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Washington (CNN) -- A majority of Americans are dissatisfied or angry with President Barack Obama's administration and GOP leaders, according to exit polls released Tuesday and analyzed by CNN. And about 8 in 10 Americans disapprove of how Congress is handling its job, according to a survey of voters outside of polling places on Election Day. Nearly six in 10 voters are either dissatisfied or angry with both the White House and Republican leaders in Congress. Less than a third of Americans are satisfied with the Obama administration and GOP leaders. Follow the election on CNN Politics' livestream . And heading into the voting booth, seven in ten Americans said they were concerned about economic conditions. Most voters had a negative view of both parties, with the Democratic Party barely edging out the GOP to pull a positive view from 44% of voters compared to 40% for the Republican Party. But the two parties will be playing to moderates, with about 40% of voters identifying themselves as neither liberal or conservative. The conservative bloc is also larger than the liberal bastion, with about 36% of Americans calling themselves conservatives. And after an election that has played up government dysfunction and crises both at home and abroad, exit polls reveal that voters are concerned and anxious about the current state of the country and the direction it is headed. Two-thirds of voters said they believe the country is headed on the wrong track, and only 22% believe the next generation of Americans will be better off. And about 72% are at least somewhat worried that there could be a terrorist attack on U.S. soil. And voters' confidence in the government has been seriously shaken, with only 1 in 5 voters saying they trust the government to do the right thing. On the issues . Ebola: Ebola also hit the campaign trail this season and about six in ten Americans said they followed news about Ebola. And only about 44% of Americans believe the federal government has done a good job combating the disease. ISIS: The threat of ISIS has also been played up by some Senate candidates, and a majority of Americans surveyed Tuesday support airstrikes against the militant group in Iraq and Syria. Check out CNN's 2014 midterm elections Magic Wall . Immigration: About half the electorate said they believe illegal immigrants should get an opportunity to gain legal status in the U.S, while about 37% of voters said they want all illegal immigrants deported. Same-sex marriage: The midterm electorate is evenly split on the issue of same-sex marriage. Exit polls are surveys of voters taken as they leave polling stations as well as phone surveys of voters taken before Election Day. CNN's Magic Wall Midterms coverage . | CNN released its first wave of analysis from voters who participated in exit polls Tuesday . A majority of those surveyed had unfavorable views of both parties . | 1c8abefe78ac634e988f8f13e2e31c46b51747f3 |
Ferguson police are testing a new non lethal attatchemt for handguns. It allows them to fire alloys 'ping pong balls' - which can bring a person down but not kill them. This week, five instructors for the Missouri city's police department are training to use the device, called the Alternative. Scroll down for video . The orange device attaches to the top of a normal handgun and fires a bullet into the Ping-Pong-ball-sized projectile in front of the muzzle. The $45 Orange device that attaches to the top of a normal handgun. The product itself only weighs about 2 ounces and sits in a small pouch on their duty belt. The bullet embeds itself inside the projectile without a chance of escaping . It mounts to the top of an officer's weapon within a second when the officer feels it's an appropriate lethal force situation . It extends alloy Ping-Pong-ball-sized projectile in front of the muzzle . Bullet embeds itself inside the projectile, firing it. The Ferguson Police Department, which reportedly intends to distribute the Alternative to all of its officers following training, found itself at the center of national debates over policing and race relations after then-Officer Darren Wilson shot and killed Michael Brown last August. 'The alternative was developed as a blunt force impact device to fill the void in lethal force situations, which until now could only be addressed with a firearm,' Alternative Ballistics, the firm which designed the weapon, said. 'Concerned with the number of deaths of officers and citizens resulting when confrontations occur, where a new lethal force option would have been preferred but not readily available, we developed the Alternative. Christian Ellis, founder and CEO of Alternative Ballistics, told the Washington Post Ferguson police reached out to him after the city's assistant police chief, Al Eickhoff, took to Google and searched under the words 'less lethal.' 'It gives another option,' Eickhoff said of the device, which he later tested for himself, the Post said. 'I really liked it. . . . You are always looking to save a life, not take a life.' However, when the Post asked Eickhoffis the $45 addon could have saved Michael Brown, he said: . 'You could still shoot him with this round,' the assistant police chief said, 'and he could still get up and come at you.' Ellis, the chief executive of Alternative Ballistics, said he started the firm to avoid needless citizen deaths. The rough concept was developed several years ago by a retired sheriff's officer from whom Ellis said he bought the patent. 'Ask a police officer what are the options when lethal force is justified, and he'll say, 'I have my gun and my bullets,' ' said Ellis, 32, who recently began marketing the Alternative in the United States and abroad as an 'an air bag for a bullet.' It mounts to the top of an officer's weapon within a second when the officer feels it's an appropriate lethal force situation . 'This technology represents a critical 'missing link' between lethal force and less-lethal force,' the firm claims. 'By utilizing our bullet capture technology in appropriate situations police are likely to prevent loss of life to the public at large in a way that was – until now – not possible. The Alternative is a small orange device that attaches to the top of a normal handgun and extends a Ping-Pong-ball-sized projectile in front of the muzzle. However, critics have pointed out the Alternative resembles a clown's nose. 'The Bozo Bullet,' one critic called it. The Alternative is a small orange device that attaches to the top of a normal handgun and extends a Ping-Pong-ball-sized projectile in front of the muzzle. After traveling through the barrel, the bullet embeds itself inside the alloy projectile, and the docking unit immediately detaches from the weapon. 'Once the gun is fired, the bullet embeds itself inside the projectile without a chance of escaping, simultaneously transferring the bullet's energy as it propels it toward the target. 'Once the bullet is fired from the gun into the projectile, they permanently become one unit.' This process decreases the bullet's velocity and dampens its impact. The bullet, then, should not pierce a human's skin and cause the type of internal damage that would kill the person. However, it retains enough blunt force to knock someone over and deliver severe, debilitating pain, and travels up to 250 feet per second (when propelled by a 9mm slug) and sends 'a shock wave of pain through the suspect' when it hits, Ellis said. | $45 orange device attaches to the top of a normal handgun . Extends alloy Ping-Pong-ball-sized projectile in front of the muzzle . Bullet embeds itself inside the projectile, firing it . Five Ferguson police department instructors are training to use the device . Dectractors have dubbed it the 'bozo bullet' as it resembles a clown's nose . | 8b7839b352ac952e69361c6003cb28f74bbec931 |
Los Angeles, California (CNN) -- Christina Aguilera has split with husband Jordan Bratman, but there was no immediate talk of divorce, her representative said Tuesday. "Although Jordan and I are separated, our commitment to our son Max remains as strong as ever," Aguilera said in a statement released Tuesday through her representative. The 29-year-old singer-actress and the 33-year-old music executive married five years ago. Their son, Max, was born two years ago. Aguilera co-stars with Cher in "Burlesque," a major feature film set for a Thanksgiving release. CNN's Denise Quan contributed to this report. | Despite split, there is no word on a divorce . Aguilera and Bratman married five years ago and have a 2-year-old son . | 3c6b16caeee9d7877b18d084befe6c84ce412961 |
(CNN) -- When music superstar Enrique Iglesias hits the road for a tour these days he brings along more than just the music. The Latin music crossover sensation has joined forces with a unique organization -- Love Hope Strength, a self-proclaimed "rock 'n' roll cancer organization" whose goal is to "save lives one concert at a time." Iglesias invited the group on tour with him to set up shop at his concerts and perform bone-marrow donation drives as a part of its "Get on the List" campaign to find donors for the National Marrow Registry. "When you go up on stage and you look at my fans, it's so diverse ethnically, and I thought it would be perfect," Iglesias says. "I thought we would get people of different races to be able to register for this organization, and I thought that would really help." The diversity of his audience is exactly why the partnership with Iglesias is so vital to the Love Hope Strength Foundation's mission. "Only 10% of the overall national marrow registry is made up of Hispanic population. So when you're Hispanic looking for a transplant, your chances of finding a match significantly decrease due to the lack of that population on the registry," says Executive Director Shannon Henn. "So by reaching out to a community through someone like Enrique Iglesias, who has such an incredible Hispanic following, we're able to register people to the database that we never could before." Iglesias is now well-established in the world of entertainment, and he realizes that this is a powerful place that can be used for the benefit of others. "I think you reach a certain age where you feel responsible. You can communicate with your fans especially nowadays with Twitter, with Facebook, all these ways, and obviously the live shows, so any time I feel like I can do something that's positive and that's good, it's a good thing," Iglesias says. The process is simple. The LHS team sets up a table with plenty of information about bone-marrow donation and then asks concert-goers as they pass if they would like to sign up. Once a volunteer ensures they meet the requirements for donation, one of the LHS team members takes a cotton-tipped swab and swabs the inside of the donor's mouth. That's it. That's all it takes, and the donor can carry on to enjoy the show. If a match is found, the donor will then be notified and then possibly help to save a life. "What I hope to take away from this experience is people realize that it's important, that they can actually make a huge impact. And we've got to register as many people as possible, and there's a lot of people out there, a lot of kids, that need this," says Iglesias. Love Hope Strength is an international organization that raises awareness for the needs of cancer patients worldwide. Rock 'n' roll is at the very roots of LHS, as it was co-founded in 2007 by leukemia survivor Mike Peters of the Welsh rock band The Alarm and his friend and fellow survivor James Chippendale. The men created this organization to ensure that awareness, early detection and proper treatment are not a luxury but instead available to all in need worldwide. In addition to the "Get on the List" campaign that the group carries out at rock concerts, LHS builds and supports cancer centers all over the globe. LHS purchased the first mammography machine ever in Nepal and funded a mobile unit for cancer screenings in remote parts of Peru. The group also performs concerts in extreme locations like Mt. Everest to raise money for its cause. To learn more, visit LoveHopeStrength.org. | Enrique Iglesias invited Love Hope Strength to perform bone-marrow drives at his concerts . LHS is a "rock 'n' roll cancer organization" building donor databases and cancer centers . Iglesias: My fans are so diverse ethnically, I thought that would really help . LHS was co-founded by leukemia survivor Mike Peters of The Alarm . | 2bac1e270016197beb558a7faf6b4b84d1f88024 |
When Indian student Prateek Verma decided to tell his father he had made his girlfriend pregnant, he thought it would be a hilarious prank. What the 20-year-old didn't count on was the violent attack he would be subjected to after making his ill-judged announcement. Infuriated by the revelation, Sunder . Verma, 50, launches at his son in a fit of uncontrollable rage, kicking and punching . him as the engineering student pleads for mercy. SCROLL DOWN FOR VIDEO . The big reveal: Indian student Prateek Verma pranks his father (seen lying down bottom right) by telling him that he has made his girlfriend pregnant . Goes ballistic: Sunder Verma punches his cowering son in a fit of uncontrollable rage . Berserk: Sunder Verma punches and kicks his son after failing to see the funny side of the prank . It is only when Mr Verma picks up a . bottle and appears poised to smash him over the head that his son . finally screams out that it was a prank. Video of the joke has been viewed more than 500,000 times since being uploading on YouTube two weeks ago. The footage begins with Prateek Verma boasting that he is going to prank his father, saying: 'Let's see what happens'. He then hides the camera at his home in New Delhi. Fit of rage: The engineering student pleads for mercy, but still doesn't reveal that it is a prank . Video of the prank has been viewed more than 500,000 times since being uploaded on YouTube two weeks ago . As he father returns from work after what has clearly been a very bad day, Prateek says: 'Dad, I need to talk to you about something.' Ominously, he adds: 'Please close the door. Mum should never know about it.' He goes on to ask if his father remembers his girlfriend he had been seeing, to which Mr Verma replies: 'Yes, that b****'. Prateek then drops the bombshell. After a momentary pause, his father kick him hard then forces him into the corner of the room with a series of punches. As Mr Verma picks up a bottle, his terrified son cries out that it was a prank. His father reluctantly believes the story and walks out of the room dejected as Prateek looks on stunned. Livid: It is only when Mr Verma picks up a bottle and appears poised to smash him over the head that his son finally screams out that it was a prank . | Engineering student Prateek Verma, 20, secretly filmed joke at his home . Tells his father: 'Please close the door. Mum should never know about it' Asks father if he remembers girlfriend, to which he replies: 'Yes, that b****' After revelation, Sunder . Verma, 50, punches and kicks son in fit of rage . | a84a7f48e78987b11c1358228f7f42d243544384 |
A 19-year-old girl who is suffering from terminal brain cancer has spoken of her daily battle with the disease - weeks after achieving her dream to play college basketball. Lauren Hill, from Lawrenceburg, Indiana, was diagnosed with diffuse intrinsic pontine glioma (DIPG) - a rare and inoperable tumor in the brain stem - 14 months ago. In recent months, her condition has worsened: she now frequently suffers from severe headaches, dizziness and numbness in her body, leaving her dependent on her family and friends. Speaking of her life with the disease, she said candidly: 'My body is shutting down, and there's nothing I can do. It's like losing your independence a bit. Being dependent is kind of hard.' Scroll down for video . Brave: Lauren Hill, 19, has spoken of her daily battle with terminal cancer- weeks after achieving her dream to play college basketball. Above, the teen plays basketball for Mount St Joseph's University on November 2 . Tragic: The teenager (pictured, left, before her diagnosis and right, after), from Lawrenceburg, was diagnosed with an inoperable form of diffuse intrinsic pontine glioma (DIPG) - a rare brain tumor - 14 months ago . The teenager, who last month fulfilled her wish to play basketball for Mount St. Joseph University's Division III team in Cincinnati, said she has 'good hours' and 'bad hours' every day. 'I have hour spurts when I feel fine and I can walk normal and stuff. Other hours, I'm wobbling. I feel like there's somebody behind me kicking my legs out from under me,' she told USA Today Sports. She added that dying makes her feel like she is in a rush to complete everything she wants to do, including her brave, ongoing campaign to raise awareness and fund research into DIPG. 'What is it like to know you're dying? It's like I want to get stuff done. Like I'm in a rush. People are told they have five weeks to live, and they live five years. I don't know,' she said. 'I want everybody to know I never give up, even though I have my low moments and I feel like giving up, because they're awful. My family gets me back on track to my never-give-up.' She said her main concern was not for herself, but for 'my family and friends after I've gone'. Her passion: In recent months, Lauren's condition has worsened: she now suffers from severe headaches, dizziness and numbness in her body. But she looked on great form as she played basketball last month . Opening up: Speaking of her life with the disease, the teenager (right) said candidly: 'My body is shutting down, and there's nothing I can do. It's like losing your independence a bit. Being dependent is kind of hard' Award: 'I have hour spurts when I feel fine and I can walk normal and stuff. Other hours, I'm wobbling,' she added. Above, Lauren receives the Pat Summitt award during the basketball game - her first of three games . Indeed, Lauren has not let her terminal illness stop her from fundraising for research into DIPG, which claims the lives of more than 90 per cent of its child victims within 18 months of diagnosis. She has already raised more than $500,000 - and aims to increase this figure to $1million by the end of the year, despite being previously told by doctors she would likely die by December. A Diffuse intrinsic pontine glioma (DIPG) is a rare an inoperable type of brain tumor. It mostly affects children, with most diagnoses occurring between five and seven years of age. More than 90 per cent of its victims will die within 18 months of diagnosis. Each year, there are around 100-150 new diagnoses in the United States. The cause of the tumor remains unknown. Symptoms include lack of facial control, double vision, headaches, vomiting, weakness, seizures and balance problems. She has been spurred on in her fundraising efforts by her knowledge that medics have not made any progress for 30 years toward finding a cure for the deadly cancer, she said. DIPG, which is usually diagnosed between the ages of five and seven, affects around 100 to 150 children in the U.S. every year. Since her first game for Mount St. Joseph in early November, 5ft 10ins Lauren, who wants to be 'a voice for children with this cancer' has played two more basketball games for the university. Due to her devastating prognosis, the NCAA approved a waiver for Mount St Joseph to start its season two weeks earlier, and the team tipped off against Hiram College with Lauren on court. On November 6, the talented university freshman joined a number of top athletes who have had their photos printed on a box of Wheaties, the Breakfast of Champions. In Lauren's picture, she could seen playing in the first of the three basketball games, during which she scored the first points of the winning match. Up there with the best: On November 6, the talented university freshman joined a number of top athletes who have had their photos printed on a box of Wheaties, the Breakfast of Champions (pictured) Ill: Due to her devastating prognosis, the NCAA approved a waiver for Mount St Joseph to start its season two weeks earlier. Above, Lauren is pictured revealing her hair loss (left) and in hospital during treatment (right) She even recently received a pair of Beats headphones from LeBron James, as well as one of his size-17 sneakers. She has also received a number of gifts from members of the public. Comparing her life with basketball, Lauren said she was 'playing to the final buzzer, not worrying about the last play or the play that's coming... All we have is the moment we have right now.' However, she said she is looking forward to one event - spending Christmas with her family. But she has not asked for any gifts. 'No material item matters to me. I just want to spend time with my family,' she said. To donate to The Lauren Hill Tribute Foundation, visit layups4Lauren.org. Friends: Lauren (pictured with her basketball teammates) recently received a pair of Beats headphones from LeBron James, as well as one of his size-17 sneakers. She has also received numerous gifts from the public . Struggle: The teenager was a standout backetball player (left) and former prom queen in high school (right) | Lauren Hill, 19, diagnosed with inoperable brain cancer 14 months ago . She is now dependent on others, with severe headaches and dizziness . 'My body is shutting down - there's nothing I can do,' she said candidly . Added she has 'good and 'bad hours' every day and is always in a rush . Last month, brave teen achieved her dream to play college basketball . Scored first points for Mount St. Joseph University's Division III team . Now hopes to raise $1million to fund cancer research by end of year . | 48ad9900af97f76a5fcf2e563a3952c787ba108c |
(CNN) -- The U.S. Department of Agriculture said Monday that it's investigating "personnel issues" at a California slaughterhouse after an exclusive CNN investigation detailed how officials believe Rancho Feeding Corporation triggered one of the biggest meat recalls in years. Federal investigators believe that Rancho processed cancerous cows when government inspectors weren't there, triggering a massive recall of nearly 9 million pounds of meat and a criminal investigation, according to sources familiar with the probe. And in the plant where it all went down, a government inspector and a Rancho foreman were involved in an inappropriate romance, according to documents obtained by CNN. How 9M pounds of bad meat got in food supply . A USDA spokesman told CNN the department "is conducting a thorough investigation into personnel issues related to this case. We are not permitted to discuss the details of the case at this time as doing so could jeopardize the ongoing investigation." Federal officials familiar with the investigation said that the U.S. attorney's office in San Francisco, which is conducting the criminal investigation, is looking into the relationship between the inspector and foreman, but so far officials haven't connected it to the recall. The U.S. attorney's office did not respond to a request for comment. While brief, the USDA statement is somewhat substantive, a departure from the department's practice of referring questions to the U.S. attorney's office without comment. Democratic Rep. Rosa DeLauro of Connecticut also weighed in, calling CNN's report, "deeply troubling." "Rancho and USDA are going to have to explain themselves to American consumers," DeLauro, a member of the House subcommittee on agriculture, said in a statement. "I am deeply concerned that the Food Safety Inspection Service failed to prevent this deception from happening." DeLauro's not alone. Democratic Rep. Jared Huffman, whose district included the now-defunct Rancho plant in California, wants answers. Instead, he's gotten only "crickets" from the U.S. attorney's office. "This is radio silence from the federal agency that did something very significant in my district that is affecting lots and lots of people," he said. "I've never seen anything quite like it." Investigators believe that Rancho was buying diseased dairy cows and processing them when government inspectors weren't there. After the cows were killed, employees would hide the warning signs of cancer by trimming off diseased parts, using a fake stamp of approval or even replacing the heads of sick cows with ones from healthy animals. It's unclear which employees were involved, officials said. A federal law enforcement source told CNN that charges against Rancho's former owners -- the plant has since been sold -- have been decided. But that decision has yet to become public. | Nearly 9 million pounds of meat from one California slaughterhouse was recalled . CNN revealed that federal officials believe the plant processed cancerous cows . The processing took place when government inspectors were not there, sources say . CNN also revealed a documented romance between a federal inspector and a plant foreman . | ff11a61033da35ab143c15c86abdb6ca290e0033 |
(CNET) -- Its shape and feature set will be familiar to anyone who's seen other Pavilion dv6000 series laptops, but the Special Edition HP Pavilion dv6985se stands out for two reasons. First, its upscale design includes an eye-catching, copper-colored lid and silver interior, both bearing a faint imprint that looks like etching. The other special feature: a 12-cell battery that provided one of the longest battery lives we've seen in CNET Labs. Otherwise, the Pavilion dv6985se is a fairly typical mainstream laptop, with a decent feature set and strong performance. Of course, the features that make the Pavilion dv6985se special are also its downside. That extra battery does add weight, and the flashy design certainly isn't for everyone (though we happen to love it). Users who want something more portable or more subdued should look to the Sony Vaio NR498, which offers similar performance and features (but lacks multimedia controls) for a slightly lower price. Or you could scrap the 15-inch size entirely and go for a 14-inch model like the Gateway T-6836 or the Sony Vaio CR510. The Pavilion dv6815se's shape is essentially the same as the Pavilion dv6915nr we reviewed earlier this summer. The "Special Edition" designation, however, warrants a spiffy new color scheme; in the case of the Pavilion dv6985se, that means a shiny copper-colored lid and display bezel with a silver keyboard deck and keys. Both the lid and wrist-rest incorporate a subtle imprint design of narrow stripes that morph into organic shapes reminiscent of Art Nouveau; the pattern even extends across the touch pad. The overall effect is very appealing--certainly more expensive-looking than its actual price (more so when you factor in Best Buy currently offers it with a $100 discount)--but also seems destined to look slightly dated by the time you graduate. The Pavilion dv6985se we reviewed differs from its siblings in one other significant way: the laptop includes a bulky 12-cell battery that raises the back of the system an inch and contributes to its hefty 6.6-pound weight. (With HP's standard Pavilion battery, the system would weigh closer to 6 pounds--but a smaller battery isn't an option on this fixed configuration.) The extra juice will come in handy when cranking out term papers, but you probably won't enjoy carrying the laptop to the library. The 15.4-inch wide-screen display on the HP Pavilion dv6985se has a typical 1,280x800 native resolution, which is standard for a screen this size. The screen's glossy finish produces rich colors and contrast; we found it minimally distracting while surfing the Web and typing e-mail but quite enjoyable for watching movies. A 1.3-megapixel Webcam above the display lets users conduct video chats. Typing was comfortable on the Pavilion dv6985se's nearly full-size keyboard. The wide touch pad includes a scroll zone, and we love the on/off button above the pad, which is handy when you want to use an external mouse or just type without worrying about misplacing the cursor. Above the keyboard sits a row of light-touch controls to launch HP's QuickPlay media player, control disc playback, and adjust volume. Perhaps to maintain the laptop's polished aesthetic, HP left off the handy port labels found on the keyboard deck of nearly every other Pavilion laptop. The HP Pavilion dv6985se includes most of the ports and connections we'd expect to see on a laptop of its size, though the Sony Vaio NR498 does manage to squeeze one more USB port into its similar footprint. (We have a feeling a USB port was jettisoned to make room for the HP Expansion Port, which lets you connect to an HP docking station.) The HP also lacks Bluetooth, which is surprising given its otherwise upscale bent. We do like the Pavilion's dual headphone jacks, which make it easy to share movies and music with friends. We're less impressed with the Altec Lansing stereo speakers, which are loud and clear but produce too-treble sound. The retail-only Pavilion dv6985se comes in a single fixed configuration that includes a 2.0GHz Intel Core 2 Duo processor--part of Intel's previous-generation Centrino platform and the standard for mainstream systems--plus a generous 4GB of RAM. Paired with 64-bit Windows Vista, that 4GB of RAM gave the Pavilion dv6985se a notable boost on our Photoshop CS3 benchmark, where the first three spots among Back-to-School systems went to 64-bit-equipped laptops. Otherwise, the Pavilion dv6985se performed admirably on CNET Labs' benchmarks, showing enough multitasking and processing oomph for all your scholarly pursuits (and diversions). As mentioned above, the HP Pavilion dv6985se includes a massive 12-cell battery that adds significant weight to the system. But it just might be worth schlepping around: it ran for 5 hours and 17 minutes on CNET Labs' video playback drain test. That's one of the lengthiest battery scores we've seen, and bests all our other mainstream Back-to-School systems, which featured six-cell batteries, by nearly 2 hours. Our video playback battery drain test is especially grueling, so you can expect even longer life from casual Web surfing and office use. HP backs the Pavilion dv6985se with an industry-standard one-year warranty. Toll-free telephone support is available 24-7 during your warranty period, and the HP support Web site includes real-time chat with a tech representative. If you want to troubleshoot problems yourself, you can search through the site's thorough FAQ database. © 2009 CBS Interactive Inc. All rights reserved. CNET, CNET.com and the CNET logo are registered trademarks of CBS Interactive Inc. Used by permission. | The HP Pavilion dv6985se is a well-stocked mainstream laptop . Unit's 12-cell battery provides one of the longest battery lives we've seen . The bulky battery also contributes to the laptop's size and hefty 6.6-pound weight . Overall, the Pavilion dv6985se offers strong performance and decent features . | a551e59768c7fb10924f9fb897bce414753ac76d |
By . Ray Massey . PUBLISHED: . 14:42 EST, 5 June 2013 . | . UPDATED: . 13:43 EST, 7 June 2013 . A popular Jeep off-roader favoured by thousands of British school-run families is at the centre of a major fire safety row after U.S. officials blamed it for more than 50 deaths. Car bosses have refused U.S. government demands to recall nearly three million of the 4X4s over 'deadly problems'. Defiant Chrysler is refusing to recall about 2.7 million of the Jeeps which safety officials says are at risk of a fuel tank fire in a rear-end collision. The siting of the 4X4s fuel tank is a 'defect' which poses an 'unreasonable risk to safety,' say safety chiefs – a charge which Chrysler rejects. Some 23,511 of the Jeep Grand Cherokees made between 1993 and 2004 are still on the road in the UK . The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration has now sent Chrysler a letter asking that the company voluntarily recall Jeep Grand Cherokees - which were also sold in Britain – between 1993 and 2004. Some 23,511 of the Jeep Grand Cherokees from this period are still on the road in the UK, according to the Society of Motor Manufacturers and traders. The recall request also affects the Jeep Liberty built between 2002 and 2007, which was not sold in the UK. NHTSA found at least 32 rear-impact crashes and fires in Grand Cherokees that caused 44 deaths. It also found at least five rear crashes in Libertys, causing seven deaths. The fire row between Chrysler, its parent company Fiat, and government safety chiefs was the lead item on prime time news broadcasts in the U.S., including ABC News. Chrysler Group LLC, which is now majority-owned by Italy's Fiat SpA insisted in a statement on Tuesday that the Jeeps are safe and it 'does not intend to recall the vehicles'. Such a refusal by a car company is rare. And though the NHTSA can order a recall but needs a court order to enforce it. David Strickland, the safety agency's administrator, said in a statement that he hopes Chrysler will reconsider its decision. Will it be recalled? The 1998 Jeep Grand Cherokee Limited . Chrysler Group LLC, which is now majority-owned by Italy's Fiat SpA insisted in a statement on Tuesday that the Jeeps are safe . 'Our data shows that these vehicles may contain a defect that presents an unreasonable risk to safety,' he said. U.S. car safety chiefs opened an investigation into the Jeeps in August 2010 at the request of the Center for Auto Safety in Washington. They found that the Jeeps' fuel tanks can fail when hit from the rear, leak fuel and cause fires if there's an ignition source. The positioning of the tanks behind the rear axle and their height above the road is a design defect, it said in a letter to Chrysler dated Monday. Chrysler moved the fuel tanks on the Grand Cherokee ahead of the rear axle in 2005, and did the same thing with the Liberty in 2007. NHTSA said the older Jeeps performed poorly when compared with all but one similar vehicle from the 1993 to 2007 model years: 'Particularly in terms of fatalities, fires without fatalities, and fuel leaks in rear-end impacts and crashes.' The agency calculated that the older Grand Cherokees and Libertys have fatal crash rates that are about double those of similar vehicles. It asks Chrysler to recall the vehicles and 'implement a remedy action that improves their performance in rear-impacts and crashes'. Car-makers usually agree to a recall request, partly to avoid bad publicity. In the last three years, Chrysler has conducted 52 recalls. But Chrysler insists its review of nearly 30 years of data shows a low number of rear-impact crashes involving fire or a fuel leak in the affected Jeeps and that the the recall request is based on an 'incomplete analysis of the underlying data'. Chrysler Group LLC chairman and chief executive Sergio Marchionne insisted: 'The company stands behind the quality of its vehicles. 'All of us remain committed to continue working with NHTSA to provide information confirming the safety of these vehicles.' The row comes as Chrysler prepares to launch the latest new generation of its Jeep Grand Cherokee which is unaffected by the safety scare. 'NHTSA seems to be holding Chrysler Group to a new standard for fuel tank integrity that does not exist now and did not exist when the Jeep vehicles were manufactured,' the company said. The dispute leaves owners of the affected Grand Cherokees and Libertys waiting for government or court action. It also leaves Chrysler open to the risk of big liability if there are more crashes and injuries linked to the fuel tanks, said Logan Robinson, a University of Detroit Mercy law professor and former Chrysler corporate counsel. Lawyers could argue that if Chrysler had recalled the Jeeps, people wouldn't have been hurt, he said. But that liability would be limited if Chrysler beats NHTSA in court and a judge rules the company didn't sell defective vehicles, said Robinson. Chrysler called the older Grand Cherokees and Libertys 'among the safest vehicles of their era' saying they met all federal safety standards in effect when they were built. NHTSA's letter concedes this but adds: 'The existence of a minimum standard does not require NHTSA to ignore deadly problems.' Chrysler has until June 18 to respond to the safety administration's letter. NHTSA has the authority to fine companies if slow to provide data or recall vehicles. The agency fined Toyota Motor Corp. a record $66million for failing to quickly report problems and for delaying a recall. Toyota paid the fine without admitting it violated the law. | Car bosses refuse demands to recall nearly three million 4X4s . Officials say are at risk of a fuel tank fire in a rear-end collision . | e88a2f42e714c694f3c505e8c81ab979612107f6 |
The Obama administration has confirmed what we have been hearing for months, that chemical weapons have been used in Syria by the regime of embattled President Bashar al-Assad. The news, revealed in a White House letter to Congress, presents President Obama with a stark question. Will the United States become directly involved in the two-year-old Syrian civil war? Last August, Obama issued a stern warning to Assad. If he used chemical weapons, Obama said, even if he moved them in preparation for use, he would cross a "red line" that would have "enormous consequences." Before that, Obama had already declared that the regime would be "held accountable" if it made the "tragic mistake of using those weapons," a warning he repeated last month during a trip to the Middle East. Obama has now come up against his own words and the stakes are enormous. The United States has a range of options, including several that do not include sending American forces into Syria. One path is to provide more muscular support to certain rebel units. The administration has been reluctant to arm the rebels because Islamist radicals, including some closely affiliated with al Qaeda, have become an important part of the anti-Assad forces. This is problematic, since Washington has called for an end to the Assad regime, a regime that, incidentally, is closely allied with Iran and Hezbollah. But it is possible to discern the members whose ideology is relatively consistent with U.S. values and policies. Those fighters should receive carefully selected weaponry to raise their effectiveness against Assad and increase their appeal within the opposition. In addition to helping arm them, the United States should look into the possibility of creating safe havens, no-fly zones, where the opposition and civilians might be protected by NATO from Syrian air attacks. There is also the option of destroying Assad's most dangerous weapons stocks through aerial bombardment. Although, depending on the target, bombing could carry the risk of spreading the contents, and in the end, the United States may need to remove the stockpiles by designating allies to enter the facilities that hold them. Any action should be taken, to the extent possible, under the NATO umbrella. The one course of action Washington cannot afford is to ignore its own warnings and the U.S. intelligence community's conclusions. Doing so would legitimize the use of chemical weapons, letting regimes that hold power by force know that they can use the world's most reviled weaponry to preserve their rule from internal challenges. Failure to act could hasten a grave escalation in a war that has put the entire Middle East on a knife's edge. It would threaten to spread its destructiveness beyond Syrian borders and raise the incentive for other militias to start using chemical agents, potentially fueling a market among terrorist groups everywhere. And it would make the dire warnings of an American president ring hollow, with damaging consequences for global stability, not to mention for American security. Among those watching, Iran would certainly draw its own conclusions if the United States ignores its own red line. Until now, the Obama administration has resisted pressure to take a tougher stance against Assad if only to stem the killing. More than 70,000 Syrians have already died and millions have fled the fighting. Refugee pressures are building in neighboring states, and the conflict has already drawn fighters from other countries; among others, Hezbollah militias from Lebanon, which have joined the war on Assad's side. For almost two years the president opted to limit U.S. involvement, reportedly rejecting proposals from former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton and former CIA chief David Petraeus to arm carefully selected segments of the opposition. At the same time, America has provided generous help for refugee care, along with nonlethal aid to the rebels. The use of chemical weapons, however, is a game changer. The beleaguered Assad has admitted possessing an enormous chemical arsenal. Syria holds stockpiles that experts say include Sarin, VX and mustard gas. Production facilities and warehouses for them are spread throughout the country. Regional analysts believe that Assad has thousands of rockets filled with nerve agents ready for use with the Syrian army's vast missile systems. U.S. officials say there's much they don't know yet about how the weapons have been used. Secretary of Defense Chuck Hagel said on Thursday that within the last 24 hours U.S. intelligence officials concluded the Syrian government forces used a small amount of an agent, probably Sarin. The use of those "uncontrollable, deadly weapons," Hagel said, "violates every convention of warfare." Charges that Assad's forces used chemical weapons surfaced months ago, but it was a March 19 attack in Aleppo that drew global attention. In the face of mounting evidence of people with respiratory distress, burns and other signs of unconventional weapons use in a battle zone, the rebels accused Assad and Assad accused the rebels of using chemical agents. The Syrian government called for a U.N. probe, but then refused to allow the investigation. More recently, France, the United Kingdom and Israel have said they have found evidence of chemical weapons use. On Wednesday, Israel's head of military intelligence said Israel has gathered evidence, including photographs of areas with people with mouths foaming following an attack. He said he believes Assad has used the weapons several times, including on March 19. It is likely that Assad is testing international reaction by using limited amounts of banned weapons. If reaction does not follow, he will probably use them more extensively. The United States has deployed a few hundred troops to Jordan, just south of Syria, with the purpose of aiding refugee care and, according to a Los Angeles Times report, as "the vanguard of a potential military force of 20,000 or more" in case the United States decides to move to secure Syria's chemical weapons. The United States and the world have many options on the table, none of them risk free. But the riskiest of all would be delaying a meaningful and forceful response. | Frida Ghitis: Obama administration confirmed Syria regime used chemical weapons . Ghitis: This crosses Obama's "red line;" will he act? Possible to do so without U.S. forces . She says arming rebels with values similar to U.S. one option; another is no-fly zones . Ghitis: Not acting would legitimize use of chemical weapons, upend U.S. authority . | 6e52336f8ac3e5272ae25dbb5b964ea3cae00cef |
By . Tim Shipman And Ian Drury . UPDATED: . 18:27 EST, 2 February 2012 . Up to half of Britain’s forces in Afghanistan will come home next year after the Americans announced plans to speed up withdrawal by a year. Downing Street confirmed that British troops will no longer lead combat operations by the end of 2013, handing command responsibility to local Afghan forces 12 months earlier than expected. Plans have now been drawn up to cut the force of 9,000 British troops by at least 4,000 next year, with a series of steady drawdowns in troops throughout the year. Previously, David Cameron has said that British forces will no longer be in a combat role by the end of 2014, but ministers had failed to spell out that the handover to Afghan commanders will begin much earlier than that. Scroll down for video . Falling back: British troops will retain a supporting role . Sacrifice: Jack Sadler was killed by a roadside bomb in Afghanistan in 2007. His father Ian described as 'devastating' a leaked report which reveals the Taliban are set to return to power . Trooper Jack Sadler was repatriated to RAF Lyneham five days after his death in December 2007 . Under the plans outlined yesterday, . British forces in Helmand Province will begin handing control to Afghan . generals in mid-2013 and sole control to them by the end of 2013. They will continue in a reduced . fighting role during 2014, providing logistics, engineering and air . support, but with growing numbers of troops withdrawing from . confrontation with the Taliban to conduct training. The accelerated timetable was . revealed by U.S. defence secretary Leon Panetta, who said America would . wind down combat operations in 2013. He said: ‘Hopefully by the mid to . later part of 2013, we’ll be able to make a transition from a combat . role to a training, advise and assist role. 'It doesn’t mean we’re not going to be combat-ready…[but] it’s not going to be a kind of formal combat role that we are in now.’ Mr Panetta’s choice of words caused . some irritation in London, and No 10 yesterday sought clarification from . the White House about President Obama’s intentions. Poised: A Taliban militant holds a grenade launcher in Herat. A secret U.S. report - The State Of The Taliban - claims the insurgent movement is poised to regain control of Afghanistan when Nato troops withdraw . Unbowed: The document claims Taliban fighters are being supported by Pakistan intelligence services across the border . Senior sources in London said the timetable was being driven by the presidential elections in both America and France. British officials indicated that the UK will co-ordinate its pullout to go along with the American timetable. The announcement follows the leaking of a confidential report that reveals that the . Taliban are set to return to power when British and Coalition forces end . their combat role. Despite . 10 years of fighting by Nato forces and their huge sacrifices - 397 . members of the British military alone have been killed and thousands . wounded - the report says that in the past year there has been . unprecedented interest, even from within the Afghan government, in . joining the Taliban. And it . points accusingly at Afghanistan's neighbour Pakistan, a key ally of . Nato, where powerful elements in the security and intelligence services . support the Taliban and describes how insurgent leaders maintain homes . within the heart of the capital Islamabad. Based on 27,000 interviews with over . 4,000 Taliban and Al Qaeda prisoners, the detailed report effectively . questions the Coalition’s own assessment that it is winning the war in . Afghanistan. The report - The State of the Taliban - . was described as ‘devastating’ by former soldier Ian . Sadler, whose son Jack, a 21-year-old reservist serving with the . Honourable Artillery Company, died in a roadside bomb blast in Helmand . in December 2007. Attacks: An explosion after an airstrike in Nanagarhar, Afghanistan. The report, based on interrogation of insurgents, claims Taliban fighters are being given weapons and training by Pakistan-backed militants . Cost: The remains of Private First Class Cody R. Norris arrive at Dover Air Force Base, Delaware. More than ten years after the U.S.-led conflict in Afghanistan, the Taliban are poised to regain control . 'It has been a waste of time operating . in the way that the British have,' he said, 'Hearing details of the . report makes me wonder why our soldiers were sent there in the way they . were and the cost that has been paid.' The report compiled by U.S. forces . describes how weapons and vehicles given to Afghan forces have in turn . been passed on to the Taliban and says that Pakistan's feared . Inter-Services Intelligence Agency (ISI) is actively colluding with the . insurgents by actually directing attacks. 'Pakistan knows everything,' the report states, 'they control everything. The Taliban are not Islam. The Taliban are Islamabad. 'ISI officers tout the need for continued jihad (holy war) and expulsion of foreign invaders from Pakistan. 'The government of Pakistan remains intimately involved with the Taliban. 'ISI is thoroughly aware of Taliban . activities and the whereabouts of all senior Taliban personnel. Senior . Taliban leaders meet regularly with ISI personnel, who advise on . strategy and relay any pertinent concerns of the government of . Pakistan.' Those questioned, including senior . Taliban commanders, told how Islamabad uses a complex network of spies . and intermediaries to provide strategic advice to aid the Taliban in . fighting the coalition. No confidence: An Afghan border police officer receives his graduation certificate. There are concerns that the police, security forces and Afghan army will not be able to maintain order in the country when Nato forces leave . Unpopular: The Taliban is playing on public opinion of President Hamid Karzai's government . Explaining why new recruits are . turning in large numbers to the Taliban, fighters said : 'When the . Karzai government was established, we thought there was a chance of . something good. The harassment, corruption and abuse are unbearable. We . chose to fight. We chose the Taliban.' In a bleak conclusion, it paints a . picture of Al Qaeda’s influence diminishing but the Taliban’s influence . increasing, stating : 'Afghan civilians frequently prefer Taliban . governance over the Afghan government, usually as a result of government . corruption.' The report has evidence that the . Taliban are deliberately hastening NATO's withdrawal by reducing their . attacks in some areas and then initiating a comprehensive . hearts-and-minds campaign. The findings could heap further . pressure on David Cameron, and U.S. President Barack Obama, as they face . strengthened calls to withdraw troops before the 2014 deadline. It could also reinforce the view of . Taliban hardliners that the group should not negotiate peace with the . U.S. and President Hamid Karzai's unpopular government while in a . position of strength. Significantly, the Taliban said that reports they were about to begin talks with the Karzai . government in Saudi Arabia were untrue. 'The unfortunate reality is that this . is a failure of the allied strategy in Afghanistan. They have not been . able to achieve the goals they set out to achieve,' said Mahmud Durrani, . a former Pakistan army general and ambassador to Washington. Fresh accusations of Pakistani . collusion with the Taliban are likely to further strain ties between . Western powers and Islamabad, which has long denied backing militants . seeking to topple the U.S.-backed government in Kabul. Critics say Pakistan uses militant . groups as proxies to counter the growing influence of rival India in . Afghanistan. The belief that Pakistan supports the insurgents is widely . held in Afghanistan. Pakistani fighter jets bombed the hideouts of two militant commanders along the Afghan borderrecently, killing up to 31 insurgents. One of those killed was reported to be a Pakistani Taliban leader in the Orakzai region, Moin ud Din. The strikes followed clashes between soldiers and militants over a strategic mountain in Kurram last week, in which more than 60 people were killed. In recent years, the Pakistani military has launched a series of offensives against militants in the border regions - which are only nominally controlled by the central government. Large areas remain under the effective control of extremists, who use the region to plan attacks in Pakistani cities and Afghanistan. Gunmen also attacked a Pakistan paramilitary checkpoint in the Marwah area of Baluchistan province last night, killing six troops. And the bodies of seven unarmed men were discovered near the checkpoint. Pakistani Foreign Minister Hina . Rabbani Khar on a one day visit to the Afghan capital Kabul, dismissed . the claims which she said were not new and could be disregarded. 'This is old wine in an even older . bottle. I don’t think these claims are new. These claims have been made . for many, many years,' she said. In Brussels, a Nato official said the . prisoners also claimed that the Taliban retain wide public support . throughout Afghanistan, particularly in the countryside. The official, however, cautioned that . the document was not based on any intelligence analysis of the situation . on the ground, but is a summary of thousands of interrogation reports. 'It's a very lopsided perspective because some of them are motivated to portray the picture in their favour,' said the official. The extent of Taliban support from . within local forces was underlined yesterday when an Afghan soldier shot . and killed a Nato service member in southern Afghanistan. It was the sixth report since December . of an Afghan soldier turning his weapon on the international troops . working to train the Afghan security forces. Two weeks ago, an Afghan soldier . killed four French soldiers prompting President Nicolas Sarkozy to speed . up the exit of French troops from Afghanistan said it would ask Nato to . hand over all combat operations to Afghan forces in 2013 instead of by . the end of 2014. At least seven British soldiers have . been killed by so-called trusted 'colleagues' while there have been at . least 35 attacks on international troops since 2007 by Afghan soldiers, . police or insurgents wearing their uniforms. The number rose sharply . last year to 17, up from six in 2010. Tory MP John Baron, a member of the . Foreign Affairs Committee and a long-term opponent of the Government's . policy on Afghanistan, said: 'This confirms what a number of us have . suspected for some time. 'The Taliban insurgency is intact, it . is supported by local people and it is getting help from the Pakistani . intelligence services. This proves that the Taliban will not be beaten . and recent offers of talks should be positively responded to and taken . up by the U.S. and UK. 'It is possible to talk and fight at the same time - we proved that in Northern Ireland.' Mr Baron, who believes it is vital to . find a political solution in Afghanistan, said the military campaign had . become bogged down in 'mission creep' because it did not have clear . goals. | ISAF troops will retain a 'supporting' role . Report compiled by U.S. forces claims Pakistan security agency is assisting Taliban attacks against Nato forces . Afghans bracing for return of Taliban when foreign troops withdraw in 2014 . Taliban detainees claim Pakistan employs network of spies to give strategic advice to militants . Pakistan Foreign Ministry dismisses claims as 'frivolous' and insists it is committed to non-interference in Afghanistan . 10-year conflict has seen nearly 3,000 service personnel killed . | e739348b13cf1c6e7fe3a9124201b3e32f6131ec |
Education Minister Christopher Pyne has denied he's trying to save ABC jobs in his home state of South Australia, from his own government and at the expense of the broadcaster's other departments. Just as his Communications Minister Malcolm Turnbull was confirming that the ABC will lose more than $250 million in federal funding (with up to 500 jobs expected to be shed before Christmas) and SBS $25 million, Mr Pyne took the unusual step of launching his own on-line petition on Wednesday calling on the ABC board not to cut production in South Australia. His office has denied it's a case of double standards, My Pyne attempting to turn the blame onto the ABC board, accusing them of 'political vandalism' if they choose to reduce production costs. The social media backlash against Christopher Pyne's crusade was immediate . A spokesman for My Pyne told Daily Mail Australia that 'he's not saying that, he's not saying that there should be cuts pushed on elsewhere, it's because of the report (Peter Lewis Report) the (Communication) Minister received, which says there should be no cuts to programming'. In an interview with ABC Radio 891, Mr Pyne said: 'Obviously the ABC needs to make its contribution to reducing the debt and the deficit that Labor has left us. And Malcolm Turnbull’s done the job for them'. 'He got Peter Lewis to do a report, The Lewis Report, into how to reduce spending at the ABC, which showed that the spending could be reduced without any impact on production, without any impact on programming,' Mr Pyne said. Christopher Pyne hopes his campaign to save ABC jobs in South Australia will be heard . Reaction to Mr Pyne's petition to save jobs in South Australia has sparked much reaction . 'So if ABC management in Ultimo decide to cut jobs and production in Adelaide, it is a deliberate act of political vandalism, because they know, they have the report in front of them, in black and white, showing how to reduce costs without affecting production and programming and that’s what all out listeners need to know. 'There is no need for there to be a production change here in Adelaide unless in Ultimo in Sydney, they refuse to actually implement the report Malcolm Turnbull had done for them.' Mr Pyne's petition via Change.org states: 'We, the undersigned, are concerned that ABC in South Australia is the last TV production unit outside of Sydney and Melbourne. 'The Board must reassure South Australians that the local TV production house of the ABC will remain in South Australia. As noted in the ABC’s 2013 annual report, ABC South Australia produces top rating, award-winning shows such as Dream Build which is listed in the 12 most popular Australian made shows. 'Further, ABC South Australia produces television that is often with a regional focus, including but not limited to The Cook and The Chef, Poh’s Kitchen, Dream Build, the Karta orang-utan documentary at Adelaide Zoo, The Beatles 50th anniversary tour documentary, a forthcoming country-based heritage restoration series and more. 'These television series are targeted at individual groups within the community and are crucial to a diverse market. By moving ABC TV elsewhere, it will incur unnecessary costs and remove the efficient and innovative production unit from South Australia. 'We, the undersigned, note that productions such as The Daters has been produced here in South Australia with a limited budget, while using innovative technology which has made it successful enough to be screened on ABC2 and ABC’s iView. 'We, the undersigned, strongly support the ABC staying as a production unit in South Australia and for the ABC to adhere to its charter and continue to tell great stories “that contribute to a sense of national identity… and reflect the cultural diversity of the Australian community”. Please ensure that the ABC does not close its production house in Adelaide.' Communications Minister has revealed the cuts to the public broadcasters ABC and SBS saying 'if the ABC or SBS want to make decisions to change or cease programming; that is their choice. The savings are not of a level that require any changes to programming' Mr Pyne turned the heat up on the ABC Board today saying 'if ABC management in Ultimo decide to cut jobs and production in Adelaide, it is a deliberate act of political vandalism, because they know, they have the report in front of them, in black and white, showing how to reduce costs' Mr Turnbull has released details, claiming that changes to programming are not required and the savings can be found through 'operational efficiencies'. His statement read: 'An Efficiency Study was launched in January to identify how the ABC and SBS could find efficiencies in their back office operations, finance, property, IT, administration, corporate and marketing, without impacting on programming'. 'In total, including the 1 per cent down-payment announced in the May budget, the overall savings to the broadcasters is $308 million over five years or 4.4 per cent of taxpayers' investment,' Mr Turnbull stated. 'For the ABC this means it will receive $5.2 billion over five years rather than $5.5 billion, a saving of $254 million or 4.6 per cent. 'The Government is confident that these savings can be achieved without affecting the diverse range and quality of programmes provided by the ABC or SBS. Suggestions that popular programs or services are at risk because of Budget savings are not credible. 'If the ABC or SBS want to make decisions to change or cease programming; that is their choice. The savings are not of a level that require any changes to programming. 'Programming changes are decisions for the Management and Boards of the organisations, not the Government.' As for his colleague calling on jobs to be specifically saved in South Australia, Mr Turnbull said 'Christopher is representing his electorate, everybody is entitled to their opinion'. | Communications Minister Malcolm Turnbull has confirmed the ABC will lose $254 million over the next five years) Education Minister launches petition to stop programming cutbacks and says the ABC Board would be guilty of 'political vandalism' if there are . Christopher Pyne has called for ABC jobs to be protected in his home state of South Australia . Government insists the ABC board should not have to cut programming and production and can find savings across other business parts . SBS will suffer cuts of $25 million over five years . | daeff2bfd8ea01b5523b7abdee74740d0f3c52b8 |
By . Peter Allen . The head of one of Monaco's richest families has died from gunshot wounds following a suspected Mafia hit. Hélène Pastor, a 77-year-old heiress who was close to the royals who run the Mediterranean principality, was hit by a hail of bullets on May 6. She and her chauffeur were attacked outside L'Archet hospital in the French city of Nice, which is a short drive from Monaco. Forensic experts investigate the car in which Helene Pastor was critically injured on May 6 . It is believed Mrs Pastor has been visiting her son in hospital before the shooting happened . Now Mrs Pastor has died in Nice's St Roch hospital, where medics had carried out a number of operations. Her driver, 64-year-old Mohammed Darwish, also succumbed to wounds in the face, neck and stomach – dying on May 10. Investigators suspect two of Italy's most notorious crime syndicates, the 'Ndrangheta and the Camorra, of carrying out the double assassination. Both crime gangs are said to be building property portfolios on the French Riviera as they expand their field of operations. Mrs Pastor's family own buildings worth billions in the area, and detectives believe the Mafia were trying to muscle in. Mrs Pastor had been visiting her son, Gildo, who runs a car hire company, at the Nice hospital when a solo gunman struck. Witnesses said the gunman used a large pump-action shotgun in the suspected 'hit' Reports suggest Mrs Pastor's driver may have been the main target of the shooting . Prince Albert II of Monaco issued a statement expressing 'deep support' for the Pastor family . In a classic Mafia-style hit, he shot both Mrs Pastor and her chauffer in the head and stomach with a pump-action shotgun through their car window. Following the attack, the hit man jumped into a waiting getaway car drive by another man, and then sped off. A witnesss said: 'I saw the gunman turn back towards me with his big gun and a bag. I thought he was coming for me. I was terrified for my life.' French MP Eric Ciotti expressed his 'extreme shock' at the double assassination, while Prince Albert II of Monaco issued a statement expressing 'deep support' for the Pastor family. Mrs Pastor was the sister of Michel Pastor, the former chairman of AS Monaco football club who died in February. The Marseille prosecutor has now opened a judicial enquiry into the double murder, parts of which were captured on CCTV. 'We are studying frozen images of the attack in an attempt to identify the attackers, and witnesses,' said an investigating source. He said that an alleged blackmailer had been contacting the Pastor family, and was currently undergoing 'psychiatric tests'. The source said: 'He claims to know the background to the attack, but his version may be based on what he has seen in the media.' Mrs Pastor's grandfather was an Italian immigrant who developed large part of Monaco before handing his business over to her father, Gildo Pastor. The principality is a tax haven which is regularly linked with organised crime gangs, as well as prominent individuals who want to keep the source of their wealth a closely guarded secret. | Hélène Pastor shot when gunman opened fire on her car on May 6 . Both her and her chauffeur were hit in the head and neck in the attack . Now heiress Mrs Pastor has died in Nice's St Roch hospital . Her driver, 64-year-old Mohammed Darwish, also succumbed to wounds . Police say the attack may have been ordered by Italian organised crime . Pastors control a multi-billion pound property empire on southern France . | 013d23d0ae32d47876520f4bf0b24338d0bf6cba |
The Late-1980s pop culture relic "21 Jump Street" was a primo specimen of a TV police procedural with a catchy hook: A team of fresh-faced cops work undercover as high school kids, reporting back to their tough/earnest boss at the address listed above. The hit series ran for four years, and was notably progressive in its willingness to incorporate newsmaking social issues, including AIDS, homophobia, and child abuse. But 25 years later, "21 Jump Street" the TV show is remembered primarily as the career kickstarter of Johnny Depp as a young actor with an obvious something. As it turns out, dim memories and a new generation of pop culture consumers work to the great advantage of "21 Jump Street" the movie: What this fast, cheeky, and very funny interpretation of the original premise sacrifices in teachable moments, it makes up for in intelligent giddiness. Shaped by the precocious comedic smarts of talent-on-a-roll Jonah Hill (who not only costars but also developed the story with Michael Bacall and is one of the executive producers), the movie morphs into an action comedy with a tonal complexity that marks it as a very contemporary creative project. It's part homage and part wink at the past. It jokes about high school but is also a sensitive sociological study of those crucial years. It bridges slapstick and action. It's quick-witted with its pop references. Oh, have you heard? Depp makes a delightful cameo appearance! On the surface, "21 Jump Street" follows the crime-fighting antics of odd-couple cop partners Schmidt (Hill) and Jenko (Channing Tatum). Their wonky dynamic is established in a perfectly placed opening flashback to 2005, when the two were real high school students -- Schmidt the klutzy, anxious nerd with a brain; Jenko the athletic, academically challenged coolio. Seven years later, when both police rookies are coincidentally assigned to an undercover--high schooler program, the duo are prepared to play out those same life scripts, until a mix-up alters fate. Schmidt is assigned a class schedule befitting a popular non-Einstein; Jenko is shuffled into advanced-placement chemistry. (''Ap-chemistry,'' he calls it, laboriously reading his course list.) Given a do-over, the two get to reexperience those less than wonder years. They get to work issues out. And by the way they get to bust a drug ring fronted by a smart and popular guy played with oddball charisma by Dave Franco. (The curiosity isn't that he's the brother of James Franco; it's that he's so interestingly weird. Okay, like his brother.) But that, as I say, is on the surface. Underneath, "21 Jump Street" is a riot of risks that pay off, the biggest of which might be handing Tatum funny business. And now for the revelation: The guy's got bust-out talents as a really funny, self-aware comic actor. With all appropriate salutes to the busy fellow's famous abs, and with full forgiveness for his participation in "The Vow," I am feeling the Channing charm for the first time. And wow, those scenes where the smart actor, playing a ''dumb'' character who realizes he's not as dumb as he has always believed he is, fakes playing a dumb guy to mess with his smart partner's head are kind of perfect. Also, Tatum can sustain a great, I mean great, Dumb Face. Under the limber direction of Phil Lord and Christopher Miller ("Cloudy With a Chance of Meatballs"), and working from a screenplay by Bacall -- a script jammed, by the way, with so many oinky references to male reproductive equipment that I choose to believe the producers were rising to a dare -- Hill and Tatum play their Mutt-and-Jeff act against a supporting cast equally fast on their feet. A refresher viewing of any old "Jump Street" episode may sharpen your appreciation for the kind of earnest '80s-TV police captain that Ice Cube is tweaking in his funky turn as Schmidt and Jenko's boss, but the joke is equally welcome without the historical background. Explaining why he's assigning Schmidt and Jenko to shutting down the school drug ring after the death of one student, the captain tells it true: ''This kid is white, so people actually give a s---.'' There's room for laughs and truth at this newly reopened address. A- . See the full article at EW.com . | "21 Jump Street" morphs into an action comedy with a tonal complexity . What this interpretation sacrifices in teachable moments, it makes up for in intelligent giddiness . Channing Tatum has got bust-out talents as a really funny, self-aware comic actor . | 006684f2e2fa98b707502c549ab1a0ea0d22a3db |
(CNN) -- The image makers were in overdrive at the Republican National Convention this week. They finally had their candidate but now they had a problem: The guy wasn't likable. And nowhere was that problem more acute than with women voters. Concerns about Mitt Romney's slash-and-burn economic approach at Bain Capital, coupled with displays on the campaign trail of his stunning lack of empathy had shaken confidence among women voters. Add in the wound reopened when Senate candidate Todd Akin spoke aloud the GOP's twisted ideas about women and rape and pregnancy, and the mandate to the handlers was infinitely clear: Make every night Ladies' Night at the Mirage in Tampa. The show kicked off with Ann Romney headlining the first night. Her speech overflowed with love for her husband and family, and she deftly attempted to transfer those warm and fuzzy feelings to the women viewers. "I love you women! I hear your voices," she shouted at us as her husband's proxy. Throughout the week, prominent women, such as Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice and New Mexico Gov. Susana Martinez, headlined high profile events. Vice presidential candidate Paul Ryan regaled us with tales of his truly amazing mom. And as Romney prepared to take the stage on the final night, a soft-focus video brought the love between Ann and Mitt into full technicolor, while walk-ons from women of lesser stature were scattered throughout at a reassuring pace. By prime time, we couldn't miss the marquee message: Mitt loves women, so keep calm and carry on. Mitt's largely biographical speech was light on substance and long on references to the ladies who had shaped him and supported his career, including those in senior leadership of his governor's cabinet. His shout out to South Carolina Gov. Nikki Haley and New Hampshire Sen. Kelly Ayotte, who had appeared that week on the dais, gave him an opportunity to invoke his mother's posthumous approval of how far women have come. Opinion: Did Romney gain ground? Then, in a deluge of red, white and blue balloons, the pretty show ended and the workers began to dismantle the Mirage, leaving the harsh sunlight of the day-after to reveal the intractable reality of what a Romney-Ryan presidency would mean for American women. Women voters care most about the economy and jobs. But with a critical caveat: nine out of 10 women say that a candidate must "understand women." To do that requires an acknowledgment of two things: that women's economic security -- by almost every measure -- still lags behind that of male counterparts and that their economic security is inextricably tied to their ability to control their health, including reproductive choices. And on those points, no illusions and tradesman's tricks can obscure the fact that the GOP agenda fails the test. A July National Women's Law Center report showed that the 2007 Bush recession cost nearly 7.5 million jobs and recovery has been slow to reach women workers. Public sector job loss drives this disparity. While Romney's jobs plan is still notoriously vague, with little to offer other than a regressive nod to trickle-down economics, Paul Ryan has been frighteningly clear that his top priority is essentially dismantling our government -- a fixation projected to result in a whopping 4.1 million lost jobs over two years. Even the lucky few women who hold or get jobs under a Romney-Ryan administration are likely to be paid far less for equal work. In the aggregate, women are paid on average 77 cents on the dollar to men, but Romney still refuses to support the Lilly Ledbetter Pay Check Fairness Act. Opinion: Is that the best Mitt Romney can do? What of the women who can't get jobs? They can look forward to victimization and vilification. The 24 million women who live in poverty in America span all ethnic groups, with single moms twice as likely to be poor as single dads. Still, Ryan has proposed cutting nutrition assistance to these households, often the only thing that stands between them and malnutrition. Romney has not disagreed. Meanwhile, in a cynical race play, the Romney campaign's deceptive ad campaign attacking welfare recipients has denigrated these women instead of offering solutions. Adding insult to injury, Romney's Republican platform includes an extremist anti-abortion amendment that removes exemptions even for rape and incest victims. A party that eliminates a woman's right to choose while at the same time cutting pay, jobs, and access to health care and food security exposes a bizarre and dangerous lack of understanding of the challenges facing American women. No matter how much love bounced around the walls of the Tampa Mirage, in real life, lip service and speeches -- even by women -- don't feed the family. What women need is a sober assessment of how economic challenges uniquely affect us and solutions that reflect that understanding. And despite their best efforts over the last week, that's one promise that a Romney-Ryan presidency can't deliver. The opinions expressed in this commentary are solely those of Ilyse Hogue. | Ilyse Hogue says the GOP tried hard at convention to show they are on women's side . She says a look at Romney-Ryan positions and GOP platform show otherwise . She says both would prevent abortion even in rape or incest, would cut nutrition aid . Hogue: Romney still refuses to support the Lilly Ledbetter Pay Check Fairness Act. | 7a91fabdfe78b9357173135abd8a1eb3d6f54883 |
By . Alex Ward . PUBLISHED: . 03:59 EST, 5 September 2012 . | . UPDATED: . 05:55 EST, 5 September 2012 . A man enraged with jealousy who kidnapped and waterboarded his girlfriend with root beer has been jailed for life. The victim said that it was the most horrific night of her life as the man poured root beer in her nose and mouth, choking her, pointing a gun at her eye and threatening to kill her while her children were in another part of the house. Major Harris III, 32, attacked the woman in Palm Coast, Florida after she refused to tell him where she had been that day in November 2010. Major Harris III who attacked his girlfriend was jailed for life . The victim broke down as she recounted the attack and the fear she held for her children at the sentencing hearing in August. According to The Daytona Beach News-Journal she said: ‘On the night that this occurred, it had to be one of the most horrific nights of my life and most people think it was because I had a gun pointed at my face but it wasn't. 'The horrific part of this was me having to leave the house hoping to run into an officer after the gun had been pointed at my face and returning to my house where I knew I had my kids. The horrific part of this was my children.’ Circuit Judge Raul Zambrano said the ‘horrific’ incident warranted a ‘very stiff punishment’ and sentenced Harris to life in jail without parole. Judge Zambrano said: ‘You terrorised a human being by using a weapon and pointing that weapon at that human being and that, in and of itself, will cause harm. ‘It doesn't require somebody to go to the hospital or somebody to get shot, but it will cause enough fear in a human being that probably could scar them for life. ‘You escalated the situation based upon . your feelings of jealousy or wanting to be in control of another human . being, but our society does not tolerate that type of behaviour. Your . actions do warrant a very stiff punishment.’ Waterboarding involves simulating the sensation of drowning before bringing one back from the brink. The . controversial torture technique has allegedly been used by the U.S. against terror suspects including Khalid Sheikh Mohammed, the man who is . believed to have planned and executed the attacks on the World Trade . Center with four others. Torture technique: Harris pinned his victim to the ground, choking her as he poured root beer down her nose and throat, a controversial technique called waterboarding as simulated here . Harris was also sentenced to an additional 20 years for aggravated battery with a firearm and aggravated assault with a firearm. Harris said he ‘forgave’ the victim in a statement in court before the judge sentenced him. Harris said: ‘First off, addressing the alleged victim, we both know what took place that night. As far as my behalf, you know, I apologise for what took place. ‘You know, I've been praying about the situation and, you know, I forgive her as well, too.’ He then proclaimed his innocence to Judge Zambrano. He said: ‘With all due respect, sir, I understand the jury has in fact found me guilty of the alleged charges although my innocence still remains... so regardless of the years you sentenced me to, I ask sir that you consider the fact that nobody was actually harmed or hospitalised. ‘I also feel that my character was truly assassinated by the prosecutor and most definitely by the media, of which I know you have no control over.’ Harris has previously served jail time for various offences including aggravated battery on a pregnant woman, depositing cheques with the intent to defraud, aggravated battery with a deadly weapon and possession of a controlled substance. | Major Harris III attacked his girlfriend, pouring root beer down her throat, pointing a gun at her eye while threatening to kill her . He then forced her and her children to drive with him before she escaped and flagged down police . Harris was sentenced to life in jail plus an additional 20 years for assault and battery with a firearm . The victim said it was the most horrific night of her life . | 68f0eae0c038e4555a9dab634041434e63a65b37 |
(CNN) -- Serious crowd trouble has led to Tuesday's soccer match between Italy and Serbia in Genoa being abandoned after just six minutes. Disturbances in the area of the Marassi stadium where visiting Serbian fans were congregated meant the kick-off had to be delayed by more than 30 minutes. And, when play began, referee Craig Thomson stopped the match after flares were thrown from the same end as the earlier disturbances, with one appearing to strike Italian goalkeeper Emiliano Viviano. Following consultations between European football's governing body UEFA, Italian and Serbian officials, the players left the pitch, without returning. Italy coach Cesare Prandelli told reporters: "We're not playing this game. I have never seen anything like this before." Before kick-off, three Serb fans climbed onto a security screen and initially refused to get down, while police, firefighters and stewards surrounded the visiting fans as flares and objects were hurled at the Italian fans. The match was a Group C qualifier for the Euro 2012 championships. In the other Group C matches, Slovenia claimed a vital 1-0 win in Estonia to move up to second place in the table, level with Italy who still lead the way on goal difference. Meanwhile, Northern Ireland, who held Italy to a 0-0 draw in Belfast on Friday, needed a late Kyle Lafferty goal to scrape a 1-1 draw in the Faroe Islands. Elsewhere, world and European champions Spain were given a fright by Scotland in Glasgow, eventually securing a thrilling 3-2 Group I victory. A David Villa penalty and an Andres Iniesta goal looked to have given Spain the three points but Steven Naismith and a Gerard Pique own goal gave the Scots hope. However, substitute Fernando Llorente headed home the winner for the visitors with 11 minutes remaining. Spain are three points clear of the Czech Republic, who lie second in the table after a 2-0 win at bottom-of-the-table Liechtenstein. Germany continued their 100 per cent record in Group A with a comfortable 3-0 win at Kazakhstan, who are still pointless after their four matches. After a goalless first half, Joachim Loew's side made their class tell after the break courtesy of goals from Miroslav Klose, Mario Gomez and Lukas Podolski. Austria are now second in the table on seven points following a remarkable 4-4 draw with Belgium in Brussels. The visitors led 3-2 with three minutes left but Belgium scored two quick-fire goals before an injury time Martin Harnik goal secured the point for Austria. Turkey are a further point behind in third after suffering a shock 1-0 defeat in Azerbaijan, who collected their first victory. Russia lead the way in Group B after an eight-minute Aleksandr Kerzhakov goal gave them a vital win in Macedonia. They lie on nine points, two ahead of Ireland, Armenia and Slovakia who are locked in a three-way tie for second place. Slovakia and Ireland drew 1-1 in Zilina, while Armenia crushed bottom side Andorra 4-0 in Yerevan. France head Group D with nine points from their four games after struggling to a 2-0 win over minnows Luxembourg in Metz. Karim Benzema and Yoann Gourcuff netted for Laurent Blanc's side, who lead unbeaten Belarus -- 2-0 victors over Albania in Minsk --by a point. World Cup runners-up Netherlands continue to impress in qualifying and they maintained their 100 per cent Group E record with a stunning 4-1 victory over Sweden in Amsterdam. Klass-Jan Huntelaar and Ibrahim Afellay both scored twice as the Dutch remained three points clear of second-placed Hungary, who needed a goal four minutes into injury time from Balazs Dzsudzsak to claim a 2-1 success in Finland. The remaining group game saw Moldova win 2-0 in San Marino, who remain bottom of the group without a point. Group F remains the tightest of the nine groups with three nations still unbeaten after four rounds of matches. Greece lead the way with eight points after a 2-1 home win over Israel, while Georiga remain third on six points after conceding a late equalizer in a 1-1 draw in Latvia. In Group G, England failed to score for the first time in their revamped Wembley home after being held to a 0-0 draw by table-toppers Montenegro. Both nations remain unbeaten and look to have the group between them. The other match saw Switzerland thrash Wales 4-1 in Basel, with the Welsh bottom of the table without a point from their three matches. Portugal are up to second place in Group H after a 3-1 victory in Iceland, who remain bottom of the table without a point. They trail leaders Norway, who did not play, by two points while Denmark are third after defeating Cyprus 2-0. | Euro 2012 Group C qualifier between Italy and Serbia abandoned after just six minutes . The match in Genoa is called off following serious crowd disturbances . Spain, Netherlands and Germany all retain their 100 per cent qualifying records . But England lose theirs after being held to a 0-0 home draw with Montenegro . | c4742f514fcee5b62c2ae3d8b5fe08801dca39e4 |
By . Daily Mail Reporter . PUBLISHED: . 11:20 EST, 16 January 2014 . | . UPDATED: . 12:35 EST, 16 January 2014 . Waite, pictured outside Carlisle Crown Court, told police after the alleged attack that she thought she was seeing a zombie . A woman drunkenly punched her aunt in the face at a family barbecue because she thought she was a zombie, a court has heard. Joanne Waite, of Workington, Cumbria, allegedly launched the attack on Eleanor Huddart, 69, after she 'mistook her for the living dead'. Mrs Huddart, who was also allegedly attacked by her husband on the same evening, was left with a fractured eye socket and severe bruising after the eventful barbecue. Waite, 44, told Carlisle Crown Court . that she was acting in self defence when she hit her aunt across the . face after drinking - because she didn't think she was a real person. The . court heard that in a statement to police following the incident, Waite . said: 'It was walking slowly. It looked like a 1970s zombie type of . thing. 'Is this real? Is this real? Am I really seeing someone with blood all over her face? It was walking towards me.' She . also allegedly claimed she 'didn't know it was a person', before adding . that she remembered punching Huddart 'to get her off us'. Tim . Evans, prosecuting, told the court Waite phoned her mother during the . bizarre incident and said: 'Ring the police mam, it's like a zombie . mam.' He told the jury: 'You know when you watch a horror film that Shaun of the Dead is not a fly-on-the-wall documentary. 'Did . she get onto the police immediately? Did she wait there to await the . arrival of the police to see what horror show was going on inside? 'Did she call Ghostbusters if it was a horrific apparition she was dealing with? No, she went home.' Joanne Waite, 44, of Workington, Cumbria, told police she thought her aunt was a 'zombie' after allegedly launching the attack on the 69-year-old following a family barbecue in July last year . The court heard how Waite had been drinking at the family barbecue, which was held at Mrs Huddart's home in July last year, and how at the end of night the only people left were Waite and the Huddarts. Mr Evans told the jury there was an argument at the end of the night between Mr and Mrs Huddart, which allegedly resulted in him attacking his wife. He said the next thing Mrs Huddart could recall was waking up the next day 'black and blue' and with a fractured eye socket. Waite was interviewed by police and Mr . Evans said she 'concealed the fact she had struck her elderly aunt in . the face three times'. Waite, from Workington, Cumbria, told Carlisle Crown Court that she was acting in self defence when she allegedly hit her aunt across the face after drinking - because she 'didn't think she was a real person' Mrs Huddart spoke to police at a later date and said things had come back to her 'in flashbacks', saying Waite had attacked her as well. It prompted police to interview Waite again. Mr Evans said: 'She knew that when she was punching, the person she was punching was not some zombie, it was her auntie.' The trial continues. | Joanne Waite told police she 'mistook her aunt for the living dead' Victim, 69, sustained fractured eye socket and severe bruising . Waite said she was acting in self defence because aunt 'wasn't real person' | b1e0fa59d9274082a3bdffb7dadc5d005c88299b |
NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell was among several witnesses cross-examined at the Ray Rice appeal hearing in New York yesterday . NFL commissioner Roger Goodell was the first witness called in to Ray Rice's appeal hearing yesterday, and testified under oath for more than two hours. He was among several witnesses cross-examined by NFL Players Association lawyer Jeffrey Kessler as part of the two-day hearing. No details of the testimony are avaiable. Goodell left the session just after 2pm and climbed into a black SUV without commenting on the case, ABC News reported. Disgraced former NFL star Rice is making his case to return to the field after the league indefinitely suspended him from the game after footage emerged of him knocking his then fiancee unconscious earlier this year. Rice, 27, claims he has been punished twice for the same offense, a one-punch knockout of Janay Palmer during a February altercation at an Atlantic City, New Jersey, casino. Goodell initially gave Rice a two-game suspension for the fight, but in September after video of the punch went viral, he suspended the player indefinitely. Rice has said he explained the incident to Goodell, but the commissioner claims his account was ‘ambiguous’ and was brought into focus when the video of the punch materialized. Goodell said he had not seen the video from inside the casino's elevator until it surfaced on the internet. As well as the NFL commissioner, league security chief Jeffery Miller, Ravens President Dick Cass and Rice are among the witnesses expected to testify at the two-day hearing. Rice's wife, Janay, might also testify. The Ravens cut Rice and his $35 million contract, amid a wave of public criticism that the league had turned a blind eye to domestic violence by players. Scroll down for video . Disgraced former NFL star Ray Rice and wife Janay put on a united front as they arrived for day one of a two day hearing with football bosses in New York City on Wednesday . Other Ravens executives and members of the players union are expected to speak during the hearing before arbitrator Barbara Jones, a former federal judge. The hearing will be closed to the press and public and Jones has issued a gag order forbidding participants from discussing it publicly. Goodell admitted that he ‘didn't get it right’ when he suspended Rice for just two games, and the league has since strengthened its penalties for domestic abuse. The league also hired Lisa Friel, the former head of sex crimes prosecutions in the New York district attorney's office, to help the NFL deal with domestic violence and sexual assault. The player's legal team is expected to argue that even under the league's new domestic violence policy, first-time offender Rice should only be suspended for a maximum of six games. Should Jones side with Rice and his original two-game suspension, the six-year NFL veteran would be free to sign with any team. His legal team is expected to argue that even under the league's new domestic violence policy, first-time offender Rice should only be suspended for a maximum of six games. That amount of games has already passed. Experts are predicting that Rice's suspension will be dropped, leaving him ample time to find another team to join before the season is even halfway over. Back to work? Experts are predicting that Rice's suspension will be dropped, leaving him ample time to find another team to join before the season is even halfway over . But which team would be bold enough to hire him? Last month CBSSports.com reported last that two teams may be willing to take a chance. The first is the Indianapolis Colts, whose coach Chuck Pagano used to work for the Ravens and 'thinks highly' of Rice. Another prospect is the New England Patriots, where coach Bill Belichick has strong ties to Rice's Rutgers University coach Greg Schiano. 'Wife beater': Rice was put on indefinite suspension on September 8 after surveillance footage was released showing the moment he struck his now-wife Janay in an Atlantic City elevator . | Roger Goodell was among several witnesses cross-examined yesterday . Rice will be making case to return to the field after league suspended him . Former NFL star claims he has been punished twice for the same offense . He was suspended over one-punch knockout of then-fiancee in Atlantic City . Should an arbitrator side with Rice, he would be free to sign with any team . | 19e4c9f3d67985f156823b3ee7bdda40ab1fe395 |
(EW.com) -- Chris Meloni has booked his first post-"SVU" gig -- and it's a bloody good one. The former star of the Dick Wolf drama will join HBO's "True Blood" in season 5 as "ancient, powerful vampire who holds the fate of Bill and Eric in his hands." He will be a series regular. Meloni's role on Alan Ball's drama marks a homecoming, of sorts: The actor previously played Chris Keller on the pay cabler's gritty drama "Oz" from 1998 to 2003. Earlier this year, Meloni decided to step down from playing Detective Elliot Stabler on the long-running NBC drama. See the full article at EW.com. CLICK HERE to Try 2 RISK FREE issues of Entertainment Weekly . © 2011 Entertainment Weekly and Time Inc. All rights reserved. | Christopher Meloni will join HBO's "True Blood" in season 5 . He will play an "ancient, powerful vampire who holds the fate of Bill and Eric in his hands" The actor previously played Chris Keller on the pay cabler's gritty drama "Oz" | 001adf6209be103cb198b8599f236b4d5760a5fe |
United Arab Emirates produced one of the greatest Asian Cup upsets to send champions Japan tumbling out of the tournament 5-4 on penalties after their quarter-final finished 1-1 after extra time on Friday. After Japan's Shinji Kagawa had missed the first sudden-death spot kick, defender Ismail Ahmed nervelessly converted the decisive penalty to send his team into a last four meeting with hosts Australia on Tuesday. The winner of that semi-final in Newcastle will meet Iraq or South Korea to decide the continental champions back at Stadium Australia on January 31. Japan crashed out of the Asian Cup after losing to United Arab Emirates on penalties . Keisuke Honda reacts after sending his penalty over the bar during the penalty shootout . AC Milan playmaker Honda smashed Japan's opening penalty into the stands . JAPAN: Kawashima, Morishige, Yoshida, Nagatomo, Sakai, Endo (Shibasaki 54), Hasebe, Inui (Muto 46), Kagawa, Okazaki (Toyoda 65), Honda . Subs not used: Ueda, Ota, Kiyotake, Nishikawa, Kobayashi, Konno, Shiotani, Shoji, Higashiguchi . Goal: Shibasaki 81 . UAE: Majed Naser, Mohamed Ahmad, Abdelaziz Husain (Ismail Ahmed 76), Mohanad Salem, Abdulaziz Sanqour, Ismaeel Al Hamadi, Omar Abdulrahman, Amer Abdulrahman (Majed Hassan 54), Khamis Esmail, Ahmed Khalil (Habib Fardan Abdualla 58), Ali Ahmed Mabkhout . Goal: Ali Ahmed Mabkhout 7 . Booked: Ismaeel Al Hamadi, Omar Abdulrahman, Khamis Esmail, Ismail Ahmed . Substitute Gaku Shibasaki had earlier saved the blushes of the Samurai Blue by equalising nine minutes from the end of normal time after Ali Ahmed Mabkhout had given the Gulf nation an early lead with his fourth goal of the tournament. Mabkhout's powerful shot into the corner of the net after seven minutes was the first goal Japan had conceded in Australia, stunning the blue-shirted, drum-thumping band of their supporters behind the goal into a rare silence. Japan have not won the Asian Cup four times in the last six tournaments by panicking, though, and they continued to press forward after the goal with the neat inter-passing game that won them three from three in the group stage. As they had in those games, however, Japan failed to convert possession into clear-cut chances, Takashi Inui wasting the best of them in the first half by directing his far post header straight at goalkeeper Majed Naser. Japan had kept danger man Omar Abdulrahman quiet before half-time but the languid midfielder nearly helped his side double the lead four minutes after the break with a delightful flick into the box that Mabkhout just failed to control. Former Manchester United attacking midfielder Shinji Kagawa looks despondent after missing a penalty . Inui had been replaced by Yoshinori Muto during the interval and the substitute had two chances to make a quick impression but flashed a shot wide before also failing to hit the target with a free header. That set the template for the next half an hour of the match. The UAE goal was under almost permanent siege but a combination of stout defending and misfiring Japan forwards kept the underdogs ahead until Shibasaki lashed the ball into the net from the edge of the area after a one-two with Keisuke Honda. Having been handed a lifeline, Japan looked determined to finish the tie in normal time but continued to waste a string of chances and the profligacy continued into a strangely passionless extra half an hour. Honda sent the opening spot kick high over the bar but Khamis Esmaeel the same with the the UAE's third penalty and the shootout went to sudden death. | United Arab Emirates produced a major upset by defeating Japan . The two sides could not be split after 120 minutes of action . Japan duo Shinji Kagawa and Keisuke Honda failed to score from the spot . | 90195de9d7413e5b420892e5c620bf35b8256b14 |
A 43-year-old man caught hacking out chunks of an ancient California redwood to sell for furniture has been ordered to pay $11,000 restitution. Danny E. Garcia must also undertake 700 hours of community service as part of his one-year suspended sentence for poaching burls from trees in Redwood National and State Parks. The California man was one of two people convicted of felony vandalism after rangers tracked slabs cut from the redwood to a furniture shop last year. Park rangers say burl poaching has been going on for years due to high unemployment and drug addiction, as the knobby growths can fetch thousands of dollars. Scroll down for video . Damaging: Northern California park officials say that poachers are . endangering 1,000-year-old coastal redwoods by hacking off burls to sell . Lucrative: The burls or large knots of ancient redwood trees (a refrigerator-sized example is seen . here) can fetch more than $1000 . Larry Morrow, 34, also of Orick, California pleaded guilty to vandalism charges and was sentenced earlier this month to three years probation and ordered to pay $1600 restitution, SFGate reported. According to a National Park Service statement, Garcia and Morrow were arrested following a year-long investigation. On April 19 last year, a bear researcher in the park discovered giant burls cut off a a 10-foot thick old growth redwood tree just . south of the mouth of the Klamath River. The cut left a scar measuring 8 . feet by 10 feet. Over . the course of weeks, the thieves cut the burl into slabs weighing more . than 100 pounds each that they dragged behind ATVs through the woods . several hundred yards to a road. An anonymous tip led to the discovery of the burls at a local shop in Del Norte County. After matching the wood to . pieces left behind at the scarred tree, investigators seized the slabs. The dealer . had paid $1,600 for eight slabs that he was going to sell for $700 . apiece, for a total of $5,600. NPS . Law Enforcement Rangers indicated that Garcia had been in possession of . the burls taken from the site, and then sold them to the shop. The burl . shop was not investigated. Authorities . say unemployment and drug addiction have spurred an increase in the . destructive practice of cutting off the knobby growths at the base of . ancient redwood trees to make decorative pieces like lacey-grained . coffee tables and wall clocks. The . practice — known as burl poaching — has become so prevalent along the . Northern California coast that Redwood National and State Parks now . closes the popular Newton B. Drury Scenic Parkway at night in a . desperate attempt to deter thieves. Law . enforcement Ranger Laura Denny said that poachers have been stalking . the remote reaches of the park with their chain saws and ATVs for . decades, but lately the size and frequency of thefts have been on the . rise. Environmental damage: National Park Service Ranger Jeff Denny shows the damage from redwood burl poaching in Orick, California . 'When I interview suspects, that is the (reason) they say: their addiction to drugs and they can't find jobs,' she said. Her husband, park district interpretation supervisor Jeff Denny, said it is comparable to poor people poaching rare rhinos in Africa to sell their horns. Jobs are hard to come by since the timber and commercial fishing industries went into decline. 'Originally there were two million acres of old growth forest that spanned the coast of Northern California from Oregon to Monterey,' he said. 'Over the past 150 years, 95 percent of that original forest has been cut. The only remaining old growth forest in existence now is almost entirely within the Redwood national park' and some state parks. A redwood tree can survive the practice, but the legacy of the organism that could be 1,000 years old is threatened, because the burl is where it sprouts a clone before dying. Magestic: The ancient redwoods in California's Redwood National and State Parks are about 400 feet tall and 1000 years old . Sprouting . from burls is the prevalent method of redwood propagation, and the . source of the Latin name for coast redwood, Sequoia semper vierens, or . forever living, he added. Lorin . Sandberg is a burl dealer in Scio, Oregon. He occasionally goes to . Northern California to buy burl, but it is tough to find any more, with . almost all of the old growth that makes the best burls protected on . public land. The good stuff with a lacey grain full of eyes will go for . $2 to $3 a pound, unseasoned. Finished dining room tables are being offered for $1,300 on eBay. 'I . don't buy them unless they have proof of where they got it,' he said. 'I've got to have a paper trail. If there's not a paper trail, it can . stay in their yard.' With . few law enforcement rangers — and 133,000 acres of park stretching . south from the headquarters in Crescent City, California — to patrol, . arrests are rare, Laura Denny said. She can recall two or three over the . past 12 years. While charges can be felonies carrying prison time, . convictions usually end up as misdemeanors carrying fines. | Danny E Garcia cut burls off redwoods at Redwood National and State Parks in California and sold them to a shop . He must complete 700 hours community service as part of his one-year suspended sentence . Larry Morrow, 34, also pleaded guilty to vandalism charges . He was sentenced to three years probation and ordered to pay $1600 restitution . Park rangers say burl poachers make thousands selling the ancient wood to furniture shops and dealers . The cuts leave the 1,000-year-old trees vulnerable to fire and disease . | 8f52dfc3f94a7c21c2df954bf2086783d7997fdb |
(CNN) -- Big day reveal or YouTube preview? That's the question marketers face as they decide when to release their much-anticipated Super Bowl commercials. Mashable recently reported ads that ran online before the Super Bowl received 9 million views, compared to 1.3 million views for ads that debuted during the big game. Generating buzz and going viral are two measures of success. In 2012, more than 13.7 million Super Bowl-related tweets were posted during the big game and this year that figure is expected to be higher. Last year, the top ad hashtags were #solongvampires, #makeitplatinum and #beckhamforhm. Does anyone remember what those were for? No matter. It's a new year! Here are some of the Super Bowl ads currently creating big buzz... Volkswagen ad - The Minnesota man with the Jamaican accent . Spreading happiness by channeling Jimmy Cliff is the theme of this Volkswagen commercial, which has generated some controversy. While some online discussions question whether the use of a Jamaican accent by a white guy from the "Gopher State" is offensive, commenters on the Volkswagen YouTube page say Jamaicans come in all colors. "I think it's great, funny and a compliment to the Caribbean no worries feel happy way of life!" wrote user rebelphoto. "I myself am not Jamaican but work with a good friend who is and I just love the sound of his dialect and the way he spreads his happiness when we are demoralized, just like the guy in the ad. I love Marvin, anyone offended by this ad should watch it and listen closer." The Jamaica Gleaner, a newspaper in Kingston, Jamaica, posed the question to their Facebook fans, who mostly agreed the ad was not racist. "There is nothing wrong with this ad it's not racist," said Lascelles G. Johnson. "How many Jamaicans speak like Americans?" Watch the Volkswagen ad . Coca-Cola ad - Race across the desert . A Coca-Cola commercial featuring a race among outlaw cowboys, aggressive showgirls with glitter bombs and scavenging badlanders to reach a giant bottle of soda seems harmless enough. But it's the lone Arab character leading his camels through the desert who is overtaken by the race participants that has at least one Arab-American group asking for the character to be edited out. Warren David, president of the American-Arab Anti-Discrimination Committee told Reuters on Wednesday the commercial is racist. A Coca-Cola spokeswoman said the characters are a nod to movies of the past. There hasn't been much reaction on Twitter. On Coke's YouTube page, Mona M. said, "I'm Arab and I don't find this racist only because I don't allow myself or anyone to lower my people's standards. I'm smart enough to know that not every Arab is a Bedouin with a camel and not every American is a cowboy or show dancer.... Now can we worry about more important things in life already?!!!" Watch the Coca-Cola ad . Mercedes-Benz ad - Blond bombshell washes car... in slow motion . The sexy, sudsy Kate Upton video for Mercedes-Benz that released last week gave audiences a peek at the direction the luxury carmaker was heading for the Super Bowl. On Wednesday, Mercedes released the full spot, which features Usher and Willem Dafoe in addition to Upton. Sadly for some, it contains fewer suds, but more fantasy. Watch the Mercedes-Benz ad . Calvin Klein ad - It's for underwear, right? And while we're talking about sexy, Calvin Klein's preview featuring male model Matthew Terry prompted this response from YouTube viewer omgboyplex, "Best. 16 seconds. ever." Watch the Calvin Klein preview . Audi ad - Kiss the prom queen . Would a teen really go to the prom -- in a tuxedo -- by himself? Probably not. But Super Bowl ads are definitely not about reality. This Audi commercial challenges viewers to "Be Brave. It's what defines us." Oh, and by the way, you could end up with a black eye. But it's totally worth it. Watch the Audi ad . Toyota - Your wish is my command . Kaley Cuoco struts around everyday America as a purple genie granting your spoken and unspoken wishes in this Toyota RAV4 commercial that pairs talking squirrels with space travel. Cuoco has been tweeting about the commercial, and although the hashtag #wishgranted hasn't gotten much buzz ahead of Sunday's game, at least one person wished for a hobbit plane. Watch the Toyota ad . Budweiser - What's in a name? Beer + baby animals? Budweiser launched a Twitter contest to name the Clydesdale foal that will be featured in its Super Bowl ad. The foal will be seven days old on the day of the big game. Not old enough to drink or vote, but we're hoping old enough to refuse some of these suggested names: Harmonica, Buddakup and Frodo. Submit your vote . Kia - The birds and the bees... and a planet . Speaking of baby animals and humans, this panicked dad tries to explain to his young son where babies come from by inventing an elaborate story about the planet Babylandia. In the end, he is saved by a feature in his Kia Sorento that plays music on demand. Watch the Kia Sorento ad . GoDaddy - You might not want to watch with grandma . Twitter user @renillawafer14 says her least favorite part of the Super Bowl is the "slutty GoDaddy commercials where you just look around at your family like ......" Well Rennie, it's not likely to be any less uncomfortable this year if these are really the commercials they are planning to air. Watch the GoDaddy commercial lineup . | Some of this year's Super Bowl ads are being previewed online . Marketers try to gauge if it's worth it to save the ads for the big game . This year's roundup: Sexy, snarky, sudsy . | 977d9517e21647a51b5d7cb3e9466488758ef9a1 |
(CNN) -- Two men charged in the 1978 disappearance of five teenagers in Newark, New Jersey, pleaded not guilty to five counts of murder Wednesday morning as about 40 family members of the victims looked on. Lee Anthony Evans, 56, and Philander Hampton, 53, were arrested Monday night. That was about 18 months after the investigation into the disappearance of the five boys was given new life; a witness came to detectives with information that the 1978 arson of an abandoned building in Newark was connected with the case, acting prosecutor Robert Laurino said. Evans and Hampton also pleaded not guilty to arson charges. Evans' attorney, Michael A. Robbins, maintains his client's innocence, citing Evans' full cooperation with authorities during the 1978 investigation into the disappearance of Randy Johnson, 16, Melvin Pittman,17, Ernest Taylor, 17, Alvin Turner, 16, all of Newark; and Michael McDowell, 16, of East Orange. "In a case such as this, where the evidence has been lost, great care must be taken to prevent outrage, anger and emotion acting as a substitute in court for competent testimony, evidence and proof," Robbins said. "The magnitude of the tragedy in the case should not diminish the very sacredness of Mr. Evans' right to a fair trail." Hampton is being represented by John McMahon from the Essex County public defender's office. The family members of the victims sat silently as they watched Evans and Hampton enter their pleas. Evans had been under suspicion in 1978 but was released after passing a lie detector test. Witnesses said they had seen the boys getting into Evans' pickup truck. Helen Simmons, Michael's aunt, said she had never let go of her suspicion of Evans. "Five kids did not run away. They were not runaways. They had no reason to run away. Five kids did not run away all at the same time, all having been picked up by Lee Anthony Evans," said Simmons, who was in the courtroom Wednesday. "Michael's mother, my sister, died just 13 months after this, never knowing what happened to her son," she said. "We have not forgotten Michael the last 32 years," she added. "Michael is always with us. It's just that now we do feel that we will achieve the most we can get from justice, which is empty, which is to have [Evans and Hampton] to spend the rest of their lives in jail. I would love for [Evans] to live at least another 32 more years. In jail." Authorities believe that the alleged killings were in retaliation for the teens' breaking into one of the defendants' homes to steal marijuana. The remains of the victims have never been found. A third suspect, Maurice Woody-Olds, died in March 2008. Officials allege that Evans and Hampton, with the aid of Woody-Olds, lured the five boys at various times into Evans' pickup and took them to the abandoned building on Camden Street, where they held them at gunpoint before setting it ablaze, officials said. The case will next be presented to a grand jury on a date to be determined. Evans and Hampton are being held at Essex County Correctional Facility in lieu of $5 million bail. | Two men charged in disappearances of five teens in New Jersey . Witness told police 18 months ago that case was linked to arson . One suspect had been arrested in 1978 but passed lie detector test . Victim's aunt says she never lost suspicions . | 4b16120a48f6f96188c7f77a0552834f9b682e8a |
By . Rob Preece . PUBLISHED: . 09:45 EST, 20 August 2012 . | . UPDATED: . 01:39 EST, 21 August 2012 . He has shown no desire to slow down since leaving Downing Street, going on to build a business empire worth millions and even admitting he would like to return to frontline politics. But Tony Blair cut a very relaxed - and trim - figure today when he was spotted by photographers while holidaying in Spain. The former Labour premier looked slim as he walked the streets of a village near Marbella with wife Cherie. And the former first couple of British politics appeared to be star attractions, with one local woman even offering Mr Blair a bow as she shook his hand. Warm welcome: A local woman appears very honoured to meet former Prime Minister Tony Blair during his holiday in Marbella, Spain . Nice reception: Passers-by gather around the former Prime Minister as he walks among the locals in a village near Marbella . Holiday mode: The Blairs dressed casually during their visit to Marbella. Cherie (left) wore a pink blouse and three-quarter-length bottoms while Tony, pictured smiling at a girl in a pushchair (right), wore an open-topped shirt and light trousers . Mr and Mrs Blair were at times surrounded by surprised locals as they strolled through the village wearing sunglasses. And they responded to their warm welcome with cheery smiles, clearly enjoying the sunshine. Mr Blair, who famously converted to Catholicism after stepping down as Prime Minister, wore a wide grin when he visited a church in San Pedro de Alcantara, six miles west of Marbella. It is unclear who the Blairs have been staying with during their summer holiday. Previous breaks for the couple have included a trip to Italy in 2004, when they were guests of former Italian premier Silvio Berlusconi. Healthy: Tony Blair looked slim as he and wife Cherie chatted to locals on their Spanish holiday . Relaxed: Tony Blair and his wife Cherie wore sunglasses as they visited a church near Marbella . Visit: Mr and Mrs Blair meet a clergyman at the church in San Pedro de Alcantara, Spain . The Blairs have also enjoyed stays at Sir Cliff Richard's home in Barbados and a mansion in Miami owned by late Bee Gees singer Robin Gibb. At home, however, Mr Blair has hinted that he is in no mood to retire. He admitted in June that he craved a return to frontline political action. Mr Blair, who left Downing Street in 2007 after 10 years in power, revealed that he would have considered the posts of president of the EU or the World Bank had they been offered to him. And he suggested that the experience gained from his business and advisory roles since leaving Parliament, which are thought to have netted him about £20million last year, made him well suited to mount a comeback. 'I feel I've got something to say,' he said at the time. 'If people want to listen, that's great, and if they don't, that's their choice... 'I would want to emphasise how fast the world around us is changing and how incredibly dangerous it is for us to think we can stand still.' Smile for the camera: Tony Blair looks content as he and other visitors file into the church . Cheery: Mr Blair waves to locals who gathered to see him as he went to a village church . | Mr Blair appeared healthy and very relaxed as he visited a church . Ex-Labour leader was joined in Spain by his wife Cherie . | c77abaede017c0b4a62b1825ff114f693cd624ac |
(CNN) -- U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry said Saturday that he and Afghan President Hamid Karzai resolved "the major issues" of an agreement to keep some U.S. military forces in Aghanistan after 2014. But a potential deal-breaker, legal immunity for U.S. troops, was referred to a council of elders. The immunity issue caused the abrupt pullout of U.S. troops from Iraq at the end of 2011. ISAF member killed in Afghanistan . Without an agreement, U.S. troops would leave Afghanistan with all NATO forces at the end of 2014. The NATO mission now has about 100,000 troops in Afghanistan, about half from the United States. American and Afghan diplomats have worked for a year on a new agreement which would allow roughly 10,000 American troops to remain. Karzai said he did not have the authority to negotiate immunity for foreign troops. "We will leave this to the representatives of Afghanistan who will come to the Loya Jirga, and then take it to the Afghan Parliament, and the Afghan people can decide on this," he said through an interpreter at a joint press conference in Kabul. After Karzai recited a list of complaints about American operations in the country, Kerry struck a positive tone. "We have resolved in these last 24 hours the major issues the president went through," he said, adding the United States would "respect completely" the need for the agreement to be approved by the Loya Jirga council of elders next month and then the Afghan Parliament. Karzai complained that the United States' security guarantees have fallen short of protecting his country from attacks short of invasion -- a reference to possible threats from Pakistan. But he sounded satisfied with assurances that American troops would limit their operations inside his country. "The U.S. has agreed to stop all unilateral operations in Afghanistan," Karzai said. He added later, "And under no circumstances foreign forces go and search the homes of Afghans." CNN's Yousuf Basil contributed to this report. | Agreement would keep some U.S. forces in Afghanistan after 2014 NATO pullout . Immunity for American troops killed similar negotiations with Iraq . Kerry: U.S. respects Afghan process of submitting deal to Loya Jirga council and Parliament . Karzai says he has U.S. promise to stop unilateral military operations and searches of homes . | 4bcfabd4b0f59ae2c66774ef77721a936513ce29 |
The father of Miley Cyrus's homeless VMAs date said it was 'heart-breaking' to discover his son was sleeping rough in Hollywood - but said he's baffled why the 22-year-old never reached out for help. Former Pepsi Cola executive Dennis Helt – whose son Jesse appeared on stage on Sunday at the VMAs to accept an award for superstar Miley - said he hasn't seen Jesse for three years. Dennis, 61, was stunned when his son's faced flashed up on TV and on the internet. Scroll down for video . Upset: Dennis Helt, Jesse's father, told MailOnline that he didn't know his son was homeless and last saw him three years ago. He added: 'If I'd known then maybe I could have helped him' Happier days: Jesse, far right, pictured at the Oregon State Fair with his four siblings when he was younger . Acting up: Jesse, left, put on a funny face for the photo. Right, he is seen returning to Oregon on Monday night . But the retiree says he was more shocked to learn his son was homeless and living under a bush while seeking the assistance of a charity to survive. 'We kept in touch since he left for LA but I haven't spoken to him this year,' said Dennis. 'I thought he was still chasing his dream, I didn't know he was homeless, he didn't share that information with me. 'If I'd known then maybe I could have helped him. It's heart-breaking knowing he was going through that when he’s got a family to fall back on'. Dennis spoke as police in Oregon were still looking for Jesse to arrest him for a breach of his probation conditions in 2011. Officers paid his mom's house a visit on Tuesday to serve out an arrest warrant – but Linda Helt said her son wasn't home. Jesse was on the run from police when he went to Los Angeles after breaking probation following a drugs test back in 2011, which was part of his probation for a criminal trespass offence he was found guilty of a year earlier. A judge in his home state of Oregon issued a warrant for his arrest for repeatedly violating the terms of his probation. As of Wednesday morning officers from Polk County Sheriff's Department had still not heard from Jesse. Dad Dennis believes Jessie was a 'normal' kid, but admits he knew nothing of his son's brushes with the law as a teenager. 'That's all new to me', he said. 'He was 19 when he left, but I don't know what he was getting up to.' Dennis said Jesse, the youngest of five children, was just a young boy when he separated from wife Linda. He said he has always had a good relationship with his son and they haven't 'burned any bridges' with each other. Dennis said he sent money to Jesse a 'couple of times' in LA and even offered to pay for his flight home whenever he wanted. Shock: Polk County police visit the home of Jesse's mother, Linda, on Tuesday to arrest him over an outstanding warrant for probation violations in his home town . Search: Linda Helt told officers that he wasn't at her house and asked if they could make an appointment to speak to the police and his probation officer . But Jesse chose not to reach out and ask for help when things became desperate, instead he slept on the streets and live off charity hand-outs. Dennis can't understand his son's decision and insists there was never any family fall out that forced Jesse to leave and said he's close to all his siblings. 'It just wasn't the case that Jesse came from a bad situation, yes his parents were separated but he had a good strong family unit and is close to all his siblings. He could have stayed here or stayed with his mom Linda, but he chose to go his own way. 'Since he moved away he's been doing it on his own. I did know he had been struggling for money but I thought he was just doing small jobs, you know cleaning or spinning a sign on the corner, while he was trying to get jobs as a model.' Cyrus hit out on Twitter on Tuesday after it was revealed that Jesse was a wanted man. In one the Wrecking Ball singer wrote: 'People who are homeless have lived very hard lives. Jesse included.' She also tweeted that she hoped Jesse's case 'can be the start of a national conversation about youth homelessness and how to end it' and added: 'Does looking down upon the homeless help people excuse their inaction'. Jesse was arrested in October 2010 after he tried to break into a flat where he said a man had sold 'bad marijuana' to him. He was charged with burglary, criminal mischief in the third degree and criminal trespass in the 1st degree. The burglary charge was later dismissed. On November 23 of the same year, he was given 30 days in county jail, placed on supervised probation for 12 months and fined $572 and ordered to pay restitution, according to Polk County Circuit Court. Focus: Miley Cyrus took to Twitter (above and below) to defend Jesse after his criminal past emerged . In mugshots obtained by MailOnline, Jesse was booked on probation violations on July 24, 2011 and August 22, 2011. And in February 2012, Helt made the Most Wanted List for Polk County. He was listed number two on the list wanted for first degree trespass. For dad Dennis – who worked for Pepsi Cola as an events manager for 32 years – it's still unclear why Jesse fled Oregon. He says that far from leaving a hard life behind Jesse is simply 'stubborn', adding that it took 'guts' to head for the lights of Hollywood on his own. 'Maybe he gets that from me, I always wanted to make everything on my own,' he said. 'I was proud of him for having the guts to chase after what he wanted. 'He went down there with a phone card and I've sent him money a couple of times to help him out and given his mother Christmas and birthday presents for him, but other than that he's a private individual, he went off radar. 'It's kind of got me by surprise, but I'm happy he's back, I hope I get to see him soon.' He proudly showed off a framed photo of Jesse and his four siblings taken around ten years ago at the Oregon State Fair. Jesse pulls a funny face in the black and white snap in which he and his brothers and sister are wearing old-fashioned clothing. Dennis now hopes he can reconnect with Jesse and help him sort his life out. 'I was as shocked as anybody when I saw the Miley Cyrus blurb on the internet. I've been trying to come to grips with it, but it's great for him, I would have loved to be blown up all over the media when I was his age. 'I’m looking forward to seeing him, I've called my family and the people close to me and we're looking forward to seeing him, I've not seen him for three years. 'Whatever Jessie's made on his own, whatever he's done whether that be to come out of homelessness and be up there on the stage, I'm happy for him and I hope it leads to a lot of good things in the future.' Heartfelt: Jesse, who went to LA to try and become a model, collecting Miley's VMA award on Sunday night. He stole the show with his speech on the plight of the 1.6m homeless youth in the city . Wanted: Jesse was found guilty of criminal trespass in 2010 (left) but then went on to be booked for violating his probation on numerous occasions before leaving his hometown for good (right) Meanwhile, Martin Silbernagel, Polk County Director of Community Corrections, said Jesse could face up to one year in jail for breaching supervision conditions. Speaking outside his office in Dallas, Oregon, Mr Silbernagel told MailOnline: 'We will continue to look for Mr Helt and we will find him eventually. If he wants to continue living his life looking over his shoulder making sure law enforcement isn’t behind him, that’s up to him. 'But eventually what goes around comes around and we will find him.' The official said that ultimately Helt will be brought to stand before a judge. He said: 'The judge at that time will determine whether or not Mr Helt will be continued on probation in the community or whether to revoke his probation and impose a custody sentence of up to one year in county jail.' The director insisted that 'all violations' are 'serious', however small or however big. 'I use the example of growing up, parents might say to Johnny, "you need to clean your room, you need to clean your room"', he said. 'Eventually Johnny cleans his room, but if Johnny doesn't clean it there’s a consequence. Breaking the law in Polk County is the same, if you break the law there will be consequences'. | Jesse Helt's father, Dennis, told MailOnline he was shocked to see his son at the VMAs and discover what a desperate situation he was in . He said if he'd known he would have offered to help, claims he had sent him money in the past but hadn't seen him in three years . Dennis, from Salem, Oregon, added his son was 'stubborn' and praised his 'guts' for chasing his dream in LA on his own . Police are continuing search for Jesse after going to mother's house to arrest him on Tuesday over outstanding warrant for probation violations . | 1d67d0122ec357ebfaa4882dec7b2e7f9733ad05 |
A group of Gambian diplomats used their embassy in London as a front for selling duty free tobacco in a £5million scam, a court heard. The Deputy Head of the Gambian Diplomatic Mission, Yusupha Bojang, 54, and his colleagues are accused of ordering 32 metric tonnes of tobacco in just three years. They abused a scheme which granted them a duty-free tax exemption on goods for personal use by using delivery drivers to send them more than half a million 50g pouches of rolling tobacco, Southwark Crown Court heard. Deputy Head of the Gambian Diplomatic Mission Yusupha Bojang (left) and First Secretary Gaston Sambou (right) allegedly used the embassy as a front to sell duty free tobacco . In some cases they were ordering tobacco worth more than their annual salary but there is no evidence the eight defendants even smoked, the court heard. Deliveries to the Gambian High Commission were usually taken and signed for by Audrey Leeward, 48, who sat on the front desk, it was said. Witness Christopher Pelc worked as a driver at the time of the allegations and delivered huge quantities of tobacco to the Mission in Kensington. He saw Leeward so often that she had a pet name for Mr Pelc, the court heard. Boxes crammed with pouches of Golden Virginia and Old Holborn tobacco, were collected by Mr Pelc on behalf of International Diplomatic Supplies Ltd (IDS). He collected the high-value tobacco from the London City Bond Warehouse in Tilbury, Essex, before driving it to the Mission and leaving it in a ‘back room’. Officials at the Embassy, in Kensington, central London, was often made orders worth more than their annual salary, Southwark Crown Court heard . There were ‘frequent occasions’ when neither IDS nor second supply company Chacalli De Decker could meet the Mission’s extraordinary orders for rolling tobacco, the court was told. Prosecutor Jane Bewsey QC said: ‘You are asked about the size of the boxes, if you look at where we can see that on this particular document [an order form] the Gambian Mission, it says 5 x 50... in total to satisfy this order this order was 10 boxes? ‘That’s correct,’ replied Mr Pelc. The order was for 1.25kg of tobacco and only made up one part of a larger list of requests for deliveries to the Mission in May 2010. Another driver said he saw queues of people at the premises who appeared to be purchasing pouches of tobacco, the jury was told. Over the three-year period the eight defendants - Bojang, First Secretary Gaston Sambou, 48, finance attache Ebrima John, 38, welfare officer Georgina Gomez, 29, Leeward, secretary Hasaintu Noah, 60, driver Veerahia Ramarajaha, 54, and Ida Njie, 42 - collectively ordered or were invoiced for in excess of 530,000 50g pouches, it is said. Ms Bewsey said there was ‘systematic abuse’ of the privileges granted to diplomatic missions and their staff based in the UK to order goods free from excise duty and VAT. The ‘commercial’ scale scam led to a loss to the taxpayer of just short of £4.8m over three years, jurors heard. 530,000 50g pouches of rolling tobacco were ordered to the Diplomatic Mission, the court was told . Four of the defendants - Bojang, Sambou, John and Gomez - were employed as diplomatic staff and were therefore entitled to enjoy the tax-break on goods such as alcohol, perfume and tobacco for personal use. Leeward, Noah and Ramarajaha were locally employed and therefore not entitled to the privileges. Njie was employed by the Gambian Tourist Authority whose offices were in the same building as the High Commission. She was not employed by the Gambian Mission and accordingly she should not have enjoyed any diplomatic privileges, the court heard. Jurors were told that diplomatic immunity did not apply in this case and all the defendants were subject to UK law. The purchase of the duty-free goods were permitted on forms authorised by the Head of Mission at the time, Elizabeth Harding. But in her absence, Bojang was permitted to sign off the purchases and authorised 31 forms for more than 21,000kg of tobacco. Sambou signed off 29 forms, covering more than 9,000kg, and John signed four, authorising more than 2,000kg of tobacco. ‘In monetary terms this equated to a loss to the UK revenue of duty and VAT not paid of just under £4.8m,’ said Ms Bewsey. The cost of the ‘commercial’ quantity orders made in the names if individual defendants often exceeded their annual salary, jurors heard. Ramarajaha denies conspiracy to cheat the public revenue and a further charge of harbouring dutiable goods. The seven other defendants all deny a single charge of conspiracy to cheat the public revenue. The trial continues. Sorry we are not currently accepting comments on this article. | Gambian diplomats used Kensington embassy as a front for selling tobacco . Deputy Head of Diplomatic Mission Yusupha Bojang accused of role in scam . He and seven colleagues ordered 32 tonnes of tobacco, court hears . The scam saw the defendants abuse a tax exemption loophole, jury told . Court hears that the plot cheated the taxpayer out of £4.8million . Some tobacco orders were worth more than the diplomats' annual salaries . All eight deny conspiring to cheat the public revenue . | 2100a608392f7ed8903d0d637113c3366f5cd4c1 |
By . Simon Tomlinson . PUBLISHED: . 08:01 EST, 3 January 2013 . | . UPDATED: . 02:32 EST, 4 January 2013 . A Porsche driver who has avoided paying a staggering 35 parking fines over the last two years has been slapped with an £800 penalty after failing to buy a 60p parking ticket. Jason MacLeod, 34, has avoided £2,000 of fines by appealing every parking ticket he has been issued with since 2010, at a cost of £10,000. The software developer says he disagrees with the 'principle' of the fines, claiming they are 'disproportionate.' 'Matter of principle': Porsche driver Jason MacLeod has avoided £2,000 of fines by appealing every parking ticket he has been issued with since 2010, but has finally been told to pay his latest one . Instead of just 'rolling over' like most drivers, he has researched legal technicalities, written extensive letters of explanation and contested his fines at tribunals. He has even brawled on the floor with a burly parking boss he confronted over his car being clamped. But Jason has now finally been ordered to pay out £790 after losing his appeal against a £50 excess charge for parking his Porsche without a ticket in a supermarket car park. Despite the set-back, he has vowed to continue fighting his parking penalties - and even plans to take his case to the crown court to appeal the fine. Jason, of Stratford, London, said: 'It is a matter of principle, the money is not an issue. I have got no problem paying a 60p parking ticket. 'It was a genuine mistake and now I have been stung for £790. I would have got less if I had broken someone’s nose. One-man war: Two years ago, Mr MacLeod grappled with a burly parking boss after trying to serve him court papers which showed the clamper owed him £400 in damages after a two-year row over a wheel clamping . Taking matters into his own hands: Mr MacLeod was pictured being thrown to the ground in the fight with parking enforcement firm boss Richard Rippon outside Mr Rippon's home in Poole, Dorset . 'If a proper crown court judge was to hear me put my arguments forward I think it would be a whole different playing field. Most people just roll over when they get a parking ticket. 'But I never intentionally park in the wrong place so if I think I have a case I appeal. I’ve known parking wardens stand over people’s cars waiting for the time on their ticket to run out. 'It’s frustrating as motorists are being levied excessive penalties for usually minor parking misdemeanours. The system is biased against them. But I’m not afraid to fight for it.' Huntingdonshire District Council accused the computer expert of parking his black Porsche Cayman S in Sainsbury’s car park without displaying a ticket last April. He was ordered to pay the excess charge of just £35, but refused and the total due on the notice rose to £50. Mr MacLeod still refused to pay and challenged the ticket in a hearing at Huntingdon Magistrates’ Court, on 20 December 2012. Painful reading: A list of just some of the parking fines Mr MacLeod has been hit with since 2001 . Ouch: He estimates the equivalent to half a working day in total is spent on each appeal . He told the court he thought he was . parked in an area separate to the supermarket car park that had no . restrictions, but the decision was awarded in favour of the district . council. Magistrates fined . the driver £400 and ordered him to pay £375 costs and a £15 victim after . being found guilty of the non-criminal, non-recordable motoring . offence. The failed appeal is the first time Jason has been ordered to pay a fine since 2010. Since . 2004, he has been issued with 67 parking tickets, of which 60 were from . councils, while the others were due to private firms. He . estimates the equivalent to half a working day in total - when he would . charge his executive rates as a consultant - is spent on each appeal. The lost time and other legal and administrative costs come to at least £10,000, just since 2010. Racking them up: Some of the 67 parking tickets Mr MacLeod has been issued with since 2004, of which 60 were from councils and the others from private firms . Over the last two years, Jason has appealed 35 parking fines and been successful 34 times. He has paid five of these up front then later written to claim a reimbursement. Jason has been successful in 26 of his . claims over the last two years and still has eight decisions pending - . which means he has yet to pay. Over the eight-year period, he has been clamped eleven times and his car has been towed twice. The technicalities he has used to appeal . the penalties include improper signage, faded road markings and wardens . operating beyond their jurisdiction. But he says the £2,100 he has saved by . not paying fines is unimportant next to the principle of wardens . 'actively trying' to catch drivers out. Mr . MacLeod, who earns a six-figure salary, said: 'If I genuinely break a . parking restriction then I am always happy to pay the fine. 'But I appeal most of them because I am a conscientious parker and always try and check the restrictions where I leave my car. 'If I get a fine it can be because the local signs or road markings are inadequate. 'Occasionally I have been less than five minutes late getting back to my car because I have been held up. 'Other times, I have been unloading my car, and once my car was even towed away after it had broken down. 'There is no leeway, or discretion, and lots of times I have seen wardens stood over my car waiting for the time on the ticket to run out. 'I know I’ve got a point because so many of my fines have been overturned.' In 2010 Jason was pictured being thrown to the ground by burly parking enforcement firm boss Richard Rippon. He was trying to serve the parking boss court papers which showed the clamper owed him £400 in damages after a two-year row over a wheel clamping. Jason rang Redroute Parking Management to pay a £125 fine he incurred in Reading in 2008 so the clamp could be removed from his car, but was asked for his name and address. When he refused to give his name and address, he was told a tow truck would remove his car and he would have to stump up a further £129 to cover the call-out charge. Jason paid the company a total of £254, but took the matter to Aldershot and Farnham County Court, Hants, which ruled in his favour and awarded £400 in damages. The driver then traced Mr Rippon to his home in Poole, Dorset, and tried to give him the enforcement papers when the pair became locked in a tussle. Mr Rippon, 50, claimed he acted in self-defence and was upset that Mr MacLeod was acting aggressively and taking pictures of him and his daughter. The money due to Jason under the court order was paid on the spot. | Jason MacLeod has dodged 35 parking tickets over the last two years alone . But now must pay £790 after losing his appeal over a 60p parking ticket . Software developer disagrees with the 'principle' of 'disproportionate' fines . Once caught brawling with clamper in two-year dispute over a penalty . | fef8d1abcb7b521c7756ac8b8ba3675f500a5ef8 |
(CNN) -- Giovanni van Bronckhorst hopes that his dream will come true when he leads the Netherlands out against Spain in Sunday's World Cup final -- the last match of his distinguished career. The 35-year-old announced before the South African tournament that it would be his swansong, and earned his 100th international cap in the opening Group E victory against Denmark last month. On Tuesday, his spectacular long-range strike helped his team reach the final for the third occasion with a 3-2 victory against Uruguay on Tuesday. The defender now has the chance to help the Dutch lift the trophy for the first time, something that the star-studded team of the 1970s failed to do after losing in finals in Germany and Argentina. "My last match turns out to be the match that I dreamed of," he told reporters, as quoted by the UK Press Association. Dutch legend Cruyff backs Spain to win . "It is wonderful that I have the opportunity to win the World Cup as my final stop, far better than dying in the group stage. "Everything has converged at just the right moment. It is fabulous that this World Cup will be the pinnacle of my work." Van Bronckhorst, who began his career as a midfielder, made his name with Feyenoord before leaving his native country for spells with British clubs Glasgow Rangers and Arsenal -- the latter of which was blighted by injuries. He moved to Spain in 2003 as Dutch coach Frank Rijkaard took him to Barcelona first on loan and then in a permanent deal, transforming him into a left-back. Van Bronckhorst won the Champions League in 2006 before returning to Feyenoord a year later, when current Netherlands coach Bert van Marwijk made him captain of his boyhood club. Van Marwijk has kept faith with the player since taking over from Marco van Basten as national coach following Euro 2008, which was won by Sunday's opponents Spain. Van Bronckhorst will come up against several of his former Barcelona colleagues in the Johannesburg title decider, including midfielders Xavi and Andres Iniesta plus inspirational defender Carles Puyol. "I still have contact with them. I used to share a room with Carles before Barcelona games and we saw a lot of each other away from the football club," he said. "We have actually already been on the phone offering each other best wishes, and it will be nice to say goodbye on Sunday face-to-face. "But my boyhood dream is something more important, so they will have to make do with a silver medal this time." | World Cup final is final match of career for Netherlands captain Giovanni van Bronckhorst . The 35-year-old announced before tournament that it would be his swansong . He hopes to lead the Dutch to their first World Cup title in Johannesburg on Sunday . Three former Barcelona teammates will oppose him in the Spanish line-up . | 88a0084354d752dd8b2edc78819183329f8dcaf5 |
By . Sarah Griffiths . She was plucked from the Siberian permafrost where she has hidden for 42,000 years. But the world's most complete mammoth will go on show at London’s Natural History Museum at the end of this week. Lyuba the baby mammoth measures 33inches (85cm) tall and 51 inches (130cm) long – a little larger than a dog. At last! The world's most complete mammoth will go on show at London's Natural History Museum at the end of this week. Here, the ancient animal is in her custom case being transported to the museum . She was discovered in Siberia, Russia . in May 2007 by reindeer herder Yuri Khudi and his sons who were . searching for wood along the Yuribei River some 42,000 years after the . one-month-old mammoth died. Lyuba is named after Yuri's wife and her name means love in Russian. Her . body was so well preserved because it was buried in wet clay and mud, . which froze, preventing oxygen from decomposing her remains. It's as if she is sleeping: The baby mammoth (pictured) was plucked from the Siberian permafrost where she has hidden for 42,000 years . The remains were found by reindeer Yuri Khudi and his sons, left, while they were gathering firewood. The body was then sent to the Shemanovsky Musuem, right, in Russia to be examined (right) The exhibition is the first opportunity for people to see the baby mammoth (pictured) in Europe and it will also include realistic life-sized models and skeletons of mammoths and their relatives. Real tusks and teeth from the woolly giants will also go on show . Lyuba is one of a number of the animals to have been found close to the north-west Siberian river in recent years. Members of the public will be able to see her pristinely preserved body when it forms the centrepiece of an exhibition called Mammoths: Ice Age Giant, which opens on 23 May. It will run until 7 September. The exhibition is the first opportunity for people to see the baby mammoth in Europe and it will also include realistic life-sized models and skeletons of mammoths and their relatives. Real tusks and teeth from the woolly giants will also go on show. Members of the public will be able to see Lyuba's pristinely preserved body before it forms the centrepiece of an exhibition called Mammoths: Ice Age Giant, which opens on 23 May. It will run until 7 September. A close-up of her eye area is pictured . Lyuba's body was preserved when it sank into mud which later froze. It has been buried for 40,000 years in a vacuum, which has meant that oxygen has not decomposed the remains . Lyuba the baby mammoth (pictured) measures 33inches (85cm) tall and 51 inches (130cm) long - a little larger than a dog . The little mammoth was discovered near the Yuribei River (marked) in Siberia, Russia in May 2007 . Lyuba has previously been on show at the Shemanovsky Museum in Russia and at exhibitions in Chicago and Hong Kong before that. Professor Adrian Lister, a mammoth researcher at the Natural History Museum, said: 'It's an honour to be showcasing the world's best preserved mammoth for the first time in western Europe. 'Lyuba is hugely important for helping us to understand the lives of ice age animals. This exhibition is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to meet this amazing creature from more than 40,000 years ago.' The discovery by Lyuba Yuri Khudi and his sons, one of whom is pictured with the mammoth, was a complete accident . The discovery in 2007 caused excitement in the scientific community because of Lyuba's completeness. Here, scientists make observations in Siberia where the body was found . Scientists said in March that they have taken a step towards cloning the extinct woolly mammoth and there is a 'high chance' it will happen. Experts expect to extract ‘high quality DNA’ from a 43,000 year old carcass found in Siberia. Woolly mammoths finally died out in eastern Siberia around 4,000 years ago. Radik Khayrullin, vice president of the Russian Association of Medical Anthropologists, said: ‘The data we are about to receive will give us a high chance to clone the mammoth.’ But he called for responsibility in bringing the ancient beast back to life, urging that competing teams seeking to win a race to clone the mammoth, not to play God for the sake of it. ‘We must have a reason to do this, as it is one thing to clone it for scientific purpose and another to clone for the sake of curiosity,’ he said. A cloning attempt would involve a female elephant – the closest living relative of the mammoth - acting as a surrogate mother. | Lyuba was discovered in Siberia in 2007 by a reindeer herder and his sons . Experts believe she was one month old when she died 42,000 years ago . The woolly mammoth measures 33inches (85cm) tall and 51 inches (130cm) long and will be the focus of the exhibition in London . The exhibition, which also include skeletons, will run until 7 September . Lyuba's name means love in Russian . | f1967673169d5ecb4ba6260558f44301e8383c3d |
By . Daily Mail Reporter . Authorities in Southern California say a 69-year-old man who spent years as a high-ranking member of the Laos defense department helping the U.S. during the Vietnam War was killed Friday when his daughter ran him over as he was pleading with her to not drive drunk. Riverside police Sgt. Dan Reeves said Saturday that 37-year-old Soukvilay Barton ignored her father’s pleas not to drive and backed her BMW convertible out of the garage, striking him. Witness say Barton stopped the car after seeing that her father was injured and sat sobbing before being taken into custody. Tragic: Soukvilay Barton, seen here in handcuffs, ran over her father when he tried to keep her from driving drunk . Bounmy Rajsombath was rushed to a Riverside hospital, where he was pronounced dead Friday night. Witnesses told police Barton had been drinking and arguing with family members before she got behind the wheel. Her father reportedly then stood behind her vehicle and she backed the car into him. A man identifying himself as Rajsombath's son-in-law tells PE.com that his father-in-law ran a refugee camp in Thailand where people fleeing the communist insurgency in Laos during the Vietnam War. Crime scene: Witnesses say they saw Barton drinking and arguing with family members before she ran over her father . 'He had to swim across the Mekong River to get to Thailand because the . communists had come to kill him,' said the man, who spoke in front of . the home with a large American flag above the garage, pe.com reports. 'They were killing . all the Laos military that helped the United States.' The son-in-law, who asked to not be identified, says Rajsombath came to the U.S. in 1979 with his wife. The couple settled in southern California and had two sons and two daughters. The man said Rajsombath worked as a plumber until he injured his arm in a fall about 10 years ago. The son-in-law says that even after his injury, Rajsombath would often do plumbing work for free for people who couldn't afford it. Evidence: This BMW is the car Barton was driving when she ran over her father . 'He was a person that everybody loved,' he said. 'He was a very respected man in the Laos community.' The man declined to speak about what caused Rajsombath's death, saying only that 'I'm very sad. I'm sick. Barton was arrested on suspicion of driving under the influence and held on $75,000 bond. | Bounmy Rajsombath was a high-ranking member of the Laos defense department during the Vietnam War . He was killed Friday when his daughter ran him over as he stood behind her car pleading with her to not drive drunk . Rajsombath helped Laotians escape to Thailand while fleeing the murderous communist insurgency . In the U.S., Rajsombath worked as a plumber until he was injured 10 years ago . After his injury, friends say he would often do plumbing work for free for people who couldn't afford it . | f88b8baa3c3f94cd5f168af385ecb26ffd73d9d0 |
Rome (CNN) -- Italian judges released the captain of the wrecked Costa Concordia cruise liner from house arrest Thursday, but ordered him not to leave his home town while the case against him continues, his lawyer said. Francesco Schettino has been under house arrest in his home town of Meta di Sorrento, near Naples, since January 17. At least 30 people died when the cruise liner struck rocks and turned on its side off the Italian island of Giglio on January 13. Schettino faces allegations of manslaughter, causing a shipwreck, abandoning ship, failing to report an accident to the coast guard and destroying a natural habitat, a prosecutor said this year. Giglio is a protected park. Schettino's lawyer, Bruno Leporatti, had argued for the lifting of the restrictions on his client, saying his behavior had been "faultless." The judge leading the preliminary investigations, Valeria Montesarchio, said it would be easy to keep Schettino under "adequate supervision" in Meta di Sorrento without house arrest because it is a small town, according to court documents released Thursday. In addition, the months Schettino has spent under house arrest have already produced a "deterrent effect," Montesarchio said. Concordia disaster focuses attention on how cruise industry operates . The judge also lifted a provision barring Schettino from communicating with anyone apart from his lawyers and family. From the beginning, Leporatti said, the attitude of the captain had been "totally collaborative, he has spoken on his defense but admitting his responsibilities, without trying to download them on others." The lawyer said the judge's decision to order Schettino to stay in his home town was "the least punitive measure" available to him. Also on Thursday, Italian newspaper Corriere del Mezzogiorno published documents written by Schettino's lawyers that purport to be the captain's recollection of what happened on the night the Costa Concordia struck rocks off the Italian coast. "No one, until then, had warned me that we had passed the point of turn on the fixed route. Luckily I saw the white froth on my left. It was a sign that made me give the order to tack to starboard, out of pure instinct. At that moment a divine hand has definitely landed on my head. If I had continued on that route, we hit the rock with the bow. It would have been a massacre," Schettino said, according to the newspaper. A court hearing on July 21 will start the examination of the enormous amount of technical information gathered in the wake of the disaster. Schettino's first officer, Ciro Ambrosio, and six other officers both on the ship and from the firm Costa in Genoa are under investigation over allegations including manslaughter, shipwreck and failure to report the accident, the prosecutor in the case has said. No one has been charged in connection with the shipwreck. Schettino previously has said managers of the Costa cruise line instructed him to sail close to the island and has denied allegations that he was sailing too fast. He has said the rock the ship struck was not indicated on his charts of the area. Salvage experts announced in May that efforts to raise the wrecked liner from the sea floor in one piece and tow it from the disaster site were getting under way. Covering a cruise ship disaster . CNN's Aliza Kassim and Todd Sperry contributed to this report. | NEW: A newspaper publishes an account saying the captain credits "a divine hand" Francesco Schettino is freed from house arrest but must stay in his home town . He was in charge of the Costa Concordia when it struck rocks and overturned . Schettino's lawyer says his behavior under house arrest has been "faultless" | 4727b34a71460c082051ff4d4339e3e2822956b2 |
(CNN) -- It's been a bad year for the African rhino, particularly for those that call South Africa home. In 2013, over 1,000 rhinos were poached in South Africa alone. It's a dangerously high number, when you consider there are only 5,000 black rhinos left on the continent (a 97.6% reduction since 1960). The white rhino story is a happier tale. Rescued from the brink of extinction, the species now numbers 20,000 -- though conservationists worry they too are in danger, as rhino horn continues to sell for a hefty sum on the black market. "A rhino is killed every seven hours, and when you mention rhinos to anyone, they tend to shake their head in desperation," says Dereck Joubert, who, along with his wife Beverly set up Rhinos Without Borders, a charity that has recently come up with a novel approach to saving one of Africa's most iconic creatures. In 2015, the charity will move 100 rhinos from South Africa -- which holds 80% of Africa's rhino population -- to Botswana, which has the lowest poaching rate in the continent. The rhinos are mainly donated from private sellers and the South African government. "It's a bad idea to keep all your high-value assets in one place. Ecologically and genetically, it makes a lot of sense to spread them around, so if there's a catastrophic event in one place, you don't lose everything," he explains. Botswana: 'Shoot to kill' One of the reason's Botswana's poaching levels are so low is that they have zero tolerance when it comes to poachers. Anti-poaching is handled by the Botswana Defense Force, who have a "shoot to kill" policy. "If poachers are apprehended, and don't immediately put down their weapons, the military basically treats them like an aggressive military threat," Joubert notes. "The risks are very high for poachers, and the rewards are very low." Botswana is also more remote and less populous -- two factors that he says helps keep poaching at a minimum. "A group of foreigners walking through with AK47s are very quickly identified," he explains. Making the move . Rhinos Without Borders has partnered with tourism venture andBeyond, who moved rhinos from one of their private reserves to Botswana in 2011. Rhino candidates are sedated and their blood samples studied to make sure they're strong enough to make the trip. The rhinos then recover during a six-week quarantine before they're moved by plane to a secret location in Botswana. "They won't be going in reserves near the borders either, because the president and the Botswana Defense Force don't want to attract poachers," explains Beverly Joubert. Because rhinos' first instinct is to seek out other herds, and Botswana has a low density of the species, synthesized rhino dung is used to help the relocated animals establish their territory. The process costs about $45,000 per rhino. Busting the horn myth . Rhinos are killed almost exclusively for their horn, which currently sells for $65,000 per kilo (2.2 pounds). The demand is driven primarily by buyers in East Asia, who (inaccurately) ascribe various medicinal cure-alls to the horn. In addition to running their charity, the Jouberts are also filmmakers and photojournalists for National Geographic. Together, they have made several films dispelling the myths concerning rhino horn's supposed medicinal properties, in the hopes of changing attitudes abroad. "It's been claimed that rhino horn cures cancer, reduces fevers and is an aphrodisiac, and it's been proven that none of those things are true," says Beverly. "Really, it's like chewing your own finger nail. It's keratin, that is all." The ivory link . The history of the rhino horn trade is closely intertwined with that of the ivory trade. In 1989, the Contention on International Trade in Endangered Species (CITES) succeeded in implementing an international ban on ivory. The price for the material crashed overnight and poaching of elephants mainly came to a halt. In 2002, trade opened back up when a handful of nations, including South Africa, were allowed to sell their ivory stockpiles. "The minute that happened, we saw an influx of poachers. At the same time, the market shifted straight across to include rhinos as well," says Dereck. Some conservationists have proposed farming elephants and rhinos to meet the global demand -- an idea the Jouberts view as hopelessly misguided. "If the strategy is to flood the market, the economics don't add up," he says. "Maybe you could produce 6kg of horn a month from farming, but the market is over a billion strong." | The black rhino population has plummeted 97.6% since 1960 . Poaching is on the rise in South Africa. Over 1,000 rhinos were hunted last year . Charity Rhinos Without Borders is planning to populate Botswana with rhinos . Botswana has the lowest poaching level in Africa . | 3cc4becad834614115ce9fb8722e07126cdf1dc9 |
(CNN) -- With its glassy touch screen, powerful graphics, crisp sound and tilt feature, the iPhone is more than a smart phone for some users -- it's a portable entertainment system. "Trism" developer Steve Demeter demonstrates his game via webcast to CNN.com's Nicole Lapin. It's also become a potential gold mine for entrepreneurs who create games for the device. Just ask Steve Demeter, developer of the popular puzzle game "Trism." A former ATM software designer for a large bank, Demeter created "Trism" in his spare time and pitched it to Apple last spring. The company made the game available for download with the July launch of its App Store, an online provider of applications for its iPods and iPhones. Priced at $5, "Trism" earned Demeter $250,000 in profits the first two months. "It's done phenomenal business," said Demeter, 29, who lives in the California's San Francisco Bay area. "I'm very honored that so many people would enjoy my game. I get e-mails from 50-year-old ladies who say, "I don't play games, but I love Trism.' That's the coolest thing." It can take dozens of professional developers and millions of dollars to create a video game for a traditional console such as a PlayStation or an Xbox. But the iPhone and the App Store have helped democratize game development by opening the field to any software coder with talent and a clever idea, industry observers say. "A single one of these titles can be turned around for pennies by comparison in just weeks by a single hobbyist working in their off-hours," said Scott Steinberg, publisher of DigitalTrends.com and author of "Get Rich Playing Games." "The overhead and barriers to entry are so low that virtually anyone can afford to take a crack, if not several, at hitting a home run." Demeter took his crack after attending an iPhone conference in the summer of 2007. He spent months afterward brainstorming, by himself and with friends, about how to create an original game for the device. Once he got the idea for "Trism" in February he spent another four months coding the game on nights and weekends. The result is a puzzle game, like "Bejeweled," in which players manipulate a colorful grid of triangles. Players score points by lining up three or more like-colored triangles in a row, with an iPhone twist: The triangles rearrange themselves depending on which way the player rotates the phone. "I did the game myself, basically. I had a buddy of mine who actually came up with the name 'Trism.' I paid him a couple of grand. But other than that it [was] just me," Demeter told CNN. "It's a very simple-to-learn, hard-to-master puzzle game. It wasn't as hard [to develop] as a 3-D, gun-and-battle kind of game. But for the one-man team that I was, it was definitely a challenge." Demeter quit his bank job two months ago and has launched a company, Demiforce, to develop more electronic games. Now he has a salaried staff, five games in development and two coming out by Christmas, including a spinoff to "Trism" called "Trismology." "Apple has made it so easy to put [game publishing] in the palms of developers," he said. "You just make it and then you submit it to Apple. If you have a relevant, fun game or application, I don't see any reason why it shouldn't be approved." Developers earn 70 percent of App Store proceeds from the sale of their games, with Apple taking 30 percent. The field is getting crowded, though. There now are more than 1,500 iPhone games available from the App Store, up from about 900 two months ago. "It's a rich and promising vein that several independent game publishers have been able to successfully tap," said DigitalTrends' Steinberg in an e-mail interview. "However, success stories remain the exception, not the norm -- as with any gold rush, what we're presently seeing is a massive number of prospectors looking to stake their claim. "Many of the overnight successes we've witnessed enjoyed the benefits of timing and visibility, advantages quickly being eroded due to market oversaturation," Steinberg added. "Let's put it this way: I wouldn't tell anyone to quit their day job just yet. As with any Cinderella story, chances of recreating this kind of success are few and far between." | The iPhone has become a gold mine for those who create games for the device . Steve Demeter developed the popular puzzle game "Trism" in his spare time . "Trism" earned Demeter $250,000 in two months, inspired him to quit his bank job . The App Store has helped open the game-development field to entrepreneurs . | 4b29468f0a1d56de96a33886dbf6c18df6c84950 |
(CNN) -- All eyes are on London this summer. The Olympic Games begin next month; earlier this month, the Queen's Diamond Jubilee provided glorious pictures and joyous sounds to the watching world. The history and beauty of the great city are being much discussed, and with good reason. London is a bedrock of civilized society, a touchstone for commerce, culture and statecraft down through the centuries. But while all the grand moments in London's, and England's, history are being revisited this summer, there is one rather important event that is likely to be ignored. Its 70th anniversary is this week. And anyone who loves London, or who loves freedom, might want to contemplate it. Seventy years ago -- in the last week of June in 1942 -- an American from Midwestern farm country arrived in besieged London. Prince William: 30 years in photos . It was a business trip, of sorts. The man's bosses had assigned him a daunting task. Summed up in a few words, that task was: . Save the world. England, and free Europe, were under terrible peril at the hands of Germany's Third Reich. The British people and the British military had shown extraordinary valor, but it was not going to be enough. They needed help. And so, on that day in late June, Dwight D. Eisenhower of Abilene, Kansas arrived in London with the new title of commanding general of the European Theater of Operations. Adolf Hitler didn't realize it at the time, but Ike's arrival in London meant that he was through. It had been a year of loss and mourning for Eisenhower. Little over three months before, his father, who among other jobs had worked at an Abilene creamery, had died. Ike could not leave his post in Washington as deputy to Army Chief of Staff Gen. George C. Marshall even to return to Kansas to attend his dad's funeral. Video: A look back at Eisenhower's legacy . But for 30 minutes on that day, he closed the door of his office and wrote, in longhand, in his diary: . "My father was buried today. ... He was a just man, well liked, a thinker. He was undemonstrative, quiet, modest, and of exemplary habits -- he never used alcohol or tobacco. ... His finest monument is his reputation in Abilene and Dickinson County. ... His word has been his bond and accepted as such. ... I'm proud he was my father. My only regret is that it was always so difficult to let him know the great depth of my affection for him." Later that evening, Eisenhower realized he had not committed the extent of his grief to paper. He wrote in the diary: . "I have felt terribly. I should like so much to be with my mother these few days. But we're at war. And war is not soft -- it has no time to indulge even the deepest and most sacred emotions. I loved my Dad. ... Quitting work now -- 7:30 p.m. I haven't the heart to go on tonight." But by June, he did go on, with the assignment of commanding all the Yanks in Europe. The invasion of North Africa would soon follow. Then, having been promoted to supreme commander of the Allied Expeditionary Force, Eisenhower would direct the largest combined sea, air and land military undertaking in the history of the world: Operation Overlord, the D-Day invasion of Nazi-occupied Europe. Feature: British monarchy's long-lasting love affair with the sea . England, and Europe, and the free world would survive and prevail. All was not easy; every decision was not without its critics, both at the time and in the ensuing years. Some strategies did not work out the way he had hoped and planned for. Eisenhower himself realized this, and was at peace with it. After the war, remembering his arrival in London, he would write: . "War, as so many men have said, is the most stupid and tragic of human ventures. It is stupid because so few problems are enduringly solved; tragic because its cost in lives and spirit and treasure is seldom matched in the fruits of victory. Still, I never intend to join myself with those who damn all wars as vile crimes against humanity. World War II, not sought by the people of the United States or its allies, was certainly not, on their part, either stupid or in vain. Satisfaction, and memories precious beyond price, rewarded those who survived and who, in loyalty to country and to ideals, answered the attack." In that summer of 1942, England's Princess Elizabeth was 16 years old. Eleven years later, in 1953, coronation ceremonies would officially bestow upon her the crown of the queen. Also in 1953, inaugural ceremonies in Washington would officially swear in Eisenhower as president of the United States. Diamond Jubilee coverage: How William, Kate and Harry made royals cool . London will glitter on the world stage this summer. The famous phrase will be heard often: "There'll always be an England." But that was not so certain, 70 years ago. During the royal jubilee this month, the moving anthem beloved by the British people was played and sung many times: . "God Save the Queen." In the United States, we don't have royalty. But on occasion, we have majesty. And in this London summer -- a summer in a great city, free and proud -- perhaps there will be a few people who will pause if only for a moment to recall what once transpired, and who will close their eyes and offer the silent thought: . May God bless the memory of Dwight David Eisenhower. The opinions expressed in this commentary are solely those of Bob Greene. | Bob Greene: All eyes on England for jubilee, upcoming Olympics, but recall another anniversary . June 1942, Dwight Eisenhower took command in Europe; it would soon be the end for Hitler . Greene says Ike made personal sacrifices for service, went on to help Allies to victory . Greene: As "God Save the Queen" rings out this month, take moment to bless Eisenhower, too . | 55af4020f58206796cf97ab733c7354ec33ab70d |
A video experiment has shown most urban Canadians will leap to the defence of a Muslim person singled out for abuse, even in the wake of the country's recent Islamist terror attack. One angry resident of Hamilton, Ontario, punched a man playing the part of an Islamophobe having a go at a man wearing Muslim-style clothing at a bus stop. He was left bleeding from his nose for the part he played in what the YouTube filmmakers called a 'social experiment' This is what happens to racists in Ontario: After playing the part of an Islamophobe for a YouTube video 'social experiment' this man was left with a bloody nose after he was punched in the face by an angry Canadian . 'This is based on the events that happened in Ottawa,' said YouTube filmmaker Omar Albach, referring to recent bloodshed in the Canadian capital. 'We're going to see if people feel safe to be around Muslims or people that look like Muslims.' Within seconds of the filmmakers beginning their first charade - which involved a one telling another one wearing Muslim-style clothes he can't board a bus - a middle-aged man objects to the apparent racism. 'You know what? You can't stereotype and judge people by their clothes,' the casually dressed, silver-haired white man objects. 'Or their nationalities or anything else, you know what I mean?' 'You can't judge and stereotype people by their clothes': The scene as a middle-aged man in blue jeans and leather jacket, centre, defends the man in Muslim dress after he is accosted by the man on the right . No time for racism: The man was just one of many who stood up for the man dressed as a Muslim . The filmmakers repeat their play in several different locations, to get a range of responses. Although the footage is edited and not continuous, it seems they found difficulty finding anyone to go along with the racist behaviour. Asked to think of the recent shooting of Corporal Nathan Cirillo at Canada's national war memorial, a woman responds: 'It was awful and tragic, but I don't think that's any reason to persecute some just because of what they're wearing.' The video, published yesterday, has already attracted nearly 200,000 views and a storm of comment. The location was poignant, Hamilton is the hometown of Corporal Cirillo and it was today the emotional scene of his funeral procession, led by his five-year-old son Marco. Burnishing Canada's credentials as a tolerant, multicultural nation, the video shows Canadians of a range of ethnicities and walks of life objecting to vocal racism and Islamophobia. Finally, a hot-headed man in a baseball cap decides he's had enough of the haranguing being dished out to the Muslim man. He sneaks up next to the 'racist' and sucker punches him in the face. Speaking to camera, the man who played the role of the racist concluded: 'So err.. the social experiment had a negative ending to it but, you know what? It's positive because he stood up for him and I appreciate that. 'It's good.' | Three filmmakers contrived the scenario in Hamilton, Ontario . That's the home town of murdered soldier Corporal Nathan Cirillo . There was no shortage of people willing to stand up to racism and bullying . Eventually the filmmaker playing part of the racist got punched in the face . | e59de4ff1e8d5d326d40708cd79ce5ee4d839f61 |
(EW.com) -- What's happening to "Modern Family?" Earlier this season, the acclaimed ABC series was the highest-rated comedy on TV. But CBS' Thursday king "The Big Bang Theory" has since climbed to top the weekly chart hitting recent season highs, and Modern Family has slipped to No. 2 and relinquished its crown. Last night's episode marks a season low for the show, down 10 percent to 10.1 million viewers and a 3.8 adults 18-49 rating. What's behind the slippage? Well, its ABC neighbors sure don't help much (or rather, its "Neighbors"). And "Modern Family" now has to contend with Fox's "American Idol," which has likely had an impact the past few weeks (one analyst noted that Modern Family tends to hit its low point around this time of year). Of course, "Big Bang" airs at 8 p.m. so it doesn't even have a lead-in, also faces "Idol," plus is an older show. Thor's hammer? Scientist estimates weight . Perhaps it's that "Modern Family" is rather ambitious and creatively complex with a large cast that seeks to work as a comedy with tinges of deeply heartfelt drama — pulling all that off week after week is huge juggling act. The rest of ABC's lineup had mixed results. "The Middle" was down 8 percent. "The Neighbors" was up 13 percent and "Suburgatory" went up 17 percent (thanks to Modern Family not running a repeat this week). Kristen Stewart sizes up 'Big Shoe' role . On CBS, "Criminal Minds" tied its series low; "CSI" dropped 8 percent despite airing its well-promoted "CSI: NY" cross-over episode. Fox's "Idol" led the night yet fell 16 percent for the start of Hollywood Rounds. NBC was largely down about 10 percent except "Guys With Kids" which fluxed up a tenth. On The CW, "Arrow" rose a notch and "Supernatural" was flat. See the original article at EW.com. CLICK HERE to Try 2 RISK FREE issues of Entertainment Weekly . © 2011 Entertainment Weekly and Time Inc. All rights reserved. | Last night's episode marks a season low for "Modern Family" Earlier this season, ABC's "Modern Family" was the highest-rated comedy on TV . CBS' "The Big Bang Theory" has been hitting recent season highs . | 28680d3e2e32c28daff6961e268a973544c0bb75 |
By . Rob Waugh . PUBLISHED: . 05:37 EST, 10 May 2012 . | . UPDATED: . 05:37 EST, 10 May 2012 . It was definitely one small step for robotkind - the Mars Opportunity Rover drove just 12 feet on May 8 - but it's a sign that the robot is still going, eight years into a mission that was meant to last just three months. Opportunity had spent 19 weeks stuck in one place to 'weather out' the dark months of the Martian winter on an outcrop called Greeley Haven. This week, the solar power rose enough for it to drive again. A view captured by Opportunity before starting its first drive of 2012. The Rover has been 'stuck' in the same place for 19 weeks, waiting for the sun to provide enough power. This week, it drove 12 feet . Forward view from Opportunity this week: Opportunity has worked through four Martian southern hemisphere winters since it landed in in January 2004 about 14 miles northwest of its current location . Opportunity has worked through four Martian southern hemisphere winters since it landed in in January 2004 about 14 miles northwest of its current location.Closer to the equator than its twin rover, Spirit, Opportunity has not needed to stay on a sun-facing slope during the previous winters.Now, however, Opportunity's solar panels carry a thicker coating of dust, and the team is using a strategy employed for three winters with Spirit: staying on a sun-facing slope. Since landing in the Meridiani region of Mars on Jan. 25, 2004, Opportunity has driven 21.4 miles.Opportunity and its rover twin, Spirit, completed their three-month prime missions on Mars in April 2004. Both rovers continued for years of bonus, extended missions. Both have made important discoveries about wet environments on ancient Mars that may have been favorable for supporting microbial life. Spirit stopped communicating in 2010. Opportunity knocks: The rover has been on Mars for nearly eight years . Water discovery: Opportunity helped confirm that Mars used to be much warmer and wetter . On average it lies 141.6 million miles from the Sun. With a diameter of 4,222 miles, it’s around half the size of the Earth. It’s absolutely freezing there, with an average temperature of -85F (-65C). Gravity is much less powerful - slightly less than 40 per cent of ours. The . atmosphere is desperately thin – one per cent of Earth’s pressure – and . not very nice for us humans because 95 per cent of it is carbon . dioxide. It boasts the solar . system’s biggest mountain – Olympus Mons, a dead volcano with . staggering proportions. It measures 335 miles across and rises to a . height of 88,000ft, which is almost three times higher than Everest. Mars has two cosmic sidekicks – the moons Deimos and Phobos. Mars’s red colouring comes from the iron oxide that coats its surface. Mars . has huge amounts of ice at its polar caps. If they melted, it would . cover the whole planet in water 11-metres deep, according to Nasa. Among its chores is studying bedrock . and soil at its chosen winter site. While Opportunity can drive short . distances from one outcrop to another, it cannot venture far in the . cold. It is a . bittersweet juncture for Opportunity, which along with its twin, . Spirit, landed on opposite sides of the red planet in January 2004. Spirit . suddenly stopped communicating with Earth last year, shortly after it . became stuck in fluffy sand. Nasa diligently listened for any sign from . Spirit and finally gave up this past spring. Despite . Spirit's demise, Opportunity continued to trek across the Martian . plains and arrived at the western rim of Endeavour Crater in August. The . rover has wowed scientists with discoveries at the site, which includes . rocks and soil unlike any it has encountered during its years roaming . the planet. Opportunity recently uncovered a mineral deposit that formed from water flowing out of volcanic rocks. Chief . scientist Steve Squyres of Cornell University called it the ‘single . most powerful piece of evidence’ that Opportunity has found so far of . liquid water existing on Mars long ago. The finding was presented at a meeting of the American Geophysical Union in San Francisco. With . a little over 21 miles on the clock, Opportunity is showing some wear, . including an arthritic shoulder, but is otherwise in good health. ‘It's . going on eight years, but we're not done yet,’ said Ray Arvidson, the . mission deputy scientist from Washington University in St Louis. Exploring: This picture show's Opportunity's arm in the extended position. The wheels of the rover can be seen in the foreground . Happy landing: This image shows where the rover's airbags left impressions in the martian soil. The drag marks were made after were retracted . That is eight years as measured in Earth time. A Martian year is equivalent to 687 Earth days, or nearly two Earth years. Opportunity . will soon get some company on the surface. Nasa launched its latest . spacecraft to Mars last month, a mega-rover named Curiosity that's set . to land next summer. The . £1.6billion mission will study a mountain inside a crater to determine . whether the environment was conducive for microbial life. Hardy: Opportunity has covered an impressive 21 miles on the Martian surface . Rock on: The Mars rover's microscopic imager found these intriguing round pebbles . | 12-foot drive after solar panels charge up . Rover has 'wintered' in the same spot for 19 weeks . Eighth year of mission to Mars - supposed to last three months . | 386ceafe9be78f22447d7df6f18eb547ccba59d1 |
By . Daily Mail Reporter . PUBLISHED: . 23:20 EST, 1 January 2013 . | . UPDATED: . 02:59 EST, 2 January 2013 . Hillary Clinton remained hospitalized Tuesday for treatment of a blood clot in her head, as daughter Chelsea tweeted from her bedside that she was grateful to be starting the new year with her family. Clinton is being treated with blood thinners to help dissolve the clot, which is located in a vein behind her right ear that helps carry blood away from the brain. 'Wishing all a healthy & happy 2013,' Chelsea Clinton tweeted Tuesday. 'Grateful to be starting the new year with my family.' Chelsea Clinton looks visibly anguished as she leaves the New York Presbyterian Hospital after visiting her mother Hillary Clinton yesterday where she is being treated for a blood clot . Health scare: Hillary Clinton's doctors discovered the clot during a follow-up exam on Sunday and confirmed it was in her head yesterday . The comment was 'liked' more than 7,300 times on Facebook and shared by 1,800 people on Twitter. Clinton also thanked the public via Twitter for their support while her mother is hospitalized. 'Thank you to all for sending good thoughts my Mom's way,' she wrote. 'Grateful to all her doctors & that she'll make a full recovery!' Chelsea Clinton was photographed with her face full of anguish as she left the hospital on Monday after visiting her mother. Hillary Clinton was admitted to the hospital on Sunday after an MRI revealed the . clot and doctors said Monday that she was making 'excellent' progress . and would make a full recovery. Grateful: Chelsea tweeted from her mother's bedside on New Year's Day . Chelsea also thanked the public via Twitter for their support while her mother is hospitalized . Former President Bill Clinton has been spotted driving to and from his . wife's side at New York-Presbyterian Hospital in Washington Heights for . much of the past 48 hours, according to CBS New York. In a statement yesterday, doctors assured it was not a life-threatening condition and assured she had suffered no brain damage or stroke. 'In all other aspects of her recovery, the Secretary is making excellent progress and we are confident she will make a full recovery. She is in good spirits, engaging with her doctors, her family, and her staff,' Drs Lisa Bardack and Gigi El-Bayoumi said in a statement. A clot occurs when a blockage builds . up, either from partial thrombus (coagulated blood) or an outside . compression. When the vein becomes blocked, the coagulated blood may . extend to veins draining the area, which could lead to a lack of oxygen . and tissue death. | Chelsea says she's 'grateful to be starting the new year with my family' and thanks public for their support . Secretary of state hospitalized at New York-Presbyterian hospital after follow-up exam found the clot . Was treated for a concussion earlier this month after fainting while she battled a stomach virus . Doctors expect a full recovery and say there has been no brain damage . | b273779157eee6ffccce9fff02b4b118d96fb74a |
By . Daniel Martin, Whitehall Correspondent . PUBLISHED: . 20:36 EST, 24 December 2012 . | . UPDATED: . 19:44 EST, 25 December 2012 . A senior Conservative has taken a swipe at former Chief Whip Andrew Mitchell, saying he does not ‘come up smelling of roses’ over Plebgate. Michael Fabricant, vice-chairman of the party, said he thought the truth was ‘six of one and half a dozen of the other’, with neither the police’s nor the MP’s version of events entirely to be believed. And he said that if Mr Mitchell had been known for being ‘invariably polite and courteous’, fewer people would have believed the claims against him. Tory vice-chairman Michael Fabricant (left), used Twitter to defend former chief whip Andrew Mitchell (right) over the 'plebgate' affair and said he didn't want to see a 'witch hunt' of policemen . The intervention underlines the fact . that Mr Mitchell may not be able to count on Tory colleagues to regain . his place in the Cabinet. He resigned in October after Downing . Street police accused him of calling them ‘plebs’ when they refused to . let him take his bike out of the main gates. He has admitted swearing at . police, but denied calling them offensive names. Last week, newly released CCTV coverage appeared to cast doubt on the police version. [capt . And at the weekend, Mr Mitchell said he was the victim of a plot to ‘toxify’ the Tories. ‘These awful toxic phrases which were . hung round my neck for weeks and weeks in a sustained attempt to toxify . the Conservative Party and destroy my career were completely and totally . untrue,’ he said. Mr Fabricant’s tweets about the . Mitchell affair began last Thursday, when he wrote: ‘While the police . must be “banged to rights” if any evidence was falsified, I am uneasy . with anti-police chat in Commons corridors and bars.’ And on Saturday, just before Mr . Mitchell’s newspaper claims, he tweeted: ‘I gather we can look fwd to a . real tear jerker (5,000 words) written by A Mitchell in the Sunday . Times. The Pope is preparing to beatify him.’ On Christmas Eve, Mr Fabricant cast doubt on both accounts of the incident. ‘I suspect the truth is six of one and half a dozen of the other,’ he wrote. ‘No one comes out of it smelling of roses: neither the police nor Andrew.’ He pointed out that the CCTV footage . broadcast last week by Channel 4 News lasted 46 seconds, while the words . recalled by Mr Mitchell would take about 20 seconds to say. He asked . what had happened in the missing seconds. He added: ‘The problem Andrew Mitchell . has is that if Michael Gove had been accused, it would be hard to . believe. He is invariably polite and courteous.’ He defended the police, deploring any . ‘witch hunt’ against them. He said: ‘If Andrew Mitchell was stitched up . by the police, it is unforgivable. But will we ever know exactly what . was said and by whom?’ Scotland Yard boss Bernard Hogan-Howe . has taken charge of the Plebgate investigation, amid claims from senior . Tories that he had been ‘completely compromised’ by the police . ‘stitch-up’ of Mr Mitchell. | Tory vice-chairman, Michael Fabricant, makes views public on micro-blog site . There should be no 'witch hunt' of police . Mr Fabricant defends his tweets and says he wants to get truth . | 603310c6d67c185eecd017e99037d50309b762ef |
New York (CNN) -- Spider-Man's alter ego cannot escape the harsh realities of the current economic times and will lose his job in an issue of the Amazing Spider-Man hitting stores this week. Peter Parker, official photographer of the mayor by day and New York City crime fighter by night, is going to face new challenges, including unemployment. "He's going to struggle with unemployment and trying to save the city while he can barely afford to keep a roof over his head," said Steve Wacker, Marvel Comics senior editor. Parker has always been a grounded character with real-world problems, Wacker said. His aunt is frequently sick, he has girlfriend troubles, and he sometimes struggles to find work. In addition, Spider-Man story lines are often set against a backdrop of current events. In the near future, Parker will have to juggle paying bills and buying "web-fluid" and other materials to fix his superhero costume in addition to keeping his dual identities under wraps. Parker's work history includes photographer, assistant high school coach, science teacher and scientific researcher, according to his biography on the Marvel Web site. His education includes a college degree in biophysics and some postgraduate work in biochemistry. It was at a science exhibit he attended as a teenager that he was bitten by a radioactive spider and acquired the creature's strength, agility and weaving ability, says Marvel Comics. And although Parker has skills few other others can claim, he probably won't list these on his resume: superhuman strength, ability to cling to most surfaces, fast traveling ability aided by web-slinging and spider-sense danger avoidance system. The Amazing Spider-Man comic was first published in 1963. | Spider-Man's alter ego, Peter Parker, will lose his job this week . Parker's going to struggle with unemployment, try to save city, pay his bills . Marvel comics tries to have story lines set against backdrop of current events . | 272ebb938bdd9216c1616fca141f41081ef4e7e5 |
(CNN) -- FIFA has moved quickly to deny claims its president, Sepp Blatter, suggested Qatar is unfit to host the 2022 World Cup -- despite his admission that it was "a mistake" to schedule a summer tournament in the Gulf State. Blatter, who oversees the game's global governing body, appeared to cast doubt over Qatar's right to welcome the football world, following an interview with a Swiss television station Friday. When asked by RTS if it was an error to award Qatar the World Cup, Blatter said: "Of course, it was a mistake. You know, one makes a lot of mistakes in life. "The technical report indicated clearly that it was too hot in summer, but despite that the executive committee decided, with quite a big majority, that the tournament would be in Qatar." In October 2013, Blatter set up an executive committee taskforce to examine whether the World Cup in Qatar should be switched to winter because of extreme summer temperatures. A decision is expected to be made following the conclusion of the upcoming World Cup in Brazil. Blatter's comments sparked a frenzy on social media and led to criticism of the 78-year-old and the organization's decision to award the tournament to Qatar. But speaking to CNN, a FIFA spokesman said: "The comment by the FIFA President concerning the organization of the 2022 FIFA World Cup in Qatar to Swiss TV station RTS is in line with previous comments on this matter. " As explained in his answer to the journalist, the president reiterated that the decision to organize the World Cup in summer was an 'error' based on the technical assessment report of the bid, which had highlighted the extremely hot temperatures in summer in Qatar. "At no stage did he question Qatar as the host of the 2022 FIFA World Cup." Harold Mayne-Nicholls led the FIFA inspection team which examined each of the bidding countries for the 2022 World Cup before delivering his report in October 2010. Mayne-Nicholls concluded that Qatar was a high-risk option because of its soaring temperatures -- but it was still chosen by 14 of the 22 executive committee members in the final round of voting in December that year. "In June and July you cannot play," Mayne-Nicholls told CNN last November when asked about the conditions in Qatar. "It's not for the players. The players will be OK with the cooling system but what about the fans? "You'll have 50,000 fans walking three, four, even six blocks or more like in South Africa where I walked 10 blocks. "They will be walking in 40 degrees and it's too much. One or two crucial cases will damage the entire image of the World Cup and we must be careful." If the World Cup was to be held between November and January, it would probably create a logistical headache for many major European leagues -- such as the English Premier League -- and for the prestigious Champions League, organized by the continent's UEFA confederation. American broadcaster Fox, which paid $425 million for the rights to broadcast the 2018 and 2022 tournaments, has expressed concern that a "winter" World Cup could clash with the National Football League's regular season and the Super Bowl. The decision to award Qatar football's showpiece event has drawn widespread condemnation and focused attention on workers' rights in the state. A report released by Amnesty International last November alleged that the abuse of migrant workers was rife within Qatar's construction sector, while British newspaper The Guardian likened the conditions for such workers to "modern-day slavery." The furor which surrounded "stranded" footballer Zahir Belounis also raised questions regarding Qatar's Kafala law. Blatter himself described the conditions for migrant workers in Qatar as "unacceptable," but has so far refused to entertain the idea of moving the 2022 competition to another location. In response to Amnesty's allegations, the director of the Human Rights Department at Qatar's Foreign Ministry said laws are in place to protect workers from mistreatment. | FIFA denies Sepp Blatter said Qatar unfit to hold World Cup . Blatter said it was a 'mistake' to organize summer tournament in Gulf State . FIFA president made comments in interview with Swiss media . | 68b898f9382bcb01645aa176107fe3577100fa3b |
The grieving 45-year-old father of murdered schoolgirl Sarah Payne died alone in his armchair after being driven to drink and despair by the death of his daughter. Michael Payne struggled with alcoholism after the abduction of his eight-year-old daughter in July 2000, and was found dead at home in Maidstone, Kent, by police on Monday. His brother Alan, 47, believes 'he was in a downward spiral since it all happened with Sarah' and their father Terrance, 72, says his son was tortured by 'the fact he wasn't there to protect her'. Kent Police broke down the door of his flat because his family had been unable to contact him and MailOnline understands his body had been there for several days. Broken man: Michael Payne, who died at 45, was tortured by the murder of his daughter Sarah and his life spiralled into chaos and alcoholism, his family said today . Tragedy: Mr Payne was found in his first dead in an armchair of his first floor flat in Maidstone, pictured . Forced entry: Kent Police confirmed to MailOnline that they had to break in to the flat where they found Mr Payne dead. The entrance has been boarded up . Michael's schoolgirl daughter was snatched by paedophile Roy Whiting from a field near her grandparents' home in West Sussex, where she was playing with older brothers Luke and Lee and younger sister Charlotte. Mr Payne spoke of his battle with depression in the aftermath of the ordeal, when he suffered recurring nightmares and used alcohol to cope with her death. He and wife Sara ended their 18-year marriage three years after the disappearance and both blamed the 'overwhelming' strains of coping with their tragic loss. After the divorce Mike, as he was known to his family and friends, moved from West Sussex to Maidstone to be near his family, especially his mother Cynthia and brother Alan. Alan, 47, said: 'We are all in a state of shock. Michael has been in a downward spiral since it all happened with Sarah. 'When he split up with Sara and moved back here he was already a drinker. 'But I suppose then it got a lot worse. We still haven't identified the body and my mum is too devastated to see him. 'I hadn't seen Michael for a few months so I didn't know he was sick. My mum is in pieces because it is one tragedy after the other. First Michael loses his daughter and now my mum loses a son. 'No one should be alive to see their child die. It is a nightmare.' Cruel: Sarah's death tore eventually led to their end of her parents' marriage, pictured here at her funeral . Sarah and Michael hug after their daughter's murder. Mr Payne's father Terrance, Sarah's grandfather, left, is seen here supporting them at Littlehampton Police Station. He says his son was overwhelmed by guilt . Michael's father Terrance said: 'He turned to drink because of what happened, for the fact he wasn't there to protect her. 'After the incident we all went downhill a bit, but we managed to pull ourselves together whereas Michael really struggled. We all knew Mike had demons but it's sad it has come to this. He added: 'I hadn't spoken to him since the last Friday of September. I had agreed to speak to him the next week but there was no answer. 'I kept calling and leaving answerphone messages but never heard anything. 'Eventually the phone was cut off, so we knew something was wrong and we called the police. 'The police broke their way into his flat, and found him sitting there in his chair. We don't know exactly what he died of, but we think it was drink-related'. Terrance, who lives with second wife Lesley in Gunnislake, Cornwall, added the family felt bitter that Michael had died while jailed Whiting, 55, would one day walk free. He said: 'It's terrible that Whiting will one day see the outside of a prison, when he has left so much destruction in his wake. 'Paedophiles never get cured, Whiting had done this once before and was left to walk free'. Michael Payne and his then wife made a series of heart-rending appeals for her safe return, but her body was discovered 16 days later in a shallow grave just a few miles away. Sara and Michael pictured together at their Surrey home. Mr Payne has died following a long battle with alcoholism . Message: Sara Payne spoke through her friend Shy Keenan and thanked people for their support after the death of her ex-husband . His daughter Charlotte Payne posted this heartfelt tribute to her father on Facebook . Charlotte Payne's tribute to her father on social media states he will 'always be my daddy' Neighbour Ivy Holohan, 82, said: 'When the police knocked on my door they said there was a bit of a problem I said what's that and they said it was about Michael. 'I wondered what was happening but they boarded the doors up now. It was a shock, a shame really.' Another neighbour who asked not to be named said: 'You didn't see him out anywhere. 'He used to drive a mini-bus for an OAP community scheme, I think. People knew who he was and his terrible past. We all felt so sorry for him bit he didn't mix with any of us in the block to be honest. 'It's an absolute tragedy. He clearly never got over what happened – who would? Roy Whiting was convicted of murdering schoolgirl Sarah Payne in 2000. 'It's awful for it to end that way. It's the rest of his children you feel sorry for now.' Whiting, who had served a previous prison sentence for assaulting a young girl, was given a life sentence for her murder in 2001. Messages of support poured in for the family, who have spoken publicly about the devastating consequences of Sarah's murder at the hands of paedophile Roy Whiting. A senior police officer who worked on the initial investigation into Sarah's disappearance said Mr Payne was 'a good man who battled with demons'. Martyn Underhill, now the Police and Crime Commissioner for Dorset, said: 'I was honoured to have known him. 'But all he ever wanted to do was to see his daughter again. When Sarah went, it destroyed Michael as well.' Referring to the turmoil her family suffered, Sarah's sister Charlotte, now 19, said on Facebook: 'I'm sorry I couldn't save you dad. I hope you have finally found your peace and happiness. 'Heartbroken to say the least. No matter what happened and how many mistakes we all made. You will always be my daddy.' Her older brother Lee, 27, a personal trainer, wrote: 'Dad, you had your demons and troubles but you had a good heart ... I hope now you have found peace at last. You will be missed. We are all heartbroken.' Speaking in 2003, Mrs Payne said: 'We know we're not the same people we once were – and everyone knows the awful reason why.' Mr Payne said: 'I've a lot of anger and bitterness inside me. I'm full of guilt and rage that I wasn't there to protect my little girl.' The former airport worker later admitted the couple had violent rows after he turned to drink as a way of coping. He was given a community order by magistrates after he admitted punching his estranged wife during an alcohol-fuelled row in 2005. And he was jailed for 16 months in 2011 after pleading guilty to glassing his brother Stephen following a session of heavy drinking when they both consumed several litres of cider. The court heard he was tormented by losing his daughter. Sarah's mother, 45, went on to campaign for a change in legislation to allow parents to know if convicted child sex offenders live nearby, known as Sarah's Law. She has been awarded an MBE and an honorary doctorate for her work and told recently how it had given her 'much-needed focus' amid the grief and her severe post-traumatic stress disorder. Mrs Payne also suffered a stroke in 2009 which has left her walking with the assistance of a stick. Yesterday her fellow campaigner Shy Keenan said Mrs Payne was grateful for the public's support, adding: 'Sara thanks you all (more than she can say right now) for your love, kindness and understanding at this very painful time in their lives. 'Sara wants to be left alone to care for her grief-stricken family.' Kent Police are not treating Mr Payne's death at his flat in Maidstone as suspicious. An inquest is expected to be opened next week. Sara and Michael Payne pictured outside Lewes Crown Court following the conviction of Whiting . In December 2001, Roy Whiting was sentenced to life in prison with a recommendation that he never be released after a jury found him guilty of the abduction and murder of Sarah Payne. After his conviction was entered, the court heard he had a previous conviction for the kidnap and indecent assault of a nine-year-old girl. The jury, who had been unaware of the previous sex conviction, were told Whiting had been sentenced to four years in jail for the sex attack in June 1995. Revelations Whiting already had a history of child abuse prior to the killing of Sarah prompted a national debate about how paedophiles are dealt with in the justice system. Mr and Mrs Payne began actively campaigning for a law change, piling pressure on ministers to allow people to know about convicted paedophiles living in their area. In the wake of Whiting's sentencing, Mrs Payne said: 'The Government only can make this decision. Right now, we have got a lot of work to do and it doesn't stop here. It just begins. You know what change I want, Sarah's Law.' The rule, eventually introduced in 2011, allows concerned parents or grandparents to contact police to find out if a new boyfriend, or a neighbour, who has contact with a child, has a history of child sex offending. The scheme is a watered-down version of similar laws in the U.S. under which details of where convicted paedophiles live are actively publicised. In 2008, Mrs Payne was awarded an MBE for her tireless campaigning on the issue. | Michael Payne, 45, was found dead by police at his home in Maidstone, Kent . His daughter Sarah was abducted and killed by paedophile Roy Whiting . The former airport worker had turned to drink in the aftermath of his loss . Brother Alan said: 'Mike was in a downward spiral since it all happened' Dad Terrance said son was tortured because 'he wasn't there to protect her' His daughter Charlotte Payne wrote: 'I'm sorry I couldn't save you dad' Sarah's death eventually led to the introduction of 'Sarah's Law' in 2011 . | e502be4e4d53927b4cc88d09352bbc61f457d0e4 |
Lindsey Vonn's tough week at the skiing world championships in Colorado continued as boyfriend Tiger Woods watched from the sideline. Vonn, who broke down in tears after being disqualified from the Alpine combined race on Tuesday, was targeting her last chance of a medal in the giant slalom event on Thursday. Vonn made several mistakes and wound up 2.67 seconds behind the leaders during the first run of the event. Lindsy Vonn (right) kisses her boyfriend Tiger Woods after her first run in the giant slalom event . Vonn made several mistakes and wound up 2.67 seconds behind the leaders during the first run of the event . Vonn, four-time world champion, has had a tough week on the slopes at the Skiing World Championships . Anna Fenninger of Austria has a comfortable lead after the first run of the event finishing in 1 minute, 8.98 seconds and holds a 0.81-second advantage over teammate Michaela Kirchgasser. Sweden's Jessica Lindell-Vikarby trails by 0.90 seconds heading into the afternoon run. There are still lower-tier skiers competing, with 116 entrants in the field. Four-time wold champion Vonn made her competitive comeback to skiing at the beginning of the year having had to pull out of the Sochi Winter Olympics after suffering a potentially career-threatening knee injury in January 2014. Vonn equaled Austrian Annemarie Moser-Proell's 35-year-old record of 62 women's Alpine skiing World Cup victories when she won a downhill race in Cortina d'Ampezzo in January. Vonn will need a massive performance in the second run to stand any chance of securing a medal . Woods recently announced he would be taking break from golf in a bid to overcome his latest injury scare and poor form. The 14-time major champion withdrew midway through his first round at last week's Farmers Insurance Open in California due to back pain although he has allayed fears over the setback. Of more pressing concern for the 39-year-old is his recent struggles on the course, with his injury coming six days after recording the worst round of his career - an 11-over-par 82 at the Waste Management Phoenix Open. Woods is taking a break from competition golf to work on his game and regain full fitness . | Vonn finished 2.67 seconds behind the leaders in the first run of the giant slalom event at the alpine skiing world championships . Vonn was disqualified from the Alpine combined race on Tuesday . Anna Fenninger of Austria has a comfortable lead after the first run . | 139049e78fd2a770d3ae9e45f42bde514e7797ee |
By . Simon Tomlinson . U.S. luxury car maker Cadillac has provoked anger in France with an advert which pokes fun at countries where workers 'stroll home, stop by the cafe... and take the whole of August off'. The commercial features Desperate Housewives actor Neil McDonough as a successful businessman who compares 'hard-working' Americans to their counterparts abroad who in his words 'don't work'. He says: 'Why do we work so hard? For what? For this? For stuff? Other countries don't work, they stroll home, stop by the cafe, they take August off. Off. 'Why aren't you like that? Why aren't we like that? Because we crazy, driven, hard-working believers that's why.' Scroll down to watch the advert . 'Lamentable': An advert for Cadillac, featuring Desperate Housewives actor Neil McDonough (pictured), has angered the French by poking fun at countries where workers 'take the whole of August off' Dig: The advert does not explicitly mention the French, but it leaves little to the imagination when McDonough signs off with: 'That's the upside of taking just two weeks off in August. N'est-ce pas?' The advert does not explicitly mention the French, but it leaves little to the imagination when McDonough signs off with: 'As for the stuff, that's the upside of taking just two weeks off in August. N'est-ce pas?' French media immediately took issue with the advert, it was reported by The Local. Website Slate.fr carried the headline 'The lamentable anti-French advert by Cadillac' while magazine Nouvel Obs said it implied the French were 'lazy, spending time relishing their paid holidays'. Writer Marc Naimark wrote sarcastically: 'Ah yes, these frogs, these cheese-eating surrender monkeys, known for their laziness, the 35 hours a week, the ban on work e-mails after 6pm... what a difference to the Yankee workers, who relish spending their time doing everything, except nothing.' Anger across the pond: French media immediately took issue with the advert, with website Slate.fr calling it 'the lamentable anti-French advert by Cadillac' Laziest in Europe? France enjoys six weeks paid leave and extremely generous sick leave and striking rights . Last week, it was revealed that workers in Socialist France can now legally ignore telephone calls and e-mails from their bosses when they are at home. It is all part of a new legal agreement which confirms President Francois Hollande’s country as arguably the laziest in Europe. As well as enshrining the 35-hour working week as a cornerstone of French life, his party has cut the retirement age by two years since coming to power two years ago. The French also enjoy six weeks paid leave and extremely generous sick leave and striking rights. Now employers will no longer be allowed to contact staff during the 133 hours of the week designated for rest. In contrast, most Americans have only two to three weeks paid holiday each year. | Commercial asks 'Why do we [Americans] work so hard? Although it doesn't mention France, the French media took exception to it . Website slate.fr labelled it 'lamentable' | 166acca9fa262936ab40d64fb31e5a7f848bc14d |
Arrested: Andrew Kurt Summers, pictured in his mug shot, allegedly made the death threats online . A man has been charged after threatening to shoot Mama June and her daughter Lauryn 'Pumpkin'. Andrew Kurt Summers made the threats on June's Facebook page and has now been charged with making terroristic threats, police in McIntyre, Georgia told TMZ. Summer turned himself in on Monday and has been released on a $15,000 bail. Honey Boo Boo and her family this week appeared to be putting their recent struggles behind them as they reunited to decorate the family home for the upcoming holiday. With Sugar Bear newly returned to the family home, he and Mama June organized the over-the-top preparations for what will surely be an awkward Christmas. Despite the seasonal display, it's hardly been a year to celebrate for Honey Boo Boo and her family. First the child star saw her parents split up, then her mother reportedly reunited with a sex offender former lover - leading to the cancellation of the family's main bread winner - their reality show. As they decorated their home, June appeared to be putting on a brave face as she faces the risk of losing custody of her children pending an investigation by child protective services. Victim: Mama June, pictured, and one of her daughters were targeted by the death threats on Facebook . In October it emerged that she was dating convicted child molester Mark McDaniel. Her ex-boyfriend served 10 years in prison for molesting an eight-year-old girl. June's oldest daughter Anna 'Chickadee' Cardwell, now aged 20, has said she was the victim. Anna was nowhere to be seen during the Christmas event. Instead she is reportedly busy seeking solicitations for herself - selling a potion that she claims can prevent Ebola. Chickadee is shilling Ebola-blocking potions in her new role with the company Young Living Essential Oils. Target: Lauryn 'Pumpkin', pictured at the family home in Georgia, was also allegedly threatened by Summers . In custody: Andrew Kurt Summers, pictured in an older mug shot, turned himself into cops this week . The company's website described the curious claim of the tonic: 'The Ebola virus cannot survive in the presence of a therapeutic grade Cinnamon Bark and Oregano essential oil.' Over the weekend the mother of two-year-old daughter Kaitlyn created a storm of comment on Facebook from fans of the series after she set up a GoFundMe page asking for $20,000. Left red-faced, she responded to the backlash [SIC]: 'I'm deleting my fund me cause everyone thinks I'm money hungry.' Adding: 'And I have been think about everyone's opinions and I got alot of chooses and I have done there idea and I get the s*** end of the stick.' She recently admitted that after her run on TLC's show, which began in 2012 and ended this year, she was left with only $17.90 in her trust fund account. Mama June found herself in hot water and her reality TV show canceled earlier this year when photos emerged showing her daughter, Honey Boo Boo, with a convicted child molester, Mark McDaniel, pictured . In November, the 20-year-old told E! News that she believed her 'selfish' mother squandered her earnings from show and accused the matriarch of purchasing a car for McDaniel, the man she accused of molesting her as a child. 'I have a feeling Mama used that money to buy a car or buy him what he wanted,' she told E! News. June responded to the claims, saying, 'Not true. I have never brought a car for him and all her money is there, beside the money I have given her to live on—$400 every month and pay her $475 each month for cell phone bills for the last two years. 'That's the only money I have taken out of there.' | Andrew Kurt Summers allegedly threatened to shoot Mama June . Summers turned himself in Monday and has been released on a $15k bail . He also allegedly threatened to shoot her daughter, Lauryn 'Pumpkin' | 67e0a6c0c7bc58469b25f042fd9101f12033e0de |
(CNN) -- A Kentucky census worker who was found dead in September committed suicide and staged the scene to look like a homicide, authorities said Tuesday. The body of William E. Sparkman Jr., 51, was found September 12 near a cemetery in southeastern Kentucky's Clay County. He was wearing only socks. "A thorough examination of evidence from the scene, to include DNA testing, as well as examination of his vehicle and his residence, resulted in the determination that Mr. Sparkman, alone, handled the key pieces of evidence with no indications of any other persons involved," Kentucky State Police said. Sparkman's wrists were bound with duct tape, and a rope around his neck was tied to a tree, but his body was touching the ground, authorities said. He had "Fed" written on his chest in black ink. However, Sparkman's wrists were loosely bound in front of his body at shoulder width apart, allowing for "considerable mobility," said Kentucky State Police Capt. Lisa Rudzinski. He was also in contact with the ground, "almost on his knees," she said. "To survive, all Mr. Sparkman had to do was stand up." Lividity on the body -- marks made as blood stops pumping and settles in areas of the body -- showed that Sparkman died in the same position, Rudzinski said. His glasses were taped to his head, and that tape was underneath tape that held a rag in his mouth, she said. "Mr. Sparkman had extremely poor eyesight" and so would have needed his glasses secured, Rudzinski said. But the most compelling evidence came from the fact that Sparkman had obtained $600,000 in accidental-death insurance, which would not have paid in the event of a suicide, as late as May, she said. In addition, he told a "credible witness" of his plans to commit suicide and stage the scene to make it look like he was slain because he worked for the federal government. The details were consistent with how Sparkman died and was found, Rudzinski said. The witness did not take action after Sparkman shared his plans out of a belief that he would not follow through, authorities said. "It was learned that Mr. Sparkman had discussed recent federal investigations and the perceived negative attitudes toward federal entities by some residents of Clay County," Kentucky state police said in a statement. Police believe that Sparkman's primary motive in staging the scene was to ensure that the insurance would be paid, Rudzinski said. His motive for committing suicide or any secondary motives might never be known, she said, as Sparkman left no note. "We don't know what Mr. Sparkman was thinking or why he ultimately committed this act," she said. Autopsy results showed no evidence of any cancer or terminal illness, officials said, although it was reported that Sparkman had previously had lymphoma. Police would not say who the beneficiary of the insurance was. Forensic analysis of the writing on Sparkman's chest showed that he had written it himself, Rudzinski said. Analysts found ink dots, made by writers on completing a letter, at the top of the letters, rather than at the bottom -- as would be expected if someone had made the writing on Sparkman. Despite a search by authorities, the black felt pen used for the writing has not been found. Police do not believe that anyone assisted Sparkman, she said. Sparkman had told the witness, whom police declined to name, that he intended to dispose of some of his personal effects, including his laptop computer and other items. Police have not found those items, Rudzinski said. Toxicology tests showed that Sparkman was not drugged or under the influence of any substance, she said. The red rag removed from his mouth was similar to those found in his pocket and at the scene. DNA testing of the rags and the rope used in creating a ligature on Sparkman's neck, as well as 7 feet of discarded rope discarded near his body, found only Sparkman's DNA, she said. The police investigation is still open, and additional test results are expected in the next two to three weeks, authorities said. Authorities met with Sparkman's son and told him of their findings before publicly releasing them. "Our hearts go out to him," Rudzinski said. "He still lost his father at the end of the day." She would not say whether his son accepted the findings, saying she did not want to speak for the family. | Census worker staged scene to ensure insurance policy would be paid, police say . Police: William Sparkman told "credible witness" of plans to stage suicide . Sparkman, 51, was found dead in September with rope around neck but body touching ground . Sparkman had "Fed" written on his chest; police say he wrote it himself . | eeaf858010684f938de981e06055047bc7bfdb02 |
(CNN) -- Outdoor dining, fresh ingredients and local festivals make summer the perfect season for food lovers to explore the world. Check out these 10 destinations for fresh summer eats. See more top summer food destinations . Istria, Croatia . In Istria, Croatia's northern peninsula, the land is bursting with all things green. Vineyards flank winding roads. Trees, heavy with figs and peaches, hang over garden gates. Croatia's 1,390-square-mile northern peninsula is known for its freshly caught seafood, terraced olive groves, hilltop vineyards and truffles. Head to 120-year-old Kabola, Istria's first green-certified winery, to taste wines that have been partly aged in amphoras, or clay vessels. The family vintners are especially passionate about regional Malvazija grapes; if you like red, don't miss the peppery 2009 Teran. Afterward, drive 15 minutes south to dine on cuttlefish in its own ink topped with silky puréed potatoes and a generous portion of black truffle shavings at San Rocco Hotel's restaurant. Beyond Croatia, summer's food groups are as distinctive as countries themselves. 10 surprising facts about turbulence . Northern Italy . The weather in northern Italy might be similar to neighboring Croatia, for example, but altitude and Austrian influences in the Dolomites means regional specialties include pork sausages and apple strudel. Regional specialties such as speck (smoked ham), cajinci (a ravioli with ricotta and spinach), and wild berries pair well with hikes and overnights in rifugios, or mountain huts, in this northern corner of Italy. Head there with Whole Foods' new tour company, Whole Journeys, at the end of August. The seven-day itinerary includes a hands-on cooking lesson—Alto Adige gnocchi is one menu highlight—a private dinner in a century-old vineyard, and yogurt-making classes on a dairy farm. Turks and Caicos . Whether you resort hop or hit local hotspots on the Turks and Caicos Islands, be sure to pair a cool Turks head beer with conch, a Caribbean specialty. You'll find the sweet shell meat fried, stewed and served ceviche style at weekly Island Fish Fries, where travelers and island residents mingle on the beach and local "rake and scrape" bands bang out tunes. Or head to haute restaurants such as Parallel23 at the Regent Palms Hotel, where new chef Ingo Möller serves up flaky sea bass and fresh crab rolls; meals end with dessert and cocktails on a moonlit beach. August also means lobster season on the islands, something Grace Bay Club's Anacaona restaurant celebrates with a decadent lobster tasting menu. America's best urban running trails . Portland, Oregon . Progressive culinary scenes in cities like Portland, Oregon, mean farmers and chefs have close relationships, so seasonal summer ingredients such as heirloom tomatoes, hazelnuts and sorrel don't travel far before landing on your plate at locally loved restaurants like Castagna. You could also sign up for a farm dinner or trip with Farm to Fork, a food, wine and agritourism event company that creates culinary experiences that directly link consumers with craft winemakers, food artisans and family farmers throughout the state. On a four-day canoeing trip down the Rogue River, for example, participants take cooking classes and stop by vineyards and leafy orchards. Montreal, Canada . It's no wonder that Montreal earns frequent comparisons to Paris: The city's culinary culture—influenced by 80 rich ethnicities and a genuine focus on local—is a favorite among foodies, especially during warmer summer months. Neighborhoods are dotted with patisseries and boulangeries and the city's restaurant scene—there are more than 5,500 to choose from—has standout options such as the hip La Salle á Manger, where spicy fried rabbit and halibut ceviche make the menu and Nora Gray, where chef Emma Cardarelli turns out rich venison tartare and house-made pasta. Madrid, Spain . Global capitals also vie for attention. "Madrid is the place—do not hesitate!" says Virginia Irurita of Made for Spain tour company, based in the Spanish capital. Her enthusiasm isn't just rooted in particular chefs and dishes, but also in Spain's summer food traditions: Café tables spread out along sidewalks and in park squares, and boisterous crowds sip Tinto de verano, a refreshing wine spritzer, until late at night. World's best airport spas . Cape Town, South Africa . While Cape Town is not at its weather peak in June through August, popular restaurants stay packed with travelers looking to bookend a South African safari with an urban jaunt. Among the culture capital's latest offerings, chef Bruce Robertson, formerly of Cape Grace and the Showroom Restaurant in Cape Town, now hosts bespoke dining experiences—a five-course, seafood-focused menu paired with South African wines—at the intimate Boat House in Scarborough just outside of the city. Colorado . Dining also heads outdoors in Colorado, where crisp, dry air and 75-degree days invite foraging excursions and food festivals. Here, cozy lodges' winter comfort foods and après-ski hot toddies have given way to farmers' markets and restaurants with sprawling terraces. Brooklyn, New York . Restaurant access alone is what defines summer dining to many New Yorkers. In Brooklyn, where up-and-coming restaurants are overrun by travelers in fall and spring months, hotter temps mean saying goodbye to tourists and finally getting seated at popular restaurants such as Battersby and Runner & Stone. Dubai . No matter what the season, you might still get denied entry to Dubai restaurants such as At.mosphere, the world's tallest at 1,350 feet, where doormen ask for a reservation code. With a $122 per person minimum, rejection might be a blessing in sleek disguise—and there are plenty of other posh options to choose from in the Middle Eastern culture capital. See more top summer food destinations here. © 2012 American Express Publishing Corporation. All rights reserved. | Croatia's 1,390-square-mile northern peninsula is known for its freshly caught seafood . In farm-to-table focused Oregon, foodies hone in on heirloom tomatoes . Restaurant access alone defines summer dining to many New Yorkers . | 7e310ffe949d3e77c6bd78cee6bd038391165acf |
Washington (CNN) -- Alabama now has the toughest immigration law in the nation. The law went into effect on September 29, prompting hundreds of families to pull their children from school and workers to disappear from Alabama farms. A federal appeals court has blocked some provisions, including the one requiring state officials to check the legal status of students in public schools. No doubt, the issue is far from being settled. Alabama is just one state where an uproar over immigration has been heard. The rapid growth in Alabama's immigrant population, a large proportion estimated to be mostly present illegally, was the impetus behind the law. But the reality of immigration is more complex than the perception. You wouldn't know it from the rhetoric the last few years, but immigration nationally over the past decade was slower than in the 1990s. Between 1990 and 2000, the United States gained 11.3 million immigrants, the largest increase this country has ever experienced, a growth rate of 57%. The 2000s, by contrast, witnessed an 8.8 million increase in immigrants, a 28% growth rate. An estimated 40 million foreign-born individuals now call the United States home, according to Census Bureau data released in September, which we analyze in a new report. So why the ruckus now? The context for immigration has changed considerably since 2000. Economic times were good at the beginning of the decade, so immigrants, legal and illegal, were drawn by plentiful jobs in an expanding economy. Back then, they were viewed as assets to our labor force and society. Today, amid economic distress, unemployment and shrinking public coffers, immigrants are more likely to be viewed as a drain on resources and as competitors for jobs. During the economic expansion of the late 1990s, immigrants found new opportunities in some unexpected places. This trend continued in this decade as immigrants dispersed to new metro areas and suburbs within metro areas. The five metropolitan areas with the largest foreign-born populations -- New York, Los Angeles, Miami, Chicago and Houston -- housed a smaller share of the nation's immigrants, just 38% in 2010, compared to 43% in 2000. Meanwhile, immigrants have increasingly settled in the suburbs, so by 2010 a majority of the nation's immigrants are suburban residents. Nine metropolitan areas—from Scranton, Pennsylvania to Indianapolis, Indiana to Nashville, Tennessee—experienced at least a doubling of their foreign-born populations between 2000 and 2010. This rapid change did not come without resistance. In the eight states represented by these metro areas, restrictive immigration legislation was introduced, if not passed. Florida, Tennessee, and Alabama all participate in the 287(g) program, an agreement between state and local law enforcement with Immigration Customs and Enforcement (ICE) delegating authority for immigration enforcement within their jurisdictions. The friction in places unaccustomed to or unprepared for new inflows of foreigners, particularly those who are assumed to be present illegally, manifests itself in different ways. In Arizona, Alabama, Georgia, Indiana and South Carolina, where metro areas experienced some of the fastest or largest growth in their foreign-born populations over the decade, state legislatures passed laws in 2011 to crack down on unauthorized residents. Not every region is reacting in this way. Metro areas that want to stem their population loss and boost economic growth -- such as Detroit and Cleveland -- are devising ways to woo immigrants. These areas experienced the slowest growth of their immigrant populations among all metropolitan areas -- Detroit at 9% and Cleveland at 6% -- well below the 26% growth across the 100 largest metro areas. Dayton, Ohio, where the tiny immigrant population grew by 57% over the past 10 years, is the most recent place to buck the "stay out" trend. The city council agreed to a new plan, crafted by 130 community members from all segments of Dayton's communities, outlining a framework for new policies to make the city more open and supportive of immigrants. Dayton's Mayor Gary Leitzel emphasized, "This is not a city of Dayton government program. For this effort to be successful, it will take the support and active participation of businesses, schools, institutions and organizations throughout the Dayton area. The Welcome Dayton plan represents an attitude we all must adopt to take advantage of the brainpower, energy and resources available through the various immigrant groups coming to Dayton." Even as Alabama state legislators were passing their restrictive legislation, city council members in Birmingham voted unanimously on a resolution condemning the law when it was passed in June, calling for a commission to figure out better ways to address the issues. There is widespread agreement that the national immigration system is broken, but no consensus on how to fix it. Given an acrimonious Congress, the emotional nature of the immigration issue -- especially in tough economic times -- and the looming presidential campaign season, federal reform is an unlikely prospect in the near future. In the meantime, a patchwork of state and local approaches will continue to address the benefits and challenges of immigration that confront people where they live, where they govern, and where budgets are made. In other words, don't expect the uproar to die down anytime soon. The opinions expressed in this commentary are solely those of the authors. | Immigration actually slowed down in the last decade despite the uproar, authors say . They say the immigration issue is much more contentious because of a poor economy . Some areas have seen immigrant population more than double, prompting controversy . Authors: While some pass laws to curb immigrants, other places welcome them . | 855dac54707e7f430eb39603f0b53d40209f19fb |
Disincentivising jargon in official dialogue: The kind of language used by Sir Humphrey Appleby in Yes Minister, the archetypal civil service technocrat . It looks like the end of the road for ‘facilitating’ policies, ‘engaging with stakeholders’ and ‘disincentivising’ waste. Civil servants have been told to stop using meaningless jargon that confuses people about what the Government is doing. Instead of peppering policy announcements with buzzwords, Whitehall officials have been told they must address the public in ‘plain English’, according to new guidance. It is accompanied by a list of more than 30 banned words and phrases which recall the worst of Sir Humphrey in Yes Minister. Among the banned words and phrases are ‘slimming down’; ‘strengthen’ unless referring to a bridge or other structure; ‘drive’ a policy; or hold a ‘dialogue’ when they mean speaking to people. Also unacceptable are ‘foster’ unless it refers to children, ‘deploy’ unless it’s a lethal weapon, and ‘deliver’ - the guidance says ‘pizzas, post and services are delivered - not abstract concepts like ‘improvements or priorities’. The online style guide is published on the government’s new website www.gov.uk which has replaced those for individual departments, so all the information the public need is one place. However it is not to be referred to a ‘one stop shop’ - that term is firmly on the banned list, accompanied by the advice ‘we are government, not a retail outlet’. Civil servants are told announcements will be wasted if no-one can understand them. ‘We lose trust from our users if we write government ‘buzzwords’ and jargon. Often, these words are too general and vague and can lead to misinterpretation or empty, meaningless text.’ Instead they should use ‘buy’ instead of ‘purchase’, ‘help’ instead of ‘assist’, ‘about’ instead of ‘approximately’ and ‘like’ instead of ‘such as’, it says. ‘This isn’t "dumbing down"', they are told. ‘Be open and specific. All audiences should understand our content...this is opening up government information to all.’ Although recent announcements suggest some departments still have a way to go. One from the Home Office about improvements to the visa system says it will give ‘the option for key businesses to complete the biometric enrolment part of applications for their staff from within their own offices, a significant service development that has facilitated the investment of nearly £2bn into the UK.’ Not a 'one stop shop': The online style guide is published on the government website www.gov.uk which has replaced those for individual departments, so all the information the public need is one place . Another recent announcement from the Cabinet Office reads: ‘The government is establishing a Global Learning Exchange on impact investment. Impact investment provides capital to deliver both social and financial results. ‘This multi-stakeholder exchange will focus on sharing best practice on ‘what works’ in impact investing. It will provide a shared platform to debate and create ideas as well as inviting new voices to the field.’ But there seems to have some been some improvement since environment department attracted ridicule last year for press notice when began: ‘The High Level Panel on the ‘Global Assessment of Resources for Implementing the Strategic Plan for Biodiversity 2011-2020’ released its first findings at ‘COP 11’ of the Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD) today.’ Steve Jenner, from the Plain English Campaign, said the new rules were welcome after officials have spent years announcing government policies in ‘departmental gobbledygook’. He said: ‘The fact that much of this is unintentionally hilarious suggests how bad things had become. The Plain English Campaign applauds this attempt to encourage clarity, though, and would be happy to assist any government department in this.’ | New style guide attempts to slim down jargon in Whitehall announcements . It is deployed on Government's new one-stop-shop website www.gov.uk . Guidance should facilitate the delivery of better dialogue with stakeholders . | 3fec8fa4e49ec8ee12de2d7fce0fa83cdd5146b8 |
A teenager was found dead in wetlands after leaving her home barefoot in December following a row with her family, an inquest heard. Nida Naseer vanished from her parents' house in Newport, South Wales, last December after an argument over 'cultural differences'. The 18-year-old student's body was found in marshland three months later. An inquest at Newport Civic Centre heard that she might have fallen from a bridge into the River Usk. Nida Naseer vanished from her parents' house in Newport, South Wales, last December after an argument over 'cultural differences' Nida Naseer's disappearance sparked a nationwide search with her sister Shamyla Naseer (left) and mother Najma Tahir (right) issuing an appeal for information . However, with no confirmed sightings after she disappeared and a post-mortem examination revealing no sign of injuries, and the circumstances surrounding her death remain a mystery. The coroner heard how Pakistan-born Miss Naseer had been a 'straight grade A student' who wanted to go to university. But because her family's asylum claim had been turned down - and they would not be able to afford her tuition fees - her degree dreams lay in tatters. Father Naseer Tahir was in the front room with his grandson on December 28 last year when his daughter suddenly got up and walked out at around 7.10pm. In a statement read aloud at the hearing, he said: 'There was a disagreement over cultural matters that evening. 'Nida was sat downstairs with me and her nephew when suddenly without warning she got up and left the room. 'As she was not wearing winter clothes or any footwear I thought she must have gone to put something in the bin outside. Nida Naseer's father Naseer Tahir told the inquest there was a 'disagreement over cultural matters' on the night of her disappearance . 'But when she did not return I became anxious.' Mortorised wheelchair user Mr Tahir, who sat through the inquest with his young grandson on his lap, then called up to Miss Naseer's sister and brother to go and look for their sibling. After his family had searched nearby streets for an hour, he went to Newport Central police station as well as the Royal Gwent Hospital in the hope of tracing her - but to no avail. 'I have had no contact with my daughter since she left the house on December 28,' he said. 'I cannot explain why she left the house. The family disagreement would not have been the reason. 'Earlier in the year she had been upset over her inability to pursue her chosen education at university. 'Her disappearance is a complete mystery.' But despite several emotional public appeals for Miss Naseer to return home, nothing was seen of her until March 27 - when a group of litter-pickers discovered a badly decomposed body on marshland four miles away from Linton Street. The coroner heard how Pakistan-born Miss Naseer (pictured) had been a 'straight grade A student' who wanted to go to university . It was later identified by dental records as being Miss Naseer. Detective Constable Stephen Francis said that, despite numerous appeals for information, no credible sightings of the teenager were ever made. He added that her disappearance had also been 'totally out of character'. Following the discovery of Miss Naseer's body, rivers and tidal expert Dr Robert Francis Allen helped police with their investigation. The inquest heard that, on the night of Ms Naseer's disappearance, the River Usk had been placed on flood alert - and the nearest access point from Linton Street was Southern Distributor Bridge. He said: 'It is not possible to determine when, where or how Miss Naseer's body ended up in the water. 'It is possible however to conclude that entry occurred into the River Usk from the vicinity of the Southern Distributor Bridge. 'The natural forces of wind, wave and tides all would have been sufficient to transport the body from start to finish.' Miss Naseer's claim for asylum was turned down, the inquest heard, meaning they would not be able to afford her tuition fees leaving her degree dreams in tatters . Pathologist Dr Richard Jones said his post-mortem examination into Miss Naseer's death had been 'hampered by decomposition'. However, he found no evidence of any injuries to her body nor anything which suggested she had been tied up or suffered a fall from a height. He said: 'It is not possible from the pathology to say how Miss Naseer died, but I have found no evidence to suggest she had been assaulted prior to her death. 'But I am not able to ascertain the medical cause of of Nida's death.' Recording an open verdict, coroner David Bowen said: 'Police investigations failed to find any evidence as to when, how or in what manner Miss Naseer’s body entered the river. 'How this happened is pure speculation. And this inquest is not concerned with speculation, it is concerned with the facts. 'Miss Naseer’s father described his daughter’s disappearance as a mystery. From the evidence that I have heard I am satisfied never has such a description been more appropriate.' | Nida Naseer left her parents' house in Newport, South Wales in December . Inquest told she vanished following an argument over 'cultural differences' The 18-year-old student's body was found in marshland three months later . Inquest hears how her family's asylum claim had been turned down . It meant her dreams of going to university lay in tatters, the inquest heard . Coroner told it is possible she may have fallen from a bridge into River Usk . But the circumstances surrounding teenager's death remain a mystery . | 640c846ce2b10496a7b7c59f741b3c2d8203da97 |
(CNN) -- Experts disagreed Tuesday over just how bad things have gotten at the stricken Fukushima Daiichi nuclear plant in northeastern Japan, but all of them agreed that things could get worse. An explosion Tuesday at the plant elevated the situation there to a "serious accident," on a level just below Chernobyl, a French nuclear official said, referring to the international scale that rates the severity of such incidents and to an incident 25 years ago in what is now Ukraine. His comments came before a fire was reported Wednesday in the No. 4 reactor building at the Japanese plant. The International Nuclear and Radiological Event Scale -- or INES -- ranks incidents from Level 1, which indicates very little danger to the general population, to Level 7, a "major accident" with a large release of radioactive material and widespread health and environmental effects. "It's clear we are at Level 6, that's to say we're at a level in between what happened at Three Mile Island and Chernobyl," Andre-Claude Lacoste, president of France's nuclear safety authority, told reporters Tuesday. The core meltdown at the Three Mile Island nuclear power plant near Middletown, Pennsylvania, in 1979 caused no injuries or deaths, and only low levels of radiation were found later in plants and animals, experts said. At least 30 people died following the 1986 explosion and fire at Chernobyl, and large swaths of Ukraine, Belarus and Russia were contaminated from the nuclear fallout. Thousands of cases of childhood thyroid cancer resulted, according to Dr. Ira Helfand of Physicians for Social Responsibility, which opposes the use of nuclear power. Japanese nuclear authorities initially rated the incident that began last Friday with a 9.0-magnitude earthquake in northeastern Japan followed by a tsunami at Level 4, according to Greg Webb of the International Atomic Energy Agency. Level 4 is characterized as a minor release of radioactive material that necessitates only measures to control food due to contamination. But in the latest information about the explosion, Japanese authorities did not give it a rating, Webb said, and the IAEA did not cite one either. But Joseph Cirincione, president of the Ploughshares Fund and author of "Deadly Arsenals: Nuclear, Biological and Chemical Threats," said the level is far beyond 4. "We are way beyond Three Mile Island level and heading into Chernobyl territory," he told CNN in a telephone interview. "This is at least a 5, probably a 6 and it could end up a 7." He added, "This is not going to end well. At the very least, we're going to have a very expensive mess to clean up, and the worst is that we we spread radioactive particles across hundreds or thousands of square miles of Japan." The Institute for Science and International Security agreed the initial rating was low. "The explosion in the Unit 2 reactor, the third so far, and the fire in the spent fuel pond in the reactor building for Unit 4 means that this accident can no longer be viewed as a level 4 on the INES scale," the institute said Tuesday in a posting on its website. "This event is now closer to a level 6, and it may unfortunately reach a level 7," it said. Level 6 events have broad consequences that require countermeasures to deal with the radioactive contamination. Level 7 events would constitute a larger release of radioactive material and would require further countermeasures. Another way to measure the incidents would be to rank them in comparison with Chernobyl, deemed the worst, and Three Mile Island. "My guess is this is now number two, but I need to need to look at the data more carefully," said James Acton, an associate in the Nuclear Policy Program at the Carnegie Endowment and a Stanton Nuclear Security Fellow. Tom Cochran, a senior scientist in the nuclear program at the Natural Resources Defense Council, said he would guess that the incident ranks "a little worse than Three Mile Island and not nearly as bad as Chernobyl." But, he complained, he could not look at the data because they had not been made available. "There are too many variables: First is the lack of transparency on the part of the Japanese." Even if the Japanese prove capable of keeping coolant in the three reactors that have experienced partial core meltdowns, many uncertainties remain, he said. One of them is whether the containment vessels will keep any molten nuclear material from entering the environment. "If it does pool in the bottom of the reactor, after some period of time it will probably eat through the reactor into the primary containment area which is, or should be, sealed, but may not be," he said. If the containment system is breached, "you have more or less direct access to the environment. At that point, you expect the volatile fission products and the gaseous fission products to get out of the system. That would be things like Krypton 85, Iodine 131 and Cesium 137." Given that prevailing winds were blowing out to sea and people who lived within 20 kilometers of the plant had been evacuated, Cochran said he was sanguine about the possible outcome. "But you can always play the game of, what's the worst-case situation? And the worst case can get pretty bad." Whatever happens, the incident will greatly affect the calculation of probabilities associated with nuclear power risk, he said. The probability of a core melt had been estimated at about one chance in 10,000 reactor years of operation, he said. "We've had now three core melts in 30 years in less than 500 reactors, he said, referring to Three Mile Island, Chernobyl and now Japan. "So the probability of a partial core melt is one chance in several hundred instead of one chance in 10,000. So, it's not a good statistic." Many experts said it could be a long time before they are able to determine the incident's impact. "We don't know enough to assess the long-term or short-term effects of this," said Kirby Kemper, a nuclear physicist, physics professor and vice president of research at Florida State University. Kemper said it appears the radioactive material released had largely dissipated into the atmosphere. However, he added, authorities would will have to test the soil for contamination in the 20-kilometer radius of the plant that was evacuated before anyone should be allowed to return home. Trying to place the situation on the INES scale is premature, said David Brenner, director of the Center for Radiological Research at Columbia University. "I've been asked to put a number on it a few times and I've resisted," he said. Cochran said his concerns transcend nuclear power. "We've watched Exxon Valdez, the BP oil spill, numerous coal mining accidents, Chernobyl, TMI, now Fukushima, slag ponds, TVA (Tennessee Valley Authority) reactors giving way. You have got to ask yourself, how many wake-up calls do you need before you get serious about building a safe, renewable-energy economy?" CNN's Alanne Orjoux, Tom Watkins, Michael Pearson and Richard Greene contributed to this report . | Nuclear physicist: "We don't know enough to assess the long-term or short-term effects" The IAEA is not rating the latest incident in Japan on the international scale . Some experts say there's too little information to determine long-term effects . | 2dfba7c538ca6df667337e8bd6427b674a7037e9 |
The Geneva offices of HSBC were raided by Swiss prosecutors yesterday in an investigation into alleged money laundering. Public prosecutors said they were searching for evidence of ‘aggravated money laundering’ after ‘the recent published revelations ’ about HSBC’s Swiss private bank. It is the latest damaging twist for the banking giant embroiled in a scandal over claims staff helped rich clients dodge tax. Under suspicion: Olivier Jornot, Prosecutor General of the Canton of Geneva, updates the media about the money-laundering investigation into HSBC's Swiss private bank after searching its offices in Geneva . The raid follows reports that HSBC also helped hide millions of dollars for arms dealers and blood diamond traders. It comes seven years after its former IT worker Herve Falciani fled Geneva with details of thousands of clients suspected of avoiding tax in their home countries, including 6,000 Britons. Although the Geneva prosecutor’s office said the probe was against the bank, it added that it could target individuals ‘suspected of committing or participating in acts of money laundering.’ Those found guilty could face a fine and up to five years in prison. Authorities in France, Belgium, the US and Argentina have already launched criminal inquiries. Gathering evidence: Attorney General Olivier Jornot (right) leaves the offices of HSBC's Swiss private bank . The investigation comes just over a week after HSBC Switzerland found itself at the centre of a massive global scandal following the publication of secret documents that claim to show it helped people avoid tax . In an unusual move, the Geneva prosecutor’s office alerted the media about the raid. This meant camera crews filmed attorney general Olivier Jornot and his staff arriving at HSBC’s offices overlooking Lake Geneva. Another raid was carried out on its office near the city’s airport. Mr Jornot said: ‘What we are looking for today is not yet proof. What we are looking for are all documents, all information which will then allow us to make an analysis.’ Mr Jornot added that Swiss law did not allow an investigation based on stolen evidence but his office could investigate if it secured the evidence itself. The raid comes more than a week after allegations emerged that HSBC’s Swiss private bank may have routinely helped wealthy clients dodge tax and hide assets. Files including the names of 30,000 account holders including celebrities, were leaked. They claimed huge sums were channelled through HSBC as customers dodged taxes or laundered proceeds of crime. Last week, a leaked memo revealed that HSBC was willing to help a ‘blood diamond’ trader even though he was being investigated for tax evasion. The term refers to uncut gems smuggled out of Africa and sold to fund brutal civil wars. HSBC said its private banking operation has been overhauled and accounts of suspect clients closed. A spokesman said: ‘We have co-operated continuously with the Swiss authorities since first becoming aware of the data theft in 2008.’ 'Decent': Clive Bannister . Former HSBC executive Clive Bannister – the son of four-minute-mile legend Sir Roger – could face questions from the Geneva public prosecutor. The 55-year-old spent 17 years at the bank and was the boss of its global private banking business from 1998 to 2006. Oxford-educated Mr Bannister, a father of three sons who is also a keen runner, was based in London. He was instrumental in turning the private bank into a global powerhouse with profits soaring to almost £1billion by 2007. HSBC’s Swiss private bank was a key part of his empire. Although there is no suggestion Mr Bannister was aware of any wrongdoing, the alleged misconduct occurred from 2005-2007, overlapping part of his service. Prosecutors may also choose to summon former trade minister Lord Green, who joined David Cameron’s government in 2011. He was the chief executive and then chairman of HSBC until stepping down in 2010 and sat on the board of the Swiss banking arm for a decade. Sources close to Mr Bannister describe him as a ‘incredibly decent man’ and point out he has not been interviewed during other investigations into HSBC in Belgium, France and the US. But the controversy has touched his current role as chief executive of insurance firm Phoenix Group as his chairman Sir Howard Davies has asked him to explain his role at HSBC. A cache of files stolen by former IT worker Herve Falciani (above) in 2007 claimed HSBC's Swiss private banking arm helped clients in more than 200 countries evade taxes on accounts containing $119 billion . HSBC were willing to help a 'blood diamond' smuggler even though they knew that he was being investigated over tax evasion, according to a leaked memo. The bank aided Emmanuel Shallop before he was convicted for his part in an illegal trade that fuelled war in Africa. According to one memo seen by the Guardian, one banker said: 'The client is currently being very careful because he is under pressure from the Belgian tax authorities who are investigating his activities in the field of diamond tax evasion.' HSBC bankers also helped him open a bank account in Dubai. Blood diamonds were rough, uncut gemstones, smuggled out of Africa and sold to fund civil wars. The main countries involved were Angola, Liberia, Sierra Leone, The Democratic Republic of Congo and the Ivory Coast. Emmanuel Shallop used his company Shallop Diamonds to trade conflict diamonds for Revolutionary United Front (RUF) leaders in Sierra Leone. | Investigators have searched Geneva offices of HSBC's Swiss private bank . Probe stems from 'recent published revelations' it helped clients evade tax . Stolen files claim bank helped dodge taxes on accounts containing $119bn . Leaked memo revealed HSBC were willing to help a 'blood diamond' trader . Aided smuggler despite knowing he was being investigated for tax evasion . | d672123906d60464df91efa5f669b37d188342de |
International experts have conceded they missed early chances to control the spread of Ebola as they incorrectly believed an initial lull in deaths meant the outbreak was over. The World Health Organisation (WHO) concluded that 'modest further intervention efforts' could have controlled the outbreak in the spring. They conceded that infighting and finger pointing led to delays in the international response, according to a New York Times investigation. Allowing the less experienced African branch of the WHO to co-ordinate efforts on the ground and failing to understand how West African attitudes towards issues such as burial might affect the disease's spread also allowed the outbreak to escalate. Scroll down for video . International experts have conceded they missed early chances to control the spread of the deadly Ebola virus. 'Modest further intervention efforts' could have controlled the outbreak in the spring, World Health Organization (WHO) experts said. Pictured are health workers taking a victim to a clinic in Monrovia, Liberia . Thomas Frieden, director of the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) said African experts wanted to prove they could tackle the disease on their own. 'People shouldn't die because someone's embarrassed that they can't do it themselves,' he said . Experts incorrectly believed the outbreak was 'over' in April as cases of the disease had slowed. In fact, it had gone underground and would go on to kill 7,800 people by December 2014. Pictured are health workers carrying the body of a suspected Ebola victim for burial at a cemetery in Freetown, Sierra Leone . Dr Pierre Rollin, an Ebola specialist at the Centers for Disease Control (CDC), U.S., who spent nearly two months in Guinea during the early days of the outbreak, said the lack of new cases prompted aid organisations to withdraw and declare the outbreak over. 'This is close to over,' the New York Times reported he said to himself on the plane ride home in April. 'That's it for this outbreak.' In fact, 20,000 people would go on to contract Ebola and 7,800 have now died. Dr Rollin said health officials underestimated how much West African practices, especially regarding burial practices, would catalyse the spread of the disease. 'It was an unprecedented outbreak,' he said. 'There were a lot of things we didn't know at that time.' The first patient died of Ebola in Guinea on December 28 last year, but the virus was not officially recognised until three months later. The WHO and the Guinean health ministry documented cases of a handful of people dying or being sick with Ebola-like symptoms in Sierra Leone in March, but the information didn't reach the team investigating suspected cases. The most likely cause of the deadly outbreak of Ebola in West Africa was a young boy playing near a colony of virus-infected bats, scientists claim. The two-year-old boy - described as the index case, or patient zero - became infected and was the first to die in his village in Meliandou, Guinea in December last year. It is thought 'patient zero' was was Emile Ouamouno, described as a playful toddler by his father Etienne. Before his death, on December 6, 2013, Emile had been near a tree harbouring the free-tailed bats. Researchers from the Robert Koch-Institute in Berlin concluded the large colony of free-tailed insectivorous bats were the most likely source of the disease. Villagers reported that children often used to play in and around thehollow tree, and may have resulted in a massive exposure to the bats. The toddler came down with a sky-high fever, began vomiting and passing black stools. It took four days for the disease to claim Emile's life, and he passed away on December 6, 2013. His sister Philomene fell ill on Christmas Day last year, and was dead before New Year. Their mother followed, along with their grandmother, Etienne said earlier this year. The disease then spread to other members of the community before spreading to other parts of Guinea. It was not until May that Sierra Leone recorded its first confirmed cases, prompting infighting and finger pointing among the WHO, Guinea and Sierra Leone. Thomas Frieden, director of the CDC, said efforts to help were resisted because African experts wanted to prove they could tackle the disease on their own. Usually in such situations the CDC would be brought into outbreaks quickly and given a primary role, and Dr Frieden was surprised this hadn't happened. He learned that CDC experts were being held up by bureaucratic demands, and were having their credentials checked by the African WHO officials. 'People shouldn't die because someone's embarrassed that they can't do it themselves,' he said. Aid and experts were sent from the Geneva branch of the WHO, but leadership of the early response was largely delegated to regional WHO representatives on the ground. Worried, Dr Nils Daulaire, who until February sat on the WHO executive board, said the African office was seen as a place where 'politics trumps substance' and where senior officials are 'often not the cream of the crop'. A Guinean WHO official who had never been involved in fighting Ebola was put in charge of co-ordinating the response on the ground, ahead of Dr Pierre Formenty, the WHO's top Ebola authority. Dr Formenty said this was obviously 'only because I was coming from Geneva'. The WHO's budget for epidemic preparedness and response in Africa had also been more than halved over five years from $26 million (£17 million) in 2010-11 to $11 million (£7 million) for 2014-15, meaning its capacity had shrunk. By April, when officials were hailing the end of the outbreak, it had simply gone 'underground', with cases going unreported. Governments attempted to broadcast the message that Ebola was spread through contact with fluids like vomit, faeces and blood, and that bodies were still highly contagious after death. But communities continued to wash bodies after a burial, as this was believed to lead to contentment in the afterlife. Villagers complained their relatives taken by health workers to treatment centres never returned and protests outside one Medecin Sans Frontiers (MSF) clinic forced its closure. It wasn't until August – nine months after the first case recoded in Guinea – that the WHO declared Ebola was a 'public health emergency of international concern' – a rating which mobilised an international response. Writing in the New England Journal of Medicine, Peter Piot, who helped discover Ebola, and Jeremy Farrar, director of the Wellcome Trust concluded the outbreak 'an avoidable crisis'. Peter Piot, who helped discover Ebola, and Jeremy Farrar, director of the Wellcome Trust concluded the Ebola outbreak 'an avoidable crisis'. Pictured is an Ebola virus magnified under a microscope . | Experts concede they missed early chances to control the spread of Ebola . An initial lull led many to believe the outbreak was 'over' in April . Infighting between World Health Organisation branches delayed response . Ignorance about West African burial practices allowed virus to spread . Officials have concluded the outbreak was 'an avoidable crisis' | a533bdc40c9cdc085e9877ca58f770bbdc662efb |
(CNN) -- It is that time of the year, again. Come January, as soon as the Christmas trees are taken down and the winter sales flood the shops, the world of business starts thinking about the World Economic Forum -- better known as Davos. For the past three years Davos has been consumed by the eurozone sovereign debt crises. As it worsened the speculation became ever more frantic. The questions were endless: Will Greece leave the euro? Will the eurozone even survive? Was this all just a big German trick to run Europe? The speculation became more extreme, more dramatic, more nonsensical. And so questions were asked of other economies: Can China be the biggest engine of growth for the global economy? Round and round in circles we have gone on these subjects. Frankly, I was starting to wonder if there was anything else to say short of "it's a horrible mess!" This year there is a new bogey man. The U.S., and in particular the sorry state of the country's political and budgetary process, will, I have little doubt, be the center of attention. Read more: More 'cliffs' to come in new Congress . Not just because Congress fluffed its big test on the fiscal cliff, but because in doing so it created many more deadlines, any one of which could be deeply unsettling to global markets. There are the $100 billion budget cutbacks postponed for two months by the recent agreement; delayed to the end of February. At exactly the same time, we have the U.S. Treasury's ability to rob Peter to pay Paul on the debt ceiling crisis coming to a head. Read more: Both Obama, GOP set for tough talks ahead . The Treasury's "debt suspension period" is an extraordinary piece of financial chicanery. If we tried it with our credit cards, we'd get locked up. Then there is the expiration of the latest continuing resolution, the authority by which Congress is spending money. There is the terrifying prospect that all these budget woes will conflate into one big political fistfight as the U.S. faces cutbacks, default or shutdown. I am being alarmist. Most rational people believe that the worst sting will be taken out of this tail. But not before we have all been to the edge, and back. And that is what the attendees of Davos will have on their minds. People will be speculating about how dysfunctional the U.S. political process has become and whether it is broken beyond repair (if they are not asking that then they should be). They will be pondering which is more serious for risk; the U.S. budget and debt crises or the eurozone sovereign debt debacle. A classic case of being between the devil and the deep blue sea. The official topic this year is Resilient Dynamism. I have absolutely no idea what this means. None whatsoever. It is another of WEF's ersatz themes dreamt up to stimulate debate in what Martin Sorrell has beautifully termed "Davosian language." In short, everyone interprets it as they will. What I will enjoy, as I do every year, is the chance to hear the global players speak, and the brightest and best thinkers give us their take on global problems. The atmosphere becomes febrile as the rock-stars of finance and economics give speeches, talk on panels and give insight. Of course nothing comes of these musings, it never does at Davos. That's not the point. This is a chance to take stock and see where the political and economic landmines are in 2013. I like to think of Davos as the equivalent of Control/Alt/Delete. It allows us to reboot. We leave, at least, with an idea of where people stand on the big issues -- provided you can see through the panegyrics of self congratulatory backslapping that always takes place whenever you get like minded people in one place. And this year, I predict the big issue being discussed in coffee bars, salons and fondue houses will be the U.S. and its budgetary woes. | Quest: Davos is a chance to see where the political and economic landmines are in 2013 . Quest: People will be speculating about how dysfunctional the U.S. political process has become . Quest: Davos has been consumed by eurozone sovereign debt crises for three years . | aa1f810f1b8d930070764949ed61c87f87f37d32 |
(CNN) -- The court of public opinion weighed in decidedly against Lance Armstrong, even before the broadcast of an interview in which he is said to acknowledge using performance-enhancing drugs after years of denials. On CNN's Facebook page, the opinions were passionate and pointed. "This guy is a loser and a liar!!" Melinda Morgan said. "He is not sorry for what he did, he is sorry that he got caught!!" Margaret Midkiff said there's no hope of Armstrong reviving his career. "He's lied to folks way too long." For more than a decade, Armstrong has denied he used performance-enhancing drugs, but he was linked to a doping scandal by nearly a dozen other former cyclists who have admitted to doping. But Oprah Winfrey appeared to confirm Tuesday on "CBS This Morning" that Armstrong acknowledges having used performance-enhancing drugs in the interview which will air across two nights. After CBS, like other media, reported that Armstrong admitted using banned substances, Winfrey said she was surprised to see that not long after the interview, news of what he said had "already been confirmed." Winfrey did not describe Armstrong's statements in detail, and has not released clips or quotes. She said the former cyclist was forthcoming in an exhausting and intense interview taped in Armstrong's hometown of Austin, Texas. "We were mesmerized and riveted by some of his answers," she said, adding that "he did not come clean in the manner that I expected." She didn't elaborate. Some media outlets have reported that Armstrong has been strongly considering the possibility of a confession, possibly as a way to stem the tide of fleeing sponsors and as part of a long-term comeback plan. Cycling fan and CNN iReporter Beverlee Ring said she has "mixed feelings" about the Winfrey interview. He should apologize and do whatever it takes to begin the healing," she said. "Now is when the real work begins for Lance." But Gretta Michellé said it's too late for redemption. "He had the opportunity to be honest from the beginning and he should have," she posted on the Facebook page. "Winning was more important." Sources: Armstrong says he used steroids . Armstrong's admission is a sharp about-face after more than a decade of vehemently denying he cheated en route to winning a record seven Tour de France titles. Cycling's international governing body, the UCI, stripped the titles from Armstrong following a report by the U.S. Anti-Doping Agency that found widespread evidence of Armstrong's involvement in a sophisticated doping program. The interview will air over two nights, beginning at 9 p.m. ET Thursday on the Oprah Winfrey Network. Winfrey has promised a "no-holds-barred" interview, with no conditions and no payment made to Armstrong. Read more: Oprah interview with Lance Armstrong airs January 17 . "I hope the ratings are (a) record low on that show," Matthew Black said in a Facebook comment. Winfrey declined to characterize Armstrong's statements, saying she preferred that viewers make up their own minds. She said the interview was at times emotional and surprisingly intense. "I would say that he met the moment," she said. Word that Armstrong may have allowed some emotion to show through didn't seem to soften many critics. "Go ahead and cry, Lance ... it won't help you one bit," Lori Polacek said. You "blew it a long time ago!" Cancer charity: The trump card? Some were willing to cut Armstrong a break because of his long-running cancer charity: the Livestrong Foundation. "Who cares?" said Pedro Murillo. "He raised so much for cancer research, that's more important (than) if he doped for some races." Armstrong's demise: How an all-American hero fell to earth . David Flowe said he doesn't care if Armstrong was involved in doping or if he even confesses to it. "The man is an inspiration for those battling cancer," he said. "Quit being so judgmental of others especially someone who has done so much good for the world!" Armstrong, 41, has been an icon for his cycling feats and celebrity, bringing more status to a sport wildly popular in some nations but lacking big-name recognition, big money and mass appeal in the United States. He fought back from testicular cancer to win the Tour de France from 1999 to 2005. He raised millions via his Lance Armstrong Foundation to help cancer victims and survivors, an effort illustrated by trendy yellow "LiveSTRONG" wristbands that helped bring in the money. Before the interview with Winfrey, the disgraced cycling legend apologized to the staff of his cancer charity, a publicist for Livestrong Foundation said. Armstrong was tearful during the 15-minute meeting and didn't address the issue of steroid use in cycling, said Rae Bazzarre, director of communications for the foundation. Bazzarre added that Armstrong offered to the staff a "sincere and heartfelt apology for the stress they've endured because of him." He urged them to keep working hard to help cancer survivors and their families. Armstrong in talks to return Postal Service money . Banned for life . The USADA hit Armstrong with a lifetime ban after the agency issued a 202-page report in October that said there was overwhelming evidence he was directly involved in a sophisticated doping program. The report detailed Armstrong's alleged use of performance-enhancing drugs and blood transfusions. The USADA said it had tested Armstrong fewer than 60 times and the International Cycling Union conducted about 215 tests. "Show one failed test, just one," Ron Berg said, challenging the wave of public opinion against Armstrong. "You can't, because he passed them all. ... They hate him for his success and tried to fail him, they could not." The agency did not say that Armstrong ever failed a test, but his former teammates testified as to how they beat tests or avoided them altogether. Kurtz: Can even Oprah save Lance Armstrong? Would a Lance Armstrong confession sway your opinion of him? Share your comments below. CNN's Steve Almasy and Michael Pearson contributed to this report. | NEW: "Now is when the real work begins for Lance," CNN iReporter says . Oprah Winfrey says her team was "mesmerized and riveted" by Armstrong interview . "I would say that he met the moment," Winfrey tells "CBS This Morning" The interview will air at 9 p.m. ET Thursday on the Oprah Winfrey Network . | 819318925adcdc2e2197e517485edc6767cc44f9 |
By . Daily Mail Reporter . PUBLISHED: . 22:13 EST, 10 November 2013 . | . UPDATED: . 03:06 EST, 11 November 2013 . Nine suspected Al Qaeda members have gone on trial in Yemen accused of plotting to assassinate the country's president. Yemen is battling one of the terror groups most active franchises, known as Al Qaeda in the Arabian Peninsula. It has already been foiled in several attempted attacks on Western targets, including airliners. Caged: Yemeni Al Qaeda suspects attend their first hearing at the state security court in the country's capital Sanaa yesterday, where they are accused of plotting to kill the country's president, Abd-Rabbu Mansour Hadi . It is claimed that six members of the . group planted an explosive device on a road used by President Abd-Rabbu . Mansour Hadi on his way to his office at the presidential palace. The defendants also face charges of plotting to kill officers in the country's security forces and kidnap foreigners. The main suspect in the attack is still at large. The court heard that the intention was to detonate the bomb remotely and kill the president. But the device was discovered and dismantled by security forces. It was one of several attempted attacks on the life of President Hadi, who was elected in February 2012. Plot: It is claimed that six members of the group planted an explosive device on a road used by President Abd-Rabbu Mansour Hadi on his way to his office and that the group planned to kidnap foreigners . His predecessor Ali Abdullah Saleh stepped down as part of a U.S.-backed power transfer deal that ended months of popular protests against his three decades in office. The hearing which began yesterday follows a trial that concluded in September in which three members of the militant network were convicted of similar charges. The court of first instance in Sanaa in September found three suspected al Qaeda members guilty of plotting to kill Hadi and sentenced them to one, five and seven years in jail. | Yemen is battling one of Al Qaeda's most active franchises . Group accused of plotting to kill Yemeni president with roadside bomb . Main suspect is still at large . | 9c14a7eff4a5bd62561bfc9efceff0af87d5509f |
(CNN) -- On Wednesday, Arizona Gov. Jan Brewer rightly vetoed the state bill that would have allowed businesses to deny service to gay people on religious grounds. I had a bet with a friend that she wouldn't sign it -- and wonder why it took her so long. She won't take a hit to the pocketbook -- she's too savvy for that. In the days leading up to this, I put a sign in the window of my pizzeria that said: "We reserve the right to refuse service to Arizona legislators." The reaction was vastly and overwhelmingly positive, with only a few people telling me they wouldn't ever eat at my restaurant again. Mainly, we have received many, many messages of support; phone calls, e-mails and texts, from people who live in Tucson, across the state and even from outside the United States. The sign is part of a tradition we have. When I moved into the supposedly cursed restaurant space on Broadway in Tucson, Arizona, 15 years ago, I found a box of letters -- the kind you put on a marquee sign out front. By the end of the day, I had a message on the sign. We've been changing it every day since. I am often told people plan their routes to see what we have to say each day -- even if just for a chuckle. Sometimes we put up song lyrics, or a snarky comment about someone in the news, such as Anthony Weiner. One day we put up "Free Pussy Riot." Some people get their knickers in a twist about our messages, but we do it for ourselves as much as anything. Then I learned that the state Senate once again passed an appalling bill that attempted to save me from my fellow Arizonans. I thought, "Oh no, not again." If anything seemed ripe for parody, this was it. It was irresistible. I instantly typed a comment on my Facebook page, saying that the busybodies in the capital of Phoenix were not allowed to come in and sit at my table. Minutes later, one of my followers supplied the sign that so eloquently expressed my viewpoint. I laminated it, and by that afternoon it was on my doors. Since then, a lot of similar signs showed up in the windows of Tucson businesses saying "We reserve the right to serve anybody." Tucson is a little more liberal than Maricopa County and Phoenix: We're a university town. People here just don't care about things like that. At restaurants, we just serve you and smile. Arizona businesses have already been hurt by reactionary positions, such as our anti-immigration laws. The state has been boycotted before -- and it hurts because we depend a lot on tourism. Freedom or oppression? That's the question for Arizona's SB1062 . As well as hurting small businesses, plenty of large companies have reconsidered locating here, saying, "We'll take our dollars elsewhere." One business owner, reacting to this legislation, even told me: "Arizona is the American Uganda" -- where they put gay people in jail. We have so much poverty, terrible roads, some unbelievably bad schools -- and this bill is what our legislators wasted their time on. Many Americans think they know what living on the border is like. But Tucson was long a part of Mexico until the Gadsden Purchase in 1853. Many of our old Indian, Mexican, Chinese and Anglo families here have histories that go back long before Arizona was even a territory of the United States. And as in much of the West, a live-and-let-live philosophy pervades our lives here in a real and tangible way. This century will be one of expanding civil rights for individuals. But Prohibition, Jim Crow, Indian schools -- where they tried to make Native American children abandon their identities -- and anti-Chinese immigration laws are not so far in the past that we can safely ignore them. They were wrong, just like discrimination against gay people is wrong. This legislation was ostensibly trying to protect religious freedom. A lot of Christian groups feel like they're being persecuted by our culture, and that is really what underlies this bill. But if they feel like they're being persecuted, they should try being gay for a little while. I cannot condone discrimination against one group of people. Regardless of the kind intentions of the lawmakers to the north of Tucson that were trying to make sure I have freedom of religion, I already have it. This bill was gratuitous as well as ridiculous. I can already refuse service to anyone -- and that includes any one of those several dozen Arizonans who aren't representing my views in Phoenix. The opinions in this commentary are solely those of Rocco DiGrazia. | Arizona Gov. Jan Brewer vetoed bill that would give businesses right to refuse to serve gays . Rocco DiGrazia's pizzeria sign: "We reserve the right to refuse service to Arizona legislators" He says not long ago, blacks, Indians and Chinese were discriminated against in Arizona . DiGrazia was sure Brewer would veto; it would hurt Arizona businesses if it became law . | db269125a3c3d3319061d07a873402baef472a13 |
By . Associated Press . PUBLISHED: . 14:57 EST, 9 March 2014 . | . UPDATED: . 08:54 EST, 10 March 2014 . Americans are boarding public buses, trains and subways in greater numbers than any time since the suburbs began booming. Nearly 10.7 billion trips in 2013, to be precise — the highest total since 1956. The new numbers come from the American Public Transportation Association. Back on track: Transit ridership has now fully recovered from a dip caused by the Great Recession. With services restored following economy-driven cutbacks, ridership numbers appear set to continue what had been a steady increase . Getting on board: Americans are boarding public buses, trains and subways in greater numbers than any time since the suburbs began to boom. Nearly 10.7 billion trips in 2013, to be precise, the highest number since 1956 . Transit agencies that saw the biggest gains. New York City; 120,635,700; 3.6 percent . Los Angeles; 9,194,200; 2 percentNew York City; 4,049,700; 1.5 percentMiami; 2,493,800; 2.3 percentSeattle; 2,341,600; 8.4 percentDenver; 2,257,500; 2.6 percentHouston; 2,257,000; 2.7 percentSan Diego; 2,230,000; 2.6 percentSource: American Public Transportation Association . Transit ridership has now fully recovered from a dip caused by the Great Recession. With services restored following economy-driven cutbacks, the numbers appear set to continue what had been a steady increase. 'People are making a fundamental shift to having options' aside from a car in how they get around, said Michael Melaniphy, president and CEO of the public transportation association. 'This is a long-term trend. This isn’t just a blip.' Ridership on Los Angeles County Metropolitan Transportation Authority light-rail trains increased 6 percent over 2012, as the public took advantage of an expanded network of lines. Overall, LA Metro gained nine million trips to reach 478 million in 2013, the transport association said. Riding on: The New York area's behemoth transit network saw the greatest gain, accounting for one in three trips nationally. Houston and Phoenix, two cities which . have been more notable for their sprawl than public transportation . offerings, had large ridership gains. So did Seattle, Miami, Denver and . San Diego. The New York area’s behemoth transit network saw the greatest . gain, accounting for one in three trips nationally. Transit . advocates the nation’s urban shift and the concentration of new . development around transit hubs show the public increasingly values the . ability to get around without a car. 'People want to work and live along . transit lines,''Melaniphy said. 'Businesses, universities and housing . are all moving along those corridors.' | Number of trips reaches 10.7 billion in 2013 as the economy recovers from recession and population shifts to the cities . From 1995 to 2013, transit ridership rose 37 percent . Population grew 20 percent and there was a 23 percent increase in vehicle miles traveled . Ridership on transit last year even topped 2008, when gas hit $5 a gallon, transit association says . Association president sees evidence of 'fundamental shift' in how Americans get around . However, transit's share of commuters is still less than decades ago, commuting expert says . | 310c5e68a4f9a6a5bfb4e1baee49c5b18930d9a9 |
Anywhere else, a property developer who buys a bundle of foreclosed houses, abandoned factories and disused churches for a mere $500 a piece would be hailed as a genius. But this is Detroit. And Herb Strather's $3.2million purchase of 6,350 homes is being called foolhardy. To be sure, there are plenty of gems in the city's 'blight bundle.' A 170,00-square-foot factory that's still in good shape, a three-story brick home built in 1915 that most recently sold for $185,000, a lovely Tudor-style house that's ready to move into and a five-bedroom that simply needs a new roof. But city officials tell the Detroit News that 2,000 of the properties are vacant lots. More than 3,000 will need to be torn down immediately. Scroll down for video . The 'blight bundle' of 6,350 homes was never meant to be sold to a private developer, city officials say. Instead it was going to be transferred to the Detroit Land Bank and the home would have been individually dealt with . This property contains nothing more than a charred ruin of what was once a house in once a nice neighborhood . It is estimated that only 1,000 of the properties have salvageable homes. And many of those will require significant work to make move-in ready . All of the properties in the 'blight bundle' have been foreclosed, though some are in better shape than others . It costs an average of $10,000 to demolish and clean up the wreckage of a house in Detroit - leaving Herb Strather on the hook for more than $30million . The Motor City Mapping Project show the 'blight bundle' properties in red, spread across the city of Detroit. Other foreclosed homes that are in better shape are in blue . Hundreds more need so much rehab work that it's not worth the effort. And only 1,000 are salvageable houses. The Motor City Mapping Project has attempted to document all of the foreclosed and blighted houses in the city - tens of thousands of properties. What's more, the city never intended anyone to buy its 'blight bundle.' It offered the properties up for auction so that they could then be given to the Detroit Land Bank, which would take care of selling the worthwhile properties a few at a time and cleaning up the rest. The city put strenuous rules on the buys of the 'blight bundle' requiring the buyer to either demolish and clean up all 6,350 properties within the next six months or offer a development plan. 'Now what we have to do is find out if indeed this group is serious about taking on such a task. And if they're willing to do so, we're willing to listen,' Wayne County Chief Deputy Treasurer David Szymanski told the Huffington Post. Herb Strather, a Detroit real estate developer, is leading the group of investors who paid $3.2million for the foreclosed homes . More than 2,000 of the properties are simply vacant lots. Some 3,000 more must be demolished . Included in the bundle in the former Detroit Hope Hospital, which closed in 2010 . Also in the package is this 170,000 square foot factory that's still in good shape . Some of the blighted homes are really blighted at all . All of the houses in the packaged have been seized by the city for nonpayment of property taxes . The costs involved with the purchase of the 'blight bundle' are already slated to be many times the $3.2million price tag. It costs $10,000 to demolish a house in Detroit. Mr Strather and his investors are likely to be required to demolish all 3,000 - at a cost of more than $30million. Many of the homes have fire damage, have been vandalized or have squatters living in them. Countless hundreds have been stripped of pipes and anything valuable. Many are in various states of disrepair. Mr Strather is undaunted. 'I think I was born to do it. The idea of redevelopment in my community would be a work of love,' he told the Huffington Post. The developer, however, has far from a perfect track record. He led a group of developers who tried to return the St. Regis Hotel to glory. In 2009, the group defaulted on an $8.7million loan. This brick house looks in mostly good conidtion . Fixer-upper? Ivy has entirely consumed this property and it remains to be seen whether it can be salvaged . Room with a view: This house will almost certainly have to be torn down . Some of the homes can be quickly resold to owners . The overgrown hedges and boarded-up windows show this property has been a blight on the neighborhood for some time . Falling down: Detroit is hoping to clear away as many of the blighted properties as quickly as possible . | Developer Herb Strather is leading a group of investors who bought 6,350 blighted properties . More than 2,000 are vacant lots and more than 3,000 of the houses must be demolished . Only 1,000 are thought to be salvageable . | bc241528a4d13a35375fb80442f5061f7cdf06c2 |
(CNN) -- What will OK Go think of next? The band's creative videos have made use of treadmills, dominoes and optical illusions. In its latest, "I Won't Let You Down," the foursome takes to the road -- and the sky -- thanks to camera-toting drones and some Segway-like Honda vehicles called UNI-CUBs. The video is nearing 3 million views on YouTube. Part of the idea came from a visit to Tokyo's Robot Restaurant, kind of a Medieval Times with robots. ("Girls in bikinis battle enormous Transformer-style robots, helped by Daft Punk-style storm troopers on Tron motorcycles," went the description of a TripAdvisor reviewer.) "It was the best hour of my life," OK Go's Tim Nordwind told Billboard. The band worked with Japanese director Morihiro Harano to design the 5-minute-plus clip, which begins with the group on UNI-CUBs doing some leg moves and then rises high over a building lot while the band is joined by several -- and then dozens -- of umbrella-toting Japanese schoolgirls. (A choreographer named Airman handled the moves; Honda supplied the UNI-CUBs and some backing.) Eventually the proceedings moved to a warehouse for the conclusion, a colorful display -- like a stadium flip-card maneuver -- that includes pictures of the band members and a "ribbon" showing the title of the song. The last part took more than 50 tries and was shot at half-speed and then speeded up, the band members told Billboard. By this point, the drone camera was a half-mile up. The band's videos sometimes take months to come together, OK Go's Damian Kulash told HLN last month, and the day they debut is usually the quietest they've had in a while. To really find out what fans think, he adds, the band prefers touring: "It's actually really nice to get out in front of people and feel the energy." Still, the videos are part of a philosophy that tries to entertain as much as awe, Kulash told CNN in 2010. "We make cool stuff," he said. "We just think they're fun." Next up: a trip on Virgin Galactic? | OK Go's video, "I Won't Let You Down," is their latest hit . This time, the group goes to Japan, and the video is shot by a drone . Band also rides around on Honda UNI-CUBs . | babcf8755ab6ccb861165c9eb83b2a5d3f97fd14 |
By . Jane Asher . My friends have always called me a magpie. I'm drawn to all that glitters and working as a TV, film, and stage actress since the age of five, I've been lucky enough to come across my fair share of bling, some real, some very fake. Over the years though I've gradually learnt that less is often more and tried to temper my tastes, and budget, to match. So it was with great excitement that I heard about Poundland's new jewellery range. As a lover of costume jewellery, I know that dramatic and wildly glamorous necklaces can cost from almost nothing to thousands of pounds, but £1? Surely that doesn't even stretch to a decent clasp . To see how convincing cheap jewellery is - and whether it's ever worth forking out a fortune for - I put eight necklaces priced between £1 to £1,000 to the test. Feels expensive . Fooled: Jane thought this necklace was expensive . This must cost hundreds. The stones are beautifully iridescent with shimmering blues, purples and greens and, in places, layered upon one another. It looks as if it's been carefully put together. The distressed gold chain is glitzy but not too shiny and it feels weighty and substantial. A carefully considered neckline is essential as it's so wide it almost touches my shoulders. This would work will with a strapless gown or boat-neck top. GUESS PRICE: £500 . REAL PRICE: £29.99 . zara.com . Simply charming . Sweet but cheap: But costs more than a £1 . Sweet but uninspiring, the chain looks breakable and I worry this wouldn't last more than a couple of outings. The woven gold design is nothing terribly special and little thought has gone into its length which comes up an inch too short. It’s probably the cheapest of the lot and could cost £1 but it's perfectly acceptable to fill in a neckline and worn with the right thing could pass for gold if you didn’t look too closely. GUESS PRICE: £1 . REAL PRICE: £14 . accessorize.co.uk . Striking and elegant . Thumbs up: Jane didn't guess this was the cheapest . Clearly this comes from the lower end of the High Street. It looks simply put together and is so dainty it could blow away in a strong wind. Having said that, the asymmetric leaf design is striking and elegant and the gold metal reflects the light and sits beautifully. I'd happily buy and wear this during the day layered over a simple white T-shirt or with a plunge-neck evening gown. GUESS PRICE: £20 . REAL PRICE: £1 . poundland.co.uk . Pricey but garish . Too much: Doesn't look expensive . You have to be in the right mood for this. It's brash, over-the-top and luminous with an Aladdin's cave of colours and sparkling jewels. It looks the most expensive as a lot of work seems to have gone into crafting it, with so many intricate settings. The clasp is gold-plated and robust. There's no chance of this slipping off into the soup during supper but it's far too overwhelming for me to wear. Though probably expensive, oddly enough it makes me feel cheap. GUESS PRICE: £1,000 . REAL PRICE: £580 . Shourouk jewel and neon stone necklace, benna.co.uk . Gaudy glitter . Plastic looking: But it costs £70 . On stage this would be great as you'd assume it was real diamonds but up close it looks like cheap glitter, probably from Accessorize or somewhere similar. The design is pretty enough, but I shy away from silver and plain crystal as it washes out my fair complexion. I'd rather save up for a real diamond than buy this plastic looking piece of frippery. GUESS PRICE: £30 . REAL PRICE: £70 . Crystal necklace, stelladot.co.uk . Lovely but flimsy . Favourite: Jane loved the colours . From afar this looks like tacky fairground jewellery but once on, it's one of my favourites. Sitting comfortably around my neck, it doesn't twist or pucker. The deep greens, blues and turquoises are almost ethereal but the clasp is depressingly bulky yet flimsy. It looks like it might break easily. I would wear this, but reckon it's on the cheaper side... GUESS PRICE: £50 . REAL PRICE: £279 . Rada necklace, Fenwick, 020 7629 9161 . Style over substance . Flimsy: But this one costs £1,000 . This looks like a pretender. It's matte gold with sparkly jewels trying to look like diamonds and rubies. Some of the spiky edges dig into my neck and no matter how I adjust it it won't lie flat. I wrestled with the clasp, too. The design is faintly art deco and I can imagine Wallis Simpson gadding about in something similar, but there is no finesse to the finish. I wouldn't spend too much on it. GUESS PRICE: £100 . REAL PRICE: £1,000 . Andy Farrow 18ct gold plated necklace, wolfandbadger.co.uk . Egyptian chic . Wearable: Looks expensive . What a classy necklace. Rows of carefully set stones, shiny gold and threaded ribbon gives this a slightly Egyptian feel. I’m often intimidated by oversized, overly gaudy items - I find they look too young on an older person - but this is wearable and dramatic without being try-hard. I’d happily wear it with simple evening dresses. GUESS PRICE: £250 . REAL PRICE: £55 . Adele Marie black and gold necklace, grayandosbourn.co.uk . Interview by: India Sturgis Styling: Eliza Scarborough Pictures: L+R Hair & Make-up: Julie Read using Bumble & Bumble and Guerlain Fashion Assistant: Amy Kester . | Jane was skeptical about bargain necklaces . She tried on eight and we asked her to guess their price . | b8f3c28405a34f218f86d8adbf2ca1815d50060c |
Seconds from crashing: Sir Paul and wife Nancy . The pilot of a helicopter carrying Sir Paul McCartney and his wife Nancy missed two urgent warnings that he was seconds from crashing. The aircraft then avoided hitting treetops near the couple’s East Sussex home by just 2ft, according to an investigation into the incident. The pilot, who had become ‘spatially disorientated’, dramatically swung the chartered Sikorsky S-76C to safety with seconds to spare. His co-pilot was so convinced they were going to crash that he ‘momentarily’ lost the ability to speak during the drama. Sir Paul, 72, and his 53-year-old wife, Nancy Shevell, were returning from London after they had attended the launch of a vegetarian cookbook written by Sir Paul’s eldest daughter Mary in May 2012, as revealed at the time by The Mail on Sunday. In treacherous weather, the pilot was attempting a night landing on a helipad encircled by woodland. A full investigation carried out by the Department of Transport’s Air Accidents Investigation Branch (AAIB) found that neither pilot heard two audio warnings. The first said ‘LOW TERRAIN’, meaning they were 30 seconds from either the ground or an obstacle, in this case the treetops. The second message, ‘WARNING TERRAIN’, was issued when they were 20 seconds away. Both alerts also flashed on the controls. But despite the ‘warnings that the helicopter was approaching the ground, the flight crew were not aware of these warnings’, said the AAIB report, which also revealed the terror in the cockpit before the second of two aborted landings. As they approached the helipad, the pilot ‘switched the landing lights on, but the glare from the falling rain in front of the helicopter prompted him to switch them off again’. The co-pilot later recalled telling the pilot that, at this point, they were below the ‘safety altitude without sufficient visual references’. They pressed on ‘even though he believed that the commander’s actions were flawed’. Eventually the pilot decided it was unsafe to land and tried another approach. Scroll down for video . The pilot of a helicopter, attempting a landing in treacherous weather, missed two urgent warnings. Pictured, an Air Harrods helicopter . The report said: ‘The co-pilot, who was monitoring the instruments, saw that the helicopter was descending and began to speak to highlight this to the commander.’ Seconds later he saw the altimeter ‘winding down towards zero extremely quickly’ and then found himself ‘momentarily unable to continue speaking, expecting the helicopter to crash’. But the pilot, ‘recognising that the helicopter was approaching the treetops, began an aggressive go-around, flaring the helicopter and increasing power’. The pilot eventually landed safely after diverting to Lydd Airport in Kent, 15 miles from the McCartney home near Rye. The £5 million nine-seater helicopter was chartered from Air Harrods, which charges about £3,000 an hour and describes itself as the ‘leading London- based business aviation service provider’. Tony Blair is a client. A spokesman for the firm said last night that it co-operated fully with the investigation. Sir Paul’s spokesman declined to comment. The aircraft then avoided hitting treetops near the couple’s East Sussex home by just 2ft. Pictured, the helipad on the estate . | Aircraft narrowly avoided hitting treetops near couple’s East Sussex home . Pilot was attempting a night landing on a helipad in treacherous weather . The pilot dramatically swung the chartered Sikorsky S-76C to safety . Co-pilot was convinced they'd crash and ‘momentarily’ lost ability to speak . | 23c7820e29fa588988ba083df24d406042db48b9 |
Founded on the heels of America's civil rights movement, the Southern Poverty Law Center burnished its name with legal wins over white-supremist groups and helped integrate institutions like the Alabama State Police. But it has also stoked anger with the Family Research Council, a conservative Christian policy group that lashed out this week after a 28-year-old gunman stormed their downtown Washington headquarters and opened fire. "Let me be clear that Floyd Corkins was responsible for firing the shot yesterday," said council president Tony Perkins. "But Corkins was given a license to shoot an unarmed man by organizations like the Southern Poverty Law Center that have been reckless in labeling organizations hate groups because they disagree with them on public policy." Shooting sparks controversy over 'hate' designation . The SPLC has listed The Family Research Council as a hate group since 2010, pointing to what it describes as its anti-gay propaganda and legislative agenda. In 1999, an FRC analyst co-authored a document titled "Homosexual Activists Work to Normalize Sex With Boys," according to the law center. The booklet, which is not available on the FRC website, reportedly argued that "the primary goals of the homosexual rights movement is to abolish all age of consent laws and to eventually recognize pedophiles as the 'prophets' of a new sexual order," according to the SPLC. The group opposes same-sex marriage and lobbied to prevent the repeal of the "don't ask, don't tell" policy, which prohibited military service by openly gay men and women. Perkins said the SPLC "should be held accountable for their reckless use of terminology that is leading to the intimidation and what the FBI here has categorized as an act of domestic terrorism." The gunman apparently said, "I don't like your politics" during the incident, and had been carrying 15 Chick-fil-A sandwiches, a possible connection to the restaurant chain's CEO and his stance against gay marriage. Accusations fly after D.C. shooting . Corkins, a former George Mason University student, had reportedly worked as a volunteer at an organization serving the lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender communities. He allegedly shot a security guard on Wednesday at the building before being wrestled to the ground. But soon after Perkins' comments, the SPLC defended its classification of the council. "Perkins' accusation is outrageous," said Mark Potok, a SPLC Senior Fellow. "The FRC and its allies on the religious right are saying, in effect, that offering legitimate and fact-based criticism in a democratic society is tantamount to suggesting that the objects of criticism should be the targets of criminal violence." Conservatives: Shooting is evidence of war on religion . While the SPLC says it distinguishes groups that spread hateful information from violent ones, its final tally, according to Booth Gunter, a SPLC spokesman, largely depends on the answer to a single question: Does a group promote hate? "It's not an estimate of criminality," Gunter said. "Some are violent and some aren't." Earlier this month, the Montgomery-based SPLC came under scrutiny after it announced that it had monitored Wade Michael Page, a 40-year-old gunman and former front-man for a white supremacist rock band. Page killed himself in a suburban Milwaukee parking lot on August 5 after fatally shooting six people in a Sikh temple, less than two weeks after a deadly shooting at a movieplex in Aurora, Colorado. Suspect charged in Family Research Council shooting . "There are thousands of guys like that," said Gunter. "Unless we get some information that he's planning an attack, we don't usually call law enforcement." The group instead monitors and publishes material about extremist groups, and offers police training, ranging from how to interpret tattoos to what officers should be aware of during traffic stops. Speckled across the SPLC's online map is a hive of red numbers that reveals the nation's "hate groups." Information on skinheads, neo-Nazis and Klan members comprise the thousand-plus organizations suspected of spreading hate. Each name is accompanied by a symbol, with characters ranging from a crescent moon, signifying anti-Muslim, to a fist, which points to white nationalism. The privately funded SPLC says it is nonpartisan, funded by member donations and a $223 million endowment. But it has been criticized by groups on the right for leaning left. It was incorporated in 1971, with civil rights activist Julian Bond named as its first president. | The SPLC founded on heels of civil rights movement . Family Research Council president is listed as a "hate group" on the map . FRC president says gunman was "given license" by organizations like the SPLC . The SPLC calls the accusation "outrageous" | 62e87960622b1c132927d11b15776b7881c74be9 |
By . Martin Robinson for MailOnline . A cupboard has been put on the market for £7,500 as London's housing market reached a new ridiculous peak today. The estate agent selling the 5ft by 12ft room says it is perfect for someone looking for more storage at a price he believes will save the buyer money. The walk-in cupboard can only be bought by a resident already living in the Brentford Dock Estate, which sits on the Thames in west London. Scroll down for video . All yours for £7,500: This cupboard in Brentford is being put on the market as Londoners scramble for more storage space . Advert: The particulars on Right Move says: 'This baggage store is perfect for those who are seeking some additional space' The adverts says the cupboard 'sits idly between' two blocks and is 'just a short walk from the marina and local corner shop'. It continues: 'This baggage store is perfect for those who are seeking some additional space. 'The storage cupboard is a good size, perfect for a pushchair or pieces of furniture'. Much like investors who are selling garages in prime spots for up to £500,000 others are buying up space to cash in on those desperate for storage. Sales negotiator Jordan Williams from Quillam Property Services told the Standard: 'People use them as airing cupboards, or to store suitcases or bicycles or memorabilia – things like photographs which they don’t want to throw away but which they don’t have room for at home. 'If they have a cupboard they know their things are safe and secure and close by. Everybody loves a bit of extra storage.' The cupboard symbolises the struggle for most Londoners who are unable to afford a property, if at all. Symbolic: The cupboard is only available to people already living in the estate but represents how people are making money from the lack of space most Londoners have . In London, the average price is now £499,000 – putting it on the brink of a landmark £500,000. Data also shows that first-time buyers must find an average of £204,000 – a 12 per cent rise and the highest annual increase for nearly four years. Young home-seekers on a typical full-time salary of £21,200 would now need a mortgage of nine times their income with a five per cent deposit. Even if they do get on the property ladder, storage is likely to be at a minimum in most homes. But agents maintain that buying a cupboard offers good value because many pay in excess of £100 a month for storage with nothing to show for it. Mr Williams said: 'If you add up what you could spend on storage compared to buying a cupboard space you might be surprised'. | Walk-in room measures 5ft by 12ft and is being sold as storage . Space in Brentford, west London, can only be bought by residents on estate . Agent says buyer will save money because of high storage fees elsewhere . | b77de9749c576a9d7ef8d41f14848607613a512b |
(CNN) -- Two men featured on the cover of the New York Post following the Boston bombing under the headline, "Bag Men," are suing the newspaper, according to court papers. Lawyers for Salaheddin Barhoum, 16, and Yassine Zaimi, 24, took aim at the New York Post at a news conference Thursday. "The New York Post accused our clients of being the men with the bombs in their bags and that is libel," said C. William Barrett, Zaimi's lawyer. Both filed a defamation lawsuit against the New York Post on Wednesday over photographs and articles published three days after the Boston bombing that made it appear that FBI agents were looking for them. The picture on the front page of the April 18 edition of the New York Post shows the two men standing next to each other. One carried a backpack and wore a hat, the other had a gym bag over his shoulder. According to the complaint filed in Suffolk Superior Court in Massachusetts, "The front page would lead a reasonable reader to believe that plaintiffs had bombs in their bags, that they were involved in causing the Boston Marathon bombing." In the complaint, lawyers for the plaintiffs accuse the New York Post of libel, negligent infliction of emotional distress and invasion of privacy. The plaintiffs are seeking damages, including unspecified monetary compensation. Boston bombing survivor meets woman she says saved her life . As a result of the New York Post's actions, the plaintiffs were "put in fear for their lives and suffered harm, including but not limited to damage to their reputations and ongoing extreme emotional distress," according to the complaint. The New York Post referred CNN to its April 18 statement from Editor-in-Chief Col Allan: "We stand by our story. The image was e-mailed to law enforcement agencies yesterday afternoon seeking information about these men, as our story reported. We did not identify them as suspects." Following the bombing, federal authorities issued a release to news media to exercise caution when reporting information about the investigation and to go through the appropriate official channels to verify developments. Barhoum is a high school sophomore and Zaimi works full time while attending night school. The lawsuit states that both are lawful permanent residents of the United States. Boston fire chief resigns after criticism of bombing response . Being avid runners, the friends went to the finish line to watch the elite runners complete the Boston Marathon. They carried their own running gear in their backpacks, according to the lawsuit. Photos of the plaintiffs started to circulate on several social media sites in the days following the bombing. Upon learning this, they both voluntarily went to the police. Authorities questioned both men, told then they were not suspects, and sent them home, the lawsuit says. The next day, their picture appeared on the New York Post's front page with the sub headline "Feds seek this duo pictured at Boston Marathon." Inside the newspaper were two other pictures, one with their faces circled. Zaimi went to work unaware, and was approached by his office manager who told him about the Post's front page. "He immediately started shaking, his mouth went dry, and he felt as though he was having a panic attack," the lawsuit says. While on his way home from work, the complaint says Zaimi was identified by a man waiting next to him at the train station. Barhoum was on school vacation and participating in a track meet, unaware of the New York Post's coverage, according to the filing. When he returned home, there was a large crowd of reporters outside his home asking him questions him about being a marathon bombing suspect. One of members of the media showed him the front page and according to the complaint, he "became terrified, began to shake and sweat, and felt dizzy and nauseous." Later that same day, authorities released photographs of Boston bombing suspects Tamerlan and Dzhokhar Tsarnaev. Parents of Boston bombing suspect share phone call with son . | Boston bombing suspects turned out to be different . "The New York Post accused our clients of being the men with the bombs," lawyer says . Both file defamation lawsuit against the New York Post . Newspaper says it stands by its story . | 6ecd8cbe4160ddc09d3f440edf93cd73af6ed1fe |
(CNN) -- Intensifying violence, food shortages and widespread drought are driving an increasing number of Somalis to seek asylum in Yemen, the United Nations' refugee agency said Tuesday. A man brandishes a knife while others carry old notes during a demonstration against record-high inflation. More than 15,000 refugees have arrived in the Yemeni port city of Aden since January, compared with 7,166 people in the first four months of 2007, according to a spokesperson for the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees. Many of those seeking asylum brave treacherous boat trips across the Gulf of Aden. Consequently, the number of boats landing in Aden has jumped from 60 to 361 since January while the number of fatalities has remained constant, according to UNHCR. The agency attributed the surge to strife in Somalia, where riots continued in the capital city of Mogadishu for the second day Tuesday. According to news reports, Somali soldiers killed at least two people Monday during the protests over rising food prices. Watch protesters take to the streets » . Somali refugees pay as much as $150 to cross the Gulf of Aden in search of asylum. Because of its proximity to the war-torn country, Yemen is a common destination for Somalis fleeing economic hardship, famine and war. Yemen is also an attractive location because Somalis receive automatic refugee status in the fellow Muslim country. New smuggling routes across the Red Sea have also led to increased numbers of refugees in Yemen, according to the UNHCR. Refugees often die before reaching Yemen because of dangerous sea conditions and overcrowded vessels. Others die at the hands of their smugglers, who order the passengers to jump overboard when the Yemeni coast guard approaches the vessel. Yemen's coast guard stepped up patrols of its coastline this year in an attempt to deter smugglers, according to the UNHCR, which operates shelters and reception centers for refugees in Yemen. The coast guard has also seized boats and given them Somali fishermen affected by the 2004 tsunami. | Agency attributes surging number of refugees in Yemen to unrest in Somalia . More than 15,000 refugees have come to port city of Aden since January . New routes across the Red Sea to Yemen also contributing to increase . | 61b54af8fb7be5b59081db7b56554ee568a59f52 |
By . Simon Tomlinson . PUBLISHED: . 10:18 EST, 11 December 2012 . | . UPDATED: . 10:18 EST, 11 December 2012 . The owner of coffee chain Costa revealed a surge in sales today as rivals Starbucks and Caffe Nero were criticised for their tax arrangements. Costa, which has 1,212 UK stores, saw like-for-like sales rise 7.1% in the 13 weeks to November 29, compared with 6.8% in the first half of the year, parent firm Whitbread said. The strong performance came as it emerged that Starbucks paid just £8.6million in corporation tax in 14 years of trading in Britain and nothing in the last three years. Perking up: Costa Coffee reported a big increase in sales today as rivals Starbucks and Caffe Nero face growing anger over their tax avoidance practices . While Starbucks has since changed its tax arrangement so it will pay around £10 million in corporation tax this year, the revelations sparked a customer boycott and protests, and analysts have suggested that Costa could benefit from the bad publicity. Meanwhile, Caffe Nero reportedly paid no corporation tax last year despite making profits of almost £40 million. Costa saw total system sales in the 39 weeks to November 29 rise by 21.9% to £733.9 million, within which franchise sales were up 18.7% to £295.7 million. Its UK retail store sales grew by 20.1% to £399.2 million in the period. Whitbread plans to open 330 net new stores worldwide and around 1,300 Costa Express self-serve coffee bars in the full year. Boiling over: Revelations that Starbucks had been paying little or no tax desite huge sales in the UK has sparked boycotts and protests like this one in Vigo Street, London, on Saturday . Under fire: Caffe Nero reportedly paid no corporation tax last year despite making profits of almost £40 million . Starbucks last week said it would make changes to its tax arrangements that will see the firm pay above what is required by law. The American firm made the announcement amid increased public pressure on multinational corporations to pay a fairer share of tax. The chain, along with Google and Amazon, was accused of 'immorally' minimising UK tax bills in a damning report by spending watchdog the Public Accounts Committee. It was reported that Costa paid £15 million in corporation tax on £377 million sales last year, compared with Starbucks’ £398 million in sales, on which it paid no corporation tax. Elsewhere, Whitbread said Premier Inn, . which has benefited from an ad campaign featuring comedian Lenny Henry, . saw like-for-like sales rise 2.5% in the period. Shares in Whitbread were up 3% after today’s update. Whitbread said Premier Inn increased total room nights sold by 9.6% to 10.5 million and in the year to date its revenue per available room grew by 1.8%. Its restaurants division, which includes the Beefeater Grill chain, saw sales growth of 6.8% in the year to date - or 4.3% on a like-for-like basis. Richard Hunter, head of equities at Hargreaves Lansdown Stockbrokers, said: 'The company continues to benefit from being well positioned in a cost-conscious consumer environment, and this momentum has filtered through to both the underlying numbers and, indeed, the share price.' | Costa's like-for-like sales rise from 6.8% in the first half of the year . Comes as Starbucks and Caffe Nero are hammered for dodging tax . Starbucks paid no corporation tax last year, while Costa paid £15m . | c91350c570c0ef230d19ac27a12c7b65b103587e |
By . Sean Poulter, Consumer Affairs Editor . For many, the prospect of yet another coffee shop opening on the local high street is enough to keep them awake at night. Others, however, welcome any chance to feed their caffeine addiction – and the big coffee companies are only too happy to oblige. British-owned Costa is opening shops across the country at the rate of three a week, it emerged yesterday. Perks: Costa is opening UK outlets at the rate of three a week as it taps into a growing coffee shop culture and a backlash against US rival Starbucks . Caffeine rush: Many high streets appear to have hit saturation point in terms of the big chain coffee shops, however Costa insists there is room for hundreds more . It already has 1,755 outlets nationwide and plans to add another 150 this year, taking it towards a target of 2,200 by 2018. The chain, part of the Whitbread group, has become so successful that is has now exporting its format from Paris to Beijing. It has around 1,000 coffee shops overseas, including 326 in China, with plans for many more. Traditionally, . coffee shops have been busiest around lunchtime and in the early . afternoon as workers take a break from their desks, however Costa has . built its success on extending the trading day. PUGH CARTOON PG 3.jpg . Last . year it introduced a new breakfast range, including all-day-breakfast . rolls and hot buttered toast, for workers who do not have time to eat . before leaving home. The . firm has also extended its reach with thousands of Costa Express . machines in hospitals, universities, supermarkets and offices. Last night Whitbread chief executive Andy Harrison denied the high street had reached coffee shop saturation point. He . suggested that the chain’s outlets have become a destination point for . socialising, much like Central Perk, the famous coffee shop in the US . comedy series Friends. ‘The . market is growing and we are benefiting from the move to online . retailing where people are spending less time shopping and more time . enjoying themselves in Costa,’ he said. Globally, . the chain sold 400million drinks in the year to February 27 with total . takings up some 19.4 per cent to £1.2billion. Underlying operating . profits grew by 21.9 per cent to £109.8million. The . chain overtook Starbucks in terms of the number of coffee shops on . British streets in 2010 and its recent performance is in stark contrast . to its US rival. Costa UK . sales rose by 16.5 per cent last year to £807.7million, while Starbucks . suffered its first fall during 16 years of operating in Britain as it . was hit by boycotts and criticism over the low levels of tax it was . paying. Backlash: Starbucks suffered its first ever fall during 16 years of operating in this country as it was hit by boycotts and criticism over the low levels of tax it was paying . Success: Whitbread chief executive Andy Harrison said people in China have a taste for Western coffee shops . Accounts for its main UK subsidiary, Starbucks Coffee Company . (UK), showed turnover fell in the year to the end of September 2013 to . £399million from £413million the previous year. The . fall came on the back of the closure of some of its unprofitable . outlets, however it plans to open 100 more Starbucks this year. The . firm has also moved to dampen the criticism of its tax arrangements by . moving its European headquarters from the Netherlands to London with the . result that it will pay more. As . well as Costa, the Whitbread group also owns the Premier Inn budget . hotel chain, where there are also big expansion plans, along with the . restaurant brands Brewers Fayre and Beefeater. Caffe . Nero plans to open 34 more British outlets this year, and Tesco has the . financial muscle to expand its coffee shop chain Harris + Hoole into . suburbs across the country. | Costa already has 1,755 UK outlets and plans to add another 150 this year . Chain, which is part of the Whitbread group, wants 2,200 stores by 2018 . Globally Costa sold 400 million drinks in the year to February 27 . Costa UK sales rose by 16.5per cent last year to some £807.7million . Starbucks suffered its first ever fall during 16 years of operating in UK . US chain hit by boycotts and criticism over low levels of tax paid . | 959ec306d1542e0e44894d80acd2857aa8bf5379 |
An . Oklahoma missionary who is accused of raping and molesting ten children . at the Kenyan orphanage where he was working claims he was possessed by . a demon named Luke, federal prosecutors say. In . text messages released in court documents, 19-year-old Matthew Lane . Durham talked to a friend about his supposed alter-ego: 'Literally he . takes me at night and there is nothing I can do to stop him. '... I've prayed so much, but every night Luke gets what Luke wants.' Prosecutors have alleged that Durham of . Edmond engaged in sex acts with as many as ten children aged 4 to 10 . - including one who is HIV positive - while volunteering at the Upendo Children's Home near Nairobi from April . to June 2014. Accused: . Matthew Lane Durham faces federal charges in his native Oklahoma that . he molested up to ten children at a Kenyan orphanage. He allegedly . confessed to the abuse . Prosecutors . submitted these text messages Durham allegedly sent to a friend as . evidence that he remains a danger to the community . 'I . took her to the bathroom and forced her to have sex with me. This has . happened on more than one occasion.' This is one of the horrific . confessions that Durham allegedly wrote out . He faces up to life in prison if convicted of engaging in illegal sexual conduct in foreign places, aggravated sexual abuse with children and other charges. The indictment alleges that Durham traveled from Oklahoma City to Kenya in order to engage in illicit sexual conduct with children at Upendo, which specializes in assisting neglected Kenyan children by providing them with food, housing, clothes and academic and religious instruction. The indictment also accuses Durham of engaging in illicit sexual conduct with minors under 18 years of age and aggravated sexual abuse of a child under 12. A spokesman for the U.S. Attorney's Office, Bob Troester, said Durham could be asked to enter a plea to the charges as early as Wednesday. Durham's attorney, Stephen Jones, did not immediately return a telephone call seeking comment. Melissa . and Kyle Durham, the parents of Matthew Durham, say they don't believe . the allegations that their son molested ten children in Kenya . Jones, who has defended the likes of Oklahoma City bomber Timothy . McVeigh, previously said the confession was the result of 'some sort of . pseudo-tribal psychological voodoo.' In . text message to a friend - which prosecutors submitted as evidence - . Durham wrote: 'It takes me at night and I am powerless to what Luke . wants. Yes I named him, I know how crazy that is. 'He whispers in my ear all day and he's so hard to resist.' The indictment was returned as a federal judge weighs whether to release Durham to his family's home in Edmond while the charges against him are litigated. Earlier on Tuesday, U.S. District judge David Russell ordered Durham temporarily detained while prosecutors appeal an order granting his release on bond. A U.S. magistrate granted bond on Monday. Durham faces up to life in prison if convicted of engaging in illegal sexual conduct in foreign places, aggravated sexual abuse with children and other charge . Russell has not indicated when he might hand down a ruling on the issue and it was not immediately clear if the indictment will affect his decision. Prosecutors have urged the judge to detain Durham and allege he is a danger to the community and could flee if released on bond. ‘The defendant in this matter by his own detailed admission both orally and in writing has brutally raped and molested young girls and boys in an orphanage in Kenya,’ the appeal filed in U.S. District Court alleges. ‘He has confessed his crimes in writing, on video, and has admitted to a life-long struggle of desires to touch children and “child predation,”’ it says. An affidavit filed in federal court said Durham, who has volunteered with the children' home since June 2012, wrote and signed a statement acknowledging the sexual misconduct. An Upendo official provided the statement to the U.S. Embassy in Nairobi, the affidavit says. But Jones has challenged Durham's statements about the allegations and claims they were coerced by orphanage officials in Kenya who kept him in isolation and confiscated his passport. Prosecutors have urged the judge to detain Durham and allege he is a danger to the community and could flee if released on bond . Jones urged Russell to reject the government's appeal and allow Durham to be released to his family on home incarceration while the case is litigated, which Jones indicated could take months. ‘This litigation, with witnesses and alleged victims in Kenya, will likely endure many months,’ Jones said in a written objection to the government's appeal. ‘Further incarceration would violate Mr. Durham's due process right, as he is presumed innocent and will be detained for a prolonged amount of time,’ Jones said. The magistrate ordered Durham's release after a hearing where his parents testified they do not believe the allegations against their son. The release order sets bond at $10,000 and names Durham's father, Oklahoma City Fire Department Maj. Kyle Durham, as his son's custodian. Kyle Durham testified he has taken administrative leave from his job to care for his son. It also requires that Matthew Durham surrender his passport, refrain from using cellphones and computers and avoid contact with children and any witnesses and alleged victims in the case. | Matthew Lane Durham, 19, is accused of sexually abusing up to ten children, ages four to ten, while volunteering in Kenya . His parents stand by him and say they don't believe the allegations . Officials at the orphanage say he wrote out a confession; his lawyer claims it was coerced . He faces up to life in prison if . convicted of charges including aggravated sexual abuse with children . | b1b86b6947ffe33300e691078715ffee1f36c75c |
By . Sarah Griffiths . PUBLISHED: . 08:28 EST, 8 July 2013 . | . UPDATED: . 08:30 EST, 8 July 2013 . For those who live in fear of our eight-legged friends, it's the stuff of nightmares. Engineers in Hong Kong have made a robotic spider that accurately replicates the creepy leg movements of real arachnids. The Robugtix T8 robot contains 26 little motors under its 3D printed case to make the spider move in a way that will certainly scare those terrified of the creatures. Scroll down for video... The Robugtix T8 robot contains 26 little motors under its 3D printed case - three in each leg and two in its abdomen - to make the spider move in a realistic way . Each of the robo-tarantula's legs houses . three motors, with two more used to animate the creature's abdomen, . allowing it to strike scary poses. The 3D printed spiderbot is powered by a microcontroller that runs a movement engine called Bigfoot Inverse Kinematics. The means that the master of the octopod does not have to send the robot intricate instructions. Using a wireless controller, an . individual can select a gait and tell the spider in which direction to . travel, making it ideal for stealth attacks and pranks. The engine handles all the complex mathematical theory and calculations required to control a multi-legged walking robot, leaving the operator free to focus on what it actually wants the spider to do. For example, a user can tell the spider to walk forward at a certain speed, while the engine takes care of detail such as inverse kinematics, leg trajectory planning and motor control. The company selling the robot says: 'This makes it quite easy even for absolute beginners to . play with advanced robotics.' The 3D printed spiderbot is powered by a microcontroller that runs a movement engine called Bigfoot Inverse Kinematics. It handles all the complex maths needed to control a multi-legged walking robot so the user only has to issue simple instructions . Unlike the T8 robot, real tarantulas (pictured) come in over 900 varieties and it is thought that they produce small quantities of silk from their feet, enabling them to cling to smooth surfaces . Owners of the scary toy may want to refrain from shocking a friend with arachnophobia and a good aim though, as the robotic mini beast costs over £900. The robot is the brainchild of a research, engineering and design company called Amoeba Robotics in Hong Kong, which specialises in making innovative robotics systems. It is on sale from the Robugtix website that creates bio-inspired multi-legged robots and is expected to ship in September. Luckily, for those who want more terror for their money there is a slightly less-realistic six-legged robot available for just over £160. The IITSII is a hexapod version of the T8 that contains 18 motors instead of 26, so there are still three in each leg. As there are no motors in the insect critter's body, it can't pose like it's spider peer, but still uses the same engine to move around in a realistic way. Both scary products come as kits and need to be built. The Controllers cost extra but there is scope for technophiles to create their own communication methods with the robots as they are open devices. Users of spider bot can choose between pre-programming their own sequences or directly controlling the robot in real time with . the wireless Robugtix Controller. | The Robugtix T8 robo-tarantula has 26 motors under a 3D-printed shell to move in a super realistic way . Engineers in Hong Kong created the £900 octopod, which includes a clever engine to do the complex maths required to make the mini monster move . A smaller, cheaper six-legged robot is also available for techie prangsters . | f6597add671cbd17c8bb88e8c841c9123c9e5e51 |
A judge busted for sending a nearly nude picture of himself to a married court bailiff has defiantly admitted sexting the same snap to a string of other women. Wade McCree, a specialist in sex misconduct cases on Detroit's 3rd Circuit, nonchalantly batted away claims the seedy semi-naked shower pictures sent by mobile phone was 'totally inappropriate'. When approached by Fox 2 News, he said: 'Hot dog, yep that's me. I've got no shame in my game. I ain't talking to nobody else's wife. You can almost get that here and now. Scroll down for video... Inappropriate: Judge Wade McCree sent this nearly nude picture of himself to a married court bailiff . Nonchalant: Wade McCree, a specialist in sex misconduct cases on Detroit's 3rd Circuit, batted away claims sending a semi-naked shower picture via mobile phone was 'totally inappropriate' 'I've sent that out to other women. There's nothing nude about it. I'm in no more clothes than I'll be at the Y this afternoon when I swim my mile.' McCree, who's appeared on the channel's Let It Rip show preaching self-respect, has played down the incident. It is reminiscent of former congressman Anthony Weiner's spectacular fall from grace and a plot-line from new spies-in-the-D.C.-suburbs drama Homeland. But his seemingly arrogant stance has angered his colleague's husband. The court bailiff's spouse said: 'It's totally inappropriate. It says a lot that he's flawed. Questions: Anthony Weiner lost his post as Congressman after sending nearly nude pictures of himself to women over Twitter . Under fire: Anthony Weiner initially denied the accusations but eventually admitted to sending the pictures . 'He's not what he appears to be, at least not to the general public because he has access to kids, he has access to different charitable functions. 'He's been looked upon as some great figure but, as you can see according to the picture, you see what he's really all about. 'What kind of man would send this to a married woman, knowing he's a married man himself?' Fox 2 legal analyst Charlie Langton claimed McCree would 'probably' now lose his job - in echoes of former Congressman Antony Weiner who was forced to resign in June last year. He said: 'If you take your cell phone and you send naked pictures to people that's called sexting. Echoes: A similar storyline of a Congressman being busted for sexting to younger women appears in drama Homeland, starring Damian Lewis as Nicholas Brody (left) and Claire Danes as Carrie Mathison (right) 'High school kids do it these days, I wasn't aware that judges do it too. I mean it's borderline criminal... and weird.' Jokingly, Langton later admitted the judge was 'pretty fit' but then questioned 'what exactly he was fit for'. Weinger quit after it emerged he sent a lewd photograph to a 21-year-old woman in Washington over Twitter. Although he initially denied the accusations, he eventually admitted to sending the picture - and others before and after his marriage. His wife Huma Abedin, a Hillary Clinton aide, stood by him throughout the scandal. The scandal recently resurfaced when it was mirrored in Showtime's spy-drama Homeland - where a politician was ousted for also texting nude pictures of himself to young women. The bailiff's husband said they were now filing a complaint with the prosecutor and the Judicial Tenure Commission. | Detroit 3rd Circuit judge Wade McCree 'sent snap out to other women' Echoes of Anthony Weiner's fall from grace and Homeland spy-drama plot . | 6cf5ba82ce4cf1eb39c8bddc35525d4d5b905a7b |
Chelsea boss Jose Mourinho thought Arsenal trio Laurent Koscielny, Calum Chambers and Danny Welbeck should have bee sent off during Chelsea's 2-0 win at Stamford Bridge - but refused to criticise referee Martin Atkinson . The Portuguese boss thought the three Arsenal stars, who were all cautioned, should have seen red rather than yellow during the Premier League encounter. After the final whistle, Mourinho was seen having a rare public chat with Chelsea owner Roman Abramovich. Chelsea boss Jose Mourinho thought Arsenal should have finished the game with eight men . Martin Atkinson decided to caution Laurent Koscielny for a foul on Eden Hazard inside the penalty area . Mourinho was of the opinion that Koscielny should have been given a straight red for his foul on Hazard . Mourinho said: 'I think the referee, from a technical point of view, had a fantastic performance in a difficult, technical, fast match with lots of runs behind - also the linesmen had a difficult game and I think they did a fantastic job. 'But Arsenal could have finished with eight men, because it is a red card for Koscielny, it is a double yellow card for Chambers in the first half, and clear was a red card for Welbeck. "But I accept that the Welbeck red card was not given - the game was over and Welbeck is a good kid and is not aggressive. It was maybe just a reaction, some frustration. 'So I have no complaint really.' Arsene Wenger shoved Mourinho in the chest with 20 minutes gone at Stamford Bridge on Sunday . Mourinho downplayed his first half touchline bust-up with Arsenal manager Wenger by insisting it was 'no problem'. Asked about the incident, Mourinho said: 'For me, it is over. 'But the technical area is very clear - I have mine, he has his and he cannot come to mine, especially to put pressure on the referee to give a red card to my player. 'So I just told him "leave my technical area and don't come back please".' Mourinho, pictured with Roman Abramovich and the Chelsea owner's son Arkadiy, looked in jubilant mood . Abramovich will have been delighted with his side's performance against London rivals Arsenal . The Chelsea owner, pictured shaking Mourinho's hand, saw his side pick up all three points at the Bridge . | Chelsea boss Jose Mourinho thought Laurent Koscielny, Calum Chambers and Danny Welbeck were all lucky to stay on the field . All three players were cautioned during Arsenal's 2-0 defeat by Chelsea . Mourinho refused to criticise Premier League official Martin Atkinson . | 62c648e430d8cac948382b8c1ff3921b8bf59c1e |
By . Alex Finnis . An Orthodox rabbi was shot dead as he walked to a Miami temple, in what his daughter is calling a hate crime. Police and Jewish community leaders believe the incident, which left 60-year-old Joseph Raksin dead, was part of a botched robbery, and had no religious incentive. But Mr Raksin's daughter, Shully Lepokovski, told WSVN.com: 'I believe it was a hate crime, simply because he was a Jew.' Izzy, far left, prays alongside several rabbis over his father-in-law Joseph Raksin, a 60-year-old Orthodox rabbi from Brooklyn, New York, as Raksin lies in the back of a hearse . According to the Miami Herald, on July 28, police reported that swastikas were spray-painted on the front pillars of a Northeast Miami-Dade synagogue, amid the ongoing conflict over Gaza, leading to concerns the shooting may be linked. Brian Siegal, director of the American Jewish Committee's Miami and Broward Regional Office, told the Herald: 'Our deepest condolences to the [Raksin] family for this tragic loss. We are confident the police will take the matter seriously and will give them time to investigate. 'Coming so soon and so close to the synagogue that was vandalized last week with swastikas and pro-Hamas graffiti, obviously we're suspicious that it's linked, but that remains to be seen.' Fellow rabbis turned out to mourn Mr Raksin, who his daughter believes was the victim of hate crime . A group of woman and girls prays for Mr Raksin. Miami-Dade police spokeswoman Elena Hernandez says there is no indication that the shooting was a hate crime . The Brooklyn, New York rabbi, who is a father-of-six and was in Florida visiting his two daughters and grandchildren, was walking along Northeast 175th Street and Eighth Court around 9am on Saturday, when two men approached him. Police said there was an altercation before Mr Raksin was shot, but Yona Lunger, a Jewish community activist, said he spoke to a witness who told him he was shot immediately by one of the men. He was airlifted to Jackson Memorial Hospital, where he later died. Police said Mr Raksin was heading to Bais Menachem Chabad, a synagogue just a few blocks away, as it was the Sabbath, an important day of religious observance for Orthodox Jews. The Anti-Defamation League says it has been in close contact with lead investigators and the crime appears to be a robbery gone badly . Miami-Dade police spokeswoman Elena Hernandez says there is no indication that the shooting was a hate crime. Authorities have not released a motive, but the Anti-Defamation League says it has been in close contact with lead investigators and the crime appears to be a robbery gone badly. Orthodox Jews do not carry and money or possessions with them on the Sabbath, as it is their holy day. The incident has left the neighbourhood and Miami's Jewish community shaken. Joseph Waks, a friend of Mr Raksin and his family, told WSVN.com: 'This has a big effect in the community. A rabbi [shot] walking to temple. I've got two beautiful children. I walk to temple with them every Sabbath in Miami Beach. It's devastating.' Police are searching for two young suspects. One was apparently on a bicycle and the other on foot. It it believed they fired just one shot before fleeing the scene. A witness described one of the men to be wearing a yellow shirt, and the other an orange shirt. The community is offering a $50,000 reward for information that helps lead to an arrest. The funeral was today at 10am today at Shomrei Haddas on 13 Ave. in Borough Park, with the procession passing Chabad headquarters on 770 Eastern Parkway at around 10.45am. | Joseph Raksin, 60, shot dead in Miami, Florida on Saturday . The father-of-six was on his way to pray, as it was the Sabbath . Police believe the incident was a robbery gone wrong . But others argue Mr Raksin is the victim of hate crime . Miami synagogue sprayed with swastikas just weeks earlier . | 2d037e975e9cca95a0e3f83d752030f5e796d39d |
By . Daily Mail Reporter . PUBLISHED: . 17:40 EST, 13 March 2013 . | . UPDATED: . 18:28 EST, 13 March 2013 . The newly-announced Pope Francis is the first leader of the Catholic Church to hail from Latin America and his selection is being hailed as a triumph throughout the United States. President Barack Obama offered warm wishes to new Pope on Wednesday and said the choice of the Cardinal from Argentina to ascend to the papacy speaks to the vitality of increasingly important Latin America. Obama called the new pope 'a champion of the poor and the most vulnerable among us.' 'As the first pope from the Americas, his selection also speaks to the strength and vitality of a region that is increasingly shaping our world, and alongside millions of Hispanic Americans, those of us in the United States share the joy of this historic day,' Obama said in a statement. SCROLL DOWN FOR VIDEO . Balance of power: Newly elected Pope Francis I waves to the waiting crowd from the central balcony of St Peter's Basilica . Celebration: Faithful followers in St Peter's Square celebrated the historic pick. Though Pope Francis I hails from Argentina, he knows both Italian and German as well as Spanish . The new Pope's work in his native Argentina- where he is known as an austere Jesuit intellectual who modernized the country's conservative Catholic church- says a good deal about the future direction of the Church, as it is a clear signal of good faith towards heavily-Catholic Latin and South America. Represent: Catholics make up more than a fifth of the United States population . ‘For us to go into the Americas for . the very first time, and South America, is awesome,’ said church . assistant Catherine Sims who works at St. Joseph’s Catholic Church in . Libertyville, Illinois. ‘When he picks a name like that, it . tells you a lot about who he wants to emulate. Christ revealed himself . to St. Francis and said rebuild my church. If he’s taken a name like . that, and he’s from South America, we’re probably going in a new . direction with new leadership in the Vatican,’ she told The Chicago Tribune. The United States has a significant Catholic population, with Georgetown University's Center for Applied Research in the Apostolate reporting that there were 66.3million Catholics in the country in 2012. That figure, originally reported by the Church itself, means that the faithful make up 21 per cent of the country's growing population of 313million. In New York, Monsignor Robert Ritchie of St. Patrick’s Cathedral seemed hopeful in an address to congregants. ‘I know God has chosen a holy father who will do exactly as he was told to do -- feed his sheep,’ he said on Wednesday. The decision is a landmark one for the traditionally Catholic countries of South America. 'For . the churches that are pilgrims in Latin America, it is the cause of . great joy,' said a statement from the Catholic bishops of Mexico. 'For the Mexican church, it is a clear sign of love for the churches that are pilgrims in these lands.' Grasping the news: Schoolchildren at St Paul Catholic School in Valpariso, Indiana watched as the smoke turned from black to white. People from both South and North America are thrilled about selection from the Western hemisphere . Rejoice: Teens at Lake Michigan Catholic High School in St Joseph, Michigan cheered at the selection . Groups of supporters waved Argentine . flags in St. Peter's Square as Francis, wearing simple white robes, made . his first public appearance as pope. 'Ladies . and Gentlemen, good evening,' he said before making a reference to his . roots in Latin America, which accounts for about 40 per cent of the . world's Roman Catholics. Cars . honked their horns as the news spread and television announcers . screamed with elation and surprise and Catholics began flooding toward . the cathedral, where Ana Maria Perez and a few dozen other women had . been waiting for the announcement. ‘He . is going to be the pope of the street,’ she said, referring to . Bergoglio's habit of taking the subways alongside working class . Argentines. Historic: Shelly Guadelupe was visiting New York City from Puerto Rico when the news was announced. Many followers are excited about the pick because he is the first Jesuit to be selected, and made his name by giving back to the needy . Momentous: Ms Guadelupe, from Puerto Rico, took in the fact that the new Pope is the first from Latin America . His people: The new Pope looked out at his following from the balcony of St Peter's Basilica . Known until Wednesday as Jorge . Bergoglio, the 76-year-old is said to be a humble man who denied himself . the luxuries that previous Buenos Aires cardinals enjoyed. New life: Known as Jorge Bergoglio until today, the 76-year-old is thought of as a humble man who denied himself the luxuries . Church-watchers are reading that as a . sign that the upper-echelon of Catholics understand that their global . image may need to be reworked in light of recent scandals- like the . widespread sex abuse cases throughout the United States, for example- . and need to focus on doing good. There was excitement as well elsewhere. Bergoglio . often rode the bus to work, cooked his own meals and regularly visited . the slums that ring Argentina's capital. He considers social outreach, . rather than doctrinal battles, to be the essential business of the . church. In Panama City, public relations executive Nelsa Aponte said with teary eyes, ‘This made me cry, I had to get out my handkerchief.’ ‘We have a new pastor, and for the first time, he is from Latin America.’ Armando Connell, 54, a doorman at a luxury hotel in Panama City, expressed hope that ‘the new pope will be closer to us, and will show more concern about the poverty many of us suffer.’ In Mexico City, pediatrician Victor De la Rosa, 64, said the decision ‘is going to allow Latin America to be more involved in the church's decisions, above all in modernizing the church.’ American politicians were quick with their congratulations, many of them taking to Twitter to announce their praise in 140 characters. Congratulations: President Obama released a lengthy statement through his press office which was then shortened for Twitter . Demographics: As the former Governor of Hispanic-heavy Florida, Jeb Bush brought up Pope Francis' Argentinean upbringing in his Twitter post . All faiths: The goodwill was not limited to Catholics as Jewish Senator Chuck Schumer shared his congratulations . Former Florida Governor, and possible . Republican presidential nominee, Jeb Bush made a point of bringing up . the historic geographic implications of the pick. Having served two . terms in a heavily-Hispanic state, it comes as little surprise that he . paid homage to the big day for his former constituents. ‘Wonderful news of the selection of Pope Francis, the first Latin American pope,’ Mr Bush said. Religious . affiliations did not stop the spread of good will, as Catholics like . New Jersey Governor Chris Christie and Congressman Sean Duffy were . joined by Jewish Congressman Eric Cantor and Senator Chuck Schumer in . wishing the new Bishop of Rome good luck. ‘Overjoyed . for Catholics everywhere and hopeful that Pope Francis will help foster . peace and spirituality across the globe,’ Mr Schumer said. WATCH THE VIDEO HERE . | Argentine Cardinal Jorge Bergoglio, 76, selected as new Pope . First time that the leader of the Catholic Church hails from Latin America . Known for his charity work and preference for humble surroundings, opting to shun the grand surroundings of other archbishops . Americans appear thrilled at the selection, many hope it will signal a renewed focus on charity work for the Church . | 54db0e6d9abcbe19210ae5b6596cf2db3fbbda96 |
By . Jill Reilly . PUBLISHED: . 10:49 EST, 26 November 2012 . | . UPDATED: . 05:59 EST, 27 November 2012 . Art is usually a labour of love for the creator. But one muse showed her devotion to creativity by lying spreadeagled and naked in the middle of a pig farm. The result was an aerial project - shot by photographer John . Crawford between 1984 and 1987 - showing his then wife Carina . pictured from a bird's-eye perspective. Captivating: The photo project showing a nude from the air has gone viral on the internet . Sky's the limit: The series - shot by photographer John Crawford between 1984 and 1987 - shows his then wife Carina naked pictured from a birds-eye perspective . After locking the 35mm colour . negatives and prints away in a box, they have finally seen the light of . day, a quarter of a century after the project's completion. And now the photo project has gone viral on the internet. Kiwi photographer Mr Crawford spent most of the mid-1980s flying from job to job in small planes. It gave him a unique view of the odd symmetry found on the ground - sparking the unique project titled 'Aerial Nudes'. Mr Crawford, 61, from Taranaki, New Zealand, said: 'From my school days I had been interested in graphics, strange patterns and shapes. 'Looking down from a hovering helicopter you see the landscape from a birds eye perspective and suddenly everything becomes abstract and symmetrical with no distracting horizon line. Work of art: Mr Crawford would rope in favours from friends to help create the stunning series - including mates rates on a Jet Ranger helicopter and hiring tractors for a ploughed field scenario . But after locking the 35mm colour negatives away in a box, they have finally seen the light of day - a quarter of a century after the project's completion . All for art: The photographer's wife lies down on stacks of piping in a piece called Yellow Pipe in Taranaki . 'I thought strategically placing a nude in these locations would emphasise the point that we as human beings are so minuscule and insignificant in relation to the enormity of the planet we live on.' Locations for the project included a runway, a railway line and a moving car weaving through traffic. Each one was meticulously planned, with Mr Crawford scouting potential locations from the air during his day job as a commercial photographer. Labour of love: Kiwi photographer John spent most of the mid-1980s shooting New Zealand's north Island from the air . After spotting a good area, he would return to photograph it in more detail - before trying to persuade land owners to let him shoot a nude there. After spotting a good area, he would return to photograph it in more detail - before trying to persuade land owners to let him shoot a nude there. Mr Crawford would rope in favours from friends to help create the stunning series - including mates rates on a . Jet Ranger helicopter and hiring tractors for a ploughed field scenario. Mr Crawford added: "To pull it off we had to wait for the right day. It had to be flat overcast light, not too windy. Family connection: Due to the reaction online John now plans to return to the project - using his 27-year-old daughter Amelia to pose naked on a Boeing 747 . Taking his time: On why the project has taken so long to reach a wider audience, John revealed: 'When I started the series I thought they were pretty cool, but I like to mull things around in my head' Rediscovered: 'Revisiting the images 25 years later was certainly a buzz,' said the photographer . 'Shooting above a local airport I had to talk the air traffic controllers into diverting incoming flights, and when I was shooting the nude on the runway the control tower suddenly filed up with men and binoculars.' Every shot is as it appeared to John on that day - no photoshop or trickery, just a camera. Mr Crawford,said: 'People ask me if I used Google Maps or a drone, but it is all from nothing more than a camera, no photo editing at all.' On why the project has taken so long to reach a wider audience, Mr Crawford revealed: 'When I started the series I thought they were pretty cool, but I like to mull things around in my head. 'As a photographer you get very close to your work. You think about it, proof it, enlarge it and print it, then you get sick of it. 'I just put these photographs away a lot longer than normal. Revisiting the images 25 years later was certainly a buzz.' And thanks to the reaction from fans online after posting them on his website, Mr Crawford now plans to return to the project - using his 27-year-old daughter Amelia to pose naked on a Boeing 747. For more of John Crawford's shots visit: www.johncrawford.co.nz . | The series - shot by photographer John Crawford between 1984 and 1987 - shows his then wife Carina naked pictured from a bird's-eye perspective . | 70d1dbc2f470bd9e3fad2b88f6ef7c9e229f2208 |
New details have emerged about questionable recruitment practices at the US Military Academy at West Point, where prospective students were taken by a VIP party bus to a bowling alley, offered drinks and watched as two cheerleaders locked lips. The school has acknowledged the claims, which were first outlined in a news article published by the Gazette of Colorado Springs Sunday. Officials at West Point said the academy self-reported the recruitment violations to the National Collegiate Athletic Association, disciplined 20 cadets and reprimanded two officers, along with football coaches, for promoting underage drinking. Make out session: An internal report has revealed that two West Point academy cheerleaders (not pictured in this file photo) who were aboard a party bus with recruits in January made out with each other . The superintendent of the academy, Army Lt. Gen. Robert L. Caslen Jr, released a statement taking full responsibility for the incident. ‘I am fully committed to the values of West Point in all of our cadets and in all of our programs, and will ensure they are upheld to the highest of standards,’ Caslen stated. Accountability: The superintendent of the academy, Army Lt. Gen. Robert L. Caslen, Jr released a statement taking full responsibility for the incident . The rowdy, alcohol-soaked road trip took place back in January when 14 recruits boarded a party bus along with members of the football team and two cheerleaders, and headed down to the Palisades Mall in New York. The road-trippers made a pit stop at a bowling alley equipped with a bar, where the prospective students reportedly consumed large quantities of alcohol. The cadets allegedly ordered towers of beer for the recruits to drink, mostly paid for by booster money. Some attendees reportedly downed seven drinks in just 90 minutes. Two military police officers escorted the 'party bus' during the incident. The officers were later reprimanded following an internal investigation. On the way back to West Point, the internal report obtained by The Gazette described a 'club-like' atmosphere aboard the party bus, complete with loud music, flashing strobe lights and passengers dancing in the aisle. At some point during the ride, two cheerleaders began making out with one another, and also kissed a football player and one of the recruits. In addition to the boozy trip, the NCAA learned from the internal report that cheerleaders and female cadets had been set up as 'dinner dates' for recruits - a claim that has been disputed by Lt Gen Caslen. West Point spokesman Theresa Brinkerhoff said the academy did not publicly detail the incident at the time because it was handled 'administratively', the New York Daily News reported. The specific punishments for the officers, players and coaches have not been revealed, but no football players were kicked off the Army team, nor were any suspensions announced. Ms Brinkerhoff told the NCAA two members of the football staff had been removed from team activities for a week following the misbehavior. 'I believe those involved in this incident have learned from their mistakes, corrected their behavior accordingly, and will have the character to be the leaders our Nation expects of its West Point graduates,' Caslen said in the statement. West Point's top officer also took issue with allegations that booster money was used during the raucous outing. Caslen insisted that cadet host funds were distributed according to NCAA regulations, but the handling of those funds resulted in NCAA violations. The Army general added that the 54-seat charter bus used was escorted by a single New York state police officer in compliance with state law and that no military police escort was ever utilized. Star: The football players involved - which include Army starting quarterback Angel Santiago (above, number 3) - are expected to play against the Air Force Academy at West Point's Michie Stadium on November 1 . In a statement, Ms Brinkerhoff, speaking on behalf of the nation's oldest military academy, said that the cadets involved had been dealt with harshly. She told USA Today: 'Although seen as a minor infraction by the NCAA, the U.S. Military Academy takes this very seriously and adjudicated this at the highest level of the disciplinary code. 'We adjudicated this under Article 10 of the Cadet Disciplinary Code and all cadets appeared before the Commandant's Disciplinary Board.' The players involved, among them Army starting quarterback Angel Santiago, are expected to play against the Air Force Academy at West Point's Michie Stadium on November 1. | Cadets and two coaches have been disciplined at U.S. Military Academy . They lured new recruits by hosting alcohol-fueled bus trip, says report . They also allegedly used cash from boosters and organized dinner dates . Two military police officers reprimanded after 'escorting the 'party bus' Shocking revelations detailed in the report by West Point academy itself . | a20dc934fd11abd2bbc90b374bfadb7b679c6d78 |
Miami, Florida (CNN) -- Forecast to gain "major" Category 3 status, outer rainbands association with a strengthening Hurricane Earl were affecting the islands of Antigua and Barbuda on Sunday, with conditions forecast to deteriorate, the National Hurricane Center said. Earl became a Category 1 hurricane on Sunday. As of 8 p.m. ET, its center was about 100 miles (160 kilometers) east of Barbuda and about 185 miles (300 kilometers) east of St. Martin. Its maximum sustained winds had increased slightly to 85 mph (140 kph) and higher gusts, and the storm was heading west-northwest at near 14 mph (22 kph). The center of Earl is forecast to pass near or over the northern Leeward Islands Sunday night and Monday, the center said. A hurricane warning was in effect for Antigua, Barbuda, Montserrat, St. Kitts, Nevis, Anguilla, St. Martin, St. Barthelemy, Saba and St. Eustatius. As of 5 p.m., the government of Antigua and Barbuda also had added the British Virgin Islands to the warning, forecasters said. A hurricane watch and a tropical storm warning was in effect for the U.S. Virgin Islands and Puerto Rico, including the islands of Culebra and Vieques. Tropical storm-force conditions were forecast in the warning area Sunday afternoon and evening, with hurricane conditions expected early Monday, forecasters said. Tropical storm conditions were expected to spread across the Virgin Islands and Puerto Rico on Monday, with hurricane conditions possible on Monday night. "Strengthening is expected during the next 48 hours, and Earl is forecast to become a major hurricane by Tuesday," forecasters said. Earl was forecast to turn west-northwest and slow down over the next day. Tracking maps show it moving northward away from the Caribbean and possibly affecting the U.S. East Coast by Friday. Easterners should pay attention to Earl, as it could affect areas anywhere from the Carolinas to Cape Cod, Massachusetts, over Labor Day weekend, said CNN meteorologist Jacqui Jeras. It is too soon to tell whether the storm could make landfall, she said. However, outer bands of the storm are likely to hit North Carolina beginning Thursday, kicking up large swells and possibly generating rip currents through Labor Day weekend, Jeras said. Earl is expected to dump between 3 and 5 inches of rain over the northern Leeward Islands, with isolated amounts of 8 inches possible in some areas. Puerto Rico is expected to receive between 4 and 6 inches of rain, with isolated amounts of 12 inches possible over higher elevations. In addition, Earl is expected to produce a 2-to-4-foot storm surge within the hurricane warning area, and 1-to-3-foot storm surge in coastal areas, accompanied by high surf. Meanwhile, Hurricane Danielle remained away from land, and was gradually weakening as it moved northeastward, the hurricane center said. The center of the storm was about 605 miles (975 kilometers) south of Cape Race, Newfoundland. Once a Category 4 storm, Danielle had weakened Sunday to a Category 1 hurricane with winds of near 80 mph (130 kph). It was expected to continue to weaken, and was moving north-northeast at near 29 mph (46 kph). Large waves and dangerous surf conditions should diminish near Bermuda on Sunday, the hurricane center said, and "swells from Danielle are expected to gradually subside during the next day or two along portions of the United States East Coast." A number of people were rescued along the East Coast because of those swells and riptide currents. Nearly 250 were rescued Saturday in the waters off Ocean City, Maryland, authorities said. In addition, an area eastward from Earl could develop into a tropical depression and then potentially into Tropical Storm Fiona, Jeras said. | Too soon to tell whether Earl could dampen U.S. Labor Day . Outer rainbands were reaching Antigua and Barbuda . Earl reaches Category 1 status . Hurricane conditions are expected Monday on Leeward Islands . | 527121ef8d17e715a64619ca4bb6a288ce4ec5ab |
(CNN) -- The oil disaster plaguing the Gulf of Mexico and our coastal states puts our desperate need for a new clean energy economy in stark relief. We need to move away from dirty, dangerous and deadly energy sources. We are pleased that the White House is now saying it will suspend any new offshore drilling while the explosion and spill are investigated, but there should be no doubt left that drilling will only harm our coasts and the people who live there. Taking a temporary break from offshore drilling is an important step, but it's not enough. We need to stop new offshore drilling for good, now. And then we need an aggressive plan to wean America from dirty fossil fuels in the next two decades. This BP offshore rig that exploded was supposed to be state-of-the-art. We've also been assured again and again that the hundreds of offshore drilling rigs along our beaches are completely safe. Now, we've seen workers tragically killed. We've seen our ocean lit on fire, and now we're watching hundreds of thousands of gallons of toxic oil seep toward wetlands and wildlife habitat. This rig's well is leaking 210,000 gallons of crude every day, wiping out aquatic life and smothering the coastal wetlands of Louisiana and Mississippi. As the reeking slick spreads over thousands of square miles of ocean, it rapidly approaches the title of worst environmental disaster in U.S. history, even worse than 1989's Exxon Valdez oil spill. The well is under 5,000 feet of water, and it could take weeks or even months to cap it. This disaster could unfortunately happen at any one of the hundreds of drilling platforms off our coasts, at any moment. It could happen at the drilling sites that the oil industry has proposed opening along the beaches of the Atlantic Coast. Indeed, even before this spill, the oil and gas industry had torn apart the coastal wetlands of the Louisiana Bayou over the years. These drilling operations have caused Louisiana to lose 25 square miles of coastal wetlands, which are natural storm barriers, each year. Another view: Why it won't be easy to replace fossil fuels . And it's hardly just the environmental costs of oil spills that we have to worry about with offshore drilling. The threat to the people who work on these platforms has again become terribly clear. In fact, more than 500 fires on oil platforms in the Gulf have injured or killed dozens of workers in just the past four years, according to the federal Minerals Management Service. We don't need to pay this price for energy. We have plenty of clean energy solutions in place that will end our dependence on dirty fossil fuels, create good, safe jobs and breathe new life into our economy. One huge example came Thursday, when the Obama administration approved our country's first offshore wind farm. Our country has huge solar power potential as well. We can also save more oil through simple efficiency measures than could be recovered by new drilling on our coastlines. This oil spill changes everything. We have hit rock-bottom in our fossil fuel addiction. This tragedy should be a wake-up call. It's time to take offshore drilling off the table for good. The opinions expressed in this commentary are solely those of Michael Brune. | Gulf spill can have devastating effect on wildlife and shoreline, says Michael Brune . He says we've been assured that oil drilling is completely safe . Brune: Workers killed, and spill could be nation's worst environmental disaster . He says U.S. needs moratorium on new drilling, plan to wean off fossil fuels . | 733bc8d93540a394fecfd1962bd4a1efc2835214 |
Borussia Dortmund duo Shinji Kagawa and Ilkay Gundogan stepped up their fitness regimes as they linked up with the rest of their teammates in training on Monday. Kagawa, who recently rejoined the German side from Manchester United after a two-year absence, was pictured alongside Gundogan and the rest of the squad with a big week fast approaching for Jurgen Klopp's side. They play SC Freiburg in the Bundesliga on Saturday before welcoming a familiar face in the shape of Arsenal in their first Champions League group stage game of the season on Tuesday. Familiar faces: Dortmund fans will be looking forward to the returns of Shinji Kagawa and Ilkay Gundogan . Together: Dortmund players join Kagawa and Gundogan in training ahead of their double header this week . Discussion: Kagawa looks deep in thought as he speaks to team-mate Marcel Schmelzer before training . Back home: Kagawa admitted he was delighted to be back at Borussia Dortmund after a two-year spell away . Frustrating: Kagawa was given little opportunity to stake a claim for a first-team spot at Manchester United . Both Kagawa and Gundogan returned to action for Dortmund in a friendly against their U23 side on Friday, with the latter enjoying his first taste of action in over a year after missing all of last season with a back injury. The imminent return of both players to the first team will come as a huge boost to Klopp, who has just lost star striker Marco Reus for at least a month due to an ankle injury. | Shinji Kagawa and Ilkay Gundogan are both close to making their first appearance of the season . The 25-year-old re-joined the club last week for £6.3million . Gundogan is closing in on a return to the first team after a year out injured . | 2f642749592b36e3be4a4169a44e4de397bf90d2 |
By . Leon Watson . PUBLISHED: . 05:46 EST, 10 February 2014 . | . UPDATED: . 12:15 EST, 10 February 2014 . Thousands of police have carried out a major crackdown on the sex trade in China's 'sin city' of Dongguan as the country tries to get to grips with its HIV problem. The rare operation took place yesterday following a candid report by the state broadcaster on the underground industry. China outlawed prostitution after the Communist revolution in 1949, but after economic reforms to create a free market which began three decades ago it returned with a vengeance. Since then the trade has been blamed for helping fuel a rise in HIV/AIDS and sexually-transmitted diseases that is believed to have reached epidemic proportions in the 1990s. Chinese police taking away alleged sex workers and clients at an entertainment center in Dongguan, in southern China's Guangdong province . A total of 67 people were arrested and 12 entertainment venues involved in the illegal sex trade were shut down after China Central Television (CCTV) revealed a dozen hotels in Dongguan offered sex services . While the government carries out periodic crackdowns, it is unusual for state media to cover them in such a high-profile way or for top officials to comment on the problem, underscoring worry about the explosion of the sex trade. Media said 67 people were arrested and 12 venues were shut down in a sting operation in the Dongguan region at the heart of China's Pearl River Delta industrial hub in the southern province of Guangdong. Provincial Communist party boss Hu Chunhua, stressed the need 'to conduct an extensive trawling-style crackdown on the entire city', according to a report in the Nanfang Daily. Two city police chiefs had been suspended, Hong Kong's South China Morning Post reported. Video Source YouKu CCTV . It is unusual for state media to cover them in such a high-profile way or for top officials to comment on the problem . The operation took place yesterday following a candid report by the state broadcaster on the underground industry . The Dongguan region has long been known as a hub for the sex industry, it was reported . China's main state broadcaster, China Central Television (CCTV), aired a half-hour report on Sunday chronicling what appeared to be extensive and open prostitution in five towns across Dongguan. Secretly shot footage showed scantily clad women parading on a stage and managers of venues speaking openly about prostitution services. The CCTV report was widely watched across China and followed with interest and widely commented on on social media. Crackdown: Thousands of police were involved in the operation yesterday morning . Reports of the crackdown were widely watched across China and followed with interest and widely commented on on social media . Authorities there said last month the city had seen a high incidence of HIV/AIDS amid rumours that more than 2,700 sex workers had been infected . While periodic sweeps against vice have been carried out, including during sensitive periods such as the 2008 Beijing Olympics and 2010 Asian Games in Guangzhou, the industry has thrived. Law enforcement often appears to be lax. The Dongguan region has long been known as a hub for the sex industry. Authorities there said last month the city had seen a high incidence of HIV/AIDS amid rumours that more than 2,700 sex workers had been infected, according to the Global Times, a Chinese tabloid owned by the Chinese Communist Party mouthpiece, the People's Daily. The CCTV report was widely watched across China and followed with interest and widely commented on on social media . | 67 people arrested and 12 venues shut down in a sting operation in Dongguan, an industrial boom city . China outlawed prostitution after Communist revolution in 1949 . But after reforms three decades ago it returned with a vengeance . Now it is blamed for explosion in cases of HIV and other sexually-transmitted infections . | ecdd6dd15b8b9dbaa0f17d3ff340bfce1b5666aa |
(CNN) -- A U.S. team led by envoy Robert King left North Korea on Saturday after winning the release of an American citizen who had been detained there, state media reported. The KCNA report did not say whether the team left with Eddie Yong Su Jun. Jun, a Korean-American businessman, was detained for "committing a crime" against North Korea after entering the country, KCNA had reported. Jun admitted his crime during an investigation, the North Korean news agency said, but it did not specify what crime he had allegedly committed. His release follows a visit by King, the special envoy for North Korean human rights, and Jon Brause, from the U.S. Agency for International Development. The group went there to assess food shortages that have left thousands starving after floods and harsh weather devastated North Korea's crops. King and Brause "expressed regret at the incident on behalf of the U.S. government and assured that it would make all its efforts to prevent the recurrence of similar incident," KCNA said. The news agency also said former President Jimmy Carter asked North Korea to pardon Jun. "Taking all this into account, the ... government decided to set him free from the humanitarian" standpoint, KCNA said. "We welcome North Korea's decision to release Eddie Jun," said State Department spokesman Mark Toner. He added that King was able to visit Jun on Thursday, and that it was the Swedish Embassy, which represents U.S. interests in North Korea, that confirmed the impending release to the American government Friday. In King's discussions with his North Korean interlocutors, Toner said, King conveyed deep concern over the welfare of an American citizen in their custody, but said the purpose of King's visit was not related to the release of Jun. "It's important to note and to clearly state that any decisions about food aid are not related in any way to any policy decisions if you will. It's a separate process all together," Toner said Friday. The assessment team traveling with King will continue its work on the ground and "when they come back, we will look at their assessments, study it and compare to other assessments by other NGOs," and groups that have made similar trips, to make a decision on the amount of aid to extend, Toner said. Though he could not reveal a total readout of Jun's current physical condition due to privacy concerns, Toner said it was his understanding that Jun was in "decent" health. The Swedish government had ongoing access to Jun during his detention, Toner said. It was not known exactly when Jun would leave North Korea, but Toner said he would not be traveling with King. While the United States praised the North for its action, the two countries are still a long way from normalizing relations. "There are a number of things we would like to see North Korea do in improving relations with South Korea first and foremost before we see other steps on other issues," Toner said. Tensions between North Korea and the West have spiked in recent years due in part to concerns over Pyongyang's nuclear development program. The United States and South Korea held joint military drills in February, despite North Korea's warning to the South not to carry them out -- calling the exercises a provocation. South Korea accuses the North of torpedoing and sinking one of its warships in March 2010, killing 46 sailors. In November, North Korea shelled Yeonpyeong Island, killing two South Korean marines and two civilians. That same month, it detained Jun. Two State Department officials, speaking on condition of anonymity because they were not authorized to release details, told CNN in April that Jun was a Korean-American businessman who had a visa to enter North Korea. The U.S. suspended aid two years ago to North Korea because it suspected the donated food was being diverted to the military or not reaching those most in need. North Korea has detained several Americans in recent years, increasing tension levels in what is already a rocky relationship between Pyongyang and Washington. In 2010, Carter helped secure the release of Aijalon Mahli Gomes, a U.S. citizen who was fined about $600,000 and sentenced to eight years of hard labor for crossing over the Chinese border into North Korea. Gomes, who attempted suicide while in North Korean custody, was thought to be a Christian activist. Two American journalists, Laura Ling and Euna Lee, were arrested after entering North Korea in 2009. They were sentenced to 12 years hard labor before being released in August 2009 after an intervention by former President Bill Clinton. | Eddie Yong Su Jun is in "decent" health, says State Department spokesman . Jun is released at the request of the U.S., says state-run news agency . The release follows a visit by U.S. officials to assess food shortages . North Korea says U.S. officials apologized on behalf of Jun . | b7c49a32e2e5a27c5dcb0c3d9e3739b1ab1b7e75 |
JOHANNESBURG, South Africa (Reuters) -- His name is "Average" and the story of his desperate flight from the wreckage of President Robert Mugabe's Zimbabwe is an increasingly common one. Math teacher Mawise Gumba fled Zimbabwe and found his qualifications mean little as a refugee. The tall 34-year-old, slouching exhausted in a Johannesburg church that has become a de facto transit camp, is one man in a tide of migrants washing up in South Africa. "There is nothing for me there in our country any more. I had no job and I could not afford anything. Even when I was working life was tough," he said. "It's hard for everyone ... I thought it was better for me here," said the former store clerk, whose dusty jeans and boots tell of a long and difficult journey. The tale told by Average -- whose name is not unusual in Zimbabwe -- is depressingly familiar to a people who have watched their once prosperous land spiral into economic disaster. When Mugabe's government, facing inflation of close to 5,000 percent, ordered companies to halve prices of basic goods and services a month ago -- effectively demanding that they operate at a loss -- Average lost his job as the supermarket chain he worked for cut staff. Facing the prospect of homelessness and hunger in his own country, he joined the estimated 4,000 Zimbabweans who head south to South Africa, most of them illegally, every day. Mugabe, 83 and in power since the country's independence from Britain in 1980, has been accused of running Zimbabwe's economy into the ground while implementing a draconian crackdown aimed at keeping power. His decision to launch violent seizures of white-owned farms seven years ago is partly blamed for soaring unemployment and the highest inflation rate in the world. Average scraped together his last salary, some money he made from trading sugar bought at a discount from the supermarket where he worked, and funds borrowed from friends to secure a visitor's visa and bus ticket to Johannesburg. A friend who promised to meet him on arrival failed to show up, leaving him stranded without a place to sleep. On Wednesday evening he walked into the Central Methodist Church in downtown Johannesburg and joined a long queue of people waiting for shelter and food. The church's homeless shelter has become a virtual refugee camp for 800-900 Zimbabweans and a smaller number of migrants from other countries. "Over the past three years, and more so over the past couple of months, I have noted an exponential increase in the number of people we have from Zimbabwe," Bishop Paul Verryn said. Outside his office the line of people waiting for help grew. Many of the new arrivals were asleep in their seats. "We offer them a place off the streets, where they are protected and have warmth from the inclement streets of Johannesburg," Verryn said. At sunset the refugees crowd into the building and lay out reeking blankets. "People just sleep anywhere they can find a space to sleep. Some people sleep on the steps here, in the corridors and others in the foyer and in the meeting rooms," said 27-year-old Walter Rusike from Harare. The commerce graduate and his wife and two children share a meeting room with other families and have been at the shelter for four months. Average said he hoped to get accommodation for a few days until he finds his friend, work or both. "I have a diploma in stores management and store control, a certificate in security and a driver's licence. I think maybe I will be able to find some work with my qualifications. Anything will be better than the situation I was in," he says. E-mail to a friend . Copyright 2007 Reuters. All rights reserved.This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. | His name is "Average," he fled wreckage of President Mugabe's Zimbabwe . One of the 4,000 who flee hunger, homelessness into South Africa a day . Once-prosperous nation now an economic disaster with 5,000 percent inflation . | 79b423b90af6b3381ebfa34a7382ca472bdb5b35 |
The National Basketball Association is one of the pre-eminent sport Leagues in the world and every week, Bleacher Report will bring you a round-up of all the action on and off court Stateside. NEWS-MAKER . LeBron's James return to the Cleveland Cavaliers from the Miami Heat was the big story of the summer but all has not gone to plan so far. Only three players have more turnovers (46) than LeBron this campaign and the Cavs, who were expected to steamroll the weaker Eastern Conference, only ended a four-game losing streak when they overmatched the Orlando Magic 106-74 on Monday night. Still, James was phenomenal in that game, finishing with 29 points, four rebounds, 11 assists and three steals in what was perhaps Cleveland's best performance of the season to date. So far the Cavs' have struggled due to lack of overall depth. The team's 'Big Three' (LeBron, fellow new signing Kevin Love, and Kyrie Irving) were expected to make the Cavs immediate contenders, but, Love and Irving have yet to match the defensive consistency of LeBron's old Miami colleagues Dwyane Wade and Chris Bosh. This team's potential might be greater than that of the Heat, who won two titles and reached two more NBA finals during James' four-year spell in Florida, but they are still a long way away from looking like potential champions. LeBron James (right) celebrates with Dion Waiters during Cleveland Cavalier's game on Wednesday . GOOD WEEK . The Golden State Warriors made it six wins on the spin on Tuesday night as they enjoyed a 114-97 win over the Miami Heat. The star of the show was undoubtedly Stephen Curry who continues to illustrate why he is one of the best pure shooters to ever play the game. The league's foremost marksmen poured in a season-high 40 points on 12-of-19 shooting (including a silly 8-of-11 from three-point distance) in the victory as the Warriors moved to 11-2 under new coach Steve Kerr. Stephen Curry (centre) has impressed this season, and continues to illustrate why he's one of the best . BAD WEEK . Last week we told you about how the Philadelphia 76ers had lost their first 11 games of the season. Fast forward a week and they STILL haven't won a match. They did lead at half-time of Monday night's game against the Portland Trazil Blazers but fell to a 114-104 loss in the end. The Sixers are now 0-15 and in massive danger of setting a record for the worst start in NBA history. The 2009-10 Nets currently hold that questionable honour after beginning the season 0-18. 'Nobody is rolling over or pointing fingers,' 76ers coach Brett Brown said after the Portland loss. 'This locker room is great. You go home and sleep OK. It wasn't that bad. There were a lot of positives tonight.' God only knows how positive he will be if they actually win a game. Philadelphia 76ers have lost their first 15 matches of the season, approaching the worst ever start . NOBODY GETS KOBE BRYANT ON THE CHEAP . Another struggling team are the LA Lakers and Kobe Bryant is taking a lot of the heat for signing a two-year, $48.5 million contract extension last season. The NBA has a strict salary cap and some have painted Bryant as selfish and greedy for not taking less so the Lakers could enjoy more financial flexibility moving forward. Kobe is not in the mood for apologising to anybody though. When asked what he thought about Dirk Nowitzki giving the Dallas Mavericks a 'hometown discount' when it came to renewing his deal, Kobe said: 'It's the popular thing to do The player takes less, blah, blah, blah, blah, blah. I think it's a big coup for the owners to put players in situations where public perception puts pressure on them to take less money. Because if you don't, then you get criticised for it.' For the record the Mavs are 10-5 and the Lakers are 3-11 . Kobe Bryant (left) has been branded selfish and greedy for not taking a smaller salary at LA Lakers . AND FINALLY... His dad, Curtis Jackson (aka 50 Cent), may have made it big in the music industry, but Marquise Jackson has been making some noise on the basketball court. The high school senior produced a 'mixtape' to try and attract the attention of college teams. On the video he shows a versatile skill set. He can handle the ball, knock it down from long range and set his teammates up for open looks. He has also been playing against, and matching, some of the best prospects in the country. Alas his small stature, he is just 5' 9', has stopped big colleges recruiting him, but he could be one growth spurt away from becoming relevant in the sport. Bleacher Report's Mobile App 'Team Stream' helps you stay in the know with your favourite teams across a range of sports via hand-picked, curated sports stories from around the web. Get news for your teams all in one place and get real-time alerts for breaking stories. DOWNLOAD NOW. | LeBron James returned to Cleveland Cavaliers, but they are struggling . Golden State Warriors have won six matches on the spin . Stephen Curry was the star of the show when they beat Miami Heat 114-97 . Philadelphia 76ers are still yet to win a game - they've lost 15 in a row . | 5171d35dd3f7ea7f52951431113bf510fca9ec06 |
By . Daily Mail Reporter . PUBLISHED: . 12:31 EST, 16 December 2012 . | . UPDATED: . 02:59 EST, 17 December 2012 . Until now, Natalie Pearson has been her little girl Sienna's voice. The six-year-old was born with a rare genetic condition which means she cannot speak and will struggle with her health throughout her life. But while her school friends, in St Athan, near Cardiff, have present wish lists reams long, the little girl has only one Christmas gift on hers - to be able to speak to her 'mummy'. Scroll down for video . Natalie Pearce from St Athan in South Wales is trying to raise money so that her daughter Sienna can get a voice . Sienna was diagnosed with Opitz syndrome, a metabolic disorder that affects physical and mental development . Her family have been saving up to buy her special computer equipment which will allow her to talk for the first time. Ms Pearson, 30, said: 'She is a very special little girl but she is unable to speak. 'She gets frustrated about not being able to communicate with everyone. 'I have always been Sienna's voice and have had to fight for everything for her - but I want to give her the voice she never had.' Sienna was just eight months old when she was diagnosed with Opitz syndrome, a metabolic disorder that affects physical and mental development. Her parents believe she is the only child in the UK with this condition and she has battled with medical problems throughout her life. Until now mother Natalie Pearce has had to be her daughter's voice . But her mother is determined her daughter should live as full a life as possible and Sienna is now at a mainstream school, St Illtyd's Primary in Llantwit Major. The mother-of-three is hoping to give her a specialist computerised communication aid and completed a fundraising sky dive to help get together the £2,500 needed. She said: 'She had a trial session using the equipment recently and she typed "I want to talk to my mummy" - it was heartbreaking. 'She surprised everyone with her knowledge, she understands a lot more than we give her credit for, she's quite intelligent. 'I'm very proud to be her mummy - I just wish she could tell me everything she feels like my other girls.' VIDEO: Natalie sky dives to raise money to help her daughter... You can follow Sienna's story and donate online HERE . | Little girl has a rare condition called Opitz syndrome which means she cannot talk . She has communicated via computer to express her one wish: 'To talk to her mummy' | b67771dfb939caf90058b1530a2ce8b0ffb036dc |
(CNN) -- One year ago, a sheriff's dispatcher in Orange County, near Orlando, Florida, received a strange 911 call. A small child was missing -- and had been for a month. Casey Anthony didn't tell anyone for 30 days that her daughter, Caylee, was missing. The child's grandmother was frantic, talking a mile a minute. But her mother seemed unemotional, disconnected from the drama around her. So began the Caylee Anthony case, a mystery that became a nightly fixture on cable television and captivated true-crime buffs across the country. Today, the tot's 23-year-old mother, Casey Anthony, is in jail, charged with first-degree murder, and faces the death penalty if convicted. She denies harming her daughter or having anything to do with her disappearance. Her attorney, Jose Baez, has said that once all the facts are known, it will become clear that his client is innocent. While reports of missing children are not unusual -- a Haleigh and a Haylee are two recent examples -- several elements came together in the Caylee case to make it a high-profile news story, said Robert Thompson, who heads the Bleier Center for Television and Popular Culture at Syracuse University. "The fact that it's a toddler had that really dramatic, 'this is our worst nightmare' thing. It doesn't get any more dramatic than that," he said. "Then, of course, there's Casey herself." The 30-day delay in reporting Caylee's disappearance, along with the frequent release of police documents containing the personal details of the family's life, whetted the public's appetite. See how the case unfolded » . "By that time, it becomes self-fulfilling," Thompson said. "Once the story gets into the inbox of places that cover this thing -- Dateline, America's Most Wanted, Greta van Susteren, Nancy Grace, Geraldo -- it becomes a packaged drama. We want to know how it turns out." Caylee's body was found December 11, six months after she disappeared and just a few blocks from her grandparents' house. The remains were bagged and partially buried in a swampy, vacant lot. Duct tape covered the child's mouth. But the cause of Caylee's death is just one of many questions that remain unanswered a year later. And the answers are not likely to come soon, if at all. Casey Anthony's trial, originally scheduled to begin October 12, has been pushed back until some time next year. Thousands of pages of court files have been made public. Police questioned Anthony's friends and boyfriends, pored through her cell phone records, went through her computer, and seized her digital photo albums. They even analyzed her sleep patterns. But the picture that emerges is far from clear. The story begins at about 9:40 p.m. on the evening of July 15, 2008, with Cindy Anthony's call to 911. The call capped a day in which she and her husband, George, a retired police officer from Ohio, received an impound notice and tracked down their daughter's abandoned white 1998 Pontiac Sunbird -- and then their daughter, Caylee's mother, who was staying with a boyfriend. "I found out my granddaughter has been taken," Cindy Anthony told the 911 dispatcher. "She has been missing for a month. Her mother finally admitted that she's been missing. ... We're talking about a 3-year-old little girl!" "I need to find her," Cindy Anthony continued. "I told you my daughter was missing for a month. I just found her today, but I can't find my granddaughter. She just admitted to me that she's been trying to find her herself. There's something wrong. I found my daughter's car today, and it smells like there's been a dead body in the damn car." George Anthony told police later that the car gave him "a bad vibe." "I got within three feet of it. I could smell something. You look up and you say, please don't let this be. Please don't let this be," he said in a July 24 police interview. A cadaver dog confirmed for police the scent of human decomposition in the car trunk. Casey Anthony's friends told police she said she hit an animal with the car. But many of her stories did not check out, investigators said. Although Casey Anthony has frequently fallen out with her parents, they have always insisted that she is innocent. They haven't visited her in jail for months, in part because authorities record the visits and release them to the public. During the search for Caylee, some say Casey Anthony didn't behave the way one would expect of a worried mother. She went to nightclubs and sent hundreds of text messages to friends, according to cell phone and text transcripts and investigative reports released by police. Those phone and text records also showed that she hardly mentioned her missing daughter. At one point, police analyzed her sleep patterns, finding that the cell phone calls and text messaging ceased for only three or four hours a night at about the time Caylee disappeared. For weeks, curiosity seekers camped out in lawn chairs outside the Anthony home, where the family had posted large flyers asking, "Where is Caylee?" When the crowd grew unruly, Cindy Anthony waved a hammer and George Anthony shouted back at the hecklers. Authorities say they also found traces of chloroform, a knock-out drug, in the trunk of Casey Anthony's car. And they said that on her computer, they found Internet searches of missing children and chloroform Web sites. Investigators first labeled Casey Anthony a person of interest, and later, a suspect. She was indicted on a charge of first-degree murder on October 14. But Thompson, the pop culture professor at Syracuse, cautions that the final curtain hasn't fallen on this drama. "It isn't necessarily a slam dunk," he said. "We have the JonBenet Ramsey case to show that we may think one thing, and it isn't so." Early in that investigation, authorities said John and Patsy Ramsey were "under an umbrella of suspicion" in their daughter's death, but they later were cleared. "These things are capable of twisting around," Thompson said. "But that's another element that makes them interesting." | Cindy Anthony called 911, reported Caylee missing a year ago . Child already had been missing for a month . Casey Anthony was arrested several times, charged with murder in October . Caylee's skeleton was found in December in vacant lot near family's home . | 2e80881b0821fa34b7ea2a72714d9c56abe9e458 |
Nearly 70,000 people have been killed in Syria since unrest began in the country two years ago, according to the latest estimate from the United Nations. And that might actually be an underestimate. U.N. High Commissioner for Human Rights Navi Pillay said Syria's raging civil war has made it "increasingly challenging" to collect accurate and reliable data. Opposition: March was deadliest month in Syrian civil war . But even if that number is on the low side, it does provide a way to put Syria's conflict in historical context. Take a look at Syria's statistics below and see how they compare with statistics from another recent civil war (Libya), civil wars in countries of similar size (Yugoslavia in the 1990s and Spain in the 1930s) and even the Civil War in the United States. Syria uprisingOngoing since March 2011 (2 years) 70,000: The estimated death toll as of mid-February, according to the United Nations Human Rights Center . 22,530,746: Syria's estimated population in July 2012, according to the CIA World Factbook . 0.311: Approximate percentage of the Syrian population killed so far . (For comparison's sake, 0.311% of the population would be 976,066 people for the United States, 196,077 people for the United Kingdom and 4,177,476 people for China, the world's most populous country.) 3,043: Average number of deaths per month . Libyan civil warFebruary 2011-October 2011 (8 months) 30,000: Estimated death toll, according to Libya's transitional government . 6,461,454: Libya's estimated population in 2011, according to the CIA World Factbook . 0.464: Approximate percentage of the Libyan population killed during the civil war . 3,750: Average number of deaths per month . Yugoslav warMarch 1991-November 1995 (4 years, 7 months)February 1998-June 1999 (1 year, 4 months) 140,000: Estimated dead, according to the International Criminal Tribunal for the Former Yugoslavia . 23,976,040: Yugoslavia's approximate population in July 1991, according to the CIA World Factbook . 0.584: Approximate percentage of the Yugoslavian population killed during the wars (using 1991 population) 1,972: Average number of deaths per month . Spanish Civil WarJuly 1936-April 1939 (2 years, 9 months) 500,000: Estimated death toll by many sources . 24,849,298: Population at the end of 1935, according to the National Statistics Institute of Spain . 2.012: Approximate percentage of the Spanish population killed . 15,152: Average number of deaths per month . U.S. Civil WarApril 1861-May 1865 (4 years, 1 month) 618,222: Estimated death toll for more than a century . 31,443,321: U.S. population in 1860, the most recent census before the war . 1.966: Approximate percentage of the U.S. population killed during the war . 12,617: Average number of deaths per month . | U.N. estimate: Syria's civil war claimed nearly 70,000 lives in just less than two years . On average, that comes out to 3,043 deaths a month and 0.311% of the total population . How do Syria's statistics compare with some past civil wars in history? | a20755ca58a935914651ac0c2683b71061ca09e4 |
The Australian Open has increased its prize money for this month's tournament to a record £24.1million. Tournament organisers announced a prize pot of £19.5m in October, an increase of £1.8m on 2014, but have ramped it up again because of the weakness of the Australian dollar. The men's and women's singles champions will each earn £1.7m while first-round losers at the tournament, which begins on January 19, will take home £18,500. Stan Wawrinka kisses the trophy after winning the men's singles at the Australian Open last year . Li Na smiles for the cameras after winning the women's singles in Melbourne last year . Tennis Australia CEO Craig Tiley said: 'Obviously this is not a decision we have taken without a lot of consideration. 'But we have an ongoing commitment to the players that we are determined to help improve the pay and conditions of life on the international tennis tour. We are honouring that commitment. 'We as an international tennis community still have some work to do in ensuring that the life of an international professional tennis player is properly compensated. 'This increase is simply the Australian Open honouring our pledge to the players that we will continue to look at all ways and means possible to get this right. 'That involves increasing prize money as well as cutting and where possible removing the costs associated with playing our events.' Tennis Australia CEO Craig Tiley speaks to the media at Melbourne Park last October . A general view of Melbourne Park during last year's Australian Open tournament . The announcement means the Australian Open's prize money has doubled since 2007 and increased by 14million over the past four years. Prize money has been an increasingly hot topic in tennis over the past couple of years, with players pushing to be given a greater slice of revenue. The grand slam tournaments have all responded while the ATP recently announced increases on the main tour and the second tier Challenger Tour. The latter is a recognition that making a decent living as a tennis player is increasingly tough and the International Tennis Federation, which oversees tournaments at the lowest level of professional tennis, has also announced proposals to increase levels of pay. | The Australian Open has ramped up its prize pot to £24.1million . The increase is due to the weakness of the Australian dollar . The men's and women's singles champions will each earn £1.7m . The tournament begins in Melbourne on January 19 . | 7bf8f6e5aee6756a26752a1ea30ba5be24ab09f0 |
An elementary school in Massachusetts reversed their controversial decision to cancel their annual trip to see The Nutcracker because parents complained it had 'religious content.' The Butler Elementary School in Belmont has a long standing tradition of going to see the classic ballet but parents complained to the school that there was a Christmas tree on stage and therefore was an inappropriate play. WHDH reports that the cancellation was reversed after a PTA meeting on Tuesday night where several parents pushed for the school to change their mind. SCROLL DOWN FOR VIDEO . Christmas controversy: Butler Elementary School almost cancelled their annual trip to The Nutcracker for fear the Christmas Tree on stage was inappropriate . Upset parents said that the school cancelled the trip without telling anyone officially but that word eventually spread. 'I went once as a kid as well. I think it's anybody's choice. They should still offer it but you don't have to go if you don't like,' said parent Adam Campana. 'I've had four kids go to the school, my fourth is here, and they've done nothing but enjoy it,' said parent Laurie Manjikian. Co-President Barbara Bulfoni told reporters, 'In the past years there were parent’s complaints as 'The Nutcracker' has a religious content. I think we clarified with the parents.' One PTA board member said she was so miffed by the controversy that she may step down from her position. Those who do not wish for their children to see the ballet are allowed to opt out. School tradiyion: The Butler Elementary School (pictured) in Belmont has a long standing tradition of going to see the classic ballet and this year won't be any different thanks to outspoken community members . | School reversed their controversial decision to cancel their annual trip to see 'The Nutcracker' because parents complained it had 'religious content' 'I went once as a kid as well. I think it's anybody's choice. They should still offer it but you don't have to go if you don't like,' said parent Adam Campana . Co-President Barbara Bulfoni told reporters, 'In the past years there were parent’s complaints as 'The Nutcracker' has a religious content' | bbf43c5296720b33e995fb5211d3b8f8307f7304 |
(CNN) -- Thousands of acres of a Southern California forest are going up in flames for the second time in less than three weeks. Together, the two blazes have scorched a large hole out of the wooded mountains near Palm Springs. More than 1,400 firefighters are struggling to contain the current ongoing wildfire as a steady wind blows it toward the east. "You can imagine, on the side of the hill with the rocks and the terrain, how hard it would be, with 40 pounds on your back, trying to put in a hose or cutting lines with hand tools," Lucas Spelman of the California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection told CNN affiliate KTLA. The blaze has scorched more than 16,000 acres, or 25 square miles, and is 25% contained, fire officials said Friday. "This fire ... was one of the most quickly spreading, rapidly spreading, dangerous fires I've ever seen," Riverside Fire Chief John Hawkins told KTLA. California Gov. Jerry Brown on Friday declared a state of emergency in Riverside County, authorizing the help of all state agencies in fighting the blaze. The weather forecast in the drought-stricken area offers no hope. The sun will blaze through dry, clear skies, the National Weather Service says. It will push high temperatures to near 100 degrees, keeping the forest flammable, while crews try to douse raging flames with the help of 169 engines, eight helicopters, 16 bulldozers and 13 water trucks. One civilian and five firefighters have been injured, California Fire reported. The cause is still under investigation. Flames have consumed 26 homes and one business. About 1,500 people have fled from their path and seven communities have been ordered to evacuate, fire officials said. Evacuation centers have been set up at area high schools. "It's heart-wrenching. It's very heart-wrenching," Joanne Trosper told CNN affiliate KTLA, after watching the fire consume some of her neighbors' homes in Poppet Flats. "Anytime the fire comes, it's bad memories, but this is the worst one yet." July's wildfire, just a few miles away, was even worse. It devoured more than 27,000 acres and 6,000 people were ordered to evacuate, before 3,400 firefighters could get the flames under control. Luckily, rain came to their aid. CNN's Diahann Reyes and Lauren Russell contributed to this report. | NEW: Governor delclares a state of emergency in Riverside County . The current blaze has consumed at least 16,000 acres . Official: 'One of the most quickly spreading, rapidly spreading, dangerous fires' Weather forecast calls for dry, high heat and steady winds . | d02af4d5bb01fa06854ed2de1f67aadb68053f58 |
(CNN) -- Borussia Dortmund moved a big step closer to a first German Bundesliga title in nine years on Saturday with a historic 3-1 victory over defending champions Bayern Munich at the Allianz Arena. Jurgen Klopp's team moved 13 points clear of second-placed Bayer Leverkusen, who visit Werder Bremen on Sunday, and 16 ahead of Bayern -- who lost at home to Dortmund for the first time in 20 years. Louis van Gaal's team dropped to fourth after the home defeat, occupying Germany's final Champions League position for next season with 10 rounds to play. Paraguay striker Lucas Barrios opened the scoring in the ninth minute with his 11th goal of the season after Bayern midfielder Bastian Schweinsteiger lost posesssion to Kevin Grosskreutz, who threaded a perfect pass into the penalty area. Welcome win for struggling Wolfsburg . Brazilian defender Luis Gustavo equalized seven minutes later with his first goal for Bayern since arriving from Hoffenheim in January, sidefooting in a volley from Franck Ribery's corner. Dortmund immediately went back in front through a wonderful effort from Turkey midfielder Nuri Sahin, who curled a 20-yard left-foot shot past goalkeeper Thomas Kraft. Bundesliga top scorer Mario Gomez thought he had leveled again in the 20th minute, but the striker was ruled to be offside. Former Bayern defender Mats Hummels sealed the Westphalian team's victory with a header from Mario Gotze's corner on the hour mark. With 15 minutes left, Dortmund's 22-year-old Australian keeper Mitchell Langerak capped a solid Bundesliga debut when he denied Germany international Gomez from close range. Hanover claimed third place after central defender Christian Schulz's last-gasp header was enough to see off St. Pauli. The 27-year-old converted from Portuguese winger Sergio Pinto's 87th-minute corner to put Mirko Slomka's team two points ahead of Bayern,. Mainz remained in fifth place after also needing a late goal to snatch all three points away to Hoffenheim. Former Austria midfielder Andreas Ivanschitz put the visitors in front before his compatriot David Alaba looked to have rescued a draw for ninth-placed Hoffenheim in the 84th minute. But with just four minutes left, 30-year-old Colombian midfielder Elkin Soto secured victory for Thomas Tuchel's Mainz with his second league goal of the season. Germany international Lukas Podolski scored an 88th-minute winner to help Cologne beat SC Freiburg and climb into 11th position, eight points behind their opponents. Sixth-placed Hamburg could only manage a 1-1 draw away to relegation-threatened Kaiserslautern. Marco Kurz's Kaiserslautern drew first blood through Adam Hlousek's first-half goal, but Marcell Jansen's leveler for Armin Veh's Hamburg left the home team in 15th position and above the relegation play-off place on goal difference. Schalke's disappointing Bundesliga season continued with a 1-1 draw at home to Nuremberg. Nuremberg, currently eighth in the table, took the lead through Jens Hegeler, only for former Real Madrid and Spain striker Raul to equalize after 52 minutes. | Borussia Dortmund record first win away to Bayern Munich since 1991 . The 3-1 victory leaves Jurgen Klopp's team 13 points clear at the top of the table . Hanover move up to third above Bayern after a last-gasp 2-1 triumph at St. Pauli . Second-placed Bayer Leverkusen will travel to Werder Bremen on Sunday . | 9c702b76b82ded7348d8e88c37d5a154d4a26833 |
By . Daily Mail Reporter . PUBLISHED: . 13:54 EST, 11 August 2013 . | . UPDATED: . 13:57 EST, 11 August 2013 . Until now, little Phillippa Goymer's only friend has been her dog Ben. The toddler's immune system was so badly damaged after cancer treatment that she could not mix with other children and spent hours alone with only her pet for company. But after a course of successful treatment, the one year old is finally looking forward to playing with friends in her new garden, which has been transformed by a charity makeover. Toddler Phillippa Goymer, from Gateshead, had been forced to play in isolation away from other children after her immune system was damaged while undergoing chemotherapy for cancer . Doctors said she could not mix with other children and the little girls spent hours alone with only her dog Ben for company . Doctors discovered that the little girl was suffering from a rare cancer just weeks after she was born and the one year old had to undergo gruelling chemotherapy sessions. The treatment damaged her immune system which meant she had to be kept apart from other children to stop her catching their germs. She played alone in the family's back garden at Lobley Hill, Tyne & Wear, with just her dog Ben for company. After months, her chemotherapy sessions have ended, and the one-year-old has had immunisation jabs to protect her. Now a charity-funded makeover has transformed the drab area into a safe and colourful place where she can play with her new friends. Mother, Cassie, 32, said: 'After her treatment, Pip was so vulnerable to infection we could barely take her outside, it was a nightmare. 'She couldn't spend time with other children and her life was very limited. Her best friend was her dog, Ben. But she has now received her immunisation jabs and can finally play with other children in her new garden, which recently received a charity-funded makeover from its drab original condition . Doctors discovered that the little girl was suffering from a rare cancer just weeks after she was born and the one year old had to undergo gruelling chemotherapy sessions . 'Now we have a beautiful garden and she is so much better - seeing her play there with other children is lovely to watch. It's a blessing as we're having a lovely summer, she's out there constantly. Pip is blooming - and so is the garden. Last month, Lloyds TSB and CLIC, a children's cancer charity, paid to turn the area, which was filled with rocks and bare soil, into a lovely, lawned haven with outdoor toys for the toddler. A swing will also soon arrive for Philippa, courtesy of the Toma fund, a charity which helps youngsters with childhood cancer. Mrs Goymer and her husband Philip, 32, a technical adviser, were distraught when they learnt their new-born baby had Rhabdomyosarcoma, a rare type of cancer found in the vulva and needed lengthy chemotherapy treatment. Mother, Cassie, 32, said her daughter was so vulnerable to infection after treatment they could barely take her outside . The garden was once home to rocks and shrubbery and was difficult for the little girl to play in . She said: 'She lost her hair and was very sick, all the usual things you would expect. You don't expect children to recover when they are diagnosed with rare forms of cancer but she seems to have beaten it and I am beyond relieved, you can't find the words to describe how it feels. 'Although it will be some time before she is given the all clear, we have been told the cancer cells are dormant. 'it was heartbreaking when we first started taking her to playgroup sessions, as she was so used to playing on her own she carried on doing just that and wouldn't interact with other kids. 'Having a safe place for her to play means so much to us, it's a lovely garden and now she doesn't have to enjoy it alone, she is playing happily with her friends.' Mrs Goymer, who also has a six-week-old son Finley, added: 'We plan to celebrate Pip's second birthday party in the garden if the sun shines.' | Phillippa Goymer diagnosed with a rare type of cancer shortly after birth . Treatment left her open to infection and she was unable to play with friends . But little girl is looking forward to playing in new garden thanks to charity . She is now on road to recovery and has been immunised against infection . | 746bef2148556f9d8cd3c4cfb7c03da32dedec62 |
LAS VEGAS, Nevada (CNN) -- A jury of nine women and three men -- none of them black -- was seated Thursday for the trial of O.J. Simpson on kidnapping and armed robbery charges. Judge Jackie Glass decided prosecutors had a "race-neutral" reason for dismissing the potential juror. The judge made no official mention of the jury's makeup, but prosecutors revealed in court that no blacks were on the jury. A black man and black woman, however, are among six alternate jurors. Defense attorneys had argued the prosecutors were deliberately trying to exclude blacks, but Judge Jackie Glass denied their challenges. Opening arguments are scheduled to begin Monday in the case against Simpson and a co-defendant, Clarence Stewart. Prosecutors say Simpson and five other men stormed into a Las Vegas hotel room on September 13, 2007 to recover sports memorabilia that Simpson said belonged to him. Prosecutors say at least two men with Simpson had guns as they robbed a pair of sports memorabilia dealers. If convicted on all counts, Simpson faces a possible sentence of life in prison. He has pleaded not guilty and has told CNN he was trying to get his property back. Four of five Simpson's original co-defendants have struck deals with the prosecution to testify against Simpson. One testified in a pre-trial hearing that "O.J. Simpson wanted me to have a weapon." Another testified that Simpson "wanted me to help him acquire some guns." An attorney for Simpson, Yale Galanter, has disputed that. "O.J. Simpson did not know that there were guns in that room," Galanter said. | NEW: Prosecutors revealed in court that no blacks were on the jury . NEW: Opening arguments are scheduled to begin Monday . Four of Simpson's original co-defendants have struck deals to testify against him . Simpson faces robbery, kidnapping charges . | 23557ef12896a2409199577ea2831f675ee0fb36 |
(CNN) -- Commentators usually make too much of presidential debates. Social science data consistently show that there are very few presidential debates that make a huge difference in the dynamics of a campaign -- other than a few exceptions where the race was incredibly narrow, as in 1960 or 2000, and the performance of candidates had some impact. Regardless of whether they are game-changers, the presidential debates are still an important part of the broader narrative about each candidate that voters evaluate when they step into the voting booth in November. More important than doing well is avoiding mistakes. Particularly in the current age of YouTube and nightly political news comedy, any slip-up can become fodder for the 24-hour news cycle. The last thing that a candidate wants to do is provide material for the "Saturday Night Live" comedy writers who are eagerly preparing for the next show. The mistakes the presidential candidates have made over the years are numerous. Poor body language has been a common blunder. As much as candidates focus on perfecting the substance of what they say before the cameras, a large number of Americans are really most interested to see how they say it. In 1960, the sweat on Vice President Richard Nixon's brow, his pale skin, and his darting eyes conveyed the image of a politician who could not be fully trusted. Debate coach: Obama, Romney are top performers . In 1992, President George H.W. Bush's decision to glance at his watch while someone asked a question during a town hall meeting with Bill Clinton played into the image that he had little interest or patience with Americans struggling through the recession. Vice President Al Gore's continual sighs during his 2000 debate against George W. Bush conveyed a level of arrogance that made him more difficult to like. In another odd moment, Gore walked right up to Bush as he answered a question, looking like a schoolyard bully trying to stare down his opponent as he spoke. Looks are important, but so are words. The way in which candidates package their ideas can matter very much. Though there is always a temptation for candidates to prove that they know their stuff, sometimes too many words can be deadly. In 1980, President Jimmy Carter provided a lengthy and substantive response when asked about health insurance. Ronald Reagan simply turned to him and said, "There you go again!" Reagan used just those few words to raise questions about whether Carter, with all his knowledge, really knew what he was talking about and whether he could be trusted. In 1984, Reagan's scattered response to a question, where he seemed to have trouble keeping his thoughts together and articulating an answer, raised questions about whether he was too old to be president. Reagan recovered, however, turning the tables on his opponent, Walter Mondale, in the following debate, when he said, "I want you to know that also I will not make age an issue of this campaign. I am not going to exploit, for political purposes, my opponent's youth and inexperience." The manner in which candidates respond often tells voters a lot about the personality of a candidate. In 1988, Massachusetts Gov. Michael Dukakis answered with clinical detachment when CNN's Bernard Shaw asked whether he would support the death penalty for someone who raped and killed his wife. "No, I don't, Bernard, and I think you know that I've opposed the death penalty during all of my life. I don't see any evidence that it's a deterrent and I think there are more effective ways to deal with violent crime." As he reiterated his opposition to the death penalty, Dukakis seemed to miss the fact that the panel wanted to see him wrestle with this difficult choice. The cold response conveyed the image of a politician who lacked warmth or passion. Opinion: When candidates said 'no' to debates . Verbal gaffes also have the capacity to turn a debate into a major campaign headache. Before his 1976 debate against Carter, President Gerald Ford eagerly prepared to respond to criticism, coming from the right and the left, that his policy of detente with the Soviet Union meant that he had essentially accepted the permanence of Communism. When Ford responded to a question by saying that there was "no Soviet domination of Eastern Europe, and there never will be under a Ford administration," he meant to say that he didn't accept its legitimacy, nor did the people living under Communist rule. When questioned by a stunned reporter, Ford simply repeated his statement. Not missing a beat, Carter pounced on the statement to raise questions about whether Ford was capable of handling the duties of the office. Presidential debates are full of land mines for the candidates. Even in an age where everything in politics is so scripted and overprepared, the televised debates remain an event where many mistakes are bound to be made. With the television cameras focused on everything the candidate does, and the political-analysis-industrial complex ready to pounced on every word and motion, President Barack Obama and Mitt Romney, particularly with the race still so close, must enter with caution and be cognizant of how many of their predecessors have stumbled in this arena. For Obama, the challenge will be one of appearance, to convey the impression of strong leadership that his critics say he lacks and that independents are still trying to evaluate. For Romney, he'll need to avoid the kinds of gaffes that have gotten him into repeated trouble and show, through his answers and demeanor, that he is not simply a creature of America's one percent. The opinions expressed in this commentary are solely those of Julian Zelizer. | Julian Zelizer: Top priority for candidates in debates is to avoid mistakes . He says gaffes have the potential to change how voters view a candidate . Candidates are viewed not only for what they say but for their body language, he says . Zelizer: Obama, Romney will be under a microscope Wednesday night when the debates begin . | e741540eb5fcd7fda7a5af0e509e31ea11560d5e |
By . Damien Gayle . PUBLISHED: . 07:31 EST, 14 November 2012 . | . UPDATED: . 11:11 EST, 14 November 2012 . Google today admitted that it had received - and complied with - a record number of requests from governments to reveal information about its users. The latest edition of the search giant's Transparency Report shows governments around the world made nearly 21,000 requests to access its data in the first six months of 2012. The U.S. government made the most demands, asking for users' details 7,969 times between January and June this year. The UK came sixth - behind Germany and France - with 1,425 requests. What does Google know about you? The latest Transparency Report from the search giant showed it had received more requests than ever before to share information about its users with governments . 'This is the sixth time we’ve . released this data, and one trend has become clear: Government . surveillance is on the rise,' Dorothy Chou, a senior policy analyst for . Google, said in a blog post. 'In . the first half of 2012, there were 20,938 inquiries from government . entities around the world. Those requests were for information about . 34,614 accounts.' In . common with other technology and communications firms, Google is . regularly asked by courts and government agencies around the world to . hand over information about its users. As . well as search histories, it holds data on users' contacts and . communications through Gmail, viewing preferences on YouTube, photos on . Picasa, documents stored on Google Drive, and information about authors' identities on Blogger. 'Government surveillance is on the rise': This graph shows how the number of requests Google has received from governments has steadily increased since it began releasing its bi-annual reports . The . company has published its Transparency Report twice a year since 2009 . and each time has revealed a steady rise in government demands for data. In its first report it revealed 12,539 requests. Google does not always comply with . demands to reveal user data, and its report also revealed what . percentage of requests were accepted. Unsurprisingly, the U.S. again topped this list, with Google complying with 90 per cent of requests from agencies in its home jurisdiction. The company was notably less cooperative with UK authorities, accepting 64 per cent of requests. Google also revealed a spike in the number of requests by governments to remove content from its services, after this figure remained largely flat from 2009 to 2011. In the first half of 2012, there were 1,791 requests from government officials around the world to remove 17,746 pieces of content from Google-run services, up from 1,048 requests in the second half of 2011. Google revealed the number of requests by UK authorities in particular had nearly doubled since its previous report, with many relating to criticism of the police. The most frequent reason authorities worldwide offered in requests to take down content was that it was defamatory, with privacy and security coming in second, and the catch-all 'other' coming in third. Censorship: This graph shows how the number of requests to take down content from its services has spiked in the past six months after staying largely flat for the past two years . A spokesman for the company told the . BBC that the Transparency Report acts as a bellwether for government . behaviour around the world. 'It . reflects laws on the ground. For example in Turkey there are specific . laws about defaming public figures whereas in Germany we get requests to . remove neo-Nazi content,' she told the broadcaster. 'And . in Brazil we get a lot of requests to remove content during elections . because there is a law banning parodies of candidates.' This pair of bar graphs breaks down the requests to remove content by source and by reason. Defamation was the most popular reason given for content to be removed, followed by privacy and security . Nick Pickles, director of privacy and civil liberties campaign group Big Brother Watch, said: 'It should trouble everyone that as the Home Office is trying to justify monitoring all our emails, website visits and social media messages there are hundreds of requests for data every year being refused by Google. 'The existing system is failing to . provide proper checks on when our personal information is handed over to . the authorities and it is madness to take a bad system and massively . increase the amount of data being captured without first fixing the . existing rules and protections. 'Other companies should follow Google’s lead and publish details on the requests they have to establish the true scale of the current surveillance powers. 'It highlights how governments already access data from these companies, making it even more suspicious that they are seeking to make it easier to be able to snoop on us under the current proposals.' In her blog post commenting on the report, Ms Chou added: 'The information we disclose is only an isolated sliver showing how governments interact with the Internet, since for the most part we don’t know what requests are made of other technology or telecommunications companies. 'But we’re heartened that in the past year, more companies like Dropbox, LinkedIn, Sonic.net and Twitter have begun to share their statistics too. 'Our hope is that over time, more data will bolster public debate about how we can best keep the Internet free and open.' | U.S. tops snoopers' league table, with nearly 8,000 requests for user data . UK comes in sixth - behind Germany and France - with 1,425 requests . Report also reveals a spike in requests to remove content from services . Requests for content removal by UK authorities have nearly doubled . | 5e91f493c9b5c1652be33987debf55e91759a156 |
The battle to nail down a starting place for England's World Cup opener against Italy on June 14 starts tonight. With Peru visiting Wembley in the first of three warm-up matches ahead of the big kick-off in Brazil, manager Roy Hodgson will be looking for early clues as to the best balance of his side. Nailed on: Glen Johnson (centre) and Gary Cahill (right) are guaranteed to start for England at the World Cup . Hodgson can lay down the foundations . of his team: Joe Hart in goal with and a back-four which virtually picks . itself - Glen Johnson, Gary Cahill, Phil Jagielka and Leighton Baines - . screened by Steven Gerrard. The captain can either anchor a . midfield trio, with energetic runners covering the ground on either . side, or operate in tandem with one other deep-lying midfielder, most . likely Jack Wilshere or Jordan Henderson. Both are expected to be given chances to stake their claims tonight. Captain fantastic: Steven Gerrard (centre) will lead England in the World Cup in Brazil . Forward from this point lie the options for Hodgson to tinker with the balance, depending on the style of opponents, conditions and Hodgson’s tactical fancies. Extra pace on the break? Use Raheem Sterling? More defensive protection and industry? Send for James Milner? Adam Lallana’s 30-minute cameo as a substitute against Denmark confirmed his place in the squad, but has he done enough to force his way into the team against Italy? Lallana looks made for international football, with the vision and invention to see patterns and find passes. If anything, he looks even better with better players around him and he is versatile. He, . more than most, will give Hodgson the scope to flex his formation . without making substitutions. He can pick Lallana wide in a 4-2-3-1 . shape or tuck him inside and play 4-3-3 for a period if the game . requires. What is certain . though, is that Lallana will need a strong performance against unfancied . Peru if he is to earn his place in the side. Option: Adam Lallana (left) could force his way into the starting line-up for the tournament . Skills: Raheem Sterling had an impressive season for Liverpool and could now start for England . Skipper Gerrard is delighted with the competition in the side ahead of the tournament. He told the Evening Standard: 'It's exciting. That's why the supporters are excited. There are two quality players in every position. 'The manager has gone on record today saying there are places available, which is why the training has been so high intensity and everyone has trained so well. Everyone's desperate to be one of those 11 places. It is a positive.' Gary Neville on Friday admitted that Hodgson knew 'seven or eight' of his starting XI, with forwards Wayne Rooney and Daniel Sturridge almost certain to start alongside Hart, Johnson, Cahill, Jagielka, Baines and Gerrard. We will be a lot closer to knowing who will occupy those final three places come full-time tonight. Up front: Wayne Rooney (right) and Daniel Sturridge (left) are set to start in attack for Roy Hodgson's side . Decision time: Roy Hodgson is confident he knows seven or eight players in his starting XI . | England players are battling for a starting place in Roy Hodgson's World Cup team . Joe Hart, Glen Johnson, Leighton Baines, Gary Cahill and Phil Jagielka set to play . Adam Lallana and Raheem Sterling will hope to make an impression against Peru at Wembley . Wayne Rooney and Daniel Sturridge will form Hodgson's attack . | 2618a2297ca3e906989777fcc720b42395bf4fc8 |
By . Toni Jones . The star wattage of the celebrity front row threatened to outshine the blinging gowns at Saturday night's Julien Macdonald's show. Ladylike supermodel Coco Rocha perched next to a not so prim Abbey Clancy, whose sheer dress was strictly NSFW, while Millie Macintosh shared selfies with Laura Mvula, actress Samantha Barks and singer Eliza Doolittle. The Strictly cast were there en masse, too, to support their designer dancing partner-in-crime, as well as Julien's family, all the way from the valleys making the most of the pre-show cocktail reception as they celebrated his da's 80th birthday. And what a way to celebrate, as his son Julien treated the audience to a dazzling collection of glamorous British fashion inside the imposing Royal Courts of Justice . Heavy metals opened the Julien Macdonald show . A silver two-piece featured a sheer train . Heavy beading created optical illusions . The heavy bass on the stereo as the show opened was a prelude to the heavy metal all over the catwalk. A dramatic display of evening dresses began with a collection of gold, silver and pewter gowns featuring knitted, beaded, blinging mosaics and a LOT of mesh, ergo flesh. To follow there were more disco-ready dresses (the Julien Macdonald woman doesn’t wear trousers) – inspired by fabulous architecture and stained windows according to the designer – in ruby red, shimmering emerald green and electric blue. Celebrity stylist Nicole Smallwood said at the show: ' Julien never disappoints, with his use of glimmer and sparkle alongside carefully placed transparent fabrics making for a spectacular show. 'My favourite piece was the petrol blue dress which I'm sure we'll see sauntering down a red carpet or two in coming weeks.' The LBD was given a sexy makeover for AW14 . Glistening snakeskin was a theme . Glamorous shoe brand Gina provided sky-high heels . This peacock-inspired gown was a hit . The crowd-pleasing dress was seriously daring . Oriental detail showed skill . An electric blue knitted dress was daring but demure . A ruby red mini dress added a jolt of colour . A knitted dress shimmered on the runway . Flirty feathers, crochet detail and even a bit of suede made it into the show here and there but it was the floor-sweepers that had the crowd hooked with delicate peacock and oriental embellishment showing off Macdonald's mastery of detail. Before the show Macdonald addressed the willowy models, whose hair was slicked back with gel and faces were covered in shine: 'I picked you because you're beautiful on the inside and on the outside. Be strong, be empowered and have a f***ing amazing time!' Celebrity stylist Nicole Smallwood said: ' Julien never fails to impress with glimmer and careful use of fabrics.' The dramatic finale received a standing ovation from many of the celebrities sitting on the front row, and designer Julien was delighted with the response . The celebrity front row threatened to outshine the dresses (l-r) Eliza Doolittle, Samantha Barks, Coco Rocha, Abbey Clancy, Nina Nesbitt . Show-stopping gowns like Julien's need serious hair and make-up to complement them. Step up glam squad Val Garland and James Pecis who gave Saturday's models a fierce disco makeover before they hit the catwalk. Garland . is an industry heavyweight, having worked on models such as Kate Moss . and Georgia May Jagger and creating countless Vogue covers. Working with . L'Oreal Paris for Julien's show she didn't hold back, giving the girls . dramatic eyes and glistening lips, cheeks and skin. 'It's . all about the eye,' declared Val backstage, just before she bawled . at one of her interns for snapping Instragram shots rather than . powdering a model, 'I am using everything you shouldn't use: 8 hour . cream, lip gloss, oil... but these looks only need to last a few minutes . on the catwalk.' Mood boards for the artists to work from were posted around the hair and make-up stations backstage at the Royal Courts of Justice . While . designer Julien's inspiration was architecture and stained glass windows . Val's muse was a bit more straightforward fashion: Nineties model . Guinevere as she appeared on The Face magazine in 1999. Val . said: 'The idea is to create the impression of a bleached eyebrow with a . dramatic eye. My inspiration was Julien's girl Guinevere and a bit . of the new romantics. It's high octane, think glorious, glamorous, very . Julien Macdonald.' One of . Val's team of make-up artists was dispatched with a can of glistening . body spray to attack the models arms and legs: 'What's in it? Heaven . only knows, it's a trade secret,' she said as she added a golden glow to . the troupe of teenage skin. Hair, . overseen by the handsome James Pecis was hi-shine but low maintenance . slicked back into a glossy and futuristic tangle within minutes of the . models arriving from their last show. As . he piled on the mousee, hairspray and gel (applied with a paintbrudh of . course) Pecis said: 'The place is so massive and big, it can really take . a look. Julien's gowns are so beautiful, we needed something a little . bit tough to break it up a bit - as soon as you add an up-do it can go . 'lady' really fast.' | Macdonald's Autumn/Winter 2014 collection on display in famous London justice building . Dazzling dresses featured metallic mosaics, transparent trains and crocheted bling . Front row included Coco Rocha, Abbey Clancy and Millie Macintosh . Designer's family were there too, celebrating father's 80th birthday . | 84f132023734f6eb1d64afef548b2d322587d4d2 |
By . Alexandra Klausner . The classical piano from the triple Oscar winning film Casablanca will be auctioned off in New York in November and is expected to sell for at least $1 million. The instrument will be one of over 30 items sold at Bonham's Auction House from the iconic 1942 World War II time romantic drama. The 1942 Oscar Best Picture winner . starring Humphrey Bogart, Ingrid Bergman, and Paul Henreid and . featuring Dooley Wilson among other notables, first employs the piano in . a memorable scene between Bergman and Bogart in which Wilson sings, 'As Time Goes By.' The key item: The piano used in the 1942 movie Casablanca to play 'As Time Goes By' is expected to sell at an auction in New York for at least $1 million . The scene: Humphrey Bogart leans on the soon to be auctioned piano Dooley Wilson is playing in a scene from the film Casablanca . Rick, played by Humphrey Bogart, storms over angrily having instructed Sam, played by Wilson, to never play that song again and is stunned to see his ex-lover Ilsa, played by Ingrid Bergman, at the bar with her husband, a fugitive leader of the Czech resistance. The salmon-colored piano is expected to reach at least seven figures. A different 58-key upright piano . from a flashback scene between Bergman and Bogart was auctioned . at Sotheby's in 2012 and sold for $602,500, below the estimated . $800,000-$1.2 million that Sotheby's predicted. Casablanca took home three Oscars in 1943 for Best Picture, Best Screenplay, and Best Director. The piano is one of the over 30 items from the film which . also include the doors of Rick's Cafe America . along with a final draft of the screenplay, signed cast photos, and . passports created for the characters in the film. Showstopper: The piano from the memorable scene in which Dooly Wilson plays 'As Time Goes By' will go on sale at Bonham's Auction House in New York in November . All of the items for sale belong to a single private collector. The . sale will also have items from other films including a pinafore and a . test dress originally designed for Judy Garland for her performance in . the film 'The Wizard of Oz.' All . of the items will be on display in preview exhibitions in Los Angeles . from November 6 -November 9 and in New York from November 20 to November . 24. 'Bonham’s . is thrilled to represent this remarkable Casablanca collection, . certainly one of the most significant film memorabilia collections still . in private hands,' said the director of Entertainment Memorabilia at . Bonham’s, Catherine Williamson. Would a piano by any another name sound as sweet?: Dooley Wilson, Humphrey Bogart, and Ingrid Bergman are pictured with a different piano from a flashback scene from Casablanca that sold at Sotheby's in 2012 . Sold: The piano used as the prop for the key flashback scene between Humphrey Bogart and Ingrid Bergman is on display during an auction sale at Sotheby's in New York in December 2012 . | Iconic piano is featured in the scene in which Dooley Wilson sings, 'As Time Goes By' for Ingrid Bergman and Humphrey Bogart . Piano will be sold at Bonham's Auction House in New York . Another piano used during the flashback sequence sold at Sotheby's in 2012 for $602,500 . | 39fbbfd3138233ac6a33fe1a694370d793776fcf |
Prompts could be printed on nappies in a bid to remind parents to talk to their babies more often under new proposals being discussed by a government-owned organisation. The Behavioural Insights Team, also known as the 'nudge unit' are to consider the plan, which would see parenting tips written on nappies. The idea was discussed during a recent meeting of the World Economic Forum in Dubai, which was attended by the team's chief executive officer Dr David Halpern. A new proposal has suggested that parenting tips could be printed on nappies to remind parents to talk to their babies as they change them . In a blog post he revealed how the idea was discussed in a meeting of the international council of behavioural policy makers, which talked about family ideas. He wrote: 'On parenting and families, probably the most left-field proposal was to prompt parents to talk to their kids by printing messages on nappies.' He added that the proposal would now be worked on by the team in the UK. After the meeting, the Forum published an article saying that parents should talk to their babies while changing their nappy to help them develop and improve their language skills. The World Economic Forum article said many parents stay silent when changing nappies as they are too focused on the task in hand . They add that small prompts could remind parents to chat to their children beacuse many remain silent as they concerntrate on the task in hand. The article said: 'Add a note on the front of the nappy encouraging parents to 'look up' and 'talk to your baby' or to narrate what they are doing as they change the nappy. 'Small prompts like these may be just enough to remind parents that every second, a baby's brain develops 700 new neural connections and that this is a good time to help make those connections stronger.' Recent studies have shown that mothers and fathers who hold a conversation with their babies are actually teaching them to speak more quickly. Researchers found new mothers who respond enthusiastically to their baby’s babbling are helping to speed up the child’s language development. US academics at the University of Iowa (UI) and Indiana University, said the evidence shows that speaking to infants at a very early age is vital. Meanwhile a separate study has recommended that babies should hear at least 21,000 words a day to help aid their development. However, the plan has divided parenting experts with some praising the 'creative idea' and others branding it as invasive. Dr Ben Laskey from The Psychology Partnership healthcare group told the Independent: 'The more ways of getting positive messages out to parents the better.' But Dr Ellie Lee from the Centre for Parenting and Culture Studies at the University of Kent added: 'You've got plenty to think about when you're changing a nappy. The idea of turning into an educational experience is insane.' | Suggestion that parenting tips could be printed on babies' nappies . Prompts would remind mothers and fathers to talk to their children . Thought that the plan could help aid children's language development . Proposal is being discussed by the UK-based Behavioural Insights Team . | 57fd9d1123879924a996d8eeb6722021eb356f79 |
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