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The nine-year-old daughter of a black, unarmed man shot dead by a white Phoenix police officer who mistook a pill bottle for a gun is speaking out in an emotional interview. Rumain Brisbon, 34, was killed after an officer feared the suspect was armed during a struggle. Now his daughter Aiyana has made an emotional a plea to law enforcement across the country as she talks about how unnecessary the killing was, and how her father will never see her grow up. 'I felt like that it really didn't need to happen,' Aiyana Raines told Fox10. Scroll down for video . Emotional plea: Aiyana Raines, nine, (above) gave an emotional interview after an officer shot her father and said: 'The officer did not have the right to shoot my dad or kill him' Tragedy: Rumain Brisbon (above with his youngest daughter) was killed after an officer feared he was armed during a struggle, but it was just a pill bottle. The officer shot him twice in the torse . 'He is going to miss our birthdays and how my little sisters grow up, and how we grow up because she is the only one and I am only nine, and my sister is only 10, and my dad is not going to be here for our happy moments and our sad moments.' As for the moment she found out that her father had been killed, little Aiyana said, 'I started crying cause I really didn't believe that my dad got killed.' The Phoenix Police Department claim Brisbon was sitting in a Cadillac SUV on Tuesday evening and that witnesses told an officer he was selling drugs. Police approached him and made several demands for him to show his hands, but Brisbon fled. During a scuffle, the officer - a 30-year-old male officer with seven years experience on the force - felt a pill bottle in his waistband, which he believed was a gun. 'The officer gave the suspect several commands to get on the ground but he refused to comply, yelling profanities at the officer,' the Department said in a statement. 'Fearing Brisbon had a gun in his pocket the officer fired two rounds striking Brisbon in the torso.' He was pronounced dead at the scene. Questions: Police said Brisbon (above with his youngest daughter) was carrying a vial of oxycodone pills at the time of the incident. They had earlier received reports that he was selling drugs . Missed: The sisters, who are aged nine and 10, have said they won't have a father to watch them grow up . Rap sheet: Court documents show that Brisbon was known to authorities and had a criminal record including burglary, DUI, narcotics, and paraphernalia related charges . Police said Brisbon was carrying a vial of oxycodone pills, and that a semi-automatic handgun and a jar of marijuana were found in the SUV. A nearby resident told The Arizona Republic that he went over to the window after hearing the shooting and saw the officer 'walking out, and he was cussing, you know, he was screaming, "F***, f***", like upset that he shot the guy'. Sergeant Trent Crump, a Phoenix police spokesman, said at the Wednesday news conference that 'this one went bad from the standpoint of how it ended' but that they stood by the officer's actions. 'Let's be very clear,' he said. 'The officer was doing what we expect him to do, which is investigate crimes that neighbors are telling him are occurring in that part of the complex.' Friends, including the man who had been in the SUV with Brisbon, said that the victim was simply on his way to deliver fast food to his children in the apartment block. One witness said he did not see police officers trying to speak with Brisbon before the altercation. 'The Phoenix Police Department does not treat white people this way,' The Rev. Jarrett Maupin, who organized a march in the city on Thursday night, told KPNX. 'What that officer did was harass and accost them.' Gathering: Crowds formed on Thursday night in Phoenix to march to the police department . Planning: There are also rallies planned for the city on Friday evening as well . Aiyana also has a message for the officer . 'To the officer that killed my dad, let me tell you something,' she said. 'You hurt three little girls that looked up to their dad. 'I am hurting, but I have to stay strong for my dad and my little sister.' More importantly, she wants people to know that above all else, her dad was a 'good dad' and that 'the officer did not have the right to shoot my dad or kill him'. Marci A. Kratter, an attorney for Brisbon's family, told The Arizona Republic that witnesses disputed the official police account and that 'we intend to pursue this to the full extent of the law'. Court documents show that Brisbon had a criminal record including burglary, DUI, narcotics, and paraphernalia related charges. About 100 people marched to the Phoenix Police Department on Thursday evening to protest the fatal shooting, which was likened to the death of Michael Brown in Ferguson, Missouri and Eric Garner in Staten Island, New York. Outrage: As the protests were underway in Phoenix, hundreds of demonstrators marched through Manhattan and across the Brooklyn Bridge (pictured) following the deaths of Eric Garner and Michael Brown . Both were unarmed black men who died after altercations with white police officers. Grand juries in both cities have decided not to indict the officers - sparking massive protests across the U.S. In Cleveland, there have also been protests after a black 12-year-old boy, Tamir Rice, who was shot dead by a white rookie police officer after he mistook the boy's fake gun for a real weapon. A grand jury is deciding whether or not to pursue charges in that case. In the protests in Phoenix on Thursday, demonstrators demanded to know the identity of the police officer who killed Brisbon. Another protest is scheduled for Friday night. | Rumain Brisbon, 34, was killed after Phoenix police say an officer feared the suspect was armed during a struggle . He was thought to be selling drugs and after fleeing from officers, a cop mistook a pill bottle for a gun and shot him . Now his nine-year-old daughter is telling the cop he had no right to shoot her father, while also saying he will never get to see her grow up . | 279a12d3ee37b8109cc192a9e88115a5a631fb06 |
(Health.com) -- Fewer U.S. adults are smoking, and those who do smoke are on average smoking less, according to a new study in the Journal of the American Medical Association. Smoking rates in the U.S. have dropped dramatically over the past several decades, falling from 40% in 1965 to about 20% in 2006. Much of that decline is due to a disproportionate decrease in the number of people who smoke at least a pack a day, the study found. In 1965, 56% of all adult smokers consumed 20 cigarettes or more per day. By 2007, that figure had fallen to 41%. In California, which has a history of unusually aggressive antismoking programs, the decrease was even larger: Only 23% of all smokers smoked at least a pack a day in 2007, according to the study, which mined data from two long-running government surveys. Health.com: 15 ways smoking ruins your looks . These declines appear to be caused by a combination of heavy smokers quitting altogether and fewer young people ramping up to a pack-a-day-habit, the researchers say. The decrease in smoking rates "is all coming out of heavy smokers," says John P. Pierce, Ph.D., the lead author of the study and the director of cancer prevention and control at the University of California San Diego's Moores Cancer Center. "The population [of smokers] is changing." The decline in heavy smoking appears to be linked to a subsequent decline in lung cancer. In 1993, when the deaths caused by lung cancer peaked in the U.S.-- about 15 years after the rates of heavy smoking peaked --1 in every 855 deaths was attributable to the cancer. By 2007, lung cancer was responsible for just 1 in every 980 deaths. (These figures do not include California, which had even lower rates.) Health.com: 6 common smoking triggers-- and how to fight them . "We knew that lung cancer was caused almost entirely by smoking, and it's the amount you smoke that matters," Pierce says. "It was always the heavier smoker that was getting lung cancer." The findings are "great news," says Norman Edelman, M.D., chief medical officer of the American Lung Association. "This shows the dramatic effect of our smoking cessation and prevention programs. This is also a victory for public health and disease prevention agencies, which are generally poorly funded in the U.S." The decline in heavy smoking has been especially pronounced in California, the country's most populous state. In 1965, 23% of California adults smoked 20 or more cigarettes a day, whereas only 3% smoked that heavily in 2007. Health.com: Social, sneaky, or skinny? The 7 types of smokers . The authors attribute the success in California to the state's wide-ranging antismoking efforts. The state was the first to substantially raise taxes on cigarettes, the first to institute a comprehensive antismoking program, and the first to banish smoking in workplaces statewide, the study notes. In fact, the study itself is a product of the state's antismoking efforts. The research was funded with grants from the University of California that, by law, are supported by state cigarette taxes. In addition, one of the study's coauthors, David W. Cowling, is the chief of evaluation for the California Tobacco Control Program, a division of the state department of public health whose budget is funded with the same taxes. Despite the progress seen in the study, Edelman cautions that the fight to reduce smoking is far from over. "Twenty percent of American adults still smoke and tobacco is still causing lots of major disease," he says. "We should not use this news to declare victory, but be encouraged by the success of our actions so we can vigorously press on to reduce the use of tobacco further." Copyright Health Magazine 2011 . | Smoking rates in the U.S. have dropped dramatically over the past several decades . In 1965, 56% of smokers consumed 20 cigarettes daily. By 2007, it had fallen to 41% . The decline in heavy smoking appears to be linked to a decline in lung cancer . | 4bf7003277e0a85d17b3f888b255b99a65542f89 |
(CNN) -- At 32 years old Doug Ulman is president of cancer-support charity the Lance Armstrong Foundation. He has also survived three separate cases of cancer. In August 1996, Ulman was a 19-year-old college soccer player when a CAT scan revealed a shadow behind his heart. Doctors said there was only a slim chance he had cancer, but he needed surgery. During the operation, Ulman had an allergic reaction to the morphine he was being given as a painkiller, meaning he had to finish the surgery without any pain relief. He made it through the surgery, but two weeks later Ulman was told he had chondrosarcoma -- a bone cancer that develops in cartilage. "Doctors started talking about 'we need to go in and take out part of your spine, and you may never walk again' -- things that were so drastic I couldn't even comprehend," Ulman told CNN. "I went into a state of anger -- I just didn't know what to make of all of it. To have everything taken from you from a control perspective, to be a the mercy of others and to have to learn something you don't know anything about was really scary." Supported by his parents, both of whom are themselves cancer survivors, Ulman recovered fully from the chondrosarcoma, but a few months later a mole on his chest was diagnosed as melanoma. Incredibly, three months later, Ulman was told he had a second melanoma. "When you're 19, to have it [cancer] once is abnormal, but to go through this period between my 19th and 20th birthdays -- it's just not normal," he said . "You're supposed to be in college, you're supposed to be out having fun. I'm supposed to be playing soccer and doing things I love and this was just interrupting my life. It was changing the course that I had imagined and what everybody had hoped for." Ulman is now completely cancer free but knows he is at risk of having melanoma again. His physical recovery has been so complete that he has managed to run numerous marathons, including a 100-mile run in the Himalayas, but he is careful to schedule his training runs early in the morning to protect himself from the sun. Realizing there was a lack of support for young adults with cancer, Ulman and his family founded the Ulman Cancer fund for Young Adults, which provides education, support and resources to young adults with cancer and their families. The foundation caught the notice of seven-times Tour de France champion and cancer survivor Lance Armstrong and he enlisted Ulman to help run the Lance Armstrong Foundation. CNN's Chief Medical Correspondent Sanjay Gupta is also a board member of the foundation. Ulman says he now spends much of his time raising money and talking with cancer survivors and their families. "It's incredibly beneficial to help other people," Ulman told CNN. "You help yourself and it also allows us to focus on other people's experiences and try to help them as appose to dwelling on our own. "I'm grateful for that, I've learned so much from so many people who have such a spirit and resiliency -- it's inspiring." | Doug Ulman is president of the Lance Armstrong Foundation . Ulman had cancer three times between the ages of 19 and 20 . He has since run marathons, including a 100-mile run in the Himalayas . He went on to found the Ulman Cancer fund for Young Adults . | 32cbaf1cf00fef2c99ea4173bb0e6ddb66751a56 |
By . Victoria Woollaston . Would you class yourself as a night owl or more of a morning person? Be careful how you answer because it could give clues to your personality traits. Australian researchers have discovered that a preference for staying up late or into the early hours has a direct link to anti-social behaviour and so-called Dark Triad traits. The Dark Triad traits consist of narcissistic and selfish actions, cunning or deceitful Machiavellian behaviour and psychopathic tendencies. Australian researchers have found a direct link between night owls, people who stay awake into the early hours, and narcissistic or psychopathic behaviour. These behaviours form what's called the Dark Triad of personality traits and the study claims people who prefer evenings to mornings are more anti-social . The Dark Triad is a group of three personality traits: narcissism, Machiavellianism and psychopathy. The narcissistic personality is characterised by a 'grandiose self-view, a sense of entitlement, lack of empathy, and egotism. The Machiavellian personality is characterised by manipulation and exploitation of others, with a disregard for morality and a focus on self-interest and deception. A psychopathic personality is characterised by thrill-seeking, selfishness, callousness, lack of personal affect, superficial charm, and remorselessness. The paper from Dr Peter Jonason from the University of Sydney surveyed 263 students online. The average age was 24 and there were 74 men and 189 women involved. Participants were asked about their chronotype. A person's chronotype reflects at what time of the day their hormone levels, temperature, brain function, eating and sleeping are most active, change or reach a certain level. People who are more active and feel more alert in the morning are referred to as 'larks', while people who prefer late evening hours are classed as 'owls'. Questions included, 'During the first half hour after you wake up in the morning, how do you feel?' People were then rated based on a narcissism scale and were asked how strongly they agreed with statements including 'I have a natural talent for influencing people.' Future studies are being planned to look at whether larks, people who function best in the morning, portray certain behaviour types as well, in a bid to see whether bodies actually do function at different times of the day, or whether people just perceive that they do . They were additionally asked how they felt about statements made on the psychopathy scale, for example, 'I think I could beat a lie detector', and a Machiavellian scale, such as 'It is hard to get ahead without cutting corners here and there'. Across the 263 students, the darker a participant's personality score, the more they tended to be an 'owl' and said they functioned more effectively in the evening hours. People who feel more active and alert in the morning are referred to as 'larks', while people who prefer late evening hours are classed as 'owls' This was also the case when the three traits were analysed separately; each trait was stronger in people who considered themselves to be night owls. The paper claims the results are consistent with a 'niche-specialisation' hypothesis. Niche specialisation is the process where traits have developed over time, through evolution. Dr Jonason said in the study: 'It could be adaptively effective for anyone pursuing a fast life strategy like that embodied in the Dark Triad to occupy and exploit a low-light environment where others are sleeping and having diminished cognitive functioning. Such features of the night may facilitate the causal sex, mate-poaching, and risk-taking the Dark Triad traits are linked to.' For example, humans and animals may have evolved to be night owls because the low-light conditions made it possible to carry out these behaviours and actions without being seen. Dr Jonason concludes that more work is needed, but the results highlight an important step in the study of the darker aspects of human nature. Future studies are being planned to look at whether larks portray certain behaviour types, in a bid to see whether bodies actually do function at different times of the day, or whether people just perceive that they do. | Researchers find a link between night owls and anti-social behaviour . People who prefer low-light conditions have higher Dark Triad traits . The Dark Triad includes narcissism, Machiavellianism and psychopathy . Future study plans to see if morning people, larks, share personality traits . | 99270aef7601c54f4cd29c8b0aed3d01601a0b5d |
By . Miles Goslett and Martin Delgado . PUBLISHED: . 05:49 EST, 2 September 2012 . | . UPDATED: . 11:53 EST, 4 September 2012 . Revealed: Peter Mandelson's consultancy firm made more than £500,000 in its first year . The consulting firm set up by former Cabinet Minister Lord Mandelson made more than half a million pounds in its first year. Accounts published by Global Counsel LLP provide a fresh insight into the financial affairs of the Labour peer, which have long been shrouded in mystery. The documents show that the company, which has an office in Knightsbridge, one of London’s most expensive districts, accumulated net assets of £560,000 between November 2010 and December 2011. As well as his income from the business, Lord Mandelson, right, is thought to receive up to £1 million a year as a senior adviser to investment bank Lazards. He also receives a large income from speaking engagements and sales of his memoirs. Little . is known of Global Counsel’s activities but in May it was revealed that . the firm had been recruited to advise Asia Pulp and Paper (APP), a . multinational company accused by Greenpeace of illegally chopping down rainforests in Indonesia. APP has denied acting irresponsibly. Lord . Mandelson has used his array of business and political contacts . gathered during four years as a European Commissioner and twoyears as Business Secretary under Gordon Brown to help build the international profile of his company. It was formed just six months after . Labour’s 2010 Election defeat and has been able to operate in secrecy . until now, but under new House of Lords rules, the former Hartlepool MP . will have to publish a list of clients from next March. Success: Lord Mandelson (pictured here with former prime minister Tony Blair) has used his array of business and political contacts to help build the international profile of his company . Lord Mandelson’s earnings since leaving office two years ago – and the purchase of his current home, a £7.6 million property in London – have been the subject of much speculation. He has acquired a fortune few ex-politicians can aspire to, with the exception of his former boss, Tony Blair. Global Counsel and Lord Mandelson declined to comment last night. | Accounts of consultancy company Global Counsel LLP published . Give fresh insight into the financial affairs of Labour peer . | 53c6ecdf40045797a974d11b90f84576585e70be |
(CNN) -- Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad's sister lost her bid for a seat in the nation's parliamentary elections, a result seen as a blow to the controversial leader and, according to one analyst, a "possible sign of fraud." Parvin Ahmadinejad, running in her family's hometown of Garmsar, was defeated by a conservative rival in Friday's elections for the Majlis, Iran's parliament, the country's news outlets said Saturday. More than 64 percent of eligible voters streamed to the polls in large numbers, and election officials praised the exercise, in which about 3,400 candidates vied for Majlis seats. It's first time Iranians are voting since allegations of rigging in the 2009 elections triggered mass street protests against President Ahmadinejad's re-election. Many observers say the underlying issue of the election is whether voters back the president, who has been in a rivalry with Iranian Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei. Khamenei publicly supported Ahmadinejad's controversial re-election victory during the dispute over the 2009 ballot results. But tensions have flared between the two leaders over the past year, with Ahmadinejad disappearing from public view for 11 days after the supreme leader overruled his decision to fire an intelligence minister. Several of Ahmadinejad's top political allies have also been subjected to lawsuits and investigations. But in the run-up to this week's vote, the supreme leader urged factions to overcome previous divisions and repeatedly called for unity. The current Majlis speaker, Ali Larijani, and Alaeddin Boroujerdi, the current chairman of the Majlis National Security and Foreign Policy Committee, were re-elected, state media said. Conservatives backing Khamenei or with links to him performed well in the race. One candidate, Gholam Ali Haddad Adel, was overwhelmingly leading his race. His daughter is married to Khamenei's son. But one observer suggested the defeat of the president's sister could be a sign of political fraud. "In Iran, locals are usually fiercely loyal to high ranking representatives from their area, even if they are unpopular at national level," said Meir Javedanfar, an Israeli-Iranian Middle East analyst. "Although Ahmadinejad is not a popular politician, the very fact that his sister was defeated in Garmsar is a valid possible sign of fraud. This is likely to lead to even more infighting." Solat Mortazavi, the deputy Interior minister overseeing the elections, praised the polling. "These have been the most lawful elections," he said. "The elections were conducted in the best possible way." Mortazavi said it was the first time Iran successfully used computerized voting systems in some polling stations. Final results might be released in a matter of days. He said flooding delayed the retrieval of ballot boxes from remote communities. During the post-election crackdown three years ago, security forces used deadly force to crack down on the opposition Green Movement and presidential candidates Mir Hossein Moussavi and Mehdi Karrubi were placed under house arrest, where they remain. There were no candidates from the Green Movement in this year's parliamentary election. Iranian political analysts describe the vote as a contest between rival conservative factions within the government. The predominantly Shiite nation faces an escalating international outcry and Western sanctions over its nuclear program, prompting leaders to call for a higher voter turnout to establish legitimacy. | The president's sister was defeated by a conservative . Ali Larijani, the parliament's speaker, won re-election . Conservatives fared well in the race . | 7addbf3e23c470240cd302205ef2214ab7754687 |
By . Anna Edwards . PUBLISHED: . 07:11 EST, 15 January 2014 . | . UPDATED: . 10:18 EST, 15 January 2014 . They say the customer is always right. Well, that is unless you're a dissatisfied guest of the Georgian House in Glasgow. After a string of critical comments were made on Trip Advisor about 'grubby rooms' and 'nasty breakfasts', a former manager of the hotel began to respond to guests - telling them that they could hardly expect better given the cheap price of the hotel. Writing under the name of 'georgianhouse1000, Owner at The Georgian House', the unapologetic member of staff, named as Virginia Giovanni, hurled back retorts to the disgruntled customers. A string of critical comments were made on Trip Advisor about 'grubby rooms' and 'nasty breakfasts' at the hotel . Telling them that they 'pay little, they get little' and refusing to apologise for their bad experiences, the staff member then told them to 'go the Hilton' if they wanted better food. It is now understood that the manager has left the hotel, which charges from £29.99 a night, after being dismissed by owner Elizabeth Morris, the Daily Record reported. One unhappy guest summarised their experience as nasty breakfast, grubby room', as they complained: 'The room, which was very small and cramped, and shower room were not cleaned during our 4 night stay, bins not emptied, glasses not washed, one towel each, not changed, no hand towels, no shampoo and the very cheapest hand wash and shower gel. 'We had to go looking for a replacement toilet roll one night as there was none in our shower room! 'The breakfast was terrible. A continental breakfast was (laughingly!!) served.' They signed off with the comment: 'Altogether this was very disappointing, it was possibly the worst B and B accommodation I have ever stayed in. My advice would be to go elsewhere!' The customer is not always right: The criticisms were met with withering disdain from the staff member . You pay little you get cheap: Under the owner's name, a staff member began criticising the reviewers . But Giovanni fought back with: 'If you want a good breakfast go to the hilton and pay £100.00 a night. You pay little you get little.' One guest from Amsterdam wrote: 'Apart from the location, there is absolutely no positive remark we can make about The Georgian House. 'We do not recommend anybody to stay at The Georgian House. 'There are many other great hotels in the surroundings of The Georgian House that are better (and mostly cheaper as well)!' But the former manager retorted: 'With only one person to look after the place what do you expect. Think about what you paid. ' One reviewer took to Trip Advisor to write: 'Nice location,with clean fresh beds (which creaked terribly if you moved) but lacking in everything else. 'Staff were not friendly, in fact we hardly saw them apart from when they showed us to our room.' The staff member refused to accept responsibility for the complaints that guests had . Instead of apologising, the staff member retorted to criticism with asking customers not to demand so much . To which the former manager responded: 'We are a cheap hotel so what do you expect. The current manager told Mail Online: 'That person has now left and there is a new manager. I don't know anything else about it.' The hotel boasts that it offers a 'lovingly restored' building in an excellent location. It says: 'If you are looking for a cheap hotel in the very best location in Glasgow you have found it! 'The building is a lovingly restored Victorian townhouse with single, double, twin and family en-suite rooms retaining many of the original architectural features. 'This welcoming hotel gives you traditional, relaxed, informal comfort in the heart of Glasgow's West End. We have 11 well presented rooms and a dining breakfast room. 'We offer first rate accomodation (sic) at excellent prices, we feel giving the best value in town in the best location in Glasgow.' | String of criticism on Trip Advisor about The Georgian House in Glasgow . Former manager hit back by telling them to 'go to the Hilton' Said guests could not expect better service because rooms are so cheap . | c1b6557f0c3ae9a822806fdbd7ec1b518ebdf82d |
CNN Student News -- Welcome to CNN Student News, a daily commercial-free, ten-minute broadcast of the day's news geared for middle- and high-school students. CNN Student News can be found on air and online, and whether you're brand new to the program or a longtime viewer, we've got new things in store for you. CNN Student News anchor Carl Azuz. You've already found our new homepage, CNNStudentNews.com, where you can access the show and free related curriculum materials, including Learning Activities, Discussion Questions, Newsquizzes and One-Sheets. CNN Student News airs on CNN Headline News at 4 a.m. You can record the show from 4:00-4:10 a.m. Eastern time on Headline News. (Check your local listings for channel number). If you'd prefer, you can download CNN Student News to your desktop or iPod. Go to the CNN.com Podcast page and look for the Student News podcast. Once you've signed up for the free subscription, every episode will automatically be downloaded to iTunes. In addition to CNN Student News, each week, CNN offers educators a commercial-free edition of "CNN: Special Investigations Unit," "CNN Specials" or its award-winning documentary program "CNN Presents," along with a corresponding free curriculum guide on CNNStudentNews.com. You can record these CNN Classroom Edition programs from 4:00-5:00 a.m. Eastern time on Mondays on CNN. (A short feature begins at 4:00 a.m. and precedes the program.) And if you want to be the first to know what's coming up on CNN Student News and CNN Classroom Edition programs, you'll want to sign up for our CNN Student News Daily Education Alert. Registration is quick and simple. Just click here to subscribe. | CNN Student News is the day's news for middle- and high-school students . CNN Student News airs daily on CNN Headline News from 4:00-4:10 a.m. EST . | bb793bd352d5f327ca8581d1fae45012b0bcc665 |
TEHRAN, Iran (CNN) -- Defying many predictions, Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad held a commanding lead in the presidential vote count early Saturday, election officials with Iran's Interior Ministry said. Men choose their candidates before voting Friday at a mosque in Tehran, Iran. With 72 percent of ballot boxes counted, Ahmedinejad had 65.7 percent of the vote while his chief rival Mir Hossein Moussavi had 31.4 percent, election officials said. Moussavi, widely regarded as a reformist, had been expected to do well as his campaign caught fire in recent days, triggering massive street rallies in Tehran. An "unprecedented" voter turnout at the polls Friday was also expected to boost Moussavi's chances of winning the presidency. Iran's Interior Minister Seyed Sadeq Mahsouli said 70 percent of 46 million eligible voters had gone to the polls Friday, according to Fars, another semi-official news agency. Both candidates claimed victory. Moussavi's camp accused the Iranian establishment of manipulating the vote. Watch why each side is claiming victory » . Voting was supposed to end after 10 hours, but because of the massive turnout, officials initially said polling stations would remain open until everyone in line had a chance to vote. However, Moussavi alleged that doors were being closed with people still waiting outside. Some private news agencies reported many Iranians were milling about on the streets late into the night. Mehr reported that the chief of police declared public gatherings of candidate supporters illegal. Earlier in the day, voters crowded the steps of one polling place in Tehran, some waiting more than three hours underneath the hot sun to cast their ballots. Some were lining up even before the polls opened at 8 a.m. Moussavi is the main challenger among three candidates vying to replace Ahmadinejad. The other candidates are former parliament speaker and reformist Mehdi Karrubi, and Mohsen Rezaie, the former head of Iran's Revolutionary Guards. Mehr reported Rezaie had 1.72 percent of the vote and Karrubi had 0.87 percent. If no single candidate reaches a simple majority -- 50 percent plus one vote -- a runoff election will be held on Friday, June 19. It was unclear where the ballots that had been counted so far had been cast. Ahmadinejad still has staunch support in Iran's rural areas, but has been blamed for much of Iran's economic turmoil over the last four years. If he loses, it would be the first time a sitting Iranian president has not won re-election to a second term in office. Fawaz Gerges, an academic and author who studies the region, said Friday's vote is really "a referendum on Ahmadinejad," who has been in office since 2005. "The unemployment rate is 30 percent ... the largest in the third world, inflation is [in the] double digits in Iran," Gerges told CNN's "American Morning." "We focus in the United States a great deal on his inflammatory rhetoric on the Holocaust, on nuclear weapons. We tend to forget that Ahmadinejad has basically done a great deal of damage to the Iranian economy, on social policy." While Moussavi's campaign has energized key segments of Iranian voters -- particularly women -- Gerges noted that "Iranians have surprised us many times." Moussavi's supporters crowded the streets of Tehran this week, wearing the candidate's trademark color green. His campaign has also energized Iran's youth, many of whom did not take part in the 2005 election. Yasmin, a 21-year-old university student, said she cast her ballot on Friday for Moussavi. CNN's Christiane Amanpour reports emotions on the street » . "I've never even been interested in the politics of my country until today. It was my first time voting, and I am so excited about it," she said. "We are all yearning for change, and I believe Moussavi will bring much more freedom to Iran and our lives. That is why I cast my ballot for him. There is so much anticipation in the air." Moussavi's supporters hope that he follows in the same footsteps as Mohammed Khatami, a reformist candidate who overwhelmingly won the presidency in 1997, raising hopes that the reformist movement would bring religious and democratic freedoms to the Islamic republic. But the real power in Iran rests in the hands of Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei. By the time Khatami left office in 2005, he was unable to make major changes because of the opposition of hard-line elements in Iran's clerical establishment. "The elected president is not the commander in chief, he does not make decisions of war and peace," Gerges noted. "The major decision maker [in Iran] is the unelected supreme leader, that is Ali Khamenei, along with a National Security Council." But Gerges noted that the "the style of the president" and his "posture" have a great deal of influence on Iran's relations with other countries, particularly the United States. Watch CNN review the unprecedented online presence of candidates » . No matter who wins Friday's vote, analysts say it is unlikely any of the candidates would change Iran's position on its nuclear program, which the Islamic republic insists is for civilian purposes but the United States and other Western powers believe may be a cover for a weapons program. Iranian-American analyst and scholar Reza Aslan said that while Moussavi is "a little bit more of a moderate when it comes to the nuclear issue ... all four candidates agreement with Iran's right to develop nuclear." Nevertheless, Aslan said that all four candidates also "recognize it's time to open up to America and to the international community because there's no other option with regard to the economy." CNN's Christiane Amanpour, Samson Desta and Mitra Mobasherat contributed to this report. | Officials: 72 percent of votes in, incumbent president has 65.7 percent . Large turnout was expected to benefit Ahmadinejad's main rival, Moussavi . Moussavi camp accuses Iranian establishment of manipulating the vote . None of candidates expected to change Iran's position on its nuclear program . | d4f3cacd9cbf62a5040e4e1bba8eb0ec652af1f1 |
By . Ashley Collman . Dog killer: Michael David Parker was sentenced to 16 months in California state prison Monday after admitting to running over his wife's dog in the middle of their divorce . A man in southern California was sentenced to 16 years in prison Monday for running over and killing his wife's Chihuahua named Cow-Cow in the middle of their bitter divorce. Michael David Parker was caught committing the heartless act on a surveillance camera installed in a Hawthorne alleyway. The video shows the 45-year-old driving into an alley on December 28 and getting something out of the trunk of his car. Cow-Cow is seen scurrying in front of the video and into the middle of the alley while Parker gets back into the car. Parker backs the car up before quickly speeding over the helpless 5-year-old dog, which tries and fails to move out of the way. The car is then seen exiting the alleyway while Cow-Cow lays motionless on the ground. A passerby later saw the dog, placed it in a bag and moved the carcass to the side of the alleyway. Another person noticed the body a week later by the smell. Hawthorne Police used the surveillance footage to get the car's license plate number which they then traced back to Parker and he was arrested on January 3. Scroll down for video . Doesn't know what's coming: Surveillance footage shows Parker getting out of the car ad getting something out of the trunk before Cow Cow is seen walking in front of the vehicle and into the middle of the alley . In the headlights: After reversing, Parker speeds forward down the alley before Cow-Cow has the chance to move . Road kill: Parker then zooms over the dog as he exits the alley at the opposite end . Caught in the act: Parker was arrested soon after when police ran a report on his license plate number . 'It's just shocking to see a little animal like that and to see this guy — you can actually see him drive toward the dog,' Hawthorne Police Lt Scott Swain told the Los Angeles Times at the time of the arrest. 'We come across weird things, strange things, gruesome things, but even to us, to see something like this is shocking. Parker initially said the dog's death was an accident, but pleaded no contest last Friday after taking a plea deal. Under the deal, two other charges against Parker were dropped which could have landed him behind bars for more than five years. | Michael David Parker admitted to running over his wife's dog on Friday . On Monday, he was sentenced to 16 months in state prison . Surveillance footage shows Parker running over Cow-Cow in an alleyway on December 28 . He initially said the dog's death was an accident, but later pleaded no contest, taking a plea deal that cut his prison time significantly . | 9c6d060b68e89da247504ad68bc39af8795a5b30 |
An American artist has created stunning colourful representations showing what Wi-Fi waves, peaks and pulses would look like if we could see them. Nickolay Lamm worked with former Nasa astrobiologist M. Browning Vogel to learn how the networks move and based the designs on coverage data taken from around the U.S Congress and The National Mall in Washington. The images show the shape of the Wi-Fi signal's and different colours were used to distinguish the different sub channels. The project was a follow-up to Lamm's Wi-fi visualisations released last year which depicted the shape of the Wi-Fi signals. The Wi-Fi pulses are shown here as spheres. Lamm used red, orange, yellow and other colours to represent these invisible channels that make up the overall Wi-Fi signal . Wi-Fi routers on buildings and lamp posts create a circular omnidirectional data fields around them, pictured. Wi-Fi broadcasts at a frequency between radio and microwaves, meaning that the waves or pulses are about six inches apart, as shown by these coloured bands in front of Congress . Wi-fi is an energy field that is transmitted as waves and pulses. Each wave has a certain height, are different distances from each other, and each travel at a certain speed. The . distance between Wi-Fi waves is shorter than radio waves but longer . than microwaves. As well as looking great, the illustrations were also designed to teach people about how Wi-Fi signals work. Lamm, from website MyDeals.com, said: 'Although we use it often, we rarely think about how it works. 'A lot of us take technology for granted and use it without appreciating the science that makes it work.' To approximate the size of the Wi-Fi coverage around The National Mall - an open-area national park in Washington DC - Lamm used the 3D Wi-Fi shapes and data from the District of Columbia Government coverage maps. The captions were written by Browning Vogel, a Ph.D. in astrobiology who previously worked at Nasa Ames . for five years and now teaches science. Each picture shows a familiar Washington landmark surrounded by Wi-Fi channels represented as different colours, as 'interlocking bubbles'. Lamm then added a hazy effect to areas of the signal broken by a tree, landmark or other obstacle. Wi-Fi uses the radio frequency band of the electromagnetic spectrum between radio waves and microwaves. According to Ofcom, the UK will have a severe shortage of airwaves used for WiFi by 2020 . A typical outdoor router can project its Wi-Fi signal 300ft or more from its location. Objects such as trees can obstruct this signal and the waves are often boosted by using multiple routers. This kind of set up creates a field that extends all the way across Washington DC's National Mall, pictured . Wi-fi waves travel as rapid, data encoded pulses or waves. A freezeframe of these pulses are shown by the lightly coloured bands in this image . In another of his images, multiple . Wi-Fi pulse frequencies are represented as blue, green, yellow, and red . that pervade the space around the mall. In a third, Lamm showed the range of multiple Wi-Fi signals across The National Mall in Washington. Writing on his MyDeals.com blog, Lamm said: 'We use red, orange, yellow and other colors [sic] to show the . invisible Wi-Fi channels that make up the overall signal. 'Wi-Fi . fields are usually spherical or ellipsoidal and . extend about 20-30 meters [sic], assuming a typical off the shelf box.' Wi-fi is an energy field that is transmitted as waves. Each wave has a certain height, distance from other waves, and they each travel at a certain speed. The . distance between Wi-Fi waves is shorter than radio waves but longer than microwaves. Lamm claims this gives Wi-Fi a unique transmission band . that can't be interrupted by other signals. | Artist used Wi-Fi coverage data taken from networks in Washington DC . He created colourful representations showing waves, peaks and pulses . The work was carried out with help from a Nasa astrobiologist . | 84b21b01c1ec48ec070a80d17c5b4a2fc9f978d9 |
She's the proud owner of some of the glossiest locks in showbiz and now Kim Kardashian West is letting fans in on her secret by unveiling her own hair range. The 34-year-old has collaborated with her sisters, Kourtney and Khloe, on the new range, which has just gone on sale. The Kardashian Beauty range features tools such as a flat iron, a blow-dryer and a three-in-one tool as well as seven styling products - a blow-dry cream, volume mousse, dry shampoo, dry conditioner, firm hair spray, curl cream, and black seed dry oil. The Kardashian sisters have unveiled their haircare range, which is full of dry conditioner, curl cream, and black seed dry oil; Kim, pictured, announced the news on her Instagram . Kim announced the news via her Instagram page and thanked her followers for all of their early feedback on the hair products. She said: 'LOVING all of your feedback so far on our hair care products! We worked so hard on this & I know you will all love it! Xo'. The range is sold on Ulta Beauty and straighteners cost $89.99 (£59), while products such as their dry shampoo will set you back $13.99 (£9). One product with a curious ingredient is the Kardashian Beauty Black Seed Dry Oil, which is described as 'a nutrient rich treatment and styling aid that rejuvenates and nourishes hair so it appears strong, thick, smooth and gloriously shiny'. The range, which forms part of their Kardashian Beauty collection, includes tools - such as straighteners and hair dryers - as well as products like dry conditioner and curl defining cream . (L-R) Khloe, Kourtney and Kim say they are extremely proud of the range after working 'so hard' on it . Speaking to FEMAIL recently, Kim said: 'As far as products, I love the Kardashian Beauty dry shampoo and conditioner, which we have. I've never seen a dry conditioner out there but it really helps when you're trying to not wash your hair.' Another product the sisters swear by is coconut oil, which they say is 'everything'. 'When I take off my make-up, I use avocado oil or coconut oil and I also sleep in it, it's amazing for dry hair,' explained Khloe. 'You can put it on your body, too. Coconut oil can do everything.' The launch of the new products comes shortly after Kim and her husband Kanye West were named as the new faces of Balmain. The couple - who married in a lavish Italian ceremony in May 2014 - are close friends of the Parisian brand's creative director, Olivier Rousteing, and were chosen to appear in their adverts. He said: 'Together, they represent love, beauty and diversity - they are the new modernity. This is more than a campaign, it expresses something beyond clothes - it is a celebration of love and friendship. This is a new statement for Balmain.' The launch of the new products comes shortly after Kim and her husband Kanye West, pictured at the BET Honors, were named as the new faces of Balmain . | Famous sisters add haircare range to growing empire . Kardashian Beauty collection includes styling tools and products . Kim announced news and explained they'd worked 'so hard' on it . | eb12e6f1f5955d449ede23b9f0128ea31b6fa03b |
By . Leon Watson . PUBLISHED: . 14:29 EST, 21 March 2013 . | . UPDATED: . 14:55 EST, 21 March 2013 . Counter-terror teams are foiling a plot as big as the July 7 attacks every year, a senior police officer has revealed. Deputy Assistant Commissioner Stuart Osborne also said the threats against the UK are constantly changing and Islamic extremists are now planning in smaller groups in a bid to avoid detection. He said: 'On average we've probably had about one potential attack planned with an intent to create something similar to July 7 every year. Armed police officers guarding buildings in Westminster. Deputy Assistant Commissioner Stuart Osborne has said counter-terror teams regularly foil plots . 'The UK threat as we stand today remains at substantial, which means that a terrorist attack remains a strong possibility and could occur without warning.' This came as new figures revealed the number of terror arrests had risen by 60 per cent in the year to September 2012. A total of 245 people were held on . suspicion of terrorism-related offences in the period, compared with 153 . in the previous 12 months, the Home Office said. Mr Osborne, who is senior national co-ordinator for counter-terrorism, said extremists are returning from abroad wanting to mastermind plots in small groups. This follows the foiling of large scale plans such as the plot to blow up passenger jets with bombs disguised as soft drinks in 2006, and more recently a plan led by three men from Birmingham to set off up to eight ruck sack bombs in crowded areas. Mr Osborne said: 'Some who have been trained actually are becoming quite self-motivated, they are beginning to plan in small groups which are hard to detect,' he said. The 7/7 London bombings included an attack on a number 30 double-decker bus in Tavistock Square, which was destroyed . Emergency services at Edgware Road station following the series of explosions which ripped through London's underground network on July 7, 2005 . Suspected bombs at Warren Street Tube Station on July 21, 2005, exactly two weeks after the 7/7 bombings . 'There is no doubt that the big sophisticated 9/11 or 7/7 type plots are much harder to organise, they did need a lot of overseas direction, and some of the al Qaida leadership have said that's good if you can do it, but if not any attack whatever you can do at whatever size is useful. 'We are seeing more small groups getting together at shorter notice and more people wanting to do things without that broader command and control.' Al Qaida remains the greatest terror threat to Britain, he said, and the most recent trend is for would-be jihadists to travel to Syria for training and to get involved in fighting. Domestically, there is also a concern that terrorists will learn 'criminal tradecraft', again making their activities harder to detect. | DAC Stuart Osborne said threats against UK are constantly changing . New figures reveal number of terror arrests has risen by 60% . 245 people were held on . suspicion of terrorism-related offences . | d46919100f7ef868dfdb471fa869962a72176639 |
(CNN) -- South Korea will open its roads for bicycle enthusiasts as the World Bike Festival starts in Changwon Friday. The four-day festival is part of EcoMobility Changwon 2011, a larger assembly of business leaders; academics and international organizations who will come together to discuss how cities can reduce their carbon footprint in the future. The festival will highlight the city of Changwon, a self-professed "environmental capital" and give a special focus to its bicycle sharing system called "Nearby Useful Bike, Interesting Joyful Attraction," or "NUBIJA." The event aims to raise awareness of environmental issues and show visitors that cycling is good for the environment and enjoyable at the same time. Organizers hope to engage with visitors on ways of improving existing environmental protection activities that are in place around the globe. Keen cyclists will also be able to participate in a variety of events including a parade, fashion show, karaoke sessions and two 60-kilometer races. In the gallery above, CNN puts a spotlight on how bicycles are used across the world. | Changwon in South Korea will host the World Bike Festival from October 21 to October 24, 2011 . The event is designed to raise awareness about environmental issues and carbon emissions . Cycling enthusiasts will be able to take part in an amateur race, bike parade and fashion show . | 5dcef089763099f375814fb67b902753d6db8630 |
By . Daily Mail Reporter . It was the eighth inning of the Mets-Angels game in Anaheim on Friday night when Curtis Granderson caught a ball near the wall. Just as he was about to throw the ball back to the infield, an Angels fan reached over and touched his back. Granderson immediately turned and confronted the fan, who was then quickly escorted out by security. What the? New York Mets rightfielder Curtis Granderson was startled during a game on Friday night after a fan reached over the railing and touched him . Out of the blue: Curtis Granderson was surprised when a fan reached over the fence and touched him on the back . ¿I was startled, shocked,¿ the Mets right fielder said. ¿It was the first time it¿s ever happened to me.¿ . Just before Granderson threw the ball into the infield, a fan touched him on the shoulder. Granderson appeared angry as he pointed out the fan. Granderson told New York Newsday that he doesn’t mind if fans shout at him, just so long as they keep their hands off. After making the catch and with the ball still in his hands, Granderson turned around to see who had touched him . 'He touched me, then I turned around and he’s like, ‘I didn’t mean to.’ I said, ‘Hey, just don’t touch me.’ So that was it. Say whatever you want to say, boo, cheer, clap, cheer for your team, cheer for the other team. But just don’t physically touch players.' Security personnel escorted the fan out of the ballpark shortly after the incident. 'I got touched while in play,' Granderson said. 'I told him not to touch me and that was it.' Granderson admitted he was startled. He had never been through a similar experience. Video Source YouTube . What'd I do? The fan, who was not identified, was marched out of the stadium by security after the incident . During the next half inning, Granderson was approached by Anahiem team security about the incident . Getting a talking-to: Stadium security on the field hurried over to Granderson and security in the stands immediately rushed to the section. The fan was escorted out . 'You never know what's going to go on," said Granderson, who considered the incident a safety issue. 'The first thing that was asked to me by the security here was 'Are you OK? Did anything happen?' I was like yeah, everything's fine. But just the fact that I got touched during the act of the game, while things were going on, is obviously something to always be concerned about.' Granderson said he would not file a complaint against the fan and the issue was finished as far as he was concerned. Mets manager Terry Collins said he did not see the incident. Curtis Granderson calls out the Angels fan who touched him during a play . | After making a catch and with the ball still in his hands, Granderson turned around to see who had touched him . Granderson and the man exchanged words before security escorted the fan out . | 44e3f58185d3bc78276f8a8c96a392927d678b9c |
(CNN) -- The average American woman can live long enough to celebrate her 80th birthday, so if a woman is able to become pregnant using in vitro fertilization with a donor egg at 56, she could still watch her child grow into an adult. But just because it's possible, does that mean she should? Some feel that having children after 45 is unfair because the parents might not live to see the kids become adults. The death of 69-year-old Maria del Carmen Bousada of Spain, who used in vitro fertilization with a donor egg to have twin boys at 66, has the fertility treatment community bracing for a backlash. It could rival the fallout from octuplet mom Nadya Suleman -- and it seems to have already started. In a national online survey about fertility conducted in May by Johnson & Johnson's Babycenter.com, 7 out of 10 moms who responded wanted tougher regulation laws for IVF treatments, and half of the 1,095 respondents thought it was bad for the children if a parent conceived past 45. Fertility specialists understand those concerns, but they say it's not that simple. Although it's rare for anyone older than 55 to get the go-ahead for IVF, that guideline is peer-enforced rather than mandated, and decisions typically are made on a case-by-case basis. Georgia Dardick, an advertising executive in Boynton Beach, Florida, was one of those cases. Dardick tried to conceive via IVF six times and seriously considered adoption, but at 51, she wasn't ready to let go of her desire to have a baby. "Fifty was the cutoff for my doctor, but they agreed to give us one more try," she said. She had her daughter in January. Dardick said she never planned to have a baby at 51, but feels that she made the right decision, despite the judgments others may have. "The word selfish has come into my mind. But for any parent, having a child is selfish. No matter what your age is, once you have that child, you owe that child everything. I live the best, healthiest life I can." Doctors say society's views of aging needs to change. "The 40 and 45-year-old of today is not the 40-year-old of the past; the 50-year-old [today] is not the same of the past," said Dr. John Jain, a physician at the Santa Monica (California) Fertility Clinic who has treated age-related infertility for 15 years. "They're eating healthy. A woman who is 45 is barely halfway through [her] life." Healthy or not, having a child at that age can cause tremendous stress on the body. Candidates for IVF after 45 use either an egg donor or their own frozen embryos from a prior cycle and are screened for underlying medical problems, such as diabetes, obesity, hypertension or lung disease, said Dr. Charles Coddington of the Mayo Clinic's reproductive endocrinology department in Rochester, Minnesota. Still, "if somebody were in good health, it would be hard to say, 'you shouldn't have a baby,' " he said. "One has to judge where they are, health-wise and financially." But if a woman who claims to be 55 is actually in her mid-60s -- as Bousada reportedly did -- what's a doctor to do? Not much, physicians say. Watch report on death of 69-year-old mother » . "The truth may get dimmed to fit into the realm of a patient that may be acceptable. I don't sit there and say, 'Go get your birth certificate.' If someone's coming in and they're saying they're 52 or 55, I take it at face value," Coddington said, who does refer questionable cases to the fertility center's ethics board. Even for those who choose to use it, the availability of this technology can be a double-edged sword. Dardick said she wouldn't change anything, but if she did have to do it all over again, she said she may have considered adoption earlier. "In a way, there's this hope always out there for you, and once you get into it, it's harder to break away," she said. It's the intense desire to have a biological child that Manhattan-based psychotherapist Joan Winograd, who specializes in fertility issues for women 40 and older, has been treating for 20 years. "I work with women who've been very successful. They went to the right schools, got married and they feel that everything comes to you if you work hard. But then they realize pregnancy doesn't happen that way," said Winograd. She helps her clients find balance -- and limits -- by creating a plan: How long should they try IVF? How long until they consider adoption or child-free living? "They need that." Winograd said, "because many times a doctor will say, 'Look, this is your money, this is your dream; who am I to say that you can't do it anymore.'" While doctors do help women try to reach their dream, Jain said he isn't afraid to tell a patient "no" if they simply aren't healthy enough -- or are just too old. But, Jain said, it's all based on his judgment as a trained physician. "Ninety-five percent of us do a great job about regulating ourselves. I personally don't want to see more regulation, because it becomes problematic, and it can be more costly. Someone who's failed three cycles and [has already spent] $50,000 -- with the next cycle, will I be more aggressive? Certainly," Jain said. "But maybe there's a middle ground, if the rule is that donor IVF will not be offered for women over 55 years of age. Regulations at the extremes might be useful." Even though Dardick plans on living her life as a new mom for quite some time, she said having a baby at her age isn't ideal. She and her husband are taking careful precautions by adjusting their financial planning to make sure their daughter will be financially secure. They're also tightening bonds with extended family and friends, should anything happen to her or her husband -- a decision Bousada may have made as well, as her twin boys are now in the custody of a relative. Those, Dardick said, are the decisions one has to make when having a child later in life. ""People feel that it's not fair to the child because you may not live long enough," Dardick said. But as someone who lost a father as a teenager, she knows "there are no guarantees in life." | If a woman is in good health, she can conceive and give birth into her 50s . Most fertility centers stop treating after 55, but there aren't any laws to enforce this . Doctors say tougher regulations would hinder their ability to treat patients . Florida woman was able to have her miracle baby at 51 . | c9772b347342e9f055230f2a25ae67607005aa39 |
Many of Steve Jobs' most inspiring and quotable lines come from his famous 2005 commencement speech at Stanford, when he told assembled graduates, "Your time is limited, so don't waste it living someone else's life." But the late Apple co-founder, who died a year ago Friday, had many other colorful and insightful things to say. Here are 10 of his better quotes, culled from "I, Steve: Steve Jobs in His Own Words," edited by George Beahm. How Steve Jobs' legacy has changed . 1. "What a computer is to me is the most remarkable tool that we have ever come up with. It's the equivalent of a bicycle for our minds." (film "Memory & Imagination," 1990) 2. "I end up not buying a lot of things, because I find them ridiculous." (The Independent, 2005) 3. "I think death is the most wonderful invention of life. It purges the system of these old models that are obsolete." (Playboy, 1985) 4. "People think focus means saying yes to the thing you've got to focus on. But that's not what it means at all. It means saying no to the hundred other good ideas that there are. You have to pick carefully. I'm actually as proud of the things we haven't done as the things I have done. Innovation is saying no to 1,000 things." (Apple Worldwide Developers' Conference, 1997) 10 things Steve Jobs taught us . 5. "Being the richest man in the cemetery doesn't matter to me. ... Going to bed at night saying we've done something wonderful -- that's what matters to me." (CNNMoney/Fortune, 1993) 6. "My job is not to be easy on people. My job is to make them better." (CNNMoney/Fortune, 2008) 7. "If you want to live your life in a creative way, as an artist, you have to not look back too much. You have to be willing to take whatever you've done and whoever you were and throw them away." (Playboy, 1985) 8. "Innovation distinguishes between a leader and a follower." ("The Innovation Secrets of Steve Jobs," 2001) 9. "My model for business is the Beatles. They were four guys who kept each other's kind of negative tendencies in check. They balanced each other, and the total was greater than the sum of the parts. That's how I see business: Great things in business are never done by one person. They're done by a team of people." ("60 Minutes," 2003) 10. "I would trade all my technology for an afternoon with Socrates." (Newsweek, 2001) Did Apple's fanboy fever peak with Steve Jobs? | The late Steve Jobs was full of insightful quotes about creativity and innovation . These 10 are culled from the book "I, Steve: Steve Jobs in His Own Words" | d676c1791c3e09bd601ce241d3b130c49b022626 |
Two girls accused of carrying out a robbery posed for a selfie while wearing balaclavas and brandishing a knife. Police arrested the pair and found the picture of them on a mobile phone together in front of a mirror. The girls, who are cousins, are accused of stealing 2,420 kronor (£240) during the robbery at a fast food restaurant in Halmstad, Sweden. Selfie: The two girls are seen wearing balaclavas and brandishing a knife in this picture police found on a mobile phone after they were arrested . The pair allegedly threatened workers with a large kitchen knife and said 'give me the money otherwise I'll stab you'. It is claimed the shopkeeper replied 'calm down,'I'll open the till' during the robbery in March, Swedish newspaper Aftonbladet reported. Only one of the two girls, who is aged 17, is old enough to be reported, Gawker reported. Police arrested the pair when they raided the property that they share with their grandparents. Investigation: The robbery happened in a fast food restaurant in Halmstad in southern Sweden . | Girls allegedly threatened fast food restaurant workers with knife . Thieves fled with £240 following the robbery in Halmstad, Sweden . | 714e91c889d7ed857919fbcf84d28b0eaa7a5f80 |
(CNN) -- A former chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff says in a new book that while Bill Clinton was in the White House, a key component of the president's nuclear launch protocol went missing. "The codes were actually missing for months. This is a big deal," says General Hugh Shelton. "We dodged a silver bullet." In his book "Without Hesitation," the retired Army general writes, "Even though movies may show the President wearing these codes around his neck, it's pretty standard that they are safeguarded by one of his aides, but that aide sticks with him like glue." He adds that President Clinton "assumed, I'm sure, that the aide had them like he was supposed to." What apparently was missing was a card with code numbers on it that allows the president to access a briefcase -- called the "football" and kept by an aide always near the president -- containing instructions for launching a nuclear attack. Once a month, Defense Department officials conduct an in-person verification to make sure the president has the right codes. At least twice in a row, Shelton writes, a White House aide told the Pentagon checker that the president was in a meeting but gave a verbal assurance that the codes were with him. Then one month around the year 2000, according to Shelton, when the time came to replace the codes with a new set, "the president's aide said neither he nor the president had the codes -- they had completely disappeared." Shelton writes that all this happened very likely without Clinton's knowledge. CNN called and e-mailed a spokesman for President Clinton Thursday, but there was no immediate response. Fran Townsend, who served as homeland security advisor to President George W. Bush and who is a CNN contributor on national security issues, said Thursday, "I can't imagine a more serious breach, if something like that were ever to be lost or be compromised. "That's the command and control capability of the president to launch a nuclear attack." But if an unauthorized person found or obtained the codes, she said, it is very unlikely that they could execute a launch, because they are only one part of the launch protocol. Another part of that protocol is the "football," containing the actual launch instructions. Townsend said it's a multi-layered system. "Even if you had a piece that was required, it would be very difficult for one person to execute the command and control of this thing," Townsend said. "There are plenty of things to be concerned about. I just find it difficult to imagine somebody could execute this thing, if they found a piece to it." Shelton says the president was given new codes within minutes when the previous codes could not be found, and the procedures have since been changed, so that the Pentagon aide who carries out the monthly check is required to wait at the White House until he or she can visually confirm the codes are in the possession of the president or an aide who is with him. | Former Joint Chiefs chairman says it happened during the Clinton administration . Shelton says a card giving the president access to nuclear launch instructions went missing . New codes were quickly given to Clinton, Shelton says . Efforts to contact a Clinton spokesman were unsuccessful Thursday . | eef788a9be5caa5d14efaffaa7c9089003038606 |
A grieving man recently widowed was so moved by seeing a young couple enjoying each other's company while out dining on Tuesday that he paid for their meal in a very generous ‘pay it forward’ gesture. The heart-warming incident happened at an unnamed restaurant in Barrie, Ontario, where Lee Ballantyne was dining alone for the first time since his wife Carol had passed away from cancer on December 30. As Lee watched the young couple and reflected on his 43 years of marriage he was so inspired that he wrote the couple a touching note on a napkin and paid their check. Lee Ballantyne, the grieving husband who paid for a young couple's dinner last week in Barrie, Ontario, because they reminded him of his recently deceased wife Carol, has modestly described his kind-hearted act as a 'selfish' gesture so he would feel better . ‘You don't know me, but my beautiful wife of 43 years died last week. Tonight I dined alone for the first time. You remind me of us many years ago. Please allow me to buy your dinner. It will put a smile on Carol's face and make me happy... for now,’ he wrote. The touching gesture has come to light after a photo of the napkin was posted on the social media site Reddit by user Turboturtle08, who explained that his friend owned the restaurant and that she had taken the photo after talking to the very grateful couple, who haven’t been named. When the note was initially posted on Reddit it attracted a mixed response from other posters, many of whom questioned its authenticity. This prompted the Ballantyne’s son Jason, who posts as Axe34, to respond to the internet trolls and confirm that the note was indeed authentic and the incident had really happened. ‘I know this won't convince those who don't want to believe it could be true but here's the deal,’ wrote Jason. Carol and Lee Ballantyne were high school sweethearts who married in 1970, she was diagnosed with lung cancer last Sept and died on Dec 30 . ‘Mom died on Dec. 30. Dad went to dinner last night [Tuesday] and then told me this morning about what he did. A friend sent us the link to the photo that had been uploaded here. It's all true. That's my dad's abysmal handwriting.’ In another post, Jason explained that he had written about his mom’s death because it helped him ‘process his feelings’ and he posted links to his personal blog and to his mom’s obituary. ‘I'm posting a link in the hopes it might help some of those so quick to dismiss the loss of a loved one see that not only is the story true but it's about real people dealing with a devastating loss,’ he wrote. Carol Ballantyne, who was 62, died over the holidays after being diagnosed with lung cancer in September. In her obit, Carol was remembered as a ‘loving and nurturing mother and grandmother.’ She and her husband had been high school sweethearts, who had married in 1970 and gone on to have three sons and five grandchildren, ‘her pride and joy’. Jason Ballantyne, pictured left as a baby and right in more recent times, responded to the internet trolls to confirm that the note was authentic and that the incident had really occurred . Carol was remembered as ‘a talented artist, an avid gardener, a seamstress who made clothes for her children, and an excellent cook and baker.’ Her funeral took place on January 5. Lee Ballantyne has been described as a ‘strong, compassionate man’ by his friend and former colleague Chris Malette, who is a journalist for The Belleville Intelligence. In his weekly column, Malette revealed that Lee had told his Facebook friends about his kind gesture on Wednesday. ‘Lee wasn't looking for accolades, just wanted to share his way of spreading the love and grieving in his own way,’ wrote Malette. He also wrote that the ‘inspirational’ gesture of kindness had made him proud to call Lee a friend. ‘Many of us struggle with the loss of a loved one. Lee and Carol were an inspiration in coping – most always, at least to us friends and family – with a smile and a kind word, caring always about how the rest of us were faring. ‘Now he moves on to a new chapter in his life without his dear wife and it's heartening to see he's taking the next steps on the wings of an angel.’ Jason Ballantyne, who posts as Axe34, was quick to respond to the internet trolls and confirm that the note was indeed authentic and the incident had really happened . | Lee Ballantyne lost his wife of 43 years, Carol, to cancer at the end of last year . On Tuesday he was dining alone at a local restaurant in Barrie, Ontario, when he spotted a young couple who reminded him of happier times . In a generous 'pay it forward' gesture he got their check and wrote them a note on a napkin to explain that it would put a smile on his wife's face . A photo of the napkin was posted on Reddit and caused a flurry of responses, many from people who questioned if it was all a fake . This promoted the Ballantyne's son Jason to respond to the internet trolls . 'Not only is the story true but it's about real people dealing with a devastating loss,' he wrote . High school sweethearts Carol and Lee married in 1970 and have three sons . Carol was diagnosed with lung cancer last Sept and she died on Dec 30 . | a033f08dcb8ebce1e93c8bdb0bf11836a4210230 |
By . Bianca London . PUBLISHED: . 10:03 EST, 8 March 2013 . | . UPDATED: . 10:03 EST, 8 March 2013 . A Russian gymnast who can lift a 14kg kettleball with her private parts officially has the world's strongest vagina. Tatyana Kozhevnikova, who is set to show off her skills on E4's The Body Shocking Show, can use just the muscles in her vagina to lift incredibly hefty weights. The programme will showcase Kozhevnikova in all her glory utilising her record-breaking nether regions to lift 6kg dumbbells. Powerhouse: Tatyana Kozhevnikova can use just the muscles in her vagina to lift incredibly hefty weights . In a sneak preview of the show, which will air on E4 later this month, she can be seen lifting the dumbbells, which are equivalent to the weight of two melons, using just her vagina. Kozhevnikova has already made her mark in the Guinness Book of World Records which recorded her lifting a 14kg glass ball with her genitals. Heavy load:The footage shows her lifting 6kg dumbbells, which are equivalent to the weight of two melons, using just her vagina . Recognised: Kozhevnikova has already made her mark in the Guinness Book of World Records . Speaking to The Morning Star in 2009, she said: 'After I had a child, my intimate muscles got unbelievably weak. 'I read books on Dao and learned that ancient women used to deal with this problem using wooden balls. 'I looked around, saw a Murano glass ball and inserted it into my vagina. It took me ages to get it out!' Weak muscles: She began lifting weight after her first child because her intimate muscles got weak . Kozhevnikova uses custom-made vaginal balls and a variation of weights to strengthen her core muscles. According to her website, she even offers special pelvic training programmes for men, which promises 'ideal buttocks in five days'.The Body Shocking Show is on E4 at 10pm on 14th March. | Tatyana Kozhevnikova features in Guinness Book of Records . Started weight lifting after first pregnancy left her with a weak pelvic floor . Uses custom-made glass balls and weights to strengthen her muscles . | 9f37bff11eb738398566a917e854bc6f899889e7 |
A veteran chiropractor has been struck off - for kissing a female patient in his surgery. Jan Blankenstein, 66, who had practised for more than 34 years, planted his lips on the base of the woman's neck. He said she had given him 'a tale of woe' and he kissed her like a parent would a child 'to make it better'. Jan Blankenstien (pictured) has been struck off for kissing a female patient in his surgery in Swindon, Wiltshire . But the woman, who is in her 60s, said she was disturbed and distressed by the kiss, which left her feeling 'dirty'. The General Chiropractic Council ruled his behaviour was in breach of professional standards and was sexually motivated and removed him from the register. Blankenstein has denied it was driven by desire. He said: 'This was a woman in her 60s who had come in for a session with her husband sitting in the waiting room. 'I had been given a tale of woe, and it was just as a parent would say to a child, 'let me kiss that better. 'She was not a new patient and had been coming to see me for more than 18 months. 'I did it out of a sense of sympathy, empathy, care and concern. 'She did not seem at all distressed, and the first I knew about it was her husband coming to see me a few days later.' A panel heard that the kiss happened at the Swindon Chiropractic Clinic (pictured) in August last year . The panel heard that the kiss happened at the Swindon Chiropractic Clinic in August last year. A potential interim suspension hearing at the time found that Blankenstein was not an immediate danger and allowed him to continue practising. But now he has been struck off after a full hearing. A spokesman for the General Chiropractic Council said: 'Mr Blankenstein admitted that he kissed a female patient during treatment without her consent. 'The kiss was between the base of the neck and the point of the shoulder. 'The PCC concluded that such a kiss does not conform to any social convention, was inherently sexual and also sexually motivated. 'It also noted that the patient found the kiss to be disturbing and distressing, and felt "dirty" as a result of what had happened. Jan Blankenstein (pictured) said the woman had given him 'a tale of woe' and he kissed her like a parent would a child 'to make it better' 'It found that Mr Blankenstein's behaviour was a particularly serious departure from acceptable standards, and that he displayed a reckless disregard of his professional obligations to maintain clear sexual boundaries with patients and treat them with respect. 'The committee did not accept that he was now unlikely to behave in a similar way again.' Blankenstein said he had been planning to retire next year and would not appeal the decision. He claimed: 'By the time of the hearing I had got together a huge bundle of letters of support from my patients. 'They have been 100 per cent supportive of me throughout the process without exception, as have my colleagues. 'I will always argue the allegation it was sexually motivated is an absurd suggestion. 'Everybody in the profession thought I would be given an admonishment, which would be a considerable tarnish on the record but allow me to keep practising.' The clinic will continue to operate. | Jan Blankenstein, 66, struck off for kissing female patient on the neck . The woman's husband was sitting in waiting room at the surgery at the time . Chiropractor said he kissed woman, in her 60s, 'out of a sense of sympathy, empathy, care and concern' But General Chiropractic Council rules his behaviour breached professional standards . He insists he planned to retire next year and would not appeal the decision . | e3f5d5334213df3ba2097c297cf1caf07af7be89 |
By . Allan Hall . PUBLISHED: . 15:59 EST, 1 March 2013 . | . UPDATED: . 08:39 EST, 2 March 2013 . Berlin's disaster airport BER - running millions in overspend and years behind schedule - has suffered a new embarrassing snag after management bosses admitted this week that they can't turn the lights off. Three hundred workers are employed at the biggest construction site in the country trying to put right the airport meant to be the most advanced in the world. But no-one is able to cut the power to thousands of lights burning at least £2,000 worth of electricity every 12 hours in the main terminal hall. Spot the problem: At least £2,000 every 12 hours are thought to be being wasted on lights at BER Airport . Directing traffic: Some lights at the airport are obviously useful - but others are just draining money . 'We are not so far advanced that we can control the lighting,' said Horst Amann, in charge of the technological side of the project which has made Berlin a laughing stock. 'It is true that deficiencies in the control system currently affect the terminal lighting', said a spokesman for the airport company. But he said the lights would be left on at night anyway 'for security reasons.' Berlin is currently served by two other airports, Tegel and Schoenefeld, both of which are now pouring millions into upgrades as most experts believe BER won't be operating until 2017 at the earliest. Ongoing saga: The airport is years behind schedule and has almost doubled its budget . It was supposed to open last year. The cost of the project has almost doubled from its original estimate - from £1.7bn to £3.7bn. It is expected, when the problems are resolved and the airport is open for business, 27 million customers can be catered for. It has a list of 20,000 things that need to be put right - from fire extinguishers that don't work to doors that won't open...and now lights that won't switch off. | Airport is already years behind schedule and massively overspent its budget . Planner says they are 'not technologically advanced enough' to be able to turn lights off . Airport won't be fully functional until 2017 . There are a list of 20,000 things that still need to be looked at at gaffe-prone site . | 8c7879611b7c9852acee764610b817129cfdd72e |
By . Kerry Mcdermott . PUBLISHED: . 10:10 EST, 5 August 2013 . | . UPDATED: . 01:45 EST, 6 August 2013 . An elderly couple endured a seven year 'nightmare' when a council broke its own planning laws and filled a B&B next door to their house with homeless people. Norman and Mavis Wisbey, from Cambridge, were kept awake by the sounds of shouting, swearing, loud music and fighting emanating from the Green End Guest House, and they said police were frequently called out to disturbances at the property. The Wisbeys, who likened their ordeal to 'living in a war zone', say Cambridge City Council ignored their complaints for years before finally launching an investigation and apologising to the pensioners. 'Unacceptable': Norman and Mavis Wisbey, pictured with their friend Clare Blair, a former Cambridge City Councillor, described their seven year ordeal as like 'living next to a war zone' The problem had escalated to the point where the Wisbeys were too scared to leave their home for fear of it being damaged or burgled, and missed out on spending Christmases with their children and grandchildren to stay in the house. Moving would have meant selling their three-bedroom semi detached home in Cambridge for a fraction of the £300,000 it is worth. In 2002 the council’s own planners and a planning inspector ruled that only four rooms could be let at the B&B. Tormented: The couple grew too afraid to leave their house due to the 'barrage of inappropriate behaviour' at the B&B next door . But three years later the authority signed an agreement to place up to nine homeless people there, taking some from other councils' areas. The Wisbeys are now seeking compensation from the authority after an independent investigation found they had suffered a 'wholly unacceptable level of hostility, aggression and disturbance'. Police were called to the B&B on average three times a month said retired van driver Norman, 71, and his wife Mavis, a 69-year-old retired laboratory assistance. They made hundreds of complaints but it was five years before the authority launched a full investigation. Mrs Wisbey, who suffers from stress as a result of the case, said: 'We saved up for our own home but we were prevented from enjoying it. 'We couldn’t sit in our garden or we would be subjected to a barrage of swearing and inappropriate behaviour. 'It was like living in a war zone sometimes, and someone even committed suicide there in 2011. 'We were constantly on edge wondering who was going to move into the house next. There were nine strangers with various social problems - it was a recipe for trouble. 'It was horrible when mothers and children were in there and all you could hear was shouting. 'They chucked used tampons and condoms into our garden which we had to clean up ourselves. 'We could not sit and have our evening meal in peace - and all you could hear was loud rap music, death threats and every other word was a swear word.' Mrs Wisbey added: 'The council were flouting their own rules. 'They used the property for their own purposes without consideration for what the neighbours had to put up with. 'No-one should have to put up with what we did these last seven years, you shouldn’t have to live like that. 'The council have a duty to the homeless but they should have thought it through properly. 'They never checked with the planning department that what they were doing followed the rules.' Mr Wisbey said: 'We were always on edge, never knowing what’s going to happen. We couldn’t lead a normal life in our own home.' 'The owner has made a lot of money at our expense.' His wife added: 'The council has said the problems started in 2007, but we were making repeated complaints to the police and council from 2005. 'We were never in it for the money, we just wanted a peaceful life. But now we think the council should pay for its cock ups. 'We want the compensation to cover the full time we had to endure this nightmare. 'No-one else should have to endure all that we did over the years.' Apology: An investigation commissioned by Cambridge City Council indicated the authority had made mistakes including failing to share information across its departments . Mr and Mrs Wisbey say they started . making complaints about anti-social behaviour at the Green End . guesthouse back in 2005, but the council maintains it only has records . from 2007. Eventually . in 2010 the council recommended the hostel employ a night manager, but . the Wisbeys say they failed to keep the place under control. The landlord applied for ‘lawful development’ in 2012 to use more than four rooms, but planners turned it down. The . council took no action until Cambridge MP Julian Huppert and former . city councillor Clare Blair pointed out that their own planning status . restricted it to four tenants only. Independent complaints investigator Corinne Hibbert said the Wisbeys had endured a 'wholly unacceptable level of hostility, aggression and disturbance'. She added: 'I find it extraordinary that the council not only failed to uphold the decision of the planning inspectorate but encouraged use of the property in direct contravention of it.' She has recommended the council pays the substantial compensation to the couple. Simon Payne, the council’s environment director, said he had apologised to the couple. He said: 'The investigation that we commissioned shows we made mistakes, including failing to share relevant information between our own departments. 'We recognise that was unacceptable.' The B&B which stands next to the Wisbeys is now empty and a spokesman for the property owner claimed complaints had always been acted upon. | Norman and Mavis Wisbey disturbed by shouting and fighting at B&B . Say they made hundreds of complaints to council over period of years . Cambridge City Council planners ruled only four rooms could be let . 3 years later it signed an agreement to house up to nine homeless people . Council admitted it made mistakes that were 'unacceptable' | e68c265471ac45d772527f35b18d72b2be50ea76 |
By . Luke Garratt . Parents of a young girl were stunned when they were told by hospital staff their daughter would have to get the train home after having brain surgery. Caroline Zaple-Davies, 50, and husband Simon, said there was no way their 13-year-old daughter Katie was well enough to travel on the train minutes claiming she had only come out of surgery minutes before. Katie from Torquay, Devon suffers from a brain tumour, has had several operations at Frenchay Hospital, Bristol in the past and the hospital has always provided transport home. Caroline Zaple-Davies (left) and husband Simon (right) were outraged when their 13-year-old daughter Katie, who suffers from a brain tumor, was told to take the train home after a surgery . On Thursday March 27 she was taken by hospital transport to Frenchay for another operation scheduled that day. A delay caused the procedure to be pushed back to Saturday March 29, and afterwards the surgeon told her she was well enough to go home. But instead of organising transport, which had been provided for her before, they told her the train was the best option. Katie's brain tumor told has caused her to have several surgeries in the past . Mother Caroline, 50, who was at the hospital, said: 'I was just sat by the bed when I presume a Sister dressed in dark blue came into the ward and said, "is there anything I can do for you?" 'I said we'd come up in ambulance transport and we'd be needing some transport back to Torquay. 'Straight away she said, "no we don't do transport back." 'I said "but we went up in the ambulance so how were we expected to get back?" 'She said that there was always the train. 'I was horrified when she said it - I thought she was joking. 'Bearing in mind Katie had just had surgery and the main rail line at Dawlish was out of action at that time. 'I explained that to her and she said, "I suppose it's not ideal." 'Katie was in bed listening to all this. 'She's been hospital lots and lots of times and she heard that she had to go home on the train - I just think it's not on.' Katie's father Mr Davies added they always had transport provided previously when she'd been in for surgery. He said: 'Last time she went in the hospital provided a taxi. The time before that it was a hospital transport. And the time before that was hospital transport too. Frenchay Hospital in Bristol, has always provided transport in the past after Katie has had a surgery . 'I mean she can hardly move her head after surgery. It's not fair - there's no compassion. It takes the biscuit.' Simon who has sight problems and couldn't drive them home managed to arrange a taxi for Katie and Caroline at a cost of over £100. The hospital said they were looking into the incident but say that because it was the weekend providing transport may have been more difficult. Frenchay Hospital claims that because the surgery took place on the weekend, they couldn't provide transport. They did offer to provide reimbursement for costs to travel home . Mrs Zaple-davies said: 'I don't think that's acceptable.Katie was diagnosed when she two. 'We've done lots and lots with her - I just feel let down.' A spokesman for Frenchay said they were disappointed the family was unhappy, but that it wasn't possible to organise transport because it was the weekend. They also said they'd offered to sort it out on the Monday and reimburse them the cost of the taxi fare. | Katie Zaple-Davies, 13, was only minutes out of her latest brain surgery . Doctors deemed her well enough to go home and wanted to discharge her . They told her they couldn't provide transport because it was the weekend . Told to take the train when the main rail line at Dawlish was out of action . | 14c576dab8db5c83609eece1c3a8236daa23f98d |
Criticism: Sir Michael Wilshaw believes pupils are being let down by headteachers who treat sport as an 'optional extra' A ‘disproportionately high number’ of athletes and sports stars are privately educated amid the dire state of competitive sport in state schools, according to the head of Ofsted. Sir Michael Wilshaw, chief inspector of schools, will today warn that too many pupils are being let down by head teachers who ‘treat competitive sport with suspicion or as an optional extra’. Not enough state schools are ‘developing the talents of the next generation of Mo Farahs’ and this lack of sporting participation is ‘cementing the social inequality that holds our nation back’. Children are being hampered by teachers unwilling to run teams, sports taught at a ‘superficial level’ and ‘limited facilities’ such as a lack of playing fields and all-weather playing surfaces. Sir Michael will call on the Government to do more to enable competitive sport to thrive in the state sector. Ofsted launched an in-depth assessment of competitive school sport after it emerged that 41 per cent of UK medallists at London 2012 were privately educated. The watchdog investigated the school backgrounds of English athletes who compete at Olympic and Paralympic standard and also at the highest levels in football, rugby union, hockey, netball and cricket. It found ‘unacceptable discrepancies’ between the proportion of pupils attending state schools and how well they were represented in elite sport. Despite state schools educating up to 93 per cent of the population, they only produce about a third of top sportspeople across a range of disciplines, the new analysis found. Forty-five per cent of hockey players, 54 per cent of the rowing team and 73 per cent of the equestrian team competing at the London 2012 Olympics were privately educated. In the Rugby Union English Premiership, 61 per cent of players have attended an independent school. Cricket and hockey also have an ‘over-representation’ of independent-schooled players in their national leagues while football is the ‘most demographically representative’ sport. Ninety-four per cent of English footballers competing in the Premier League have been educated at state schools. Sir Michael will tell the Festival of Education conference at Wellington College, Crowthorne, Berkshire, today: ‘It simply can’t be right that state educated athletes are so woefully under-represented in our elite sports. ‘Heads who treat competitive sport with suspicion or as an optional extra are not only denying youngsters the clear dividends that come with encouraging them to compete, they are also cementing the social inequality that holds our nation back.’ Future: Not enough state schools are 'developing the talents of the next generation of Mo Farahs' and this lack of sporting participation is ¿cementing the social inequality that holds our nation back' Ofsted also visited 35 state schools and academies and 10 independent schools. It surveyed the views of more than 500 head teachers and 1,000 11 to 18-year-olds. As a result, the watchdog concluded that competitive sport ‘remains optional in the vast majority of state schools’. Only half of the young people surveyed reported that they ‘regularly’ played sport in school against their peers or versus other schools. Just 40 per cent said they regularly played sport outside of school. Among the head teachers surveyed, only 13 per cent said they expected all students to take part in competitive sport. A few indicated that no pupils were expected to participate. ...Only half of the young people surveyed . reported that they ‘regularly’ played sport in school against their . peers or versus other schools. Just 40 per cent said they regularly . played sport outside of school . Ofsted’s report, Going the Extra Mile, said that the quality of competitive sport in state schools was ‘very mixed’. In many schools it ‘was average at best and in a significant number it was weak’. Only 15 out of 35 state schools played high quality competitive sport regularly and were successful in regional and national schools’ competitions. The best schools’ competitive sport was flourishing because it was valued and seen as a key part of the culture and ethos. Teachers gave up their time to help organise activities and run teams. The report says: ‘In too many of the other maintained schools and academies we visited, students had few opportunities to excel in competitive sport because it was not seen as a priority. ‘It was undervalued by school leaders, who were not investing in it. ‘They did not have enough teachers willing to organise activities and run teams and were unable to provide enough time to coach or play high quality sport. ‘Without the ‘enthusiasts’ and ‘organisers’ – the people on the ground to run school sport – these schools struggled to help students compete regularly or excel.’ These schools were less likely to be rated good or outstanding and typically had lower levels of academic achievement than those state schools that offered high quality competitive sport. Staff focused time on getting pupils involved in PE instead of high quality competitive sport. Standards of performance were ‘often low’, with independent schools dominating some sports because they ‘play to a higher standard.’ Sir Michael will insist today that ‘high school fees and large playing fields are not a pre-requisite to success’. He said: ‘If all schools follow the example of the best identified in this report, there is no reason why more pupils from state funded schools can’t be batting for England at the Ashes or scoring a winning try in the next Six Nations.’ | Sir Michael Wilshaw believes sport is being treated as an 'optional extra' Not enough state schools are creating 'next generations of Mo Farahs' Lack of sporting participating is 'cementing social inequality' | dd3a78f7e39fb7c858e994c3a2f7d466889209b1 |
By . Jennifer Newton . The luxury home where Oscar Pistorius shot dead girlfriend Reeva Steenkamp has been sold for £250,000 - £100,000 less than the asking price. The villa in a gated community in Pretoria had been on the market since March but has finally sold for 4.5million South African rand. The Paralympian has never returned to the upmarket house since he fatally shot Steenkamp in an upstairs bathroom in the pre-dawn hours of February 14 last year. Scroll down for video . Oscar Pistorius, pictured in 2012, outside the house in Pretoria, where he shot dead girlfriend Reeva Steenkamp . The scene outside the villa in the gated community after the shooting last year. The property has now sold for £250,000 . They buyer of the property in Pretoria says he plans to retire to the house with his family . The Paralympian has never returned to the upmarket house since he fatally shot Reeva Steenkamp, left, in an upstairs bathroom . It was confirmed that the 27-year-old, who is still on trial for murder, needed to sell the property to raise money for his legal bills, which total up to £5,000 per day. According to the Times Live in South Africa, the buyer Louwtjie Louwrens, plans to retire to the property with his family. He told the newspaper: 'It is in a safe area and everyone I dealt with was very professional. 'It stood empty for more than a year and there is some water damage, so we would first have to repair it.' Since the shooting in the early hours of Valentine's Day last year, Pistorius has been living at his uncle's house in Pretoria. The blood-soaked bathroom where Oscar Pistorius shot his girlfriend Reeva Steenkamp in the toilet cubicle. A gun and a blood-spattered cricket bat he used to break down the door can be seen on the floor . A picture shown in the court of the the toilet cubicle, moments after Miss Steenkamp was shot . Another picture from the court, showing the bedroom of Oscar Pistorius in the villa which he has now sold . During the trial, the court was also shown the property's staircase, which Pistorius is said to have carried Miss Steenkamp down . It is thought that the house remained sealed since it was handed back by police over a year ago. Estate agent Ansie Louw, who was handling the sale said selling the property was an unusual process due to the situation. She said: 'We were not allowed to take photos or put it onto our website. If they do open it they attract lots of people just interested in the case and it will be chaos. 'It is not normal circumstances. It is not a normal process. But you know what some people say it doesn't bother them.' It was confirmed that the 27-year-old, who is still on trial for murder, needed to sell the property to raise money for his legal bills . It is thought that the house remained sealed since it was handed back by police over a year ago . She also explained that there has been a lot of interest in the home since it went up for sale in March. Pistorius valued the house at five million rand during his bail application in February last year. At the time he also owned two other houses with a combined value of 1.5 million rand in Pretoria and a vacant plot worth 1.6 million rand in Cape Town. All his properties together were worth 8.3 million rand, the sporting hero told the court. Since the shooting he has lost many of the endorsement deals that earned him some £300,000 ($510,000) a year. The athlete has been paying his own legal fees since the shooting, according to a statement released by his lawyers earlier this year . The athlete has been paying his own legal fees since the shooting, according to a statement released by his lawyers earlier this year. The costs - reportedly as high as £5,000 ($9,000) a day - are said to include at least three full-time lawyers in court, ballistics and forensics experts as well as an American crime scene reconstruction company. Pistorius is charged with premeditated murder and faces 25 years to life in prison if convicted. He says he shot Miss Steenkamp, 29, by mistake through a locked door in his bathroom because he thought she was a dangerous night time intruder. | Villa in a gated community in Pretoria had been on the market since March . Paralympian has never returned to house since fatally shooting his girlfriend . 27-year-old needed to sell the home to raise money for legal bills . Reportedly been sold to buyer who plans to retire to the property . | 81d7245165897e1f19c219b582d5ec7b503e2e69 |
By . Talal Musa . PUBLISHED: . 10:52 EST, 3 June 2013 . | . UPDATED: . 14:07 EST, 3 June 2013 . Rating: . Price: £39.99 / $58 (RRP) For five years, gamers have been itching to get behind the wheel of another GRID game. And although DIRT: Showdown was a dead end, Codemasters are now back on track. Whereas Showdown didn't quite know what it was, Grid 2's confidence is there for all to see. Be that in the glossy TV-style presentation, stirring cinematic audio or its garish LiveRoutes mechanic. In similar vein to the brilliant Forza Horizon, Codemasters have tried to glue the single-player career together with a narrative. You play an up-and-coming racer, who's part of the World Series Racing (WSR) competition. The fast and the furious: Other drivers will try and ram you off the road if you drive aggressively . You'll have to go through different leagues, racing in a variety of locations from the Middle East, US and Asia - taking part in challenges such as timed laps and point-to-point races. It's a simple premise, but the high-quality ESPN endorsed cutscenes throughout help give an air of authenticity about what you're doing. Sadly, the buzz of watching your fan base grow is hampered by the limited number of tracks becoming overly similar a few league wins in. Thankfully, LiveRoutes - where courses are changed randomly as you play through them - helps stave off some of this monotony - even though it's not entirely successful. Grid veterans will struggle with just how ruthlessly a circuit can change - bombarding you with hairpins and tight bends that make it nigh on impossible not to crash. A flashback mechanic does allow you to wind back time if you've crashed or fluffed a corner - but you can only use it a limited number of times. Thankfully, GRID 2's gameplay is fantastic - walking an elegant tightrope between arcade racer and simulator. Mastering the drift, though, takes longer than you would imagine. Car models look very impressive and the sense of speed is well-realised. Add to the mix lush, dynamic environments and a medley of growling exhaust notes, and it's a compelling package in full flight. Away from the track and there's plenty of customisation. You can create your own races and change the appearance of your car but sadly, performance-related mods are saved just for multiplayer. One track mind: To get the best out of GRID 2, you must learn how to master the drift . Minor gripes aside, GRID 2 is still a great racing game - and a worthy lap of honour for our aging current gen consoles. GRID 2 is out now. Let us know what you think on Twitter: @DailyMailGames and on Facebook: Daily Mail Games. | Confident, aggressive racer boasting plenty of modes . Solid single-player campaign keeps you interested . Wonderful graphics and realistic damage . Some tracks start to grate and LiveRoutes can be erratic . | ac895e0c0ef0750fd9ccbc69e1de5bec3c596e0f |
Claude Dielna came off the bench in injury time to score the winner as Sheffield Wednesday recorded a 2-1 Championship win at Blackburn but the game was marred by a sickening head injury suffered by Lewis McGugan. McGugan went down and was motionless after colliding with Lee Williamson before being stretchered off in a neck brace for Stuart Gray's side. He was replaced in the 35th minute by Joe Mattock after lengthy treatment on the pitch. Lewis McGugan receives treatment for a head injury in Sheffield Wednesday's game at Blackburn . Claude Dielna (second left) celebrates with his team-mates after scoring a late winner for Wednesday . Wednesday's Dielna curled a shot past Blackburn goalkeeper Jason Steele in the third minute of injury time . Dielna (centre) celebrates with supporters after scoring the late goal that won the game for Wednesday . Blackburn: Steele, Baptiste, Hanley, Duffy, Olsson, Conway (Dunn 82), Evans, Williamson (Tunnicliffe 66), Marshall, Rhodes, Gestede (Brown 67). Subs Not Used: Eastwood, Varney, Taylor, Songo'o. Goals: Baptiste 16. Sheffield Wednesday: Westwood, Palmer, Lees, Loovens, Helan, Drenthe (Lavery 76),Lee, McGugan (Mattock 35), Maguire, Nuhiu (Dielna 90), May. Subs Not Used: McCabe, Maghoma, Corry, Kirkland. Booked: Dielna. Goals: Lee 3, Dielna 90. Att: 14,920 . Ref: Stephen Martin . Seven minutes of time were added on at the end of the first half due to the delay. 'He was knocked out completely,' Gray said. 'At the moment he's a bit fragile but the medical side will look after that. 'He's obviously come round but he was totally out of it for two or three minutes on the pitch. I think it was precautionary putting the (neck) brace on him.' Wednesday went ahead early on through Kieran Lee's close range effort, which was soon cancelled out by Alex Baptiste. Wednesday were resolute throughout and Stevie May forced a low save from Jason Steele but the best chances fell to the hosts, with Jordan Rhodes heading onto the post and Ryan Tunnicliffe forcing a flying save from Keiren Westwood. But just as it looked like the spoils would be shared, Dielna popped up to give Wednesday a first Ewood Park success since 1999, ending Rovers' nine-match unbeaten run. Gary Bowyer recalled Steele in goal after he was ineligible against his parent club Middlesbrough last week. But Gray's side were ahead in the third minute. May sprung the offside trap and although his shot was weak, Steele made a mess of gathering it and Lee was on hand to tap home. Wednesday were quickest to everything but in Blackburn's first decent spell of possession, they equalised when Rhodes nodded down into the path of Baptiste and he wrapped his foot over the ball to fire past Westwood from 10 yards. It settled Rovers, who looked in control - but they almost conceded again when Shane Duffy missed a routine clearance and May reacted to force a sharp low save from Steele. Alex Baptiste (second right) levels for Blackburn after Kieren Lee had put Wednesday into the lead . Baptiste (right) celebrates after equalising for Blackburn against Wednesday at Ewood Park . There was a lengthy stoppage after Lewis McGugan had to be carried off on a stretcher after suffering a head injury - and Rovers almost caught the visitors out just after the resumption when Craig Conway whipped in a superb cross that Rhodes glanced onto the far post. But Wednesday missed a glorious chance to retake the lead after 36 minutes when Glenn Loovens headed over a Royston Drenthe free-kick from five yards. Wednesday were comfortable for the early exchanges of the second half but Rovers turned the screw as the contest wore on and substitute Tunnicliffe's thunderous volley after 72 minutes forced Westwood into a magnificent save to tip over the crossbar. David Dunn flashed a shot wide late on but just as it looked like the spoils would be shared, substitute Dielna won it in the final minute of injury time with a 25-yard curling effort that flew past Steele via a deflection to record a first away win at the seventh time of asking. | Lewis McGugan stretchered off in a neck brace with a head injury . He was knocked out after he collided with Lee Williamson in the first half . Substitute Claude Dielna scored the winner for Wednesday in injury time . | 02de750fcc2908c22c3ac9f4c81df0d73430954c |
(CNN) -- Much of the East Coast was digging out Sunday after a monster winter storm caused record snowfall in some areas, disrupting holiday travel and shopping and leaving at least four people dead. But the worst of it appeared to be in sight. Winter storm warnings for New York and Long Island expired at 11 a.m. ET Sunday, and warnings for the Boston, Massachusetts, metro area and much of southeastern New England expired at noon. By early Sunday, Bethesda, Maryland, had recorded a whopping 23 inches of snow, and Medford, New Jersey, had seen 24 inches. Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, received its second-highest snowfall in a single event, with 23.2 inches. Is wintry weather affecting you? Share stories, photos or videos . Washington's Dulles International and Reagan National airports saw snowfall of 18 inches and 16.4 inches, respectively -- the highest one-day totals ever for December. The previous record at Dulles was 10.6 inches in December 1964, and at Reagan National, it was 11.5 inches in December 1932. East Coast travelers again were warned to expect treacherous roads Sunday and face flight delays and cancellations. Dulles was accepting flights and had one runway open Sunday, said Tara Hamilton of the Metropolitan Washington Airports Authority. A runway opened at Reagan National just before 1 p.m., and flights began taking off. New York's LaGuardia, John F. Kennedy and Newark airports were all open Sunday morning, according to the Port Authority of New York. However, air traffic was light, said spokesman Steve Coleman. "The runways are good to go," he said. But 1,200 flights had been canceled by the airlines at the three airports, according to the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey. JFK airport canceled the most flights, with 550 grounded. American Airlines canceled 160 flights Sunday and has canceled another 20 set for Monday, said airline spokesman Charley Wilson. The 20 Boston and New York flights were grounded because of the backlog of flights the airline has to manage in the wake of the storm. See flight delay info on the Federal Aviation Administration's Web site . Elsewhere in New York, the Long Island Railroad was running limited service, but train service was suspended on several branches. Two people were killed in weather-related crashes, the Virginia State Police said Sunday, and "there are two additional deaths that are likely related to the winter storm." See traffic and road closure information . Virginia Gov. Timothy Kaine authorized up to 1,000 National Guardsmen to assist in response to the storm, which had dumped up to 18 inches of snow in parts of the region by Saturday evening. Through 8 a.m. Sunday, Virginia State Police had responded to more than 6,100 calls for service, nearly half of those for traffic crashes and disabled vehicles. The storm, known as a nor'easter, blanketed the mid-Atlantic region and the heavily populated I-95 corridor. However, the interstate itself was in good shape Sunday morning, reported CNN producer Xuan Thai, who drove to Washington from Philadelphia. She said while traffic was extremely light, snowplows were out and the roads were cleared. Meanwhile, people in western North Carolina were digging out from the powerful storm. About 28,000 households had no power into Sunday night, including 24,118 in Asheville's Buncombe County, said Drew Elliot, spokesman for Progress Energy. That's down from 50,000 in Buncombe on Saturday. Power has been restored to 39,000 households, according to Elliot, but new outages continue as trees or branches fall on power lines. While the majority of customers should have electricity by Monday, "We don't see full restoration until midweek," Elliot said. The weather delayed the start of two National Football League games Sunday. The Chicago Bears-Baltimore Ravens and San Francisco 49ers-Philadelphia Eagles games began at 4:15 p.m. ET instead of 1 p.m. to allow crews to clear streets and walkways in and around stadiums. The weekend storm could rival the Knickerbocker blizzard of 1922, which dropped between 28 and 33 inches of snow in the Washington area, said CNN meteorologist Karen Maginnis. "I don't know that it will be a record-breaker, but this is significant," Maginnis said. "This is a really bad storm." The foul weather prompted an emergency declaration in Washington, stranded hundreds of motorists, shut down airports, caused power outages and threatened to keep hordes of holiday shoppers indoors. New York City sanitation staffers worked all night to dig out, Mayor Michael Bloomberg told reporters Sunday. The heaviest snow fell in the eastern part of the city -- 12 inches in the Rockaways, he said, as opposed to 6 inches in the Bronx. Officials were focusing on clearing the highways and bus routes before surface streets, he said, but it estimated most streets would be cleared by Sunday night. Authorities reported "no major snow-related incidents," Bloomberg said. Virginia State Police reported travel was still hazardous in several areas Sunday, saying, "Virginians are still discouraged from traveling unless absolutely necessary." Slick road conditions, disabled vehicles and crashes were reported on I-81 through the New River Valley west of Roanoke, authorities said, and U.S. 29 was also hazardous. Numerous vehicles were pulled off I-81 overnight Saturday and early Sunday. On I-81 Saturday night, authorities moved motorists to shelters because of traffic stoppages, said Bob Spieldenner, spokesman for the Virginia Department of Emergency Management. Those people were being taken back to their cars and put back on the road Sunday, he said. About 73,000 utility customers were without power Sunday, he said. Washington Mayor Adrian M. Fenty said the storm is "perhaps the biggest we've seen in several years." "We are going to throw everything we have at it to keep the District open for business on this busy pre-holiday weekend," Fenty said as he announced the snow emergency. But he also urged residents to stay put in their homes. "We urge everyone if you don't have to go anywhere, wait. This snow should end early tomorrow morning with a 24-hour cleanup," Fenty said. "We should have a lot of streets ready to go by rush hour Monday. And, hopefully, all of it done between Monday and Wednesday." Nine people were taken to a hospital after a bus and city snow plow collided, a Washington fire official said. The injuries are not considered serious. The storm also halted above-ground Metrorail operations in the District because of the "heavy snowfall that is covering the electrified third rail," according to the Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority. West Virginia Gov. Joe Manchin on Saturday declared a state of emergency and "authorized the use of the National Guard to assist with snow removal and emergency assistance and operations." Manchin said West Virginia is working to help stranded motorists, clear roadways and restore power outages. Farther north, Boston Mayor Thomas Menino declared a snow emergency after forecasts of up to 15 inches of snow with 30-mph winds between Saturday night and late Sunday morning. CNN's Sean Morris, Larry Lazo and Dave Alsup contributed to this report. | NEW: American Airlines canceled 160 Sunday flights and 20 scheduled for Monday . NEW: About 28,000 still without power in western North Carolina, utility official says . Several East Coast cities see record-setting snows of about 2 feet . At least four dead in Virginia; residents urged to stay home . | befb25b3880c367a473cc043c93085eeecb7b2c6 |
In-demand Juventus midfielder Paul Pogba believes his transfer value is worthless if he doesn't perform every single time he steps out on to the pitch. The former Manchester United youngster is already viewed as one of the best all-round midfielders in Europe, despite being only 21. United, who let Pogba leave for Turin on a free in July 2012, have been linked with a move for the midfielder while Sportsmail revealed in December that Manchester City were also mooting a club-record £40million bid for the star as a replacement for Yaya Toure. Highly-rated Juventus star Paul Pogba believes his value is worth 'zero euros' if he doesn't perform well . Pogba enhanced his reputation further with a superb strike to open the scoring in Juventus' 4-0 win against Verona in Serie A on Sunday night. Yet despite another stellar performance, the France international was rather modest about his transfer valuation. 'I am worth zero euros. I am worth nothing unless I work on the field in every single game,' he told reporters. 'I need to do more because I want to be a champion just like Gianluigi Buffon, Andrea Pirlo and Giorgio Chiellini. 'I want to be one of the best players in the world and to be able to reach this level, I need to play well. I focus on working on the pitch and giving all I've got for the squad.' Pogba (far right) watches his curled right-footed shot give Juventus the lead against Verona on Sunday . Juventus boss Massimiliano Allegri was pleased with the 21-year-old's display against Verona and believes the midfielder is a potential future world player of the year. 'Pogba is young, even though we treat him like a veteran,' Allegri said. 'Ballon d'Or? I think you would need to win a Champions League, European Championship or World Cup, but he's got the potential to get there.' The former AC Milan boss added: 'He needs to understand that certain things can only be done in certain areas of the pitch, but he put in a great display against Verona.' Pogba has scored seven goals in 24 appearances this season for Juventus, including three in his last three matches. The 21-year-old midfielder (left) has scored seven goals in 24 appearances this season for Juventus . | Juventus won 4-0 at home to Verona in Serie A on Sunday night . Paul Pogba scored the opener for Massimiliano Allegri's league leaders . Manchester City are keen to sign the midfielder in a £40million deal . | 01ee3f02bf41307f0faf0d68142874e7c33ca6e0 |
A moose charged upon a Norwegian photographer as he attempted to film her and her calf. Arvid Strømnes was cycling through a forest near Fredrikstad, Norway, when he spotted the grazing animals. He stopped to get a better look and film it but got a bit too close. Mr Strømnes was cycling through a forest near Fredrikstad, Norway, when he spotted the grazing animal . The moose lunged forward at him, but it was just to intimidate him . The mother went back to grazing, but Mr Strømnes tried to get closer again . The moose charged Mr Strømnes, but he managed to capture the entire event in camera, reported the Huffington Post. Mr Strømnes said to area newspaper Fredriksstad Blad: ‘It was not that smart.’ As Mr Strømnes filmed them, the mother attempted to intimidate him by lunging forward. The moose attacked again when the photographer got too close to it . In a second attack, the moose charged Mr Strømnes and knocked him to the ground . Mr Strømnes only sustained a bruise after he was kicked, and he loaded the footage online . While the animal backed, off the photographer didn’t and continued filming. In a second attack, the moose charged Mr Strømnes and knocked him to the ground. Mr Strømnes only sustained a bruise after he was kicked, and he was well enough to load the footage online. | Photographer Arvid Strømnes came across a moose near Fredrikstad . He stopped to film it but got a bit too close to the animal and her calf . The mother charged Mr Strømnes, knocking him to the ground and bruising him . | 4d41ab7577884046daec4643cfaa53fb8c671d19 |
Hillary Clinton used an appearance in Ottawa, Ontario, on Monday to talk up the work she did to combat "violent extremism" during her time as secretary of state. "We took decisive action against the threat of violent extremism," Clinton said of her four years as America's top diplomat, "certainly most practically from Osama bin Laden and al Qaeda's syndicate of terror." The line is new for Clinton and comes at a time that some have raised questions whether the Obama administration underestimated ISIS, a terrorist group that has swept into power in areas of Syria and Iraq. President Barack Obama decided during his first term not to help train and arm rebels in Syria, despite urging from Clinton and other top advisers. In hindsight, some of those advisers say not arming Syrian rebels helped lead to the rise of ISIS. Last month, Obama authorized airstrikes against the terrorist group and training for Syrian rebels. The United States was joined by a coalition of countries, including Arab states, and Clinton backed the action. On Monday, the former secretary of state called dealing with ISIS a "long-term struggle" in which military action is essential. The former first lady also refused to call the group by the name it calls itself: the Islamic State. "Whether you call them ISIS or ISIL, I refuse to call them the Islamic State, because they are neither Islamic or a state," Clinton said. "Whatever you call them, I think we can agree that the threat is real." Clinton justified military action against ISIS, but not against other terrorist groups, because ISIS' "kind of jihadist extremism is expansionary." "They believe that it is part of their mission to launch attacks, to infiltrate through foreign fighters into Western societies," Clinton said. "If that were not the case, then we could have a different debate. I think the evidence is convincing, at least to me, that this is a group that will try to pick up where al Qaeda in Afghanistan left off." Clinton later argued that groups like Al-Shabaab or Boko Haram "have not yet evidenced a commitment to expanding their reach the way that this ISIL group has. So, therefore, I think military action is critical." But military action is "not sufficient alone." "There has to be more," Clinton said. "You have to combat them on social media, you have to do more to enlist Arab support ... to demonstrate this is not some sort of an American/Western effort and it involves significant Arab participation." ISIS has quickly gained sizable attention outside the Middle East because it has beheaded a number of Western aid workers and journalists. Clinton touted what the Obama administration did to stop al Qaeda in Afghanistan. "What we were able to do at great cost," Clinton said, "was to ferret out and decapitate the leadership of al Qaeda, (which) severely undermined their capacity, as an organization, continues to threaten the West." | In Canada appearance, Hillary Clinton touts her work to fight "violent extremism" The new line comes as some question the Obama administration's ISIS response . Clinton calls military action against ISIS "essential" but "not sufficient alone" | b3806fbeb52690276eef8db40fe91fc1869dd282 |
By . Lucy Waterlow . They have been dressed by some of the world's most famous designers but British models Jacquetta Wheeler, Jasmine Guinness and Jodie Kidd, say when it comes to style, mother knows best. The trio pose with their parents in a new shoot for Jaeger which celebrates their inherited fashion sense. Photographed by Josh Olins, the glamorous mothers and their famous daughters pose in the new Autumn/Winter collection from the British brand as it marks its 130th birthday. Scroll down for video . Stylish duo: Jodie Kidd and her mother Wendy pose in clothes from Jaeger's new Autumn collection . In a video of the shoot which you can view here, the pairs are asked to describe one another in three words - which provides some amusing and touching answers. Jodie's mother, Wendy, herself a former model, sums up her daughter as 'challenging, wonderful and lovable', prompting some offence from racing car driver Jodie on the 'challenging' aspect. Jodie, 35, wears a chic sleeveless knit . and sleek pencil skirt in pure new wool, while Wendy looks effortlessly . cool in a double-face coat, wide leg pants and a merino knit. Role model: Jacquetta Wheeler describes her mother, Tessa Codrington, as 'determined and bossy' Meanwhile, Jacquetta, 32, makes a rare appearance with her mother, . Tessa Codrington, herself a renowned photographer. Tessa wears a long-line coat while Jacquetta is perfectly at ease in soft suede and wool panelled skirt. Jacquetta is famed for her beauty around the world and is in demand with designers from Burberry to Versace. The characteristic her mother thinks her daughter possesses the most is 'common sense'. In return, the model says her mother is 'determined and bossy'. The line-up is completed by Jasmine, 37, who poses with her Irish-born mother Liz Casey, both in . beautiful black tailoring and a selection of the new season's coats, . Made in the UK. Have a laugh together: Jasmine Guinness says her mother Liz Casey is funny and supportive . The pair burst into laughter when Jasmine describes her mother as 'funny, loving and supportive'. Jaeger say the mother and daughter campaign captures the very essence of the brand, that has at its heart the ethos 'we don't sell clothes, we dress women'. Colin Henry, Jaeger CEO said: 'We are proud to unveil the three inspirational mother and daughter pairs featured in our Autumn/Winter campaign. Each duo shares an inherited sense of refined style and a love of timeless, quality pieces; truly personifying the spirit of Jaeger through the decades.' For Autumn 2014, Jaeger have created a refined yet relaxed wardrobe of modern pieces designed for women who are juggling busy lives. The focus is on timeless style so, for example, their classic camel coat is re-worked in a variety of ways - from a . generously cut teddy coat to a throw-over-anything double face jacket . and a wear-forever day coat. | British models team up with their mothers for new photo shoot for Jaeger . Campaign celebrates timeless style as brand celebrates 130th year . Jodie Kidd, Jacquetta Wheeler and Jasmine Guinness showcase Autumn collection with help of their mothers . Mothers and daughters are asked to describe one another in three words . | 56168fdae3b0cfa518a5bcbe40a6f9865117d516 |
(CNN) -- On October 12, 2000, a suicide bomber attacked the USS Cole as it refueled in Aden, Yemen. A rubber boat packed with explosives detonated, killing 17 and wounding at least 37 more. Ten years later the destroyer -- also known as DDG 67 -- is in port at Norfolk, Virginia, after returning just a month ago from a mission in the Gulf of Aden, according to Command Duty Officer Lt. Torsten Becker. The ship's crew and others commemorated the 10-year anniversary Tuesday at Naval Station Norfolk. "We lost 17 of our shipmates that terrible morning 10 years ago, but they were far more than just our sailors," said Adm. J.C. Harvey Jr., commander of U.S. Fleet Forces Command. "They were your fathers, your sons and daughters, your sisters and brothers. They coached Little League. They loved to work on cars. They ran track and played football. They acted in high school plays. They loved life, they loved living and they loved you. "They were proud to serve," he said. "... We remember them here in this special place, where we can keep them close." Harvey and current Cole crew members laid a wreath before a memorial honoring those who died, after their names, rank and hometowns were read. Guests were asked to rise and "Taps" was played. Harvey also spoke of the heroism of the Cole crew who worked for three days to save the ship and tend their injured crewmates following the explosion. They acted with no electrical power and no shipboard communication system to coordinate efforts, he said. "The first 48 hours provided no opportunity for rest, and when they did find a moment to lay down, it was on a hot steel deck under a blazing sun," he said. "... They were on their own, and what help there was, was far away." "Ask any of our Cole sailors today about their actions during the fight to save the ship and I believe they'll all tell you the same thing -- 'We were U.S. Navy sailors, and we did what we had to do. We just did our jobs.' "No greater testament exists to the courage and tenacity of the Cole crew of October 2000 than the USS Cole today," he said. "We brought Cole back, healed her wounds and made her ready to serve once again, just as we did with so many of the Cole sailors who were also so grievously wounded that day." The Navy has made changes in the decade since the incident, he said. Recruits must now undergo a drill on the same type of boat as the Cole, where they must put out fires, battle flooding and tend to wounded people -- very like what the Cole crew did following the blast. The bomb blast 10 years ago ripped a 40-by-60-foot hole in the side of the ship, according to the U.S. Navy. Over 14 months, shipyard workers in Pascagoula, Mississippi, replaced 550 tons of steel plate and 275 miles of cable. After $250 million of repairs and updates, the Cole returned to duty in April 2002. Glass cases on board the USS Cole display three American flags to commemorate the terrorist attack, according to the U.S. Navy. The first is the flag that was flying when the attack occurred. Another draped the coffin of a fallen crew member. The third was flown upon the ship's first return to the Gulf of Aden after the attack. A plaque commemorates the victims, and the deck is inlaid with 17 stars to serve as reminders of those who died. "I used to play a little game with myself: say all their names every time I stepped on a star," said Daren Jones, one of 40 sailors who were on board during the attack and served with the renovated vessel's crew of 350. "I think it sends a message of what kind of country we have and what we're willing to do to keep our ships back at sea," Jones told CNN in 2002 when the ship redeployed. In December 2000, an investigation found that the USS Cole had not fully implemented its security plan the day of the attack. "They didn't do everything they said they were going to do," a Pentagon official familiar with the investigation told CNN then. The Cole was operating under an alert level that warns of "an increased and more predictable threat of terrorist activity" but with no particular target. That threat condition calls for a standard list of anti-terrorism measures, including one that requires that "unauthorized craft should be kept away from the ship." The blast occurred when a small boat that appeared to be friendly pulled up alongside the Cole and exploded. In an online video, "USS Cole 10 Years Later," the Navy touts improved security measures resulting from the Cole attack. "The attack of the Cole prompted a shift in damage control training throughout the Navy," the narration reads. And when recruits train in "mass casualty," clocks are set at 11:18, time the USS Cole was attacked. Meanwhile, the Cole's legacy can still be felt on board today, said Becker, who had just joined the Navy at the time of the attack but was not yet stationed on the Cole. "We're just more situation-aware on the anti-terrorism portion of it," he said. Becker recalled his feelings when the Navy assigned him to the Cole: "It was a surreal feeling knowing what it had gone through." In his latest deployment aboard the ship, Becker helped rout out pirates in the Gulf of Aden, which bears the name of the port in the attack. "Initially it was kind of unusual," Becker said. "But once we got down to business, it (the attack) was not on the forefront." Terrorism emanating from Yemen remains a major threat to the United States, according to a recent assessment by the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace. "American analysts now consider al Qaeda's affiliate organization in Yemen a more pressing threat to U.S. national security than the central leadership as the Yemen-based outfit is increasingly agile and looking for opportunities to strike abroad," the report said. | NEW: Wreath laid at memorial during ceremony . NEW: USS Cole crew praised for efforts to save ship, crewmates . Flags, a plaque and 17 stars commemorate those who died . The U.S. Navy touts improved security measures . | 4057e051abcba099c982481b063290093e30795c |
LAGOS, Nigeria (CNN) -- Nigeria's main militant group said Friday it destroyed another oil pipeline owned and operated by a foreign company in the Niger Delta region. File image shows Movement for the Emancipation of the Niger Delta fighters. It is the third reported attack this week by the Movement for the Emancipation of the Niger Delta, or MEND, which demands a fairer distribution of the country's oil wealth. "Heavily armed fighters" blew up a "major" crude oil pipeline run by the Italian gas company, Agip, in Bayelsa state early Friday, MEND spokesman Jomo Gbomo said in an e-mail. There was no immediate word from Agip about the purported attack. Some companies in the region have shut down their operations in the Niger Delta in the wake of ongoing violence there. The fighters reached the pipeline after overpowering a Nigerian military gunboat, Gbomo said. "All the soldiers numbering seven (7) were dispossessed of their weapons," he said. "The gunboat was also stripped of its weapons before it was disabled by explosives. The soldiers pleaded for their lives to be spared and we did." The militant group said it blew up Shell's major crude oil trunk line late Wednesday in Bayelsa state, as part of its campaign "to cripple the entire oil and gas export of the Federal Republic of Nigeria." MEND called on the company to "vacate the Niger Delta region to avoid collateral damage to their investment and death to staff." Shell confirmed an attack on its pipeline in Bayelsa on Wednesday, saying it shut down some production "to avoid potential environmental impact," spokesman David Williams said. "There's a joint investigation underway to determine the quantity of crude (oil) spilled," Williams told CNN from the company's headquarters in The Hague, Netherlands. MEND also claimed to have attacked a Chevron oil station in the Niger Delta region Monday and threatened further attacks in other states in the Niger Delta region, as well as on offshore oil facilities. At the time, a Chevron spokesman said it was investigating the reported attack on its Abiteye flow station. The U.S.-based company halted its onshore operations in the region last month. MEND on Monday also warned the international football association FIFA that it should "rethink" allowing Nigeria to host the upcoming under-17 World Cup series later this year. "The safety of international players and visitors can not be guaranteed due to the current unrest," MEND said in an e-mail. Only two out of the nine stadiums in Nigeria are close to being ready for the tournament which is scheduled to take place between October 24 and November 15, according to FIFA. The association has given the country a grace period to start constructing the remaining venues, FIFA Vice President Jack Warner said. Last month, the militant group declared an "all-out war" on the government after what it said was a deadly bombing raid on civilians. It is not the first declaration of war by MEND, which demands that more of Nigeria's oil wealth be reinvested in the region instead of enriching those whom the militants consider corrupt politicians. The militant group declared war against the government in September for what it said were unprovoked attacks. At that time, MEND destroyed several oil facilities, forcing Nigeria to cut its oil exports by as many as 1 million barrels of oil per day, or 40 percent. The recent violence -- which has included attacks on pipelines and hostage-taking -- has limited shipment of crude oil supplies out of Nigeria, Africa's largest producer. | Militants claim to have overpowered gunboat and bombed a major pipeline . Third alleged attack this week by the Emancipation of the Niger Delta (MEND) Last month the militant group declared an "all-out war" on the government . Recent violence has limited shipments of crude oil supplies from Nigeria . | ec8881b5a2dba48731559f1f13355cc4f60715d0 |
A theme park was forced to shut its gates to visitors when a mass brawl broke out after Muslim women were banned from rides unless they removed their headscarves. Two park rangers were injured and 15 people, including three women, were arrested in the scuffle at Rye Playland in New York yesterday. They have since been charged with disorderly conduct and assault. Muslim visitors involved in the fight accused police of brutality and claimed they were treated 'like animals'. One said: 'It's clear, this all happened because we're Muslim.' Scroll down for video . Huge response: New York state troopers, Westchester County police and city cruisers line up near the entrance to Playland Park . Rye Playland: A ban on wearing head coverings on rides at a theme park sparked a mass brawl that saw two park rangers hospitalised and 15 people arrested . '[The guards] were beating down the . girls, then they started beating down the guys as they came to their . aid,' Lola Ali, 16, of Queens, told the Journal News. The incident started at around 2pm when the theme park was crowded with around 6,000 visitors. Roughly 3,000 were in a Muslim tour group celebrating a holiday at the end of Ramadan. Trouble reportedly flared when women wearing Muslim hijab scarves tried to get on rides banning any head coverings. The . women were refused entry and offered refunds - but then male and female visitors started . to argue among themselves, Westchester County officials said. That apparently led to park guards stepping in, sparking the huge brawl. The . park entrance was closed for two hours as the fighting escalated. Ola Salem, 17, of Brooklyn, New York, . was wearing a headscarf and said she was denied entry onto a ride with . her eight-year-old sister. 'They said no because my of my "headgear",' she told the New York Times. 'I said: "It’s not my headgear, it’s my religion".' Unhappy: The brawl reportedly started when women wearing Muslim hijab scarves tried to get on rides banning any head coverings for safety reasons . Prayer: As a news conference takes place behind them, Muslim visitors to Playland Park pray together after the brawl within the park . Dena Meawad, 18, told the New York Daily News her friend Entisai Ali, was pushed to the ground and arrested when she began arguing with cops over the head scarf policy. Her cousin, Kareem Meawad, 17, went to try to protect the woman and was beaten by cops and also arrested, she added. Her brother, Issam Meawad, 20, was . pushed to the ground and taken into custody when he tried to help his . cousin, she told the New York Daily News. 'She just wanted to get on a ride. That was it,' Dena Meawad said of the initial confrontation. 'It's . clear, this all happened because we're Muslim.' Ayman Alrabah, 24, of Brooklyn said her husband, brother and father were all tackled by cops and put into handcuffs when they tried to intervene. She told the New York Daily News she was unaware of the head-scarf rule until after she and her sister tried to get on the park's Dragon Coasters. 'We requested a refund and all of a sudden an argument became a riot,' Alrabah said. 'Cops came. They were hitting my brother, my dad. My husband was on the floor and they were handcuffing him.' Brawl: The Rye Playland Boardwalk in which a massive fight broke out after Muslim women were told to take off their headscarves . She told the New York Daily News her four-year-old son was left 'traumatised' by seeing his father arrested. 'They treated us like animals, like we were nothing,' Alrabah said. 'They came with their dogs and sticks. We came to have fun.' Amr Khater, of Brooklyn, told The Journal News: 'Everybody got mad, everybody got upset. It’s our holiday. Why . would you do this to us?' Park officials insisted the ban was for safety reasons and said they respect their customers' religious beliefs. John Hodges, chief inspector of Westchester County Public Safety, insisted that police did not use excessive force. Two intervening park rangers were injured . and hospitalised. A huge police response then saw 60 patrol cars and 100 police arrive . from nine departments. The Muslim American Society of New . York had been 'painstakingly' advised of the rule many times before its tour took place, . parks official Peter Tartaglia said. Official line: Police said the women were offered refunds - but then visitors started to argue among themselves and that's when the fight started . He . defended the policy against head coverings on rides for safety reasons . and faulted the group for not ensuring visitors understood the policy. Mr Tartaglia said the policy is for . safety, as scarves can become entangled in mechanical parts, choke . riders or fly off and land in a ride's tracks. 'We respect the religious purpose of . wearing it, but we have several rides that you cannot go on with any . sort of headgear,' he said. 'The misunderstanding was very unfortunate,' Mr Tartaglia told Fox News. The park entrance was closed for two . hours as police responded to the scene, where more than 6,000 people . were inside at the time - half of whom were with the Muslim group. Mr Tartaglia said all the people arrested were later released. 'In this heightened state of Islamaphobia, a woman wearing a hajib is an easy target these days,' Zead Ramadan, president of the Council on American-Islamic Relations - New York, told the New York Daily News. 'Unfortunately, this turned ugly due to a lot of miscommunication.' He added, according to The Journal News: 'The people feel like victims, and the police feel like they were just doing their jobs. Personally I think things got a little out of control on both sides.' The celebration at the theme park, located just north of New York City, was for Eid al-Fitr, which marks the end of Islam's holy month of fasting, Ramadan. Rye Playland, owned and run by Westchester County, is America's only government-owned amusement park, reported Fox News. A spokesman for the Muslim American Society of New York said it plans to investigate what happened. See video here . Fight Beaks Out at Rye Playland Over Muslim Headscarves: MyFoxNY.com . | 15 people arrested at New York's Rye Playland . Two parks rangers hospitalised after violence . Muslim visitors say police treated them 'like animals' | e29f415c285a61bdd89856982c0aac2749575c9c |
(CNN) -- North Korea said Saturday any sanctions or pressure applied against it following its rocket launch earlier this month will be considered a "declaration of war." A North Korean soldier looks into South Korea from the demilitarized zone on April 9. In an announcement on state-run television, the country said it was ready to step up efforts to develop nuclear weapons and poised for a military response to any moves against it. "The revolutionary armed forces of the DPRK are always keeping themselves fully ready to go into action any moment to mercilessly punish anyone who encroaches upon the sovereignty and dignity of the DPRK even a bit," it said. On Monday the United Nations condemned North Korea -- which refers to itself as the Democratic People's Republic of Korea, or DPRK -- for launching a rocket. The United States called the launch a "provocative act" that violated a 2006 Security Council resolution prohibiting Pyongyang from conducting ballistic missile launches. Pyongyang insists the April 5 launch was a successful mission to place a communications satellite into orbit. The United States says the rocket's payload did not reach orbit. The U.N. statement says the rocket launch was "in contravention" to a 2006 Security Council resolution that demanded that North Korea not launch any ballistic missiles. The 15-member council also voted unanimously for a statement by the council's president demanding the country make no more launches. "The Korean People's Army will consider sanctions to be applied against the DPRK under various names over its satellite launch or any pressure to be put upon it through 'total participation' in the PSI (Proliferation Security Initiative) as a declaration of undisguised confrontation and a declaration of a war against the DPRK," the announcement on state TV said. "Now that the group officially declared confrontation and war against the DPRK, its revolutionary armed forces will opt for increasing the nation's defense capability including nuclear deterrent in every way, without being bound to the agreement adopted at the six-party talks," it continued, apparently referring to the Security Council. Referring to South Korean President Lee Myung-bak, the statement added, "The Lee group of traitors should never forget that Seoul is just 50 kilometers (31 miles) away from the Military Demarcation Line." That line was established by the 1953 Armistice Agreement between the two Koreas -- which are still technically at war. A Friday report North Korea's official KCNA news agency, seemed to blame the "war hysteria" on the United States and South Korea after the two countries carried out a combined air force operation in South Korea. The "'South Korea-U.S. military alliance' oft-repeated by them is, in essence, nothing but a 'war alliance' and 'alliance for aggression' aimed at invading the DPRK," the report said. "When a nuclear war will break out due to the war chariot of the 'South Korea-U.S. military alliance' is a matter of time," it said. "The U.S. and South Korean warmongers would be well advised to stop acting rashly, properly understanding who their rival is." | North Korea says sanctions applied against it will be "declaration of war" Pyongyang ready to "mercilessly punish anyone" who applies pressure . U.N. has condemned North Korean rocket launch . | 1e6e4aa8c4f1a70c4707e0970208f36fd9b2d131 |
Three adults and 13 juveniles were arrested Wednesday for breaking into a Los Angeles mansion once on the market for $21 million and throwing an out-of-control party that resulted in $1 million worth of damage. Nickolas Koontz, Kevin Larios and Andres Uribe, all 18, are suspected ringleaders in the surreptitious November 23 event at the La Habra Heights residence. News of the party spread like wild fire on social media until more than 100 teens were in attendance, authorities said. The 9,000 square-foot mansion, owned by Romanian-born trucking magnate Nick Radoi,who was away in Europe at the time, suffered $1 million worth of damage, with scores of precious belongings, including a $250,000 stuffed leopard and Italian suits, stolen. Scroll down for videos . STOLEN: The goods allegedly taken seen on mansion's front lawn . Party house: Nickolas Koontz, 18, two more adults and 16 juveniles were arrested Wednesday after allegedly breaking into the La Habra Heights home, pictured, in Los Angeles on November 23 and throwing a massive party . Owner: The mansion belongs to trucking magnate Nick Radoi, pictured . 'This is one of the most serious . juvenile and adult crimes that we have come across,' Los Angeles County . Sheriff Lee Baca said Wednesday. The . teenagers noticed the owner, Radoi, was out of town and tweeted an invite to a party in the backyard of the multimillion dollar residence - . but things quickly escalated with many breaking into the home. Lt. Arthur Scott, of the Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department Industry Station said Radoi had no idea about what was happening at the property in the exclusive LA suburb, which is dotted with secluded estates on the lush hillside. 'They just had a free-for-all once the place was broken into. Once entry was made, it was like, ''Oh, this is fun,''' Scott told KTLA. Stolen: There was more than $1 million worth of damage and scores of precious belongings, pictured, were taken from the home . Neighbors told ABC News they heard music and saw cars parked up and down Chota Road.But they said this was not unusual for the mansion, which is listed for sale, to host parties. Radoi, . who made the news last September when his yacht struck Balboa Pier, . regularly throws his own lavish parties, complete with fast cars, . scantily-clad women and cigar-chomping older men. He's even posted videos of his bashes on YouTube. This is something he has in common with his teen nemeses, who were finally caught after posting about the over-the-top party on social media. Detectives found suspects posted shots of themselves frolicking in waterfalls and fountains and then vandalizing one of the most valuable rooms in the property. Owner's own parties: Radoi, who made the news last September when his yacht struck Balboa Pier, regularly throws his own lavish parties, pictured, complete with fast cars, scantily-clad women and cigar-chomping older men . Mansion: It was not unusual for the mansion's owner to host parties. He's even posted videos of his bashes on YouTube complete with techno beats . 'There's like an underground grotto, . which had like a 16-foot window looking into the pool. Somebody actually . broke that window and shattered it, and we're amazed that no kid got . killed,' said Capt. Timothy Murakami with the Los Angeles County . Sheriff's Department. Many . of the suspects arrested had also posted photos of themselves with the loot, . which included a suit of armor with helmet and shield and . electronic equipment. Some of the items are still missing. The suspects, all from the La Habra and Whittier areas, are facing burglary charges. One of the adults was arrested for a separate drugs . charge. Leopard: A stuffed snow leopard, pictured, was among the items stolen . Italian suits: A number of expensive Italian suits, pictured,were recovered . According to Curbed, the lavish home was first listed for sale for $21 million in September 2010, but by April this year Radoi had slashed its price to $7 million and it still hasn't sold. In its listing, the agent boasts about the five-bedroom, nine-bathroom home's oddball decor and fascinatingly-unique features. All installed by Radoi, features of the 'European masterpiece' include a fountain in the swimming pool, the Playboy Mansion-esque grotto, which was trashed by the kids, garish lighting, fake frescos, a bizarre master suite, and a basement casino stocked with slot machines. | Nickolas Koontz, Kevin Larios and Andres Uribe, all 18, and 13 high school students were arrested Wednesday in the La Habra Heights neighborhood of LA . The teens allegedly broke into the mansion, threw an out-of-control party and stole scores fo precious items including a stuffed snow leopard, a suit of armor and designer clothes . The invite to the party was tweeted on November 23, and detectives ultimately found the suspects through social media . The owner of the house, trucking magnate Nick Radoi, was away in Europe at the time . | f7171d88e141c819f9e26eaa9deb1cb65f2ac8bc |
By . Kerry Mcdermott . PUBLISHED: . 06:07 EST, 7 August 2013 . | . UPDATED: . 09:21 EST, 7 August 2013 . A former soldier has been arrested on suspicion of murdering his 21-year-old wife, police have confirmed. Danielle Roberts was found dead in the Bristol flat she shared with her husband, ex-soldier James, 27. The couple, who moved in together in Bedminster last year, wed just eight months ago at Bristol Register Office after dating for several years. Wedding day: Danielle Roberts with her former soldier husband James on the day they got married at Bristol Registry Office just eight months ago . Just wed: Danielle, pictured here with her husband James, was discovered dead in her flat. Her death is being treated as 'unexplained' Their flat in West Street remains cordoned off with police tape, and officers say they are still treating Danielle's death last Thursday as unexplained. Her devastated mother Cindy Hardiman has paid tribute to her 'bubbly' daughter, describing her death as 'a complete nightmare'. 'She was a bubbly girl and very kind-hearted. She would do anything for anybody,' said Mrs Hardiman, 49. 'She had a heart of gold, was very loving and concerned about everyone else all the time. 'She put others before herself - probably to a fault. Sometimes we had to tell her to stop and look after herself.' Mrs Roberts' older sister Sam, 25, who has just had a baby son with her partner, said: 'We'll just have to wait for answers now to try and understand what happened. It's such a shame she didn't get to meet her nephew.' Smiling couple: Danielle Roberts pictured with her husband who has been arrested on suspicion of her murder . She described her sister as having a 'cheeky glint'. 'She was definitely a bit naughty but in a way you couldn't get mad with her. 'She absolutely loved animals and singing. She made recordings and was first up on the karaoke if she had a few drinks. She wanted to work with animals or children.' Danielle also leaves behind a brother, Aaron, 28. Friends of Mrs Roberts have been . paying tribute to her on Facebook, where Tamara Wardle posted the . message: 'She is so beautiful. May the angels keep you safe xx'. Tragedy: Danielle Roberts' mother Cindy Hardiman has paid tribute to her 'bubbly' daughter, describing her death as 'a complete nightmare' Lisa Coles added: 'Such a beautiful young lady...Rip x'. Yesterday neighbours of Danielle, known as Danni, said news of her death had left them in shock. Taylor Westlake, 20, lived in the flat next door to Danielle said she had known the 'lovely' brunette for almost a year. 'She always had her dog with her and would say "no nibbles just kisses", when he came up to me,' said Ms Westlake. Shock: Danielle's husband James Roberts, 27, has been arrested on suspicion of murder after his wife was found dead in their flat last Thursday . 'Bubbly': Danielle Roberts, 21, was found dead at the flat she shared with her husband in Bristol . 'It was such a shock when I heard, she was always so lovely and so kind. We both loved [the television programme] Charmed so she would always come and discuss an episode with me, she was absolutely lovely. 'When she first moved in she came right up to me and introduced herself right away, she was always so talkative and happy. 'James was lovely too, they were both such a nice couple.' Mrs Roberts lived in the top floor flat in West Street with her husband James, their cat Rocky and dog Milo. A spokesman for Avon and Somerset police confirmed a man had been arrested on suspicion of murder but had since been bailed while inquiries continue. He added: 'Late on Thursday night police and ambulance were called to flats on West Street in Bedminster . 'A woman had died and an investigation is underway to establish the circumstances of her death. It is currently being treated as unexplained.' A spokeswoman for South Western Ambulance Service said they were called at 11.36pm on Thursday to reports of an unconscious female. She said: 'We arrived at the scene of a female who was unconscious and wasn't breathing and she was unfortunately deceased at the scene. Police attended.' A spokesman for Avon Coroner's Court said an inquest had not yet been opened. Sorry we are unable to accept comments for legal reasons. | Danielle Roberts found dead last Thursday at flat couple shared in Bristol . Ex-soldier James Roberts arrested on suspicion of murder . | 89418bc1d66d0a0923d1ec866fba4ba811babf7f |
By . Lizzie Edmonds . PUBLISHED: . 06:41 EST, 22 February 2014 . | . UPDATED: . 08:04 EST, 22 February 2014 . This is the moment a furious driver climbs on top of another motorist's BMW during a bitter road rage dispute. In the shocking footage, the brown haired woman can be seen having an argument with another driver near to Kingsbury roundabout, London. She then climbs on top of his vehicle - a BMW - while the pair continue to argue. He then approaches the car, opens the door and climbs inside. SCROLL DOWN FOR VIDEO . A woman jumped onto the roof of a BMW during a bitter road rage row in north west London . The brown haired woman shouts while on top of the car as the driver approaches his vehicle . Unbelievably, the BMW driver then speeds off - with the woman clinging on for dear life. Meanwhile, the woman's female friend in an Audi pulls up alongside the car in a desperate bid to stop the man. Eventually, the woman - dressed all in black - gets off the car after the driver comes to a halt near to the roundabout in north-west London. She can then be seen walking with trepidation towards the BMW driver. With the woman still on is car, the driver speeds off towards the roundabout while she clings on . A friend of the woman driving an Audi (left) attempts to stop the driver as he continues towards the roundabout . She walks to her friend's vehicle and climbs into the passenger seat. Both cars then move away at great speed. It is unknown whether the woman was hurt during the heated incident. The footage was captured by driver Riz Husain. He told The Mirror: 'So I'm driving up to Kingsbury roundabout when I see a girl get . out of the passenger side of the Audi A3 and climb on the roof of the . BMW. The woman eventually manages to get off the roof and walks away from the heated debate . She then gets in to her friend's Audi while the BMW driver speeds away across the roundabout . 'She's not coming down until the guy stops. Her friend in the Audi (another girl) pulls across the BMW. 'The guy in the BMW incensed the . first girl has climbed onto his roof tries to get her off by driving . away. 'She eventually comes down to the bonnet, before eventually getting . off and joining her friend in the Audi. 'Both cars nearly caused an accident as they sped away.' | Woman seen climbing on to roof of BMW during bitter road rage feud . Driver shockingly speeds off towards Kingsbury roundabout, London . Terrified woman clings on as vehicle drives away with her aboard . She eventually climbs down and gets into car of a friend . | 134e025be00e7500a1a2422d482240628c279ba6 |
(CNN) -- It was the long goodbye as China bid farewell to its sporting heroine in a tearful ceremony. Li Na had announced last month at the age of 32 her career was over, that her recurring knee problems would keep her off the court once and for all. And at the start of the China Open at Beijing's National Tennis Center Asia's first grand slam singles champion was lauded by peers, Chinese celebrities and the wider public in a special ceremony. In all, 40 WTA players were on court for the ceremony, which reached its climax as world No.2 Rafa Nadal, moments after winning on his own return from injury, presented the player with flowers alongside her husband Jiang Shan. The 14-time Grand Slam champion had previously tweeted: "Congratulations for your career and I wish you all the best in your new life #LoveLi." Li reached a career-best ranking of second earlier this year shortly after her victory at the Australian Open. She had previously become her continent's first grand slam winner at the 2011 French Open, one of nine WTA career singles titles. But having not played since Wimbledon, she decided to retire. Now, she plans to start a family and also set up her own tennis academy but admitted: "I was sad because tennis was with me for 24 years". Caroline Wozniacki, Jelena Jankovic and Petra Kvitova were among the players on court to wipe away the tears, Wimbledon champion Kvitova leading the tributes. "The most important thing I want to say is thank you for being our opponent, thank you for being our inspiration and thank you for being our friend. We will miss you, champion," said Kvitova. WTA chairman Stacey Allaster also paid tribute adding: "You're a true champion and pioneer, who has made such a difference in so many people's lives. You are the player of this decade, who has made the most impact and growth on women's tennis." | Tennis says its goodbyes to Li Na in a tear-jerking ceremony in Beijing, China . Recurring knee injuries had forced the 32-year-old to call time on her career . Wozniacki, Kvitova and Jankovic were among those to lead the emotional tributes . World' No.2 Rafa Nadal came on court to present her with a bouquet of flowers . | 90bfd73349b7ef896f8e5d4bd73e35f1d397661e |
By . Rupert Steiner . PUBLISHED: . 18:06 EST, 29 September 2013 . | . UPDATED: . 18:07 EST, 29 September 2013 . Discount supermarket Aldi is taking on upmarket rival Waitrose by stocking Lobster for the first time. Over the past year Aldi has become the darling of the recession-hit middle classes attracting an extra one million, mainly affluent, shoppers who have helped to double profits, latest accounts released today show. Such rapid growth has forced the privately owned German supermarket to triple staff in every store and increase the number of checkouts. Upmarket: The supermarket has courted a recession-hit middle class in recent months . Its growing army of middle class shoppers are behind soaring sales which have jumped 40 per cent to £3.8billion after it won a host of awards including Grocer Of The Year and Supermarket Of The Year. Profits grew to £157.9million from £70.5million. Now bosses say the shift upmarket means it is having to upgrade its selection of mainly own brand produce for its new well-heeled clientele. Christmas will see entire legs of 6.5kg Serrano ham selling for £49.99, a fraction of the £407 price tag at some exclusive outlets. Lobster Tails weighing 240g will sell for £9.99 while a fresh three-bird roast, featuring duck, turkey breast and wild pheasant with pork & orange stuffing is also part of the festive selection for the first time. Lobster tails weighing 240g will sell for £9.99 when they hit stores later this year alongside £49.99 Serrano ham . The slogan 'spend a little, live a lot' is being reaped for all it is worth with cut-price versions of luxurious food . Joint managing director Matthew Barnes said Aldi is appealing to more people despite some customers preferring to keep it a secret: ‘We are continuing to open stores right across the country, attracting more people and a broader demographic to Aldi. ‘We have opened in affluent locations like Knutsford and Winchester and have been able to evolve in a direction that is more attractive to a wider group of people.’ Aldi has also opened new stores in upmarket Leamington Spa, Stratford-upon-Avon, Beverly, Nantwich, Didsbury and Cowes on the Isle of Wight. Shoppers have taken to its own brands which cost a fraction of the price of the popular household names but still win awards for quality. Its own-brand Champagne, Gin and Prosecco have all won awards, while many of its wines have been hailed by critics. Success: Own-brand versions of steak, champagne, olive oil, coffee and gin have been a hit with food critics . The previously simple three-bird roast, pictured, will be upgraded to include wild pheasant, similar to Waitrose . The supermarket has made a huge effort to attract the middle classes, introducing a range of superior products at budget prices including olive oils, spirits, wine, coffee, and Aberdeen Angus steaks. Lobster and ham are new additions to its list of luxury. But some shoppers will still feel the need to visit some of the more mainstream grocers to stock up on the brands they know and love. When Aldi opened its first store in Knutsford in June, 300 well-heeled locals queued from 3am having parked Aston Martins, Jaguars and Range Rovers in the car park. It along with rival Lidl, and upmarket grocer Waitrose have polarised the grocery market all growing faster that the more mainstream grocers as shoppers flock to either low cost or premium supermarkets. On Wednesday Tesco is due to show how its £1billion turnaround plan is progressing when it posts its half year figures. Days later it is also set to unveil a revamp of its premium Finest range as it lock horns with Waitrose for the posh pound. By contrast rival Sainsbury’s is also set to unveil its second quarter trading update on Wednesday. The latest industry dates compiled by Nielsen for the twelve-week period ending August 17th 2013 shows Aldi’s growth has continued into 2013, with its average basket spend now £18.63, while an average basket size of 16-17 products is almost on a par with Morrisons and Sainsbury’s, which stock more product lines. Recent Kantar data shows the discount grocer recording a 32.7pc increase in underlying sales and maintaining its all-time record market share of 3.7pc. | The £9.99 lobster tails will sell this year to cater for upmarket customers . It follows critics' rave reviews of the supermarket's own-brand versions of champagne, gin, olive oil, steak and coffee . New luxurious food line will feature Serrano ham for £49.99, compared to £120 elsewhere, as well as wild pheasant in the three-bird Christmas roast . | caf882901eb324f5a991819fcc1f7fdd3cf57f85 |
As millions of Americans are scrambling to get their tax returns postmarked by this evening, a smaller sect did something much more drastic and renounced their US citizenship. Last year alone, almost 1,800 people renounced their U.S. citizenship or handed in their Green Cards – and many of them said it was because of tax reasons. That's a record number since the Internal Revenue Service began publishing a list of those who renounced in 1998. It's also almost eight times more than the number of citizens who renounced in 2008, and more than the total for 2007, 2008 and 2009 combined. No longer American: Genette Eysselinck, who renounced her U.S. citizenship to become Belgian, poses in Place de la Comedie; last year, almost 1,800 people renounced their U.S. citizenship or handed in their Green Cards . Not worth it: American ex-pats still must pay taxes on their earned income and are subject to complicated filing laws . The United States is one of the only countries to tax its citizens on income earned while they're living abroad. And just as Americans stateside must file tax returns each April - this year, the deadline is Tuesday - an estimated 6.3 million U.S. citizens living abroad brace for what they describe as an even tougher process of reporting their income and foreign accounts to the IRS. For them, the deadline is June. The National Taxpayer Advocate's Office, part of the IRS, released a report in December that details the difficulties of filing taxes from overseas. It cites heavy paperwork, a lack of online filing options and a dearth of local and foreign-language resources. For those wishing to legally escape the filing requirements, the only way is to formally renounce their U.S. citizenship. Last year, IRS records show that at least 1,788 people did, and that's likely an underestimate. The IRS publishes in the Federal Register the names of those who give up their citizenship, and some who renounced say they haven't seen their name on the list yet. Alarming: Since the IRS started publishing those renounced in 1998, numbers have skyrocketed . In fact, Superman declared plans to renounce his U.S. citizenship a year ago, in Action Comics.'Truth, justice, and the American way' - it's not enough anymore,' the comic book superhero said, after both the Iranian and American governments criticized him for joining a peaceful anti-government protest in Tehran. The State Department said records it keeps differ from those published by the IRS. They indicate that renunciations have remained steady, at about 1,100 each year, said an official. The decision by the IRS to publish the names is referred to by lawyers as 'name and shame.' That's because those who renounce are seen as willing to give up their citizenship primarily for financial reasons. There's also an 'exit tax' for the very rich who choose to leave. During the last 25 years, a number of millionaires and billionaires have renounced their citizenship. Among them: Ted Arison, the late founder of Carnival Cruises, and Michael Dingman, a former Ford Motor Co. director. Mad money: A woman wearing a a Statue of Liberty costume encourages people to get their taxes done before today's deadline . Tuesday blues: Javier Merlo (centre) and his wife Robin Merlo do their taxes at an H&R Block office in Miami, Florida . Leaving: An Action Comic last year had Superman renouncing his citizenship . But those of more modest means renounce, too. They say leaving America is about more than money; it's about privacy and red tape. Two filing requirements affect Americans abroad: the Report of Foreign Bank and Financial Accounts - which has been around since 1970 but now carries penalties for noncompliance - and the Foreign Account Tax Compliance Act, passed in 2010 with the aim of reducing offshore tax evasion. The first regulation requires all Americans, including those living abroad, with at least $10,000 in overseas bank accounts, to file a supplementary form disclosing all of their foreign accounts. That includes any accounts in which the U.S. citizen has a financial interest. That could include a joint account with a spouse or child, accounts for corporations in which the American owns more than 50 per cent of the value of shares of stock, or any trust or estate that benefits the U.S. citizen. The tax compliance act - the newer law - asks foreign financial institutions such as banks, hedge funds, and private equity funds to provide the IRS with information on U.S. clients. The United States and five European Union countries recently announced their intent to allow institutions to report the information through their own governments, rather than directly to the IRS. Institutions that do not comply will be subject to a 30 per cent withholding tax on certain U.S.-sourced payments and proceeds of property sales beginning in the 2013 tax year - for instance, dividends on investments in U.S. companies. Some expatriates say they were unaware of the first regulation for years and even decades. In 2008, the IRS received only 218,840 such filings. American nationality law grants citizenship to almost everyone born in the United States or born abroad to American parents, regardless of how much time they've spent in the United States. Many may not even know the extent of their U.S. ties. Advocate: Lucy Stensland Laederich co-runs FAWCO, a women's expat organization serving overseas Americans and the international community . In 2004, the stakes for noncompliance rose. Failure to file meant potential fines and criminal charges. Americans abroad can be punished for noncompliance even if they owed no income tax - and IRS data show that most of them don't owe money. Income up to $95,100 isn't taxed under a rule called the Foreign Earned Income Exclusion. In 2009, the income cap was $91,400, and 88 per cent of all taxpayers claiming the foreign earned income exclusion owed nothing. Since 2008, the IRS has offered several voluntary-disclosure grace periods during which expatriates can file back taxes without facing criminal charges - but with the possibility of incurring penalties. Marylouise Serrato, head of American Citizens Abroad, a non-profit organization based in Geneva, says that many members feel scared about reporting requirements they did not know existed. Their disenchantment, she says, is pushing some to renounce. 'Americans abroad are terrified. We've . had people pay tens of thousands of dollars in fines.' -American Citizens Abroad's Marylouise Serrato . 'Americans abroad are terrified. We've had people pay tens of thousands of dollars in fines. We've had people … pay huge amounts of back taxes,' she says. 'Up to this point, we never heard of anyone renouncing, or if they did, they didn't talk about it,' says Ms Serrato, who says her group does not advocate renunciation. 'Now,' she says, 'we're seeing a lot of people speak openly about it and come to us for information.'Congress is taking note. 'While I fully support measures that reduce fraud and address offshore havens, the U.S. should not have policies that place undue burdens on legitimate Americans abroad,' says Representative Carolyn Maloney, D-NY, and the chair of the Congressional Americans Abroad Caucus. Ms Maloney says she has taken the matter to the Department of the Treasury, which oversees the IRS. The IRS did not respond to requests for comment. Lawyers report that banking is a big reason why people renounce. 'I hear about banking problems again and again and again,' says Phil Hodgen, an attorney who has been helping Americans expatriate since 2008. The new reporting rules, he says, pose 'a huge administrative burden. It's made Americans too expensive to keep.' | Record 1,800 people renounced U.S. citizenship last year alone, up eight times the number of those who did in 2008 . US one of few countries to tax its citizens on income earned while abroad . Taxes for ex-patriots are notoriously difficult; income up to $95,100 isn't taxed under Foreign Earned Income Exclusion, but wealthy must also pay 'exit tax' to leave States . Many expats are unaware of complicated laws and often have to pay thousands of dollars in in fines . | c858f7e196b24b26644515754149de33f7ad7da8 |
(CNN) -- Today's selection of Boeing and SpaceX as the providers of a U.S.-based capability to take humans to the International Space Station (ISS) is a major milestone in the almost six-decade history of space exploration. It is just the latest sign that the old paradigm of government-only space travel is being replaced by something else -- a new business ecosystem composed of novel relationships among NASA and the aerospace industry. No longer will NASA own the ISS "trucking company" -- specifying every nut and bolt. Instead, NASA is buying services from U.S. industry. To be sure, the new announcement made it clear that NASA will be carefully examining the safety aspects of each design. But the designs will still be those of Boeing and SpaceX and vetted by NASA. I believe this new approach is America's "secret weapon" in what some have described as a space race with China. And, as far as I can tell, while the rest of the world is still stuck in a nearly government-only mode, NASA, with the support of the Obama administration, is letting loose the creativity of American know-how. Beginning with the NASA Commercial Orbital Transportation Services competition, continuing with the Commercial Resupply Services (cargo) and now the Commercial Crew selection, NASA "bet the farm" on commercial companies filling the gap left by the retirement of the space shuttle, with the Commercial Crew companies (SpaceX and Boeing) replacing the Russians in bringing NASA astronauts to the ISS. This will allow NASA to invest the savings in deep space capabilities such as SLS and Orion. I believe it is critical that both commercial cargo and crew succeed for at least two reasons: First, NASA's proper role can be summed up in three words: "Explore Deep Space." It is time for NASA to turn over the low Earth orbit work to industry while NASA focuses on getting humanity to Mars, following in the tracks of robotic rovers Spirit, Opportunity and Curiosity. Second, history teaches us that without a trailing edge of commercial exploitation and profitability, exploration as large scale, routine human endeavor will not succeed. As an aerospace professional and former NASA executive, I have encountered over the decades many concepts for private space exploration. Until a few years ago, none of these ideas met the sniff test for what I call the "practical visionary," that is, someone capable of seeing a new future, yet solidly grounded in lessons learned. Something was always missing in these early ventures -- either the technical approach required some "unobtanium" technology to be invented, the advocate had good ideas but no money or the "build it and they will come" philosophy showed total naiveté in business and marketing. Today's selection points us in a different direction. As with the early 20th century airmail routes that helped stimulate aviation, NASA's commercial programs are now the anchor tenants in the government transfer of space services to the private sector. This in turn will enable a robust new business enterprise and allow NASA to focus on Mars -- the ultimate target for exploration. | Scott Hubbard says recent moves by NASA will allow it to focus on deep space . Hubbard: Space X, Boeing contracts are secret weapons in space race with China . New arrangement will let "loose the creativity of American know-how," he says . | 0a1348f35332d5c7795f9890eff8797f6135c925 |
(CNN) -- On Tuesday, the Supreme Court will confront the profound impact of new location-tracking technologies on Americans' privacy. The case, U.S. v. Jones, presents the question of whether law enforcement needs a warrant before planting a GPS tracking device on a person's car. The answer to this question is important in its own right, but the case is likely to have broader implications. Attaching a GPS to a car isn't the only way the government can track people's movements. In fact, everyone with a cell phone is already carrying a device that the government can use to track his or her location. As a result, the principle at stake in this case may well shape our privacy rights in the years and decades to come. The police in the current case suspected Antoine Jones of drug violations and tracked his movements continuously for one month by installing a GPS device on his car. Increasingly, though, law enforcement agents are tracking our movements by tracking the cell phones that most people are already carrying around. It doesn't matter whether your phone is a smartphone or whether you use it to make calls; as long as your phone is turned on, it registers its location with cell phone networks several times a minute, and all U.S. cell phone companies hold on to that data, some of them for years. This kind of tracking is extremely invasive, because if the government knows where you are, it knows who you are. As the Jones appellate court explained in its ruling that the government violated the Fourth Amendment, "A person who knows all of another's travels can deduce whether he is a weekly churchgoer, a heavy drinker, a regular at the gym, an unfaithful husband, an outpatient receiving medical treatment, an associate of particular individuals or political groups -- and not just one such fact about a person, but all such facts." Cell phone tracking can reveal our private associations and relationships with one another. The government could make note of whenever people being tracked crossed path or spent time together, showing who our friends, associates and lovers are. The Justice Department sometimes gets warrants to track location, and some local police departments make it a policy, which shows that it's not an unworkable requirement. But state and federal judges across the country have made conflicting rulings on what standards are required for the government to obtain tracking information from cell phone companies. New technology provides the government with a powerful and inexpensive tool to follow individuals as they travel through both public and private areas. Unless the court concludes that such tracking requires a warrant, anyone's movements could be subject to remote monitoring and permanent recording at the sole discretion of any curious police officer, without any judicial oversight. And while it may not be realistic to think that the government will install a GPS device on every car, it's not at all implausible to think that the government will ask cell phone providers to turn over location-tracking information en masse -- and it may well be the case that the government is doing so already. It was revealed last month that the London police have a system that lets them track hundreds of phones in real time in a targeted geographic area, a technology that could easily enable the government to identify everyone at an Occupy protest, tea party rally or any other political gathering. The genius of the Constitution is that its limits on the government can still be applied in a modern world that the framers could scarcely have imagined. Anyone who values privacy should hope that the Court ensures the government cannot use technological advances to undermine the liberties this country was founded on. The opinions expressed in this commentary are solely those of Catherine Crump. | Should law enforcement need a warrant before planting a GPS tracking device on a car? Yes, the Supreme Court ought to decide that they should, says Catherine Crump . The principle at stake in a current case may well shape our privacy rights, she says . All of us can already easily be tracked through our cell phones, Crump says . | e14bd119991f08a7ab422f7c36da1a79e7d84f80 |
(CNN) -- I appeared on a couple of segments on CNN this week where the topic was the Occupy Wall Street demonstrations. A question raised was whether this was political. The Republican/tea party spokesperson said yes, arguing that labor unions were behind it (in fact the labor unions did not join until this week). I said it was economic, but political in the sense that you have a political party -- the GOP -- entrenched with the wealthy and Wall Street while doing nothing to protect middle-class America. But I was wrong. It is not economic. And it is not political. It is personal. Executive pay is now about five times higher than it was in 1980, adjusted for inflation. The average salary for the rank-and-file American worker, however, is about the same as it was in 1980. Really? Does American exceptionalism exist only at the top 1% of our workforce? Did our CEOs really get 5 times better than they were in 1980 and our workers remain just ho-hum average? I don't think so. Neither does the rest of America. When there is this kind of disparity while these same CEOs are paying taxes at a rate lower than their secretaries, their receptionists, and the people who clean their offices, it is personal. When he was chair of the DNC, my former boss, the late Commerce Secretary Ronald H. Brown, used to say in his stump speech that we live in an era where "the rich got richer, the poor got poorer, and the middle-class got squeezed." This was back in 1992. It could not be truer today. While President Obama has not done things perfectly, he has injected some fairness and balance into the economy to spur growth and job creation. More needs to be done, but his attempts have been met mostly by gridlock and a GOP that only wants to see him fail. In the meantime, corporate profits are at an all-time high, but corporations are paying lower taxes than ever before. Some aren't paying any at all. This week, we see banks tacking on extra fees -- which, contrary to what they argue, would lead them to 13% more in profits than they were making before the Dodd-Frank Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act went into effect. At the same time, CEOs, while also making record amounts of money (the average CEO makes $11 million a year while the average person makes $40,000), have laid off millions of Americans while sending our jobs overseas. These are not nameless, faceless Americans. They are our neighbors, our friends and even our families. It is personal. Republicans continue to protect this twisted system. And to add insult to injury, Republican legislators and the GOP presidential candidates want to eliminate the protections the middle class gained from the Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act passed by Democrats and signed by Obama. Does the crash of 2008 ring a bell? Are Republicans really advocating that the greed of Wall Street be put before the needs of the American people? Yes, and here's why: In the 2010 election cycle, corporations spent over $275 million getting politicians elected and spent almost $3 billion lobbying them. While some of those donations went to Democrats, the vast majority went to Republicans. It's no wonder Republicans want less government accountability and more tax giveaways for billionaires and giant companies -- that's what their corporate donors demand. I, for one, take it personally. So does Obama. The second question I was asked this week was whether the demonstrators had a "candidate" in the race. They do. President Obama. He acknowledges Americans are angry. He knows times are tough and he continues to fight to restore some much-needed protections for exactly the people in that crowd at Wall Street. He and Democrats want more balance in the system. One way of getting there is the Buffett Rule -- Obama's proposal, named after billionaire Warren Buffett, that those making more than $1 million pay a higher percentage of their income in taxes than the rest of us. Critics scream "class warfare," and decry the attacks on the "job creators," and cry "socialism" as they continue to preserve this unjust system that is giving rise to what could be a powerful and sustained movement. Here are my answers: . Class warfare? You bet. As Buffett has said so eloquently, this country has been engaged in class warfare for decades, and guess what? His class won. It is now time to stand up and fight for fairness for the middle class and a balanced approach for working-class families, who have labored just as hard as America's top CEOs but have not had the same kind of increases in salary. On job creators? Who are they? The majority of job creation comes from our small businesses, none of which are raking in the salaries of the top 1% of wealthy Americans. So asking the top 1% of wealthy Americans to pay their fair share and pay at least as high a tax rate as their workers is not class warfare or an attack on "job creators" or socialism. It is in fact the American way. And America agrees. Meanwhile, in the greatest country in the world, Latino children now rank highest in child poverty rates. Latinos and African-Americans suffer from much higher unemployment rates than others. With all this taken together, is it any wonder that our masses could be giving rise to our own "spring"? While it is no Arab Spring, the movement is spreading. Not economic, not political, but personal. Republicans would do well to take it personally too. The opinions expressed in this commentary are solely those of Maria Cardona. | Maria Cardona says Occupy Wall Street is not political or economic; it's personal . She says protesters railing against corporate greed, status quo of unfair taxation . She says GOP supports system, thwarts Obama's attempts at protection for middle class . Cardona: Class warfare? Yes, and the wealthy class won. It's time to stand up for fairness . | 09a2806b16a9121612794c37ce05d64684e5ba8e |
(CNN) -- "I don't think the euro should exist," said Saxo Bank co-CEO Lars Seier Christensen to CNN's Richard Quest, in terms that could hardly be less fractious to supporters of the 17-nation single currency bloc. "It's quite clear that what lacks here is fiscal union but it's also very clear that the populations of Europe are not supportive of that goal." The eurozone will also pull itself apart as competitiveness will continue "to develop in different directions," said the head of the online Danish investment bank. He added that the people of the eurozone -- in particular, Germany as the monetary zone's prime pillar -- will not make sacrifices for "the weaker part of the eurozone" -- Greece and other southern European countries. Christensen's controversial comments stand in stark contrast to what eurozone supporters have said -- advocating for austerity to keep the union together. Germany, Europe's largest economy, fears that a Greek exit from the eurozone could lead to a domino effect in which other massively-indebted countries -- Ireland, Portugal, Spain and Italy -- may pull out from the common currency, leading to the breakup of the eurozone. In December 2012, German Chancellor Angela Merkel won more support for bailout funds for Greece. In July, Mario Draghi, the president of the European Central Bank promised to do "whatever it takes to preserve the euro" which set off rallies for Greek, Spanish and Italian bonds. Still, Saxo Bank's Christensen believes the euro will disappear at some point in the future -- and despite hitting 13-month highs -- because he believes overall support does not exist. "I'm not saying it's a bad thing that support is not there," said Christensen, "because the ability to adjust your currency is an important equilibrium between different economies and different developments. When that's gone you're left with a completely different set of problems." The bank CEO declined to give a timeline but said it "depends how long the Germans hold out... how long the German population is willing to buy into supporting" fiscal union. "I can tell you the problem is going to get greater rather than smaller... I fear that the markets will take the thing apart eventually." | Saxo co-CEO: 'Euro should never have existed' Germany fears Greek exit from eurozone would spark monetary union breakup . Euro has risen 10% against U.S. dollar since July 2012 . Saxo's Christensen: 'Euro demise depends on Germany' | 0a32056044c705689306e67ce0618cbe93e836d9 |
When it comes to getting something for nothing, one man from New York thought he was the master. Always on the lookout for a deal, Blake Jareds, 23, from Jericho, Long Island, spotted an offer for the on-demand limo and taxi service, Uber that would see him receive $20 in ride credit for each person that signed up. By referring friends and cleverly forwarding a referral link to various deals and coupon code websites, he was able to rack up $50,000 in credit for future car rides. Creative: Blake Jareds, who works at a New York-based real estate startup signed up so many people to Uber he earned $50,000 in credits . Almost everyone's private driver: Blake Jareds credit was canceled and his account was flagged after he gave one driver a one-star review . All Uber riders know they can get a free $20 credit toward future rides by signing up their friends, but it is safe to say, even someone as popular as Mr Jareds didn't have 2,500 friends. He posted his Uber credit code on a Reddit site for people looking for cut-price deals. His referral link became so popular that if someone searched for 'Uber promotion code' or something similar on Google, his link would be the one that users would sign up. He believes more than 90% of the several thousand people that signed up came from his link. Speaking to MailOnline, Mr Jareds defended his get-free-rides-quick scheme. 'I think my actions were appropriate. Did I violate any of their guidelines out right? No. Did i walk a fine line? Perhaps. I brought them new business that they never had before. I saved them tens of thousands on customer acquisition and generated a huge amount of new revenue.' Although clearly frustrated at the loss of $50,000, Mr Jareds says he doesn't intend to sue. 'Instead of taking it all away, they should have taken back the credit earned from practices they deemed inappropriate and let me keep what was rightfully mine.' Common knowledge: Uber riders know they can get a free $20 credit toward future rides by signing up their friends for the on-demand limo and taxi service . Deceptive? Uber declined to comment on Jareds' claim, but pointed us to the company's credit policy, which requires users to actually know the friends they're signing up for the mobile app . New Uber members were enticed further to use the code as they each received $45 ride credit of their own. Strangers are encouraged to use someone else's referral code to join. Within a matter of weeks, he had racked up enough ride credit to take care of every need. 'Free Uber for life, essentially,' he told MailOnilne. However, Mr Jareds life in the back seat all came to a grinding halt eight weeks after he began enjoying the hi-life when his account was flagged by the account integrity department at Uber. Mr Jareds, who works at a New York-based real estate startup, believes it occurred after he left a driver a bad review. 'I Rated a driver one star because he . took a terrible route and wasted 30 minutes. That review was probably . flagged in the system, which led to a community manager to review the . ride, and consequently my account. They noticed how high my credits were and froze my account. They informed me that I earned credit inappropriately and my account/credit was suspended.' ' Of course i wished i would have stopped and stayed under the radar with $50k in credits. But at the time, it was too easy and I thought I was doing everything legitimately. I think they would have eventually caught on.' Uber cancelled his credit and wrote him the following curt message: Our system has flagged your account indicating you’ve taken advantage of the Uber referral program to earn Uber credit inappropriately. You will no longer earn credit from invite codes associated with these accounts, and we’ve removed the credit earned previously from the primary account associated with this invite code. Good for business: Mr Jareds believes that more than 2,500 signed up to Uber under his referral code and he should still be earning credits as a result but he has been blocked from doing so . Entrepreneur: Jareds had posted his Uber credit code on a Reddit site for folks looking for cut-price deals, and many of his 2,500 or so referrals came from there . Uber declined to comment on Jareds' claim, but has restated the company's credit policy, which requires . users to actually know the friends they're signing up for the mobile . app. It . prohibits giving away your credit code to strangers: 'public . distribution on sites where you are a contributor but not the primary . content owner (e.g., Wikipedia, coupon websites) is not allowed.' Mr Jareds has said that he believed Uber should be rewarding him for his ingenuity. 'I . am not happy with their decision to cancel my credit since a great . majority was earned within their guidelines. On the other hand, they are . a mutli-national, multi-billion dollar private company and they can do . whatever they want with my account and not have to answer to anyone. I . brought them 2,500 NEW Uber users. They should be thanking me and . rewarding me with the credit.' | Blake Jareds, 23, realized that more than one person could use his sign-up code for Uber . He posted it online where more than 2,500 people used his code to open Uber accounts . Uber credited $50,000 to his account but then removed it after realizing his scam . | ab9f32e718ba5c8967b65a5de47efa955498c51b |
Schoolchildren are being taught inside corridors, sheds and even a toilet because of overcrowding in classrooms, it has emerged. One school in Northumberland is not only having to turn pupils away, but is also being forced to teach children in make-shift classrooms, including a garden shed. Central First School in Ashington, which bought a double decker bus on eBay for use as a temporary classroom last year, has been finding new means of teaching its ever-growing pupil population. Scroll down for video . Schoolchildren, such as these pupils at Central First School in Ashington, are being taught inside cupboards, corridors, sheds and even a toilet because of overcrowding in classrooms . Pupils at work in a school corridor. New figures have revealed that one in five primary schools have more pupils than they have the capacity for . Central First School is not only having to turn pupils away, but is also being forced to teach children in make-shift classrooms, including a garden shed . The school bought a double decker bus on eBay for use as a temporary classroom last year and has been finding new means of teaching its ever-growing pupil population . 'We've had to turn toilets and cupboards into working spaces,' said headteacher David Godfrey. 'We've had to turn structures outside into working areas for displaying artwork and for teaching the STEM subjects [science, technology, engineering and mathematics]. 'We have a very good reputation as a school and we're full to capacity. Regrettably we're having to turn pupils away.' News of the school's creative approach to new classrooms comes as parents rush to meet tomorrow's deadline for primary school applications. Applications are expected to be made for around 370,000 three and four-year-olds who are due to start school in the autumn. This week many parents are rushing to meet tomorrow's deadline for primary school applications . In the North East, where Central First School is located, more than 80 schools are overcrowded . Figures obtained by the Labour Party suggest almost one in five primary schools (18 per cent) have more pupils than they have capacity for - which has forced many children into large classes or temporary, make-shift classrooms. The party sent Freedom of Information requests to all 152 local education authorities in England, with 130 responding. The responses also revealed that as well as Central First School's classroom bus, St John's Primary School in Bristol has annexed and converted an old police station to cope with demand. And Gascoigne Primary School in Barking, east London, which has 1,200 pupils has sacrificed its playing field, library and old music block to build classrooms, as well as having eight portable classrooms on its playground. Mr Godfrey bought the double decker bus on eBay, ripping out the old seats and replacing them with desks and a plasma TV screen to create a space for 15 pupils. Although the bus cost £5,000 and the transformation a further £3,000, it has still worked out much cheaper than building an extension and Mr Godfrey said his pupils love studying in the vehicle. Mr Godfrey had looked into constructing a new build or renting porta cabins but said the cost of this ran into the hundreds of thousands. It is feared the problem of overcrowding will only get worse, with more than three-quarters of councils saying they saw a need for extra primary school places within the next three years. Pictured are Tammy-Leigh Lane, 8 and Ryhs Davis, 7 at the shed classroom in Central First School's yard . Central First School headteacher David Godfrey said more funding is needed for oversubscribed schools to either extend their classrooms or re-build from scratch . The bus is a fully functioning classroom throughout the whole school day with lessons of up to 12 being held on the top deck and smaller groups of two or three downstairs. Responses to the Freedom of Information request also suggested the problem of overcrowding would only get worse, with more than three-quarters of councils saying they saw a need for extra primary school places within the next three years. Half said they would need additional places in secondary schools. In the North East, where Central First School is located, more than 80 schools are overcrowded. The Local Government Association has also warned that schools will have to find places for almost one million more children in the next decade because of the population boom. It said council taxpayers alone could not absorb the £12billion cost of an extra 900,000 primary and secondary places needed – and accused the Government of failing to make up the shortfall. Population projections suggest that the 7.14million children in England’s schools will rise above 8million by 2023. The organisation has warned that councils need extra help with funding ‘before time runs out’ Mr Godfrey said more funding is needed for oversubscribed schools to either extend their classrooms or re-build from scratch. Mr Godfrey has called for more funding for schools. Pictured is the inside of his school's shed classroom . 'I think there has to be more funding,' he said. 'Especially now the Government introduced free education to two-year-olds from low income families. 'Schools are having to accommodate this quota without any investment from central Government in the existing buildings.' There are nine primary schools in North Tyneside which currently have more pupils than the official capacity - 36 per cent of the total, or more than one in three. There are also two secondary schools in the area which are over capacity. In South Tyneside, 11 primary schools are over capacity, just under a quarter of the total, as well as two secondary schools. Mr Godfrey (pictured with some of his pupils) said schools are having to accommodate additional children 'without any investment from central Government in the existing buildings' County Durham has 28 primary schools and five secondary schools which operating above capacity, while Newcastle has six overcrowded primary schools and two secondaries, and Northumberland has four primary schools operating above capacity. Figures for Sunderland were not available. There have been ongoing concerns about pressure on school places, particularly for primary-age children, fuelled in part in recent years by a rising birth rate. Councillor David Simmonds of the LGA said: ‘We fear a tipping point could soon emerge when councils and schools can no longer afford the massive costs for the creation of places, nor find the space necessary for new classes, if this crisis is not properly dealt with. ‘Additionally, councils face a challenge creating places on time and in the right places when their hands are tied by red tape.' Around 90,000 places were created in 2012/13 by councils, and more are being established - but the scale of the problem is too big to be solved at a local level, the Association insisted. Mr Godfrey bought the double decker bus on eBay, ripping out the old seats and replacing them with desks and a plasma TV screen to create a space for 15 pupils . Although the bus cost £5,000 and the transformation a further £3,000, it has still worked out much cheaper than building an extension and Mr Godfrey said his pupils love studying in the vehicle . The bus is a fully functioning classroom throughout the whole school day with lessons of up to 12 being held on the top deck and smaller groups of two or three downstairs . Conservative Education Minister Nick Gibb said: 'This government has had to deal with an unprecedented increase in demand for school places. We have only been able to do this because of the tough decisions we have taken as part of our long-term economic plan to get the economy back on track. 'As a result, we have protected the school budget from cuts, invested an extra £5 billion to create new school places and spent £18 billion to improve school buildings across the country. Indeed, one of the first decisions we took in 2010 was to double the amount of money allocated to creating new school places. 'By contrast, the last Labour Government cut funding for school places during a baby boom while allowing immigration to get out of control, and wasted millions of pounds of taxpayers' money on their failed "Building Schools for the Future" programme.' Labour claims the figures show a desperate need for more school places - and have accused the Government of pumping money into new free schools at the expense of existing schools. Free schools were introduced by the Coalition government and are free from local council control. Four out of five free schools opened last year did not fill all their places. Responses to Freedom of Information requests, also filed by Labour, showed that 83 per cent of Free Schools that opened in 2014 had not filled all their places at the start of the first term. Only seven of the 16 new mainstream secondary Free Schools opened last year were full. Tristram Hunt, Labour's Shadow Education Secretary, said: 'David Cameron is irresponsibly diverting millions away from children in areas with a shortage of school places in order to fund his pet project Free Schools programme in areas where there are already enough places.' | Central First School in Ashington transformed an old bus into classroom . They have also converted a shed, toilets and corridors to ease pressure . School is still oversubscribed and is having to turn pupils away . Figures have revealed almost one in five primaries have too many pupils . The deadline for new primary school applications is tomorrow . | 3067a36040c80b36425f3377d399da4d6daa23a5 |
By . Corey Charlton . Raekwon and Ghostface: Dan Lieberman tweeted the birth certificates for his baby boys - but is it just a stunt? A U.S. man has taken his support for rap group Wu-Tang Clan to the extreme by naming his newborn twins Raekwon and Ghostface after two of the group's members. Dan Lieberman yesterday tweeted the birth certificates for his baby boys, who will be officially known as Raekwon and Ghostface Lieberman, to complete more than 24 hours of live tweeting his wife's labour. But the outrageous naming stunt could be just that - a publicity stunt timed amid growing hype for Wu Tang Clan's new album which has yet to be sold. The new album is a single sale collector's item likely to never be released for wider public consumption. Mr . Lieberman posted a photo on Twitter holding the two birth certificates . in front of his fast asleep newborns with the caption 'It's for the . children'. The . original Raekwon himself then posted it on Instagram, saying 'This is . live, family named their twins Raekwon and ghostface!!! #wu4thebabies'. Not shy from expressing his thoughts . online, Mr Lieberman sent numerous tweets during his wife's labour, . including nicknaming her cervix Stonewall Jackson and his tongue in . cheek idea to 'guilt the boys so hard' for putting their mother through . 24 hours labour with little progress. The New York rap group Wu-Tang Clan was formed in the . 90s, comprising of nine colourfully named members such as Ol' Dirty . B*****d, Masta Killa and Method Man. Two members of Wu-Tang Clan, pictured in concert at London's Brixton Academy last year, have had twins named after them, just as hype for the group's new album gathers momentum for its valuable one-off sale . Wu Tang Clan rappers Ghostface Killah, left, and Raekwon, right, have had twin boys named after them . The group's new album is also unconventional. Once Upon A Time in Shaolin is a 31 song double album currently housed in a hand-carved nickel-silver box within a Moroccan vault. A website promoting it claimed the album encapsulates 'the Clan's legendary dark funk and avant garde sound', and said it may never be released for public consumption. It is to be a single sale collector's item and 'the first of its kind in the history of music'. | Dad tweets photo of birth certificates, naming boys Raekwon and Ghostface . Names copied from two of the influential US rap group's main members . But stunt suspiciously timed with growing hype over group's new album . New record a 31-track private sale item which could fetch millions when sold . | f22e6bf2385228794bef9a9d031a10cc41a11138 |
He may be a future king but he’s certainly not as glamorous as his wife – and yesterday Prince William clearly felt the need to apologise. The Duke of Cambridge said sorry not once but twice for his presence on a two-day tour of Malta that was supposed to be Kate’s first independent overseas visit. Prince William told his hosts that his 32-year-old wife was feeling ‘so-so’ after suffering acute morning sickness and added: ‘She’s very disappointed she couldn’t be here… Unfortunately you have me.’ Scroll down for video . Prince William with the Maltese PM's daughters - The Duke of Cambridge earlier apologised for Kate's absence . Later, as he visited Prime Minister Dr Joseph Muscat at the Auberge de Castille he added: ‘I’m sorry you’ve got me instead of Catherine.’ Royal sources say the Duchess, who was due to deliver a message from the Queen to the people of Malta, was ‘absolutely desperate’ to make the trip but her medics advised against her travelling. She is believed to be resting at home at Kensington Palace with Prince George and his nanny. The Duke also joked it would be some time before he would bring the couple’s rumbustious 14-month-old son to the country. William watches a fireworks display with Maltese Prime Minister Joseph Muscat . When the president said she would love to see Prince George and the new baby in Malta one day, William laughed: ‘Malta might not survive Prince George. There’s too many precious things around here.’ The Duke, who was celebrating 50 years of Maltese independence, said in a speech: ‘Catherine has asked me to say how very sorry she is that she couldn’t be the one to pass on the Queen’s greetings to you all. ‘She was looking forward to coming here enormously.’ The Duke of Cambridge watches a pageant in St George's Square . Officials involved in planning the trip say every effort was made for the Duchess to attend and that requirements for an ambulance to be on standby throughout, as well as access to facilities and a chair at all times, had been accommodated. The highlight of the visit was a fireworks display at Malta’s Grand Harbour last night where William delivered a message from the Queen: ‘Prince Philip and I send our congratulations to the President, the Prime Minister, and the people of Malta, on the occasion of the 50th Anniversary of Independence. ‘Prince Philip and I are grateful to the people of Malta for always making us, and our family, feel so welcome. I send my warmest good wishes to you for your celebrations this week, and for the continued success and prosperity of Malta in the future.’ The Queen lived in Malta for two years after marrying Prince Philip while he served on HMS Chequers in the Royal Navy’s Mediterranean Fleet and considers it one of the happiest times of her life. | The Prince said Kate was feeling 'so-so' after suffering morning sickness . He apologised to crowds in Malta saying 'you've got me instead' The Duke of Cambridge helped celebrate 50 years of Maltese independence . | 8ac1fa35f74038955e5bf429eee6b1aa5212247a |
By . David Kent . Portugal may be relying on how he takes to the world stage in Brazil but it seems Cristiano Ronaldo can take it all in his stride - even when it involves being chased by women. The 29-year-old looked relaxed training with his national team-mates before a female pitch invader decided to take matters into her own hands if she was to meet her hero. Bodyguards had to escort the excited fan, wearing a Portugal shirt with Ronaldo on the back, off the training pitch. VIDEO Scroll down to watch Female pitch invader stopped short of reaching hero Ronaldo . Joker: Cristiano Ronaldo jokes around in training with Portugal ahead of the World Cup opener . Watch the master: The Real Madrid forward's team-mates look on as Ronaldo controls the ball . Packaged up: Ronaldo leaves training with ice on his left knee in Brazil on Thursday . It didn't stop Ronaldo from clowning around, though, as the prolific goalscorer looked in good spirits ahead of the World Cup opener against Brazil and Croatia on Thursday night. Portugal's first game is on Monday, and they couldn't have asked for a tougher draw. Ronaldo and his team-mates will face Germany in their opening match, as they bid to survive Group G alongside USA and Ghana. Gotcha: The female Portugal fan is caught by a steward while trying to meet Ronaldo during a training session in Brazil . The guard took it in good spirits as he escorted the bare-footed trespasser off the training pitch in Campinas, Brazil . Back-up: The Portugal fan is taken away by a group of stewards after trying - and failing - to meet her idol Ronaldo . | Cristiano Ronaldo looks relaxed in training with his Portugal team-mates . Female pitch invader runs on to the pitch desperate to meet Ronaldo, only to be stopped by stewards and escorted away . Portugal's World Cup gets underway against Germany on Monday . | 3b79aca121ce664890da69cda74dd1c64287194a |
Andy Murray fought from a set down to defeat Jerzy Janowicz 6-7 (11/9) 6-4 6-2 and book his place in the second round of the China Open. Murray, who defeated Spain's Tommy Robredo on Sunday to win the Shenzhen Open - his first tournament victory since winning Wimbledon last year, looked out of sorts in the opening set before firing back to give Janowicz a real contest. After going 5-1 up only for Murray to hit back, the Pole went on to claim the first set on a tie-break. Andy Murray followed up his recent triumph in the Shenzhen Open by defeating Jerzy Janowicz . The 27-year-old Scotsman looked in a relaxed mood during his clash against the Pole . Qualified . 1. Novak Djokovic - 8,150 points . 2. Roger Federer - 7,020 . 3. Rafael Nadal (6,645) Still to qualify . 4. Stan Wawrinka (4,795) 5. Marin Cilic (3,935) 6. Kei Nishikori (3,845) 7. David Ferrer (3,535) 8. Tomas Berdych (3,510) 9. Milos Raonic (3,440) 10. Andy Murray (3,405) Points he will be awarded if he wins the following: . Beijing - 500 . Shanghai - 1,000 . Paris - 1,000 . The second set went Murray's way thanks to a single break of Janowicz in the ninth game before he dominated the third to claim victory. Murray started off in the worst possible fashion as he was broken by Janowicz in the first game of the match before the Pole claimed a 2-0 lead. Janowicz raced to a 3-0 advantage after he took the first of two break points on the Murray serve. However, while the Scot broke back immediately he was not able to hold his serve for the third consecutive game and slump to a 4-1 deficit. Janowicz then moved 5-1 ahead but Murray hit back, claiming four games in a row to draw level at 5-5. The Scot won his first service game of the match to stay in the first set before a break of serve saw him claim back-to-back games. Murray served out the next before breaking Janowicz, although his momentum stuttered in the next, as he trailed 30-0 on serve before firing back to claim a 6-5 lead - the first time he was ahead in the match. Janowicz then served to love to take the first set to a tie-break, which was hotly contested with the duo matching each other all the way until the Pole found a way through to win 11-9. Murray, pictured after winning the Shenzhen Open, will be hoping to progress to the later rounds of Beijing, Shanghai and Paris to book a place in the ATP Finals . It meant that if he were to win, Murray would need to battle back from a set down for his third match in a row. The second set went on serve until the ninth game, where the number six seed broke Janowicz to take a 5-4 lead before taking the set 6-4. It meant the game went into a decider and an early break for Murray saw him go 3-1 up, before another saw him move 5-2 ahead and just one game away from a place in the second round. Murray then served for the match and claimed a battling victory in a match time of two hours and 28 minutes to line up a second-round meeting with American John Isner. | British tennis star Andy Murray lost the opening set against Poland's Jerzy Janowicz . However he managed to find his form to earn a place in the second round . Murray will face American John Isner in the next stage of the competition . The Scotsman is hoping to string a run of wins together in order to qualify for the ATP Finals in London . | 00804f0661053a33002efa237345781408354903 |
By . Daily Mail Reporter . Changes: Assistant Commissioner Cressida Dick said that anti-terrorist policing was seen a decade ago as 'the macho end of a macho organisation' Muslim families in Britain are reporting their sons and brothers to police if they fear they will leave to fight in Syria, it was revealed today. Scotland Yard has announced a large increase in arrests of world-be jihadists this year as it embarks on a more ‘sensitive’ and ‘less macho’ approach to fighting terrorism. The London force says families, officers and community leaders are working better together – and this is being partly put down to an all-female leadership in Britain’s anti-terrorist police team. More Syria-related arrests have happened . since the start of 2014 than in all 2013, which police say is down to . parents who would rather their sons were arrested in Britain than killed . fighting. Metropolitan Police Assistant Commissioner Cressida Dick told The Times: ‘We’re getting lots of support from families who are ringing up and saying they are worried about their brother, son, sister sometimes, friend or indeed from other sources of information and intelligence. 'We [have] certainly got a lot more information and a lot more concerned people. 'We want to increase the proportion of people that would contact us, but we are getting a lot of calls for help.’ Miss Dick - Britain’s most senior woman officer - has two female deputies in Helen Ball, national co-ordinator of anti-terror investigations and Patricia Gallan, head of security and protection. Devastation: A man walks through a destroyed residential area of the Saraqib, south-west of Aleppo, Syria . Destructiuon: Syrians search for survivors amidst the rubble after an airstrike in Shaar, Aleppo, last December . Smoke rises: Damaged buildings next to a mosque on the right in the besieged area of Homs, Syria, on Sunday . She added that anti-terrorist policing . was seen a decade ago as ‘the macho end of a macho organisation’, but . there is now more focus on being ‘in tune with the communities we’re . serving’. While terror arrests are rising, there has been a sharp fall in stop-and-searches for counter-terrorism purposes - and there are now fewer major armed operations, reported The Times. These include the botched fatal shooting of Brazilian man Jean Charles de Menezes at Stockwell Underground station in South London in 2005 - which was overseen by 53-year-old Miss Dick. 'We have certainly got a lot more information and a lot more concerned people' Cressida Dick, Metropolitan Police . Now, UK officials fear that Britons who have fought with militants in Syria will return more radicalised, with both new paramilitary skills and with direct contacts to Al Qaeda or its affiliates. US and UK officials say hundreds of British citizens have travelled to Syria to join anti-government rebels - and as many as 100 Britons are in Syria fighting with militants at any time. Abdul Waheed Majeed - DEADThe 41-year-old from Crawley, West Sussex, was believed to be the UK's first suicide bomber in Syria. News of his death was reported last month after he detonated a heavily armoured truck near the entrance to Aleppo Central Prison. Mohamed and Akram Sebah - BOTH DEADMohamed, 28, a maths tutor, and Akram, 24, an estate agent, were brothers from Holloway, north London, who become poster boys for Al Qaeda. Dubbed 'Lions of Britain' by fellow jihadists, they died in unknown circumstances last September. Abdel-Majed Abdel Bary - ALIVEThe 23-year-old 'Hip hop jihadist' walked out of his family's £1million home in Maida Vale, west London, last year to join militant groups, telling them he was 'leaving everything for the sake of Allah'. Bary is an aspiring rapper on the 'grime' music scene, and his songs have featured on BBC Radio 1. Anil Khalil Raofi - DEADA . 20-year-old student from Didsbury, Manchester, who was reported last . month to have been killed in a gunfight with Syrian government forces. Also known as Abu Layth al-Khurasani, he was believed to have left . Britain last August. | London force reveals large rise in arrests of world-be jihadists in 2014 . Focus on more 'sensitive' and 'less macho' approach to anti-terrorism . Assistant Commissioner reveals better public and police co-operation . | a8d4a7c95ffe89418440e16b0d6cea4df2c0d5fa |
Devoted sisters Florence Davies and Glenys Thomas have been inseparable for more than 100 years - and are the oldest identical twins in the world. The great-great-grandmothers have a family photo album bursting with memories from the 103 years they have shared together. The pair were born in 1912 - the same year the Titanic sunk and national insurance tax was introduced. And the centenary sisters have lived through two world wars, the civil rights movement and huge advances in technology and transport. Scroll down for video . Florence Davies and Glenys Thomas are the world's oldest identical twins after celebrating their 103rd birthday together. They were born on the 22nd November 1911 and grew up in Abertridwr in the South Wales Valleys . But in their lifetime they have never left the small mining village of Abertridwr, Caerphilly. Their family now believe they are the oldest identical twins in the world - and credit their great age to a 'nice, quiet life'. Glenys's daughter Gwenda Stacey, 65, said: 'They have lived a simple life. Neither Mam or Aunty Flo can drive. They never went abroad. But they were always happiest together.' Born in a time when community came first , Gwenda recalls her mother telling stories about the 'good old days.' She said: 'My grandfather was a miner and very good with his hands. He made toys for the girls and their mother made their clothes. The whole family's social life was centered around their church and their community. You had to stay local in those days because it was so hard to get around. Florence, right, and Glenys, pictured aged seven in 1918, were born in 1912 - the same year the Titanic sunk and national insurance tax was introduced . The pair, pictured here age 68 at Christmas, have five children, 12 grandchildren and 19 great grandchildren . The great-great-grandmothers have a family photo album bursting with memories from the 103 years they have shared together, including this one at their 70th birthday . 'My mam remembers the first bus coming to Abertridwr and what an occasion it was. Now people are less content with their lot. Everyone wants to move so fast. Their life wasn't like that.' As young women, the twins both went into service - cleaning the homes of well off people. Gwenda said: 'They weren't allowed to go dancing or courting as teenagers. They led respectful and God-fearing lives - their parents were very religious.' In 1932, Glenys was the first to leave home when she married a miner, William Scrivens, who died aged 67. They adopted Gwenda a few years later when it became apparent they couldn't conceive a child. Glenys later became a grandmother to three, a great grandmother to nine and she has one great-great-grandson. She also remarried in 1972, aged 60. Florence remained in the family home for two more years until she met the man she would marry, John Davies, who died aged 48. Glenys, left, and Florence, pictured in 1932 age 21, both went to service - cleaning the homes of well off people. They weren't allowed to go dancing or courting as teenagers. They led respectful and God fearing lives - their parents were very religious . Their father, John, was a miner and very good with his hands and their mother, Margaret, made their clothes. The whole family's social life was centered around their church and their community . In 1932, Glenys was the first to leave home when she married a miner, William Scrivens, who died aged 67. Pictured: Glenys and William on their wedding day age 20 in 1931 . Florence went on to have three children, nine grandchildren and 12 great grandchildren. She never remarried. Retired printer's assistant Gwenda said: 'The twins missed each other terribly when they moved out of the family home. They had shared a room until my mam left to get married. Then Aunty Flo followed suit and bought a house next door to her sister. 'For all their independent years they lived side by side - raising families together, shopping, socialising and cooking together too.' Now the elderly sisters have moved into a care home as their mental health has deteriorated with age. Gwenda expalined: 'Mam and Flo were always so active and independent. Right up until their 90s they would hop on the bus to go shopping together. They loved to look good and often bought the same outfits. Florence, age 25 with baby Yorwerth, went on to have three children, nine grandchildren and 12 great grandchildren . Suffering from dementia, the twins, seen here aged 7 in 1918, are now looked after in the Abermill Care Home, just a five minute drive from Gwenda's home in Abertridwr . 'When both of them were widowed they really took care of each other. Like all sisters they fell out but they never stopped us kids from seeing each other. 'We were always in and out of both houses. We were one big happy family.' Suffering from dementia, the twins are now looked after in the Abermill Care Home, just a five minute drive from Gwenda's home in Abertridwr. She said: 'They have adjoining rooms so they see each other whenever they like. Aunty Flo does get a bit fed up with mam's singing though. Her dementia sends her back to her childhood and she's forever singing Calon Lan - a welsh song she'd have learnt at school. 'They are physically very well - no ailments as such. But it is their mind that's going. It can be like they are far away and mostly they don't remember the family. Yet they still ask for each other. Their connection is lasting and truly life long.' | Florence Davies and Glenys Thomas have been inseparable for 103 years . The pair were born in 1912 - the same year the Titanic sunk . They've never left the small mining village of Abertridwr, Caerphilly . Have five children, 12 grandchildren and 19 great grandchildren . Currently suffer with dementia and live in care home . | 6d9479858d80069effc5111f8ea7792ae711ce8b |
The nuns in a Carmelite community in Lucena, Spain, received a voice-mail message on New Year's Eve that they had to share with the world. The caller was Pope Francis. "What are the nuns doing that they can't answer?" the Pope said jokingly. "I am Pope Francis, I wish to greet you in this end of the year, I will see if I can call you later. May God bless you!" The nuns passed the audio message to the Spanish radio network COPE, which is linked to the body that runs the Roman Catholic Church in Spain. The nuns were praying when Francis called shortly before noon, and so didn't answer, the radio network said. When they played the voice mail back, they got a surprise. The prioress of the convent, Sister Adriana, told the radio network she "literally wanted to die" when she first heard the message. "Our friendship goes back 15 years but we never thought the pope would remember to think of us," she said. After the nuns realized that they had missed a phone call from the Pope, they didn't know what to do. They consulted with their local bishop and tried to call Francis back, without success, the radio network said. The nuns decided simply to wait in hope of another call. Hours later, the phone rang again -- and this time they answered. Poll: Pope's approval rating sky high . Francis talked with the community's five nuns, three of whom hail from his native Argentina, on speakerphone, COPE said. "The message from Pope Francis was to never lose hope, because sadness leads to spiritual sloth and hopelessness," said Sister Adriana. She added she had known Pope Francis for years and admires his simplicity and closeness to people. The pontiff's call came on the 400th anniversary of the community. Pope celebrates birthday with homeless . The popularity of Francis, the first pope from Latin America, is sky-high, a CNN/ORC International poll released last month showed. Since being elected in March, he has made headlines by embracing a humble way of life, caring for the poor and people with disabilities, and reaching out to the gay community. Are rich Catholics mad at the pope? | Pope Francis calls while nuns at a Spanish convent are praying, leaves voice mail . "What are the nuns doing that they can't answer?" he asks jokingly . Eventually Francis calls back, talks with the nuns on speakerphone . "The message from Pope Francis was to never lose hope," says prioress . | 2fea70c09bfe6ffb5ffe9043c2aa266b636109a3 |
For all the stats from the Emirates click here for our brilliant Match Zone service . Just imagine what the big boys of European football will do to Arsenal if they can limp through to the next phase of the Champions League. They will chew them up and spit them out. Before it all gets a bit complicated, this Arsenal team were leading three zip and playing like champions thanks to the enduring charm of Alexis Sanchez. Now they look like chumps. How they came to draw it 3-3, combusting in front of a nervy and anxious crowd at the Emirates, will take a separate inquest all of its own. What a shambles this Arsenal team can be at times. Aleksandar Mitrovic looks ecstatic after scoring Anderlecht's last-minute equaliser at the Emirates . Santi Cazorla attempts to help Alexis Sanchez off the turf as Arsenal's star man looks disbelieving after the comeback . Nacho Monreal, Lukas Podolski and Tomas Rosicky (left to right) trudge off the pitch after Arsenal are embarrassed . Arsenal (4-2-3-1): Szczesny 6.5; Chambers 5, Mertesacker 5.5, Monreal 5.5, Gibbs 6.5; Arteta 6 (Flamini 62, 6), Ramsey 5.5; Oxlade-Chamberlain 7 (Rosicky 81), Sanchez 8, Cazorla 6.5; Welbeck 6 (Podolski 82). Subs not used: Martinez, Walcott, Sanogo, Bellerin. Manager: Arsene Wenger 5.5. Booked: Monreal . Goals: Arteta (pen) 25, Sanchez 29, Oxlade-Chamberlain 58. Anderlecht (4-2-3-1): Proto 6; Vanden Borre 6, Mbemba 6.5 (Dendoncker 54, 6), Deschacht 5.5, Acheampong 6.5; Tielemans 6, Kljestan 6; Najar 7, Praet 7, Conte 5.5 (Kawaya 45, 7); Cyriac 5.5 (Mitrovic 62, 7). Subs not used: Roef, Colin, Heylen, Kabasele. Manager: Benik Hasi 7. Booked: Vanden Borre, Kljestan, Mitrovic. Goals: Vanden Borre 61, 73 (pen), Mitrovic 90. Referee: Clement Turpin (France), 5.5. Ratings by ROB DRAPER at The Emirates . Aleksandar Mitrovic, a second half substitute, scored Anderlecht’s dramatic equaliser when he headed beyond Arsenal keeper Wojciech Szczesny. It was incredible to witness. ‘Clueless,’ was the brutal assessment of former Arsenal forward Paul Merson, sitting in the TV studio, when he was asked about Arsene Wenger’s role in this capitulation. The Gunners know of no other way to play. They will never learn, that much is clear. ‘They tried to score a fourth and at 3-2 you see Arsenal start to have a bit of doubt,’ declared Anderlecht coach Besnik Hasi. He and Wenger did not shake hands at the final whistle because Hasi was too busy cavorting on the pitch with his wild-eyed players tearing off those fetching purple shirts. ‘It doesn’t hurt me if I don't get his hand. We come from a small competition and we can only imagine playing these teams. Maybe Arsenal wanted to have fun with their public.’ Arsenal were booed off at the final whistle by their increasingly frustrated supporters and it was tempting to join in with them. ‘It was a poor defensive performance,’ admitted Wenger. ‘At 3-0 we thought the job was done. We got punished, we under-estimated Anderlecht sub-consciously.’ No kidding. To be this far ahead, thanks to goals from Mikel Arteta, Sanchez and Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain, and press the self-destruct button really is something else. ‘We threw everything away,’ admitted Arteta, who has torn his hamstring and will miss Sunday’s trip to Swansea. ‘This is not the standard required.’ After Anthony Vanden Borre scrambled Anderlecht’s opening goal, the gods were with the Belgian champions. Hasi’s side, battered in the opening 45 minutes, played on the nerves and anxiety that transmits into the stands whenever Arsenal concede a soft goal. Whatever training drills this defence does - if any - during the week will have to be revisited after this implosion. They remain second in Group D, but suddenly the home game against Borussia Dortmund (hopeless in the Bundesliga, different class in Europe) and the trip to Galatasaray have a menacing air about them. From 3-0 up after 58 minutes at the Emirates there is an outside chance they will fail to qualify for the second stage for the first time in 15 years. To the first half, then. Sanchez, this dreamy No 10 in Arsenal colours, ran the show for the home team. Danny Welbeck is bundled over by Anderlecht defender Chancel Mbemba in the box to gift a penalty to Arsenal . Arsenal captain Mikel Arteta cheekily dinks his penalty over Silvio Proto to give Arsenal the lead . Proto dives to his right as the ball sails over him and in to the roof of the Anderlecht net . Arteta wheels away in celebration after putting Arsenal in the driving seat midway through the first half . As Arsenal blew their lead, fan Piers Morgan made this plea to City defender Vincent Kompany.... Morgan: If I pay you £50m will you play for us? Kompany: Great club but no. Morgan: £60m & 2 Ferraris? Kompany: Those days have gone, I play for glory. :-) The delay on the reverse pass into the penalty area for Danny Welbeck to run on to in that move that led to Arsenal’s opening goal was reminiscent of the late, great Billy Bremner. It was delicious. Chancel Mbemba cut across Welbeck, getting all tangled up inside the area as he attempted to hold off the Arsenal striker and bundled him over. Penalty, no question. Arteta scored easily and it seemed fitting that the captain of the team should be responsible for the 500th goal scored by Arsenal since their move to the Emirates in 2006. They pressed the accelerator again. Sanchez scored their second in the 29th minute after he was knocked to the ground just outside the area by Vanden Borre. He immediately took responsibility for the free-kick, reacting first when it cannoned off the wall to pick it out of the night sky and drive a low volley beyond the Anderlecht keeper. That was 2-0 and Oxlade-Chamberlain added a third when he raced clear and beat Silvio Proto with a curving effort that hit the inside of the side netting. ‘Sanchez was one of the very few who was at his level,’ admitted Wenger. ‘He was involved in the three goals, he was one of the two or three at the level.’ At that stage it was game over. Or so we thought. Anderlecht took a foothold in this match with a combination of canny second half substitutions by their coach. That, plus some outrageous good fortune. Sanchez meets the ball with a sweetly timed volley after his initial free-kick was blocked by the Anderlecht wall . Sanchez shows his delight after putting Arsenal 2-0 up in the first half at the Emirates . Cazorla rushes over to congratulate his team-mate after Sanchez's sublime strike doubled Arsenal's lead . Welbeck leads the celebrations as Arsenal secured a comfortable lead before half-time . Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain's fine run and finish made it 3-0 to Arsenal just before the hour mark . Oxlade-Chamberlain wheels away in celebration after seemingly wrapping up the points for the Gunners . Nacho Monreal hauls down his man inside the Arsenal box as the referee gives a penalty to the visitors . Anthony Vanden Borre cooly slots home from the penalty spot for his second goal of the night to set up a nervy finish for Arsenal . Theo Walcott - recently returned from injury - was named on the substitutes' bench for Arsenal but never came on . Nacho Monreal was punished for pulling in the box, the offence that prompted Sportsmail’s campaign after grappling excesses in the Premier League. Monreal hauled down substitute Aleksandar Mitrovic and French referee Clement Turpin awarded the penalty to put life into Anderlecht. When Vanden Borre scored the Belgians first when he met the cross from substitute Andy Kawaya, the stadium was gripped by fear. Nacho Monreal did nothing to lift the fog. This dopey Arsenal defender, an accident waiting to happen at the best of times, conceded a penalty when he body-checked Mitrovic. Vanden Borre, who had a colourful game to say the least (and was booked before the final whistle), beat Szczesny with a neat penalty in the 73rd minute. It was then Hasi, who thrashed around inside the technical area for 90 minutes, believed. Anderlecht inevitably made it 3-3 in the 90th minute when Mitrovic arrived inside the Arsenal’s penalty area to head in a dramatic equaliser. If Wenger’s team makes it to the business end of this competition, they will get blown away. Mitrovic beats Per Mertesacker to a near-post header to complete the most unlikely of comebacks . Mitrovic (No 45) scored at the end to rescue a point for Anderlecht - for more from our brilliant Match Zone click here . Anderlecht's players run over to their fans to celebrate after earning a point from nowhere . VIDEO Anderlecht players delighted with Arsenal comeback . | Arsenal were 3-0 up against Anderlecht before squandering their lead to drop two points in the Champions League . Aleksandar Mitrovic scored the Belgians' equaliser in the last minute of normal time . A Mikel Arteta penalty and sublime goals from Alexis Sanchez and Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain looked to have the game wrapped for the Gunners . Former Portsmouth man Anthony Vanden Borre began the comeback though he appeared to be offside . Vanden Borre then scored his second from the penalty spot after a Nacho Monreal foul . | 9daa7c410b47deba8cff60c34bfaf666ff123691 |
The preliminary results of an autopsy that Michael Brown's family requested are unlikely to settle the dueling narratives that have defined the case from the beginning. Brown was shot at least six times, all to the front of his body, according to the preliminary results. Four bullets went into his right arm, and he was shot twice in the head. Daryl Parks, an attorney representing Michael Brown's family, said at a news conference in Ferguson, Missouri, on Monday that there is "ample" evidence from an independent autopsy conducted on the teen's body to support the arrest of the police officer who shot Brown. "Already based on this limited information, people believe it plays into whatever theory they have about what happened," CNN senior media correspondent Brian Stelter said. "Because these shots were all in the front apparently, that might lend credence to people's theories that Michael Brown was going after the police officer. "On the other hand," Stelter added, "the shots were on the arms (and head) on the front. Does that mean his arms were up?" It's a case, he said, where more information is not necessarily better information. Therein lies some of the risk. "This is bound to escalate tensions," the Rev. Jesse Jackson said. "This is a very provocative report." Accounts unclear . Brown, an unarmed black teenager, was shot dead nine days ago by a white police officer. His mother asked independent investigators who conducted the autopsy on her son's body whether he felt any pain at the time of his death, according to Brown family attorney Benjamin Crump. She was told that "he did not suffer," Crump said at Monday's news conference. Accounts of exactly what happened when Officer Darren Wilson stopped Brown vary widely. Witnesses said they saw a scuffle between the officer and Brown at the police car before the young man was shot. Police said Brown struggled with the officer and reached for his weapon. Several witnesses said Brown raised his hands and was not attacking the officer. Last week, the St. Louis County Police Department said an original autopsy found that Brown, 18, died of gunshot wounds. But the department wouldn't say how many times he was shot or any other details. "We are not specifying how many gunshot wounds at this point," the department said. "The investigation into his death is still ongoing, and the full autopsy is not likely to be released for many weeks because multiple law enforcement agencies are now involved in the investigation." The lack of information prompted Brown's family to request an independent autopsy. A high-profile pathologist . Enter high-profile forensic pathologist Michael Baden. He has brought his expertise to the stand in a number of closely watched cases. Baden testified in the O.J. Simpson, Phil Spector and Drew Peterson murder trials. He was chairman of the committee of pathologists that investigated the assassinations of President John F. Kennedy and the Rev. Martin Luther King Jr. "Bringing him in is a very big development," CNN legal analyst Joey Jackson said. "The family wants to know what happened. And why should they just rely upon on what the authorities to tell them?" Not shot at close range . According to Baden's autopsy, the bullets that struck Brown were not fired from close range, as indicated by the absence of gunpowder residue on his body. Some of the bullets left several wounds. One of the bullets shattered his right eye, traveled through his face, exited his jaw and re-entered at his collarbone, according to the autopsy. The last two shots were probably the ones to his head, family attorney Anthony Gray said. One entered the top of his Brown's skull, suggesting that his head was bent forward when he was struck. More work to be done . Baden intends to do much more than just the autopsy. He may ask questions about the officer's gun as well. "Is there only the police officer's DNA on that gun. Or if there was, in fact, a struggle, is Michael Brown's DNA on that gun as well? That would certainly say a lot about whether a struggle for the gun took place." Meanwhile, U.S. Attorney General Eric Holder has approved another autopsy on Brown's body, the Justice Department said. The autopsy will be conducted by a federal medical examiner. Opinion: When will Ferguson heal? Complete coverage of what's happening in Ferguson . | Investigators tell mother Michael Brown did not suffer, attorney says . All the bullet wounds were to the front of Brown's body . "People believe it plays into whatever theory they have," Stelter says . Accounts of what happened vary widely . | 874824963553419dee9e20daac07fa518b9fe4b1 |
Astronomers believe there are at least two unknown planets waiting to be discovered well beyond Pluto. They claim these planets are changing the position of objects away from Neptune, causing them to behave in strange ways. If their theory proves true, scientists say it could 'revolutionise' solar system models. Scientists say at least two planets could exist in our solar system beyond Pluto (artist's impression pictured) Astronomers have spent decades debating whether hidden Plutonian planet remains to be discovered within the solar system. Scientists at the Complutense University of Madrid and the University of Cambridge say there must be at least two planets to explain the orbital behaviour of extreme trans-Neptunian objects. These objects, known as ETNOs, describe minor worlds such as Pluto that orbit the sun at a greater average distance than Neptune. The most accepted theory says that the orbits of these objects, which travel beyond Neptune, should be distributed randomly. They should also fulfil a series of characteristics such as have an inclination of almost 0° and an or angle of perihelion – which is their closest point of the orbit to our sun - close to 0° or 180°. Last year two researchers from the US discovered a dwarf planet called 2012 VP113 in the Oort cloud, just beyond our solar system. Each one of these images was taken about two hours apart . A trans-Neptunian object is any minor planet in the solar system that orbits the sun at a greater distance on average than Neptune. The largest known trans-Neptunian objects are Pluto and Eris. These are followed by Makemake and Haumea . Yet what is observed in a dozen of these bodies is quite different: the average inclination of their orbit is around 20° and angle of perihelion –31°. 'This excess of objects with unexpected orbital parameters makes us believe that some invisible forces are altering the distribution of the orbital elements of the ETNO,' said Carlos de la Fuente Marcos, a scientist at the UCM and co-author of the study. A trans-Neptunian object is any minor planet in the solar system that orbits the sun at a greater distance on average than Neptune. Pluto was the first trans-Neptunian object to be discovered in 1930. Then, more than 60 years later, astronomers found a second trans-Neptunian object, (15760) 1992 QB1. Since then however, over 1,000 trans-Neptunian objects have been discovered. The largest known trans-Neptunian objects are Pluto and Eris. These are followed by Makemake and Haumea. 'We consider that the most probable explanation is that other unknown planets exist beyond Neptune and Pluto.' 'The exact number is uncertain, given that the data that we have is limited, but our calculations suggest that there are at least two planets, and probably more, within the confines of our solar system,' adds the astrophysicist. Their theory goes against the predictions of current models on the formation of the solar system, which state that there are no other planets moving in circular orbits beyond Neptune. But, the recent discovery by the Alma radio telescope of a planet-forming disk more than 100 astronomical units from the star HL Tauri, suggests that planets can form several hundred astronomical units away from the centre of the system. Last year two researchers from the US discovered a dwarf planet called 2012 VP113 in the Oort cloud, just beyond our solar system. They believe that its orbit is influenced by the possible presence of a dark and icy super-Earth, up to ten times larger than our planet. The recent discovery by the Alma radio telescope of a planet-forming disk more than 100 astronomical units from the star HL Tauri, suggests that planets can form several hundred astronomical units away from the centre of the system. | Astronomers noticed objects beyond Neptune were behaving strangely . They believe behaviour can be explained by presence of dwarf planets . If their theory proves true, it could 'revolutionise' solar system models . | d0a0bca60b9135ac5a7604199c73e4e050c82501 |
A teenager's 16th birthday wasn't so sweet after her hopes for a glamorous tattoo didn't go to plan. Siobhan Fields, from Hamilton, Scotland, wanted to have silver screen siren Marilyn Monroe etched on her arm. But instead she was left with an 'embarrassing' botched drawing that 'looks more like a blow up doll'. The hairdressers' assistant had previously taken to social networks to warn others against rushing into getting a tattoo in light of her experience. Regrets: Siobhan has appeared on Extreme Beauty Disasters to warn others not to rush into getting a tattoo . Spot the difference: The picture of Marilyn Monroe that the teen wanted etched on her arm, left, and what she got, right, which she said looked like a blow up doll . Now she's appearing on TLC show Extreme Beauty Disasters to see if their experts can rid her of the 'horrible' tattoo for good. She explained how she wanted the tattoo for her 16th birthday but was misled over the expertise of the tattoo artist she found. She said: 'I looked on the internet for pictures of Marilyn Monroe. Then I found the tattooist on a social media . website, I had a look through his work and they all seemed really nice. But I later found out they were someone else's work that he'd stolen. 'I could see that it looked awful (as he was doing it) but I was too scared to say anything. It definitely wasn't a success, it looks horrible.' As a result of the tattoo, Siobhan has stuck to wearing long sleeved tops and said 'knowing that it's there forever is a horrible thought'. She applied to Extreme Beauty Disasters to see if they could help her. The show's resident skin expert, Dr Sam Bunting, admitted the tattoo was one of the worst she'd ever seen. 'I've learnt a lot from this experience - . one that laser treatment is absolute agony and two, not to rush into . getting a tattoo' She said: 'It looks like it was etched by a three-year-old. I haven't seen a worst looking tattoo in a long time. Blurry around the edges, facially indistinct, it looks nothing like it's supposed to. 'I feel sorry for Siobhan as she wanted something that would looks cool and glamorous on her arm but she's ended up with a real mess.' Siobhan admitted that she wished she hadn't rushed into getting a tattoo but the show revealed that she's not alone in having tattoo regrets. According to their statistics, a third of people opt for tattoo removal with 70 per cent of these young women with black ink tattoos. Reasons for removal included disliking the design, breaking up with a boyfriend whose name was featured in it or finding they couldn't wear the clothes they wanted because of the tattoo. Hope: The teenager hates her 'horrible' tattoo but it's finally getting fainter after painful laser treatment . Siobhan was told she would need painful laser treatment in order to remove the tattoo but she said she was prepared to 'go through anything to take this away.' She had to endure a number of laser sessions where the tattoo was bombarded with light energy to breakdown the ink into small particles that could then be absorbed by the body. Dr Bunting pointed out that one advantage of Siobhan seeing an amateur was that it would make it easier to remove. She explained: 'Amateur tattoos are easier to remove as the pigment lies higher in the skin so is more accessible for the laser.' After having the laser treatment Siobhan admitted: 'It's far more painful than getting a tattoo. I would advise people feel what this is like before getting a tattoo.' After her first treatment, Siobhan returned to the TV show to show off the results. The tattoo was already looking much fainter but she would need further sessions to rid herself of it for good. She added: 'I've learnt a lot from this experience - one that laser treatment is absolute agony and two, not to rush into getting a tattoo. I'm looking forward to saying goodbye for Marilyn Monroe.' Extreme Beauty Disasters is on TLC Thursdays at 8pm . | Siobhan Fields, from Hamilton, Scotland, wanted screen legend on her arm . But resulting tattoo looked nothing like the famous actress . Later found tattooist had stolen other artists' work to pass off as his own . Embarrassed by the etching and has to wear long sleeve tops . Skin expert said tattoo was 'worst she's ever seen' Siobhan needed painful laser treatment to remove it . | cf4ef9d3379a5c583c08aeaa9449d96ddc74da5b |
By . Bianca London . When One Direction's debut fragrance, Our Moment, was launched in August 2013 it broke records to become the fastest-selling fragrance of the year. Its huge success - which saw one bottle fly off the shelves every minute in the run-up to Christmas and reported sales of £72m - has inspired One Direction to launch a second offering. Directioners will be thrilled to know that Harry Styles, Louis Tomlinson, Zayn Malik, Liam Payne and Niall Horan have announced the release of their latest special edition fragrance, That Moment. They're back! One Direction boys (L-R) Liam Payne, Louis Tomlinson, Harry Styles, Niall Horan and Zayn Malik have unveiled a second fragrance, That Moment . That Moment describes itself as a 'distinct and mature scent that blends green apple and cucumber for a fresh a fruity aroma adding a touch of peony, and violet and a hint of cedarwood to offer all the excitement of new beginnings'. Each ornate pink glass bottle is finished with a silver crown, which is designed to add a regal touch and complement the uplifting and refreshing tones of the fragrance, say the boys. Eau de 1D: The boys' new scent blends green apple and cucumber for a fruity aroma, along with a touch of peony, violet and a hint of cedarwood . The £21 eau de 1D will be available in Boots from April 2. Speaking in a video to announce the . news, Harry Styles said: 'Your reaction to Our Moment has been . absolutely amazing. 'We're so, so pleased that you guys like it so much, . and people have already been asking what is next for Our Moment so we've . come up with a new version of Our Moment. 'It . comes with some of the original notes but with some new stuff, so . it's taking things like pink grapefruit and jasmine and mixing them with . new scents like apple and violet in a swanky new bottle,' he explains. The . fragrance news comes on the same day that One Direction's Midnight . Memories was named the best-selling album globally in 2013. Information provided to NME . by BPI confirms that the X Factor stars' latest album sold four million . copies in just five weeks, taking them past Eminem's Marshall Mathers . LP to the top of the list. Midnight Memories was Number One in 19 countries following its release in November 2013. Debut scent: Our Moment saw one bottle fly off the shelves every minute in the run-up to Christmas and had reported sales of £72m . Success: One Direction's Midnight Memories was named the best-selling album globally in 2013 today . | That Moment is described as more 'mature' scent . £21 scent launches in Boots on April 2 . Today Midnight . Memories was named best-selling album globally in 2013 . | 7e1885ac1bb267aa8ac3d3828e9607e278f75527 |
Felipe Massa and Sergio Perez were admitted to hospital following a horror last-lap collision in Sunday's incident-hit Canadian Grand Prix. Dicing for fourth place, Massa smashed into the back of Perez on the run down to Turn 1 which saw both drivers crashing into the tyre barriers. Massa and Perez miraculously both appeared unscathed from the incident, despite the severity of the crash, but they were immediately taken to the on-track medical centre. Crash: Felipe Massa smashes into the back of Sergio Perez on the final lap of the Canadian Grand Prix . Huge shunt: The Brazilian, along with Perez, was taken to the on-track hospital following the huge shunt . Thumbs up: Felipe Massa promptly posted this picture from his hospital bed following the accident . They were then referred to hospital in downtown Montreal where Massa posted a picture giving the 'thumbs up'. . The G forces sustained in the crash triggered a safety alarm inside the cockpits of both cars. A . statement from Williams read: 'Felipe OK but after checks at the . medical centre he has been taken to hospital for further precautionary . checks due to the heavy impact.' Sebastian Vettel, who had just overtaken Perez to claim the final podium spot in a stunning race won by his Red Bull team-mate Daniel Ricciardo, was almost taken out by Massa as the Brazilian lost control of his Williams. Otmar Szafnauer, Force India's Chief Operating Officer, appeared to lay the blame of the incident at Massa's door. Hard hitting: Massa flew head-on into a tyre wall at Turn 1 almost collecting Sebastian Vettel on his way through . Smash: Massa's Williams was left in pieces following the incident on the final lap of the grand prix . He said: 'I don't know what Felipe was thinking. You try that sort of ambitious move and that is the end result. 'We see the stewards and they will review the data and video.' But the race stewards deemed Perez to be at fault for the crash after he 'changed his racing line' and the Mexican will now serve a five-place grid penalty at the Austrian Grand Prix in a fortnight's time. The FIA later confirmed that both drivers had been discharged from hospital following the precautionary checks. A statement from world governing body read: 'Following the accident between Sergio Perez and Felipe Massa on the final lap of the Canadian Grand Prix, it has been confirmed both drivers extricated themselves from their cars and were immediately transferred to the medical centre for preliminary checks. 'The results of these checks were entirely positive. However, as a precautionary measure they were both transferred to Sacre Coeur hospital for further examination. Both of them have been discharged.' Crash: Sebastian Vettel was fortunate not to be collected by Massa as he lost control of his Williams . In the wars: Perez was later discharged from hospital following a precautionary check-up . | Massa and Perez involved in huge accident as they battled for fourth place . Both drivers appeared to emerge unscathed from the last-lap accident . But they were taken to the hospital following the severity of the crash . Massa posted a picture to his Instagram account from his hospital bed . Perez dealt a five-place grid penalty at next race for his part in crash . | 682f31514d1e35beb06ef09fbcb22d67a8cec407 |
By . Nick Enoch . PUBLISHED: . 09:20 EST, 10 December 2013 . | . UPDATED: . 12:02 EST, 10 December 2013 . There are several ways to survive an avalanche - hold onto something and pray, 'swim' in the direction of the snow... or be a mountain goat. That certainly helped these light-footed animals after they were faced with a wall of snow hurtling down a mountainside in the French Alps last week. Incredible footage from a helicopter over Le Roc de la Peche near Pralognan-la-Vanoise shows nine chamois goats having to think fast as the avalanche heads towards them. Scroll down for video . Relaxed: The goats are seen minding their own business on a mountainside in the French Alps . Herd? Herd what? The avalanche begins at Le Roc de la Peche near Pralognan-la-Vanoise . As five of the chamois goats hot-hoof it over the cascading snow to safety, the remaining four disappear under a white sheet, much to the dismay of the helicopter crew which recorded the footage . It's not looking good for the goat quartet... Five make a dash for it while the others try to sit it out. As the 'runners' nimbly hot-hoof it over the cascading snow to safety, the hapless four disappear under a white sheet, much to the dismay of the helicopter crew. Their commentary is in French, but the sheer emotion in the voices as they cry 'Ay, ay, ay!' dispenses with the need for Google Translate. And just when all seems lost, two, three, then all four buried goats emerge and rush off to join the rest of the group. Battered, possibly; bruised, maybe. But alive. In October, two climbers in the region suffered mild injuries while climbing the glacier du Génépy. They were just below the summit ridge at 3,500 meters when they triggered a slab of snow. But what's this? Two of the animals emerge from under the wall of snow! Four! Amazingly, the 'Lazarus' goats live again and race to re-join the herd . Clear of danger, the nine are reunited, and they certainly have something to bleat about . High on a hill stood a lonely goat: A chamois surveys its kingdom . | High drama at Le Roc de la Peche in the French Alps . | 4dd4953a8dd2990d9a81178f282a130295af4bc9 |
By . Victoria Wellman . PUBLISHED: . 08:48 EST, 10 September 2012 . | . UPDATED: . 08:48 EST, 10 September 2012 . A woman is claiming to have found a mouse floating in her spinach after emptying the contents of a sealed tray of Taylor Fresh's baby organic variety directly into an empty pot. Miliica Calovic from Orlando, Florida, told reporters recently that at first she didn't notice the dead rodent but on spotting the 'hairy' pest among the leaves, knew straight away what it was. The biologist claims the box was sealed before she cut it open and dumped it into the pot, taking her cue from the 'washed and ready to eat' announcement on the label. Eek: An Orlando biologist claims she emptied a sealed box of organic spinach into a pot of boiling water before noticing a dead rodent floating among the leaves . Minutes after the startling discover she and her husband grabbed a camera to record the evidence before contacting the Costco from where they purchased the salad, Taylor Farms and local and federal health agencies. Speaking to Orlando's Local 6, who caught wind of the story, she recalled how nauseated she felt as she spooned the mouse out of the spinach. Hairy situation: Miliica Calovic says she emptied the contents of her Taylor Fresh Baby Organic Spinach into a pot to cook thankfully not eating it raw as she normally does . Warning: Though a spokesman for Taylor Farms insists she hasn't proven the mouse was actually in the box and the sorting process is methodical, Mrs Calovic says she only wants to tell others to wary of the 'dangers' 'I was just thinking, what if I had eaten it raw? What would have happened?' She asked. Though . she has no plans to sue, Mrs Calovic, a vegetarian, says she only wants . people to be more careful about what they eat and remain 'aware of the . dangers'. Guarantee: Taylor Farms prides themselves on their washing methods and a spokesman said the sorting process made it 'extremely unlikely' a mouse could have slipped into the box . Taylor Farms' website proclaims it prides itself on its state of the art . 'Triple Washed' technology at the processing facility. A food safety blurb reads: . 'At Taylor Farms we maintain the highest standards for Food Safety. 'Through technology, research and innovation we are constantly working . towards new solutions to ensure we are providing the safest, highest . quality value-added products that you and your family have come to . expect from Taylor Farms.' A spokesman for the company, Mark . Campion, told Local 6 that Mrs Calovic was unable to provide any proof . that the mouse had been in the box of sealed spinach. The sorting process, he explained, is rigorous and thorough relying on both an optical and manual sorter, and it was 'extremely unlikely' that a mouse could have gone undetected. Though he also admitted that 'it's not impossible', he insisted that there were no signs of contamination in this batch and no other complaints had been filed. But this isn't the first time this year Taylor Farms have had trouble with contaminated produce. In May, three types of organic spinach shipped from the company to distributors between the 9th and 10th were recalled following a threat of Salmonella. | Mouse found in pot after woman claims to have cut open sealed contents . Taylor Farms spokesman says no proof the mouse had been in container . Taylor Fresh Organic Baby Spinach box says 'washed and ready to enjoy' | c9379a3c61391fb2c2915d98562bb92b09cd3642 |
By . Becky Evans . PUBLISHED: . 14:23 EST, 3 January 2013 . | . UPDATED: . 14:47 EST, 3 January 2013 . Two men have been arrested under the Terrorism Act after a suspect package was found today. Fifteen homes were evacuated in Torquay when police were called to a house in Lymington Road at about 11am after residents raised the alarm. Two men, aged 18 and 20, both for Torquay, were initially arrested on suspicion of criminal damage. Residents in Lymington Road, Torquay, (pictured) raised the alarm and police evacuated 15 homes . But Devon and Cornwall Police rearrested them on suspicion under Section 41 of the Terrorism Act - the preparation of a terrorist act. The road was cordoned off as police searched the house and the area was closed for about five hours. Devon and Cornwall Police said the first arrest led officers to search a property where 'potentially dangerous' items were found. Bomb disposal experts and the fire service were also involved in the operation. Devon and Cornwall Police originally arrested the men on suspicion of criminal damage before rearresting them under the Terrorism Act . The area was later reopened and residents allowed to return to their homes, but police remain at the site. A . spokesman for Devon and Cornwall Police said: 'Police have spent much . of today searching an address in Lymington Road, which required the . evacuation of a small number of neighbouring properties. 'The 20-year-old man and 18-year-old man, both from Torquay, remain in police custody at this time.' Section 41 of the Terrorism Act 2000 allows a police officer to arrest anyone he 'reasonably suspects' to be a terrorist. Sorry we are unable to accept comments for legal reasons. | The 18 and 20-year-old men arrested in Torquay today . Neighbours raised the alarm and 15 homes evacuated . Area cordoned off for five hours during police search . | 80f701ddcdd1b08547e2d4768f448bc9fa526214 |
As thousands of people start to flee their homes to escape the destructive path of Irene, thrillseeking hurricane surfers have been flocking to beaches to take advantage of the supersized waves. Hurricane swells - the waves created outside the direct area of the hurricane - are reaching up to 30 feet along the East Coast. But as beachgoers started to enjoy the surf, New Jersey governor Chris Christie warned: 'Get the hell off the beach.' A surfer braves the wind and waves at The Washout at Folly Beach created by Hurricane Irene Friday Aug. 26, 2011 in Folly Beach, S.C . Thrillseekers: CJ Macias rides his surf board as he takes advantage of the waves created by Hurricane Irene in Fort Lauderdale, Florida . In the air: A man is seen parachute surfing at the beach in Kill Devil Hills in the North Carolina Outerbanks on Friday ahead of the expected landfall in the area of Hurricane Irene . One of the biggest surfing . competitions in the world, the 49th annual East Coast Surfing . Championships, is underway on Virginia Beach, Virginia. 'The risk, the excitement factor… getting really good waves is addicting,' said hurricane surfer Shea Lopez who is competing. 'It's something that's uncommon. I couldn't be any more excited for any day of the year.' Mr Lopez, 37, said he is monitoring the East Coast to see where to go next. 'It's our only chance as East Coast surfers to get large, powerful waves like in other places in the world,' he told ABC News. Surf's up: People surf on Friday at Rockaway Beach in New York . Waves: A surfer takes a dip at Rockaway Beach in New York . Clear skies: People were told not to be fooled by the sunny weather . 'It's exciting being around the hurricane. You can't help but get caught up in the drama.' The competition's rounds are being rushed through so the contest is over before conditions become too dangerous. 'The primary concern is for the safety of the competitors and spectators,' Kevin Gaydosh, spokesman for the competition , told ABC News. 'There's nobody that has a healthier respect for the water than surfers.' Ride: Leif Overturf enjoys the large surf near the Bogue Inlet Fishing Pier in Emerald Isle, North Carolina . Spray: Connor Murray near the Ocean Crest Pier in Oak Island, North Carolina . Surfing USA: Ed Rolen, 40, of Panama City Beach, takes advantage of high winds and surf from the effects of Hurricane Irene at Cocoa Beach, Florida . Waiting game: Beach goers watch the surf near a beachside fishing pier a day before the expected landfall of Hurricane Irene in Atlantic Beach, North Carolina . | Governor Chris Christie warns New Jersey surfers, 'Get the hell off the beach' | 08465baddf9ffc02af9b256445daa6accd66d334 |
Howard's Way actor Nigel Davenport, has died at the age of 85 . Actor Nigel Davenport, best known for . his roles in Chariots of Fire, A Man For All Seasons and the TV series . Howards’ Way, has died at the age of 85. The . versatile star developed a reputation for playing strong, brooding . heroes and dark villains – aided by his imposing stature and intense . glare. But he will also be remembered for his powerful voice, said to be the ‘envy of many an aspiring actor’. His . characters, in a career of more than 50 years, ranged from a detective . in the cult film Peeping Tom to aggressive boss Jim Fraser in Oil Strike . North. His on-screen authority saw him frequently cast as aristocrats . and monarchs, such as George III in the TV mini-series Prince Regent. But . whether on stage or screen, Davenport’s roles were all enhanced by the . resonant rasp in his voice and what he referred to as his ‘dodgy’ stare. He . suffered from a strong squint that meant he could see little out of his . right eye and, in 1953, had an operation to repair it after overhearing . a director say: ‘That young man will never get anywhere unless he does . something about his eyes.’ The . surgery failed and the problem remained for the rest of his life. But . for many it was that distinctive gaze that made his performances so . memorable. His agent, . Nicholas Young, said yesterday: ‘It was a privilege, a pleasure and an . honour to have represented Nigel. Not only was he an excellent actor, . but he was also a charming, warm and witty man. ‘His . performances over the years were powerful and moving. His voice, the . envy of many an aspiring actor, was a joy to listen to.’ Jan Harvey and Nigel Davenport in show Howard's Way, 1988. He is believed to have died after suffering with pneumonia . Nigel Davenport and Sir Michael Caine in Play Dirty, 1968. Oxford-educated Davenport began his career as a stage actor . Starring in the1968 film Virgin Soldiers with Lynn Redgrave. He was known for his deep, full voice, his wit and his charm . Mr . Young added that the actor, who died on Friday after suffering from . pneumonia, was ‘never afraid to give his opinion’ and was ‘immensely . popular’. Although . Davenport appeared in more than 40 feature films and TV programmes, he . began his career in theatre, joining Oxford University’s drama society . while studying English there. He . honed his vocal skills working as a military radio DJ in Hamburg in the . 1950s during service with the Royal Army Service Corps, before landing . his first professional acting job – in the Noel Coward play Relative . Values – at the Savoy in 1952. His huge presence led one writer to describe him as someone who looked ‘as if he might knock you through the wall for sport’. It . was a characteristic he used to full effect in his breakthrough role as . the powerful Duke of Norfolk in A Man For All Seasons in 1966. Davenport with Susan Hampshire in 1972 film Living Free. Davenport was president of actor's union Equity for six years . In Chariots Of Fire veteran Nigel Davenport starred alongside Peter Egan, David Yelland and Patrick Magee . Davenport . was an active member of actors’ union Equity and was its president from . 1986 to 1992. But he was less consistent in his politics, starting out . as a staunch left-winger, before becoming an early supporter of Margaret . Thatcher. He then switched . allegiance to the SDP before returning to Labour and then declared . himself a ‘Radical’, declining to vote at all. As . well as playing Lord Birkenhead in 1981 film Chariots of Fire, . Davenport will be best remembered as tycoon Sir Edward Frere in BBC1’s . Howards’ Way, the Sunday night drama featuring a wealthy yachting set. Shortly . after appearing in a 2000 dramatisation of David Copperfield, he . retired from acting as he could no longer memorise lines. The . actor had three children – Hugo, a writer, and Laura, an actress, with . his first wife Helena White, and Jack, also an actor, with his second . wife Maria Aitken, whom he divorced in 1981. He . spent his last years in Gloucestershire, enjoying fiercely competitive . games of backgammon, Scrabble and Monopoly, and indulging his lifelong . passion for horse racing. | Actor is believed to have died after suffering with pneumonia . Hits include cult movie Peeping Tom and A Man For All Seasons . Oxford-educated star also appeared in Oscar-winning Chariots Of Fire . He is father to Jack Davenport - who stars in ITV series Breathless . Davenport also leaves children Hugo, a writer, and Laura, an actress . | 45db9e4c31eb21150a4ea4d13a9a9e811b616797 |
By . Daily Mail Reporter . PUBLISHED: . 08:41 EST, 28 January 2013 . | . UPDATED: . 03:34 EST, 29 January 2013 . A job seeker has become an internet sensation after designing a resume that mimics an Amazon webpage - with himself as the product on sale. Philippe Dubost, a web product manager based in Paris, has received as many as 100 job offers after creating the site, which warns buyers: 'Only one left in stock - Order soon.' He details his dimensions (186 centimeters), offers would-be employers to select a language (as he speaks English, Spanish and French fluently), and notes he can be shipped anywhere in the world. Creative: Philippe Dubost has set up an online resume that perfectly mimics an Amazon webpage . There are also customer reviews, with most awarding him five stars and a few giving him just one star, which he revealed on Twitter is down to 'lots of ex-girlfriends'. If the details take the fancy of any employers, he invites them to 'Add to Cart' - which brings up a contact form. And further mimicking an Amazon page, he asks users beneath each section of his work history: 'Was this review useful to you?' He puts no price on his services; at the top of the page, he has crossed out $999,999, inviting employers to name their own price for his skills. Achiever: Bubost, center, lists his best marathon time on the website as well as his professional history . Adventure: He gives would-be employers the option of selecting a language - English, French or Spanish - and says that he can be shipped anywhere in the world, indicating his love of travel . Mr Dubost, who has been job hunting since last month and spent two days building the site, also includes some more typical resume information under 'Product Details' and 'Product Description'. Among the information, he details that he received his MBA from Dayton University in Ohio, has more than six years experience, and created his own web company two years ago - APPARTINFO.com, which allows residents to review neighbourhoods and apartments throughout France. Since setting the page live, Mr Dubost has received a flurry of supportive emails and tweets - as well as job offers. By Friday, he had received as many as 40 'job-related' emails, and by Sunday, these had rocketed to 100, he told the Independent. Selling himself: Dubost lists his dimensions, languages and skills under the 'product details' section . Smart: He also lists a customer review site, giving himself an average of five stars for his work, pictured . 'The word "hurricane" comes to my mind,' he said of the experience on Twitter. 'An unexpected amazing fun hurricane. And connecting with tons of great people.' He told the Independent that he chose to mimic the Amazon page as he was a 'pathological Amazon addict'. 'I wanted to do something fun,' he said. 'Resumes are not fun. They're not fun to write, not fun to read... I thought it would be fun to build a small web product that would feel a little bit like a game you could interact with, like those baby toys where every button you push makes a different noise.' | Philippe Dubost, a web product manager, built site to mimic Amazon page . Includes 'Product Details' and a customer review section . He has now received 100 emails from prospective employers . Dubost: 'Resumes are not fun to read or write - so I wanted to make it fun' | 1ef4dd338f7b76182577504ead81bed5052bee40 |
By . Anna Hodgekiss . PUBLISHED: . 07:59 EST, 5 December 2013 . | . UPDATED: . 08:18 EST, 5 December 2013 . Parents should not let their baby share their bed because it increases the risk of sudden infant death, experts have warned. Health officials in Sweden are so worried about the practice that they have issued new guidance to highlight the dangers. Bed-sharing between parents and infants is widespread in the country - but this can put newborns at risk. Parents should not let their baby share their bed because it increases the risk of sudden infant death . 'It's important that children under three months sleep in their own beds,' said Kerstin Nordstrand, of the National Board of Health and Welfare. She said the recommendation was 'new', since the institution had previously only advised against new-borns sleeping in the same room as a smoker, or in the same bed as a parent under the influence of drugs or alcohol. The information was first published by Swedish medical newspaper Dagens Medicin, which cited a paediatrics professor at Gothenburg University. 'It has been clear in the research in recent years that co-sleeping is a risk factor in Sudden Infant Death Syndrome (SIDS),' Professor Goeran Wennergren told the paper. A 2001 study published in the paediatric journal Early Human Development showed that 65 per cent of three-month-old Swedish babies slept with their parents, the highest rate in the Western world. A report published by the British Medical Journal, which analysed nearly 1,500 sudden infant deaths, revealed that 22 per cent took place while the baby slept in the parental bed. The Swedish National Board of Health and Welfare says it is vital that babies sleep in their own bed until they are at least three months old . According to professor of medical statistics Bob Carpenter, who was responsible for the study, the risk of sudden infant death among babies sleeping with their parents is five times higher than in those who sleep alone. Other countries, including France and the U.S., recommend sleeping in the same room as the new-born, but not in the same bed. SIDS is the unexpected, sudden death of a child under the age of one in which an autopsy does not show an explainable cause of death. It is also known as cot death. Almost all SIDS deaths occur without warning or symptoms when the infant is thought to be sleeping. Some recommendations to prevent SIDS include putting the baby to sleep on its back, with enough space to move, avoiding exposure to tobacco smoke and making sure they are not too hot. | The Swedish National Board of Health and Welfare says babies under three months old should always sleep in their own bed to reduce cot death risk . Previously the board only said babies should not share a room with a smoker and that they should not share a bed with a drunk parent . Cot death is five times more likely if baby is sharing a bed with its parents . | b705d807495fa4ed089689aa85f3d28738ca1966 |
A stick insect measuring almost two feet long has been discovered by biologists in a remote jungle in Vietnam. Entomologists working for the Royal Belgian Institute of Natural Sciences have announced the discovery of two new species and one subspecies of Phasmatodea - the scientific name for stick insects - found during their expeditions in the country's remote forests. The giant insect has also entered the record books - it is officially the second-largest stick insect ever found. The subspecies, named Phryganistria heusii yentuensis (pictured), was found in a Vietnamese nature reserve northeast of the capital Hanoi . Entomologist Joachim Bresseel pictured with the enormous stick insect as it dangles from his hand . Measuring 32cm in length or 54cm with its legs spread, Phryganistria heusii yentuensis is closer in appearance to a small branch than a stick. It is second in size only to a stick insect found in Borneo which measures more than 56cm with its legs outstretched. The record breaking insect was found in the Tay Yen Tu Nature Reserve, 150km northeast of the Vietnam capital Hanoi. Researchers found it during an expedition launched after they realised stick insects in Vietnam remain vastly understudied in scientific records. Their method in capturing the insects was also remarkably basic - they beat trees with a pole until the insects fell to the ground. Stick insects are mostly active at night and are adept at mimicking the form of sticks and leaves - even performing a rocking motion similar to that of a stick blowing in the wind. The discovery is considered a giant step towards documenting the various types located in Vietnam, where only 70 species have so far been recorded. Scientists responsible for the latest discovery alone collected hundreds during their recent expeditions, which need to be named and categorised - giving an indication as to the vast numbers yet to be discovered. The insect was found in the Tay Yen Tu Nature Reserve, located in northern Vietnam (pictured) Measuring 54cm in length, the insect takes on the appearance of a small branch when in the wild . Look closely: The stick insect is pictured here as it clings upside down to a branch . Southeast Asia is believed to have the greatest diversity of stick insects on the planet. They are herbivores that feed on leaves, but are subject to predation themselves which they combat using a number of different defence mechanisms. These include changing colours to suit their background like that of a chameleon, mimicking a branch in the wind by slowly swaying back and forth, or simply playing dead. Stick insects are also known for remarkably long periods of copulation - some species have been known to remain paired for several months. | Newly discovered stick insect named as the planet's second largest . It was found in a Vietnamese nature reserve 150km northeast of Hanoi . Giant creature measures 54cm long when its front legs are outstretched . | 5aa8789a33495597013bd1bff1a9a5ea28889b4e |
(CNN) -- Former Wimbledon champion Petra Kvitova became the first big name seed to exit the star-studded WTA tournament in Tokyo as she fell victim Tuesday to unheralded Croatian Petra Martic. Fourth seed Kvitova was well below her best in the second round match at the Pan Pacific Open and three double faults in her opening game to lose serve left the Czech on the back foot. Martic, who has been sidelined by injury, took full advantage to take the first set and after claiming the first game of the second to love, was always in command. A 6-4 6-4 win was the biggest of her fledgling career and followed a remarkable first round victory over Andrea Petkovic of Germany, where she trailed 6-0 1-0 before recovering to win in three sets. Kvitova, who will now head early to Beijing for her next tournament, admitted she had been outplayed. "She has a big serve and it is tough to push her. She kept me on the defensive and running a lot, and that's not my game," she told the official WTA Tour website. "She played so well today, very aggressive," Kvitova, 22, added. World No.2 Maria Sharapova also faced an early exit when she trailed British qualifier Heather Watson by a set, but she hit back in typical style to grind out a 6-7 6-3 6-4 win in over three hours. . "I was not consistent enough. I had opportunities to win the first set and I didn't," said Sharapova. But former World No.1 Caroline Wozniacki continued her more impressive recent form with a 7-6 6-1 dismissal of Slovakia's Daniela Hantuchova. Dane Wozniacki took her first WTA Tour title in more than a year in Seoul last week as she bids to re-enter the top 10 after a recent slump. Current No.1 Victoria Azarenka of Belarus also looked in fine fettle after her U.S. Open heroics where she lost a superb final to Serena Williams. She beat Tamira Paszek of Austria 6-1 6-1, while defending champion Agnieszka Radwanska of Poland saw off Jelena Jankovic of Serbia 6-2 7-5. Last year's French Open champion Li Na of China and ninth seed Marion Bartoli of France also progressed. | Petra Kvitova crashes out of Pan Pacific Open in Tokyo . 2011 Wimbledon champion goes out in second round to Petra Martic . Maria Sharapova and Caroline Wozniacki advance to third round . Defending champion Agnieszka Radwanska also through . | c57156b4145ac1bab5b14f0e1ace16a45fa9c9ec |
By . Louise Boyle . PUBLISHED: . 16:01 EST, 12 November 2012 . | . UPDATED: . 02:59 EST, 13 November 2012 . The bombshell of a wife's illicit affair with one of Washington's most powerful men would likely put a dampener on any married couple's romantic getaway. Dr Scott Broadwell found himself in this position on Friday evening after the romantic plans he had organized to celebrate his wife Paula's 40th birthday were abruptly shattered by the revelation that she had been having a relationship with decorated general David Petraeus. The couple were enjoying a two-day break at the Middleton Inn in Little Washington, Virginia when news of the scandal broke, leading to Petraeus stepping down as CIA director. Scroll down for videos . Romantic getaway: Paula Broadwell was celebrating her 40th birthday with her doctor husband at the Middleton Inn in Little Washington, Virginia when the news of her affair with CIA director David Petraeus broke . Happier times: Paula and Scott Broadwell live in Charlotte, North Carolina and have two young sons . Sources told the Washingtonian.com that the couple had enjoyed 'strenuous' bike rides, champagne and cozy dinners since arriving at the luxury inn on Thursday evening. The Broadwells took the Ascot Room at the Manor House which is available for $295 - $475 a night. It boasts a working fireplace, four-poster bed and private marble bath. According to sources, Dr Broadwell, a radiologist, had arranged for Champagne and a bouquet of roses for his wife's milestone birthday. There is plenty to do in the idyllic . Blue Ridge Mountain region. Along with breathtaking scenery, perfect for . hiking and bike rides, the town of Little Washington - just 70 miles . from D.C. - boasts fine dining. wineries and artisan boutiques. The couple reportedly joined other guests at the Inn for breakfast - but by the time they returned from a romantic dinner on Friday evening, they were described to the magazine as 'not being in very good moods'. They left abruptly on Saturday morning and were allegedly on their way to D.C. A party had also been planned for Mrs Broadwell's birthday on Saturday night - but it was cancelled. The Middleton Inn could not confirm to MailOnline today whether Dr and Mrs Broadwell had stayed at the premises out of respect for guests' privacy. Romance: The couple had been staying in a room with four-poster bed and roaring fire - but left abruptly on Saturday morning . Chemistry: David Petraeus stepped down as head of the CIA on Friday after it was revealed that he had an affair with his biographer Paula Broadwell . The Broadwells have two young sons and live in suburban Charlotte, North Carolina. The family's upmarket home has been empty since the weekend with two silver cars parked in the brick garage. Paula Broadwell moved to Charlotte, more than three years . ago with her doctor husband and their two young sons. On their driveway, power-washed writing reads in a flourishing font: ‘Dad loves Mom.’ Neighbor Ed Williams told the Charlotte Observer that . he emailed Paula Broadwell on Friday following the news, asking if there was . anything he could do to help. He told the paper that Broadwell . responded, saying that her family was alright, and to look after their . house. Earlier in the week, Williams, a retired editor, saw Broadwell with her two children when she was voting in last week's U.S. presidential election. He told Reuters that Broadwell appeared chatty and cheerful. Neighbors were working on putting together a belated party to celebrate the release of her book. Indiscretions aside, the 40-year-old has a . series of accomplishments under her belt. A graduate of West Point . Academy, she went on to travel to Afghanistan and conduct research at . Harvard. Broadwell was in the Army Reserve after . being recalled three times to active duty since 9/11 to . work on counter-terrorism issues. Petraeus's relationship with Paula Broadwell, his biographer who is a fellow Westpoint military graduate, was revealed on Friday after an FBI investigation which suspected corruption between the pair. Luxury: The Broadwells stayed at the lavish B&B at the weekend, where rooms cost up to $500 a night . Breathtaking: The married couple were enjoying the weekend of bike rides and hiking for Mrs Broadwell's 40th birthday . But Broadwell's father, Paul Kranz, . said that he is standing by his daughter '100 per cent' - and expects . more details into the affair will emerge, suggesting it was part of some . cover up. 'This is about . something else entirely, and the truth will come out,' Kranz said . outside his home in Bismarck, North Dakota on Sunday. Supporters . of Petraeus were quick to cement the timescale of his affair - saying . that it began last November and ran its course by July this year. Colonel . Steve Boylan, a friend and former spokesman, said today that the . relationship with Broadwell began in November 2011 - two months after . Petraeus became CIA director. It suggests that the illicit . relationship began only after Petraeus had left the military - and so . exempting him from prosecution as adultery is considered a crime in the . armed forces. The affair came to light after the . FBI investigated a series of threatening emails sent to 37-year-old Jill . Kelley, who works for the State Department in May. The . warnings, that told Mrs Kelley to 'stay away' from Petraeus, left her . feeling threatened and she contacted the FBI. However the trail led to . sexually explicit emails from an account created under a fake name by . Petraeus. She had met . Petraeus in 2006 when she was a student at Harvard's John F. Kennedy . School of Government, and the two casually exchanged emails for two . years. In 2008, Broadwell . bonded with Petraeus while interviewing the four-star general during . runs on the Potomac River as she pursued her Ph D in public policy. Memento: A message that was pressure-washed into the driveway remains at Paula Broadwell's home in Charlotte, North Carolina on Saturday afternoon . No one home: The home of Paula and Scott Broadwell in Charlotte has been vacant since the scandal broke . Broadwell, . who spent three years doing researching for her biography entitled All . In: The Education of General David Petraeus, had extensive access to the . head of military operations while he served in Afghanistan. Petraeus quit his post as CIA director while offering an apology when the scandalous revelation came to light. He issued a statement acknowledging the affair after President Obama accepted his resignation, which was announced by the CIA soon after. Dr Broadwell is not the only spouse for whom the affair would have come as a bombshell - the disgraced CIA director has been married to his wife Holly for 38 years. She is so angry at his affair that . 'furious would be an understatement', a former spokesman for Petraeus . said. Col Steven Boylan said Holly Petraeus is 'not exactly pleased . right now'. The look that says it all: Paula Broadwell (second left) fixes her gaze on General Petraeus while his wife Holly (third left) walks ahead . Glamor: Dr Scott Broadwell and his wife Paula at a charity fundraiser for the military . The heartbreak comes just one month after the couple appeared the picture of unity at the wedding of their daughter, Anne, in an elegant ceremony in Berryville, Virginia - around 40 miles from Little Washington. Members of Dr Broadwell's family revealed that they only learned of the alleged affair as they watched reports of Petraeus's dramatic resignation last week. 'They didn’t find out about the affair until they saw it on the news Friday night,' the grandmother of Broadwell's husband, Scott, added. | Dr Scott Broadwell had planned the weekend for his wife's 40th birthday . Couple reportedly stayed at Middleton Inn, Little Washington, VA and enjoyed bike rides and cozy dinners . Broadwells left abruptly and were 'not in good moods' on Saturday after affair came to light . | 4f5cf038d1241777ae9029a6e69241c2e456985c |
It could be the perfect stocking filler for travellers, a calendar that tells them the best time to travel to top destinations around the world. The 2015 diary highlights when it is cheapest to visit certain destinations, along with average hotel prices for each month. While New York is most costly in September, October and December, February and March are the peak months for Sydney, while London hikes prices in June and July. Trivago created travel advice calendars for popular destinations, showing the most and least expensive months to travel. Pictured: London, where the best savings are to be had in January, February and March . For those thinking of heading to the Big Apple, booking in August instead of June could yield major savings . To create the calendar, Trivago compared hotel price data from 45 countries across six continents to determine just which were the cheapest and most expensive months to visit. And the potential for savings is absolutely huge - as much as £130 per night in Venice, for example, simply by visiting in January instead of May. While Amsterdam is more expensive in May, hotels are up to £74 cheaper in January, while July is the cheapest month for Bangkok, compared to a peak time of December. Trivago has put together handy colour-coded calendars for each of the cities examined to advise travellers when to book. The averages are calculated based on data from over 700,000 hotels on over 175 booking sites over the last three years. They've also put together a handy chart analysing the ten most popular destinations for UK travellers - just in case you were looking for some destination inspiration. Video courtesy of Howcast . For many European destinations, January and February prove the best time of year to score deals . Opt for a summer getaway for optimal savings when heading to Dubai, according to the travel calendar . When the weather starts to cool in the UK, great September travel savings are still to be had in Australia . Denise Bartlett, of Trivago's Public Relations UK, said: 'Seasonal differences obviously play a large part in price trends - hotel prices in many European destinations are at their lowest in January and highest in warmer months. 'However, the travel advice calendars show that waiting just two months to book a break in Paris - from June to August - could potentially save travellers up to £61 a night. 'The maximum potential savings in Venice is an average of £130 per night - a significant amount of money in one of Europe's most expensive cities.' | Trivago compared 45 cities on six continents to find best months to visit . Averages calculated from over 700,000 hotels on over 175 booking sites . Travellers can save £130 per night in Venice simply by going in January . | f506ec51253ab768901785bd1fed71676fed637b |
A group of Syrian children narrowly escaped a shell blast that exploded inches from where they were standing as they spoke about the horrors of living in a warzone. The heart-stopping footage of the explosion in rebel-held Jobar, a suburb of Damascus, proves how close children come to death as research show thousands have been killed by shelling. The young children were talking about the horrible injuries they had seen and how they were used to bombs when the missile landed without warning. The children in a Damascus suburb told the interviewer the horrific injuries they had seen and how they had become used to bombs moments before a shell landed centimetres behind them . The young children raise their hands and then dive to the ground as the shell explodes . The three youngsters - two boys and girl - were thrown to the ground as rubble and dust was sent flying into the air. The camera then shows two other young boys diving down and crawling away from the blast site behind them. The shocking video comes as politicians in Turkey and Iran call for a ceasefire in Syria before scheduled peace talks in January. More than 11,000 children have now been killed in the three-year Syrian civil war according to a report by The Oxford Research Group think tank. It said most were killed in explosions but some were tortured and then killed. The manner in which the children in the . amateur video, filmed by the Baynetna organization, talk about death and . explosions show how common they have become. The footage begins with one of the children telling the interviewer about the bombs he has seen. Two young boys scramble for cover away from bomb site in the rebel-held suburb of Jobar . According to a translation by Channel 4 News, the boy in the cap says: 'We were walking the demonstration when a bomb fell on us and wounded a small boy. 'He was about the size of this girl.' She then says: 'When we were at school, they used to show us lots of martyrs, one had his guts hanging out.' Moments before the blast, the boy in . the cap says: 'At first, the bombs scared us, but then we got used to . it. I saw one persons head fall off. On another, it was his hand.' The . missile then strikes just behind them and as the camera shakes, two . young boys are seen diving to the ground as rubble and dust is blasted . into the air. Fortunately all the children survived and are interviewed later inside. One little boy dives to the ground while the other runs. All the children in the video survived . Their bikes that they had been playing with moments earlier are left behind as they run for safety . One little boy who had been seen leaping to the ground said: 'I dived to the ground. I don't know how. 'Like in a swimming pool. But a stone hit my hand and my cheek hit the pavement, and then we went inside.' The boy in the cap was then asked what his mother did when she found out. He replied with a smile: 'She started to cry.' Today, . Turkey and Iran's foreign ministers called for a ceasefire in Syria . before peace talks scheduled in Geneva on January 22. Turkey's . foreign minister Ahmad Davutoglu and his Iranian counterpart Mohammad . Javad Zarif held a news conference in Tehran today. The six children were interviewed later on and asked about their escape from the blast . This little boy said he dived to the ground 'like in a swimming pool' when the shell landed close to them . Mr . Zarif said: 'All our efforts are to end the conflict and for a . ceasefire if possible, even before the Geneva 2 conference takes place.' Mr Davutoglu said: 'We should not wait for this two months' before the peace conference convenes. 'The Syrian people are in a worsening situation.' Iran and Turkey support opposing sides in the Syrian conflict, but the joint ceasefire call suggests the regional rivals are now more willing to work together. Iran, which along with Russia is the main backer of Syrian President Bashar al-Assad, has said it is prepared to take part in the Syria peace talks in Geneva if invited. The Syrian government has said it will attend the talks but will not bow to Western demands for Assad to step aside. Assad's opponents are divided over the peace talks. General Salim Idriss, who commands the rebel Free Syrian Army, said his group would not take part in them and would fight on regardless. | Group told camera they were used to bombs moments before one explodes . Harrowing footage shows young children scrambling for cover in Damascus . Think tank says more than 11,0000 children killed in three-year civil war . Foreign ministers of Turkey and Iran call for ceasefire before peace talks . Talks scheduled for January between Assad's regime and rebels in Geneva . | c680a951575f132246d687064fd8895b603e150e |
(CNN) -- The worst weather disaster in American history took place in Galveston, Texas, in 1900 when a hurricane estimated as a Category 4 intensity blew ashore, killing thousands of residents and obliterating the town. The unnamed storm was first detected in the Atlantic on August 27, reaching Cuba as a tropical storm on September 3. Like Ike, the hurricane crossed Cuba and entered the Gulf of Mexico, crashing ashore just south of Galveston on September 8. Galveston Island was completely covered by 8- to 16-foot storm tides. Estimates of the death toll range from 6,000 to 12,000, and property damage was estimated at $30 million. Galveston in 1900 was a rich shipping city, home to nearly 40,000 people, many of them made wealthy by Galveston's position as Texas' chief port. But they weren't prepared for September 8. Watch how Ike and the 1900 hurricane are similar » . The flood waters began rising before dawn that morning, and initially the people of Galveston thought nothing of it. For the most part, they even ignored the warnings of U.S. Weather Service meteorologist Isaac Cline, who took to his horse and rode up and down the beach warning people to seek higher ground, an urging that ultimately meant little to a city 8 to 9 feet above sea level at its highest point. "In reality, there was no island, just the ocean with houses standing out of the waves which rolled between them," Cline wrote in his 1945 memoirs. Ironically, Cline had argued against building a sea wall in Galveston, saying it was unnecessary and that a storm of any significant strength, in any event, would never strike the island. The gargantuan storm tides collapsed houses along the beach front and turned them into a wall of debris that pushed further inland on the island. At its final stopping point, the debris kept buildings beyond it from collapse, but not from damage. In the aftermath, everything was bulldozed for 15 blocks from the beach. Photographs could only begin to tell the story of the destruction. Haunting black-and-white images show residents searching through ruins with only a peaked gable to indicate that it was once a home, a house picked up from its foundations and shoved 30 yards away, a body half buried in the debris. Several clips of film exist of the devastation, as well. Black and white and silent, they record the search for bodies and the complete devastation wrought by the hurricane. Many of the storm's victims were washed out to sea, and many more were taken out to sea and dumped. But those bodies came back to shore with the tides. The city set about burning the bodies on funeral pyres that blazed for weeks. News accounts at the time record the stench of death that hovered over the remains of the city. The destruction was so complete that word of the aftermath could not reach the outside world. Telegraph lines and bridges to the mainland were all down. Messengers aboard one of the few ships to survive the storm reached Houston on September 10, sending a short message to the Texas governor and U.S. President William McKinley. "The city of Galveston is in ruins," the message said, estimating 500 dead. But Galveston was revitalized in the aftermath of the storm, as well. A sea wall was built. The city was elevated 16 feet at the seawall, sloping downward across the 32-mile-long, 2 1/2-mile-wide island to the bay on the other side. Today, Galveston is a vibrant city and a popular tourist destination with a population approaching 60,000. Although it never regained its high status as a shipping port, Galveston is still a port of call for cargo ships and now for cruise ships, as well. | Category 4 storm destroyed Galveston in 1900 . Estimates of the death toll range from 6,000 to 12,000 . Residents ignored early storm warnings . Complete destruction kept word from the outside world . | e101eaff43cdede3d9808af281210d2e24ea0cef |
By . Leon Watson . PUBLISHED: . 06:33 EST, 9 November 2012 . | . UPDATED: . 10:30 EST, 9 November 2012 . TV regulator Ofcom has received around 100 complaints about daytime show This Morning after presenter Phillip Schofield confronted David Cameron with a list of alleged paedophiles, and is considering whether to launch an investigation. Schofield yesterday handed the Prime Minister a list of names - understood to be Conservative Party figures - during the live show, put together from internet rumours. The 'outrageous stunt' was widely criticised by politicians and the presenter was later forced to apologise after the list was briefly exposed on screen. Scroll down for video . The Prime Minister takes the card and responds . with firm words warning of a 'witch hunt' that meant prominent people . were being wrongly accused of child abuse simply because they were gay . Rob Wilson, a Conservative MP, . reported the ITV1 programme to Ofcom and urged it to investigate whether . ITV breached its duty to give individuals a chance to respond before . subjecting them to serious allegations on-screen. The broadcasting regulator is . understood to have had around 100 complaints by today and it will make a . decision about whether it should look into the matter within 15 working . days. A spokesman for Ofcom said: 'We can . confirm that we have received complaints about this issue, which we are . assessing. No decision has been made at this stage to investigate.' After being handed the list, which . Schofield had assembled after trawling the internet for three minutes, . the Prime Minister warned that internet discussions of an alleged . paedophile ring could degenerate into a 'witch-hunt' against people who . are gay. Policing and criminal justice minister Damian Green said Schofield's actions were 'tasteless and silly'. Speaking on BBC1's Question Time last . night he said: 'I think the stunt that Phillip Schofield pulled of . presenting a list of names he had taken off the internet to the Prime . Minister live on television was a tasteless and silly stunt and he . should not have done it. Springing . a surprise: Phillip Schofield, seated next to This Morning co-presenter . Holly Willoughby, picks up the list of alleged Tory paedophiles before . handing it back to Mr Cameron . This . was the extraordinary moment Philip Scholfield, who has now apologised . for the stunt, handed the list of names to David Cameron . The Prime Minister was visibly taken aback by the stunt and some viewers said names were clearly visible on the piece of paper handed to the Prime Minister . 'What the Prime Minister was warning . about is that if we just start plastering names all over the place, of . people against whom there may be no evidence, it may well turn into a . witch-hunt and clearly because of the attitudes towards gay people at . the time, in the 80s, many of them are likely to be on it.' Schofield later apologised, saying: 'If any viewer was able to identify anyone listed, I would like to apologise and stress that was never my intention. Mr Cameron had agreed to appear on This Morning to talk about dementia, including an event held at Downing Street today where he discuss the issue with TV presenter Fiona Phillips . Tory MP Rob Wilson wrote to Ofcom last night asking the media watchdog to investigate whether This Morning broke TV fairness rules . Mr Cameron had agreed to appear on . This Morning to talk about dementia, including an event held at Downing . Street today where he discuss the issue with TV presenter Fiona Phillips . 'I was not accusing anyone of . anything and it is essential that it is understood that I would never be . part of any kind of witch-hunt. 'Unfortunately there may have been a . misjudged camera angle for a split second as I showed the Prime Minister . some information I had obtained from the internet. Mr Cameron had agreed to appear on This Morning to talk about dementia, including an event held at Downing Street where he discuss the issue with TV presenter Fiona Phillips . After the TV showdown, Mr Cameron returned to Downing Street where he took a call from US President Barack Obama. He congratulated him on his his re-election . Steve Messham met with Welsh Secretary David Jones this week to discuss his claim he was abused by a senior Conservative while at the Bryn Estyn home in North Wales . 'I asked for his reaction to give him . the opportunity to make a point which he very clearly made about the . dangers of any witch-hunt.' Asked if the Prime Minister planned to make a complaint to This Morning, his official spokesman said: 'I think the Prime Minister dealt with the issue at the time.' Schofield was absent from today's . edition of This Morning as he and co-host Holly Willoughby hand over . presenting duties to Eamonn Holmes and his wife Ruth Langsford each . Friday. But the programme team emphasised they were not pointing the finger at anyone in particular. Langsford reiterated to viewers . Schofield's point about a 'misjudged camera angle' and she added: 'The . programme was not accusing anyone of anything.' Earlier shadow home secretary Yvette Cooper added her voice to condemnation of Schofield's actions. She told BBC Radio 4's Today . programme: 'Clearly the Prime Minister can't be expected to comment on . individuals on live television. You can't have this being driven by . internet frenzies. What you need is proper criminal investigations to . get to the truth.' Yesterday Tory MP Stuart Andrew denounced the presenter's ambush as 'completely irresponsible and an outrageous stunt'. Downing Street later defended the decision to launch fresh inquiries into the abuse scandal, insisting 'a number' of serious allegations had been made. The Prime Minister's official spokesman added: 'Serious allegations have been made about the conduct of the police inquiry and the subsequent public inquiry and it's right we look into those and that's what we are doing. 'I don't want to get into the speculation about particular individuals. The Prime Minister made the point he made yesterday, which is if there are allegations, if there is information about particular individuals, that information should be handed to the police.' He added: 'People are questioning the conduct of a public inquiry. That is quite a serious thing. As you would expect, we take that seriously. We have not reopened the public inquiry. We have asked an independent person to review the scope and conduct of that inquiry.' VIDEO: The astonishing moment This Morning presenter Phillip Schofield handed the Prime Minister a list of alleged Tory child abusers he found online . | Schofield handed PM a list of names put together from internet rumours . The 'outrageous stunt' was widely criticised by politicians . Schofield, who did not appear on today's show, was forced to apologise . No. 10 condemned the 'trial by Twitter' saying those named on the list will want to defend themselves . Mr Cameron accused the ITV programme of fuelling a 'witch-hunt, particularly against people who are gay' Watchdog Ofcom investigating if ITV has broken broadcasting rules . | f0d0af955fa5256552b8482de8400244a28d81f1 |
Los Angeles (CNN) -- Torrential rains moved walls of rock and mud Friday in Southern California, burying homes in one neighborhood, closing a coastal highway and prompting evacuations of foothill communities imperiled by landslides. The damage marked the second day of a fierce storm slamming the Pacific Coast that, in California, served to trade one natural disaster for another, namely the state's record drought of the past three years. At a minimum, the biggest storm in years slaked the dry earth, but it is coming at a high price for many people. Mudslides swarmed or threatened homes near recent hillside fires. Ten homes in the Camarillo Springs area were damaged and red-tagged as uninhabitable after a mudslide crashed into a subdivision and piled rocks almost as high as roof lines, authorities said. An elderly couple needed to be rescued after they stayed in their home despite a voluntary evacuation order and suddenly found water and earth plowing into their bedroom, according to CNN affiliate KTLA. "It just came pouring in, so I told my wife just stay in bed," the man told the affiliate after he was rescued. "I could just feel the mud... there must be 3 or 4 feet of mud in there." Firefighters carried the couple to safety, uninjured. "I'm OK," the man told the station. Later Friday, Jim and Grace Shiraishi's son called his parents' survival of the landslide as "pretty darn amazing." "It gets you by surprise," son Jim Shiraishi said. Swift water recovery and rescue . Firefighters in Orange County conducted a rescue in the swift waters of a flood channel in Garden Grove. The man being rescued, however, appeared to be dead and was stuck on a central pillar of a ditch tunnel, said Lt. Ben Stauffer of the Garden Grove Police Department. The victim was identified as 34-year-old Garden Grove resident Mario Alberto Hernandez. Detectives were investigating the circumstances of his death, Stauffer said. A pedestrian discovered Hernandez's body in the channel, he said. Meanwhile, Los Angeles firefighters rescued two people who were clinging to trees in the Los Angeles River, and they were in fair condition in a local hospital, the fire department said Friday. Evacuations . Residents piled sandbags outside their homes near where the so-called Colby Fire scorched 1,952 acres in Angeles National Forest in January near Glendora and Azusa. Glendora imposed a mandatory evacuation on unspecified homes in the Colby Fire Impact Area. Meanwhile, Azusa issued a voluntary evacuation order for its residents in the burn area, CNN affiliate KABC reported. Flooding, rocks and mud closed parts of the scenic Pacific Coast Highway from Monterey County down to Huntington Beach, the California Department of Transportation said. Northern California recovering . The Bay Area and other pockets of California began returning to normal Friday after the tempest doused exceptionally drought-stricken California with water, causing street and moderate river flooding, and producing blizzard-like conditions in the Sierra Nevada. The storm took a deadly toll further up the coast. Falling trees killed two people in Oregon and left a third seriously injured. At one point, the combination of powerful winds and battering rains knocked power out to 225,000 customers from Northern California to the Canadian border. Inundating rain . The rain intensity in Northern California on Thursday was reminiscent of a tropical shower in some places, a biblical deluge in others. Nearly 2.5 inches doused the San Francisco Bay Area, but north of there, just beyond wine country, 14.6 inches washed down on the Petrified Forest. The rain will put a dent in a historic three-year drought that has sapped reservoirs, threatening farmers and driving up food prices. "We need it, but I wish it would come more evenly spread out, instead of all in one night," said Kim Cheadle, who commuted from Marin County but found her San Francisco office building closed Thursday. An 'atmospheric river' Much of the moisture, at least along the California coast, comes from an "atmospheric river," a band of heavily moist air that split off from a larger such band in the tropics. It's as if a river in the sky spilled its banks, sending a new tributary 250 to 400 miles wide northeastward to California. Such atmospheric river drenchings in California are rare but also normal and necessary, the National Weather Service said. They're how the parched state gets up to 50% of its annual rainfall. The current "river" has been around since late November and already soaked the state last week. CNN's Greg Botelho, Dave Alsup, Topher Gauk-Roger and Erica Henry contributed to this report. Ben Brumfield wrote and reported from Atlanta, and Michael Martinez from Los Angeles. Dan Simon and Sara Weisfeldt reported from San Francisco. | Firefighters rescue two people clinging to trees in Los Angeles River . Police investigate an apparent death in rushing waters of flood channel . Two killed by falling trees in Oregon . Evacuation orders are issued for foothill communities near earlier burned areas . | a1532b0b5a8eefd0386ffaef6f088fc6c2e522e7 |
The police today unveiled its latest weapon to tackle dangerous driving – a Formula 1-inspired speed machine capable of more than 200mph. But the Caparo T1 won't be chasing down speeding motorists with officers instead using the vehicle to help them get their road safety messages through to motorists. Decked out like a police car, the Caparo T1, which was paraded at the 2013 Le Mans race, can do zero to 60mph in just 2.5 seconds. Scroll down for video . The police today unveiled its latest weapon to tackle dangerous driving – a Formula 1-inspired speed machine capable of more than 200mph . Decked out like a police car, the Caparo T1, which was paraded at the 2013 Le Mans race, can do zero to 60mph in just 2.5 seconds . Caparo loaned police the sports car to display at their stand at the Autosport International at the NEC in Birmingham. Superintendent Paul Keasey, head of Central Motorway Police Group, said the motor show was a perfect opportunity for police to 'engage with motorists who are interested in performance cars'. Mr Keasey said: 'These are exactly the kinds of people who, in ordinary circumstances, we might never get to meet or chat to and so this event allows us to perhaps share our road safety vision in a setting where many car enthusiasts are receptive to what we've got to say.' He said it was important that motorists make the distinction between motorsport and 'posing a risk to others by driving at speed on the highway'. Police were also letting motorists try their 'ever-popular beer goggles', which help illustrate the dangers of driving while under the influence of alcohol. Caparo loaned police the sports car to display at the Autosport International at the NEC in Birmingham . Superintendent Paul Keasey, head of Central Motorway Police Group, said the motor show was a perfect opportunity for police to 'engage with motorists who are interested in performance cars' Sergeant Rob Barker, who is one of the officers attending the exhibition, said taking a high-spec vehicle to the show really helped police breakdown barriers with motorists. He said: 'People literally flock around them and it gives us a great opportunity to meet and engage with car enthusiasts and hopefully get them to understand where we are coming from when we enforce road safety laws. 'Excess speed, using mobile phones, drink driving and not using seatbelts are a few of the topics we discussed.' | The Caparo T1 can go from zero to 60mph in 2.5 seconds . Police are displaying it at the Autosport International in Birmingham . Officers are using it to warn drivers about the dangers of speeding . | 699de48dc65ab2d71ae0c28a76d07aaf7d6c6fbe |
A teen Florida foot fetish performer and two male friends were arrested this week after having sex with girls aged 12, 13 and 14-years-old and bragging about it on social media, authorities said. Bianca Byndloss, 19, of Miami, drove the underage girls to 18-year-old Christian Hernandez’s house Wednesday and had group sex while being filmed by Bryan Yanes, also 18, according to investigators. A self-proclaimed ‘porn diva,’ Byndloss relentlessly promotes herself on Twitter and Tumblr advertising foot fetish sex shows she performs on Skype in exchange for money. 'Porn diva' and foot fetishist Bianca Byndloss, from Miami, has been charged with sex with a minor and promoting the sexual performance of a child after having group sex with three girls aged 12, 13 and 14 and two 18-year-old men . Accomplices: Brian Yates (left) and Christian Hernandez (right) are also charged with having sex with the underage girls . The trio had consensual sex with the minors while filming the acts, an arrest report cited by the Miami Herald said. A video posted online showing the young girls in the act led to someone reporting the teens to police, and a warrant issued led cops to make more disturbing finds. Footage of two of the underage girls performing oral sex on each other, a close up of one of the young girl’s genitals and various other pictures and videos of the encounter were discovered on Hernandez’s cell phone, police told WTVJ. Police said that Byndloss drove the girls to Hernandez's home for the sex party last week. She is out on $37,500 bond . Shameless: Byndloss has posted several revealing pictures online and performs sex shows on Skype for cash . Byndloss’ Tumblr page shows her sticking her own foot in her mouth, licking her toes and performing a number of sex acts with her size five feet. She was charged Thursday with lewd and lascivious battery on a minor and promoting sexual performance of a child. The porn diva bailed out of Miami-Dade County Jail Friday after posting a $37,500 bond. Hernandez was hit with the same charges and Yates faces only a charge of lewd and lascivious battery on a minor, records showed. | Bianca Byndloss, 19, is accused of driving three underage girls as young as 12-years-old to Christian Hernandez's house earlier this week . Hernandez and Brian Yates, both 18, joined Byndloss in having sex with the girls and filming the acts . Byndloss calls herself the 'porn diva' on Twitter and Tumblr . | ebec9a8bf08a7aa55f7f3fc1a5c4c2f5637ed09a |
By . Paul Collins . Former Tottenham manager Tim Sherwood turned down the West Bromwich Albion job as there were a ‘couple of ingredients missing’. The Baggies appointed Everton academy chief Alan Irvine as Pepe Mel's successor on Saturday but Sherwood, who was sacked by Spurs after a six-month spell, said he was initially offered the job. He told talkSPORT: 'I went to speak to the chairman and the board there a couple of times and was happy with how the discussions were going. Looking for the right opportunity: Tim Sherwood is still on the hunt after turning down West Brom role . 'I was offered the job before we started to negotiate. It just wasn't right for me in the end, so I decided to give it a miss. 'It is a fantastic club and it looked on the outside like it might be a perfect fit for me but unfortunately we couldn't agree for me to move forward. 'I wish them all the best and Alan in particular, someone I played with a long time ago at Blackburn.' Irvine accepted the job at The Hawthorns after agreeing to keep on coaches Keith Downing and Dean Kiely and Sherwood suggested that was one of the reasons he did not take up the offer. New West Brom boss: Alan Irvine has joined from Everton where he was the academy chief . 'I don't know Keith or Dean very well and I've got nothing against them,' he said. 'I think it is important you take your own men in and I was looking to bring in a couple of guys who I trust and who I know. 'When you go into a club you haven't got time to try and train someone to your own thinking. 'There were just a couple of ingredients missing which made me decide I wouldn't take the gamble on it. Friends in high places: Tim Sherwood shakes hands with England boss Roy Hodgson . 'I know my worth and I just want to wait for the right opportunity. I am sure it will come along.' The 45-year-old, however, is sure he will be back managing in the Premier League again before long as he looks to prove a point following his brief spell at Spurs. 'I am confident in my ability to be able to do the job,' he added. | Sherwood was initially . offered Baggies role before Alan Irvine got the job . Ex Blackburn player says he didn't want to take 'a gamble' on the position . Sherwood was sacked by Spurs in May after six months in charge . | d5d3dbc02fb215d5c6200ccc3a98361a0bc12b9e |
The future of science and technology sounds so promising. Unprecedented advances in computing, robotics, artificial intelligence, genetics, neuroscience and biotechnology hold the potential to radically transform our world for the better and create mass abundance for all. I sincerely want to believe in this techno-utopian vision of things to come, but my work as a police officer and global security strategist working in more than 70 countries around the world has taught me that there is a darker side to these emerging technologies. The criminal underground is highly innovative and often acts as an early adopter of emerging technologies. As a young police officer, I observed gang members and drug dealers using beepers and mobile phones, long before they were in common use by the general public. Today, criminals are even building their own encrypted radio communications networks, such as the nationwide system developed by narco cartels in Mexico. Watch Marc Goodman's TED Talk . Technology has made our world increasingly open, and for the most part that has huge benefits for society. Nevertheless, all of this openness may have unintended consequences. Take, for example, the 2008 terrorist assault on Mumbai, India. The perpetrators were armed with AK-47s, explosives and hand grenades. But heavy artillery is nothing new in terrorist operations. The lethal innovation was the way that the terrorists used modern information communications technologies, including smartphones, satellite imagery and night-vision goggles to locate additional victims and slaughter them. Moreover, the terrorists created their own operations center across the border in Pakistan, where they monitored global news broadcasts, online reporting and social media in real time, leveraging the public's photos, videos and social network updates to kill more people. TED.com: All your devices can be hacked . The terrorists in the Mumbai incident even used search engines during their attack to identify individual hostages and to determine, based upon their backgrounds, who should live or and who should die. These innovations gave terrorists unprecedented situational awareness and tactical advantage over the police and the government. Newer forms of technology are also subject to criminal misuse. Robots are becoming more commonplace, and international organized crime groups and terrorists have lost no time in deploying these technologies as part of their field operations. For example, drug traffickers in Latin America are using robotic submarines to deliver thousands of tons of cocaine annually to the United States. Last year, the FBI arrested a man in Boston who planned to use remote-controlled robotic aircraft packed with explosives to attack both the U.S. Pentagon and Capitol building. In the future, as robots become more widely deployed, so too could their criminal use and exploitation. TED.com: How cyberattacks threaten real-world peace . Advances in the life sciences means it is now possible to design DNA on a computer screen and send the DNA code to a "bio printer" for assembly. Our ability to reprogram DNA itself will undoubtedly lead to great advances in medicine, but the danger is that these same techniques can be used to modify viruses, like H5N1 influenza, to become more and more lethal, potentially affecting millions around the globe. To hackers, DNA is just another operating system waiting to be hacked. We are at the dawn of an exponentially advancing technological arms race between people who are using technology for good and those who are using it for ill. Though such battles have gone on since the beginning of time, what has changed is the pace of innovation. New technologies and capabilities are emerging so quickly, it becomes increasingly likely they will outpace the capabilities of public safety officials to respond. The threat is serious, and the time to prepare for it is now. I can assure you that the terrorists and criminals are. TED.com: A 21st century cyber-weapon . Technology is proliferating at an exponential pace and despite law enforcement's best efforts, cybercrime grows unabated. In coming years, we will witness an explosion in the use of robotics, artificial intelligence, nanotechnology and synthetic biology. There is little to suggest police will be any more prepared for these emerging threats than they were for basic cyber crimes. Our current nation-based legal and policing paradigms have clearly not kept pace with the global threat. The paradigm shifts in crime and terrorism call for a shift to a more open and participatory form of law enforcement. Given the rapid acceleration of technological development, any system that relies on a small, elite force of highly trained government agents may be doomed to failure. Good people in the world far outnumber those with ill intentions. But criminals and terrorists have shown their ability to take up technological arms to harm the general populace. This calls for increased vigilance on the part of ordinary citizens. The tools to change the world are in everybody's hands. How we use them is not just up to me, it's up to all of us. Follow @CNNOpinion on Twitter . | Marc Goodman: It's tempting to think technology will create a future paradise . He warns that all advances can be exploited by criminals, terrorists . Goodman: Criminals have kept a step ahead of police in using some technologies . He says law enforcement can keep pace by seeking help from vigilant citizens . | 5beda2b48036bbc7409d5d5735f78e0c54e36cf0 |
A 19-year-old who was diagnosed with cancer claims that when he asked his boss to take six-weeks off for surgery he was fired. Jonathan Larson worked as a delivery driver at Rosebud Restaurant, an establishment in suburban Chicago until his boss gave him the axe. Larson suffers from cancer of the brain and spine and requires surgery so he asked his manager to take just six-weeks-off. His particular type of cancer is called multifocal myoxopapilary ependyoma and he was diagnosed in 2010 but still muscling through it. SCROLL DOWN FOR VIDEO . Treated Unfairly: Jonathan Larson claims he was fired from his job at Rosebud Restaurant in Chicago because he asked for time off for surgery for his brain and spinal cord cancer . In treatment: Jonathan Larson has been undergoing therapy for brain and spinal cord cancer since 2010 . Fired: Larson was fired from his job as a delivery driver at Rosebud Restaurant when he asked for time off to have surgery for his brain and spinal cord cancer . ‘No, by that time I’ll already have another driver hired. Just leave, I have to make some phone calls,' Larson told NBC his manager said. 'I’m really disappointed and saddened by it. It’s not something I can help.' Larson said he wants an apology from his boss because he feels like he is being punished for something he can't control. 'I would love an apology,' he said. 'It would go a long way to make me feel better about the situation.' Rosebud Restaurant told NBC that they couldn't comment on personal employment matters, 'due to employee and human resources confidentiality standards.' 'For more than thirty-six years Rosebud has been successful through the hard work of our employees,' the statement read. 'We are thoroughly investigating this matter to determine if our processes and protocols were appropriately followed. Rosebud proudly serves the Chicagoland community and considers it our mission to treat all employees fairly.' According to a Facebook page dedicated to Larson's recovery, Larson has been on medication since 2010 and is in the final stages of his recovery. Brave: . Jonathan Larson has been battling cancer since 2011 and feels as though it was unfair of his boss to fire him just because he asked for six-weeks-off to have surgery . Treatment: According to Larson's Facebook these are all of the medicine bottles he used starting March 2011 . Unfair: Larson has requested an apology from the manager at Rosebud Restaurant but no one from the restaurant has agreed to comment specifically on the matter . Feeling weak: After all of the chemotherapy and treatment Larson has a difficult time standing . | Jonathan Larson worked as a delivery driver at Rosebud Restaurant, an establishment in Suburban Chicago until his boss gave him the axe . Larson suffers from cancer of the brain and spine and requires surgery so he asked his manager to take just six-weeks-off . Larson said he felt 'demeaned' and would like an apology . | c660f79cb0fd2428317e8e309f1e310707f0d830 |
Paul McGinley has made no secret of the fact that Ryder Cups are won with great teamwork, so it should come as no surprise to see him and Justin Rose expertly riding a tandem bicycle together. The duo were taking part in a special race against Ian Poulter and Chinese golfer Wu Ashun ahead of this week's BMW Masters in Shanghai. Just as most of McGinley's pairings at Gleneagles worked perfectly in tandem, his ride with Rose looked to be a great success... even if the Englishman admitted afterwards: 'I was hanging on for dear life.' Paul McGinley and Justin Rose ride a tandem bicycle across the fairways at Lake Malaren Golf Club . Rose looks a little worried as the pair head off on their race (left) but appears to have relaxed later (right) Rose and McGinley were racing against Ian Poulter and Wu Ashun in a special race in China . Perhaps the US Ryder Cup taskforce, set up to address their consistent failures in the biennial showpiece against Europe, should take a look at the pictures. Perhaps Phil Mickelon should be encouraged to ride in tandem with the next American captain. Well, good luck with that. The BMW Masters is the first event of the European Tour's season-ending Final Series, which sees the climax of The Race to Dubai. But after Rory McIlroy's spectacular summer, Rose admits he has little chance of catching the Open and US PGA champion to be crowned Europe's No 1 this year. Instead, the former US Open winner has set himself a new target during the next month: reaching No 2 in the world rankings. Rose is currently ranked sixth in the world but has been as high as third following his triumph at Merion last year. He now wants to go one better. Rose, Poulter, Wu and McGinley play from a bunker on the 18th hole prior to the BMW Masters . Poulter tees off during the pro-am event prior to the tournament, which starts on Thursday . Former US Open champion Rose gets in the swing ahead of the first of this year's Final Series events . 'I’m not sure I can catch Rory in The Race to Dubai,' said Rose, who is eighth in the money list but a long way behind the runaway leader. 'But the bonus pool runs deep down to 15th and I want to strengthen my world ranking as much as possible. 'If I can play well and maybe win a couple of tournaments between now and the end of the season, I could probably get up to second in the world, which would be a personal best. So there’s always something to play for.' Poulter arrived at Lake Malaren Golf Club hoping for a happy ending to a difficult season. The Englishman's latest troubling episode was being branded a 'Lil Girl' by PGA of America president Ted Bishop, who was subsequently sacked for his comments. Captain McGinley celebrates winning the Ryder Cup with his team at Gleneagles last month . Poulter currently sits outside the top 60 who earn a place in the season-ending Dubai showpiece. But the Englishman was in a positive frame of mind after arriving in the country where he sealed his biggest career win to date, the WGC-HSBC Champions in 2012. A fun warm-up round of match play against Rose on the course they co-designed at Mission Hills appears to have helped Poulter's mood too. 'It’s always nice to come back to Asia and I’ve got a decent record here,' said Poulter. 'I've played well on this golf course in the past, so I’m looking forward to getting going. 'I’ve been in China for five days, and opening the golf course with Justin was great fun. We had a little match play competition yesterday and he managed to beat me 3 and 2, so it would be nice if I can go one up on him this week.' | Paul McGinley and Justin Rose took part in tandem bike race in China . Opposition at Lake Malaren Golf Club was Ian Poulter and Wu Ashun . Ryder Cup stars are at the BMW Masters for European Tour's Final Series . Rose admits he has little chance of catching Rory McIlroy in Race to Dubai . | 9a87f9f25edd40df0980c4c54fda9608aa4bd6ea |
Customer Graham Tisdale, 60, wrestled a bag of stolen jewellery from a masked gang of robbers after they broke into a shop in Birmingham . A quick-thinking customer bravely wrestled a £50,000 bag of stolen jewellery from a gang of armed robbers - but says he now wonders whether he could have done more. Graham Tisdale, from Burton-on-Trent, was shopping with his family in Selective Gold, Birmingham, when a masked gang of smash-and-grab robbers burst into the store. The robbers packed £80,000 worth of jewellery into two large bags in a raid which took just 48 seconds. But the 60-year-old heroically grabbed one of the bags back from the robbers as they fled the shop. The grandfather said he sprung into action after hearing shop owner John Davis plead with the masked gang. But despite the bag containing £50,000 worth of jewellery, the modest have-a-go hero still wonders if he could have done more to stop the thieves. Mr Tisdale said: . 'When John told them, "you might as well hit me, you’re going to kill me . by taking my business", it hit a nerve, seeing his stress. 'This . was happening to someone who has been very good to us. It wasn’t . premediated. The opportunity arose and I took that opportunity. Scroll down for video . Mr Tisdale, pictured right, heroically grabbed the bag - which contained £50,000 worth of jewellery - after hearing shop owner John Davis, pictured left, plead with the armed robbers . Mr Davis, who owns Selective Gold, said Mr Tisdale's quick thinking actions had saved his . business from going bust . 'There are always the "what ifs?" afterwards. You beat yourself up and ask, "could I have done more?".' Mr Tisdale, a service engineer for Toyota, was buying earrings with his wife, brother and sister-in-law when the incident unfolded. CCTV footage shows the robbers smashing . their way into the shop with sledgehammers and destroying display . cabinets in front of terrified staff and customers. The hooded gang then made off from the shop in Birmingham's jewellery quarter with a £30,000 haul. Today, Mr Tisdale told how he initially thought thebangs were a car back-firing, but then saw the robbers pour in. He said: 'It . seemed like an eternity, but it was very, very quick. They rely on . shock tactics, they shock you, they don’t give you time to gather your . thoughts. Mr Tisdale was captured on the shop's CCTV camera bravely . snatching back one of the bags the robbers had filled. It contained . £50,000 worth of jewellery . 'My wife was diligent and dialled 999 on her mobile, shielded by her sister. 'The bad part is John lost some of his business, but the bonus is saving the bag has helped him to continue with the business.' Mr Tisdale and his wife first met Mr Davis four years ago when they asked the craftsman to make their wedding rings. After the raid, the shop owner praised Mr Tisdale's actions saying he had 'effectively kept him in business'. CCTV from outside the shop shows one of the robbers approaching the reinforced security door with a sledgehammer before breaking in . The masked robber burst into the shop, threatening the store owners and customers with sledgehammers before using them to smash into the glass display cabinets . Customers and staff members look on terrified as the gang of robbers clambered over the glass display cabinets - their identities concealed by masks . The 57-year-old said: 'I have . worked hard building up the business and have not taken a holiday in . three years. 'You do all that and somebody comes in and snatches everything in just 48 seconds. 'The first we knew something was happening was when we heard two massive bangs at the door. 'It was mayhem in the minute that followed and I pleaded with them to not take the jewellery. 'I . said they may as well kill me because the last few years have been . really tough. I said: "Please don’t do this, it will ruin me" but they . didn’t care. Mr Davis, who has been in the jewellery trade for 40 years, said Ms Tisdale had 'effectively kept me in business' 'The customer who grabbed the bag from them effectively kept me in business. 'The police . took the bag to check for forensics and we only found out what was in . it when it was handed back. It turned out to be the most valuable bag . they had. 'Had they escaped with it, £30,000-worth of losses would have turned into £80,000. It was a very brave thing for him to do. 'Without the bag I would have had to shut the shop. I think he saw how stressed I was and he made an instinctive grab for it.' The robbers look at the jewellery in the cabinets before shattering the glass in one and packing the jewellery into two large bags . The gang ransacked the shop in less than a minute before making off with £30,000 worth of jewellery. Police were able to use the remaining bag to check for forensic evidence . Shop owner Mr Davis, a father-of-two, described how the robbers packed two large bags with jewellery in under 48 seconds. He said he has had to increase his security since the raid . Father-of-two Mr Davis, who has been in the trade for more than 40 years, said he was now terrified the raiders would return. He said: 'I wish there was more security in the area for traders. The police station has closed, but this is a high-risk area. 'I . have had to increase my own security measures. I assume a lot is going . on in the background with the police investigation, but I have heard . nothing from them. 'As . well as the financial loss the other big issue is the lasting impact. You are always on edge and worried it will happen again, but I just have . to plod on with what I have left.' Mr Tisdale, from Burton-on-Trent, said he sprung into action after hearing Mr Davis plead with the gang of masked robbers . Mr Davis said that it was the act of the customer that has . saved his shop, which he said had been facing financial trouble . A photo of Selective Gold after the raid shows one of the glass cabinets smashed, left, with jewellery taken from inside. West Midlands Police are now investigating the raid . The robbers broke into the store in the city's Jewellery Quarter at 10.40am on August 26. West Midlands Police confirmed officers were investigating the raid. The . force appealed for witnesses who saw suspicious activity near the shop, . or who saw the crooks escape in the direction of Warstone Lane, to come . forward. Anyone with information should call detectives on 101 or Crimestoppers, in confidence, on 0800 555 111. | Graham Tisdale was in Selective Gold, Birmingham, when robbers broke in . They used sledgehammers to grab £80,000 worth of goods from cabinets . But Mr Tisdale snatched back one bag of stolen jewellery as gang fled shop . It contained £50,000 worth of goods - and saved business from going bust . 60-year-old jumped into action after hearing owner plead with intruders . Jeweller John Davis, 57, praised Mr Tisdale for saving his business . | ec065cf57c6764ae194ecb4314fde7afd6b6170f |
Ashley is sick of women being made to feel guilty for having a baby 'too late' At some point in the past few years, for me at least, Fertility has really become the F word. It's a notion that inspires guilt and regret in those of us over 40 as we are pummelled daily in the press for 'leaving it too late' and panic for those in their 20's and 30's, regularly admonished to forgoe both financial and emotional security in order to have babies immediately, in particular by successful, insanely wealthy television presenters who did nothing of the sort. For women in the thick of it, it's getting to be rather ugly. Regularly patronised by (predominantly male) doctors and lectured by smug married, financially well off mothers who offer unsolicited advice – fertility just isn't fun anymore. Additionally, I think the words that most of us associate with fertility with are other F words, like failure or fear. The failure to establish a stable relationship with a man who also wants children in his early 30's (which by the way is almost none of them) or the failure of your body to do what you always believed it could do. As a first time mother at 40, I understand these feelings all too well. Having your fertility tested, prodded, talked about and analysed at the same moment you are passionate about having a baby is utterly terrifying, no matter what your age or challenges. As an older woman who wants to get pregnant it is especially unpleasant. You are often made to feel as if you did something wrong. You know what? You didn't. Life and opportunities happen the way that they do for some of us and some things are simply out of our control. That is, if you believe in creating a child with someone you love, who is stable and emotionally involved, which I did. As I headed like an unstoppable bullet train towards 40, fertility became the word I most dreaded reading in newspaper headlines, most of which were heralding yet another new study outlining yet again how the odds were stacked against me. The sad truth of the matter though, as it is with most unpleasant realities, these things can't really be avoided; they exist whether we like them or not. And whilst It's undeniable that there is a lot of fear surrounding this word 'fertility', waiting to develop courage to tackle it is just another form of procrastination. As someone once said, the most successful people take action while they're still afraid. Next week is National Fertility Week aiming to help couples who are trying to get pregnant . And so, if you're like me, National Fertility Week, kicking off October 27-November 2nd is something you approach in equal parts scepticism and trepidation. From what I can gather, the thinking behind it is well intentioned. It's a week-long endeavour offering both men and women information geared to help increase understanding of fertility issues, which affect one in six couples in the UK. Susan Seenan, Chief Executive of the Infertility Network UK, says, 'Almost everyone will know someone who has experienced difficulties conceiving, which hopefully will encourage people to support the week.' There are some good resources available, if you know where to look. It's not all hype and it's not all bad news. And so, if you are someone for whom the word fertility has taken on a particularly unpleasant connotation, perhaps it's time to gently nudge yourself back into the conversation. Three of the UK's top female fertility experts are getting involved. And their voices are worth listening to. For the first time ever, mini-clinics will be offered free of charge to the public, giving women and men the chance to ask questions and gain insight into fertility options . During the week, the UK's leading fertility expert and 'Eat Yourself Pregnant' author Zita West is taking questions and offering advice at Crussh, Fit Food & Juice Bar locations all around London. For the first time ever, mini-clinics will be offered free of charge to the public, giving women and men the chance to ask questions and gain insight into fertility options. These mini-clinics will cover all aspects of fertility: including the role of nutrition, fertility MOTs and IVF information, as well as prepping for IVF. In honour of the event, Crussh will be designing a Zita West 'fertility juice', (from 'Eat Yourself Pregnant') and 50p from the sale of every Deep Cleanse Green Juice will go to the Infertility Network, the UK's leading infertility support network. To get dates and times contact ZitaWest.com or crussh.com . Zita says, 'My aim is to bring fertility awareness to the high street through consultation, in an environment where women and men can have their questions answered by me and my team of experts.' Zita's clinic, under the leadership of the renowned fertility expert Dr George Ndukwe has one of the highest IVF success rates in the world, if that is bit of a push. Launching October 31st, The Baby-Making Bible author Emma Cannon's new e-book, 'Fertility to Family.' Emma says, 'A major part of what I do as a practitioner is to support couples through fertility treatment; giving the patient some fine-tuning with acupuncture, helping the body and helping to create a calm mind. 'I know that food and thought are two of the core pillars that underpin a foundation for health. The process of going through IVF provides it own challenges and there is much you can do to support that process through preparation and during IVF treatment itself.' Emma outlines a healthy eating plan that assists with natural conception as well as a week by week diet for those going through the IVF process, available from October 31 on Amazon. Champneys in Tring is doing a fertility retreat with fertility specialist Dr Marilyn Glenville. The author and expert will offer those attending the 21-23 November course information on how to improve their chances of getting pregnant naturally. Marilyn, who wrote the best-selling Getting Pregnant Faster says: 'I see so many couples in my clinics struggling to conceive, it's always satisfying to help individuals better understand their bodies and what factors can affect their fertility, ensuring they are in the best possible shape to conceive.' Whether we like it or not questions and issues surrounding fertility are here to stay. The announcement this week that some companies are going to pay for female employees to freeze their eggs merely proves that these conversations are just beginning. When asked about overcoming fears on the road to finding success, Bill Cosby once said, 'Decide that you want it more than you are afraid of it.' That's what I'll be doing during National Fertility Week anyway. | Ashley is sick of the stigma that surrounds fertility . She says that it is often a subject that inspires guilt and regret in women . She hopes that National Fertility Week will help to change that . | 3c39658e99dd4e19d24059a555f97aafe0543759 |
Chelsea will be refereed by Mike Dean for the first time since Jose Mourinho blasted him after a defeat by Sunderland. Dean will take charge of the Blues' testing trip to Manchester City, where they look to extend their lead at the top of the Premier League. But there will be no love lost between Mourinho and Dean after Chelsea's 2-1 loss at the tail end of last season. Mike Dean will take charge of this weekend's big match between Manchester City and Chelsea . Chelsea assistant manager Rui Faria was sent to the stands by Premier League official Mike Dean . Saturday September 20 . QPR V Stoke - Martin Atkinson . Aston Villa v Arsenal - Mike Jones . Burnley v Sunderland - Anthony Taylor . Newcastle v Hull - Neil Swarbrick . Swansea v Southampton - Jonathan Moss . West Ham v Liverpool - Craig Pawson . Sunday September 21 . Leicester v Manchester United - Mark Clattenburg . Tottenham v West Brom - Kevin Friend . Everton v Crystal Palace - Michael Oliver . Manchester City v Chelsea - Mike Dean . Dean awarded a penalty against Cesar Azpilicueta for a challenge on Jozy Altidore, with Fabio Borini tucking home from the spot to end Mourinho's unblemished home record. He then sent Blues assistant boss Rui Faria to the stands after Faria protested the decision furiously. Mourinho sarcastically congratulated the officials after the match, when at the time it looked like Liverpool would win the title. Mourinho said aftet the April clash: ‘The first [point] is to congratulate my players. They did everything they could, playing from the first minute to the last seconds, and deserved that. Sometimes we praise the players when we win. I think it’s fair to praise my players after the defeat. ‘Secondly, congratulations to Sunderland. It doesn’t matter how, why or in which way they won, they won. They won three fantastic points. I think it’s also fair to congratulate them. Sunderland striker Fabio Borini scored from the penalty spot after Dean awarded his side a penalty . ‘Third point, I want to congratulate again Mike Dean. I think his performance was unbelievable and I think when referees have unbelievable performances, I think it’s fair that as managers we give them praise. So, fantastic performance. He came here with one objective. To make a fantastic performance. And he did that. ‘And fourth, congratulations also to Mike Riley, the referees’ boss. What they are doing through the whole season is fantastic, especially in the last couple of months, and in teams involved in the title race. Absolutely fantastic.’ Mourinho was later fined £10,000 by the Football Association, but insists he has no issue with Dean, or referees’ chief Mike Riley. Mark Clattenburg will take control of Manchester United's fixture against Leicester on Sunday . | Jose Mourinho was not happy with Mike Dean at the tail end of last season . Referee Dean sent Mourinho's Chelsea assistant Rui Faria to the stands . Mark Clattenburg will take charge of Manchester United's game at Leicester . | d58f5616f94dff47f45bc8ceff7118f99d0fdad0 |
The White House repeatedly declined on Tuesday to offer legal justification for President Barack Obama's forthcoming executive order calling off deportations for certain classes of illegal immigrants. Repeating a statement from the president over the weekend, White House Press Secretary Josh Earnest told reporters today that the executive branch would offer an explanation for its actions after Obama had made his announcement . Obama himself had suggested multiple times that he could not go around Congress to freeze deportations because the president is not a 'king'' or an 'emperor' - remarks his spokesman was reminded of today by ABC News' Jon Karl. The Obama administration official wouldn't say if Obama stood by that statement yet indicated in his response that since the president said that, the Departments of Justice and Homeland Security had reviewed the law and come to the conclusion that there are unilateral actions the president can take. Scroll down for video . White House Press Secretary Josh Earnest told reporters today that the executive branch would offer an explanation for its unilateral immigration actions after President Barack Obama had made a formal announcement . He would not reveal the results of that review to reporters, fearing that it would tip them off to the contents of the president's upcoming declaration. According to reports, Obama's executive order, which could come as early as Friday, will cover roughly 5 million illegal immigrants who were either brought to the U.S. as children or have young children living in the U.S. The anticipated measures are seemingly outside the legal boundaries that President Obama, who is a constitutional lawyer by trade, set for himself in remarks on multiple occasions in the past. During a February 2013 Google Hangout an immigration activist asked him what authority he had to keep families from being 'broken apart' until Congress passed immigration reforms. Obama told him: 'This is something that I have struggled with throughout my presidency. The problem is, is that I’m the president of the United States, I’m not the emperor of the United States. My job is to execute laws that are passed.' In 2010 he explained at a Univision town hall, 'I am president, I am not king,' and therefore he could not personally issue a stay of deportation for 8 million immigrants who would be eligible to stay in the U.S. if comprehensive immigration reforms were enacted by Congress. 'I can’t do these things just by myself,' he said to the chagrin of immigration activists. In September of last year, Obama told then-Univision host Jose Diaz-Balart that he couldn't expand his Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals to the parents of illegal immigrants because that would fall into a gray area legally. 'If we start broadening that, then essentially I’ll be ignoring the law in a way that I think would be very difficult to defend legally,' Obama said. 'So that’s not an option.' But that's exactly what the president is gearing up to do now, sources familiar with a 10-point plan Obama is considering told Fox News last week. He may also enlarge DACA to include illegal immigrants of any age who were under 16 when they were brought to the U.S. Currently the executive order requires them to have lived in the U.S. since June 2007 and be under be under the age of 31. The aggrandized rule would allegedly bump the cut-off date up to January 2010. President Obama is pictured here during a meeting with his national security and public health teams today at the White House. Seated to Obama's far left is Jeh Johnson, Secretary of Homeland Security, one of Obama's top immigration advisers. The White House said today that a review conducted by Johnson and Attorney General Eric Holder found that Obama has the authority to make some changes to the immigration system . Earnest today refused to comment on the rumors and suggested that the president may not have even received DHS' recommendations for action yet. The president was so busy during his trip to Asia last week, Earnest said, that he didn't really have time to think about immigration reform. Grilled by Karl about what had changed since Obama asserted that the didn't have the authority to shield additional groups of illegal immigrants from mandatory removal proceedings, Earnest said that not only had the Attorney General and Secretary of Homeland Security assured the president of his authority, the political climate had shifted. At the time Obama made those claims, comprehensive immigration reform was still being debated by Congress, Earnest explained. The Senate passed that legislation in 2013 but the House did not, he noted, and now there's little to no chance that Republicans in the lower chamber will take up immigration legislation in the near future, creating an opening for Obama to issue his own measures. Confronted with the argument that Republican leadership in the House was refusing to allow a vote on the president's preferred immigration reform legislation long before Obama's comments last fall, Earnest again pointed to the recent of the law by administration officials whose departments handle immigration. The dodge came after the president himself refused over the weekend to share the legal rationale for his actions. Obama was asked about the perceived flip-flop during a press conference in Brisbane, Australia on Sunday. The president claimed at that time that his 'position hasn’t changed' since his 2010 remarks. 'When I was talking to the advocates, their interest was in me, through executive action, duplicating the legislation that was stalled in Congress,' he stated, referencing the Univision town hall. 'And getting a comprehensive deal of the sort that is in the Senate legislation, for example, does extend beyond my legal authorities. There are certain things I cannot do. There are certain limits to what falls within the realm of prosecutorial discretion in terms of how we apply existing immigration laws.' Obama said the White House had been working with the Office of Legal Counsel to determine what he could in fact do and has been advised that it is within his administration's authority to take such actions such as 'reallocating resources and reprioritizing since we can’t do everything.' 'And it’s on that basis that I’ll be making a decision about any executive actions that I might take,' Obama stated, before claiming as he has many times before that this entire debate would cease if Congress would 'pass a bill I can sign on this issue.' That law would should include a solution that 'solves our border problems, improves our legal immigration system, and provides a pathway for the 11 million people who are here working in our kitchens, working in farms, making beds in hotels. 'Everybody knows they’re there, we’re not going to deport all of them,' he pointed out. 'We’d like to see them being able, out in the open, to pay their taxes, pay a penalty, get right with the law. 'Give me a bill that addresses those issues -- I’ll be the first one to sign it and, metaphorically, I’ll crumple up whatever executive actions that we take and we’ll toss them in the wastebasket, because we will now have a law that addresses these issues.' In reviewing Obama's previous remarks, the Washington Post 's fact-checking division ruled that the president had in fact changed his position on executive authority to act on immigration over the years, despite claiming that he hadn't. The misleading statement earned him a mild slap on the wrist and one of the publication's upside down Pinocchios. | Obama's spokesman told reporters today the executive branch would offer an explanation after Obama's formal announcement . He noted that since Obama's previous statements his legal advisers had indicated that there are some actions he can take unilaterally . The president also changed his calculus because House Republicans refused to pass comprehensive reforms, he said . At a press conference on Sunday Obama said he is able to reallocate resources and reprioritize deportation 'since we can’t do everything' | 80fa67312d01ea925f201a2bda79f9d71db50d10 |
(CNN) -- The optics, as they say, were good. U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry and his Russian counterpart Sergei Lavrov smiled and joked at the Geneva news conference that wrapped up three days of talks on how to dismantle Syria's chemical weapons arsenal. By their own acknowledgment, the framework agreed upon is very ambitious. It will involve ramping up the work of a little-known outfit called the Organization for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons, an organization so little known that Kerry and Lavrov both called it the Organization for the Prevention of Chemical Weapons. The two sides agreed that to keep up the momentum of the process, the normal timetable for the organization's work must be jettisoned. The framework notes that "the United States and the Russian Federation believe that these extraordinary procedures are necessitated by the prior use of these weapons in Syria," carefully not assigning blame for their use. U.S., Russia agree to framework on Syria chemical weapons . So expedited is this process that the Syrian government is expected to provide a full list of its chemical weapons stocks within one week, including their "location and form of storage, production, and research and development facilities." Further, "the elimination process must include the facilities for the development and production of these weapons," according to the agreement. The Assad regime may argue that parts of some facilities (such as the Scientific Studies and Research Center in Damascus) have other purposes and would therefore be off-limits to inspectors. That was a regular source of friction between Saddam Hussein's government in Iraq and the UNSCOM inspectors deployed to flush out its weapons of mass destruction. Read the framework of the agreement . One critical part of the deal is that the two sides say they now have a "shared assessment of the amount and type of chemical weapons involved," even though U.S. officials have in recent days given conflicting views on just how much Syria may have and where it may be. For the past few months both Israeli and U.S. sources have indicated that the Assad regime has been dispersing its chemical weapons stocks. But Kerry implied that the regime may have moved its chemical weapons into safer (and therefore more accessible) sites. The two sides also agreed that a U.N. Security Council resolution will be drafted to give international blessing to the OPCW's mission. Kerry said: "We have committed to impose measures under Chapter VII in the U.N. Security Council." But no one expects any specific mention in that resolution of the possibility of military action. That option -- at least in a multilateral setting -- is a can being kicked down the road. Russia and the United States have agreed that "in the event of noncompliance, including unauthorized transfer, or any use of chemical weapons by anyone in Syria, the U.N. Security Council should impose measures under Chapter VII of the U.N. Charter." "Measures" can take the form of sanctions as well as military action. The U.S. State Department has used the formula "consequences for noncompliance," and at the news conference Kerry said the response of the international community would have to be commensurate with any violation. Down the track, there may well be heated debate about what is "commensurate." Kerry stressed that President Obama still had the right as commander-in-chief to take unilateral action to protect U.S. interests, but said he would not be drawn on what the remedy "might be for circumstances we don't even know yet." Keep up with the latest developments in Syria . The agreement insists on "the immediate and unfettered right to inspect any and all sites in Syria," but there are a multitude of ways to obstruct this. What if the regime drew rebel groups into a battle for a critical road artery that then became unusable to the OPCW teams? And who would protect the inspectors? The agreement notes the "primary responsibility of the Syrian government in this regard." Other logistical headaches: What sort of transport would be required to move the arsenal out of Syria? Given the regional neighborhood and the fact that the regime is not in control of many border crossings, shipping the agents and equipment out by air may be the preferred option. Interestingly, the agreement specified the possibility "of consolidation and destruction in the coastal area of Syria," an area largely controlled by the government. The greatest obstacle to the process agreed to in Geneva is events on the ground. OPCW inspectors are expected to complete their initial assessment, as well as the destruction of production equipment and mixing and filling equipment, by the end of November. The Kerry-Lavrov agreement aims for "removal of the largest amounts of weapons feasible, under OPCW supervision, and their destruction outside of Syria, if possible." The chaotic battle-lines across Syria, and the need for inspectors to visit and secure perhaps as many as 50 sites across the country, may make that task formidable. Still to be established: Who would protect convoys carrying these chemical agents to a central location? Would rebel groups (hardly a coherent force) agree to a ceasefire where chemical weapons are being collected and moved? The rebels' military command has already rejected the idea of a truce. The U.N. inspectors in Iraq spent seven years trying to uncover and destroy its weapons of mass destruction program. There were hundreds of inspectors and technicians on the ground, part of an organization that had backroom staff, the support of the U.N. Security Council and a substantial budget. While Saddam's WMD arsenal was probably much greater than is Syria's, the UNSCOM inspectors were not working in the middle of a civil war. So the Russian-U.S. accord is perhaps understating the magnitude of the task at hand when it talks of "ambitious goals for the removal and destruction of all categories of chemical weapons-related materials and equipment with the objective of completing such removal and destruction in the first half of 2014." The glaring "asterisk" in the framework agreement is close to the end where both sides "note that there are details in furtherance of the execution of this framework that need to be addressed on an expedited basis in the coming days." But the Framework agreement and its annexes represent a remarkable and rapid advance in U.S.-Russian cooperation on Syria. Both Kerry and Lavrov stressed their constant contact on this and many other issues, with the Russian foreign minister pointing out that the agreement showed the United States and Russia could get results. If public appearances are any guide, they have a relaxed and collegial relationship. And both dared to suggest that this agreement might open the window toward an even more ambitious goal, creating the conditions for political negotiations between the Syrian government and opposition. Kerry reiterated in his opening remarks that the Syrian conflict would only be solved by political negotiation. Both he and Lavrov spent time with U.N. envoy Lakhdar Brahimi while in Geneva, the man charged with the hitherto impossible task of bringing the Syrian government and rebels together. McCain responds to Putin's op-ed, with his own . | U.S., Russia agrees the framework is ambitious . Syria expected to provide a full list of its chemical weapons stocks in one week . Method that will be used to transport chemical weapons is an issue . Inspectors are to assess and destroy weapons by the end of November . | 7a16cbff30b8ac39a21fea4cb0ccc10e043066d6 |
By . Tom Kelly . and Neil Sears . and Larisa Brown . and Richard Marsden . PUBLISHED: . 20:49 EST, 2 January 2014 . | . UPDATED: . 12:52 EST, 3 January 2014 . 'Talented': Valerie Graves ran her own craft studio and gallery called Fin Taw at the Harestanes Countryside Visitor Centre in Roxburghshire . Devastated relatives of a grandmother found murdered at the £1.6million home she was house-sitting yesterday paid tribute to the ‘free spirited’ artist who had recently moved from Scotland to be closer to her family. Valerie Graves’s family said in a statement that her murder had been a ‘complete shock’ after they had all enjoyed Christmas together at the house in a village which has featured in ITV crime drama Midsomer Murders. Meanwhile it is thought that 55-year-old Miss Graves’s sister Janet, 60, her architect partner Nigel Acres, 59, and elderly mother Eileen, who were believed to be in the property when her body was found on Monday morning, have had their phones confiscated by detectives. A 14ft motor boat and a silver Lexus 4x4 with personalised number plates have also been removed from the property which has its own pool house and a jetty. And forensics officers yesterday searched a creek at the back of the house in Bosham, West Sussex. As they appealed for anyone with information to come forward, Miss Graves’s family said in a statement: ‘Val was a free spirit who enjoyed her life and was a talented artist, about to embark on a new path involving ceramics. She was an eternal student, who was always hungry for a new challenge. ‘She had recently moved back to Sussex from Scotland to be closer to her family and we were lucky enough to spend a family Christmas together.’ Ernie Mears, 80, who is a close friend of Miss Graves’s mother, enjoyed a meal with her family at the home they were house sitting on Boxing Day. He said: ‘I’ve been very worried about Valerie’s mum Eileen as I haven’t been able to get hold of her since this happened to find out if she is OK. ‘I eventually spoke to Nigel on New Year’s Day. He told me the detectives had taken their mobiles and things away. ‘This has all been terribly upsetting for them.’ Scroll down for video . Looking for clues: Police officers search the area surrounding the £1.6million home in Bosham, West Sussex, where Miss Graves was found dead on Monday. She had suffered severe head and facial injuries . Lavish: The house on Smugglers Lane in Bosham which Miss Graves had been housesitting when she was murdered . Mr Mears, a retired builder, said . police took fingerprints and DNA samples from him as part of the . elimination process as they search for clues pointing to Miss Graves’s . killer. He added that the . Christmas celebration ‘was not as happy as normal’ when he joined Miss . Graves’s family last week, because she and her two grown up children, . Jemima and Tim, were not there. He . said: ‘Whether she had taken them back to London or to other relatives I . do not know. It was not one of the happiest days, like Christmas Day . last year. We usually play bingo and Jan would have got prizes in – it . was festive. This year, being Boxing Day, there just wasn’t the same . atmosphere.’ Questioned: Roy Wood - the father Miss Graves' two grown-up children - was questioned for several hours on New Year's Day but not arrested . Meanwhile naked pictures have appeared on a sex website purporting to show the home’s owner, 66-year-old millionaire entrepreneur and company director Malcolm Chamberlain. The profile beneath them, which the married father of two says was not posted by him, describes him as ‘VERY wealthy’ and says he is interested in ‘casual sex, discreet relationships and threesomes’. Paul Dixon, a lawyer representing Mr Chamberlain who is currently on holiday with his wife Caroline, 63, and their children, said: ‘He doesn’t know who put the profile and pictures on the website, but it was not him. It is something he is planning on looking into when he gets back.’ Miss Graves was discovered with severe head and facial injuries. Police say they are keeping an open mind on the circumstances of her death and have not ruled out the possibility of a break in. Former rock band roadie Roy Wood – the father Miss Graves’ two grown-up children – was questioned for several hours on New Year’s Day but not arrested or cautioned. The 65-year-old yesterday declined to comment at his home in Brighton. Miss Graves, who had a degree in textiles, ran her own craft studio and gallery called Fin Taw at the Harestanes Countryside Visitor Centre in Roxburghshire. | Valerie Graves's family tell of they 'complete shock' at her murder . Three relatives at the house understood to have had phones confiscated . | 3938a49c66ccb00a29e87f69adcb38bd6f5a9810 |
Derry, New Hampshire (CNN) -- The war over women arrived in New Hampshire this week -- in the form of a press release. "New Shaheen Campaign Ad Highlights Scott Brown's Anti-Choice Record and Extreme Bill He Introduced," reporters were informed Tuesday morning by email, just hours before Sen. Jeanne Shaheen was to host a women's-themed campaign event in Derry. Shaheen's ad is a brutal one -- particularly against someone who is a self-proclaimed "pro-choice independent Republican." In ominous tones, the ad reveals that when he was a state legislator in Massachusetts, the state Brown used to live in and later represented in the U.S. Senate, he backed a bill that would "force women considering abortion to look at color photographs of developing fetuses." Though Democrats in tough races nationwide have been running on women's issues for the better part of a year, the message had not taken center stage in New Hampshire's Senate race until this week. The shift foreshadows what could be a rough and tumble end to election season in this typically tranquil New England state. Brown is less vulnerable to the "war on women" attack than other down-the-line conservative Republicans -- one reason the issue is only now surfacing in the race. Beyond his pro-choice stance, he has broken with his party by supporting the Violence Against Women Act and funding for Planned Parenthood. But Shaheen's new offensive struck a nerve, forcing Brown to throw together a slapdash press conference to respond to her "despicable attacks." He was thrown off-message on a day when he was supposed to be talking about foreign policy and tying Shaheen to President Obama and his in-the-dumps poll numbers. The next morning, Brown went up with a defensive television ad stressing his support for abortion rights and accusing the senator of running a "smear campaign." Shaheen, a cunning, no-holds-barred campaigner despite her pleasant demeanor, is leaving nothing to chance as she clings to a steady single-digit lead in a treacherous political environment for Democrats. In the latest poll of the race this week, from WMUR and the University of New Hampshire, Shaheen led Brown by 6 points, but she was topping out at 47%: the under-50 danger zone for any incumbent. But she has a healthy 15-point advantage among likely women voters, and is doing everything she can to keep it that way. "You get the sense this race could turn at just a moment's notice," said James Pindell, the always-on political director at Manchester television station WMUR. Pindell was joining me for a slice of pepperoni at Romano's Pizza in Derry for this week's episode of "Hambycast." "The race seems to be primed for that," Pindell said. "It gets all the attention in this state. This state has got four major races. We have two congressional races and a competitive governor's race. But all people talk about is Shaheen and Brown, every single day." At her lone campaign event Tuesday, inside a Derry-based food incubator called Creative Chef Kitchens, Shaheen rattled through a laundry list of female-focused issues she supports — equal pay, access to contraception, abortion rights — as a small crowd of women nodded in approval. The message was heavy-handed and impossible to miss, but Shaheen put an exclamation point on it just in case: "Scott Brown," she said, "is being disingenuous when he says he is pro-choice." Reporters surrounded her after her appearance. One asked her why she waited until October to thrust women's issues into the campaign, using "probably the most negative ad of the campaign." Shaheen has highlighted the topic before, memorably in July, after Brown hid in a restaurant bathroom when a reporter asked him about the Supreme Court's controversial decision in Burwell vs. Hobby Lobby that allowed corporations to deny birth control coverage in their insurance plans. But her campaign had not put money behind a television ad on women's health before, particularly such a blistering one. "I think this is something that we planned to talk about all along," Shaheen responded. "I think access to health care, access to reproductive choice is critical to women. I've worked on it my entire career. This is an issue that is important to women and families. Ninety-nine percent of women use contraceptives at some point in their lives." Then I asked Shaheen about Brown's topic of choice: President Obama, whose disapproval ratings in New Hampshire approach 60%. What is it about him, exactly, that Democrats are so wary of? Shaheen would rather not talk about Obama, which is why Brown spent their first one-on-one debate on Monday reminding voters that the senator has voted with the president "99% of the time." It's one reason he has seized on the ascendancy of ISIS, the terrorist group roiling Syria and Iraq, and border security. National security is becoming a winning talking point, Republican operatives here argue, claiming it scores points among the very women Shaheen is trying to keep in her fold. "There is a leadership void," Brown said at an event Tuesday in Derry, where he was joined by Florida Sen. Marco Rubio, a foreign policy hawk and potential presidential candidate in 2016. "Our allies don't trust us, and our foes don't fear or respect us." Like Republican candidates across the country, Brown wants the race to be about national issues. Shaheen does not, so she brings up another sore point for Brown: his decision to sell his home in Massachusetts last year and move to the Granite State to run for Senate. Brown is not exactly a carpetbagger -- he's long owned property in New Hampshire and many thousands of people have moved here from somewhere else thanks to the low tax rates — but it's still a reliable campaign jab. "This race is not about President Obama," Shaheen said. "This race is about Scott Brown and me. I know that Scott Brown would like to be running against the President, because he has not done anything in New Hampshire, he doesn't have a history here, he just moved here. I have spent my entire professional life here in New Hampshire." | Jeanne Shaheen releases a campaign ad hitting Scott Brown's record on abortion . Brown identifies as a "pro-choice independent Republican" Shaheen leads Brown by 6 points in latest poll . | 8c09f918088fe034ac6a836b67717368e8f0437c |
(CNN) -- A recent commentary by James Walker in CNN.com's opinion section grossly mischaracterized the cruise industry's practices and record, claiming that the industry is "largely unregulated" and "largely accountable to countries like Panama or the Bahamas." Nothing could be further from the truth. Essentially every aspect of the cruise industry is heavily regulated and monitored under national and international maritime laws for many purposes, the most important of which is to protect the safety of passengers and crew. A U.N. agency -- the International Maritime Organization -- mandates global standards for the safe operation of cruise ships through its 170-member governments, including the United States. These regulations are extensive and wide-ranging. They start with the design and construction of the ship and extend to the operation of the vessel, the emergency equipment on board, and scenarios for emergency situations, including the evacuation of a ship. Regulation of the cruise industry involves many levels of enforcement -- the international; the flag state or the flag of the country that the ship is registered in; and the port state (the country a ship is visiting.) For example, cruise ships that operate from U.S. ports are subject to strict U.S oversight and enforcement of international laws and regulations as well as all applicable federal laws of the United States. This oversight enforcement is carried out primarily by the U.S. Coast Guard. Opinion: What cruise lines don't want you to know . Most significantly, this means that any ship entering a U.S. port, no matter what country's flag it sails under, is subject to U.S. Coast Guard examination for compliance with international and applicable U.S. regulatory standards, especially those related to safety. The coast safety regulation enforcement of the U.S. Coast Guard begins at the concept or design stage for new cruise ships and continues throughout the ship's entire time of service. At any time, the responsible Coast Guard captain of a port can prevent any cruise ship from departing if a serious violation of any regulation is found or any dangerous condition exists. Contrary to what the op-ed's author says, significant fires on board ships are rare. The global cruise industry has robust regulatory measures to protect passengers and crew. Fire safety regulations are continuously enhanced and have reduced the frequency and severity of fires. The last major overhaul of fire safety regulations entered into force in 2010, and those regulations remain the subject of continuous review and updating. Every oceangoing ship in the Cruise Line International Association fleet must carry firefighting teams made up of crew members. They receive formal firefighting training and regular drills to ensure a rapid response in the unlikely event of a fire. The average oceangoing cruise ship has about 4,000 smoke detectors, 500 fire extinguishers, 16 miles of sprinkler piping, 5,000 sprinkler heads and six miles of fire hose. Opinion: My celebration trip on the Carnival Triumph . Jobs in the cruise industry are highly sought after, and crew members have opportunities for career advancement. The industry offers opportunities not available for many crew members in their home countries, allowing them to support families, pay for college and even start their own businesses. Beyond wages, crew members are provided free room and board in a clean, well-maintained environment. They receive cruise-line sponsored medical care at no cost. And the cruise industry maintains strict workplace standards set by the International Maritime Organization and the International Labor Organization -- both U.N. agencies. The cruise industry also takes steps to prevent its people from bringing norovirus, which causes gastrointestinal illness, on board. About 10.3 million passengers embarked on Cruise Lines International Association ships from a U.S. port in 2012. There were 16 cases of cruise ship norovirus outbreaks reported to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention last year, involving about 2,600 passengers out of those 10.3 million. To put this in perspective, the CDC reports norovirus causes about 20 million cases of gastroenteritis a year. Opinion: How Carnival can clean up the PR mess . The cruise industry is subject to strict international regulation and oversight and fully promotes policies and practices that foster a safe, secure and healthy cruise ship environment. There's no doubt that cruising is one of the safest, affordable and enjoyable vacation experiences available today, which explains why a record 20.6 million passengers worldwide enjoyed a cruise vacation in 2011. The opinions expressed in this commentary are solely those of Bud Darr. | Bud Darr objects to op-ed that criticized cruise industry . He says the industry is heavily regulated and monitored under maritime laws . Cruise ships entering U.S. ports must be examined by Coast Guard, he says . Despite headlines and criticism, fires and illnesses are rare on ships, Darr says . | a5d98ab1164c486d5903b33e67cf62884ede8b43 |
Oregon State University is firing first lady Michelle Obama's brother Craig Robinson as head coach of their men's basketball team. A source told Sports Illustrated about the sacking on Monday, which brings to a close Robinson's six-year term with the Pac-12 team. While the president's brother-in-law ends his tenure with a losing record of 93-104 and no NCAA tournament appearances, he was once a beacon of hope for the sub-par Beavers. Out of office: First lady Michelle Obama's brother Craig Robinson has been fired as head coach for Oregon State University's men's basketball team. Pictured above at a tournament game against the University of Washington in Los Angeles in March 2012 . In his first year on the job, Robinson inherited a team that lost 21 straight Pac-10 games, turning the crew around for a 19-win season in 2008-2009. But this season the team finished with a lackluster 16-16 record and are now losing all of their starting players. However, the Beavers' failing record is unsurprising for a team which hasn't made it to the NCAA tournament since 1990. Jay John, who coached the team before Robinson, ended his five plus seasons with the Beavers with an even worse 28-68 record. Political connections: Robinson is the brother of first lady Michelle Obama and started at Oregon State the same year his brother-in-law was elected president. Pictured above with his sister at the Democratic National Convention in September 2012 . Robinson still has three more years remaining in his contract which means the school is set to owe him more than $4million. Robinson started at the Corvallis, Oregon college the same year Barack Obama was elected president. During his six years with the team, Robinson brought the West Coast team to DC for a few games. In November, the president, first lady and daughters Malia and Sasha watched court-side as the Beavers beat Maryland. First family supporters: The president, first lady and daughters Malia and Sasha watched the Oregon State Beavers battle the University of Akron while on vacation in Hawaii last December . Robinson even helped secure his sister as commencement speaker for the school in 2012. It's unclear where Robinson will head next, but his brother-in-law, a noted basketball aficionado, has often spoke about his talent as a coach. 'Craig Robinson is an outstanding coach. ... Anybody in Oregon and anybody who knows sports knows he turned it around. He loves Corvallis and I'm sure that as a young, successful coach he's going to start getting offers,' Mr Obama said in 2009. Big speech: Robinson even helped secure his sister as Oregon State's commencement speaker in 2012 . | Craig Robinson has been the coach of the Oregon State Beavers since the 2008-2009 season - the same year his brother-in-law became president . There are still three more years in his contract which means the school will owe him $4million . He finishes his six years with Oregon State on a 93-104 losing record . However, the Beavers struggled before Robinson's arrival and haven't been to the NCAA tournament since 1990 . Over the years, the president, first lady and daughters Malia and Sasha have attended several Oregon State games . In 2012, Robinson helped secure his sister as commencement speaker for the Corvallis, Oregon school . Robinson has four children . | 86f1dd468c615ab758a8f8c74b307cd408127d94 |
By . Anucyia Victor for MailOnline . Tourists on a Jet2.com flight from Malaga refused to fly home after a suspicious passenger started taking photos of the plane and cabin crew. The flight was left stranded on the runway for more than two hours after the passenger was led off in handcuffs and questioned by Spanish police. A total of 36 passengers abandoned the flight when the man was later allowed back on board. Scroll down for video . Tense atmosphere: Passengers on the Jet2.com flight from Malaga panicked when a man started acting suspiciously, taking photos of the cabin crew and the plane . Some passengers claimed air stewardesses were crying and one asked who would look after her children if anything happened. Nick Taylor, 40, from Blackburn, Lancashire, left the plane with his wife and son and paid £1,000 for new flights home. He said: 'I had to make a decision, do I risk my family for the sake of £1,000? 'The air hostesses were crying and there was a scuffle at the front of the plane. There was a very tense atmosphere. 'If they'd given us any reassurance or explanation it would have calmed the situation but it got to the point where there could have been a riot.' MailOnline has discovered that some flight passengers have been forced to remain in Malaga, forking out for their own accommodation as they were unable to book flights until Saturday. A beauty therapist who was among the passengers had to warn her clients she would not be in the salon because of what she described on Facebook as a ‘horrendous incident’. The 'agitated' passenger launched into a series of bizarre antics when his request to see the cockpit was rejected. The man, described as in his early 30s and of African descent, took pictures of the plane and cabin crew before taking a selfie and snapping his phone's SIM card and throwing it down a toilet. 'The air hostesses were crying and there was a scuffle at the front of the plane', said passenger Nick Taylor who left the plane with his wife and son . The man was eventually allowed to return to his seat and the flight landed in Manchester two hours later than scheduled . Airport staff and Spanish police carried out security checks before eventually letting the man return to his seat. Another passenger, who asked not to be named, said: 'As soon as the man got back on the plane the captain ordered for the door to be shut and began making the usual announcements without consulting his staff or passengers. 'A stewardess knocked on the cockpit door and returned saying if she got off the plane she'd be sacked. She said she told head office they should look after her kids if anything happened.' The flight landed in Manchester at 3.45pm - around two hours later than scheduled. The 36 passengers were told to make their own arrangements to get home and were later booked on a flight to Leeds and transferred via minibus. A Jet2.com spokesman said: 'A number of our passengers chose not to travel because they weren't happy travelling with a fellow passenger, despite that person clearing all required security checks.' | Jet2.com flight from Malaga stranded on runway for more than two hours . Man led off in handcuffs and questioned by Spanish police . 36 tourists refuse to fly after he was later allowed back on board the plane . | 5b144a683d4a75adc51c4da654068112d8c3548b |
London (CNN) -- An increasingly bitter dispute between the United Kingdom and Iceland over billions of dollars lost when banks collapsed is likely to end up in court, a top British government minister said Sunday. The British government has "an obligation to get that money back, and we will continue to pursue that until we do," said Danny Alexander, the chief secretary of the Treasury. He was speaking Sunday after Iceland's people voted to repeal a law aimed at solving the dispute. Six out of 10 voters in the referendum on Saturday opposed the law, the government said in a statement Sunday, saying turnout was high. Alexander called Saturday's Icelandic vote "disappointing," adding, "We have a very difficult financial position as a country ... This money would help." "There is a legal process going on and we will carry on through these processes," he said on the BBC's "Andrew Marr" show. The battle results from the collapse of an Icelandic internet bank in October 2008. Britain and the Netherlands came up with more than $5 billion to bail out savers in their own countries who lost money in the failure of Icesave -- an online retail bank branch of Landsbanki. They are now trying to claim the money back from Iceland. Some payments will go ahead later this year, Iceland's government said Sunday, explaining that they were not affected by the vote. "These partial payments are expected to cover close to a third of priority (depositor) claims. Moreover, latest figures on its assets indicate that the estate (of Landsbanki) will be able to pay over 90% of claims for deposits," the government said in a statement. Under a European Union directive, Iceland owes compensation to Britain and the Netherlands. The Icelandic government has said it will honor its international obligations. Netherlands Finance Minister Jan Kees de Jager is "very disappointed about the decision of the Icelandic electorate not to agree with the agreement reached between Iceland, the U.K. and the Netherlands," the Netherlands Finance Ministry said in a statement Sunday. "The time for negotiations is over," de Jager said in the statement. "Iceland remains obliged to repay. The issue is now for the courts to decide." The Netherlands Finance Ministry said it is consulting with the United Kingdom about further steps. The International Monetary Fund loaned Iceland $2.1 billion in November 2009, and said repaying the money to the British and Dutch governments was a requirement of the loan. Iceland has begun moves toward applying for European Union membership, which Britain and the Netherlands could block. CNN's Bharati Naik contributed to this report. | NEW: The Netherlands says it is consulting with the United Kingdom on further steps . Iceland's voters repeal a deal to repay savers who lost money when a bank collapsed . Britain and the Netherlands bailed out savers in their countries who lost money . They now want Iceland to pay them back . | da05f8a72608b5c4cac37f32cf7f81422c6d3071 |
(CNN) -- This week, Colin Powell, a retired four-star U.S. Army general perhaps best known for having served as Secretary of State under President George W. Bush, endorsed Barack Obama's bid for re-election during an interview with "CBS This Morning." Given that Powell had enthusiastically endorsed Obama in 2008, his decision to back him yet again shouldn't come as too much of a surprise. Yet Powell's endorsement of a Democratic candidate is seen as significant because he describes himself as "a Republican of a more moderate mold," who laments that GOP moderates are "something of a dying breed." Powell expressed discontent with the Republican stance on climate change, immigration and education, and he seemed more comfortable with Obama's approach to achieving fiscal balance than Mitt Romney's. Powell is also, among other things, a defender of racial preferences in college admissions and abortion rights. While it is certainly true that Powell's views were not uncommon among moderate and liberal Republicans of an earlier era, it is not entirely clear why he chooses not to identify as a Democrat or as a liberal-leaning independent. One assumes that Powell has some residual loyalty to the party of Nelson Rockefeller and Gerald Ford, which is, of course, fair enough. But would American democracy be better and healthier if we had more Republicans such as Powell and more Democrats such as, say, former U.S. Sen. Zell Miller, the Georgia Democrat who famously endorsed President George W. Bush at the 2004 Republican National Convention? LZ Granderson: Both parties have a race problem . Some believe that blurring the boundaries of the two major political parties would be a very good thing as it would make legislative compromise more likely. Historically, it is certainly true that avowedly centrist legislators, such as the Southern congressional Democrats who worked closely with Republican presidents such as Richard Nixon and Ronald Reagan, have played an important role in shaping policy. There is, however, a significant downside to this blurring of boundaries. Political scientists Richard Lau, David Anderson and David Redlawsk have argued that while we tend to focus on voter turnout as an important aspect of democratic citizenship, we should also pay attention to whether citizens are voting correctly. To vote correctly, in the view of Lau and company, is to vote in accordance with your fully informed preferences. And one of the surest ways to increase correct voting is to give voters races in which candidates are reasonably ideologically distinct. If, like Colin Powell, you strongly believe that we need more regulation of carbon emissions, an approach to deficit reduction that involves substantial increases in federal taxes as well as spending cuts, an immigration policy that gives unauthorized immigrants the opportunity to become lawful permanent residents without first requiring that they return to their country of origin, and an education policy that emphasizes higher levels of public spending over competition among educational providers, it wouldn't just be unusual to back Mitt Romney over Barack Obama -- it would actually be, in the sense articulated by Lau and his co-authors, incorrect. In light of the first-past-the-post nature of our electoral system, and the dominance of the two major political parties, candidates do tend to try to blur distinctions as general elections approach, thus raising the risk of incorrect voting. But as Democrats and Republicans have grown more ideologically coherent, as liberals have joined the Democrats and as conservatives have joined the Republicans, this risk has decreased considerably. One might still object to partisan polarization on the grounds that it makes compromise extremely difficult. Oddly enough, the best solution to this problem might not be weaker political parties, in which individual officeholders are less likely to toe the party line and more likely to cross the aisle, but rather stronger political parties. In "Better Parties, Better Government," Joel Gora and Peter Wallison argue that successive legislative efforts to reform campaign finance have left the United States with a candidate-centered rather than a party-centered political system. Specifically, restrictions on the extent to which candidates can coordinate fundraising and campaigning efforts with party organizations have essentially left candidates to fend for themselves. While this might sound more attractive than a system with powerful party bosses, a candidate-centered system leads to a situation in which candidates have to spend enormous amounts of time and effort raising money, particularly if they are challenging incumbents. This in turn makes candidates dependent on donors, whether they are wealthy individuals or special interest groups. One result of a candidate-centered system is that many people who would make excellent public servants are effectively shut out of the political process. In a party-centered system, in contrast, candidates rely on the party for financial and organizational support. This gives the central party organization considerable leverage over candidates, which they can use to enforce some measure of party discipline. Parties would also be more resistant to capture by special interests than individual legislators, as they would be in a position to balance the needs of a much broader array of interests. So how would stronger parties improve the quality of governance? Whereas individual candidates are primarily interested in their own short-term survival, party organizations have a longer-term perspective. Stronger party organizations would, for example, have a strong incentive to develop a coherent legislative program, as doing so would help build the party brand. If the White House and Congress were controlled by the same party, this coherent legislative program could be implemented more easily under a party-centered system, in which legislators know what they've been put into office to accomplish, than under a candidate-centered system, in which its every legislator for herself or himself. Consider Obama's first two years, in which large numbers of congressional Democrats from marginal seats kept frustrating the party's agenda. These rebellious Democrats feared that sticking with the White House would cause them to lose their seats, but their efforts made Obama look weak, which in turn contributed to the GOP takeover of the House. Had these congressional Democrats been subject to stronger party discipline, the party as a whole might have been much better off. A party-centered system also works better in a divided government, as opposition parties wouldn't be solely dedicated to frustrating the president's agenda. Rather, they'd dedicate themselves to achieving their longer-term legislative objectives, which would often entail working with the other side. A stronger Republican party organization might have exerted more pressure on newly elected congressional Republicans to compromise on the debt limit, as the perception of GOP extremism may have damaged the party's brand in potentially winnable suburban districts outside of the South. Rather than blur partisan boundaries, what American democracy needs is a healthy dose of responsible partisanship. The opinions expressed in this commentary are solely thoe of Reihan Salam. | Colin Powell, a Republican, endorsed Barack Obama for re-election . Reihan Salam: Some mourn loss of moderate Republicans but sharper partisan lines are good . He says a liberal party and a conservative party enable voters to express preferences . Salam: To avoid gridlock, parties should be given more power over members of Congress . | 7dc0184dcd58a71b306217fe0becd29b18619fe1 |
(CNN) -- Felipe Massa will stay at Ferrari until the end of the 2013 season after extending his contract with the stable by one year. The Brazilian, who followed up his first podium finish in two years at Suzuka by finishing fourth in Sunday's Korean Grand Prix, agreed the deal after meeting with Ferrari president Luca di Montezemolo at Maranello on Tuesday morning. "I am very happy to have reached this agreement," Massa, who has been with Ferrari since 2006, told the team's official website. "Ferrari is my racing family and throughout my entire time in Formula 1, I have always driven cars powered by engines built in Maranello: I can't see myself driving cars propelled by anything else!" The announcement comes a day after Di Montezemolo attempted to quash media reports linking Germany's double world champion Sebastian Vettel with a move to Ferrari in 2014 by saying he didn't want "two roosters in the same hen house". Read: Ferrari chief dampens Vettel switch talk . With two-time champion Fernando Alonso currently Ferrari's number one driver, the long-standing chief of the Italian firm explained his comments by saying that he wanted two drivers who would be racing "for Ferrari and not for themselves." In their statement, Ferrari said that "one of the reasons that pushed Montezemolo and Massa to decide on announcing the renewal today (was) to put an end to all the speculation." The constructor added that it hopes that the decision to finalize the 2013 line-up in plenty of time will help Alonso focus on winning Ferrari's first drivers' championship since Kimi Räikkönen won the title in 2007. The Spaniard currently lies second in the championship standing -- his tally of 209 points just six fewer than Vettel's with four races of the season left -- while Massa is down in ninth place with 81 points, 30 of which have come in the last fortnight. "He has been part of our family for over a decade and has shown, especially in this recent part of the season, that he is once again competitive at the highest level, which is what is expected of every driver who gets behind the wheel of a Ferrari," said Ferrari team principal Stefano Domenicai. "We have always supported Felipe, even in the most difficult moments of his career and we are certain of his worth and are sure he will know how to repay the confidence this renewal proves we have in him." One of the most testing moments in Massa's career came when he suffered severe head injuries after a crash in qualifying for the 2009 Hungarian Grand Prix, with Ferrari leaving the Brazilian's place open ahead of his return the following season. | Felipe Massa to stay at Ferrari until end of 2013 at least . Ferrari hope move will quash speculation linking them with Sebastian Vettel . Announcement also made in bid to help Fernando Alonso win first Ferrari drivers' title since 2007 . | 2908ca1cebf56dc6b2098b07e05ca267b587f3ba |
(CNN) -- The undersea gusher in the Gulf of Mexico has been brought under control, but the worst oil spill in U.S. history will continue to be felt along the Gulf Coast for some time, Obama administration officials said Sunday. "If you're sitting in Barataria Bay, it's still a disaster. If the folks have not come back to the panhandle of Florida, it's still a disaster," former Coast Guard Adm. Thad Allen, the administration's point man for the disaster, told CNN's "State of the Union." A report from the National Oceanographic and Atmospheric Administration last week found three-quarters of the oil spilled between late April and mid-July has been collected, dispersed or evaporated. But Allen said, "We need to keep a steady hand at the tiller to keep the cleanup going." "It's a catastrophe. It's a catastrophe for the people of the Gulf, and it requires our attention until we get the job done," he said. And White House environmental adviser Carol Browner told NBC's "Meet the Press" that the "first phase" of the disaster was over -- but it is "not the end by any means." The well erupted after an April 20 explosion aboard the drilling rig Deepwater Horizon that left 11 men dead. A temporary cap contained the spill on July 15, and nearly 3,000 barrels of heavy drilling mud and cement drove the well back into the ocean floor last week. The final step -- the completion of a relief well that will permanently seal the blowout from below -- is expected to be completed sometime between August 13 and 15, Jim Lestelle, a spokesman for the relief effort, reported Sunday. Lestelle said the rig drilling the relief well was within the final 100 feet of intercepting the blown-out bore. The spill inflicted heavy blows on gulf Coast industries like tourism and fishing, but Allen said some parts of the region are beginning to see a recovery. "It's starting to happen already, but it's happening incrementally, where the oil is not there now, where we've cleaned it up," he said. "Some beaches are reopening. Fisheries are reopening. And that will happen as soon as we can, either by cleaning up the oil or having the areas tested through NOAA and FDA for seafood safety and so forth." The well gushed an estimated 53,000 barrels (2.3 million gallons) of oil per day before it was capped. Since then, fresh, green grass has begun growing again in some of the hardest-hit marshes of southern Louisiana, but oil continues to wash ashore in places. "There's a lot of clean-up working going on here, and that's excellent," Maura Wood, of the National Wildlife Federation, told CNN last week. "But the tide keeps coming and going each and every day." Federal authorities say up to 1 million barrels of oil may still lie beneath the surface of the Gulf. Browner said cleanup crews from the government and well owner BP fought to keep the oil out of beaches and coast marches, but what did reach shore "has to be cleaned up." "Some of it may continue to come on shore, the residual. It'll come on in tar balls and tar mats, and that can be cleaned up," Browner said. In addition, she said scientists are examining marine life in the Gulf, "and right now nobody is seeing anything of concern." CNN's Eric Fiegel, Ed Lavandera and David Mattingly contributed to this report. | Former Coast Guard Adm. Thad Allen: "A steady hand at the tiller" needed for cleanup . "If you're sitting in Barataria Bay, it's still a disaster," he says . Relief well expected to be complete in mid-August . Oil still washing ashore in parts of Louisiana . | e97f414a4330a0e3c07395597332efa845c0ffb5 |
By . Daily Mail Reporter . PUBLISHED: . 13:02 EST, 3 September 2012 . | . UPDATED: . 05:38 EST, 4 September 2012 . Heidi Klum has hit back at Seal's suggestion she cheated on him with a bodyguard during their marriage. The supermodel, 39, who looked strained as she jetted out of Los Angeles this morning, issued a statement today insisting there was no third party involved in their split. 'Our separation was based on issues between the two of us,' she told People magazine. All smiles: Heidi Klum looked in good spirits as she arrived in New York today on a flight from Los Angeles . Firing back: Klum says her split with Seal was to do with issues they had together and that no third party was involved . She also reminded the public that the . Kiss From A Rose singer has had his own romantic liaisons since their break-up, . adding: 'Seal has moved on and so have I.' Despite the ugly and unexpected twist . in their seemingly amicable divorce, she tried to remain positive about . their time together. 'I cherish all of the great memories Seal and I created together over the years,' she said. She concluded: 'My priority has and continues to be protecting and providing for our children.' Under attack: Earlier the model was seen leaving Los . Angeles after her estranged husband Seal's claims she cheated on . him during their marriage . Turning bitter: Heidi jetted out alone and . right, Seal arriving at LAX on Friday where he was asked about the . supermodel's romance with her bodyguard . Seal, 49, shocked fans - and Heidi - on . Friday when he was asked by TMZ about pictures of his estranged wife . cosying up to her bodyguard Martin Kristen on a family vacation in Sardinia. Kristen worked for the family while Heidi was married to Seal. He replied: 'Whilst I didn't expect . anything better from him, I would have thought that Heidi would have . shown a little more class and at least waited until we separated first . before deciding to fornicate with the help.' He continued: 'I guess you now all have the answer that you’ve been looking for for the past seven months.' He's moved on too, remember! Seal was pictured with a brunette during his own visit to Sardinia in July . But however unambiguous his words . sounded, a representative for the British singer yesterday backtracked, . claiming he had not meant to accuse Heidi of cheating. The representative told Us Weekly: . ‘Seal would like to clarify that he was not implying his wife was . cheating while they were together, but he was merely pointing out that . their separation and divorce were not final and they are still legally . married.’ Although they were believed to have one of the most rock-solid marriages in showbiz, Seal, 49, and Heidi, 39, announced the end of their seven-year union in January. The two have four children together who they continue to co-parent - Leni, eight, Henry, six, Johan, five, and Lou, two. | Seal attempted to backtrack over his comments yesterday . Singer was seen snuggling up to a pretty brunette on a yacht weeks ago . | e49abf938b9969172310075554a4c1fd6fde0e74 |
(CNN) -- When Julia Kozerski saw a camera, she would duck and dodge out of the way. She'd hide behind other people or offer to take the picture to avoid being photographed. "It was an embarrassment, somebody having that photograph," she said, who at her heaviest weighed 338 pounds. "They told the truth. It haunts you." But when Kozerski got married in 2009, she had to face the camera for obvious reasons, as every bride does. "I hadn't taken a photo in 10 years," she said. When she saw her wedding pictures, Kozerski said, "I didn't see that happiness. I saw someone scared of the camera -- that wasn't me." Her inhibitions about being photographed are upended in her self-portraits chronicling her weight-loss, called "Half." See Kozerski's self-portraits . In a society where perfection and Photoshop are givens, Kozerski disrobes and photographs herself just the way she is -- no makeup, no clothes, no hairstyles, no computer tricks to nip and tuck. In the series, a somber Kozerski faces a mirror, a scale in another scene, and a refrigerator stocked with food -- "They serve as reflections of my experience and address and explore my physically and emotionally painful, private struggles with food, obsession, self-control, and self-image," the photography student at the Milwaukee Institute of Art & Design wrote on her website. She came from a family with a history of weight problems and grew up on fast food. The family made halfhearted attempts to lose weight and tried Slim Fast shakes and Weight Watchers, but these efforts fizzled. "I don't think we knew the steps to take, we had never been introduced to diets or proper food," she said. At school, she never felt like she fit in and began shopping at plus-size stores during middle school. By the time Kozerski got married, her body mass index was 49.9 -- a BMI over 30 is considered obese. When she saw her wedding photos, that was the last straw. She woke up one day and told herself, "I'm done being sad." She started a weight-loss blog and used a free online calorie counter. She kicked the habits of eating out and drinking soda, and picked up more fruits and vegetables. Her exercises started with small steps -- walking her dog every day, taking stairs instead of the elevator and parking far away from the store. As she shed weight, Kozerski chose her project for her photography class. She started with close-up shots of her back, her abdomen. These were faceless photographs that she brought to class. "It was shocking in a way that provoked conversation," Kozerski said. "This is a story people relate to and talk about. I was just being as honest as I can. It becomes less about my experience and more about this greater story." Everyone has something to hide that he or she is embarrassed about, Kozerski said. And here she was showing body parts that women tried to hide. She gradually started showing her face in the photographs. Her husband, family and friends wanted to know why she'd put revealing images of herself into the public sphere. About her husband, Kozerski said, "He began to understand the emotions, although I couldn't verbalize them. He realized it's more universal." Her photos show her in distraught, hopeless and difficult moments. There are tears in her eyes. "It's an internal struggle, this whole thing -- it just bottled up. I couldn't express myself, even through the photos," Kozerski said. She called certain photos of her naked body "casing" or "ruins." The way Kozerski presented her journey is "revealing in every way," said body image expert Robyn Silverman. Society has a definitive view of what it means to be fat. People associate the word "thin" with positive words like popular, sexy, and controlled. With the word "fat," they associate traits like laziness, ugliness, lack of control in a way that "the term fat is no longer a descriptor of weight and size, but an assessment of character," Silverman said. The words Kozerski uses to describe her body -- like "ruins" -- still serve as "a reminder of the feeling of worthlessness, not being good enough" and how she and others who are overweight or obese struggle with these character labels, said Silverman, author of "Good Girls Don't Get Fat." Kozerski had the classic grass-is-greener mentality that everything would be fine after she lost weight. "It's not related to a number or a size, or where you shop -- I thought it was about that," she said. "I've realized it's about who you are. If you're confident and healthy, that's where you want to be and that's where you need to be as a person." She lost 160 pounds -- essentially the weight of another person. She has maintained her weight for a year. It doesn't take an army of nutritionists, personal trainers or experts to get healthier, Kozerski said. "I'm just a 27-year-old, Midwestern wife and fulltime college student. By definition, I am the 'Average Jane,' I just realized that I was unhappy about myself and about my health and made simple changes to my lifestyle by eating better and moving more. "Before I was horrified of imperfections, now I see the imperfections as battle scars. I'm proud of what I've gone through and what I've done now." | Julia Kozerski, 27, has been overweight throughout her life . Kozerski started dieting in 2009 and chronicled her journey through photographs . The photos share struggles "with food, obsession, self-control and self-image" | 486b687d9bb6229408704d7a6c66848c97f7b998 |
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