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(CNN) -- Jody Powell, who served as press secretary for President Jimmy Carter, has died, a spokesman for the Carter Center said. He was 65. Former White House Press Secretary Jody Powell died Monday. Powell, who served in the Carter administration from 1977 to 1981, died Monday of an apparent heart attack, Carter Center spokesman Tony Clark told CNN. Carter said he and former first lady Rosalynn Carter "share a great personal loss today in the passing of Jody Powell." "From the time he began, as a young graduate student, as my volunteer driver during my 1970 run for governor, no one worked more closely with me than Jody," the former president and former governor of Georgia said in a statement. "Jody was beside me in every decision I made as a candidate, governor, and president, and I could always depend on his advice and counsel being candid and direct." Robert Gibbs, press secretary to President Barack Obama, said he was "deeply saddened to hear about the passing of Jody Powell." "As press secretary to President Carter, Jody served his country during a difficult time, and he always did the job with grace and good humor," Gibbs said in a statement. "When I needed advice at the start of my own tenure as press secretary, he was always generous with his time and wise in his counsel. I'll miss his support and encouragement, and I'll be keeping him and his family in my thoughts and prayers," he said. After his press secretary stint under Carter, Powell headed a Washington public relations firm, Powell-Tate, partnering with Nancy Reagan's former press secretary, Sheila Tate. | Carters "share a great personal loss today in the passing of Jody Powell" Carter: "Beside me in every decision I made as a candidate, governor, and president" Powell also headed Washington PR firm with Nancy Reagan's ex-press secretary . | 63d50e275b1fe7bf856d824ab7ddffe26906665c |
Miami (CNN) -- Celebrity chef Paula Deen drew a standing ovation from a crowd of several hundred people Sunday in Miami Beach as she made her fourth public appearance since a controversy over her admitted use of a racial epithet in the past. "We have come off a hard summer ... my family and my partners ... and I want to take a moment to apologize to those of you who didn't hear me. I hope you see us bring back good memories for you," an emotional Deen told the crowd at the prestigious South Beach Wine and Food Festival. Looking thinner than she has in the past and appearing overjoyed by the exuberant reception, Deen said she used her months out of the spotlight to spend a lot of quality time with her grandchildren. While Deen was preparing one of her famous dumpling dishes, she invited celebrity chef Robert Irvine to the stage, and Irvine then jokingly said to her "you apologized. You've eaten crow. Just don't do it anymore." Irvine then added, "It's so good to have you back. This family is the best on the planet." Deen told the audience that it was their cards and letters that helped her during and after the controversy, even personally thanking a young man in the audience from New Jersey who mailed her inspirational Bible verses. Deen's career and public reputation went into a tailspin in June after her deposition in a lawsuit brought by a former restaurant employee was released. In the videotaped deposition, Deen admitted using the "N word" in the past. Dean apologized publicly several times, but the efforts failed to suppress the controversy. In the media firestorm that followed, Deen lost lucrative endorsements and her Food Network cooking show, while the publication of her eagerly anticipated cookbook was canceled. In late August, a federal judge approved a deal dismissing the lawsuit, which leveled accusations of racism and sexual harassment. The lawsuit was dismissed "with prejudice," meaning it cannot be filed again, according to a court filing. Two weeks ago, it was announced that a new business partnership was created with private-content and consumer distribution company Najafi Media. Najafi said it intends to rebuild and grow her business, Paula Deen Ventures. Najami is investing $75 million into Paula Deen Ventures. Known as "the Queen of Southern cuisine," Deen has sold over 8 million copies of her 14 cookbooks and is supported by one of the largest social media followings for any well-known chef. Through her representative, Deen said that attending the South Beach event this year, as she has for almost a decade, was like a homecoming for her. Deen also said she was grateful for having the opportunity of helping the festival raise millions of dollars for Florida International University's Chaplin School of Hospitality and Tourism Management. | Paula Deen makes her fourth public appearance since controversy last year . Controversy came from a deposition in which Deen admitted using a racial epithet . She apologized several times, including Sunday at a wine and food festival . The crowd greeted her with a standing ovation . | be1f95b16fb95ee1d3aacf38b561350d114ed288 |
Soldier: A new investigation has finally been launched into the death of Private Cheryl James, 18 . The family of a teenage soldier who mysteriously died at the notorious Deepcut barracks 19 years ago have asked for her body to be exhumed for a new inquest into her death. Private Cheryl James, 18, was one of four young recruits who suddenly died in unexplained fatal shootings at the scandal-hit Surrey base between 1995 and 2002. It is hoped the new investigation into her death could finally shed some light on the long-running mystery of the Deepcut deaths which has spanned over two decades. The shootings, which were treated as suicide, sparked accusations of bullying and an army cover-up and led to a campaign spearheaded by the Mail to uncover the truth. Today a new investigation was finally launched into the death of Pte James. Lawyers for her family told a judge presiding over a pre-inquest review hearing that it was essential that her body should be exhumed and re-examined by a pathologist. Alison Foster QC said the body could yield new ballistics evidence that would be central to finding out how the teenager came to suffer a fatal shot to the head. Pte James, of North Wales was found on November 27, 1995, with a single shot to the head between her right eye and the bridge of her nose after she had been on sentry duty. Just months earlier, in June 1995, Private Sean Benton, 20, of Hastings, East Sussex, was found dead with five bullet wounds to his chest. Probe: It is hoped the new investigation into Pte James's death could finally shed some light on the long-running mystery of deaths at Deepcut barracks (pictured) in Surrey which has spanned over two decades . Parents: Doreen and Des James (pictured) have long refused to accept that their daughter committed suicide using her own rifle . Over the next few years, two more young recruits would die from gunshot wounds in the barracks. In September 2001, Private Geoff Gray, 17, from East London was discovered with two gunshot wounds to the head while on guard duty. Private Sean Benton . The 20-year-old of Hastings, East Sussex, was found dead at Deepcut with five bullet wounds to his chest in June 1995. Despite ballistics tests suggesting only one bullet was fired from close range and the others from a distance, the Army says he committed suicide. Private Cheryl James . The 18-year-old of Llangollen, Denbighshire, was found with a single bullet wound to her head at the barracks in November 1995. An Army inquiry concluded she committed suicide while a coroner records an open verdict three weeks after her death. Private Geoff Gray . The young recruit,17, from Hackney, east London, was found with two gunshot wounds to his head while on night guard duty in September 2001. Five shots had been fired and the other three bullets were not found. A coroner records an open verdict after hearing that a figure was seen running away from the area. Private James Collinson . The 17-year-old, from Perth, was found dead with a single gunshot wound upwards through his chin while on night guard duty at the barracks in March 2002. The Army says he killed himself, but his parents do not accept this, insisting he had been happy. No inquest is held. The following year, on March 23, Private James Collinson, 17, was found dead with a gunshot wound through his chin while on guard duty. The families of the tragic soldiers have refused to accept their children committed suicide and hired a ballistics expert who claimed in 2003 that it was unlikely that any of the soldiers had shot themselves. A new two-month long inquest will now be held into Pte James’ death after the High Court quashed the ‘open verdict’ delivered at her original 1995 inquest. Two judges ruled that the initial inquest, which was held three weeks after her death and lasted less than an hour long, had been insufficient. The soldier’s parents Des and Doreen James have long refused to accept that their daughter committed suicide using her own rifle. Represented by Liberty, the family finally saw a new inquest ordered after taking new evidence to the High Court in July. Today, the investigation finally got under way in Woking, Surrey, with Judge Brian Barker opening proceedings at the town’s civic offices with a ‘few moments of reflection’. It will be up to Judge Barker, the Recorder of London, to set the parameters for the upcoming inquest and to decide whether to exhume Pte James’s body. Mrs Foster also suggested that the judge should make a site visit to Deepcut, to assess the distances involved on the Army site for himself. A second hearing will be held in February to review progress on the disclosure of sensitive documents from the police and MoD. Retired company director Mr James, 65, from Carreghofa on the Shropshire-Montgomeryshire border, said he was happy to see the investigation was finally on its way today. Speaking after the short hearing, he said that the pre-inquest review had come just days after the 19th anniversary of his daughter’s death. ‘It’s coincidental and ironic that finally we are on the journey. It’s a lovely feeling,’ he added tearfully. Before the hearing today, Mr James said he was not looking for revenge, just answers, after his experience of his daughter’s first inquest. ‘So many questions were left unanswered that day,’ he said. ‘To me, and many others, it was all a charade. ‘The powers-that-be, the police and military, seemed to want everything swept under the carpet and showed no interest in unearthing the truth about what really happened. ‘I just need to know what happened to her, for all the facts to be properly analysed. Cheryl deserves nothing less.’ The new inquest is expected to be held sometime after Easter next year following two more pre-inquest reviews. | Private Cheryl James, 18, was one of four recruits who suddenly died . Unexplained fatal shootings at base in Surrey between 1995 and 2002 . Long-running mystery of the deaths has spanned over two decades . Shootings treated as suicide sparked claims of bullying and cover-up . They led to a campaign spearheaded by the Mail to uncover the truth . For confidential support call the Samaritans in the UK on 08457 90 90 90, visit a local Samaritans branch or click here for details . | ffc831e0ce75ea61da3cb1c5483d88f45509157c |
By . Sam Webb . PUBLISHED: . 04:55 EST, 1 November 2012 . | . UPDATED: . 06:05 EST, 1 November 2012 . The MTA guard told the man the station was not open, sparking an altercation, sources said . An armed subway guard shot a man wielding a screwdriver who was trying to force his way into a closed station. The Metropolitan Transportation Authority agent was forced to open fire on an apparently homeless man who tried to barge into a shuttered station in Brooklyn early Wednesday, authorities told the New York Daily News. The revenue collection agent shot the man, who was wielding a screwdriver, once in the chest during a confrontation at about 2am. A law enforcement source said the agent was standing at the station entrance when the man tried to enter. The agent told him the station was closed and a dispute erupted, the source said. The homeless man 'lunged' at the agent, according to Derrick Echevarria, a divisional chairman with Transport Workers Union Local 100. 'He tried to avoid him,' Echevarria said. 'He tried to walk away, but he kept following him.' The wounded man was taken to Kings County Hospital, where he was in a stable condition, the law enforcement source said. The agent thought the screwdriver was a knife, said Maurice Jenkins, a Local 100 vice president. He positioned himself behind a pole and tried to keep a safe distance from the man, but the intruder kept coming, Jenkins said. 'The agent showed extreme . restraint,but it became life or death,' Jenkins said. 'He tried . everything he could to get away from him.' The guard shot the man, believing a screwdriver he was holding was a knife (stock picture) The agent went to the closed station with a maintenance worker to inspect and check MetroCard vending machines and equipment in the token booth, Jenkins said. Even though the system is closed, transit workers are tasked with keeping stations ready for the eventual return of riders. Jenkins said the revenue collection agent has been on the job for 26 years and never before fired his weapon. He was interviewed by police but not charged. Brooklyn was hit hard by Superstorm Sandy. This beach-side home has been condemned due to structural damage . On the move: The city's transit system was ravaged by Superstorm Sandy, although some services have now resumed . | MTA agent forced to shoot man who tried to force his way into station . Guard tried to get away from man who was wielding a screwdriver . Attacker in 'stable' condition at hospital . | f9e5095017058dbd8401ef55da72d218720e77f0 |
One of Australia’s top gynaecologists is under investigation for allegedly slapping a nurse in front of a patient. Professor Margaret Davy has ‘strongly denied any wrongdoing’ as it was confirmed by South Australia Health Minister Jack Snelling that the reported incident is being looked into by officials. Prof Davy has taken almost a year’s holiday from her job as head of surgery at the Royal Adelaide Hospital, in South Australia, as the investigation gets under way, The Advertiser reports. Professor Margaret Davy (stock image shown) has ‘strongly denied any wrongdoing’ after being accused of slapping a nurse at the Royal Adelaide Hospital . The Royal Adelaide Hospital did not deny an investigation is under way but said they could not comment . She told the paper she had no knowledge of the alleged incident, which supposedly happened during a colposcopy procedure when the patient was conscious, and revealed that she has gone on long service leave. ‘I have definitely not resigned as I have 354 days of long service leave so I have a year to think about it,’ Prof Davy told The Advertiser. The Royal Adelaide Hospital did not deny an investigation is happening when contacted by Daily Mail Australia, but a spokesperson said: ‘We are not making any further comment.’ Daily Mail Australia has also contacted Prof Davy for comment. South Australia Health Minister Jack Snelling (pictured) said that the reported incident is being looked into by officials . Mr Snelling told The Advertiser: ‘I am advised that a formal investigation is under way into this serious allegation. ‘If found to be true I would expect appropriate disciplinary action to be taken.’ Prof Davy, 69, has had a long and successful career in the world of gynaecology. She graduated from the University of Adelaide and went on to work in Oslo, Norway, for ten years at the Norwegian Radium Hospital where she gained extensive knowledge about gynaecological cancer. She returned to Australia and worked in Women’s Health for 20 years in remote areas in South Australia and the Northern Territory, a service for which she was awarded the Order of Australia (AM) in 2002. | Professor Margaret Davy has 'strongly denied any wrongdoing' SA Health Minister Jack Snelling confirmed that she is being investigated . Alleged incident reportedly occurred during a colposcopy procedure . Prof Davy is Clinical Director, Surgical and Specialty Services at the Royal Adelaide Hospital . | 1d68df1d34ec00d7626946ac6d8344646ef44219 |
Despite a glittering career at the top as a player Burton Albion 'novice' Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink is under no illusions he has to earn his right as a manager. The former Chelsea, Leeds and Middlesbrough striker took his first management role in England when he was appointed by the League Two side in November. And Hasselbaink, who scored 127 Premier League goals during his distinguished career, says his achievements as a player count for nothing as he starts at the bottom of the managerial ladder. Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink was appointed manager of League Two side Burton Albion in November . The former Chelsea, Leeds and Middlesbrough striker applauds his Burton players on the touchline . Hasselbaink scored 70 Premier League goals for Chelsea during a four-year spell from 2000-2004 . 'I don't talk about it. Never,' Hasselbaink told the Guardian's Stuart James. 'The other day we were driving to the game at Wycombe and there were goals of mine on Sky on the team coach. I was embarrassed. I know it's me, but... it's gone. We don't have to talk about when I was a player. I have to earn my right as a manager.' 'What does that mean: "Too big for that"? If I was Jose Mourinho and I would come to Burton, then you can say something. I know my role. I know who I am, I know what I have done as a manager, I consider myself novice.' Hasselbaink played under Steve McLaren at Middlesbrough before coaching under him at Nottingham Forest, and the 42-year-old reserves the highest praise for the former England manager. But the Burton manager believes his achievements as a player count for nothing as a manager . The Dutchman also spent two years in the Premier League with Middlesbrough . Hasselbaink said he is was embarrassed when his goals were shown on Sky on the Burton team bus . 'Best English coach there is. Fact. Because he can coach. He can make players better. He went with the modern game. He is not still there, where he was 10 years ago when he was at Middlesbrough, where he was so successful. He has evolved.' Hasselbaink was capped 23 times for Holland and played under Louis van Gaal with the national side, and the Burton boss reveals that beneath the prickly exterior the Manchester United manager has a soft centre. 'Very intimidating but very fair and very loving. If you keep on doing things wrong, he will pinpoint you. If you do it good, he will also tell you that you did it good. He's also got a soft side to him that you don't see. If you go and speak to him, he's very open. He's a good man.' | Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink said Steve McLaren is the best English coach . He reveals Louis van Gaal has a soft centre beneath his prickly exterior . Hasselbaink says his achievements as a player count for nothing . Admitting he has to earn his right as a manager at League Two Burton . | 880d426b2893912c6c1cf3ecee63e64c9d9d1b61 |
By . Beth Stebner . PUBLISHED: . 10:24 EST, 19 February 2013 . | . UPDATED: . 11:42 EST, 19 February 2013 . A widow who lost her husband to cancer three years ago is now fighting a battle with Hallmark to create end-of-life sympathy cards. Activist and artist Regina Holliday has been petitioning for the immensely popular card company to create a line of hospice cards that are meant to say goodbye to friends, loved ones, and acquaintances. Though the greeting card company has plenty of ‘Get Well Soon’ cards and sympathy cards if the worst should happen, there are no cards specifically designed for someone in terminal care. Last respects: Artist and activist Regina Holliday, pictured, is trying to get Hallmark to create a series of cards meant for hospice patients . Available options now: Two current options from Hallmark's 'Get Well Soon' section, neither of which Mrs Holliday believes appropriate for a person who is terminally ill . Speaking to MailOnline from her home in Washington, Mrs Holliday said that she hopes to change the way the card giant looks at end of life, saying that the flow of cards to her husband Fred stopped as soon as he was moved into hospice care for his terminal liver cancer. Fear of the unknown: Mrs Holliday says thatnot knowing what to say or how to say it stops many people from sending cards to people in hospice care . ‘When my husband Fred and I were in rehab, we had all these great cards saying fight the good fight, you can do it, cheering you on, thinking you could actually have an effect on cancer.’ But when Mr Holliday’s cancer worsened and he was moved to hospice, the flow of well-wishes and cards stopped abruptly. ‘People didn’t know what to say,’ the mother of two explained. ‘Some people would send “Thinking of You” and a few sent “Our Deepest Sympathy” cards. My husband actually chortled and said, “I’m not dead yet!”’ Mr Holliday passed away from cancer on June 17, 2009. Mrs Holliday, who worked several years at a retail store that sold greeting cards, said she started working on the idea when her husband was still alive. Adding a row of cards clearly labled as ‘end of life,’ she said, will show people there’s an option for that difficult time in life, and start a dialogue on how to say goodbye to loved ones. ‘People are scared to say goodbye. And because they’re so scared, they don’t do it,’ she said. Mrs Holliday wrote on her blog that Hallmark did not recognize the word ‘hospice’ or ‘end of life’ in its search engine, instead pointing out a card for a Bat Mitzvah. According to ABC News, Mrs Holliday tried for a year to get in touch with company representatives to address End of Life cards. Loss: Fred Holliday was diagnosed with Stage IV cancer and passed away in 2009 in hospice care . Options: In response to Mrs Holliday's request, Hallmark offered a series of cards like these; the widow points out that the card on the right still doesn't have the right message . In her latest effort, she created the Change.org petition, which has more than 3,200 supporters. Finally, Hallmark introduced nine greeting cards specifically for people in hospice care. One card features a curly script with the words ‘Caring thoughts are with you’ on the cover. Inside, the card reads: ‘Nothing can ease the difficulty of what is happening in your life, but every day – you are wished a little peace of mind.’ Another more twee card shows an illustrated sheep with the accompanying text: ‘I’m not sure what to do, I’m not sure what to say… But one things’ for sure – I promise to pray!’ 'I began advocacy before Fred died. He . saw this beginning and he's incredibly proud. He got to see that and I . know he’d be so happy.' Another one reads: ‘Cancer is tough, but you are tougher!’ Mrs Holliday told MailOnline that while this is a step in the right direction, the message is still off, especially to patients who are not religious or who simply will not win the battle against the disease. ‘If you’re going to talk about win and lose, cancer just won,’ she said, adding that people may mean well with their words of encouragement, they may not be the words a very ill person wants to hear. Family: Mr Holliday pictured in hospital with their two sons, now seven and 14; she says he would be proud of the work she's doing . Hallmark spokesperson Linda Odell told MailOnline that while it is true the company doesn't carry cards 'that specifically say "hospice," we do have quite a few that address the need Mrs Holliday has quite accurately expressed tp provide support and care for people at the end of life.' She added that many of Hallmark's cards can be personalized 'if the suggested message is not quite what the individual is looking for.' The company also wrote in a recent news release that they have ‘nearly 100 cards to help people share words of support for a range of life situations, including cancer treatment, terminal illness, grief support, recovery/rehab, and other difficult times, as well as cards for caregivers.’ The new line of hospice care cards will be appearing in Hallmark Gold Crown stores throughout the year. ‘I began advocacy before Fred died. He saw this beginning and he’s incredibly proud. He got to see that and I know he’d be so happy. ‘Before we hit hospice, it was the worst part of our lives, and I’m so glad that I can do this for him,’ she said. | Artist and activist Regina Holliday lost husband Fred to cancer in 2009 . Said that flow of cards stopped when he was moved from rehabilitation to hospice care . Wants Hallmark to create line of End of Life cards to allow people to express sympathy and to give closure to friends and family . | 263cfca4a084a5bb4befa13c50416ec82dccb1d8 |
Republican Senators Rand Paul and Marco Rubio's row over the resuscitation of relations with Cuba has continued to escalate, with the Florida lawmaker now calling Paul the 'chief cheerleader of Obama's foreign policy' and the Kentucky legislator accusing his colleague of funding the Muslim Brotherhood. Paul's latest attack on Rubio, a possible opponent in the GOP's 2016 presidential primary, relates to ongoing monetary aid to Egypt, where the Muslim Brotherhood once held sway over the government but was banned from participating in politics earlier this year due to its terrorist ties. In a tweet trolling Rubio, the libertarian lawmaker said he 'forgot to mention his support for Obama's funding of Musl. Brotherhood, arming Islamic rebels, and Hillary's war in Libya.' Kentucky Sen. Rand Paul and Florida Sen. Marco Rubio are feuding over President Barack Obama's announcement last week that the U.S. had resumed high-level diplomatic relations with Cuba. The two potential 2016 rivals have been taking public digs at each other for days now - but they swear its not related to the presidential election . After Rubio called Paul the 'chief cheerleader of Obama's foreign policy,' the Kentucky Sen. directed this tweet at him, accusing him of indirectly funding the Muslim Brotherhood by supporting ongoing aid to Egypt . Freshman Sen. Paul notably opposed legislation this fall to train and equip moderate Syrian rebels to fight ISIS in a ground war. The war-weary lawmaker was also a vocal opponent of the Obama administration's use of airstrikes - without the approval of Congress - during a 2011 military intervention in Libya. Rubio voted in favor of a resolution backed by the Obama administration to fund the Syrian opposition movement and urged Congress in 2011 to give Obama the authority to bomb former Libyan dictator Muammar Gaddafi and his regime. Paul's hard-hitting tweet to Rubio was the latest jab thrown in a feud between the frenemies that began last week after President Barack Obama suddenly announced that the U.S. and Cuba were back on speaking terms after a 53-year embargo on the country. The Kentucky senator said that lifting the unilateral embargo was 'probably a good idea' because it 'doesn’t seem to be working.' 'Probably, it punishes the people more than the regime because the regime can blame the embargo for hardship,' he contended. Rubio, whose parents immigrated from communist Cuba,then asserted that Paul 'has no idea what he’s talking about.' Since the president made public his administration's secret talks with Cuba, which took place throughout the fall, Rubio has become the face of the GOP opposition to normalization of diplomatic relations with the country and its president, Raul Castro. 'I would expect that people would understand that if they just took a moment to analyze that, they would realize that the embargo is not what's hurting the Cuban people,' he said last week on Fox in response to Paul's support for the move. 'It's the lack of freedom and the lack of competent leaders.' In the pages of the Wall Street Journal, Rubio called the declaration 'a victory for oppressive governments the world over' and a policy shift that is based on a 'lie.' 'Cuba already enjoys access to commerce, money and goods from other nations, and yet the Cuban people are still not free,' he argued. 'They are not free because the regime—just as it does with every aspect of life—manipulates and controls to its own advantage all currency that flows into the island. More economic engagement with the U.S. means that the regime’s grip on power will be strengthened for decades to come—dashing the Cuban people’s hopes for freedom and democracy.' Smackdown: Paul trolled Rubio with the above tweet in response to his claim that his colleague 'has no idea what he’s talking about' when it comes to Cuba . Laying out his own views on the issue in Time, Paul made clear on Friday in an op-ed that his family 'despised, not only communism, but collectivism, socialism and any “ism” that deprived the individual of his or her natural rights.' 'I ran for office to fight for the individual and against statism of any kind anywhere and yet… I think a policy of isolationism toward Cuba is misplaced and hasn’t worked,' he said. Paul explained that he supports engagement with 'many countries with less than stellar human rights records, because I believe that once enslaved people taste freedom and see the products of capitalism they will become hungry for freedom themselves.' Furthermore, 'it is an inconsistent and incoherent position to support trade with other communist countries, but not communist Cuba,' he wrote, pointing out that the U.S. does not prohibit trade with China nor has it cut off relations with Russia over the past 70 years. 'Let’s hope cooler heads will ultimately prevail and we unleash a trade tsunami that washes the Castros once and for all into the sea,' he concluded. But in a tweet that afternoon Paul accused Rubio of 'acting like an isolationist who wants to retreat to our borders and perhaps build a moat.' 'I reject this isolationism,' he added. And in a TV appearance that evening Paul again ripped into Rubio and derided his retaliatory comments as 'a little bit rude and intemperate.' Defending himself, Paul told Fox News host Shannon Bream that he's not responsible for beginning the dispute, however. Rubio is to blame for that, he said. 'I never start a fight, but I'm happy to finish a fight,' he stated. Paul also denied that the squabble was related to either man's political aspirations. 'I think it's about the issues, I don't think that there's any certainty that either one of us will run at this point,' he said. He added, 'It's also about a fellow Republican who chose to, I think, use rude and inappropriate language with regard to a fellow Republican, and I think that...I won't stand for it, frankly. 'And if someone's gonna cast aspersions on me, and not talk about policy, then there will be an altercation. And I won't shy away from a battle, and I think that I've shown that.' Rubio, whose parents immigrated from communist Cuba, has become the face of the GOP opposition to normalization of diplomatic relations with the country and its president, Raul Castro. He is pictured here last Wednesday at a press conference in Miami, where he spoke out against the policy shift . Not one to walk away from a fight himself, Rubio said Sunday that if Paul 'wants to become the chief cheerleader of Obama's foreign policy, he certainly has a right to do that. 'I'm going to continue to oppose the...Obama-Paul foreign policy on Cuba because I know it won't lead to freedom and liberty for the Cuban people, which is my sole interest here,' he argued. He later stated, in response to a question about former Florida Gov. Jeb Bush's candidacy for president, that his own decision in 2016 won't be based on 'anyone else who would decide to run.' 'If someone makes the decision that the best place for them to serve their country, the best place for them to achieve, in my case, an agenda to restore the American dream, if I make the decision that the best place for me to do that is the presidency, then I'm going to run for president,' he said. The Florida senator followed up his remarks with, 'I haven't made that decision yet.' A staffer for Paul responded to Rubio's attacks on his boss by bringing attention to Rubio's views on arming Syrian rebels, striking Libya and giving aid to Egypt. 'With all due respect, Senator Marco Rubio was captain of the GOP cheerleading team for Obama’s arming of Syrian rebels, bombing Libya resulting in a jihadist wonderland, and illegally giving foreign aid to Egypt’s military government,' Paul aide Doug Stafford said in a statement. 'The Rubio-Obama foreign policy has made the Middle East and North Africa less safe,' he said, echoing Paul's comments on twitter. | Feud began after Rubio hit Paul for supporting President Barack Obama's decision to resume diplomatic relations with Cuba . Rubio believes that lifting the 53-year-old embargo on the communist country is 'a victory for oppressive governments the world over' Yesterday he called Paul the 'chief cheerleader of Obama's foreign policy' and labeled the Cuba shift the 'Obama-Paul foreign policy' Paul insists dispute is not about 2016, it's about Rubio's 'rude and intemperate' comments; 'I never start a fight, but I'm happy to finish a fight' | f2ec2adb9169b4031515d012b1a63015a38fdeaf |
BABAHOYO, Ecuador (CNN) -- At least 10 people have died and thousands have been left homeless after torrential rains inundated large parts of Ecuador, officials said Thursday. Authorities said the rains, which began a week ago, were the worst in a quarter century. Civil defense officials said more than 10,000 families have been affected. Los Ríos -- north of Guayaquil -- was the hardest hit of nine provinces affected, civil defense officials said. In Los Ríos province, five people died when an ambulance drove into a hole at the side of a street at dawn Thursday. A newborn boy, his parents, a doctor and a driver were killed. Streets also were flooded in the capital of Quito. Watch the scenes of devastation in Ecuador » . On Wednesday, President Rafael Correa declared a state of emergency and ordered 2,000 members of the army and the police to help rescue workers. Correa increased by $25 million the $10 million he already had allocated for the emergency efforts. He also directed another $88 million to municipalities. Once the crisis has eased, an emergency fund will give seed and fertilizer to help farmers whose fields were washed away, Ecuador's government said. There also have been reports of livestock drowning. Cristina Medina, a spokeswoman for the Ecuadorean Red Cross, said provinces most heavily affected were along the Pacific coast, where drinking water was often in short supply. In some towns, high waters forced entire neighborhoods to evacuate, Medina said. E-mail to a friend . | At least 10 people have died in torrential rains in Ecuador, officials say . Authorities say the rains are the worst in a quarter century . Civil defense officials say more than 10,000 families have been affected . Ecuador's president declares state of emergency, orders army, police to help . | 01a62b88f1f63f24e2754b49de40526f1406b74c |
By . Sophie Borland . PUBLISHED: . 19:04 EST, 12 January 2014 . | . UPDATED: . 04:47 EST, 13 January 2014 . Epidemic: The report warns half of Britons will be obese by 2050 (file picture) Dire warnings that half of Britons will be obese by 2050 are an ‘underestimate’, a shock report warns today. The obesity epidemic could be far worse than predicted because experts did not factor in how much fatter we are getting as we age, it says. The report blames junk food firms for confusing the public about healthy eating, and says ministers and GPs are failing to get a grip of the problem, with NHS systems ‘not fit for purpose’. More than a quarter of adults (26 per cent) are obese, up from just 8 per cent in 1980. In 2007, an alarming government review warned that by 2050, obesity would affect half of all adults and cost the economy £50billion a year. Yet a report by the National Obesity Forum says the predictions were ‘optimistic’ and underestimated the ‘true scale of the problem’. The forum – which comprises doctors and other experts – says the Government is focusing too much on prevention rather than helping those who are obese lose weight. It also describes a reward system for GPs, which pays them to record whether patients are too fat without having to offer any dietary advice, as being ‘unfit for purpose’. Dr Aseem Malhotra, a cardiologist at Croydon University Hospitals, South London, said obesity was ‘the greatest threat to health worldwide’. He said poor diet was contributing to more disease than physical inactivity, smoking and alcohol combined, and accused junk food firms of adopting strategies of ‘denial’ and trying to confuse the public to ensure they carried on buying unhealthy products. Dr Malhotra said the companies were using the same tactics as those used by the tobacco industry 50 years ago when evidence first emerged that smoking caused lung cancer. ‘Junk food companies sponsor sporting events and athletes endorse sugary drinks, with advertising that targets the most vulnerable members of society, including children,’ he said. Professor David Haslam, chairman of the forum, said that if anything, levels of obesity had worsened since the 2007 report which influenced several government policies. Scroll down for video . Increasing problem: A quarter of adults in Britain are obese, up from just 8 per cent in 1980 . He said: ‘Not only is the situation not improving, but the doomsday scenario set out in that report might underestimate the true scale of the problem. There needs to be concerted action. We’ve seen hard-hitting campaigns against smoking and it’s time to back up the work that’s already being done with a similar approach for obesity.’ The Government has come under fire for failing to tackle obesity and campaigners including TV chef Jamie Oliver have condemned its plans as ‘inadequate’ and ‘a cop-out’. There is also widespread scepticism about its flagship ‘responsibility deal’ policy whereby food and drinks firms promise to make products healthier without facing any penalties if they don’t. Campaigners have accused ministers of ‘cosying up’ to the manufacturers and putting ‘Dracula in charge of the blood bank’ by allowing them to set their own rules. Criticised: The National Obesity Forum have claimed the NHS system in place to deal with the problem is not fit for service . Today’s report also criticises the Government’s Change 4 Life drive – which uses adverts to encourage the public to eat healthily and take exercise for not having enough of an impact. The initiative has cost the taxpayer £75million since it was launched in January 2009 but the report says a harder-hitting campaign is needed. It also urges GPs to regularly offer dieting and exercise advice for obese patients whenever they come in for appointments. Doctors shouldn’t worry about insulting patients by implying they are ‘fat’, the report states. One reason the scale of obesity may have previously been underestimated is that experts had not accounted for the fact that most of us get gradually fatter with age. Research by Glasgow University in November showed that 85 per cent of men and 77 per cent of women are either obese or overweight when they reach 65. Scepticism: TV Chef Jamie Oliver has condemned the Government's efforts to deal with obesity as 'inadequate' and 'a cop-out' A damning report by the World Health Organisation in October warned that the UK had the worst obesity rates in Europe and said the problem was a ‘ticking time bomb waiting to explode’. A Department of Health spokesman said: ‘England has one of the highest rates of obesity in the Western world and it causes dangerous and life-limiting health conditions such as Type 2 diabetes and heart disease. ‘But this is not just a matter for government – we look to industry, health professionals and voluntary groups to work jointly to help individuals improve their diet and lifestyles.’ Professor Kevin Fenton, director of health and wellbeing at Public Health England – the government body tasked with tackling obesity – said: ‘Obesity is an international problem. It is a complex issue that requires action at national, local, family and individual level.’ | Damning publication suggests half of Britons could be overweight by 2050 . National Obesity Forum said GPs are failing to get a grip of the problem . Says NHS system dealing with overweight patients is 'not fit for purpose' More than a quarter of adults are obese, up from just 8 per cent in 1980 . A government review warned the issue could cost £50billion a year . | 5b1d105eb27a2fdb3e05778c82a8a77256f892b6 |
(CNN) -- David Beckham believes the furore that followed his return to the LA Galaxy from his loan spell with AC Milan earlier this year has galvanized the team. The Galaxy won the MLS Western Conference Championship with a 2-0 win at home to Houston Dynamo on Friday night, Beckham setting up Gregg Berhalter's 102nd-minute opener. They will face Real Salt Lake, who upset the favored Chicago Fire 5-4 in a penalty shootout to win the Eastern Conference title on Saturday to reach the MLS Cup final in Seattle next Sunday. Beckham had been subjected to abuse by his own fans after missing the start of the MLS season when he was in Italy, while Galaxy captain Landon Donovan questioned his commitment to the LA franchise. However, the England midfielder -- who missed Saturday's 1-0 friendly defeat by Brazil in Qatar to play for his club -- thinks the situation helped bring the team together. "There's nothing wrong with a bit of controversy in a club, it brings players and teams together and it's done that," Beckham told ESPN in a post-match interview. "I don't have to say anything about myself, I leave that down to other people to decide. "I love playing soccer. I work hard for my teammates, myself, my manager, the fans and I hope that's enough for people." Beckham joined the Galaxy from Real Madrid in 2007 but they struggled to make an impact during the Englishman's time with the team until the arrival of former USA national team coach Bruce Arena. Beckham, who returns to Milan in January as he bids to win a place in England's World Cup squad, believes this season's achievements have already gone some way for making up for the previous two seasons. "We want to win next week but reaching it is the biggest thing," he told the UK Press Association. "We've done that, done the hard work and this team deserves it." | LA Galaxy beat Houston Dynamo 2-0 to win the MLS Western Conference Championship . Beckham believes controversy over his first loan spell with AC Milan brought team together . The Galaxy can win their third MLS Cup when they face Real Salt Lake in Seattle next weekend . | 0e6eb7cbb1be6150a6fa88f5bd697395622ec79c |
Venus Williams gave herself a boost ahead of the Australian Open by winning the ASB Classic — while sister Serena slumped to defeat. Venus, 34, beat Caroline Wozniacki 2-6, 6-3, 6-3 in Auckland — her first win since February. The seven-time grand slam winner said: ‘Caroline is just so fit and I know that I need to up my levels.’ Serena lost 6-4, 6-7, 6-1 to Agniesza Radwanska as Poland beat the USA to win the Hopman Cup in Perth. Venus Williams poses with the trophy after winning the ASB Classic in Auckland . Williams hits a return against Dane Caroline Wozniacki on Saturday ahead of Australian Open . Wozniacki looks frustrated after losing a point against Williams in the final . | Venus WIlliams beat Caroline Wozniacki 2-6, 6-3, 6-3 in Auckland . Williams said: 'Caroline is just so fit and I know I need to up my levels.’ Sister Serena lost 6-4, 6-7, 6-1 to Agniesza Radwanska in Hopman Cup . | f8628d79f9ae0dcf89a8902b9a4c6a0ce1c8a794 |
Baghdad (CNN) -- A wave of explosions across Baghdad killed dozens of people Thursday and spread fears that Iraq's government could collapse in the wake of the U.S. military's departure. At least 65 people were killed and at least 196 were wounded in 20 explosions just days after the final U.S. troops withdrew, police said. The attacks targeted civilians across all walks of life. One took place at a market. Another, at a school as children were arriving. A third was at a coffee shop. The attacks were a painful reminder of Iraq's most violent years. The seemingly coordinated explosions Thursday struck during the height of morning rush hour, hitting a number of Baghdad's primarily mixed Sunni-Shiite neighborhoods. Nine car bombs, six roadside bombs and a mortar round all went off in a two-hour period, targeting residential, commercial and government districts in the Iraqi capital, two police officials told CNN. Analysis: Bombings expose Iraq's deepening sectarian divisions . There have been no immediate claims of responsibility, though the attacks resemble previous bombings that have been claimed by both Sunni and Shiite insurgents as well as al Qaeda in Iraq. The deadliest attack was a suicide car bombing outside the offices of the Integrity Commission, the country's main anti-corruption body. At least 23 people were killed and 43 others were wounded in the explosion, which also damaged part of the building, police officials said. The violence comes as Iraq's Shiite, Sunni and Kurdish political leaders square off over a warrant issued for the arrest of Vice President Tariq al-Hashimi, who is accused of organizing his security detail into a death squad that targeted government and military officials. Shiite Prime Minister Nuri al-Maliki has demanded that Kurdish lawmakers hand over the Sunni vice president, who has denied the charges and refuses to return to Baghdad from northern Iraq's semi-autonomous Kurdish region. Finance Minister Rafie al-Issawi told CNN he does not believe the violence is directly connected to the latest political developments, "but there is a good environment for terrorists to be active in these bad circumstances." Terrorists "will justify their criminal activities" and argue that the solution to Iraq's woes "isn't in the political process," said al-Issawi, a member of the Sunni-backed Iraqiya minority political bloc. The head of Iraqiya, former Iraqi Prime Minister Ayad Allawi, complained that the bombings "reveal the weakness of the security and intelligence services to achieve security and stability because some of these services were busy chasing down political forces." He accused those services of creating confusion in the political process, "which is essentially broken." Al-Maliki meanwhile, called on "clerics, politicians, parties, tribal leaders and all the national groups to bear responsibility in this delicate situation, support the security forces and unify ranks." "The criminals and those who stand behind them will not be able to change the course of events and the political process or escape punishment that they will face sooner or later," he said. The U.S. Embassy in Baghdad issued a statement condemning the attacks. "We extend our heartfelt condolences to the families and communities of these victims," the statement said. "It is especially important during this critical period that Iraq's political leaders work to resolve differences peacefully, through dialogue, and in accordance with Iraq's constitution and laws. Senseless acts of violence tear at the fabric of Iraqi unity and do not in any way help the people of Iraq or any of its communities. " ]At the Medical City hospital in central Baghdad, doctors treated the wounded whose bodies were peppered with what appeared to be shrapnel from explosions. Images of bloodied, battered bodies and destroyed storefronts and homes were broadcast on Iraqi television stations. While violence in Iraq has fallen off in recent years, the latest spate of attacks are among the worst since August when a series of coordinated bombings killed at least 75 people in 17 Iraqi cities. The attacks come amid heightened sectarian tensions, raising fears that the political turmoil in Iraq could spark a return of sectarian bloodshed that nearly ripped the country apart during the height of the war. Al-Hashimi has denied the charges against him, saying the accusations are politically motivated amid the rivalry between his Sunni-backed Iraqiya minority political bloc and al-Maliki's Shiite majority bloc. The warrant for al-Hashimi's arrest was issued just days after Iraqiya suspended its participation in parliament, claiming it was being cut out of the political process by al-Maliki. The prime minister has said failing to hand over al-Hashimi or allowing him to flee to another country "could cause problems." Al-Issawi, the finance minister, told CNN that before U.S. troops left, Iraqi officials made clear their fears of what could happen. "So many times we warned the Americans, both the political and security situation (are) very fragile. Unfortunately, no one listened." In a speech this month about bringing the U.S. troops home, President Barack Obama said, "Iraq is not a perfect place. It has many challenges ahead. But we're leaving behind a sovereign, stable and self-reliant Iraq, with a representative government that was elected by its people. " "There can be no fuller expression of America's support for self-determination than our leaving Iraq to its people. That says something about who we are," Obama added. Sen. John McCain, R-Arizona, cited the latest violence in an interview Thursday with CNN's "American Morning." He complained that the president is "spouting how we have left a stable and Democratic Iraq." "Unfortunately, what I anticipated is taking place," he said, adding that the United States should have maintained a "residual force" in the country. CNN's Jomana Karadsheh, Arwa Damon, and Josh Levs contributed to this report. | The head of the Iraqiya bloc says the attacks reveal a "weakness" of services . Prime Minister al-Maliki vows the attackers "will not escape punishment" 20 different explosions targeted residential and commercial districts of Baghdad . Finance minister: We warned the U.S. but no one listened . | 60ab9425f148a5593fcb725538c712c6deccfa0e |
Nigella Lawson has this week arrived in the U.S. to film the new season of The Taste - just months after being refused entry over a cocaine confession. The curvaceous British TV chef, 54, happily told her 664,000 Twitter followers that she was en-route to America - as she posted pictures of the plentiful Coleman's mustard, Ty-Phoo tea bags and gourmet Maldon seat salt she had packed, writing: 'Stateside for a month now: essential supplies'. MailOnline told in May that the ABC cooking show was returning - and that Nigella would be welcome back if she could sort her visa. Scroll down for video . Smiles better: Nigella Lawson arrived in the U.S. this week after getting permission from the US embassy in London to travel to the States . Stateside: Nigella Lawson is in the US to film the new season of her ABC show, The Taste - and she has take provisions of British mustard, tea and salt with her . She's back: She posted a picture of herself and her The Taste co-stars - confirming she was back on the show . And mother-of-two Nigella this week promoted the fact that she was back, posting a drawing of her with fellow Taste co-stars Anthony Bourdain, Marcus Lefebvre and Martin Samuelsson. Alongside this, this afternoon, French chef Marcus tweeted a picture of a celebratory crab feast he was whipping up for his chefs at his Californian home, telling them 'welcome to LA!' ‘Domestic Goddess’ Nigella was forced to . confess under oath during a trial last year that she had snorted cocaine . seven times and smoked cannabis in front of her children. And in April the Daily Mail told how Nigella was stopped from boarding a flight from Heathrow to Los Angeles. She . is thought to have checked in and passed security before being told she . could not board her plane. She had to return to the first class . check-in to arrange to collect her hold luggage. Anthony Bourdain, a former heroin addict who once admitted selling his prized record collection to buy drugs, worked with Nigella Lawson on The Taste . Celebration: Nigella's co-star, chef Ludo Lefebvre whipped up a crab feast for her arrival . Nigella . is thought to have tried to enter the U.S. by registering online for . permission to travel and confirming she had not been arrested or . convicted of offences including taking illegal drugs. But the U.S. can . also decide to bar foreigners who have committed drugs offences without . ever being charged. Would-be travellers can apply to have the ban . lifted, but this can take months. Nigella was then invited by the U.S. Embassy in London to apply for a working visa - and could have faced a drug test by U.S. doctors. At the time, her Taste co-star Anthony Bourdain today tweeted his support for the star, saying: 'I am absolutely mortified with embarrassment over the cruelty and hypocrisy of US actions re: #Nigella travel. Unbelievable.' Season 2 of The Taste ended in February with 3.2 million viewers. And despite going up against NBC's Winter Olympics coverage, the show was up week to week by 7 per cent in total viewers - and up 14 per cent in women aged 18-34. Back in the U.S. Domestic Goddess Nigella was last pictured in London on August 3, wearing a tangerine coat and sunglasses . Support: Nigella Lawson - seen here with co-star Ludo Lefebvre - was given support from her Taste friends after being banned from The States . Fury: Nigella Lawson's Taste co-star Anthony Bourdain hit out at the US in her defence in April . When Nigella . made her return for season 2 of The Taste it was her big return to . television screens following her very public divorce from Charles . Saatchi. Ludo went on to reveal how he had grown 'very, very, very close' with Nigella, describing the mom-of-two as a 'great woman'. He said it 'broke my heart' to see his co-star's ordeal during the trial of her former housekeepers who were cleared of fraud in December. In an interview with The London Times, Ludo described how he first saw Nigella on television when he moved to America in 1996, but they met for the first time last year. The married chef, 42, said: 'We have become very, very, very close - we click right away.' He went on to say seeing the court appearance 'broke my heart' before adding: 'Have you heard anything like this before? No. Because she is a great woman.' His wife, lawyer Kristine Lefebvre, went on to say Nigella had described the chef as 'a very good-looking younger brother'. Close: French chef Ludo Lefebvre, Nigella Lawson's Taste co-star said her court case against the Grillo sisters 'broke my heart' and called her a 'great woman'. The friends starred together on two seasons of The Taste - and could be reunited for season 3 . Saucy: Nigella was certainly flirty when it came to winning over contestants on the show, who were hoping to be picked by the panel of chefs . On The Taste, the judges must decide whether they want the cook based solely on the taste.‘Food is never just food, it’s exquisite and it appeals to every sense,’ Nigella said. ‘It can change your life.’ Nigella had to give evidence at . the trial of her former housekeepers, Francesca and Elisabetta Grillo, . who were accused of stealing hundreds of thousands of pounds from her . and ex-husband Charles Saatchi. While insisting she had never been an addict or habitual user of drugs, she confirmed she had taken cocaine. She . said she needed the drugs to cope with the death of her first husband, . John Diamond, and the ‘intimate terrorism’ of her second, Mr Saatchi. A spokesman for Nigella was contacted for comment. Nigella Lawson with her ex-husband Charles Saatchi. Although Scotland Yard did not act over her drug confession, the US authorities are taking a tougher stance . Sisters Francesca (right) Grillo and Elisabetta Grillo. They were found not guilty of fraud . | Nigella was banned from flying to the U.S. in April following her court confession that she took cocaine . She had to re-apply for her U.S. visa before being allowed to travel . She flew to the States this week to film season 3 of The Taste - and brought British mustard, tea and salt with her . British chef confirmed she will join co-stars Anthony Bourdain, Marcus Lefebvre and Martin Samuelsson . | afb300981551331d3b984c753d7c7a6ac85c9599 |
London (CNN)Britain's Prince Andrew does not have plans to take legal action against a woman who has named him in a sex abuse lawsuit in Florida, CNN learned Tuesday. The allegation that he had sex with an underage girl, made in a federal court filing in Florida last week, has been firmly rejected by Buckingham Palace. "It is emphatically denied that the Duke of York had any form of sexual contact or relationship with Virginia Roberts. Any claim to the contrary is false and without foundation," the palace said in a statement Monday. A palace spokesman, who is not named per custom, pointed out Friday that Prince Andrew is not a direct party to the "ongoing civil proceedings in the United States." At the same time, prominent U.S. attorney Alan Dershowitz, facing a similar accusation, has filed a motion asking a federal court to "strike the allegations made against him" regarding alleged sexual misconduct involving underage girls. In the same document, filed Monday, Dershowitz requested "a show cause order" against the lawyers for the woman making this claim "and awarding such other relief that the Court deems just and proper." Along with Prince Andrew and others, Dershowitz was named in the court filing in Florida as one of the prominent people who had sexual contact with teenage girls through self-made billionaire Jeffrey Epstein, who pleaded guilty some years ago in Florida to a state charge of prostitution solicitation. Dershowitz, a Harvard University professor and high-profile lawyer, has never been charged with a crime in this case, nor has he been sued by the alleged victim. He rejected the allegations in an interview with CNN's "New Day" on Monday and later, while speaking to CNN's Hala Gorani. 'Greatest man there is' Amid the swirl of allegations, Andrew's ex-wife Sarah Ferguson reportedly gave strong backing Monday to her former husband, the Duke of York. She spoke to reporters in Verbier in the Swiss Alps, where she had been on a ski holiday with Andrew and their daughter Eugenie, according to UK media reports. "The York family is a tight unit. We've always been a tight unit," the Telegraph newspaper quoted Ferguson as saying. "He is the greatest man there is. It was the finest moment of my life in 1986 when I married him. He is a great man, the best in the world." Andrew is a son of Queen Elizabeth II and a brother of Prince Charles, the next in line for the British throne. State plea deal . The federal court filing alleges that the woman, referred to as Jane Doe #3, was forced to have sex with several men when she was a teenager. Roberts made the allegations in the civil motion filed last week in U.S. District Court in southern Florida, joined by another unnamed woman. While Roberts was not identified by name in the filing, her name was widely reported in the British news media over the weekend, and Buckingham Palace included it in the statement. (Dershowitz noted that in his CNN interview, it was CNN that identified her by name.) Roberts and another woman are seeking to join two other women who are arguing in federal court for the U.S. government to take a fresh look at its case involving Epstein. The investment banker agreed to a state plea deal in 2007 and began serving an 18-month sentence in 2008, according to The New York Times. Epstein was the subject of a federal investigation, but a deal allowed him to plead guilty to a lesser state charge and avoid a potential federal case, the Times and The Washington Post reported. Prince Andrew has been photographed with Epstein. The prince previously issued an apology for his friendship with the scandal-plagued billionaire. CNN's Laura Smith-Spark wrote and Max Foster reported from London, with Greg Botelho writing from Atlanta. | CNN learns that Prince Andrew will not take legal action over the allegations . Buckingham Palace strenuously denies claim that he had sex with an underage girl . | 6dacc8a07a994febb00f50d4e4ebab1b9b0a9e38 |
The impact of golf's return to the Olympics was made clear on Wednesday, with confirmation that there will be just one week between the Open Championship and the US PGA Championship in 2016. The US PGA will move from its traditional August date for the first time since 1971, being staged at Baltusrol in New Jersey from July 28-31. The Open will be held at Royal Troon from July 14-17. The opening ceremony of the Olympics in Rio will take place on August 5, with the golf competitions (72-hole strokeplay events for men and women) provisionally scheduled to be held from August 6-9 and 12-15. VIDEO Scroll down to watch Top 5 Tiger PGA moments . On the move: The US PGA Championships will be brought forward to July in 2016 because of the Olympics . The 2016 Ryder Cup will be staged in September at Hazeltine in Minnesota, but the exact dates have not yet been announced. Speaking about the change of date for the US PGA, PGA of America chief executive Pete Bevacqua said on Wednesday: 'It really wasn't difficult at all to come up with that date. 'We worked closely with the R&A and the USGA and obviously Augusta National being the caretakers of the other majors, and it just makes sense. Busy schedule: There will be just a week between The Open and the US PGA Championships in two years time . 'It's a condensed schedule in 2016. Obviously with the Olympics, it's also a Ryder Cup year, you throw in obviously the FedEx Cup, so it's a very congested schedule. 'I would tell you that we view it as a positive. We think that the end of July at Baltusrol just outside of New York City is actually a better time of year than August. 'We think the temperatures will be better and also in terms of the activities of the residents of that area. Less people are on vacation, more people are in town and we think it will work out as a real benefit to the 2016 PGA Championship. VIDEO Top 5 Tiger PGA moments . | US PGA moved from traditional August date to July 28-31 due to Olympics . There will be a week between The Open Championship and start of US PGA . | 580cbe52a095477b028d5346d8ecef75db2621fd |
(CNN) -- I have a confession to make. In the 2005 Chicago Marathon, I did not finish in 3 hours, 11 minutes. That's the time I've reported to those who've asked about my PR (Personal Record) and it is, quite frankly, wrong. I actually ran a 3:12. The mistake is mine. These days, with those little plastic chips attached to sneakers (they record a runner's time from the moment he crosses the starting line to the finish line -- not merely from the moment the gun goes off), there's a difference between one's stated time and his official time. I was always under the impression that 3:11 was my official time. Then -- oops -- last night I checked. It was, I confess once again, 3:12. Shame, thy name is Pearlman. This is a long-winded way of saying that Paul Ryan and I have something in common. He, like I, exaggerated his marathon PR as well, recently boasting to conservative talk-radio host Hugh Hewitt of a "two hour and 50-something" clocking over 26.2 miles. When I first heard of the blunder from the Republican vice-presidential candidate, I empathized. Hey, maybe "two hour and 50-something" was actually 3:02. Or even 3:05. I mean, memories get foggy, chips malfunction, the cranial lobes shut down after such a strenuous endeavor. News: Ryan walks back exaggerated marathon time . Then, ahem, the good folks at Runner's World did a little digging and, eh, ahem, uh -- well, Ryan's time was, ahem, eh, uh -- 4:01:25. Double glub. In the congressman's defense, the race occurred 22 years back, in the Duluth-based Grandma's Marathon. That's a long time ago. And yet -- no. No, no, no, no, no. There is no possible explanation for a four-hour marathoner claming he's a three-hour marathoner. None. Zero. Nilch. Having been a runner for the last 32 years, and having competed for a season of track and cross country at the University of Delaware (I was arguably one of the nation's worst 100 Division I runners), and having completed 11 marathons, I can tell you -- with 100% certainty -- that when Paul Ryan says (more or less), "Oops, simple mistake," he is full of it. For those of you who don't run, a 4:01 marathoner insisting he broke three hours is the equivalent of a .220 hitter speaking of a .310 average. It's a retired small-town mayor looking back at his time as a U.S. senator; a dive-bar rock band bragging of once opening for KISS at Madison Square Garden. In this world of ours, there are exaggerations ("She looked just like Halle Berry!"), there are boasts ("Hell, gimme a week in the pool and I'll destroy Michael Phelps!") and there are flat-out, straight-up, no-holds-barred lies. This is a flat-out, straight-up, no-holds-barred lie. Of course, in and of itself, perhaps Ryan's fib isn't such a big deal. The world is filled with once-upon-a-time jocks recalling glory that, truth be told, wasn't all that glorious. (Isn't this what high school reunions are made for?) But when it comes to Wisconsin's favorite son, a lie -- in this case about a marathon time --isn't such an isolated occurrence. In case you missed the Republican convention, Ryan's speech was an unambiguous ode to mistruth. Among other dandies, he ripped the president for ignoring the Simpson-Bowles commission recommendations -- even though Ryan voted against its final report; claimed the American people were "cut out" of stimulus spending when, actually, more than a quarter of all stimulus dollars went for tax relief for workers. On and on and on and on. Here's the strangest thing of all: A 4:01:25 marathon is no joke. OK, Paul Ryan was never going to be the next Alberto Salazar or Rod Dixon. But there's something to be said for the mediocre jock who trains his butt off, loads up on energy gel and fights his way through 26.2 miles. Just as easily as lying, the man could have talked about fighting through the wall at 18 miles; about seeing his family cheer him on from the side of the road; about crossing the finish line and feeling downright (hey!) Reaganesque in the moment. Truth be told, there's no shame in being average. There's only shame in refusing to accept it. The opinions expressed in this commentary are solely those of Jeff Pearlman. | Jeff Pearlman says one's official marathon record is not something a runner takes lightly . So Paul Ryan claiming to have run 26.2 miles in under three hours seemed amazing, he says . His time was really 4:01. Ryan says he forgot; Pearlman says this is bogus and a Ryan pattern . Pearlman: Ryan getting known for distorting truth, even about his respectable marathon time . | 1f641ec351cf3852f26b35d1e86658e37336fea8 |
(CNN) -- Survivors of a deadly earthquake-triggered tsunami which hit the Samoan islands Tuesday have described how they watched the inrushing sea swallow up coastal towns and villages leaving devastation in its wake. iReporter Alden Tagarino captured this image of the damage caused by the tsunami in Pago Pago. At least 111 people are confirmed killed in Samoa, neighboring American Samoa and Tonga. But officials in the Polynesia region have expressed fears the toll will rise as rescue workers struggle to reach outlying villages submerged and flattened by the wave. American Samoa resident Frances Faumatu told CNN she had fled to Aoloau, the highest village on the island, as the earthquake shook her house. "All of a sudden we heard on the radio everybody had to run for safety," she said. "Right after the quake, the tsunami came." Faumatu and others stayed on the mountain for two or three hours until the warning was lifted, watching as the sea swallowed Pago Pago, the island's capital, and then receded. At least 22 people are confirmed dead in the U.S. island territory. Cars, debris, and parts of buildings were randomly strewn over the landscape where the powerful waters dropped them. See iReporter images of the aftermath » . But in some cases, the sea left nothing behind. "Other villages were taken to the ocean," Faumatu said. "I can't even compare the image. It's one thing to see a photo or footage, but just to be there in person is pretty dramatic," Maneafaiga T. Lagafuaina told CNN Wednesday. "American Samoa itself is experiencing a great loss." The 8.0-magnitude quake hit the small cluster of Samoan islands in the South Pacific early Tuesday. In Samoa, the death toll stands at 82, according to government minister Maulolo Tavita. But he said he feared the number of causalities would continue to rise. Around 220,000 people live on the two main islands which make up the nation of Samoa. The population of American Samoa is about 66,000. See a map of the affected region » . Salamo Laumoli, director of health services at the LBJ Tropical Medical Center in Pago Pago, said he feared more fatalities would turn up as rescue workers strived to access parts of the island severed by damaged infrastructure. "I thought it was the end of the world," said Laumoli. "I have never felt an earthquake like that before." Patients at the hospital were briefly moved to higher ground, but they were soon brought back and the hospital is operating, the U.S. Federal Emergency Management Agency said. The airport in the capital of Pago Pago was also operational and being used for emergency flights, FEMA said. A U.S. Coast Guard C-130 cargo plane was scheduled to land Wednesday around noon Eastern time, which coincides with sunrise in the Pacific U.S. protectorate, said Craig Fugate, FEMA administrator. A second C-130 was scheduled to land around 5 p.m. ET. "The wave came onshore and washed out people's homes," said Cinta Brown, an American Samoa homeland security official working at the island's emergency operations center. The same happened on the hard-hit east and west sides of American Samoa, said Brown, who was standing in a parking lot when her sport utility vehicle began rocking left and right. She said she could hear the rattling of metal of a large chain-link fence around the lot. "It shakes you because you know something else is coming," she said. The British Foreign Office said one of the dead in American Samoa was a British national, but no other details were provided. In Tonga, Lord Tuita, the acting prime minister, said at least seven people had been confirmed dead on the northern island of Niuatoputapu. Three others were missing and four people were being treated for serious injuries, he said. "The hospital on the island is reported to have suffered major damage; telephone communications has been cut as a result of damage to equipment and facilities on the island; homes and government buildings have been destroyed; the airport runway has been severely damaged making it impossible for any fixed wing aircraft to land," a statement from the Tongan prime minister's office said. Were you there? Send us your photos and video . A series of aftershocks reverberated through the region Tuesday as reports emerged of entire villages flattened or submerged by the tsunami. The walls of water were so strong that they twisted concrete beams and mangled cars. See an explainer on tsunamis » . Laumoli said people in outlying villages on one end of the main American Samoa island had been cut off because the connecting bridge was washed away. Listen to Laumoli speak about the impact of the quake and tsunami » . American Samoa Gov. Togiola Tulafono, speaking from Hawaii, said Tuesday's quake ranked "right up there with some of the worst" disasters on the island. He said he had spoken to the military about mobilizing reserve forces for assistance. Tulafono was on his way back home from Hawaii on Tuesday night on one of two U.S. Coast Guard transport planes delivering aid. He told reporters Tuesday it had been hard being away from home as the disaster unfolded. It was a time, he said, for families to be together. Watch American Samoa governor discuss tsunami » . President Obama declared American Samoa a major disaster area, ordering federal aid to supplement local efforts. "We keep the many people who have been touched by this tragedy in our thoughts and in our prayers," he said. A U.S. Defense Department official said 75 members of the Hawaii National Guard were ordered to American Samoa to begin assisting with medical relief, search and rescue and providing communications capabilities on the island. The unit will bring enough supplies to sustain themselves for 96 hours and its expected more aid from the military could begin flowing in, the official said. The Coast Guard is transporting more than 20 officials from the Federal Emergency Management Agency to American Samoa, said John Hamill, external affairs officer for FEMA in Oakland, California. The FEMA team will include a variety of debris experts, housing experts, members of the Corps of Engineers, and other disaster relief specialists, Hamill said. The quake generated three separate tsunami waves, the largest measuring 5.1 feet from sea level height, said Vindell Hsu, a geophysicist with the Pacific Tsunami Warning Center. Preliminary data had originally reported a larger tsunami. CNN's Barbara Starr, Augie Martin, Mariano Castillo, Moni Basu, Tess Eastment, Jim Kavanagh, Mike Ahlers, Hank Bishop and Nick Valencia contributed to this report. | At least 111 dead in Samoan islands and Tonga after Pacific tsunami . Officials fear death toll will rise as rescue workers reach outlying villages . Magnitude-8.0 quake strikes near Samoan Islands early Tuesday . Hawaii National Guard troops being sent on relief operation . | 878c7570e5b6fa9f03adcae1b36532d542dc0447 |
By . Mike Dawes . Warren Gatland has made just two changes to his starting XV for Wales' second Test match against South Africa on Saturday. Samson Lee, who makes his first start for the side, comes into the front row for veteran Adam Jones, who is dropped from the squad completely. The other change sees Josh Turnbull replace Aaron Shingler at flanker. Promotion: Josh Turnbull will start Wales' second Test against South Africa . Rucker: And Samson Lee (front, centre) will be replacing veteran Adam Jones in the front row . Mike Phillips retains his place at scrum-half in an unchanged back-line while captain Alun Wyn Jones will make his 80th Wales appearance alongside Luke Charteris in the second row. Gatland's side were beaten 38-16 in Durban last Saturday and the Wales head coach wants his players to bounce back. 'We have been really happy with the response from the players during training this week, we have had a good week and we see Saturday as an opportunity to right the wrongs of last weekend,' Gatland told the Welsh Rugby Union's official website. Retained: Scrum half Mike Phillips will keep his place for the second test . Keeping faith: Warren Gatland has kept 13 of the 15 players who were convincingly beaten in Durban . 'We were disappointed with last week's display but we want to finish the season with a big performance and show what we know we are capable of. 'It's a great opportunity for Samson and Josh and they deserve the chance after impressing from the bench last weekend.' Wales team to face South Africa: L Williams, A Cuthbert, J Davies, J Roberts, G North, D Biggar, M Phillips, G Jenkins, K Owens, S Lee, L Charteris, A Wyn Jones, D Lydiate, J Turnbull, T Faletau.Replacements: M Rees, P James, A Jarvis, J Ball, D Baker, G Davies, J Hook, M Morgan. | Gatland made two changes for second Test against South Africa . Josh Turnbull to replace Aaron Shingler at flanker . Samson Lee makes first start replacing front row Adam Jones . Wales lost the first Test 38-16 in Durban . | e053be5133ef105ca46b4d0d13c8721bc33e63b7 |
She made her debut as a fresh-faced ingénue in a long-since departed British 'bodice ripper' drama when she was just 23. And as actress and producer Trudie Styler prepares to celebrate her 60th birthday next month, she admits there is a ‘paucity’ of roles in Hollywood for women over 40. The evergreen blonde, married to rocker Sting, has most recently produced movie hit Filth and in an exclusive interview with MailOnline, she says: ‘Look at George Clooney…I’m a huge admirer of his, but when he plays a leading man in a love story, his love interest is always 10 years his junior. Unfair: Actress and producer Trudie Styler says male stars like George Clooney will always have love interests 10 years younger - as Hollywood 'always wants to rose tint everything' Happy New Yorkers: Trudie Styler and Sting attend an opening night party for her new play, The Seagull, in New York in October . ‘Why not have an actress the same age . as him? Hollywood always wants to rose tint everything, but this . doesn’t even reflect real life. ‘In life, you see younger men and older women and the majority of marriages don’t have such a huge age gap as we're used to seeing in films.’ Oscar winner Clooney, 52, has appeared in movie hits over the past few decades with a string of female stars. In 2009's Up In The Air, he had a doomed romance with Vera Farmiga, now 40. While he . wooed Jennifer Lopez, now 44, in as Out of Sight, as well as Catherine . Zeta Jones, also 44, in Intolerable Cruelty, as well as Renee Zellwegger - now also 44 - . in Leatherheads. 'I’m . a very lucky woman and have been extremely fortunate in the way that my . life has been for nigh on 30 years, with my husband looking after me . beautifully...I . don’t have any room at all for any complaints, there will always be . detractors' And in real life, ladies man George's last three girlfriends have been much younger than him, with him dating Stacy Keblier, 34, Elisabetta Canalis, 35, and Sarah Larsen, 32 . Mother-of-four Trudie - who made her TV debut on 1970s period drama Poldark - adds: ‘My . daughter Mickey is an actress and I tell her women need to make their . own films, they should always be looking for stories to develop . themselves and go to acting class – not that she needs much prompting in . that! ‘It’s just important that actresses should realise that acting isn’t their only string. ‘We . see that for an actress in her early 40s, there is a paucity of roles, work does become thinner as opposed to what you are offered in your 20s . and 30s. ‘Leading women are being replaced by younger actresses.’ In . 2011, Trudie set up Maven Pictures alongside business partner Celine . Rattray, who won a Golden Globe – as well as an Oscar nod - for . producing 2010 hit The Kids Are All Right, starring Julianne Moore and . Annette Bening. And asked whether she felt helped or hindered by her . marriage to one of music’s most famous men – and a reputation that has . not always been so glowing, Trudie, who will celebrate her milestone birthday on January 6, replies: ‘It’s an interesting . question… . ‘The Trudie Styler that is spoken of is extremely privileged in life and feels that privilege. ‘I’m . a very lucky woman and have been extremely fortunate in the way that my . life has been for nigh on 30 years, with my husband looking after me . beautifully. ‘We love each other and we are loved by our children, I . don’t have any room at all for any complaints, there will always be . detractors, that's just the way of the world. On their wedding day: Sting and Trudie married in 1992 and renewed their vows this year . ‘We carry on with the work we believe in, there are . things you aspire to, and I want to give a voice to those who don’t have . a loud voice. ‘Those who don’t get out of the fractured rain forest . that I’ve been looking at since the 1980s in Brazil or the Ecuadorian . Amazon, who have had their rights taken away. Debut: Trudie Styler playing Emma Tregirls in Brit 1970s period drama Poldark . Maven’s most recent project was Filth, the big screen adaption of Scots writer Irvine Welsh’s novel, starring James McAvoy. The . movie has been nominated for five gongs at Sunday night’s British . Independent Film Awards including best actor for James, best supporting . actor for Eddie Marsan and best supporting actress for Shirley . Henderson. And obviously proud, Trudie says: ‘We’re looking at making . awards-worthy movies, it’s harder than making a $200million picture, . because we’re looking at a product of substance with ideas.’ Maven this year released Girl Most Likely, starring Bridesmaids breakout star Kirsten Wiig and with Trudie and Sting's daughter Mickey, 29, in a role. And . With Cate Blanchett – full of Oscar buzz for Blue Jasmine - signed up . to star in Cancer Vixen: A True Story, to be helmed by Julie Delpy, . alongside Amy Adams starring in an adaptation of Steve Martin’s novel, . Object of Beauty, Maven are making a name for themselves as producers of . strong female-driven films. Although setting up Maven has not been . plain sailing, Trudie says: ‘We want to encourage more and more women . and we want to tell them ‘we really want your business and take you . seriously.’ Nominated: Filth - produced by Trudie Styler and production partner Celine Rattray - is up for five gongs at the British Independent Film Awards on Sunday . Talented: James McAvoy and Eddie Marsan star in Filth, the big-screen adaptation of Irvine Welsh's novel . Female-driven: Maven Pictures this year produced Girl Most Likely starring Bridesmaids break-out star Kristen Wiig and Annette Bening . But with the success of Filth, Trudie laughs as she . admits: ‘Look at Filth – it’s quite misogynistic! I was in Lock, Stock . and Two Smoking Barrels and I like my bad boy movie movies. ‘And I really love Irvine Welsh and what he’s done for guilty pleasures, he makes us think and his novels provoke and stimulate. ‘It . is a modern tragedy that James is so brilliant in and I hope he will . garner laurels and win something this weekend and get a BAFTA nod. ‘The cast have done us proud, we’re very proud of Shirley and Eddie – and I’m very proud of it as I was so hands on with it. In October, Trudie made an acting comeback on Broadway in Chekhov’s The . Seagull and reveals: ‘I did get bit by the acting bug again, it was a . four-act Chekhov play and I don’t think I’ve played that kind of role . before, it was very challenging and ultimately very gratifying. Then: Sting and Trudie in the Eighties . Now: 32 years later, Trudie said 'I love him more each day' Advice: Trudie Styler says she has told her actress daughter Mickey to make sure she has more than one string to her bow. The pair are seen at the Girl Most Likely screening in New York in July . Accompanied by Sting at the opening night party in the city where the couple have made their home, Trudie told The Times they prefer living in the U.S. after being 'treated unkindly' in their home . country. She said: 'I don't want to criticise . my country but there are times I feel Sting and myself have been treated . unkindly. I feel much more relaxed here, not having to second guess . myself.' She added: 'Rock stars' wives have never been given an easy time. They weren't nice about Linda McCartney until she died.' Strong women: Oscar favourite Cate Blanchett has signed up to star in Maven Pictures' Cancer Vixen: A True Story, while Amy Adams will star in their adaption of Steve Martin's novel, Object of Beauty . And now Trudie is planning another theatrical jaunt, this time alongside her friend Sean Mathias, planned for next year. Written by the late British playwright Pam Gems,called Savage Love, Trudie says: 'It’s about an aging Arthur and Guinevere. Guinevere is on trial for her life for her adulterous, long-term affair with Lancelot and meanwhile, Arthur is living at court with all his bastard children, and she ain’t gonna take it lying down. So it’s a bit of a face-off and a portrait of their marriage, really. And it’s a very brilliantly written piece about women’s rights and relationships.' And with that, Trudie adds defiantly: ‘People will say what they want to say, but I don’t really answer my critics.’ | Actress and producer says there's a 'paucity' of roles for women over 40 - adding 'Leading women are being replaced by younger actresses' In frank interview, Trudie admits to being 'very lucky' thanks to her 'privileged life' and her husband looking after her 'beautifully' She admits: 'There will always be detractors, that's just the way of the world' | ff142ac8603660376e21990a8885d761abe69605 |
By . Tara Brady . Guilty: Sir George Castledine started a relationship with an 83-year-old widow out of sexual desire and financial greed, a panel has ruled . A knighted nurse who had an affair with an 83-year-old widow he was counselling following the death of her husband was struck off today. Sir George Castledine, 67, declared his love for the recently bereaved woman, known during regular visits to her home and called her ‘my little tinkerbell.’ Sir George, who shook his head as the decision was announced, has been thrown out of the profession and cannot apply to be restored to the register for five years. Susan Hurds, NMC panel chairman said: ‘Your actions represent a serious departure from the standards expected from a registered nurse. ‘You have been dishonest during the course of this investigation and were deliberately evasive and inconsistent while giving evidence. ‘You have shown no remorse for your actions and the effect they have had on Patient A and her family. ‘You have a distinguished career of over 40 years as an author, clinician, educator and mentor and have made a substantial contribution to the nursing profession, including care for older people. ‘The misconduct was wide-ranging and continued beyond the limits outlined in the charges, you continued to see Patient A after receiving written instructions not to. ‘You sought to mislead the panel and you lied to the panel during these proceedings. ‘During your evidence to the panel you tried to blame Patient A for pestering you. ‘You have failed to satisfy the panel that you are remorseful and that there will be no repetition of the misconduct. ‘Your actions are so serious as to be fundamentally incompatible with your remaining on the register. ‘A striking off order is the only proportionate sanction.’ Sir George Castledine declared his love for the recently bereaved woman and told her he needed to work out at the gym so he could 'make love' to her. Treatment: Sir George first started working with the widow at Onneley House in Birmingham in November 2008 . He denied that his behaviour was motivated by financial gain or sexual desire - but a committee sitting at the Old Bailey in London has now ruled that this was in fact false. Sir George regularly visited the elderly patient and showered her with gifts and flowers, accepting thousands of pounds in return. The woman's family became so concerned about his behaviour that they bugged her phone - and heard him calling her 'Tinkerbell' and saying he had to go to the gym or he 'wouldn't be able to make love' to her. NMC panel chairman Susan Hurds said today that he had 'manipulated a vulnerable patient' while motivated by sexual gratification and greed. She added that the woman, known as 'Patient A', was 'clearly grief-stricken' following the death of her husband, and needed bereavement counselling which Sir George was not qualified to give. 'You gave evidence which the panel often found difficult to believe,' Mrs Hurds told Sir George. 'You lacked consistency in your response, added evidence and altered your story as it suited you. 'We concluded that you lied at the outset of the investigation and as the hearing continued. As evidence was put before you you modified your account. 'The panel finds it incredible that the endearments and erotic language you used at no other time than on the occasions on the tape. 'You were deliberately evasive and not consistent but intentionally changed your story.' She added: 'The persistent nature of the telephone calls, late at night and early in the morning and the giving of gifts and eating together in an intimate setting were sexually motivated.' Sir George - who was knighted in 2007 . - first treated the woman in November 2008 at Onneley House in . Birmingham, part of the Institute of Ageing and Health. After . the patient told her two daughters that she had begun an affair with . the married father of three, they bugged her phone and were horrified to . hear his repeated professions of love. Distinguished: Sir George was knighted by the Queen in a 2007 ceremony at Buckingham Palace . Mrs Hurds said that the sisters acted solely out of concern for their mother, and were not motivated by financial gain. Sir George, currently a visiting professor at Glyndwr University in Wrexham, insisted that his chats with Patient A were nothing more than 'banter'. He told the hearing: 'Some of the phone calls later were sexual in some respects but it wasn't an offer of having sex with somebody or anything like that. 'One of the times I spoke to her she was having some trouble so I called her and on the telephone we would have banter. It was a befriending role that I had and I was befriending her.' The nurse had previously admitted the contents of his conversations with the woman, and confessed that he had continued to see her even after he was told not to by an official. Sir George formerly sat on the Welsh board of a predecessor to the NMC, and helped draw up the code of conduct for nursing which he has now breached. He is a former assistant dean of the nursing faculty at Birmingham City University, and an ex-consultant at Dudley Group of Hospitals. | Sir George Castledine, 67, counselled the woman after her husband died . Her daughters became suspicious and monitored their phone calls . Professor was heard telling the woman he needed to work out at the gym 'or I won't be able to make love to you' | a02e1af2ba05db0545681b0582b038c3091044eb |
For years, Google has been driving around the world providing Street View images for people to explore when using Google Maps. But a new challenger could be on the scene, as cars owned by Apple been spotted with similar camera equipment on their roofs. While not confirmed, some think it may be that Apple is planning its own rival to Street View - or even testing self-driving car technology. Scroll down for a video of a similar car spotted last year . A car with cameras on it (shown) was spotted driving around San Francisco. The California DMV confirmed the car was registered to Apple. Some have speculated it could be getting images for a Street View rival . The Dodge van with the equipment on the top was spotted by the blog Claycord in San Francisco. They apparently asked the driver what he was doing, but he refused to give an answer. The head of self-driving cars for Google expects real people to be using them on public roads in two to five years. Chris Urmson says the cars would still be test vehicles, and Google would collect data on how they interact with other vehicles and pedestrians. But Mr Urmson wouldn't give a date for putting driverless cars on roads en masse, saying that the system has to be safe enough to work properly. He told reporters last month at the Automotive News World Congress in Detroit that he wants to reach the point where his test team no longer has to pilot the cars. But a video from last year shows a similar car, which was known to be an unmarked self-driving Dodge caravan. The latest car seems to have some sort of camera system on the top, somewhat similar to the camera system on top of Google’s Street View car. It could also be a camera system for a self-driving car. According to 9to5mac, the California Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV) confirmed the vehicle was leased to Apple. With 12 cameras on top of the car, some have said that is too many for it to be a mapping car like Google’s Street View. ‘Too many cameras,’ said technology analyst Rob Enderle, speaking to CBS. ‘It has cameras that are angled down at all four corners of the vehicle.’ Apple ditched Google Maps as the default navigation app on iOS devices in 2012 in favour of Apple Maps. But it has lacked a Street View function since then like Google Maps. Shown is one of their cars in Brooklyn . Google launched its Street View technology in 2007, and has considerably refined the technology since then (screenshot near Trafalgar Square in London shown) The would lend itself to the self-driving car theory. ‘Unfortunately for that theory, only six companies have been issued the permits necessary to test such vehicles, and Apple isn’t one of them,’ said 9to5mac. ‘This brings us back to a much more likely conclusion: Apple is preparing to take on Google’s Street View with a similar offering in its own Maps software.’ They said it might features as part of the iOS 9 upgrate due later this year, although it would likely begin only with select cities such as New York and San Francisco. This would plug a noticeable hole in Apple Maps, which has been sorely missing Street View ever since Apple made it the default maps app for iPhones. These cars would therefore signify a move to take on Google at their own Street View game. When contacted by MailOnline, Apple declined to comment on the car in question or what its purpose was. Apple ditched Google Maps (left) as the default navigation app on iOS devices in 2012 in favour of their own Apple Maps (right), but it has lacked the Street View functionality since then . Others have said the vehicle may be testing self-driving technology, again like Google has been doing (Google's self-driving car shown). Apple has so far declined to comment on the appearance of the car . | A car with cameras on it was spotted driving around San Francisco . The California DMV confirmed the car was registered to Apple . Some have speculated it could be getting images for a Street View rival . Apple ditched Google Maps as the default navigation app on iOS devices in 2012 in favour of their own Apple Maps . But it has lacked a Street View function since then . Others have said the vehicle may be testing self-driving technology . Apple has so far declined to comment on the appearance of the car . | 6cf0ae31b7d55b15890798d6cc08e6d099b7dc92 |
LA Kings ice hockey star Slava Voynov has been charged with assaulting his wife. The Los Angeles County District Attorney's office has filed a felony case against the 24-year-old old who faces a charge of corporal injury to his spouse with great bodily injury. Voynov was arrested on suspicion of domestic violence in October at a Torrance hospital after bringing his wife, Marta Varlamova, there to seek treatment after he allegedly assaulted her. Charged: Los Angeles Kings defenseman Slava Voynov, pictured, faces a domestic violence charge . Prosecutors said she sustained injuries to her eyebrow, cheek and neck, at their Redondo Beach home, according to the New York Daily News. He is scheduled to appear in court on December 1. If convicted, Voynov could spend up to nine years in prison. However, he remains determined to prove his innocence. Mugshot: Voynov is shown in this Redondo Beach Police Department booking photo following his arrest . His lawyer, Craig Renetzky, said in a statement: 'Mr. Voynov is extremely disappointed that the district attorney's office elected to file charges. 'Mr. Voynov maintains his innocence and looks forward to clearing his name in court. We remain confident.' An attorney for Mr Voynov's wife has also released a statement, denying his client is a victim and that she believes the injuries were an accident. The statement reads: 'Marta was stunned by the news today and she is devastated. She did not believe, and does not believe, that her husband intended to injure her and she believes that he is not guilty of any crime. 'She is worried about her family's privacy and concerned that she and her family are going to be subjected to ridicule, embarrassment and hatred because of this decision. 'In fact, she has already seen that beginning to happen. 'It is unfortunate that no one seemed to care what she wants, and that the authorities gave little or no weight to her view of the facts of the case. 'Despite this unwelcome news, she still expects her husband to be cleared of any criminal wrongdoing.' The NHL suspended Voynov indefinitely for the duration of his proceedings and he has not played since October 19. However, he continues to be paid. NHL deputy commissioner Bill Daly said: 'We are aware of actions taken today in California, which we will review and evaluate before making any decisions. 'Until further notice, the current terms of Mr. Voynov's suspension remain in place.' Voynov only married Marta Varlamova in August 2014, two months before the alleged assault. Family man: Russian-born Voynov, 24, is pictured with his wife Marta Varlamova - who he married in August. The couple have a young daughter. 'Not a criminal': Voynov's wife has spoken through her lawyer to say her husband is not guilty and did not hurt her on purpose. On announcing Voynov suspension, the NHL cited a section of the collective bargaining agreement saying they have power to suspend a player during a criminal investigation if failing to do so 'would create a substantial risk of material harm to the legitimate interests and/or reputation of the league'. The NHL's swift response comes in stark contrast to the NFL, which was criticized for failing to appropriately deal with players facing charges, including Ray Rice and Adrian Peterson. Rice was only suspended for two games from the Baltimore Ravens after he was arrested for hitting his then-fiance in an elevator at a casino in Atlantic City. But after a website shared a video showing him striking her, the NFL banned him indefinitely and the Ravens released him, amid much public uproar. Peterson, a running back for the Minnesota Vikings and a former MVP, was also suspended indefinitely with play by his team after he was charged with child abuse in Texas. He is accused of allegedly whipping his four-year-old son with a tree branch in May. Voynov's swift suspension also comes a year after the NHL failed to comment or enact a suspension when Colorado Avalanche goaltender Semyon Varlamov was arrested on assault charges. Charges in the case were later dropped. Last month, NHL commissioner Gary Bettman spoke about his league's domestic violence policy. Dropped: The NHL's swift response comes after the NFL was widely criticised for its slow response when the Baltimore Ravens' Ray Rice (pictured left) punched his then-fiancee (right) in February . He said: 'Our code of conduct is we expect you to do the right things and if you don't we hold you accountable. More important than that is I believe you need to be proactive,' he said. 'Based on our experience to date, we believe that the appropriate procedures are in effect that we can do what we need to do on a case-by-case basis,' Bettman told The Canadian Press. 'If and when something needs to be addressed in terms of discipline, it will be. But more importantly we try to focus, with the Players' Association, on educating and counselling.' In June 2013, Voynov and the Kings agreed on a six year, $25 million contract extension. The Russian has two assists in six games this season. | Russian-born Los Angeles defenseman charged with injuring his spouse Marta Varlamova . He was arrested on suspicion of domestic violence in October . After he took his wife to hospital to seek treatment for her injuries . The 24-year-old is due to appear in court on December 1 . | 8eccc8329481a012e482cec185550e8894818d62 |
(CNN) -- Nigeria's state oil company rejected criticism from a leading human rights group Wednesday, calling an Amnesty International report "inaccurate." File image of Shell's oil and gas terminal on Bonny Island in southern Nigeria's Niger Delta. "We have issues with the report," said Levi Ajuonoma, a spokesman for Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation. Amnesty said Tuesday that pollution and environmental impacts from the oil industry in the Niger Delta are creating a "human rights tragedy" in which local people suffer poor health and loss of livelihood. Governments and oil companies are failing to be accountable for the problems, Amnesty said in its report, called "Petroleum, Pollution and Poverty in the Niger Delta." But the state oil company said it was local communities who cause much of the environmental damage by vandalizing pipelines for monetary gain. "We take environmental damage very seriously," Ajuonoma said. "Pipeline damage is a major cause of pollution," he argued, blaming "communities who... vandalize pipelines and make claims on the oil company operating in the area." Amnesty leveled a wide range of charges in its report. "People living in the Niger Delta have to drink, cook with and wash in polluted water," said Audrey Gaughran, who co-authored the report. "They eat fish contaminated with oil and other toxins -- if they are lucky enough to be able to still find fish. The land they farm on is being destroyed. "After oil spills, the air they breathe smells of oil, gas and other pollutants. People complain of breathing problems and skin lesions, and yet neither the government nor the oil companies monitor the human impacts of oil pollution." The report looks at oil spills, gas flaring, waste dumping and other environmental impacts from the oil industry. The majority of the evidence in the report relates to Shell, the main oil company operating in the region. "Despite its public claims to be a socially and environmentally responsible corporation, Shell continues to directly harm human rights through its failure to adequately prevent and mitigate pollution and environmental damage in the Niger Delta," Gaughran said. A Shell spokesman said the company shares Amnesty's concern for the people in the Niger Delta but disputes the group's assessment of its corporate accountability. "We feel that the root causes of the Niger Delta's humanitarian issues are poverty, corruption, crime, militancy, and violence. This report does not acknowledge these issues to any substantive degree, but concentrates on oil and gas issues in isolation, and as such, its value is limited," said a spokesman at the company's headquarters in The Hague, Netherlands, who asked not to be identified per company policy. "This report brings no new insights or analysis to help oil companies such as SPDC improve managing the issues of the Niger Delta," the Shell spokesman said. "Instead, in parts it draws wide-ranging and superficial conclusions from a number of these deeply complex issues, offering little underlying analysis to support those conclusions." SPDC is the Shell Petroleum Development Company, the national oil and gas company in Nigeria. Shell owns a 30-percent stake in the company while the Nigerian government owns 55 percent. The Niger Delta is a region in Nigeria consisting of nine oil-producing states. It has a land area of about 46,500 square miles (75,000 square km) -- about the same size as the Czech Republic or the U.S. state of Pennsylvania, according to the United Nations Development Program (UNDP). An area of rich biological diversity, the region contains the world's third-largest wetland with the most extensive freshwater swamp forest, according to the UNDP. More than half the area contains creeks and small islands, while the rest is rainforest, the UNDP says. At the same time, the Niger Delta produces the oil wealth that accounts for the bulk of Nigeria's foreign earnings, the UNDP says. Amnesty says the majority of people living in the Niger Delta depend on the natural environment for their food and livelihood, particularly through agriculture and fisheries. Shell said it is not responsible for some 80 percent of the pollution in the oil-rich area, because that pollution is the result of attacks and sabotage of Shell operations in the Niger Delta. "Over the past four weeks alone we had eight attacks," he said. "These attacks had a substantial impact on the environment, and assets, and most importantly for the people that live and work there." About 85 percent of the oil spills from Shell operations are the result of attacks and sabotage, he said. Nigeria's main militant group, the Movement for Emancipation of the Niger Delta, or MEND, has claimed responsibility for numerous attacks on the region's oil infrastructure in recent months. MEND said Sunday it had attacked an offshore facility and that it was engulfed in flames. Last week, the group said it had destroyed a pipeline owned and operated by the Italian gas company Agip. Also last week, MEND claimed to have destroyed Shell's main trunk line in Bayelsa state and a Chevron oil station in the region. MEND demands that more of Nigeria's oil wealth be invested in the Niger Delta instead of enriching those whom the militants consider to be corrupt politicians. Last year, a series of MEND attacks forced Nigeria to cut its oil exports by as much as 40 percent. Amnesty's report acknowledged that armed groups and communities have worsened the pollution problem by vandalizing oil infrastructure or stealing oil, but it said the scale of the problem is not clear. Shell said plans are under way to deal with the problem of gas flaring, which happens when crude oil is brought to the surface along with the large volumes of gas that have been trapped with it. The gas used to be burned off safely in a process called flaring, but that process is now considered a waste of resources and revenue for the government, Shell says. A $3 billion program to reduce the gas flares has already been able to cut them by 30 percent, the company said. The Amnesty report also pointed the finger at governments and said they have failed to be held accountable for the situation of the people. The Niger Delta covers 185 different local government areas, according to the United Nations Development Program. "The government must address the human impact of oil industry pollution," said Gaughran, of Amnesty. "They have a duty to protect their citizens from human rights abuse or harm by businesses and they are failing in that duty." Shell supports "collaborative solutions" between communities, governments, corporations and non-profit groups as the only way to address the problems listed in the Amnesty report, the spokesman said. "The SPDC definitely shares Amnesty International's concern that the people in the Niger Delta haven't benefited from the extraction of the oil and gas as they should," the spokesman said, "but this has been the opinion of the SPDC for a number of years." CNN's Christian Purefoy contributed to this report. | Amnesty: Oil industry in Niger Delta creating "human rights tragedy" People living in Niger Delta have to drink, cook, wash in polluted water, it says . Nigeria's state oil company: Local communities causing much of the damage . Niger Delta a region in Nigeria consisting of nine oil-producing states . | cc41d85500785d690b1a17bbd5e4f14bbe55e211 |
A retired headmaster has been immortalised in stone - as a gargoyle overlooking his historic old school. Dr Richard Shephard was in charge of the Minster School at York Minster for 19 years where the stone caricature was unveiled yesterday. He said: 'I don't look on myself as the Hunchback of Notre Dame, but I am very grateful they have done it. It is very thoughtful of people who decided to do it to put it there. Bizarre tribute: A retired headmaster has been immortalised in stone - as a gargoyle overlooking his historic old school . 'To be honest I was astonished when I heard it was being done, wherever it had gone I would have been delighted, but obviously it is very appropriate.' Dr Shephard was also Chamberlain at the Minster and was awarded the MBE for his service. He was kept in the dark about the carving but admitted he spotted the resemblance to himself as stonemason Matt Hodgkinson worked on it. He added: 'Having oneself immortalised on the Minster as a grotesque may not be to everyone's taste. 'But I am flattered and honoured that this piece of sculpture has been incorporated into the cathedral that has played such a large part of my life for many years.' Dr Richard Shephard was in charge of the Minster School at York Minster for 19 years where the stone caricature was unveiled yesterday . The gargoyle - with doctorate hat and holding its hand as if conducting music - has been installed as part of renovations to the east face of the Minster. Rebecca Thompson, superintendent of works for York Minster, said: 'When we discovered that one of our decayed grotesques overlooking the Minster school needed replacement, incorporating a permanent tribute to Richard seemed like too good an opportunity to miss.' Dr Shephard retired last year after 30 years working at the minster, including 11 as director of development for the York Minster Fund after leaving the school. Minster School in York is an independent school for boys and girls aged 3 to 13, and annual fees fall between £6,000 and £8,000. Minster School in York is an independent school for boys and girls aged 3 to 13, and annual fees fall between £6,000 and £8,000 . | Dr Richard Shephard in charge of the Minster School in York for 19 years . Yesterday, stone caricature unveiled on historic building in bizarre tribute . Gargoyle was installed as part of renovations to east face of the Minster . Figure has doctorate hat and holds its hand as if conducting music . | af31277f55397a8f55f5d2395daf550b4d8f41db |
The announcement that Russia's prime minister, Vladimir Putin, will run for president in next March's election and will, if elected, appoint the current president, Dmitri Medvedev, as his prime minister brings to mind one of the most famous lines of Italian literature. In Giuseppe di Lampedusa's novel "The Leopard," set in 19th century Sicily, a young nobleman tells his conservative uncle that clinging to the past will not work. "If we want things to stay as they are," he says, "things will have to change." The Kremlin's proposed game of musical chairs is the kind of change whose only purpose is to keep things as they are. Putin and company have made clear for years that they do not intend to leave the scene quietly in 2012 when Medvedev's presidential term expires. The only question was in what configuration the two leaders would return. To stay in the same positions would have smacked of stagnation. Switching places, although hardly an inspired move, is the simplest way to stir the waters without fear of rocking the boat. It will provoke a temporary burst of indignation from Putin's many critics in the West, some of whom saw in Medvedev a champion of liberalism and civil rights. Some will predict a tightening of authoritarian rule. Yet the reality is that Putin's return to the Kremlin will not, in itself, change much. For the last four years, he has made all key decisions, with Medvedev's advice, and he will continue to do so. Those who imagine that a second Medvedev term would have produced dramatic breakthroughs face the problem of explaining why his first term did not. Unless Western leaders seek to punish Putin for his return, there is no reason to think it will undermine the "reset" of recent years. Improved relations with the US could not have been pursued had Putin not approved of the policy. Despite rumors of disagreements between the two leaders -- or, more often, their aides -- Putin and Medvedev have always worked together as a close-knit team. Ordinary Russians understand this well. Fifty-eight percent think stories about conflicts between the two are dreamed up by journalists and opposition politicians. Seventy-three percent see Medvedev as having continued Putin's policies rather than introducing new ones of his own. Both want to make Russia a strong, modern country and understand the need for an efficient economy linked into global markets and capital flows. At the same time, both want to protect a circle of friends and acquaintances who have grown rich during their years in power. Obviously, these two goals at times conflict. To maintain their popularity, the two leaders have employed a political division of labor. Putin's priority has been to keep mainstream Russians loyal. His occasional anti-Western jibes and earthy aphorisms aim to appeal to provincial sensibilities. But his main weapon has been money. During the financial crisis, the prime minister spent lavishly to soften the pain, increasing pensions by 24% in real terms in 2009 and another 13% in 2010. Although the economy shrank by 8% in 2009, government spending grew from 34 to 41% of GDP. Russians' real disposable income rose by 2% in 2009 and almost 5% in 2010. The strategy has largely worked. Although Putin's -- and Medvedev's -- approval ratings have fallen in the last two years, the decline has been relatively slow. The latest polls by the respected Levada Center show that 68% still approve of Putin's performance while 63% approve of Medvedev's. Barring a sudden collapse, this should be enough to get Putin comfortably through next March's election, even without the predictable electoral irregularities. But the support, although high, is thin, resting on economic performance and little else. Russians are worried about the future. Even as the economy stabilized after the worst of the global crisis, the percentage who think the country is heading in the right direction fell during the past year from 48% to 36%. Medvedev's political constituency has been the urban, educated elites in business, academia, the arts, and other spheres. He has courted them with articulate interviews, technology incubators, and tweets about modernization. The problem is that, after years of empty promises and speeches, almost all have given up on him. As prime minister, Medvedev will be plunged into the operational details of managing the economy at an unusually tricky moment. Although Russia achieved growth of 4% last year, it is not clear how long it can continue at this rate without major reforms to restore battered investor confidence. Oil and gas output is unlikely to increase much in coming years, especially if growth in the developed economies stalls. Aware of this, the two leaders have already announced reforms to simplify rules for investors and privatize large stakes in state-owned companies. Medvedev's first task will probably be implementing unpopular cuts to rein in public spending. He may have to back away from a commitment to triple defense expenditures -- a promise that prompted Alexei Kudrin, the long-serving finance minister and leading budget hawk, to say he would refuse to serve under Medvedev. The need to trim social spending threatens to turn Medvedev into a lightning rod for discontent, and could shorten his tenure. Yet there is also the chance that he will survive for long enough to see reforms bear fruit -- and claim a share of the credit. Having visibly chafed at the lack of levers to get his policies implemented, he will now get opportunities to implement some himself. How effective he proves in this new role -- and how much leeway Putin allows him -- remain to be seen. | Vladimir Putin will run for Russian president; Medvedev to become prime minister . Daniel Treisman says the change is mostly about preserving the status quo . He says Putin and Medvedev both recognize the importance of keeping economy growing . Treisman: The two work together, dividing up tasks in bid to remain in power . | 1ad47f3fc9cdf7b2d91b94850fcea7a0c3ce4dab |
(CNN) -- With President Barack Obama's approval rating hovering in the low to mid-40s -- it was 45% in CNN/ORC International's recent poll --Democrats in tough contests are largely keeping their distance from the president's tarnished reputation. And as Election Day has drawn closer, those differences have become more pronounced. Republican opponents are trying harder than ever to link their rivals to the president, forcing Democrats to visibly distinguish themselves from the White House. Here are seven Democratic candidates who've kept Obama on the sidelines: . 1. Alison Lundergan Grimes, Kentucky. As the Democrat challenging the Senate's top Republican in a state that voted for Mitt Romney two years ago, Grimes has been perhaps the most high-profile candidate to keep her distance from Obama. Most notably, she refuses to say whether she voted for the president, citing a matter of principle of privacy at the ballot box as her reason for not answering the question. She's been pressed about her support for the president because she's made a blatant attempt to paint herself as the Democratic antithesis to the commander in chief. "I'm not Barack Obama," she said in a campaign ad. "I disagree with him on guns, coal and the EPA." 2. Sen. Mark Begich, Alaska. Only 41% of Alaska voters sided with Obama in 2012, so Begich knows all too well that it's not a smart strategy to be a champion for the president. In fact, he likes to think of himself more as a "thorn." "I'll be a thorn in his [posterior]," Begich told the Washington Post. "There's times when I'm a total thorn, you know, and he doesn't appreciate it." Last week he admitted he voted for Obama but argued that his voting record was irrelevant because "the president's not relevant" and will be "gone in two years." A limited role for Obama in his final campaign . And earlier this year he told CNN that he doesn't need Obama to campaign for him in Alaska. "I need him to change some of his policies." Regardless of how big of a thorn he is, Begich has a tough hill to climb to win a second term. He barely squeaked out a win in 2008 over then-longtime Sen. Ted Stevens, who at the time was buried in an ethics scandal. And a CNN/ORC poll from early October had Sullivan leading Begich, 50% to 44%. 3. Sen. Mark Udall, Colorado. Udall was expected to have a smooth ride to re-election until Republican Rep. Cory Gardner entered the race in March. Obama attended a Democratic fundraiser in Denver this summer, with half of the money raised going to Udall's campaign. But the senator wasn't there. His staff chalked up the absence to last-minute votes and legislative activity. The episode was foreshadowed somewhat when Udall refused to answer questions from CNN's Dana Bash earlier this year over whether he'd want to campaign with Obama. In another example, Udall tried to take a stake out a firm line on airstrikes against ISIS, saying in September he won't give "this president -- or any other president -- a blank check to begin another land war in Iraq." 4. Sen. Kay Hagan, North Carolina. Hagan is running for a second term in a state that voted for Obama in 2008 but not in 2012. As a result, she's had to strike a balance between appealing to the pro-Obama factions in her state -- mostly concentrated in the college hubs and big cities -- and the more rural parts of North Carolina. Senate math seems impossible to some Democrats . She exhibited this fine line in August, when she publicly criticized the president over the Veterans Affairs scandal in remarks released ahead of her speech at the American Legion. But when he showed up to also speak at the event, she warmly greeted him at the airport. Last week she reluctantly admitted that the president hasn't shown strong leadership. And when he visited North Carolina in January, she avoided him entirely. 5. Sen. Mary Landrieu, Louisiana. Landrieu has tried to paint herself as someone willing to go toe-to-toe with the Obama administration, especially when it comes to energy policy. She uses her position as chairman of the Senate Committee on Energy and Natural Resources as a major selling point in her campaign, and has sided with Republicans in pushing for the approval of the Keystone XL Pipeline. In an ad, she's seen saying "the administration's policies are simply wrong when it comes to oil and gas production in this nation." Last year Landrieu declined to attend a visit by Obama to her state, though she still hitched a ride aboard Air Force One with the President on his way to Louisiana. 6. Jeanne Shaheen, New Hampshire. Shaheen's Republican challenger, Scott Brown, can't say one sentence without highlighting that Shaheen with Obama voted 99% of the time. Shaheen says she's proud of her record, but she's still not angling for a visit by the president. Asked whether she would want him to campaign for her, Shaheen said "we have a lot going on." "I don't think it makes sense for the president to come to New Hampshire," she continued, while answering the question at the CNN/NH1 debate last week. But she's happily welcomed former President Bill Clinton, and Hillary Clinton is set to visit this weekend. 7. Mark Pryor, Arkansas. Fighting to keep his seat against GOP challenger Rep. Tom Cotton, Pryor has also sought to strike a balance between the politics of his state and on the national level. For example, he backs a minimum wage hike that's on the ballot in Arkansas, but he opposes Obama's proposal to raise the federal minimum wage to $10.10. Like other vulnerable Senate candidates -- such as Shaheen, Udall and Hagan -- Pryor has also called for travel restrictions to help prevent Ebola from spreading to the United States, a policy the Obama administration has not pushed. Pryor made headlines earlier this month when he sounded unsure of how to answer a question about Obama's handling of the Ebola situation. | Democratic candidates in tough races are trying to keep President Obama at arm's length . Many of those candidates are fighting in largely red states . Obama's approval rating hovers in the mid to low 40s . | 0dc00765eb3e6641d61d89694707e129642e6b66 |
By . Daniel Miller . PUBLISHED: . 05:44 EST, 8 July 2012 . | . UPDATED: . 11:12 EST, 8 July 2012 . Soft sentences: Judge Gareth Hawkesworth jailed a serial paedophile for just five and a half years . The judge who let a teenage rapist off with a community order handed another soft sentence to a paedophile who preyed on girls as young as five for 36 years, it has been revealed. Judge Gareth Hawkesworth provoked outrage last week for failing to jail a 14-year-old boy found guilty of raping a girl of four who he was babysitting. Instead he imposed a three-year community order after blaming ‘the world and society’ for his exposure to internet porn. Now it has been revealed that in April this year Judge Hawkesworth jailed a 59-year-old man for just five and a half years despite hearing how he had preyed on six girls aged five to 13 from 1974 until 2010. The pervert, a married man from Hertfordshire, was convicted of nine charges of indecent assault and gross indecency despite each charge carrying a maximum sentence of 14 years to life. After reading about the 14-year-old, one of the man's victims reportedly told the Sun newspaper: 'My heart goes out to the family of the little girl involved in the case with Judge Hawkesworth. 'I too was involved as witness and victim at a sex offender’s trial. 'Along with other victims, I was shocked at the short, soft sentence that the man received and the trauma left to me and all victims involved. 'This man has been at it for over 30 years. It’s destroyed my family. The whole process that we have been through has been soul-destroying. 'I am just starting to rebuild my life and move forward. I want to know whether Judge Hawkesworth will now be investigated.' Last week, the 14-year-old defendant wore his school uniform in the dock as Judge Hawkesworth told him he would have received a six-and-a-half year jail term if he had been an adult. He said: ‘You have not shown any . particular sexual interest in children. I’m satisfied it was impulsive . and I believe you have become sexualised by your exposure to and the . corruption of pornography. ‘Your exposure at such a young age has ended in tragedy. It was the fault of the world and society.’ The schoolboy, who cannot be named for . legal reasons, attacked his victim in December after being paid £10 to . take care of the girl, who lived in a neighbouring house near Cambridge. Devastating: The young girl, who was raped by a 14-year-old boy, with her parents . He was interviewed by police and . revealed he had regularly accessed porn on the internet at his parents’ home without their knowledge. In court he admitted raping a girl under . 13. Julia Flanagan, defending, said it was . a one-off incident and no threat or force was used. She added: ‘We have . a very frightened and remorseful boy who is very ashamed of what he has . done. 'He knows it will follow him for the rest of his life. 'He is marked to some as a sexual deviant for ever.’ The victim’s father told the court he was concerned about the long-term psychological damage she will suffer. The boy will have to register his address with police for the next two-and-a-half years. A sexual offences prevention order was . also made for five years, meaning he must not access pornography of any . kind and cannot use mobile phones or computers without suitable filters . to prevent viewing pornography. The case has fuelled demands for stricter controls to be put in place to stop children accessing online porn . The Daily Mail is calling for an . automatic block under which adult content would be filtered out by . default. Users would have to opt in to see it. | Judge Gareth Hawkesworth slammed for going soft on 59-year-old pervert . Married man was convicted of nine charges of indecent assault and gross indecency but given just five and a half years . Last week same judge let 14-year-old who raped girl of four off with community order . | 25ae30068d1ae9a6aac6d526b2c0a656d89e2978 |
Edna, Texas, is a small town, which means Trey Ganem knew the family that lost five children in a mobile home fire. His son played varsity football with 15-year-old Noah Ortiz, the oldest of the five children who died in the November 25 blaze. Ganem's daughter went to school with 11-year-old Julian Ortiz. Their parents, Annabel Ortiz and Johnny Hernandez, lost their home and all but one of their children in the fire. The community was quick to rally, raising more than $28,000 online to help with funeral expenses and rebuilding their lives. Ganem was more than willing to help out by doing what he does every day: designing custom caskets with a bit of personality. "I just wanted to do something to help," Ganem said. Ganem made five caskets free of charge at the request of the family. Instead of dressing them in a somber brown wood, Ganem designed each casket to reflect the children's personalities. For Noah Ortiz, that means a casket bearing his school colors and mascot, the cowboy, and his number-50 football jersey. Julian Ortiz, the wrestling fan, will be laid to rest in a black casket with his name in red letters and a W resembling the WWE logo. Six-year-old Nicholas Ortiz loved video games. His black casket features the "Call of Duty" logo and the phrase, "Nicholas Got Called To Duty." Sisters Areyanah Hernandez, 6, and Lilyana Hernandez, 5, loved the movie "Frozen." Their pink and blue glittered caskets are topped with princess crowns. Ganem, an artist who spent most of his career designing hot rods, started applying his skills to caskets this year. It's sad work, but he said it's worth it to see how his caskets can change the mood of a room, especially at a child's funeral. "It's heart-wrenching for me, but when I can provide just a little bit of comfort for the families, that's all I'm looking for," he said. "Every casket I work on, I treat it like it's for my my son or my dad." | Texas family loses five children in mobile home fire . Casket maker Trey Ganem makes them caskets for free . The caskets are designed to reflect the children's personalities . | 218199bd0032084a0fa4525aef8122df1f3c2146 |
Former television presenter John Leslie has laid bare his torment at the devastating sex attack claims that destroyed his career and nearly brought him to suicide. The former host of This Morning says being named supposedly accidentally as the alleged rapist of fellow TV presenter Ulrika Jonsson ruined his life, leaving him broke and turning him into a hermit. He has not worked in television since the unfounded 2003 allegations and says he still feels damned for crimes he didn't commit. Branded a monster: John Leslie says the false sex claims that destroyed his career left him on the brink of suicide . Mr Leslie's life went on a downward spiral from the moment he was named on a TV show as being the mystery man Ulrika Jonsson said sexually assaulted her in her book. The rumours were completely unfounded . The ex-Blue Peter star, 47, told the Sunday People: 'Every day you leave the house you are reminded of it. I was never able to move on, it was like an illness that couldn't be cured. I was labelled a monster. I once contemplated suicide because I couldn't see a way out.' His career was effectively over from the moment he was named, apparently accidentally, on daytime television as the man who launched a sex attack on Ms Jonsson, who has never revealed the identity of the mystery criminal she wrote about in her book. He was dropped from This Morning and then more allegations came to light in 2003, concerning two alleged indecent assaults on a 23-year-old actress in 1997. He was subsequently cleared 'without a stain on his character'. Mr Leslie, who has a six-year-old daughter by former girlfriend Rachel Bentley, was then dogged by by a sex tape that emerged of him with another former girlfriend, actress Abi Titmuss, 36, and another woman, before another unfounded rape accusation was leveled at him in 2008. Old flame: Mr Leslie with Catherine Zeta-Jones . Ex: With Abi Titmuss, who stood by him during trial . Mother: Rachel Benchley with whom he had a daughter . After years of rejection in his bid to relaunch a TV career, he tried his hand at becoming a property developer but his attempt coincided with the housing crash, leaving him with no money. There was another knock-back in 2010 . when ITV bosses approached Mr Leslie to appear on I'm a Celebrity Get Me . Out Of Here before backing out over his troubled past. He says, in retrospect, he is glad didn't take . part as it reinforced there would not be a second chance for him and . stopped him becoming a television 'circus act'. Despite being out of the public eye, he says people still recognise him - but for the wrong reasons. 'Before it was like, "he's the guy on the telly" and after it felt like they were saying, "he's the guy that's been accused of hurting women".' Mr Leslie pictured outside a police station in 2003 where he addressed the media over further unfounded sex allegations on a woman in 1997 . With little cash, Mr Leslie relied on royalties from his time as host of game show Wheel of Fortune to make end meet. He admitted he made mistakes and didn't know how to handle his private life, saying he was 'loud and boisterous' and 'tactile with boys and girls but you can't do that', while he says was unable to separate his onscreen personality from his every day life. Currently single, Mr Leslie said a previous three-year relationship with a psychologist helped him deal with his problems. Mr Leslie, who also dated Hollywood star Catherine Zeta-Jones, 43, says he remains close to Miss Titmuss, who stood by him during the court trial into the assault allegations. He is now a radio DJ on Edinburgh station Castle FM, with a show every Friday. Things are looking up: Mr Leslie says he is rebuilding his life as a radio presenter after a hellish 10 years of dealing with false sex claims . Despite being back on track, Mr Leslie says he still has worries, including how to break the news of his troubled past to his daughter. And he remains bitter about how he was treated, comparing his ordeal to Lord McAlpine, the Tory peer wrongly accused of child sex abuse by Newsnight, who received £185,000 in libel damages from the BBC. Mr Leslie says he received nothing. He also believes rape laws should be changed so the accused isn't named until they are convicted. Mr Leslie believes his new career has been a 'breath of fresh air' and believes being out of the public spotlight is the right thing to do by his parents Lex and Les, both 72. 'They suffered a lot more than me and still suffer from the legacy,' he said. 'For years mum would be in floods of tears when people said negative things about me, it was tough seeing them upset.' 'Sometimes I feel this is the path that was set put for me so maybe this is meant to be. 'I just hope my life is about to change for the better.' | Ex-TV star, now 47, says ordeal left him broke and a hermit . Allegations were like illness that 'couldn't be cured' Former This Morning presenter bitter that he was never awarded damages . Father-of-one rebuilding career as a radio DJ . | 58e3e2bc6ecc92b6e71e5366e58d16b413a49a0f |
Alex Breier, 41, was jailed for five years and 10 months after he admitted trafficking young women into the UK to work as sex slaves in brothels . A Hungarian family has been jailed after they trafficked vulnerable girls to Britain and forced them to work as sex slaves for three years. Alex Breier, 41, arranged for three girls to be brought to the UK and forced them to upload their images to a website for men to choose which one they wanted to abuse, a court heard. With the help from his wife, sister, son-in-law and even his own son and daughter, he operated from brothels in Manchester, Bolton and across the North West of England. Bolton Crown Court was told that it as only after one of the victims had enough courage to contact police that the family was tracked down and arrested. Brier admitted six charges - three of trafficking women into the UK and three within the UK for the purposes of prostitution and was jailed for five years and 10 months. The woman that exposed the prostitution ring was just 18 when she was brought to the UK in 2012 and had an unsettled upbringing in her native Hungary. She was forced into sexual servitude aged just 15 and was beaten by pimps, who told her she would not get food and could not leave unless she worked as a prostitute. It was here she was introduced to Breier, who flew her to Holland where the family forced her into sex work controlled through threats, fear and violence. She later told police how she was forced to work as a prostitute in Germany, Holland and also Belgium and felt powerless to run away. In 2012, she and a second girl, 19, were brought by ferry to the UK and then into Manchester. Over a period of 15 months, they were taken to numerous places in Greater Manchester and Lancashire owned by different members of the Breier family where they were forced to work as prostitutes with a third young woman, aged 18. They worked across Manchester and in many houses including family-owned properties in Bolton and Blackburn. All three girls were under the control of the family and were forced to upload their pictures to a website from which 'customers' could choose which girl they wanted. Bolton Crown Court (pictured) heard that it was only after one victim had enough courage to come forward that police tracked the family down and arrested them. These men were then given a specific address to visit where they would be shown in through a secluded entrance and taken upstairs and paid the Breier family cash in return for sex. The girls rarely saw any of the money they worked for and only received basic food, shelter and cannabis. When Alex Breier assaulted one girl in March 2014, she confided in a friend who convinced her to go to police. A series of co-ordinated warrants took place that month, during which various members of the Breier family were rounded up and arrested. Det Chief Insp Rick Jackson, based at Bolton, said: 'I want to paint a damning picture of exactly what Alex Breier is really like. For three years he forced women into a penniless life of sexual slavery and servitude. 'He would beat these women if they did not obey him, controlling them physically and psychologically to the point where they felt powerless to free themselves from his violent grip. 'It is that power, that control, that makes it possible for young women to be trafficked into the UK and prostituted against their will. 'One incident really sticks in my mind. At one point, Breier told the girls he would report them to police for working as a prostitute if they did not obey him. 'It may seem astonishing but such was their fear and insecurity that this "threat" had the desired effect. 'What makes this even more galling is that the entire family conspired together to control the lives of these girls. Breier was helped by his wife, sister, son-in-law and even his own son and daughter. Pictured is Fecitt Brown in Blackburn, where his son Kristian ran one of the brothels . 'I can't begin to imagine what a nightmare existence they lived through, virtually destitute, repeatedly beaten and living day-to-day in fear. 'However, eventually one of the girls had the courage to speak up and as a result, police in Bolton, assisted by numerous agencies across Europe, have exposed this family for who they really are. 'I would like to personally commend her for her bravery after years of living in fear. Her bravery cannot be overstated.' He added: 'This was an extremely complex investigation which took us all over Europe and brought together the National Crime Agency, the National Referral Mechanism Human Trafficking Europol and enforcement agencies in Germany, Holland and Belgium. 'Those involved in human trafficking often use multiple locations to avoid detection, but thanks to the dedication and sheer tenacity of the officers involved, this family has been brought to justice. 'I want to assure people living in Bolton, and the wider communities of Manchester, that there is nothing we won't do to bring human traffickers to justice. 'There is no stone we won't overturn and no country we won't go to expose these people for who they are: shameless cowards who profit by selling women into sex against their will. 'Tackling people trafficking is an absolute priority for police across Greater Manchester and right here in Bolton and we will continue to combine the efforts of partner agencies across the globe toward tackling this issue.' Breier's wife Alexne Breier, 43, of Bolton, pleaded guilty to conspiracy to keep a brothel used for prostitution. She was given a nine month prison sentence suspended for 12 months. Their son Kristian Breier, 22, of Blackburn, pleaded guilty to the same charge as his mother and was also given a nine month prison sentence suspended for 12 months. Breier's sister, Katalin Bogdan, 39, of Bolton, pleaded guilty to conspiracy to keep a brothel used for prostitution. She was given a conditional discharge for 12 months. Ferenci Baranyai, 32, partner of Katalin Bogdan, of Bolton, pleaded guilty to conspiracy to keep a brothel used for prostitution and was given a conditional discharge for 12 months. Breier's daughter, Csabane Androvics, 24, of Bolton, pleaded guilty to conspiracy to keep a brothel used for prostitution and was given a six month sentence suspended for 12 months. | Alex Breier, 41, arranged for girls to be brought to UK to work in brothels . His wife, sister, son-in-law and even own son and daughter helped him . A victim was encouraged to go to police by friend and family was arrested . Brier admitted six charges of human trafficking and jailed for five years . His family was all given suspended sentences and a conditional discharge . | 7ffd6f4168492385a35ef5187cf002393906821a |
A man suspected of killing two deputies during a shooting rampage in Northern California was deported twice to Mexico and had a drug conviction, federal authorities said Saturday. The suspected shooter told Sacramento County Sheriff's investigators that he was 34-year-old Marcelo Marquez of Salt Lake City. However, his fingerprints match the biometric records of a Luis Enrique Monroy-Bracamonte in a federal database, U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement spokeswoman Virginia Kice said. Monroy-Bracamonte was first removed from the country in 1997 after being convicted in Arizona for possession of narcotics for sale. Monroy-Bracamonte was arrested and sent packing to Mexico a second time in 2001, Kice said. Victims: Michael Davis Jr., 42 (left), was a 15-year veteran sheriff's deputy. Deputy Danny Oliver, the first officer to be shot, was a father . Shooter: Marcelo Marquez, 34, of Salt Lake City, fled police but was eventually flushed out of a home he hid in for several hours using gas bombs. He and a female companion are now in custody . 'The fingerprints were the basis for our request for an immigration detainer,' she said. The detainer requests that local authorities turn him over to federal custody after his case is adjudicated so ICE can purse his deportation, Kice said. The suspect was being held without bail on suspicion of two counts of murder, two counts of attempted murder and two counts of carjacking. His wife, 38-year-old Janelle Marquez Monroy, was also in custody on suspicion of attempted murder and carjacking after the attack on Friday that left two deputies dead and two other victims wounded. Investigators spent Saturday at the multiple crime scenes 'trying to kind of sort through the chaos so we can methodically rebuild this,' Placer County Sheriff Ed Bonner said. The two suspects were questioned for hours as authorities sought a motive for the shootings that began when Sacramento County sheriff's Deputy Danny Oliver, 47, was shot in the forehead with an assault rifle at close range as he checked out a suspicious car in a motel parking lot. The suspects have talked to investigators, Bonner said, but what sparked the shootings remained unclear. '"Why," I guess, will remain a question for a long time,' he said. 'Why was his reaction so violent?' It was also unclear what brought the heavily armed suspects from Utah to California, Bonner said. There were no indications they had been sought by authorities. High alert: Law enforcement officers stop to search cars as they left the area in response to an officer involved shooting on Friday, October 24, 2014 . Scene: Law enforcement officers in Auburn, Calif., in response to a shooting on Friday. Another officer was shot 30 miles away in Sacramento . Huge response: A suspect armed with a rifle left one Sacramento sheriff's deputy dead, a motorist gravely injured, and two Placer County sheriff's deputies wounded in a 30-mile crime spree . A pair of Placer County deputy sheriffs embrace after the suspect was arrested (left) while another assesses a bullet cartridge left at one of the scenes . A veteran sheriff's deputy and father-of-four who was one of two officers gunned down in a shooting rampage that spanned 30 miles across California on Friday died exactly 26 years to the day that his own father was killed in the line of duty. Michael Davis Jr., 42, was shot dead by a male and female couple who were on the run from killing another deputy in Sacramento earlier in the day. His death tragically mimicked that of his father, Michael Davis Sr., who was killed on the job on the same day in 1988. The incident started about 10.30am in the parking lot of the Motel 6 in Sacramento. Sacramento County Deputy Danny Oliver, 47, approached a suspicious-looking car, but the occupants immediately opened fire. He was shot in the forehead with an assault rifle at close range and did not have time to draw his weapon. He died in the hospital. Oliver, a 15-year veteran of the department, was the first Sacramento County deputy killed since 2008. He left a wife and two daughters. After Oliver was shot, his partner fired at the attackers, who drove about a mile before attempting a carjacking. The attackers then stole a red Ford pickup from a gardener and fled to the Sierra Nevada foothills city of Auburn in neighboring Placer County, about 30 miles northeast of Sacramento. Scene: Officer Oliver was shot dead in the car park of Hotel 66 in Sacramento (pictured) Unprovoked: The suspects immediately opened fire, police said . That is when officer Michael Davis Jr. and his partner spotted the car parked alongside the road. Both were shot with an AR-15-type assault weapon, Placer County sheriff's spokeswoman Dena Erwin said. Davis, who had been working in law enforcement since 1996 - the last 10 years a homicide investigator - died from his injuries. His partner Jeff Davis - no relation - a 17-year department veteran, was treated for a gunshot wound in the arm. Police suspect the shooter was 34-year-old Marcelo Marquez of Salt Lake City, who was being held on suspicion of two counts of murder, two counts of attempted murder and two counts of carjacking. A woman with him, 38-year-old Janelle Marquez Monroy, was in custody on suspicion of attempted murder and two counts of carjacking. Monroy was arrested at the scene where Davis was killed. Police found a handgun in her purse. Deputies finally used tear gas to flush Marquez from the basement of the home where he hid for several hours. Arrested: This is the man police believe was behind the rampage that claimed the lives of two officers. Marcelo Marquez was being held on suspicion of two counts of murder, two counts of attempted murder and two counts of carjacking . Emergency: A special agent with the California Department of Justice walks a student from the Discovery Montessori school to her parents after being on lock-down because a suspect in the multiple shootings of officers in Sacramento and Placer Counties . Evacuated: The area was placed on lock-down as police tried to flush out the suspect, who was hiding in a nearby house . Jail records contained no indications that either suspect had outstanding arrest warrants. Both were being held without bail. Initial court appearances were expected Tuesday. A search of Utah court records for Marquez shows a history of about 10 tickets and misdemeanor traffic offenses between 2003 and 2009. Those records list one speeding ticket for Monroy in 2009 and three small claims filings attempting to collect outstanding debts. The slaying of the deputies was the single deadliest day for California law enforcement since February 2013. In separate incidents that month, former Los Angeles police officer Christopher Dorner killed two law enforcement officers, and two Santa Cruz police detectives were shot and killed. | Michael Davis Jr., 42, a officer of 18 years and father-of-four, was shot dead in Auburn on Friday . Sacramento Deputy Danny Oliver, an officer of 15 years, was also killed . The suspect was going under the alias of Marcelo Marquez, 34, and was first removed from the country in 1997 after a narcotics conviction . He managed to get back into the US and was deported again in 2001 . His fingerprints match the biometric records of a Luis Enrique Monroy-Bracamonte . | 3ce1c5b56575861de1c76cd19895524a3c3b98ea |
The number of centenarians receiving birthday cards from the Queen has gone up by 17 per cent in just a year. There are now so many people are now reaching their 100th birthday that the little-known Whitehall office responsible for making sure their milestone is celebrated has had to take on extra staff. Some 7,517 people have received a Centenarian card from the Palace this year, up from 6,360 in 2013. A total of 7,517 people have received a Centenarian card from the Queen this year, up from 6,360 in 2013 . The cards are sent to British citizens on their 100th, 105th and every subsequent birthday. The Department of Work and Pensions, which is responsible for checking ages and sending birthday cards from the Queen, has increased the number of employees involved from one to seven in the past five years. Figures from the Office for National Statistics show that there are now 13,780 people over the age of 100 in Britain, compared with just 6,860 in 2000. It is now estimated one in three children born today will reach 100. Pensions Minister Steve Webb said: 'It is a massive source of celebration that more of us are living longer fuller lives and thousands of centenarians have celebrated their 100th birthday with a very special card. 'Our reforms will ensure the state pension remains strong for future generations and I am proud we are protecting today's pensioners with the Triple Lock meaning the basic State Pension is at the highest percentage of earnings since 1992.' The number of people over the age of 100 has risen dramatically from around 3,000 in 1983 to more than 13,700 last year . The cards from the Queen are sent to British citizens on their 100th, 105th and every subsequent birthday . Margaret Wilberforce-Eke, who leads the DWP team in charge of keeping information on centenarians up to date, said: 'Every day we help families mark amazing celebrations. Reaching 100 might be becoming more common, but it is still very special for all those involved. 'It is a privilege to be involved in just a small part of these birthdays – but we hear back that receiving a card is the perfect finishing touch for a great day.' The DWP Centenarian team, based in Newcastle upon Tyne, contacts people approaching their 100th, 105th and every subsequent birthday who are in receipt of State Pension. Those not in receipt of State Benefits can make a direct application to Buckingham Palace to receive a celebration card. Throughout their lives, these centenarians born in 1914 have lived through two world wars, the Cold War and the rise of the information age. They turned 40 in 1954, when: . | 7,517 people received a Centenarian card from the Palace this year . The figure is up from only 6,360 in 2013, according to latest figures . Cards sent to Britons on their 100th, 105th and every subsequent birthday . Number of people aged 100 and over has risen by 350% in the last 30 years . | 38b56cd3cab18e71d59b3abbb28f432d2de6969f |
From 6am in the morning until long into the night, a steady stream of mourners arrived at the house where eight children were senselessly killed - and before long the street outside was filled with tributes. Hundreds of people walked to the park, which had been the little victims favourite place, to pay their respects and leave candles, flowers, teddy bears, and handwritten notes. Some residents even left Christmas presents and mince pies, admitting they 'couldn't possibly celebrate Christmas this year.' Relatives and local residents gather outside the Murray Street house where eight children were killed . Queensland Police arrive at the makeshift memorial site to lay flowers and comfort family . 'I'm not going to celebrate Christmas this year,' said local Sam O'Grady as she visited the makeshift tribute site. 'There's no way you can celebrate Christmas at a time like this - it's too close to home,' she told The Sydney Morning Herald. Residents of the small town of Manoora were still in shocked by the tragic events of the day before, and acknowledged that after seeing the Martin Place siege memorial, the people of Cairns needed to turn the park into a space which honoured the lives lost. The mother of seven of the children, Mersane Warria, 37, remained in hospital after being arrested on Friday over the murders. The 37-year-old has been charged with eight counts of murder, and appeared before a magistrate in a bedside hearing at the Cairns Base Hospital on Sunday morning. Family members of the eight children sat in the park immediately adjacent to the crime scene, for more than three hours, watching the memorial grow . Indigenous youth advocate Tania Major said the town could not imagine celebrating in the wake of the eight deaths . A steady stream of mourners arrived at the house where eight children were senselessly killed- and before long the street outside was filled with tributes . Indigenous youth advocate Tania Major said the town could not imagine celebrating in the wake of the eight deaths. 'There would be no music and no partying - even no fishing on their country - while the community grieves,' she said. Friends, relatives, and members of the tight-knit Cairns suburb hugged each other and wept, and local Queensland Police officers visited the house to comfort residents. Eight little angels figurines have been placed by one resident, to symbolise the eight children whose lives were tragically cut short. Friends, relatives, and members of the tight-knit Cairns suburb hugged each other and wept, and local Queensland Police officers visited the house to comfort residents . Eight little angels figurines have been placed by one resident, to symbolise the eight children whose lives were tragically cut short . Local families brought their children to lay teddy bears at the makeshift memorial site . 'I hope they've gone to a better place. They were such happy children. I tell my children that they're looking after us,' said one mourner. Family members of the eight children sat in the park immediately adjacent to the crime scene, for more than three hours, watching the memorial grow. Teddy bears were placed at the bottom of the tree opposite the house, with parents bringing their children to leave tokens in sympathy with the family. Pasta and pasta sauce are placed in a bag in a nod to the children's favourite food, along with floral bouquets made from blooms of the flame trees which line Cairn's streets. Local children brought butcher's paper and art supplies, painting signs and pictures to hang at the memorial site. Children were looked after by a local Christian youth group and were encouraged to paint pictures to leave . Local children brought butcher's paper and art supplies, painting signs and pictures to hang at the memorial site . 'Gone too soon,' read one banner, decorated with pink hearts and held up by children . 'Gone too soon,' read one banner, decorated with pink hearts and held up by children. Shirts inscribed with notes of sympathy were hung in the trees, with more blooms weaved into the roots. One neighbour lamented that they hadn't tried to help, asking 'How did this mother slip through the cracks?' A plastic container has been put down in the community garden at the base of a tree, with a note reading, 'Any contribution will help this family through this hard time. Thanks'. 'Any money will got towards the funerals,' their relative explained. 'They don't have the money. It's a big stress. Any money left over will go to the police and emergency people. They need help as much as the family.' The Salvation Army were at the Murray Street site to assist mourners in the heat, along with a local Christian youth group to entertain children at the community centre at the street corner. Teddy bears were placed at the bottom of the tree opposite the house, with parents bringing their children to leave tokens in sympathy with the family . Shirts inscribed with notes of sympathy were hung in the trees, with more blooms weaved into the roots . Sorry we are not currently accepting comments on this article. | Hundreds of Cairns locals have visited the house where eight children were stabbed to death on Friday morning . Police have confirmed that four girls and four boys were killed . Mourners have left tokens of sympathy including flowers, notes, and toys . Residents have also left Christmas presents and mince pies, saying that there way 'no way they could celebrate' the holiday . Queensland Police visited the makeshift site and were seen hugging locals . Children brought butchers paper and craft supplies to paint pictures to leave at the memorial site . | 76b5ab1d56962f190af4940a3fb64c6ad565b073 |
(CNN) -- Hip-hop artist Common wants to create a supportive community for youths on Chicago's South Side. The Grammy Award winner started the Common Ground Foundation to help underserved youth develop leadership and life skills. Common also performed at "CNN Heroes: An All-Star Tribute" last year. CNN's Allie Torgan recently spoke with him about CNN Heroes and his philanthropy. Below are excerpts: . Allie Torgan: What inspired you to start the Common Ground Foundation? Common: I started (the foundation) with some of my team members because we wanted to give back to the youth who didn't have some of the opportunities we had. The programs are really about building holistic people, children. We want them to be together and get educated on everything from health issues to just being allowed to be creative. Everything that's necessary to build a complete human being, we try to issue in with the Common Ground Foundation. The kids get to do creative cooking, creative writing and then also get assisted in some of their academic work in school. Torgan: Why is this cause important to you? Common: I grew up on the South Side of Chicago with my mother and my stepfather, and I was provided a nice home, a home with love in it. And I felt a lot of my friends didn't have some of the opportunities I had. Also, they had loved ones who they had lost. My whole life growing up, I was doing the little things that I could do (to help people). I would watch my mother do the things that she does. As a teacher, she's an educator and also would just go the extra mile to help people. Those are the traits that I picked up that made me say, "Hey, I want to do this because I have seen, throughout my life, people I love that didn't have the chance, that didn't have the opportunities I had." Torgan: What's your goal for the kids? Common: I want to empower the kids because there is a lot of gang violence and there is a lot of lack of love in the neighborhoods, and that starts in the home. I want to empower them first by letting them know that they are loved and people do care. They might not have the parent, or one parent might be missing, or one parent might not be sufficient in raising them. But they have other people that do care. And somewhere within this village is somebody that's going to reach out and help give them a chance to pursue their dream. So we empower them first by instilling some love in them and being their support system. And then we help to develop whatever their skills are. We want to prepare them to be able to go out into the world and do things for themselves so they can be leaders. It's about being their leader. You got to lead yourself first. Torgan: What was it like performing at "CNN Heroes: An All-Star Tribute" last year? Common: (It) was an incredible experience. I felt distinguished being there, because there were so many people who really cared about things. My mother told me before going there: getting invited there, that is an important place to be because that is where a lot of people that do the real work are. These are people who do work for real in the world helping people. And it was super-inspiring to me. I have to step up more, because you see people who dedicate their lives to helping others. Being able to perform with John Legend and Melanie Fiona was a great experience. I was like, "I want to go back, I need to get invited back." But more than anything, I was grateful to be there and observe people and honor the people that were selected to be CNN Heroes, because it was well deserved and they inspired us all. Torgan: What is a hero to you? Common: A hero to me is someone who is able to take whatever talent, gift, personality, quality and utilize it to help build others. And obviously a hero has done it to build themselves to a certain level. But you use the plateau you reached and you say, "Hey, I can do something for other people to help them to get to the same place I got to." So I look at a hero as somebody who is willing to sacrifice that and go back and reach out for others. | Grammy Award winner Common is reaching out to kids on Chicago's South Side . His Common Ground Foundation tries to help youth pursue their dreams . Common: 'A lot of my friends didn't have some of the opportunities I had' | 16a5af728b77e2fc1acd956c1d34fd94de6abbbd |
A mother told yesterday how she tried in vain to save her four-year-old son after he fell into the sea from a jetty. Dylan Cecil lost his footing as he played with his two younger sisters an inquest heard. He was carried away by strong currents as his mother Rachel McCollum cried ‘My boy, he’s gone’. She and Dylan’s father Darren Cecil, 30, leapt into the water but were unable to find the boy and were also nearly swept away by the tide. Dylan Cecil (pictured with his parents Rachel McCollum and Darren Cecil on his birthday) died after he was swept out to sea on a family holiday in a 'tragic accident' Rachel McCollum and Darren Cecil arrive at the Old Municipal Buildings, Taunton, Somerset, for the inquest into the death of their son today. Both parents desperately tried to save their son after he was swept away by waves . Miss McCollum, 27, said in a statement that Dylan had been paddling at the jetty’s edge. ‘He was jumping and laughing. But he suddenly went into the water. I heard a plop,’ she said. Dylan's body was discovered on August 23 by a walker who thought he had seen a child 'sleeping in the sand' ‘I couldn’t believe it was him. Then I realised it was and suddenly shouted to Darren, “He’s in, he has gone”.’ Miss McCollum, who wept throughout the . hearing, said she immediately jumped into the water, which was much . deeper than she had thought. ‘I was shouting, “My boy, he’s gone”. I . expected to touch the sand as soon as I was in, but the water was so . deep I was being dragged straight out. I scooped my arms to find Dylan . but he was not there. It felt like I was in a whirlpool, I was being . dragged everywhere. The current was so strong I couldn’t get back to the . jetty, I was just caught in a whirlpool. The next thing I knew, a red . ring [lifebelt] was being thrown around me.’ Mr Cecil, a poor swimmer, told how he . too had dived into the water at Burnham-on-Sea, Somerset, to try to . save his son. In a separate statement, he said: ‘I saw Rachel jump in. I . can remember her shouting, “Where’s Dylan gone?”. I couldn’t see Dylan . but I put my arms out in front of me to try and grab him. ‘I couldn’t find him but I was sure he . had to be there because I jumped in at the exact point I saw his back . bobbing up and down. I kept looking for Dylan but I couldn’t find him. ‘I had been dragged by the tide and was now about ten metres away from the jetty. ‘I was trying to swim against the . current but I couldn’t. All my energy had gone, I was just exhausted. I . remember saying, “I’m gone”. I really thought I was going to die.’ The inquest heard that the tide often washes over part of the concrete jetty at Burnham-on-Sea, Somerset,(pictured), which is about 492ft (150m) long and nearly 20ft (6m) wide . Family at the scene, shortly after Dylan was swept away. The distressed couple had to be pulled from the sea and taken to safety as the Coastguard began a search for the little boy . Witness Alyn Pritchard, said that . moments before Dylan fell, he heard Miss McCollum telling him to keep to . the left and away from the water’s edge. ‘You could see the little boy . was jumping. But when he jumped the once, he went straight down the side . and he never came up,’ he said. Dylan’s body was washed ashore four days later. Miss McCollum and Mr Cecil, from . Kettering, Northamptonshire, had been visiting Dylan’s grandparents in . Burnham-on-Sea last August with his sisters, Faith, three, and . Alice-Kelly, 11 months, and cousin Georgie-May, two. They decided to go for a seaside walk . at around 6pm and wandered along the jetty to the water’s edge, where . children were playing. Flowers and tributes left at the scene. Mr Cecil, who said he was a poor swimmer, said he was barely able to take breath as he battled the surging water in the hope of finding his son . Candles spell out the name of Dylan Cecil amongst the mass of flowers left by friends, family and passers by exactly a week after he fell into the sea . More than 400 people joined Dylan's parents at St Andrew's Church in Burnham-on-Sea to remember him during a memorial service, while a minute's silence was also held for people to pay their respects near to where the little boy was last seen alive . But Dylan, who was wearing a blue . T-shirt and blue shorts, is thought to have lost his footing, causing . him to plunge into the sea. The inquest, at Taunton, Somerset, heard . how the tides at Burnham-on-Sea are some of the highest and most . powerful in the world. It was estimated that the speed of the . current on the day of the tragedy was around four or five knots, . approximately 5mph. That would have been enough easily to sweep an . adult off their feet. Despite a search involving both the . RNLI and the local Burnham Area Rescue Boat, it was not until four days . later, on August 23, that Dylan’s body was discovered at Burnham Yacht . Club. A married couple who were visiting the club found the missing boy, who looked as if he was ‘just sleeping’. PC Pete Wills, who attended the scene . to recover the body, said it was ‘as if the sea had just given the boy . back and placed him on the sand’. Recording a verdict of accidental . death by drowning, West Somerset Coroner Michael Rose said the tragic . events could not have been predicted or avoided. Describing Dylan as a ‘lovable and . lively young boy’, he told the hearing: ‘This is something that could . happen to any parent and there was nothing Dylan’s parents could have . done to prevent this accident. ‘Dylan wanted to go down towards the . sea and he was jumping about and I think just mistook his foothold. Neither he nor his parents realised how vicious the sea can be. The . tide was rising and tragically it was a spring tide which is the . highest.’ Dylan would not have had a chance once he fell, Mr Rose said. ‘We cannot restrain children. They have a life to live. Sadly, this was a tragic way to end it.’ | Dylan Cecil was on a family holiday when he was caught by waves . Parents Rachel McCollum and Darren Cecil tried desperately to save him . Body was found by walker who thought he'd seen a child 'sleeping on sand' Inquest was told his death was a 'tragic accident' | 3066beccfd053dddf9316653f170f8987149547c |
Washington (CNN) -- A federal court panel in Washington Wednesday ruled in favor of South Carolina's voter photo ID law, but said it cannot go into effect until next year because there's too little time to implement the new law for this November's election. The three-judge panel said South Carolina's law does not discriminate against racial minorities as the Justice Department and other opponents had argued. The ruling further clouds the issue, which has resulted in conflicting rulings on whether requiring voters to present an identification card bearing the person's photograph is discriminatory. In "pre-clearing key sections of the South Carolina statute, the judges compared the law with those of other states, including Texas, where a federal court panel rejected a photo ID requirement for voting," wrote the opinion's author, D.C. Circuit Judge Brett Kavanaugh. Latino voter registration efforts running out of time in Pennsylvania . "In sum, our comparison of South Carolina's act to some other states' voter ID laws ... strongly buttresses the conclusion that South Carolina's law has neither a discriminatory effect nor a discriminatory purpose," he wrote. Circuit judges John Bates and Colleen Kollar-Kotelly joined with concurring opinions. The judges said the new law would require voters to be informed of and educated about the law's requirements, which would not be possible before the November 6 elections. Therefore, the panel rejected trying to implement the provisions for the upcoming balloting. The judges noted that about 95% of South Carolina registered voters possess the approved photo IDs. That includes 96% of whites and 92% to 94% of African-American voters. Despite the disparity, the court found that state election officials had included a "sweeping reasonable impediment provision" that eliminates any disproportionate effect or material burden on voters. The judges took note of the requirement in the Texas law, which has been blocked in court, requiring many citizens to get a birth certificate that costs $22. And in Texas, unlike South Carolina, many counties lack a place for voters to obtain qualifying photo identification cards. The court found no comparable issues in the South Carolina law. The Justice Department, although on the losing end of the ruling, issued a statement expressing satisfaction with much of the opinion. Judge blocks Pennsylvania voter ID law for November election . "The Department of Justice is pleased that the court has denied "preclearance" of the South Carolina law for the 2012 elections," said Justice Department civil rights spokeswoman Dena Iverson. "With regard to future elections, the department welcomes the court's agreement that South Carolina's law required broad modifications in order to respond to the serious concerns raised by the attorney general that the law as written would exclude minority voters." South Carolina Attorney General Alan Wilson declared victory in the case, calling the ruling "a major victory for South Carolina and its election process." "It affirms our voter ID law is valid and constitutional under the Voting Rights Act," he said. "We will work diligently to implement this law for all future elections." Holder, Michelle Obama weigh in on voting rights at DC dinner . | NEW: Both sides praise the decision . A judicial panel says South Carolina's voter ID law does not discriminate . However, it says the law cannot go into effect until next year . The judges say they compared South Carolina's law to those in other states . | 6abed403b8e195e91990926a422e1acebb6bd0e9 |
By . Lizzie Edmonds . PUBLISHED: . 09:58 EST, 3 January 2014 . | . UPDATED: . 16:14 EST, 3 January 2014 . A group of street children in India have opened their own bank. The bank, known as the Children's Development Khazana (CDK), was set up and is now run by children in the Fatehpuri neighbourhood of Old Delhi, India. The bank was established on the principle the children would make all the rules and . decisions. Show them how it's done: Street children queue up at the counter to deposit money at their very own bank . Deposit: Children wait to deposit their earnings at the bank - called the Children's Development Khazana . NGO volunteers from child rights organisation Butterflies, however, assist the day-to-day running of the bank and sort out any logistical issues. Children . aged nine to 18 can deposit anything from a couple of pence to . one pound and get 3.5 percent on their deposits. They can then withdraw up to five pounds at a time. It is open seven days a week and is run by perhaps the youngest manger in the world - 13-year-old Sonu. He said: 'I ran away from home and started working at a tea stall. It was bad. Then I met some volunteers who told me about the bank. I came here. Now I go to school and I am the (bank) manager also. Patience: Those who hold an account may deposit a small amount and get 3.5 per cent interest . Earnings: The bank is managed by 13-year-old Sonu (left) who joined the bank after running away from home . 'Kids make deposits. They can withdraw anytime if they have to buy something like clothes or eatables. The bank is open seven days a week.' Fourteen-year-old Sheru, who lived on a railway platform, is a regular. He said: 'I . have started saving money in the Children's Bank. I sell water bottles. I put all the money that I earn into my account. I have saved 5000-6000 . rupees (£50-60) so far. I want to save more in the future.' Work: Sonu worked briefly in a tea stall before joining the bank - which is overseen by charity Butterflies . Saving up: A child makes a deposit. Some members have saved up as much as £50-£60 through the bank . Open all hours: Sonu runs a tight ship and his bank is open seven days a week . Sheru says he wants to become a photographer when he grows up. He hopes to save enough to buy a camera one day. Raheemam, 15, who works as a rag . picker, also has an . account. She . said: 'I used to lose my money. One day, I met a sister (NGO . volunteer). She told me about the children's bank. So I came here. 'Now I . work more freely. I know my money is safe. I can withdraw money when . the need arises.' Paperwork: Four members show their pass books - which are needed to make a deposit . Pass book: Information such as name and date of account opening is included in the document . Charity program manager at Butterflies, Shashidhar Sabnavis, said: 'Street children were telling us that they lose their money. Or they tend to spend their money here and there. 'So, we at Butterflies decided on the idea of operationalizing a bank for them. 'They use their savings in the khazana . (bank) to meet their future needs. 'Some of them use their money to go . for higher education, or vocational training. Some of them use it to . start small business enterprises.' The charity also provides education, shelter and care for Delhi's vulnerable children. Future: It is hoped the members, two with passbooks pictured, learn life skills while staying at the shelter . Education: The NGO also runs classes for the children (pictured) and offers them shelter and food . Learning: Many of the children were not in school - one class pictured - before they joined the NGO . A teacher working for the organisation Firdaus Ahma said: 'Some kids here have jobs. They work in shops or tea stalls. We talk to those kids and motivate them to study and join our classes. 'This helps us bring them into the mainstream. 'When kids start depositing their earnings in the bank. That is an education for life. They will inculcate the habit of making savings. This will become a habit and help them in the future.' The CDK initiative has won numerous accolades, leading to them expanding the scheme to other parts of Delhi. Studies: A class takes place inside the shelter - which has won numerous awards for its work with children . Facilities: The children are given computer training (pictured) while at the shelter . Now Butterflies plan to introduce the initiative in Pakistan, Afghanistan, Bangladesh as well as some parts of Africa. Sharon Jacob, a child rights activist, said: 'This program has to go out and reach as many needy kids as possible. It can change lives. 'This is a bank for the kids who live their life on the streets. The bank motivates these kids - it offers them a future.' | Street children in Old Dehli, India, opened the bank for nine to 18-year-olds . Members can deposit anything up to a pound and get 3.5 per cent interest . Bank, called Children's Development Khazana, is managed by Sonu, 13 . Overseen by NGO Butterflies, which also provides schooling and shelter . | 30978caae2026c158a0c771c55a4ebf35a608785 |
A man has been found guilty of sexually assaulting and murdering a 10-month-old baby. Mervyn Kenneth Douglas Bell, 27, was accused of abusing the child and leaving him with burns, broken bones and bruises in March last year near Broome in Western Australia. He was on trial in the WA Supreme Court for more than two weeks, accused of abusing the boy for about 15 hours. Mervyn Kenneth Douglas Bell was found guilty on Friday of sexually assaulting and murdering the 10-month-old boy . Justice John McKechnie, who presided over the trial without a jury, combed through forensic evidence including graphic images of the dead baby before handing down the guilty judgement on Friday. Bell had claimed the child's injuries were caused by multiple factors, including when he fell out of a moving car travelling at about 60km/h, when the boy sat on hot rocks by a river, and when he fell into the water. But Justice McKechnie said Bell's claims the baby had fallen from a car seat were a 'lie' and that rocks had caused his burns was 'unbelievable'. Bell had showed a 'callous disregard for his health and safety', Justice McKechnie said. During the trial, the court heard the cause of death could not be ascertained, but the baby had suffered a broken arm and leg, third-degree burns on parts of his body, and severe bruising on his genitals and anus. Justice McKechnie said it was one of the more 'evil' crimes he had encountered, and the number and nature of the injuries could not have been caused by accident. 'It is not possible for the deceased to have injured himself,' Justice McKechnie said. 'He was not yet able to walk.' Mervyn kenneth Douglas Bell was accused of abusing a 10-month-old baby . The child was left with broken bones, bruises and burns and later died of his injuries . Justice McKechnie said Bell had a motive to harm the child because the baby's mother had humiliated him. 'You had no good reason to take charge of the child,' he said. Justice McKechnie said while Bell had not intended to kill the baby, his overall intention was to threaten the child's life, which meant he was guilty of murder. The child's mother and supporters wept and cheered in court when the verdict was handed down. Bell was remanded in custody for sentencing in December, with Justice McKechnie warning him that he would face a life sentence. The night before he took the baby from Broome, Bell punched and kicked the child's mother and left her on the ground after stripping her naked. The woman was hospitalised but was also charged over an assault on police, the outcome of which is still to be resolved. Outside court, the baby's aunt read a statement on behalf of the family, thanking the detectives in the case but saying the local police should have acted more swiftly when the kidnapping was reported. '(The baby's) beautiful eyes would have searched for his mother,' the aunt read. 'But he was not to know she was under custody in intensive care in Broome Hospital having just been critically bashed by Mervyn Bell and strangely arrested by Broome Police when they attended the assault. 'His eyes would have searched for his beloved Pop who, as soon as he realised he had been taken by Mervyn Bell, frantically sought help from Broome Police to find him and sadly was turned away.' The family said the loss of the baby was an 'unbearable grief' they would have to live with. Comment is being sought from police. The family said the loss of the baby was an 'unbearable grief' they would have to live with. Sorry we are not currently accepting comments on this article. | Mervyn Kenneth Douglas Bell was accused of assaulting a 10 month old boy for 15 hours in March 2013 near Broome in Western Australia . The baby was left with burns, broken bones and bruising . Bell was found guilty on Friday in the WA Supreme Court of murder after the boy died from his injuries . The 27-year-old had claimed the boy's injuries were from falling out of a car, sitting on hot rocks by a river and falling into the water . The family said outside court the loss of the baby was an 'unbearable grief' | 8f689b284d413e0ea0cc7a39a42a39f4971fa897 |
What is it about the British and treasure hunts? Hint at something shiny, add an air of mystery — and we reach for our spades. That’s what’s happening on Folkestone’s Outer Harbour beach this week, where wily German artist Michael Sailstorfer has tapped deep into the British national character by hiding 30 miniature 24-carat gold bars beneath the sand. He has upped the romance of it all by burying the bullion, worth £10,000, between the high and low tidelines. Cue dozens of people rushing down to the shore whenever the sea goes out. National obsession: Hundreds flocked to Folkestone's Outer Harbour beach in search of bullion this week . So far, just a handful of the bars are thought to have been discovered, with those successful including a trio from Canterbury — Kevin Wood, Kirsty Henderson and her sister Megan — and a local family. There’s still plenty of gold in them thar sands. And the Folkestone hoard, part of an arts festival, isn’t the only treasure around. In Cheltenham, a jeweller is staging a diamond hunt to raise money for cancer charity Maggie’s. Ten genuine, if small, diamonds — worth £10,000 in total — have been hidden in obscure spots around the town. Participants buy maps and clues to track them down, and the winners can have the stones made into their own unique piece of jewellery. In June this year, U.S. property millionaire Jason Buzi was even more ambitious in the scale of his hunt, hiding cash in cities around the world and posting clues online. What he called ‘a fun game that brings people together’ caused such a fever that a park in California was ripped apart — the fences torn down by fortune seekers. The reaction was also intense in London, where crowds descended on Kensington Gardens in search of envelopes containing £50 each. Success: Kirsty Henderson, 26, and Kevin Wood, 28, from Canterbury, were among the lucky ones in Kent . Even writers are getting in on the act. U.S. author James Frey is offering £300,000 to the first reader who can crack the hidden code in his book The Calling, published in the UK next month. So, why does treasure hunting exert such a magnetic pull on us? There’s the money, of course. But it’s more than that. These latest stunts play on a long history of real and fictional trails that have excited the British for more than 150 years. The most famous of all — and still the most influential — is that featured in Treasure Island, written in 1883 by Robert Louis Stevenson. The original treasure hunt: Treasure Island had it all - one-legged seamen and an X that marked the spot . His novel established many of the crucial elements of the traditional buried treasure adventure: Caribbean islands, one-legged seamen and — most importantly — a map with an X that marks the spot. It begins with the young hero Jim Hawkins (as in ‘Arr, Jim Lad!’) sifting through the contents of an old sailor’s sea chest and finding a map of a faraway isle where the loot is hidden. The battle to find the haul is on. There had been other desert island stories before it, chief among them Daniel Defoe’s Robinson Crusoe, published in 1719, which told of a castaway stranded on a South American island for decades. There had been treasure stories, too, notably Edgar Allan Poe’s The Gold-Bug, in 1843. In it, a man is bitten by a gold-coloured insect and becomes obsessed with finding treasure. Deciphering a secret message, he ends up doing exactly that. Stevenson’s genius was to combine these different elements into the ultimate tale of fortune-hunting. Yet it wasn’t just fiction that inspired him and sparked off our national obsession. Real pirates such as William Kidd, who is mentioned in Treasure Island, did in fact bury their loot. (Kidd’s booty, hidden on Gardiners Island in East Hampton, New York, was dug up by the authorities.) The discoveries of the lost Roman cities of Herculaneum, in 1738, and Pompeii, in 1748, and the valuables they held, also gripped the public imagination — as did the excavation of Tutankhamun’s gold-filled tomb in Egypt in 1922. Indeed, much of early archaeology was driven by the search for lost riches. In the late 19th century, Heinrich Schliemann, the German who excavated the ancient Greek cities of Troy and Mycenae, caused a stir by claiming to have dug up the gold mask of Greek hero Agamemnon and jewels belonging to Helen of Troy. In all likelihood, the treasure belonged to an even earlier civilisation. Elusive: The gold bars hidden in Folkestone. But why is Britain so obsessed with the idea of hidden plunder? Sometimes the riches haven’t been hidden so much as mislaid. Ships loaded with precious cargo, have been sinking to the bottom of the ocean since man first took to the sea, and pirates, chancers and looters have been trying to retrieve it ever since. Stevenson’s novel refers to a famous real-life salvaged wreck: the Spanish Treasure Fleet, sunk off the coast of Florida in 1715 and later picked apart by pirates and opportunists. Among them was a privateer (a kind of government-approved mercenary) called Henry Jennings, who made off with 350,000 pieces of eight. There are still prizes to be found. The greatest discovery of modern times is the Mary Rose, Henry VIII’s warship, which sank in the Solent in 1545 while fighting the French. In 1982, her hull and 26,000 precious artefacts were raised from the seabed — not by pirates, but a charitable trust. The appetite for obscure clues has been around for a long time, too, with some still unsolved after centuries. In 1820, prospector Thomas Jefferson Beale buried gold and silver in Virginia for safekeeping. He then gave three coded messages to a bar owner and promised to return with the key — but never did. Modern times: The treasures of the Mary Rose were recovered not by pirates but a charitable trust . The bar owner, in turn, left the messages to a friend on his death. That friend deciphered one of them but found none of the treasure, thought to be worth £40 million today. People are still burrowing into the Virginian hills in search of it. More recently, artist Kit Williams used elaborate pictures in his 1979 book Masquerade to give clues to the whereabouts of a hare-shaped jewel. After three years of frantic searching — during which time the book became a best-seller — it was discovered by a man called Ken Thomas. He rushed down to its hiding place in Bedfordshire, the nation heard, to find a pile of earth dug up by two rivals who were agonisingly close to reaching the jewel — and whisked it from under their noses. Thomas, however, turned out to be one Dugald Thompson, who knew Williams’s ex-girlfriend. She had accidentally revealed the rough location of the prize. Despite not finding it in the expected way, he got to keep the hare, which was later sold at auction by Sotheby’s for £31,900. Today we are still a country packed with treasure-hunters, but they’re now aided by modern technology. In recent years, some staggering finds have been made, going back to the earliest British civilisations. In 2009, the Staffordshire Hoard — the largest haul of Anglo-Saxon gold and silver ever discovered — was dug up in a field near the village of Hammerwich. Sensational: The Staffordshire Hoard, found in 2009, was the largest ever haul of Anglo-Saxon gold and silver . The 3,500 pieces, reckoned to be from the seventh or eighth century AD, are thought to have been buried by their owner with the intention of returning to claim them one day. There they lay until they were discovered by a metal-detector enthusiast searching a freshly-ploughed field. The following year, an exceptional Roman antiquity, a rare copper alloy helmet with a griffin crest, was unturfed by another metal detective in Crosby Garrett, Cumbria. It’s thought the helmet had been hidden away in a stone box by an owner who, again, failed to return. These ancient treasures are far more valuable than the gold bars buried at Folkestone. That Roman helmet was sold for £2.3 million, and the Staffordshire Hoard has been valued at close to £3.3 million. The message is clear. If you want to track down a fortune, the only way forwards is backwards — start digging into the past. | Artist Michael Sailstorfer set the hares running with gold bars in Folkestone . And in Cheltenham, a jeweller is staging a £10,000 treasure hunt for charity . It comes after Hidden Cash game swept major cities and tore apart a park . | dcd735f0f276dc9cb8731a89126dfa8ad9eb91e5 |
Nearly 2.5 million people - one in 20 adults - would like to quit Britain this year, according to new research. Lifestyle benefits are the biggest reason cited for leaving, while others are looking for a lower cost of living, better wages or to take advantage of exchange rates. And one in six of those set to quit the country cite the current political climate in Britain. Nearly 2.5 million Britons would entertain the idea of moving to pastures new this year, research has revealed . America (18 per cent), Australia (17 per cent), France (10 per cent) and Spain (nine per cent) are the most popular destinations. A survey of 2,000 people by foreign exchange experts Currencies Direct reveals that one in 20 adults claim to be definitely leaving the country this year, be it temporarily or permanently, with a similar number actively planning a move if not committed to one. Phil McHugh, Currencies Direct trading floor manager, said: 'This looks to be the year when a significant minority of Brits take flight abroad in search of a better life. 'Working overseas is a dream for many, but to make it a reality there are a whole host of costs and headaches that need to first be negotiated.' The US is the most popular destination for Britons wanting to emigrate, with 18 per cent choosing there . Work is the most common reason to head overseas (38 per cent), with others looking to study (30 per cent), volunteer (15 per cent) or retire (15 per cent). A third are heading off in pursuit of a better quality of life, with a quarter looking for the experience of living abroad. The economic benefits of life overseas also have a strong pull with 29 per cent believing the cost of living will be lower in another country - a factor that is even higher among young people (43 per cent) than retirees (33 per cent). One in 20 people stated currency as a reason to move abroad, with favourable exchange rates for Brits in some of the key destinations, thanks to a strong performance from the pound over the last six months. One in seven are expecting a higher wage, while 12 per cent are looking to save whilst overseas and eventually buy a property back in Britain. Australia is the second most popular destination to emigrate to, with Down Under being a very popular choice with the younger generation . Men are 50 per cent more likely than women to head abroad, while Brits aged 25 to 34 have the greatest wanderlust: the younger generation (15 per cent) being three times more likely than the national average to be moving abroad. One in five younger Brits heading abroad are looking to move Down Under, while those aged 55 or older are the group least likely to move to Oz. By contrast, retirement hotspot Spain is almost three times more popular with people in their 50s than their younger counterparts. Young Brits are also twice as likely as the average to want to move to the Middle East - a probable reflection of higher earning potential combined with lifestyle considerations making it a short-term move. Lifestyle benefits, a lower cost of living and better wages make Britons consider emigrating . Mr McHugh added: 'Those considering a move overseas should also make sure they do their financial homework properly, particularly with regard to a potential new home's cost of living, exchange rate and tax laws. 'There have been many positive and negative shifts of late, and it's important to be aware of these. For example in January 2014 the pound started the year at 1.65 to the US dollar, compared to the current rate of 1.51. Alternatively, in January 2014 the pound was trading at 1.20 against the euro, compared to 1.28 now. 'The exchange rate of a destination can make a real difference to a move overseas. Someone transferring their life's savings of £50,000 into a Spanish bank account would be €4,000 better off than this time last year, while the same person moving to the US would be nearly $7,000 down.' | Research reveals 2.5 million Britons would like to emigrate this year . One in six want to move as they dislike the UK's political climate . Lifestyle benefits, a lower cost of living and better wages are other factors . | 8fbeb66f1a7c8ece0c059edf0dd5383e781b8a63 |
A tattooed princess preserved in permafrost after 2,500 years is to be reinterred amid fears her upheaval sparked a series of natural disasters. The mummified remains of the Russian ice maiden were discovered 21 years ago in a high altitude plateau in the heart of south-western Siberia. But her removal led to concern among local elders who called for her to be put back in her final resting place to 'stop her anger that caused floods and earthquakes'. Scroll down for video . The tattooed Russian ice maiden was discovered 21 years ago in a high altitude plateau in the heart of south-western Siberia . When the mummy was found by scientist Natalia Polosmak in 1993 she was heralded as 'one of the most significant archaeological discoveries of the 20th century' She was thought to be about 25 years old when she died of suspected cancer and was found preserved in permafrost . Ancient beliefs dictate that her presence in the burial chamber had been to 'bar the entrance to the kingdom of the dead'. Now the Siberian Times has reported plans have finally been put forward to reinter the body back into the ground in the Russia's Altai Mountains and honour her with her own special mausoleum. Located on the pristine grasslands of the 2,500 metre high Ukok Plateau, the beautiful monument to Princess Ukok could be started next year. The tattooed mummy was excavated by Novosibirsk scientist Natalia Polosmak in 1993 and was heralded as 'one of the most significant archaeological discoveries of the 20th century'. Thought to be about 25 years old when she died of suspected cancer, she was found preserved in permafrost, with two men also discovered nearby. Buried around her were six horses, saddled and bridled and said to have been her spiritual escorts to the next world, along with a meal of sheep and horse meat. Archaeologists also found ornaments made from felt, wood, bronze and gold as well as a small container of cannabis and a stone plate on which coriander seeds were burned. From her clothes and possessions including a 'cosmetics bag', scientists were able to recreate her fashion and beauty secrets. She was dressed in a long shirt made from Chinese silk, and had long felt sleeve boots with a beautiful decoration on them. At this time Chinese silk was only ever found in royal burials of the Pazyrk people, and since it was more expensive than gold it gave an indication of her wealth and status. Elders in the Altai Mountains have long called for the mummified remains to be reburied on the Ukopk plateau . Elders insisted that the worst flooding in 50 years in Altai and a series of earthquakes were caused by the dead princess . Her head was completely shaved, and she wore a horse hair wig on top of which was a carving of a wooden deer. The princess's face and neck skin was not preserved, but the skin of her left arm survived. But the most exciting discovery was her elaborate body art, which many observers said bore striking similarities to modern-day tattoos. On her left shoulder was a fantastical mythological animal made up of a deer with a griffon's beak and a Capricorn~s antlers. The antlers themselves were decorated with the heads of griffons. The mouth of a spotted panther with a long tail could also be seen, and she had a deer's head on her wrist. Elders in the Altai Mountains have long called for the mummified remains to be reburied on the Ukopk plateau to 'stop her anger which causes floods and earthquakes'. They insisted that the worst flooding in 50 years in Altai and a series of earthquakes were caused by the dead princess. Recently Russian scientists discovered that her death is likely to have been caused by cancer but that she also suffered a suspected fall from a horse late in her life. She is believed to have been between 25 and 28 years old and about 1.62 metres tall. Her remains were treated by the same scientists in Moscow who preserved the body of former Soviet leader Vladimir Lenin. The plans to reinter the body back into the ground in the Russia's Altai Mountains and honour her with her own special mausoleum. Work could start on the 2,500 metre high Ukok Plateau next year . Princess Ukok spent most of the past two decades at a scientific institute in Novosibirsk. Then she was moved to a specially designed chamber at the Republican National Museum in Gorno-Altaisk, but elders objected to her remains going on public display. The first sketches of the plans for the new mausoleum were presented by Akai Kine, the zaisan (leader) of the Teles ethnic group, and president of the Spiritual Centre of the Turks Kin Altai. He told the Siberian Times: 'According to the drafts, the mummy will be put in her original resting place, and on the top will be build funerary monument. 'The mausoleum will be located on the Ukok plateau in the place where the mummy was found by archaeologists in 1993. 'These are the first options for the future mausoleum. Publishing them, we want to start a public discussion in the media. 'There is no State decision on reburial of the Princess. But we have the main thing - we believe that this revered woman will be reburied.' Local political leaders accept that she should be reburied. Under the proposals put forward for the mausoleum the elders say any project should meet three basic requirements. Akai Kine said: 'Firstly, the body should be reposed in the site of the original burial. 'Second, the mausoleum mound must be made according to the traditions that were followed when the Princess was buried. 'And third, scientists shall be granted access to the body.' | The tattooed mummy was excavated in 1993 by scientist Natalie Polosmak . Her removal led to concern among local elders who called for her return . She was described as 'one of the most significant' finds of the 20th Century . Plans have now been put forward to return her to her final resting place . They include a special mausoleum in Russia's Altai Mountains . | db5facd563a11bbb4e4bd10900d63575c1619846 |
Dave Whelan has found himself an ally in Blackpool chairman Karl Oyston, who insists his Wigan counterpart is not a racist. The 77-year-old is under investigation by the FA after remarks made when trying to defend the Latics’ decision to appoint Malky Mackay as their new manager. Whelan claimed that Jewish people ‘chase money’, also referring to the Chinese community as ‘chinks’. Karl Oyston has backed Wigan Athletic owner Dave Whelan by claiming he is no racist . Whelan (left) is under investigation by the FA over remarks last week when defending Malky Mackay (right) He had been trying to take the heat off his new boss by playing down the racist, sexist and homophobic texts sent and received by the Scot while he was at Cardiff. And while Whelan – who has promised to resign if he is found guilty of misconduct - has been widely condemned, Oyston moved to back him up. The Seasiders’ chief told the Blackpool Gazette: ‘I think it’s horrendous how people can twist and not take into the context Dave Whelan’s comments. ‘I’ve known him on a personal level for the past 10 years and that man is not a racist or a bigot. He says things as he sees them and is from a different generation but he’s certainly not a racist. ‘I think it’s the sickening sections of the gutter press – vultures who are waiting to swoop and have taken someone apart who clearly doesn’t deserve it.’ Mackay himself is still under investigation by the FA for his part in the text scandal uncovered by Sportsmail in August. Whelan tried to back down from his comments when contacted by Sportsmail last week. Whelan, 77, caused a stir over his appointment of Mackay as the new Wigan manager last week . Whelan was seen crying as Wigan fans sang his name before they faced Middlesbrough on Saturday . He said: ‘I don’t know how it’s come across but it’s unfair if it’s come across like that. What I said is this: Malky criticised somebody and called them a name. We all get called names. We get called Limeys, Brits. The Scots get called Jocks. And we don’t take a blind bit of notice. I don’t know what all this is about. ‘There’s a big difference if you criticise a black person because that is something I would never ever do or agree to. ‘I would never even dream of that. That is something that is totally taboo. Everybody on the planet is equal and everybody who plays football is equal and I believe in that. I go to Barbados a lot. ‘I have friends, black people, white people, everybody is the same and everybody should be treated the same on the planet and that’s all I have to say on the subject. We are all equal under the sun. OK?’ | Dave Whelan under investigation by the FA after remarks last week . Wigan owner was trying to defend new manager Malky Mackay and claimed that Jewish people ‘chase money’, also referring to the Chinese as ‘chinks’ Karl Oyston says he has known Whelan for 10 years and he is no racist . Whelan has backtracked but says he will resign if found guilty by FA . | 13e301bf8286bd9f045ae4bb62a2300fdb25a524 |
(CNN) -- Who knew that fighting breast cancer for the third time in seven years would reveal my purpose in life. Triple negative breast cancer survivor hopes her story will inspire other people to "live in the now." I have never felt better about my life than now. My mantra each morning when I wake up, during the day between tasks, and at night before I go to bed is, "All is well! Everything in this situation is working for my highest good and from this situation only good will come. All is well!" After a right breast mastectomy with large margins excised due to cancer spread within the dermas, muscle from the back was removed to place on the chest wall and a skin graft from my right thigh. I was left with huge scaring both outside and within. The most regrettable loss was never being able to have reconstructive surgery to replace what I thought defined me as an attractive and sexy woman. After healing remarkably fast and well, I had to get back what I'd lost in order to move on and feel good about myself once again. First of all, I had to start looking at myself in the mirror with no clothes for longer than a second. I massaged my chest with special creams and oils everyday which forced me to look at the area and monitor its healing. After the healing was complete, I had to shop for a breast prosthetic. Wow, that was when my purpose in life was revealed! Spencer shares her experiences with cancer » . I was given a prescription for a custom prosthesis and sent to an orthotics and prosthetics center where I was caught off guard by a prosthetic professional who sized me up when I walked in the door. "You're not going to like what I have to show you," she said. Confused and somewhat disappointed I asked, "What do you mean?" Well, she defined me by my professional attire and assumed the off-the-shelf prosthesis would not meet my expectations. She was right. After showing me what was available she suggested I look at a couple of custom breast prosthetic products she recommended. I thanked her for her honesty and help and went to investigate. After doing my homework on several companies, I chose one that actually used a plaster mold to fit me. I was disappointed to say the least and am currently wearing an off the shelf prosthesis that fits in a special bra or can be worn with a special sock or sleeve in a regular bra. Needless to say, the custom prosthesis was not as "custom" as I thought it would be. I said to myself there has to be a better product and at least more options available for women. My purpose in life is to provide women in need options for a better product and/or create and develop a product that meets the specifications of each and every woman no matter their size, amount of area, or specific shade or hue. That is why I created a breast prosthesis called AugMe that focuses on specific color matching and contours from skin to prosthesis. I work for a large media corporation so my insurance paid for the custom prosthesis that cost $4,000. However, for those women who don't have private insurance, Medicare does not cover custom breast prosthesis. Until Medicare changes their policy to cover custom breast prosthesis, there will be little demand for AugMe or any other custom product. I have now joined forces with Dr. Susan Cassidy, the CEO of another custom prosthetic company, CountourMed, to hopefully change Medicare's policy. We are currently awaiting their decision after presenting letters from breast cancer professionals and organizations as well as seeking congressional attention. I am a triple negative breast cancer survivor. I hope that through my story, others will be inspired to "live in the now" and love every moment of it. I recently found out about Dr. Lisa Newman's annual trips to Ghana where she performs surgery on women with triple negative breast cancer. I asked her if she could use breast prosthesis for her patients. She was overwhelmed and said that she currently takes only a few and how helpful and meaningful that would be for her patients in Ghana. Doctor travels to Ghana for cancer clues » Well I'm sure you can assume that I am now on another journey to provide breast prostheses for those women in Ghana as well as women here in the United States. I am often asked do I wonder why "I've" been diagnosed with breast cancer and the answer is so obvious to me. Of course I know why. If it weren't for my diagnosis of breast cancer, I would be feeling sorry for others and fearful of what may happen to me. How selfish and non productive. Now I waste no time feeling sorry for myself or others and I make sure every moment is spent making a positive impact on all those I encounter. It's not about how much time you have, it's about what you're doing with that time. I choose to spend it making people with breast cancer, happy. If you have had a mastectomy due to breast cancer and reconstruction is not an option, tell me your story and hopefully I can help you. Go to www.augmefoundation.com. You can also go to the site to make a donation to provide breast prostheses for women in Ghana. | Dawn Spencer has been battling a rare, aggressive form of breast cancer . The seven-year struggle has helped her find her purpose in life, she says . Spencer's purpose is to provide better breast prosthesis options to women in need . It's not about how much time you have, it's about what you do with it, says Spencer . | a69c3155e1465a89addacaef1f46024f006f6c45 |
Julie Bishop revealed she should have been a long distance runner in a recent interview and now she has taken strides to show that she was not joking. The foreign affairs minister hit the pavement on Monday morning on the way to Parliament House in the nation's capital. Sporting a blue tank top layered over a pink T-shirt, Australia's most powerful woman gripped her phone as she made tracks to work. Scroll down for video . The foreign affairs minister hit the pavement on Monday morning on the way to Parliament House in the nation's capital . Although she was out of office for her training she was seen with her phone gripped tightly in her hand . Leading by example! Health Minister Susan Ley also turned up to work in her exercise gear after some early morning training . Julie Bishop had swapped her training gear for a more appropriate option by the time she took her place next to the Prime Minister Tony Abbott in parliament . But she was not alone in trying to get more active. Health Minister Sussan Lay was also seen strapping on her blue sneakers. Dressed in a navy workout skirt and teal T-shirt, Ms Lay was seen entering Parliament House with a black handbag on her shoulder. In a candid interview with Australian Women's Weekly in this month's issue, Ms Bishop spoke about her love of running and how it was her way to relax after a hard day's work. 'I'll run and run and run... I should have been a long distance runner,' she said. It has been a stressful few weeks for Ms Bishop who has been negotiating with the Indonesian government to stop the execution of Bali Nine duo Andrew Chan and Myuran Sukuraman. Dressed in a navy workout skirt and teal T-shirt, Ms Lay was seen entering Parliament House with a black handbag on her shoulder . The foreign affairs minister has said that she loves to exercise and that it helps her overcome jetlag . Julie Bishop has revealed she should have been a 'long distance runner' in a magazine interview because she runs to get over jetlag and it helps to keep her balanced and focused . Ms Bishop, who became the first female deputy leader of the Liberal Party and the first to be Foreign Affairs Minister, is now one of the most famous faces in Australian politics . Along with that, she has had to stave off rumours of her taking over the top job from Tony Abbott. But all these issues seemed a million miles away for Ms Bishop as she worked up a sweat on the streets of Canberra. The foreign minister has made no secret that she is a keen runner. She runs to get over jetlag after meeting with some of the world's most powerful leaders. Even when Ms Bishop is back home in Perth at the beach taking time out from the hustle and bustle of Canberra, she's still running. The 58-year-old has even spent the past 17 years climbing up the political ranks. Ms Bishop, who became the first female deputy leader of the Liberal Party and the first woman to be foreign minister, is now one of the most famous faces in Australian politics. She is renowned for her immaculate and polished appearance as she makes deals and shakes hands with some of the world's most powerful leaders. But when she does go back home, she can often be found having a coffee at the surf club where she is vice-patron in just a 'T-shirt and shorts', the magazine reports. It's in stark contrast to the Armani brand clothing, red high heels and pearl and diamond earrings she is normally photographed wearing. People have revealed deep down Ms Bishop is in fact a 'girly girl', but she maintains it only takes her 30 minutes to shower, dress and do her hair and make-up every morning. Ms Bishop, who is renowned for her immaculate and polished appearance, holds her own in the male-dominated top ranks of the Liberal party . She regularly flies across the world to meet with the top leaders in her role as Foreign Minister . Ms Bishop first took up a ministry position when former Prime Minister John Howard (back) appointed her as Minister for Ageing in 2003. She is pictured here being sworn in by Governor-General Michael Jeffery (right) Ms Bishop, who up until last year was the only woman in Prime Minister Tony Abbott's Cabinet, is no stranger to operating in a male-dominated environment. As a new recruit in her first job at a legal firm in 1978, Ms Bishop was asked to hand around drinks at a function while her male counterpart was allowed to mingle with the partners. 'I knew I couldn't stay at that firm,' she told Women's Weekly. At age 38, she became managing partner at Clayton Utz law firm and was tasked with managing 27 top male lawyers. Yet she famously came out last year and refused to identify herself as a feminist. She does not have children, but her new relationship with property developer David Panton received a flurry of attention when they were photographed at the Melbourne Cup racing carnival together last year . Despite Liberal leadership speculation over the past month, Ms Bishop still maintains she is happy in her current role as Foreign Minister . She is not married and does not have children, but her new relationship with property developer David Panton received a flurry of attention when they were photographed at the Melbourne Cup racing carnival together last year. Her popularity has jumped over the past 12 months, mainly due to her strong performance on the international stage in relation to foreign diplomacy and national security. Ms Bishop fiercely confronted Russian President Vladimir Putin late last month at a summit in Italy to question him over the MH17 disaster over the Ukraine. Ms Bishop grew up on a cherry farm and was educated at the prestigious St Peter's Collegiate Girls School in Adelaide. She is pictured in 1982 . Then Opposition Leader Malcolm Turnbull (centre) and Ms Bishop as they watch a demonstration on a rocket propelled grenade during their visit to meet the solders in Tarin Kowt, Afghanistan in 2009 . The Foreign Minister was also regarded for pushing the resolution the United Nations Security Council passed back in July to allow Australia and other countries access to the Malaysian Airlines crash site to retrieve the bodies. But despite Liberal leadership speculation over the past month, Ms Bishop still maintains she is happy in her current role as Foreign Minister. '(I'm) living the dream and loving the job,' she told Daily Mail Australia in November. 'I am in the best job I could ever wish for. It's the job I wanted to do when I went into politics.' | Julie Bishop was seen making tracks to Parliament House in Canberra . While her colleague Sussan Ley opted to walk to work on Monday morning . She revealed she could have been a long-distance runner in an interview . Ms Bishop also said it took her half an hour to get ready in the morning . Her daily regime includes running to get over jetlag and keep her focused . | 81d029d57f7008495936942d8e0aa9b0c768fea1 |
Chicago, Illinois (CNN) -- Severe overnight storms in the Chicago area caused power outages, flight cancellations and flooded homes and roadways. About 50,000 ComEd customers were without electricity Saturday morning after lightning and heavy downpours pummeled the city overnight, said Laura Micheli, a spokeswoman for the utility. It was unclear when power would be restored to those households because storms were still rolling through the area, she said. The outages started at about 6 p.m. (7 p.m. ET) Friday night. CNN iReporter Nancy Holst of Lombard said her husband, who is a firefighter, responded to several calls overnight where he was working in waist-deep floodwaters. She said he took one look at her once-blooming garden now sitting under 6 inches of water and said, "That's nothing." The storms caused damage through Chicago suburbs before moving into downtown in the morning, she said. The bad weather also forced the cancellation of 200 flights at the Chicago O'Hare International Airport Saturday morning, according to Karen Pride of the Chicago Department of Aviation. There were delays of up to one hour at the airport at midday, she said, but no delays were reported at Midway International Airport. Pride said there was some airfield flooding at O'Hare Friday night, but flight operations were not affected. The National Weather Service in Illinois reported that at least 6.3 inches of rain fell at O'Hare and 6.2 inches at Midway. CNN affiliate WGN reported more than 5 inches of rain were dumped over some parts of the Chicago area Saturday morning. There were also reports of flooded basements and expressway closures. A flood warning remained in effect for parts of the region until 7 p.m. (8 p.m. ET). CNN's John Branch contributed to this report . | NEW: A flood warning remains in effect until 7 p.m. Severe storms have caused thousands to lose power in Chicago . The storms have moved into downtown . Flooding has forced officials to close some roadways . | d8ec37d147c0556dca5ccbb9631e792d6fdf4e9b |
By . Anthony Bond . PUBLISHED: . 21:21 EST, 8 December 2012 . | . UPDATED: . 08:54 EST, 9 December 2012 . The DJs at the centre of the hoax call scandal to the Duchess of Cambridge's hospital face being questioned by detectives following the death of Jacintha Saldanha, it has emerged. Scotland Yard is understood to have been in contact with police in Australia as it emerged Mel Greig and Michael Christian had gone into hiding. They are said to be receiving medical assistance amid . growing fears for their ‘physical and emotional wellbeing’. Loss: Mel Greig, left, and . Michael Christian, right, are expected to be questioned by police officers following the death of Jacintha Saldanha . The pair have been caught in an international backlash following the suspected suicide of Mrs Saldanha on Friday morning. While . it is not thought the presenters broke any laws, it is expected they will . be interviewed by police. Scotland Yard is preparing a report for Mrs . Saldanha’s inquest and requires statements from them. Speaking to The Sun, Nick Kaldas, . deputy commissioner for New South Wales said: 'If you're going to . prepare a coroner's brief you will need to look at all aspects of it. 'There's this question of what was said and done.' The boss of the radio company at the . centre of the royal hoax call yesterday refused to sack the DJs behind the . stunt and painted them as victims. The 2DayFM . presenters were both taken off air after the death of Mrs Saldanha emerged. The 46-year-old mother of two, had been manning the hospital . switchboard when the Australian hoaxers called and she transferred the . call to the Duchess of Cambridge's ward. Tragic: The grieving husband of nurse Jacintha Saldanha who died in a suspected suicide has told of his devastation at her death. She is pictured centre, believed to be with her two children . Rhys Holleran, the chief executive of . Southern Cross Austereo, which owns the station, said the presenters . were 'completely shattered' and had been offered counselling. His . comments were made before King Edward VII hospital said they had sent a . letter of complaint to the company about the 'truly appalling' prank. Lord Glenarthur, chairman of the hospital, said that he wanted to 'protest' against the prank and seek assurances that the station would never do anything similar again. Mr Holleran told a press conference in Melbourne that the primary concern was for the family of Jacintha Saldanha, whose body was found yards from the King Edward VII Hospital. He said: 'I spoke to both presenters early this morning and it's fair to say they are completely shattered. Nurse Jacintha Saldanha, 46, died in an apparent suicide after she transferred a hoax call from Australian DJs who retrieved sensitive information about Kate Middleton while in hospital . 'These people aren't machines, . they're human beings. What happened is incredibly tragic and we’re . deeply saddened and we’re incredibly affected by that.’ He added: 'I think prank calls as a . craft in radio have been going for decades and decades and are not just . part of one radio station or network or country. 'No-one could have reasonably foreseen what ended up being an incredibly tragic day.' Mr Holleran declined to reveal who had dreamed up the prank call but said: ‘These things are often done collaboratively.' A source confirmed that 2DayFM’s lawyers had listened to audio of the entire call and had given it . clearance to go to air. Mr Holleran said it was ‘a bit early’ to be drawing conclusions from what was really a ‘deeply tragic matter.’ He added: ‘I don’t think anyone could have reasonably foreseen that this was going to be a result.' The grieving husband of nurse . Mrs Saldanha has told of . his devastation at her death. Benedict Barboza, a 49-year-old hospital accountant, also known as Ben, posted a tribute to Mrs Saldanha on his Facebook page. He wrote: 'I am devastated with the . tragic loss of my beloved wife Jacintha in tragic circumstances, She . will be laid to rest in Shirva, India.' Mrs Saldanha found herself at the . centre of the controversy after answering the DJs' call, when they . obtained intimate details about Kate Middleton's condition by posing as . the Queen and Prince Charles. The grieving family of the 'excellent' nurse said: 'We as a . family are deeply saddened by the loss of our beloved Jacintha.' Facing the media; Southern Cross Austereo CEO Rhys Holleran came out in defence of the DJs behind the prank call to Kate Middleton's hospital . Tragedy: Kate and WIlliam have said they are 'deeply saddened' by Jacintha Saldanha's death and paid tribute to the care the Duchess received at the King Edward VII . Abuse: Australian radio presenters Christian Michael and Mel Greig, whose . prank call about the Duchess of Cambridge was transferred by nurse . Jacintha Saldanha, have been bombarded with abuse on Twitter following . news of her suspected suicide. They later removed their accounts . | Mel Greig and Michael Christian have gone into hiding amid growing fears for their ‘physical and emotional wellbeing’ Scotland Yard is preparing a report for . Jacintha Saldanha’s inquest and requires statements from the duo . | 22a248964ba5acbe95f22875542e8f6667ce5349 |
(CNN) -- A controversial photography exhibit called "In the Playroom" depicts young children reenacting tragic and violent historical events, including the September 11 attacks and the abuse of inmates at Iraq's infamous Abu Ghraib prison. The artist, Jonathan Hobin, says his work is an attempt to reflect on modern events that affect children and prompt dialogue about "issues in our world." But the photos have also drawn criticism from those who say Hobin's use of artistic license involving children crosses an ethical boundary. "Some of it is appropriate," said psychiatrist Alvin Poussaint. "But I don't know that it's appropriate to put a scarf around a girl's neck like she's going to be strangled with out really understanding what that's about." Poussaint was referring to one of Hobin's photographs in which a young girl is depicted as slain 6-year-old JonBenet . Ramsey, who was found dead in the basement of her Colorado home in 1996 after being strangled. The image portrays the girl dressed in beauty pageant attire while holding a mauve-colored scarf around her neck. Poussaint said he commended the photographs for their portrayal of events that affect children, but cautioned that the children likely "didn't understand what they were doing." He also warned against placing young children in situations that could potentially traumatize or frighten them, cautioning that the effects of traumatic events commonly surface later in life. But Hobin defended his work, arguing that "media is so pervasive its almost inescapable" and the exhibit . endeavored to show how these events are "part of our culture." "We have to acknowledge it," he said. Others aren't so sure. One photograph, called "The Twins," shows two young boys staring directly into the camera in a playroom designed to look like a scene from the September 11 attacks at the World Trade Center in New York. In the scene, a boy is shown holding a toy plane, while the other child holds a toy fire engine crane in front of a building made to look like its ablaze. Another image shows a hooded child on box with phony electrodes attached to his fingers in a scene that portrays an Abu Ghraib prisoner. Next to him shows a near naked boy, handcuffed beside a stuffed animal of a dog. Hobin's exhibit was first unveiled in September at a gallery in Ottawa, Canada, and was shot with the approval of the children's parents, he said. CNN spoke with one parent who said she allowed her child to be photographed, but could not immediately reach the parents of the other children. | Exhibit "In the Playroom" depicts young children re-enacting violent events . Photographer Jonathan Hobin says it reflects on modern events that affect children . He says the exhibit is supposed to prompt dialogue about "issues in our world" The photos have drawn criticism from those who say it crosses an ethical line . | ad1f0e7874f906333eec0fa788200a1aea95e719 |
Apple hasn’t had the best track record in terms of security on iCloud recently - and now the tech giant is suggesting storing fingerprints on the online service. A patent awarded earlier this week reveals plans to let Apple users store their fingerprints in the cloud, which could then be used on other devices with biometric sensors. As the files revealed, after the prints are stored online, the user could press the TouchID scanner on any Apple device to sign into accounts and make payments. Scroll down for video . The patent (pictured) was filed by the Californian tech giant in July 2013 and awarded yesterday. The files detail a system that would let users store their fingerprints on iCloud, which could then be downloaded and used when touching a biometric sensor on another device . The benefit of doing this would mean people wouldn’t have to record their fingerprints across multiple devices, which Apple described in the patent as ‘cumbersome.’ But, it would mean the fingerprints would be much easier, potentially, to be accessed by hackers. In theory, hackers would be limited with what they could do with a file of a fingerprint, but last month a team of security researchers was able to recreate a physical print using just a high-resolution photo - highlighting the dangers. According to the ‘Finger biometric sensor data synchronization via a cloud computing device and related methods’ patent: ‘A common approach to fingerprint identification involves scanning a sample fingerprint or an image, and storing the image. Once a fingerprint is stored online, each time the user tries to use a TouchID sensor on any Apple device, the prints would be matched. And to allay potential privacy concerns, Apple explained that a user would have to validate their Apple ID account before registering their prints . To verify an account and fingerprint, the user would need to enter a username, password and pass code. The fingerprints would then be encrypted and sent to iCloud. To verify the print on the second device, the user would equally need to be signed into iCloud, and the prints would need to match . ‘The characteristics of a sample fingerprint may be compared to information for reference or enrolled fingerprints already in a database to determine proper identification of a person, such as for verification purposes. ‘Despite the existence of such fingerprint matching techniques, enrollment may become cumbersome for users in some instances, such as when multiple fingerprints, users, and devices are used.’ With this in mind, Apple proposes an electronic system that uses a biometric sensor and a so-called ‘first processor’. The processor collects biometric data from a sensor. The system would then include a cloud computing device that would upload and store the data. Last year, Apple’s iCloud fell victim to hackers who stole photos from a number of its celebrity users including Jennifer Lawrence (pictured) Last year, Apple’s iCloud fell victim to hackers who broke into the online service and stole photos from a number of its celebrity users. These photos, including some that were nude selfies uploaded by celebrities such as Jennifer Lawrence, were then posted online. Following the news, Apple said it was 'outraged' by the attacks, and said they were the result of 'a very targeted attack on user names, passwords and security questions'. It advised worried customers to update their accounts with a 'strong' password and enable two-step verification. The hackers are believed to have used iCloud's password reset function to gain access to accounts. This allows users to reset their password by entering their username, date of birth and correctly answering two security questions. Experts said this information should be relatively easy to find for celebrities. Last year, Apple’s iCloud fell victim to hackers who broke into the online service and stole photos from a number of its celebrity users. These photos, including some that were nude selfies, were then posted online. Following the news, Apple said it was 'outraged' by the attacks, and were the result of 'a very targeted attack' Last month, a team of security researchers was able to recreate a physical print using a photo. Starbug, whose real name is Jan Krissler, told attendees of the Chaos Computer Club’s (CCC) 31st annual congress in Hamburg, Germany, how he achieved the hack. Mr Krissler obtained a high-resolution photograph of the politician’s thumb using a ‘standard photo camera’ during a press conference. He also used other 'good quality' photos of the politician, taken from a variety of angles. From these images, he reconstructed an accurate thumbprint using the VeriFinger software. This software is good enough, according to CCC, to fool fingerprint security systems. A second phone, with a second biometric sensor, and a second processor would ‘collect to-be matched finger biometric data’ from the second device, and download data from the cloud. The fingerprint data collected by the second sensor would be matched with the encrypted online data, and access would be granted. Put simply, once a fingerprint is stored online, each time the user tries to use a TouchID sensor on any Apple device, the prints would be compared and matched. And to allay potential privacy concerns, Apple explained that a user would have to validate their Apple ID account before registering their prints. This would require the username, password and pass code. The fingerprints would be encrypted and sent to iCloud. To verify the print on the second device, the user would equally need to be signed into iCloud, and the prints would need to match. As well as a phone or tablet, the ‘second device’ could be fingerprint scanners in shops that work with Apple Pay. However, David Emm, principal security researcher at Kaspersky Lab told MailOnline: 'If implemented, this would give Apple a further way of trying to establish the iPhone as a payment mechanism. 'On the face of it, this would appear to present no greater risk than the storage of password hashes on a provider’s site. 'However, there is one key difference. If my password is compromised, I can create a new one for the compromised account. 'Unfortunately, I’m unable to change my biometric data. So if such data isn’t stored securely - and there’s no such thing as 100 per cent security- the risks could be far greater than the theft of a single password.' | The patent was filed in July 2013 but only awarded yesterday . Files detail a system that would let users store their fingerprints on iCloud . The prints would be recorded on one Apple device, and then accessible from any other with an appropriate biometric sensor . It prevents having to record prints on multiple Apple devices . | 7a94222e014e6a4c5428e9020a783167076cada3 |
By . James Slack and Jack Doyle . PUBLISHED: . 17:49 EST, 16 May 2013 . | . UPDATED: . 17:49 EST, 16 May 2013 . Intervention: Home Secretary Theresa May last week said that police forces must continue to name arrested suspects if it is in the public interest to . Police chiefs are preparing to defy the Prime Minister by imposing a ban on identifying arrested suspects. Despite warnings from David Cameron and Home Secretary Theresa May, the Association of Chief Police Officers is pressing ahead with plans to impose a policy of almost total secrecy. A draft of its draconian new guidance – due to be approved next week – states: ‘Save in exceptional and clearly identified circumstances, the names or identifying details of those who are arrested or suspected of a crime should not be released by police forces to the press or the public.’ It flies in the face of a hugely significant intervention by Mr Cameron on Wednesday, when he said there should be a ‘working assumption’ in favour of identifying crime suspects. He backed Mrs May, who last week said that police should be free to name those who have been arrested if it is in the ‘public interest’. Campaigners say it is vital that officers should not have their hands tied by rules that could prevent victims and witnesses coming forward. In the case of Stuart Hall, a string of victims contacted the police only after the media reported that the TV presenter had been arrested for indecent assault. But despite the warnings, Acpo are pressing ahead with their guidelines. The phrase in the rules ‘save in exceptional circumstances’ echoes the Leveson report, which called for anonymity in the event of arrests. This is despite Mrs May and Mr Cameron pointing out to officers that, while the issue was raised in the Leveson report, it was not one of the judge’s substantive recommendations. Last night campaigners attacked the plan for secret arrests. Kirsty Hughes, of the Index On . Censorship, said: ‘De facto anonymity for people who have been arrested . would reverse the principle of open justice we have in the UK and could . lead to people being arrested and taken into custody without anyone . knowing about it. ‘Anonymity may be appropriate in certain circumstances, but sweeping powers for secrecy should not be the norm. In cases of suspected rape or abuse, naming people who have been arrested can encourage other witnesses to come forward and help to secure convictions.’ Peter Watt, director of the National Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Children’s helpline, said: ‘Sex offenders frighten children into staying silent and make them feel they are partly responsible for what’s happening. This can leave the victim feeling isolated and unaware there may well be others suffering the same ordeal. ‘When a suspect is named in the public interest – for example when there is a child protection issue or because the police believe there are more victims – it gives others an opportunity to come forward, which helps build a stronger criminal case.’ Last week, Mrs May wrote to police chiefs to insist they must not continue with the practice – which has been adopted by a third of all forces – of refusing to identify suspects even after they had been charged. One force insisted they had adopted the policy in direct response to Leveson. But Mrs May said it risked undermining ‘transparency in the criminal justice system’. She added: ‘I believe there should be a right to anonymity at arrest, but I know that there will be circumstances in which the public interest means that an arrested suspect should be named.’ Encouraging for witnesses: In the case of Stuart Hall, who abused a string of young girls, many victims contacted the police only after the media reported that the TV presenter had been arrested for indecent assault . On Wednesday, five days after the letter was first made public, reports on the BBC suggested this meant Mrs May was herself in favour of anonymity except in exceptional circumstances. However, when this was put to the Prime Minister by journalists, he made it clear this was not the case. Mr Cameron said: ‘I know some people want to connect it specifically with Leveson. But actually it’s a long-standing debate about how to get the balance right between making things public, which as Theresa has said should be the working assumption, but also respecting privacy where that is appropriate. ‘It’s a very difficult balance to get right. On the one hand, making public the details of the arrest can help to bring forward evidence and bring forward potential victims. Therefore it is completely in the public interest. Sometimes it is right to respect the privacy of the individual because the publicity around these sorts of arrests can be genuinely life changing. There is no simple answer to this.’ Mr Cameron added: ‘I saw Theresa’s approach in advance and I think it’s the right one.’ | New Association of Chief Police Officers guidance will keep arrests secret . Comes as PM called for 'working assumption' in favour of naming suspects . | 879b4eaa012d55598118bf05276292bb1978516d |
David Moyes is hoping Tottenham will allow him to take Etienne Capoue on loan next week. The Real Sociedad manager is waiting until the last week of the window to see what players he can bring out of the Premier League and hopes Tottenham are willing to strike a temporary deal for the French midfielder who has been on the periphery of Maurico Pochettino's first-team selections. As Sportsmail reported, Arsenal's Joel Campbell is another Moyes hopes to take to San Sebastian but he faces competition from Villarreal and Olympiacos among others. David Moyes is hoping Tottenham allow Etienne Capoue (pictured) to make a loan move to Real Sociedad . Moyes has an interest in Everton's Steven Pienaar also but the South African is nursing a knee injury. Moyes is looking for his scouting staff to watch Capoue this weekend should he play for Tottenham in the FA Cup against Leicester City. Tottenham, meanwhile, have asked to be kept informed on developments with young Ghana starlet, Godfred Donsah. The 18-year-old has been starring for Cagliari, now coached by Gianfranco Zola. Moyes has an interest in Everton's Steven Pienaar but the South African is nursing a knee injury . Villarreal coach Marcelino has confirmed Arsenal target Gabriel could leave in the next fortnight. Arsenal want to buy the Brazilian centre back if they can gain a work permit for the 24-year-old who has a buyout set at £15.2m. Marcelino said: 'I hadn't considered selling Gabriel, it's bad news from a sporting point of view. If both Gabriel and the club believe that his sale to Arsenal is the best for all parties, we will accept.' His representatives are understood to be discussing his work permit chances with the home office. QPR have been asked if they would take Southampton bad boy Dani Osvaldo back to the Premier League . QPR have been asked if they would take Southampton bad boy Dani Osvaldo back to the Premier League. The Italy international is on loan at Inter Milan but has been ostracised after a public spat with team-mate Mauro Icardi. He has been training on his own and the striker's departure seems virtually certain now. It is reported he has been absent from training for two days after a weekend trip to Madrid to see friends. Harry Redknapp has been told he has next to no money to spend at Loftus Road but knows a striker will help keep his team up. He needs to sacrifice other members of his squad, such as Adel Taarabt, to help free up wages. Wigan have yet to reject West Bromwich Albion's latest offer for Callum McManaman. The Championship side want around £6million for the England Under 21 winger and Albion's offer is understood to be in stages building up to £4m. Albion have also asked about Nottingham Forest winger Michail Antonio. Wigan have yet to reject West Bromwich Albion's latest offer for Callum McManaman . However, one of the first players to exit The Hawthorns under Tony Pulis could be Graham Dorrans. The Scotland international has been the subject of interest from Burnley, who wanted a loan with a view to a permanent deal, but now Championship side Fulham have expressed an interest. They could offer better terms than cash-conscious Burnley but Dorrans would have to weigh up their chances of making a quick return to the Premier League. Aston Villa have fended off interest from Bayern Munich and Liverpool to secure Easah Suliman. The 16-year-old signed scholarship forms with Villa in the summer but has still been courted by bigger clubs as they looked to tempt the England Under 17 defender away from Villa Park. Bayern were particularly keen. Suliman has captained England at Under 17 level and impressed Bayern's scouts playing in the FA Youth Cup. Aston Villa are fending off interest from Bayern Munich for youngster Easah Suliman (left) Suliman, who is from Hall Green in Birmingham, has been with Villa since he was eight years old and was spotted playing in a tournament at Butlins. However, despite overtures from Bayern, he will sign a two-and-a-half-year professional contract on Friday ahead of his 17th birthday next week. Cardiff have expressed an interest in Tranmere Rovers midfielder Max Power. Manager Russell Slade is also in talks over a potential deal for Huddersfield's Lee Peltier and the Bluebirds have offered striker Nicky Maynard in an attempt to sweeten the offer. Goalkeeper David Marshall, meanwhile, is undergoing hernia repair surgery and will be out for a further two weeks. Cardiff have expressed an interest in Tranmere Rovers midfielder Max Power (pictured) Swansea are continuing to negotiate with Tottenham over a deal for Tom Carroll. The clubs have been wrapped in negotiations over the transfer of Kyle Naughton for £5m and Swansea hope they can strike a better bargain on Carroll. Tottenham want another £5m for 22-year-old Carroll who has impressed Garry Monk during his loan spell. However, Swansea were hoping to bring him in for £3.5m with add-ons to follow. The England Under 21 international does have interest from other Premier League sides but is enjoying his football at Swansea where he has made 16 appearances and scored one goal. Swansea are still in discussions with Crystal Palace over the potential sale of Neil Taylor and want a striker on loan. Naughton will undergo a medical on Wednesday. Tottenham loanee Tom Carroll could be set for a permanent move to Swansea . Parma and Lazio are understood to have sounded out Mario Balotelli's agent over a proposed loan. However, Mino Raiola has said the Italy international striker wants to stay at Anfield and fight for his place. Balotelli has been laid low with a virus lately and watched the draw with Chelsea from home, posting pictures on his instagram account. Torino have also shown an interest in Fabio Borini but got a similar response. Raiola, meanwhile, is understood to have persuaded Arsenal and Tottenham target Hector Moreno to join his stable of clients. Parma and Lazio are understood to have sounded out Mario Balotelli's agent over a proposed loan move . | David Moyes hoping to bring Etienne Capoue to Real Sociedad . Scottish boss is also considering move for Steven Pienaar . QPR asked if they would take Dani Osvaldo back to the Premier League . Swansea continue to negotiate with Tottenham over deal for Tom Carroll . Parma and Lazio understood to have sounded out Mario Balotelli's agent . | a498e8c13ed296396437f89a4b71fc3f3f7f697d |
(CNN) -- With her curved 'wings,' long pointed nose, and gleaming underbelly propped high above the waves, this space-age yacht might be better suited to the sky than the sea. Just a few square meters of the futuristic vessel -- valued at $15 million -- actually touch the surface of the water, allowing it to skim across the waves with ease. The innovative design, along with high-tech features such as an iPad-controller, helped glossy "Adastra" win three prizes at last week's prestigious ShowBoats Design Awards in Monaco, including Best Naval Architecture. The yachting world is clearly impressed. The honor follows a prize for the Most Innovative Design at the 2013 World Superyacht Awards earlier this year. So could this alien shape -- resembling something between a spaceship and the Concorde supersonic plane -- be the future of superyacht design? "The superyacht industry is pretty traditional," designer John Shuttleworth, told CNN. "But the establishment has given a 'yes' to this idea which is a huge step forward." "Inevitably, there has to be a trend for reducing fuel consumption -- and I think superyachts will have to look something like this in the future. Initially I don't think economics will drive it -- these are wealthy owners and cost isn't an issue. Instead, it will be from an ethical, environmental point of view." Billionaire's toys . Billionaire shipping magnate Anton Marden is believed to be the proud owner of the plush 42.5-meter vessel, which took more than five years to design and build. The Hong Kong-based mogul and wife Elaine will be able to remotely control their luxury yacht from up to 50 meters away, simply by sweeping their hand over an iPad. If you want to appeal to the mega rich, such flashy gadgets -- and room to house them -- are now an essential part of superyacht architecture. "We have recently seen an increase in new and exciting superyacht toys on the market and clients are increasingly looking for more space to house these," said co-exterior designer Orion Shuttleworth. "Our new designs incorporate lots of space to accommodate jet skis, sailing boats, kayaks, paddle boards and other toys." Speed machine . With just 20% of the enormous 52-ton boat submerged in water, Adastra is able to glide along the waves without the same drag as traditional superyachts, hitting up to 43 kilometers per hour. It also means the vessel, made from a super-light glass and carbon material, consumes a lot less fuel -- around 14% of a conventional superyacht the same size. "Adastra's longer, slender main hull has extremely low drag, which is why she is so fuel efficient," explained Orion. "The smooth, seamless, unbroken surfaces also help to reduce weight," he said of the boat, which can travel up to 6,400 kilometers -- the same distance from London to New York -- without refueling. In fact, the three-pronged design -- featuring a slim hull and two 'wings' -- is similar to the world's fastest sailboat Hydroptere, which broke the speed record in 2009 at 95 kilometers per hour. Living in luxury . Step inside the sleek Adastra and you'll find all the luxury of a five-star hotel, including five elegant bedrooms and four bathrooms. The plush yacht also features a saloon, a lounge and an industrial kitchen. The rear deck has an open-air bar, allowing guests to gaze out at the water while they enjoy a cocktail. At night, the glowing underbelly of the boat lights up in neon blue, giving it the impression of a futuristic spacecraft. If the reams of recent awards are anything to go by, this yachting future could be a lot closer than you think. | The $15 million yacht features an iPad controller, luxury interior . Features aerodynamic 'wings' to help glide along water, cut fuel consumption . Space-age shaped vessel could spell the future of superyacht design . | c70e66a834b160ef008afc51d946e873b4b54b73 |
By . Rupert Steiner . PUBLISHED: . 17:46 EST, 30 May 2012 . | . UPDATED: . 17:46 EST, 30 May 2012 . Morrisons plans to take on its south of England rivals by wooing shoppers with upmarket ingredients and stylish stores. The Northern-based supermarket firm has announced a drive to expand in the prosperous Home Counties. Its new shops will stock more than 500 types of fresh produce and introduce more sophisticated items stocked by rivals Sainsbury and Waitrose. Expansion drive: Supermarket Morrisons is planning to take on its rivals in the south of England . Stores will sell the fashionable samphire sea vegetable, five types of chilli, purple potatoes and bottles of fine wine costing upwards of £20. It has also started displaying its vegetables on beds of ice and spraying them with mists of water, which it says adds a touch of theatre. The firm, which is Britain’s fourth biggest supermarket chain, has its headquarters in Bradford. Trend: Morrisons CEO Dalton Philips said consumer confidence has fallen dramatically over the past few months . It claims to offer cheaper prices because it owns farms and produces fresh fruit and veg itself, and has traditionally been a big presence closer to its northern roots. Currently Morrisons has only 31 shops within the M25 but it said that 60 per cent of all its new stores will be in the south. It has outlets under development at Weybridge and Croydon in Surrey, and Harrow and Colindale in North London. Chief executive Dalton Philips said consumer confidence dramatically fell over the past few months. ‘We are seeing shoppers skipping meals so they can save cash to feed their children,’ he said. ‘They are hiding treats around the house to ration them through the week, dipping into savings and recycling their clothes. ‘Year on year consumer confidence is worse and disposable income is down – it’s tough out there.’ The business, which claims to offer cheaper prices because it owns farms and produces fresh produce itself, has traditionally been a big player closer to its northern roots. But it now feels the time is right to make its move on the more prosperous south as it fine tunes a new store format it thinks will appeal to a broader cross-section of shoppers. Currently only 15pc of its new stores are in the south and by 2013/14 that will increase to two thirds of the retailer’s 2.5m sq. ft. network of new space. On the menu: The supermarket plans to introduce trendy items like samphire and purple potatoes . It now has stores under development at Weybridge and Croydon in Surrey and Harrow and Colindale in north London. Philips added: ‘The next three years will see a step-change in Morrisons southern presence bringing another 2m households within a 15 minute drive of our stores. ‘We are going to be food-focused, not generalists. We believe that UK grocery has got very functional. ‘Our new format allows us to see how we perform with different demographics, you always carry on tweaking the format but we have an offer that really travels down south.’ | Northern-based supermarket to expand in the prosperous Home Counties . | 1c5af140032c4e0695461f1d2b255468bde3dc1e |
Are Liverpool right to stand by Luis Suarez? Liverpool scored another massive PR own goal last night after allowing Luis Suarez to contest the FA’s claim that a three-game ban for biting is not harsh enough. Suarez accepted an FA charge of violent conduct for his outrageous attack on Chelsea’s Branislav Ivanovic at Anfield on Sunday. But the Uruguayan and his employers have risked yet another backlash after making it clear to the governing body that they will appeal should an independent disciplinary commission hand down a more severe punishment than the standard three-match suspension. A three-man panel will convene on Wednesday morning to consider the evidence submitted by both the FA and Liverpool. Jaws of despair: Luis Suarez's latest controversy has landed him in further hot water with the FA . They could decide that three games is . sufficient punishment but a far more likely outcome is that Suarez will . face a ban which will keep him out of action for the start of next . season. An FA statement read: ‘Luis Suarez . has today (Tuesday) accepted a charge of violent conduct, following an . incident with Chelsea’s Branislav Ivanovic in Sunday’s fixture at . Anfield. ‘However, Suarez has denied the FA’s . claim that the standard punishment of three matches is clearly . insufficient for this offence. ‘The incident was not seen by the match officials and has therefore been retrospectively reviewed.’ Or disgusted? Perhaps the taste of Ivanovic's arm is still in the forward's mouth . The tribunal will take into consideration past behaviour and previous cases before reaching a . conclusion on Suarez, who was banned for seven games after he bit PSV . Eindhoven’s Otman Bakkal in November 2010. Tottenham’s Jermain Defoe escaped a . long ban and fine in October 2006 as he was booked after biting Javier . Mascherano, then of West Ham. Had Suarez been booked last Sunday, the FA . would have still had the power to take him to task as the rules have . changed since then. Having accepted the FA’s charge, . Suarez will start his ban this weekend. He will miss the trip to . Newcastle on Saturday, the Merseyside derby at Anfield on May 5 and . Liverpool’s visit to Fulham on May 12. Or concern? Perhaps Suarez is worrying about how much first-team football he's likely to miss . Speaking out: Prime Minister David Cameron said the FA need to take a hard line . Disbelief: The Chelsea defender didn't seem to know how to react after he was bitten by Suarez yesterday . But, by promising to defend their . player against a possible longer ban, Liverpool can expect more . condemnation as they have already been rebuked for failing to administer . their own suspension. The matter has been taken so seriously that the . Prime Minister entered the debate on Monday. Suarez was fined an undisclosed amount . — thought to be two weeks’ wages, a figure that equates to more than . £200,000 — on Monday morning. He insisted that the money be donated to . the Hillsborough Families Support Group. The 26-year-old was warned by managing . director Ian Ayre that he was on his last chance at Anfield. The . Uruguay striker was found guilty by the FA in December 2011 of using . racially abusive language to Patrice Evra. Liverpool have stressed that Suarez, . who has been strongly linked with Bayern Munich, will not be sold this . summer and have vowed to work with him to improve his behaviour. VIDEO Liverpool's Managing Director on Suarez controversy . Out and about: A sombre-looking Suarez is pictured in Liverpool on Monday morning . Confrontation: The Chelsea star made no secret of his unhappiness over the incident with the Liverpool man . Look, ref: Ivanovic shows his arm to referee Kevin Friend following the biting incident at Anfield yesterday . Previous: Suarez bites Otman Bakkal of PSV while playing for Ajax . Repeat? The PSV star was as perplexed as Ivanovic by Suarez's behaviour . Liverpool forward Luis Suarez is back in the spotlight after appearing to bite Chelsea defender Branislav Ivanovic on the arm during the 2-2 draw with Chelsea at Anfield, going on to score a late equaliser. Here are some of the previous controversies surrounding the Uruguayan forward. February 2007: Suarez made his international debut for Uruguay against Colombia but was sent off in the final minutes after being shown a second yellow card for dissent. November 2007: Joined Ajax from Uruguayan side Nacional but he was later suspended by the Dutch giants after a half-time dressing-room altercation with team-mate Albert Luque. July 2010: During the 2010 World Cup quarter-finals, Suarez prevented Ghana's Dominic Adiyiah from scoring in the final minute with a deliberate handball on the line and was subsequently sent off. A penalty was awarded but missed by Asamoah Gyan and footage showed Suarez celebrating on the sidelines. Uruguay eventually went through to the last four on penalties. November 2010: Suarez was handed a seven-match ban by the Dutch FA and fined by his club for biting PSV Eindhoven midfielder Otman Bakkal during an Eredivisie match. October 2011: Following his move to Liverpool in January 2011, he was involved in a tackle with Everton's Jack Rodwell and goes down with apparent minimal contact. Rodwell was then sent off. October 2011: Suarez was alleged to have racially abused Manchester United's Patrice Evra during a Premier League match. Suarez was later found guilty by an independent regulatory commission and banned for eight matches and fined £40,000. December 2011: Was seen making an offensive gesture towards Fulham fans. At this time he had already been charged by the Football Association over the racism incident, although not yet punished, but was handed a further one-match ban for the gesture. February 2012: United and Liverpool met again at Old Trafford, but more controversy blew up as Suarez refused to shake Evra's hand before kick-off. October 2012: Celebrated a goal against Everton by diving in front of Toffees boss David Moyes who had earlier claimed that 'divers' such as Suarez were putting fans off the English game. January 2013: Handles the ball prior to scoring Liverpool's winner in the FA Cup third round tie at Mansfield. April 2013: Appears to bite Branislav Ivanovic on the arm but escapes punishment on the pitch as the referee fails to see it, and scores Liverpool's equaliser seven minutes into stoppage time as they draw 2-2 with Chelsea at Anfield. | Luis Suarez accepts charge of violent conduct by FA for bite on Ivanovic . FA are to review the forward's case on Wednesday . Forward denies FA claim that a three-match ban is insufficient punishment . Suarez donates club fine to Hillsborough Family Support Group . Liverpool promise to defend striker against longer ban . | d6d63d8e772013787adb8e2126edcce79368c02a |
ADRIAN DURHAM: The World Cup is by far the biggest stage of all, it’s Wayne Rooney and Steven Gerrard’s last chance to shine . ADRIAN DURHAM: Jack Colback is the most underrated player in the Premier League... Sunderland fans should thank him and move on . ADRIAN DURHAM: England must be adventurous and take the World Cup by storm or go out in glory... my starting XI for the opener with Italy . Is Roy Hodgson morphing into Fabio Capello? I sincerely hope not. Two months ago I interviewed Roy, he was charming and knowledgeable and keen to listen to the views of me and other passionate England fans. The consensus then was that none of us expected England to win the World Cup, but we would be happy to see us play with adventure. Roy promised us he would be taking risks and not holding his players back: 'We will be brave and we will believe in ourselves and we will risk defeat. 'We won’t try and sneak our way through the games. With the type of players we’ve got that wouldn’t suit us.' Passing it on? Hodgson will hope for a better World Cup than Capello (right) endured in South Africa in 2010 . Steady: Hodgson is more than capable of playing it safe, as shown by England's draw in Ukraine last year . He even talked about the Liverpool way. Well, for me, the Liverpool way means blowing teams away early on and putting on a show; and to do that you need exciting, dynamic, imaginative players. The only two in the England squad who are available for the Italy game who have shown those qualities recently are Ross Barkley and Raheem Sterling. Be true to your word Roy – be brave, as you promised me you would be two months ago. Don’t just go with Lallana, put Barkley and Sterling in there as well, blow the Italians away early on. If you go for it, if you show adventure and take risks, you will be forgiven if it goes wrong. The future: The talented Ross Barkley (left) must be allowed to shine in South America . If you’re cautious and fail – you will be judged a failure. We had to endure the pain of a gutless manager four years ago. Fabio Capello didn’t know his tactics, and he didn’t know his team. Even worse, he lost control of his players mid-tournament. An astonishing display of terrible mismanagement, and he’s lucky to get a chance to show he can do it with Russia at this World Cup. The England fans all know Sterling and Barkley should be in the team, and I suspect the England players know it too. Wing wizard: Raheem Sterling must have a big part to play for England at the World Cup . But does Roy Hodgson know it? I hope so, because if he tries to 'keep it tight' against Italy, and go for a draw because 'a draw is a good result', I suspect England will suffer. We have flaws at the back that decent sides can and will exploit. The two recent friendlies prove my point: against Ecuador we played with adventure and it was great to watch. Against Honduras we were one-dimensional and functional. We drew both, but which gave England fans more satisfaction? The first of course. If we are poor to watch, and go out in the group stage, Hodgson will prove himself to be a poor man’s Capello, a label that should strike fear into the England manager’s heart. Be brave Roy. Deliver on your promise. Roy's Lions: Hodgson has depth in his squad, and England must be bold in Brazil . | Roy Hodgson promised he would play with adventure at the World Cup . Will he keep his promise despite the tough group with Italy, Uruguay and Costa Rica? Raheem Sterling and Ross Barkley must start against Italy in Manaus . If Hodgson plays defensively and fails, he will just be another Capello . | 0c8064027808157cfdf30384e8373d7e9165b9af |
PUBLISHED: . 11:31 EST, 26 January 2014 . | . UPDATED: . 07:05 EST, 5 February 2014 . These adorable pictures show the moment a baby liliger play fights with its 'mother' - a domestic cat called Darka . Liliger Kiara - a new hybrid cross between a male lion and a ligress - was born at Novosibirsk Zoo in Russia. But when her mother stopped producing milk, staff at the zoo had to nurse her, hand-feeding her a bottle of milk every three hours around the clock. Dedicated keeper Roza Solovieva, 40, decided to take on the unique but challenging task, taking Kiara home with her where she struck up an immediate friendship with her pet cat, Darka. Scroll down for video . Close bond: Female liliger cub Kiara, a hybrid between a lion and a ligress, struck up a close bond with domestic house cat Darka after being taken home by a zoo keeper . Surrogate mother: Kiara was born at Novosibirsk Zoo but had to be taken home by keeper Roza Solovieva when her mother stopped producing milk so she could be fed around the clock . Inseparable: Liliger Kiara and domestic cat Darka became virtually inseparable during their week together . As soon as the two were introduced, Darka, who already has a kitten of her own, slipped straight into the role of parent by licking and warming the cub as if she were her own. Pictured playing and nuzzling together, the two formed an extraordinary bond and were rarely seen apart. However, it wasn't long before the mini mammal began displaying more predatory behaviour, a sign it was time to return her mother. Head keeper Roza said: 'Zita, the cub's mother was a caring parent but as soon as Kiara was born we noticed she had stopped producing milk. 'The bond between a mother and a new born cub is extremely important and we try to keep them together wherever possible but in this case we had to take drastic measures. Motherly figure: Cat Darka has a kitten of her own, so took Kiara under her wing . Growing up fast: Darka has the upper hand during a play fight with the liliger Kiara . Animal instincts: But when Kiara was big enough to start eating meat, her predator instincts started to kick in . 'As soon as I introduced Kiara to my house cat Darka, the pair just clicked. 'Darka's motherly instincts took over and she began to treat Kiara as one of her offspring, licking her and always making sure she was warm, it was beautiful to see. 'Having Kiara at home would be every cat lovers dream I would imagine but its a very serious task and requires complete dedication, but I have to say it was very fun at times. 'After one week we started introducing meat to the cub and then suddenly she started looking like more of a predator than a pet, we knew it was time to give Kiara back to her mother. 'We were worried about reintroducing the cub to her mother because of the time apart but thankfully the two are doing just fine. 'Of course both me and Darka miss Kiara, but it makes me much happier to see her with her mother where she belongs.' Adorable: But while Kiara may look cuddly, she's still a dangerous predator . Cub Kiara was taken back to the zoo where she was successfully re-introduced to her mother . | Liliger Kiara - a new hybrid cross between a male lion and a ligress - was born at Novosibirsk Zoo in Russia . But soon after her birth, Kiara's mother Zita stopped producing milk . Keeper Roza Solovieva agreed to take the cub home so she could be fed round the clock . It was there she formed a special bond with Roza's pet cat called Darka . The pair were inseparable until Kiara had to be returned to her real mother . | 25091b1efde41905cd00209fb288e9f43bbb47af |
An 18-year-old freshman with a history of mental health problems plunged to her death last night from the 14th-floor window of a Columbia University dormitory. Martha Corey-Ochoa, a former high school valedictorian from Dobbs Ferry, New York, fell from the university residence John Jay Hall in an apparent suicide, police said. She died at nearby St Luke’s Hospital after falling from the dorm window at 11pm on the day most freshmen at the New York residence moved in. Columbia student Martha Corey-Ochoa, 18, fell to her death from a dorm window late Monday night . 'Everyone was out here seconds after it happened,' said witness Efraim Ramos, 54. 'Everyone was in the street, it was packed.' Two freshmen were the first to find the woman lying in the road and were said to be in shock after the discovery, the New York Post reported. She lived on the 14th floor of the building in a single room, police told DNAinfo.com. The gifted student claimed she enjoyed reading 'Twlight' and Dostoevsky's 'Crime and Punishment and she listed English literature and calculus as some of her interests. 'People were getting ready to go to a party but then I found out the building was sealed off and nobody was being allowed out or in,' said fellow John Jay Hall resident 19-year-old Lucas Zeppetello. 'I was in my room and nobody bothered me. I didn't even poke my head out.' She left no note and there were no witnesses, according to the Journal News. An autopsy has not been scheduled, the New York City Office of Chief Medical Examiner said. Miss Corey-Ochoa planned to double major in English and mathematics, she had told the Rivertowns Daily Voice in June. 'I’m not sure if I’m ready to say anything at all about my daughter,' said her father, George Ochoa, himself a graduate of Columbia . Cheryl Beer, 54, a neighbour of the family’s for 14 years who used to direct musicals at the high school, said the 'talented' and 'dedicated' girl played violin in the pit band. Her parents are writers and her mother, Melinda, has taught at Mercy College in Dobbs Ferry, neighbours said. Jennifer Dawber, 52, said she recently congratulated Miss Corey-Ochoa's parents after they dropped her off at Columbia. She described the 18-year-old as kind, polite and extremely intelligent and said it seemed as though Miss Corey-Ochoa was always in the newspaper for receiving academic awards. Martha Corey-Ochoa, 18, fell to her death around 11 p.m. yesterday out of John Jay Hall on West 114th Street . Martha Corey Ochoa speaking (left and right) at her Dobbs Ferry High School Commencement in July . 'Talented': The former high school valedictorian . from Dobbs Ferry, New York, fell from university residence John Jay . Hall (pictured) the day most freshmen moved in, police said . It has been reported that the high achiever had been treated for mental health issues in the past and was taking undisclosed medications. 'We are terribly saddened to tell you of the untimely death of one of our Class of 2012 graduates, Martha Corey-Ochoa,' said Dobbs Ferry schools superintendent Lisa Brady to the New York Post. 'A brilliant student and last year’s valedictorian, Martha had just begin her freshman year at Columbia University.' The brilliant student excelled at music, Spanish language, math and writing and was described as 'completely devoted' to her parents. 'She was a quiet girl, a very studious girl,' said Roberta Reynolds, a neighbour of the family. 'Whatever happened, she was not used to being away from the family. 'If she did do this, it's because she didn't want to disappoint her family. 'I don't know how the family will cope without her.' Other devastated neighbours spoke of a 'driven' student, who would have been successful in any field she had chosen. 'There was no question she was going to be successful,' said neighbour Cheryl Beer. 'Everything she did she was driven to do. 'We used to hear her playing violin when most kids were out playing.' One mother whose daughter attended the same class as Corey-Ochoa said that death of the Columbia student was 'a tragedy for the community.' 'She never said a bad word about anybody,' said Julie Lowery. 'She didn't gossip. 'She liked to go out to dinner, to go out for ice cream.' Shocking death: The woman fell from a dorm window at Columbia University (bottom), at 11pm on the day most freshmen moved in to the hall of residence . 'I'm in shock,' Ms Dawber said after learning of the death from a reporter. Selfless: The teenager would give cards to neighbours at Christmas and bake them cookies . 'I feel like she had such a great future. I hope her family can get some peace. I still can't believe it'. Roberta Reynolds, 58, a neighbour of the family's for 13 years, said their daughter, an only child, was quiet, respectful and devoted to her parents. 'Martha was their life.' The teenager baked cookies for Ms Reynolds at Christmas and gave her a card. When she was young, Ms Reynolds gave her little toys including stuffed animals and bracelets and said she often saw Martha helping her mother in the garden. 'She was a very intelligent girl, a wonderful musician, and she was very devoted to her parents. She was a very caring daughter. She was looking forward to excelling at school.' A university security officer said a paramedic and a nurse had been seen by a student running out of the hospital. 'We were walking down and we just saw her there,' the student told the officer. Dean of Student Affairs Kevin Shollenberger informed students of the death in an email sent around 2:15am, calling the death a tragedy. 'It's a time that our community needs to pull together and support one another,' Mr Shollenberger said. Tragedy: Miss Corey-Ochoa was taken to nearby St Luke's hospital and pronounced dead there . 'Our returning students should keep in mind our first-year students have just gotten here, and they are developing contacts and relationships and should be sensitive and reach out to one another.' He said religious advisers and counsellors would be on hand today to talk to students and staff. At 5.20am he sent another email revealing her name and writing: 'Martha was passionate about mathematics and literature, and recognized as a very talented writer. 'We extend our deepest condolences to the family of this student. As we continue to cope with the loss of one of our valued community members, we remain committed to ensuring the health and well being of our Columbia family.' | Two freshmen were first to find her lying in the road . New students moved into the dorm yesterday . The former valedictorian was a talented musician and planned to double major in English and mathematics . Neighbours said she was devoted to her family . For confidential support call the Samaritans in the UK on 08457 90 90 90 or visit a local Samaritans branch, see www.samaritans.org for details. In the U.S. call the National Suicide Prevention Line on 1-800-273-8255 . | b42bf6513a48744f1cb6be6ccc740dc14c45b842 |
It'll look like a typical winter when bitterly cold temperatures invade parts of the U.S. this week. The good news is that is won't be accompanied by precipitation that turned much of the southern states into a skating rink and it won't be cold enough to freeze your eyeballs or - maybe worse for parents - close schools. First, it will be cold. Chicago will see the tail end of a storm that could leave up to as much as five inches of snow by early Tuesday. After that, Arctic temperatures like those seen in North Dakota and Minnesota on Sunday will rush in — with highs in the single digits. Snow brewing: Chicago is set to be hit by another round of snow early this week - above Sal Evola of the Arlington Heights suburb cleans up his driveway . Slipping into the chill: Steve Drecoll, above, cycles through the Illinois cold, which is set to get even more intense . It'll be a similar story in New York, where rain showers will give way to cold air. By Thursday, 'New York City will be lucky if it hits 20' for a high and could see lows near 10 degrees, according to Michael Musher with the National Weather Service's Weather Prediction Center in College Park, Maryland. The chill will move south, too. Atlanta will see low temperatures down to about 15 degrees Monday and Tuesday — but there won't be any ice to accompany it. And in the West, a stream of Pacific moisture will drop as much as six inches of rain in the Seattle area — and could mean substantial snowfall in the Cascades. Further south in San Francisco - a part of the country that desperately needs the rain - skies will be sunny. A dip in the jet stream means cold air from Canada and points north is plummeting into the eastern two-thirds of the United States. Getting cold: New York City will be lucky to get any warmer than 20 degrees, forecasters said, while parts of Georgia will hit 15 . Wrap up! J.J. Heredia is already braced for the chilly weather in Wichita, Kansas, where he spent Sunday sledding . But forecasters are shying away from calling it a 'polar vortex' - the phrase which took on a life of its own last year, and was blamed for everything from ice storms to the inability of the New York Giants to score touchdowns. But the National Weather Service is skittish about going anywhere near the words that start with P and end with X. The forthcoming cold can be linked to the vortex, Musher pointed out, as the air is coming from near the north pole. But the low-pressure system itself isn't going to sink into the United States this year, just the temperatures that precede it. Meteorologists have a technical term for what the country is now experiencing: Winter. What should people do to prepare for the temperatures? Bundle up. For much of the country, this is the first true taste of winter, so there's a chance people aren't prepared. Dress properly and remember that below-freezing temperatures can cause hypothermia, Musher said. A bright spot: There doesn't seem to be any huge winter storms poised to strike, meaning travel won't be more difficult than it usually is this time of year. Temperatures are expected to be lower than normal for a good chunk of the week, Musher said, but they could rise a bit by the end of the week. But then again, it's only January. | New York City will be 'lucky' to see temperatures above 20 degrees . Five inches of snow could hit Chicago by Tuesday morning . Even Atlanta, Georgia, will be as cold as 15 degrees next week . System is related to polar vortex, which is forcing cold winds into U.S. | f356a9d0a08b331064604bb34bf99c8d8abe45fd |
(CNN) -- A Southern California man allegedly hit his crying 7-year-old son and then threw him off on a tour boat in busy Newport Harbor, Orange County, authorities said Tuesday. Sloane Briles, 35, of Irvine, California, has been charged with felony child endangerment and resisting arrest, the Orange County Sheriff's Office said. He was released Monday in lieu of a $100,000 bond. Briles, who's divorced, was on the tour boat Sunday afternoon with his two sons, ages 6 and 7, when he got into an argument with his current girlfriend, said sheriff's office spokesman Jim Amormino. The boat takes passengers past Newport Beach houses that are or were occupied by celebrities, including the home where the late John Wayne lived, Amormino said. His 7-year-old son became upset about the argument and started crying, Amormino said. The father took the boy to the bow of the boat and told him, " 'If you don't stop crying, I'm going to throw you overboard,' " Amormino said. "And he hits the kid a couple of times," Amormino said. "The boy is crying. He picks him up and throws him overboard. They are in the middle of a harbor, and there is a lot of boat traffic." The boy's life was endangered several ways, authorities said. "The main one was throwing him off the front of the boat because the boat could run over him. There was the danger of him being hit by the prop. And the other danger is that because there are so many boats out there, it's no place to swim, and because he's so small, the other boats wouldn't have seen him," Amormino said. The boy was also "only a fair swimmer," Amormino said. "But luckily, three boats saw the kid and converged on him, and plucked him from the water," Amormino said. "The father did jump in (after his son), but the crowd on the boat became angry when he was hitting the kid and became more angry when he threw him overboard," Amormino said. There were 85 people on the tour boat. A sheriff's patrol boat responded to a call about the incident. After deputies boarded the tour boat, one of them suffered minor injuries to the hand and elbow during Briles' arrest, authorities said. Deputies took the two boys to their harbor station and later turned them over to their mother, Amormino said. Briles couldn't be reached for comment, and an attorney for him couldn't be immediately located, the sheriff's office said. | A man allegedly hits his 7-year-old son, then throws the boy overboard . Three passing boats rescue the boy from Newport Harbor . The father is charged with felony child endangerment and resisting arrest . | ea1c0568118ae7b1c28dadee86db0404ea7c702e |
US presidential hopeful Bobby Jindal has parroted claims there are 'no-go zones' for non-Muslims in Britain - just one week after Fox News was forced to apologise for the same gaffe. Louisiana Governor Bobby Jindal said in a speech to the Henry Jackson Society, in London, that Muslims have been allowed to establish autonomous neighbourhoods, governed by a harsh version of Islamic law, and which police refuse to go into. He said some immigrants are seeking 'to colonise Western countries, because setting up your own enclave and demanding recognition of a no-go zone are exactly that.' It comes just one week after a Fox News pundit claimed that Birmingham is closed to non-Muslims sparking a backlash from bemused residents of the city. Scroll down for video . Visiting US presidential hopeful Bobby Jindal has claimed there are 'no-go zones' for non-Muslims in Britain - just one week after Fox News was forced to apologise for a similar gaffe . Steven Emerson, a self-styled expert on terrorism, was participating in a Fox News discussion in the wake of the attacks on Charlie Hebdo's office in Paris. 'In Britain, it's not just no-go zones,' he claimed. 'There are actual cities like Birmingham that are totally Muslim where non-Muslims just simply don't go in.' Prime Minister David Cameron responded by calling Emerson a 'complete idiot', adding: 'When I heard this, frankly I choked on my porridge.' The pundit later apologised for his blunder - just 22 per cent of the city's residents are Muslim, compared to 46 per cent describing themselves as Christian. Amidst the backlash, he announced that he would donate £500 to Birmingham Children's Hospital in a bid to atone for his 'terrible, inexcusable error'. Mr Jindal said: 'The huge issue, the big issue in non-assimilation is the fact that you have people that want to come to our country but not adopt our values, not adopt our language and in some cases want to set apart their own enclaves and hold onto their own values' It comes just one week after Fox News pundit Steven Emerson claimed that Birmingham is closed to non-Muslims, sparking a backlash from bemused residents of the city . Jindal, however, used similar rhetoric during a speech, warning of 'no-go zones' in London and other Western cities. He also said Muslim leaders must condemn the people who commit terrorism in the name of faith as 'murderers who are going to hell.' The Republican - who lived in England while studying at Oxford as a Rhodes scholar - is considering a presidential campaign in 2016. Three members of a so-called 'Muslim Patrol' were jailed in 2013 at the Old Bailey for repeatedly trying to enforce Sharia law in East London. Jordan Horner and another Islamic extremist told one couple they could not hold hands while walking down the street, because it was in a 'Muslim area'. The radicals also attacked a group of men drinking in the road, and told a woman she would face 'hell fire' because of the way she was dressed. Horner, 19, Ricardo MacFarlane, 36, and a 23-year-old man who cannot be named for legal reasons were sentenced to 68 weeks, 12 months and 24 weeks in prison respectively. He later defended — and repeated — the statement after facing reporters' questions about his claims. 'I knew that by speaking the truth we were going to make people upset,' Jindal told CNN during an interview from London. 'The huge issue, the big issue in non-assimilation is the fact that you have people that want to come to our country but not adopt our values, not adopt our language and in some cases want to set apart their own enclaves and hold onto their own values,' said Jindal. 'I think that's dangerous.' 'The bigger point is that radical Islam is a threat to our way of life,' Jindal said. Asked if he regretted talking about 'no-go zones,' Jindal replied: 'Not at all.' During the CNN interview, he also said that there were areas where women did not feel comfortable going 'without a veil' and where police refused to go. Jindal, whose parents immigrated to the United States from India more than 40 years ago, is in his second term as governor of Louisiana and is barred by law from seeking a third term later this year. The 43-year-old is already laying the groundwork for a presidential bid. Jindal spoke to the Henry Jackson Society, a British think tank named for a former U.S. Democratic senator from Washington state who was a presidential candidate in the 1970s. Democrats said Jindal's comments were a blunder. 'It's no surprise that Bobby Jindal would go abroad and butcher the facts in an effort to divide people; this is exactly what we've come to expect from Jindal here at home,' said Democratic National Committee spokeswoman Rebecca Chalif. 'Jindal is just embarrassing himself.' | Bobby Jindal said immigrants seeking 'to colonize Western countries' The Louisiana Governor lived in England while studying at Oxford . He said 'you have people that want to come to our country but not adopt our values, not adopt our language and in some cases want to set apart' In a later interview he then said: 'There are areas where women don’t feel comfortable going without veils and police refuse to go' It comes just one week after a Fox News pundit Steven Emerson claimed that Birmingham is closed to non-Muslims - sparking huge backlash . | d83e5dfd18ca5c19b47d5372493cf1ff7d6f3a41 |
(CNN) -- A man who was sexually abused by former Penn State assistant football coach Jerry Sandusky has settled his civil suit against the university -- the first to do so, his lawyer said. During Sandusky's trial last year, the man was known as Victim 5. Victim 5's lawyer, Tom Kline, said the settlement terms are bound by a confidentiality agreement with the school, but that "the compensation was fair and adequate." "My client is relieved," Kline told CNN. "This has been a long process. There has been for him a very public reliving of horror he experienced as a child." Sandusky, 69, was convicted in June 2012 on 45 counts of child sex abuse, ranging from corruption of minors to involuntary deviate sexual intercourse. He was sentenced to 30 to 60 years in prison. At the sentencing, Victim 5 told the court Sandusky's punishment "will never erase what he did to me." "It will never make me whole," he said. "He must pay for his crimes, take into account the tears, the pain, the private anguish." 'Because of you, I trust no one' The university still faces 30 other suits. It has set aside $60 million for payouts. Kline said 25 or 26 of the suits are expected to be settled in the next week or two. Penn State sent a statement to CNN saying, "The University continues to make progress on multiple settlements but does not have a comment at this time." Kline called the settlement involving Victim 5 "win, win." Penn State, he said, has accepted "responsibility" and "has earned a right to move forward." Kline said Victim 5 has agreed to bring no further claims against the school as part of the deal. Matt Sandusky files motion to have name changed . The abuse . Sandusky sexually assaulted Victim 5 in August 2001, six months after then-graduate assistant Michael McQueary walked in on Sandusky raping a boy in a campus shower -- and reported it to college officials. Victim 5 was also assaulted in Penn State showers, Kline said. During Sandusky's sentencing, Victim 5 told the court he will never forget the image of Sandusky "forcing himself on me and forcing my hand on him." Sandusky's life in prison . At least three of Sandusky's known victims were abused after 2001, according to testimony at last year's trial of the former Nittany Lions defensive coordinator. The victims have sued the school, saying it knew about the abuse but didn't act on that knowledge. Opinion: Sandusky sentence doesn't bring instant justice . The fallout . The sex abuse scandal led to the 2011 firing of Penn State's head football coach, Joe Paterno, and the ouster of the university's longtime president Graham Spanier. Paterno died last year of lung cancer. Last month, a judge ruled that Spanier and two senior administrators will face trial on obstruction of justice and other charges related to the scandal. State prosecutors allege that Spanier, former Athletic Director Tim Curley and former Senior Vice President Gary Schultz all knew about two allegations made against Sandusky in 1998 and in 2001, but lied about their knowledge when a grand jury convened several years later. Ex-university officials accused of 'conspiracy of silence' All three men have pleaded not guilty to the charges against them. Victim 5 might testify in their trials, his lawyer said. He was assaulted shortly after the incident McQueary witnessed in the same location -- an act that could have been prevented had proper reporting taken place, Kline said. "The incident that involved my client could have and should have been stopped," Kline said. Attorneys for the three claim there is no evidence of a cover-up. Yet prosecutors characterized their actions as a conscious decision not to call police. "There was a conspiracy of silence," prosecutor Bruce Beemer said during the July hearing. "They are not relieved of criminal responsibility because their conspiracy worked for 10 years." Sandusky attempts to discredit witness from prison . CNN's AnneClaire Stapleton contributed to this report. | NEW: Victim 5 was assaulted in the shower 6 months after the witnessed assault, lawyer says . The university faces 30 other suits . It has set aside $60 million for payouts . Victim 5: Sandusky's punishment "will never erase what he did to me" | 9bd0a4c38a384900614e3120ac1279d1e9e67325 |
(WIRED) -- Barnes & Noble's Kindle competitor may have been the worst-kept secret since balloon boy's disastrous appearance on CNN last week. Barnes & Noble has unveiled an e-reader called "Nook," which will sell for $260 in November. But the advance hype doesn't seem to have hurt the launch of the Nook, an impressive-looking $260 device that will go head-to-head with Amazon.com's Kindle, currently the most successful product in a small but growing market for e-book readers. Basic details of the Nook were published by the Wall Street Journal on Tuesday following leaked images that appeared on Gizmodo last week. And Barnes & Noble leaked product details hours before reporters filed into Pier 60 in Manhattan for the announcement on Tuesday afternoon. "Simply following the leader is not in our DNA," said Barnes & Noble president William Lynch. Indeed, Barnes & Noble's $260 Nook device differs from the Kindle in a number of ways. Most notably, it shares: A feature called LendMe lets users borrow certain books (depending on the publisher's wishes), the same way readers have traditionally traded paper books. The Nook's color touchscreen allows you to navigate titles and enter search terms using a virtual keyboard that goes dark once you're reading. The Nook will be available for pre-order starting Tuesday night for $260 at Nook.com, and will ship in November. It has a 6-inch, "paper-like," 16-level grayscale display that supports up to five fonts and various font sizes. It can read a user's PDFs, as well as the 1 million-plus books, magazines and newspapers available in Barnes & Noble's eBook store. The device connects to the Barnes & Noble eBook store using a free 3G AT&T connection, but lacks a web browser "because those are clumsy" on eReaders, Lynch says. It includes support for the ePub eBook format, FictionWise and PDF, as well as RSS feeds from the internet. However, you can't subscribe to any old RSS feed. Instead, Barnes & Noble selects certain feeds to convert to ePub, then sends them out each morning for a fee that varies by publisher. Like Amazon's Kindle, Barnes & Noble's Nook lets you highlight and annotate content. But Nook's battery life is 10 days, while the Kindle keeps you reading for 14 -- even though at 11.2 ounces the Nook weighs an ounce more. Unlike the Kindle, the Nook has a Wi-Fi radio that customers will be able to use at Barnes & Noble's more than 700 physical locations and 600 college stores in 50 states. The current version does not allow connection to Wi-Fi networks outside the stores, but will allow Nook owners to digitally flip through books while they're in a Barnes & Noble store and read free content. The Nook runs Android OS, which Lynch said "works really well for navigating on this small device." However, at this point, third-party developers cannot develop apps for the device, and no version of the reader for generic Android devices is available. The device packs enough memory to hold up to 1,500 books (2 GB), with a microSD slot that lets you add up to 16 GB more. In addition to e-books in the three formats mentioned above, the device supports a user's pictures and MP3s (it includes a speaker and headphone jack, but there's no text-to-speech engine). Another nice touch: The virtual bookmark feature called Reading Now lets you pick up where you left off on the Nook or on more than 100 other devices with support for Barnes & Noble's eBook store. Perhaps the biggest difference between the Nook and the Kindle is cosmetic. The Nook, with color icons, a wide selection of designer cases and color-customizable back panel, looks like a fashionista compared to the more bookish Kindle. Subscribe to WIRED magazine for less than $1 an issue and get a FREE GIFT! Click here! Copyright 2009 Wired.com. | Barnes & Noble unviles an e-reader called "Nook," which ships in November . The reader will cost $260, which is comparable to Amazon's Kindle . The Kindle has been the dominant e-reader, but "Nook" has some new features . Nook lets friends to "lend" e-books to each other; and features color navigation . | 8beff4d43bfc683786594ffcc375a70700c3ff2c |
Lying at the side of the road in a busy marketplace in Sierra Leone the body of an Ebola victim is left abandoned. The corpse was covered with leaves as dozens of people looked on, unsure what to do in the wake of a strike by burial teams in the capital, Freetown. Bodies were left in homes and on the streets after a row over a week-long backlog in hazard pay. Scroll down for video . Health workers take samples from the body of an Ebola victim lies at the side of a busy marketplace in Freetown, Sierra Leone, after a strike by burial teams over hazard pay left corpses abandoned across the city . Anxious members of the public line the streets looking on, unsure what to in the wake of the strike by 600 volunteer burial workers, paid 100 U.S. dollars a week in hazard pay . Returning back to work once the dispute had been 'resolved' volunteers move in to pick up the body, covering it with a sheet as they spray disinfectant on the steps . The burial team lay out a sheet of plastic on the street to help move the body with minimal contact . The teams are supposed to be paid up to 100 U.S. dollars each week to remove the bodies of Ebola victims. But after a row over non-payment of the money, the workers went on strike - and the bodies began to pile up by the side of the roads. At the point of death, the virus is at its most virulent. It means the corpses pose a considerable risk in an already volatile environment where the virus is surging through communities, claiming hundreds of lives each day. The Sierra Leone Broadcasting Corporation reported bodies of those who had died from the virus were being left in homes and on the streets of Freetown. The victim's body is moved on to the plastic sheet by the workers decked out in protective clothing . The teams, wearing face masks and goggles, load the body into the back of a waiting van ready to transport it away before laying the man to rest . A woman faints after volunteers take away the body of a woman who died from the virus in Waterloo, 30km south east of the capital Freetown . A volunteer wearing a protective suit to spray disinfectant outside a home in Waterloo, before removing the body of a female Ebola victim from the home . Officials today said the dispute had been 'resolved', paving the way for teams to return to work and clear the backlog of bodies amassing as a result of the strike. Ebola's economic toll could reach more than £20billion by the end of 2014 if the disease ravaging Guinea, Liberia and Sierra Leone spreads across West Africa. The outbreak has the potential ‘to inflict massive economic costs’ on those three countries and its closest neighbours, the World Bank said today. Its report estimated the costs of two scenarios: . Jim Yong Kim, the bank's president, said: ‘The international community must find ways to get past logistical roadblocks and bring in more doctors and trained medical staff, more hospital beds and more health and development support to help stop Ebola in its tracks.’ ‘Prudent’ investment in better health systems could have lessened the economic fallout, he added. Concerns about the disease are causing neighbouring countries to close their borders, and airlines and businesses to suspend commercial activities in the three worst-affected countries. Deputy health minister Madina Rahman told a radio programme this morning the dispute centered on a one-week backlog for hazard pay, which had been deposited in the bank, but was not given to the workers on time. 'The health ministry is going to investigate the delay in the health workers not receiving their money,' she said. The burial teams make up a total of 600 workers organized in groups of 12, health ministry spokesman Sidie Yahya Tunis said. Tunis described the situation as 'very embarrassing'. The government was already facing criticism this week over a shipping container filled with medical gear and mattresses that has been held up at the port for more than a month. The World Health Organization says Ebola is believed to have killed more than 600 people in Sierra Leone, where there have been more than 2,100 confirmed cases . More than 3,400 people have been killed by the outbreak in West Africa, which has hit Sierra Leone, Guinea and Liberia hardest. In Spain, officials said a nurse and a nursing assistant have been placed under observation for Ebola in a Madrid hospital where a colleague became infected after working with two Spanish missionary priests who contracted the disease in West Africa and later died at the centre. It was not known whether the two also treated the two priests or the infected colleague. The infected nursing assistant is the first person known to catch the disease outside the outbreak zone in West Africa during the current epidemic. She is said to be in stable condition. Volunteers in Waterloo, Sierra Leone are forced to bury the dead after burial teams reportedly took strike action. The country's deputy health minister said today the dispute has been resolved . Meanwhile in Liberia, efforts have been stepped up to ensure the bodies of victims are buried as soon as possible to try and halt the spread of the virus . The dead bodies of Ebola victims are highly contagious, and if not disposed of promptly can further spread of the virus, which has so far killed more than 3,000 people in West Africa . Grave diggers prepare for an influx of new Ebola victims outside a treatment centre near Gbarnga in Bong County, central Liberia . A U.S. Army soldier looks on as a burial team prepares the graves close to the 70-bed treatment centre . Scores of graves line the land outside the treatment centre in Bong County, as the Ebola epidemic takes its toll . A poignant grave marker identifies the final resting place of Ebola victim Ballah Kollie, who died on October 6 . The woman's husband is also under observation in the Carlos III hospital while two others, a nurse and a Spanish engineer who had traveled to Nigeria, were given the all -clear after testing negative for the virus. Spanish authorities are investigating how the nursing assistant became infected. They are also monitoring some 50 people who came into contact with her or also tended the two priests that died. Health authorities in Madrid have faced accusations of not following protocol and poorly preparing health care workers for dealing with Ebola. | Local media reported bodies were left in homes and on streets of Freetown . The dispute was over a one-week backlog in 'hazard' pay for burial teams . Sierra Leone's deputy health minister claims the issue has been 'resolved' Dead bodies of Ebola victims are highly contagious, raising fears of infection . Ebola's economic toll could reach more than £20billion by the end of 2014 . | 9ca98de69fb889ae43724da1dff7bfe43ed3de0b |
By . Sara Malm . A fourth book in the Millennium series will be published in 2015, despite author Stieg Larsson passing away nine years ago. The book will see a new writer taking on Larsson’s mantle to continue the story of journalist Mikael Blomkvist and his sidekick Lisbet Salander - The Girl With The Dragon Tattoo. The Millennium trilogy was published posthumously and became a . world-wide success which made it onto the silver screen twice, both in . Sweden and Hollywood. The Girl Who Sold Out? Swedish publishers Nordstedt has announced that there will be a fourth book in The Girl With The Dragon Tattoo series which saw its heroine translated onto the screen by Noomi Rapace in 2008 . Publishers Nordstedt have chosen an . author for book four and is planning on releasing it in 2015, on the . tenth anniversary of the first book, The Girl With The Dragon Tattoo. ‘There will be a new novel. We have thought about it for a while,’ publishing manager Eva Gedin told Aftonbladet. All . three books in the Millennium series were published after Stieg . Larsson’s death and he never got to experience the immense success of . his work, which was turned into a Hollywood film in 2011 with Bond-actor . Daniel Craig as Mikael Blomkvist and Rooney Mara as Lisbeth Salander. Eva Gabrielsson, Stieg Larsson's partner of 32 years, was shocked to find out about the new book. 'I think it is a bit greedy. It's already a billion-pound industry,' she told Aftonbladet. 'It is distasteful to try to make more money.' The Man With The Golden Pen: Stieg Larsson died in 2004 after suffering a heart attack walking up seven flights of stairs to his office and never saw his work published . The Millennium trilogy was published posthumously and quickly became a bestseller in Europe and the U.S. The Girl With The Actual Book: Eva Gabrielsson, Stieg Larsson's partner of 32 years, has hit back at the new book calling the publishers 'greedy' and maintain she still has Stieg's original script for a fourth book - which will not be part of the new release . Eva has previously confirmed that she . has the laptop which contains the first half of a fourth book, written . by Stieg Larsson before his death. However, . she says publishers Nordstedt have not had access to the original . script and will have to start from scratch with a new book. Ms . Gabrielsson and Stieg Larsson met as teenagers in their home town of . Umea during a protest against the Vietnam war. They were together for . more than three decades but although Stieg proposed in 1983, they never . married. As a result of the nature of his work as a journalist and editor of anti-fascist magazine Expo, Stieg and Eva both received death threats and not registering their partnership was a precaution to ensure their home would be harder to find in official records. Steig Larsson died from a heart attack . in 2004 when he had to walk up seven flights of stairs to his office . when the lift broke. The Girl On The Silver Screen: Rooney Mara as Lisbeth Salander in the popular Hollywood version of the film . The . only resemblance of a will was one written in the 70s promising all his . money to the Communist Worksers’ Party in Umea. It was never witnessed . and was dismissed. The . rights to his work, the revenue from the books and the subsequent film . deals in Sweden and in Hollywood, as well as half of the flat the couple . shared in Stockholm, went to Stieg’s estranged father and brother. Ms Gabrielsson has been involved in a public and infected legal battle over her partner’s legacy ever since. David Lagercrantz, most famous for writing Swedish footballer Zlatan Ibrahimiovic's biography 'I am Zlatan', is already writing on book four. He says the continuation of the Millennium series is 'necessary' 'We know all these characters, Blomkvist and Salander, are so incredibly full of life. They deserve to live. It is a form of respect for his authorship. A respect in that his life’s work is being allowed to live on,’ he told Aftonbladet. The fourth Millennium book is planned to be published in Swedish in august 2015. | Stieg Larsson, author of the Millennium-trilogy, died in 2004 . New book to be written by Swedish author David Lagercrantz . Stieg's partner of 32 years has called it 'distasteful' and 'greedy' | 82657156480a7f6942d291b1c2907377adae149f |
Another winter storm was taking aim at . the winter-weary U.S. Northeast on Saturday, threatening . blizzard conditions and severe cold in parts of New England . already buried under six feet of snow. Freezing gales were due to hit the snow-blighted Northeast along with as much as a foot more snow. Temperatures were due to be their lowest in decades New York City, with desperately cold wind chills freezing other parts of the region. The latest storm was tracking east across the Great Lakes . and was expected to gather strength as it approaches the . Atlantic coast. However, while much of snow-hit New England was struggling to dig its way out before another snowy onslaught, some people were making the most of the new winter weather. Scroll down for video . 'Alps of MIT': This five-story mound of snow, on campus at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, was piled up by plows from the six feet of snow which has fallen around the Boston area. The coming storm could add even more to it . My frozen Valentine: There will be little chance of this ice sculpture melting from its podium, outside Fanueil Hall in Boston . We the (frozen) people: Snow was piled up around this statue of Sam Adams, stood in front of the famous Boston meeting-place . Scaled it: Four climbers celebrate at the top of the MIT mound, also referred to as Mt Cambridge by some . Snow hope: The storm, which is working its way towards the east coast from over the Great Lakes, could bring a foot of snow to the already-pummeled Boston area, with Maine due even more . Blow, winds: Gale-force gusts were predicted for parts of the coast - and even inland areas were due high winds in the coming storm . At the MIT campus, where plows have heaped up huge piles of snow scraped from the roads, a newly-formed set of hills have become a magnet for winter sports and climbing. The newly-formed slopes, dubbed the Alps of MIT, have seen skiers, sledders, hikers and climbers ascend the five-story peaks. Police have tried to cordon off the formation, but that has done little to deter the winter fun-seekers. And the found may become even bigger in the coming storm, which the National Weather Service expects to spread a blast of arctic air and snow from the south of Canada all the way down to Virginia. Scaling the heights: Students and locals took to the mounds of snow, putting sleds or even skis to use to get down again . All smiles: Two MIT students smile from the top of the snow piled up outside a hall of residence . Forecasters added that the most severe weather was poised for the New England coast . from Saturday into Sunday. According to New York City mayor Bill de Blasio, lows of almost 0°F could hit his city - the worst cold experienced in twenty years. Further north and inland the cold be even more extreme. With wind chill factored in, the cities of Buffalo and Syracuse were due to feel as cold as -21°F Midday Sunday. It prompted authorities to issue blizzard warnings for eastern Massachusetts, southern Maine, most of New Hampshire as well as Long Island, parts of Connecticut and Rhode Island. The winds - with peak speeds of 75mph - are being predicted for Sunday, while across the region temperatures hover not far above 0°F. Frigid temperatures combined with the high winds will being outside in the worst-hit areas feel more like standing in a brutal -21°F, according to forecasters. In areas hit by extreme snowfall in recent weeks, the driving wind could whip up snow on the ground and cut visibility virtually to zero, putting lives at risk for any caught outside unexpectedly. The strong winds could also cause chaos by felling trees and destroying above-ground power lines, leading to outages across the pummeled frozen areas - some of which will be colder than they have been in 20 years. Snowed under: Large accumulations of snow were seen all around Boston - with this pile mostly obscuring a newspaper dispenser and parking meter . Help at hand: This photo, from earlier in the week, shows Massachusetts National Guardsmen helping to clear out the fallen snow in the town of Douglas . Boston, which has received about 6 feet of snow . in a trio of record-setting storms over the past three weeks, is . bracing for as much as 14 inches of new accumulation, . forecasts indicate. Blizzard conditions are also expected in Rhode Island, . eastern Connecticut, New Hampshire and coastal Maine, . AccuWeather predicted. Farther south, snow accumulation up to three inches was expected from Washington D.C. to New York City. With the newest band of winter weather, the town of Alton, . New Hampshire called off its annual ice carnival set for the . weekend due to concerns over massive snow squalls and freezing . wind. | Storm is approaching weather-weary Atlantic coast from over the Great Lakes, bringing winds, snow and bitter cold . Lows approaching 0°F were due over the weekend, alongside 75mph winds and as much as a foot of snow . Blizzard warnings were issued in parts of Massachusetts, Connecticut, Rhode Island, New Hampshire and Maine . New York City could have its coldest day in 20 years Sunday, while upstate wind chill to make it feel like -20°F . Dire weather warnings did little to deter MIT students from climbing five-story mound of snow on their campus . 'Alps of MIT', formed by snow plows, were taken over by skiers, sledders and climbers yesterday . | 07161497459e844bbc9713d1a6c919cdf81ef7cc |
(CNN)A former Florida A&M University band member has been sentenced to more than six years in prison for organizing the hazing that killed drum major Robert Champion Jr. Dante Martin, 27, was one of 15 people charged in the 2011 hazing incident. Prosecutors said he organized the brutal initiation, known as "Crossing Bus C," that band members had to go through. In October, Martin was found guilty of manslaughter and felony hazing. On Friday, an Orange County circuit court judge sentenced him to 77 months. "I honestly am ashamed that I can even remotely be a part or associated with anything that could take the life of a human being," Martin, who didn't testify at trial, said in court Friday. "It hurts me. I'm terribly sorry." Champion, 26 of Decatur, Georgia, died after he was beaten aboard a school bus after a football game in Orlando, Florida. The initiation requires pledges to run down the center of the bus while being punched, kicked and assaulted by senior members, band members have said. A medical examiner ruled Champion's death a homicide, saying he suffered multiple blunt trauma blows and internal bleeding from the beating. Champion died in the parking lot within an hour of the assault. FAMU's famed marching band, known as the Marching 100, was suspended for the 2012-13 school year after Champion's death. The college pledged to make reforms and address hazing both on and off campus. FAMU is one of the nation's top university marching bands, famous for its elaborate dance formations and innovative style. In court Friday, both Champion's mother and father addressed Martin. "I just want to let you know, I forgive you. I don't hate you at all," mother Pam Champion said. "And I don't want you shedding tears for my family because my fight is not over. My fight is not with you." Nine former band members have pleaded guilty to lesser charges and received community service and probation. Three others go on trial later this year. | Dante Martin, 27, was one of 15 people charged in the incident . "I'm terribly sorry," he says . | 8da9552e45aec5554d644e4e494f55f9e7252846 |
London (CNN) -- In the years leading up to 2011, several celebrities, royals and politicians had claimed to have had their phones hacked by News of The World. The paper's royal editor and a private investigator had even been convicted of intercepting phone messages and spent time in prison. The story was covered on the inside pages of selected newspapers but failed to really capture the British public's attention. That all changed in July of that year when the Guardian reported that police suspected the cellphone of murdered teenager Milly Dowler had been hacked by News of the World and that messages had been deleted to free up space for new voicemail. The allegations sparked outrage: amid condemnation from politicians on all sides of the spectrum, the paper's boss Rupert Murdoch closed down the 168-year-old tabloid newspaper and paid Dowler's parents and charities more than $4 million in compensation. At a parliamentary inquiry into the allegations, Murdoch declared: "This is the most humble day of my life." Timeline of phone-hacking scandal . When Milly's parents appeared at the Leveson Inquiry set up by the government to investigate press ethics, they gave a raw assessment of the false hope that the deletion of messages had raised in the days after their daughter's disappearance in March 2002. "I rang her phone," recalled Sally Dowler. "It clicked through on to her voicemail, so I heard her voice and it was just like, 'she's picked up her voicemail, she's alive.'" Tragically, those hopes were dashed and six months later Milly's body was found in woodland in Hampshire in southern England. Although it was suspected that the deletion of the messages hampered the police investigation, the truth may have been more prosaic: later that year a lawyer acting for the country's biggest force, the Metropolitan Police, said there was no evidence News of the World had been responsible for deleting the messages. The Guardian issued a clarification, but the damage had been done to News of the World and Murdoch's reputation. Whatever took place, the fact remains that it took police nine years to bring nightclub bouncer Levi Bellfield to justice. In June 2011 he was found guilty of murdering Milly Dowler and sentenced to life imprisonment. During the trial the jury was told Bellfield had previously murdered two other women and attempted to kill a fourth. So who was the girl whose murder in a quiet suburb of southwest London led to the closure of the UK's top-selling paper, suspicions of collusion between police officers and journalists, and at one time even threatened to topple Murdoch from the media group he had led for half a century? The scandal also led to charges being brought against several Murdoch employees, including two of Prime Minister David Cameron's friends. Press dishes it out, but can it take it? Despite her extraordinary legacy, by most accounts Amanda Dowler, who was known as Milly, was a normal, bright 13-year-old schoolgirl who had a good relationship with her parents and elder sister Gemma. Her friends testified during Bellfield's trial in London that she had a sunny personality and was her normal self on the day of her disappearance. "She was one of the funniest people I had ever met," Danielle Sykes said in a statement. "She would always be trying to make people laugh, joking and smiling. "She was one of those sort of people that when she was happy she was exceptionally happy, an infectious personality. If she was sad about something she would be particularly sad and get upset. She valued her friendships and family a lot." Sykes, who was one of the last people to see Milly alive, said she ate chips with her friend in a café in Walton-on-Thames after school. "We parted and I gave her a hug and asked if she would be alright walking home on her own and she said, 'Yeah, I'll be absolutely fine.' "I then turned around and shouted back at her 'I would not tell anyone what we had been talking about.'" Sykes added that they had been discussing a boy whom Milly fancied. After the friends parted, Milly started to walk to her home nearby, but was snatched by Bellfield as she walked along a road. Milly's sister also told the court she knew instinctively something was wrong when she returned home to find the house empty. She said: "I knew Milly wouldn't go out without telling Mum or Dad. I rang Milly's mobile. It was switched off so I left a message on her answer phone telling her to come home because Dad was really annoyed. "I was worried because Milly would always ring to tell us she was going to be late. It was so unusual for her not to be home on time. I knew instinctively something bad had happened to Milly and that she had been abducted." Milly's disappearance sparked a nationwide search involving more than 100 police officers and a reconstruction of her last movements on the TV program "Crimewatch." Detectives from Surrey police however suggested she had not been taken by force and had run away. Some friends indeed portrayed a different side to Milly, suggesting she had been "distressed" at the time of disappearance, after finding bondage pornography belonging to her father Robert. Police initially considered him a suspect, but later apologized. In a statement read to the court, Jacqueline Pignolly said: "Milly told me some pornographic magazines had been found in her Dad's drawer. "At the time Milly was a bit upset about it, not much for herself but her mum. I know that Milly did see them and there was more than one of them." During the trial Bellfield's lawyers used this testimony, along with a "goodbye" note that Milly had written to her parents and a poem in which she said "I hate myself," to paint a picture of the teenager as unhappy and distressed. His tactics caused great distress to the family, but the jury failed to believe his plea of innocence. Geoffrey Wansell, the author of a book on Bellfield, "The Bus Stop Killer," told CNN that in the wake of the 2011 trial, during which the Dowlers were pilloried by the tabloids over the pornography revelations, the family grew to loathe the press. It was in this atmosphere that the revelation was made about the hacking of Milly's phone, which became, according to Wansell, "the defining moment from which News of the World could not recover." "I don't think it's as simple as the fact that Milly Dowler's phone was hacked and that led to the end of the News of the World. I think there are more layers to the story than that, and we may never know what actually happened." | Police said in 2011 that Milly Dowler's voicemail hacked by News of the World . Dowler was 13-year-old murdered by Levi Bellfield in southwest London . Milly described in court as funny and bright girl with normal family life . But she was troubled to have discovered her father's pornography recently . | cfd94496f7e94448e3624991a47985643b12ec0c |
United Nations (CNN) -- Iran continues to evade and violate a U.N.-imposed arms embargo, according to a sanctions committee report released Friday to the Security Council. Ambassador Tsuneo Nishida of Japan, who is the chairman of the committee, told the Security Council that within the past 90 days, the committee has been investigating two separate incidents of reported Iranian violations. One violation, he said, involved a report by a member country that from one of its ports, it "inspected and seized 13 shipping containers of illegal arms reportedly originating from Iran." The committee said it would issue a more comprehensive report of the results in the near future. The other report of violations involved a separate member country whose customs and border authorities seized a container onboard a ship which originated from Iran and was destined for Syria. It contained "a high-potential explosive known as 'T4' or 'RDX'. " Susan Rice, the U.S. Ambassador to the United Nations, reacted to the report saying, "Unfortunately, when it comes to Iran's actions, not much has changed since we last met. Iran continues to violate its obligations" to the Security Council. In 2007, Security Council Resolution 1747 imposed a ban on the export and procurement of all arms and related material from Iran. | Committee chairman says panel is looking at two reported incidents . Country says it seized 13 containers of illegal arms . Separate report says high explosives were bound for Syria . | a4498d18dc2904906a9cc712568eea6b249da066 |
President Barack Obama has yet to decide whether to authorize air strikes against ISIS targets in Syria, the White House insists. More and more, though, the signals and nuance from the administration and the military suggest such a campaign could be coming. Here is a look at signs the United States could be planning to expand air attacks on the Sunni jihadists rampaging through northern Iraq: . Look before you launch . A U.S. official told CNN that Obama has authorized reconnaissance flights over Syria that are seen as a forerunner of possible U.S. airstrikes there against ISIS, which calls itself Islamic State. At the same time, the U.S. military and intelligence communities are gathering information on the locations of ISIS leadership and troop concentrations in Syria, according to two U.S. officials. Obama authorizes reconnaissance flights over Syria, U.S. official says . Pentagon spokesman Rear Adm. John Kirby, speaking generally, told CNN on Monday that "you certainly want to get as much of a view on the ground as you can, as much situational awareness as you can" in order to conduct operations in Syria. Laying the groundwork . Obama's top military man, Joint Chiefs Chairman Gen. Martin Dempsey, last week provided the fundamental reasoning for going after ISIS in Syria. "Can they be defeated without addressing that part of their organization which resides in Syria? The answer is no," Dempsey told reporters. "That will have to be addressed on both sides of what is essentially at this point a nonexistent border" with Iraq. The U.S. military began airstrikes against ISIS positions in Iraq earlier this month, helping Kurdish and Iraqi forces halt the Islamic extremists' murderous advance. One reason given by the administration for the aerial campaign was to protect military advisers previously sent to Iraq to work with Iraqi and Kurdish forces. 5 key questions in the fight against ISIS . The same rationale of protecting U.S. personnel and interests can be applied to expanding airstrikes across the border easily exploited by ISIS. "While the President has not made a decision to take additional military actions at this time, we don't restrict our options by geographic boundaries when it comes to the central mission of protecting our people," National Security Council spokeswoman Caitlin Hayden said Monday. Now the question becomes establishing that ISIS poses a direct threat and building enough international and domestic support to act. The video of ISIS beheading American journalist James Foley helps make the case, as does the estimated 2,000 or so foreigners including Europeans and Americans fighting for ISIS who could return home. Obama will host a meeting of leaders of the U.N. Security Council next month to discuss the threat of foreign fighters in ISIS. Going into Syria . Last week, his former point man on Syria, Frederic Hof, told CNN that a failed U.S. mission to rescue Foley earlier this year established a precedent of American forces entering Syrian territory without government permission. On Monday, White House spokesman Josh Earnest cited the U.S. mission that killed Osama bin Laden in Pakistan as another example of going into a country without government permission to protect the safety or interests of Americans. In a speech Tuesday to the American Legion, Obama mentioned increased U.S. assistance for Kurdish forces in Iraq fighting ISIS as well as moderate opposition forces in Syria battling both ISIS and the government of President Bashar al-Assad. By lumping together the Kurds and Syrian opposition, Obama signaled his view of the conflict as a regional one regardless of the two countries involved. Defense Secretary Chuck Hagel later announced that seven countries had joined the United States in providing "urgently needed arms and equipment" to the Kurdish forces. Those are: Britain, France, Italy, Canada, Denmark, Croatia and Albania, he said. "Operations have already begun and will accelerate in the coming days with more nations also expected to contribute," Hagel's statement said. Is Obama heading toward airstrikes in Syria? Regional support . At the American Legion national convention, Obama also touted the nation's ability to galvanize international coalitions to respond to crises. "History teaches us of the dangers of overreaching and spreading ourselves too thin, and trying to go it alone without international support," he said. According to Hof, an Atlantic Council senior fellow, the President would seek such international support now to take on ISIS. Key members would be Middle East allies that have air power provided by the United States, he said. Two such countries -- Egypt and United Arab Emirates -- reportedly launched airstrikes this week on Islamist targets in the ongoing Libyan conflict. In addition, U.S. allies in the region dealing with a rise in Islamic extremism have condemned ISIS over the beheading of Foley and other atrocities. Political pressure . Hawkish Republicans such as Sens. John McCain of Arizona and Lindsey Graham of South Carolina have long called for Obama to get involved militarily in Syria's civil war, at least by arming the opposition trying to topple al-Assad. The lightning advance by ISIS from Syria across northern Iraq in recent months escalated criticism of Obama for his reticence in Syria, and now a broad swath of GOP voices demands a strong military response. Even Obama's former secretary of state, Hillary Clinton, has made clear she advocated a bigger U.S. role in the Syrian conflict when it began three years ago. With congressional elections looming in November and a presidential vote in two years, such questioning only will increase. While the critics cite a strategic argument, conservatives see an opportunity to simultaneously push for two core goals -- building up the military after cuts under Obama, and reducing resources available to the rest of what they consider to be excessive government. | No decision yet by President Obama, the White House says . Official: Obama authorizes reconnaissance flights over Syria . Administration officials have laid the groundwork for a possible campaign . Obama is under political pressure to act . | c6089bbd72dceba4b160d3965fbf8b1051799f0c |
(CNN)Linda Kaoma is on the hunt in East Africa. Her tour of the region will see her travel to Tanzania, Kenya and Uganda. Not in search of lions, rhinos or other big game. Rather she's on a quest for a much more elusive creature -- the African poet. "We have a rich oral tradition and it's important that we document what is happening in history poetry-wise," she explains. "Africa has a history of a lack of documentation and we really didn't want this to happen to our poets." Kaoma, 29, is part of the team behind the Badilisha Poetry X-Change, the largest online archive of African poetry, accessible via mobile phone, in the world. The Badilisha project was originally conceived as an annual poetry festival overseen by the Africa Centre, a pan-African organization based in Cape Town in 2008. Over the following years it grew to become a powerful mouthpiece for showcasing African wordsmiths. And by 2012, the institution decided to move online in an effort to break down geographical borders and open up their diverse anthology to a wider audience in Africa. Poetry in your phone . Following an overhaul of the site last year, Badilisha relaunched in September, making its immersive archive accessible to a broader international following through a "mobile-first" site. It's a shrewd move on a continent where mobile phones have revolutionized critical sectors such as education, healthcare and agriculture. Adoption of mobile phone use has been prolific in Africa with mobile data services going from strength to strength. Seven out of 10 mobile users in sub-Saharan Africa use their phones to browse the web, according to a recent report from Ericsson. Elsewhere, a study by analyst firm Ovum predicted in November that "mobile broadband connections in Africa are set to rise from 96 million in 2013 to 950 million to cover 77.3% of all mobile subscriptions in the continent by the end of 2019." Kaoma adds: "A lot of Africans use their mobiles to go on the Internet and because they are own main target audience, we had to cater for them and make it easy for them to access this content." To date, the project has collected almost 400 African poets from 31 countries in Africa and across the diaspora, in 14 different languages. Since the relaunch, users are able to navigate the site through a myriad of options including by theme, poet, country, language, emotion or by their "Top 10" list, a popular feature curated by a guest poet each month. And it seems their following has embraced the organization's decision to go forward on mobile with an average of 3,000 visitors to the site monthly. "We want the archive to be a place where people can come and get educated about what other African poets are saying. A place for them to interact with one another," says Kaoma. "There is great value in a Kenyan interacting with a Nigerian. A Nigerian interacting with a South African... "Also the archive has now reached an international status and it has become a global stage. Poets can get the exposure that they usually do not get." Cape Town-based poet Toni Stuart, who compiled this month's "Top 10" list, says: "I don't think the importance of an archive like this can be overstated. It is the first 'living archive' focusing solely on poets from Africa and the diaspora. "The archive serves a number of purposes: it makes poets available to an international audience -- and for less known poets, this is a chance to be heard beyond their own community, city or country. It raises the the profile of poetry from and of the continent, while allowing people to engage with the words through hearing and reading them." Hot on the trail of poets . Two poets are introduced to the platform weekly and each poet profile features a short biography, two text poems, a photograph and audio podcast recordings of the wordsmith reading their works. Kaoma, a poet and writer herself, says: "It adds so much value to actually hear the poet's voice recite their work. It adds a different dimension, it adds a texture. We really want to give our audience a holistic experience of poetry. "If some people just choose to read it, that's fine. But if others want to hear it, (the podcast) really brings the work to life." Meanwhile, Stuart, who also runs poetry and performance workshops, says the multi-layered format "democratizes poetry" by "offering an equal platform to poets working in all languages on the continent, and to established and emerging poets." Poets can supply their work directly to the organization via the project's submissions page. It is then evaluated by a rolling judging panel who determine whether the work is suitable for Badilisha. "At any given time we have two or three poets sitting on the panel," says Kaoma. "We try to have a mix of people so we will invite poets to come curate for us. It keeps the selection process exciting and diverse." Conversely, the team also approach poets directly to inquire if they are interested in adding their work to the collection. Additionally, they travel to various nations in search of poets to connect with. "We write to publishers or anybody who has access to these poets and build those profiles. We do, from time to time, have to travel to a specific country. We really have to do a lot of ploughing and digging of the poetry scene and that space." One such voice on the platform is Ghanaian-born Jamaican poet Kwame Dawes. Having first encountered Badilisha while visiting Cape Town several years ago, he is thrilled to see how the organization has created a burgeoning poetry scene online. "I had the chance to visit their studios and to learn more about what they intended to do. It was exciting to see this fledgling idea blossom into what is simply one of the best things to happen to African poetry in a long time. "The concept is simple, but the impact is massive." Existing in an online space . Dawes, who is also a distinguished actor, documentary writer and founder of the prestigious African Poetry Book Fund, has not only curated content for the site but he's also featured in this month's "Top 10," compiled by South Africa's Toni Stuart. He adds: "Of course it feels good to see that other poets are engaged by my work. I am not sure what it means really (to be included in the Top 10), but I have to think that the few poems on the site resonate with people in positive ways. I am in good company, frankly, and I find that an honor." It's a sentiment project manager Kaoma says many poets share about their inclusion in Badilisha. "When we first started there was obviously a bit of resistance. People not understanding how being online works. Now as a society, we are more accustomed to being online, a lot of our activities are based online -- we shop online -- so as society becomes more comfortable with the idea of the web, so do poets," explains the curator. "Poets are very open to it and they appreciate having such a space there they can engage with one another." Badilisha is principally funded by Spier, a South African wine estate, with additional financing from applications to the government and other private institutions. And in a time when traditional publishers are shying away from printing poetry due to lack of sales, the project offers poets a new outlet for presenting their work in a digital age. But Kaoma is quick to clarify Badilisha's position as an alternative literary publisher. "A lot of publishers right now aren't publishing a lot of poetry, (and) we don't want that to be what stops us as poets from having thriving careers. I think we can exist online and maybe when people see how popular poetry really is, they can start increasing the number of books being published. I think we can coexist and work with one another." Tom Page contributed to this story. | Badilisha Poetry X-Change is the world's largest archive of African poets . Poets featured on the "mobile first" site must be African or have a strong link to the continent . 70% of mobile users in Sub-Saharan Africa, according to Ericsson consumer report . Each poet profile includes a bio, photo, text poems and audio podcasts . | 6e786cb73615d72de04026b14bc1816a9c862ccf |
Five people were treated for injuries at Navarra Hospital on Sunday, after the final ritual running of the bulls at the Festival of San Fermin in Pamplona, Spain. The most serious of Sunday's injuries was sustained by a 23-year-old Australian woman, who was gored in the chest. According to an official report, the woman suffered fractured rubs and damage to her right lung. Her condition was described as "grave" by the regional government, which hosts the festival. Three men were gored on Friday, including an American who underwent emergency surgery to remove his spleen, and another American who suffered a "rectal perforation." On Saturday, natives of Spain and Ireland were listed in "serious condition" after being trampled, apparently by people, during a pileup of some 200 runners and two bulls near the entrance to the festival's main bullring. At least 20 people sustained injuries in the pileup. Crazy? Brave? Drunk? What drives Pamplona's bull runners? As part of the nine-day festival, which celebrates San Fermin, patron saint of Pamplona and the Navarra region, human thrill seekers run through the streets of Pamplona amid groups of six charging bulls. The run takes place each day of the festival (excluding opening day) at 8 a.m. Many of the runners stay up all night, filling themselves with liquid courage before making the inebriated dash in the early light. After a pair of rockets are set off, the bulls charge through crowds of runners for about 920 yards, the distance between the bull corral and bullring. The run generally takes three or four minutes to complete. This year's festival ended on Sunday with a reported 206 people sustaining injuries during the bull runs. According to various reports, 13, 14 or 15 runners have been killed at the running of the bulls over the last century. The most recent fatality was in 2009 when a 27-year-old man from Madrid died after being gored in the neck. | Australian woman gored in chest on final day of running with the bulls in Pamplona, Spain . American injuries include spleen damage and "rectal perforation" Spaniard and Irishman seriously hurt in 200-person, two bull pile-up . At least 200 runners sustain bull-related injuries during nine-day festival . | f3080c5e5b238f82cff67eb2abe78e69c5cbfd1a |
(CNN) -- From the day he challenged the great Seve Ballesteros to a chipping contest at the age of four, Matteo Manassero has been a precocious golf talent. The Italian, who last month became the youngest player to make the halfway cut at the Masters in Augusta, has launched his professional career 17 days after his 17th birthday. Manassero, who was also the leading amateur at last year's British Open and topped the non-paid players' world rankings for 18 weeks, made a solid start on Thursday. He carded a two-under-par 70 in the opening round of his home Italian Open which left him three shots off the lead. He outshone his playing partner, European Ryder Cup captain and seven-time Order of Merit winner Colin Montgomerie, who could only manage 76 on a day marred by a two-hour rain delay. "He was very impressive, to do that as a 17-year-old today," the 46-year-old Montgomerie told the European Tour Web site. "He has a good future ahead of him and I wish him all the best." Manassero was also pleased with his efforts. "It was a good round, I played steady for 18 holes. I really liked how I played today. I was a little nervous, like always in big tournaments, but fortunately I'm getting used to it," he said. "I don't want to rewind any part of my game. I didn't putt that well but I didn't have many chances, so I like the way I played and hopefully it will stay like this." Manassero is used to the big stage. He made his British Open at Turnberry last year, teeing off with American golf legend Tom Watson and Spanish star Sergio Garcia. Watson ended up losing an emotional playoff to Stewart Cink, while Manassero tied for 13th -- and Garcia finished back in 38th. "I was nervous, it was a big crowd clapping me," Manassero told CNN before the Italian Open, breaking into a smile. His successes at Turnberry and then Augusta, where he at at 16 years and 11 months and 22 days he was almost two years younger than Bobby Cole's previous record, have given him a taste of things to come. "I was on the first page of the biggest newspaper in Italy," Manassero said. "I'm still the same, but life is different. "Pro-life is what I want. I'm really looking forward to it. Fitness and practicing, normal training, I don't want to do different stuff. I've always done those and I'll keep like this." Manassero, who is from the province of Verona in northern Italy, recalled the time when he met Spanish legend Ballesteros, a five-time major winner. "I challenged him on the putting green of my home club. He was chipping and they introduced him to me and then we started started chipping a little, and I holed a chip. That was a great moment," he said. His caddy is Alberto Binaghi, a former European Tour player and now the Italian team coach. Binaghi has overseen a resurgence in Italian golf that has taken Edoardo and Francesco Molinari into the world's top-50, with the brothers winning the 2009 World Cup teams event. "Ten years ago it was probably a rich sport and was difficult to play and it was expensive, but now the situation has changed and there are more young people wanting to play golf," Francesco Molinari, ranked 41st, told CNN of the sport in his home country. Four players shared the clubhouse lead at the Royal Park course in Turin, with Englishmen Graeme Storm and Robert Rock carding 67 along with Australia's Marcus Fraser and Scotland's Paul Lawrie. There were still 18 players yet to complete their opening rounds when the day's play came to a halt. | Matteo Manassero launches professional golf career with two-under-par 70 at Italian Open . The 17-year-old was the youngest amateur to make the halfway cut at the Masters . He challenged golfing great Seve Ballesteros to a chipping duel at the age of four . Manassero is part of a golfing resurgence in Italy with the Molinari brothers . | 30f3f6ceb2b28d7b4f3150d1f2d4cee9adc84138 |
(CNN) -- Interested in a lunch-hour swim, free from the office, in a big open-air pool with warm sand between your toes, palm trees swaying in the breeze and a cool drink close at hand? If the answer's yes, consider Brisbane, Australia, one of the world's most livable cities, according to a 2014 Monocle Magazine index. Unique among Australia's major cities, sunny Brisbane has a beach right on the doorstep of its central business district. Its setting is South Bank, the lively entertainment and cultural precinct that -- as the name implies -- sits on the south bank of the Brisbane River. This is where the city comes for recreation and entertainment, to eat and drink at casual riverside restaurants and bars, listen to impromptu music shows, ride a giant Ferris wheel, check out street artists and nighttime light shows, take in a formal concert at the performing arts center and visit art galleries and the state museum and library. G20 weekend . Apart from being the favorite of city workers, students and families, South Bank is also the main venue for the biggest event Brisbane has hosted in years: the G20 Leaders' Summit gathering of global political and business leaders in mid-November that will see 4,000 delegates and 3,000 journalists pour into the city. Along with U.S. President Barack Obama, world leaders including China's Xi Jinping, India's Narendra Modi, Japan's Shinzo Abe, Indonesia's Joko Widodo, UK's David Cameron, Germany's Angela Merkel and Russia's Vladimir Putin are scheduled to join Australia Prime Minister Tony Abbott on stage at South Bank's Brisbane Convention and Exhibition Centre for the G20 Leaders' Summit on November 15-16. "For those few days in November, Brisbane will be the capital of the world," Brisbane Lord Mayor Graham Quirk tells CNN. South Bank . All those politicians, business people and journalists have got to eat, drink and get happy at the end of their deliberations. In Brisbane they'll find plenty of places. Within South Bank itself, the Gallery of Modern Art Restaurant (Stanley Place, Cultural Precinct, South Bank; +61 7 3840 7303) is normally one of the best lunch venues. Along with other institutions in the cultural precinct, the Queensland Art Gallery and Gallery of Modern Art will be closed on November 14, 15 and 16 during the G20 Leaders' Summit. For dinner it's hard to beat Stokehouse Brisbane (on the river at South Bank on Sidon Street; +61 7 3020 0600), near the maritime museum at the other end of South Bank. Next door to the convention center on Grey Street is one of the city's liveliest new beer outlets, The Charming Squire (133 Grey St., South Brisbane; +61 7 3077 7254). Two other great spots in South Bank are The Sangria Bar (Shop B12 Little Stanley Street, South Bank, Brisbane; +61 7 3846 1201), rated this year's "Best Bar with Food" by the Brisbane Times Good Food Guide, and Bacchus (corner of Grey and Glenelg Streets, South Bank; +61 7 3364 0837), rated the restaurant with this year's best wine list. Central Business District . Across the river in the CBD, there's no shortage of high-end diners, led by chef Ryan Squire's brilliant Esquire (145 Eagle St,, Brisbane; +61 07 3220 2123). According to the restaurant, "the degustation menu evolves daily, driven by the availability of the best local produce that day and hand picked by the team of skilled craftsmen, the chefs, who work swiftly in the kitchen." Other can't-miss choices include the highly creative Alejandro Cancino's Urbane (181 Mary St., Brisbane; +61 07 3229 2271) and the classy Aria Brisbane (1 Eagle St., Brisbane; +61 7 3233 2555), the northern edition of celebrity chef Matt Moran's original Aria in Sydney. Power brokers on a modest budget find Moo Moo (Stamford Plaza, 39 Edward St., Brisbane; +61 7 3236 4500), near where President Obama and his team are expected to stay, delivers the goods. One of the city's best-loved seafood restaurants is Gambaro's (33 Caxton St., Petrie Terrace, Brisbane; +61 7 3369 9500). The restaurant site has been completely rebuilt and now includes a Gambaro's Hotel. Across the road, the family that owns Gambaro's has added steak to its repertoire, with the smart new Black Hide Steakhouse (36 Caxton St., Petrie Terrace, Brisbane; +61 7 3369 9500) winning accolades for the quality of its cuts. West End and Fortitude Valley . Beyond South Bank and the CBD, some of the city's best cafes, bars and clubs are found in West End and Fortitude Valley, locales that come alive at night. Gordita Bar & Restaurant (11b/100 McLachlan St., Fortitude Valley, Brisbane; +61 7 3666 0605) is a Valley favorite serving "wholesome Southern Spanish food along with a wine list so fat with artisanal wines from around the world you can practically feel it groaning in your hands." For Asian noodles of any description, Kwan Brothers (43 Alfred St., Fortitude Valley, Brisbane; +61 7 3251 6588) is the obvious choice. Craft beers are the call at Yard Bird Ale House (6/24 Martin St., Fortitude Valley, Brisbane; +61 7 3852 6413) and Archive Beer Boutique (100 Boundary St., West End, Brisbane; +61 7 3844 3419). Away from the city . When it's time for sun, a city-side alternative to South Bank is the City Botanic Gardens, which link government buildings and a Queensland University of Technology campus with the city proper. Getting around on foot or bicycle is easy. Buses operate from a couple of key points in the city, including below the Queen Street Mall, from the Brisbane Transit Centre on Roma Street and from South Bank's bus center. Depending on where you're headed, the ferries plying across and along the Brisbane River make for a pleasant journey. Brisbane is the gateway to two well-known tourist destinations: the glitzy Gold Coast an hour to the south, with its multiple theme parks, canals, long stretches of beach, high-rise apartments, casinos and shopping malls; and the Sunshine Coast an hour to the north, a more casual and less developed array of canals and beaches, with chic Noosa at its northernmost tip regarded as the best place to stay. Two secret natural jewels can be found east of Brisbane, among the islands of Moreton Bay that shield the river mouth from the big swells of the Pacific Ocean. One is Tangalooma on Moreton Island, a 75-minute ferry ride from Brisbane's Holt Street Wharf at Pinkenba, the other is Point Lookout on North Stradbroke Island, about 60 minutes from the Brisbane suburb of Cleveland by water taxi or vehicular ferry, then island bus. Tangalooma offers whale watching from June until late November and the chance to feed dolphins in the wild. Point Lookout not only is one of the best whale-watching spots on the Australian east coast, it's home to a magic surf break that just keeps on delivering wave after wave. | Brisbane, Australia, is one of the world's most livable cities, according to Monocle . Unique among Australia's major cities, sunny Brisbane has a beach near its central business district . South Bank is an area for culture and international eateries . In the central business district there's no shortage of high-end diners . | ac883faf15921316679947579fede01af3dab7e6 |
By . Associated Press . PUBLISHED: . 21:28 EST, 31 October 2013 . | . UPDATED: . 21:28 EST, 31 October 2013 . A federal appeals court on Thursday blocked a judge's ruling that found the New York Police Department's stop-and-frisk policy discriminated against minorities, and it took the unusual step of removing her from the case, saying interviews she gave during the trial called her impartiality into question. The city applauded the appeals court's decision. Police Commissioner Raymond Kelly, who was shouted down over the tactic by students during a speech at Brown University this week, said he was grateful for it. 'This is indeed an important decision for all New Yorkers and for the men and women of the New York City police department who work very hard day in and day out to keep this city safe,' he said. Random stops: The NYPD's stop-and-frisk policy was deemed discriminatory against minorities by judge Shira A. Scheindlin . The 2nd U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals said the ruling by U.S. District Judge Shira A. Scheindlin will be on hold pending the outcome of an appeal by the city. But it may be a non-issue after next week's mayoral election: Democrat Bill de Blasio, who's leading in polls, has said he would drop objections to the ruling, which calls for major changes to the police tactic. The judge decided in August the city violated the civil rights of tens of thousands of blacks and Hispanics by disproportionally stopping, questioning and sometimes frisking them. She assigned a monitor to help the police department change its policy and training programs on the tactic. The three-judge panel heard arguments Tuesday. Lawyers in the case said the police department hasn't had to do anything except meet with a monitor since the judge's decision, but the city said police officers are afraid to stop and frisk people now and the number of stop-and-frisks has dropped dramatically. Judgement blocked: A New York federal appeals court blocked Shira A. Scheindlin's order requiring changes to New York City's stop-and-frisk program and removed her from the case . The appeals panel didn't change the deadline for the appeal and said it expected arguments in March, well after the new mayor takes office. It said Scheindlin needed to be removed because she ran afoul of the code of conduct for U.S. judges by misapplying a ruling that allowed her to take the case and by giving media interviews and making public statements responding to criticism. Scheindlin said in a statement later Thursday she consented to the interviews under the condition she wouldn't comment on the ongoing case. 'And I did not,' she said. Shouted down: Police Commissioner Raymond Kelly says he is pleased with the decision to block Scheindlin's finding . She said some reporters used quotes from written opinions that gave the appearance she had commented on the case but 'a careful reading of each interview will reveal that no such comments were made.' She also defended her decision to direct the plaintiffs to bring the case to her, saying she took the most recent case because it was related to a previous case she heard. The 2nd Circuit said a new judge would be assigned randomly and will deal with any further rulings. It's possible the new judge could order a fresh set of reforms or review the trial testimony and decide the city didn't violate people's civil rights, but it would be highly unusual.Stop-and-frisk has been around for decades, but recorded stops increased dramatically under Mayor Michael Bloomberg's administration to an all-time high in 2011 of 684,330, mostly of black and Hispanic men. Future plans: Mayoral frontrunner Bill de Blasio will drop any objections to the ruling if he is elected New York City mayor . A lawsuit was filed in 2004 by four minority men, who said they were targeted because of their races, and it became a class-action case. To make a stop, police must have reasonable suspicion that a crime is about to occur or has occurred, a standard lower than the probable cause needed to justify an arrest. Only about 10 per cent of the stops result in arrests or summonses, and weapons are found about two per cent of the time. Scheindlin heard a bench trial that ended in the spring and coincided with a groundswell of backlash against the stop-and-frisk tactic, which became a mayoral race flashpoint. She noted in her ruling this summer that she wasn't putting an end to the practice, which is constitutional, but was reforming the way the NYPD implemented its stops. Public debate: Two men reenact the controversial 'stop-and-frisk' pose on a West Village street while in costume on Halloween day on October 31, 2013 in New York City . The Center for Constitutional Rights, which represented the four men who sued, said it was dismayed that the appeals court delayed 'the long-overdue process to remedy the NYPD's unconstitutional stop-and-frisk practices' and was shocked that it 'cast aspersions' on the judge's professional conduct and reassigned the case. De Blasio, the city's public advocate, said he was 'extremely disappointed' in Thursday's decision. 'We have to end the overuse of stop and frisk - and any delay only means a continued and unnecessary rift between our police and the people they protect,' he said in a statement. His Republican challenger, Joe Lhota, a deputy under former Mayor Rudy Giuliani, praised it. 'The next mayor absolutely must continue this appeal,' he said. | A federal appeals court blocked a judge's ruling that found the NYPD's stop-and-frisk policy discriminates against minorities . The appeals court removed judge Shira A. Scheindlin from the case saying that she'd given interviews that called her impartiality into question . Scheindlin disputes that accusation and says she did not comment on the case as it was ongoing . Bill de Blasio, who is leading in the polls for mayoral election, says he would drop any objections to the ruling if elected . | d45f927d34a28fb50757c5d1cb69ffa5f97807b9 |
By . Ted Thornhill . Jailed: Amir Saleem lied that he was a barrister and brain surgeon for almost 20 years and even won a client a court case . A serial conman who made false claims of being a brain surgeon and a barrister for nearly 20 years has finally been jailed. He was exposed, ironically, after posing as a barrister and winning a court case against another fraudster. Amir Saleem, 42, won almost £8,000 for his client at Manchester's Civil Justice Centre in a lawsuit against known conman Selva Carmichael. But Saleem’s conduct in court was his downfall. Despite losing, the opposing legal team became suspicious that Saleem wasn’t a real barrister when he used ‘nonsensical legal propositions’ and made the bizarre boast that he was actually a brain surgeon who merely ‘dabbled in law’. The police were called and an 11-month investigation revealed that he’d been spinning an astonishing web of lies over a number of years – and had conned his first victim, an ex-girlfriend, out of tens of thousands of pounds. They also found he’d used false legal qualifications to study law and set up a solicitor’s firm and made claims to his ex that he was a multimillionaire brain surgeon ‘who lived near the Beckhams’. Saleem was actually penniless and a stay-at-home son who slept in the spare room of his parents’ house. He met his first victim, a 45-year-old divorcee, in 2004, through a dating website. He convinced her to look at prestige homes for sale in the Mere area of Cheshire as well as two Mercedes cars - and she loaned him £40,000 from her £66,000 divorce settlement. During their four-year relationship the woman, a nurse, had a child before splitting up with him in 2009 after she became increasingly wary of his tall tales. Saleem later tried to sue her for custody of their child, and her parents had to remortgage their home to pay the £25,000 legal costs. In a statement she said: ‘Amir has totally destroyed my life, both financially and psychologically. I ended up off work sick with depression for 12 months. He has made a total fool out of me. In July 2012 he met his next victim, Lisa Walmsley. Boast: Saleem said that he was a millionaire brain surgeon with celebrity neighbours, but in fact lived in this semi-detached house with his parents . He told her he was a barrister and said he would be able to help her over her legal battle with conman Carmichael, 53, who she claimed took a £42,000 investment from her for a TV production venture and breached terms of a contract. Little did Ms Walmsley know that Saleem had made up his credentials. Police said Saleem had used entirely false qualifications and fraudulent degree certificates to win places on a number of University Degree courses between 1997 and 2012. They included Kings College, Huddersfield University, College of Law in Birmingham, College of Law in Bloomsbury and BPP Law School. He eventually created a bogus law firm, Century Law, using forged degree certificates. But that didn’t stop him taking the case and audaciously representing her in court. He wasn’t convincing enough for the defendant’s legal representation, though – and neither did he pull the wool over the eyes of the judge. The judge asked him to write down some information about his legal background, but Saleem misspelt ‘Gray's Inn Square Barristers' Chambers’. At Manchester Crown Court on Tuesday, Saleem, of Ladybarn, near Stockport, was jailed for four years and four months after he pleaded guilty to seven counts of deception and one count of carrying out a reserved legal activity. Detective Con Beth Colbourne from Greater Manchester Police said: ‘Saleem convinced both women they could trust him and rely on him. ‘He used the pretence that he was a barrister and brain surgeon to gain their trust even further, leading to him deceiving one of his victims out of thousands of pounds. ‘Even upon his arrest for the original offence, his lying continued and he tried to convince the officer that the victims and witnesses were mistaken and he was in fact a student. ‘Thankfully, we were able to see through his lies and he is now serving time behind bars.’ Passing sentence Judge David Stockdale QC said Saleem was a ‘knowing and manipulative fraudster’. Saleem’s lawyer David Martin-Sperry said: ‘He lived in a fantasy world. The theme is very much of self-aggrandisement - and misguided optimism how things would turn out.’ | Amir Saleem, 42, brazenly posed as a barrister at a court in Manchester . He won his case but the opposing legal team became suspicious of him . The police were called after he used 'nonsensical legal propositions' A probe revealed he'd duped two women and used false qualifications . He was jailed at Manchester Crown Court for four years and four months . | b6a2f5bec09ff6f5b604d9c2537167283fa310c4 |
This is the moment two heartless thieves stole £700 of Christmas money from an elderly couple after pretending to ask for directions. Moments earlier the ‘despicable’ con artists had followed the couple – both aged in their 80s – around a bank and watched them withdraw their savings. CCTV cameras capture the moment one of the men distracts the grandparents by pretending to be lost, while his partner swoops. Criminals: Police are hunting for two thieves who stole a vulnerable couple's £700 Christmas savings by distracting them claiming they were lost . Sickening: One man asked the pensioners for directions while the other rifled through a bag and stole a wallet . As the pensioners load their shopping into the boot of their car, one man keeps them engaged in conversation, encouraging them to turn their backs to the vehicle. Meanwhile, his accomplice can be seen lurking in the background before he sneaks up behind them. He then reaches into the woman’s handbag, snatches her purse and walks off. The first thief then quickly concludes his conversation, appearing to thank the pensioners for their directions, before following his accomplice. Yesterday, West Midlands Police released the 45-second CCTV footage in a bid to catch the men. Hundreds posted links to the footage on Facebook and Twitter in a bid to find the ‘vile’ thieves. Do you know these men? Detectives believe these are the men responsible for the wallet snatch . Detective Sergeant Dave Faries said the men struck at 10.30am on November 25, on Thamley Road in Coventry. He added: ‘This was a well-planned theft in which the suspects coldly and deliberately targeted the elderly couple. ‘Not only did they follow them in the bank, but they also shadowed them as they carried out their shopping, waiting for the right time to pounce.’ He said the couple had withdrawn the money for Christmas presents for their family and thankfully, ‘in the spirit of the festive season’, Coventry Building Society refunded the cash. ‘However, I will not rest until these despicable thieves are identified and brought to justice,’ Mr Faries added. ‘We have carried out numerous inquiries in the area and checked police systems to try and identify the suspects, but now we need the public’s help to trace them. ‘I’d also like to urge people to be on their guard against such tactics and if a stranger approaches you in the street, make sure you keep an eye on your belongings and report any suspicious activity to police.’ Cynical: The gang had been following the couple since they withdrew the money from a cashpoint . Distraction: The ringleader then spoke to the pensioners claiming they had lost their way while the accomplice lurked behind . Kind: The couple politely turn round to face the man but doing so allow the other thief to sneak in and steal . Exit: As soon as the wallet was stolen the thieves fled and police are desperate to track them down . Distraction theft is not uncommon and it is believed these men may be travelling from town to town to evade police. In September, three thieves were captured on CCTV using a similar technique – distracting a frail elderly man as he took money out of a cashpoint, and taking his bank cards and cash. Yesterday, one woman, who didn’t give her name, wrote on MailOnline that her 84-year-old mother also experienced almost identical tactics. She said thieves ‘followed her into the Halifax, watched her withdraw £800 and then distracted her while another member went down her shopping trolley and stole it’. She added: ‘The whole sorry incident was caught on CCTV but all the police said was they were aware of the gang operating in our part of Suffolk and she has heard nothing from them since.’ On Twitter, users described the thieves as ‘disgusting’ and ‘vile scumbags’. In the footage, one of the men is wearing a black leather jacket with a white patterned jumper while his bald accomplice has a moustache and is wearing a black puffa jacket with a white hood. Anyone who knows the identity of the men is urged to call police on 101, or the independent charity Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111. | Thieves had followed couple them claimed they were lost in Coventry . Kind couple turned round and even used walking stick to give directions . Meanwhile accomplice was rifling through bag and stole cash-filled wallet . Police are asking for the public to help identify the two thieves . | 8a90c948cf6db4d70b4c2f2aa290912286185475 |
Micah Richards claims he had chances to move to Chelsea and Manchester United earlier in his career - but he's now loving life in Italy's Serie A with loan-club Fiorentina. The 26-year-old Manchester City youth product faces English opposition on Thursday evening in the form of Tottenham Hotspur in the Europa League and has expressed regret at the way his City career seems to have ended. Richards made 236 appearances for City after breaking into the first team in 2005 but was only seen 10 times last season under Manuel Pellegrini - mostly in the domestic cup competitions - before moving to Serie A. Micah Richards trains at White Hart Lane with Fiorentina ahead of their Europa League clash with Tottenham . Richards is enjoying life in Serie A after deciding to leave City due to the lack of first-team football available . Richards (right) posted this image with his Fiorentina team-mates on the plane to London . 'If we didn’t get the investment we did (at City), I’d probably be captain now,' Richards told The Telegraph. 'I probably wouldn’t have left. I had a chance to go to Chelsea five years ago, and Manchester United but I didn’t feel it was right. 'I always enjoyed City. They gave me a chance at such a young age (17). I’ve been a bit unfortunate because whenever I picked up some form I got a niggling injury. With City, if you get an injury you can find yourself out of the team for months.' Richards celebrates scoring an FA Cup equaliser at Villa Park for City back in February 2006 . The England international was a regular for City and came up against the likes of Chelsea winger Arjen Robben . Richards, who says he has no hard feeling against Pellegrini or first-choice right back Pablo Zabaleta, still believes it will be tough for young players to get through at City despite the big investment in their £200million new training complex. 'If a manager comes in and the owner says "we want five trophies in five years", can he afford to risk bringing young players through when you need results?' said Richards. 'Patrick Vieira’s doing an amazing job [as City’s Elite Development Squad coach] in getting the best he possibly can out of the kids. But ultimately it is the manager’s decision whether he puts them in or not. If you’ve got Yaya Toure and Fernandinho, who do you leave out to bring a young midfielder through?' A rare first-team appearance under Manuel Pellegrini saw Richards face Wigan in City's defeat last season . Pellegrini appeared to view Richards as surplus to requirements, preferring Pablo Zabaleta and Bacary Sagna . Richards fears that it will be continue for City youngsters to break through despite the club's huge investment . | Manchester City youth product is on loan at Serie A side Fiorentina . Richards claims he could have moved to Chelsea or United five years ago . Lack of first-team football means he is likely to leave City in the summer . Richards and Fiorentina face Tottenham in the Europa League on Thursday . READ: Liverpool, West Ham and Dortmund show interest in Richards . CLICK HERE to read why Richards remains a transfer gem . | f269e1a97850ad56e28cad4f0c695b80a3edf8b9 |
By . Matt Chorley, Mailonline Political Editor . Sharp differences in the way different cities view foreigners have been revealed by a snapshot study into social attitudes in areas across the UK. Belfast is revealed as one of the UK’s most tolerant major city, with three-quarters of people saying the presence of foreigners was good for their hometown. But in London barely half of people think foreigners are well integrated into society. Scroll down for video . The audit of city life across the EU reveals people in the UK think health, education and unemployment are the most important issues faced by the areas where they live. The survey interviewed around 41,000 people in 79 cities across Europe. The UK cities featured were Belfast, Cardiff, Glasgow, London, Manchester, and Newcastle upon Tyne. It showed dramatic differences in the way city dwellers view people from other countries. In Belfast, 75 per cent of people said they thought the presence of foreigners was good for the city in Northern Ireland - higher than the EU average of 73 per cent. By contrast, in London only 72 per cent of people agree, Glasgow 70 per cent, Cardiff 68 per cent, Manchester 67 per cent and Newcastle 63 per cent. In Belfast, 75 per cent of people said they thought the presence of foreigners was good for the city in Northern Ireland - higher than the EU average of 73 per cent . 70 per cent of people in Glasgow (left) thought the presence of foreigners was good for the city compared to 67 per cent in Manchester (right) Just 26 per cent of people in the Greek capital of Athens thought foreigners were good for the city, compared to 91 per cent who said the same in the Romanian city of Cluj-Napoca. The Office for National Statistics said: ‘Levels of agreement with this statement were high in Europe with a typical 73 per cent agreement response. ‘The majority of respondents viewed the presence of foreigners as positive in all but five cities: Athens, Greece; Lefkosia, Cyprus; Liège, Belgium; Irakleio, Greece and Turin, Italy. ‘UK cities were mid to low ranking compared with Europe in believing foreigners to be good for their city. Greater Manchester was among the fifth of Europe cities where fewest people agreed with this statement.’ When asked to consider how well foreigners fit in to city life, just 58 per cent of people in London said migrants were 'well integrated' When asked to consider how well foreigners fit in to city life, Glasgow came out on top, with two thirds (66 per cent) saying migrants were 'well integrated'. All of the cities in the UK scored higher than the EU average of 54 per cent, with London and Greater Manchester the lowest on 58 per cent. ‘UK cities, with more than half of respondents believing foreigners to be well integrated, were high ranking in Europe; Cardiff and Glasgow were in the top fifth of European cities,’ the ONS added. The study also showed that people in the UK were less worried about noise and air pollution than other parts of Europe. Most were happy with public services, but satisfaction levels were lower in relation to the state of streets and buildings and levels of cleanliness. | 75% of people in Belfast say foreigners are good for the city, higher than EU . Athens in Greece is the least welcoming city in Europe, just 26% agree . Only 58% of people in London say foreigners are 'well integrated' Figure is 66% in Glasgow, and 76% in the Romanian city of Cluj-Napoca . | dfd0e9490e2981dbc29aad8e8296de4a55ae0b70 |
A greedy crocodile has died from overeating after record numbers of worshippers started throwing goats and chickens into its pond in a bid to get good luck. For years, visitors had gone to the Hazrat Khan Jahan Ali Shrine in Sadar Upazila of Bagerhat district in south-western Bangladesh, in the belief that feeding the crocodile would guarantee them luck in troubled economic times. But priests at the shrine said that a large number of worshippers in recent months had been turning up and offering sacrifices to the crocodile, who had rapidly grown very fat from the offerings. Scroll down for video . Overweight: The 100-year-old croc was fed chickens and goats by worshippers who believed their sacrifices would get wishes granted . Crocked: A crocodile keeper fishes the giant reptile from a pond in the Bagerhat district in south-western Bangladesh. The 100-year-old was overweight after diet of goats and chickens . Crocodile keeper Mohammed Sarwar, 40, said: 'We were aware of the problem but were not sure what to do about it. The legend is that anybody who feeds the hunger of the crocodiles will have their hearts desire fulfilled. 'Usually it was just a chicken but more recently people have been offering even more, including goats, believing that big sacrifices meant more chance of a wish being granted.' According to local legend, the pond containing the crocodile had been dug by the Muslim saint Hazrat Khan Jahan Ali 600-years-ago. He used it to rear two crocodiles named Kalopahar and Dholapahar. Worshippers: The crocodile was fed chickens and goats by worshippers who believed their sacrifices would get wishes granted . Dead: The 100-year-old died after enjoying a diet of goats and chickens fed to him by worshippers. He was recovered from pond in Bagerhat district in south-western Bangladesh . Until recently, there were four crocodiles in the pond but the other three had also died from obesity related problems, leaving a massive food supply for the final remaining crocodile. When an offering was made, the crocodile was summoned by priests who would bang a gong and announce that dinner was served, prompting the crocodile minutes later to surface and eat the preferred offering. No more: The giant crocodile was the last of four in the pond, which legend said was blessed by a saint in the Bagerhat district in south-western Bangladesh . However when staff turned up for work one morning they discovered the crocodile floating upside down in the pond and realised it had died. Crocodiles have a lifespan similar to humans generally living between 70 and 100-years-old, with one of the oldest specimens dying in a Russian zoo aged 115. | Keeper found 100-year-old crocodile floating upside down in pond . He was the last of four giant reptiles to live in pond dug by Muslim saint . Worshippers gave goats as gifts in belief wishes would come true . Death of other three fat crocs meant he piled on weight with extra food . | ad528e39e2613d0c65452a6fb40a38614bcfc4cc |
Fernando Torres scored in the first minute of each half as Atletico Madrid booked a place in the Copa del Rey quarter finals and ruined Cristiano Ronaldo's Ballon d'Or celebrations. Back at Atletico on loan after an dreadful spell at Chelsea, the former £50m striker lashed a first-time effort high into the net past goalkeeper Keylor Navas to put Atletico 1-0 ahead on the night and 3-0 up on aggregate. The 30-year-old, included in the starting lineup in place of an ailing Mario Mandzukic, had never scored against Real at their Bernabeu stadium and, after Sergio Ramos made it 1-1, he restored Atletico's lead with a neat finish just after the interval. Click here for Pete Jenson's full match report . Host commentator . Simeone has pulled off a tactical masterclass at the Santiago Bernabeu. Torres' double proved to be significant as Atletico progress to the quarter-finals of the Copa del Rey. Ramos and Ronaldo struck for the home side but they were unable to find a further three goals. Attention now turns to Barcelona's clash against Elche. Atletico Madrid are starting to control possession now. Real look extremely despondent. Not exactly a brave prediction but it does not look like Real are going to be able to pull the three-goal deficit (due to Atletico's away goals) back. They appear to have run out of steam with just under 10 minutes left on the clock. Ancelotti will have been extremely disappointed with his side's display today. His attacking trio of Ronaldo, Bale and Benzema have failed to impress this evening. Just to remind you, Real need three goals in under 20 minutes if they are to progress to the next round of the Copa del Rey. The winners are likely to face Barcelona, who lead Elche 5-0 from the first leg. Benzema has to do better. The Frenchman blasts the ball over the bar from close range to the delight of Atletico's defender. Surely time for Hernandez to be given a chance. With 67 minutes gone, Ronaldo - despite scoring Real's second - has hardly had a sniff at goal. The Ballon d'Or winner will be extremely disappointed with how his night is panning out. Navas pushes a Griezmann free-kick over the bar. The away side have been able to get further up the pitch during the second half. Simeone's tactics have been spot on so far. Torres has been denied the chance of grabbing a hat-trick. Simeone has decided to replace his January signing with Turan. The former Chelsea striker was a staggering 250/1 to score a hat-trick before the match. This tie is just getting better and better. Bale crosses the ball to Ronaldo, who heads the ball past Oblak. 2-2 with 55 minutes on the clock. Torres worms his way into the box before the ball falls to Griezmann, whose deflected shot goes just wide. Sportsmail's Pete Jenson: 'Oh my, 37 seconds this time. Torres has silenced the Bernabeu. "Fer-nan-do Torres!" sing Atletico Madrid's 500 supporters.' Real Madrid obviously didn't learn from Torres' opener as the former Chelsea forward has scored a similar goal to his first. He links up with Griezmann again before slotting the ball under Navas' legs. Ancelotti does not have many attacking options on the subs' bench. He will surely turn to Hernandez during the second half.. Real's bench: Casillas, Varane, Coentrao, Khedira, Hernandez, Jese, Illarramendi . Simeone will be delighted with the scoreline at half-time despite the fact his side have been camped inside their own half during the first half. Torres opened the scoring inside the first minute before Ramos pulled a goal back 19 minutes later. Real Madrid appeal for a penalty as Ronaldo's shot at goal appears to hit Miranda's arm. However referee Antonio Miguel Mateu Lahoz waves play on. It would have been extremely harsh on the Atletico defender. Real Madrid appeal for a penalty as Ronaldo's shot at goal appears to hit Miranda's arm. However referee Antonio Miguel Mateu Lahoz waves play on. It would have been extremely harsh on the Atletico defender. Karim Benzema has been extremely quiet during the first half. Ancelotti may decide to throw on Javier Hernandez after the interval. Atletico are finding it hard to get on the ball. The away side are hoping to hit Real on the counter attack, as they did with the first goal, but Real are not relinquishing possession. Real Madrid are still looking for a second goal. Ancelotti cannot fault the passion and effort of his players despite the early goal by Torres. 10 minutes to go until the interval. Atletico are doing everything they can to stop Real from going in front before the interval. They are finding it hard to get out of their own half due to the home side's eagerness to reduce the 3-1 deficit. Bale stretches his legs by bursting down the right at pace before picking out Ronaldo. However the Real Madrid man's effort at goal is deflected wide by Juanfran. Ramos has now scored six goals this season. A pretty good record for a central defender. Ramos really is a threat from set-pieces. He showed outstanding technique to head past Oblak. Ronaldo almost put his side in the lead, however his shot was cleared off the line by Mario Suarez. Momentum is building for the home side with 24 minutes gone. Sportsmail's Pete Jenson: Real Madrid need to repeat Champions League final scored here to go through and there is the first. Ramos from Kroos free-kick after Torres kicked Ronaldo. Curse of the commentator. Sergio Ramos leaps above Atletico's defence to head past Oblak and level the scoring. Game on! Atletico goalkeeper Oblak saves a Ronaldo shot from close range. The Slovenian goalkeeper will have to be at his best if he is to keep a clean sheet. 17 minutes gone and Real Madrid have not really peppered Oblak's goal. Diego Simeone will be delighted with his side's performance thus far. Griezmann, who set up the opening goal, appears to have a slight problem with his arm. Looks like he will be able to carry on though. Torres celebrated his goal in front of the Real fans, who didn't look too happy with the Atletico striker. Atletico are allowing their rivals to dictate play. The pressure is firmly on the home side after Torres' opener. Nearly 11 minutes gone at the Bernabeu. Real Madrid now need to score four goals if they are going to have any chance of progressing to the next round. A big task but anything is possible when you have Ronaldo, Bale and Co. Real Madrid will have been shell shocked by the speed of Atletico's goal. Torres, on the other hand, will take great confidence from his first goal since September 23. Fernando Torres has scored his first goal back at his former side inside the first 60 seconds. Griezmann goes on the attack before sliding the ball to Torres, who has the easy tack of placing the ball into an empty net. Ronaldo is currently on the Santiago Bernabeu turf - displaying his Ballon d'Or award to his home fans. Rodriguez, Ramos and Kroos are also showing off their trophies for being included in the world team of the year. Sportsmail's Pete Jenson: 'Mandzukic doesn't even make the bench having not recovered from a virus. Big night for Torres. Needs to stretch Real Madrid on the counter-attack as Ancelotti's team go for the big comeback. 'Big cheers as Bale's name is read out - Sunday's booing all forgotten. Ronaldo predictably gets the biggest cheer though.' Torres makes his second start since rejoining his boyhood side. It would be an ideal place and time for him to score his first goal back at the club. Bale's last match at his home ground saw Real fans jeer the Welsh winger for failing to pass the ball to Ronaldo. The former Tottenham star will be hoping to prove the doubters wrong against his side's rivals. Ronaldo, pictured arriving at the Santiago Bernabeu alongside Marcelo and Rodriguez, will be hoping to show why he was the worthy winner of the Ballon d'Or. The Portuguese superstar beat off competition from Messi and Neuer to win the prestigious award on Monday. Sportsmail's Pete Jenson: 'Madrid supporters packing the streets around the stadium as the team coach arrives at the Santiago Bernabeu. 'They need to overhaul a 2-0 first leg deficit against Atletico Madrid. Supporters will hold gold cards aloft before kick-off as Cristiano Ronaldo presents his Ballon d'Or to the home fans.' Hello and welcome to our live commentary of tonight's Copa del Rey tie between Real Madrid and Atletico Madrid. Both sides have named strong teams with the likes of Ronaldo, Bale and Torres all starting at the Santiago Bernabeu. Real Madrid: Navas; Carvajal, Pepe, Ramos, Marcelo; Kroos, Isco, James; Bale, Benzema, Ronaldo . Atletico Madrid: Oblak; Juanfran, Miranda, Godín, Siqueira; Koke, Mario, Tiago, Raul García; Griezmann, Torres . Cristiano Ronaldo (left) and Gareth Bale stretch their legs during Real Madrid training on Wednesday . Cristiano Ronaldo was voted the world's best player on Monday evening and Real Madrid fans will be hoping he shows why when they take on bitter rivals Atletico Madrid. Carlo Ancelotti's side trail Atletico 2-0 in their Copa del Rey round of 16, after goals from Raul Garcia and Jose Maria Gimenez's in the first leg. However, Real have home advantage this time and got back to winning ways against Espanyol last week. | Fernando Torres fired double against rivals Real Madrid . Sergio Ramos and Cristiano Ronaldo struck for the home side . Atletico Madrid are through to the quarter-finals of the Copa del Rey . Real Madrid: Navas; Carvajal, Pepe, Ramos, Marcelo; Kroos, Isco, James; Bale, Benzema, Ronaldo . Atletico Madrid: Oblak; Juanfran, Miranda, Godin, Siqueira; Koke, Mario, Tiago, Raul Garcia; Griezmann, Torres . Carlo Ancelotti's side are hoping to avenge rivals after defeat in first leg . | 47bb9d13ebdf4a4314f44694a5286368c9b6215c |
A naturalized U.S. citizen from Somalia was convicted Thursday of plotting -- unsuccessfully -- to bomb a Christmas tree-lighting ceremony in Portland, Oregon, more than two years ago. A federal jury in Oregon capped a 14-day trial by finding Mohamed Osman Mohamud, 21, guilty of one count of attempting to use a weapon of mass destruction, namely explosives. Mohamud is scheduled to be sentenced May 14. He faces up to life in prison and a $250,000 fine. "When an individual concocts a plan to commit mass violence -- and is determined to follow through -- law enforcement has an obligation to take action to protect the public," said Lisa Monaco, a U.S. assistant attorney general. Mohamud was a 19-year-old Oregon State University student when he was arrested on November 26, 2010, for trying to blow up what he believed to be an explosives-laden van parked near a holiday event in Pioneer Courthouse Square, authorities said. The bomb -- which Mohamud described that day as "beautiful," according to his arrest affidavit -- was actually fake, thanks to federal agents involved in the extensive undercover operation. Born in Mogadishu in 1991, Mohamud moved to the United States and became a naturalized U.S. citizen, settling in the northeastern Oregon city of Corvallis. Years before he enrolled at Oregon State University, he'd started thinking -- at age 15, according to the U.S. Justice Department -- of taking part in a violent jihad. In February 2009, he began exchanging the first of about 150 emails with Samir Khan, a now deceased al Qaeda member who published two online publications tied to the terrorist group, Jihad Recollections and Inspire. According to the Justice Department, Mohamud wrote several articles under assumed names for the former publication. The Oregon resident began communicating electronically in August 2009 with another accused terrorist, Amro Al-Ali. (Al-Ali is now being held in his native Saudi Arabia on terrorist charges, federal authorities said.) The two discussed Mohamud's possible travel first to Yemen, then to Pakistan's northwest frontier province, for terrorist training. "Yes that would be wonderful, just tell me what I need to do," Mohamud wrote back in December 2009, the affidavit stated. That trip never happened, despite Mohamud's efforts to contact intermediaries to facilitate it. But he was reached in summer 2010 by a man who, unbeknownst to him, was an undercover FBI employee. "Mohamud said that he wanted to become 'operational,'" the affidavit said in describing Mohamud and the federal agents' conversations. The FBI probe moved to another level, including several discussions and trips involving Mohamud and undercover agents. On November 4, 2010, on the way back from a trial run to a remote location to detonate a bomb, he was asked what he hoped would happen to those attending the Portland holiday ceremony, a family event that includes men, women and children. "I want whoever is attending that event to leave ... either dead or injured," Mohamud said, the affidavit states. Having already canvassed to the area to find a spot to inflict the most casualties, Mohamud got what he believed to be a live bomb from the undercover agents. But the device was inert, and after his second attempt to detonate it, Mohamud was taken into custody. "This trial provided a rare glimpse into the techniques al Qaeda employs to radicalize home-grown extremists," said Amanda Marshall, U.S. Attorney for Oregon. "With the verdict today, the jury has held this defendant accountable." | Mohamed Osman Mohamud said he wanted people to leave the lighting "dead or injured," an affidavit says . A jury convicts Mohamud, 21, of trying to use a weapon of mass destruction . He was arrested in 2010 for allegedly trying to bomb a Portland tree lighting . Authorities tied Mohamud to several alleged terrorists, said he wanted to be part of "jihad" | 8f7848d206b6d4a575572d8682b1651c1439ba06 |
LOS ANGELES, California (CNN) -- He got a standing ovation before the orchestra even played a single note. Gustavo Dudamel has been compared to the legendary Leonard Bernstein by one critic. For weeks now, anticipation has been growing for the arrival of fiery young Venezuelan conductor Gustavo Dudamel to take over the Los Angeles Philharmonic, and the crowd couldn't wait to roar its approval at his arrival. Dudamel, 28, engenders a passion among music lovers that is entirely new to the world of classical music. Tickets for his Saturday debut as music director of the Los Angeles Philharmonic disappeared within minutes -- the fastest sellout in the history of the 18,000-seat Hollywood Bowl. "He is a phenomenon," said Mark Swed, Los Angeles Times music critic. "He generates excitement the likes of which hasn't come around in a very, very long time -- maybe since Leonard Bernstein." Watch the exciting Dudamel wield the baton » . Swed was in the audience two years ago when Dudamel conducted the Simon Bolivar Youth Orchestra at the Walt Disney Concert Hall, delivering a reading of Beethoven's Fourth Symphony that left fans delirious. "I haven't seen that kind of reaction from a crowd since I saw the Beatles at Dodger Stadium," Swed said. Dudamel's face has been a common sight for months in Los Angeles. His billboards look down on freeway commuters. He adorns city buses. At the famous Hollywood hot dog stand Pink's, there is even a dog named in his honor -- the "Dude Dog," piled high with jalapeno peppers, guacamole and tortilla chips. While it's not exactly Venezuelan cuisine, in Los Angeles, there can be no surer sign that the conductor known as "The Dude" has arrived. So where did Dudamel get this musical magic? He said at least a part of his talent is inherited. "I started studying music when I was 4," he said. "I wanted to play trombone like my father." Soon young Gustavo entered into El Sistema, Venezuela's state-financed music education program. Hundreds of thousands of children have received instruments and music instruction through the nation's massive system of youth orchestras. "You cannot imagine," said Dudamel, "how it changes the life of a kid if you put a violin or a cello or a flute [in his hand]. You feel you have your world. You have your life there, and it changes your life. This happened to me." As music director of the philharmonic, Dudamel said he hopes to spread a little of the El Sistema magic in Los Angeles. He already has organized one youth orchestra in the run-down neighborhoods of south Los Angeles. Those music students opened for the orchestra at the Hollywood Bowl. The concert also featured student musicians playing alongside jazz legend Herbie Hancock. Cuban pianist Alfredo Rodriguez and bluesman Taj Mahal rounded out an eclectic bill designed to pull in a broad cross-section of music lovers. But it was Dudamel and Beethoven's Ninth Symphony that brought the crowd to its feet at the concert's end. It was a promising beginning for a man many are hailing as the savior of classical music. They hope Dudamel can bring a whole new audience to symphonic music, and believe the Los Angeles Philharmonic is the perfect podium for the young maestro. "He fits in with this town in a lot of ways," Swed said. "Obviously being Spanish-speaking in a city where the majority of people either speak Spanish or understand some Spanish ... you know he fits in. The youth culture? He is young. He is also great, which doesn't hurt." | Gustavo Dudamel, known as "The Dude," brings Beatles-like frenzy to Los Angeles . The Venezuelan, 28, is the new conductor of the Los Angeles Philharmonic . His Saturday debut sold out 18,000-seat Hollywood Bowl faster than anyone ever . Los Angeles Times music critic calls Dudamel "a phenomenon" | 51fc1bf03a2acf0ea60c799c648e8e42a9b522c9 |
By . Ian Drury . UPDATED: . 20:42 EST, 1 December 2011 . Britain's bid to introduce a European Union ban on Iranian oil imports was scuppered yesterday by debt-stricken Greece. Foreign Secretary William Hague had secured widespread support at an EU ministers' meeting for tough sanctions to choke off vital funds to the rogue regime in Tehran. But Greece, whose catastrophic finances have left it teetering on the brink of bankruptcy and the Eurozone in meltdown, rejected the hardline crackdown. Retaliation: . Foreign Secretary William Hague, speaking in the Commons earlier this . week, promised to 'intensify' sanctions imposed on Iran . French Foreign Minister Alain Juppe . confirmed Athens, which relies on Iranian oil, had a 'number of . reservations' about imposing an embargo. 'Iran sells them oil on credit which is a considerable advantage these days,' said one EU diplomat. But ministers agreed to impose . European travel bans and asset freezes on 180 Iranian individuals and . firms involved in Tehran's controversial nuclear weapons programme at . the meeting in Brussels. It doubled the number targeted to 370. The blacklisted people and companies . were involved with Iranian shipping lines, financial services, energy . and transport, or those associated with the Iranian Revolutionary Guard. Plan of action: Foreign Secretary William Hague, seen here in deep discussion with Polish Foreign Affairs minister Radoslaw Sikorski, made a clear statement of intent on Iran . Unity: German Foreign Affairs minister Guido Westerwelle, left, and Italian Foreign Affairs minister Giulio Terzi di Sant'Agata look on as Mr Hague discusses further action in Brussels today . And officials insisted a ban on buying . Iranian crude oil - amounting to 30million tonnes a year, or 6 per cent . of total EU imports - could be rubber-stamped as early as next month if . other oil nations could plug the gap. A hard-hitting statement said talks . would now focus on new measures aimed at 'severely affecting' Iran's . banks, transport and energy production. The 27-member EU agreed to widen the . blacklist after a United Nations report concluded there was 'credible' evidence that President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad was still developing an . atomic bomb. Protesters break into the British Embassy and tear down the Union Jack. Some then proceeded to ransack offices . Shattered glass: Iranians have long been suspicious of the UK in large part due to Britain's long-held influence on its rulers and economy prior to the Islamic revolution . Mr Hague had demanded tougher measures to 'increase the isolation of the regime'. Britain was also seeking new sanctions . after a frenzied mob of hardline Iranian protesters attacked the UK . embassy in Tehran on Tuesday. More than 200 thugs stormed the . mission's two compounds. Chanting 'Death to Britain', they hurled petrol . bombs,wrecked and looted diplomats' homes and offices, and set fire to . the Union flag. A student uses a metal bar to strike the British emblem during the mob attacks earlier this week . Eleven rioters were released by Iran yesterday. Ambassadors and diplomats in Tehran . said they were 'shocked' by the extent of damage wreaked inside . Britain's two diplomatic compounds after visiting the premises . yesterday. 'Everybody was shaken. People were pale, shocked by what they saw,' one Western diplomat said on condition of anonymity. Britain's embassy, in the centre of . Tehran, had been turned 'upside down', with paintings ripped apart and . windows smashed, while 'everything was broken' in residences in the . diplomatic compound in the north of the city, another said. In both places, slogans such as 'Down with the British' were scrawled on walls and diplomatic papers were strewn about. Rioters were furious at Britain's . decision last week to unilaterally sever all financial links with Iran . over its nuclear programme. Mr Hague said the 'shameful' attack . was carried out with the 'consent' of the regime. And he retaliated by . kicking Iran's diplomats out of Britain and ordered the immediate . closure of its mission in London, after pulling its own staff out of . Tehran. Iranian protesters burn the British flag outside the embassy in Tehran . Breaking in: Dozens of protesters enter the gate of the embassy, throwing rocks, petrol bombs and burning documents looted from offices . Security concerns: Police officers are deployed outside the Iranian Embassy in central London yesterday after Hague expelled all its staff . The decision reflected the icy . relations between Britain and Iran, which are at their worst since 1989 . when the Islamic republic declared a 'fatwa' - edict - to kill author . Salman Rushdie for supposed blasphemy. Iran expressed regret for the attack on the UK embassy and said a number of protesters had been arrested. But the semi-official Fars news agency . said yesterday that police had freed 11 militant students held over the . violence. There was no explanation for their release. Jubilant radical student groups said . they would hold a 'ceremony to thank God for the breakdown of ties . between Tehran and London'. EU foreign policy chief Baroness Catherine Ashton said the EU was 'outraged' by the attack. | Greece relies on Iranian oil bought on credit . 180 individuals and businesses associated with regime face travel bans . Germany, France and Netherlands have already removed ambassadors from Tehran following violence . Iran RELEASES students who stormed embassy as tensions with West escalate . | 2f2d5b74ddb229249520c0ff4b1f81adf0b86c21 |
By . Ellie Zolfagharifard . Even the most photogenic dogs need a little help to get the perfect picture. Now one canine-obsessed group has created an app that it claims will get lively pups to strike a Facebook-worthy pose. New York-based Bark&Co created the free Barcam app to help get a dog’s attention before a photo is taken. Puppy love: New York-based Bark&Co created the free BarkCam app to help get a dog’s attention before a photo is taken. Once the image is taken, users can the add text, filters and stickers or share it on Instagram, Facebook and Twitter . Instagram may be filled with animal photos, but now a new breed of 'social petworks' is taking pet photography to a new level . For instance, YummyPets launched in the UK last year after proving popular in France. YummyPets closely resembles Facebook, and as well as letting owners post photos and updates for their pets, the site helps put them in touch with useful and local pet services. It can also be used to find missing pets, and features an instant messaging service. Elsewhere, MySocialPetwork looks like a Pinterest for pets. Grids of animals photos are organised by tags, and photos can be liked. Users begin by choosing from a range of sounds to peak their pet’s interest, including cat meows, squeak toys, doorbells and a bag of treats rustling. The sound is triggered by tapping the shutter, hopefully getting the dog to deliver its best expression before the photo is taken. Reviews seem to agree that the sounds make pups look straight into the frame. Social petwork: BarkCam also has its own built-in social network to share doggy photos. Images can also be shared on one of the increasing number of ‘social petworks’, such as Klooff or Yummypets . BarkCam is available in Apple's App Store, and an Android app is planned for August . ‘The cool noises the camera makes right before taking the pic makes my dog do the cutest and funniest faces,’ one review said. Once the photo is taken, users can add text, filters and stickers, or share it on Instagram, Facebook and Twitter. If that’s not enough, BarkCam has its own built-in social network to share doggy photos. Images can also be shared on one of the increasing number of ‘social petworks’, such as Klooff or Yummypets. Like Facebook, these social petworks lets owners create profiles for their animals, with details of the pet’s breed, age and even interests. BarkCam is available in Apple's App Store, and an Android app is planned for August. | Users begin by choosing from a range of sounds to peak pet’s interest . Sound is triggered by the shutter, getting the dog to look into the camera . Once the photo is taken, users can add text, filters and stickers or share it on Instagram, Facebook and Twitter . | 6dd5595ffe0790853cf3dc84f8f61c92149742a0 |
By . Ian Garland and Beth Stebner . UPDATED: . 01:02 EST, 23 June 2012 . The search for Amelia Earhart is now relying on 21st century technology – using underwater robots to search areas of the ocean where the famous female pilot could have crashed. The International Group for Historic Aircraft Recovery (or TIGHAR) will enlist two robot submersibles and additional sonar to do what U.S. Navy warships could not – find the ruins of Earhart’s plane. The underwater robots, which are . capable of capturing images up to a depth of 5,000 feet, will be . launched on July 2, marking the 75th anniversary of Earhart’s . disappearance. Enduring riddle: American avirator Amelia Earhart, posing by her plane in Long Beach, California, in 1930, disappeared while flying over the Pacific in 1937 . New technology: The expedition plans to deploy two robot submersibles like this one to search the reef where Earhart's ship is believed to have crashed . But this mission will be for mapping purposes only. Any recovery efforts will be undertaken later. TIGHAR’s executive director Richard Gillespie explained: ‘The objective is to get imagery and photographs of what’s there.’ Captivating: Earhart's story has mystified generations . Mr Gillespie told Discovery that any . promising images could lead to more expeditions. ‘If there’s wreckage . there that can be recovered,’ he told Discovery News, ‘we need to know what it is, how . big it is, what it looks like, and what it’s made of so we can prepare a . recovery expedition that has equipment to raise whatever’s there.’ He added that conservation is key. The research team will set off for the . remote island of Nikumaroro to try and establish what happened to the . legendary pilot after she vanished on July 2 1937. It's the tenth time in 23 years TIGHAR . will have searched the island for clues about Earhart's disappearance - . but this time they'll be looking specifically for crash debris. Earhart, then 39, was on the final stage of an an ambitious round-the-world flight along the equator in a twin-engine Lockheed Electra when she and navigator Fred Noonan disappeared. The holder of several aeronautical records, including the first woman to cross the Atlantic by air, Earhart had set off from New Guinea to refuel at Howland Island for a final long-distance hop to California. In what turned out to be her final radio message, she declared she was unable to find Howland and that fuel was running low. Plan of attack: A 1937 British expedition photo may show the landing gear assembly from Amelia Earhart's airplane; the 2012 expedition will be looking for plane debris . What lies beneath: The expedition will search the gentle slope off of Nikumaroro Island . Several search-and-rescue missions . ordered by then-president Franklin Roosevelt turned up no trace of . Earhart or Noonan, who were eventually presumed dead at sea. Conspiracy theories flourished. One contended that Earhart was held by Japanese imperial forces as a spy. Another claimed she completed her flight, but changed her identity and settled in New Jersey. TIGHAR is working on the hypothesis that the duo reached Gardner Island, then a British possession and now known as Nikumaroro, and managed to survive for an unknown period of time. Nikumaroro, uninhabited in Earhart's time, and a mere 3.7 miles (six kilometers) long by 1.2 miles (two kilometers) wide, is about 300 miles (480 kilometers) southeast of Howland Island. Missing: Earhart and Fred Noonan, left, before they set off on their doomed flight. Right: Earhart as a young pilot . Nikumaroro Island: Researchers will scour the island for clues and crash debris . This year's TIGHAR expedition will see about 20 scientists depart Hawaii to explore over 10 days both the island and an underwater reef slope at the west end of the island. 'This time, we'll be searching for debris . from the aircraft,' TIGHAR's founder and executive director Richard . Gillespie, himself a pilot and former aviation accident investigator, revealed. They will be equipped with a multi-beam sonar to map the ocean floor, plus a remote-controlled device similar to the one that found the black boxes from the Rio-to-Paris Air France that crashed into the South Atlantic in 2009. If debris is found, it will be photographed and its location carefully documented for a future expedition, Gillespie said. Sustaining the search are clues . worthy of detective story, including items from the 1930s previously . discovered on the island such as a jar of face cream, a penknife blade, . the heel of a woman's shoe and a bit of Plexiglas. Skeletons of birds apparently cooked over a campfire have also contributed to the mystery, and settlers who reached Nikumaroro after 1937 have spoken of the existence of aircraft wreckage. Bone fragments have meanwhile been subjected to DNA testing that turned out to be inconclusive, said Gillespie, who remains hopeful that parts of Earhart's Electra remain to be found. The US government is lending technical and diplomatic support to the TIGHAR effort, budgeted at $2 million and otherwise privately funded. A documentary is due to be broadcast on the Discovery cable television channel. Celebrated: Earhart posing in Southampton after completing a successful flight . Intrigue: In her day, Earhart was extremely popular, but her mysterious death has kept that fame alive more than 75 years later . The most widely accepted theory is that the aeroplane ran out of fuel and ditched in the sea. There have been several searches by many different professionals eager to solve the mystery, but none have been proven. Another popular theory is that they landed on the island of Nikumaroro in the Pheonix Islands, 350 miles southeast of Howland Island and fended for themselves for serveral months until they succumbed to injury or disease. Improvised tools and bits of Plexiglas that are consistent with that of an Electra window were found on the island. A few theorists reckon that she Earhart was spying on Japan and had been captured and executed. This theory has been discounted by the American authorities and press. A rumour claimed that she was one of many women sending messages on Tokyo Rose, an English-language Japanese propaganda station designed to attack the Allies' morale. An Australian aircraft engineer said he found a map that showed Earhart and Noonan may have turned round to try and refuel but crashed before getting to an airstrip. The most whacky theory is that she was still alive and had a different identity. A woman fron New Jersey successfully sued for $1.5m in damages from the author of a book who pursued this theory. | New search for the wreckage will start on July 2 - 75 years after Amelia Earhart set off on her doomed trip . Two robots with sonar technology to photograph ocean floor for wreckage . Research team will search Pacific island of Nikmaroro for crash debris . | fc2743ec27257232dc44763007646e28607e7e8f |
British children under ten are being turned into 'junior jihadis' as extremists bombard them with dangerous propaganda, London's deputy mayor warned today. Stephen Greenhalgh revealed he and Boris Johnson have both been briefed about radicalised primary school pupils as fears grow extremists are using the capital to spread hate. His stark comments came ahead of a private meeting with police commissioners from across Britain to discuss the alarming spread in Iraq and Syria of the militant group Isis. Stark warning: London's deputy mayor Stephen Greenhalgh (left) warned today that authorities are telling him about cases of Islamic extremists under the age of ten. Fears have grown over the rise of Isis (right) Radicalised: Many of the extremists fighting with Isis are young and hundreds of jihadis are thought to be from Britain. Pictured, militants who allegedly seized an Iraqi army checkpoint in Salahuddi this week . 'Some of them are very young,' he told the Evening Standard. 'We are talking about under the age of ten. 'It starts very young with them being subjected to propaganda, extremist ideology, and being trained to be junior jihadis. 'It’s pretty horrendous when you hear how some of these children are being radicalised. The threat of radicalisation of young people is real and this is a problem that is going to be with us not just for a couple of years, but for the next generation.' Tory Mr Greenhalgh, 47, is the politician in charge of London's policing and crime. His comments came ahead of a private meeting today with police and crime commissioners from Britain's largest cities to discuss the growing threat of Islamic extremism. Frightening: The group's influence has spread through the use of social media and analysts fear disaffected young people inner-city areas such as London, Birmingham or Manchester could be particularly vulnerable . Worry: Mr Greenhalgh (left) said he and London mayor Boris Johnson had both been briefed on cases of primary school children who have been subjected to extremist propaganda, a problem he said is here to stay . According to the Standard, those attending included the police commissioners for Birmingham, Manchester and Leeds alongside Scotland Yard's former counter-terrorism chief Commander Helen Ball. The outcome of the behind-closed-doors meeting, which was also attended by the House of Lords' former anti-terror supremo Lord Carlile, has not been disclosed. The Home Office already fears around 500 Britons have left the country to fight with extremist groups in Iraq and Syria, some of them still in school. In July it emerged 16-year-old star college pupils Salma and Zahra Halane, from Chorlton, Manchester, had abandoned their homes to fly to the rapidly expanding warzone. Disaffected youths in parts of east London, which has the combination of a large Muslim population and high deprivation and unemployment, are feared to be particularly vulnerable to hate preachers. Today a think tank said there was a real and present danger of some of those fighting in Iraq and Syria carrying out terrorist bombings when they returned home. The Henry Jackson Society, whose previous supporters have included the former education secretary Michael Gove, said the odds of a 'blowback' attack should not be underestimated. Between 1999 and 2010, it said, 19 per cent of all terrorists had received foreign training - but this figure rose to 41 per cent for those directly involved in the eight major bomb plots on Western soil. 'At least 500 British Muslims have travelled to Syria,' it said, 'with up to 300 already back on British soil.' The report added: 'For almost three decades, small numbers of British Muslims have fought for Islamist terrorist groups abroad and/or travelled to foreign conflict zones and ungoverned spaces to receive training from terrorist groups, most notably al-Qaeda-affiliated training camps in Afghanistan and Pakistan. Fight: Isis militants have swept through Iraq and Syria, including the Iraqi city of Mosul (pictured in June), enforcing an extreme interpretation of Sharia law under their version of Sunni Islam . Worry: It is not only Britons who have gone to fight abroad - Interpol is searching for these two teenage girls from Austria. Samra Kesinovic, 16, and her friend Sabina Selimovic, 15, both come from Bosnian refugee families . 'Upon their return, a small but significant number of these were involved in specific terrorist plots and attacks; the radicalising impact of others has been widely evident across numerous terrorism offences in the UK to date.' A row erupted last month after a black flag said to resemble that of Islamic State was hoisted over the gates of a housing estate in Poplar, east London - only to be torn down by a furious nun. Sister Christine Frost, 77, a nun who works at a nearby church, used a stepladder to remove the flag out of fear it could be seen as 'aggressive' or 'insensitive'. The flag had been raised next to others calling for Palestinian freedom, but anti-extremist campaigners said the raising of the black flag was a 'provocative' act and undermined legitimate anger about last month's violence in Gaza. Islamic State militants have swept through huge tracts of Iraq and Syria, taking authorities by surprise and enforcing an extreme interpretation of Sharia law under their version of Sunni Islam. | Stephen Greenhalgh said very young children are exposed to 'propaganda' Threat is 'real, horrendous' and 'with us for the next generation', he said . He said he and Boris Johnson both briefed on cases of primary pupils . It came as he met police commissioners from across UK to tackle terror . | 4bc838b64a3b552f2eac4c39bfb822ce7e97f16d |
(CNN) -- The national debt is bad for the military, Joint Chiefs of Staff Chairman Adm. Michael Mullen is telling business men and women and others on a three-day "Conversations with the Country" tour across the Midwest. Mullen's trip, which ends Friday in Cleveland, Ohio, is aimed at encouraging business owners to hire veterans. "The most significant threat to our national security is our debt," he told CNN Wednesday. "And the reason I say that is because the ability for our country to resource our military -- and I have a pretty good feeling and understanding about what our national security requirements are -- is going to be directly proportional -- over time, not next year or the year after, but over time -- to help our economy. "That's why it's so important that the economy move in the right direction, because the strength and the support and the resources that our military uses are directly related to the health of our economy over time." The wars on Iraq and Afghanistan have contributed to a more than doubling of the Pentagon budget, which has jumped from $300 billion to $664 billion since 2000. Defense Secretary Robert Gates has called on his department to find $100 billion in overhead savings over the next five years. Speaking Thursday to the Economy Club in Detroit, Michigan, Mullen agreed that the Pentagon needs to "cut the fat." "We're not a business," he said in Detroit. "Part of us does this really well. Parts of us have never had to, plus our budget has doubled over the last 10 years." The admiral said the Pentagon has not been as proactive as it should have been in prioritizing spending and said the department must adopt responsible fiscal practices. "A lot of those skills have to be sharpened," Mullen said. Both industry and the military need to hone those skills, he said, to avoid "this wave of debt." "It's the responsibility of both sides," he said. "We have to gird ourselves for some pretty significant challenges, given the national security challenges that we have as well as the responsibility to steward every dollar that we have." Mullen has been telling his audiences that interest on the debt will nearly equal the defense budget in two years, but Congressional Budget Office numbers, in a report released in January, show the interest payment approaching the Pentagon's 2000 budget in 2012 and reaching its 2010 budget in 2019. | Joint chiefs of staff chairman says debt competes with military spending . The Pentagon budget has more than doubled in 10 years . The Defense Department must "cut the fat," Mullen says. | ff2c47f04e0dd0a6282aa0213a8647bd0ef003d6 |
(CNN) -- For the second time in as many years -- after going 46 years with the same coach, Joe Paterno -- Penn State has named a new man to helm its storied football program. James Franklin, 41, was announced Saturday as the Nittany Lions' next football coach, replacing Bill O'Brien, who was hired in January 2012 and recently left to become head coach of the NFL's Houston Texans. "I'm excited to come home," said Franklin, who had led Vanderbilt University's football team the last three years but originally hails from Langhorne, Pennsylvania. "I'm a Pennsylvania boy with a Penn State heart." A former assistant coach at the University of Maryland and Kansas State University, Franklin took over a Vanderbilt team that went 2-10 in 2010 and led them to a 24-15 record and three straight bowl appearances. Franklin joins a program that is still rocked, in many ways, by fallout from the child sex abuse scandal involving former assistant football coach Jerry Sandusky. In addition to leading to Sandusky's conviction on 45 counts involving 10 young victims, the ordeal led to cover-up allegations and criminal charges involving three former Penn State administrators, including one-time President Graham Spanier. And as the scandal was first unfolding, Paterno was ousted as the football team's coach. He died a short time later. The NCAA imposed harsh sanctions on Penn State in the wake of what happened, including scholarship reductions, a post-season ban, a $60-million fine and 13 years of vacated wins. The Nittany Lions' team nonetheless surprised many with its performance under O'Brien, finishing 8-4 in 2012 and 7-5 this season. But there remained a perception that Paterno supporters weren't fully supportive of the new coach, with reports that sentiment played some part in O'Brien's exit. Paterno's widow, Sue, released a statement Saturday welcoming Franklin -- who described the late coach as the "great Joe Paterno" during Saturday's press conference. "His deep ties to Pennsylvania and his exceptional coaching record have prepared him well for his new position," Sue Paterno said. "We wish Coach Franklin great success and we know he will find broad support and encouragement from Penn Staters everywhere." The university's outgoing president, Rodney Erickson, said Franklin's hire followed what he called "a careful and deliberate search process." "Our program requires a very special kind of leader," Erickson said of the dual commitment for excellence on the field, the classroom and in the community. "...I believe we have found the right person." CNN's Susan Candiotti contributed to this report. | James Franklin is hired as Penn State's new football coach . He replaces Bill O'Brien, who the school hired in the wake of the Sandusky scandal . Before them, Penn State's coach for 46 years was Joe Paterno . Paterno's widow welcomes Franklin, says he'll find "broad support" | 1d2b9d4272adcb949d80fbf2fdcdd466eefdd308 |
The cold-blooded murder of Colombian defender Andres Escobar after he scored an own goal against the United States in the 1994 World Cup ripped a nation's love of football to shreds. Now, one of the biggest matches in Colombia's history – a quarter-final against hosts Brazil – is being prepared for to the backdrop of one of their most shocking moments, July 2 marking 20 years to the day that Escobar was shot in his hometown Medellin. A country tipped by Pele to win that USA '94 World Cup following their 5-0 drubbing of Argentina in qualifying was divided by violence and drug lords but united by the wonderful game. Football and criminality were intrinsically linked. Gone but not forgotten: Colombia defender Andres Escobar, pictured here during the 1994 World Cup, was murdered after returning from the tournament . Horror moment: Escobar diverted the ball beyond his own goalkeeper Oscar Cordoba during a defeat to hosts the USA in Los Angeles . VIDEO Colombians pay tribute to Escobar . Infamous drug cartel leader Pablo Escobar, no relation to Andres, had a fierce passion for the game. Escobar, once considered the richest criminal in the world, invested large chunks of his billions into Colombian football and would fly global superstars to play in friendlies at his ranch. After he handed himself into the authorities in 1991, members of the national team would visit him in the private prison he had built in negotiating his capture. But he was killed in 1993 and was not alive to see the the events a year later which devastated the country. Their side was considered a Golden Generation – Andres Escobar joined by Carlos Valderrama, Faustino Asprilla, René Higuita and Freddy Rincón – and had lost just once in 26 matches leading up to the tournament. But they started the group stage with a surprise 3-1 defeat to Romania and it all began to unravel. The team received death threats and some didn't want to continue. They played on, however, and faced the hosts next. It was perhaps a fatal decision in Escobar's case. In the 35th minute, he stretched to cut out a John Harkes cross and sent the ball trickling into his own net. The match ended in a 2-1 defeat, which effectively sent them out of the tournament, a result met with even more disbelief than the first game. Down and out: Escobar sits on the turf after scoring an own goal which helped eliminate his side from the World Cup at the group stage . Defiant: Colombia fans call for peace after the senseless murder of their star defender in Medellin . They won their last group match against Switzerland but it was not enough to progress and Escobar returned home to Medellin. Against the advice of friends he ventured out into the city, where he had always been treated as a star. But when he was split from companions in a nightclub and returned to his car, he was shot six times in the back. Escobar had made plans to marry fiancée Pamela Cascardo and they were due to start a family. It is also thought he was set to sign a contract at AC Milan and move to Italy. Many thought he would go on to become one of the world's best defenders. When he was buried in Medellin, 120,000 people lined the streets. Since 1998, Colombia have not qualified for a World Cup. Asprilla and Valderrama no longer wanted to play for the national team after what happened. Defender Chonta Herrera had a nervous breakdown. All smiles: James Rodriguez (centre) has helped the current Colombia team reach the quarter-finals in Brazil . Leading the way: Manager Jose Pekerman and his team have helped Colombia fall in love with football again . A generation initially inspired by their captain Escobar – known as El Caballero del Futbol or 'the gentleman of football' – was suddenly repelled from the game by his brutal murder. The reasons behind it remain unknown. Medellin police speculated at the time that it could have been because of an argument about the own goal. Some claim it was linked to huge betting losses sustained by criminal gangs, while others insist it was just another act of violence that was indicative of the time. Humberto Castro Muñoz confessed to the murder and was sentenced to 43 years in prison, serving just 11. Two former employees of Pablo Escobar, the Gallón brothers, were acquitted. Since then, the country has been rebuilding, attempting to cleanse the bad and paint a new picture in their hero Andres Escobar's image. Like a fiery yellow phoenix the national team has finally emerged from the flames in his World Cup. A nation is in love with football again. | Escobar was shot and killed in Medellin after returning from the World Cup . Defender scored an own goal against the hosts USA during the tournament . Colombia exited the tournament at the group stage . The murder has been linked to drugs and gambling by some . The current Colombia side have excelled at this summer's tournament . | b2c01b0d7627c872d4c8834d158ff1d01d5cfdec |
By . Louise Eccles . PUBLISHED: . 17:24 EST, 8 November 2012 . | . UPDATED: . 03:05 EST, 9 November 2012 . Jessica Ennis became the poster girl of the Olympics and her toned body earned her a legion of male admirers. But the gold-medal winning heptathlete reveals she worries that her muscles make her look masculine. In fact, she thinks her arms look ‘butch’ and, away from the track, often covers them up. Last night was no exception as she chose a sheer cream blouse with long sleeves for her appearance at a Christmas concert. Covering up: Jessica wore a long sleeved top for a book signing in Sheffield last night after admitting that she worries her muscles make her look masculine . Miss Ennis, 26, a picture of understated glamour, joined boy band The Wanted and X factor semi-finalist Misha B for a charity concert to celebrate the Christmas lights switch-on at Meadowhall, in her home city of Sheffield. She has kept a low profile since winning gold for the heptathlon in spectacular style in August, but made a rare public appearance to attend the charity concert and sign copies of her autobiography, Unbelievable: From My Childhood Dreams to Winning Olympic Gold. In it, she admits she has body hang-ups like many other women. She says: ‘I don’t look in the mirror and think, Oh God yeah. I don’t think I’m anything special.’ She admits she avoided weight training when she began competing because ‘I felt big muscles were unattractive and none of my friends at school had them’. ‘As a teenage girl I was more self-conscious,’ she said. ‘I would not wear certain things and, to some extent, I am the same now and will usually cover my arms. I look at myself in the mirror and think I am a bit butch, but you get to a point where you finally understand that looks do not matter so much.’ Despite her concerns, she has posed for a number of risqué photo shoots, including one in lacy black underwear. She said: ‘I did some sexier shots for GQ magazine wearing some hot pants and pouting. I would never do topless or nude pictures or even be body-painted. That is where I draw the line.’ Poster girl: Olympic gold medallist Jessica Ennis admits she has body hang ups like many other woman . Miss Ennis also admitted her irritation at her nickname, Tadpole, which was created by fellow English heptathlete and rival, Kelly Sotherton. At 5ft 5ins tall, Miss Ennis is often dwarfed by other competitors and she admits that the nickname fuelled her insecurities about her size. During the 2006 Commonwealth Games in Melbourne, she recalls Miss Sotherton returning to the athletes’ village after talking to the media and boasting: ‘Guess what. It’s so funny. I’ve just called you Tadpole to the press.’ Miss Ennis said: ‘I knew it wasn’t malicious but I also knew there was a slight edge to it. She knew the name would stick and it’s not the most flattering.’ Skin deep: The heptathlete confesses she was more self-conscious as a teenager but now understands that 'looks do not matter so much.' Frank talk: Jessica Ennis made the confessions in her autobiography, in which she also admitted that the nickname, Tadpole, given to her by Kelly Sotherton bothered her . She later returns to the subject, saying: ‘The truth is I was hurt by it and did not like it.’ Sotherton retired this year after she failed to recover from a back injury in time for the London 2012 Games. | Gold medallist admitted she avoided weight training because she thought big muscles were 'unattractive' In her autobiography, she confessed to having body hang ups . Despite concerns, she posed in lacy, black underwear for a photo shoot . Admitted irritation at nickname, Tadpole, created by rival Kelly Sotherton . | e34597cdc736d83f6ab5dc97e81005ac3f6ec6c2 |
New York (CNN) -- Vaclav Havel died Sunday in the Czech Republic he helped build. A few months ago, I wrote an appreciation as a way of marking his 75th birthday. The sentiments, of course, still stand and I'm glad I didn't wait until his death to write it. We have lost a hero of our times, a friend of freedom, who lived his life with integrity and sent forward ripples of hope into the world. He will be missed and remembered. ... Draw up a compelling character representing the arc of the 20th century and it might look like this -- a child whose homeland is conquered by the Nazis and then occupied by communists; a playwright, essayist and dissident turned state prisoner of conscience turned leader of a victorious nonviolent revolution over a totalitarian dictatorship. He culminates his career as president of his newly liberated nation. This is the life of Vaclav Havel as he celebrates his 75th birthday. In a time of Arab Springs still unfolding and uncertainty about what will emerge in the place of those Mideast dictatorships, Vaclav Havel's life story takes on renewed relevance. The revelation of Havel's leadership wasn't just the triumphant nonviolence of the Velvet Revolution -- it was his bracing honesty, which was itself a revelation. Read the opening lines of his first inaugural address to the Czech people: "My dear fellow citizens ... I assume you did not propose me for this office so that I, too, would lie to you." This is the hallmark of Havel's writing -- challenges to power rooted not in imperious ideological rhetoric but harder-to-dismiss, human-size truths. Take a look at his most enduring essay, "The Power of the Powerless," written behind the Iron Curtain in the darkest days of the 1970s. In this classic call for everyday citizens to recognize their power to change their world, Havel uses the example of a Soviet-era grocer placing a state-sponsored sign in his store window with the slogan: "Workers of the world, unite!" "If the greengrocer had been instructed to display the slogan 'I am afraid and therefore unquestioningly obedient;' he would not be nearly as indifferent to its semantics, even though the statement would reflect the truth," Havel wrote. So why does he do it? "The sign helps the greengrocer to conceal from himself the low foundations of his obedience, at the same time concealing the low foundations of power. It hides them behind the facade of something high. And that something is ideology," Havel wrote. "Ideology offers human beings the illusion of an identity, of dignity, and of morality while making it easier for them to part with them." The power of those words ultimately helped inspire a revolution of citizen resistance to the totalitarian state. It may yet inspire more uprisings -- because beneath his appeal is not a vision of a utopian alternative, but the more basic human-scale virtue of civic responsibility, both for yourself and future generations. Havel's experience with the Nazis and Communists taught him the lesson that utopian dreams often end in nightmares. Consequently, Havel has cautionary words for the overheated acolytes of perpetual revolution and retribution. "Violence is well-known to breed violence, which is why most revolutions have degenerated into dictatorships, devouring their own offspring," he wrote, "not knowing that they were digging their own graves and confining society in a vicious circle of revolutions and counter-revolutions." There is this enduring wisdom as well: Havel's vision of an anti-totalitarian state ended up looking a lot like liberal capitalist democracy, with an emphasis on preserving pluralism and the uniqueness of a community. Havel was not allergic to the responsibilities of self-government, but instead embraced the mantle of authority in his own quixotic manner, never pretending to be perfect, leading by the power of his example rather than the example of his power. In office, he was a clear voice arguing for the West's efforts to intervene militarily to stop the ethnic cleansing in Kosovo. At a time when many nations seemed confused, unable to see the conflict with moral clarity, Havel helped keep the Western world focused on our commitment to "never forget." Retired from office and often wrestling ill-health, Havel continues to write. Because he is one of the few recent world leaders who is primarily an author and artist, it is probably best to let his words speak for themselves on a few more varied subjects. -- On purposeful politics: "True politics, worthy of the name — and the only kind I will practice — is the politics of service to one's neighbor. Service to the community; service to those who will succeed us ... If you are modest and do not lust after power, not only are you suited to politics, you absolutely belong there." -- On globalization: "An amalgamation of cultures is taking place. ... We are in a phase when one age is succeeding another, when everything is possible and almost nothing is certain." -- On hope and persistence: "The only lost cause is one we give up on before we enter the struggle." -- On a keeping a sense of humor: "Anyone who takes himself too seriously always runs the risk of looking ridiculous; anyone who can consistently laugh at himself does not." We sometimes wait until people have passed to honor them appropriately. This seems like an avoidable oversight. If you're inspired to learn more about Vaclav Havel, pick up one of his many books, from collections like "Open Letters" to interview collections like "Disturbing the Peace" to ruminations and recollections in books like "Summer Meditations" and the most recent, "To the Castle and Back." In an uncertain, always evolving world, I am certain of this: Vaclav Havel's words and example will endure and continue to provide inspiration, lighting a path forward, reminding us that history takes place in the here and now and that we all contribute to making it. The opinions expressed in this commentary are solely those of John Avlon. | John Avlon celebrates the life of Vaclav Havel, who died Sunday . Avlon: Havel's life story takes on renewed relevance in year of Arab Spring . He says the former Czech president spoke for democracy and against utopian revolution . Avlon: The writer-statesman's life provides enduring inspiration . | 76b743a215ed491cf5d1c7dd2e9f3b17a59cb39c |
Alert: Gregory Lewis fled his $1,000 bail in September and is suspected of at least six more violent sexual assaults across the country since . A Massachusetts man who fled child rape charges and is suspected of carrying out at least six more sexual assaults on a coast-to-coast raping spree is believed to be returning home. Gregory Lewis, 16, fled his home town of Southbridge after he cut off his GPS tracking bracelet on September 15 and left it on the front lawn on his alleged 13-year-old female rape victim. Freed on only $1,000 bail, Lewis is believed to have traveled as far as the West Coast and was last spotted on surveillance footage in Columbus, Ohio. Law enforcement have declared him armed and extremely dangerous and told the public not to approach him. 'He is coming back east, and he is committing crimes as he goes,’ said David Procopio, a spokesman for the Massachusetts State Police to the Boston Globe. 'We have concerns that he could be coming back to Southbridge.’ A nationwide alert has been sent to all law enforcement authorities to apprehend Lewis, who in addition to grooming and raping the 13-year-old girl, is accused of luring 'multiple' escorts to his seedy motel rooms and beating and raping them. 'The victims have been handcuffed, threatened with a gun, robbed, and sexually assaulted,' says a report issued to all state police in an update. Spotted: Lewis is believed to have been spotted in Denver (left earlier in October and was last seen in Columbus, Ohio over the weekend (right) Trail of terro: A nationwide alert has been sent to all law enforcement authorities to apprehend Lewis . Search: The suspect is driving his stepfather's Jeep Cherokee, which was stolen on September 25 from his home along with cash and a handgun . Lewis is believed to be driving a blue 2004 Jeep Gran Cherokee which he stole from his stepfather on September 25, after returning home for an evening and beating and handcuffing him. He left home armed with cash, a 9mm handgun and more than 200 rounds of ammunition and Massachusetts State Police spokesman David Procopio has said that 'We have to assume that he's armed.' Authorities now believe that Lewis has stolen license plates from Idaho within the past two weeks and the vehicle has no front fog lights and has a rear bumper sticker. The suspect is described as 6 feet 2 inches and 270 pounds with a tattoo of a demonic female figure on his right upper arm and a tattoo of a hand holding a knife with a broken handcuff on his chest. 'People should not approach him, obviously,' said Procopio to the Boston Herald. Lewis was arrested on August 5 and charged with raping the 13-year-old girl. He was released on $1,000 bail, a decision which left many dumbfounded. 'Certainly this gentleman should have never been released on bail,' said Southbridge Town Councilor Clemence to the Boston Herald. 'I hope that the judicial system will fix some of those mistakes because it’s wreaked havoc across the country.' The circumstances that allowed a suspected child rapist to flee on an alleged cross country raping spree began when Judge Michael Allard-Madaus set bail for Lewis at only $1,000 - but on the condition he wore a GPS ankle bracelet and stay away from anyone under 16. The suspect is described as 6 feet 2 inches and 270 pounds with a tattoo of a demonic female figure on his right upper arm and a tattoo of a hand holding a knife with a broken handcuff on his chest. While out on bail on September 15, he drove to the girl's house, in breach of his bail, removed his GPS tag and left it on her lawn and vanished. One week later, on September 23, ABC affiliate WSOC in Charlotte has reported that Lewis attacked a 29-year-old woman at a motel on Yorkmont Road. The woman who didn't want to use her name said Lewis told her she he lived in Charlotte. 'I met him on Plenty of Fish, a dating website,' the woman told WSOC by phone. It was just after arriving at the motel that Lewis began to attack the woman. 'He put me in a choke hold and put handcuffs on me with my hands behind my back and said I'm not going to hurt you I just want your money,' she said. to WSOC. The woman managed to engineer her escape after telling Lewis that most of her money was in her car. When they reached the parking lot, she fled. Police have released several surveillance photos of Lewis from recent days, but have admitted he may have shaved his facial hair. Two days after the North Carolina assault was when Lewis returned home to rob his stepfather. He then traveled in his Jeep Cherokee to Denver in early October and is suspected of committing robberies and rapes there. He then moved onto Portland, Oregon on or around October 13 and then moved onto Boise, Idaho and then in turn to Salt Lake City, Utah. He is then thought to have made his way back through Denver and was last spotted in Columbus, Ohio over the weekend. “We have reason to believe that Lewis is heading east again. We know that he was in the Columbus, Ohio, area Sunday evening and we know he was further west prior to that,” said state police spokesman David Procopio to the Boston Herald. | Gregory Lewis, 26, left his GPS monitor on the lawn of 13-year-old victim . Fled Massachusetts on September 15 and is currently on the run . Stole his step-father's Jeep Cherokee, his handgun and 200 rounds . Is suspected of conducting a cross-country raping spree . Last spotted on his violent tour in Columbus, Ohio, over the weekend . | 84cd58a1be2790328f12c56f7268deb9f06d4284 |
By . Hugo Gye . PUBLISHED: . 04:27 EST, 26 July 2013 . | . UPDATED: . 08:08 EST, 26 July 2013 . It's not unusual for visitors to Las Vegas to end up in an embarrassing situation - but the plight of one British tourist became much worse after his drunken antics were uploaded to YouTube. The young Liverpudlian was found by police wandering around the Strip wearing nothing but a pair of shorts and in need of a helping hand to find his hotel room. Unfortunately for the man, who gave his name only as 'Steven', the officers were being filmed for an American reality show named Vegas Strip, which airs on cable network TruTV. Scroll down to watch the video . Busted: Police have been filmed apprehending a drunk Liverpudlian tourist on the Las Vegas Strip . Confused: The man, named Steven, was evidently having difficulty getting back to his hotel room . In the clip, which has had around 75,000 hits since being uploaded to YouTube, the over-excited tourist is shown being approached by two local cops as he tries to get back to his hotel. He is shirtless, wearing only a pale blue pair of shorts with sunglasses and trainers. The friendly officers ask him, 'How you doing?', and he shocks them by replying: 'Have you got some beef?' Much of what he says is subtitled for the U.S. audience, due to his thick Scouse accent and slurred words. Helping hand: The Scouser was subtitled in footage which appeared on cable network TruTV . Escorted: The tourist was helped back to his hotel room but would not reveal who he was holidaying with . Steven tells the police his name, saying he is 'from a place called the UK', and adding that he has been walking through a lot of car parks. One smiling officers asks him: 'Let me guess, you’ve been drinking?' He replies: 'I'm sorry, I'm drunk, I am drunk. I've got no excuse. I'm trying to go home to bed.' As he digs out his hotel room key for the police to help him home, one officer jokes: 'How long did it take you to get that Weekend at Bernie's walk down pat?' Steven asks if the police have been following him, and when they say they have he replies: 'Nah, I was undercover, you couldn’t have spotted me. I thought I was camouflaged.' Arrest me! The man asked to be handcuffed because he said he 'doesn't like surprises' Friendly: The police assured Steven he had done nothing wrong and shook his hand as they departed . When a hotel employee emerges to help take him back to his room, the officers ask who he is on holiday with so they can look up his room number. However, he responds: 'I'm sorry sir, I'm not willing to give that name. Out of respect for my friends, I can't give them in.' They assure him that 'no one's in trouble', but the confused tourist says: 'I've seen documentaries and these jails scare me, Las Vegas jails scare me.' When the hotel confirms his room number, the police try to send him on his way - but he refuses to believe that they will not arrest him. He holds out his arms to be handcuffed, saying: 'I'd rather give you my hands than you pounce on me. I don't like surprises.' Instead, the officers shake hands with him and insist that he go back to his room to sleep it off. One of the policemen then tells the camera: 'He was enjoying Vegas - maybe a little bit too much.' | Liverpudlian tourist seen wandering around the Strip early in the morning . When police ask how he is he responds, 'Have you got some beef?' Admits he is drunk and asks to be arrested, saying: 'I don't like surprises' Hilarious encounter broadcast on cable TV show and posted to YouTube . | ebb36165e26a92d3025bb901e2512aca70dc4212 |
Residents have been left baffled after bungling council workers put up a 20mph speed limit sign on a footpath. The notice was put up by Nottingham City Council in the Radford area of the city as part of a £147,000 road safety scheme. But the sign in Dulwich Road was placed at a dead end in front of a set of bollards, which enclose a pedestrian-only zone in the residential area. A Nottingham City Council worker removes the 20mph sign that was put up in error at the end of a footpath . Dorothy Francis, 89, who has lived in the area all her life, said: ‘It’s bizarre, you can barely even get a bicycle through the gap in those bollards never mind a car. ‘The sign is actually on the pavement, it’s not like it’s a few yards before, there would be no chance to get up to speed before you hit the bollards. ‘I know we old dears can hit some speed in our mobility scooters but this is taking it a bit too far.’ Another resident, Anne Simpson, 54, said: ‘I can’t believe it, I don’t think it’s the only place they have done something stupid like this either. A woman with a pushchair walks past the pedestrian zone in Dulwich Road where the sign was put up . A man inspects the bizarre location choice for the sign after residents call the error 'daft' and 'not needed' ‘It cost money to put that up too, and it will never make any kind of difference. ‘What will they do next? Install a speed camera to make sure we don’t run too fast?’ Rich Holmes, 26, who also lives nearby, said: ‘It’s a bit daft. ‘You would have thought people would have common sense and not put the sign up with the bollards right there.’ A footpath is not the only place where residents claim a sign is not needed. Another street nearby has a 20mph sign attached to a lamppost - but it is just a 45 metre stretch. Darren Warner, 27, added: ‘It’s impossible to go that quick on these streets anyway, so what’s the point of the signs?’ A spokeswoman from Nottingham City Council said the sign was put up in error and it has now been removed . A Nottingham City Council spokeswoman confirmed the Dulwich Road sign was erected in error and said it has now been removed. She said: ‘The scheme is still under construction and so the checks to pick up on issues like this are yet to be carried out. ‘Changes like this are implemented before speed limit orders come into effect. ‘20mph limits are being introduced in residential areas across the city and have been shown to bring a number of benefits, such as reduced traffic noise, safer junctions and improved air quality.’ | Speed warning put up by Nottingham City Council in Radford area of city . It is part of a £147,000 road safety scheme, which is still under construction . Sign has been placed at a dead end in front of bollards in pedestrian zone . Residents have been left bemused and have complained about its costs . A council spokeswoman said it was erected in error and has been removed . | c93412f529c6044754e6507d3ebfa0c844ea3413 |
More than 100 patients of a millionaire dentist accused of putting lives at risk from HIV or hepatitis by failing to sterilise equipment are planning to sue him – and could receive payouts of up to £20,000. Their lawyers say Desmond D’Mello, 60, ran an ‘NHS dental factory’, seeing so many patients to boost his earnings that some had shoddy treatment including undiagnosed gum disease and botched surgery. D’Mello was suspended in June after he was filmed breaking hygiene rules at his Nottinghamshire practice. In three days, he saw 166 patients – 40 in one morning. Dentist Desmond D'Mello is at the centre of a major public health scare amid allegations he flouted infection-control measures at his Nottinghamshire practice over a 32-year period . Health chiefs have urged 22,000 patients to be tested for blood diseases. Police are already investigating the death of Amy Duffield, 23, days after he gave her a check-up. Chris Dean, of the Dental Law Partnership, which is handling the claims, said: ‘It’s inconceivable that you could see 166 patients over a three-day period and give them all a reasonably satisfactory service.’ The Dental Defence Union, which operates D’Mello’s indemnity scheme, said last night the dentist could not comment because of patient confidentiality. A spokesman for NHS England said all 166 patients filmed being treated by Mr D'Mello have been contacted. It has emerged Mr D'Mello raked in around £1,000 a day treated a huge number of patients to fund his lavish lifestyle. He sold his Georgian mansion on the outskirts of Nottingham for £1.5 million earlier this year and moved to a luxury Nottingham flat, pictured . He said an alert was sent to GPs and dentists in the area with guidance on how to advise patients who might contact them. A dedicated advice line has been set up offering guidance on how to access additional support. Anyone who is concerned can call the advice line on 03330 142479 from 8am to 8pm, seven days a week. NHS England has also set up a temporary Community Clinic for patients, to provide further advice, counselling, and where necessary blood testing. Patients can visit the clinic from 8am to 8pm seven days a week, at the Arnold Health Centre, located at Highcroft Medical Centre on High Street in Arnold, Nottingham. Anyone who lives outside the area, or is housebound should contact the advice line for information about how to access screening. That alert was sent to all GP surgeries and dentists across the UK, to ensure patients who have moved away from the Nottingham area can still seek help. He added: 'NHS 111 and the NHS Customer Contact Centre have been briefed, as have NHS Choices who have placed information on their website. 'Other NHS organisations, including CCGs and acute trusts, have been notified in order to direct patients to the correct place should they present with concerns.' Detectives are also investigating whether the death of 23-year-old patient Amy Duffield is linked to dental treatments she received. Last week it emerged Mr D'Mello could have earned up to £1,000 a day, fuelled by a huge turnaround of patients to fund an extravagant lifestyle. The 60-year-old lived in a lavishly furnished Georgian mansion and drove a range of sports cars, including a Mercedes, a Porsche and a Ferrari, with personalised number plates. The impressive Georgian mansion stands in seven-acres of grounds. It features seven bedrooms, three reception rooms and a study, garages for three cars, a tennis court, pond, wood, meadow and secret garden. It is built on land formerly owned by the Seely family, renowned landowners in Nottinghamshire. He sold the £1.5million grade two listed property, Ramsdale Farm, on the outskirts of Arnold, Nottinghamshire, earlier this year and moved to a luxury flat in an upmarket area of Nottingham. Nottinghamshire Police are making enquiries into the death of Amy Duffield, 23, a patient of Mr D'Mello who died unexpectedly last year . Mr D'Mello worked for 32 years at the Daybrook Dental Practice, pictured, in Mansfield Road, Nottingham. NHS bosses stressed the practice is under new ownership . | Desmond D'Mello has been suspended amid claims he flouted safety rules . Dentist, 60, ran Daybrook Dental Surgery in Nottingham for 32 years . In June whistleblower filmed him treating 166 patients over three days . Health chiefs have urged 22,000 patients to be tested for blood diseases. And police are already investigating death of his patient Amy Duffield, . | 6b9534f7bf0137a92f887a9375680e63c0e8f991 |
A new vaccine against meningitis B gives full protection to teenagers, according to the first large-scale trial and could be available this Spring. There is currently no vaccine to protect against Meningococcal B in this country. It is the most common form of bacterial meningitis and the toughest challenge for scientists because there are so many strains to target. Breakthrough: New meningitis B jab - effective against 80 per cent of strains found in Europe - could be approved for use by the spring (pictured posed by model) It is one of the diseases most feared by parents because it is hard to diagnose and swift to kill. Latest research findings on the 4CMenB vaccine show two doses produces an immune response in almost 100 per cent of adolescents. Previous data found similar levels of protection in infants, suggesting the vaccine could guard against about 80 per cent of 1,000 meningitis B strains found in Europe. Manufacturers Novartis applied to the European regulatory authorities for a licence a year ago, and it could be approved as early as this Spring. Jab: New injection could stop dozens of infants being killed by meningitis each year . The vaccine could dramatically cut the toll of infants and children dying from the disease or struggling with lifelong disabilities. In a new study, conducted in Chile, different doses of 4CMenB were given to 1,631 teenagers, says a report in The Lancet medical journal. The results show two to three doses generated an immune response, indicating protection, in almost 100 per cent of those getting the active vaccine rather an inactive placebo. Researchers from the University of Chile said the ‘pivotal study’ showed two doses of vaccine given even six months apart produced a protective response. Previous trials on the vaccine found similar levels of response from the vaccine in adults and children. Meningococcal B is the most common form of bacterial meningitis in the UK and the toughest challenge for scientists because there are so many strains to target. Although vaccination programmes have been successfully introduced to combat pneumococcal meningitis and the strains C and Hib, no B vaccine currently exists in this country. The new vaccine was developed using so-called ‘reverse vaccinology’, decoding the genome sequence of meningitis B and selecting proteins most likely to be broadly-effective vaccine candidates. It could be given to babies from the age of two months in three doses, with a booster at one year. There are more than 1,200 cases of meningitis B in the UK each year, resulting in some 120 deaths - half of which occur in the under fives. Around 250 children are left with serious life-long complications such as limb amputations, blindness, deafness and brain damage. Although meningitis B vaccines have been developed against single strains, for example in Cuba and New Zealand, Britain needs a multistrain jab. After licensing the Government’s independent advisers, the Joint Committee on Vaccination and Immunisation, will decide whether to recommend routine use of the new vaccine for infants and children on the NHS. They will look at its efficacy and safety, while the cost implications are considered by the Department of Health. When meningitis C vaccine was added to the childhood programme it was accompanied by a catch-up plan for teenagers and young adults in a bid to increase immunity within the population most at risk. This in turn reduces transmission of the meningitis bugs in the community, reducing the risk to all ages. Dr Myron Christodoulides, chair of Meningitis UK’s Scientific Medical Panel and expert in microbiology and infection at the University of Southampton, said ‘Previous studies have shown that 4CMenB has the potential to provide significant protection when administered to infants. This new study shows that the vaccine could also be highly protective in the adolescent age group. ‘However, there are still a number of important questions to be answered such as how many strains it will protect against, how long the protection will last and whether it will stop the bacteria from being passed on to others, providing indirect protection to those not vaccinated.’ Steve Dayman, founder of Meningitis UK who lost his own son Spencer to the disease in 1982, said ‘It is extremely encouraging that the vaccine could provide almost 100 per cent protection to adolescents. ‘Behind the under-fives, teenagers are the next most at-risk from this disease. Meningitis can kill in hours and we have seen first-hand the devastation this disease can cause people. If introduced, this vaccine will be the first of its kind and could save thousands of lives but it is vital that research continues to develop improved vaccine strategies.’ Pharmaceutical company, Pfizer is also in the process of developing a Meningitis B vaccine to protect teenagers. | Meningitis B causes 120 deaths in Britain each year . Vaccine effective against about 80 per cent of strains found in Europe . | 127de56a45bdcf460da86490942e8fa9d065d4e2 |
Surrey, British Columbia (CNN) -- Canadian authorities braced for protests expected to take place near Vancouver, British Columbia, on Thursday outside an event where former U.S. presidents George W. Bush and Bill Clinton are scheduled to appear. Amnesty International called on Canadian authorities to arrest Bush for "war crimes" while activists announced Occupy Wall Street-style protests of the economic summit in Surrey where the former presidents were scheduled to speak along with world finance experts. "We would prefer his home country try George W. Bush," said Alex Neve, secretary-general of Amnesty International Canada. Neve said Bush should face trial for ordering the so-called enhanced interrogation, such as water boarding, of suspected terrorists. "But the Obama administration has made it clear they do not intend to do that, so we are asking Canada to. We are not naive. It's an uphill fight but we feel we have a strong case," Neve said. Across social media and the Internet, activists called for an "Occupy Surrey" protest similar to demonstrations in dozens of cities decrying Wall Street excess. Several recent Occupy Wall Street demonstrations led to property damage and arrests. Authorities in Canada said they were prepared for potential clashes with protesters, the Royal Canadian Mounted Police said. RCMP Cpl. Drew Grainger said in a statement the force is going to "respect the rights to democratic and lawful protest and is approaching this event no different than other similar events with a potential for conflict." The summit is taking place in Surrey, a city just south of Vancouver with a population of about 370,000. Organizers are charging about $600 a head for an audience of about 500 people to listen to speakers, including Bush and Clinton. According to the summit agenda, the two ex-presidents will share the stage for about an hour to discuss a variety of topics including "new realities of the North American economy." The talk given by the two presidents is scheduled to begin at 3:45 p.m. ET and will be closed to the media, organizers said. The government of Canada, a close U.S. ally, has not commented on protesters' calls to arrest Bush. But the country's Immigration Minister Jason Kenney told the Vancouver Sun newspaper the request was not being taken seriously. "Amnesty International cherry-picks cases to publicize based on ideology," Kenney said. "This kind of stunt helps explain why so many respected human rights advocates have abandoned Amnesty International." Last month, protesters appeared at a Vancouver event for former vice president Dick Cheney promote his book. | Protests are expected at a Vancouver event with Bush and Clinton . Amnesty International wants Bush arrested for war crimes . The Royal Canadian Mounted Police is ready for clashes . The ex-presidents plan to speak at an economic summit . | 97cce02b17aac2eecd6b147185da1cb1b6bdec53 |
By . Kevin Keane . A teenage cycling fanatic has been forced to apologise to the winner of Dublin’s Giro d’Italia stage – after taking a selfie with him on the ground. David McCarthy, 19, became a figure of hate on social media for taking a picture with cyclist Marcel Kittel while the star was sitting on the roadside exhausted and gasping for breath. He was bombarded with abuse on social media after posting the picture on his Instagram account, with the caption: 'Kittel collapsed after the line today so instead of giving him a hand up I took a selfie'. David McCarthy apologised for taking selfie (left) with collapsed . cyclist Marcel Kittel. He received abuse on social media after he was caught . taking the snap by a spectator (right) Moments earlier, Kittel had sprinted to a . stage win in front of 50,000 people on Merrion Square to complete the . Armagh to Dublin leg of the race. The photograph drew a barrage of criticism towards Mr McCarthy, with cycling websites and members of the cycling community condemning his behaviour. The teenager said: ‘Within five minutes people were calling me a w*****, calling me a loser.’ It is believed many of those who saw the picture were under the mistaken impression that Mr McCarthy had posed in front of Kittel following a crash. Mr McCarthy, from Fermoy, County Cork, said he just got swept up in the moment. ‘I didn’t mean it in a bad way,’ he said. ‘I was standing on a post box 100metres behind the line, I hopped off it and there was Kittel beside me. He added: ‘There were a load of photographers around so I thought “he won’t mind one more camera being there” so I just went down and literally I was down there and out in two seconds.’ Within minutes of posting the picture to his Instagram account, Mr McCarthy faced a barrage of criticism. Sprint finish: Marcel Kittel (left) and team Giant Shimano crossing the finish line to win the third stage of the Giro d'Italia from Armagh to Dublin on Sunday . Exhausted: German cyclist Marcel Kittel collapsed after crossing the finish line . ‘Last night I turned off my phone when I went to bed because the amount of abuse I was getting,‘ he said, adding that some of the comments really hurt him. ‘I had put it up on Instagram and was getting awful abuse on it. I was reading through the comments and it was getting worse and worse so I just said, I don’t need this negative energy coming at me”, so I just deleted it. I hope now it will just pass on.’ He has since removed the picture from his social media accounts. Mr McCarthy said that so far as he knew, Kittel wasn’t offended by his behaviour: . ‘One of his teammates messaged me and said that Kittel will see the funny side of it. He didn’t really care and he wasn’t too bothered about it.’ Mr McCarthy issued an apology to Kittel and all the people he offended yesterday in which he said he did not think the photo would cause such hatred towards him. Apology: A message which McCarthy sent to Irish cyclist and pal Nicholas Roche, which was posted on Twitter and retweed by Kittel . ‘I got excited after the finish to see Marcel and wanted a photo and in hindsight looking back I understand the time and place was completely wrong,’ the apology read. The apology was tweeted by Irish cyclist Nicholas Roche to his 70,000 followers and drew a humorous response from Marcel Kittel who tweeted McCarthy, telling him that he had learned his lesson. ‘So did I when my Grandma found me playing with fireworks next to our barn full with dry hay,’ the German sports star wrote. Roche also stood up for the teenager, telling his Twitter followers that ‘Dave is a nice kid’. McCarthy knows Roche through an Irish youth development cycling team that Roche mentors. Mr McCarthy hopes one day to turn professional himself and said since Roche defended him the abuse has lessened. ‘Nico is really nice, he is an idol for me and would be my role model. I was really upset with the whole thing and I just messaged him and I said I was really sorry about it and he gave me advice on what to do. I wrote the message and he tweeted it and once it went out people started changing their tune when people saw that I was sorry.’ Yesterday, Kittel’s Team Giant-Shimano confirmed that the German rider – who also won a stage in the North – will not compete in the rest of the Giro because of a ‘fever.’ | David McCarthy, 19, posed for a pic with collapsed cyclist Marcel Kittel . He deleted the picture after a barrage of abuse on social media . Kittel won the Dublin stage of Giro d'Italia race moments earlier . Cyclist tweeted McCarthy telling him he had 'learned his lesson' | ad96ad3080295cd3796763ecf9df692efc14987b |
By . M L Nestel . PUBLISHED: . 05:55 EST, 11 October 2013 . | . UPDATED: . 08:22 EST, 11 October 2013 . The parents of a nine-year-old boy who sneaked onto a plane from Minneapolis to Las Vegas never filed a missing persons report with the police and his father gave up looking for him to go to work, MailOnline has learned. The boy’s parents have said he vanished while taking out the trash last Thursday. The boy sneaked out of his home in the morning, got on a train to the airport, dodged all security, embarked the Delta Flight at 11.15am and after a three hour flight made headlines around the world. But MailOnline has learned it was the police - not his parents - who filed the missing persons report and only when they were called by Las Vegas police after the boy had arrived there. Scroll down for video . 'Good parents': V.J. Smith, right, who appeared alongside the boy's hooded father at a bizarre press conference, claimed to MailOnline that the boy's mother and father 'did everything good parents do' The parents only learned where their son was on October 4, when officers from the Minneapolis Police Department came to their door at around 5.30pm to tell them their son was 1,600 miles away in Nevada. A family friend told MailOnline that the parents thought they needed to wait for 48 hours before informing authorities that their son had vanished. He added that they 'thought he must be somewhere'. ‘The information they got was they needed to wait 48 hours before you call the police,’ family friend and anti-violence advocate V.J. Smith, who is representing the family told MailOnline. ‘So they were going by certain rules and they thought he must be somewhere.’ But a missing child of such a young age would have been a top priority, cops said today. ‘With a 9-year-old that would be a fairly substantial priority for us,’ Sgt. William Palmer, a Minneapolis Police Department spokesman said. He said the search could even call for the best investigators to solve the case. Mystery: The boy vanished after taking out the trash and the family 'thought he must be somewhere' so the father, above, went to work . ‘We might even bring in a lot of officers and knock doors and in some cases we might involve some of our homicide investigators.’ It has also emerged that the boy’s father gave up looking for his son on the Thursday, and hoped he was just with friends. He went to work at a local bus company. ‘They were hoping he was at a friend’s house,’ Smith said. ‘And they were calling around and they didn’t know.’ Smith insists his mom called in sick from her job at the airport so she could search for him. ‘He [dad] was at work and she took the day off and began to look. So they really did do their best to be good parents.’ It has also emerged that the boy was at home because he’d been suspended from school for fighting with another student. The apparently relaxed attitude of the parents to where the child was is particularly alarming because just 48 hours before he boarded the flight he had stolen a truck and crashed it into a police cruiser after a short chase. The boy's father said they his son had thought he was playing video game 'Grand Theft Auto'. His father has admitted that his son's outlandish behavior has included truancies and slipping passed an entry gate at a local theme park, and was escalating even as young as five-years-old. Troubled youth: It has emerged that the boy stole this truck and crashed it after a short police chase just two days before his cross-country jaunt . String of dramas: The truck incident happened just two days before the boy boarded the flight to Las Vegas . Troublesome: As well as stealing the car, the boy also has a history of playing truant and sneaking into a local water park without paying entry . At a press conference yesterday, in which he hid his face in a hoodie and baseball cap, he sobbed as he said he had asked the authorities for help with the boy on countless occasions but had got none. He even blamed the airport for his son’s behaviour, railing at the lack of security that allowed his boy to go through three sets of checks unchallenged before getting on the plane. The minor was eventually rumbled by cabin crew – but only when he was 40,000ft in the air. The boy is expected to be reunited with his family on Friday when he is flown back from Las Vegas and Smith said his group would help provide them with mentoring. Leaving: The runaway boy flew to Las Vegas from Minneapolis-St Paul International Airport on a Delta plane like this one, pictured. It was only discovered mid-air that he had no ticket . Smith said: ‘They are going to get him back. Yeah of course they want him back. They do. 'The parents are going to get some help. A lot of folks in this community are stepping up to make sure that they get the assistance they need. ‘It's sad because I just had a gentleman come by my office and say “same thing happened to me, my son's in prison now. I don't know when he'll get out. I reached. I called. Nobody listened. Now he's in prison. I just want to embrace this family. ‘They're getting the help now. But it's sad it had to come to this - him jumping on a plane for that to happen. But they're going to be okay and we're going to make sure that we get around this family.’ His siblings - an infant and teenage daughter - have remained in the custody of the boy’s family. The parents have also been paid visits by Janine Moore, who works for the county’s Human Services and Public Health Department. In all, the family have had four child assessments carried out on them. In an email titled ‘private data’ dated from last December, Moore described the boy to fellow administrators as ‘challenging’, The Minneapolis Star Tribune reported. Destination: Las Vegas McCarran International Airport, with the 'Strip' in the background. The nine-year-old flew here from Minneapolis without a ticket . Moore added that there ‘was a pattern of behaviour’ and that the kid couldn’t be trusted. ‘Typically, staff can tell if a child is lying, but with this child they are unsure what is going on. This is a two-parent home, and there is at least one other child.’ In her memo, Moore wrote that the boy's future could go two ways. If he's been mistreated, he could be removed from his home. If he has a mental health issue, there could be a 'behavioral health response,' which she didn't explain. | Family friend tells MailOnline that parents never called the police when their son, 9, went missing for at least seven hours . It was only when he turned up in Las Vegas after getting 11.15am flight from Minneapolis did police contact them . Friend claims they were searching for the boy but father went to work after a while as they believed 'he must be somewhere' Boy had been suspended from school for fighting and had stolen and crashed a truck two days before his cross-country jaunt . Boy expected to be returned to family today . The family has been subject of four child protection assessments this year . | 913adea1d9037fa38545a5757030fb879a4f120f |
Are you in the market for a new car but have trouble deciding between a Holden Commodore and a Ford Falcon? Well look no further because Bundamba Auto Wreckers in Ipswich, south-east Queensland, has morphed the two together to create a car lover's dream - the 'Falcodore'. Dean Hawkins, owner of Bundamba Auto Wreckers said the challenge came about when he was approached by breakfast radio hosts Mike Bryne and Marie T from the local station River 94.9. Bundamba Auto Wreckers in Ipswich, south-east Queensland, has morphed a Holden Commodore and a Ford Falcon together to create a car lover's dream - the 'Falcodore' The challenge came about when owner Dean Hawkins was approached by breakfast radio hosts Mike Bryne and Marie T from the local station River 94.9 - they couldn't decide which one to purchase . Mr Hawkins, a self confessed Holden lover, said the challenge was sure to be hard but he was ready to take it on . 'Marie's partner was looking at buying a new vehicle but he couldn't decide between a Ford Falcon or a Holden Commodore - they asked me what I thought and if we could put the two together,' Mr Hawkins told Daily Mail Australia. Mr Hawkins, a self confessed Holden lover, said the challenge was sure to be hard but he was ready to take it on. 'We made a plan on how we were going to do it, made a schedule and away we went.' He said he knew of other auto wreckers who had tried to combine cars together. 'Others have cut cars and just attached the front and back of two different vehicles but we actually got the two cars and cut them down the middle. 'We worked out how to cut them, got it wielded, got the paint and added the stickers.' The red and blue Falcodore is literally half Ford and Holden, with an engine made from a Ford Falcon motor, a Holden gear box and a Falcon diff. The savvy car developer was amazed at how fast it took his team to create the Falcodore. 'I had six people working on it at different times and it only took us about four weeks to build which is pretty good,' Mr Hawkins said. 'The result was great - I thought it was excellent.' As for Marnie's partner Mr Hawkins said he was blown away with the innovative Falcodore. 'It was built because he was undecided and once he saw it he loved it - he wanted to take it home,' he said. Mr Hawkins said the Falcodore can be driven, but unfortunately for Marnie's partner driving his ultimate car is not an option. 'The car works - it can drive but it can't be registered which means we can't even drive it across the road.' Community members of Ipswich travelled Bundamba Auto Wreckers to check out the unique hybrid vehicle. Mr Hawkins said his business welcomes any other challenges given to community members from Ipswich. Mr Hawkins said 'we made a plan on how we were going to do it, made a schedule and away we went' The workers at Bundamba Auto Wreckers literally cut the two cars in half . The Falcodore took only four weeks to create . The red and blue Falcodore is literally half Ford and Holden, with an engine made from a Ford Falcon motor, a Holden gear box and a Falcon diff . Community members of Ipswich travelled Bundamba Auto Wreckers to check out the unique hybrid vehicle . | The 'Falcodore' is every Ford and Holden lovers dream car . Bundamba Auto Wreckers in Ipswich, south-east Queensland has morphed the two together . The unique hybrid vehicle took only four weeks to create . The Falcodore is able to drive but not registered . | d7826dc96a548bfcfb7e707166553c9b50b3f2ab |
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