate is indeed low, Sayre says. But in other metropolitan areas with strong training programs and quick EMS response times, half or more victims survive. Sayre suggests teaching CPR in schools nationwide starting in seventh grade, as well as increasing access to automated external defibrillators, portable machines that shock the heart to get it to "reboot." Using an AED, according to Sayre, increases the probability of survival to 80%. Promising research continues for substitutes to CPR, but "there are no reasonable alternatives" yet, Newman said. For now, emergency care providers have to use what they know. That doesn't mean Newman is happy with that reality. He remembers when he started as an EMT: "I was led to believe that for those who experienced cardiac arrest, if you put your heart into reviving them, they would come back." | CPR was introduced to American physicians in 1960 . Study: About 2% of adults who collapse on the street and receive CPR recover fully . Study on TV dramas found that 75% of patients survived immediate cardiac arrest . | ac495efae93be676bafffee69e100f7f65021941 |
LONDON, England (CNN) -- The world has lost almost one-fifth of its coral reefs according a new report released by the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN). Coral reefs could be wiped out in 30-40 years according to a new report. Compiled by the Global Coral Reef Monitoring Network, the report has brought together the work of researchers from 15 countries with data stretching back 20 years. It's not just climate change -- which raises ocean temperatures and increases seawater acidification -- which is damaging reefs. In some parts of the world overfishing, pollution and invasive species are proving equally harmful. Scientists are warning that reef destruction will have alarming consequences for around 500 million people who rely on coral reefs for their livelihood. Left unchecked, remaining reefs could be completely wiped out by 2050, the report says. Professor Olof Linden from the World Maritime University in Malmo, Sweden, told CNN: "We see a great and imminent threat of more reefs being lost." Speaking from the U.N. Climate Conference in Poznan, Poland, Professor Linden said that the 19 percent figure is an average. "For many developing countries like Sri Lanka and countries in East Africa the percentage of damage is much worse. Sometimes three times as high in some places," he said. "In these areas we have local effects like dynamite fishing and other destructive fishing techniques combined the threat of coral mining, unmanaged tourism and all kinds of pollution from agriculture." But overall the biggest threat to reef survival is climate change. "The most destructive climate event to impact the coral reefs so far," said Linden, "was the 1998 El Nino which caused major coral bleaching and disrupted ecosystems all over the planet." iReport.com: What little things are you doing to save the planet? Scientists say reefs have recovered somewhat from those bleaching events. But the Indian Ocean tsunami in 2004, coupled with coral disease and human effects, have slowed their recuperation. Coral reefs not only provide an income and food for those who live near them, but are also effective natural barriers against storm surges. Despite the report's pessimism, researchers see some encouraging signs. Forty-five percent of the world's reefs are currently in good health and the hope remains that damaged reefs can recover and adjust to the changing conditions. "We must focus on helping corals to adapt to climate change and on diverting people away from destructive practices such as overfishing," Linden said. | The world has lost almost one fifth of its coral reefs, according a new report . Climate change, overfishing and coral mining all are contributing to destruction . In some parts of Indian Ocean up to 60 percent of reef life has died . | 89a7a4d8fd1ce27a5ab073f9d5e8e18fc5e74eeb |
A former pilot has launched a gadget that transforms the humble paper aeroplane into a remote controlled aircraft that can be steered by a smartphone. Called PowerUp 3.0, the battery-powered unit has a propeller on one end and a receive on the other. It can be fitted to any paper aeroplane and then controlled by a smartphone app, letting users adjust the direction of the plane by tilting their phone. Scroll down for video . A former pilot from Israel has created a gadget for paper planes. The plane is driven and controlled by a mobile phone app (shown). Entrepreneur Shai Goitein came up with the idea after spending 15 years behind the controls of aeroplanes as a cargo pilot . Entrepreneur Shai Goitein came up with the idea after spending 15 years behind the controls of aeroplanes as a cargo pilot. Mr Goitein, 44, says he had a eureka moment while teaching youngsters the basic principals of aerodynamics using paper aeroplanes, and set about inventing a device to control them with. The result is the PowerUp 3.0, which can fly for 10 minutes at a time, and has a range of 180ft (55 metres) using Bluetooth technology. Fold It: Simply fold a piece of copier paper into a paper airplane . Attach It: Attach the Smart Module to your paper plane with the patented clips underneath the Smart Module. Connect It: Start the app to connect to the Smart Module with your iPhone. Fly It: Push throttle to full and launch the paper airplane high up into the sky. Tilt your smartphone to the left or to the right to steer your plane, increase or reduce throttle to go up or down. Mr Goitein, from Haifa, Israel, said: 'PowerUp 3.0 combines the simplicity of classic hand-folded paper aeroplanes with state-of-the-art Bluetooth technology. 'It transforms a paper glider into a high performance and easy-to-fly remote-controlled aircraft, capable of flying for more than 10 consecutive minutes. 'PowerUp 3.0 allows enthusiasts to enjoy all the features of more expensive remote-controlled gadgets, but with their own folded creations - all made from standard paper, no less,' Mr Goitein explains that with a smartphone and the PowerUp app, users can alter the engine thrust and change the pitch of the upgraded paper plane. They can also move the rudder of the plane left and right to steer it through the air. The PowerUp 3.0 is a simple battery-powered unit with a propeller on one end and a receiver on the other than can be fitted to any paper aeroplane. The plane can then be controlled by a smartphone app which allows the user to adjust its direction by tilting their phone. It can be charged via a USB cable (shown) 'All over the world, paper planes are a source of joy, yet they have their own limitations - they can't fly for more than a few seconds, and there's no way to control their flight path,' he continues. 'PowerUp Toys connect past time origami classics with cutting-edge technology. 'They create a gravity-defying experience that takes flight to its roots. 'In the age of 50-tonne airships it's easy to feel like flight is something that's best left alone to pros and to engineers but it's not. 'Our goal is to make you feel like the Wright brothers when Flyer I took to the skies. 'Our mission is to bring the magic of flight to everyone by combining timeless home-made toys with cutting-edge technology.' The £30 ($49.99) toy can fly for 10 minutes at a time, and has a range of 180ft (55 metres) using Bluetooth technology. Mr Goitein said: 'PowerUp 3.0 combines the simplicity of classic hand-folded paper aeroplanes with state-of-the-art Bluetooth technology' | A former pilot from Israel has created a gadget for paper planes . It attaches to the front and, using a propeller, allows the plane to be steered . The gadget is controlled by an app that can be used to tilt and turn . A rudder lets the user turn the paper plane in the air . Called PowerUp 3 the gadget is available now for £30 ($49.99) | b322cbe87c41acd457c8da8894d0edf8678d92b7 |
By . Sean Poulter . A British engineering firm based on a remote Somerset farm are to help Facebook launch a network of solar-powered drones that will bring the internet to the remotest places on the planet. The US web giant has bought Ascenta, a tiny engineering company run by chief engineer Andrew Cox, for an estimated £12.5million. Mr Cox has helped set records for the longest flights for unmanned aircraft powered by the sun. Unmaned: Experts will be working on new drones intended to fly 60,000ft above the earth for months at a time while beaming signals to the Third World (file picture) Its experts will now be working on drones intended to fly 60,000ft above the earth for months at a time to beam broadband signals to the Third World. Details of the plan were revealed by Facebook founder Mark Zuckerberg in a post on his personal page on the site and form part of a project called Internet.org set up to extend the reach of the internet. ‘In our effort to connect the whole world with Internet.org, we’ve been working on ways to beam internet to people from the sky,’ he wrote. ‘Today, we’re sharing some details of the work Facebook’s Connectivity Lab is doing to build drones, satellites and lasers to deliver the internet to everyone.’ New venture: The plans were announced by Mark Zuckerberg on his personal Facebook page today . The Connectivity Lab includes experts from Nasa working on what the company called ‘new aerospace and communications technologies’. Significantly, Facebook also announced that it had bought Ascenta, which was founded by five Britons who previously worked at major technology firms such as Boeing and Honeywell. Facebook did not provide any details of the British experts behind Ascenta, while the Somerset-based firm refused requests for interviews and referred questions to its new US owner. Facebook aims to use a mix of solar-powered aircraft and low-orbit satellites to beam signals carrying the internet to hard-to-reach locations. The drones, flying at 60,000ft, will be capable of staying in the air for months at a time. They are relatively cheap will be best for suburban areas that do not have the cables or infrastructure to carry internet or telephone signals. The drones are effectively mobile phone masts in the sky and bounce smartphone communications between satellites and base stations on Earth. Low-orbit and geosynchronous satellites, which have orbits that match the Earth’s rotation and are effectively stationary, will cover more remote areas in Africa and Asia. The internet access would be transmitted in the form of free-space optical communication, or FSO, which transmits data using infrared laser beams. It was previously known as High Altitude Engineering and has only two directors, Mr Cox, 51, and his wife Helen. Mr Cox has had a long career in the aerospace industry. He was a key member of the team at British defence technology company Qinetiq that created the Zephyr drone that holds the record for an unmanned flight, which lasted two weeks. The team also includes experts who worked on the Breitling Orbiter, a balloon that was designed to circumnavigate the world. Yael Maguire, a director of engineering at Facebook, said Ascenta would join its team working on ‘connectivity aircraft’. ‘We’re looking at a new type of plane architecture that flies at roughly 20,000m, because that’s a point where winds are at their lowest, it’s above commercial airliners, it’s even above the weather, and actually it can stay in the air for months at a time,’ he said. ‘These planes are solar-powered and they sit there and circle around, and have the ability to broadcast internet down.’ Facebook helped found Internet.org last year with other major technology companies such as Samsung and Nokia. It offered no details on how far advanced the drone project was, or any timeframe for completion. | US web giants have bought Somerset-based engineering company Ascenta . Acquired company for £12.5million to work on new unmanned aircraft . New models will be built to travel at 60,000ft for months at a time . Details were revealed by Mark Zuckerberg in a post on his profile today . | 7cf1db2f25000f5c54913ba8e173f477de786e76 |
Police divers have been called in to scour dams near a home on Sydney's mid-north coast, as the search for missing three-year-old William Tyrell became increasingly urgent on its third day. The tight-knit community at Kendall is refusing to give up hope for the toddler - last seen on Friday morning playing in his front yard in his beloved Spiderman costume - would be found safe and well. But police Inspector Kim Fehon warned that time was running out. 'We're now in the third full day of the search for a three-year-old boy who has had no food and, unless he's found water, no water, so it is likely that he has a poor state of health and we need to find him today,' Inspector Fehon told the ABC. Scroll down for video . William Tyrell was last seen playing in the front yard of his home in Sydney's mid-north coast, wearing his Spiderman suit . Searchers - including more than 100 volunteers from the local community - have been scouring bushland at Kendall since William went missing at about 10.30am on Friday, September 12, from the front yard of a home on Benaroon Drive. Police have been coordinating the search involving New South Wales State Emergency Services and Rural Fire Service volunteers, local surf lifesaving club members, the police dog squad, mounted police, and officers using trail bikes and a police helicopter. Police divers were called in late on Saturday to scour a number of dams near the area the boy was last seen, as the search area expanded to cover a 10 kilometre area, the NSW Police Force said in a statement. Searchers are being coordinated and briefed at a designated meeting point at Kendall Showground. William is described as being of Caucasian appearance with dark hair and hazel eyes. Searchers spent the night combing through bushland at Kendall but failed to find any trace of William. He disappeared from his house on Benaroon Drive in Kendall, about 35 kilometers south of Port Macquarie and close to Kendall State Forest. Police say they have received a flood of calls with support from people hoping to help in the cause. Anyone with information should contact Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000. Alternatively Crime Stoppers can be contacted via their online reporting page. The three-year-old boy went missing from his Kendall home at 10.30am Friday morning . Police have launched a frantic search for William Tyrell, missing from Kendall on Sydney's mid-north coast . | The toddler is missing in Kendall on Sydney's mid-north coast . He was last seen playing in the front yard of his home wearing a Spiderman suit . The three-year-old has been missing since 10.30am on Friday . Police called in expert divers to search nearby dams as the search becomes more urgent . The boy has had no food or water for nearly three days, police say . More than 100 volunteers from the community are involved in the search . William is of 'Caucasian appearance, with dark hair and hazel eyes' Police are urging anyone with information to call Crime Stoppers . | 17b348fc0f0fac68eb7546ea311f963f80225aab |
By . Daily Mail Reporter . PUBLISHED: . 16:09 EST, 15 March 2014 . | . UPDATED: . 16:14 EST, 15 March 2014 . The executive director of Miami-Dade Crime Stoppers is facing a two-week jail sentence after eating a piece of paper with an anonymous tip written on it in court instead of handing it over to the judge. Richard Masten appeared before judge Victoria Brennan after being ordered to share a tip - but not the source of the tip - in a cocaine possession case. Instead, he tore the piece of paper on which the tip was written into strips and stuffed them into his mouth. SCROLL DOWN FOR VIDEO . 'A little dry': Richard Masten calmly tore up a piece of paper and ate it in a Miami court . Contemptuous: Masten was held in contempt of court for his stunt and will face two weeks jail . Protection: Masten said he had to protect the identity of the anonymous tipster . 'We promise the people who give us information to solve murders, serious violent crimes in this community, that they can call with an assurance that they will remain anonymous and that nothing about them or their information would ever be compromised,' he told NBC Miami. 'The case today started creeping into that... it's not going to happen on my watch and I understood the consequences.' Brennan ordered Masten to show her the tip after defense attorney Jean-Michel D'Escoubet asked to see the information it contained. D'Escoubet had no need to see the identity of the tipster, he said, only the information that was to be used against his client. Cocaine case: The case concerns a woman being prosecuted for cocaine possession . Unimpressed: Judge Victoria Brennan did not take kindly to Masten's actions and held him in contempt of court . Some believe Masten's attention-seeking stunt was an unnecessary step. 'In this case, there’s absolutely no information that I am looking for that has to do with the name or the identity of a tipster,' Jean-Michel D’Escoubet said. 'It's only the evidence that would be used in trial against her that the tip provided.' Brennan was going to make the decision as the whether or not the tip would compromise the identity of the tipster. However, Masten did not have faith in that process protecting the tipster. 'If you do it in this case, the question comes down the road, well you did it in that case why not this case,' he said. Crime stopped: Masten faces two weeks in a prison cell for his court paper feast . 'Well, I’m not going to do it in this case.' Brennan found Masten in contempt of court. 'The court would be remiss to turn a blind eye to a flagrant refusal to honor a court order, and give more value to an individual’s opinion on what is right, rather than to the dictates of the laws enacted by the people of Florida,' Brennan wrote. Masten will appear in court again next week and could be sentenced to two weeks in prison. | The executive director of Crime Stoppers in Miami-Dade faces two weeks prison for contempt of court . Richard Masten at a piece of paper on which was written an anonymous tip rather than hand it over to the judge . He said the tip could reveal the identity of the tipster - something the judge in the case was going to decide upon . The tip was anonymous, so the name of the tipster would not have been revealed . | 74b57e0236d9d986a0549d35318a0e07bdc40a92 |
South Carolina Sen. Lindsey Graham spoke to an all-male, lily white group in Charleston this month – a political faux pas that would dog him days before an election, if he hadn't poked fun at them during his 20 minutes of remarks. 'I'm trying to help you with your tax status,' Graham quipped while open mics recorded his words. 'I'm sorry the government's so f***ed up. If I get to be president, white men in male-only clubs are going to do great in my presidency.' The joke was on them, but the crowd laughed. SCROLL DOWN FOR AUDIO . U.S. Sen Lindsey Graham campaigned for re-election on Wednesday while political wags turned the tables on him for a series of jokes he told at the Hibernian Club of Charleston . A short list of prominent organizations that don't welcome women or racial minorities still exist in the U.S. Augusta National Golf Club was one of the last stalwarts to fall. It excluded blacks until 1990 and admitted its first two female members in 2012. Graham didn't seem fazed by the political dynamite he toyed with, CNN reported Wednesday. He also bantered at the expense of the most populous religious group in the American South. 'We got any Presbyterians here? We got any Baptists?' Graham asked from the podium. 'They're the ones that drink and don't admit it.' A South Carolina Republican campaign strategist told MailOnline on Thursday that Graham's humorous approach was a deft political move. 'He had to try and be funny,' the operative said. 'The event would have attracted far more criticism, and serious complaints – the election is next Tuesday, for gosh's sake – if he showed up and gave a serious policy speech.' 'They would have swept him off the stage if he did than anyway. Those guys are brutal if you're boring. And it sounds like he was one of the more mild-mannered Hibernian speakers in a while anyway.' Graham has confirmed that recordings of the event are accurate, but emphasized that he wasn't serious. 'They are great guys,' he told CNN. The Hibernian Society, Graham continued, expects its speakers 'to be earthy, to make fun of yourself, to make fun of them. Then you say something serious and sit down.' 'And if you talk over 20 minutes, they throw something at you.' The society hosts an annual St. Patrick's Day banquet where Vice President Joe Biden and former Vice President Dick Cheney have spoken. No recordings of their remarks were readily available on Thursday, and the Hibernian Society couldn't be reached for comment. Two Democratic Party activists leaked the Graham audio to CNN. Graham is a shoe-in to win re-election and could conceivably run for president in 2016, but his reputation as a supporter of immigration 'amnesty' would make him unwelcome in many GOP circles . The group's iconic meeting place, Hibernian Hall, is legendary for episodes of far more significant American history. It hosted a faction of Democrats in 1860 who plotted to nominate Sen. Stephen Douglas to oppose Abraham Lincoln for the presidency a year before a devastating civil war – fought over black slavery – broke out in the U.S. Delegates slept in cots strewn all around the ornate building. Graham has floated the idea of a long-shot presidential campaign, but the GOP strategist said it won't happen. 'If Lindsey runs for president, he's going to be tarred and feathered by his own party for embracing President Obama's immigration proposals,' he said. 'They don't call him "Graham-nesty" for nothing,' he jabbed. Graham campaign spokesman Tate Ziegler told the Charleston Post and Courier that the senator's comments were 'delivered in a private roast-type dinner before a well-respected charity in Charleston'. Democratic state Sen. Brad Hutto, who is running an unlikely campaign to unseat him, took it all seriously. 'When behind the closed doors of a private club, Lindsey Graham let his true colors show,' Hutto said. 'He is only interested in his own ambitions and the best interests of the wealthy donors he hopes will fund his possible presidential campaign.' | Graham, a possible but unlikely presidential candidate, was poking fun at the group but recording could be politically embarrassing . Guest of honor is expected to crack wise for 20 minutes during annual dinner . 'I'm sorry the government's so f***ed up,' he chuckled – 'If I get to be president, white men in male-only clubs are going to do great' 'Would have attracted far more criticism' if he spoke to the all-male group without making fun of it, says Republican campaign strategist . | 0b74ef997e50890e38ad5dd1237e08519393dc36 |
(CNN) -- Talk about creative coping mechanisms for being alone -- from the blogger who photographs selfies with his imaginary girlfriend to the company that takes your stuffed animals on vacation without you, Japan appears to be cornering the market on accommodating solo travelers. You can now add the "anti-loneliness" Moomin House Cafe to the menagerie of "wait, what?" strokes of Japanese brilliance. We first wrote about the Moomin House Cafe in 2012, but the cafe went viral a few weeks ago and has since been besieged with customers wanting a taste of its "anti-loneliness" magic. CNN's Yuki Arawaka paid a visit (see gallery photos) following the cafe's new surge in popularity. To save its lone customers from the awkward perils of solo dining, the cafe kindly seats diners with stuffed animal companions called Moomins, a family of white hippo-like characters created by Finnish illustrator and writer Tove Jansson. Moomins are brought to each table so that patrons -- solo or in groups -- can have a turn sitting with them. Weekday mornings are the quietest time, while weekends are packed all day long. Sukiyabashi Jiro: The world's best sushi bar . Respecting Moomin culture . To honor the characters' heritage, Moomin House Cafe serves bread made from Finnish rye, and offers food and pastries in the form of Moomin characters. Cafe staff say there have been long lines almost every day since its "lonely-friendly" concept went viral. It's a long overdue turn in the spotlight -- the cafe has been open since 2003. There are now three Moomin Cafe locations in Japan -- the Tokyo Dome location is especially popular with Dome concert goers. Beloved for their whimsical adventures and diverse array of characters, Moomins are celebrated in their home country of Finland and anime-obsessed Japan. This year marks the 100th anniversary of the birth of their creator, Tove Jansson, who was born in 1914 and died in 2001. A Moomin theme park is a popular destination in Finland. Another one is slated to open next year in Japan. Moomin House Cafe, Tokyo Dome City LaQua shop, 1-1-1 Kasuga, Bunkyo, Tokyo; +81 3 5842 6300; 8 a.m.-10 p.m. 11 extremely practical Japan travel tips . | At Tokyo's Moomin House Cafe, lone patrons are seated with a stuffed animal for company . The cafe has seen a surge in visitors since its "anti-loneliness" concept went viral . Originally from Finland, Moomin characters are popular in Japan . | 443b035cf4a00fd62952146d4dd5831d0d63d05a |
By . Charles Walford . PUBLISHED: . 05:42 EST, 6 July 2012 . | . UPDATED: . 19:49 EST, 6 July 2012 . Arriving at court in business suits and weighed down with heavy bags, the wealthy parents of a ‘brash, flash, boastful and spoilt’ murderer were clearly expecting the worst. And when they appeared in the dock to be sentenced for attempting to cover up their son’s crime, their deepest fears were confirmed. Leigh and Anita Turner were each jailed for 27 months and condemned for their lack of remorse after their son Elliot, 20, strangled his 17-year-old girlfriend at their home. Jailed: Anita and Leight Turner, parents of the convicted murderer Elliot Turner arrive at Winchester Crown Court today for sentencing . They had destroyed their son’s letter of confession written after he had killed aspiring model Emily Longley in a fit of jealous rage in his bedroom. Sentencing the couple at Winchester Crown Court yesterday, Mrs Justice Dobbs criticised them for the effect their crime will have on their younger son, who cannot be named for legal reasons. She said: ‘I appreciate it must be very difficult for a parent when faced with the situation you found yourself in, but you knew what you did was wrong and against the law. ‘You gave no thought to the consequences for your youngest son and now he is going to be without his parents for an important part of his development.’ Elliot Turner – who was described as ‘brash, flash, boastful and spoilt’ by his own lawyer – was sentenced to life for murder in May. Killer: Elliot Turner was convicted of murdering . 17-year-old Emily Longley in his bed after going 'absolutely nuts' in a . jealous rage . The former public schoolboy choked Emily after seeing pictures of her posing with two topless men for a modelling assignment. He pushed her head so hard into a pillow he left it with a ‘face mask’ indentation. When Turner’s parents woke the next morning they found their son – who was obsessed by gangsters – had packed his bags ready to flee to Spain. But former jeweller Mr Turner, 54, and his Indonesian-born wife Anita, 51, convinced him to stay and concocted a story claiming Emily had died in her sleep. It was only after police bugged their home in Bournemouth that the Turners were heard talking about destroying the letter of confession with bleach. The court heard how Mrs Turner had held ‘Support Elliot’ parties for her son while detectives were still investigating the death at their home in May last year. Model: The picture of Emily Longley that led to her death . During more than 291 hours of covert recordings, Elliot Turner was heard discussing the night of the murder with his parents and claiming that he had ‘just lost it’. Police scans of a computer seized from their home found Google searches for ‘death by strangulation’ and ‘how to get out of being charged for murder’. On the recordings, Mr Turner is heard asking his wife if she thought they were right to destroy the letter, saying: ‘We’ve perverted the course of justice, we’ve destroyed the vital evidence in this case.’ Mrs Turner is heard to reply: ‘Yes because he is our son, we’ve done the right thing.’ Mr Turner is later heard telling his wife: ‘Stop denying it. He ****ing strangled her.’ Guilty: Elliot Turner (left) strangled Miss Emily (right) in his bedroom during a drunken argument . Unhappy couple: Elliot Turner and Emily Longley, pictured in the days before her death . Emily's parents Caroline and Mark. Caroline said that Turner saw Emily as 'a trophy adorned on his arm' 'That light has been extinguished suddenly and needlessly by you. Fern Russell, representing Mrs Turner, said: ‘She is a mother who couldn’t accept that her son had committed the worst imaginable crime and it was in that turmoil that she carried out that act. ‘In her mind she wasn’t concealing a murder but at worst was buying time for her son to explain himself.’ But in her sentencing Mrs Justice Dobbs said: ‘The destruction of a confession to a killing is a very serious matter indeed. ‘Despite the strength of evidence against you, the two of you chose to fight the case showing little remorse for what you had done.’ Speaking outside court, Emily’s grandfather, Ron Longley, said: ‘We are satisfied with the sentence, we feel it was balanced and just. A year ago, Mr and Mrs Turner’s son murdered our lovely, shining Emily.’ When asked if he believed his family had received justice, Mr Longley added: ‘In law certainly. Morally, in terms of life, we can’t feel that anything has been made fair.’ Flowers were left at the scene following the death of Emily Longley, pictured on a night out . | Elliot Turner, 20, murdered 17-year-old . Emily Longley at his parents' home after going 'absolutely nuts' in a jealous . rage . His parents Leigh and Anita destroyed a confession letter from their son and took away vital evidence . | e889ae7738659f288361ad0abcbe6070d2c09771 |
When Jody Sabatino opened her mailbox last month, she got some jaw-dropping news: Her insurance company, UnitedHealthcare, was cutting the 79-year-old's most trusted doctor from its Medicare Advantage plan. In fact, four of her six regular doctors won't be covered at all next year. "I couldn't believe it. I just couldn't believe it," Sabatino said. What's easier to believe for those affected by the cuts is that because Obamacare makes it harder for insurers to cut patients from their rolls, they're cutting doctors instead -- and hoping patients follow them off the plan. United's move left Sabatino and her 94-year-old husband, Nick, facing a tough choice: Do they stay with United and find new doctors or try to keep their doctors by finding a new insurance plan? "Dr. Mieczkowski has been my doctor for 20 years. No one knows me any better than he does, and it's silly not to continue to go with him," Sabatino said. So she went shopping. And the insurance plan she bought is going to cost her more. Of the eight prescriptions that United covered, half of them are either going to cost more or aren't covered at all under her new plan. Insurers ease deadline to pay for Obamacare policies . But by switching plans, Jody Sabatino gets to keep Dr. Lawrence Mieczkowski, or "Dr. Mitch." The cardiometabolic specialist will be unceremoniously dumped from United's Medicare Advantage network next year with little explanation. "Given the significant changes and pressures in the health care environment, we have undertaken a review of our network and are making changes to its composition," United wrote to Mieczkowski in an August letter. "As a result, UnitedHealthcare is amending your agreement referenced above to discontinue your participation in the Medicare Advantage network effective on January 1, 2014. ... This amendment does not require your signature." But the doctor thinks United is trimming physicians from its networks in hopes that their patients will follow. "Let those high-cost patients move out of the UnitedHealthcare Medicare Advantage plan over to Anthem or Humana and let those poor suckers, so to speak, pick up the cost," Mieczkowski said. In Ohio, where Mieczkowski practices outside Dayton, hundreds of doctors and thousands of patients have been affected by United's cuts. And in Connecticut, United cut about 20% of its doctors, according to the state medical society. The American Medical Association says United and other insurers have taken similar action in at least a dozen states. "The patient costs a lot," said Todd Baker of the Ohio State Medical Association. "And United is going to those patients' doctors and dropping them and therefore getting rid of the patient." United concedes it is reducing the size of its Medicare Advantage network, saying it will shrink by about 10% to 15% by the end of next year. "Many health plans are making changes to their networks to improve quality and keep health insurance affordable," United said in a statement to CNN. "These changes are necessary to meet rising quality standards in an era of Medicare funding cuts, and will improve our ability to work closely with physicians and encourage better health outcomes for our members." The insurance industry's trade group argues that the changes are a direct result of Obamacare. To help pay for health care reform, lawmakers included $200 billion in cuts to the Medicare Advantage program and a new tax on health insurers. "Washington can't cut and tax the Medicare Advantage program this much and not expect seniors in the program to be harmed. And that's exactly what we're starting to see," said Robert Zirkelbach of America's Health Insurance Plans. "This is just the beginning. As more and more of these cuts go into effect over the next several years, seniors are going to face even higher premiums, higher out-of-pocket costs for services and fewer health care choices." And even though Sabatino was able to find a plan that allows her to continue to see Mieczkowski, she will still lose two other specialists. "We're walking away from people that we've known and trusted and counted on for over 10 years, and that's hard," she said. "That's hard." Christie on Obamacare ad: Get out of your PJs . Private exchanges: Obamacare signup process still not ready . Microsoft exec to oversee Obamacare website . Sebelius orders review of Obamacare website . | Ohio doctor is one of many being dropped by insurance companies, AMA says . Medicare cuts in Obamacare are changing provider networks, industry spokesman says . Ohio couple opted for a more expensive insurance plan to keep their doctor . | 24703a02242c0986b37761cd7cb3d78200e013ea |
NEW YORK (CNN) -- Young fashion designer Ali Khan made his debut at New York Fashion Week with male models strutting down the runway in his avant-garde menswear designs. One of Ali Khan's designs: black and white baseball jacket, white cotton shirt and gray cotton-blend pants. But Khan wasn't behind the scenes to enjoy the show, because U.S. officials wouldn't let him into the country. "It's really disappointing to not be able to be there with my classmates, but even if I can't be there, I'm still so excited my collection is showing on the New York runways," Khan said. Khan created his runway high fashion not from one of the fashion capitals of the world but from his home in Lahore, Pakistan. The young designer describes his spring collection as a mixture of classic elements with a newer silhouette. It is versatile and can be worn easily from day to night. Khan studied fashion design in online classes from San Francisco, California's Academy of Art University School of Fashion. "Ali is a star here at the Academy and possesses superb talent," said Ian MacKintosh, spokesman for Academy of Art University. A few outstanding new graduates are chosen to present their thesis collections every year at glamorous Fashion Week. For young designers, this is a chance to showcase their creations at a potentially career-launching venue. Khan was notified in June that he'd made the final cut and that his collection was going to fashion week. "I was out of this world excited when I found out. You can't even dream of something like that," Khan said. "I have wanted this ever since I was a kid!" The Internet made it possible for Khan to study at Academy of Art University, which in addition to a regular classroom environment provides Internet classes through video and audio links for students who are unable to attend the university in person. Some classes are "live" one-on-one conferences between professor and student, and others are pre-taped lessons with a professor. Videos and photos of the students' work, demonstrating technique, stitching, fabric choices and sketches, are all sent to the teacher via Internet and are critiqued for grades. Of the 1,800 Academy students, 25 were selected by the committee, and of those, only 15 students were finally chosen to show their collections at Mercedes Benz Fashion Week Spring 2009. Khan was among those chosen and immediately applied for his travel visa, but the Pakistan and U.S. governments declined his request. He was not given a reason. He had to ship his entire final menswear collection to the Academy's Committee. That menswear collection was shown Friday, the opening day of the Mercedes Benz Fashion Week. Khan has begun work on his next collection and is in the process of launching his own label in Doha, Qatar. | Young designer Ali Khan had a runway show at NYC Fashion Week . But his homeland of Pakistan and the U.S. wouldn't let him attend . Khan got a degree from U.S. fashion school after taking Internet classes . He describes his collection as mixture of classic elements with a newer silhouette . | 761d41b4c0f5400972a9449a09af9589ee6f58f3 |
(CNN) -- A videotape on a Russian Web site allegedly showing a State Department employee having sex with a prostitute is a "smear campaign" meant to discredit the man, a State Department spokesman said Thursday. The State Department has said the tape allegedly showing an employee having sex with a prostitute is a fake. The employee, Brendan Kyle Hatcher, denied any encounter with a prostitute to his superiors at the U.S. Embassy in Moscow, another State Department official said. State Department spokesman Ian Kelly said the U.S. ambassador to Russia, John Beyrle, "supports" Hatcher, who remains at his job at the embassy. Hatcher had previously worked in the sensitive area of religious and human rights in Russia, the spokesman said. "Mr. Hatcher ... enjoys the full confidence of Ambassador Beyrle and fully intends to serve out the rest of his tour in Moscow," Kelly said at an afternoon briefing at the State Department. The United States "deplores this type of campaign and use of the Internet to smear a foreign service officer of good standing," he added. Watch why the U.S. says the tape is doctored » . Beyrle was unequivocal in expressing his support in an interview with ABC News. "Kyle Hatcher has done nothing wrong," he said. "Clearly, the video we saw was a montage of lot of different clips, some of them which are clearly fabricated." A senior State Department official said, "It's a doctored tape and a set-up designed to implicate someone working as a liaison with religious and human rights groups in Russia." The official said Hatcher, who is married, "was approached by Russians; they tried to blackmail him, but he did everything correctly," reporting the incident to his supervisors at the Embassy. The tape then appeared on the tabloid newspaper Web site Compromat.ru and was picked up by other outlets. Diplomatic sources who declined to be named said Compromat.ru has a history of ties to Russia's security services. Russia's Foreign Ministry had no comment when asked about the video. Another senior State Department official, who has seen the video, said "it's clear to me that it's him," referring to portions showing Hatcher alone in the hotel room. "But then the lights go down," and the footage from there on is faked, that official said. The video of Hatcher in the hotel room was taken last year, "somewhere in Siberia," said the senior State Department official who watched the video. It was shot in a hotel that Hatcher visited, the official said. When questioned about the possible motivation for creating the video, the official said it's presumed "it was done because of his human rights work," in Russia. The official doubted the incident will have any effect on U.S.-Russian relations and noted that the Kremlin and the Russian Foreign Ministry have both been "very cooperative" in the months since the footage came to light. "The vast majority of people there are working toward better relations," the official said. Another official said Hatcher is a "great officer" who, until last summer, was a political reporting officer focusing on religious freedom issues in Russia. The assignment lasts two years: one year in that specialty and a year on the visa-issuing line at the embassy. Last year, this official said, Hatcher was the lead officer compiling the State Department's Religious Freedom report and was given an award for his work by the ambassador. Another official confirmed that Hatcher received a meritorious honor award in 2009 and a group award in 2008. Hatcher, one official said, worked with religious groups that are considered "outside the mainstream" in Russia, such as Protestants and non-Christians. Such faiths often face official and unofficial discrimination in the largely Russian-Orthodox society. Another senior State Department official said, "there is a lot of inertia" among some special security services in Russia. "They are pretty much unreconstructed," he said. The security services may have wanted to compromise Hatcher's ability to work with religious groups, he says, "or they may have wanted to throw a stick into the spokes" of the U.S.-Russia relationship. "Some in Moscow," he said, "are looking to integrate with the West, and others are trying to stop that." The officials asked not to be identified because they were not authorized to speak publicly about the matter. CNN's Matthew Chance in Moscow and Paul Courson in Washington contributed to this report. | NEW: Russian officials are being "very cooperative," U.S. official says . Russian site allegedly shows State Department employee having sex with prostitute . U.S. ambassador says video clips "clearly fabricated" Official: Tape meant to discredit employee working in religious and human rights . | fbcde3a063a916a72aa86a088d7d90cf33d0cb96 |
The UK government raised its terror threat level Friday from "substantial" to "severe," the fourth highest of five levels, in response to events in Iraq and Syria, where ISIS militants have seized a large swath of territory. "That means that a terrorist attack is highly likely, but there is no intelligence to suggest that an attack is imminent," Home Secretary Theresa May said. The "root cause" of Britain's terror threat is "Islamist extremism," Prime Minister David Cameron said. The execution of American journalist James Foley is clear evidence that ISIS's fight in Iraq and Syria "is not some foreign conflict thousands of miles from home that we can hope to ignore," according to the UK leader. ISIS is unlike other Islamist extremist groups in its primary focus not to find a country that can be its base of operations, but to create its own country. And the group has had ample success in that regard, given the vast reach already of what it calls the Islamic State. While it's been widely reviled internationally, ISIS has managed to attract some support among Muslims and drawn foreign fighters, like the masked man with an apparent British accent who took part in Foley's beheading, who some fear could soon carry out attacks back home. Even without specific threats in the West, ISIS' track record in Syria and Iraq -- where it was known to massacre minorities, forcefully institute Sharia law and stage executions and stonings -- suggest it may be capable of anything. Cameron said the group poses a "greater and deeper" threat than Britain has ever known. "This is al Qaeda version 6.0," Ryan Crocker, a former U.S. ambassador to Iraq and Syria, told CNN on Friday. "They are like nothing we have ever seen before." Travel restrictions, an increase in police activity . ISIS has been operating for years; now its actions in Iraq are prompting the United States to target its fighters with airstrikes there and to threaten more such strikes in Syria. Cameron said military force is among the tools that can be used against ISIS, while adding that aid, diplomacy and political influence should also be part of Britain's response. That said, his focus Friday wasn't so much about what to do about ISIS overseas as it was keeping British citizens back home safe. The Prime Minister vowed he will soon announce plans to stop would-be jihadists from traveling to Syria and Iraq and to make it easier to take their passports away. Britain also needs to do more to stop current fighters from returning from the Middle East and to deal decisively with those who already have returned, he said. UK authorities estimate that 500 Britons have gone to Syria and Iraq to fight with Islamist groups. Britain's national policing lead for counterterrorism, Mark Rowley, said -- while the threat level just went up Friday -- police have been escalating their efforts to combat the jihadist threat for months. He claimed 69 arrests in the first half of 2014 for offenses ranging from funding "terrorist activity through to the preparation and/or instigation of terrorism acts and traveling abroad for terrorist training." CNN National Security Analyst Peter Bergen says Britain likely hiked its terror threat level because "there's no way you can track 500 people." At the same time, he downplayed the idea that Friday's announcement means an attack is imminent. "This is what governments are paid to do: They are paid to worry about their citizens," Bergen said, noting that the UK threat level has gone up before without a subsequent attack. "That doesn't mean their citizens should be in a constant state of worry." Holiday security amped in U.S. -- but not due to ISIS . Security will increase this long Labor Day weekend for those traveling in the United States -- though not necessarily because of ISIS. A U.S. federal official says its customary to see increased security presence leading up to a holiday weekend, but that's not necessarily tied to an increased terror threat. To that point, White House spokesman Josh Earnest said he doesn't anticipate the U.S. terror threat level will rise anytime soon. And U.S. Secretary of Homeland Security Jeh Johnson pointed out there is no specific threat against the United States. That said, Johnson noted that ISIS has proved to be a threat to Americans overseas -- with Foley's execution and the threats of more killings to follow being exhibit No. 1. The Homeland Security department "has taken a number of steps to enhance aviation security at overseas airports with direct flights to the United States, and the United Kingdom and other nations have followed with similar enhancements." Daniel Benjamin, a former State Department counterterrorism director in President Barack Obama's administration, acknowledged ISIS sympathizers could lash out domestically or Americans who've gone to fight with militants could bring that fight back home. Still, that doesn't mean we should expect a coordinated attack outside the Middle East anytime soon, he said. "I think there is a certain amount of hyperventilation at the moment," said Benjamin, now head of Dartmouth College's John Sloan Dickey Center for International Understanding. "The long-term threat is quite serious ... But this is a group that has no track record of plotting terrorist attacks outside of its own area." Report: ISIS computer included files on biological weaponry . So what is ISIS capable of -- whether it's in the Middle East or elsewhere? That's hard to answer definitively, since the group hasn't lashed out outside the Middle East like al Qaeda. A recent story in Foreign Policy magazine, however, suggest that ISIS is thinking big. The report talks about files on a laptop that purportedly once belonged to ISIS before being abandoned in Syria. They files reportedly include talk about biological and other such weapons, including the weaponizing of the bubonic plague. If these documents are legitimate, they'd suggest that ISIS has a grand strategy and is willing to kill thousands -- including civilians -- using weapons of mass destruction to further its aims. But that doesn't mean the group is close to putting such plans into action. CNN Terrorism Analyst Paul Cruickshank cautioned that there's a big difference between researching chemical and biological agents and creating the capability to use them. He noted that al Qaeda tried for two decades to develop such weapons, with no apparent success. And there's no evidence that ISIS has a dedicated WMD program of its own, said Cruickshank, who suggested the files might "just be one guy, doing research." "It's extremely hard to weaponize these kind of agents -- especially on the delivery side," he added. Airstrikes continue . Still, even if ISIS hasn't deployed or even developed chemical or biological weapons, its fighters have proven to be plenty effective with conventional weaponry. Yet now, in Iraq at least, ISIS forces find themselves under fire. The U.S. military has carried out 110 airstrikes in that country since August 8, at an average cost of $7.5 million a day, said Pentagon spokesman Rear Adm. John Kirby. That includes more strikes Friday targeting ISIS fighters near the Mosul Dam, according to U.S. Central Command. The strikes destroyed four armored vehicles, damaged one more and destroyed three support vehicles, all belonging to the terrorist group, the military said. Iraq's air force continued its own assault on ISIS-controlled Falluja, with the militant group responding in turn. The bombardment killed 18 people and wounded 57 others, a Falluja hospital official and two residents at the facility told CNN. Kirby, like the British Prime Minister, argued that military action alone is not enough to combat extremism. "If we've learned nothing over 13 years of war, it's that you can't completely eliminate extremism anywhere through simply kinetics, through airstrikes alone," he said at a press briefing Friday. Obama's no 'strategy yet' comment on ISIS in Syria sparks a political uproar . | Ex-U.S. official notes ISIS has yet to attack outside the Middle East . UK terror threat hiked to second-highest level due to events in Iraq, Syria . Cameron: We can't ignore Islamist extremists after James Foley's killing . Spokesman: U.S. has no plans now to raise its own terror threat level . | 867b9496e93bc65d0c78a3022bbb1af1b7132ea5 |
A Texas mom who has already spent seven years in prison for the murder of her four-year-old adopted son, will spend Christmas with her family after a judge freed her while she waits for her re-trial. Hannah Overton, 37, will spend the holidays with her husband and five children for the first time since her 2007 conviction and life sentence for poisoning her son, Andrew Burd, with an overdose of salt. Throughout her incarceration, her family have stood by her and protested her innocence, but Nueces County district attorney Mark Skurk has said that he will push again for capital murder charges, although a date has not yet been set. Out for now: Attorney Cynthia Orr, left, hugs Hannah Overton after Judge Mario Ramirez reduced Overton's bond during a bail hearing at the Nueces County Courthouse in Corpus Christi, Texas on Tuesday . After seven years in prison, Hannah Overton, center, smiles as attorneys Cynthia Orr, left, and John Raley escort her out of the Nueces County Jail on Tuesday . An appellate court's majority opinion to overturn Overton's conviction wrote that her trial was 'problematic from the beginning,' according to ABC News. Original prosecutor Sandra Eastwood was terminated for reasons unrelated to the original case years after Overton was convicted, and Overton has accused her of unprofessional conduct several times since. On a fateful day in October 2006, Burd, whose biological teenage mother was a Meth addict, started acting up and then vomited, telling Overton that he didn't feel well. When he said he felt cold, he took a warm bath but as his symptoms worsened, the Overtons took him to the Corpus Christi hospital for treatment. He died a day later from salt poisoning. A week after his death, murder charges were brought against the mother. The lead prosecutor in the case, Sandra Eastwood, portrayed Overton as a frazzled care giver that had force fed Andrew cajun seasoning as a form of punishment, which caused the sodium poisoning. But during the trial, the defense said the boy's death was accidental and was likely due to a medical condition, pica, that can cause a person to crave non-edible salty items like clay, sand or dirt. The mother has been behind bars for seven years, separated from her husband and five children who are being cared for by their father and home schooled by a supportive church community that still believes in Overton's innocence. Overturned: In September, the Texas Court of Criminal Appeals overturned Overton's capital murder conviction in the 2006 salt poisoning death of her 4-year-old foster son, citing ineffective counsel at her 2007 trial for the death of Andrew Burd (right) Still not in the clear: A Texas prosecutor announced his plans to try Overton on capital murder charges . New details have emerged that allege the prosecutor in the case withheld evidence, like providing details on the boy's stomach content at the time of his death. The defense said that the prosecution claimed that samples from the boy's vomit were unavailable but Overton's lawyers claimed Eastwood withheld evidence so the sample could not be tested. The pediatrician that had treated Andrew before he was placed in Overton's care has also said that the child's medical state was not properly explained at the trial. Dr Edgar Cortes said the boy had development issues that contributed to his eating disorder. 'I think that if we're going to be fair, if we're going to be just, we have to take all of the circumstances into consideration,' he testified at a February hearing, part of Overton's appeal. Teachers and friends who knew the boy have agreed that he had unusual eating habits and even tried to each trash on one occasion. Andrew died a day after the Overtons took him to the hospital. Prosecutors claimed he died after Overton punished him by making him swallow spicy seasoning. Her defense was that Andrew had very odd eating habits or even an eating disorder called pica . The boy's Sunday School teacher had actually tried to persuade the Overtons not to take Andrew into their care because of his development issues, saying that the parents should think of the welfare of their other children. But the Overtons have said that even knowing what they do now, they would still have welcomed Andrew into their hearts and their home. 'He had brothers and sisters and a mommy and daddy, what he called his forever family, because we had to go through a lot of pain since then,' Hannah Overton told 20/20 in 2008. Eastwood's professional abilities have also been called into question. After the trial she was fired by the district attorney's office in Nueces County in 2010. In 2011, she admitted she struggled with alcohol dependency issues and was also taking diet pills during her tenure as a prosecutor, though she has denied those issues tainted her ability during the Overton trial. Hannah Overton's family, including husband Larry, have stood behind her from the beginning . Larry Overton has raised their five children for the seven years his wife has been in prison . | Hannah Overton will get to spend Christmas with her husband and five children this year but prosecutors intend to pursue capital murder charges . Overton was found guilty in the 2006 of killing her adopted son Andrew Burd, who died of acute salt poisoning . Overton has denied killing the boy from the start and her husband and five children have stood by her side . | 0770a922f370a0ec2d12b36de94e82058790a07a |
By . Bianca London . Forget a packet of paracetamol for stomach ache or Vaseline for your chapped lips - people who fell ill four hundred years ago had to make do with crab's eyes and hog's lard for treating ailments. That's according to a collection of household cures from the 17th century - most of which are bizarre to modern eyes - that has gone on display. Long before the arrival of our NHS, people had to rely on their own medicines if they fell ill - and that included treating kidney stones with a dove’s foot boiled in white wine. Vintage: A collection of household cures from the 17th century - include those of Sir Kenelm Digby, who worked with the royal family - has gone on display in Cambridge . Anyone . with bladder problems was advised to drink a mixture of wine, garlic, . crab's eyes and ‘the powder of a stag’s pizzle’ - what a penis was known as back in the 1650s. People whose nails had fallen off were advised to lay egg whites on them to help them grow back. Another . manual gave a bizarre recipe for lip balm that uses 'two ounces of . virgin’s wax' and 'two ounces of hog’s lard' - the fat on a hog's back. It is unclear what virgin's wax is. In . his 1652 work ‘The English Physician’ author Nicholas Culpeper advised . that chestnuts could stop people from coughing up blood. Gross! A bizarre recipe for lip balm suggests using 'two ounces of virgin's wax' and 'two ounces of hog's lard' - the fat on a hog's back - to treat dry lips . A snippet from history: This piece explains the origins of coffee, which is described as one of the most 'innocent and harmless' of drinks . Got a urine infection? Try this! Treat kidney stones with a dove's foot boiled in white wine, advises Sir Kenelm Digby . Bizarre: Anyone with bladder problems was advised to drink a mixture of wine, garlic, crab's eyes and 'the powder of a stag's pizzle' - that's a penis, according to the Family Dictionary . He claimed the nut worked as a cure because the 'tree is absolutely under the domain of Jupiter'. Housewives in the 17th century were expected to have a basic knowledge of how to make herbal remedies. A collection of 25 of books from the period has gone on display at Cambridge University. Charlotte . Hoare, Graduate Library Trainee at St John’s College, said the . exhibition was an 'invaluable window' into the 17th century kitchen. An old school A-Z: This is The English Physican's index of diseases from the 17th century, which is on display in the Library at St John's College, Cambridge . DIY: Long before the arrival of our NHS, people had to rely on their own treatments if they fell ill . She said: 'I really wanted the exhibition to shed some light on an area that, traditionally, has been a little neglected. 'I am fascinated by what dynamic places households were in the early modern period.' The exhibition opens to the public tomorrow free of charge in the Library at St John’s College and will remain open until October. Guidebooks: Housewives in the 17th century were expected to have a basic knowledge of herbal remedies . Step-by-step guide: Sir Kenelm Digby's musings on complications in childbirth are also on display in the exhibition, which Charlotte Hoare, library trainee at St John's College, said is an 'invaluable window' into the 17th century . Vintage Mary Berry? The Art of Cookery shows a recipe for everlasting syllabubs, a sweet dish made of milk or cream, curdled by the a mixture of wine, cider, or other acid . | 25 books from period on display at Cambridge University . Bladder problems treated with mixture of wine, garlic, crab's eyes and 'powder of stag's pizzle' - otherwise known as a penis . People whose nails were falling off were advised to put egg whites on them . Lip balm was made with fat from a hog's back . | ae6f86df8675b0cee7e3e13886ad554637f835c1 |
(CNN) -- If you discovered water that could be millions or billions of years old, would you taste it? Barbara Sherwood Lollar does it all the time. She's a geologist in the department of Earth Sciences at the University of Toronto, and collaborated with other researchers on analyzing water found in a Canadian mine in Timmins, Ontario. They published the findings in the journal Nature in May, showing that the water is between 1.5 and 2.6 billion years old -- meaning it has been totally isolated for that long. Lollar dipped the tip of her finger in this water and tested it with her tongue. She found the ancient sample "very salty and bitter -- much saltier than seawater." But while this may sound horrifying, geologists often use their own senses in sampling, she said. It's not just for fun: They're working in dark environments with multiple fractures of water, and they know the waters they want to analyze further are the saltiest, as they're likely to be the oldest. "If you're a geologist who works with rocks, you've probably licked a lot of rocks," she said. Ancient water found in Canadian mine . It takes more than a taste test to figure out how old water is, however. "We can get a sense of antiquity by looking at things like salinity of the water, and more particularly, looking at oxygen and hydrogen in the water molecule itself," she said. Scientists looked at the amounts of noble gases in the water -- helium is one, for example -- and which isotopes were present. These are signatures of the approximate age of water. This research has implications for what life may exist on other planets. "Equally on somewhere like Mars, any life that formed could have found its way into similar pockets of water in the Martian crust, and our work shows that these pockets of water can survive and provide a place for the life to have survived long after the surface of Mars lost its water and became sterile," said Chris Ballentine, professor of geochemistry at the University of Manchester in the United Kingdom and senior author on the study, said in an e-mail. Miners have known about the presence of deep salty waters for some time in Canada, Finland and South Africa. Mining literature even mentions it in the 1880s -- but it flew under the radar of scientists until recently. At a different Canadian mine, Lollar and colleagues went to investigate these waters. They discovered that the chemistry was similar to the kinds of waters found in hydrothermal vents at the bottom of the ocean. They also saw that the high salinity of these waters was a result of the chemical reactions going on between the rocks and the water. "This results in water that's full of the kind of energy that can support life," she said. In a South African gold mine, Lollar and colleagues found microbial communities at 1.7 miles deep, living off of dissolved hydrogen in these waters. The waters themselves on the order of tens of millions of years old. That work inspired them to return to Canada, to the Timmins mine, because they theorized that even older waters might flow there, based on the age and geology of the rocks. Down in the mine, it's "dark, dusty, very noisy and hot," Ballentine said. The ancient water found there is a natural phenomenon; it's not there because of the mines. "It's just that the mines allow us to get down there and get at them," Lollar said. "They're our equivalent of the deep sea submarines." The waters themselves are flowing, bubbling out of fractures in the rock, or boreholes that intersect with the fractures. The next step is to estimate the age of other deep waters all over the planet, so that they can compare and contrast what they may find in terms of life that lives far underground in these packets of water. They are still in the process of looking for life in the samples from the Timmins mine; working up this data is "painstaking work," she said. Ballentine said the water is not drinkable, but admitted, "the water is crystal clear when it first comes out of the rock and looks very tempting." Lollar is quick to deny full-on drinking these ancient waters -- she's literally just talking about putting the tip of her finger to the tip of her tongue. "It's scientifically too valuable to waste like that," she said. See also: Ancient Tennessee cave paintings show deep thinking by Natives . Follow Elizabeth Landau on Twitter at @lizlandau and for more science news follow @CNNLightYears . | Barbara Sherwood Lollar is a geologist studying ancient water in mines . Water that she and her colleagues analyzed may be 2.6 billion years old . They are investigating the possibility that the water hosts microbial life . | d603f66ebc365627756eab740140ed43f0e5f40d |
By . Thomas Durante . PUBLISHED: . 14:40 EST, 5 February 2013 . | . UPDATED: . 17:41 EST, 5 February 2013 . At least nine students have been pulled out of school and facing multiple charges - including inciting a riot - for their alleged role in a huge food fight - and there may be others. The mealtime melee erupted on Friday at Ola High School in McDonough, Georgia, with numerous students tossing food items at each other during lunch. The food fight had reportedly been . planned for weeks, and when school officials got wind of it, they made . an announcement before lunch, warning students not to go through with . it. Scroll down for video . Aftermath: Food can be seen splattered on the floor and on a table after the food fight at Ola High School in McDonough, Georgia . Busted: Courtney Striplin, left, and Jimmy Dobson were charged with disruption of public school and inciting a riot . But they did anyway, with disastrous results. One student was injured during the cafeteria-wide scuffle, though not seriously. Aftermath photos obtained by WXIA-TV showed food splattered across the floor of the cafeteria. Each of the five non-minor of the students were charged with disruption of public school. Drug charges: Whitney Camp was additionally charged with marijuana possession, as well as obstruction and disruption of public school . Courtney Striplin, Jimmy Dobson and Devin Graziani, all 17, were also charged with inciting a riot. Nathan Brunnert, 17, was charged with failure to disperse, and Whitney Camp, 18, was charged with obstruction and possession of marijuana. The other four arrested students are juveniles, and were not identified. Additional arrests may be possible after school officials watch surveillance footage of the incident. Some students decried the arrests as too harsh a punishment for a high school prank. Ola student Breanna Silver told WXIA-TV: 'I think they went a little too overboard with charging. They could've done like suspension or something.' While many students have dismissed the food fight as a prank, the school's leaders say that this is no laughing matter. Henry County Schools spokesman J.D. Hardin told WXIA-TV: If you went out anywhere else in public and did this you would face a similar consequence.' He added: 'We don’t want our students to participate in this.School is supposed to be a fun learning environment.' More trouble? Additional arrests may be possible after school officials watch surveillance footage of the incident . Class photo: In addition to disruption, Nathan Brunnert, left, was charged with failure to disperse and Devin Graziani, right, was charged with inciting a riot . Watch video here . | The students, including four minors, were arrested for their role in Friday's food fight at Ola High School . Some students decrying arrests as too harsh a punishment . | 15909c91b6b40997b7907949097365eb8a0e22d6 |
(CNN) -- Are you clamoring for the real NFL officials yet? If not, just wait and then prepare to issue an apology to one of the most unjustly crucified groups in society this side of baseball umpires. For starters, the NFL's exhibition season was filled with gaffes, bloopers and worse than that involving its collection of replacement officials. Blown pass interference calls. Issues with spotting the football. Confusion over the clock. Plus, in a game between the home-team Atlanta Falcons and the Baltimore Ravens, the referee kept saying "Arizona" instead of "Atlanta" when addressing the crowd. So it was somewhat of a relief that during the NFL's season opener Wednesday night between the Dallas Cowboys and the New York Giants, the replacement officials were -- well, OK. There were no glaring blunders, and none of the new guys tripped over the 50-yard line. Still, as former NFL director of officials Mike Pereira told FoxSports.com, "One game doesn't make a week, but it was definitely a good start. We'll all know more come Tuesday morning." By then, the NFL's other 30 teams will have spent their opening game with these replacement officials who primarily work for Division II and Division III colleges. They were hired by the NFL courtesy of the league's ongoing lockout of the regular officials. The labor dispute is over money and other matters, and it has lasted for months. Will replacement refs mar NFL's first week? Not only that, NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell suggested during an open forum with fans at league headquarters in New York before the Cowboys-Giants game that he is willing to continue with the replacements to achieve a long-term solution. As for the short term, there is encouraging news for those who know replacement officials are just a ticking bomb waiting to explode with a slew of errors. And, no, the encouraging news isn't that both sides will punt away their labor squabbles anytime soon. The only silver (or shall we say black-and-white striped) lining is, the more the NFL uses replacement officials, the more folks will see the original ones were better than they thought. Union negotiator: NFL referees won't start season . I'm talking about MUCH better. This doesn't apply just to NFL officials, but to those of the NBA, the NHL and even baseball umpires, who have been known to have a few nose-to-nose chats with managers and players. For every time that an NBA referee goes blind when a Michael Jordan shoves away a Bryon Russell to sink a jumper to clinch a world championship, there are tens, hundreds and thousands of calls that are dead-on target. The same goes for baseball, where you've had the likes of umpire Jim Joyce ruining a perfect game for Armando Gallarraga by calling a base runner safe when he actually was out. Then in the NHL, there was Tony Sericolo's nonwhistle last season when the Philadelphia Flyers' Daniel Briere clearly was offside during a goal in a playoff game. The league issued a public apology to the losing Pittsburgh Penguins for the Sericolo gaffe, which was rare for NHL bosses to admit an officiating mistake. In fact, it is rare for those in charge of the other three major pro sports leagues in North America to do such a thing. There is no need to apologize when your regular officials give you no reason to do so more often than not. In contrast, history hasn't been kind to replacement officials. You can start with 1979, when baseball swapped its striking umpires with minor league umpires, who quickly felt the wrath of everybody in their new world for brutal calls. When the 45-day strike ended, baseball retained eight of the replacements, but they were shunned forever on and off the field by the returning umpires and derisively called "scabs." The NBA went the replacement route for 68 days during the 1995 season, and that was to the chagrin of those who disliked a massive increase in the amount of fouls called in games. At one point, the New York Knicks' Charles Oakley spoke boldly for his peers, telling reporters, "They used five of these (replacements) to equal one of the regular refs. Terrible." But back to the NFL, where I called Dan Reeves for some perspective on this officiating thing. He ranks among the league's all-time wise men, since he spent four decades in the NFL as an accomplished player, coach and administrator along the way to six Super Bowls. He also was associated with two of the NFL's most famous games -- as in the likely breeding grounds for officiating gaffes. There was the 1967 NFL championship game, which became known as the Ice Bowl. With the temperature in Green Bay, Wisconsin, at minus-15 below zero and a wind-child factor of minus 48, Reeves was a running back for a Dallas Cowboys team that eventually lost to the Packers during the frantic, famous and frigid last seconds. Then there was The Drive in 1987, when John Elway led a Denver Broncos team coached by Reeves 98 yards to victory inside the final minutes of the AFC Championship game in Cleveland. Any blown calls in either of those games? Reeves is still thinking. "Golly, I don't remember anything that stuck out," said Reeves, still thinking from his home in Atlanta. Then Reeves recalled the NFC championship game in Minnesota after the 1998 regular season, when the Atlanta Falcons team he coached won an overtime thriller against the Vikings. He forced a chuckle, saying, "No, I can't think of anything during that game, either." You get the point. Oh, Reeves does remember his version of a phantom "chop block" called by an NFL official against offensive lineman Jumbo Elliott when Reeves coached the New York Giants in the early 1990s. He also remembers what he said was a shaky call after a kickoff during Super Bowl XXII in 1988, when his Denver Broncos lost to the Washington Redskins. Reeves laughed, saying, "Yeah. You do have some bad calls that stick out, but I'll tell you what. When you've been involved in the NFL for 39 years, and when you can only think of maybe a handful of calls -- if that -- that you can say, 'Well, gosh. We lost that game because of a bad call or something,' I tell you right now: There aren't many of those. Those (regular) officials do a great job, no question about it." That said, Reeves isn't totally against the replacements. As a traditionalist, he doesn't believe coaches or players should concentrate on the quality of officials, period. "I know when I played for Coach (Tom) Landry (with the Cowboys during the 1960s), and when I coached, we didn't spent a whole lot of time on the officials," Reeves said. "But as far as these new guys, there are a lot of them out there who just need an opportunity. You'll miss the experience, though, and they'll be taking more time making calls. The good thing is, the replay officials aren't on strike. They'll have them as a backup. "But will they be as good as the guy who has been there doing for eight, nine, 10 years? I don't think so?" Which is much of the point. Replacement refs bad business for NFL? | Terence Moore: NFL's exhibition season was filled with gaffes, bloopers . Replacement officials were hired because of NFL's ongoing lockout of regular officials . One ref said "Arizona" instead of "Atlanta" multiple times during an Atlanta Falcons game . After 1979 baseball strike, hired replacements were shunned by returning umpires, called "scabs" | d86819b91e388c073062b5f7da1cd5f7b6a511e5 |
Employment tribunal: James Bagshawe claims he lost his position as chief operating officer at Gatehouse Bank because he wasn't Muslim . A British banker claims he lost his £185,000-a-year job with a Kuwaiti-owned investment bank because he wasn’t a Muslim. James Bagshawe, 53, was the Chief Operating Officer of the Gatehouse Bank when he was suddenly made redundant while on holiday in August 2011. He claims he was replaced by the less experienced Twalha Dhunno, who was a Muslim.Mr Bagshawe, from Gravesend, Kent, who was a founding member of the bank, said: ‘I feel that I have been badly treated by Gatehouse and its Board. 'I was a founding member of the executive team when Gatehouse was set up and for over four years I committed a great deal of time and energy to trying to make it succeed. ‘The manner of my dismissal on holiday can only be described as an unnecessary and vindictive, and it leaves a very sour taste in my mouth.’ At an Employment Tribunal in London yesterday Mr Bagshawe, from Kent, admitted the bank had struggled as a result of the credit crunch and staff had been laid off. Despite Gatehouse never making a profit during the four years he spent at the bank Mr Bagshawe was paid more than £1m in salary and bonuses over the period. The bank operated under Sharia law, which has strict rules over issues such as charging interest on loans. He claimed his relationship with his bosses began to turn sour when he raised concerns about a proposed £100m investment from the Kuwaiti Investment Agency (KIA). He said the deal was done by the bank’s chairman, Fahed Boodai, and Mr Dhunnoo who was at the time his junior. He claimed he and other UK-based executives were kept in the dark about what was going on. 'Race discrimination': Investment banker Mr Bagshawe claims a Muslim employee took over his role at Gatehouse Bank after he was made redundant . He claims he raised concerns about the deal with the Financial Standards Authority which made him unpopular with the bank. Mr Bagshawe said: ‘I do not make an allegation of discrimination lightly. ‘However the fact remains that Mr . Boodai, as a Muslim, chose to involve Mr Dhunnoo, another Muslim, in the . KIA investment, to the exclusion of his UK based executive team, none . of whom are Muslim.’ Mr Bagshawe who has 25 years of . experience in banking working for JP Morgan and Flemings, is claiming to . be whistleblower and so can be awarded unlimited damages if he wins the . case. He claims Mr Dhunnoo should also have been considered for redundancy. Mr Bagshawe said: ‘Based on my . assessment of our respective experience and skills I did not see there . was any rational reason for the difference in treatment. ‘I remain of the view that my race, . nationality, ethnic background or religion or belief may have been a . factor in my dismissal, and do not believe that Gatehouse has provided . any evidence to rebut this view.’ Gatehouse Bank deny the allegations . and say Mr Bagshawe’s position remains redundant a year after he left . the company and there are no proposals to appoint a successor. It also claims the FSA did not . recognise his approach to them as ‘whistleblowing’ and that Mr Bagshawe . had agreed the KIA investment at a board meeting. They also say there is no evidence that Mr Bagshawe has been discriminated against because of his race or religion. The tribunal continues and is expected to last 12 days. Last night a spokesman for the bank . said: ‘Mr Bagshawe was made redundant by the CEO a Christian. His appeal . was heard by a non-executive director, another Christian. His . redundancy was supported by the Board comprised equally of Christians . and Muslims. ‘The Bank categorically denies that . there was any relationship whatsoever between Mr Bagshawe’s religion and . the decision to make him redundant. ‘As COO, Mr Bagshawe was well paid . during his 4 year term, earning in excess of £1million. Yet by December . 2010, during his tenure, the company was eroding £1million per month of . its working capital. ‘The company all but halved its . headcount from 40 in November 2009 to 25 in June 2011. Nonetheless, Mr . Bagshawe received an enhanced redundancy package and pay in lieu of . notice in compensation for his loss of office, equivalent to double the . average Londoner’s annual salary. ‘He was also entitled to keep over a third of a million shares. ‘Gatehouse Bank had, and has, a . diverse workforce including individuals who hold the Christian, Muslim . and Hindu faiths, among others. Claims that Mr Bagshawe has been . discriminated against or that he “blew the whistle” are strongly . contested.’ | James Bagshawe was made redundant from . his six-figure salary job at the Sharia-run . Gatehouse Bank in August 2011 . Mr Bagshawe claims he was dismissed because of his race and religion . The bank insist position was cut because there was no longer a need for it . | d452bd22ec37aecd52863159bf71de77036b42ed |
(CNN) -- A defensive end for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers was arraigned late Monday night after being accused of having a semiautomatic weapon in his suitcase at New York's LaGuardia Airport, according to the Queens District Attorney's Office. Da'Quan Bowers, 22, was charged with second-degree criminal possession by Judge Toko Serita in New York Criminal Court late Monday night, according to Meris Campbell of the Queens District Attorney's Office. Bail was set at $10,000, Campbell said. Video recorded outside the courthouse Monday night showed Bowers getting into a car and driving away after the arraignment. Bowers was arrested at an airport ticket counter with a .40-caliber handgun, according to Rudy King, a spokesperson for the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey, which runs the airport. Campbell said there were no bullets in the gun, but there were bullets near the gun in a separate location. According to New York firearms law, if bullets are found next to the weapon, it is considered loaded, Campbell said. Bowers was headed to North Carolina and was flying on US Airways, Campbell said. In a statement CNN obtained from the Tampa Bay Buccaneers Monday, General Manager Mark Dominik said: "We are aware of the situation and are gathering information. We will withhold comment until we know all the facts." Calls were not immediately returned Monday from Bowers' defense attorney, Dennis Coppin. Campbell said that if bail is posted, Bowers will be able to leave New York if he chooses. His next court date is April 25. It was unclear Monday night whether Bowers had a permit for the gun. Frum: Obama needs Plan B on guns . Guns not only source of Chicago violence . | Tampa Bay Buccaneers defensive end Da'Quan Bowers had gun at airport, authorities allege . He was arrested at a LaGuardia Airport ticket counter, the port authority says . He was charged with second-degree criminal possession, the district attorney's office says . | e139abca5c16ed13e7c6fe4146c899b4c0f168ea |
By . Daily Mail Reporter . PUBLISHED: . 18:15 EST, 24 October 2013 . | . UPDATED: . 05:31 EST, 25 October 2013 . Sculptor Sir Anthony Caro has died at the age of 89. The artist, whose work has been shown around the world, died on Wednesday after suffering a heart attack. Tate director Sir Nicholas Serota described him as ‘one of the outstanding sculptors of the past 50 years’. Caro, who was born in Surrey, studied sculpture in London and worked as an assistant to Henry Moore in the 1950s. Oustanding: Sir Anthony Caro, the renowned sculptor, died yesterday after suffering a heart attack. He made his name with a 1963 show at the Whitechapel Gallery and his distinctive work, often made of steel, has been on show at the Museum of Modern Art in New York and Tate Britain in London where his piece Early One Morning is on display. He also taught at Saint Martin’s School of Art in London from 1953 to 1981 where his pupils included artistic duo Gilbert and . George. A major exhibition of his work is on show in Venice at The Museo Correr. Caro married the painter Sheila Girling in 1949 and they had two sons, Tim and Paul, and three grandchildren . Barnabas, Benjamin and Emma. Serota said: 'Anthony Caro was one of the outstanding sculptors of the past fifty years alongside David Smith, Eduardo Chillida, Donald Judd and Richard Serra. In the sixties he established a new language for sculpture in a series of elegant, arresting, abstract steel sculptures placed directly on the ground. Man of steel: Sir Anthony, pictured in 2004, poses with his 1962 work Sculpture Two . 'Enormously influential': Sir Anthony poses in 2006 with one of his works in Valencia . 'His development of this vocabulary, building on the legacy of Picasso, but introducing brilliant colour and a refined use of shape and line, was enormously influential in Europe and America. 'Caro admired the sculpture of ancient cultures and Greece and from the eighties onwards produced a series of large scale abstract works that reflected a continuing interest in the human body, but also a growing fascination with architecture. 'Caro was a man of great humility and humanity whose abundant creativity, even as he approached the age of ninety, was still evident in the most recent work shown in exhibitions in Venice and London earlier this year.' | Sir Anthony died after suffering a heart attack on Wednesday . His distinctive work, often made of steel, has been shown around the world . He was described as 'one of the outstanding sculptors of the past 50 years' | c67b24672d474e56a8bd9a4a16be0bbed21ff34b |
(CNN) -- Newman, Jerry Seinfeld's diabolical nemesis and United States postal worker, was denied his dream transfer to Hawaii when the Post Office discovered he hadn't been delivering a lot of the mail he was supposed to be. Unfortunately for Brent Morse, life isn't a Hollywood sitcom. The former Kentucky postal worker was sentenced to six months in federal prison for "destroying, hiding and delaying the delivery of at least 44,900 pieces of mail," according to David J. Hale, the U.S. attorney for the Western District of Kentucky. Morse, a mail carrier for five years, stored the nearly 45,000 pieces of undelivered mail at his deceased mother's home and, just like Newman, at rented storage facilities near his home and mail route in western Kentucky. The majority of the mail was meant for around 250 homes in the community of Dawson Springs, and it was meant to be delivered between March 2011 and March 2013, Hale said. Adel Valdes, a U.S. Postal Inspector in Louisville, said Morse's motive was: "He wanted to pick up his kids from school every day at a certain time." Valdes said the owner of one of the storage centers noticed a large amount of mail and USPS equipment when Morse failed to properly shut his unit's door, so he called authorities. Morse, 34, was not charged with stealing the contents of the undelivered mail, according to Hale, but he was ordered to pay nearly $15,000 in restitution for losses incurred by two businesses that mail commercial circulars. The USPS has since delivered the recovered mail. | Worker Brent Morse guilty of "destroying, hiding and delaying" mail . Majority of the mail was meant for around 250 homes in Dawson Springs . The USPS has since delivered the recovered mail . | 374da1af050cf23c8c45ff5a8ce4497a89ab8e96 |
Southampton opened their doors to a remarkable £40million training facility on Wednesday, yet their main hope is that the scented massage rooms, bacteria-killing washing machines and ‘Black Box’ can, at the very least, match the talent-reaping brilliance achieved in the portacabins of their past. Sportsmail was invited to a behind-the-scenes look at the new Marchwood facility, a stunning home to the brilliant minds and methods that have done so much to create one of the most celebrated production lines in British football. ‘Five years ago we had a single-storey brick building and cabins,’ said chairman Ralph Krueger. VIDEO Scroll down to watch Ronald Koeman: It's great for to play every three days (archive) Ronald Koeman, owner Katharina Liebherr and chairman Ralph Kruger attend the official opening of the new training complex . Southampton's new training facility has been named after former owner Markus Liebherr who 'saved' the club from financial ruin . That was before the late Markus Liebherr pumped his money and thoughts into a club that had already nurtured Gareth Bale and Theo Walcott. Today, in a centre named after the German, the Premier League’s second-ranked club have a training centre that Martin Hunter, their technical director, hopes might yet produce enough homegrown players to fill half the first team. Another aspiration, spoken by several at this club, is to see Southampton ultimately gatecrash the top four. On arrival at this remote Hampshire base, the scale of the operation is obvious. There are nine training pitches, ranging from the 60x40-yard surface used by the Under eights to the one next to the pavilion that uses the same type of turf and matches the dimensions of the St Mary’s pitch. ‘Everything here is about progression,’ said Hunter. ‘The eight-year-olds want to get from that pitch to this one, right next to the pavilion. They start in small football, one v one, two v two. Concentrate on the game not the system. Premier League high-fliers Southampton unveiled a new state-of-the-art training centre on Wednesday . Victor Wanyama celebrates with team-mates Morgan Schneiderlin (left) and Graziano Pelle (right) after his winner at Hull last weekend . The Southampton academy and first-team players will be able to relax in the pools after training or when recovering from injury . Former Southampton owner Liebherr pictured when taking over the club in 2009 with former boss Alan Pardew (left) The extensive gym and training areas will enable Southampton's players to work on their strength and fitness of the pitches . ‘They learn the principles of attack and defend. The teams from Under 15 and up will have a flexible variant on 4-3-3 (as they do at Ajax’s famed academy), but the kids start with a ball and they learn to play, to think for themselves. ‘If they progress they go from the academy and Under 21 dining room to the first-team dining room.’ Cameras are next to the pitches – nine to be precise, with another 16 cameras on the way. ‘We want to have every view that might make us better,’ said Paul Mitchell, their head of recruitment. The footage from those cameras is studied live by eight analysts, with a dedicated analyst for each of the Under 18 and Under 21 squads. All those training on these pitches have already been scrutinised physically and mentally by the recruitment team and scouting group of four, led by Rod Ruddock, who was central to the discoveries of Bale and so many others. Their scouting network includes a further 30 ‘consultants’ out in the field. Their latest tool is called the ‘Black Box’. It’s a two-tiered windowless room next to the analysis suite, with a huge touchscreen and viewing gallery. ‘It is our own software,’ Mitchell said. ‘I won’t tell you how much it cost because I’d rather other clubs did not know. In here, the manager will come to see what we have compiled on prospective new players.’ The gym at the Staplewood Football Development Centre, with machines displaying the club crest, is of the finest quality . Southampton want all the players from the different age groups to be integrated into one at the new training centre . The software processes the vast information compiled on potential senior signings and junior recruits, from school grades to video clips. When the club rebuilt its decimated squad in the summer, many of Ronald Koeman’s final decisions were shaped in this room. ‘It is all about making up the small percentages,’ Hunter said. It extends to the laundry room of kit man Mark Forde. ‘We spent 18 months researching the washing machines,’ he said. The amount of oxygen pumped into these specific machines has all but eliminated bacteria from kit. ‘It all helps keep the players healthy,’ Forde added. They are also known to bring bespoke mattresses to away matches. Then there are the two massage rooms. ‘You can change the lighting, the smell and music – it is hard to measure the impact but, along with our psychology department, we want to see if they stimulate certain hormones,’ said Mo Gimpel, the sports science and medicine manager. ‘We want them to help a player relax on a recovery day or invigorate them on a hard training day.’ Arsenal ace Theo Walcott and Real Madrid superstar Gareth Bale both graduated from Southampton's academy before moving on . England internationals Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain and Luke Shaw also progressed through the Saints academy before moving on . Gimpel’s department claim to have statistics from a UEFA audit that shows they are best ranked in the Premier League for injury prevention over the past two seasons. In context, he estimates his department, that also studies the running patterns of the eight-year-olds, is half the size of that at Manchester City. To be achieving more than a club of such resources seems implausible. ‘The challenge now is staying ahead,’ said Gimpel. ‘It’s not just the young players here who have to progress. We have done well so far. You’d hope this magnificent facility adds a bit more. We want to punch above our weight.’ So far so good. | Premier League high-fliers Southampton are keen on attracting the next batch of rising stars to St Mary's . The south coast side have produced the likes of Gareth Bale, Theo Walcott, Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain and Luke Shaw . Ronald Koeman's Southampton side are currently second in the Premier League after 10 games . Former owner Markus Liebherr pumped money into Southampton in order to save the club from financial ruin . | 86dd183a406f95a540673529309f61e9c129fc88 |
By . Sophie Borland . PUBLISHED: . 20:24 EST, 5 December 2012 . | . UPDATED: . 02:56 EST, 6 December 2012 . Hundreds of doctors’ surgeries are too cramped and ‘not fit for purpose’, a report warns. Rooms in some are so close together that patients worry that confidential discussions can be overheard in the waiting area. Other surgeries have poor heating systems and have not bothered to install ramps or wide doors to enable easy-access for the elderly or disabled. 'Cramped': Patients in some surgeries feared their confidential discussions with their doctor could be overheard in the waiting area . A report by the Kings Fund also warned that there may be shortages of GPs in future with a high number approaching retirement age. Up to one in ten family doctors in England are over 60, although in some parts of the country it is up to a quarter. The report - which specifically looked at GP practices in London - said ‘major’ improvements were needed to cope with the higher numbers of patients. In particular it said surgeries needed to stay open for longer and ensure patients knew who to contact out-of-hours. It also advised surgeries to employ higher numbers of staff such as practice nurses and health visitors to reduce the work-load for family doctors. Anna Dixon, Director of Policy at The King’s Fund, said: ‘While there are some excellent general practices in London, the quality of care that Londoners receive is not as consistently good as it could be. ‘There is huge potential to make better use of information and data to understand and address variations in performance. ‘I hope this report will encourage GPs to engage in a discussion about how to lead a transformation in general practice to ensure all Londoners enjoy the best possible health care.’ Warning: The Kings Fund report focused on London, but there is evidence of surgeries across the country in an equally poor state . Dr Tom Coffey, Assistant Medical Director at NHS London and a GP, said: ‘The King’s Fund report recognises the excellent service offered by GPs across the capital but calls upon us to consider the transformation of primary health care in London, taking into account the changing population and varied, increasing demands.’ The study also found that a third of patients in some parts of England were unhappy about being overheard in the waiting room while they were being seen by their GP. On average 27 per cent of patients in London said they were worried about this lack of privacy but in Bromley, South London, it was as high as 34 per cent. The report said that surgeries which were too small or ‘not fit for purpose’ would not be able to provide good care. Although the study mainly focused in London, there is evidence that surgeries across England are in an equally poor state. An investigation by Pulse magazine in 2010 found that the as many as one in seven practice buildings were ‘substandard.’ And one Primary Care trust, Hammersmith and Fulham in West London, said nine of its surgeries were in such a poor state they needed to be totally rebuilt. Many trusts had cancelled refurbishments or even the installation of new central heating systems in a bid to save money. Surgeons will be ranked in a national league table in a bid to root-out incompetence. The head of the NHS, Sir Bruce Keogh, wants to publish figures on individual surgeons’ performance. The data is likely to include success rates for operations and as well as mortality rates. Last month breast surgeon Ian Paterson was suspended after it emerged he had botched up to 1,000 operations. He was also accused of operating on 450 women who were perfectly healthy at a number of hospitals across the Midlands. | Some found to have inadequate heating and insufficient easy-access facilities for elderly or disabled patients . Kings Fund report said 'major' improvements were needed to cope with higher patient numbers . | c19a962f4ead309be96bffaa7d29317670a389c5 |
(CNN) -- Marco Rubio crossed his party again on immigration. The potential 2016 presidential contender from Florida was one of 11 Republican senators joining most Democrats to support a procedural vote this week on legislation aimed at stemming the tide of immigrant children crossing the southern border. The vote for the $2.7 billion Democratic bill aimed at meeting needs of the immigrant families in the surge and kids who arrived on their own, simply allowed lawmakers to begin debate on the measure. But it's significant as the Democrats needed the lofty threshold of 60 votes to move on to the border package that is in line with their priorities and basically those of the White House although it would spend $1 billion less than what President Barack Obama wants. Most in Rubio's caucus opposed, including fellow potential White House hopefuls Rand Paul of Kentucky and Ted Cruz of Texas. And it all took place as House leaders reworked their version in an uncertain bid to attract conservative support to address the situation most consider a humanitarian crisis. The Rubio vote carries unique significance for him, regardless of the proposal's outcome. That's because his aspirations for higher office took a big hit in the Republican Party over his central role in drafting and then voting for comprehensive immigration reform last summer. He later moved away from the legislation, but it was too late, politically. Vocal and influential conservatives panned the measure over their claims it would not secure the southern border and would only create amnesty for some 11 million undocumented immigrants already in the country. The legislation stalled in the GOP-led House, as did Rubio's standing with the right wing of the party. Conservative views are paramount in the presidential nominating contest, and they simply didn't like what the son of Cuban immigrants had done. Senate votes to start debate on emergency border bill . So after all that, and a lot of effort since to rebuild his standing with conservatives, why did he cast his lot with Democrats on an immigration vote again? "I voted to move to the Senate border bill so that we would have the opportunity to vote on and pass amendments that would achieve real reforms," Rubio wrote in a statement. He also said he would not support a final bill unless the Democratic-led chamber did two things that Republicans want: Change a 2008 law to make it easier to deport young migrants from Central America as a deterrent and toss parts of an Obama administration program that eases deportation of other immigrants in the United States illegally. Most Democrats don't want either change, but Republicans blame the influx of young immigrants from El Salvador, Guatemala and Honduras on what they contend are flawed immigration policies. The message, they say intended or not, is that it's easier to immigrate. This is the first time in the border crisis debate that Rubio has inserted himself in a significant way. While he has given numerous interviews about the nearly 60,000 minors -- many of them unaccompanied -- who have crossed the border in the past 10 months, he has not been instrumental in crafting emergency legislation in Congress to address it. Rubio's vote on Wednesday certainly carries some risk, judging by conservative responses to more Republican-friendly legislation in the House. Erick Erickson, editor of the conservative blog RedState, wrote Thursday that the slimmed down, $659 million House proposal is actually "inexcusable." His problem with it is that it gives money to Obama to disperse to border and other immigration programs without imposing the changes to immigration policy Republicans want immediately. Cruz convinces House to alter border bill . While Rubio's willingness to move forward could be unpopular among conservatives, enough lawmakers on both sides of the aisle and in both chambers are concerned about leaving town Friday for the month of August without doing anything about the border crisis. House members and senators will be spend the rest of the summer amid constituents back home where polls show immigration overall is especially on the minds of voters. In a recent CNN/ORC survey, 39% say it's extremely important for Obama and Congress to deal with illegal immigration in general, up 10 points from last year. "That means that immigration is the only issue tested that has grown significantly more important to the public in the past year," CNN Polling Director Keating Holland said. House GOP seeks cover with slimmer border bill . CNN's Ted Barrett, Deirdre Walsh and Paul Steinhauser contributed to this report. | Sen. Marco Rubio was one of 11 Republicans to back a procedural vote on the border crisis . Fellow potential 2016 contenders, Sens. Ted Cruz and Rand Paul, opposed it . The House reworked its bill to appease conservatives . Though it's not clear whether Congress will work out a compromise . | be475e1bcb258b81c8dc4b2a5677fc0d30c5bc24 |
David Cameron today confronted SNP leader Nicola Sturgeon over her promise to have her Scottish MPs vote on the future of the English NHS. The Prime Minister used a meeting in Edinburgh with the Scottish First Minister to make clear his anger at the idea that English laws should be decided by nationalists from north of the border. In his first speech in Scotland since the independence referendum, Mr Cameron promised to make Holyrood one of the 'most powerful devolved parliaments in the world'. David Cameron today met First Minister Nicola Sturgeon to discus further devolution to Scotland . Mr Cameron's visit is designed to honour a 'vow' made in the final days of the independence campaign to hand more powers to Scots if they decided to stay in the Union. But it has been overshadowed by Ms Sturgeon's shock plan to end its long-standing policy of not voting on devolved issues such as health and education. A new Ipsos Mori poll for STV News found 52 per cent of Scots are planning to vote SNP in May. That would give the Nationalists an incredible 55 of Scotland's 59 seats, with Scottish Labour reduced to a rump of only four MPs - with the Tories and the Lib Dems completely wiped out. It would shatter Labour's hopes of an overall majority, and would leave Ed Miliband reliant on SNP votes to pass laws - including those which only affect England. Paving the way for a power-sharing deal with Labour, Ms Sturgeon insisted any vote on the English NHS had knock-on effects in Scotland because the Edinburgh government’s budget is linked to Westminster spending. She said it was necessary to protect the Scottish NHS from the knock on effects of cuts and privatisation in England. The SNP leader told the BBC: ‘We would be prepared to vote on matters of English health because that has a direct impact on Scotland's budget. ‘So if there was a vote in the House of Commons to repeal the privatisation of the health service as has been seen in England to restore the National Health Service we would vote for that because that would help to protect Scotland's budget. ‘If there are decisions taken to further privatise the NHS in England, and I don't think anybody thinks the Tories are progressively privatising the health service in order to increase the public funding of the health service, so decisions are taken, that reduce over time the public funding of the health service in England then that has a direct knock on effect to Scotland's budget.’ The Prime Minister visited new building work at Edinburgh Airport before setting out details of his pledge for more powers for the Scottish Parliament . Tory defence minister Anna Soubry branded the remarks 'complete twaddle' and warned Ms Sturgeon was putting the Union at risk again. 'She doesn't even understand what's happened and this nonsense - and it is a nonsense - that the Conservatives are on some wide-scale privatisation of the NHS. She puts our Union at risk again and plays with dangerous stuff.' Mr Cameron sought to repaid the damage caused by the referendum campaign when he reveals the draft clauses that will underpin the devoltion of new powers to Scotland. The Tory leader stressed that these new powers are 'guaranteed', regardless of who wins May's general election . Mr Cameron promised the Scottish Parliament will be able to 'combine the freedom to decide what happens in Scotland's schools, hospitals, surgeries and police stations and the responsibility of determining how around 60 per cent of public money in Scotland is spent'. He declared: 'The Scottish Parliament will have more control of its tax and spending - making it one of the most powerful devolved parliaments in the world. 'For the first time - the majority of the money the Scottish Parliament spends will be raised right here in Scotland. 'This includes a substantial new package of welfare powers - worth £2.5 billion - to tackle long term unemployment, disability and poverty. 'We've already moved to allow the Scottish Parliament to extend its franchise so 16 and 17 year olds could vote at the 2016 Holyrood elections and here we are stating in law the permanence of the Scottish Parliament - so there can never be any question: Holyrood is here to stay.' With Scots having voted to stay part of the UK in last September's independence vote, Mr Cameron claimed that decision 'wasn't just about the future of devolution' adding that people north of the border value 'the safety and security of being part of something bigger, our family of nations'. Mr Cameron said in the referendum campaign 'the leaders of the other main political parties and I promised extensive new powers for the Scottish Parliament - a vow - with a clear process and timetable'. He added: 'We said a command paper would be ready by the end of October - and it was. 'We said we'd get cross-party agreement by St. Andrew's Day - and we did. 'We said draft legislation would be published by Burns Night - and here we are, three days before the celebrations start, with those clauses before us.' But the SNP claims the new powers do not go far enough. Scottish Deputy First Minister John Swinney, who was on the Commission along with representatives from Labour, the Conservatives, the Liberal Democrats and the Greens, said: 'The proposals which Mr Cameron publishes today must live up to the word and spirit of the Smith Commission. Scotland should not - and will not - accept anything less. 'While the Smith Commission recommendations did not go as far as we wanted, and do not live up to the 'vow' made before the independence referendum, we welcome them, and they must now be delivered in full.' The latest IpsosMORI opinion poll suggests the SNP could will an incredible 55 of Scotland's 59 seats, with Scottish Labour reduced to a rump of only four MPs - with the Tories and the Lib Dems completely wiped out . Mr Swinney said there is still 'a long way to go before these proposals are put into law'. He added: 'What we have today is the start of the process to develop a Westminster Bill which has widespread support for introduction shortly after this year's general election. 'We will be working closely with stakeholders to ensure these proposals are right for Scotland and that they reflect the views of ordinary people. The Scottish Government is focused on securing economic growth, tackling inequality and protecting our public services, and the new powers being delivered must help deliver those goals. 'We will carefully examine today's paper, because anything which backtracks, waters down or falls short of what Lord Smith recommended would be unacceptable - and ultimately it is the people of Scotland who will determine if these proposals go far enough.' Chief Secretary to the Treasury Danny Alexander said after the referendum campaign 'as promised the UK has today delivered unprecedented new powers for Scotland, which make it one of the most powerful devolved administrations in the OECD'. The Liberal Democrat said: 'The next steps are clear: the Scottish Government and Parliament will soon have these powers, and it needs to ensure that it implements them in a way that works for Scotland, including by looking at further devolution within the country, as recommended by Lord Smith. 'Devolution doesn't just mean the flow of powers from one Parliament to another. Devolution is about empowering our regions and our communities across Scotland and the UK.' | Prime Minister to use speech in Edinburgh to set out powers for Scotland . Draft laws will deliver on vow made during independence referendum . But pledge overshadowed by row over interference south of the border . SNP leader Nicola Sturgeon said her MPs would vote on English laws . SHe plans to back Labour’s bid to repeal the Government’s NHS reforms . Holyrood is in complete control of the health service north of the border . Comes after the SNP demanded Westminster support for Scottish oil . | 297588354d9de83ec4ae29a72ee654a28de33763 |
(CNN) -- The holder of one of three winning tickets in last week's record $656 million Mega Millions drawing came forward Friday to claim a share, Kansas Lottery officials announced. The winner -- a single ticket holder -- has chosen to remain anonymous, state lottery director Dennis Wilson said. "The person looks forward to retirement," Wilson said. Kansas was one of three states where three tickets matched the winning numbers -- 2, 4, 23, 38 and 46, with a Mega Ball of 23 -- amounting to an equal share of roughly $218.6 million, before taxes, under the annuity option. The Kansas winner, who bought the winning ticket at a Casey's convenience store in Ottawa, chose the cash option to collect the winnings -- $157 million. "They were still just in awe that they had won it," Wilson said of the winner, who didn't know the ticket was a winner until Monday. The other winning tickets were purchased in Maryland and Illinois. The Kansas winner is the first to officially come forward, just a week after the winning numbers were picked. Meanwhile, Maryland lottery officials have been responding to a flurry of questions from the media this week after a Baltimore-area woman told the New York Post that she had one of the winning tickets. However, in a bizarre twist of the story, Mirlande Wilson, a 37-year-old single mother of seven who works at McDonald's, told the Post on Friday that she isn't sure where she last had the ticket. "I'm still looking for it. I haven't even looked in my uniform pants yet," the Post quoted Wilson as saying. "I'm still looking everywhere to find it, in my purse, everywhere." The state's lottery director said Thursday he hasn't seen the ticket, but he also says no one else has come forward saying he has it. Carole Everett, a spokeswoman for the Maryland Lottery, said Tuesday she doesn't "put much stock in that story." "She claims she won," Everett said. "She can't produce a ticket. ... In our opinion, until they walk in that door, hold that ticket, produce valid identification and our security people can process and validate it, it doesn't matter." If Wilson is determined to be a winner, a showdown could be brewing with her McDonald's co-workers. They are demanding a share because they say they pooled their money to buy several tickets. Wilson has said the ticket she bought was separate from that. CNN's Tom Laabs and Brian Todd contributed to this report. | NEW: The Kansas winner chooses to remain anonymous . Three winning tickets were purchased, in Kansas, Maryland and Illinois . A Maryland woman claims to be a winner, but can't produce a ticket . | 7b13e91fd423c0f8bec86ba9b24eabcef18e792e |
By . Snejana Farberov . Minneapolis police are investigating a shooting inside a popular downtown nightclub that injured 9 people, including Minnesota Vikings defensive tackle Linval Joseph. The team released a statement Saturday saying Joseph, 25, was struck by a bullet in the calf. He was treated for a minor injury and released. The Vikings described Joseph, a former member of the New York Giants team, as an innocent bystander in the shooting that broke out inside the club 400 SoundBar. Victim: Minnesota Vikings defensive tackle Linval Joseph was shot in the calf in a Minneapolis nightclub Saturday along with eight other patrons . Violent night: Gunfire broke out inside the club 400 SoundBar in what police are calling a gang-related incident . Police spokesman Scott Seroka says two people with serious injuries were in stable condition Saturday and expected to survive. He didn't know the exact condition of the other seven but described most as having minor injuries. Club owner Johann Sfaellos told the Minneapolis Star Tribune it was a typical night with patrons busy socializing and dancing to live music, with no fights until he heard gunshots at around 1.40am. After squeezing off several rounds into the crowd, sending terrified patrons ducking for cover, the shooter dropped the gun to the floor and fled. Police revealed today that the incident was gang-related, with the unidentified gunman targeting one of the victims. Mayor Betsy Hodges said at the request of the city SoundBar has been shut down indefinitely. Wrong place, wrong time: The Vikings described Joseph, 25, as an innocent bystander in the shooting; he has been treated for his injury and released . Meanwhile, the injured NFL player is recovering at home and is expected to rejoin his team next week. Joseph signed a five-year, $31.25million contract with the Vikings in March after playing four seasons with the Giants. Police are still looking for the shooter. Seroka expected more information to be released Monday. | Minnesota Vikings defensive tackle Linval Joseph, 25, was treated for bullet wound to the calf and released . Shots rang out inside 400 SoundBar in Minneapolis when lone gunman opened fire into the crowd . | cc983c666ea75d35a3f3e575ca0923040c260382 |
By . Lizzie Parry . An Irish teenager is in a coma after suffering a suspected heart attack when his testicles were tugged and squeezed as part of a prank. The 17-year-old from Artane in Dublin is in a coma after passing out when the joke went wrong. The incident happened on Thursday when a group of teenagers were joking about on their lunch break. A 17-year-old boy passed out and suffered a suspected heart attack after his testicles were squeezed as part of a prank that went wrong close to St David's CBS in Dublin . The Irish Mirror reported the boy was on his way back to St David's CBS in the city when he bumped into a group of classmates. It is understood the fifth-year student was joking about with the group when someone 'jerked his scrotum'. A source close to the family said the incident was 'not malicious', adding that they hope the teen has not suffered any permanent damage. A school teacher and one of the teenagers performed CPR, while they waited for the emergency services to arrive at the scene. The boy was taken to the Intensive Care Unit at Beaumont Hospital in Dublin and on Friday, he was reported to be in a stable condition. Doctors treating him, put the teenager into an induced coma. The Irish police force, the Gardai, have launched an investigation. Officers initially sealed off the area, suspected the boy had been assaulted. Doctors treating the boy at Beaumont Hospital in Dublin put the teenager into an induced coma. A source close to the family said the incident was 'not malicious' | 17-year-old was injured when a prank between classmates went wrong . It is understood he suffered a heart attack after passing out . He is in an induced coma at Dublin's Beaumont Hospital . Source close to the family says the attack was 'not malicious' | 13819ada692bb7fbf8b7e9948d2aecbe08152077 |
A giant swarm of blue jellyfish has invaded the pristine waters of the Gold Coast, forming a spectacular display as the mass of creatures congregated in Queensland's iconic Surfer's Paradise. Spotted just off Narrowneck, near the northern end of Surfer's Paradise beach, the school of jellyfish extended for 50 metres in circumference. Photographer and lifesaver Grahame Long captured footage of the blue jellyfish as he patrolled the beach, about 400 metres offshore. Scroll down for video . A giant swarm of blue jellyfish has invaded the pristine waters of the Gold Coast . “I’ve seen plenty of jellyfish around before but this was certainly the thickest I’ve ever seen, Mr Long told The Gold Coast Bulletin. 'They were congregated in one area.' Local residents have reported sightings of the jellyfish for several weeks, after the swarm blew in just after Christmas. One Twitter user labelled it a 'jellyfish explosion', while others found the idea of the swarm either 'terrifying' or 'incredible'. Local residents have reported sightings of the jellyfish for several weeks . Photographer and lifesaver Grahame Long captured footage of the jellyfish as he patrolled the beach, . One Twitter user labelled it a 'jellyfish explosion', while others found the idea of the swarm either 'terrifying' or 'incredible' Local media issued warnings for the correct treatment if swimmers were stung, urging locals to avoid vinegar and urine. 'The protocol for non-serious cases is to seek assistance from lifeguards and treat the sting with warm water until the swelling goes down, then with ice,' said Gold Coast paramedic Gary Strong. 'We do not tell people to use boiling water as the last thing we want to create is a burn,' he told The Gold Coast Bulletin. The mass has spread out in the past day, extending from Surfer's Paradise to the Gold Coast Seaway, with some locals still concerned about being prevented from swimming in the water. The weather will reportedly maintain its heat over the weekend, reaching up to 32 degrees. Local media issued warnings for the correct treatment for stings, urging locals to avoid vinegar and urine . The mass has spread out in the past day, extending from Surfer's Paradise to the Gold Coast Seaway . | A giant swarm of blue jellyfish has invaded Queensland's Gold Coast . The blue mass extended 50 metres in circumference . The stunning phenomena was captured by a local lifesaver . Reports of the jellyfish have been flooding in since Christmas . Local media warned swimmers to avoid 'wives tales' to treat stings . The school of jellyfish has now spread out over several beaches . | 407a0fc85fa3de1588eb2ce21f2e57249af9fdc3 |
Ultra-Orthodox Jewish demonstrators caused outrage today by dressing children as Holocaust victims to protest against what they see as persecution of devout Jews seeking gender separation in Israel. A boy wearing a cloth cap and the sidecurls of an Orthodox Jew was the centrepiece of the Jerusalem protest late on New Year's Eve. His hands were raised in surrender and a yellow Star of David inscribed with 'Jude', Jew, in German, was sewn on his jacket. The image mimicked a memorable photo of a terrified Jewish boy during a round-up in the Nazi-occupied Warsaw Ghetto in World War Two. 'Nazis, Nazis,' some of the protesters shouted at police. The Ultra-Orthodox Jewish boy wearing a cloth cap and a yellow Star of David inscribed with 'Jude', Jew, in German, sewn on his jacket, raises his handcuffed hands during a protest in Jerusalem's Mea Shearim neighbourhood on New Year's Eve . The boy's appearance in Jerusalem echoes that of the youngster (right) in this image taken in 1943 in the Warsaw Ghetto when terrified Jewish families surrendered to Nazi soldiers. Earlier that year the residents of the ghetto rose up against the Nazis and held their ground for several months, but were defeated after fierce fighting in April and May . A group of ultra-Orthodox adults and children wearing concentration camp uniforms sit in a truck with bars. During the demonstration they protested at what they called the 'media campaign of incitement' being waged against their community . A Jewish family in Amsterdam wearing the yellow stars marking them out as Jews. The picture was taken in June 1943 and the family had just been arrested. They were ordered to leave their house and go to a Nazi concentration camp in Poland . Other children and young men were dressed in replicas of striped concentration camp uniforms at the protest attended by hundreds of ultra-Orthodox Jews in traditional black garb. 'Prisoner uniforms and yellow patches with the word "Jew" written on them in German are shocking and appalling,' said Defence Minister Ehud Barak in a statement. 'The use of yellow patches and small children raising their hands in surrender crosses a red line which the ultra-Orthodox leadership, who are largely responsible people, must not accept.' Israel is in the grip of an emotional debate over attempts by Jewish zealots to impose and enforce gender separation in ultra-Orthodox neighbourhoods and other public places. Much of the controversy has stemmed from ultra-Orthodox men trying to force women to sit in the back of public buses in deference to religious beliefs against any mixing of the sexes in public. President Shimon Peres has described the debate as a battle for the soul of the Jewish state. The issue jumped to the top of the . public agenda in Israel nearly two weeks ago when an eight-year-old girl . complained on television that ultra-Orthodox men spat at her on the way . to school, accusing her of dressing immodestly. Prime . Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, who has political alliances with . ultra-Orthodox parties but is facing mounting public anger over such . incidents, has vowed to crack down on zealots who harass women. Israel is in the grip of an emotional debate over attempts by Jewish zealots to impose and enforce gender separation in ultra-Orthodox neighbourhoods and other public places. Posters at the protest accused the 'Zionist entity' of carrying out 'an unprecedented attack on the ‘Haredi’ community', referring to ultra-Orthodox Jews. Some groups within the ultra-Orthodox community do not recognise Israel, saying such a state can only be established with the coming of the Messiah. 'You will not be able to impose on us sinful (Western) culture. We will remain faithful to the laws of Holy Torah,' read one protest sign at Saturday’s demonstration. Speakers at the protest singled out an activist, jailed for vandalising a computer store he deemed heretical in an ultra-Orthodox neighbourhood, as a victim of what they called government persecution. Avner Shalev, chairman of Yad Vashem, Israel’s national memorial to the six million Jews killed by the Nazis, said the protesters’ use of Holocaust imagery was a 'profound insult' to survivors. 'This is totally unacceptable and degrades Jewish values,' Shalev said on Israel Radio. | Claim devout Jews are being persecuted for wanting gender separation in public places . Defence Minister Ehud Barak: 'The use of yellow patches and small children raising their hands in surrender crosses a red line' Chairman of Yad Vashem, national memorial to the six million Jews killed by the Nazis, said use of Holocaust imagery was 'profound insult' to survivors . | f53ae742cb5537085fca9172246a4ab968e87054 |
By . Matt Chorley, Mailonline Political Editor . High profile allegations of abuse by Jimmy Savile and other celebrities have triggered a 20 per cent surge in sex assaults reported to police. New figures released today show police were told of 64,200 sexual offences in the year to March, with officials crediting the publicity around historic allegations for encouraging victims to come forward. It also emerged police are failing to solve half of crimes, including nearly three quarters of cases of theft, criminal damage and arson. Official data from police forces show they recorded 3.7million offences last year, unchanged on the year before. However the number of sexual offences has soared. The number of rapes increased by 27 per cent compared with the previous year and is now at the highest level since records began in 2002-03. The number of other sexual offences increased by 17 per cent. Offences involving obscene publications and protected sexual increased by 31 per cent. The Office for National Statistics said the increases were likely to be linked to the effect of Operation Yewtree, the police investigation into historic allegations of sexual abuse. The number of rapes and sexual assaults against girls under the age of 13 increased 21 per cent, and offences where boys under 13 were the alleged victims rose 35 per cent. The number of ‘Sexual activity involving a child under 13’ offences increased by 33 per cent compared with the previous year, from 2,176 to 2,887 . Mark Bangs, from the Office for National Statistics, said: 'Part of the rise in sexual offences is related to the effect of the Operation Yewtree investigation which has brought to light a large number of historic sexual offences. 'The increase is also likely to reflect a broader Yewtree effect whereby more victims are coming forward to report sexual offences to the police.' Publicity surrounding allegations of abuse against Jimmy Savile has encouraged other victims to come forward . The NSPCC has said that media coverage of the crimes of Savile and others were a key reason as to why victims had felt able to come forward and report their abuse to the police. Of the 30,738 sexual offences, 3,328 - more than 10 per cent - were said to date back more than 20 years. Separate data from the Crime Survey for England and Wales – which records all crimes based on interviews with the public and not just those reported to the police – showed a marked drop in offences. It estimated that there were 7.3 million crimes in 2013/14, down 14 per cent on the previous year and the lowest since 1981 when records began. However, data from 28 police forces in England and Wales, excluding the Metropolitan Police, showed that in April and May this year 52 per cent of crimes were classed as 'investigation complete, no suspect identified', meaning that the case is closed unless new evidence comes to light. This happened in 73 per cent of criminal damage and arson cases, 72 per cent of theft and 56 per cent of robbery, according to figures released by the Home Office, which stressed that the investigations could be reopened later. The survey showed that there were 1.3 million violent incidents, a drop of 20 per cent on the previous year. This is the equivalent of two in 100 adults being victims in 2013/14, compared to five in 100 in 1995. However, according to police figures, violence rose 6 per cent, by around 33,000 offences, although the number of recorded homicides was 537 - down by 21 from the previous year and its lowest since 1978. Deaths by dangerous driving rose sharply to 282, up from 174 the previous year, and police figures also revealed a 20 per cent rise in sex offences. Among all the 43 forces, 36 had seen a rise in shoplifting, including 18 per cent in Merseyside and 17 per cent in Humberside. Fraud was also up by 17 per cent according to police figures, and analysis showed that 5.1 per cent of bank or credit card users were victims of card fraud, up from 4.6 per cent the previous year. Adam Pemberton, assistant chief executive of Victim Support, said: 'It is alarming that so many serious crimes remain unsolved. Victims want to know that the police are doing all they can to investigate the crime committed against them. 'Investigating a crime is a matter for police, who also have a duty to keep victims informed and explain decisions made about an investigation. This obligation is set out in the Government's Victims Code.' | Number of rapes reported up 27% in a year, porn offences up 31% . Office for National Statistics credits publicity around Operation Yewtree . One in 10 offences dates back more than 20 years, police records reveal . Separate data from crime survey suggests total crime is down 14% . | a34239e13dee31fa287ad6413a552c07d48ab858 |
By . Paul Bentley . Save the deer: A small but hardy group of protestors has tried to put a stop to the imminent cull . They are not the usual sort of people to be found protesting outside a nuclear plant. But when the Sellafield reprocessing site in Cumbria declared it would cull 12 deer caught on its land, a group of outraged villagers decided they could not stand idly by. Yesterday, 15 local protesters gathered on the grounds of the plant, waving placards in a call for nuclear bosses to show compassion to the animals. They carried flags, illustrations of deer and banners declaring ‘Free Sellafield deer’. Organiser Margaret Morton said: ‘It has been a peaceful protest. We would like them to move the fence and let the deer back out. Culling is not the answer. Our wildlife is precious.’ After Sellafield recently built two security fences at the site’s south perimeter, the herd of wild roe deer became trapped. Seeking advice from experts, Sellafield Ltd, which owns the plant, decided the most humane and practical course of action was to cull the animals. Planning to hire marksmen to shoot the deer, the company announced they would be killed by April. When locals found out about the plans, however, they got together to try to stop the cull. More than 1,500 people have signed a petition calling for the company to let the deer live and they are asking local Liberal Democrat MP Tim Farron to take the matter to Whitehall. Many of those who object are from the tiny neighbouring village of Seascale. Have a heart! The protestors called on the owners of the nuclear plant to free the deer into the wild . Causing a problem: The deer became trapped when two new security fences were erected at the plant . The local Parish Council has also strongly objected to the ‘unnecessary’ cull. Councillor David Ritson said: ‘This seems a quick, convenient and cheap fix for a problem for which there is another solution. Trapped: A roe deer (file photo) ‘Would it not be a better and more humane solution to temporarily remove one section of fence and herd the animals back into the natural environment?’ A local resident said: ‘I am thoroughly disgusted at the thought of Sellafield wanting to cull the roe deer by shooting them. ‘I have myself had the joy and thrill of watching these graceful, gentle animals, and to my mind they do not deserve this cruel and sudden death. Surely there is a way round the problem. They are part of our countryside.’ Kate Fowler, head of campaigns for Animal Aid, said: ‘This is a huge company that seeks complex solutions to difficult, dangerous problems as a matter of course – it cannot be beyond their wit to release a handful of deer.’ Sellafield Ltd said it had consulted wildlife experts, including the government-funded Deer Initiative, in making its decision. A spokesman added: ‘Their advice to us was that deer are animals which tend to run and hide when spooked. ‘The experts felt that the deer would try and hide deep in the thicket and cause themselves serious injury in doing so. ‘This decision has been taken with the medium- to long-term welfare of the animals in mind, and is neither the most convenient nor the cheapest option available to us.’ Defence: A spokesman for the plant (pictured) said it was neither the cheapest nor the easiest solution . | Herd of roe deer was trapped when the nuclear plant had new fences built . Sellafield Ltd said the most humane solution was to have the deer culled . Locals were in uproar and staged a protest outside the power station . | a8979a2071f91a4d16c1297a741bff3cdb6d41a3 |
Justin Bieber may have millions of fans worldwide, but Russia's bears don't appear to admire the pop brat's music - which proved fortunate for one lucky fisherman. Igor Vorozhbitsyn had his life saved by a Justin Bieber ringtone, when his mobile phone went off during a potentially fatal attack by a brown bear. The 42-year-old was pounced on as he was walking to a favourite fishing spot in northern Russia's Yakutia Republic and firmly believed that he was going to be killed. Scroll down for video . Attack: Igor Vorozhbitsyn, 42, was pounced on as he was walking to a favourite fishing spot - but Justin Bieber came to the rescue . But as the bear began to claw at him, Igor's mobile went off. The singer's hit Baby rang out and the bear turned tail and fled back into the forest. Wildlife experts believe the ringtone must have startled the bear into halting its attack. 'Sometimes a sharp shock can stop an angry bear in its tracks and that ringtone would be a very unexpected sound for a bear,' explained one. Dangerous: Brown bears are easily capable of killing humans, but as the incident with Mr Vorozhbitsyn showed, can easily be frightened away . Bear-ly believable: Justin Bieber's music isn't very popular with brown bears, it seems . Mr Vorozhbitsyn suffered from cuts and severe bruises to his face and chest and was rescued when he was found by other fishermen after using the phone to call for help. Mr Vorozhbitsyn - now recovering from his mauling - explained: 'I had parked my car and was walking towards the spot I'd marked out when there was a tremendous impact on my back and the bear was on top of me.' 'I couldn't believe my luck when the phone went off and he fled. 'I know that sort of ringtone isn't to everyone's taste but my granddaughter loaded it onto my phone for a joke,' he added. Adult brown bears can weigh as much as 600kg and have been known to kill wolves and even Siberian tigers in confrontations. | A fisherman in Russia had his life saved by a Justin Bieber ringtone . He was being mauled by a brown bear when his mobile phone went off . The bear was startled and ran away as Bieber's track Baby rang out . | 53b21dc9950697c19bca6714b6e09765d35417a7 |
If you want to join the latest celebrity selfie trend, not only can you go make-up free, you can have messy hair too because nobody will be looking at your face. This season, the celebrity selfie is all about the nails. In the last few weeks everyone from Beyonce, Lily Allen, Mel B, Jessie J, Kim Kardashian and Nicole Scherzinger has posted a 'nailfie'. Some star talons are spectacularly bejeweled but the big trend among the nailfie posters is the nude look. Scroll down for video . Mel B posted a 'nailfie' on Saturday (right) with the caption 'tonight's nails' ahead of the X Factor (left) Kim Kardashian (left) posted her nude pointed talons as did sisters Kylie and Kendell Jenner (right) Lily Allen steals the 'nailfie' show with her blinged-up manicure . Mel B posted her eye-catching manicure ahead of Saturday night's X Factor and managed to straddle both styles by jazzing up her nude manicure with a bit of bling. Her gem encrusted forefinger added some razzle-dazzle to the otherwise subtle look. But one celebrity who definitely wasn't going for subtle is Lilly Allen, who posted her colourful, glitzy manicure on Instagram two days ago. Left: Beyonce's 'nailfie' last week was a little more cultured than most; Right: Jessie J goes for bright red . Left: Kesha's pretty 'nailfie'; Right: Rosie Fortescue from Made In Chelsea also went for the nude look on her post yesterday . Ferne McCann posted these plum nails on Instagram . Sporting an uncharacteristically low-key look, Kim Kardashian 'nailfie' showed her rocking the nude nail look too. In a cute nod to her child and hubbie, she wore a ring on each finger spelling out 'North' and 'West'. Never one to miss a trend, sister Kendell Jenner also posted a snap of her and sister Kylie's hands intertwined with the caption 'reunited'. The celebrity 'nailfies' have also confirmed that pointy claws are definitely in. The scarier looking, it seems, the better. Beyonce's 'nailfie' featured her pointy claws in a deep shade of plum. Whereas Jessie J opted for bright blood red. So forget the face creams and the makeup - get preening those nails. | Jessie J, Kim Kardashian and Nicole Scherzinger also among celebs to post . Mel B posted her blinged-up manicure ahead of Saturday nights X Factor . Nude nails is a favourite look of the season among the 'nailfie' crew . | ebebd77d6693f9e59890d9933a06a0f8a16bbf17 |
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