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A nurse is fighting for his life in hospital after becoming the first British victim of the ebola outbreak. William Pooley, 29, was airlifted back to London after contracting the deadly virus while trying to save lives in Sierra Leone. Despite the grave dangers, he had selflessly volunteered to serve in a makeshift clinic where other nurses had died from ebola or were too scared to come into work. Scroll down for video . Male nurse William Pooley, 29, was airlifted back to London after contracting the deadly virus while trying to save lives in Sierra Leone . Police escorting British ebola patient William Pooley to the Royal Free Hospital in north London . Back in the UK: An RAF plane carrying a British man with Ebola lands at RAF Northolt in north-west London . The British man infected with the Ebola virus is loaded into an Royal Air Force ambulance after being flown home on a C17 plane from Sierra Leone, at Northolt air base outside London . He was described as a 'remarkable . young man' and a natural leader by an American scientist who worked at . the same hospital in Kenema. 'He had taken on a very big role,' said . Robert F Garry, a professor in microbiology at . Tulane University in New Orleans. 'We've lost several other nurses including the head nurse who lost her battle against ebola. 'He . was very well liked by all the nurses and had taken on a pivotal role. Some people are just marked out as leaders and he led the nurses. He was . a very hard worker and they looked up to him.' Mr Pooley last night arrived back to London in an isolation sack for treatment at the Royal Free Hospital in north London. Pictures have emerged of the moment a British charity worker was evacuated back to the UK on board a Royal Air Force jet . The patient was flown into an airport near London, then driven across the capital . Gabriel . Madiye, Mr Pooley's boss at another Sierra Leone clinic, said: 'Will . wanted to go to Kenema and help the patients at the hospital there. 'I . told him not to go, but Will said he felt a very strong responsibility . to the patients there as they were being abandoned by doctors and nurses . who were fearful of contracting the ebola virus. 'I told him he would not be able to withstand the disease but he said he had to go.' British charity worker, Mr Pooley, from Woodbridge in Suffolk, was diagnosed with ebola and airlifted out of Sierra Leone and taken to the High Security Infectious Disease Unit at the Royal Free Hospital in London (pictured) Treatment: The hospital is the only centre in the UK equipped to treat ebola and prevent the disease from spreading . Mr Madiye said Mr Pooley, from Woodbridge, Suffolk, had been volunteering at the ebola centre in Kenema for just five weeks. Previously . he had been providing palliative care to patients at the Shepherd's . Hospice in Sierra Leone's capital city, Freetown, and had been there . since March. But as the . ebola epidemic began and he heard that healthcare professionals were . fleeing for fear of catching the disease, he decided to go to the . badly-affected region of Kenema, Mr Madiye said. Epidemic: Doctors assist patients in Sierra Leone, one of the countries worst affected by ebola . Deadly virus: A Briton is Sierra Leone has tested positive for deadly Ebola. Pictured above are health workers in Liberia carrying a female victim . Crisis: West African countries such as Sierra Leone and Liberia (pictured) have been hit particularly hard, and required military intevention to keep the peace . 'I . have been calling him for updates and he said he was fine, but for the . past five days I have tried to ring him and he hasn't called back,' said . Mr Madiye, who is the executive director of the Shepherd's Hospice. 'This . morning, he said he was being evacuated to Britain. He sounded positive . and said he would be fine in a couple of weeks and would call me then. He said the British doctors would save him.' Mr Pooley's doctors are said to be confident that, with urgent medical attention, he has a good chance of fighting the disease. Quarantine: Slums containing as many as 50,000 people have been cordoned off by African governments in a big to contain the outbreak. Pictured above is a man throwing containers of water across the boundaries . Waiting: Potential Ebola victims wait behind a cordon for food from a humanitarian aid shipment to arrive . Last night the NHS started a global hunt for remaining supplies of the only treatment thought to combat the virus. ZMapp, . an untested drug only ever used on a handful of patients, has shown . promising results, apparently aiding the recovery of two US missionaries . who contracted the virus. But Mapp Biopharmaceutical, the American . company behind it, says stocks are exhausted. A . source at the Department of Health said: 'We are working with our . international partners to source remaining doses for the patient.' Mr . Pooley is the only Briton to be have ever been infected by ebola . outside the laboratory. The only other British case was in 1976, when . scientist Geoffrey Platt pricked himself with a needle contaminated with . the virus. Health officials . last night said Mr Pooley was 'not seriously unwell' – a factor which . will significantly boost his chance of survival. Most patients die of . ebola because of dehydration, when their blood vessels break down and . their major organs fail. But . fit, young patients who are given quick treatment have a vastly . improved chance of survival. If they are hydrated and the bleeding . controlled, their immune systems can in some cases kick in, and defeat . the virus. The World Health . Organisation has put the number of people infected with the deadly virus . at 2,615 and declared the crisis to be a 'global health emergency'. Some . 1,427 have died since the disease was identified in Guinea in March and . spread to Sierra Leone, Liberia and Nigeria. Last night two people were . reported to have died of ebola in the Congo, in what is thought to be a . new outbreak. Around 300 have become infected in Kenema, the district . where Mr Pooley was working. The . World Health Organisation approved ZMapp for use two weeks ago, an . extraordinary decision given that the drug had not been widely tested. It was used to treat Nancy Writebol and Kent Brantly, who have since . been discharged from hospital. Britain's first ebola patient will be treated at the country’s only High Secure Infectious Disease Unit (HSIDU), at the Royal Free Hospital in Hampstead, North London. It contains just two beds in a ward large enough to normally fit 20. The medic will be wheeled in, enclosed in the same isolation tent used to transport him from Sierra Leone, to minimise contamination risk. Expert: Dr Stephen Mepham will be among the medics treating the ebola patients . The unit contains an array of special equipment to ensure he does not pass on the virus – including a ‘negative pressure’ air flow to make sure no virus particles escape either the tent or the room itself. He will be treated by a specialist team including infectious diseases consultant Dr Stephen Mepham. Protection: Red Cross volunteers are pictured above in protective gear to defend them from infection . Dangerous: Ebola, which is transmitted through contact with fluids such as blood and mucus from infected people and animals, has killed more than 1,000 people in West Africa . Tests: A protected health worker scans a Liberian for signs of the deadly illness . Ebola is an infectious and usually fatal disease which spreads through contact with body fluids. Initial symptoms include muscle pain, fever and a sore throat which turns into severe internal bleeding from the mouth, rectum and eyes. The virus attacks almost all kinds of tissue, reducing organs and flesh to a pudding-like mush. Up to 90 per cent of victims die – making ebola one of the most lethal viruses known to man. Lethal: The virus, pictured above under a microscope, almost always kills . Most succumb within six to 16 days of infection. Since the disease was identified in 1976, no clinically proven cure has emerged. However, charity MSF has improved survival rates using antibiotics. Outbreaks have occurred primarily in remote villages in central and West Africa, near tropical rainforests. | William Pooley is first Briton to contract disease outside the laboratory . Male patient landed at RAF Northolt on board a Royal Air Force plane . He will be treated at the Royal Free Hospital in Hampstead Heath, London . Patient 'not currently seriously unwell', says Department of Health . Man had been volunteering at a clinic in Kenema, Sierra Leone . WHO also . considering evacuating another international health worker . | 10a74dea0868d3bab1ab0af10ce435dbbbb591df |
Baghdad (CNN) -- A series of explosions rocked Baghdad on Thursday morning, killing at least 31 people and leaving more than 50 others injured, Iraq's interior ministry said. In a separate incident in Kirkuk, two car bombs exploded, killing four people and injuring 23 others, including six police officers. The violence may continue a pattern of outbreaks following lulls. March had the lowest monthly death toll since the U.S-led invasion in 2003, officials said earlier this month. According to interior ministry figures, 112 people died violently in March: 78 civilians, 12 Iraqi soldiers and 22 police officers. Until then, the lowest monthly death toll was in November 2009, when the country recorded 122 deaths. Figures have fluctuated in Iraq month to month, with lulls in violence followed immediately by an uptick. In March, Iraq hosted an Arab League summit, a gathering that signaled the political emergence of post-war democratic Iraq. Security forces blanketed the capital in unprecedented security, and the gathering was a test of Iraq's ability to provide critical organization and security in the country where deadly violence remains a weekly norm. Journalist Mohammed Lazim contributed to this report . | At least 31 are killed in Iraq's capital . The blasts follow a month that had a record low number of violent deaths . | 2ba351b52c51656088b22d3c1c9dc4447e390ebc |
By . Chris Brooke . A climber has been arrested on suspicion of manslaughter after his friend plunged to his death at a coastal beauty spot. The men were abseiling down cliffs to look for the semi-precious gemstone Jet when the tragedy happened. The 51-year-old victim was airlifted to hospital where he was pronounced dead. Both men were abseiling down a 375ft cliff face at Kettleness Point, near Runswick Bay, North Yorkshire . Police revealed the friend climbing with him, aged in his 20s, was arrested and released on bail pending further inquiries. Both men were abseiling down a 375ft cliff face at Kettleness Point, near Runswick Bay, North Yorkshire, when the incident happened at around 11.20am on Friday. A Whitby coastguard team attended the scene and looked after the second climber, who was said to be suffering from shock. A coastguard spokesman said: ‘He just said his friend was going down the cliff and they had tied this rope round a rock. But it moved and down he went.’ The victim was airlifted by an RAF Sea King Helicopter to James Cook Hospital in Middlesbrough, but nothing could be done to save him. The dead man, who is from the Cleveland area, has not been identified. North Yorkshire Police have now launched a full inquiry. The men were abseiling down cliffs to look for the semi-precious gemstone Jet . Temporary Detective Superintendent Steve Smith, said: ‘This is a tragic incident involving two climbers who appear to have got into difficulty, resulting in the death of one of them. 'A full investigation is underway to establish exactly what happened.’ Police have appealed to any walkers in the area who saw the two men to come forward. At least two walkers were nearby at the time, it is believed. It is not known how far the dead man fell or exactly why the accident happened. Police are looking at what part the equipment the men were using played and also why one man fell and the other survived. The rope they were using had not been cut, said police. It is thought that the men were looking for Whitby Jet – a gemstone used to create jewellery for centuries. Jet's colour is responsible for the term ‘jet black’ and is in reality the fossilised wood remains of the monkey puzzle tree. The seams were laid down about 180 million years ago. The gemstone is only found along a seven-and-a-half mile stretch of North Yorkshire coast near Whitby. The black fossil was so popular during Victorian times that around 1,400 people worked in the local industry as finders, carvers and polishers. The rugged coastline remains a magnet for Jet hunters today. Sorry we are not currently accepting comments on this article. | Men were abseiling down cliffs to look for the semi-precious gemstone Jet . The 51-year-old victim airlifted to hospital where he was pronounced dead . Friend aged in his 20s was arrested and released on bail . They were abseiling down a 375ft cliff face at Kettleness Point, near Runswick Bay, North Yorkshire . | d53c374d6e8db63dab221f8c81515b8d7fae40f1 |
Click here to see our brilliant Match Zone, including a pitch map of Charlie Austin's all-action performance. Manuel Pellegrini will be thankful for two things on Sunday morning. One, it is the end of a difficult week and two, Sergio Aguero plays for Manchester City. The Argentine, yet again, dug his team out of a huge hole with a breathtaking double as City twice came from behind to snatch a draw at Queens Park Rangers. VIDEO Scroll down for Sportsmail's Premier League Big Match Stats: QPR vs Manchester City . Charlie Austin, who had already had two goals disallowed, scores to put QPR ahead at home to the Premier League champions . Sergio Aguero follows up his brilliant control to fire past the despairing lunge of Steven Caulker and level the scores at Loftus Road . Bobby Zamora celebrates after Martin Demichelis had headed into his own net to put QPR back ahead with 15 minutes to play . Aguero stays calm after rounding Rob Green to level for City again, as the champions showed resolve to come back for a point . Referee Mike Dean explains his decision to the players after controversially, but correctly, disallowing Charlie Austin's strike . QPR: Green, Isla, Caulker, Dunne, Yun, Vargas, Sandro, Henry, Fer, Austin, Zamora. Subs: Hill, Phillips, Barton, McCarthy, Onuoha, Kranjcar, Hoilett. Man City: Hart, Sagna, Demichelis, Mangala, Clichy, Fernandinho, Fernando, Jesus Navas, Toure, Nasri, Aguero. Subs: Zabaleta, Milner, Dzeko, Caballero, Lampard, Jovetic, Boyata. Referee: Mike Dean . City’s defeat by CSKA Moscow — not to mention the red cards and pending European suspensions of Yaya Toure and Fernandinho — leaves Pellegrini’s men with a Champions League mountain to climb, so the manager was looking for a response. And he would not have liked what he saw in the opening 20 minutes as QPR came flying out of the blocks. Rangers thought they had taken an eighth-minute lead when Charlie Austin thumped a header from Eduardo Vargas’s cross past Joe Hart, only for the effort to be ruled out for offside. Then came a moment of controversy when, from the resultant free-kick, Austin thought he had grabbed the opener. As Hart took the free-kick, he inadvertently touched the ball with his standing foot, and, from his second touch, the intentional kick went straight to Austin. The QPR striker smashed an 18-yard drive past Hart to send Loftus Road into a frenzy. Once more, though, referee Mike Dean disallowed the goal. QPR players were incensed, supporters bewildered. Why on earth was that goal disallowed? Dean, though, was spot on with his decision. FIFA rules state that a free-kick awarded to the defending team in their own box must be retaken if the ball does not leave the penalty area after the first touch. Hart’s inadvertent first kick did not leave the area, meaning the ball was not in play. Sergio Aguero's first goal came from patient build-up in the City half, followed by a penatrating long ball - see more in our Match Zone . Austin's first disallowed goal came from a header which he powered past Joe Hart, but he was several yards offside . From the resulting free kick Hart stumbled slightly in his run up before appearing to give the ball straight to Austin on the edge of the box . Hart had actually caught the ball with his standing foot, meaning that he had played the ball twice in the box, and had to retake the kick . Austin finished with aplomb, but Dean had already stopped the game, and despite QPR feeling aggrieved, the official was right . Hart's free kick was required to leave the box before the ball could be considered back in play - so by touching it for a second time, he prevented the ball from becoming live. Riley was correct, but the sense of injustice only served to spur QPR on as they continued with their excellent start. Hart then produced an excellent point-blank save to deny Austin, after Bobby Zamora laid off Sandro’s 14th-minute cross. City were let off the hook again later when Riley rejected a strong penalty appeal after Sandro’s long-range effort seemed to hit Bacary Sagna on the arm. Pellegrini’s side were rattled. And QPR finally took advantage in the 21st minute. Lively Vargas found Austin with a perfect through ball. City protested for an offside, but Riley could not save them this time as Austin — in front of England manager Roy Hodgson — scored his sixth of the season. The champions were on the ropes, a shadow of the team that secured their second title in three years last season. Toure went close to an equaliser but his shot drifted wide of Rob Green’s far post. QPR players surround the referee after seeing two goals disallowed inside a minute, but Mike Dean stuck to his decision . Charlie Austin, who was also denied early on by a brilliant save from Hart, cannot believe how he still hasn't scored . Austin did eventually find the back of the net with a legal strike after 21 minutes, his fourth goal in three Premier League games . Yaya Toure and Eliaquim Mangala look dispirited as Manchester City were outplayed by QPR in the opening stages . Sergio Aguero finished brilliantly as the champions scored on the break to level things up, despite Rob Green's complaints . England manager Roy Hodgson was at Loftus Road to watch Charlie Austin, with the QPR striker in the frame for a rise from non-League football to the England squad within six years. Austin’s form — Saturday’s was his sixth Premier League goal of the season — has impressed Hodgson. City needed a hero. As ever, up stepped Aguero to dig them out of a hole. Eliaquim Mangala’s punt towards the Argentine was hopeful but what followed was sheer brilliance. Aguero effortlessly pulled the ball out of the air, twisted and turned past Steven Caulker before finishing past Green. Where would City be without the South American? His goal should have been the signal for City to take control. Toure twice failed to make the keeper work in good positions just outside the box, though Richard Dunne was lucky not to see a red card after lashing out at Samir Nasri. City did not look comfortable as their defensive frailties resurfaced. Hart denied Austin after the England hopeful hammered a shot straight at the keeper. And England’s No 1 produced an even better save to deny Austin from close range seconds later, though the striker was ruled offside. The Argentinian striker celebrates his 10th Premier League goal of the season, although QPR believed there was a handball in the build-up . Green was adamant that Aguero had controlled the ball with his arm in the lead-up to the goal, but it was allowed to stand . Harry Redknapp cannot believe what he is seeing as, despite having the ball in the net three times, his side went into half time level . Leroy Fer battles with Bacary Sagna as QPR showed passion and quality against a Manchester City side badly lacking form . MINS PLD KM MILES . QPR 109.3 67.9 . Karl Henry 90 11.7 7.3 . Bobby Zamora 90 11.0 6.8 . Suk-Young Yun 90 10.8 6.7 . Manchester City 108.7 67.5 . Jesus Navas 90 11.6 7.2 . Bacary Sagna 90 10.9 6.7 . Fernando 90 10.8 6.7 . As if the first-half was not exhilarating enough, Rangers boss Harry Redknapp sent on Joey Barton for Sandro at half-time. And the entertainment continued during the early stages of the second-half, Toure, Nasri and Jesus Navas all firing dangerous low crosses without finding a team-mate. QPR did not sit back either, Leroy Fer watching his drive from 16 yards fly inches wide after a deflection off Martin Demichelis while Caulker fired an effort wide. City fans were calling for Frank Lampard and they got their wish when he was introduced for sub Edin Dzeko. But Lampard was helpless as he watched QPR regain the lead in the 76th minute as Austin turned provider, firing in a great cross and Demichelis put into his own net under pressure from Zamora. The Argentine put his hands together as if to pray. Indeed, his side needed divine inspiration. They nearly got it just two minutes after falling behind when Barton sent Aguero clear with a poor header. The Argentine cooly skipped past Green, but Dunne was on hand to clear his effort. Caulker followed suit soon after, clearing James Milner’s header off the line before Green saved Toure’s follow-up strike. But just like the first-half, City were rescued by their sensational Argentine. Latching onto Toure’s excellent pass, Aguero’s control was exquisite as he slotted past Green in the 83rd minute to earn a draw. Mangala, who struggled throughout in the absence of Vincent Kompany, climbs all over Austin, conceding a free kick . Zamora celebrates with Eduardo Vargas after his pressure caused Demichelis to head Austin's cross into the corner of his own net . Zamora congratulates Austin for his excellent performance after the striker's cross produced the vital second goal for QPR . City look shell-shocked, but they bounced back immediately through Aguero to rescue a point at Loftus Road . Yaya Toure drives past Joey Barton as the champions looked for an unlikely winner, having been behind twice in the game . Vargas tries what would have been a remarkable winner, but despite his excellent technique the ball sailed just wide . | Charlie Austin has two goals disallowed in a minute early on . Austin eventually scored a legal goal to put QPR in the lead after 21 minutes . Sergio Aguero hit back for Manchester City with brilliant finish in 32nd minute . Martin Demichelis own goal puts QPR back ahead before Aguero levels again . | f3026a0cb1dd18b78df9d58bf2aa95641cafc282 |
(CNN) -- Two pirates in Somalia vowed revenge Monday, after the U.S. military killed three pirates and freed a U.S. ship captain who had been held hostage for several days. Crew members of the Maersk Alabama celebrate after hearing the Navy had rescued their captain from pirates. The pirates told a Somali journalist that they were angered by the U.S. action, as well as a French raid Friday that killed two pirates and one hostage and freed four hostages. "We have decided to kill U.S. and French sailors if they happen to be among our future hostages," said Abdullahi Ahmed, a member of a pirate group based at Harardhere, a coastal town in central Somalia. President Obama said Monday the United States will confront pirates and hold them "accountable for their crimes." Obama added that he is proud of the military's actions in rescuing Capt. Richard Phillips from his pirate captors. Members of the U.S. Navy shot and killed three pirates who had been holding Phillips hostage in a lifeboat on Sunday evening, a military official said. The pirates seized Phillips after a failed attempt to hijack his ship, the Maersk Alabama. For five days the pirates held Phillips in the lifeboat as U.S. Navy ships closed in and lingered nearby. On Sunday, U.S. Navy snipers opened fire on the lifeboat after seeing one pirate point an AK-47 at the captain's back, the U.S. military said. The shootings occurred as one pirate was aboard the USS Bainbridge negotiating over Phillips' fate. Watch how SEALs shot three pirates » . Three pirates in the lifeboat were killed. Phillips was not hurt. He was taken to another U.S. Navy vessel, the U.S. military said, where he received a medical checkup and spoke by phone with his wife in the United States. Watch admiral tell how rescue went down » . Pirates in Somalia identified the slain men as Mohamed Ahmed Adawe, Nur Dalabey and Khalif Guled. Two of them -- Dalabey and Guled -- were among the "most experienced men" in a group that has hijacked seagoing vessels for money, Ahmed said. They were killed two days after the French military freed four hostages, including a child, who had been held by pirates for nearly a week on the yacht, Tanit, off Somalia's coast. In that operation, a hostage and two pirates were killed, the French Defense Ministry said, while three pirates were captured. Watch how pirates roam a vast area of ocean » . The military actions angered Ali Nur, a pirate who is based in Gara'ad, a coastal village in the semi-autonomous region of Puntland, in northern Somalia. "From now on, after the killings by the U.S. and France, we will add some harsher steps in our dealings with hostages, particularly American and French hostages," Nur told a journalist. The U.S. military acknowledged Sunday that its actions to rescue Phillips could increase the risk of violence. "This could escalate violence in this part of the world. No question about it," U.S. Navy Vice Adm. Bill Gortney told reporters. Nur issued a warning to the United States. "The killing of our boys was aggression, and the U.S. will see what they get from their operation," he said. | NEW: Obama promises U.S. will confront piracy . Pirates vow to kill U.S., French mariners if they become hostages . U.S. Navy killed three pirates in rescue of cargo ship captain . French forces killed two pirates in rescue raid Friday . | d1a714bc13f3bcbfeba4acd91b693b6ad0f24b07 |
By . Ted Thornhill . A Good Samaritan was left seriously injured and unable to work after being viciously attacked by two teenage thugs who he’d reprimanded for swearing at an elderly couple. Nigel Helmn, of Whitley Bay, was punched in the back of the head with such force that he fell on the floor and damaged a knee ligament. Mr Helmn has been unable to stand properly for the past five months and needs to undergo surgery. Injured: Nigel Helmn has been unable to walk for the past five months after being attacked by two teenagers . Now, as his teenage attackers walk free from court, Mr Helmn told how the incident has affected his life. The 61-year-old said: 'It’s been a nightmare. I can’t work which means it’s hard to pay the rent. I can’t stand up for very long which means I haven’t been able to leave the house very much. 'Now, I’m having to have surgery on my knee which means another six to eight weeks out of action.' Mr Helmn, a supermarket security guard, had been out for a drink in Fitzgeralds in Whitley Bay on February 19 this year. He said: 'I’d popped out and into Sainsbury’s and came out and there were these two young lads who had run over to an old couple and were shouting every sexual thing you could think of. 'I went over to them and told them I’d have them arrested if they didn’t stop it. 'They then ran about 20 yards and started shouting at these girls in North Parade.' Mr Helmn said he went to get a radio from a security guard at a nearby pub when he suddenly felt a fist to the back of his head. Thugs: Teenagers David Polglase (left) and Tyler Latimer (right) both pleaded guilty to unlawful wounding . He said: 'I just went down, hitting the door and landing on my right knee, tearing a ligament.' Shocked staff called an ambulance and Mr Helmn was taken to North Tyneside General Hospital where he needed seven stitches to the back of his head and treatment to his knee. Mr Helmn said: 'The knee swelled up, it was massive. Since then I’ve been unable to work. I can pay the rent this month but after that I’m going to struggle.' Tyler Latimer and David Polglase, both 18, have been spared immediate custody because of their age after admitting unlawful wounding. Mr Helmn said: 'It doesn’t seem that much considering what’s happened, does it?' Addressing the pair at Newcastle Crown Court, Recorder Michael Slater told them: 'Between the pair of you, you punched him to the ground and each of you kicked him. 'As a result of that he sustained injuries to his head and knee and was left, to a certain extent, in a state of disability for a period of time. 'Whatever your argument was with him, he certainly did not deserve that at your hands. 'Were you some years older you would be going straight to custody today. You are only saved by your age and what the author of the pre-sentence report puts before the court.' Latimer, of Whitley Bay, and Polglase, of Newcastle, both pleaded guilty to unlawful wounding. Latimer was given 12 months custody suspended for two years with supervision and 150 hours of unpaid work. Polglase got nine months suspended for two years with supervision and 150 hours unpaid work. Katherine Dunn, for Latimer, said: 'He wants to write a letter to the victim to explain how sorry he is and also to show the victim how he had changed his life around almost as a result of this offence.' Tony Hawks, for Polglase, said: 'This was a disgraceful offence on any view but he has exhibited genuine remorse and insight for his behaviour. 'The victim chose to confront them, it’s not just two lads repeatedly kicking an elderly man in the street.' | Nigel Helmn, of Whitley Bay, was punched in the head by teenage thugs . They attacked him after he told them off for swearing at two pensioners . He fell to the floor with such force that he damaged a knee ligament . Mr Helmn, 61, has been unable to stand properly for the past five months . His attackers, Tyler Latimer and David Polglase, walked free from court . | 086193ce3a4442d3cd2c85a02ffca235cf71446f |
By . Cara Lee . PUBLISHED: . 16:11 EST, 9 September 2013 . | . UPDATED: . 16:11 EST, 9 September 2013 . When Karen Boniface started coughing and wheezing one summer, she immediately recognised the symptoms. Like an estimated ten million Britons, she suffers from seasonal hay fever and this time felt no different. 'Usually I cough up phlegm, my nose runs and I tend to get chesty and wheezy - typical hay fever symptoms,' says Karen, 53, from Studland, Dorset. 'I had these symptoms for a few months, but I thought nothing of it: it seemed the same as the previous three years I'd had hay fever.' Yet unbeknown to Karen, she was actually displaying early signs of lung cancer. 'I thought nothing of it': Like ten million Britons, Karen Boniface suffers from seasonal hay fever, so when she started coughing and wheezing, she assumed that was the cause of her symptoms . Although it is the second most common cancer in the UK, with 35,000 cases a year, many people are unaware of the symptoms so it is caught too late, says Dr Rohit Lal, a consultant oncologist from Guy's and St Thomas' NHS Foundation Trust. As a result, just 9 per cent of patients survive for five or more years after diagnosis, making it the most common cause of cancer death for men and women in the UK. But it can be a hard disease to spot, adds Dr Lal, who also works at the BMI Blackheath Hospital. The early signs can be subtle or attributed to other conditions, leading many people to assume they are down to allergies, colds and flu. This point is echoed by Sean Duffy, national clinical director for cancer at NHS England. 'A number of people are generally unaware of the potential symptoms of lung cancer, or associate a persistent cough with the seasons - hay fever, allergies or winter coughs and colds. This can often result in people delaying a visit to their GP, which could be the difference between receiving an early or late diagnosis.' But it's the duration of symptoms that sets colds and hay fever apart from lung cancer, explains Dr Lal. 'Hay fever happens in bouts, can vary from day to day and should be eased with antihistamines. But lung cancer symptoms don't disappear after a few weeks, and progressively get worse.' Mistaken illness: The symptoms of lung cancer can be tricky to spot - many assume they are a result of allergies, cold and flu . Lung cancer is most common among the over-50s, but the biggest increase in the past four years is in the over-75s due to the ageing population, says Mr Duffy. There are also around 10 per cent more cases in the under-40s compared with ten years ago. Dr Lal says the youngest case he has seen has been in a 23-year-old. It is thought it is becoming more obvious in women because rates of men smoking are declining faster. In 1948, 65 per cent of men smoked, compared with 41 per cent of women. Now, 20 per cent of women smoke, compared with 21 per cent of men. Evidence has also shown that women are more prone to a particular type of lung cancer, driven by a genetic defect. This type of cancer is called an adenocarcinoma, and scientists are unsure why women are more at risk, although it may be linked to hormones. Scientists from the University of Turin, Italy, found there was a slightly increased risk (less than 5 per cent) of lung cancer for women on HRT, so it's thought the female sex hormone oestrogen may play a role, but more research is needed. The most common symptoms of lung cancer are a cough lasting three weeks or more, loss of appetite and weight loss, tiredness, breathlessness and chest pain. Yet people are often reluctant to bother their doctor with these symptoms, says Mr Duffy, which could be contributing to the high death rates from the disease. 'Compared with other European countries' survival rates, England significantly lags behind because over two thirds of patients are diagnosed at a late stage,' says Mr Duffy. 'By this point, curative treatment is often no longer viable. Some people might not want to bother their doctor, but please do - it's always best to be sure.' But there are other, more surprising, symptoms of lung cancer that patients often miss, says Dr Lal. One of these is rounded 'clubbed' fingernails, which occur in one case in ten. No one knows exactly why, but this symptom can be seen in conditions where there is a lack of oxygen getting into the body, such as congenital heart defects. More often, though, it is a sign of lung problems. Typically, nails feel spongy and look curved. The ends of the fingertips appear swollen and are often slightly blue in colour. 'They look a bit like matchsticks,' says Dr Lal. 'Compared with other European countries' survival rates, England significantly lags behind because over two . thirds of patients are diagnosed at a late stage.' 'For some patients, lung cancer is diagnosed only after a doctor notices their nails and sends them for an X-ray, although it's usually one of many symptoms. However, not all doctors are aware it's a sign.' Karen developed clubbed fingertips and nails around five months after first getting her 'hay fever' symptoms, but she noticed them only when a chiropractor, whom she had visited for an unconnected back complaint, remarked on them and advised her to see her doctor. She had seen her GP previously, as she had started to feel incredibly tired. She was diagnosed with borderline anaemia and given iron pills, but these didn't ease her exhaustion. On seeing her fingernails, however, her doctor sent her for a chest X-ray because he knew they could be linked to lung problems. Karen was horrified when this showed a tumour on her right lung, and further tests confirmed cancer. The tumour was removed and fortunately the cancer hadn't spread. Karen had a short course of chemotherapy and was given the all-clear five years later. Karen was lucky, but Dr Lal says that in other patients the symptoms are missed. Apart from clubbed fingernails, other surprising symptoms include pain in the shoulder and weakness or numbness in the hand. This occurs in around 10 per cent of lung cancer cases, when the tumour grows at the top of the lung. When it expands, it presses on the nerves running through the shoulder. 'People go to their doctor with shoulder, wrist and arm problems that they've tried a few things for but the pain hasn't gone after a couple of weeks,' says Dr Lal. 'The GP sends them for a chest X-ray and finds something at the top of the lung.' However, he stresses that pains such as these are usually due to arthritis or muscle strain. Dr Lal adds it's also important to take note when a chest infection does not clear up after a course of antibiotics, as many GPs prescribe three of four courses before sending a patient for a chest X-ray. Surprise symptom: Rounded 'clubbed' fingernails are a sign of lung problems; this patient's nicotine-stained finger exhibits the condition . 'GPs can be hesitant to send people for X-rays, for example someone who is coughing up blood but is young and seems otherwise fit. But they don't cost much - about £40. 'It can also be due to lack of awareness. Symptoms are often put down to hay fever, chest infections and bronchitis before lung cancer is considered.' Non-smokers should not assume they are not at risk, he adds. Although smoking is the biggest risk factor (Karen had smoked for 26 years, but gave up when her cancer was diagnosed), one case in five occurs in non-smokers. This is thought to be largely due to other environmental factors. These include second-hand smoke, air pollution and exposure to asbestos. For smokers, the risk of lung cancer drops significantly five to ten years after quitting, although it stays higher than in a non-smoker. Karen is glad she saw her doctor when she did. 'Since my diagnosis at 44, I've looked at life differently,' she says. 'I try to be less stressed, have more fun and be positive. When you go through cancer, you realise what's important.' roycastle.org . | Lung cancer is the second most common cancer in the UK . Even so, it's often caught late because it is tricky to spot . Symptoms include a lasting cough, loss of appetite, and breathlessness . | 436e6fa31aca85124f1952fce8d1bbe9db38f713 |
By . Daily Mail Reporter . PUBLISHED: . 12:12 EST, 4 May 2012 . | . UPDATED: . 04:57 EST, 5 May 2012 . Tragic: Adam Yauch of the Beastie Boys died this morning at the age of 47 . Beastie Boys rapper Adam Yauch has died at 47. The hip hop star, also known as MCA, passed away this morning after a long battle with cancer. He is survived by his wife Dechen and his 14-year-old daughter, Tenzin Losel Yauch. His publicist released a statement confirming the news this afternoon which read: 'It is with great sadness that we confirm that musician, rapper, activist and director Adam 'MCA' Yauch ... passed away in his native New York City this morning after a near-three-year battle with cancer.' Yauch revealed in 2009 that he was undergoing surgery and radiation therapy to treat a tumor in his salivary gland. At the time, Yauch expressed hope it was 'very treatable.' Yauch, a practising Buddhist and activist who worked to raise awareness on the plight of the Tibetan people, also turned to a vegan diet and eastern medicine. Scroll down for video of the Beastie Boys performing... Seminal hip-hop trio: Mike Diamond (Mike D) and Adam Horovitz (Ad Rock) and Yauch (MCA) in the early 1980s . Fan favourite: Yauch (right) with Ad-Rock (left) and Mike D in his last performance at the 2009 Bonnaroo Music and Arts Festival in Tennessee . Last year he denied reports he had beaten the disease, but said he was 'staying optimistic and hoping to be cancer free in the near future.' His illness caused the group to cancel shows and delayed the release of their 2011 album, Hot Sauce Committee, Pt. 2. He hadn't performed in public since 2009 . and was absent when the Beastie Boys were inducted into the Rock and . Roll Hall of Fame in April. Family man: Yauch with his wife Dechen and daughter, Tenzin Losel . A spokesperson for the Dalai Lama: 'Adam had helped us raise awareness on the plight of the Tibetan people by organizing various freedom Tibet concerts and he will be remembered by his holiness and the Tibetan people.'Justin Timberlake: 'Crushed to hear the news of Adam Yauch's passing. A true pioneer of art.'Pete Wentz: 'beastie boys paved the way for so many who came after. #RIPMCA'MC Hammer: 'R.I.P. Adam Yauch Beastie Boys #RIPMCA'Jimmy Fallon: 'So sad to hear of the passing of Adam Yauch. He was a great performer, director, father, humanitarian and New Yorker. #RIPMCA'The Black Eye Peas' will.i.am: '1 of my favorite hiphop groups...hiphop raised a lot of us & now we have to wake up because are hero's are dying too young (sic)."Run DMC'S Reverend Run: 'R I P Adam... I'm devastated. Praying for Adam Yauch's family from the legendary Beastie Boys. Youll be missed!'Snoop Dogg: 'RIP MCA U are a Legend and a pioneer. #BeastieBoys4life.' His band mates Michael Diamond (Mike D) with Adam Horovitz (Ad Rock) read a letter on his behalf. It said: . 'I’d like to dedicate this to my brothers Adam and Mike.They walked the . globe with me. It’s also for anyone who has ever been touched by our . band. This induction is as much ours as it is yours.' The . Brooklyn-born Yauch created the Beastie Boys with high school friend . Mike D. They went on sell over 40 million records and release four No. 1 . albums. Tributes rolled in for Yauch today including a message of condolence from the Dalai Lama, who met with him several times, most recently in July. Originally conceived as a hardcore punk group, it soon became a hip-hop trio after Ad-Rock. They released their chart-topping . debut Licensed to Ill in 1986, a raucous album led by the anthem (You . Gotta) Fight for Your Right (To Party!). But in the seven studio albums that followed, the Beastie Boys expanded considerably and grew more musically ambitious. Their follow-up, 1989's Paul's Boutique, ended any suggestion of the group as a one-hit wonder. Extensive in its sampling and . sonically layered, the album was ranked the 156th greatest album ever by . Rolling Stone magazine in 2003. The Beastie Boys would later take up . their own instruments - a rarity in hip-hop - on the album Check Your . Head and subsequent releases. Honoured: Adam, centre, accepting the MTV Video Vanguard Lifetime Achievement in 1998 . Long battle with cancer: Yauch was last pictured at New York Film Festival in September last year . The Beastie Boys - a trio of white . Jewish kids - established themselves as one of the most respected groups . in hip-hop at a time when white rappers were few. Introducing the group at the Rock Hall, Public Enemy rapper Chuck D said the Beastie Boys 'broke the mold.' 'The Beastie Boys are indeed three bad brothers who made history,' said Chuck D. 'They brought a whole new look to rap and hip-hop. They proved that rap could come from any street - not just a few.' Yauch also went under the pseudonym Nathanial Hornblower when working as a filmmaker. He directed numerous videos for the . group including So Whatcha Want,” ”Intergalactic,” “Body Movin” and . “Ch-Check It Out.”, as well as the 2006 concert film Awesome: I F--- . Shot That!. He also co-founded the film distribution company Osciolloscope Laboratories, named after his New York studio. The company's credits include We Need to Talk About . Kevin, Wendy and Lucy and the Banksy documentary Exit Through the Gift . Shop. Music stars: Adam, centre, with Mike D and Ad Rock in 2006 . Yauch founded Milarepa Fund, a non-profit organization which promotes Tibetan independence. In 1996, Milarepa produced the first Tibetan Freedom . Concert in San Francisco’s Golden Gate Park, which was attended by . 100,000 people. After September 11, Milarepa organized New Yorkers . Against Violence, a benefit headlined by Beastie Boys in New York, with the proceeds going to to the New York . Women’s Foundation Disaster Relief Fund and the New York Association for . New Americans September 11 Fund for New Americans. Yauch met his wife Dechen Wangdu, an American-born daughter of prominent Tibetan activists, in 1995 when they both attended a speech by the Dalai Lama at Harvard University. At the time, Yauch was struggling with the direction of his life, telling Rolling Stone: 'I was debating between the idea of being a celibate and becoming a monk or actually having family. I was deciding whether or not I wanted to try being in a serious relationship or just stay on my own. 'Dechen and I started spending some time together and hanging out, it just felt like it would be great to have a family. That would be the right thing to do.' They married on May 31, 1998, in New York in a traditional Tibetan wedding ceremony. Rapper Russell Simmons' website GlobalGrind was the first to report the news. Simmons' Def Jam label released the Beastie Boys' first album, Licensed to Ill. Watch Yauch's last performance here... | Dalai Lama leads tributes to the performer and activist . | 6a11995de957356fb59eac7f86b6bc6120ef2d04 |
By . Lizzie Edmonds . PUBLISHED: . 09:17 EST, 23 February 2014 . | . UPDATED: . 10:23 EST, 23 February 2014 . The Queen's London residence is exposed to the highest levels of air pollution in the country, figures reveal today. Traffic traveling along the A302 - known as Grosvenor Place - which runs adjacent to Buckingham Palace, produced the highest levels of toxic gas nitrogen dioxide (NO2) in 2012, data shows. Figures from the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs show the average level of the gas - produced mainly from diesel engine traffic fumes - was 152 micrograms per cubic metres of air. Buckingham Palace is exposed to the highest levels of air pollution in the country, data shows . Traffic along Grosvenor Place - which runs adjacent to the Palace - produced the highest levels of toxic gas nitrogen dioxide (NO2) in 2012 at 152 micrograms per cubic metres of air . The figure is almost four times the European legal limit of 40 micrograms per cubic metre. Lower Grosvenor Place, another road close to the Palace, registered as 109 micrograms per cubic metre. Other highly polluted areas include Oxford Street near Marble Arch, which registered at 150 micrograms and Cockspur Street near Trafalgar Square on 138 micrograms. The fourth and fifth locations were Park Lane and Knightsbridge - which measured 135 and 134 micrograms respectively. Roads near other top London tourist attractions such as Madam Tussauds, Hamleys Toy Shop and Covent Garden also featured on the list of 50 worst offenders - ALL of which were in London. The road running next to the Queen's London residence was the worst offender on a list of 50 locations provided by Defra. The European legal limit is 40 micrograms per cubic metre . A graphic showing the five locations with the highest levels of NO2 in the country, all in London - measured in micrograms per cubic metre of air . Outside London, Manchester Piccadilly scored 68, Belfast City Centre 63 and Nottingham City Centre 59 micrograms per cubic metre. Almost 30,000 people die every year due to respiratory problems caused by air pollution. Nitrogen dioxide in particular has been linked to breathing issues. Today environmental groups criticised the statistics. Simon Birkett, Founder and Director of Clean Air in London, said: 'These levels of nitrogen dioxide (NO2) are nothing short of staggering. 'The World Health Organisation guideline is no human exposure in a single hour over 200 micrograms per cubic metre (with an annual average guideline of 40). Oxford Street near Trafalgar Square measured 150 micrograms per cubic metre . 'The thought that hundreds of thousands or millions of tourists and Londoners in a year may be exposed to air pollution this high is deeply troubling. 'In London, we need the Mayor to: ban the oldest cars emitting carcinogenic diesel exhaust as Berlin did more than four years ago, remove the turning circle requirement that still forces cabbies to choose between two large diesel taxis if they want a new vehicle and reinstate Phase 5 of the low emission zone that was a key commitment in the Mayor’s Air Quality Strategy until scrapped early last year. 'He also needs to ensure his ultra-low emission zone for 2020 includes the roads with the highest NO2 rather than excluding them which will force the most-polluting vehicles to join those avoiding the congestion charging zone and issue smog warnings to save lives, avoid hospitalisations and build public understanding of air pollution. Cockspur Street had the third highest levels of N02 at 138 micrograms . 'In short, ‘invisible’ air pollution is where smoking was 30 years ago in terms of the known health risks and the lack of public awareness. People need Prince Charles to champion action to comply with air pollution laws in London and elsewhere.' The UK faces fines of up to £300m from the European commission after they launched legal action due to a failure to reduce high levels of NO2 air pollution from traffic. The commission said this was despite over a decade of warnings and several extensions and postponements given to the British government. Other European countries have also failed to meet the air quality directive, the commission said. A Defra spokesman said: 'Air quality has improved significantly in recent decades. Just like for other Member States, meeting the NO2 limit values alongside busy roads has been a challenge. 'That is why we are investing heavily in transport measures to improve air quality around busy roads and we are working with the Commission to ensure this happens as soon as possible.' Park Lane had 135 micrograms per cubic metre. The data follows the news the European Commission is to take legal action against the UK for its failure to lower levels of the toxic gas . Knightsbridge measured 134 micrograms. Environmental groups have today slammed the data, saying the findings are 'nothing short of staggering' The highlighted that the UK meets the EU air quality limit values for all other air pollutants. Responding to the latest figures, a spokesman for Boris Johnson said: London’s air quality is steadily improving, meeting legal limits for eight out of nine EU regulated pollutants. 'Since the Mayor was elected NO2 emissions have reduced by 20 per cent and the number of people living in areas exceeding NO2 limits has halved but he fully recognises the need to take further action. 'This includes the introduction of the world's first Ultra-Low Emission Zone in central London from 2020, tougher requirements for taxis from 2018 and a £20million fund to tackle local problem areas. 'These most ambitious measures will deliver enormous economic and environmental benefits for central London and will make this global city an even better place to live, work and visit.' | Grosvenor Place, next to Buckingham Palace, the most polluted road in UK . Level of toxic nitrogen dioxide gas at 152 micrograms per cubic metre . Figure is four times the European legal limit of 40 micrograms . NO2 is mainly produced by traffic fumes from diesel engines . Comes as the European Commission launches legal action against UK for failure to lower high levels of NO2 gas . | acce6244ed5443207d46471f9ed60892eef0ff3a |
(CNN) -- I, like millions of Americans, tune in each week to check out the latest adventures of America's favorite "Modern Family," especially Mitch and Cam and their adorable daughter Lily. While their prominence on network television strongly signals Americans' growing comfort with same-sex couples raising kids, my research suggests that, in truth, Mitch and Cam may have more in common with the decidedly un-modern Cleavers of 1950s sitcom fame than most LGBT families in this country. A typical LGBT parent is more likely to be an African-American woman in Mississippi than a white lawyer in California. U.S. Census Bureau data suggest that Americans raising kids as part of a same-sex couple are almost twice as likely to be African-American as are their counterparts raising children in heterosexual couples, and Mississippi is the state where same-sex couples are most likely to have a child. About 3 million LGBT Americans are parents. Surveys suggest that 37% of the more than 8 million LGBT adults in the United States report having had a child. On average, they've had two kids, so it's likely that at least 6 million Americans have an LGBT parent. Evidence also suggests that many of these LGBT parents had their children at a relatively young age. This week, the Supreme Court will consider two cases that will affect same-sex couples, including those who are parents. One case deals with the constitutionality of the Defense of Marriage Act, which prohibits the federal government from recognizing the marriages of same-sex couples. The other will weigh California's Proposition 8, which prohibits same-sex couples from marrying in that state. Opinion: Will gay rights infringe on religious liberty? As the justices deliberate, they should understand what marriage might mean for America's LGBT parents, especially those in same-sex couples. Most kids being raised by same-sex couples (59%) are reported to be the biological children of one of the spouses or partners. But for kids who don't have a biological link to their parents, the absence of marriage can mean a tenuous or nonexistent legal connection to parents who, in a medical emergency, may not be permitted to make life-altering decisions on behalf of their children. U.S. Census Bureau data suggest that 16,400 children being raised by same-sex couples are stepchildren and 22,500 are adopted. In fact, same-sex couples are four times more likely than other couples to have an adopted child and six times more likely to be fostering a child. With the mix of laws on the books in this country, simply crossing a state border from a state that recognizes the marriage of a same-sex couple to one that doesn't can mean the step- and adoptive-parents can suddenly become legal strangers to them. For many American families, marriage helps to promote stability in family relationships and more efficient allocation of household financial resources. Both of these factors help to explain why children raised by their married parents generally report better health and well-being outcomes when compared to children who experience family instability and more limited financial resources. LGBT families tend to include parents that are younger, more female, and more racially and ethnically diverse than the typical American parent. Unfortunately, all of these characteristics are associated with relatively lower incomes. So it is no surprise that we find a $10,000 difference between the median annual household incomes of same-sex and different-sex couples raising children, $63,900 vs. $74,000, respectively. Same-sex couples raising children are also at a disadvantage when it comes to health insurance coverage for themselves and their children. Many companies do not offer spousal and family health benefits to same-sex partners. And even when they do, they are often more expensive than comparable plans available for different-sex married couples. While more of these families might have access to health insurance after the implementation of the Affordable Care Act, right now, among same-sex couples raising biological, adopted or stepchildren, at least one parent or child does not have health insurance in 38% of same-sex couple families. For different-sex married couples, the figure is half that at 18%. Sutter: The county where no one's gay . As evidenced by their majority support for legalizing marriage for same-sex couples in this country, Americans are getting to know their LGBT family members and neighbors (and their kids) better every day. They see that LGBT parents are motivated by many of the same desires as other parents: strong, happy and healthy families. Is it surprising then that many want to get married? Doing so would provide these families, many of whom endure challenging legal climates and economic hardship, with the same opportunities and choices available to all Americans. While marriage is hardly a panacea for economic health, allowing same-sex couples to marry at least gives them the same opportunities for building stable and economically secure families that so many other Americans have. Let's hope that the Supreme Court sees it that way, as well. The opinions expressed in this commentary are solely those of Gary Gates. | Gary Gates says couple in "Modern Family" doesn't reflect most LGBT families . He says typical LGBT parent is likely to be younger, female, racially diverse . He says crossing a state line can turn someone from a parent to a stranger to their child . Gates: The Supreme Court should give same-sex couples opportunities others have . | 6b3380e200d1855dc5d5326aa7897d6853b109b2 |
By . Steph Cockroft for MailOnline . Junior Cooper, 35, has been jailed for nine years for targeting professional women who were walking home alone in London . The leader of a gang of muggers, who attacked and snatched handbags from professional women who were walking home alone at night, has been jailed for nine years. Junior Cooper, 35, from Queens Park, north west London, and his accomplices pounced from behind and choked their victims in three violent attacks in central London last year. One victim, pianist Susanne Suhonen suffered a broken finger and may never be able to play properly again. Another victim was choked with her own silk scarf, while the third victim was dragged along the street when she refused to let go of her handbag. Sentencing him to nine years in prison, Judge Michael Grieve said: ‘Extreme planning was involved in all the robberies. Women on their own likely to have valuable goods were targeted.’ Cooper - who was jailed in 2009 for a spate of robberies - drove the gang around in a stolen Audi looking for vulnerable women, the court was told. One victim, Jacqueline Hurst, had just parked her car near her home in Marylebone at 10.30pm in November 2013 when she was attacked by the thugs. One of the men grabbed her around the waist, while another choked the woman with her scarf, Southwark Crown Court heard. She was knocked to the ground during the robbery and is still traumatised. In a statement to the court, she said: ‘Before the attack I was a confident girl, happy, fun and totally unfazed by city living. ‘Everything has changed and I am half the woman I used to be. At all times day or night I am looking behind myself.’ Ms Hurst added that she now has to wait for her boyfriend to escort her from her car. She also has to sit or stand with her back to a wall when she is out in public, fearing she will be grabbed from behind. About half an hour after that attack, Sarah Lewishon was targtted as she walked from her car to her house in St John’s Wood, north London. She was also grabbed around the neck but refused to let go of her handbag and was dragged along the ground. Ms Lewishon now suffers severe neck pain and is terrified to go out at night alone. Eleven day later, Ms Suhonen was attacked by the gang as she walked home. She told the court she was unable to sleep for about two weeks after the attack and that she kept having nightmares. She said: ‘I had to open my eyes and I didn’t want to close them for fear of seeing the same scenes again - needless to say I was exhausted in my domestic life and at work.’ Cooper was jailed at Southwark Crown Court for nine years, after being found guilty of conspiracy to rob . Tom Nicholson, prosecuting, said: ‘She fractured her finger on her right hand, which healed crooked, due to the fracture and the way the position of the tendon, she is unable to have it straightened. ‘She might not be able to play the piano properly with that hand again. Her wrist was inflamed and extremely painful. She had to postpone her piano exam for one year because of her injuries.’ Cooper and his accomplice Remy McLeod were convicted after a trial in July this year of conspiracy to rob. McLeod refused to come to court from prison today and will be sentenced on 9 September. Martin Sharpe, defending, said Cooper has a history of crack cocaine abuse, but has started to face up to his addiction problems in prison. He said: ‘He is not someone who is hopeless, he’s not without personal charm, not without personal warmth and not without hope.’ Cooper was on licence at the time of the offences and will serve the remaining three years of his 2009 sentence concurrently. | Junior Cooper, 35, and accomplices carried out 3 violent attacks in London . Pianist Susanne Suhonen suffered broken finger and might never play again . Victim Jacqueline Hurst was choked with her own silk scarf during attack . Another victim was dragged along street when she refused to let go of bag . Cooper, from north London, jailed for nine years at Southwark Crown Court . | c6620b0c298e145ed696f6bffe9cdb586fe34bab |
By . James Chapman . PUBLISHED: . 19:19 EST, 10 December 2013 . | . UPDATED: . 19:26 EST, 10 December 2013 . Nick Clegg’s flagship plan to extend free school meals to all five, six and seven-year-olds is today condemned as impractical and unfair. Many primary school heads are warning they do not have the space or kitchen facilities to contend with the change for an extra 1.5 million children, which is due to take effect next September. Some heads and governors still believe that it will be impractical for many schools to provide a hot meal by September 2014, and they may have to offer a packed lunch instead. Deputy Prime Minister Nick Clegg's plan to extend the free school meals programme to all five, six and seven-year-olds, regardless of how much their parents earn, has come under fire from primary school headteachers who say it is 'impractical and unfair' A former Liberal Democrat minister, meanwhile, said it was ‘very odd’ to be extending free school meals for all families with young children, even those who could well afford to pay for them themselves. Despite Britain’s vast budget deficit, Mr Clegg has announced that from next September, an extra 1.5 million infants in reception and years one and two will qualify regardless of their parents’ income. The measure will save even the best-off families an average of £437 a year per child. The £600 million a year cost of the scheme is to be met through spending cuts elsewhere and moves to clamp down on tax avoidance. However, critics have questioned the coherence of offering free school meals for all families with young children, while taking the axe to other universal payments such as child benefit for the better-off. Currently, free school meals are limited to the 400,000 poorest families, and many of those who are entitled do not claim because of the stigma attached to doing so. Extending them to all under-sevens in state education is designed to show the coalition is taking further steps to help families with the cost of living. The £600million plan is part of a deal with the Tories that meant them agreeing to a similar sum being spent on a £200 tax break for married couples. Last week, the Government rushed out an announcement of an extra £150 million to fund new kitchens and dining halls, but many schools still warn of logistical difficulties in getting the policy in place for September 2014. Sean O’Sullivan, head at Frank Wise special school in Banbury, Oxfordshire, who invested in a new server 18 months ago, said: ‘We have built a special kitchen that’s got warming and refrigeration but not actually the facility to cook. ‘I’m fearful this could push things to the lowest common denominator. Our suppliers simply can’t manage the quality that they do at the moment for high numbers.’ ‘These kind of things get announced at a political conference and, as a head, you’re absolutely bombarded. With the amount of stuff that comes through to you, you have to prioritise.’ Despite Britain's budget deficit, Mr Clegg has announced that from next September, an extra 1.5million infants will qualify for the scheme. The measure will save even the best-off families an average of £437 a year per child . Michael Dix, headteacher at Glebelands primary school in Leicester, said: ‘The school was built in the 1990s at a time when space cost money, so we don’t have any. 'The hall is not only used for dinner times - it is our only internal PE space. 'We will probably have to stagger our lunchtimes to allow for the additional serving-up time that will be inevitable if numbers rise. This would mean a reduction in the amount of PE we are able to provide.’ Former Lib Dem minister Sir Nick Harvey said last night: ‘This is not something that can be done on the back of a fag packet. In rural areas a lot of small primary schools don’t have big halls where you can sit the whole school down. ‘And tragically in recent years many schools have got rid of kitchens and devoted the space to other uses altogether. Former Lib Dem minister Sir Nick Harvey brands the decision to extend free meals to children whose parents can afford it themselves 'very odd' ‘There are 1.2 million children defined by the Government itself as living in childhood poverty who don’t get a free school meal. 200,000 of those will get one as a result of this, but the other million will not, because they are older. ‘It’s very odd to be providing a free school meal to 1.3 million children whose parents can perfectly well afford it and not paying out to one million whose parents can’t. It seems to me an odd sense of priorities.’ The National Association of Head Teachers (NAHT) warned many schools ‘absolutely can’t think how they are going to do this’. The organisation predicted that the Government would have to U-turn on an initial commitment to providing a ‘hot, nutritious meal’ for all children. The commitment has already been refined to a pledge to ‘ensure children get a healthy meal in the middle of the day’. Headteachers and governors still believe that it will be impractical for many schools to provide a hot meal by September 2014, and they may have to offer a packed lunch instead. ‘We have pointed out the key challenges for schools, particularly if they’re going to insist on a hot school meal. There is lots more flexibility if it’s a packed lunch to the nutritional standards,’ said Valentine Mulholland, of the NAHT. A Department for Education spokesman said: ‘We know that regularly eating a nutritious school meal can help to increase a child’s educational attainment. ‘Free school meals for all infant school pupils will save parents an average of £400 a year, and make sure every child can get the healthy lunch that will help them do well at school.’ A spokesman for Mr Clegg insisted: ‘The expectation is for the majority of meals to be hot.’ | Primary school heads warning they do not have the space or kitchen facilities to contend with the change for an extra 1.5million children . Plans due to come into effect from September 2014 . Former Lib Dem minister brands decision to extend free meals to children whose families can afford to pay themselves 'very odd' Department of Education say move will save parents an average of £400 a year for each child and ensure they get a healthy lunch to help at school . | 6c58f69e151b5e9aba59f9ad6942f5781ce964dd |
BEIJING, China (CNN) -- China opened the 29th Olympic Games on Friday with stunning fireworks as the Asian nation kicked off one of the most heavily scrutinized games in history. Drummers perform at the Opening Ceremony of the Summer Olympic Games in Beijing, China. Fireworks shot off across the Chinese capital as hundreds of drummers and dancers performed under a light display at the National Stadium, drawing applause from the estimated 90,000 in attendance. It was a stunning beginning from the nation of 1.3 billion people. Media observers said they believe the opening ceremony will be the single most watched television event in history. Billions of dollars in the making, the Summer Olympics carry with them the ambitions of a nation seeking its place as a global superpower. The anticipation over the Olympics was unmistakable in China's capital city. The Olympic torch relay, the focus of protests during parts of its international leg earlier this year, will conclude at 11:30 p.m. local time (11:30 a.m. ET) when it enters National Stadium to light the Olympic cauldron. "This one, I think, is going to be bigger and more spectacular ... not necessarily more surprising, but more impressive, I think, than any previous ceremony," said Ric Birch, who oversaw Olympic productions in 1984, 1992 and 2000. Watch Birch assess Beijing's preparations » . In short, it's just what China wanted -- an opening ceremony with an impressive guest list. President Bush is among more than 100 heads of state, heads of government and sovereigns expected to attend, the International Olympic Committee said. The leaders represent countries including Japan, Russia, Australia, South Korea and Brazil. But this version of the Olympics brings with it controversy, discord that began in 2001 when Beijing won the games. Criticism over China's human rights record, its policies in Tibet and the persistent pollution across the country have been the focus of much international criticism and media attention. The head of the Australian Olympic Committee complained Friday about pollution as well as Internet access and uncomfortable transportation for his country's athletes to venues, according to news reports. For some world leaders, the decision to attend was a tough call. French President Nicholas Sarkozy threatened to boycott the games because of human rights abuses in Tibet but later changed his mind. Watch protests in Germany over China's Tibet policies » . And while he has steadfastly said he would attend the Olympics opening, Bush as recently as Friday stressed China's need to respect human rights. "It's inevitable that people from different countries may not see eye to eye," Chinese President Hu Jintao said recently, "so we should try to expand our common ground on the basis of mutual respect." Political leaders do not attend Olympic opening ceremonies as a matter of protocol -- Bush is the first American president to attend them outside the United States -- but China seemed determined to have as many there as possible, taking it as a sign the world recognizes the legitimacy of the Chinese government. "They want those leaders to confirm the fact that China has returned to great power, prominence in the world," said David Zweig, a political analyst at Hong Kong University of Science and Technology. "They really want to say to the people of China that we, the Communist Party of China, have done a great job." Watch why China has invested so much in the Olympics » . Air China suspended some flights from Japan to China on Friday after receiving a bomb threat via e-mail, Japan's Transport Ministry said. The e-mail said the threat was intended to disrupt the Olympics, according to Fumio Yasukawa, a ministry representative. Many mysteries about the opening ceremony remain, like which athletes will run the final legs of the torch relay and the tightly kept secret of who will light the Olympic cauldron at the stadium. Blog: Anticipation builds . Early favorites such as national sports stars Yao Ming and Liu Xiang were widely discounted because they already had carried the torch during the relay. Many observers speculated that the person lighting the Olympic cauldron would be connected to the devastating May earthquake in China that claimed nearly 70,000 lives. As for the games, an estimated 10,000 athletes from 205 countries will compete in 28 events for about 300 gold medals. The first medals will be awarded Saturday. See a timeline of moments to watch for at the games » . China has put a priority on finishing first in the overall medal standings. On Sunday, swimming competition begins, along with U.S. swimmer Michael Phelps' quest to win eight gold medals -- more than any individual in a single games. Even if he fails, Phelps could become the all-time leader in gold medals. Watch how pressure is building for the athletes » . The competition -- 17 days in length -- will be a relative blip compared to the years of preparation that went into bringing the games to Beijing. China means it to be a coming-out party. Like many parties, Chinese leaders won't know how it went until it's time to clean up. CNN's Emily Chang and Kevin Drew contributed to this report. | NEW: Fireworks, drummers in opening ceremony of 2008 Summer Olympics . Bomb threat forces Air China to cancel some flights . President Bush among world leaders attending opening ceremony . More than 10,000 athletes to compete for about 300 gold medals . | 59ae42284d64ec27ad017dfaffb885d746682e4b |
(CNN) -- In parts of rural China, private health can be a very public affair. Crammed into shop front clinics on the main streets of many provincial towns, patients can be seen paying for routine treatment -- regular injections, intravenous drips or a consultation -- just by walking in off the street. The conditions are rudimentary -- often no more than rows of vinyl benches replete with drip stands. However, catching the spillover from China's overstrained public health system has become big business for pharmaceutical companies and healthcare corporations. While China is supposed to have comprehensive state-funded health cover, the stark reality is that many Chinese need medical insurance to make up the shortfall in the system. For many Chinese people, private savings for medical insurance is one of the reasons the country has one of the highest rates of personal savings in the world. For most, however, medical insurance is a contentious outlay. "I don't think it really works for most ordinary Chinese people," 24-year-old Guangzhou-based student Xi Chen said. "Last November, our father's hospital bill came to 6000RMB ($976) but we had to top it up the insurance 2300RMB of our own. "The doctor told us we should have been thankful for our medical insurance or we would have had to pay more ... The truth is that government officers and hospitals benefit rather than ordinary people." There's an app for that . It's in this space that medical assistance app Chunyu Yisheng hopes to carve out a niche. The app -- which this month raised $50 million in funding, the biggest single funding round into a Chinese healthcare startup to date -- connects users with physicians remotely to discuss and diagnose their ailments. The site already commands 30 million users who can connect with 40,000 doctors. It has set an ambitious target of gaining 100 million users by the end of 2015. "We started in 2011, wanting to do something in the joint field of mobile internet and medicine," Chunyu chief technology officer Zeng Boyi said. "We wanted to something of practical use that could actually help people. "In China, it's very difficult for people to get an appointment with a doctor, so the idea of a medical app was quite a natural one," he said. Zeng said the startup is aimed at resolving minor ailments that often clog up hospital waiting rooms and aims to help people who may be at risk of misdiagnosing by reading up about their complaint on the internet. "Some problems, mainly mild problems, are better solved online than others," Zeng says. "People get safe, personalized, and professional advice from doctors on Chunyu -- we do not see Chunyu as a replacement for hospital. "Besides a professional diagnosis, people often want to communicate -- they need to decrease their anxiety, know a bit more about their bodies and decide on the next move even before going to hospital. "These sorts of problems are not easily solved in the hospital, but they are important to users. By reducing the cost of seeing a doctor, we activate a huge suppressed market." He says the service acts as an adjunct to normal medical attention. "We cannot diagnose serious diseases and doctors are careful in the advice they give. If users have serious symptoms -- if they're very sick -- their best choice is to go to a hospital. "If a doctor is asked about serious symptoms, then the kind of advice we could give is the most suitable hospital to go to, the type of lab tests needed, and any other helpful advice." Big potential . The startup is currently on a drive to recruit more doctors who not only earn money in their spare time but also gain a profile and a platform from the service. Of particular interest, says Zeng, are the data that will be generated by the online service. "There's a lot of doctor/user communications that is logged on Chunyu every day. Those data are of particular importance because they are generated by real doctors whose only focus is solving the problem at hand -- they are not selling medication or promoting hospitals." Chunyu's model is based on making the service free for both doctors and users, with its revenues raised through advertising from insurance companies, pharmaceutical companies and private hospitals. "It's hard to estimate how much revenue would be generated by this service. By way of comparison, Baidu (one of China's largest online portals) makes one third of its revenues from the healthcare industry. "We think it's a huge market." Read this: The social apps taking China by storm . Read this: Asia's hottest startups right now . More from Virtual Think Tank . | Chinese startup aims to give medical help online . Chunyu Yisheng already has 40 million users and 40,000 doctors online . The startup recently gained $50 million in funding . While China has a public health system, many people have to rely on medical insurance . | 83e5d929528dfbdfddaf7280321d20651494b9ad |
By . Claire Bates . PUBLISHED: . 08:42 EST, 15 February 2013 . | . UPDATED: . 11:53 EST, 15 February 2013 . Doctors have told a woman whose legs won't stop growing that they have developed a promising treatment for her after mapping her DNA. Mandy Sellars, 38, has a condition that has caused her legs to grow uncontrollably her whole life. She even had her massive left leg amputated after it became infected with septicaemia. But the stump soon started growing again and within three years measured a metre in circumference and weighed 3stone. Scroll down for video . Mandy discovered she couldn't be fitted with special prosthetics as her legs had grown too big . Ms Sellars has now been told it has no name after genetic testing revealed it was the first case of its kind in the world. The condition makes it incredibly difficult for Mandy to move around and she is housebound during the week. She travels in a specially reinforced wheelchair. Doctors had hoped to fit her with a . prosthetic leg but as her stump kept growing, new legs had to be made . and to date she is still unable to walk. Mandy Sellars, pictured on This Morning in her electric wheelchair, said she has a 'zest for life' 'I find it incredibly frustrating,' Ms Sellars, from Huncoat in Lancashire, said. 'I have such a zest for life and I really want to get out there and live it.' This could now be a possibility, after scientists at Cambridge University took an interest in Ms Sellars' case. Over the past year, Dr Robert Semple has mapped her DNA from blood and tissue samples. Ms Sellars' presumed she had a rare form of Proteus Syndrome - the condition that affected the Elephant Man. However, the analysis revealed she had a unique disorder. 'I'm the first person in the world with it and it hasn't even got a name yet,' Ms Sellars told ITV's This Morning. 'I keep suggesting Dr Semple call it Sellars Syndrome!' As a result, Dr Semple's team have come up with a medication aimed at replacing her unique mutated gene with a therapeutic gene. 'I . started taking it in September and the aim was to stop my limbs growing . further. Actually they have started to shrink a little,' Ms Sellars' said. 'I just kind of accepted my condition would get worse and keep growing but I am more optimistic following the discovery.' Ms Sellars, who is a size 12 on her top half, has had to deal with her one in seven billion condition her whole life. Ms Sellars with the medication she hope may reverse her condition . Dr Robert Semple studies Mandy Sellars over-sized right leg. He mapped her DNA and found out her condition was unique to her . 'There was clearly something dramatically different about me when I was born as my legs were so much bigger than my body. Doctors didn't know what it was and whisked me away - they didn't let my mother see me for two weeks. They didn't think I would survive.' Her left leg was three inches longer than her right, and both were out of proportion. But Mandy flourished despite their dire prognosis. 'I could walk around and play football as a child,' she said. 'I had friends and went to a comprehensive school for my GCSE's. But I found it harder to deal with as a teenager as you become more aware. Some people would stare and laugh at me. I find that easier to deal with now.' Her parents encouraged her to be . independent and she moved out of home at 19. She went to the University . of Central Lancashire where she gained a BSc in Psychology. She has volunteered in the past at the RSPCA but had not been able to work full-time due to her health condition. She has suffered arthritis, deep vein thrombosis (DVT) and had a blood clot in her leg. Mandy assumed she would end up bed-bound after her leg stump started growing again after the limb was amputated . Mandy is determined to maintain as much independence as possible . Ms Sellars had a spinal stroke in 2002 that paralysed her for two months, and all the while her legs kept growing. In 2005 she got a blood infection, then her kidneys failed and she got MRSA. By 2008 her left leg was five inches longer than her right with a club foot that turned backwards and together they weighed 15stone. She had her left leg amputated above the knee in 2010 after developing blood poisoning. But the stump began growing rapidly again. Despite all the hardships she has faced, Ms Sellars remains optimistic. 'I really miss travelling and I hope one day to walk again,' she said. 'I'm stubborn enough to make it happen!' Extraordinary People airs on Monday, February 18 on Channel 5 at 9pm . | Mandy's condition has caused her legs to grow uncontrollably her whole life . DNA study revealed it is the first known case of its kind in the world . Cambridge doctors have developed a medication they hope will reverse it . | 1b009cd12a29028390d5d191316fe6b7d8157c0f |
By . Margot Peppers . A woman is taking legal action after diet pills caused her to have a psychotic breakdown which landed her in a mental hospital. Army reservist Sainah Theodore from Queens told the New York Daily News she is suing the Natural Health Food Center in Brooklyn for unspecified damages after diet pills she bought there gave her six days of insomnia, which in turn led to erratic and violent behavior. At the peak of her delirium, the 26-year-old says she heard voices, stopped her car in the middle of a busy intersection and stabbed pillows and pictures in her own home before medics had to be called. Under fire: Army reservist Sainah Theodore is suing the Natural Health Food Center for unspecified damages after Natural Lipo Z (pictured), the diet pills she bought there, caused a psychotic breakdown . She then spent five days in a mental hospital and her deployment to Afghanistan had to be delayed. 'Once I came out of the sedation, it was clear to me it was the pill that caused it,' she said. The trouble began when the health store sold Miss Theodore a product called Natural Lipo X which, unbeknownst to her, contained illegal stimulants that weren't labeled on the packaging. According to the Daily News, lab tests later confirmed that the pills contained high levels of caffeine and a laxative called Phenolphthalein which is illegal to sell over-the-counter. Another ingredient was weight-loss . stimlant Sibutramine, which was banned by the FDA in 2010 'due to a long . list of side effects that includes sleeplessness'. 'Once I came out of the sedation, it was clear to me it was the pill that caused it' It was these stimulants, the suit claims, that led to Miss Theodore's bizarre and destructive behavior - which included sending her mother aggressive texts and 'causing total destruction of her home,' said her lawyer Brian Pascale. 'I couldn't believe all of this . happened to me. It was a blur,' said Miss Theodore, who studies sociology. 'I had no recollection of my behavior.' Defense: Employees at the store (pictured) say that her reaction was the result of the insurance company claiming that she was fasting while taking the pills . She and her lawyers are suing the health food center, where employees claim that her reaction was the result of the insurance company saying that she was fasting while taking the pills. 'We can't leave the store to see the customer eats well,' said store manager Kennedy Angeliz. 'The insurance is handling this. That's all I will say.' 'Individuals who adulterate . products with illegal ingredients are not complying with . current regulations' Miss Theodore's lawyers have denied this claim, asserting that she ate normally while on the diet pills. Michael McGuffin, president of the American Herbal Product Association, said these spiked pills are part of an even bigger problem in the pharmaceutical industry as a whole. 'Individuals who intentionally adulterate products with illegal and undeclared ingredients are not complying with current laws and regulations,' he explained. 'The federal government and the regulated supplement industry work together to raise awareness about these tainted products.' | Sainah Theodore is suing the Natural Health Food Center in Brooklyn for selling her Natural Lipo X, a brand of diet pills that contain illegal and unlabeled stimulants . The capsules caused six days of insomnia and erratic behavior, including stopping her car in the middle of a busy intersection and stabbing pillows . After her breakdown, medics were called and she was committed to a psych ward for five days . | 0ff4312ee5d4ad945af0e9c337773f8f3e9f7da5 |
By . Sanjay Jha . Last updated at 5:43 PM on 27th July 2011 . Saved: British-born Catholic nun Jacqueline Jean McEwan was to be forced out of India after three decades of caring for lepers . She became known as a modern-day Mother Teresa after spending three decades caring for leprosy patients in India. Yet British nun Jacqueline Jean McEwan still found herself facing deportation back home when her application for a new resident permit was turned down. Despite protestations and a huge public outcry, the 63-year-old was about to board a plane yesterday that would have taken her away from a life treating the sick and needy in Bangalore. It was only then - amid warnings that the ‘heart’ would be ‘ripped out’ of the Catholic mission where she served - that the Indian government carried out a u-turn. She has now been given a last-minute temporary reprieve to stay on in the country while her visa problems are sorted out. The country’s home secretary P Chidambaram said this means ‘Sister Jean’ should be able to stay ‘without limit of time’ ‘I am overjoyed and very confident that I would live here forever,’ the Newcastle-raised Catholic nun said yesterday. ‘I love the people here and have a strong sense of attachment to this place. ‘It feels great to be with my well-wishers, my own kith and kin, mostly those inflicted with leprosy. Welcome back: Jacqueline Jean McEwan was about top board a plane before the last-minute u-turn by the Indian government . ‘I will strive for their welfare. There is no meaning in going back to UK when my people are here.’ Sister Jean has been working for leprosy patients in Bangalore city in the southern Indian state of Karnataka after arriving in 1982. Belonging to the Montfort Missionaries, a congregation of the Catholic church founded in France in the 18th century, she came from England as part of a batch of nurses and medics to the Sumanahalli Society in Bangalore. She chose never to go back, and her work in the last 29 years means she is now called Sumanahalli’s ‘Mother Teresa’. Sister Jean said she wasn’t given any reason by authorities for being kicked out and was simply told to leave the country by 25th July. Caring: At the mission 'Sister Jean' has helped treat thousands of people . Some critics fear that Indian authorities do not like attention being drawn to a debilitating disease that they officially claim to have eradicated. When she first arrived she hadn’t need any visa as at that time citizens of Commonwealth countries could travel to each other’s country without Visas. When she applied for renewal of her resident permit to live in India in December 2010, she was denied permission to stay. She said: ‘I still don’t know the reason. I’ve been living with the poor and needy all these years with the resident permit issued by Indian authorities.’ Before yesterday’s official u-turn, the Society’s director, Father George Kannanthanam, said: ‘We don’t have anybody to take care of our clinics who is as trained and committed as Sister Jean. ‘She’s wonderful – she knows every leprosy patient by name, even though Indian names are difficult. ‘They call her “Amma” (mother) – she’s like a mother to them. It’s as if Sumanahalli’s heart is being ripped out.’ Famous: Sister Jean is known as the British Mother Teresa for the work she has done in the country, and her proposed expulsion was national news . Sister Jean along with other Montfort sisters working at the centre provides treatment, education, housing and medical care. She said she not only remembers each and every patient’s name, but also their treatment and even their family members. She remembers most of the 5000 odd patients’ names that Sumanahalli has treated in the past 29 years. Even though the Indian government officially claims to have eliminated leprosy, there are still an estimated 130,000 Indians diagnosed with the disease every year – more than every other country put together. Leprosy Patients are often pushed outside city limits and many also face lifelong rejection and discrimination. Due to lack of awareness in Indian society, there remains a widespread fear that the disease is highly contagious. Sister Jean said that she only visits home occasionally now, to see her fellow nuns or her brother back in Newcastle. They will have to wait a little longer before they next see her, and the Sumanahalli wore a festive look yesterday at the news. ‘The patients came and greeted me and one of the patients gave me a ring and a little cross...They welcomed me with garlands and bunches of flowers” said Sister Jean. Her co-worker Mastan saab said: ‘We hope she remains here us for the rest of our lives. Without her, we are in the dark. Nobody would look after leprosy patients like her here if she’d left Bangalore.’ Setup in 1978, Sumanahalli Society is on a 63-acre plot near the Beggar’s Colony in Bangalore. The organization has residential accommodation for about 120 poor leprosy patients and the mobile clinic looks after about 1,000 leprosy patients in the village in the heart of the city with funds from donors, trusts and philanthropic organizations and individuals. | 63-year-old says her heart is in Bangalore . ‘I love the people here and have a strong sense of attachment to this place. There is no meaning in going back to UK,’ she said . | 762b7be168b6f11ff122731c71e45c77dd706d48 |
By . Peter Allen . PUBLISHED: . 10:19 EST, 18 June 2013 . | . UPDATED: . 11:01 EST, 18 June 2013 . An underage teenage prostitute who slept with football star Frank Ribery . ‘was not a vulnerable person’, the player’s lawyer claimed today. Carlo-Alberto Bruso was speaking on the first day of a criminal trial . which could see Ribery and his France international teammate Karim . Benzema jailed. Both are accused of having slept with Zahia Dehar, a French-Algerian . call girl, between 2008 and 2009, when she was between 16 and 17 years . old. Accused: Franck Ribery, right, and Karim Benzema, left, were today facing jail for allegedly paying for sex with an underage prostitute . Trial: Both footballers are accused of having slept with Zahia Dehar, a French-Algerian call girl, between 2008 and 2009, when she was between 16 and 17 years old . At the opening of the men’s trial at Paris Correctional Court, Mr Bruso . said that Ribery had ‘no idea’ that Dehar was underage during their . relationship. ‘There was nothing about her which suggested a vulnerable person,’ said . Mr Bruso. ‘She is a woman who is always made-up, with her hair done and . well dressed.’ Mr Bruso questioned the law on underage sex, saying that it was too ‘imprecise’ to prosecute the players. The age of consent in France is 15, and prostitution is legal, but only if both parties are over the age of 18. In the dock: Ribery, 30, is accused of flying Dehar, pictured, from Paris to Munich 'as a birthday present to himself' If found guilty, Ribery and 25-year-old Benzema, who plays for Real . Madrid, face a maximum jail sentence of three years and fines equivalent . to around £40,000. Benzema denies having any sexual relationship with Dehar whatsoever, despite her telling police the opposite in 2010. She was interviewed by detectives investigating a vice ring at the Zaman . Cafe, on the Champs Elysee, which has since been shut down. Top footballers, including many playing for David Beckham’s old club . Paris St Germain, were said to have used the club to pick up . prostitutes. Nine men have so far been charged with offences related to the enquiry, including Ribery’s brother-in-law. Neither Ribery, Benzema nor prosecution witness Dehar appeared at . today’s hearing, which heard that Dehar had been a prostitute since the . age of 15, but always told clients she was 18. Court documents reveal that she attended Ribery’s 26th birthday party in . a hotel in 2009, and afterwards he paid her the equivalent of £600 for sex, despite being a devout Muslim who is married. Benzema is suspected of having paid the equivalent of some £400 for sex with Dehar in a Paris hotel suite in May 2008. Dehar’s lawyer, Daniel Vaconsin, said she would only turn up in court if . asked. She is now a celebrity in France, having appeared on numerous . reality TV shows and started her own lingerie range. The trial was today adjourned until January next year to enable the law on underage prostitution to be reviewed. Sorry we are unable to accept comments for legal reasons. | Franck Ribery and Karim Benzema accused of sleeping with Zahia Dehar . Allegedly happened when she was between 16 and 17 years old . If found guilty they face a three-year jail sentence . | 03cbf715367a0be52c0b484cd2581752edaad618 |
By . Jamie Redknapp . and Martin Keown . Follow @@martinkeown5 . Sportsmail's Jamie Redknapp and Martin Keown give their expert match analysis following England's World Cup defeat to Uruguay. MARTIN SAYS... Luis Suarez's first goal was similar to the one England conceded to Mario Balotelli on Saturday. Once again, the centre forward pulled off the shoulder of our defender and punished us. Phil Jagielka should have been touch-tight in the box. Instead, he was a few yards off Suarez, who drifted away. Suarez is always looking to pull off the shoulder and Jagielka just stood still. VIDEO Scroll down to watch Luis Suarez talk about playing against his Liverpool team-mates . Clever: Luis Suarez gets the better of Phil Jagielka in the air to head Uruguay ahead against England . Costly: Jagielka watches on after Edinson Cavani's cross sailed over his head and straight to Suarez . In that situation you have to turn your body so you can see the man and the ball. Suarez . moves like Ian Rush. Even when I played a charity match against Rush 18 . months ago, he was only interested in the space behind me. .................................................................................................... JAMIE SAYS... We can look at the defending, but the pass by Edinson Cavani is brilliant and it takes out five players. Suarez’s world-class movement beats Phil Jagielka - takes his tally to six goals in six games against the Everton man. Gary Cahill and Jagielka were terrorised by the Liverpool striker. Roy Hodgson said Suarez had to score at this World Cup to prove he is world-class. Suarez proved his point, twice. Deadly duo: Suarez celebrates with Edinson Cavani who crossed for the frontman to score . The first half was not exactly packed with clear chances - Luis Suarez’s goal was the first shot on target. JAMIE SAYS... I can understand why England picked Jordan Henderson. He had a good season for Liverpool, but he plays in a different position, higher up the pitch, for his club. He is deeper for England and the team were crying out for more dare and creativity. I wanted Jack Wilshere or Ross Barkley on from half-time but Barkley did not arrive until the 64th minute. He had an impact when he came on. Stretching: England midfielder Jordan Henderson attempts to get the better of Cristian Rodriguez . Too little, too late? Ross Barkley made an impact when he came on for England off the bench . VIDEO Uruguay elated as England sit on the brink . Raheem Sterling's pass completion rate in the game. MARTIN SAYS... Leighton Baines and Glen Johnson are huge attacking threats for their clubs. But they are frustrating for England. They were both so conservative in possession in the first half. Things improved after the break but playing at the highest level has a lot to do with self-esteem. Different player: Leighton Baines is dynamic for Everton but has failed to reproduce the same form for England . Nervy: Glen Johnson (right) and Baines were conservative in possession during the first half . Wayne Rooney is level with Michael Owen on 40 England goals. JAMIE SAYS... It's not rocket science. If you play your best players in their best positions they will do the business for you. There’s been debate all week but playing through the middle Wayne Rooney hit the bar and was clearly our most influential player. England had a poor night but Rooney answered some of his critics. At last: Rooney wheels away to celebrate after equalising for England in the second half . Hope: Rooney, pictured celebrating with Ross Barkley, showed what he's all about in an England shirt . | Luis Suarez's header puts Uruguay ahead against England . The Liverpool striker peeled away from Everton defender Phil Jaglielka to head the ball into the back of the net . Edinson Cavani provided the assist with a wonderful chipped ball into the box . | 645d35cb0b70061a07c50a8453ca763b9448d283 |
By . Darren Boyle . Music legends the Gallagher brothers and Johnny Marr joined in the scenes of wild celebration as Manchester City clinched their second Premier League title. The Oasis and Smiths legends were at the Etihad Stadium to see their team cruise to an easy 2-0 victory against West Ham. Before the game, Noel Gallagher admitted he was feeling more nerves than he had before the match that clinched the title two years ago against QPR, saying: 'My stomach was going this morning.' Scroll down for video . Johnny Marr, left and Noel Gallagher, right, were among the sell-out crowd at the Etihad Stadium in Manchester today . Noel Gallagher enjoys the celebrations with former Smiths man Johnny Marr . Liam Gallagher arriving at the Etihad Stadium before the game . Manchester City captain Vincent Kompany lifts the Premier League trophy for the second time . Noel and Liam Gallagher arrived at the game separately and did not sit together during the match. Noel took part in the mass pitch invasion following the game along with Johnny Marr and was even given the captain's armband by Vincent Kompany. Oasis split in August 2009 after Noel and Liam had a massive backstage row in Paris. Last month, Liam sparked rumours of a possible reunion after a series of cryptic Twitter posts, but so far fans of the Britpop act have been disappointed. Noel even turned down the possibility of a £20 million payday by rejecting a lucrative world tour. Manchester City captain Vincent Kompany was photographed lifting the Barclays Premier League trophy without his armband after he handed it to Noel Gallagher. The former Oasis man was spotted proudly pointing to the armband on the pitch after the game. He was strolling on the pitch with Johnny Marr, casually talking to fellow Manchester City fans - apart from brother Liam. Former Oasis Noel Gallagher was handed the captain's armband by Manchester City defender Vincent Kompany . Noel Gallagher celebrates with City striker Sergio Aguero after the final whistle . While just 36 miles away Liverpool fans . again suffered heartbreak on the final day of the season as they failed . to win their first league title since 1990. Liverpool needed to beat Newcastle at Anfield while hoping Manchester City would lose to West Ham at the Etihad stadium in Manchester. All Premier League games kicked-off at exactly 3pm today in a bid to keep some drama in the title race. Liverpool fans at Anfield prayed to the heavens for an unlikely sign that they could win their first ever Premier League title. But the only thing in the skies over Merseyside was an aircraft sent by Manchester United fans mocking Liverpool captain Steven Gerrard over his lack of league titles. Cruel Manchester City fans also thanked Steven Gerrard for his slip at Chelsea which cost Liverpool a vital game, followed by an unlikely draw against Crystal Palace when the Merseyside team were three goals up with 20 minutes left in the game. While Manchester City fans decided Steven Gerrard should be reminded of his unfortunate slip against Chelsea which derailed his league dreams . Manchester City fans ran onto the pitch at the end of the game to celebrate their league victory . A young Liverpool fan is comforted as he can barely watch his team after they blew their best ever chance of winning the Premier League . After dropping those five points, Manchester City started today's game knowing that all they needed to do was avoid defeat and they would be crowned champions. Fans in Anfield and Manchester had portable radios to keep track of the score in the other game. When word reached Manchester that Liverpool defender Martin Skrtel had scored an own-goal, the stadium erupted. Minutes later, Manchester City scored, leaving Liverpool an impossible task. Even two late Liverpool goals were too late as City were cruising to an easy 2-0 victory. Sergia Aguero holds aloft the Premier League trophy after his team's 2-0 victory against West Ham . Jubilant Manchester City fans invaded the pitch at the final whistle with one lighting a flare . Manchester City fans ran onto the pitch after winning the league this afternoon . Manchester City fans also invaded the pitch at Loftus Road in 2012 after their first league title win in Premier League history. One of their fans managed to take the match ball home with him, although he was later arrested by police. The club decided against pressing charges against the 17-year-old youth on condition he returned the ball. Already, according to bookmakers Paddy Power, Manchester City are the 15/8 favourite to defend their league title, with Chelsea at 9/4 with Liverpool trailing at 5/1. Manchester United are 6/1 to regain the championship while Arsene Wenger's Arsenal are 9/1. Crystal Palace, who derailed Liveropool's league bid this year are 10,000/1 to win next season's league. Write caption here . Even before the game there was a party atmosphere at the Etihad Stadium as Manchester City started the game two points ahead of rivals Liverpool . The party atmosphere in the Etihad Stadium started early as West Ham presented little danger to Manchester City . Fans of all ages raced onto the pitch to celebrate with the players as soon as the final whistle was blown . Arriving at the match this afternoon, Noel Gallagher admitted that his 'stomach was going' but did not care as long as Manchester City were victorious . A Manchester City fan celebrates on the pitch while holding a young girl on his shoulders . Manchester United fans commissioned an aircraft to fly over Anfield before this afternoon's game to inform them that Liverpool's captain Steven Gerrard has never won the league . Liverpool fans react after they hear Manchester City have taken the lead against West Ham United, leaving them with an impossible task . | Noel Gallagher admitted that his 'stomach was going' on his way to the stadium . Manchester City cruised to an easy 2-0 victory to settle the Oasis man's nerves . Thousands of fans invaded the pitch at the end of the game to celebrate . Despite attending the same game, Noel and Liam Gallagher kept well apart . | 3782018d186f6f7d5ae90ad111070a4ddf97dd37 |
By . Eleanor Harding . PUBLISHED: . 18:22 EST, 4 October 2013 . | . UPDATED: . 18:28 EST, 4 October 2013 . A coroner's officer has been suspended over claims she accused the parents of children who died in a maternity hospital scandal of a ‘witch-hunt’. Liz Gaskell, 40, is under investigation by police after making the accusation in Facebook messages. The families have spent years trying to discover the truth behind their babies’ deaths at Furness General Hospital in Cumbria, where up to 14 are thought to have died needlessly. Liz Gaskell, 40, was handling cases of babies who died at Furness General Hospital on behalf of coroner. She is alleged to have sent them Facebook messages telling them to rethink their 'witch-hunt' They were shocked when Mrs Gaskell, who has handled their cases on behalf of the coroner, sent them messages warning against continuing their campaign. One, sent earlier this week, tells them to ‘be careful’ what they tell the Press and urges them rethink their ‘witch-hunt’. It also appears to defend a staff member who is currently under investigation at University Hospitals of Morecambe Bay NHS Trust, which runs the hospital. The incident calls into question Mrs Gaskell’s impartiality. Last night, a source close to the case said: ‘She’s been friendly towards the families throughout all the proceedings. They thought she was trying to help them, but now they’re not so sure.’ Mrs Gaskell is employed by Cumbria Police and works for the Barrow Coroner Ian Smith. She is believed to have helped organise the inquests of babies Joshua Titcombe, Elleanor Bennett, Alex Davey-Brady and Chester Hendrickson, as well as Chester’s mother Nittaya, 35, who all died at the hospital. Her comments came after the Trust’s head of legal services, Ranu Rowan, was suspended over allegations she tried to block Alex’s inquest. The families have spent years campaigning to find out how their children died at this hospital in Cumbria . It emerged last week that Mrs Rowan wrote an email in 2009 suggesting the coroner might be ‘nudged’ away from holding the hearing. The revelation provoked an outcry from the families, whom Mrs Gaskell then contacted on Facebook, writing: ‘You guys know how much I care about you and all that you have been through BUT I promise you that Ranu Rowan hasn’t and wouldn’t do anything to cover up or influence a coroner’s inquiry. ‘A crusade for truth and change is turning into a witch-hunt. Please be careful how much you share with the Press … once it’s out there it can’t be undone. I fully support appropriate actions but what’s happening now is awful and wrong.’ Mrs Gaskell has acted as a coroner’s officer for eight years. Yesterday, she said it ‘wouldn’t be appropriate to comment, but I am extremely distressed’. Cumbria Police said she was under investigation for making the ‘inappropriate’ remarks. The Trust, which in 2011 had the highest baby mortality rate in England, will be the subject of an official inquiry later this year and up to 30 families are understood to be taking legal action. A criminal investigation is still being held into the death in 2008 of Joshua Titcombe, who had an infection that could easily have been treated with antibiotics. Earlier this year, the Care Quality Commission was accused of a cover-up after emerged that an internal report about the Trust may have been suppressed. | Liz Gaskell employed by Cumbria Police and was handling cases for coroner . Allegedly sent families Facebook messages asking them to stop campaign . Appeared to defend member of staff currently under investigation . If true the incident calls into question her impartiality in the case . | 0c0ea9892a8fba77c4284bba968e311d09d8efc8 |
New York (CNN) -- A former JetBlue flight attendant -- who reportedly cursed a passenger over a plane's public address system, deployed the plane's emergency evacuation slide, and used it to dramatically exit a flight at JFK airport in August -- pleaded guilty to two counts of attempted criminal mischief as part of a plea deal with prosecutors. Steven Slater pleaded guilty to second-degree attempted criminal mischief, a felony, and fourth-degree attempted criminal mischief, a misdemeanor. Under terms of the plea deal, he must enter a yearlong mental health program. During the program, he must take assigned medications and not get arrested. If he does not comply, he could receive between one and three years in jail. If he successfully completes the program, Slater can apply after one year to vacate the guilty plea to the felony charge and will receive a year of probation, according to terms of the plea deal. He must also pay $10,000 in restitution to JetBlue, the cost of repairing or replacing the chute. "I want to thank everyone for their support and kindness that got me through to this day," Slater said after the hearing. "The public interest in this was surprising, unexpected and encouraging. At the end of the day, I am a grown adult and must accept responsibility for my actions. Therefore, I am looking forward to moving forward with my life and I'm very grateful to the court for making these arrangements which allow me to do so." JetBlue suspended Slater immediately after the August 9 incident and he resigned from the airline last month. Terms of the deal were announced and Slater entered the plea Tuesday in Queens Supreme Court. Slater defense attorney Daniel Horwitz said last month he was negotiating a plea deal with Queens prosecutors. "We look forward to resolving this matter amicably with the district attorney," Horwitz said. And Queens District Attorney Richard Brown had said his office is considering "an alternative sentencing program, at the defendant's request." Brown initially charged Slater with reckless endangerment, criminal mischief and criminal trespass, all of which could theoretically carry a seven-year sentence in prison. Slater at first pleaded not guilty. Slater's first court-appointed attorney had said a passenger hit Slater on the head with either the overhead bin or luggage, triggering his outburst. But some passengers who were on board the flight raised questions about that account. Slater's apparent "Take this job and shove it" action generated hundreds of thousands of fans on the internet. Hollywood public relations veteran Howard Bragman agreed to represent Slater amid speculation the former flight attendant's notoriety could lead to a television contract. "The court is the first issue," Bragman told CNN. "I want to resolve that and then we'll deal with the rest." CNN's Allan Chernoff contributed to this report. | NEW: Former flight attendant Steven Slater pleads guilty . Slater must enter mental health program . He could face 1 to 3 years in jail if he does not comply with terms . Slater reportedly cursed on the plane's P.A. system, then exited via the emergency slide . | 6d948dd865ee649a2452e59d45a305160d1070e6 |
Carey Mulligan has spoken of her pride after her Army captain brother helped save a girls’ school that had been targeted by the Taliban. Owain Mulligan was deployed to Afghanistan in 2012. While there he learnt how insurgents had deliberately poisoned a water source at a nearby school, forcing it to close. The Great Gatsby actress revealed her older brother – at that time working as a linguist for the Army, mentoring Afghan forces – set about trying to raise money to create a new well. Scroll down for video . Charity work: Carey Mulligan was inspired to become an ambassador for War Child after her brother helped save a girls' school . In doing so, he contacted the charity War Child and as a result of his actions, the school later reopened. Miss Mulligan, 29, said her brother’s efforts had inspired her to become an ambassador for the charity, which helps youngsters in war-stricken countries. She told Harper’s Bazaar: ‘When my brother was a soldier in Afghanistan, he was at a base around the corner from a girls’ school that had to be shut down because of the Taliban. They had poisoned the water source. The only way it could reopen was if a new well was built. So my brother took up the initiative, amazingly, and started raising money for this school.’ She continued: ‘War Child was a charity that responded immediately. Since then, my brother has been a big fan, and when he left the Army… we met with them and started talking about working together… War Child is just extraordinary. They counsel kids through conflict and help them for years after a trauma.’ School saviour: The actress's soldier brother Owain Mulligan was based in Afghanistan as a linguist for the Army . Carey Mulligan features on the cover of the December issue of Harper's Bazaar, out tomorrow . Miss Mulligan, who is married to Mumford and Sons frontman Marcus Mumford, also works with the Alzheimer’s Society, after her grandmother was diagnosed with the disease. Her brother’s military career began when he volunteered to serve with the Territorial Army in Iraq after graduating from Oxford University. Miss Mulligan drew on the experience of having a sibling in the forces when she played Elsie, a character who objects to her brother going to war in ITV’s My Boy Jack. According to previous reports Mr Mulligan, who is thought to be 30, spent some time with the Royal Artillery before commencing his degree in modern history. While in the Army, he taught himself Dari and Pashto – the official languages of Afghanistan. He reached the rank of captain before leaving the forces. He now works for a business consulting firm. Miss Mulligan revealed her brother’s work in Afghanistan as she promoted her latest film, Suffragette, which also stars Meryl Streep. The full interview appears in the December issue of Harper’s Bazaar, on sale tomorrow. | Owain Mulligan was deployed to Afghanistan in 2012 as a linguist for Army . There he learnt how insurgents had poisoned a water source at a school . He set about raising money to create a new well and contacted War Child . Miss Mulligan said his efforts inspired her to become ambassador for charity . | 2eb92b9fcf319a782c6fee738a8439c4b606aa43 |
The Navy has revealed a radical new laser weapon it says can shoot down missiles, boats and even drones from a warship is already is active service. The prototype Laser Weapon System was being tested on the USS Ponce in the Persian Gulf, and was so successfully commanders gave the weapon the go-ahead to use it to defend the ship. Experts say they also found a surprising second use for the system - as a surveillance tool. Scroll down for video . The laser weapon aboard the USS Ponce, where is was able to shoot boats and drone in exercises . The laser was accurate enough to blow up a test missile being carried on an unmanned platform during tests of the new weapon aboard the USS Ponce in the Persian Gulf. The prototype 30 kW-class solid-state laser (SSL) weapon system developed under the leadership of the Naval Sea Systems Command (NAVSEA), the LaWS integrates six commercial 5.4 kW fibre lasers with a beam combiner originated by the Naval Research Laboratory. A surface warfare weapons officer aboard USS Ponce who can operate all functions of the laser-and if commanded, fire the laser weapon. Using a video game-like controller (pictured), that sailor will be able to manage the laser's power to accomplish a range of effects against a threat, from disabling to complete destruction. Rear Adm. Matthew L. Klunder, chief of naval research, said that during the test sailors began using the system in ways its developers didn't fully anticipate, such as for long-range surveillance. Sailors were able to identify approaching vessels at ranges 'they have never dreamed of'. The range of surveillance capabilities is a closely guarded secret. 'We were calling it a Hubble telescope on the water,' Adm. Klunder said. The prototype, an improved version of the Laser Weapon System (LaWS), was installed on USS Ponce for at-sea testing in the Persian Gulf. The prototype 30 kW-class solid-state laser (SSL) weapon system was developed under the leadership of the Naval Sea Systems Command (NAVSEA). It integrates six commercial 5.4 kW fibre lasers with a beam combiner originated by the Naval Research Laboratory. Using a video game-like controller, that sailor will be able to manage the laser's power to accomplish a range of effects against a threat, from disabling to complete destruction. 'This is a revolutionary capability,' said Chief of Naval Research Rear Adm. Matthew Klunder said when the tests began. 'It's absolutely critical that we get this out to sea with our Sailors for these trials, because this very affordable technology is going to change the way we fight and save lives.' Navy leaders have made directed-energy weapons a top priority to counter what they call asymmetric threats, including unmanned and light aircraft and small attack boats that could be used to deny U.S. forces access to certain areas. High-energy lasers offer an affordable and safe way to target these threats at the speed of light with extreme precision and an unlimited magazine, experts say. Perfect shot! The moment the laser weapon blows up an unmanned boat during tests in the Persian Gulf . The weapons was also shown downing a drone with a single blast from its laser . 'Our nation's adversaries are pursuing a variety of ways to try and restrict our freedom to operate,' Klunder said. 'Spending about $1 per shot of a directed-energy source that never runs out gives us an alternative to firing costly munitions at inexpensive threats.' As a result of the test, Navy officials said they planned to deploy the weapon into the Middle East for a year aboard the Ponce, allowing sailors to use the system to track potential threats and defend the ship. 'We have the authorities right now to use it in self-defense,' Klunder said. 'If someone was coming to harm the USS Ponce, we could use this laser system on that threat and we would intend to do so.' The Navy already has demonstrated the effectiveness of lasers in a variety of maritime settings. In a 2011 demonstration, a laser was used to defeat multiple small boat threats from a destroyer. In 2012, LaWS downed several unmanned aircraft in tests. A surface warfare weapons officer aboard USS Ponce who can operate all functions of the laser-and if commanded, fire the laser weapon. Using a video game-like controller, that sailor will be able to manage the laser's power to accomplish a range of effects against a threat, from disabling to complete destruction. Just one controller is need, who uses a game controller to direct and fire the laser weapon . To show its accuracy, researchers put a test missile on an unmanned craft - and the laser was able to hit it perfectly . The deployment on Ponce will prove crucial as the Navy continues its push to provide laser weapons to the fleet at large. The Navy will decide next year which, if any, of the three industry prototypes are suitable to move forward and begin initial ship installation for further testing. 'We are in the midst of a pivotal transition with a technology that will keep our Sailors and Marines safe and well-defended for years to come,' said Peter Morrison, ONR program manager for SSL-TM. 'We believe the deployment on Ponce and SSL-TM will pave the way for a future acquisition program of record so we can provide this capability across the fleet.' The U.S. Navy is has declared an experimental laser weapon on its Afloat Forward Staging Base (AFSB) in the Persian Gulf an operational asset and U.S. Central Command has given permission for the commander of the ship to defend itself with the weapon. The USS Ponce, where the radical weapon is being tested by the US Navy . | 30 kW laser integrates six commercial 5.4 kW fibre lasers into one beam . Controlled using a video game controller by a single operator . System can also be used as a long range laser surveillance scanner . USS Ponce in the Persian Gulf given go ahead to defend itself with weapon . | 007c0e1dc4f7e5355e4738f4434a960cc4cba499 |
WASHINGTON (CNN) -- An extensive federal report released Monday concludes that roughly one in four of the 697,000 U.S. veterans of the 1990-91 Gulf War suffer from Gulf War illness. A U.S. soldier wears protection against chemical weapons during the Gulf War in a February 1991 photo. That illness is a condition now identified as the likely consequence of exposure to toxic chemicals, including pesticides and a drug administered to protect troops against nerve gas. The 452-page report states that "scientific evidence leaves no question that Gulf War illness is a real condition with real causes and serious consequences for affected veterans." The report, compiled by a panel of scientific experts and veterans serving on the congressionally mandated Research Advisory Committee on Gulf War Veterans' Illnesses, fails to identify any cure for the malady. It also notes that few veterans afflicted with Gulf War illness have recovered over time. "Today's report brings to a close one of the darkest chapters in the legacy of the 1991 Gulf War," said Anthony Hardie, a member of the committee and a member of the advocacy group Veterans of Modern Warfare. "This is a bittersweet victory, [because] this is what Gulf War veterans have been saying all along," Hardie said at a news conference in Washington. "Years were squandered by the federal government ... trying to disprove that anything could be wrong with Gulf War veterans." The committee's report, titled "Gulf War Illness and the Health of Gulf War Veterans," was officially presented Monday to Secretary of Veterans Affairs James Peake. Noting that overall funding for research into Gulf War illness has declined dramatically since 2001, it calls for a "renewed federal research commitment" to "identify effective treatments for Gulf War illness and address other priority Gulf War health issues." Watch CNN's Elizabeth Cohen report more on Gulf War illness » . According to the report, Gulf War illness is a "complex of multiple concurrent symptoms" that "typically includes persistent memory and concentration problems, chronic headaches, widespread pain, gastrointestinal problems, and other chronic abnormalities." The illness may also be potentially tied to higher rates of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) -- more commonly known as Lou Gehrig's Disease -- among Gulf War veterans than veterans of other conflicts. The illness is identified as the consequence of multiple "biological alterations" affecting the brain and nervous system. iReport.com: Do you know someone affected by Gulf War illness? While it is sometimes difficult to issue a specific diagnosis of the disease, it is, according to the report, no longer difficult to identify a cause. The report identifies two Gulf War "neurotoxic" exposures that "are causally associated with Gulf War illness." The first is the ingestion of pyridostigmine bromide (PB) pills, given to protect troops from effects of nerve agents. The second is exposure to dangerous pesticides used during the conflict. The report does not rule out other possible contributors to Gulf War illness -- including low-level exposure to nerve agents and close proximity to oil well fires -- though it fails to establish any clear link. The report concludes there is no clear link between the illness and a veteran's exposure to factors such as depleted uranium or an anthrax vaccine administered at the time. "Gulf War illness isn't some imaginary syndrome," said Ken Robinson, the senior intelligence officer for the initial Department of Defense investigation into Gulf War illness in 1996-97. "This is real, and it has devastated families. Now is the time to restore the funding cuts that have been made in the Veterans Administration. Our mission has to be to ensure that these veterans get help and become whole again." Robinson noted that soldiers in the field today are not at risk for Gulf War illness, because the military is no longer using the PB pills or pesticides that led to the illness in 1990 and 1991. The report backs Robinson's conclusion, noting that no problem similar to Gulf War illness has been discovered among veterans from the conflict in Bosnia in the 1990s or in the current engagements in Afghanistan and Iraq. The committee report also backs Robinson's call for more effective treatments among veterans suffering from Gulf War illness. Noting that overall funding for research into Gulf War illness has declined dramatically since 2001, it calls for a "renewed federal research commitment" to "identify effective treatments for Gulf War illness and address other priority Gulf War health issues." Specifically, the report calls for at least $60 million in new annual federal funding on research committed to improving the health of Gulf War veterans. | NEW: Officer who investigated illness: "This is real, and it has devastated families" One in four Gulf War veterans suffer from Gulf War illness, report says . Pesticides, drug used to thwart effects of nerve gas called most likely to blame . Illness termed "a real condition with real causes and serious consequences" | f75a18f3783a3006a5c3b59513b5238fca5d38b9 |
Ayoze Perez says he could have joined Real Madrid or Barcelona, but chose Newcastle because he wanted first-team football. The 21-year-old star joined the club for £1.5million during the summer, and has become an instant hit at St James' Park after netting in wins against Tottenham Hotspur and Liverpool. And he has no regrets in choosing Newcastle over one of the La Liga giants as, according to The Sun, he didn't want to get stuck in the reserves. Newcastle star Ayoze Perez admits he had interest from Real Madrid and Barcelona during the summer . The 21-year-old says he joined the club because he wanted to play first team football . 'Yes, there was big interest from Real Madrid in particular - and some from Barcelona and Porto - but had I signed for one of these clubs would I have been playing in their first team? 'I could have ended up in their 'B' team so joining a big Premier League club seemed very much the right thing to do. 'I liked Newcastle's approach and the way they treated me and appreciated me.' Perez is set to be back in action as Newcastle travel to face Manchester United at Old Trafford on Boxing Day. Perez in action during the clubs 1-0 home defeat at the hands of Sunderland last Sunday . | Ayoze Perez had interest from Real Madrid, Barcelona and Porto . 21-year-old chose Newcastle as he wanted to play first-team football . Has scored in wins against Tottenham and Liverpool so far this season . | 7a9f72aab2e8d597fe0c4c0b00d21360e5d82ddb |
By . Emma Reynolds . PUBLISHED: . 11:39 EST, 5 October 2012 . | . UPDATED: . 11:39 EST, 5 October 2012 . Free birth control dramatically lowers rates of abortions and teen births, a large study has revealed. Only 6.3 teenagers in every 1,000 given their choice of contraception get pregnant, compared with 34 per 1,000 nationwide, U.S. researchers found. If birth control options were free, one abortion in 79 to 137 could be prevented, said scientists in St Louis, Missouri. New outlook: The rate of teen pregnancies was found to drop dramatically if women were given access to free contraception (picture posed by model) More than 9,000 women in the city were given their choice of contraceptive at no charge. When cost was not an issue, women flocked to the most effective . contraceptives - the implanted options, which typically cost hundreds of . dollars. The women, many of them poor or uninsured, experienced far fewer unintended pregnancies, reported Dr Jeffrey Peipert of Washington University in St Louis. There were much lower rates of abortion, too, with 4.4 to 7.5 abortions per 1,000 women in the study, compared with 13.4 to 17 abortions per 1,000 women in the St Louis region and 20 per 1,000 women nationally. The findings of the study published in the journal Obstetrics & Gynecology come as millions of U.S. women are . beginning to get access to contraception without copayment under President . Barack Obama's health care law. Sound investment: Women given their choice on contraception gravitate towards the most effective methods, researchers found . Women's health specialists said the study, which ran from 2008 to 2010, foreshadows that policy's potential impact. Alina Salganicoff, director of women's health policy at the Kaiser Family Foundation, said: 'As a society, we want to reduce unintended pregnancies and abortion rates. 'This study has demonstrated that having access to no-cost contraception helps us get to that goal.' Dr. James T. Breeden, president of the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists, described the results as an 'amazing improvement'. 'I would think if you were against abortions, you would be 100 per cent for contraception access,' he added. The law requires that contraceptives be available for free for women enrolled in most workplace insurance plans from January 1. Controversial issue: Millions of women are beginning to get access to free contraception under President Barack Obama's new healthcare plans . The policy is among the law's most contentious provisions because it exempts churches that oppose contraception but requires religious-affiliated organisations, such as colleges or hospitals, to provide the coverage for their workers. The U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops and many conservative groups say that violates religious freedom, and Republican presidential nominee Mitt Romney has voiced similar criticism. This week, a federal judge in St Louis dismissed a lawsuit challenging the contraception mandate. Nearly three dozen similar suits have been filed around the country. Jeanne Monahan of the conservative Family Research Council suggested contraceptive use can encourage riskier sexual behaviour. 'Obama administration's contraception mandate may ultimately cause more unplanned pregnancies since it mandates that all health plans cover contraceptives, including those that the study's authors claim are less effective,' she said. Nearly half of the nation's six million-plus pregnancies each year are unintended. An estimated 43 per cent of them end in abortion, with low-income women far more likely to have an unplanned pregnancy than their wealthier counterparts. 'We shouldn't have, in my view, a tiered system where the women with money can get family planning and the women without cannot,' said Dr Peipert, noting that 39 per cent of the women in his study had trouble paying basic expenses. About half of unplanned pregnancies occur in women who use no contraception. As for the other half, condoms can fail and so can birth control pills or other shorter-acting methods if the woman forgets to use them or can't afford a refill. Implanon is an implant inserted under the skin of the arm that prevents pregnancy for three years. An IUD, a tiny T-shaped device inserted into the uterus, can last for five to 10 years, depending on the brand, although it can be removed. Only about five per cent of U.S. women use long-acting contraceptives, far fewer than in other developed countries. Dr Peipert believes this is because insurance has not always covered the higher upfront cost to insert them and because doctors do not always mention these methods. Three-quarters of his study participants chose an IUD or Implanon, and a year later 85 per cent were sticking that choice - compared to about half who had initially chosen the pill, patch or other shorter-acting method. | Millions of women are . beginning to get access to free contraception under Obama's new healthcare law . Women gravitate towards the best forms of birth control when they have all options, researchers found . Long-term contraception methods can currently cost hundreds of dollars up-front . Nearly half of the nation's six million-plus pregnancies each year are unintended . | 46dd3cc1ef84982ee493f229b4c860511ad1ff25 |
Los Angeles (CNN) -- Chris Brown was booted from a rehab facility this month after smashing his mother's car window during a family session, his probation officer reported Wednesday. The judge overseeing Brown's probation in his Rihanna beating case ordered the singer to immediately enter another rehab program and stay for 90 days. Brown, who was arrested on an assault charge in Washington, D.C., last month, still faces a possibly probation violation charge that could send him to prison. "There is much concern with the probationer's new arrest and his violent outburst that resulted in his discharge from a treatment facility," the probation report said. The singer sat nervously in a Los Angeles County courtroom, holding girlfriend Karrueche Tran's hand as he waited while his lawyer, Mark Geragos, met privately with the judge and prosecutor before his hearing began Wednesday afternoon. Brown's freedom has been in question since he was arrested on a sidewalk near the White House after allegedly punching a man. The probation imposed when he pleaded guilty to a felony charge in the 2009 attack on Rihanna -- his girlfriend at the time -- requires that he stay out of legal trouble. The lawyers and judge emerged from chambers with a deal, which required Brown to spend the next 90 days in a court-approved treatment facility. Los Angeles County Deputy District Attorney Mary Murray told the judge she still reserved the right to ask for Brown's probation to be revoked on the D.C. arrest. Los Angeles County Superior Court Judge James Brandlin ordered the probation officer to provide a detailed report about that incident, with that report expected to be presented when Brown returns to court on December 16. Brown voluntarily entered a rehab center on October 28, a day after he was released from a Washington jail. "His goal is to gain focus and insight into his past and recent behavior, enabling him to continue the pursuit of his life and his career from a healthier vantage point," representative Nicole Perna said when he entered. When he checked out on November 10 his representative said he would continue in the program as an outpatient. However, the probation report given to the judge Wednesday disputed that, saying he was kicked out of the program. It quoted a center official saying he was ordered out for "breaking programs rules by acting violently." The violence involved Brown "throwing a rock through his mother's car window" after a family session at the center in which she said she wanted him to stay in the treatment. "Mr. Brown preceded to walk outside and pick up a rock and threw it through his mother's car window and it shattered," according to letter from the rehab center included in the probation report. Brown's "prognosis is very guarded" unless he gets professional help, the letter said, . Brown will leave the new rehab center three days a week to work eight-hour shifts of community labor so that he can complete the 1,000 hours of work still remaining in his punishment for the attack on Rihanna. The report estimated he will have to work on community labor three days of every week until next August to meet his deadline. He may also travel to Washington for a court hearing Monday in the assault case there, the judge said. His lawyer said he would try to get the hearing delayed. Secret Service report could help Chris Brown's defense . | Chris Brown must spend the next 90 days in a rehab facility, judge says . The rehab is part of a deal Brown's lawyer reached with the prosecutor . Brown's probation officer recommended the singer be ordered to rehab . His arrest in Washington still threatens Brown's freedom . | e1e5db910680f09bb3f0a39d6e1f7005fcdb5fda |
By . Kerry Mcdermott . PUBLISHED: . 03:08 EST, 9 July 2013 . | . UPDATED: . 06:31 EST, 9 July 2013 . We've already seen 'planking' and 'milking', now witness the latest bizarre student fad: 'McDiving'. It seems the time-honoured tradition of piling into McDonald's at the end of a boozy night out is now incomplete without an attempt to launch oneself over the counter at unsuspecting fast food workers. Video clips of students' efforts - which often end with the culprit being hauled out from the kitchen by disgruntled staff - are receiving thousands of hits on YouTube. Watch the videos below... 'McDiving': Video clips show drunk students taking a short run-up before launching themselves across the counter at McDonald's restaurants from Bath to Aberdeen . Out you go: One man who performed a McDive while dressed as a giant banana is seen being hauled out from behind the counter by staff . One clip shows a man performing a McDive . while dressed as a giant banana, before being unceremoniously dragged . from behind the counter by a bouncer. Similar scenes have been captured at branches of the fast food restaurant up and down the country, and the 'sport' even has its own dedicated Facebook page. The page features a brief explanation of the craze, which reads: 'McDiving is the new sport of today. It's very simple: You visit a McDonald's and dive over the counter. 'Beware you must be prepared for the wrath of the bouncers.' Stunt: A gang of students dressed as giant bananas are seen gearing themselves up for their McDives . Viral: Video clips of students' best McDiving efforts are receiving thousands of hits on YouTube . Success: A student celebrates after successfully making it the other side of the counter at a McDonald's branch . Undergraduates in Bath, Newcastle and Aberdeen have been filmed McDiving, but students in Leeds claim to have kick-started the craze. Jake Warren, a politics and social policy graduate from Leeds University, said: 'A friend of mine claims to have . invented the sport. 'There was a McDonalds in Leeds where we used to go . after a night out and he said "I’m going to do a McDive", then he dived . over the counter. 'The premise is pretty simple, you just dive over the counter,' the 22-year-old said. 'I thought it was quite funny when I first saw it.' Shocked: This McDonald's employee appears amused by a student's attempt to make it over the counter and into the kitchen . 'Beware the wrath of the bouncers': The student's attempt at a McDive was foiled by bouncer . Prank: According to one student, the key to a successful McDive is a mixture of confidence and timing . Inebriated: The latest craze follows previous internet fads like planking and milking . Mr Warren, who said the key to a successful McDive was a mixture of confidence and timing, said the funniest part of the prank was the shocked reaction of staff and customers. 'They usually are cheering and laughing. May be some please are annoyed but most find it funny,' he said. 'I preferred to be the cameraman as the bouncers don’t take to it too kindly.' McDonald's said in a statement: 'We do not condone jumping over our restaurant front counters as it poses a serious health and safety risk to both the participants and our restaurant staff.' 'Milking', which originated in . Newcastle, saw students filming themselves pouring four pint cartons of . milk over their heads, while 'planking' involves posing for a photograph . lying face-down in the plank position in an unlikely public place. 'New sport': McDiving now has its own dedicated Facebook page, which warns participants to beware the 'wrath' of bouncers in the fast food restaurants . Not lovin' it: McDonald's branches up and down the country have seen gangs of students diving across the counter . | Video clips of bizarre antics receiving thousands of hits on YouTube . Drunk revellers take a run-up before launching themselves over counters . Some clips show students being hauled out of McDonald's outlets by staff . | a8c15c87383f1c06f2e577df2b2193963123db3f |
By . Associated Press Reporter . PUBLISHED: . 07:08 EST, 10 July 2013 . | . UPDATED: . 07:56 EST, 10 July 2013 . It's a murder trial involving almost a . half-dozen mistresses, a botched investigation at a troubled police . department and a missing pickup truck at the heart of the case. After a month of testimony, the trial . of former Albuquerque police officer Levi Chavez , accused of killing his wife with . his service weapon, has become a tale of workplace romances and steamy . affairs, including a love triangle at the hair salon where the victim . worked. In all, four mistresses and a woman . who married defendant just after his wife's death have . testified about their trysts with him. Several of the women were police . officers. The case also has threatened to . further tarnish the reputation of the beleaguered Albuquerque Police . Department, which already is under investigation by the U.S. Justice . Department over a series of police shootings. Accused: Prosecutors have depicted Levi Chavez as a philanderer whose marriage was crumbling, and say he killed his wife after she found out he had staged the theft of his pickup truck to collect the insurance proceeds . The less-than-perfect crime: Tera Chavez was killed when her husband allegedly shot her in the mouth and tried to make it look like a suicide . The trial included allegations that officers at the scene removed and even flushed key evidence down the toilet. Chavez, 32, is accused of shooting . his 26-year-old wife, Tera Chavez, with his department-issued gun in . 2007 at their Los Lunas home and then trying to make her death look like . a suicide. Prosecutors have depicted Chavez as a . philanderer whose marriage was crumbling, and say he killed his wife . after she found out that he had staged the theft of his pickup truck . valued at more than $20,000 to collect the insurance proceeds. The defense says the death was a . suicide by a woman unraveling over her failed marriage and . relationships. Chavez's lawyer says he could not have killed his wife in . October 2007 because he was with another woman at the time. Tera Chavez was also having an affair . with an Albuquerque police officer who was married to the maid of honor . in her wedding, witnesses said. They had sex in the back of a hair . salon where she worked, according to testimony. 'This trial is like a mosquito in a . nudist colony,' said Tom Garrity, owner of the Albuquerque-based public . relations firm The Garrity Group. 'Where do you begin?' The case is nearing the end as defense attorney David Serna calls final witnesses this week. Serna, who has long represented . clients in high-profile New Mexico homicide cases, was able to convince . the judge to bar statements Tera Chavez made about her husband and his . 'cop buddies' staging the theft of Levi Chavez's 2004 Ford F-250 truck . as part of an insurance scam. Now Serna is working to show how his client was a victim of a larger effort to paint him as a monster. The OTHER side of the law: Former Albuquerque police officer Levi Chavez seen here in his mugshot after allegedly murdering his wife . 'There has been a persistent anti-Levi Chavez campaign by the media from the beginning,' Serna told The Associated Press. A key to Serna's defense strategy has . been to discredit former Valencia County Sheriff's Detective Aaron . Jones, one of the first investigators on the scene who concluded that . the death 'looked staged.' Serna has portrayed Jones as a . conspiracy theorist unable to hold steady law enforcement jobs in . California and New Mexico as he kept stumbling upon 'nefarious . activities' involving crooked police that were never borne out. Jones was taken off the investigation into Tera Chavez's death after calling his supervisors derogatory names. He was also in the middle of one of . the trial's more colorful moments when he testified that he believed . Chavez was pretending to cry over his wife's death during interviews, . which he saw as a clue Chavez might have been involved. 'If there is no snot, believe him . not,' he testified in a comment that drew immediate comparisons to . attorney Johnnie Cochran's theatrics during the O.J. Simpson trial. But Chavez and his lawyer suffered an . apparent setback last week when a crime scene expert testifying in his . defense failed to pull off a demonstration of how the officer's wife . might have been able to kill herself with his gun. There was a bullet in the gun's . chamber when it was found next to Tera Chavez's body, leading . prosecutors to argue that she could not have shot herself and then . released the magazine. Protect and serve: Levi Chavez, left, sits with his attorney at his murder arraignment in the Valencia County District Court . Larry McCann, the expert, suggested . that Tera Chavez held the gun upside down and used her thumb to pull the . trigger. But McCann tried a few times to show jurors that he could pull . the trigger and press the gun's magazine release in one continuous . motion, but it didn't work. 'I can't get it to work today,' he said. The failed demonstration drew gasps, smiles and whispers from members of Tera Chavez's family. The investigation also has been . criticized since an Albuquerque officer, on scene to help Levi Chavez . cope with his wife's death, cut out a piece of a bloody mattress and had . the piece destroyed. Another officer used a toilet and . flushed it before investigators had a chance to examine what may have . been blood floating inside. In other testimony, a digital . forensic investigator with the Los Lunas Police Department told the jury . that an Internet search from November 2006 on 'how to kill someone' was . found on Levi Chavez's computer. The testimony from Levi Chavez's . former mistresses included other bizarre details. One mistress provided . an alibi, and another, who was called to counter the alibi, said that . while she was carrying on the affair, she got her hair done by Tera . Chavez at a Los Lunas salon. Another mistress said she and Levi . Chavez had sex in a house he once shared with his wife just a few weeks . after the wife was found dead. 'I think people are more focused on . all the drama that the positions of both sides arguing their cases,' Garrity said. 'Jurors will have a hard time not to be caught up in that . drama.' | Both Levi Chavez and his wife were having extramarital affairs at the time of the shooting . The couple was talking about divorce prior to Tera Chavez's death . Defense says evidence is consistent with suicide . Cops at Albuquerque Police Department accused of tampering with evidence . | d63cc6658089a75026beb65982208ae17352e213 |
Things may not be going according to plan for Mario Balotelli on the pitch, but he has pledged to put in the hard yards to turn it all around. The striker, who has yet to score in the Premier League following his £16m summer switch from AC Milan, posed with defenders Kolo Toure and Mamadou Sakho at the club's Melwood training ground. Balotelli posted the picture on Instagram on Friday along with the caption: 'Train hard! Will play hard!!' Mario Balotelli was all smiles with Liverpool team-mates Kolo Toure and Mamadou Sakho at training on Friday . Things haven't gone according to plan for Balotelli or Liverpool so far this season . The 24-year-old looks to be on the mend after a hamstring injury, but he will miss his side's clash against Leicester this weekend. Balotelli would have had to oust Rickie Lambert from the striking role, with the former Southampton man scoring in his last two appearances. And Sky Sports presenter Gary Neville believes Lambert deserves his place in the team. 'He should be playing 100 per cent ahead of Balotelli,' he told Sky Sports. . Gary Neville believes Rickie Lambert deserves to keep his place in the starting line-up . Balotelli, who is currently out of action with a hamstring injury, watches the James DeGale-Marco Periban fight .  . | Mario Balotelli has been out of action in recent weeks with hamstring injury . Posts photo on Instagram smiling with Kolo Toure and Mamadou Sakho . Striker has been replaced in the team by Rickie Lambert . Gary Neville believes Lambert should keep his place after scoring twice . Liverpool play Stoke City this weekend in the Premier League . | d4273c6b60abca4fc07586f1a414b446d85964da |
Manchester United are unlikely to pay the £12million Arsenal are demanding for Thomas Vermaelen after their initial bid was rejected. The Belgium international has just one year to run on his deal at the Emirates and United believe the valuation of the centre-back is too high. Their opening offer was thought to be in the region of £6m. Napoli also have an interest in Vermaelen but the player himself is keen on a move to Old Trafford. VIDEO Scroll down for Thomas Vermaelen parades FA Cup and trains with Arsenal . Out: Thomas Vermaelen wants to leave Arsenal and join Manchester United after the World Cup . International duty: Vermaelen is currently at the World Cup with Belgium . VIDEO Vermaelen could join Manchester United . Sportsmail revealed last week how the 28-year-old had told close pals he wants to leave the Gunners in the direction of United following the World Cup. Red Devils boss Louis van Gaal wants to sign the defender but the inflated fee could prove a stumbling block. Vermaelen was forced off during Belgium's 1-0 win over Russia on Sunday but the extent of his knee injury is not yet known. Arsenal, meanwhile, have already began weighing up various replacements should Vermaelen leave. Devastated: Vermaelen pulls his shirt over his head after being forced off in the first half of Belgium's victory . | Belgium defender has just one year to run on his deal at the Emirates . He has told pals he wants to move to Old Trafford . Arsenal and United appear some way apart in their valuation of the player . He injured his knee during Belgium's 1-0 win over Russia on Sunday . | 0d815b23dcaea83c851c64ec6c38c9a0b72a5130 |
Boris Johnson was today accused of 'unpleasant, careless elitism' after claiming some people were not bright enough to get on in the modern world. The London Mayor was condemned by Deputy Prime Minister Nick Clegg, who accused the senior Conservative of talking about human beings like 'dogs'. Mr Johnson used a speech in tribute to Margaret Thatcher to argue that tackling economic inequality is ‘futile’ because some people’s IQ is too low for them to compete. Scroll down for video . London Mayor Boris Johnson, pictured on a visit last week, said some people were simply not bright enough to succeed in the modern world . Mr Johnson also hailed what he . called the ‘spirit of envy’, and said inequality was ‘essential’ for . economic growth. He called for the creation of a new generation of grammar schools to help the brightest children from poor homes. He also appeared to echo the fictional film character Gordon Gekko, whose notorious motto was ‘greed is good’, saying that greed was ‘a valuable spur to economic activity’. But he insisted he did not want the economic recovery to breed a new generation of ‘heartless’ bankers. Delivering the annual Margaret Thatcher Lecture – staged by the right-wing Centre for Policy Studies think-tank – he insisted the rich had a duty to help the poor and embrace philanthropy.And he urged the Government to do much more to help bright children from poor homes to get a good education. London Mayor Boris Johnson . He called for the reintroduction of John Major’s assisted places scheme, which paid for the brightest poor children to go to public schools – and accused the Tories of hypocrisy for blocking a revival of the grammar school system. But his most controversial comments came when he said globalisation was intensifying the trend towards inequality. Mr Johnson said: ‘I am afraid that violent economic centrifuge is operating on human beings who are already very far from equal in raw ability, if not spiritual worth. ‘Whatever you may think of the value of IQ tests, it is surely relevant to a conversation about equality that as many as 16 per cent of our species have an IQ below 85, while about 2 per cent have an IQ above 130. ‘The harder you shake the pack, the easier it will be for some cornflakes to get to the top. And for one reason or another – boardroom greed or, as I am assured, the natural and God-given talent of boardroom inhabitants – the income gap between the top cornflakes and the bottom cornflakes is getting wider than ever. ‘I stress I don’t believe that economic equality is possible. Indeed, some measure of inequality is essential for the spirit of envy and keeping up with the Joneses that is, like greed, a valuable spur to economic activity.’ Tribute: Mr Johnson made the comments at the third annual Margaret Thatcher Lecture - staged by the right-wing Centre for Policy Studies think-tank . But Mr Clegg condemned the remarks for writing off whole swathes of people who should be given the change to get on. 'I don’t agree with Boris Johnson on this,' he told his LBC 97.3 radio phone-in. 'Much as he is a funny and engaging guy, I have to say these comments reveal a fairly unpleasant, careless elitism that somehow suggests that we should give up on a whole swath of our fellow citizens. 'To talk about us as if we are a breed of dog, a species he called it... I think the danger is if you start taking such a deterministic view of people and start saying they’ve got a number attached to them, in this case an IQ number, somehow they’re not really going to rise to the top of the cornflake packet... 'That is complete anathema to everything I’ve always stood for in politics, which is, yes of course, you shouldn't aspire - and as an old-fashioned Liberal I don’t aspire to a perfectly homogenous society where everyone has the same kind of outcomes but you’ve got to try and do more to instil greater opportunity in society.' He accused some Tories of trying to relive the 1980s heyday of Margaret Thatcher's premiership. 'It is not 1986, it is 2013. Times have moved on.' Downing Street refused to be drawn into the row. David Cameron's official spokesman said: 'I don't know whether he has read Boris's speech but what I do know is the PM's view about the importance of equality of opportunity.' The Mayor of London, along with Prime Minister David Cameron, was educated at Eton College, Berkshire . Mr Johnson, who last week called for the ten biggest taxpayers to be handed knighthoods, acknowledged that growing inequality was creating ‘resentment’. He said ministers needed to do more to promote social mobility. ‘Though it would be wrong to persecute the rich, and madness to try and stifle wealth creation, and futile to try to stamp out inequality, we should only tolerate this wealth gap on two conditions. ‘One, that we help those who genuinely cannot compete; and, two, that we provide opportunity for those who can.’ Mr Johnson, who served as a shadow education minister under David Cameron, suggested the Tories had been guilty of hypocrisy in ruling out the creation of a new generation of grammar schools. Educated at Eton with Mr Cameron, the Mayor said: ‘I remember once sitting in a meeting of the Tory shadow education team and listening with mounting disbelief to a conversation in which we all agreed solemnly that it would be political madness to try to bring back the Grammar schools – while I happened to know that most of the people in that room were about to make use, as parents, of some of the most viciously selective schools in the country.’ He acknowledged that Mrs Thatcher had closed many grammar schools, but said that if she was here today he hoped she would find a way ‘to help bright children everywhere to overcome their background’. In a wide-ranging speech Mr Johnson also called for an end to the ‘madness’ of EU immigration. Mr Johnson appeared to echo the film character Gordon Gekko (pictured), whose notorious motto was 'greed is good', saying that greed was 'a valuable spur to economic activity' ON INTELLIGENCE . ‘Whatever you may think of the value of IQ tests, it is surely relevant to a conversation about equality that as many as 16 per cent of our species have an IQ below 85, while about 2 per cent have an IQ above 130.’ ON GREED . ‘I don’t believe that economic equality is possible. Indeed, some measure of inequality is essential for the spirit of envy and keeping up with the Joneses that is, like greed, a valuable spur to economic activity.’ ON THE RICH . ‘I hope that this time the Gordon Gekkos of London are conspicuous not just for their greed ... as for what they give and do for the rest of the population.’ ON GRAMMARS . ‘I remember once sitting in a meeting of the Tory shadow education team and listening with mounting disbelief to a conversation in which we all agreed solemnly that it would be political madness to try to bring back the grammar schools ... most of the people in that room were about to make use, as parents, of some of the most viciously selective schools.’ ON IMMIGRATION . ‘It’s time to sort out the immigration system so that we end the madness ... we are claiming to have capped immigration by having a 60 per cent reduction in New Zealanders, when we can do nothing to stop the entire population of Transylvania – charming though most of them may be – from trying to come here.’ | London Mayor said only those with high IQs could rise to the top . Inequality is 'essential for the spirit of envy', Mr Johnson argued . Called for creation of new generation of grammar schools to help brightest . Comments came in the third annual Margaret Thatcher Lecture . But Nick Clegg accused Johnson of talking about human beings like 'dogs' | d410963196f2b57e7b45a5ec77efcda678e7099b |
By . Associated Press . and Zoe Szathmary . Staffers were evacuated from the American embassy in Libya on Saturday and sent to Tunisia safely, officials said. 'All embassy personnel were relocated, including the Marine security guards who were providing security at the embassy and during the movement,' Pentagon Press Secretary Rear Adm. John Kirby said in a statement Saturday. 'The embassy staff was driven in vehicles to Tunisia,' he said. 'During movement, F-16's, ISR assets and an Airborne Response Force with MV-22 Ospreys provided security.' Kirby said that 'The mission was conducted without incident, and the entire operation lasted approximately five hours.' Scroll down for video . Evacuated: The entrance to the US embassy in Libya in seen here in a May 13, 2009 file photo. Staffers and Marines were evacuated on Saturday morning and taken to Tunisia . Violent: Embassy staff escaped unscathed from the attack which occurred this morning. In this photograph from Saturday, fighters from the Islamist Misarata brigade fire towards Tripoli airport in an attempt to wrest control from a powerful rival militia, in Tripoli, Libya . The battle for control of Tripoli's international airport began two weeks ago when Islamist-led militias launched a surprise assault on the airport, under control of rival militias from the western mountain town of Zintan. On Saturday, the U.S. evacuated its diplomats in Tripoli to neighboring Tunisia and shut its embassy . Smoke rises in Tripoli on Thursday July 24 . An unnamed US official told ABC News a that a destroyer - which was not mentioned in Kirby's statement - was another possible resource. When asked about the number of evacuees, a State Department official told MailOnline 'We do not discuss exact numbers for security reasons.' However, ABC News reported 'there were about 150 Americans that were taken out in the convoy, with more than 80 of them being Marines,' citing its unnamed source. Tom Saunders, a spokesman for US Africa Command, told MailOnline that 'There were two MV-22s deployed from Naval Air Station Sigonella, Italy. The MV-22s belong to the Special Purpose Marine Air-Ground Task Force Crisis Response (SP-MAGTAF-CR) element located at NAS Sigonella. 'The main component of the SP-MAGTAF-CR is located at Moron Air Base, Spain. A portion of the SP-MAGTF-CR matinains a [presence] at NAS Sigonella to be prepared to protect U.S. personnel and facilities on U.S. installations in north Africa. '[One] MV-22 carried one a quick response team of approximately 24 U.S military forces personnel, and the second carried a 2-person medical team. Three Air Force F-16s from Aviano provided air support. And an Air Force KC-135 from RAF Mildenhall, the UK, provided refueling support.' Saunders told MailOnline he was not aware of a destroyer, but said 'it’s not unusual for U.S. naval assets to be in that region during operations or training exercises.' State Department spokesman Marie Harf said in a Saturday statement the evacuation occurred '[d]ue to the ongoing violence resulting from clashes between Libyan militias in the immediate vicinity of the U.S. Embassy in Tripoli.' American personnel at the Tripoli . embassy, which had already been operating with limited staffing, left . the capital around dawn and traveled by road to neighboring Tunisia, . according to Harf. 'We are grateful to the Government of Tunisia for its cooperation and support,' Harf said. As the evacuation was underway, residents of the . city reported in real time on social media that American military . aircraft flew overhead while U.S. soldiers escorted a convoy of vehicles . out of town. The State Department would not confirm the evacuation . until all staffers were safely in Tunisia. The withdrawal underscored the Obama administration's concern about the heightened risk to American diplomats abroad, particularly in Libya where memories of the deadly 2012 attack on the U.S. mission in the eastern city of Benghazi are still vivid and the political uproar over it remain fresh ahead of a new congressional investigation into the incident. 'Securing our facilities and ensuring the safety of our personnel are top department priorities, and we did not make this decision lightly,' Harf said. 'Security has to come first. Regrettably, we had to take this step because the location of our embassy is in very close proximity to intense fighting and ongoing violence between armed Libyan factions.' Danger: An airplane on the tarmac of the Tripoli airport belches black smoke into the air during fighting between the Islamist Misarata brigade and a powerful rival militia on Saturday . Fighters are seen Saturday trying to fight another militia for control in Tripoli . Support: MV-22 Ospreys, like the one in this file photo, were on-hand during the evacuation, the Pentagon said in a statement . The Pentagon also said that F-16s were involved in the evacuation . The evacuation was accompanied by the release of a new State Department travel warning for Libya urging Americans not to go to the country and recommending that those already there leave immediately. 'The Libyan government has not been able to adequately build its military and police forces and improve security' it said. 'Many military-grade weapons remain in the hands of private individuals, including antiaircraft weapons that may be used against civilian aviation.' The department said embassy operations will be suspended until a determination is made that the security situation has improved, it said. Tripoli has been embroiled for weeks in inter-militia violence that has killed and wounded dozens on all sides. The fighting has been particularly intense at the city's airport. 'We are committed to supporting the Libyan people during this challenging time, and are currently exploring options for a permanent return to Tripoli as soon as the security situation on the ground improves. In the interim, staff will operate from Washington and other posts in the region,' Harf said. The evacuated staffers will continue to work on Libya issues in Tunis, elsewhere in North Africa and Washington. The move marks the second time in a little more than three years that Washington has closed its embassy in Libya. In Feb. 2011, the embassy suspended operations amid the uprising that eventually toppled longtime leader Moammar Gadhafi. After the formation of a transitional government in July, 2011, the embassy reopened in September. Gadhafi was killed in October of 2011. The Obama administration has been particularly sensitive about security of U.S. government employees in Libya since the Sept. 11, 2012, attack on the U.S. mission in the country's second largest city of Benghazi that killed ambassador Chris Stevens and three other Americans. The administration is still fending off criticism from Republicans and others that it did not either enhance security in Benghazi or evacuate the mission due to rising violence in that city in the months prior to the attack. The Benghazi mission was abandoned after that attack and never reopened. The embassy In Tripoli has been operating with reduced staff since but has remained open even as the violence intensified. On Friday, U.S. Ambassador to Libya Deborah Jones appealed for fighting near the embassy to stop. 'We have not been attacked but our neighborhood a bit 2 close to the action,' she tweeted. 'Diplomatic missions 2 B avoided pls.' On Sunday, Jones tweeted about 'heavy shelling and other exchanges' of fire in the vicinity of the embassy and speculation about the potential evacuation had been rife at the State Department for more than a week. A man looks out at smoke on Thursday. American personnel at the Tripoli embassy, which had already been operating with limited staffing, left the capital around dawn Saturday and traveled by road to neighboring Tunisia . Clash: Smoke rises over the Airport Road area after heavy fighting between rival militias broke out near the airport in Tripoli July 25, 2014 . Libya is now witnessing one of its worst spasms of violence since Gadhafi's ouster. In Tripoli, the militias are fighting mostly for control of the airport. They are on the government's payroll since authorities have depended on them to restore order. The U.S. is just latest in a number of countries to have closed down their diplomatic operations in Libya. Turkey on Friday announced that it had closed down its embassy and militia clashes in Benghazi have prompted the United Nations, aid groups and foreign envoys to leave. In Tripoli, clashes near the international airport have forced residents to evacuate their homes nearby after they were hit by shells. On Friday, the official Libyan news agency LANA reported that explosions were heard early in the day near the airport area and continued into the afternoon. The battle in Tripoli began earlier this month when Islamist-led militias — mostly from the western city of Misrata — launched a surprise assault on the airport, under control of rival militias from the western mountain town of Zintan. On Monday, a $113 million Airbus A330 passenger jet for Libya's state-owned Afriqiyah Airways was destroyed in the fighting. The rival militias, made up largely of former anti-Gadhafi rebels, have forced a weeklong closure of gas stations and government offices. In recent days, armed men have attacked vehicles carrying money from the Central Bank to local banks, forcing their closure. Libyan government officials and activists have increasingly been targeted in the violence. Gunmen kidnapped two lawmakers in the western suburbs of Tripoli a week ago and on Friday armed men abducted Abdel-Moaz Banoun, a well-known Libyan political activist in Tripoli, according to his father. An umbrella group for Islamist militias, called the Operation Room of Libya's Revolutionaries, said in a brief statement on its Facebook page on Friday that 'troops arrested Abdel-Moaz over allegations that he served under Gadhafi' and 'instigated rallies against' the Islamists. | The United States shut down its embassy . in Libya on Saturday and evacuated its diplomats to neighboring Tunisia . under U.S. military escort . American personnel at the Tripoli . embassy, which had already been operating with limited staffing, left . the capital around dawn and traveled by road to neighboring Tunisia . 'About 150 Americans' were reportedly evacuated . The Pentagon said that F-16s, ISRs and MV-22 Ospreys were on-hand for protection . The movement took place amid significant deterioration in security in Tripoli as fighting intensified between rival militias . Order was accompanied by the . release of a new State Department travel warning for Libya urging . Americans not to go to the country and recommending that those already . there leave immediately . | 040f1b055f06e7b7ad787d84fd1605c8f7d77d0e |
By . Sarah Griffiths . Residents and visitors to Israel will soon be able to take in the bustling city’s sights, from the comfort of a hovering sky car. A 1,640ft (500 metre) monorail is being built on the campus of Israel Aerospace Industries (IAI) next year, with a commercial network set to follow that will extend across Tel Aviv. While monorails may seem like a retro creation, this futuristic version will use cutting edge technology to see two-person pods suspended from magnetic tracks, so they appear to hover. The future? Residents and visitors to Tel Aviv, Israel, will soon be able to take in the bustling city's sights, from the comfort of a hovering sky car. An artist's impression of the system is pictured . A 1,640ft (500 metre) monorail is being built on the campus of Israel Aerospace Industries (IAI) next year. If it is successful, a larger skyTran system could be rolled out across Tel Aviv, Israel. The new system will see two-person pods suspended from magnetic tracks so they appear to hover. The network of computer-controlled ‘jet-like’ vehicles will use Magnetic Levitation (Maglev) technology to provide what the firm says is fast, safe, free and economical travel. The computer-controlled pods will travel at up to 43mph (70km/h). If the technology is rolled out commercially, the pods could travel at up to 150 mph (240 km/h). It is estimated that tickets could cost around $5 (£2.90) per rider, but discounts and subscriptions are also planned. The company behind the grand plan – California-based skyTran – claims its system is a clever alternative to congested roads, and that tracks could even travel through buildings as soon as 2016. The network of computer-controlled ‘jet-like’ vehicles will use Magnetic Levitation (Maglev) technology to provide what the firm says is fast, safe, free and economical travel. ‘skyTran intends to revolutionise public transportation and, with it, urban and suburban commuting,’ the company, based at Nasa's Space Act company headquartered at the Ames Research Centre, said. Like other magev trains, the system uses powerful electromagnets that let carriages float over – or in this case under – a track. The system uses the basic principle that opposite magnetic poles attract and repel each other. Flying high: The network of computer-controlled 'jet-like' vehicles (illustrated) will use Magnetic Levitation (Maglev) technology to provide what the firm says is fast, safe, free and economical travel . Jet-like: The transport system will use cutting edge technology to see two-person pods (illustrated) suspended from magnetic tracks, so they appear to hover . Instead of an engine, the pods will use a magnetic field created by electrified coils in the track to allow them to hover and propel them along. As well as looking cool, using magnetic levitation instead of wheels mean there is no physical contact between the vehicle and the ‘guideway’ or rail, so there is no wear and tear. Because the vehicles are levitated a short distance away from the guideway, and both lift and thrust are produced by electromagnets, their speed can be easily controlled and the company said they could achieve reliable high speeds of up to 150 mph (240 km/h). Luxurious: Unlike monorails at theme parks, the pods will be plush and private, similar to a a car (illustrated). They will also travel much faster at 43mph (70km/h) - although these speeds could rise if the system is rolled out across greater distances . Maglev technology is already used in high-speed railways, such as Shanghai's Maglev Train (pictured), which has a top operational speed of 268mph (431km/h). But the monorail is the ultimate refinement of the system . Maglev uses magnetic levitation instead of wheels. The idea is that because the system makes no physical contact between the vehicle and the guideway, there is nothing to wear out or fail. The technology promises a smooth and quiet journey that is high speed and energy efficient. It is already used in high-speed railways, but the monorail is the ultimate refinement of the system. Railways like Shanghai's Maglev Train use large superconducting electromagnets in a special configuration to produce intense magnetic fields over long distances. Opening in 2004, it was the first commercially operated high-speed magnetic levitation line in the world. Trains have a top speed of 268mph (431km/h) and connect Shanghai Pudong International Airport and the outskirts of Pudong with the Shanghai Metro. This technology will ‘provide a platform for skyTran vehicles to travel at high speeds, with full payloads while levitating,’ the company said. The electrified system could even be powered by solar or wind power. The aim in building the test track is to convince town planners that the technology works so that in the near future, people could order a vehicle on their smartphone to collect them from a specified station, and then take them to their chosen destination. Unlike monorails at theme parks, the pods will be plush and private. They will also travel much faster, at 43mph (70km/h) although these speeds could rise substantially if the system is rolled out across greater distances. It is . estimated that construction of the first commercial system will take two . years at a cost of around $80 million (£47,000) and will extend to . cover the whole ‘Gush Dan’ urban and suburban area. Individual . tickets are predicted to cost around $5 (£2.90 or 17 new Israel . shekels) per rider, but discounts and subscriptions are also planned. If . the pilot and initial commercial rollout prove a success, other cites . could look to the skies to provide local travel solutions too. There are skyTran routes in ‘advanced planning’ for Toulouse, France, Kerala, India and San Francisco Bay in California. A new architectural feature: The company behind the grand plan - California-based skyTran - claims its system is a clever alternative to congested roads and that tracks could even travel through buildings (illustrated) as soon as 2016 . Magnetic appeal? Instead of an engine, the pods (an illustration of the possible interior is pictured) will use a magnetic field created by electrified coils in the track to allow them to hover and propel them along . Coming soon? If the pilot and initial commercial rollout prove a success, other cites could look to the skies to provide local travel solutions too. There are skyTran routes in 'advanced planning' for Toulouse, France, Kerala in India and San Francisco Bay in California. A mock-up of a skyTran station is pictured . | Magnetic monorail will be built at Israel Aerospace Industries next year . A commercial network is then planned to cover the rest to Tel Aviv, Israel . System is fitted with two-person pods suspended from magnetic tracks . This gives the illusion that the pods are hovering in the air . Network of computer-controlled ‘jet-like’ vehicles will use Magnetic Levitation (Maglev) technology and electromagnets . This technology is currently used to power the Japanese bullet train . Pods are planned to be luxurious and tickets could cost $5 (£2.90) | 0789b757c879042a22bfc85044e51f60ef5bf66f |
By . Rosie Taylor . PUBLISHED: . 14:41 EST, 31 May 2013 . | . UPDATED: . 18:43 EST, 31 May 2013 . Scientists believe they have finally solved the mystery of how the skeletons of more than 200 people came to be in a frozen lake in Uttarkhand . The skeletons, which were first discovered by a British forest guard in 1942, were initially thought to be the bodies of Japanese soldiers travelling through India as part of a World War II land invasion. But although the cold climate around the Lake of Roopkund, at 16,000ft above sea level, had preserved some of the hair, flesh and leather clothes of the victims, the bodies were dated to around 850AD. Scroll down for video . The mystery of how dozens of skeletons ended up on the shores of the Lake of Roopkund has puzzled locals and scientists for centuries . Scientists discovered they appeared to be from two main groups - one was closely related which seemed to be a family group and another of shorter local people. They concluded that the family were likely to be pilgrims heading through the valley with the help of the locals as guides. Theories ranging from a landslide to a mass suicide were put forward to explain the deaths, but it is only now that researchers believe they know what caused the cracks in their skulls. During World War II the British government feared they were the remains of Japanese soldiers, but tested showed they were much older . Now scientists believe a sudden freak hailstorm is to blame for the cracked skulls of the dead . The skeletons remain littered around the lake's edge . The Lake of Roopkund is in northern India near Nepal . A 2004 expedition to the site concluded the group was killed by cricket ball-sized hailstones during a sudden storm. This, they decided, was the only way . to explain why the skulls and shoulder bones of the dead had all been . hit by rounded objects directly from above. As there was nowhere to shelter in the . valley, the group was at the mercy of the storm. Their bodies lay in . the lake, which regularly freezes, for the next 1,200 years until their wartime discovery. More: The Skeleton Lake of Roopkund, India . | More than 200 skeletons discovered by British patrol during World War II . Bodies thought to be Japanese soldiers actually dated back to 850AD . Now expedition confirms blows to head which killed group were hailstones . | 05f1b510910597d00993c5776b07e306f9b3fa6b |
Motorists spend small fortunes purchasing the world's most luxurious cars, but it seems they are also forking out thousands for scrap metal. Automotive fixer-uppers, known as 'barn finds', are becoming increasingly sought after, even though some are not in driving condition. These rusting vehicles are the latest in a . growing number of unrestored classics which have been selling for . enormous prices around the world, despite needing thousands spent to restore them. A 1956 Mercedes 300 SL Gullwing, which had been off the road for 30 years, recently sold for £1.15 million - 75 per cent more than expected. Its new owner will now have to spend thousands fixing it up, even though they could have bought a concourse quality model at the same auction for £850,000. A 1967 Ferrari 330 GTS, which was hidden away for 44 years after suffering fire damage, sold at the same auction for £1.25 million. A Jaguar XK120 Competition Roadster which sold for £85,000 in 2013. The automotive fixer-uppers, known as 'barn finds' are becoming increasingly sought after in a world where passionate collectors pay through the roof for originality . The sears of a 1953-55 Austin-Healey Special Test Car which sold for £843,000 in 2011. Auction houses have been putting the cars on the block with an estimate and then watching wide-eyed as bidders battle it out to get their hands on the wrecks. This 1966 Aston Martin DB6 sold for £107,000 in 2013, despite being covered in dust . The badge of a 1965 Ferrari 330GT 2+2 Berlinetta, which sold for £68,700, after auctioneers put it on the block for an estimate of £40,000 in 2012 . A 1956 Mercedes 300 SL lewhich was left in a lockup for 30 years and in desperate need of restoration sells for £1.15 million earlier this year . | Automotive fixer-uppers, known as 'barn finds', are becoming sought after, because owners want originality . The wrecked cars are part of . growing number of unrestored classics which have been selling for . enormous prices . A Mercedes, which had been off the road for 30 years, recently sold for £1.15 million, 75 per cent more than expected . | 7fc0d44900da100dd82f24c14ac828f6df6ca45c |
Washington (CNN)Julia Pierson, the first female director of the Secret Service, resigned Wednesday in the aftermath of a fence-jumper gaining access to the White House on September 19 and a subsequent congressional inquiry uncovering other security lapses. Homeland Security Director Jeh Johnson announced the resignation in a statement. He also announced that the Department of Homeland Security would take over an internal inquiry of the Secret Service and that he would appoint of a new panel to review security at the White House. Joseph Clancy, formerly a special agent in charge of the Presidential Protective Division of the Secret Service, was named interim director, Johnson said in his statement. Calls for Pierson to leave her post grew after a poor performance during her testimony Tuesday on Capitol Hill and another bombshell revelation the same day that an armed security contractor was allowed to get into an elevator with the President during a recent trip to the Centers for Disease Control in Atlanta. Even some high-ranking Democrats had turned against Pierson, who was in the job for less than two years. In an interview on Wednesday, Rep. Elijah Cummings, the top Democrat on the House Oversight Committee, where Tuesday's hearing took place, said he thought Pierson -- who he referred to as "this lady" -- "has to go." The Maryland congressman reiterated this stance in an interview with CNN's Wolf Blitzer. "I want her to go if she cannot restore trust in the agency and if she cannot get the culture back in order," he said. Secret Service director testimony omits elevator incident with Obama . And New York's Chuck Schumer, the third-ranking Democrat in the Senate, had announced he would call for Pierson's resignation on Wednesday as well, though that was later canceled. Republicans also had called for Pierson to step down. "It's clear to me that the only way to solve the problem the Secret Service has is with new leadership," Sen. Lindsey Graham of South Carolina said. "What Julia Pierson describes as mistakes are major security failures on multiple fronts." Graham said light security around Obama is "the worst possible signal to send to terrorists and our enemies around the world." After news of her resignation broke, lawmakers praised her decision to step down. "The agency tasked with protecting the highest office in our land should be the crown jewel of federal law enforcement," Rep. Jason Chaffetz, who sits on the Oversight Committee, said in a statement Wednesday afternoon. "I will work with my colleagues and the Administration towards returning the agency back to the standards the President deserves." News of Pierson's resignation came as new information about the fence-jumper came to light. Omar Gonzalez, 42, pleaded not guilty to federal and District of Columbia charges on Wednesday. A federal judge in Washington ordered additional mental testing on the 42-year-old Iraq war veteran to determine whether he is competent to stand trial. Fence jumper made it into East Room of White House . Meanwhile, the inquiry continues into how the Army veteran launched over the fence and was able to sprint up to the front door, burst into the White House and run into the ornate East Room. Neither President Barack Obama nor the first family were at home at the time of the incident. But a Secret Service source told CNN there is an elaborate closed-circuit video system, and that video is being dissected to establish new protocols. When Gonzalez burst through the White House door, he pushed a female officer to the side. But the source said, "Gender was not a factor, she got one door secured but was pushed over while trying to get second door shut." An alarm box had been turned down near the front door after complaints by the White House usher's office that it was too loud. A canine unit was not released to chase Gonzalez, said the source, because there were "too many friendlies around." Secret Service vague with details to federal court following fence-jumper arrest . Pierson was named the director of the U.S. Secret Service in March 2013, tapped by Obama to change the culture of an agency that was then marred by a Colombian prostitution scandal. Several male agents in an advance contingent before a presidential trip to Cartagena, Colombia, had taken prostitutes back to their hotel rooms, according to investigations after the trip. A morning-after dispute between one agent and a woman over payment led to exposure of what happened and the ensuing investigations. Nine agents eventually left or lost their jobs . Pierson became the Secret Service's chief of staff in 2008. Before that, she served on the protective details of Presidents George H.W. Bush, Bill Clinton and George W. Bush. She had been the assistant director of the agency's Office of Human Resources and Training, and held the title of deputy assistant director in the Office of Protective Operations and the Office of Administration. Who is Julia Pierson? Pierson started her career in law enforcement as a police officer in Orlando, Florida. She joined the Secret Service in 1983, working in the Miami and Orlando field offices. Johnson made sure to praise the overall work of the Secret Service when he announced Pierson's resignation. "It is worth repeating that the Secret Service is one of the finest official protection services in the world, consisting of men and women who are highly trained and skilled professionals prepared to put their own lives on the line in a second's notice for the people they protect." Opinion: Can the Secret Service actually change? | Pierson resigned after inquiry into fence-jumper uncovered another security lapse . An unscreened, armed man recently got close to the President . The private security contractor was in an elevator with Obama during a visit to the CDC . Pierson was the first woman to be Secret Service director . | 410fe19f7617c68b4d14996f9138a7a9cca86c26 |
It has become a tragically familiar scene in American life: law enforcement officers descending on a packed school where a gunman is on the loose. A procession of students, their hands raised, slowly making their way out of the danger zone. But the handling of Friday's shooting at Arapahoe High School -- just 10 miles from the scene of the 1999 Columbine High School shooting where two students killed 12 classmates and a teacher before fatally shooting themselves -- drew important lessons from the earlier bloodshed. At Arapahoe High School, where senior Claire Davis, 17, was critically injured before the shooter turned the gun on himself, law enforcement officers responded within minutes and immediately entered the school to confront the gunman rather than surrounding the building, authorities said. As the sound of shots reverberated through the corridors, teachers immediately followed procedures put in place after Columbine, locking the doors and moving students to the rear of classrooms. "That's straight out of Columbine," Kenneth Trump, president of National School Safety and Security Services, a Cleveland-based consulting firm, told CNN Saturday. "The goal is to proceed and neutralize the shooter. Columbine really revolutionized the way law enforcement responds to active shooters." Arapahoe County Sheriff Grayson Robinson credited the quick police response time for the fact that student Karl Pierson, the gunman, stopped firing on others and turned his weapon on himself. In fact, Robinson told reporters Saturday, Pierson killed himself less than 1 minute, 20 seconds after entering the school. Robinson said a deputy sheriff assigned as a school resource officer and an unarmed security guard immediately closed in on the shooter. "That one minute and 20 seconds, in my mind, is extraordinarily relevant," he said, noting that Pierson was heavily armed, with ammunition, a knife and three explosives. Authorities knew from research and contact with forensic psychologists that school shooters typically continue firing until confronted by law enforcement, Robinson said. "We believe that the response from the school resource officer and from the unarmed school security officer was absolutely critical to the fact we did not have additional injury and or death," he said. Robinson said the so-called active shooter response protocol, which was developed after Columbine, was put into place. In addition, school staff and students implemented a well-rehearsed lockdown practice. "The combination of quick response by the resource officer and the implementation of a lockdown protocol caused the children and staff to be safe," he said. "Both protocols came together as they were designed to do." Friday's shooting came on the eve of the one year anniversary of the Sandy Hook Elementary School massacre, where Adam Lanza killed 20 first-graders and six adults at the now-demolished elementary school in the second-deadliest school shooting in U.S. history. Newtown marks anniversary of school killings . "It's very unfortunate that we have to say that there's a textbook response on the way to respond to these, because that textbook was written based on all of the incidents that we've had and the lessons learned," Trump said. Trump said both Sandy Hook and the latest shooting in Colorado highlight the importance of "training and engaging" school support staff -- from custodians to school secretaries to maintenance and food service workers -- on how to best respond during these incidents. In Sandy Hook, a school custodian's 911 calls provided authorities some of the first information about what was happening. "Often these people are not getting training in school emergency planning," Trump said. "In a critical incident, they may be the first person to respond." At Arapahoe High School, a school janitor spotted Pierson, whose intended target was a faculty member, in his tactical gear, he told CNN affiliate KMGH. "It just looked weird," Fabian Llerenas said. "He went in, and I heard two pops. That's when I knew. I said, 'They are shooting in the school.'" Llerenas said he called 911 and then escorted the targeted faculty member out of the school. Pierson had fired at the man but missed, Llerenas told KUSA. "He was so [shaken] up, he felt the wind hit, out of the shotgun just blew his hair, but it didn't hit him. It was that scary for him," Llerenas said. "In my opinion, that was the most important tactical decision that could have been made," Robinson said. The faculty member "left that school in an effort to try to encourage the shooter to also leave the school." Trump said other lessons learned from Columbine included the controlled evacuations and pat-down searches of students in a secure area. Self evacuations can create chaos for the police. Additionally, schools now have predesignated parent-student "reunification centers" to prevent parents from showing up at the scene and interfering with law enforcement, as was the case in Sandy Hook, Trump said. "The lessons of Columbine are still the best practices," Trump said. After Sandy Hook. Trump said, some officials advocated a "run, hide or fight" approach developed for workplace shootings in which teachers and students are encouraged to be prepared to throw things at gunmen. Some even suggested that elementary school students use items such as cans of soup to attack gunmen. Trump called it a "high risk, high liability proposition." "The good news is that we're getting better at preventing and responding to these incidents," he said. "The bad news is that there will be cases that slip through the cracks." | Handling of shooting at Arapahoe High School drew important lessons from Columbine . Authorities say officers responded within minutes and immediately entered the school . Teachers immediately locked down and moved students to the rear of classrooms . | cc750f9bca3c9f5b168dd2a3ac0329b1ceb77bc4 |
Danny Cipriani and Nick Easter have been thrown World Cup lifelines after receiving surprise call-ups for Stuart Lancaster's England training squad ahead of next month's Six Nations tournament. The Sale fly-half and veteran Harlequins No 8 were not set to be included this weekend, but a change of thinking following a selection meeting on Monday has seen them named in a 34-man squad which will train together before the opening clash with Wales on February 6. Cipriani, 27, in outstanding form this season, is one of four fly-halves in the squad - which does not contain injured stars Manu Tuilagi (groin), Courtney Lawes (ankle), Joe Launchbury (neck) and Ben Morgan (ankle) - with George Ford, Owen Farrell and Stephen Myler also named. VIDEO Scroll down to watch Stuart Lancaster confirms Danny Cipriani and Nick Easter are in . England head coach Stuart Lancaster named his 34-man squad at Twickenham on Wednesday morning . Coaches Graham Rowntree, Lancaster and Andy Farrell (left to right) speak to the press . Following a good run of form Sale Sharks, Danny Cipriani was selected for Lancaster's training squad . Cipriani impressed during his brief cameos for England against the All Blacks in the 2014 summer tour . Forwards: D Attwood (Bath), C Clark (Northampton), D Cole (Leicester), A Corbisiero (Northampton), N Easter (Harlequins), D Hartley (Northampton), J Haskell (Wasps), G Kitchener (Leicester), G Kruis (Saracens), J Marler (Harlequins), G Parling (Leicester), C Robshaw (Harlequins, capt), B Vunipola, M Vunipola (both Saracens), D Wilson (Bath), T Wood (Northampton), T Youngs (Leicester) Backs: B Barritt (Saracens), M Brown (Harlequins), L Burrell (Northampton), D Care (Harlequins), D Cipriani (Sale), K Eastmond (Bath), O Farrell (Saracens), G Ford (Bath), A Goode (Saracens), J Joseph (Bath), J May (Gloucester,), S Myler (Northampton), J Nowell (Exeter), B Twelvetrees (Gloucester), A Watson (Bath), R Wigglesworth (Saracens), B Youngs (Leicester) The mercurial No 10 is still thought to be fourth in England's pecking order but his inclusion in the squad provides a huge boost after he'd resigned himself to being omitted. Easter, who will be 37 by the time the World Cup begins in September, has not played for England since the 2011 World Cup, but has also been rewarded for his excellent club form. 'Danny hasn't been far away at all since the New Zealand tour and he was in camp in August,' said Lancaster. 'He's improved his game and worked hard and we want to create an opportunity for him to come in and put a marker down alongside Stephen Myler. 'With Ben Morgan's injury we need two specialist No 8s and Nick has been outstanding this season. 'We base a lot of our decisions on training and we have a very competitive squad. We have a two-week period to prepare and we will use that time wisely.' Nick Easter's last appearance in an England shirt was the 2011 World Cup quarter-final defeat by France . Harlequins No 8 Easter (left) chips a grubber kick past Wasps fly half Andy Goode last Satuday . Forwards . K Brookes (Newcastle Falcons), T Croft (Leicester Tigers), C Day (Northampton Saints), L Cowan-Dickie (Exeter Chiefs), D Ewers (Exeter Chiefs), M Garvey (Bath Rugby), R Harrison (Sale Sharks), M Itoje (Saracens), M Kvesic (Gloucester Rugby), M Mullan (Wasps), H Thomas (Bath Rugby), T Waldrom (Exeter Chiefs), A Waller (Northampton Saints), R Webber (Bath Rugby) Backs . C Ashton (Saracens), S Burgess (Bath Rugby), E Daly (Wasps), O Devoto (Bath Rugby), L Dickson (Northampton Saints, captain), C Pennell (Worcester Warriors), J Simpson (Wasps), H Slade (Exeter Chiefs), M Yarde (Harlequins), C Wade (Wasps) Commenting on his inclusion in the England Six Nations Squad, Danny Cipriani said, ' I am delighted to have been given the opportunity to join up with the squad next week and look forward to training with them and developing my game. 'It's a great chance for me to prove myself and hopefully get a chance to represent my country again. I would like to thank everyone at Sale Sharks for helping me make this happen.' Leicester's uncapped lock Graham Kitchener is included – in place of the injured Lawes - in a squad which also contains six returning British Lions – Alex Corbisero, Dan Cole, Geoff Parling, Tom Youngs and Mako Vunipola. Chris Robshaw will captain the side through the Six Nations despite concerns over a shoulder injury. 'Looking at both squads it's obvious there is a lot of depth and competition in every position, which is what we want. Many players are putting their hand up in the Aviva Premiership and Europe and they have a chance to impress in training as we build towards the games against Wales and the Wolfhounds. 'It's great to welcome back some of those players unavailable for the QBE Internationals in the autumn. They offer us a lot of quality and experience. So too Nick Easter, who has played well for Harlequins and, with the injury to Ben Morgan, both he and Tom Waldrom in the Saxons will provide us with specialist No 8 options alongside Billy Vunipola. That's something we feel we need going into the tournament. Bath fly half George Ford (left) is set to start for England against Wales with Owen Farrell on the bench . 'We have plenty of players to consider and with some players still being assessed from last weekend after suffering knocks we have kept our options open. 'It's a big European weekend ahead and there may be further changes once we assess the fitness of the players after round six and we will provide an update on Monday.' Rugby-league convert Sam Burgess is named in the Saxons squad to face the Irish Wolfhounds in Cork on January. 'We're really pleased with his progress,' said attack coach Andy Farrell. 'There will be a lot of ups and downs and it's a steep learning curve but for him to be involved with the Saxons is great for him.' England will welcome back a host of players for the Six Nations including Tom Youngs (left) and Mako Vunipola . | Danny Cipriani has been recalled for his superb form with Sale Sharks . Nick Easter has not featured for England since the 2011 World Cup . Jonathan Joseph's hot streak for Bath means he is retained in the squad . Ben Morgan and Joe Launchbury will miss the entire championship . Manu Tuilagi and Courtney Lawes are major injury doubts . | 641ab5822f56d6fc2d395216bf4e7301475d76f9 |
By . Jill Reilly . A video has captured the horrific moment dozens of African migrants on the verge of being rescued capsized in their dingy leaving three of them dead. Italian authorities say three migrants have died at sea and at least two are still missing after they attempted to board a Maltese tanker from a dinghy crammed with people. A police video shows the dinghy capsizing as migrants begin climbing up the steps to the tanker and the remaining migrants tumbling into the sea. Scroll down for video . A video has captured the horrific moment African migrants on the verge of being rescued capsized in their dingy killing three . The migrants, all wearing life jackets, try to scramble towards the tanker. The merchant tanker Norient Star recovered three bodies and took onboard a total of 700 migrants from various vessels, a navy statement said. The tanker then docked at the Sicilian port of Pozzallo on Monday, where police were waiting with coffins for the deceased. Italy has rescued about 5,200 men, women and children and recovered three dead bodies from overcrowded boats in the Mediterranean Sea since early Thursday. Calm seas have led to this latest wave of migrants who have left North African shores for Italy over just three days, a navy spokesman told Reuters, with merchant ships and a Maltese vessel also aiding in the rescue efforts. The surge in arrivals is straining the ability of the Italian naval mission - called Mare Nostrum or 'Our Sea' - to patrol the waters between Africa and Italy on its own. It has prompted local officials in Sicily, where most of the migrants are taken, to call for more European support. 'Europe can't just turn its back on us,' Lillo Firetto, mayor of the Sicilian port city of Porto Empedocle, said in a television interview on Sunday. 'This isn't just Sicily's border, but it's Europe's border, too.' Italian authorities say three migrants have died at sea and at least two are still missing after they attempted to board a Maltese tanker from a dinghy crammed with people . The migrants, all wearing life jackets, try to scramble towards the tanker, but it starts to tip . The merchant tanker Norient Star recovered three bodies and took onboard a total of 700 migrants from various vessels, a navy statement said . Italy has rescued around 5,200 men, women and children from overcrowded boats in the Mediterranean Sea since early Thursday . Italy has repeatedly asked for more European Union countries to join Mare Nostrum, which is Europe's biggest ever search-and-rescue mission, but so far only Slovenia has chipped in, offering one ship for two months late last year. Mare Nostrum began last October after 366 migrants fleeing African countries drowned when their boat capsized a mile from Sicily. After the tragedy, the EU pledged 30 million euros ($40.85 million) in emergency funding, mainly targeted to fund immigration facilities on land. The number of boat migrants who have reached Italy this year has already topped the total of more than 40,000 for the whole of 2013. The pace of arrivals is on track to exceed the record of 62,000 set in 2011 during the Arab Spring uprisings. Two-thirds of the migrants, who come from dozens of countries and include Syrians fleeing civil war and Eritreans evading military conscription, leave Italy for other EU countries, the Interior Ministry said. 'The ones who arrived yesterday left immediately. We saw them walking down state-road 115,' Firetto said in the televisions interview. Given the thousands who have arrived in just the past few days, Firetto said he was very worried that the situation would get worse in coming weeks. Prime Minister Matteo Renzi has urged the United Nations to intervene in Libya, where criminal gangs charge migrants more than $1,000 each for a spot on unsafe vessels, to try to limit the departures. The recent flood of boat migrants has helped revive Italy's anti-immigrant Northern League party, which had lost much of its support over the last two years due to corruption scandals and leadership changes. | Dinghy capsizies as migrants begin climbing up the steps to the tanker . Remaining migrants tumbled into sea - three drowned and two are missing . Italy has rescued around 5,200 people from overcrowded boats in last week . Officials in Sicily are calling for more European support . | 02d8064d6d2a5ed2a864d4a288b17ed68f126a5e |
Real Madrid 1-0 Liverpool - Click here to read Martin Samuel's match report from the Bernabeu . The timing is not perfect, considering Jose Mourinho's rare PR gaffe with Chelsea fans this week, but Wednesday night is the time supporters from all over England should lend their allegiance to the one Premier League club who are still a Champions League threat. Ouch. On two levels. First, asking a fan to back another team tends to be a wince-inducing request in any circumstances. Second, it shows how our clubs have turned into European lightweights. Tuesday night just about summed up how far the self-labelled 'best League in the world' is skidding off the map. Chelsea forward Eden Hazard puts his side 5-0 ahead against Maribor in their last Champions League game . Anderlecht's Aleksandar Mitrovic (right) heads a dramatic late equaliser for his side against Arsenal . Karim Benzema (right) celebrates after scoring the winner against Liverpool at the Bernabeu on Tuesday . Manchester City skipper Vincent Kompany looks glum after conceding a late equaliser to CSKA Moscow . Arsenal 3-3 Anderlecht - Click here to read Neil Ashton's match report from the Emirates . The Premier League marketing men may still swear by the 'product' but over in UEFA land, English clubs are struggling with quality control. It does not help when Liverpool boss Brendan Rodgers sticks two fingers up at what is supposed to be the blue riband of club football by playing his reserves at Real Madrid. Instant excuse in the event of a landslide, but at what price? Rodgers, supposedly one of the young managerial visionaries, may yet pay for a remarkably short-sighted decision. Then there is Arsenal. Oh, Arsene Wenger, why does it always happen to you? Three goals up and cruising. Final score 3-3. At home. To Anderlecht. No wonder the urbane Frenchman was uber-grumpy after that one. Chelsea players celebrate a goal during their 6-0 thrashing of Maribor at Stamford Bridge . Brendan Rodgers rested seven players against Real Madrid including Steven Gerrard, Glen Johnson and Jordan Henderson (left to right) Manchester United's players could play a lucrative friendly abroad with no European football to worry about . Manchester City's continuing battle to make it out of the group stages has been well documented so no-one (apart from those wearing blue-tinted spectacles) is expecting much from that quarter. They have managed to reach the knock-out phase once in three attempts. Stop tittering at the back, Manchester United fans. No European football for you but, hey, a long flight to a meaningless friendly in the Middle East after Christmas. So, thank goodness for Chelsea, then. Things are going so splendidly for Mourinho that the only thing he can moan about is the atmosphere at Stamford Bridge, which is probably not the most sensible complaint he has ever made. Library or not, the Premier League leaders are looking just the ticket in the Champions League too. England is overdue some joy in that competition. In 2014 it was Spain's turn with Atletico and Real Madrid contesting the final. La Decima went to Cristiano Ronaldo and the galacticos. The year before that it was Borussia Dortmund v Bayern Munich, a Teutonic battle settled by Arjen Robben at Wembley. Joe Hart fails to stop Jerome Boateng's strike as Manchester City lose 1-0 to Bayern Munich at the Allianz . Chelsea midfielder Nemanja Matic (right) celebrates after scoring the winner against Sporting Lisbon . Chelsea boss Jose Mourinho has experience of winning the Champions League with Porto and Inter Milan . Ronaldo, ex-Manchester United. Robben, once of Chelsea. Wembley, home of football. Our Champions League success is by association, only. Think back to 2009 when United, Arsenal, Chelsea – and Barcelona, sadly – reached the semi-finals. Ronaldo's 40-yard free kick contributed to a 4-1 aggregate win over the Gunners. United, bidding to become the first club to successfully defend their title, went on to lose 2-0 to Barca. Liverpool and Chelsea enjoyed their own ding-dong series, admittedly spiced up beautifully by the fact that Mourinho and Rafa Benitez cannot stand each other. In 2008 Didier Drogba's double capped an amazing 4-3 semi-final win over Liverpool during a halcyon period for Premier League clubs. England was represented in successive finals from 2005-2009. In 2012 Roberto Di Matteo oversaw a penalty shoot-out victory over Bayern Munich while the year before that United went to Wembley only to lose to Lionel Messi-inspired Barca in the final. Arsenal players (from left to right) Wojciech Szczesny, Per Mertesacker and Nacho Monreal look dejected . Roberto Di Matteo lifts the Champions League trophy in May, 2012 after leading Chelsea to European glory . City goalkeeper Hart hangs his head during his side's 1-1 home draw with Roma in the Champions League . The memory of those golden days is fading fast so, Chelsea, it is time to take up the challenge on behalf of the Premier League. To those who shudder at the thought, consider this. Once upon a time clubs like United, Arsenal, Liverpool and Chelsea could tempt the best players in the world with a realistic promise of Champions League success to go with domestic honours. The further English clubs drop off the radar, the harder it will be to attract the world's top talent. There could well be an unwanted exodus too. Think Gareth Bale, think Ronaldo. Think about the bigger picture. C'mon Chelsea. | Chelsea sit top of Group G and are on the verge of reaching the last 16 . Jose Mourinho's side face Slovenian side Maribor on Wednesday . Liverpool lost 1-0 to Real Madrid and may not make the knockout stages . Arsenal threw away a 3-0 lead against Anderlecht to draw the game 3-3 . Manchester City are yet to win a game in Group E and sit third . | 6aa6b2f06725edda3747afaa648c9b1a22d9e42d |
Android apps are spying on users far more than expected, a new study has found. The research by Vocativ shows the apps that can access user's microphones, call logs and contacts. It found one of the worst offenders was a game aimed at children. Scroll down for video . One of the worst offenders was a game called Happy Fish. Developer HappyElements, programmed the game so that it can collect a precise location, has access to your photos and can read your text messages. Called Happy Fish, developer HappyElements, programmed the game so that it can collect a precise location, has access to your photos and can read your text messages. It can even tell which Wi-Fi network you're using. Android users have taken to messageboards to complain about the problems. The hugely popular game Fruit Ninja asks users for permissions described as 'crazy' by users. One reviewer wrote 'I will never install this until it is clear as to why the developer needs access to all your private content.' The chart ranks the apps (top to bottom) that ask for the most permissions. AntiVirus Security, Viber and Facebook top the charts. However, more than half of the 25 apps have access to contacts, and about a third tap into text messages, call log and microphone. The key to the permissions, experts say, is ads. The research by Vocativ shows the apps that can access user's microphones, call logs and contacts. AntiVirus Security, Viber and Facebook top the charts. 'These advertisers are trying to get more targeted information about you, so they can get more targeted ads,' PrivacyGrade.org founder and Carnegie Mellon professor of computer science Jason Hong said. 'These apps access information about a user that can be highly sensitive, such as location, contact lists and call logs, yet it often is difficult for the average user to understand how that information is being used or who it might be shared with,' 'Most developers aren't evil, but they often don't know what to do with respect to privacy and security,' Hong added, explaining that some developers may simply collect data with their apps because they can, and nobody stops them. The site assigns letter grades to more than one million free Android apps, ranging from an A+ for the puzzle game Lazors to a D for the Despicable Me: Minion Rush game. PrivacyGrade.org keeps track of hundreds of apps, and publishes its ratings for them. It says that for Android smartphones, you only have a few options. If you're feeling particularly sensitive about privacy, you can delete the app. PrivacyGrade also names and shames Fruit Ninja, Despicable Me & Talking Tom as popular apps with poor privacy . Alternatively, you can try to find a replacement app that has similar functionality (e.g. there are many flashlight apps that don't need an Internet connection or location data). If you're worried about location data, you can turn off location services. Also, generally speaking, for-pay apps are better about privacy than free apps. The grades are assigned automatically using a privacy model that the researchers developed based on the preference ratings of 725 users. The final grade is based in part on an automated analysis of how an app uses sensitive data — whether it is essential for the app operation or whether it is shared with advertisers and marketers. Part of the grade is based on survey information about how comfortable users are with information being used in those ways. 'Our privacy model measures the gap between people's expectations of an app's behavior and the app's actual behavior,' said Hong. 'Most people expect apps such as Google Maps to be able to access their location, but most are surprised and troubled to learn that a game accesses their location.' The second part of Vocatic's research, revealing apps such as Twitter,and Chrome. PrivacyGrade.org keeps track of hundreds of apps. 'Today's smartphones have an incredible array of capabilities,' it says. 'Smartphones have access to our communications (email, contacts list, and social networks), activities (location, call logs, photos, accelerometers), and more. 'However, some apps access this sensitive data in ways that people do not expect. 'These are not just hypothetical risks either: several app developers have already been fined by the Federal Trade Commission for deceptive uses of people's data.' Last year the Federal Trade Commission offered guidelines to developers, but they are often ignored. In 2013, Path, the social networking site, was fined $800,000 for deceiving users by collecting phone numbers from its address book. In September 2014 , review site Yelp forked over $450,000 for collecting location data about its underage users. The FTC says: 'The complexity of the ecosystem raises 21st century concerns: When people use their mobile devices, they are sharing information about their daily lives with a multitude of players. 'How many companies are privy to this information? How often do they access such content and how do they use it or share it? What do consumers understand about who is getting their information and how they are using it?' | Data is used to effectively target ads to users by knowing their location . Games aimed at children had access to location and microphone . Fruit Ninja, Despicable Me & Talking Tom popular apps with poor privacy . | 1449a13d87df3825c0c7f1712c88df17bc821cbb |
(CNN) -- A University of Oklahoma professor has been suspended amid allegations of sexual abuse, school police said Tuesday. "OU officials acted swiftly to suspend (Dwain Pellebon) from any contact with students and from use of any university facilities," said Catherine Bishop of the university police department. "In accordance with university procedure, he was immediately placed on administrative leave with pay until more of the facts of the investigation are known at which time it could be changed to without pay." The 54-year-old associate professor teaches social work. Norman police arrested him Friday on two complaints of rape in the first degree and one complaint of lewd acts with a child under age 16, CNN affiliate KFOR reported. Official charges have not been filed. "We can say there is one alleged victim, and we are working to determine if there are any additional victims," Tom Easley with the Norman Police Department said, according to KFOR. An attorney for Pellebon told KFOR that his client denies all the allegations against him. The university's web page says Pellebon teaches a course on human sexuality, described as "an examination of sexual behavior, gender differences and sexual values." CNN's Joe Sutton and Ed Payne contributed to this report. | Norman, Oklahoma, police say the professor was arrested last week . Dwain Pellebon, 54, is an associate professor of social work . He faces two complaints of rape in the first degree, one complaint of lewd acts with a child . | 9df0c6243d0e819271ed3dd140f0e777204582e0 |
Cairo (CNN) -- Security forces fired Thursday at protesters in a Damascus suburb visited by Arab League monitors and more than 30 people died in regions targeted by the observers, opposition activists said. The forces shot at demonstrators assembling in the Grand Mosque area of Douma as the observers arrived at the city's municipal building, said the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights, an opposition activist group. About 30,000 demonstrators were there, the observatory said. The Local Coordination Committees of Syria, another opposition activist network, reported "massive crowds in front of the National Hospital in the presence of the Arab observers committee, who arrived after the fall of seven martyrs and dozens of wounded and detainees." An amateur video said to be from Douma showed soldiers congregating on one end of the street and protesters congregating down the road. People chanted "God is Great" and "Freedom from Bashar." Arab League monitors who had been working in the opposition center of Homs arrived in the cities of Daraa, Idlib and Hama, and visited the Damascus area. Deaths were reported in all of those regions. Of the 38 people killed on Thursday, 13 died in the Damascus suburbs, eight died in Hama, 11 in Homs, and five in Idlib province and one in Daraa, the LCC said. A brigadier general who is the chief of a military engineering college was shot and wounded in Homs. The Syrian Arab News Agency said he was assaulted by an "armed terrorist group." The observatory said a group of "unknown armed men" tried to assassinate him. Since the observers arrived in Syria on Tuesday, more than 130 people -- six of them children -- have been killed, the LCC said. Fact-finders are monitoring an Arab League initiative that calls for President Bashar al-Assad's security forces to withdraw from cities, release detainees and end violence. Arab League Secretary-General Nabil el-Araby met in Cairo with Burhan Ghalioun, head of Syrian National Council opposition movement. They discussed the purpose of the monitoring mission and its execution, the league said. Many Syrians have been supportive of the mission, but others have derided the effort as pointless. Opposition activists have criticized the selection of a Sudanese military commander, Lt. Gen. Mohamed Ahmed Mustafa al-Dabi, as the head of the monitoring group. The activists said he had a key position in the government as atrocities occurred in Sudan's Darfur region. Khaled Abo Saleh, an opposition activist who said he met Wednesday with al-Dabi and others from the mission in Homs, said Syrians want the observers "to reveal the truth to the world. To show what is happening here accurately and completely and to protect civilians." "The people of Homs and the youth activists have no faith in the Arab League mission. It is clear now they are just another ploy by the Syrian regime to buy time. They are ineffective and have no resources to change the situation. "But we are doing our part showing them what is happening in Homs, submitting evidence of killing and arbitrary arrest," he said. Saleh said killings have decreased but have not stopped in Syria since the observers arrived. More than 5,000 people have been killed since mid-March, the United Nations said. Activist groups count more than 6,000 deaths. "Generally, we have 25 to 30 killed in Homs every day, now maybe the death toll is nine to 10. But the martyrs cannot be counted in numbers; they must be counted in the loss to their family and the devastation to their people," Saleh said. "I told al-Dabi that 15 people were killed in a protest the day the mission arrived in Homs. I showed him the body of a toddler killed by Syrian security forces. I took him to see the destroyed neighborhoods and the parts of Homs completely cut off from food, water, and electricity," Saleh said. CNN cannot independently verify opposition accounts of violence or reports of deaths and injuries in Syria. Al-Assad's government has restricted access by international journalists. An Arab League official told CNN that 75 monitors were in Syria with more expected to arrive in coming days. A permanent team will remain in Homs, which had been under a military siege for days, said the official, who asked not to be named. Ibrahim Zafarani, a founding member of the Arab Doctors Association, pulled out of the Arab League fact-finding mission after being selected as a monitor, saying he disagreed with the mission's methods. On Thursday, he added his voice to the growing criticism of al-Dabi, saying, "All I see now is the head of the mission barely announcing any information, while dozens have died in the first two days of the mission." "I would not have allowed people dying under the umbrella of the monitors mission and face the guilt," he said. In Washington, State Department spokeswoman Victoria Nuland noted that a video posted on YouTube shows a democracy rally in Idlib "that went forward with quite a crowd, at the same time that the monitors were there. So clearly, their presence appears to have provided some space for public expression." She added, "we see some, some positive signs, but not enough." She noted "a modest prisoner release," but said that the highest-profile political activists remain incarcerated. Fouad Ajami, a senior fellow at Stanford University's Hoover Institution, predicted the unrest in Syria will devolve into a long civil war. "The regime can't bury this revolution; the revolution can't overthrow the regime," he told CNN. "The international community has really been disgraceful, and the belief in the Arab League has been such a sham." In Syria, the unrest began in March when the government brutally cracked down on peaceful demonstrators calling for political reforms and criticizing security force actions. The movement quickly spiraled into a call for the ouster of al-Assad. CNN's Joe Sterling, Salma Abdelaziz and journalist Mohamed Fadel Fahmy contributed to this report. | NEW: Fouad Ajami tells CNN the impasse will devolve into a long civil war . Local activists say more than 130 have been killed since Arab League monitors arrived . State Department says the effort yields "some positive signs, but not enough" Arab League monitors fanned out to trouble spots, including the Damascus area . | 90f89e1e1e1ee87178b886ba50438e0295460628 |
Time to stop the moaning, Louis . Louis van Gaal has spent the holidays moaning about the fixture list but I don’t understand why he’s so upset. When he came to the Premier League he knew exactly what he was letting himself in for. Festive football is one of the best things about our league. To arrive here and start complaining makes it look like he hasn’t done his homework. Wayne Rooney ran 7.4 miles against Stoke, compared to 7.1 miles against Newcastle and Tottenham . Manchester United manager Louis van Gaal has seen his side draw their last three away games . United's players look dejected as they fall behind to an early goal at Stoke . When he first made the comments after the Tottenham game, I thought Van Gaal was joking. It was the first time in 85 games that United had named an unchanged line-up. He has rotated his squad more than anybody this season and then he starts kicking up a fuss about tiredness? Do me a favour. There are plenty of managers who would love to have the kind of options Van Gaal has in his squad. He gets paid vast sums to figure out how to deal with situations like this. It’s odd behaviour but it relays to the players and gives them a ready-made excuse not to perform. Luckily for Van Gaal, he still has some very willing runners in his team. Four United players have played every minute since Boxing Day. But, as our table shows, rather than getting increasingly tired, they actually covered more miles on Thursday than in any of their other games. More brilliance from Bony . I'm not going to lie. I wasn’t happy seeing Wilfried Bony score a late equaliser at QPR. But I had a funny feeling he would do just that. Leroy Fer scored an absolute screamer, as our graphic shows, but Bony delivered yet again. Wilfried Bony scores a stoppage time equaliser for Swansea at QPR . How Leroy Fer gave QPR the lead with his wonder strike in the first half . He is one of the most-coveted centre forwards in football right now and with good reason. He is one of the best I’ve seen at holding up the ball, he links so well and he has ice in his veins. He could play and prosper in any team. Spurs hit Jose for a famous five . On Thursday we had the result of the season at White Hart Lane. Who saw Chelsea getting hammered 5-3 by Tottenham? Not me. It was their best performance for years to beat a team of Chelsea’s quality, and scoring five goals, too. Only one other team in history has put five past a Jose Mourinho side — Barcelona when they beat Real Madrid 5-0 in 2010. Make no mistake, this was a massive result. Harry Kane scored twice as Spurs hit Chelsea for five . It was only the second time in Jose Mourinho's managerial career one of his sides conceded five goals . Chelsea have won nine out of nine at home but dropped 14 points on the road. It’s a game that has blown the title race wide open and now you have to put Tottenham down as genuine top four contenders. Harry Kane was unplayable and he terrorised a top defence. His work-rate inspires his team-mates and he is the difference for Spurs. For Mauricio Pochettino, it’s a great confidence boost. He looks like he could be the right man for the job and Spurs fans will be looking forward to seeing what he can achieve with the right investment. For Jose, it’s a huge blow. This was a shock and their away form is a real problem. Martinez has a Blue Christmas . What a miserable festive period it has been for Everton. They have not lost four straight games since 2005 and have slipped down the table. Everton have lost their last four games and are slipping down the table . Roberto Martinez has seen Everton go through a miserable run over the festive period . Roberto Martinez is a good manager and I admire his attacking style. It’s easy for people to say that makes them vulnerable but I didn’t hear any complaints about it last season. It’s easy to blame systems but it’s been a tough season and they look like they lack confidence. Maybe it’s time for the club to help Martinez freshen up his squad. Foxes are festive winners . Thursday felt like a big day at the bottom of the Premier League. Leicester and Burnley both came from behind to earn a draw and that late equaliser was a kick in the teeth for QPR. It’s still early days in the relegation fight and it’s all still so tight - just six points separate the bottom seven sides. Leicester came from behind to earn a draw at Liverpool . George Boyd celebrates as Burnley came from behind three times to earn a point at Newcastle . But survival is is all about confidence. Burnley have fought so hard and got good results and Hull stopped the rot. But with a win at Hull and rescuing a draw at Anfield, Leicester have been one of the biggest winners at the bottom this Christmas. Could Frank be the difference? Frank Lampard's incredible season goes on. Another game, another goal. It’s becoming a familiar story for City. Nobody saw the move coming, and people are keen to criticise Chelsea for letting him go. But, in fairness, you can’t say the decision has weakened their team. Where it is starting to hurt them is in the table. Frank Lampard celebrates his second half winner against Sunderland . Thursday’s winner was the latest in a long line of key goals for City, and the tables below show how important he has become. If you take away Frank’s goals, City would be seven points off the pace. With them, they are dead level and bang in the title race. 2 - Leicester should be proud of their comeback at Anfield. Only twice before in the Premier League have Liverpool surrendered a two-goal lead at Anfield to draw. It happened twice in September 2002 — first in a 2-2 draw with Newcastle and then a 2-2 draw with Birmingham a week later. Strangely, their last result before those games was a 2-2 draw away at Blackburn. 3 - Given his goal-scoring record, it may come as some surprise that this is the first time Yaya Toure has scored in three consecutive Premier League games. 53 - He might not be a creative playmaker, but Peter Crouch now has 53 assists in the Premier League, the same number as Robin van Persie. 33 - Let's hope the Premier League has started 2015 as it means to go on. There were 33 goals scored on Thursday, the most on New Year’s Day in the Premier League and the most since 34 went in on January 1, 1987. 77 - Antolin Alcaraz’s red card completed a miserable afternoon for Everton. They now have 77 Premier League reds — more than any other team. 653 - After seven goals in his first nine PL games this season, Saido Berahino finally ended a goal-drought of 653 minutes against West Ham. His last was against Palace in October. 11 - Aston Villa have scored just 11 goals so far this season. Only two sides in Premier League history have scored fewer goals after 20 games — Man City and Derby both scored 10 in 1995-96 and 2007-08 respectively. | Wilfried Bony showed why he is one of the most-coveted strikers around . Jose Mourinho was hit for five for only the second time in his career . Frank Lampard proves he could be the difference in the title race . | e8027644dd500d7d63749d0ffef887d745c3addb |
Billionaire James Packer sported a huge black eye as he flew out of Sydney just hours after he met with rival TV boss and David Gyngell following their street brawl over the weekend. Packer was seen smoking a cigarette in the tunnel on the way to Sydney Airport where he boarded a private Lear jet headed for Melbourne. Earlier, the visibly bruised casino mogul made a dash across town to meet up with executives of Gyngell's rival station, the Seven Network. The meeting came after a statement broadcast on the news of Gyngell's Nine Network, saying he had arrived on Packer's Bondi Beach doorstep 'angry'. James Packer was visibly bruised after his public punch-up with David Gyngell outside his Bondi mansion . Unsightly: James Packer was left with a bruised and puffy left eye after his punch-up with TV boss David Gyngell . 'Clearly had he not turned up at Packer’s premises in an angry mood, then the confrontation would never have occurred,' the statement said. '[Mr Gyngell] fully accepts that he was the instigator of the incident. He respects the job police do and will co-operate fully with their investigation'. Sydney police have confirmed they are now investigating the fight, although neither Packer nor Gyngell has filed a complaint. Following Gyngell's public admission, Packer left his offices in Sydney city and was driven across town to an office owned by Seven Network boss, Kerry Stokes. Wearing sunglasses to hide the bruising visible earlier in the day, Packer entered the building and remained for some time. Last month, Packer visited China in the company of Stokes and Australian Prime Minister, Tony Abbott, on a trade mission. On a jet plane: Mr Packer was seen boarding his private jet for a flight to Melbourne on Tuesday afternoon . Earlier today, James Packer emerged from his Bondi Beach apartment for the first time following his epic punch-up with childhood friend David Gyngell that made world headlines. The 46-year-old arrived at work at his Sydney city office showing a bruised and slightly swollen left eye. Just before 9am, the casino boss left in a chauffeur-drive car from his $20m Sydney home, where a media pack has been camped out since his street brawl with TV boss Gyngell. Packer was driven off in a car after his mother, Ros Packer, was also seen leaving the apartment. Mrs Packer had arrived at her son's home at 7.25am in a white BMW to see him before he reported for work. Packer then arrived at the Sydney headquarters of Bauer magazines, where he has an office and which was the former stronghold of the Packer company, Australian Consolidated Press. He entered the building via the loading dock entry, his 'black eye' clearly visible. Sydney police have issued a statement saying, 'Eastern Suburbs Local Area Command has commenced an investigation into an incident that occurred about 2pm Sunday on Sir Thomas Mitchell Road near the intersection of Campbell Parade at Bondi Beach'. James Packer's mother Ros leaves son James's Bondi apartment after visitng him this morning. Mrs Packer arrived at 7.25am and spent some time with the 46-year-old before he emerged from the Bondi apartment where he had been holed up in for more than 40 hours following his street brawl with Packer family friend, David Gyngell . The police said they had 'not yet received an official complaint but have appealed to any one who witnessed, or has vision or images of the incident, to contact' them. In a bizarre twist, Packer neighbour Chris Walker has reportedly claimed on radio some teeth were found following the fight and one local resident had them in safekeeping. 'We did find some teeth,' he reportedly told FOX FM, 'we are assuming the teeth belong to the fight but nobody knows.' Packer came to blows with Gyngell in the street on Sunday afternoon because he believed a camera crew from the network run by his childhood friend was trying to catch him with rumoured lover, model Miranda Kerr. Gyngell, 47, had gone to the casino owner's $20million property in Sydney's Bondi Beach to reassure him after an exchange of heated text messages. The pair immediately became embroiled in a profanity-laced argument which descended into blows. Explosive pictures showed 46-year-old Packer and a bearded, bare-foot Gyngell pummeling each other repeatedly and wrestling on the ground before being pulled apart by a bodyguard. Reports of the scuffle say Gyngell, the smaller of the two men, appeared to connect with Packer's eye in a left hook. Following the fight, Packer was seen walking off with his left eye puffy and his grey tracksuit pants marked with grass stains. David Gyngell emerged from his home in a nearby suburb at around 6.30am this morning to set off for work at the Nine Network. | James Packer has left Sydney on a private jet and is flying to Melbourne . Packer boarded Lear jet at Sydney Airport two days after his street brawl with David Gyngell . Packer earlier made across town dash to meet with rival TV boss . Visibly bruised Packer met with Seven Television Network executives . Gyngell has admitted blame for arriving 'angry' on Packer's doorstep . Billionaire Packer emerged earlier from his Bondi Beach apartment to report for work with a black eye . Casino boss had been holed up inside his $20m home for 43 hours . Police now investigating the brawl although neither man filed a complaint . | 4d0ec9d758ffb1944f979f352ffc20f33eb6a02a |
Liverpool have stepped up their efforts to sign Adam Lallana by tabling an improved £25million offer for the Southampton midfielder. Brendan Rodgers is keen to bring the England international to Anfield and Liverpool showed their ambition shortly after the end of the Barclays Premier League season with a £20million opening bid. Lallana, who is wanted by a number of other Premier League clubs, has his heart set on a move to Liverpool but negotiations have proven difficult as Southampton owe 25 per cent of any fee they receive for the 26-year-old to Bournemouth. VIDEO Scroll down to watch Adam Lallana model the latest French Connection threads . Final offer: Liverpool have reportedly made a last bid of £25m for England and Southampton's Adam Lallana . Second shot: The Reds' initial bid of £20m for the midfielder was rejected by St Mary's management . On the move?: Lallana's Saints team-mate Rickie Lambert (left) is said to be due for a fitness test at Anfield following England 3-0 win over Peru at Wembley on Friday night . Liverpool have all but wrapped up a £4million deal for Lallana's team-mate Rickie Lambert - he is due on Merseyside on Satuday to complete a medical and finalise a two-year contract before rejoining England's World Cup squad - but they are now determined to reach a conclusion with their main target. The £25million Liverpool have tabled is a 'take it or leave it' and the decision now lies with Southampton over whether they accept and grant Lallana his wish or they bring an end to negotiations. Should the move collapse Liverpool, who remain on the trail of Sevilla left-back Alberto Moreno, would turn their attentions to Bayern Munich's Xherdan Shaqiri, who they have lined-up as an alternative to Lallana. | Liverpool's first offer of £20m was rejected by St Mary's management . Rickie Lambert is expected for a medical on Merseyside after £4m offer . It's believed the Reds' £25m bid is a take it or leave it scenario . Lallana and Lambert both featured in England's 3-0 win over Peru . | 20ac73fc8fd9e5ab8c7d01f9494a8ff105cdcec7 |
By . Sarah Dean . Brave: Jordan Rice, 13, told rescue workers to make sure his younger brother, Blake, was saved first during the Queensland floods in 2011 . When schoolboy Jordan Rice insisted that rescuers save his little brother first as raging flood waters surrounded them in Toowoomba, Queensland, in January 2011, his incredible bravery touched hearts all over the world. The 13-year-old's actions saved his 10-year-old brother Blake's life over his own, as they stood stranded in rising waters with their mother Donna during the deadly flash flood. His final words: 'Take my brother first,' led to promises from politicians that Jordan would posthumously receive the Cross of Valour - Australia's highest civilian honour for bravery. Three years later, his father is still waiting for the accolade. In a heartbreaking letter to Prime Minister Tony Abbott, Jordan's father John Tyson has written: 'Three years on, I feel like Jordan's bravery has been forgotten about, and all the talk by politicians were empty gestures.' He has started a campaign to get his son the award that he so deserves after then-Prime Minister Julia Gillard told him 'the legend of Jordan's amazing courage will go on'. Ms Gillard met Mr Tyson on a visit to Toowoomba while speaking with flood victims, three months after the devastating floods in January 2011. During the meeting she even autographed Jordan's brother Blake's cloth sling, which he was using to nurse an arm injury caused by the natural disaster. Scroll down for video . Promises: Then-Prime Minister Julia Gillard (right) spoke with Jordan's father John Tyson and brother Blake Rice (left) at a reception for Toowoomba flood victims on 5 April 2011 . Grieving: Jordan's father John Tyson (left) and brother Blake Rice (right) want their brave family member awarded with the Cross of Valour . Liberal leader Tony Abbott also recommended Jordan receive the Cross back in 2011 but nothing has yet eventuated. 'I was so proud. I waited, waited and waited - but it never happened,' Mr Tyson says in a petition on Change.org. 'Nothing will ever bring Jordan and Donna back. But it would mean the world to us to have his last moments of bravery acknowledged.' The gold Cross of Valour was established in 1975 to replace the British George Cross, previously awarded to Australians, and has so far only ever been given to five men. It was last awarded in 2003, to two heroes from Western Australia who entered bombed Bali nightclub Paddy's Pub, in the tourist district of Kuta, in 2002 to rescue people, despite ongoing explosions and their own personal injuries. The rescue: Blake Rice (centre left) was saved from a car trapped in heavy flash flooding in the town of Toowoomba. His brother Jordan told rescuers to take Blake first . Tragic: Warren McErlean (left) who rescued Blake from the floodwaters that hit Toowoomba and the boys' mother Donna (right), who was also killed . Campaigning: John Tyson (right), seen here with Blake Rice (left) outside the Brisbane Coroners Court in October 2011, has called on the PM to stick to his promise . In January 2011, Jordan, his brother and his mother were trapped on the roof of the family's car as raging floodwater surrounded them. When a Good Samaritan, Warren McErlean, waded over to rescue the family Jordan insisted his little brother was saved first despite not being able to swim himself. 'Moments later, Jordan and his mum were swept to their deaths,' Mr Tyson said. Mr McErlean, who saved Blake, told news.com.au he completely backs the petition. 'I'm right behind anything that will remember what Jordan did and goes towards recognising his actions.' To Tony Abbott, . My son's last words were 'take my brother first'. He and his mother were trapped on the roof of our family car as the massive 2011 Queensland floodwaters surrounded them – and as a good samaritan waded in to help my brave little son Jordan, just 13 years old, insisted his little brother was saved first. Jordan couldn't swim. He must have been petrified. But he put his fears aside to make sure his brother made it through the terrifying flood. Moments later, Jordan and his mum were swept to their deaths.Time can never heal what losing them has meant for us. We're still devastated, and struggling. In the wake of the floods there was a glint of light in the darkness – there were calls by politicians in Canberra for Jordan to be recognised for his incredible bravery. 'The legend of Jordan's amazing courage will go on,' said Prime Minister Julia Gillard. Tony Abbott, who was opposition leader, said Jordan should get the Cross of Valour, Australia's highest civilian award for bravery. I was so proud. I waited, waited and waited - but it never happened. Three years on, I feel like Jordan's bravery has been forgotten about, and all the talk by politicians were empty gestures. Nothing will ever bring Jordan and Donna back. But it would mean the world to us to have his last moments of bravery acknowledged. This photo taken on January 10, 2011 shows flash floods described as an 'inland tsunami' smashing through mountainside Toowoomba . Flood waters surged through streets, inundating the city of Toowoomba . Debris and overturned cars were seen in central Toowoomba between following the flash flood which ripped through the town centre on January 10, 2011 . Rescuers struggled to save Jordan and his mother Donna during the floods . A spokeswoman for Mr Abbott told the website he supported Mr Tyson's calls for Jordan to be appropriately acknowledged. 'Nominations for bravery awards in the Australian Honours system are considered by the Australian Bravery Decorations Council, which makes recommendations to the Governor-General,' she said. 'The Prime Minister has approached the Governor-General to ask for his support in ensuring proper consideration is given to any nominations for bravery awards relating to this tragic incident.' | Jordan Rice was killed during the 2011 Queensland floods . His mother Donna also lost her life before they could be rescued . Family were stranded on top of their car in Toowoomba as waters raged . Told rescuer to save his 10-year-old brother Blake first . Father John Tyson says Tony Abbott promised Jordan the bravery award . | 1d509b581ae7fb41ea096e128188960a6636f9e9 |
By . Neil Sears . There was finally some good World Cup news for England last night. Sadly, it did not come from Brazil, where our footballers’ have lost their first two qualifying games. Instead, it was at the rugby Junior World Championships in Auckland, New Zealand, where England’s Under-20s triumphed over South Africa to retain the title they had won in France last year. Dressing room heroes: England's Aaron Morris, Nathan Earle and Maro Itoje . In action: Tom Woolstencroft of England makes a break during the final of the Junior World Championships . Yesterday’s game ended 21-20, with a nail-biting finish which would have been familiar to football fans – except that it ended with our team’s victory. Commentators praised England’s defence and attack, with tries from our promising young players Nathan Earle and Joe Conlon as the team came from behind to beat the South Africans. Jubilant Gloucester fly-half Billy Burns, who scored two penalties and a conversion for England, said after the match: ‘Absolutely buzzing. 'Obviously that last 20 minutes was real nail-biting and to get through it is a massive achievement and full credit to the boys, we deserved that. Winners: Woolstencroft fends against Andre Esterhuizen of South Africa. The nail-biting game - held in Auckland, New Zealand, finished in a 21-20 victory for England . Victory: Billy Burns of England makes a break. The team were praised for their defence and attack by commentators watching the final . ‘We’ve worked hard all campaign, it’s been tough but to come through and win something like that at the end of it just shows how hard we’ve worked, so it’s real satisfying.’ Burns is the younger brother of Freddie Burns, who is due to line up for the senior England side in the third Test against the All Blacks in New Zealand, today. His father’s side have lost the first two Tests. Their success came as England crashed out of the world cup. Fans were left in ruins once more after Costa Rica upset the odds by beating Italy 1-0 - condemning Roy Hodgson's men to an early World Cup exit. In their worst performance in the tournament since 1958 - losses to Italy and Uruguay in their first two fixtures mean they will be leaving Brazil before the knockout stages. Their future in the tournament was left hanging by a thread last night after Luis Suarez led the South American side to a 2-1 win in Sao Paulo - leaving England bottom of Group D. Final: Maro Itoje and Nathan Earle of England celebrate their victory. Promising player Earle was praised for his scoring a try during the epic last match of the competition . Their fate was still in the balance today, but Bryan Ruiz's 44th minute header led Costa Rica to a shock 1-0 win against the Italians. A victory for the Azul would have given England a glimmer of hope going into their final fixture - but the result leaves it mathematically impossible for them to qualify. The nation has spent months watching football-themed adverts, seeing streets and shops taken over by St George's flags, and hearing hours of punditry explaining why this could be England's year. But after just two group games in Brazil, Three Lions fans were left with that all too familiar feeling of anti-climax this morning, as they woke to hangovers following yet another night of bitter disappointment. Celebration: England players take pictures in the dressing room retaining their title . Former captain Rio Ferdinand accepts a 'naive' England did not deserve to stay in the World Cup, but is confident the young squad will grow stronger from the disappointment of Brazil 2014. 'The World Cup for me would have been a better place with England in it, but you have to earn the right to stay in a tournament. Unfortunately for us, we have not done that, Ferdinand said on BBC One. 'Maybe we were a bit naive in situations, in the game yesterday when we got back into it at 1-1, we had a chance to get a point and dust ourselves down, to say 'right, we are ready for the last game when everything is going to be on it,' but we did not give ourselves the opportunity.' | England's Under-20s triumphed at Junior World Championships . Yesterday's game against South Africa ended in nail-biting 21-20 . Commentators praised England's defence and attack in victorious game . | d6fbbc044a5e97e113c7bd8f6c703c5b41cb0d28 |
By . Ashley Collman . PUBLISHED: . 23:13 EST, 11 November 2013 . | . UPDATED: . 02:55 EST, 12 November 2013 . The widower of a nurse who died in a car accident after a grueling 12-hour shift is now suing her former hospital for allegedly 'working her to death'. Jim Jasper's wife Beth died last March 16, after falling asleep behind the wheel while driving home after a night shift at The Jewish Hospital in Cincinnati, Ohio. Mr Jasper is now suing the Mercy Health Group for causing her death, claiming that the stress of extra hours caused by under staffing led to the fatigue that caused her accident. Worked to death: Wife and mother Beth Jasper died last March 16 returning from a 12 hour night shift at a hospital in Cincinnati, Ohio. Her widower Jim is now suing the hospital for causing her death . Fell asleep behind the wheel: According to the lawsuit filed last week, Beth's supervisor voiced concern to hospital management that the nurse was being 'worked to death' Beth was the mother of their two young children, a 6-year-old son and an 11-year-old daughter, who have been having a hard time dealing with her untimely passing. 'It's been rough on them, expecting mom to come home from work and she didn't come home from work,' he told WLWT. According to the lawsuit filed by the family's attorney Eric Deters, Beth's supervisor Mary Alliston 'expressed concern to her superiors' that Beth was being 'worked to heath'. Hurting: Mr Jasper (pictured) says that his children have been having a hard time processing their mother's untimely death . The day after Beth's accident, the hospital held a meeting for the nurses and the Hospital's Director of Nursing, Kathy Smith, said she 'was so sorry about the death of Beth' and 'sorry that they had dropped the ball'. Nurses who worked with Beth during her shift leading up to the accident said she complained about being 'really stressed' and said she 'hadn't eaten' at all during the shift. Before joining the Bone Marrow Transplant Unit at The Jewish Hospital in 2000, Beth worked at another Mercy Health hospital but left for better hours. 'Nurse-to-patient ratio, it was just not at safe levels, so she went to Jewish,' Mr Jasper said. The Jewish Hospital is owned by the Mercy Health company. Before going to Jewish, Beth worked at another Mercy hospital. She left that hospital because the nurse-to-patient ratio was 'not at safe levels' but Jewish was soon bought by the same company . But soon after, the hospital was bought by her old employer and staffing went down again. The Ohio Nursing Association said these nursing shortages are becoming a real problem. 'Shortages mean nurses are routinely stretched too thin because they are expected to work longer shifts and care for a larger number of patients. This path often leads to nurse fatigue and is dangerous practice that compromises the safety of both the nurses and the patients they service,' Gingy Harshey-Meade of the ONA said. In court last Thursday, Mr Jasper said that something needs to change about nurse staffing. 'They're passionate about their work. They don't want to make a mistake, but when you're working under those conditions, it's going to happen,' he said. | Beth Jasper died March 16 returning from a 12-hour night shift at Jewish Hospital in Cincinnati, Ohio . Her husband is now suing the hospital for 'working her to death' He claims that under staffing at the hospital made his wife stressed and fatigued which led her to fall asleep behind the wheel . She left behind two children, a 6-year-old son and an 11-year-old daughter . | 5fb0cb650d831ce634353fe5c67f88c021313b94 |
(CNN) -- The case against Anthony Sowell is grounded in his Cleveland backyard. There, in October 2009, investigators unearthed remains of five of the 11 women -- ages 25 to 52 -- found on Sowell's property. On Monday, jury selection for Sowell's trial begins in Cuyahoga County, Ohio. Sowell faces 85 counts related to his alleged rape, murder and dismembering of the women between 2007 and 2009 -- charges to which he's pleaded not guilty by reason of insanity. Since the bodies were discovered, other women have come forward alleging that Sowell also attacked them. In April 2010, prosecutors handed down an 10-count indictment against Sowell in connection with the alleged rape of a 34-year-old woman in his Cleveland home. Sowell's lawyers have declined previous requests by CNN to explain their case, and the suspect has not been interviewed. But in January 2010, attorney John Parker told The Plain Dealer newspaper in Cleveland that he felt police violated Sowell's Miranda rights as he was being interrogated. But those likely to decide Sowell's future have already had their first opportunity to take a measure of the man. About 200 prospective jurors were introduced to the accused serial killer Friday morning at the Cuyahoga County Common Pleas Court in Cleveland, county court administrator Greg Popovich said. They also met Judge Dick Ambrose, the presiding judge in the case, as well as the defense and prosecution teams. Dressed in a polo shirt and khaki pants, and unencumbered by handcuffs or shackles (even though he was escorted by six deputies), Sowell addressed the jurors simply by saying, "Hello." Popovich described the event as "unusual" but necessary to "ensure the integrity of the process in the interest of justice" -- though he didn't elaborate on how it did. Following the meeting, the potential jurors went through an hour-long orientation and then were asked to fill out a 32-page questionnaire. Should they be tapped for the jury, they will sit through what Popovich estimates will be a six-to-eight week trial documenting the gruesome case against Sowell. Sowell grew up in East Cleveland, joined the Marines at age 18 and traveled to California, North Carolina and Japan, authorities said. People who interacted with him after his 2005 release from prison, where he had served 15 years for attempted rape, said he appeared to be "a normal guy," known locally for selling scrap metal. His inconspicuous two-story home sits in a dilapidated neighborhood known as Mount Pleasant, where one in five homes were in foreclosure and at least a third of residents got food stamps, according to a 2010 study by Case Western Reserve University's Center on Urban Poverty and Community Development. Neighbors and even a city councilman had failed to realize that the stench wafting in the area around Sowell's home was human flesh, not a byproduct of a nearby sausage factory. Moreover, the disappearance of the 11 women -- many of whom lived nearby -- went largely unnoticed for almost two years, with only four of them even being reported missing. Many of his alleged victims struggled with drug addiction at some point in their lives, with court records showing that many resorted to stealing and prostitution to support their habits. In late 2008, Gladys Wade told police that a man in a gray hoodie offered her beer, and when she declined, punched her in the face several times. Wade said that he then tried to rape her, dragging her toward his home, adding that she got out only after "gouging his face." Police investigated Wade's complaint, with one police report noting blood droplets on Sowell's walls and steps. But officers told CNN affiliate WKYC that the case was dropped after Wade declined to press charges. After Wade's complaint, six more women would disappear. Then, on September 23, 2009, a 36-year-old Cleveland woman told police a story eerily similar to those of Wade and the woman whose 1989 account led to Sowell's first conviction for attempted rape. She said he'd invited her into his home for beer, punched her in the face, then began performing oral sex on her -- releasing her only after she promised to return the next day. Sowell was then arrested. More than a month later, police entered his house and found two bodies rotting in his attic. These were the first of the 11 bodies they'd eventually discover, in various states of decay, on his property. Most of the women whose remains were found in and around Sowell's home were strangled by ligature -- which can include a string, cord or wire -- and at least one was strangled by hand, officials said. Seven still had ligatures wrapped around their necks. A skull is all that remains of one victim. It was found wrapped in a paper bag and stuffed in a bucket in the home's basement. While the prosecution will press its case against Sowell in the coming weeks, this may not be the end of his story -- even if he is eventually given a death sentence. Cuyahoga County Prosecutor Bill Mason has said that his cold case unit is reviewing unsolved murders that occurred during the time Sowell lived in Cleveland and East Cleveland to see if there are any connections. Mason said the group is working its way through 75 cases. InSession's Chris Perry and CNN's Stephanie Chen contributed to this report. | Jury selection starts Monday for the trial of accused serial killer Anthony Sowell . He will be tried on 85 counts for the alleged rape and murder of 11 women . Police say the convicted sex offender killed the women over a span of two years . Authorities allege Sowell hid their remains in and around his Cleveland home . | 4431289dfff293e01f365d745c70d6ad061fc1c6 |
(CNN) -- For the South Korean who picked up the second major title of her career to move up to second in the world rankings, it was a walk in the Park. Inbee Park led the field by three strokes heading into the final day of the Kraft Nabisco Championship, carding a three-under-par final round of 69 to finish 15-under for the tournament - four strokes ahead of compatriot Ryu So-Yeon. After taking the traditional plunge into Poppy's pool at the Mission Hills Country Club, Park is setting her sights on usurping Stacy Lewis and becoming the world's top-ranked female golfer. "That's the place that I've always wanted and I only have one more spot to go," the 24-year-old told the LPGA Tour's official website after clinching 2013's opening major. "That brings a lot of momentum, keeps momentum going for me, especially after this week. I felt a lot of confidence with my swing and with my putting. Everything has been going the right way this season. It feels good." American Lewis was full of praise for Park, hailing the 2008 U.S. Women's Open winner as "the best putter on Tour." "I've seen Inbee do this before," said Lewis, who finished 14 shots adrift of Park. "When she rolls it, you just can't beat her. "The course here is a little softer than normal, so I think that's to her advantage. She doesn't hit it as high as some other people, but when she's rolling it, you are not going to beat her." The 2011 U.S. Women's Open winner and Park's compatriot Ryu So-Yeon (65) was second on the leaderboard on 11 under, ahead of Sweden's Caroline Hedwall (68) and 2007 LPGA Championship winner Suzann Pettersen (69). Haeji Kang (68), also of South Korea, and seven-time champion Karrie Webb (72) were tied for fifth. Fifteen-year-old New Zealander Lydia Ko was the highest-placed amateur, finishing tied for 25th. Former world No. 1 Yani Tseng finished two over for the tournament, in a four-way tie for 48th place. | Inbee Park moves to No. 2 in the world rankings with win at Kraft Nabisco Championship . The win at Mission Hill CC the second major triumph of Park's career . World No. 1 Stacy Lewis finished 14 shots behind Park . Park's fellow South Korean Ryu So-Yeon was second on the leaderboard . | b55dc9245b38211bbd799fc38c81213211dd3dfb |
By . Deborah Arthurs . PUBLISHED: . 14:55 EST, 18 February 2013 . | . UPDATED: . 05:56 EST, 19 February 2013 . Christopher Bailey stormed it yet again with an epic show on London Fashion Week's so-called Super Monday that was nothing short of exquisite. The Burberry Chief Creative Officer always stages spectacular theatre - and this season was no different. To the sounds of Misty Miller's Happy Together Edie Campbell opened the show, modelling a tan leather skirt that told of the camels and rich chestnut browns tones to come. Cara Delevingne walked next, in a cheeky translucent rubber pencil skirt and heart top that embodied the spirit of the collection: playful, saucy and a little bit kinky. I swear I saw Prince Albert give a . wink from his perch up on the memorial plinth next to the stage when she sauntered out . onto the catwalk, staged in a gleaming glass box among the trees in Kensington Gardens, wearing the see-through skirt, with nothing but a . pair of heart-print knickers underneath. It was a naughty but nice look that set the scene for what was a . show of contrasts that gently subverted the long legacy of this heritage brand. Britain's most infamous showgirl and political mistress was referenced in the show's title - Trench Kisses: A collection of classics and Christine Keeler - setting a mischievous tone for the hint of sexiness - and wickedness - to come. Scroll down to watch the show in full . Subverting tradition: Cara Delevingne walked . second in an outfit that embodied the very spirit of the show - vinyl . skirt with heart-print knickers beneath that managed to be at once both . prim and kinky . 'I like the idea of taking something that has gravitas, this 158 year old brand, but making it subversive and kinky,' Christopher Bailey said afterwards. That translated as traditional fabrics and classic shapes given edge . with vinyl, patent leather and metal. Glossy gold collars topped corset dresses, trimmed the collars of coats and formed gleaming belts that encircled slender waists, cinching in wool and cashmere. With the launch of Burberry's new beauty . range, those shimmering gold collars and embellishments were intended, Bailey said, to . cast their light onto the models' faces and really make them glow. And they did (though having 22-year-old models with the skin of a radiant cherub helped, I'm sure). But while there was plenty of sauce and a fair few pairs of knickers on show, this was by no means a gimmicky collection. Colours were iconic Burberry tones: red, white, camel, oxblood, black and gold. Coats, dozens of them, and each more darn covetable than the last, streamed endlessly down the catwalk. There . was black wool, leopard print mink and camel; oxblood leather, vinyl, python print; tan suede covered in . amorphous gold metal plates, leather-fringed with metal eyelets, studded . with dozens of gold rings, heart-print calfskin, laminated leather, laminated jacquard... Traditional with a twist: Classic with a touch of the Christine Keelers in this mink Caban coat . Luxe: A mink gabardine trench with gold belt, accessorised with the studded Crush bag . Heartprint calfskin trench: 'I wanted to clash the contrasting worlds of sweet and sexy', Bailey said . Golden girl: Cara Delevingne modelled a metallic collar Bailey said was . intended to cast light on to the models' faces to make them really glow . Iconic: A red corset dress with oxblood trim was in typical Burberry tones . Classic: A trad camel coat was given edge with gold metal eyelets and a shimmering metal belt . Return of the kitten heel! Cara and the rest of the models wore low, pointed kittens for a prim walk . Cara's navy double-breasted coat with its wide lapels and gold belt was stand-out, as was a creamy camel number with gold eyelets, teamed with a fringed leather bag in oxblood. Only a true fashion insider could have all the words necessary to tell of the veritable army of styles that we saw - but I can tell you there were trench coats, cabans, Chesterfields, Regimental greatcoats and cropped bikers... and that was just for starters. Happy Together by Misty Miller . Picking Up The Pieces (acoustic version) by Paloma Faith . Hold Me by Tom Odell . The theme of the show made for a playful yet provocative vibe, Bailey said backstage afterwards. 'It's sassy, sexy. I like the idea of an inverted world. there's traditional trench coats mixed with rubber,' he said. Or little sweethearts under rubber skirts. 'It's the idea of these two worlds clashing. Something sweet contrasting with something sexy. Heritage and established with something sassy and naughty. There's an air of elegance, but underneath there's this kinkiness.' Bailey said his models were actually quite prim - providing a backdrop that allowed him to add a touch of sauce with the styling. 'I put the girls in these kitten wedges so they had quite a prim walk,' he said. 'But then I put them in these vinyl skirts, patent leather, rubber, metal. Something to make the heart race.' And race it did - no more so than during the epic finale, when a stage opened at the back of the catwalk and the haunting voice of rising Brit star Tom Odell's Hold Me soared to a crescendo accompanied by a cello, the piano and a heavenly choir. The benches vibrated and a moved crowd simultaneously developed goosebumps from head to toe. Tinie Tempah - a man not often moved . to tears one might suppose - declared the show 'emotional', while Bailey . himself said he almost had a little weep during the pre-show . run-through, so powerful was the setting and the music. If it all sounds a little hyperbolic, I'll just say you had to be there. The spectacular staging of his shows is certainly no . accident. The man who never rests says he is already thinking about the . production for his Spring/Summer show, which won't take place until . September. 'Usually at the end of a show I'm thinking about the next one,' he says. 'I'll go back to the office now and write them down.' 'Music is so important to the shows. because shows are all about . entertainment and they're about emotion, and about making people feel . something.' 'People have to feel it in the fashion, but also in the lighting, the . music, the atmosphere. It's a combination of all of those things.' In what is a world first, the items are already up on the Burberry website available to pre-order until 3 March - and worth a look if only to perv upon the items up close. Head to burberry.com now to check it out. Contrast: There was animal print mink and calfskin alongside translucent rubber . Dressing up: Animal print sunglasses and kitten wedges were the accessories of the day . Kinky: Prim styles were taken into racy territory with leather and metal eyelet makeovers . Wild side: Camel was given an animalistic twist with leopard . Hardware: Jourdan Dunn wore a tan suede coat with amorphous metal plates . Impact: Occasional monochrome pieces broke up a collection largely based around iconic Burberry tones . Update: Patent leather in rich oxblood red brought a contemporary twist to classic shapes . Gleaming glass box: The setting for the show was spectacular - and at the end, the back of the stage drew open to reveal Tom Odell at a grand piano, accompanied by a choir and cellist . FROW: From left, Tom Hooper, Douglas Booth, Gabriella Wilde, Dan Gillespie Sells, Olivia Palermo, Jake Bugg, Tinie Tempah, Melanie Laurent, Kim Hee-sun, Vicki Zhao, Michelle Dockery, Rosie Huntington-Whiteley, Freida Pinto, Rita Ora, Kate Beckinsale and Lily Mo Sheen . Burberry this season launched Runway Made To Order, which allows shoppers to watch the show, pick their favourite looks and pre-order them now. They will arrive in nine weeks time and will be personalised with a metal plaque bearing the buyer's name. A (wealthy) shopaholic's fantasy. Ahead of the curve: The collection is already shot and up on the site, with a catwalk shot from today's show on the front page . Pre-order: Runway Made To Order allows shoppers to buy what they saw on the catwalk . Personalised: The pre-ordered pieces will come with the buyer's name engraved on a metal tag . | Spectacular London Fashion Week show staged in glass tent in Kensington Gardens . References infamous Profumo affair showgirl in theme: 'Trench Kisses: A collection of classics and Christine Keeler' Burberry's Bailey chose rising star Tom Odell to perform live for the show accompanied by piano, cello and choir . On the FROW: Victoria Pendleton, Frieda Pinto, Rosie Huntington-Whiteley, Michelle Dockery, Rita Ora, Jake Bugg, Anna Wintour, Olivia Palermo . Tinie Tempah described the show as 'emotional' | ad298d66e69217dbb24190fd50532d953a4bf204 |
Photos that allegedly show the Syrian regime committing mass torture are "fake," Syria's Justice Ministry said Wednesday. In a statement on the state news agency SANA, the Justice Ministry categorically denied allegations published in a new report accusing the regime of torturing and killing thousands of detainees in government custody. The statement branded the report "politicized and lacking in objectivity and professionalism" and said some of the photos are of "foreign terrorists." It then said any expert "could easily find out that these pictures are fake and that they have no relation to prisoners or detainees in Syrian prisons." The report, first released by CNN on Monday, was authored by a team of international legal and forensic experts based on thousands of photographs provided by a Syrian defector. He claimed to have worked as a photographer at a military hospital that received dead bodies from detention centers. The Justice Ministry's response is the first official Syrian government reaction to the report, which emerged on the eve of an international peace talks in Switzerland. The images purportedly show "systematic torture and killing" of detainees by the al-Assad regime. Could photos be a game changer? That assertion is being made by a team of internationally recognized war crimes prosecutors and forensic experts, who analyzed thousands of digital photos taken and provided by a Syrian defector codenamed "Caesar," who, along with his family, is now living outside Syria in an undisclosed location. Lifeless bodies, signs of starvation . In the photos, lifeless bodies show signs of starvation, brutal beatings, strangulation and other forms of torture and killing, according to the report. The experts' report was partly sponsored by the government of Qatar, which funded the British law firm Carter-Ruck to write it. Qatar and Saudi Arabia provide most of the outside support for Syria's rebel forces. The Syrian Justice Ministry accused Carter-Ruck of a lack of professionalism and said it was "known to have direct ties with countries that are hostile to the Syrian Arab Republic since the start of the crisis." Aside from the photos of "foreign terrorists," other individuals shown are "civilians and military personnel who were killed as a result of torture by armed terrorist groups because they were accused of being pro-state," it claims. The ministry questions the credibility of the photographer, saying he was "a fugitive who fled Syria and who was already facing legal action," and asks how he would have got the necessary documents to leave the country. It also suggests that the timing of the publication of the photographs reveals their "true purpose" -- that of undermining the peace talks starting in Montreux Wednesday and moving to Geneva at the end of the week. The report "aims to undermine the efforts to bring peace in Syria and put an end to the international sponsored terrorism in the country," the statement said. | Syrian Justice Ministry says photos are "fake" and have no relation to government detainees . It also says pictures show "foreign terrorists" and regime supporters killed by terrorists . The photos of alleged mass torture and killing in Syria come as peace talks are to begin . Report authors say they show "systematic torture and killing" of prisoners by al-Assad regime . | d449f48bc797e7e88c375f8fea0fd28a811776a9 |
(CNN) -- A rash of sexual assaults in the armed forces undermines Americans' confidence in the military, President Barack Obama told newly commissioned officers at the U.S. Naval Academy Friday. "Those who commit sexual assault are not only committing a crime, they threaten the trust and discipline that makes our military strong," Obama told the graduates, who were commissioned as Naval ensigns and Marine Corps second lieutenants. "That's why we have to be determined to stop these crimes. Because they have no place in the greatest military on Earth," Obama continued. The president's remarks came amid mounting outrage over sexual abuse cases in the armed forces. Figures show the rate of assaults in the armed forced increasing, and some top officers are under fire for condoning such acts. At least two officers responsible for preventing sexual assault are under investigation for allegedly committing the types of act they were tasked with stopping. Those factors have led to calls for major changes in how the armed forces handle sexual assaults. Obama has demanded his top military brass "leave no stone overturned" in their quest to prevent abuse, and members of Congress have introduced legislation that would make it easier for victims to get justice. In his commencement address Friday, Obama characterized the U.S. military as one of the few institutions Americans still trust, but said incidents like sexual assaults, as well as other delinquency by servicemen in the field, could erode that faith. "Even in our military, we've seen how the misconduct of some can have effects that ripple far and wide. In our digital age, a single image from the battlefield of troops falling short of their standards can go viral and endanger our forces and undermine our efforts to achieve security and peace," Obama told the Naval Academy graduates, 206 of whom were women. Earlier this month, the Department of Defense released figures estimating 26,000 cases of unwanted sexual contact occurred in 2012, a 35% jump from 2010. Those cases ranged from groping to rape. The vast majority of those incidents went unreported as crimes, the study showed. Meanwhile, officers at bases across the country are under investigation for allegedly committing sexual assaults. An Army sergeant first class assigned to the sexual assault prevention unit at Fort Hood, Texas, came under investigation in early May for alleged sexual assault, pandering, abusive sexual contact and maltreatment of subordinates. The military said he's been relieved of duty while investigators look in to the allegations. Also in May, an Air Force officer who managed an assault prevention unit was charged with sexual battery and removed from duty. He is accused of grabbing a woman and groping her buttocks and breasts in an Arlington County parking lot not far from his Washington office. And this week, the Army said it had suspended Brig. Gen. Bryan Roberts, the top general at Fort Jackson in South Carolina, due to allegations of adultery and assault. Fort Jackson is where most new Army recruits go through basic training, which includes training about sexual assault prevention. The president traditionally delivers the commencement address at one of the military service academies every year. In 2012 he spoke at the Air Force Academy in Colorado Springs. The last time he delivered the commencement in Annapolis was 2009. Vice President Joe Biden spoke last weekend at the Coast Guard Academy in Connecticut. Defense Secretary Chuck Hagel will speak Saturday at the U.S. Military Academy at West Point, and also will address sexual assaults, according to a U.S. official. Obama's remarks came the day after a much-anticipated speech in which the president spelled out a new phase of America's war on terror. He told the new officers Friday they are entering a military vastly changed from four years ago. "Just as you have changed in the past four years, so too have the challenges facing our military," he said, noting the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan were still being engaged when Friday's graduates entered the academy. "Even as we move beyond deploying our large ground armies abroad, we need to conduct precise targeted strikes against terrorists before they kill our citizens," Obama said. "Even as we stay vigilant in the face of terrorism, and stay true to our Constitution and values, we need to stay ready for the full range of threats." CNN's Jim Acosta contributed to this report. | Obama says military assaults threaten what "makes our military strong," Assaults have "no place" in the military, Obama says . Figures show the rate of assaults in the armed forces is increasing . A number of officers at bases across the country are under investigation . | 839ed5adaffbc9bfdfbc0d861ae89e310c688723 |
Oscar Pistorius will start a period of psychiatric evaluation at a state institution next Monday, a South African judge has ruled. Judge Thokozile Masipa said on Tuesday that the double-amputee athlete's murder trial at the High Court in Pretoria will be postponed until June 30 while he is observed as an outpatient at Weskoppies Psychiatric Hospital. Evaluation: Oscar Pistorius leaves the High Court in Pretoria after his murder trial was postponed until June 30 while he undergoes psychiatric tests in a state institution . Assessment: Judge Thokozile Masipa ruled that Pistorius will go to Weskoppies Psychiatric hospital for tests . New twist: Pistorius talks to brother Carl inside the courtroom after the latest dramatic moment in his murder trial . Pistorius must attend the hospital at 9am every weekday and will be evaluated by a panel of four mental health experts. He can leave every day at 4pm or when allowed by hospital authorities. Judge Masipa ruled that Pistorius's period of observation will not be more than 30 days. A psychiatrist had testified at Pistorius's trial that he had an anxiety disorder which may have contributed to him fatally shooting girlfriend Reeva Steenkamp at his home on Valentine's Day last year. Sorry we are not currently accepting comments on this article. | Judge Thokozile Masipa ordered assessments to start next Monday . Pistorius will report to Weskoppies Psychiatric Hospital as an outpatient . Athlete must attend every weekday morning at 9am . Will be evaluated by panel of mental health experts . | 0e8d8f4dc0012c71cfb91f526e9471e119bcd7e5 |
It's not just luxury sailing vessels that are being exhibited at this year's Monaco Yacht Show. Instead, a wide variety of high-tech water gadgets are now being offered to the crowds of discerning millionaires attending the prestigious event. If the wealthy customers ever get bored of sunning themselves on the decks of their mammoth gin palaces, they can splash out personal submarines, jetpacks, even a 'walking' boat. The £110,000 Jetlev-Flyer - a water-powered 'jetpack' that can hover up to 30 metres in the air . Life of the super-rich: The Monaco Yacht Show 2014 is the largest in the event’s history . Top of the shopping list is the Jetlev-Flyer – a water-powered 'jetpack' that can hover up to 30 metres in the air and reach speeds of up to 22mph. Designed by Canadian engineer Raymond Li over ten years, the device costs £110,000. The contraption is connected to a 10-metre hose which sucks up water before it is spat out through two nozzles. The machine can be used for up to three hours at a time, while the engine also doubles as a flotation device. It is one of dozens of high-end accessories being sold by Superyacht Toys & Tenders, who have a stall at this year's event. The Jetlev-Flyer is connected to a 10m hose which sucks up water before it is spat out through two nozzles . Like mini cruise ships: Organisers at the Monaco Yacht Show are expecting more buyers from emerging markets such as Turkey, China or South Asia this year . Around 200 of the water-based jetpacks have been sold across the world, with the company's managing director Josh Richardson explaining: 'Generally people are getting more adventurous with their luxury toys.' Also on sale is the $1.7m (£1.03m) DeepFlight Super Falcon, a submersible similar to the one used in the 1981 James Bond film For Your Eyes Only. At 21ft-long with a wingspan of 9ft, the futuristic-looking craft can reach depths of 400ft and speed through the ocean at nearly seven miles per hour. It is able to do barrel rolls underwater, dive straight down, or make sharp turns. It was created by British inventor Graham Hawkes who also developed the machine used in the film starring Roger Moore. The DeepFlight Super Falcon - a submersible similar to the one used in the 1981 James Bond film For Your Eyes Only. The machine costs £1m and can reach depths of 400ft . The DeepFlight SuperFalcon was created by British inventor Graham Hawkes for Hawkes Ocean Technologies, who also developed the machine used in 007 film For Your Eyes Only, starring Roger Moore . The submarine, which has been described as the 'Lear Jet of the seas, has a carbon fibre hull that encompasses two cockpits with dual flight controls. It can also remain underwater for 24 hours. 'Just as private individuals are now able to explore space, we see our submarines as opening up the oceans for private exploration,' said Karen Hawkes, who founded the DeepFlight company with engineer husband Graham in 1996. 'Except unlike spacecraft, these owners get to the pilot their own vessels.' The Triton deep sea mini-submarine is another underwater device proving popular with the super-rich. The three-metre-long, two-man craft has been specifically designed for mega-yachts and comes with a hefty $2m (£1.2m) pricetag. The Triton deep sea mini-submarine is another underwater device proving popular with the super-rich . The greatest show on water: The annual show in Monaco celebrates the world’s most luxurious superyachts . It is powered by four thrusters and has a top speed of 2.5 knots when submerged. There is enough air on board for a 12-hour trip and it can dive to a depth of 1,000ft. The 3.3ton high-density acrylic bubble gives a 360-degree view of the deep, while the luxurious cockpit has air-con and leather-lined seats. 'It gives clients the opportunity to see a part of our planet that no human has ever visited before,' said Marc Depp, the company's sales and marketing manager. 'Many of our clients are also concerned about their legacy and the condition of the oceans, and make their submarines available to marine scientists.' The company currently build between four and six submarines a year. The Iguana yacht is another contraption that the wealthy elite might be tempted to shell out for. It's an amphibious boat-car with retractable caterpillar tracks that enables it to be driven in and out of the water. The Iguana yacht is an amphibious boat-car that can be driven in and out of the water . The Iguana can reach a brisk 35 knots at sea thanks to its big 300hp engine, and costs £190,000 . Designed by Frenchmen Tanguy le Bihan and Antoine Fritsch Associés, the Iguana can reach a brisk 35 knots at sea thanks to its big 300hp engine. On land it can only move at 5mph because it relies on a smaller engine out of the water. It has room for 10 people on board and features a teak floor, table and sundeck. The craft costs a cool £190,000. 'All of our customers bought the yacht because they have a legitimate use for it, such as entering or exiting a waterfront property,' said the company's sales manager Steve Huppert. 'We haven't had people buying it simply to show off.' The Monaco Boat show is one of the most upmarket boat shows in the world and has a strict entry policy for the exhibiting companies. The Monaco Boat Show show was launched 24 years ago and attracts an average of 33,000 people each year . Up to 500 companies in the luxury yachting world are able to showcase the latest high-tech nautical products and luxury yachting services, while 105 spectacular super and megayachts are exhibited every year. The show, which was launched 24 years ago, attracts an average attendance of 33,000 people. The show's managing director Gaëlle Tallarida said: 'Fifteen years ago a person who owned a superyacht was usually 50 years old. Now we're seeing people who are 30 years old owning one. 'These toys attract them because they have a special way of enjoying yachts, compared to their parents who perhaps had to wait until they were older to buy one. 'They like sports and really enjoy being in the sea -- not just sailing and lying on the sundeck.' | This year's Monaco Yacht Show features a string of high-tech water toys . The £110,000 Jetlev Flyer is proving popular with wealthy customers . The Triton deep sea mini-submarine is on sale for £1.2million . | d72c191c29b361a738b57eed2032d9cc8ba7fe25 |
(CNN) -- An Arizona couple who wanted to adopt a woman's baby know more than they're saying about the 8-month-old boy's disappearance, police say. Gabriel Johnson hasn't been seen since December 26, police said, and his mother was arrested last week in Miami Beach, Florida, after not reporting for a December 28 child custody hearing in Arizona. "We have some good indications at this point with our investigation that Tammi and Jack Smith do know more information than they have provided to us that could possibly lead us to Gabriel," Sgt. Steve Carbajal, spokesman for the Tempe (Arizona) Police Department, told HLN's Nancy Grace on Thursday. For their part, the Smiths told HLN's Jean Casarez on "Nancy Grace" that they voluntarily took polygraph tests Friday at the Tempe Police Department. "The polygraph test is not like what you see on TV," Jack Smith said. "It's almost like being strapped into the electric chair, so it's very intensive. And we were very happy to do it." The Smiths have said they met Elizabeth Johnson, 23, seven months ago during a long layover at an airport, and later the three discussed a plan to adopt Johnson's child, Gabriel. But the boy's father, Logan McQueary, has legal custody and has said Elizabeth Johnson urged him to sign papers giving the Smiths custody of the boy, but he refused. "She didn't want Logan to have the baby, and we couldn't adopt the baby because Logan wouldn't sign the papers," Tammi Smith said on "Nancy Grace." "So her idea was to just keep running forever. And we told her, 'You can't run forever. They're going to find you.' " Elizabeth Johnson has refused to say where the boy is, according to police, and remains in a Florida jail on suspicion of custodial interference. Carbajal's department has indications that Gabriel is alive, he said, adding that the Smiths have spoken with investigators. But he declined to say why police believe that the couple has more information. The Smiths say they do not know where Gabriel is. Watch what they say about the polygraphs . Detectives have not been able to confirm that Johnson gave the child to an unidentified couple in San Antonio, Texas, as she has claimed. "On one hand, we hear that that went down and the child was given away to an unknown couple at a park," Carbajal said. "We balance that with statements made by Elizabeth that she killed Gabriel. Which story is true? Our investigators are trying to get to the bottom of that right now." New leads and developments in the case were coming in by the minute, he said. The FBI found Johnson's car in San Antonio and have examined it for any clues that could lead them to the boy, but his whereabouts remain unknown. Anyone with more information is asked to call the Tempe Police Department at 480-350-8311 or the National Center for Missing & Exploited Children at 1-800-THE-LOST. | NEW: Would-be parents tell HLN they volunteered for polygraph tests . Gabriel Johnson, 8 months old, hasn't been seen since December 26 . Child's mother was arrested in Miami and is in police custody but won't say where he is . Police believe they Arizona couple know more than they're saying . | b40ce7344f17d8a8b7e413c6a6855eed5ac85e1e |
(CNN) -- One of the telephone numbers used to report claims of abuse at a polygamist sect's Texas ranch was previously associated with a Colorado woman whom authorities have named a "person of interest," a court document says. Rozita Swinton, 33, has been arrested in a case that is not directly related to the Texas raid. The telephone calls in late March prompted authorities to raid the Yearning For Zion (YFZ) Ranch in Eldorado, Texas, where 437 children were removed. The ranch is owned by the Fundamentalist Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, a Mormon offshoot that practices polygamy. Rozita Swinton, 33, of Colorado Springs, Colorado, was arrested this month on a charge of making a false report to police. The charge relates to an incident in February, but the Texas Rangers have said she is a person of interest in connection with the ranch calls. In the February incident, Swinton is accused of calling authorities using the names "Dana Anderson" and "April," reporting abuse by male relatives, according to an affidavit in support of an arrest warrant. Authorities have not clearly said that they think Swinton made the March phone calls that prompted the raid. But the affidavit says she is "known to make false reports of sexual abuse to the police and other agencies." Watch how a hoax may be behind the ranch mystery » . Calls were made to a Texas family shelter March 29 and 30 from a female identifying herself as Sarah Barlow, the affidavit says. The caller said she was 16, had a baby about 8 months old and was pregnant again. She said that her 49-year-old husband was physically and sexually abusive toward her and that they were living at the YFZ Ranch. The phone calls were made from a prepaid cell phone with no available records, according to the affidavit. However, it has been used in other cases linked to Swinton, the document says. Although Texas officials said they have not found the woman who made the calls, they said they have found evidence that girls as young at 13 are forced into marriages with older men at the ranch. The FLDS has denied that any abuse takes place at the ranch. The woman identifying herself as Sarah Barlow also called a battered women's shelter in Snohomish County, Washington, using another phone number, the affidavit says. That phone number was traced to Swinton's address, the affidavit says. On April 10, the woman called the Washington shelter again and was put on the line with a Texas deputy. She said she felt that she would be punished for the trouble she had caused, was worried that her baby might be taken away and was angry with a woman she had contacted March 29 for prompting the raid by law enforcement. During that conversation, the affidavit says, the woman used terminology common to the FLDS, referring to her "sister wives," for instance. The phone number used in the Washington call was traced to the Colorado Springs apartment where Swinton lives, the affidavit says. The number was also used to call a Utah organization for women escaping polygamy and an abuse counseling center in Fort Myers, Florida, phone records showed. Swinton pleaded guilty to a charge of false reporting in June 2007 and was under a 12-month deferred sentence, the affidavit says. At a custody hearing last week, a Texas judge ruled that the state will temporarily retain custody of the 437 children removed in the raid. Meanwhile, on Tuesday evening, laboratory workers at San Angelo Coliseum completed taking DNA samples from mothers and children, said Janice Rolfe, a spokeswoman for the state attorney general's office. She did not say how many samples were taken. About 100 of the seized children from whom swab DNA samples had already been taken were bused Tuesday from the San Angelo Coliseum to group foster homes, the Texas Department of Health and Family Services said. On Wednesday, workers in Eldorado continued to take voluntary DNA samples from adults who live on the YFZ Ranch, Rolfe said. Rolfe said that at least 54 samples from adults have been taken there. The DNA samples will be sent to Laboratory Corporation of America, based in Burlington, North Carolina. It could take longer than a month to get results. Judge Barbara Walther, who last week ordered the DNA testing of the children and ordered that they remain in state custody, signed an order this week authorizing the children's move to foster care, officials said. At a meeting Wednesday afternoon, Walther and the state's Child Protective Services Division agreed that 18 mothers with breast-feeding babies that are 1 year old or younger will be allowed to stay with their children in the homes where the children are placed. Also, 23 mothers with 28 children ages 1 to 2 years will be allowed to stay in the same towns as their children. The remaining children, 2 to 18 years old, will be split up into available homes. The original order signed by Walther called for every effort to keep siblings together, especially in the case of small children. Rod Parker, a spokesman for the FLDS families, blasted the action in a news conference from his Salt Lake City, Utah, office. "The CPS department of Texas is afraid of due process," he said. "They would lose in a fair fight in this case, and that is why you're seeing them move so quickly, and that is why you're seeing them move unilaterally." He said the court ignored motions asking that the children be placed with their relatives. The FLDS launched a Web site this week to promote its side of the issue. The site, captivefldschildren.com, contains photos and videos taken inside the ranch during the raid. The site says donations are needed to help cover the "massive litigation costs associated with these lawsuits." A link on the Web site allows online donations. E-mail to a friend . CNN correspondent Susan Roesgen and journalist Cheryl Getty contributed to this report. | Rozita Swinton, 33, was arrested this month on charge unrelated to ranch . But Texas Rangers have said she is a "person of interest" in sect case . Court record: Swinton is connected with phone number that brought attention to sect . Caller identified herself as a 16-year-old girl who claimed abuse by sect member . | 054891b9199a73152564cc5be925250ea282bb00 |
By . Wills Robinson . A wide-ranging investigation has been launched into Fifa's involvement in a £58million World Cup ticket-touting racket. Detectives are keen to establish whether football's global governing body were aware of deals that saw thousands of tickets sold on the black market at hugely-inflated prices. Police are trying to establish the source of the scam, but believe 'someone from Fifa' and a middleman from hospitality partners, MATCH, channelled tickets to illegitimate distributors. The firm has become the centre of the scandal after the arrest of its British director, Ray Whelan, who is now considered a 'fugitive' after fleeing his Rio de Janeiro hotel last week. Scandal: Brazilian police have said that 'someone in Fifa', based at the headquarters in Zurich (pictured) and an 'intermediary' from MATCH hospitality chanelled tickets to the black market . Fled: Ray Whelan, an executive at MATCH Hospitality, is the centre of a multi-million pound ticket-touting investigation and is now considered a 'fugitive' after fleeing from his Rio de Janeiro hotel last week . He is one of 12 suspects, along with Algerian businessmen Lamine Fofana, who have been arrested and questioned for their alleged part in the criminal conspiracy. Police are believed to have filed charges against Whelan, Fofana and 10 others. MATCH have been reported as saying that the charges against Whelan are baseless and that his arrest was illegal. Around 22,000 hours of phone calls between a 'ringleader' and the Fifa headquarters in Switzerland are said to have been intercepted by police officers and will be used as the basis of the probe. Brazilian prosecutor Marcos Kac, who is heading up the inquiry, is set to enlist the help of Interpol and a number of other foreign police forces to aid what could be the biggest investigation into illegal ticket sales in the tournament's history. He said he wanted to identify the source of the tickets and also probe the possibility that tax evasion and money laundering was involved. Kac, who exposed the touting ring, told The Sunday Times: 'This next part of the investigation will be huge. We are going to get to the bottom of it and everyone involved.' The prosecutor has also said he will look into the roles of Mexican brothers Jaime and Enrique Byrom, directors of MATCH Hospitality who also own their own company, Byrom, in Cheadle, Cheshire. Probe: The prosecutor in the inquiry is Marcos Kac who claims he wants to 'get to the bottom of it and everyone involved' The scandal has grown since the initial investigation which centred around Whelan, who is the former agent of England legend Sir Bobby Charlton. Police in Rio de Janeiro have declared him 'a fugitive' after they attempted to re-arrest him as part of the investigation. Officers arrived at the lavish Copacabana Palace hotel last week with an arrest warrant, but he was not there and police said they had CCTV footage of him leaving through a service door. He has been described as the 'facilitator' who allowed a large ring of scalpers to have access to tickets, which they re-sold at vastly inflated prices. The Copacabana Palace is also where police conducted parts of an undercover operation known as Jules Rimet — named after the former FIFA president who launched the World Cup in 1930. Police received recordings of mobile phone conversations between Whelan and Fofana, who is alleged to be the leader of the ticket touting ring, negotiating the sale of hospitality packages for £14,605 each in cash. Whelan is now said to be on the run and could face ten years in jail if he is caught, but his legal team have said his arrest was 'illegal'. MATCH were allocated about 445,000 World Cup tickets. The latest set of allegations is part of a series of scandals involving Fifa. In June, the body, headed by Sepp Blatter, faced pressure to strip Qatar of the 2022 World Cup following corruption claims. Sponsors Adidas, Visa and Sony expressed their anger after allegations emerged that the former vice president, Mohamed Bin Hammam, used bribes to secure votes for the country's bid. Fifa made £1billion from sponsorship at the previous World Cup in South Africa and relies heavily on continued advertising revenue from major firms. The governing body has said it takes a strong stance against ticket touts and will co-operate with any police investigation. Armed presence: Brazilian National Force police officers stand guard outside the Copacabana Palace where Ray Whelan, of MATCH Services, had been staying . | Detectives want to establish whether governing body was aware of deals . Money laundering and tax evasion allegations also part of worldwide probe . Brazilian prosecutor will enlist help of Interpol and other foreign forces . Has said he wants to 'get to the bottom of it and everyone involved' Follows the arrest of Ray Whelan, the director of MATCH Hospitality . | 5988296eaed6e0febfe511fed4005bb5bc3b982e |
Narsarsuaq, Greenland (CNN) -- Every year, we hear stories of global warming advancing and the effects that has on the earth's climate patterns. One phenomenon that is often used to illustrate ice melt in the Arctic is giant icebergs, often the size of whole towns or even small countries, breaking off the ice shield and drifting south. In reality, icebergs constantly break off both the arctic ice shield and Greenland's inland glaciers, a process that scientists call calving. To find out whether that process is accelerating a CNN crew traveled to southern Greenland, to the small village Narsarsuaq, where the Danish Meteorological Institute (DMI) keep a unique unit of experts. They are called the Ice Patrol and the unit consists of ship navigators and pilots who fly across the south of this vast island to monitor the movement of icebergs, to prevent collisions with cargo ships navigating in the waters around Greenland. "We keep an eye out for icebergs that are bunched together in narrow waterways," said ice observer Jane Robertson on an airborne mission around the southern tip of Greenland. While big icebergs can pose a threat to vessels going through here, surprisingly it is smaller ice pieces that are even more dangerous. "The smaller icebergs are much harder to detect," Robertson said as she was surveying the ice with her binoculars, "especially if the icebergs have been traveling in the water a long time they become almost colorless and nearly invisible in the ocean." Flying over the majestic landscapes of this part of Greenland, observers see a huge amount of icebergs, some almost the size of aircraft carriers and several stories tall, others shaped in a distinctive blue coloring because the air has been pressed out of the ice in its glacial journey. Some experts believe that the glaciers in Greenland are calving at a higher rate as temperatures rise, but the ice observers say their observations are not long term enough to speak of a general trend. "In the past two years there have been more icebergs here," Robertson says, "but then again in the years before there were a lot fewer so it really varies from year to years." However, other observers point to the fact that Greenland's glaciers have been receding for years, pointing to increased ice melt in the polar region. But even on fairly clear days it takes an experienced captain to navigate a ship through the waters around Greenland. Robertson is also an officer on the Royal Arctic Line, Greenland's own shipping company and says it takes years to understand the challenges involved sailing in Greenland. "When you encounter masses of icebergs you can either try and go through it or you can go around it," Robertson said. "In most cases the captain will usually try and go around it if he can because no matter how slow you go and how careful you are there will always be damage to the ship and then the weather can get much worse very quickly and you don't want to be in a field of icebergs if it does." Her experience as a ship's navigator make her so valuable as an ice observer for the DMI, but the everyone in the crew needs to be at the top of their game. Karsten Andsbjerg pilots the helicopter through the fjords and hills in this extremely rugged terrain. A difficult task as he often deals with severe weather while having to make the ride smooth enough for the observers to do their job. "Yeah, there are some pretty heavy and gusty winds here," Andsbjerg said shortly after landing at a Danish weather outpost right at the southern tip of Greenland. "The other thing is that the weather changes so quickly here, you always have to call ahead to all the airfields and weather stations and keep yourself updated. Otherwise you can be in severe weather in no time." The observers fly missions three times a week if the weather permits. Afterward they file reports on the location of dangerous ice clusters with photos that show vessels what they are in four if they try to get through. The Ice Patrol's reports are vital and may have already saved lives. The unit was founded after a ship sank off the coast of Greenland in 1959, killing all crew and passengers on board. The MS Hans Hedtoft disaster is known as the "Greenlandic Titanic" in this part of the world. Eydun Simonsen, the chief ice observer during CNN's stay with the unit said: "Just like the Titanic, it was her maiden voyage. To this day we don't know exactly what happened, but we do know that she hit an ice berg and sank with all souls on board. She did manage to send an SOS and later some rescue equipment was recovered." There hasn't been a major incident in the waters off Greenland since the ice patrol was founded. Better satellite images and more advanced ships will also have played a role in this improved track record, but there is no doubt that captains navigating the cold and often treacherous water of the Arctic value the detailed and up to date information the observers provide. | CNN's Fred Pleitgen joins Danish meteorologists as they chart the passage of Greenland icebergs . More icebergs have been observed in recent years but experts unsure of long-term trend . Observers fly missions three times a week before filing reports on dangerous ice . Ice Patrol founded after "Greenlandic Titanic" sank off the island's coast in 1959 killing all crew and passengers . | cc6fd287e5466f3701a66dd78488658ca5fa4a1f |
By . Bianca London . PUBLISHED: . 06:12 EST, 22 January 2014 . | . UPDATED: . 10:27 EST, 22 January 2014 . Are you, like many, impatiently awaiting the fifth series of charming period drama Downton Abbey, due to air later this year? If so, a new board game may help fill the void the programme has left. The £19.95 game, which is based on the upstairs/downstairs lives of . the 1920s characters, is being sold on Amazon. Described as the 'fast-moving game that transports you into the world of Downton Abbey', gamers play as a maid or footman and have to make their way around the board completing tasks and collecting bells along the way as quickly as possible. It's playtime, Downton style! As viewers eagerly await the fifth series of the popular ITV show, a board game has been unveiled . The game starts in the servants' hall where each player is dealt 'destination cards' - each of which have varying values indicated by the number of bells on the card; the more bells, the harder the task. Each player then navigates their way around the corridors and stairs of the famous Abbey by throwing the dice to determine how many moves they can make. When a player reaches the destination of their task, they are entitled to collect their bell tokens (the idea is to get as many as possible). But, of course, it isn't all that simple. Watch out for a 'Carson Card' space - the equivalent to a 'chance' space in Monopoly - which can either help or hinder a player. Beware the Carson! This card can either help or hinder a player as they navigate the board . Inside the Abbey: Each player navigates their way around the corridors and stairs of the famous Abbey by throwing the dice to determine how many moves they can make . Race around the board: Described as the 'fast moving game that transports you into the world of Downton Abbey', gamers move around the board completing tasks and collecting bells . You could end up on a 'Letter' space, which could call a player away from the Abbey, slowing them down or costing them precious bells. Writing about the game on Amazon, makers says: 'So which route will they take? A short easy looking one to get a job done earning only one bell, or a longer route with the possibility of collecting a higher reward?' The winner of the game is the player who completes all their jobs and collects the most bells on their way around the game. The show, which will air later this year, drew in 7m viewers for its Christmas special. Tasks: Each player is given tasks as they make their way around the board. The game is the ideal Christmas gift for die-hard Downton fans . Hindered: You could end up on a 'Letter' space, which could call a player away from the Abbey, slowing them down or costing them precious bells. The player with the most bells wins . Hotly anticipated: Season five of the popular ITV show airs later this year . Pick up destination card - each of which have varying values indicated by the number of bells on the card . Throw dice to determine how many moves you can make around the board . When you reach the destination of your task, collect your bell tokens . Watch out for a 'Carson Card' space, which can either help or hinder you . Beware of the 'Letter' space, which could call you away from the Abbey, slowing you down or costing you precious bells . The winner is the player who completes all their jobs and collects the most bells on their way around the game . Marks & Spencer launched a Downton Abbey . beauty line, including soap, nail polish, lip gloss, lotion and scented . candles. The Downton Abbey Fragranced Candle (£8.50) and . the three-shade Lip Gloss collection (£9.50) Now you can emulate the luxury of Lady Edith from as little as £11.25 with ACHICA's jewellery range . Downton Abbey: Life in a Country House is a five session course from Camden County College in New Jersey that teaches students all about life at Downton . | The £19.95 game is being sold on Amazon . Described as 'fast-moving game that transports you into world of Downton' Show's fifth series airs later this year . Christmas special drew in 7m viewers . | 6f8d5825b6f0e117184bbf211402533306579de8 |
No, one of boxing’s greatest did not have his bollocks removed. ‘I have no intention of becoming a woman’ Mike Tyson is reported as saying after a false report of him having a sex-change operation went viral. The former undisputed heavyweight world champion issued a statement denying the false claims on the African news site, SpyGhana, which originally reported the false claim. Not true: 'I have no intention of becoming a woman' Mike Tyson is reported as saying after a false report of his having a sex change operation went viral . ‘I am still a man and I have always been fully in touch with my masculinity and have no intention of becoming a woman’ Tyson, 46, has since been quoted as saying. 'The claims are not only untrue but unbelievably stupid. I was at the Pacquiao-Marquez fight on Saturday and any reasonable person could tell I was looking like a man.’ The NewsBiscuit story, ‘Mike Tyson sex change operation a “complete success”, say surgeons,’ was published in late November and spread like wildfire after The Standard in Zimbabwe and SpyGhana both reported the news as fact. Investigative news site Zambia Watchdog is also believed to have published the story, but the story was allegedly removed from the site after the truth came out, according to the Daily Mirror. A leftover link now leads to an inactive webpage. One of the quotes attributed to Tyson in the false sex-change story reads: ‘Some people might think it strange that I’m now a woman. But even at the height of my career, when pound for pound I was regarded as the best fighter in the world, I never lost touch with my feminine side and knew that one day I would grow breasts and have a vagina.’ Just a joke: The original spoof story claims Tyson wanted to replace his long-standing nickname of ¿Iron Mike¿ with 'Iron Maiden' following a 16-hour sex-change operation . Not 'Iron Maiden': 'I am still a man and I have always been fully in touch with my masculinity and have no intention of becoming a woman' Tyson, 46, has since been quoted as saying . The original spoof story claims Tyson wanted to replace his long-standing nickname of ‘Iron Mike’ with ‘Iron Maiden’ and changed his name from Mike to Michelle following a 16-hour sex-change operation. The spreading of false media reports has become fairly common as of late, as the demand for immediate breaking news has grown among media outlets. On November 14, The Onion published a satirical story calling North Korea's leader Kim Jung-Un the world's sexiest man alive for 2012. The online version of China's communist newspaper, The People's Daily, reported the spoof story as fact. On November 29, a made-up story about Google acquiring a Wi-Fi company for $400 million, spread across the Web and was reported as fact by the Associated Press and TechCrunch. CNN later that day reported the story was false. NewsBiscuit, the British 'News Satire, Satire, Parody News' site which published the Tyson spoof story, states on its FAQ page that 'All we’re doing is doing some fake news with a slightly British prospective.' 'We've had . half as many visitors from Africa in the last few days as we'd expect . generally in a whole month,' Comic writer John O'Farrell of NewsBiscuit told the BBC. NewsBiscuit is one of many spoof news sites. | Mike Tyson, 46, issued a statement denying false claims of him having a sex-change operation . ‘I have no intention of becoming a woman’ he is reported as saying . The spoof story . ‘Mike Tyson sex change operation a “complete success”, say surgeons,’ was published in late November and went viral soon after . | b6faf271a4d29202027eb56f94244fc36327d952 |
Martin Canning is glad he no longer has to keep his appointment as Hamilton player/manager a secret. At a press conference on Friday at New Douglas Park to confirm the 33-year-old defender in his new post, it was revealed he had known about his promotion since Alex Neil's departure to Norwich on January 9. While the waters were muddied by Accies putting a deadline on applications for the post, Canning, in caretaker charge for three consecutive defeats, had to straight-bat questions about his position until the board had assembled together a new management structure. Hamilton are set to announce caretaker boss Martin Canning as their new manager on Friday . Former Hamilton player Chris Swailes, latterly working at Newcastle United's academy, has been appointed assistant manager while another former Accies player, Guillaume Beuzelin, comes in as head coach after leaving his assistant's post at Dumbarton, a role which involves also overseeing the youth set-up. After a 'turbulent' time Canning was happy to be able to talk freely about his new job. He said: 'It is not something you want to keep to yourself but it had to be until the directors had everything in place. 'It is never easy and not something you like to do on a regular basis but if it is for the greater good and the right purpose, sometimes it has to be done . 'It was about trying got keep things as normal as possible in the changing room and the pitch although results have not been what we wanted. Defender Canning has been in caretaker charge for three consecutive defeats since Alex Neil left for Norwich . 'Behind the scenes it was in my thoughts. 'But it wasn't something I wanted to discuss, it wasn't the time to discuss it. 'I was delighted to get the opportunity and delighted the board have got the right people behind me.' Another former Hamilton player, Brian Potter, comes in as goalkeeping coach from Dunfermline while winger Dougie Imrie takes over the Under-17 side. Swailes and Beuzelin will take the training which Canning believes will help with his desire to keep on playing. The former Hibernian stopper said: 'It is a great opportunity for me to go into management while marrying it with playing. 'A lot of player/managers play less or stop playing so that tells you that it is not an easy thing to do. Neil was their 31-year-old captain when he replaced Billy Reid following a seven-year reign . 'But I feel as if I still have something to offer and as long as I think that I will continue to play. 'That's why it is important to have a good backroom team to take as much of that strain off as possible.' It was a busy day at the Lanarkshire club. Vice chairman Ronnie MacDonald revealed that he had turned down a bid of around £300,000 from Polish club Jagiellonia Bialystok for 21-year-old defender Ziggy Gordon and that two top-flight English clubs have expressed an interest in 20-year-old left-back Stephen Hendrie, whose proposed move to West Ham had fallen through. Chairman Les Gray also confirmed that defender Michael Devlin, 21, had agreed a three-year extension to his contract. MacDonald, who also revealed that interest in midfielder Tony Andreu from a Chinese club had failed to materialise, said: 'The night we knew Alex was going was the night we told Martin he was the new manager. 'We didn't ask for applications but we received more than 60. We interviewed no one but we thank them all. 'We took the opportunity to re-organise the club. We take the long view, we want to do what's right.' | Hamilton manager Alex Neil left for Norwich City earlier this month . Defender Martin Canning has been acting as caretaker boss . But club bosses revealed they always intended to appoint him as manager . They received 60 applications for the job but interviewed nobody . | b18f4ca3ea2b751b0cffbfa416c18f8e295a8167 |
By . Tim Shipman and Hugo Duncan . PUBLISHED: . 17:35 EST, 7 October 2012 . | . UPDATED: . 02:44 EST, 8 October 2012 . Up to 50,000 jobs could be lost in Britain if the country’s biggest defence company joins forces with its Franco-German rival, a report warns today. Many of the cutbacks will come in firms that supply BAE with parts – but thousands of workers directly employed by it could also be under threat. The acknowledgement that the merger would lead to widespread job losses comes amid growing opposition to the deal. Made in Britain: Typhoons under construction at BAE Systems, Warton Aerodrome, Lancashire . It is mired in controversy over how much control the French and German governments will enjoy over the new company. Berlin is threatening to block the deal unless it has its headquarters in Munich. However, last night Defence Secretary . Philip Hammond said the Government here is also prepared to intervene – . if the deal threatens the UK’s national interest. He said the Coalition would tolerate some French and German control of the company but their shares should be limited. Prepared to intervene: British Defence Secretary Philip Hammond . And he said Britain would insist on the defence arm of the new company being ‘headquartered in the UK’. He added: ‘We have made very clear that we do have red lines and that if they can’t be satisfied then we will use our special share to veto the deal. ‘But it’s not, I think, necessary to have no French or German government interest in the company; it is necessary to reduce that stake below the level at which it can direct the way the company acts. We want to see this company, and I think the management wants to see this company, prospering as a commercial business, focused on doing the things that are right for the business, not being beholden to or controlled by any one.’ Downing Street has sought to suggest that David Cameron will seek a guarantee that British jobs would be preserved. But a well-placed source in the Ministry of Defence has told the Mail that this will not be possible.‘Jobs will certainly go in the short and medium term,’ the source said. ‘There’s nothing we can do about that.’ A report by financial health specialists Company Watch said the merger threatens the future of 7,500 BAE suppliers in the UK with 52,000 staff. That is on top of the 35,000 workers employed by BAE directly in Britain. Company Watch warned that firms that supply BAE could see contracts and job opportunities migrate to European companies already supplying EADS. BAE spends more than £4billion every year with its suppliers, from manufacturing giants such as Rolls-Royce to the cafes that make lunch for engineers. Nick Hood of Company Watch, said: ‘The merger may have the unexpected side effect of threatening not just supply companies and their employees, but the UK’s climb out of double dip recession. ‘This is no time to play with the fate of 7,500 UK suppliers and their 52,000 employees.’ The combined company would also be ‘significantly’ weaker financially than BAE, says the report, because EADS is not as strong. Ben Wallace: Leading the opposition to the deal . ‘BAE suppliers that manage to retain . their relationship with the merged operation will find themselves forced . to deal with a customer with a much less positive credit profile,’ said . the report. It also warned that suppliers could have to renegotiate their contracts on less favourable terms. MP . Ben Wallace, who is co-ordinating Tory opposition to the deal, said: . ‘It is obvious that small British businesses will be made vulnerable by . this decision. 'They haven’t even guaranteed the jobs at BAE.’ Mr Wallace sent a letter signed by 45 Tory MPs to David Cameron demanding Britain veto the deal unless the French and German governments sell their stakes in EADS. Both want shares of between 9 and 13 per cent in the new company. The Spanish government claims 5 per cent. That means the three European governments could control a key 25 per cent of the firm. ‘Why would they want to own it if they don’t want to manipulate it?,’ Mr Wallace said. BAE is also facing a revolt from its shareholders. Two of the ten biggest say BAE has failed to tell them what is going on. Facing revolt: Two of the ten biggest BAE shareholders say they have not been told what is going on . | British Government prepared to intervene – if the deal threatens the UK’s national interest . Warning the deal could threaten 'UK's climb out of double dip recession' | c529837c5a3a18f5b6f56dd695ebd6afdc8694cf |
Long before the ink had dried on the Senate deal to end the government shutdown and raise the debt ceiling, the writing was already on the wall for the Republican Party: The last three weeks have hurt them. They have borne the brunt of the blame for shutting down the government, and polls show that a large majority of Americans disapprove of the way the Congressional GOP has handled the fight over funding the government and raising the debt ceiling. Shutdown Poll: No winners but GOP bigger loser than Dems . Polls: Time to throw my guy out of Congress? And now, non-partisan political handicappers say the likelihood of Democrats winning the House and maintaining control in the Senate in 2014 has increased. "Republicans have ratcheted up their risk," said Stuart Rothenberg, editor of The Rothenberg Political Report. "There is now a plausible case for the midterms being a plus for the Democrats, where I would never said that six months ago." Rothenberg said the GOP is being perceived as "a chaotic, disorganized, confused party" and it is likely that their fundraising numbers will likely begin to slow in the coming months. "Big dollar donors, who are more pragmatic business types, are now worried about where the party is going," he said. "For Democrats, this helps them for 2014 in recruitment, in fundraising and in overall morale." Conservatives and Obamacare . The deal, which the Senate and the House agreed to late on Wednesday, raises the debt ceiling until early next year and reopens the government that has been shut since October 1. The shutdown began because conservative Republicans - emboldened by Republican Sens. Ted Cruz of Texas and Mike Lee of Utah -- pushed Republican leaders to tie funding the government with significant changes to Obamacare and Democrats refused. Throughout the 16-day shutdown, House Speaker John Boehner and his leadership colleagues listened to their caucus and demanded that President Barack Obama and congressional Democrats come to the negotiating table to make concessions on the presidents sweeping healthcare law. But when Democrats didn't budge -- only agreeing in the end to increase fraud protection on the healthcare program -- Republican leadership was forced to agree to a scaled back deal. In defeat, Boehner may live to fight another day . On top of drawing the ire of a majority of the American people, the back and forth highlighted a noticeable rift in the Republican party: between more pragmatic Republicans and their emboldened tea party colleagues. Poll: Tea Party's favorable numbers take a hit . Texas newspaper longs for Cruz's predecessor . As news of the deal broke, unhappy tea party groups, who saw the deal as a capitulation by the establishment Republicans in Washington, began to bang their primary challenger drum, promising to run against Republicans that didn't back tying Obamacare to the shutdown and debt ceiling. "Congress will feel the repercussions of refusing to negotiate at all and for refusing to live under the same law the forced on the American people," Jenny Beth Martin, national coordinator for Tea Party Patriots said, who told CNN to expect tea party groups to fervently challenger other Republicans in 2014. "I expect tea party groups will be very active next year," Martin said. And Martin may be right. Just a quick look at Republicans running for reelection in the Senate shows tea party groups are already mobilizing to take on other Republicans. Challenges to incumbents . Republican Sen. Lindsey Graham of South Carolina has been a leading critic of Obama's policies on a number of fronts, but in heavily conservative South Carolina, a Republican incumbent can't take anything for granted. Graham faces a crowded primary field against state Sen. Lee Bright, businessman Richard Cash, and PR executive and Citadel graduate Nancy Mace. At this early stage of the race, Graham has the clear advantage in terms of money and organization. But that could change if conservative tea party activists begin to coalesce behind a single "anyone-but-Graham" candidate. The story is similar for Republican Sen. Lamar Alexander of Tennessee, who is now seeking his third term in 2014. He faces a primary challenge from state Rep. Joe Carr and 2012 Senate candidate Brenda Lenard. Alexander is not a favorite among conservative tea party activists. In August, a coalition of 20 Tennessee tea party and conservative groups sent the Senator an open letter asking him to retire. And the highest profile GOP senate primary of 2014 pits three-term incumbent Mike Enzi of Wyoming against Liz Cheney, the eldest daughter of former Vice President and Wyoming favorite son Dick Cheney. The national party is backing Enzi, while Cheney has the backing of conservative activists. Many in the tea party see these races -- along with races in the House -- as an opportunity. "The Republicans have had five years to try and make some progress in remedying the financial ills that plague our nation's future, and have made little to no progress," the Tea Party Express said in a written statement. "The silver lining in all this is that the 2014 elections are just around the corner and 'We The People' have our chance to tell our leaders exactly how we feel about the 'compromise' reached today." As tea party groups threaten Republican-on-Republican challenges, more moderate Republicans have publicly said that would be a bad idea. "The way to achieve more conservative governance in 2015 is not spending $$ to defeat Republicans in 2014," Tim Miller, the executive director of the America Rising PAC, a Republican research firm, tweeted hours after the Senate deal was reached. Miller told CNN he still sees the political map in 2014 as favorable for Republicans, especially if they focus on beating Democrats on Obamacare and the debt. "We need to take back the Senate and build on our House majority next November," Miller said. "No progress can be made if that objective isn't met." Miller continued: "So I believe GOP and conservative groups interested in advancing a conservative agenda to focus their energy" on defeating vulnerable Democrats in traditionally conservative states and districts. Democrats unified . Rothenberg said these divisions in the Republican Party -- between those seeking primary challenges and those seeking to target Democrats -- need to be worked out before the GOP can comfortably say they will keep control of the House. "At some point, the tea party are going to really want to accomplish stuff," Rothenberg said. "And in order to accomplish stuff, they are going to have to change their views about compromise and negotiations. If to them, victory is taking over an emasculated, weak, unsuccessful Republican Party, if that is what they think victory is, then maybe they can have victory." All of this news, has been music to many Democrats ears, many of whom believe the last three weeks -- and the Republicans fledgling poll numbers around the shutdown -- have made it less likely the those vulnerable Democrats will lose in 2014. Before the shutdown, Jim Manley, a longtime Senate Democratic aide, said the vulnerability of Sens. Mary Landrieu of Louisiana, Mark Pryor of Arkansas and Kay Hagan of North Carolina made Democrats losing control of the Senate a possibility. Now, he is far more bullish on his party's chances in both the Senate and House. "I think that for the first time, in light of what has happened, I think for the first time we can honestly take a look at it and question whether it is possible" to keep control of the Senate and win the House, Manley said. "The Republican Party brand is broken and I am not sure if it can be fixed." The key for Democrats, Manley pointed out, was their unity during the government shutdown. Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi repeatedly delivered the majority of her caucus against House Republicans piecemeal plans to fund the government, while Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid did the same in the Senate. "That shows me," Manley said, "that we are not scared of the tea party types like Democrats had been in elections past." Opinion: Five reasons America is still in trouble after shutdown . Opinion: Washington (George) got it right . Frum: Tea party exit would be GOP blessing . | Republicans take brunt of blame for government shutdown, debt fight . Some handicappers say Democrats have improved their chances in midterms . Tea party groups expected to be very active next year . Democrats showed strong unity during Congressional standoff . | 80d946e1aeac7caae6cad7462e05654dcf4fa829 |
By . Luke Salkeld . PUBLISHED: . 08:33 EST, 25 April 2013 . | . UPDATED: . 18:59 EST, 25 April 2013 . Sitting in your conservatory is supposed to be a relaxing way of spending a sunny afternoon. But for the Phipps family the sunshine means they are forced to retreat behind blackout curtains after their neighbour installed solar panels. They say there is so much glare that their home is lit up ‘like a tanning salon’. Robert Phipps says his neighbour's solar panels give off such a glare his family are permanently blinded by the light . Robert Phipps, 51, says the position and angle of his neighbour’s roof means excessive amounts of light are reflected over his garden and into his property. He claims his three-bed detached home is now filled with blinding light. He also fears the dazzle could permanently damage eyes and despite erecting a large fence, the garden is effectively out of bounds when the sun is shining. Mr Phipps, from Torridge, Devon, who lives with his wife Anne, 58, and son Tom, 15, said: ‘There’s this huge wall of light pointing straight at you. It’s worse than looking directly at the sun. I’m really worried it’s causing us retinal damage. ‘It’s not much better inside. We just have to close the curtains and blinds and switch the lights on. Eco-friendly: The offending solar panels which were put up by Travor Chase on his bungalow . Robert Phipps at his house in Devon where his neighbour's solar panels reflect light straight into his house . ‘My son has blackout blinds in his room just so he can escape the glare to do his homework. ‘The conservatory is totally unusable as well. It’s almost like living in a giant tanning salon.’ The panels belong to neighbour Trevor Chase, 81. Mr Phipps said: ‘I’ve invited him over to see the reflection for himself but he wouldn’t come. He thinks we’re whingeing. My problem is with the authorities – they need to do something about this.’ Mr Chase said: ‘We wanted to do our bit to save energy and help the planet. On a good day the panels power the lights and the cooker. ‘On the house in front we can see sets of solar panels and there is glare when the sun catches them, but we don’t mind. We just think, “live and let live”. It happens everywhere.’ But Mr Phipps, a former engineer, who is unable to work because of long-term health problems, is taking his fight to Communities and Local Government Secretary Eric Pickles. A spokesman for Torridge District Council said the panels were erected under permitted development rights, so planning permission was not required. Heat: Robert Phipps says the reflections caused by the solar panels are making his family's lives a misery . Domestic solar panels became popular with homeowners in 2010 after the introduction of a tax-free Feed-in Tariffs scheme. Households are paid for the energy they produce and use themselves and for the electricity they return to the National Grid. But the payments are far above market rates, requiring heavy subsidies which rose 14-fold last year. The tariff was introduced by Labour leader Ed Milliband when he was environment secretary in Gordon Brown’s government. Earlier this year it was reported his scheme to encourage homeowners to install solar panels and wind turbines is set to cost families an extra £1billion in higher bills. Penny Mills, chairman of the Torridge branch of the Campaign to Protect Rural England, said: ‘We believe solar panels should be installed on the roofs of agricultural and industrial buildings, as well as homes where appropriate. ‘However, the planning system should of course ensure there are no resulting problems affecting neighbouring properties.’ View from above: On sunny days light from these solar panels shines straight into the home of Robert Phipps . | Trevor Chase, 81, fitted the panels on top of his bungalow in Devon . His next door neighbour Robert Phipps says his home is now lit up . His family have to retreat behind thick curtains to hide from the glare . Torridge District Council said planning permission was not required . | 3628da37cfd5314979f983f15a0baa2967fe2894 |
(Rolling Stone) -- Vampire Weekend's headlining gig at the Pitchfork Music Festival in July will mark the band's first live performance in nearly a year, but the Brooklyn-based indie rockers have been keeping busy. As bassist Chris Baio tells Rolling Stone, they've been hard at work on the follow-up to their 2010 LP, "Contra." "We've started many songs," Baio says. "Obviously we haven't been rushing it. We take it very seriously. We'll be incredibly psyched to share it with the world when it's done." The band has amassed plenty of material, but as frontman Ezra Koenig echoed in a recent chat with Rolling Stone, they aren't working with any deadline in mind. "We do have a ton of stuff," said Koenig. "It would be cool if it was [released] this year. I always want to release music as soon as possible, but more and more I'm realizing it's something you almost have no control over. We just never want to be in a position [where] when we put out something, we feel could've benefited from more time." Baio, in particular, has been making the most of his time off the road. On May 21, the 27-year-old will release his debut solo EP, "Sunburn," under his DJ moniker Baio. A three-track set of undulating dance grooves that capture a vibe the bassist describes as "hopeful melancholy," it's the culmination of a hobby Baio took up half a decade ago as a student at Columbia University in New York. "I had always really loved electronic music and dance music," says Baio. "Then when the band started, that kind of got put aside for awhile. But I found that while on tour a lot of nights, I would still feel like I had a lot of energy. And there are opportunities when you play in a band to go out and DJ." Given the band's extremely light tour schedule last year, Baio had time to reacquaint himself with his love of DJ'ing. "I'd lock myself in my little office in my apartment with CDJs and a mixer and just practice mixing all day," he says. "I did that quite a bit while we were touring the last record and realized when we finished touring that I really wanted to pursue it." Baio started work on the EP last February. His first completed track was "Sunburn Modern" -- a cut whose title, Baio says, was inspired by a nasty, "modern art"-looking sunburn he received last year while on a trip to Mexico with his girlfriend. The bassist says he plans to continue releasing additional solo tunes; he says he already has "a bunch of songs" completed and several others he's currently working on. "It's definitely something I plan on pursuing in the foreseeable future," he adds. Baio does admit that there are drawbacks to going at it alone. "When you DJ, people can be incredibly rude to you in a hilarious way," he says. "A lot of times there will be pretty drunk people who just come up to you and tell you they really hate what you're doing. Something like that will sting for two seconds, but it's not worth not putting yourself out there as an artist." See the full article at RollingStone.com. Copyright © 2011 Rolling Stone. | Vampire Weekend have been working on the follow-up to their 2010 LP, "Contra" "We've started many songs," bassist Chris Baio says . On May 21, Baio will release his debut solo EP, "Sunburn" | 37cb341415d6f449190f9fb62efb6e4ad7c68ac4 |
(CNN) -- A storm system unleashed a tornado that slammed communities in northern Arkansas, damaging homes and destroying a church, officials said Wednesday evening. At least three injuries were reported in Van Buren County. Some 33 homes and a business were damaged in the county, said Tommy Jackson of the Arkansas Department of Emergency Management. The tornado demolished the sanctuary, fellowship area, classrooms and a pavilion at Botkinburg Foursquare Church, its pastor told CNN. "If the tornado would have come an hour and a half later we would have been caught in it," said Senior Pastor Ester Bass, referring to Wednesday night services. No members of the church were injured. A passing motorist who parked his truck in the church drive-through to get out of the dangerous weather had a close call, however, when the storm struck. "It shook the truck and just lifted the roof right off the drive-through," said Bass. "He was all right." Bass, 63, said his congregation of about 100 was left stunned. "It is just devastating. My wife and I are just torn," Bass said. "We put a lot of sweat and hard work and it was paying off. The church was growing." As church leaders prepared to meet with their insurance adjuster, the pastor was thankful for a loyal membership. "They will be with me," said Bass. "They are ready to buckle down and do what we have to. With the Lord's help, we are going to rebuild." According to the National Weather Service's Storm Prediction Center, a Van Buren County highway was blocked by fallen trees and an 18-wheeler truck was overturned. John Robinson, a meteorologist in the National Weather Service's Little Rock office, said the tornado tracked from the community of Scotland to Botkinburg. "It weakened fairly soon after that," he said. Another storm formed after that. Damage also was reported in Viola in Fulton County, near the Missouri border, and in Conway, Lincoln and White counties. About 15 homes were damaged in Izard County, Jackson said. Storm spotters reported damaged and overturned vehicles along U.S. 65, north of Clinton. Video footage from CNN affiliate KATV showed toppled trees and twisted building girders at one damage location. Scotland, according to Robinson, suffered a fatality and major damage to a highway and homes in a major February 2008 tornado. The severe weather season started late in Arkansas, according to Robinson, because of a chilly March. "It has been a very slow year." Thus far in 2013, six tornadoes have been reported, about half the normal number. CNN's Dave Alsup and meteorologist Sean Morris contributed to this report. | NEW: Nearly three dozen homes damaged in one county alone . Church members "devastated" by loss . Tornado reported west of Clinton, National Weather Service says . Highway blocked by trees, 18-wheeler truck overturned . | c3d81f56d331d5b2bd99a3af8ee8afcd91348430 |
By . Pete Jenson . Frustrated Cristiano Ronaldo let rip at Gareth Bale as Real Madrid slumped to their second defeat in four days and slipped behind Barcelona and Atletico Madrid in the La Liga title race . With Real trailing 2-1 in the closing moments at Sevilla, Ronaldo could not hide his frustration after £86million record signing Bale decided to take a free kick, instead of leaving it for the Portuguese forward, and lashed his effort over the bar. Ronaldo was caught by TV cameras aiming a verbal volley at Bale. VIDEO Scroll down to watch Real's Marcelo and Sevilla's Bacca reacting after the match . Fuming: Cristiano Ronaldo vented his anger at Gareth Bale after the Welshman took a late free kick . Who, me? Bale was the target for Ronaldo's frustrations as Real Madrid slipped to another defeat . What are you doing? Ronaldo cannot hide his frustration after Bale stole the free-kick . Can't face it: Bale looks despondent after his free-kick comfortably misses the target . Hands on hips: Ronaldo seems to be having a sulk after another damaging defeat for Real . It capped a dismal night for the . Welshman, who was off the pitch changing his boots, leaving Real . temporarily down to 10 men, as Carlos Bacca scored the winner in the 73rd . minute. Madrid's loss at the . Sanchez Pizjuan Stadium came four days after they squandered a chance to . effectively end Barcelona's title defence, with Lionel Messi out-duelling . Ronaldo by scoring a hat trick for a thrilling 4-3 win in the Spanish . capital. Atletico Madrid 1 Granada 0 . Barcelona 3 Celta Vigo 0 . Sevilla 2 Real Madrid 1 . These consecutive losses came after Carlo Ancelotti's side had gone undefeated for 31 straight matches. 'We have to keep working, fighting and ask our fans for forgiveness,' said Madrid full back Marcelo. 'It's . tough to do what we did, to keep winning for so many games. We have . lost two games. They aren't more important, but they are critical. Now . everything is much more difficult.' Unhappy: Ronaldo can't hide his frustration as Real Madrid slip to defeat at Sevilla . Bacca was collecting tickets on local buses in his home town in his . early twenties before he finally got his career on the right road. The Colombian striker arrived at Sevilla for just £6m in the summer and . has now scored 18 goals in all competitions this season. He . was the second-half hero scoring after a superb piece of skill from . Ivan Rakitic. The Croatia midfielder flicked the ball over Pepe’s head . and sent Bacca through. Pepe recovered to pursue the Sevilla forward . but he was quicker to the loose ball and sent his shot through the legs . of Diego Lopez to put his side 2-1 in front. With Atletico Madrid beating Granada . and Barcelona winning against Celta the result left Diego Simeone’s side . top and Real third. It . was a particularly frustrating night for Bale, who picked up his fourth . booking of the season and squandered several chances either side of . half-time with wayward shooting. Hot shot: Ronaldo put Real Madrid ahead with his 27th goal of the season as Bale looks on . Blocked: Bale's left-foot shot is spectacularly saved by Sevilla goalkeeper Beto . Floored genius: Ronaldo takes a tumble under challenge from Sevilla's Stephane M'Bia . Atletico lead . the way at the top of the league on 73 points after Diego Costa's 63rd minute header was enough . to give them all three points at home against Granada. Barcelona are second on 72 points, with Madrid third on 70, but Barca's victory was marred by a serious injury to . goalkeeper Victor Valdes which has likely ended his career with the club . and ruled him out of the World Cup. The . 32-year-old goalkeeper, who has long planned to leave the Nou Camp at . the end of his contract in June, fell awkwardly while saving a free-kick . from Fabian Orellana in the 22nd minute of the match, and could be seen . crying as he left the pitch on a cart. Barca confirmed an anterior cruciate ligament tear after the match. 'Victor . Valdes suffered an ACL tear on 22 minutes after saving a free-kick,' the club said on their website. 'The club's medical services confirm . that he will need surgery.' Clinical: Sevilla striker Carlos Bacca scores the equaliser against Real Madrid . The winner: Bacca slots the ball underneath Real Madrid keeper Diego Lopez . Just the ticket: Former bus conductor Bacca inflicted Real's second defeat in four days . Ouch! Victor Valdes is forced to leave the field on a stretcher after a suspected cruciate ligament injury . First choice: Valdes had been in good form for the Catalans despite his plans to leave the club . Goals: Two goals from Neymar and one from Lionel Messi did the damage for Barcelona against Celta Vigo . Deadly: Diego Costa scored the winner for Atletico Madrid against Granada . | Real Madrid lose 2-1 to Sevilla, their second defeat in four matches . Cristiano Ronaldo frustrated after Gareth Bale steals free-kick . Former bus conductor Carlos Bacca scored twice for Sevilla . Barcelona beat Celta Vigo 3-1 and Atletico defeated Granada 1-0 . | 2047a68749a05619422fef2e80d4a29904238069 |
By . Fiona Macrae . PUBLISHED: . 18:16 EST, 26 September 2012 . | . UPDATED: . 01:54 EST, 27 September 2012 . A mother’s children are never far from her mind – and scientists may have worked out why. They believe that if a woman has a son, some of his cells pass into her body before reaching her brain. And the male DNA may linger there for decades. Bond: Scientists believe that if a woman has a son, some of his cells pass into her body before reaching her - and the male DNA may linger there for decades . While there is no evidence it makes the woman more masculine, it may have important implications for her health. American scientists examined brain specimens from 59 women who had died between the ages of 32 and 101. A gene that is carried on the Y chromosome – and so should only be found in men – was present in almost two-thirds of the brains. The researchers, from the Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center in Seattle, say the most likely explanation is the gene came from a son when he was carried in the womb. Helping hand: The male DNA may help a woman fight breast cancer by boosting her immune response . In the same way that a mother passes . oxygen and nutrients to her unborn child through the placenta, . ‘traffic’, including cells, also moves in the other direction. The . study suggests that the baby’s cells – or their descendants – persist . in the mother for decades, as male DNA was found in the brain of a woman . who died aged 94. It is thought having a daughter also leaves a mark on the mother’s brain – but testing for this would be more difficult. The study, published in the journal PLoS . ONE, is the first to find male DNA in women’s brains. It is too early . to say what effect, if any, it has. Previous studies have found male cells in women’s blood, bone marrow, hearts, lungs, livers and other organs. And the phenomenon, which is known as microchimerism, is thought to be good for a woman’s health. A vaccine that cuts the odds of premature births, miscarriages and other problems in pregnancy is a step closer. Scientists have shed light on white blood cells made by the mother-to-be which suppress her immune system and stop it attacking the ‘foreign’ baby. It is thought that some complications in pregnancy may be caused by not having enough protective cells, or them not working properly. The study, published in the journal Nature, found the cells rein in the immune system while still protecting the mother against infections. The male DNA may help a woman fight breast cancer by boosting her immune response. It may also help with rheumatoid arthritis and the repair of damaged tissues. Some scientists believe that the infusion of ‘fresh’ cells from child to mother could help explain why women tend to live longer than men. But microchimerism has also been linked to higher odds of bowel and skin cancer. Researcher Dr Lee Nelson said: ‘Foetal microchimerism – the presence of foetal cells in the mother – appears to be something of a Jekyll and Hyde phenomenon.’ She added that finding out more about how the cells cause or protect against disease could lead to new treatments. ‘Better understanding of the actions of the transferred cells could someday allow clinicians to harness the stowaways’ beneficial effects while limiting their destructive potential,’ said Dr Nelson. | Cells pass into mother's body before making it to brain . Male DNA may linger there for decades, scientists say . Study in journal by cancer research centre in Seattle . | 3a38089440f7cb90bb19442e59399eeb4bd10dd4 |
By . Chris Pleasance . As far as close-shaves go, this one must be a shoe-in for some sort of award. A 77-year-old Czech pensioner has been filmed being hit by a speeding train, which sends his trainer flying off his foot. Amazingly, the man himself escapes with only minor injuries, but will be feeling like a complete heel after being slapped with a fine by Czech police. Scroll down for video . A pensioner in the Czech republic has been filmed on camera being hit by a train. The impact is enough to send his shoe flying off (pictured) but he escapes with only minor injuries . The footage starts as the lights begin flashing on the level crossing and the barriers start to come down . While several cars stop and wait, the man has no such thought, and instead walks around them . The close-shave happened in the small town of Rájec-Jestřebí as the express train to the nearby city of Brno passed through. As the CCTV footage starts, the man - whose face has been hidden - can be seen walking towards the level crossing as the lights start flashing. When the barriers come down, he calmly walks around them, and then waits as if checking both ways before deciding to risk walking across. Only too late he realises how fast the train is approaching, but instead of turning back he tries to run the final few feet, and his left foot is hit. After hesitating for a few moments, the man begins walking across, oblivious to the train hurtling at him . At the last moment he runs for it, and nearly makes it, but the train hits his left foot, tearing his shoe off . As his shoe goes flying (bottom left) the man is thrown to the floor, luckily landing away from the tracks . The force of the impact rips the shoes clean off his foot, sending it flying across the road, and leaving him flat out on his back. Luckily he falls away from the tracks and on to his back, where he lays stunned until the train has finished passing. The elderly man then gets to his feet and starts to hobble away. The whole incident is watched by waiting car drivers, but instead of stopping to help, they simply drive away as soon as the barriers have raised. Laying on his back, the elderly man edges himself to safety as the express train to Brno continues going past . After the train has passed, the man simply gets up and hobbles away although he was fined by police . According to Zrcaldo, police spokeswoman Iva Blanenská Šebková said: 'The man was very lucky, he suffered a leg injury, but there is no danger to life. 'The whole thing shows quite a negative image of our country. The drivers show no respect, nor are they willing to help.' | Czech pensioner, 77, filmed walking around barriers on level crossing . Tries to run across but only sees train coming at the last moment . Train hits foot, sending shoe flying off and throwing him to the ground . Miraculously the man hobbles off with only minor injuries . None of the waiting car drivers stop to help, and simply drive away . | f1ae8f2356a9b7419c98d8b2210cc5beb5376480 |
Peterborough chairman Darragh MacAnthony has launched a furious tirade against Nottingham Forest over the non-payment of a substantial fee for Britt Assombalonga. MacAnthony did not name names but took to Twitter to describe a situation he calls a ‘disgrace’ that undermined Peterborough’s efforts to recruit players on transfer deadline day. Sportsmail understands the League One club are waiting on a seven-figure sum as part of Forest’s club-record purchase of Assombalonga for £5.5million. Darragh MacAnthony has criticised a Nottingham Forest for their outstanding fee on a Peterborough player . Britt Assombalonga was sold to Nottingham Forest last summer for a fee that could rise to £5.5million . Without releasing exact details, the 38-year-old took aim at Forest owner Fawaz Al-Hasawi and called on the Football League to take action. It is believed Forest could become subject to a total transfer embargo – banning even loan signings once the window for such moves re-opens next week. Forest are currently barred only from bringing in permanent transfers as part of their punishment for financial fair play breaches. Writing on Twitter late last night, MacAnthony said: '(sic) Ok Posh fans, there wont be any incoming signings today but that has nothing to do with players having to leave etc, the real reason is due - To a certain championship club failing to make an agreed large payment (not thousands btw) last week on plyr they bought from us. Lee Tomlin joined Middlesbrough last summer but MacAnthony wasn't referring to the forward . Nicky Ajose also left Peterborough in the summer, signing for Leeds . 'This same club did this to us in August & now again. Truthfully its a disgrace & their chairman is the same. It has put us last minute in - A terrible predicament which I shall now fix & once loan window opens, we shall bring in a couple of players to help the squad. 'Its also a shambles the Football League allow this nonsense to carry on & not for the first time. Im also sure we are not only club who - Its happened to but the knock on effect is outrageous & doesnt help a club like @theposhdotcom thats for sure! 'I dont like having to share this on twitter but our fans deserve to know why its been a quiet day & i have (given the) other chairman fair warning that- I wouldnt be messed around & that all within the game will know this should he not pay up. Sad thing is that he can afford to!!’ | Peterborough didn't sign any players on transfer deadline day . Chairman Darragh MacAnthony says that is becuase they are owed money . Doesn't name club but blames Championship side for outstanding payment . Sportsmail understands club are Nottingham Forest . Britt Assombalonga, Nicky Ajose and Lee Tomlin left club last summer . | b1d8d64bbe594a3fc8355adaf31faa614aa671bc |
By . Lawrence Booth . Follow @@the_topspin . Alastair Cook batted on Wednesday as if he didn’t know what all the fuss was about, adding an unbeaten 70 to his first-innings 95 to quieten the debate about the captain’s form. It was just a shame so few people turned up to watch. A crowd of 4,784 at the Ageas Bowl felt more like a county Twenty20 game than the fourth day of a crucial Test. The sun was out, spectators went topless, and ice creams were sold. It was pleasant enough. But for a state-of-the-art venue staging only its second Test, and desperate to host an Ashes match in 2019, it was not a good look. Empty seats: Just 4,784 people attended the fourth day between England and India at the Ageas Bowl . Joy: England have excelled and the Alastair Cook's (left) captaincy has been brilliant but few fans have seen it . Hampshire deserve sympathy. When they bid for a game in this series, they did not know they would be lumbered with the first Sunday start in England in 135 years. This oddity is a consequence of a sardine-like schedule, with five Tests crammed into 42 days. For Hampshire the effect, ironically, has been anti-commercial: corporate boxes are unfillable at weekends. And with the rest of this match played on work days, attendances have fallen away. The county’s chairman Rod Bransgrove, who cut an upbeat figure on Sunday after 15,000 made their way to Southampton - despite problems on the roads and railways - was more subdued on Wednesday, even though the ECB have underwritten potential losses for this game. ‘It’s a massive disappointment, if not totally unexpected,’ he said. ‘We were prepared, because we knew what the ticket sales were going into the match. We did everything humanly possible to market the game, but it is a disappointment to see this sort of crowd at a beautiful sunny ground with a game up for grabs.’ Celebration: England are on the brink of their first Test victory in 11 matches against India in the third Test . Bransgrove was not alone. ‘Shame to see so many empty seats at the Ageas Bowl,’ tweeted former Hampshire star Chris Tremlett. ‘Starting on Sunday is a shame for the club, especially as it’s produced a great Test.’ But there are other factors at play. For all the good work done at the Ageas Bowl over the years, the venue - situated just off the M27 - does not obviously encourage walk-up customers. Then there’s the surprising lack of Indian fans, a worrying echo of the first Test at Trent Bridge. Former batting star Rahul Dravid suggested: ‘It’s a five-Test series with two games in London and one in Manchester. Perhaps places like The Oval and Old Trafford are easier to get to.’ Dravid was still playing when India last toured England three years ago. Then, crowds flocked to see Sachin Tendulkar. Now, Indian fans either feel less connection to MS Dhoni’s young side, or they’re waiting for the one-dayers. Nor is it a coincidence that England under Cook have failed to win any of their last 10 Tests. Whatever the reason, English cricket should be concerned that a Test match played in high summer, and without the distraction of football’s Premier League, has attracted so few spectators. If five-day cricket really is thriving in England, there are times when it has a funny way of showing it. Location: Despite the great cricket, the Ageas Bowl is situated next to the M27 which stops walk-up customers . | Just 4,784 people attended the fourth day of the third Test on Wednesday . The Ageas Bowl hopes to host an Ashes Test in 2019 but this will not help . It has not helped that this is the first Test to start on a Sunday in England . The building of a stadium near M27 may also discourage walk-up customers . There has also been a surprising lack of Indian fans at the Ageas Bowl . | 356a51db0fdfa29b4fe7d514774ccd37496db0da |
Most footballers often find themselves on the wrong end of abuse from fans for poor performances and it would seem the Arsenal players have had enough as they attempted to prove their critics wrong with a promotional video for Paddy Power. Firstly, Per Mertsesacker sets out to prove his pace after one football fan claimed his milk would turn quicker than the big German. The defender put in a quick sprint as the referee test the milk before giving him the thumbs up. Challenge: Per Mertesacker put his pace to the test for the lighthearted advert . Pace: Mertesacker seemed determined to prove that he could turn quicker than a pint of milk . Milking it: The referee gave the Arsenal defender the thumbs up after trying the milk . Fellow German Lukas Podolski was then tasked with hitting a barn door after a fan suggested the forward wouldn't be able to do it. It may have taken Podolski a few more attmepts than he had hoped, but he eventually smacked the centre of the door with a left-footed strike. Finally, Mikel Areta was introduced to an elderly woman who one fan believed would take a better penalty than the Spaniard. Needless to say, there was little compeition as Arteta swept his spot-kick home before putting his arm around the woman's shoulder and walking away. Miss: Lukas Podolski wasn't happy with a fan claiming he couldn't hit a barn door with a football . Finish: It took the German several efforts to actually hit the barn door with a left-footed strike . Joke: Mikel Arteta was out to prove that he could take a better penalty than someone's grandmother . Good fun: Arteta walks away with the elderly woman after the friendly penalty shootout . | Arsenal players starred in a promotional video for Paddy Power's Ball of Shame campaign . Per Mertesacker, Lukas Podolski and Mikel Arteta set out to prove their Twitter critics wrong . Mertesacker was tasked with turning quicker than a pink of milk . | 5338aac18a8de377ce7da51c332b4902c3743f79 |
Payout: Former Blackberry manager Glen Hill, 54, has won a £400,000 payout from the mobile phone company . A Blackberry mobile phone manager who claimed he was left feeling suicidal after being bullied by his bosses has won a £400,000 payout. Glen Hill, a former global strategic accounts manager who earned £88,000-a-year, claimed he was insulted before being subjected to 'long silences'. The 54-year-old told his employment tribunal in Reading, Berkshire, that he suffered a nervous breakdown as a result of the abuse. Mr Hill said he even rewrote his will as he was haunted by senior managers at the firm and wondered what life would be like for his son if he ended it all. He said bosses ignored his pleas to move to another job within the firm and blocked him when he applied for vacancies. The senior manager, from Richmond, Surrey, had initially been seeking £5.7million in loss of earnings he would have received if he had stayed with the company until he was 70. Employment Judge John Warren ruled that Mr Hill was entitled to three years of his £88,000 annual salary plus a proportion of the annual bonuses he would have been received. He was also granted £22,000 in compensation for injury caused to his feelings by Research In Motion who own Blackberry, £5,000 in aggravated damages and a further £21,000 car allowance. A judgement on whether Blackberry must pay Mr Hill’s legal fees, which exceed £250,000, is yet to be made. During the tribunal hearing in July 2012, the panel heard that Mr Hill was left waking up at night screaming, trembling with fear and over-eating. The final straw came during a row over the salesman's weekly reports in May 2010. Mr Hill called a halt to the meeting after a barrage of shouting. The following day he realised he was 'cracking up' and visited a doctor who advised him not to go back to work, beginning a long period of sickness. During the remuneration hearing to decide his compensation last September, Mr Hill said that the seven-day employment hearing had been 'incredibly stressful' and at one point he genuinely believed he 'wouldn’t make it through'. Worker: Mr Hill was employed by Research in Motion who make Blackberry phones. They have offices in Slough, Berkshire . During the hearing he said that he . had been left with a mixture of 'incredulity and fear' after RIM, who have offices in Slough, Berkshire, had . said it would love to see him back and would take good care of him. 'It is now three-and-a-half years since I last worked at RIM and it never needed to have been that way. 'All I ever asked of RIM was to move me away from the environment that was, in my opinion, abusive and damaging to my health.' He explained that at the end of the first week of the original hearing his therapist, so concerned that he could not be reached, had the police break down his door. A spokesman for Blackberry declined to comment today. Mr Hill could also not be reached for comment. 'Abuse': Glen Hill, a former global strategic accounts manager who earned £88,000-a-year, claimed he was insulted before being subjected to 'long silences' Boss: Mr Hill was a global strategic accounts manager for Blackberry who earned £88,000-a-year . | Glen Hill said that he suffered a nervous breakdown as a result of the abuse . Former global strategic accounts manager earned £88,000-a-year . He had claimed £5.7million compensation from the mobile phone company . | d874aaf4adfa346c64d3931113d7d92727027c21 |
By . Louise Boyle . PUBLISHED: . 12:55 EST, 10 December 2012 . | . UPDATED: . 12:55 EST, 10 December 2012 . A college student has been shot dead in his home after three masked men burst in during an alleged robbery, authorities said. Steven Gregory Grich, 23, was killed on Saturday night at his off-campus home in a gated community, two miles from Clemson University, South Carolina. Mr Grich, from Fort Mill, died from of injuries at the house. There were seven students present during the attack but no one else was shot. Scroll down for video . Shot dead at home: Steven Gregory Grich, 23, an engineering major, was killed by masked men in his home close to Clemson University, North Carolina . Ambush: Six friends were at the home in a gated community on Saturday night when Mr Grich was fatally shot . The electrical engineering major died after three masked men burst in through an unlocked back door. Police are baffled as to why Mr Grich was targeted. The sheriff told the Independent Mail: 'He was a very dedicated student, dedicated to his studies at the university and well-liked. We have yet to find anyone who has anything bad to say about him.' Police would not say if anything had been stolen from the home. One white male and two black males, traveling in a black 2005 Dodge Durango with tinted windows and South Carolina plates, have been linked to the killing. The upscale, gated community in South Carolina has 24-hour surveillance and gates but is difficult to police, the sheriff's office said. Last year, a university student died of alcohol poisoning in the area. Autopsy results are expected later today. Funeral arrangements have yet to be made for the 23-year-old. Gunned down: Mr Grich had been studying electrical engineering at Clemson before his death on Saturday at the hands of three armed men . Fears: Clemson University officials advised students to be vigilant after a 23-year-old male student was shot dead at his home . A Facebook group titled RIP Steven Gregory Grich was set up on Sunday. One friend David Livingston wrote: 'My prayers and heart go out to this family for such a tragic loss.' Another post said: 'When I think of Steven, two words come to mind: Music and Science.' A friend Michael Marshall added: 'Steve was one of the smartest kids I have ever known.' University officials urged students to . lock their doors and be on the lookout of suspicious behavior following . the attack on Saturday. | Steven Gregory Grich killed on Saturday night in front of six friends . Mr Grich was an electrical engineering major at Clemson University, South Carolina . | edeb632c5722a769b7f22940d8fb1f653a5a3287 |
By . Daily Mail Reporter . PUBLISHED: . 04:01 EST, 24 July 2012 . | . UPDATED: . 12:42 EST, 24 July 2012 . TV beauty Liza Irizarry is suing Selita Ebanks over claims the Victoria's Secret supermodel broke her nose in a catfight at a Miami nightclub. Telemundo model Irizarry, 34, says she was punched in the face after greeting Ebanks' boyfriend, former BET host Terence J, with a kiss on the cheek. She claims a drunken Ebanks told her 'don't be kissing my man' and struck her on the nose. Scroll down for video . Claws are out: Telemundo presenter Liza Irizarry (left) is suing Selita Ebanks (right) over claims the Victoria's Secret supermodel broke her nose in a brawl at a Miami nightclub over Ebanks' boyfriend Terence J . 'I went to swing back — that's when all her friends jumped in. I felt hair pulling and fists coming at me,' Irizarry said in an interview in her lawyer's Manhattan office. The fight, which broke out at 5am in Miami’s Dream nightclub last November, was broken up by one of Irizarry's male friends. It was only the following morning when she realised the extent of her injuries. 'I was in so much pain,' Irizarry, of the Bronx, told the New York Daily News. 'My pillow was covered in blood.' Days later, she had surgery for a complex nasal fracture. 'Don't mess with my man!': A drunken Ebanks allegedly punched Irizarry in the nose after reacting furiously when the Telemundo model greeted Terence J (left) with a kiss at the Dream nightclub in Miami last November . She said: 'I'm so angry, because she thinks she can get away with anything. Me saying hello to someone doesn’t give you the right to hit me.' Irizarry will be filing for assault and battery in Hudson Superior Court and is seeking damages for pain, suffering and medical bills. According to her lawyer Edward Steinberg, Miami police have not arrested Ebanks even though Irizarry filed a report and sent officers her medical records. Ebanks’ lawyer, Paul Rothenberg, says his client said the 'claims are baseless'. 'In so much pain': Irizarry claims she woke the next day with blood all over her pillow after suffering a complex fracture of her nose. She is claiming damages from Ebanks for pain, suffering and medical bills . In an interview earlier this month, Ebanks told how she was head over heels in love with actor Terence J, who this year has starred in Think Like A Man and Sparkle as well as taking up a new position at E! News. 'We’re just happy to be in love and be a part of each others lives,' she said. The Cayman-born model, who played a phoenix in Kanye West’s 2010 video, has worked for high fashion brands Neiman Marcus and Ralph Lauren, and appeared in magazines such as the Sports Illustrated and Vogue. She is best known for her work as one of Victoria Secret's 'Angels' from 2005 to 2009. Video: 'We're in love': Selita Ebanks on boyfriend Terence J . | Telemundo beauty Liza Irizarry 'punched in face by drunken Selita Ebanks' Ebanks reacted angrily when Irizarry kissed boyfriend Terence J on cheek in Miami nightclub . | 848b4d5d6ba7c7dffd558ffef5150f7883ec058a |
(CNN) -- A Texas man convicted of seeking now-deceased Yemeni-based cleric Anwar al-Awlaki's advice about raising money for jihadists has been sentenced to 20 years in prison, federal prosecutors announced Thursday. Barry Walter Bujol Jr., a 30-year-old Hempstead, Texas, resident and former student at Prairie View A&M University, had been convicted in November of attempting to provide material support to al Qaeda in the Arabian Peninsula, as well as an aggravated identity theft charge. Prosecutors said he had been coordinating his plans with a man he thought was a recruiter for AQAP, but who in reality was a confidential source for law enforcement. Evidence revealed Bujol repeatedly told his contact, "AQAP should attack the human beings essential to operate the UAV's instead of attacking the UAV's themselves" and suggested targets including one in Texas, according to the U.S. attorney's office in Houston. Prosecutors said Bujol had been in e-mail communication with al-Awlaki, who was killed in a U.S. drone strike in September, and had asked his advice on how to raise money for the "mujahideen" without drawing police attntion. He also "inquired about his duty as a Muslim to make 'violent jihad,' " a statement from the U.S. attorney's office said. Bujol was arrested with a fraudulent ID card while trying to sneak into the port of Houston, where he planned to stow away aboard an Algerian-bound ship and make his way to Yemen to fight for al Qeda, prosecutors said. He acted as his own attorney in a non-jury trial, but did not present witnesses or testify on his own behalf. "We do not take matters of potential national security lightly," United States Attorney Kenneth Magidson said. "This case and its successful resolution represents (sic) our commitment to making our communities a safer place to live." Police who searched his apartment found a home-made video on his laptop computer that included images of Osama bin Laden. In the video, which was entered into evidence, Bujol's voice is heard addressing his wife and saying he had left suddenly to pursue jihad and probably would not see her again until the afterlife. | Barry Bujol had been messaging an informant he thought was an al Qaeda recruiter . Prosecutors said he had suggested attacking U.S. drone controllers . He acted as his own lawyer in a non-jury trial . | 629e349c8606cc5b97d0b642a2c853050df57ee0 |
Therapy aimed at turning gay kids straight will soon be illegal in California, with the state's governor declaring he hopes a new law will relegate such efforts "to the dustbin of quackery." The legislation -- which the state Senate passed in May, Gov. Jerry Brown signed into law this weekend and will take effect January 1 -- prohibits attempts to change the sexual orientation of patients under age 18. "This bill bans non-scientific 'therapies' that have driven young people to depression and suicide," Brown tweeted. "These practices have no basis in science or medicine." But practitioners of so-called "reparative therapy" say the assertions of the governor and gay rights advocates "just are not true," according to David Pickup, a spokesman for the National Association for Research and Therapy of Homosexuality. Joined by "individual therapists and individual minor clients," his group will file a "major lawsuit" this week to challenge the law," Pickup said. The Pacific Justice Institute separately told CNN it will file its own lawsuit Monday, alleging the law violates the First Amendment. "We do competent therapy, therapy that truly works," Pickup, who himself underwent such therapy and now administers it to others, said Monday on CNN. "For them to have a bill that says, 'No, we can't even talk about these issues, we can't do anything to help these children resolve their homosexual feelings and maximize their heterosexual potential' -- that's the height of political and therapeutic irresponsibility." Pickup alluded to a report by the American Psychiatric Association that, he says, doesn't find any "proof that (the therapy) causes harm." But the psychiatric organization -- which is the world's largest of its kind, with more than 36,000 members -- determined, in fact, that reparative therapy poses a great risk, including increasing the likelihood or severity of depression, anxiety and self-destructive behavior for those undergoing therapy. Therapists' alignment with societal prejudices against homosexuality may reinforce self-hatred already felt by patients, the association says. CNN.com blogs: Gay in America . "The longstanding consensus of the behavioral and social sciences and the health and mental health professions is that homosexuality per se is a normal and positive variation of human sexual orientation," the association says. After the bill passed the state Senate, Equality California spokeswoman Rebekah Orr praised the "right first step in making sure that young people are protected from these unscrupulous therapists who are really engaging in therapeutic deception that is based on junk science." "This law will ensure that state-licensed therapists can no longer abuse their power to harm LGBT youth and propagate the dangerous and deadly lie that sexual orientation is an illness or disorder that can be 'cured,'" said Orr's organization, which describes itself as the largest statewide advocacy group in California working for "full equality" for lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender people. Peter Drake, who once participated in reparative therapy, said the bill protects youths from "a very, very dangerous therapy that doesn't work and leaves a lot of people feeling despair and hopelessness." Yet Pickup insists that the "children who walk into my office ... crying, depressed, lonely, gender-identity confused and sexually confused" ask for help voluntarily, because they are "distressed." Thousands believe, he claims, "believe there's a cause-and-effect nature of homosexuality" that can be brought about by instances of abuse and issues like "gender identity inferiority," "un-met needs from ... usually the same-sex parent" and other "inner wounds that we discover in therapy." "When those wounds get healed, the homosexual feelings -- we don't force them away, they naturally, spontaneously dissipate," said Pickup, who credits the therapy with having "helped save my life," by decreasing his depression and raising his self-esteem. The debate could now move to court, thanks to promised lawsuits by Pickup's group and the Pacific Justice Institute that describes itself as a network of more than 1,000 attorneys "defending religious, parental, and other constitutional rights." "Of all the freedom-killing bills we have seen in our legislature the last several years, this is among the worst," said Brad Dacus, the institute's president and founder, in a written statement. Read more: Massachusetts appeals ruling on prisoner sex change . The legal battle could center around the questions of whether such therapy constitutes child abuse and if a ban is unconstitutional. Read more: Denied divorce, some same-sex couples 'wed-locked' Ryan Kendall, who went through this type of therapy when he was 13, told CNN it began after his mother read his diary and discovered he was gay. In the therapy, he was consistently told his sexuality was a choice and could "be fixed," he said. "I never believed that. I know I'm gay just like I know I'm short and I'm half Hispanic. I've never thought that those facts would change. It's part of my core fundamental identity. So the parallel would be sending me to tall camp and saying, 'If you try very hard, one day you can be 6-foot-1.'" Kendall said psychologist Joseph Nicolosi treated him. His parents provided CNN with copies of bills from Nicolosi's office, but Nicolosi said he did not remember treating someone by that name. He told CNN he views the therapy he provides as "trying to bring out the heterosexuality" in someone. Yet Nicolosi insisted the therapy is not harmful, and he treats only people who want to change. A leading psychologist in the field of reparative therapy, George Rekers, treated a boy named Kirk Murphy, whose story was told in a 2011 CNN report. Rekers considered Kirk a success story, writing that "his feminine behavior was gone" -- proof, Rekers said, that homosexuality can be prevented. But Murphy's family said he never stopped being gay. He hanged himself at the age of 38. Despite allegations by the family that Rekers' therapy decades earlier ultimately led to the suicide , Rekers told CNN that scientifically, it "would be inaccurate to assume that it was the therapy," and that he grieves for the parents. "Two independent psychologists with me had evaluated him and said he was better adjusted after treatment," Rekers said. "I only meant to help, do the best I could with the parents," he added. Rekers' days as a prominent anti-gay champion came to an end after he hired a male escort to accompany him on a trip to Europe. He denied any sexual contact or awareness at the time that the escort offered sexual favors. Earlier this year, psychiatrist Robert L. Spitzer apologized for his 2003 study of reparative therapy, which suggested that it could help gays and lesbians become straight. He said it was deeply flawed. "I believe I owe the gay community an apology for my study making unproven claims of the efficacy of reparative therapy," Spitzer said in a letter to the editor of the Archives of Sexual Behavior. "I also apologize to any gay person who wasted time and energy undergoing some form of reparative therapy because they believed that I had proven that reparative therapy works with some 'highly motivated' individuals." Kendall said the therapy he underwent "led me to periods of homelessness, to drug abuse, to spending a decade of my life wanting to kill myself. It led to so much pain and struggle. And I want them to know that what they do hurts people. "It hurts children. It has no basis in fact. And they need to stop." | Two groups say they're filing lawsuits challenging the newly signed California law . A "reparative therapist" calls the law "the height of ... irresponsibility" The law will prohibit sexual orientation change therapy for children under age 18 . A psychiatric group says the therapy can bring on depression and self-destructive behavior . | c9fc969d196c7aa9420a33f2189ee7e610287a72 |
A teenager lost half her skull and broke almost every bone in her body after being crushed underneath a lorry. Danya Cope was listening to music through her headphones when she was hit as she crossed a road near her home in Plymouth, Devon. The 15-year-old's body was so badly crushed her mother could not tell if she was dead or alive as she lay trapped under the HGV's wheels. Danya broke her collarbone, pelvis, rib and leg and was left with a shattered bone poking out of her ankle. Danya Cope, 15, was left fighting for her life after she was hit by a lorry in February. Doctors were forced to cut a six to eight inch hole in her skull to reach her brain . Danya (pictured left before the accident) has just had an operation to put an acrylic plate onto the hole in her skull which will fuse with her own skullbone over time (pictured right) Danya broke her collarbone, pelvis, rib and leg and was left with a shattered bone poking out of her ankle . Her head was so badly injured she was taken straight into surgery where doctors had to slice away a six to eight-inch chunk of her skull to reach her brain. Her family was told that even if she survived she faced being in a coma for six months. But against the odds, the teenager woke up nine days later and doctors began operations to patch over the gaping hole in her head with an acrylic plate. Seven months on and Danya is ready to return to school. The accident happened in February as Danya was listening to music through her headphones as she walked to school. Her mother Zarina Cope emerged to find her daughter critically injured in the road, a scene she said must be 'every parent's worst nightmare'. Ms Cope, a supervisor at Clinton Cards, said: 'She left the house and I heard this awful noise. I just knew it was her. Zarina Cope said that seeing her daughter in the road trapped under the wheels of a HGV was 'every mother's worst nightmare' Danya was in hospital for three months and spent the summer wearing a special helmet to protect her brain . 'She was under the lorry and she was making noises. She didn't see it coming which probably saved her life in the way she fell. She doesn't remember any of it.' Danya was taken to Derriford Hospital in Plymouth but was then flown straight up to Bristol Children's Hospital. By the time Ms Cope arrived at the hospital Danya was already in surgery. She was told the devastating news that her daughter might not survive the operation. Ms Cope said: 'One of the surgeons came out after about an hour and a half and said they had done the operation but said she probably wouldn't survive. 'It was awful. Just to see her underneath the lorry - you just think 'is she alive or dead? 'But to hear she might not survive - there are no words to describe how I felt. 'They said she could be in a coma for three to six months. It was just like a waiting game of not knowing when she would wake up. But nine days later she did. 'The first words she said when she properly opened her eyes were 'I love you mum', which was so lovely to hear.' Danya was in hospital for three months and spent the summer wearing a special helmet to protect her brain. She has recently allowed home after her final operation, in which an acrylic plate was fitted to her skull to cover the hole created by the accident. Danya said: 'It still feels numb but feels pretty much normal. It felt heavy at first. 'I can't wait to get out of the house and back to school' says Danya, who will rejoin her Year 11 class soon . When Danya first opened her eyes after coming out of surgery, her first words were: 'I love you mum' 'The plate will mould into one with my skull. The stitches shouldn't take too long to fall out and then there is just three months where I might be likely to get an infection, but after that everything is done. 'My friends have all been amazing and supportive and I'm so glad I had them there. I can't wait to get out of the house and back to school.' Danya said that after her ordeal she wants to urge people to look twice as they cross the road. She added: 'I had my headphones in and was looking at my phone to pick a song. I must have just stepped out. That's all I remember. 'I broke my collar bone, one rib, had a fractured leg, pelvis and all the skin gone from my leg. 'I had a skin graft from my foot onto my ankle where the bone was sticking out.' Ms Cope lives with partner John Tremblett, 33, a plasterer, who has been Danya's stepdad since she was six. The couple also have a son, Ashby, four. The whole family have been amazed at Danya's recovery but they are anxious to warn other children not to listen to music as they cross the road. They said they do not blame the lorry driver for the accident, adding he was not charged with any offences. Ms Cope said: 'When we got back we tried to find out what happened to him. We didn't want to press charges, it was nothing more than an accident. 'We saw him when it happened and he was mortified.' The whole family have been amazed at Danya's recovery but they are anxious to warn others kids not to listen to music as they cross the road . Ms Cope added that she is proud of Danya for showing such resilience in a difficult situation. She said: 'Danya has handled it really well. If I had woken up in that situation and been told I had no skull on part of my head I would have been so freaked out. 'There were a few days when she cried but she has been so brave and resilient. 'All the doctors and nurses were amazed at her flying spirit and ability to heal really well. She has taken it all in her stride. 'She's my little miracle. I hope Danya realises how lucky she is and has a second lease of life.' | Danya Cope, 15, was hit by a lorry after crossing the road listening to music . Trapped under the wheels, she broke her collarbone, pelvis, rib and leg . She was also left with a shattered bone poking out of her ankle . Doctors were forced to slice a six inch hole in her skull to reach her brain . Family told she might not survive and could be in a coma for six months . Seven months later she has recovered and can go back to school . Has just had an operation to put an acrylic plate over the hole in her skull . WARNING GRAPHIC CONTENT . | ca38a638e1d34889b15aed77d0cced39f50b30ad |
By . Mark Duell . UPDATED: . 09:47 EST, 24 October 2011 . Televisions, fridges and furniture pieces are heading for Hawaii, as a huge amount of debris from Japan’s earthquake sails across the Pacific. Up to 20 million tons of debris from the earthquake in March is traveling faster than expected and could reach the U.S. West Coast in three years. A Russian ship’s crew spotted the debris - which included a 20ft long fishing boat - last month after passing the Midway Islands. Debris wave: Up to 20 million tons of debris from the earthquake is travelling faster than expected and could reach the U.S. West Coast in three years . On the way: Experts have revised predictions to say the debris will reach will now reach the Midway Islands by winter and Hawaii in less than two years . Researchers at the University of Hawaii have been tracking the debris for almost half a year. Nikolai Maximenko and Jan Hafner were . working on untested computer models of ocean currents to forecast the . trajectory of the debris. But last month's sightings suggest their model works as the debris was spotted in predicted areas. ‘We have a rough estimate of 5 to 20 million tons of debris coming from Japan,’ University of Hawaii researcher Jan Hafner told KITV. Experts have revised predictions to say the debris will now reach the Midway Islands by winter and Hawaii in less than two years. Crew members on the Russian training ship STS Pallada spotted the debris 2,000 miles from Japan, including a fishing boat from Fukushima, reported AFP. ‘They saw some pieces of furniture, some appliances, anything that can float - and they picked up a fishing boat,’ Mr Hafner told KITV. A crew member told AFP: 'We keep sighting things like wooden . boards, plastic bottles, buoys from fishing nets [small and big ones], . an object resembling a wash basin, drums, boots, other wastes.' On its way: Debris from the tsunami is approaching Hawaii . 'We also sighted a TV set, fridge and a couple of other home appliances.' A spokesman for the International Pacific Research Center at the University of Hawaii said: 'The Russian ship... found an array of unmistakable tsunami debris on its homeward voyage from Honolulu to Vladivostok.' Some of the lighter debris is moving quicker than expected. ‘We don't want to create a panic, but it’s good to know it’s coming,’ Mr Hafner added. Salvaged: Crew members on the Russian training ship STS Pallada spotted the debris almost 2,000 miles from Japan, including a fishing boat from Fukushima . Find: Russian ship STS Pallada's crew spotted the items last month soon after passing the Midway Islands, where the debris is expected to reach in winter . Japan was badly hit by the 9.0-magnitude earthquake and tsunami on March 11, which left 20,000 people dead or missing. 'We don't want to create a panic, but it’s good to know it’s coming' Jan HafnerUniversity of Hawaii researcher . The quake damaged cooling systems at the Fukushima plant, which resulted in the worst atomic disaster in the world since Chernobyl in 1986. Japan is struggling in part because tourists are worried about visiting, so the country's tourist board is giving away 10,000 free flights. Scientists are eager to track where the debris is heading because it can threaten small ships as well as coastlines, reported LiveScience. | Debris travelling faster than expected across Pacific . Russian ship's crew spotted debris past Midway Islands . May strike Hawaii in two years and West Coast in three . | 024c016357c34150283c24b46fdf29c05940bf5d |
A prominent Melbourne racing identity has been reportedly caught out making a revealing remark about billionaire James Packer's views about the Victorian state election. A Channel 10 microphone this morning captured former Crown Casino chief Lloyd Williams telling Daniel Andrews, the Victorian opposition leader, that Packer will 'kick every goal he can' for him. Ten News reporter David Woiwod tweeted a short transcript of the recording. According to Woiwod's account, Mr Williams was heard saying: 'I am on the executive of the Packer estate, and James is going to kick every goal he can for you.' 'James is going to kick every goal he can for you': Packer is one of Australia's richest men . Lloyd Williams (left), one of Australia's biggest owners of racehorses, was overheard making the remark to Opposition Leader Daniel Andrews (right), who is tipped to become Victoria's next premier . At a doorstop press conference later, Mr Andrews said he would let other people interpret Mr Williams' remarks. The incumbent Coalition parties are lagging behind Labor in the polls. A Newspoll survey released on Monday found Labor was ahead 54 to 46 on a two party preferred basis. Mr Packer has not yet commented on Mr Williams' controversial remark . Daily Mail Australia has approached Mr Packer's spokeswoman for comment. An aide to Lloyd Williams said: 'Mr Williams doesn't talk to the press.' The Victorian state election campaign began in earnest on Monday. Premier Denis Napthine delivered the electoral writs to the state governor Alex Chernov, starting the countdown to a November 29 poll. Mr Williams' remark could be indicative of big business swinging its support behind Mr Andrews, The Australian reported. | Lloyd Williams was overheard making remarks to Victorian opposition leader Daniel Andrews . 'James is going to kick every goal he can for you,' Mr Williams reportedly said . Mr Andrews' party is well ahead in the polls for the state election, which will be held on November 29 . | e599d61b1465eaceb654d3856091e6a606ef86d5 |
By . Lydia Warren . PUBLISHED: . 08:02 EST, 2 May 2013 . | . UPDATED: . 08:50 EST, 2 May 2013 . The parents of a 17-month-old girl who was allegedly killed by her babysitter four years ago have broken their silence to reveal they have forgiven the woman accused of the murder. In an astonishing show of compassion, Todd and Deniele VanLeeuwen said they even asked prosecutors not to seek a retrial after a jury failed to find Megan Martzen guilty in the death of their daughter Ella. 'We have forgiven [Megan] and we have . forgiven the Martzens,' Todd VanLeeuwen, of Fresno, California, told KFSN. 'It's just - there's a fracture there and I . don't know if it will ever heal.' Martzen, 22, pleaded no contest to involuntary manslaughter and was sentenced to just three years probation this week after her trial ended in a hung jury in February. Scroll down for video . Struggle: Todd and Deniele VanLeeuwen have spoken out about the 2009 death of their daughter Ella . She claims that Ella fell from her bed, sustaining injuries that claimed her life three days later, but the VanLeeuwens said doctors convinced them that Martzen was to blame for the death. Mrs VanLeeuwen told KFSN that she received a frantic call from Martzen, then 19, in February 2009 and raced to her home in Reedley, where she found her daughter in a frightening condition. 'Her body was limp and bruised already and her eyes were rolled back and very, very labored breathing,' she said. The little girl was rushed to hospital and the VanLeeuwens comforted the babysitter, believing that their daughter had fallen while in her care. Heartbreak: Mrs VanLeeuwen said they have chosen to focus on the joy of their daughter's short life . Victim: Little Ella died three days after she was found limp and bruised in the care of her babysitter . But doctors began telling them otherwise, and they said they were finally convinced when one got to his knees and repeated to them that he believed Martzen was to blame. 'So we didn't believe him,' Todd . VanLeeuwen said. 'We did the same thing the defense attorney does: We started . coming up with other scenarios and each time, he'd say, "No, I'm . sorry".' But this February, all but two jurors believed Martzen was not guilty and the trial ended in a mistrial. Defense doctors argued that the little girl had suffered a previous fall and had swelling on her brain when she went to Martzen's home. Even though the family still believe she is responsible, they have decided to move on. Accused: A hung jury failed to find Megan Martzen, pictured, guilty and she will serve three years probation . Arrest: Martzen, pictured left and right in her mug shot, said that the girl accidentally fell while in her care . 'The prosecutor was dead set on retrying . this and we went to him and asked him not to because the first trial was . so incredibly hard,' Mr VanLeeuwen said. His wife added: 'We've just chosen to choose joy because . there is joy. We still have wonderful memories of Ella. She's not . hurting, that's the biggest joy.' They said they are also focusing on bringing up their two surviving children. Martzen was six months pregnant at her first hearing on charges of murder and assault on a child causing death. She spent 52 days in jail and faced 25 years to life in prison if convicted. Martzen's son, Maverick, . was born in 2010. Child Protective Services sought to take custody . of the boy, but then decided to let Scott Martzen, Megan's husband, . take custody of the child. Plea deal: Martzen said ahead of her appearance at Fresno County Court that her heart hurts for the family . She is now only allowed to spend 48 hours per week with her son Maverick, who lives with his father. Speaking outside Fresno County Court ahead of the sentencing, Martzen said: 'I would've never done anything to hurt Ella, I loved her so much. My heart hurts for the family.' Martzen's family added that they hope that the once-close families will reconcile in the future. 'We know that healing will occur,' her father-in-law John Martzen said. See below for video . | 17-month-old Ella VanLeeuwen died in February 2009, three days after she was found limp and bruised in the care of her babysitter . But Megan Martzen said the girl fell and a jury failed to find her guilty . She was sentenced to three years probation this week . Ella's parents said they asked prosecutors not to seek a retrial . | 3d47beae7a4142ac0c46ef298632f85e735ae84a |
By . Ryan Gorman . and Associated Press Reporter . A family in Brazil believes counting on one hand can bring good luck to the country's soccer team during this World Cup - because each member has an extra finger. All members of the Silva family, from suburban Brasilia, were born with an extra digit on each hand as a result of a genetic condition known as polydactyly. They hope a squad led by Neymar can lead 'Canarinho' to their sixth title. The team is known as Canarinho for its yellow and green kits that have remained virtually unchanged since the 1970s glory days of Pele, widely considered the greatest player that ever lived. Scroll down for video . Helping hands: Silvia Santos, facing camera, embraces her daughter Ana Carolina at their home in Brasilia, Brazil, Thursday, June 19, 2014. All the members of the Silva family were born with an extra digit on each hand . Attention was drawn to the family during the 2010 World Cup, as Brazilian media became aware and descended on them during the buildup to the tournament in South Africa. They join the rest of the South American nation in crossing their fingers hoping the Pentacampeoes will add to its record five World Cup titles. 'Since the last World Cup we wanted Brazil to become hexacampeao,' said Ana Carolina Santos da Silva, using the Portuguese term for 'six-time champion' that would be the envy of the soccer world. 'But it didn't happen, so this year we really want Brazil to achieve the sixth.' Rather than recoil in the face of stares . by curious onlookers, the 14 members of the family spanning four . generations seem to embrace their physical difference with pride and . unbridled optimism. Fingers crossed: Members of the Silva family, back row, from left, Silvia Santos, Joao de Assis, Pedro de Assis, Ana Carolina Santos and Silvana Santos, front row, Bernardo de Assis, left, and Maria Morena Santos, pose for a photo in their home . Far from a hindrance, having an extra finger seems to help the Silva family perform domestic chores and pursue musical talents. Fourteen-year-old Joao de Assis da Silva shows off his dexterity moving up and down his guitar's fret board. His 8-year-old cousin, Maria Morena da Silva, has dreams of making music too. 'I have never played the piano, but I want to learn, and it might be easier playing with six fingers,' she says. | All members of the Silva family were born with an extra finger on each of their hands . They have become a national sensation since the 2010 World Cup . | 705979fc708fc8666ba61006dc4e8617dcca2dd7 |
(CNN) -- Every morning Lorna Sculley wakes up unsure whether she will be able to feed her children. In her cupboard, nothing but tins of meat and beans. She questions whether her sons, who sleep on mattresses on the floor, will get the right nutrition. A 33-year-old single mother of three boys aged 12, eight and 17 months, Lorna says the constant fear that she cannot guarantee them food and shelter is "heart-breaking." She is one of more than a hundred thousand Britons fighting for food on a daily basis; using food banks and other charities to ward off hunger and homelessness in the UK-- Europe's third-largest economy-- as austerity bites. Yet from her kitchen window in east London she can see the big names of a multi-billion dollar financial powerhouse; HSBC, Barclays, Citigroup. And though her life and those of the financiers that populate the sterile walkways of Canary Wharf are only separated by the rail lines at Poplar station, for Lorna, they are worlds apart. "If only I could have their lives for just one day," she tells CNN "and not have to worry about where dinner will come from." From April 2011 to April 2012, the Trussell Trust - a charity that works with local communities on food banks - provided emergency aid to 128,697 people in the UK; it predicts that number could almost double this year. Read more: Moody's downgrades United Kingdom from AAA . "Sometimes it just feels like fighting a losing battle," Lorna says. "If [the] food bank wasn't here I'd be on the street." Living in the community of Tower Hamlets, one of London's poorest districts, Lorna is reliant on welfare benefits to put food on the table. Lorna says while she would like to work full time, she has three children to look after so depends on the state subsidies to supplement her low-paying, part-time job in the borough's school kitchens. But as in many European countries, austerity is top of the agenda for the UK government. It aims to rein in spending-- and that includes welfare benefits-- to tackle a high national debt and low economic growth. Read more: Britain risks new recession . In April, the government will implement a system that would replace the main means-tested benefits-- such as income and housing support -- with a single payment. The stated overall goal is to give people incentives to work. Critics say it means more people like Lorna may need to turn to food banks for help because there's a chance her benefits may be reduced under the new system. Read more: British pound takes pounding . But the government says the change is needed. John Stevenson, a spokesman for the Department for Work and Pensions told CNN the government already provides "safety net" essentials like food and housing through the benefits system. He added: "Our welfare reforms will improve the lives of some of the poorest families in our communities; with the Universal Credit simplifying the complex myriad of benefits and making 3 million people better off." The welfare reforms come at a time when many workers in Britain are feeling the squeeze of a global economic downturn and recession-hit Europe. Britain's workforce has taken the biggest pay cuts in the developed world according to a study published by the Trades Union Congress. It says real wages in the UK dropped by 4.5% between 2007 -- when the financial crisis exploded -- and 2011. Lorna is afraid that this combination of welfare changes, low pay and rising costs will make it difficult for her to survive as a working mother after April. She is a victim of the system, says Denise Bentley, who runs the Tower Hamlets food bank, and like many Britons, she is now struggling to cope with "food and fuel poverty. "She has done nothing wrong and that irks me," says Bentley. "The cost of living has gone up but her wages have remained the same." Lorna's story is not unique, as demand for food banks in the UK increases greatly. In the last 12 months, the Trussell Trust has set up 140 food depositories nationwide. The scheme relies on donations from individuals and private companies as well as volunteers to run the banks themselves. Chris Mould, executive chairman of the Trussell Trust, told CNN that the government's austerity measures meant people using food banks -- which are intended for emergency support -- needed help more often, placing strain on resources. Stagnating economic growth and a sovereign debt of 68% of the UK economic output at the end of 2012 is fuelling the government's austerity drive. But Mould believes the decisions of lawmakers in recent years have weighed too heavily on the country's poor. "The budget is going to make things significantly worse for people who are already stretched," Mould says. Last year, the UK government ignored calls from the International Monetary Fund to relax its austerity program and allow for an economic recovery. Prime Minister David Cameron says Britain must stay the course. Lorna is offering an invitation to David Cameron to spend a week in her home to see how tough life can be when juggling a low-paying job, three children and ever-decreasing benefits. "He would see how hard it is on a day-to-day basis," Lorna says, "then there would be some changes to these reforms." | Trussell Trust - a local communities charity on food banks - provided food aid to 128,697 Britons . Government aims to rein in spending-- and that includes welfare benefits-- to tackle a national debt . Britain's workforce has taken the biggest pay cuts in the developed world according to TUC . | 532825412f71b5a46be5f8adb520bf2d27fa53ff |
By . Francesca Infante . PUBLISHED: . 12:20 EST, 3 April 2013 . | . UPDATED: . 19:11 EST, 3 April 2013 . Marmalade, royalty, bungalow and booze – they might seem quintessentially English words. But an exhibition opening today reveals that some of our most common words are in fact not ours at all. The English Effect, staged at the British Council in London, examines how we absorb words from overseas and although English originally developed from Germanic dialects, there are plenty of individual foreign words which have since been added to our vocabulary. Foreign invasion: The word 'zombie' was created by merging the West African words for 'fetish' and 'god' The word booze, for example, has its . origins in the medieval Dutch word busen, which means ‘to drink to . excess’ – and was first used in English by the thieves and beggars of . the 1500s. And despite an urban myth that the . word bungalow was coined when a builder was told to ‘bung a low roof’ on . a house after running out of bricks, it actually originated in the . Bengal region of India. There it was a name for one-storey . homes built for early European immigrants, meaning ‘belonging to . Bengal’. Among other absorbed words are: royal, which came from France . during the middle ages; marmalade, taken in the 1400s from the . Portuguese word marmelo meaning ‘quince’; and shampoo, which derived . from the Hindi word for ‘press or knead’ and came to mean ‘massage’ in . 18th-century English. Meanwhile zombie and vampire – . ever-popular characters in English-speaking films – have their roots in . West Africa and Hungary respectively. Even the word for a favourite English drink, cider, originated from the Middle East. Bloody Mary: We may have named the drink after an English queen, but both tomato and booze are foreign words, the former being an old Aztec word for grow and the latter old Dutch slang for excessive drinking . 1. Dollar (German) 2. Booze (Dutch) 3. Bungalow (Hindi or Bengali) 4. Tomato (Aztec Nahuatl - Mexico) 5. Zombie (West African via the Caribbean) 6. Vampire (Hungarian) 7. Parka (Russian) 8. Shampoo (Hindi) 9. Magazine (Arabic) 10. Avatar (Sanskrit). John Worne, director of strategy at the British Council, said that examining the roots of these words can offer an insight into our history. ‘Many of our most popular and . evocative English words – words we couldn’t live without – came from . other countries and cultures,’ he said. ‘When we look at their roots, we get a fascinating insight into how the language has been influenced throughout its history. ‘English is not just “our” language – . it truly belongs to the whole world, and brings real benefits to anyone . who can speak it. 'Even a few words can bring work, a job or new opportunities.’ Split into three zones the first part of the exhibition examines the value of learning English and the personal benefit it brings to people from around the world. A ‘talking wall’ allows individuals, among them footballers Dider Drogba and Petr Cech, to discuss how the language helps them express themselves and form friendships with their teammates. The second zone addresses the economic value of the language which remains an essential part of entry into many industries. The English teaching industry alone is worth around £2billion to the UK economy. The free exhibition runs until June 29. | Quintessentially English words booze and royalty originated overseas . Shampoo is Hindi, zombie is West African and bungalow is from Bengal . A new exhibition examines how we absorb words from overseas . | 777b540a1dd5e7053b6ce6846890f8e0eaa3ddec |
By . Andy Hampson . A man has been arrested after colliding with a security guard while attempting to drive a golf buggy out of the gates at the Open Championship at Hoylake. Merseyside Police said a 45-year-old man was arrested following the incident outside Gate Four of the site at Royal Liverpool Golf Club, off Meols Drive. The security guard received a minor leg injury as the man clipped him before crashing the buggy into a barrier. Claret Jug: The 143rd Open will be staged at the Royal Liverpool Golf Club, Holylake . Pictures emerged on social media of the buggy, owned by tournament organiser the Royal & Ancient, on a banking outside the gate. A Merseyside Police spokesman said: 'We can confirm that a man has been arrested following an incident at The Open golf practice day in Hoylake at about 7.30pm on Wednesday evening. Keeping the peace: Police at The Open confirmed a man had been arrested on suspicion of assault . 'The 45-year-old man from Birkenhead was arrested following an incident which involved the taking of a golf buggy on the course. 'One man was arrested on suspicion of assault after the buggy collided with a barrier near to the entrance gate on Meols Road. Just before colliding with the barrier the buggy caught a security guard causing a slight injury to his leg.' Johnnie Cole-Hamilton, executive director of championships at the R&A, said: 'Police are now investigating and I cannot say any more at this time.' | Police have confirmed that a man has been arrested at The Open, Holylake . 45-year-old was attempting to drive away in a golf buggy before colliding with a security guard and crashing into a barrier . Security guard received a minor injury at the Royal Liverpool Golf Club . | 9acad8bff81ae5a52d5f59564fa4ead2e1d95480 |
By . Dave Wood . Tottenham striker Harry Kane threw the coveted first throw of a baseball match at the legendary Wrigley Field in Chicago. The 20-year-old was given the honour after coming through a competition among the players before they flew out to America for a pre-season tour. Concentration: Harry Kane throws the first pitch before Chicago Cubs take on the San Diego Padres . Kane and Gylfi Sigurdsson won through to the final but the Icelandic midfielder was sold to Premier League rivals Swansea City last week. It meant Kane threw the first pitch before the Chicago Cubs vs San Diego Padres Major League Baseball game on Thursday. Perfect pitch: San Diego Padres starting pitcher Tyson Ross shows how it's supposed to be done . Spurs are in Chicago to take on the Fire franchise on Saturday. Mauricio Pochettino's side have drawn 3-3 with Seattle Sounders and beaten Toronto 3-2 during their pre-season tour. | Kane threw first pitch before Chicago Cubs vs San Diego Padres match . The striker had come through contest among the players . Spurs are in Chicago to take on the Fire franchise on Saturday . | 6fda0f74446297c5190ab5f6c97904ebd8692382 |
He isn't exactly famous for sitting still - so when unsuspecting fans approached a wax figure of Jeremy Lin for a photo, they didn't suspect a thing. But they were given a fright - which soon turned to joy - when the still figure jumped up to surprise them, revealing himself as the LA Lakes star player. Lin, 26, a point guard with the NBA team, held his pose while guests at the San Francisco branch of Madame Tussauds wax museum came filing by. Scroll down for video . 'How realistic!': One fan approaches the dead still 'model' of Jeremy Lin - with no idea it is the real deal . 'Gotcha!': The LA Lakers point guard springs to life, surprising the unsuspecting fan . Shocked: Visitors to the attraction spoke of their surprise after falling for the prank . But when the moment was right, Lin leaped up, made a noise, or met the gaze of the fans stood right next to him, some of whom jumped out of their skins. At one point, Lin pulled off a combo with the actual waxwork, which is suspended next to a basket in a slam dunk pose, by running in from the side and scoring two points himself. Two points! At one point Lin managed to upstage the dramatic slam-dunking waxwork of himself (background) by running in from the sidelines to nab a real basket of his own . 'Now this looks familiar': Shirley Lin, the star's mom, had no trouble picking out her real son . 'You got me!': Lin's waxwork act didn't hold out for long once his mom was on the scene . Fans who were appreciating the fake Lin - and got a sudden upgrade - spoke of their shock and delight to see the real deal. One said: 'I just got dunked on by Jeremy Lin. I showed up, took a picture with his wax figure, and here he comes out behind the curtain!' However, one visitor who wasn't take in was the star's own mom. Shirley Lin was also seen approaching her 'waxwork' son, but escaped being fooled and gave Lin and affectionate squeeze on the shoulder, breaking the illusion. The stunt was pulled last month, but only came to light a few days ago when Madame Tussads uploaded footage of the incident to its YouTube channel. On the court: Lin is pictured above with the Houston Rockets, for whom he played between 2012 and 2014 . | Point guard for the LA team posed as a waxwork at Madame Tussauds . Leaped up in front of tourists who paused for a photo in San Francisco . Even charged in from the sidelines to score an unexpected slam-dunk . Bizarre encounter was filmed at the museum last month, but unveiled now . | a3b296f3ae9f311a8145c4bacfa64236a1f87e66 |
Locals in a small Tennessee town are outraged after a 76-year-old man was arrested during a town hall hearing over a proposed pipeline because he asked board members to speak louder. Eddie Overholt's arrest came Friday after asking town board members to speak louder during a hearing to determine whether a gas company would be allowed to build a pipeline to dump waste into a local river. ‘Okay, I’m arrested,’ Overholt can be heard saying in a baritone drawl as he is escorted out of the Greenville Town Hall during a hearing with U.S. Nitrogen, according to WATE. The company wants a pipeline to the Nolichucky River. SCROLL DOWN FOR VIDEO . Mug shot: Eddie Overholt was arrested for asking local politicians to speak more loudly during a town hall meeting . Dozens of people attended the meeting, and Overholt claims regular citizens were set too far away from the moderation table to hear what was being said. ‘The board met up at the front of the room at a big table, had us roped off, and they were talking so low nobody could hear,’ Overholt told the station a few days after the arrest. Overholt insists he only asked the board to speak louder and was accused of disrupting the meeting before being cuffed and walked out. The septuagenarian was charged with disorderly conduct and resisting arrest, he said he plans to fight the charges. He attended the meeting because he is afraid the pipeline will dump toxins into the water supply. ‘Eventually whatever they put in the river, we're going to get in our wells. Knowing it's a chemical company and a fertilizer company, we know what they put in the river,’ he told the station. 'Okay, I'm arrested': Overholt was led out of the meeting in handcuffs by two deputies . Endangered by the pipeline: Overholt insists the project will result in waste dumping into this river - and then into their drinking water . Many locals are against the project, according to WATE. The town recently rejected an application for the permits, and Friday’s hearing was to determine whether to allow them to apply again, the station reported. Overholt also claims town board member J.W. Douthat should excuse himself from voting on the project after agreeing to sell his property to the company trying to build the pipeline. Douthat disagreed, saying that he is only in favour of the project for the jobs it will bring to the community. ‘If people make good wages they live better, and we deserve to live better, and we deserve to pass it on to the future,’ he told WATE. The town voted Friday in favour of allowing the company to re-apply for the permits. | Eddie Overholt was accused of disrupting the meeting and charged with disorderly conduct . Deputies then slapped him with a resisting arrest charge when he asked to sit down because he was tired . | bc821704c0a66368182474aa629959e21e8117f2 |
By . Charlie Lankston . PUBLISHED: . 19:43 EST, 16 November 2013 . | . UPDATED: . 09:10 EST, 17 November 2013 . Getting involved: Wearing a yellow sweatshirt, khaki skirt and yellow necktie, an eight-year-old Kate Middleton in the Brownies . Prince Charles singled out for special praise his daughter-in-law’s work with the Scouts. The Duchess of Cambridge first became involved with the Scouting and Guiding movements when she enrolled in her local troop of Brownies in Bradfield Southend, Berkshire, at the age of eight. More than two decades later, she became a volunteer leader in the Scout Association. Writing in the MoS, the Prince says: ‘I need hardly say that I am particularly delighted that my daughter-in-law has helped to swell the ranks of much-needed Scout volunteers, since enrolling many more adults as leaders is the greatest need for so many of our youth organisations.’ When the Duchess joined the group in January 2012, a spokesman for St James’s Palace explained that she ‘loved the idea of Scouting and working hands-on with children’, and felt that the organisation was well-suited to her own love of the outdoors. Her decision to join the Scouts, rather than the Guides, marked a change in times. Once only for males, the Scouts now boast 66,000 female members and in 2011 recruited more girls than boys. The Duchess’s involvement in the Scout Association has prompted a huge increase in the number of adults signing up to help, with more than 2,800 volunteering since she joined. Not content to be a figurehead, the Duchess has taken part in numerous Scouting activities. Joining in: The Duchess of Cambridge cooks with Scouts in the Lake District in March . In March, Kate, then five months . pregnant, met a troop in the Lake District for a day of outdoor . adventures, including baking bread on an open fire in the snow. Just a few weeks later, she took part in . a ceremony honouring the Scouts at Windsor Castle, where she was . praised as ‘an incredible role model’ by adventurer and Chief Scout Bear . Grylls. Prince Charles first experienced the satisfactions of volunteering during his schooldays at Gordonstoun. Charles – who loathed his time at the austere Scottish boarding school – found consolation in throwing himself into extra-curricular activities such as the Sea Cadets. He also became a volunteer coastguard when he joined the school’s surf-rescue unit. The Prince, who still speaks fondly of his time in the cadets, proved himself to be adept and determined, according to his biographer, Jonathan Dimbleby. In his second year at the school he was ‘skilled enough to paddle from Hopeman Beach to Findhorn Bay – 12 miles in a direct line but almost double the distance allowing for wind and tide’. It was during one of these adventurous outings that the most notorious incident of Charles’ schooldays took place. Quick Step: Prince Charles, centre behind a man in white uniform, on duty with the school's Sea Cadets . As a member of the four-man crew of the Pinta, one of the school’s ketches, the 14-year old prince sailed into Stornoway harbour on the Isle of Lewis. During shore leave, he walked into a bar and ordered a ‘cherry brandy’. A journalist overheard him and the underage prince’s misdemeanour became global news. After the furore, the headmaster demoted Charles within the cadets. The Prince was also the victim of bullying during his schooldays at Gordonstoun. And this may have shaped his campaign to stop teenagers drifting into street gangs. Charles endured beatings, extortion, rifling through his personal belongings and ostracisation.Jonathan Dimbleby wrote: ‘The Prince bore this thuggery with stoicism, apparently nurturing no enmity, though it reinforced his abhorrence of gangs.’ | Duchess of Cambridge enrolled in her local Brownies in Bradfield Southend, Berkshire, when she was eight years old . Two decades later she became a volunteer leader in the Scout Association . Prince today praised her work with the organisation and said she had helped 'swell the ranks' of Scout volunteers . | 497ef540710bb33298a37283d45d3898636f19a3 |
(CNN) -- AC Milan wasted a golden opportunity to close the gap on leaders and city rivals Inter at the top of the Italian Serie A table after being held to a 1-1 draw at home to lowly Livorno. With Inter's match at Parma postponed because of heavy snow, a Milan win would have closed the gap at the top of the table to eight points -- with both teams having played 21 matches. Veteran midfielder Massimo Ambrosini put Milan ahead on the stroke of half-time when he hooked the ball home after goalkeeper Francesco Benussi failed to deal with a David Beckham cross. But Cristiano Lucarelli poked home a mis-hit Claudio Bellucci shot just before the hour mark to earn Livorno a point. It completes a difficult week for Leonardo's side following their surprise Italian Cup defeat to Udinese and last weekend's 'derby' reverse at the San Siro. Milan's failure to win means in-form Roma have joined them on 41 points after a narrow 2-1 home win over bottom side Siena. Second-half substitute Stefano Okaka struck the winner three minutes from time in his final match before joining English Premier League side Fulham in a six-month loan deal. Jon Arne Riise had put the hosts in front in the 29th minute before Siena's Simone Vergassola equalized just before half-time. However, striker Okaka flicked home the late winner to earn Cluadio Ranieri's side a fourth successive Serie A victory. Elsewhere in Italy, striker Antonio Cassano has confirmed he has turned down the chance to join Fiorentina, choosing to remain with Sampdoria despite reports of a fall-out with coach Luigi Del Neri. On the pitch, Sampdoria maintained their Champions League challenge with a comfortable 2-0 win over strugglers Atalanta. Meanwhile, Juventus moved up a place to fifth, going above Palermo, after a 1-1 draw at home to Lazio. Alessandro del Piero's penalty after 70 minutes looked like giving new coach Alberto Zaccheroni a winning start to his reign. However, Stefano Mauri converted a cross from Mauro Zarate to level matters with just 12 minutes remaining. | Milan waste a golden opportunity to close the gap on leaders Inter at the top of Serie A . Cristiano Lucarelli pokes home an equalizer as Livorno draw 1-1 at the San Siro . Milan are eight points behind leaders Inter, whose match against Parma was postponed . | 198d7ff21eb50d8df151b232eb30f3295f2565fb |
David Johnston has to be dumped as Defence Minister now - that's the view of former Liberal leader Dr John Hewson. Dr Hewson told Daily Mail Australia that Mr Johnston was 'in real strife' and Tony Abbott had to act to stop what is 'a festering sore going into the festive season'. 'You have to nip that in the bud as fast as you can, otherwise all you have is instability and uncertainty' he said. Defence Minister David Johnston has been embroiled in two recent controversies, revelations he indulged in a series of expensive meals with industry officials chasing lucrative government contracts and comments made that he wouldn't trust Australian Submarine Corp to 'build canoes' Dr John Hewson, former Liberal leader, said: 'Defence has a history of being able to eat their own - we've seen it before - I think he's in real strife and I think the sooner that Abbott deals with the fact that he's not competent to be a Minister of Defence' Dr John Hewson was the leader of the Liberal Party for four years in the 90s, contesting one federal election . 'Tony Abbott may have confidence in Johnston but that leak about expenses suggests to me defence doesn't have confidence in him. 'Defence has a history of eating their own, we've seen that before happy to others - I think he (Johnston) is in real strife and I think the sooner that Abbott deals with the fact that he's not competent to be a Minister of Defence the better.' He warned that if the PM didn't take action 'it will be a festering sore into the festive season and it will only get worse.' He also took a swipe at the Prime Minister's assertion that a Cabinet reshuffle was on the cards. 'It's silly, if you are going to say that, the expectation there is that it is going to happen and the pressure grows for it to happen, so I guess it's better to have it sooner rather than later - you can't have it too late.' The Prime Minister has had to put out internal fires on several fronts, including a confrontation with Deputy Liberal Leader Julie Bishop over plans to have her 'chaperoned' at the UN climate conference . Julie Bishop is believed to have pushed back on the plan to have her accompanied to the United Nations Climate Conference by Andrew Robb . 'That was really dumb to attack her'. John Hewson thinks Tony Abbott made a big mistake in his move to have Julie Bishop 'chaperoned' at the UN meeting by Andrew Robb . Dr Hewson called Mr Abbott's planned move to have Foreign Minister Julie Bishop 'chaperoned' at the UN Climate Conference as dumb. 'That was really dumb to attack her,' he said, agreeing that she, along with Immigration Minister Scott Morrison, were the star performers in Cabinet this past year. 'That's right, and she recognises the inevitability of the fact that next year in the course of the run-up to the Paris meeting that the world is going to move towards an emissions reduction target and we should be part of that process, it means the government has to change some of its policy,' Dr Hewson added. 'Tony would be dismayed that the government has had success in foreign affairs and immigration, things like MH17 for instance but that he would be 10 points behind in the polls and not the preferred Prime Minister,' Dr Hewson said. Treasurer Joe Hockey has, meantime tried to brush aside claims some colleagues want him dumped, in favour of Malcolm Turnbull. When asked on Radio 3AW whether Joe Hockey was safe as treasurer, the PM replied 'of course, of course' .. going on to call him a man of 'remarkable resilience, focus and grit'. Under pressure. There are increasing calls for David Johnston to be dumped as Defence Minister but the Prime Minister is sticking by him . Under pressure. There are reports senior Cabinet members are angling for Joe Hockey's removal as Treasurer in favour of Malcolm Turnbull but he too has the PM's support . 'I rate Joe very highly indeed and the public should do too,' he told reporters on Friday. 'He has tackled this (the Budget) with a will, with a purpose, with a single mindedness and strength of character.' Asked in an interview with the ABC's 7.30 program whether it was time to reshape the Coalition front-bench, Mr Abbott said: 'At some stage between now and the next election, quite probably, but this is a good front-bench.' 'Joe Hockey has been criticised lately, but I tell you what, I think Joe is going to be one of the great treasurers because he's someone who bounces back and that's what he's doing now,' Mr Abbott said. 'Joe Hockey has been criticised lately, but I tell you what, I think Joe is going to be one of the great treasurers because he's someone who bounces back and that's what he's doing now,' Mr Abbott said . Mr Hockey also dismissed as 'silly' the questions about his future. He is due to hand down his mid-year budget review within the next fortnight. Dr Hewson said if he was either David Johnston or Joe Hockey, he would be very uncomfortable at hearing they had the Prime Minister's backing. 'Maybe I'm a bit cynical but I would be worried if I was Johnston or Hockey to hear that the Prime Minister say he has absolute confidence in them, many times that can turn out negative,' he to Daily Mail Australia. Daily Mail Australia has sought comment from Mr Johnston, his office again stressing that he continues to have the PM's support. | Reports of a cabinet in chaos with doubts over David Johnston, Joe Hockey and even the PM under pressure . Former leader Dr John Hewson says the Minister for Defence is 'not competent' Joe Hockey has been backed by the PM to retain the treasurer's role despite senior cabinet members reportedly calling for his sacking . | 060e2e8576a0fbce3a828e5deee8f186d23f7872 |
Sanaa, Yemen (CNN)Hundreds of thousands of supporters of Yemeni President Abdu Rabu Mansour Hadi filled the streets of seven Yemeni provinces on Sunday, one day after Hadi escaped house arrest in the capital, Sanaa. Hadi had been under house arrest for a month after he resigned under pressure from Houthi rebels. But he escaped and released a statement saying he is still president, calling all political decisions made since September illegal and invalid. A nephew of the president was kidnapped Sunday by Houthi rebels, two security officials in Ibb province told CNN. The nephew, Nasser Ahmed Mansour Hadi, was heading to the seaport province of Aden, where the President fled after escaping from house arrest in the capital, Sanaa. Protesters called for Hadi to stand against the Houthi coup. Sanaa saw the largest demonstrations urging Hadi to end militant occupation of Sanaa. "The Houthis thought they could not be stopped, and it only took hours for them to fall in the eyes of the people. Yemen has a president and the people will stand with him to uproot the Houthi militants from Sanaa," Ali Al-Saedi, a protest organizer in Sanaa, told CNN. In Taiz, tens of thousands took to the streets to show support for the legitimacy of the president and condemn the continued Houthi takeover of the capital. They carried placards reading "Out to militant rule, return of government institutions." Last month, Houthis attacked the presidential palace and ministerial Cabinet, forcing both the president and prime minister to resign. Houthi militants then put Hadi under house arrest. Since then, Houthis have failed to form a government or reach a deal with other political factions for the formation of a presidential council. The militants tightened their grip on power over the last month, but the House of Representatives has not met to accept Hadi's resignation. Hours after Hadi fled Sanaa on Saturday, Houthi officials tried to force parliamentarians to meet immediately to accept his resignation, but their efforts failed. The ruling General People's Congress party, headed by Yemen's former President Ali Abdullah Saleh, which holds a majority of seats in parliament, said it will not push for a parliament vote to accept the resignation of Hadi. "Hadi is the President of Yemen, since his resignation has yet to officially reach parliament. Yemen is still led by a constitutional elected president," said Abdul Aziz Jubari, the secretary general of the independent Justice and Building Party. Houthis are Shiite Muslims who have long felt marginalized in the majority Sunni Muslim country. They had been at war with the central government for more than a decade, but their entry into Sanaa in September brought things to a head, sparking battles that left than 300 people dead before a ceasefire was agreed to that month. Houthis then pressured Hadi to step down last month after he refused to agree to certain political demands. The Houthis' takeover of Sanaa stunned governments of Western nations, which pulled out diplomatic staff this month. As part of an investigation into Hadi's escape, Houthis on Saturday arrested dozens of their own security personnel who were responsible for watching him, a senior Houthi official said. Houthis arrested two people connected to Hadi -- his media secretary Yahya Al Arassi and his private physician -- after his escape, one of Hadi's advisers said. A senior official with a Sunni political party opposed to the Houthi takeover said that he backs Hadi's claim to the presidency. "Hadi's withdrawal (of his resignation) would save the country and end the Houthi oppression of the Yemeni people," said Mohammed Al-Sabri, senior official of the Nasserite party. There already had been resistance to the Houthis' attempted takeover of national government institutions from different groups in Yemen, particularly in the South, where there's a long-running secessionist movement. Also opposed to the Houthis is the Sunni terror group al Qaeda in the Arabian Peninsula, which exerts influence over many rural areas across the country. AQAP vowed to attack Houthi loyalists nationwide last year. Yemen's political turmoil could have an impact on the United States' fight against AQAP. The United States has long had a relationship with Yemen's leaders, working with them to target AQAP militants. It's not clear what the Houthis' takeover of Sanaa means for U.S. anti-terrorism efforts, but the drone program there still appears to be active. A U.S. drone strike killed senior AQAP cleric Harith bin Ghazi al-Nadhari and three other people in Shabwa province on January 31. CNN's Jason Hanna, Ed Payne, Ben Brumfield and Greg Botelho contributed to this report. | President's nephew kidnapped by Houthi rebels, officials say . Protesters turn out in support of Yemeni President Abdu Rabu Mansour Hadi . Hadi says he's still president after escaping from house arrest . | d449525864b40e8886a68f1ca7b891f99bacddf4 |
Bosnia striker Edin Dzeko will miss Sunday's Euro 2016 qualifier away to Israel due to a calf injury and could be sidelined for up to three weeks, team doctor Reuf Karabeg said. 'It's a very serious injury and requires the kind of treatment whose time-frame unfortunately rules out a quick return,' Karabeg told the Bosnian football federation website on Monday. Dzeko said: 'I am extremely disappointed with the news that I will miss this match but I have faith in my team mates and believe that they have it in them to get a result.' Bosnia team doctor Reuf Karabeg said Edin Dzeko could be sidelined for up to three weeks with a calf injury . The Manchester City striker was replaced by midfielder Frank Lampard during their 2-2 draw at QPR . Dzeko's absence will be a bitter blow to injury-hit Bosnia's hopes of getting their Group B campaign on track after taking only two points from the opening three games. His strike partner Vedad Ibisevic was earlier ruled out as a long-term casualty while defender Avdija Vrsajevic and central midfielder Tino Sven Susic are also unlikely to recover in time for the clash in Haifa. Dzeko limped off the pitch four minutes after coming on as a substitute in Manchester City's 2-2 draw at Queens Park Rangers on Saturday and Bosnia coach Safet Susic said earlier on Monday his team had no chance of winning without their top scorer. 'If Dzeko can't play we will be resigned to playing for a draw against Israel because we have no hope of winning without him,' Susic told Bosnia's FENA news agency. The injury will come as a massive blow for the Bosnians, and manager Safet Susic expressed his worries . 'If that turns out to be the case, we will have to mount a sustained challenge after the winter break and win five of the remaining six games if we are to reach the finals in France.' The Bosnians, who made a group stage exit at the 2014 World Cup finals in June after reaching their first major tournament as an independent nation, drew against Wales and Belgium after suffering a shock home defeat by Cyprus in Euro 2016 qualifying. The poor run has piled the pressure on 59-year old Susic, who has faced a barrage of criticism for his team selection and tactics during the World Cup and at the start of their European Championship qualifiers. With both Dzeko and Ibisevic out, Susic will be forced to field a team with no natural strikers against Israel, meaning that wingers Edin Visca and Izet Hajrovic are likely to be deployed up front. | Bosnia striker Edin Dzeko is out for their Euro 2016 qualifier against Israel . Team doctor Reuf Karabeg said Dzeko's calf injury is 'very serious' Bosnia coach Safet Susic said his team had no chance of winning without their top scorer . | 7f7d4f88be78c4b3808724096e87a39e822de088 |
By . Jennifer Smith . George Fessey admitted Grievous Bodily Harm without intent and was sentenced to two years in prison after throwing the teenager to the ground 'like a WWE wrestler' A teenager had to have a titanium plate fitted in his face and be treated for epilepsy after a thug bouncer threw his body to the ground 'like a ragdoll' in a vicious attack outside a nightclub. Rory Davis had been enjoying a night out with his friends before the incident at After Dark nightclub in Mansfield, Nottinghamshire, in December 2012 . The 19-year-old was left with a brain haemorrhage and hole in his skull after 17-stone George Fessey slammed his body to the pavement 'like a WWE wrestler,' a court heard. Rory, now 21, was rushed to hospital after cracking the left side of his head against the pavement. He now suffers slurred speech and receives medication for epilepsy. Fessey was found innocent of causing Grievous Bodily Harm (GBH) with intent in a trial last year. But the the 25-year-old was sentenced to two years in prison yesterday after having previously admitted causing GBH without intent. Speaking during his trial last year, Fessey told Nottingham Crown Court: 'I was intending just to put him to the floor and restrain him - it went horribly wrong.' After yesterday's hearing, Detective Inspector Phil Sims said: 'This was a classic case of adrenaline-fuelled violence and bravado, . leading to a massive over-reaction and use of unnecessary force by one . man against another who was half his size. 'It’s never a fair fight between someone who can lift a person above his head and body-slam him to the ground. 'George . Fessey left his victim in the absolute lowest level of consciousness . before death, he’s fortunate to have come out of it as well as he has. 'Not . only was it a traumatic, life-altering ordeal for the victim, there . were also a number of people who witnessed this, frankly . stomach-churning, incident. 'It’s fair to say it brought an abrupt end to their festive celebrations. 'Doormen are supposed to ensure the safety of customers and diffuse potentially problematic and violent situations. The incident took place during a festive night out on Leeming Street in Mansfield, Nottinghamshire, (pictured) in 2012 . Fessey was found innocent of Grievous Bodily Harm with intent at Nottingham Crown Court last year, though was sentenced to two years imprisonment yesterday . 'Fessey did the opposite. He was the problem, failing to see the boundaries of reasonable action. 'We patrol Mansfield town centre as a matter of course during the evenings and had officers nearby that night. 'If Fessey had simply called us instead of taking the law into his own hands this whole incident could have been avoided.' Speaking after the incident, Rory said: 'I have had a year prison sentence waiting to get my plate fitted - he will get less prison time than me. 'It hard to say what his intent was - only he knows that.' | Rory Davis was thrown to the ground 'like a rag doll' by 17-stone bouncer . The 19-year-old was left with a brain haemorrage and hole in his skull . George Fassey admitted Grievous Bodily Harm without intent in 2012 . The 25-year-old said was trying to restrain Davis when it 'went horribly wrong' | 2f136a25cfebf8f90a19fe5a679444ec8d6b61f9 |
Identified: Lindsay Groce Garder, 27, and her 13-month-old daughter Hailey Gardner were identified as the two bodies found in a Fort Worth, Texas field on Tuesday . The bodies of a naked woman found lying on top of a 1-year-old girl in a field not far from a crashed car have been identified but questions about how the mother and daughter died remain a mystery. On Wednesday, the Tarrant County medical examiner's office named 27-year-old Lindsay Groce Gardner and her 13-month-old daughter Hailey Gardner as the victims discovered in the Fort Worth, Texas field. Ms Gardner lived in an apartment building about five miles away from where her lifeless body was found Tuesday morning by a fence repairman. The fence repairman discovered the body just 200 yards away from the scene where police investigated a mysteriously empty crashed car earlier that morning. Gardner's clothes were strewn in the field between the car and her body, indicating she undressed as she walked with her baby away from the car. Investigators now believe that the two incidents are related, but they're still uncertain whether the crash was the cause of death for the mother and daughter since they did not appear to be injured other than a few scratches. It also doesn't explain why they were found so far from the vehicle. 'There were no injuries that looked like they would cause a person’s death,' Sgt Joe Loughman said. The medical examiner's office is still working to determine the cause of death, while police try to pinpoint when the crash happened. According to excerpts from a personal blog, published in the Fort Worth Star-Telegram, Gardner was a married freelance artist who previously lived in California. Scroll down for video . Tragic scene: Gardner and her daughter were found about 200 yards away from this crashed car. Investigators believe the two incidents were related, but are still uncertain how the mother and daughter died . In a post from August 2013, she wrote about stress concerning a move to Lancaster, California. 'Why can’t things just go the way you plan them? Why does God constantly have another path? These are things I get to thinking. You’ve probably thought them before too. Why do we even bother thinking that? He already had a path. 'It’s our scared insecure brains that try to tie all the knots of false insecurity together into believing that we are going to be ok because of our ‘plan'. Even though, constantly, again and again, our plan fails, falls apart, crumbles, vanishes. But God’s plans are always solid. He always follows through and takes care of us. 'Please pray for me and my family. My husband and I are going back to no home, no job, and pregnant,' she wrote. On Wednesday, friends began posting memorials to Gardner on her Facebook page. One friend wrote: 'She was such a sweet spirit, so genuine, and an incredible artist. She was so in love with her baby and we both shared a passion for gentle parenting. She wanted to be the best mother she could be for her.' Family: According to a personal blog, Gardner was married and worked as a freelance artist. In her last post from April 2013, she wrote about being pregnant and organizing a move to Lancaster, California with her husband Anthony Gardner (pictured above with their daughter) Married: Gardner's Facebook profile says she has been married to Anthony Gardner since June 29, 2012 . Mystery: The medical examiner's office is still trying to determine the cause of death for Gardner and her small child . The crashed Toyota sedan was first reported Tuesday morning around 8:30am by resident Amber Bentley, who spotted the car after dropping her kids off at school. 'There's always deer in that field,' Bentley told reporters when she returned to the scene off Dirks Road later that day. 'I was looking for the deer and I saw the car … It was against a tree and the hood was smashed in and the driver's side door was open. 'I was hollering asking if everybody was OK, hoping if somebody was in there that they could at least respond.' Since Bentley had a child in the car at the time, she couldn't get out to approach the car, but called police and stayed until they showed up. While the airbags were deployed, police found the vehicle empty. It wasn't until a man came to repair a fence at 11am that the bodies were found, about 200 yards away. The fence repairman came upon the bodies in a field and found the woman naked, lying on top of the child, who was in a car seat, according to sources who spoke with WFAA. What happened? Investigators gather at the scene where the bodies were found on Tuesday in Fort Worth . Undressing: The crashed car was found empty and the bodies 200 yards away. Gardner was found naked, with a trail of clothes from the car suggesting she disrobed as she walked away from the vehicle . 'I cannot comment on why there was a delay between the call that was made and the bodies being found,' Natosha Tucker of the Fort Worth police said Tuesday. The mysterious case has rocked the local community, with residents desperate for answers to the seemingly senseless deaths of the mother and child. Caroline McLendon, who lives next door to the mother's parents, said she was 'just horrified' to hear about Gardner's death. 'I wanted to tell her how sorry I was that this has happened to that lovely family,' McLendon told NBC DFW. Resident Linda Fuqua is confused, like many in the community. 'It’s perplexing, the fact the bodies were away from the car, you think they would have been in the car,' she said. 'But now I’m wondering, what happened. Was she trying to get away or help herself from the accident with her child?' | The victims have been identified as 27-year-old Lindsay Groce Gardner and her daughter Hailey Gardner, 13 months . Police believe the mother and child are connected to a crashed car that was found about 200 yards away from their dead bodies . But they don't know if the crash caused their death since they did not seem to be majorly injured - besides a few scratches . The medical examiner's office is still trying to determine a cause of death . In 2013, Gardner wrote a personal blog about living in California with her husband and the difficulties achieving their dreams . In her last post, then-pregnant Gardner asked her readers to pray for her because they were moving to a new town with no job or home lined up . | 7a3c5eb68829feebc3aeebacc0ce23b24c90cff8 |
By . Helen Lawson . PUBLISHED: . 11:28 EST, 5 February 2013 . | . UPDATED: . 09:34 EST, 6 February 2013 . Businessman Timothy Turner originally claimed he had been forced to take part in the raid by unknown people . A company director who took part in a gang raid on a brothel to try to solve his financial problems has been jailed for four and a half years. Timothy Turner, 33, posed as a customer and made an appointment at the Exclusive Girls brothel in Camberley, Surrey. He joined three other masked raiders, armed with guns and a machete, at the raid and made away with nearly £1,000. One gang member, armed with a loaded shotgun, threatened to shoot brothel manager Miranda Fuoco and hit her in the face with a gun butt, leaving her bleeding and with loose teeth. Customer Eddie Lau was robbed of £150 and his debit card while three prostitutes fled the detached house in Crawley Ridge. Turner, of Vale Road, Ash Vale, was arrested after Mr Lau reported the getaway car's registration number. He pleaded guilty to conspiracy to rob at Guildford Crown Court and admitted a separate charge of possessing cannabis. Jailing Turner, Judge Michael Addison said: 'It must have been a terrifying experience for Ms Fuoco.' The judge said that the use of the loaded shotgun to threaten and attack the brothel manager was an aggravating feature of the case, though he acknowledged the defendant was not the man who attacked Ms Fuoco. Gino Connor, prosecuting, said Ms Fuoco had opened the door of the property to what she believed was a customer with a booking. The balaclava-clad gang charged into the house, led by the man with the shotgun described in court as the ringleader. He screamed at Ms Fuoco: 'Where's the f***ing money?' Mr Connor said: 'He threatened to chop off her head and slice her face. She was almost delirious with shock. 'She was gratuitously struck on the side of her mouth with the butt of a firearm.' Ms Fuoco eventually told the gang that there was cash hidden in the kitchen. When the man with the shotgun got his hands on the cash, about £980, he yelled: 'Is that it? You're f***ing kidding me.' Mr Connor said: 'The woman believed she would be killed because of the way that he was behaving. 'Because the men were wearing balaclavas, it's not possible to say which part the defendant played.' The businessman, described as a man of . previous good character, ran three cafes but had borrowed money from . someone 'extremely dangerous' after running into financial problems. Judge Michael Addison, sitting at Guildford Crown Court, pictured, told Turner that the raid must have been 'terrifying' for brothel manager Miranda Fuoco . The £980 was found at his home, along with a BB handgun and machete-style weapon. Police also found thousands of pounds unconnected with the robbery, as well as shotguns for which Turner held a firearms certificate. Philip Rule, defending, said his client had been reluctant to get involved in the robbery on December 2 2011 and was not the gang member who attacked Ms Fuoco. Turner originally claimed he had been forced to take part in the raid by others unknown. But Judge Addison refused the basis of Turner's plea. Mr Rule said: 'This has been a salutary experience for Mr Turner. He does express remorse.' The court was told that the premises where the raid took place is under new ownership and is no longer a brothel. | Timothy Turner, 33, jailed for four and a half years for his part in the December 2011 raid in Camberley, Surrey . | 933d5ae4114beb40588ef3e9f1fc9744e728a100 |
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