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Following the death of seven-year-old stallion Araldo after this year's Melbourne Cup - who had to be put down when he broke his leg after being spooked by a flag-waving crowd member - The Victoria Racing Club (VRC) have banned flags from horse areas. Temporary changes have also been made to the route used to take horses back to the Mounting Yard following the tragic event which lead to one of two horse deaths on Tuesday. Admire Rakti, the pre-race favourite, also died shortly after the prestigious race, with a preliminary autopsy pointing to to acute heart failure and an irregular heart rhythm as the cause of death. VRC confirmed the changes to Daily Mail Australia on Wednesday evening, citing the safety and wellbeing of horses, participants, employees and other event patrons as the key reasons. Scroll down for video . Seven-year-old stallion Araldo (left) ridden by Dwayne Dunn is pictured tangled in the fence after being spooked by an Australian flag . The ban on flags will be in place for the remaining two days of the spring racing carnival, but it has not been confirmed whether these measures will be implemented permanently. Mark Schneider, pictured, was waving the flag and told Seven News he was 'shattered' and 'regretted' the events that unfolded on Tuesday after the Melbourne Cup race . Julian Sullivan, VRC Acting Chief Executive, said the amendments had been implemented in direct response to Araldo sustaining a broken pastern when returning to the Mounting Yard on Tuesday. 'While it is important not to respond in a knee-jerk manner, these interim arrangements will be implemented until procedures are reviewed after the Melbourne Cup Carnival,' Mr Sullivan said. Horses will also be led along a different path after the race, a decision which was made in conjunction with Racing Victoria Chairman of Stewards Terry Bailey. 'Traditionally horses wait for the winner to lead them down the race, but will now enter the Mounting Yard in the order they return,' Mr Sullivan said. 'The larger crowds that gather for the Group 1 races will still have the opportunity to see the horses return to scale along the track.' On Wednesday Seven News spoke to Michael Schneider, who along with his partner was waving the flag which spooked Araldo. He told the program he proudly flies the flag in that area every year and deeply regretted the whole incident. 'As owners ourselves we are shattered at the events of yesterday ... regretting what unfolded and are deeply shaken,' Mr Schneider said. A woman named Lauren who was standing next to him when the events unfolded filmed an exchange between Mr Schneider and another racegoer. The man accused Mr Schneider of finding it funny when Araldo was injured, and Lauren added: 'I don't think he really cared until he found out that the horse was injured.' Earlier on Wednesday pictures emerged showing Araldo, which ran seventh, clearly distressed at the site of a large flag being waved by a member of the public - who then shattered its leg after freaking out and kicking a fence on the way back to the mounting yard. Anthony Feroce, the racing manager of Araldo's stables, told the Herald Sun Melbourne Cup organisers should review crowd control measures after the freak incident, saying: 'It's not like car racing.' The horse, which ran seventh, is clearly distressed at the site of a large flag being waved by a member of the crowd - and shattered its leg after freaking out and kicking a fence on the way back to the mounting yard . The horse was later put down due to the injury suffered, during Melbourne Cup Day at Flemington Racecourse in Melbourne on Tuesday . The death of Araldo and pre-race favour Admire Rakti overshadowed victory for the German-trained Protectionist, who romped away with the biggest winning margin in nearly two decades, and also reignited a bitter debate about the ethical treatment of racing horses. Dr Stewart said an autopsy was conducted for Admire Rakti on Tuesday night at the University of Melbourne and initial results point to acute heart failure and an irregular heart rhythm. A full post mortem with microscopic and toxicology studies will take 10 days or more, he said. 'It's seen in racehorses and human athletes as well - in the large mass of the muscle of the heart, the electrical current has to get through in a coordinated way, and at high heart rates sometimes that can become short circuited,' Dr Stewart said. Admire Rakti, the pre-race favourite, finished last in the Melbourne Cup and almost walked across the line . The heartbreaking moment that Melbourne Cup pre-race favourite Admire Rakti collapses and dies in the stall after the race . Racing Victoria head of veterinary services and equine welfare Dr Brian Stewart (left) and chairman of stewards Terry Bailey arrive at a press conferenceon Wednesday. Mr Bailey called Dr Stewart at 10pm the night before the Melbourne Cup to ask him to vet Admire Rakti . 'It happens more or less spontaneously with no warning.' He initially said the horse suffered from 'sudden death syndrome', which occurs in just 0.007 per cent of racehorses. The reason for Araldo’s demise was immediately clear. Speaking shortly afterwards, his trainer Mike Moroney said that the stallion had become distressed by a big flag and run off. 'They run the Melbourne Cup for 154 years and nothing like that has happened,' he said. Anthony Feroce, racing manager at Mike Moroney's Ballymore stables, said the horse's death was a 'freakish accident', but he anticipated the Victoria Racing Club would review how close punters are allowed to get to Cup horses following the race. 'I think the Victoria Racing Club does a magnificent job, but possibly they could look at flags that close to where the horses go,' Mr Feroce said. 'Someone had a big flag and was waving it and right at the time when our horse went passed it and they're animals, they get spooked quite easily.' Mr Feroce added that it was 'not fair' that racing was being portrayed as a cruel industry following the deaths of the two horses. 'All care is taken for their wellbeing and their welfare and I assure you, you've just got to talk to everybody involved and see how much love they have for the animals,' he said. 'Now and then we do have unfortunate accidents that happen but that's no different to any other sport.' The deaths of the two horses prompted an outpouring of comment online and reaction from animal charities who insist that racing is a cruel sport. Protectionist led the field home in stunning fashion - heading Red Cadeaux and Who Shot Thebarman by three lengths . Protectionist's owners will pocket $3.6million of the Melbourne Cup's generous $6.2million pool . Ryan Moore rides Protectionist to win race 7, the Melbourne Cup on Melbourne Cup Day . Spectacle: The Melbourne Cup is the premier event in Australian racing and brings the country to a standstill every year . | Araldo broke his leg after being spooked by an Aussie flag on way back to mounting yard after the race . The Victorian Racing Club have banned flags from horse areas and changed the path they take after the race . The changes will be implemented for the final two days of the spring carnival . Flag-waver Michael Schneider said he was 'shattered' by the event which lead to the death of Araldo . There was hope that the horse's injury could be operated on but it was put down after all options were exhausted . Pre-race favourite Admire Rakti collapsed and died in the stalls after finishing last in the race . Protectionist ($7.50) won the Melbourne Cup by three lengths . | c8882c2485df01512aa12118f2495ee6a406fbe0 |
By . Sarah Griffiths . PUBLISHED: . 13:52 EST, 16 July 2013 . | . UPDATED: . 13:52 EST, 16 July 2013 . Space is a mysterious place and could contain unknown massive structures that act like 'giant vacuum cleaners that suck galaxies towards them and tilt our universe', according to one expert. He points out that cocooned on our relatively comfortable planet, humans tend to think that we have quite a good notion of the laws of the universe. He claims that we believe we live on a small planet orbiting the sun on the fringes of the Milky Way galaxy, which space enthusiast David Glenn dubs a 'thoroughly unremarkable galaxy' in an infinite universe. Space is a mysterious place and could contain unknown massive structures that act like 'giant vacuum cleaners, titling our universe', according to space expert David Glenn. Pictured is a black hole, which is a region of spacetime from which gravity prevents anything, including light, from escaping . According to Glenn, most us us think 'the laws of physics do not change across the universe, even if what we are examining is billions of light-years away.' This theory is called the Copernican Principle, upon which experts base most of their scientific knowledge about the universe. But, Glenn said it could be very wrong. Scientists have started to look more carefully at the structure of the universe by analysing light from distant galaxies to look at the speed and direction of moving objects like planets and stars. They have observed that rather than moving apart as expected, some distant clusters of galaxies actually appear to be caught in a space current, much like a river. Scientists have started to look more carefully at the structure of the universe by analysing light from galaxies such as Barnard's (pictured). They have observed that rather than moving apart as expected, some distant clusters of galaxies actually appear to be caught in a space current, much like a river . And they are moving at incredibly fast velocities or around two million miles an hour, along a certain path. Scientists are unsure why but have labeled the phenomenon 'dark flow'. To work out why this must be happening, Glenn said scientists believe there must be 'something huge out there.' 'It would have to be so large that it is bigger than anything scientists have seen in the known universe before.' Glenn added that it could be so massive it could dwarf galactic clusters, which could be drawn towards it as if the huge object were a giant space vacuum cleaner. Scientists thinks that this mysterious massive body is so large that is possibly titling our universe. Scientists are unsure why galaxies are traveling in unusual directions but have labeled the phenomenon 'dark flow'. It is a good job there is not a giant unknown object close to the Milky Way or our neighbouring Andromeda galaxy (pictured) or life as we know it would be changed . But it is currently impossible to explore the theory, according to Glenn, because scientists have no technology capable of seeing massive structures outside our observable universe, which has a radius of around 45.7 billion light years. He highlights the incredible idea that while the universe has existed for 14 billion years, light from beyond the known universe has not had enough time to reach our telescopes. Some scientists have reportedly tried to explain this phenomenon by suggesting that a neighbouring universe could be causing the incredible pull and tilt. While it might take several lifetimes for scientists to develop the technology necessary to identify what these massive objects are, they currently have the power to make experts question the principle of universal uniformity, Glenn said. | Expert claims that space could contain unknown massive structures that act 'like giant vacuum cleaners, titling our universe' The mysterious structures are leading scientists to question the theory of universal uniformity, according to David Glenn . It is impossible to explore . the theory as we have no technology that is capable of seeing it outside . our observable universe . | a158dae65a8cee70deebd5544104b080d2bdb57f |
San Angelo, Texas (CNN) -- Polygamist sect leader Warren Jeffs asked to leave the courtroom Friday and will not be representing himself during the penalty phase of his sexual assault trial. But before being escorted out of the Texas courtroom, Jeffs delivered a message to jurors demanding that the proceedings cease. Deric Walpole, one of the defense attorneys Jeffs had fired earlier in trial, represented him Friday as the penalty phase of the trial continued. Jurors will decide his punishment after hearing additional witness testimony in the penalty phase of the trial. Prosecutors say . this phase of the trial could last several days. The leader of the Fundamentalist Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints faces a maximum sentence of life in prison on his conviction of sexually assaulting a 12-year-old and a 15-year-old who were his "spiritual wives." The jury convicted him of two counts of sexual assault on a child -- charges filed after a 2008 raid on a ranch his church operates near Eldorado, Texas. Jeffs represented himself during the guilt-innocence phase of the trial. He was silent during most of his 30-minute closing argument Thursday, mumbling at one point, "I am at peace." Texas prosecutors rested their case Wednesday after playing a key piece of evidence for jurors: a 20-minute audio tape that began and ended with a man saying prayer. Prosecutors alleged that the recording was of Jeffs' sexual assault of a then-12-year-old girl in the presence of three other "wives." The girl had grown up in Jeffs' Yearning for Zion ranch, authorities said. Prosecutors showed the jury a photo of her with her arms around Jeffs, and a marriage certificate that listed the girl's age as 12 at the time. Jurors also heard audio recordings that prosecutors said showed Jeffs instructing a 14-year-old and his other young "wives" on how to sexually please him in order to win God's favor. Prosecutors said the 14-year-old was Jeffs' "spiritual wife" and conceived a child with Jeffs when she was 15. Jeffs could be sentenced to five years to life in prison on the charge of aggravated sexual assault regarding the alleged 12-year-old. For the other count, he could face a sentence of two to 20 years. Jeffs' breakaway sect is believed to have about 10,000 followers. Their practice of polygamy, which the mainstream Mormon Church renounced more than a century ago, is part of the sect's doctrine. In Session's Beth Karas, Jim Kyle contributed to this report. | Jeffs leaves the courtroom during the sentencing phase of his trial . One of the attorneys whom Jeffs had fired earlier represented him Friday . Jeffs was convicted of sexually assaulting to teenage "spiritual wives" | e83f4699dc340cdc666bd466e9f32e224822f527 |
They have helped writers dream up imaginary worlds and pops stars pen some of the biggest hits of the 1960s. But until now, scientists were unsure what happens to the brain under the influence of psychedelic drugs, such as magic mushrooms and LSD. New research shows that the brain enters a dream-like state when on a drug trip, and scientists hope it their findings help treat people battling depression. Scientists were unsure what happens to the brain under the influence of psychedelic drugs, such as LSD, which was particularly popular in the 1960s (a Cream album is pictured) but now they have mapped brain activity triggered by psilocybin - the active ingredient in magic mushrooms . The study, . published in the journal Human Brain Mapping mapped the brain activity . of 15 volunteers injected with the psychedelic chemical, psilocybin - . the active ingredient in magic mushrooms. The . findings revealed 'fascinating' similarities with brains scanned while a . person is dreaming, supporting the idea people on psychedelic drugs . enter dream-like states. Psilocybin was found to increase activity in the parts of the more primitive parts of the brain linked to emotional thinking, prompting several regions to become active at once. However volunteers who had taken the drug showed 'uncoordinated' activity in those areas of the brain linked to high-level thinking, including self-consciousness. Psychedelic drugs are unique among other psychoactive chemicals because users often experience ‘expanded consciousness', including enhanced associations, vivid imagination and dream-like states. Scientists looked at the brain activity of the volunteers lying in a functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) scanner while some were under the influence of psilocybin and and others were injected with a placebo. New research shows that the brain displays a similar pattern of activity when on a drug trip - induced by a chemical in magic mushrooms called psilocybin - as it does while dreaming. A molecular model is pictured . ‘What we have done in this research is . begin to identify the biological basis of the reported mind expansion . associated with psychedelic drugs,’ said Dr Robin Carhart-Harris from . the Department of Medicine, Imperial College London. ‘I was . fascinated to see similarities between the pattern of brain activity in a . psychedelic state and the pattern of brain activity during dream sleep, . especially as both involve the primitive areas of the brain linked to . emotions and memory. Scientists have started to unravel what happens to the brain under the influence of psychedelic drugs such as magic mushrooms (pictured) ‘People . often describe taking psilocybin as producing a dreamlike state and our . findings have, for the first time, provided a physical representation . for the experience in the brain.’ The . researchers examined variation in the amplitude of fluctuations in what . is called the blood-oxygen level dependent (BOLD) signal, which tracks . activity levels in the brain. This . revealed that activity in important brain networks linked to high-level . thinking in humans becomes unsynchronised and disorganised under . psilocybin. One particular network that was especially affected plays a central role in the brain, essentially ‘holding it all together’ and is linked to our sense of self. In . comparison, activity in the different areas of a more primitive brain . network became more synchronised under the drug, indicating they were . working in a more co-ordinated, ‘louder’ fashion. The . network involves areas of the hippocampus, associated with memory and . emotion and the anterior cingulate cortex which is related to states of . arousal. Lead . author Dr Enzo Tagliazucchi from Goethe University, Germany said: ‘A . good way to understand how the brain works is to perturb the system in a . marked and novel way. 'Psychedelic drugs do precisely this and . so are powerful tools for exploring what happens in the brain when . consciousness is profoundly altered. 'It is the first time we have used these . methods to look at brain imaging data and it has given some fascinating . insight into how psychedelic drugs expand the mind. Dr Carhart-Harris said: 'We will be looking at the possibility that psilocybin may help alleviate symptoms of depression (illustrated with a stock image) by allowing patients to change their rigidly pessimistic patterns of thinking . Under the influence of psilocybin, activity in the more primitive brain network linked to emotional thinking became more pronounced. Several different areas in this network - such as the hippocampus and anterior cingulate cortex - appear to be active at the same time. This pattern of activity is similar to the pattern observed in people who are dreaming. It also made activity in the brain area linked to high-level thinking, including self-consciousness, more uncoordinated. 'It really provides a window through which to study the doors of perception.’ Dr Carhart-Harris added: ‘Learning about the mechanisms that underlie what happens under the influence of psychedelic drugs can also help to understand their possible uses. ‘We are currently studying the effect of LSD on creative thinking and we will also be looking at the possibility that psilocybin may help alleviate symptoms of depression by allowing patients to change their rigidly pessimistic patterns of thinking. ‘Psychedelics were used for therapeutic purposes in the 1950s and 1960s but now we are finally beginning to understand their action in the brain and how this can inform how to put them to good use.’ | Study examined the psychedelic chemical in magic mushrooms, called psilocybin, using data from fMRI brain scans . Under psilocybin, activity in the brain network linked to emotional thinking became more pronounced - similar to when people are dreaming . Volunteers in the experiment by Imperial College London and Goethe University, Germany also had an altered state of self consciousness . Experts are exploring if psilocybin could alleviate symptoms of . depression by allowing patients to change their rigidly pessimistic . patterns of thinking . | a027334affc334fe59f3461451cb7afe6d78c2c9 |
(CNN) -- The Argentine government continued to sound the alarm Monday about British plans to conduct military exercises on the Falkland Islands. The Argentine ambassador to the United Nations, Jorge Arguello, said Argentina plans to alert U.N. Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon to the British military exercises, which Argentine President Cristina Kirchner has condemned as "grave, very grave." The ambassador said the Argentine mission also planned to ask Ban for U.N. help in negotiations between Argentina and the United Kingdom. The British Foreign Office, meanwhile, downplayed the exercises. "These are routine military tests that have taken place every six months for the past 28 years, most recently in April this year," an office spokesman said. "Shipping alerts are always issued in advance and the tests take place entirely within Falklands territorial waters." The disputed Falkland Islands, known as the Malvinas in Argentina, lie off the South American country's coast in the South Atlantic. The islands have been under British rule since 1833. Argentina invaded the Falklands in 1982, prompting a war in which more than 600 Argentinean and 255 British military personnel died. Britain retained control of the islands after the war. Kirchner has used her Twitter account to sharply criticize the exercises. She tweeted that she considers it "grave, very grave" that the Royal Navy plans to go forward with the exercises, referring to the military as "colonial occupiers of the Malvina Islands." Britain keeps a military presence on the islands, and the Falkland Islands government -- representing a population of about 2,500 -- says it remains committed to British sovereignty. The British military issued a communique Friday announcing it would be firing missiles from the islands. Kirchner called the exercises "the militarization of the South Atlantic and the illegitimate and reckless use of the U.N. Security Council's permanent seat." On Saturday, the Argentine Foreign Ministry voiced the government's opposition to the exercises. The ministry said in a statement that the Argentine government expressed "its most formal and energetic protests against wanting to go ahead with this military exercise and demands that the British government abstains from going through with this." CNN's Joe Vaccarello contributed to this report. | President Cristina Kirchner calls plans by UK military "grave, very grave" The Falklands are a disputed island chain off Argentina's coast . They have been under British rule since 1833 . | 9a7ac55d817e7312b95568028360b1d427c30fc8 |
New York (CNN) -- The Nathan's Famous hot dog-eating contest has always separated the men from the boys, as far as eating competitions go, but this year it will separate the men from the women -- with separate challenges for the sexes. George Shea, chairman of the annual event's sponsor, Major League Eating, says that with more women competing, it was the right decision to make. "There was a feeling that what woman have done is nothing short of fantastic, but they were being overshadowed by the men," Shea said. As Nathan's Famous readies for its 96th annual July Fourth International Hot Dog Eating Contest on Coney Island, the ladies will go first in vying for their own championship belt. The women's competition will abide by the same rules, with at least 10 female contestants required to eat as many hot dogs and buns as they can in 10 minutes. Qualifying events for the contest begin April 23 and will be held in 13 cities including Las Vegas, Atlanta, Boston, Cleveland, Los Angeles, New York and Pittsburgh. Events will also be held in Canada and China to qualify for the July 4 contest. Although the men's competition will feature a grand prize of $20,000 and the famous championship belt, the woman's purse will be $5,000. Why the disparity? Shea says that the overall prize money will eclipse that of past years and that although the money is meaningful, the instant celebrity for the first female hot dog-eating champion will make up for the shortfall. In 2010, reigning champion Joey Chestnut took home the championship belt for the fourth year in a row after scarfing down 54 hot dogs and buns, although he'd eaten a record 68 dogs in 2009. The leading female contender for this year's event is Sonya Thomas, who downed 36 hot dogs in the co-ed 2010 contest, falling short of her personal best of 41 hot dogs in 2009. A strong challenger will probably be 45-year-old Juliet Lee from Germantown, Maryland. Lee, who owns a hair salon, is "excited" and hopes to best her personal record of 34 hot dogs, which she accomplished a year ago. Lee, who weighs 100 pounds, says she's participating "not for the money but because it's a passion." She prefers seafood, she says. German tourist Birgit Felden broke the Nathan's gender barrier in 1984 as the first female competitor, downing 11 hot dogs and buns. Major League Eating is launching a global effort to find Felden and have her come back to Coney Island this year. | The first woman to compete was a German tourist, in 1984 . Sonya Thomas is a leading contender this year . In the 2010 championship, she downed 36 dogs . This year's top male eater will get $20,000, but top woman will get $5,000 . | c2edcc44722ae0ba7b2df0eb226c62a9aef69d98 |
By . Daily Mail Reporter . A middle school teacher in Atlanta, Georgia, has been caught on video delivering an expletive-laden rant to a classroom full of student. The cell phone footage shows the Crawford Long Middle School teacher unleash on a male student because he fails to shut the door behind him when he enters class. 'I'm trying to do something, and I can't keep babysitting you. Close the door!' the unidentified teacher screams. But the boy ignores her and walks towards his seat. Angry, she yells: 'Stop! I ain't f***ing playing with you. You want to play? Stay home with your mama.' Scroll down for video . Rant: A middle school teacher, pictured, in Atlanta, Georgia, has been caught on video delivering an expletive-laden rant to a classroom full of student . The video was shot by a female student who had complained about the teacher a couple of months ago to her aunt, whom she lives with. 'Two months ago, Yvette came home and said the teacher had said "f you" to her and to sit down," Santosha Manuel told WSBTV.com. 'I told her, if it happened again, to get proof, and that's what her cellphone was for and to record it so that I would have proof this time.' Manuel said she was particularly angry that the teacher, during the tirade, attacked the students' mothers. Angry: The footage shows the Crawford Long Middle School teacher unleash on a male student, pictured, because he fails to shut the door behind him when he enters class . Cussing: Mid-rant the teacher, pictured, storms over and slams the door . 'I have a f***ing job, half your mothers don't,' the teacher says in the tape. 'You are talking down to them, you are talking bad about their parents,' Manuel said, disapprovingly. After Manuel handed Yvette's video to school officials, the teacher was almost immediately yanked from her classroom. The Atlanta Public Schools school district confirmed the teacher in the video works at Crawford Long Middle School in southwest Atlanta. School: The Atlanta Public Schools school district confirmed the teacher in the video works at Crawford Long Middle School in southwest Atlanta, pictured . They said she is on administrative leave while an investigation is undertaken. 'Atlanta Public Schools promotes a culture of ethics to which all employees are expected to adhere,' APS told WSBTV in a statement. 'This is a personnel matter that is currently being investigated. However, APS can confirm that the teacher is not currently assigned to work directly with students.' | Cell phone footage shows the teacher, from Crawford Long Middle School in Atlanta, unleash on a male student . The tirade begins because he fails to shut the door behind him when he enters class . 'I ain't f***ing playing with you. You want to play? Stay home with your mama,' the teacher screams . The video was shot by a female student who had complained about the teacher a couple of months ago to her aunt . | 54b3710fd87f60b4308363ffaa2a0bcfbbc4d5db |
By . Vanessa Allen . PUBLISHED: . 18:22 EST, 22 October 2012 . | . UPDATED: . 18:23 EST, 22 October 2012 . The mother of Stephen Lawrence was honoured yesterday following her long fight for justice. Doreen Lawrence was given a standing ovation as she received a special award at the Women of the Year ceremony. She was praised for her courage and tenacity during her tireless campaign against racism following the murder of her son in 1993. Praised: Doreen Lawrence was given a standing ovation as she received a special award at the Women of the Year ceremony . Stephen was just 18 when he was stabbed to death by a gang of white thugs at a bus stop in Eltham, South-East London. His mother bravely fought for justice and in January this year Gary Dobson, 36, and David Norris, 35, were convicted of the murder. Singer Beverley Knight, who presented Mrs Lawrence’s award, said: ‘It is a joy to present such a quietly courageous, determined and humble woman with an award. ‘I have admired her for years – the grace with which she has dealt with injustice after cruel injustice on both sides of the law to eventually see some resolution. Stabbed: Doreen Lawrence was praised for her courage and tenacity during her tireless campaign against racism following the murder of her son Stephen (pictured) in 1993 . ‘She is the embodiment of the saying, “Never give up”.’ Yesterday’s award was the latest in a series of accolades for Mrs Lawrence, 59, who founded the Stephen Lawrence Charitable Trust to help young people from disadvantaged backgrounds. In 2003, she was awarded an OBE for services to community relations and this summer was chosen as a flagbearer at the Opening Ceremony of the Olympics, alongside boxer Muhammad Ali and UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon. Baroness Helena Kennedy QC, president of the Women of the Year awards, said Mrs Lawrence had ‘campaigned tirelessly for the victims of racist crime and reform of the police service’. Britain’s female Olympic and Paralympic stars were also winners at the awards, and crime writer PD James was given the lifetime achievement honour. More than 30 British Olympic and Paralympic medallists – including swimmer Rebecca Adlington and gymnast Beth Tweddle – attended the ceremony in central London. Lindsay Nicholson, of Good Housekeeping magazine, who presented an award to the sports stars, said: ‘London 2012 was, undeniably, “the Women’s Olympics”. Our incredible Olympians and Paralympians broke new records and won more medals than ever before. But, for me, most importantly they sent out a message to all young women that there is so much more to aspire to, physically, than being size zero.’ Women’s rights activist Zainab Salbi and Alzheimer’s campaigner Kate Woolveridge were also named as Women of the Year winners. Celebrated: Award winners (left to right) PD James, Doreen Lawrence and Zainab Salbi, at the 57th annual Women of the Year lunch . | Campaigner received special award at Women of the Year ceremony . She was praised for her courage during campaign against racism . Her son Stephen was stabbed to death in South-East London in 1993 . | 9d5ae424070bc52ef9c2db23ac9bab4efb08e68f |
By . Tara Brady . PUBLISHED: . 12:24 EST, 2 December 2013 . | . UPDATED: . 14:28 EST, 2 December 2013 . Florida's Native Americans have said they will battle to preserve the lands where their ancestors were once imprisoned. The Seminole Wars, also known as the Florida Wars, were three conflicts between Native Americans who had settled in Florida but were forced to move in the early 18th century by the U.S. Army. Hundreds of Seminole Tribe members were imprisoned at Egmont Key near the mouth of Tampa Bay by federal officials in the 1850s during the Third Seminole War. Those Seminoles who did not perish on the island in the harsh conditions were taken by ship to Florida's Panhandle where they were made to continue the journey by land and find new reservations in the west - a journey current-day Seminoles call the 'Voyage of Tears.' Edna Bowers (right), descendent of Polly Parker, looks on as fellow tribe member Willie Johns (left) and Florida Park Services Director Donald Forgione hang a photograph of Parker . Historic: Seminole Tribe member and historian Willie Johns holds up a photograph of Polly Parker . Florida Park Services Director Donald Forgione (at podium) addresses Seminole Tribe members and guests during a visit to Egmont Key State Park . 'This is kind of like our holocaust,' said Willie Johns, Seminole Tribe member and historian. Johns is a descendent on his father's side of Polly Parker, who was imprisoned. On Sunday, direct descendants visited the island and praised Parker's legendary 1858 escape. Parker persuaded federal officials to allow her to look for herbs. Instead, she fled, with about a dozen other Seminole members which led to an extensive search by U.S. forces. Seminole Tribe member Bobby Henry visits Egmont Key State Park to retrace the 'Voyage of Tears' She eventually returned to her family's camp hundreds of miles south near Lake Okeechobee. Peter Gallagher, a spokesman for the Seminole Tribe, said: 'Her progeny became many of the leaders and important figures of the tribe ever since. After leaving Egmont Key, the group planned to continue their journey aboard the Florida Fisherman II northward to St Marks - a 22-hour trip - and then press on for Tallahassee by bus. Egmont Key State Park manager Peter Krulder (left), Seminole Tribe members Willie Johns (centre), Edna Bowers (right) and Peter Gallagher look at historic photographs . Dead palm trees litter the eroded shoreline of Egmont Key State Park where Seminole tribe members began a historic journey to retrace the 'Voyage of Tears' Seminole Tribe members boarded a charter boat which departed from Egmont Key State Park as part of a historic journey to retrace the 'Voyage of Tears' Their purpose was to retrace part of the journey of their ancestors and to talk with leaders in the state capital about the preservation of Egmont Key. The island, which is a national wildlife sanctuary, is less than half the size it was about 100 years ago due to land erosion. Seminole Tribe member Edna Bowers, descendent of Polly Parker, visits Egmont Key State Park . While its white beaches, emerald-colored waters, and inclusion on the National Register of Historic Places due to the lighthouse and the old Fort Dade make it a popular tourist spot for snorkelers and visitors, members of the Seminole Tribe see the erosion as a threat to their history. They fear that their ancestors' buried remains might one day be washed away and under water like the mostly submerged remnants of Fort Dade. Mr Johns said: 'From this day on we can help each other in all we do to preserve this place. Edna Bowers, of Hollywood, Florida, took part in the trip. A direct descendent of Parker, she grew up hearing about the hard times that her ancestors endured and all that they overcame. In the brief stop on Egmont Key, Bowers looked through the historic photographs brought by Woody Hanson of Fort Myers, who says his grandfather - W. Stanley Hanson - was an advocate for the Seminole Tribe and was with Parker when she died. 'It means a lot,' Bowers said about drawing attention to Parker's story. 'I wondered,' Bowers said, 'When she was ever going to be recognised for what she went through.' Rounded up: This 1816 picture depicts the capture of the Seminole Indian Chiefs. Florida's Native Americans have said they will battle to preserve the lands where their ancestors were once imprisoned . | Seminole Wars were between Native Americans in Florida and U.S. Army . Native Americans were imprisoned on Edmont Key in 18th century . Those Seminoles who did not die were taken by ship to the mainland . Forced to find reservations in the west which became known as the Voyage of Tears . Island is less than half the size it was 100 years ago due to land erosion . | 2525599003733a8a17b1f13847afece22e472c77 |
A super computer has become the first in history to pass the Turing Test, a benchmark of artificial intelligence set by codebreaker Alan Turing (pictured) A super computer has been created which can simulate human conversation so well that it has convinced people it is a teenage boy. The machine is the first in history to pass the ‘Turing Test’ - a benchmark of artificial intelligence set by codebreaker Alan Turing. The World War Two computing pioneer devised the test in 1950. He said that if a machine is indistinguishable from a human, it is ‘thinking’. Now a computer programme called Eugene, developed to simulate a 13-year-old boy, has now managed to convince 33 per cent of judges that it is human. No computer had ever previously passed . the Turing Test, which requires 30 per cent of human interrogators to . be duped during a series of five-minute keyboard conversations. Five . machines were tested at the Royal Society in central London to see if . they could fool people into thinking they were humans during text-based . conversations. Professor . Kevin Warwick, from the University of Reading which organised the test, . said: ‘In the field of artificial intelligence there is no more iconic . and controversial milestone than the Turing Test. ‘It is fitting that such an important landmark has been reached at the Royal Society in London, the home of British science and the scene of many great advances in human understanding over the centuries. This milestone will go down in history as one of the most exciting.’ The successful machine was created by . Russian-born Vladimir Veselov, who lives in the United States, and . Ukrainian Eugene Demchenko who lives in Russia. Mr Veselov said: ‘It’s a remarkable achievement for us and we hope it boosts interest in artificial intelligence and chatbots.’ The computer programme called Eugene (pictured) was developed to simulate a 13-year-old boy. During tests it managed to convince 33 per cent of judges that it was human . Professor Kevin Warwick from the University of Reading, pictured following a previous experiment to build a cybernetic arm, said the computer passing was an important milestone . Prof Warwick said there had been previous claims that the test was passed in similar competitions around the world. ‘A true Turing Test does not set the questions or topics prior to the conversations,’ he said. ‘We are therefore proud to declare that Alan Turing’s test was passed for the first time.’ Prof Warwick said having a computer with such artificial intelligence had implications for society and would serve as a ‘wake-up call to cybercrime’. The event took place on the 60th anniversary of the death of Mr Turing, who laid the foundations of modern computing. During the Second World War, his critical work at Britain’s code-breaking centre at Bletchley Park helped shorten the conflict and save many thousands of lives. Instead of being hailed a hero, Mr Turing was persecuted for his homosexuality. After his conviction in 1952 for gross indecency with a 19-year-old Manchester man, he was chemically castrated. Two years later, he died from cyanide poisoning in an apparent suicide, though there have been suggestions that his death was an accident. Last December, after a long campaign, Mr Turing was given a posthumous Royal Pardon. The Turing Test was introduced by Second World War codebreaker Alan Turing in 1950 as part of his paper Computing Machinery And Intelligence in which he predicted that computers would one day be programmed to acquire abilities rivalling human intelligence. He proposed a test called The Imitation Game, which would identify whether a computer is capable of thought. A person, called the interrogator, engages in a text based conversation with another person and a computer - and must determine which is which.If they are unable to do so the computer is deemed to have passed. | Computer programme called Eugene convinced 33% of judges it is human . Five machines were tested at the Royal Society in central London . Test requires 30% of human interrogators to be duped by a computer . Benchmark devised by Second World War codebreaker Alan Turing in 1950 . Machine created by scientists Vladimir Veselov and Eugene Demchenko . | 6f726a6be01e145c968d4f8e9ba0f30bf14b3262 |
By . Mark Prigg . NASA’s top human exploration chief has revealed to a Senate panel plans for a manned mission Mars in the 2030s are on track. Development of key components of the deep-space rocket, capsule and infrastructure needed to reach Mars are already underway - and today Nasa was given the go-ahead for a mission to land on an asteroid as part of a 'stepping stone' to Mars. A House subcommittee approved an authorization bill that would allow Nasa to redirect an asteroid into the moon’s orbit, land astronauts there and use the asteroid as a testing outpost and way station on the way to Mars. Nasa Administrator Bill Gerstenmaier told members of a Senate Commerce, Science, and Transportation subcommittee that the agency remains on target to send a man to Mars in the 2030s . There will be two versions of the SLS rocket. The smaller, 70-metric-ton SLS will stand 321 feet tall, provide 8.4 million pounds of thrust at liftoff, weigh 5.5 million poundsand carry 154,000 pounds of payload. The massive 130-metric-ton-configuration will be the most capable, powerful launch vehicle in history. Towering a staggering 384 feet tall, it will provide 9.2 million pounds of thrust at liftoff and weigh 6.5 million pounds. It will be able to carry payloads weighing 286,000 pounds to orbit. The agency will now have to spell out the cost and details of the mission as part of an exploration 'roadmap' to Mars that Nasa will have to submit to Congress. The approval came as associate Nasa Administrator Bill Gerstenmaier told members of a Senate Commerce, Science, and Transportation subcommittee that the agency remains on target to launch an uncrewed mission in 2017 to test the Space Launch System (SLS) rocket and Orion multi-purpose crew vehicle that will carry astronauts to Mars. Avionics testing of solid rocket boosters was completed this week at Kennedy Space Center in preparation for a test of the SLS rocket later this year, and acoustic testing is also underway. 'There is real hardware in manufacture for the path to Mars,' Gerstenmaier told senators. 'Our architecture is designed for long-term human exploration of our solar system, including the goal of human missions to Mars.' The hearing, called 'From Here to Mars,' outlined intermediate space missions being planned as steps toward long-duration space travel. 'With the technologies and techniques we develop, we will enable expeditions to multiple destinations, ultimately allowing us to pioneer Mars and other destinations as we lay the groundwork for permanent human settlements in the solar system,' Gerstenmaier said. NASA would find an asteroid which is between seven and 10m wide. They would then tow or push it towards Earth so that it ends up in a stable orbit near the moon. In 2021 astronauts would then use an Orion capsule - a manned spacecraft - to land on the asteroid and bring back soil and rock samples for analysis. This asteroid would also, probably in the 2030s, be used as a stop-off point for astronauts on their way to Mars. Exact details on how Nasa plans to pluck an asteroid out of its trajectory are not yet known, but the most recent rendering rendering shows it is captured and held inside what looks like a giant plastic bag. The mission involves astronauts making the journey to their captive space rock by hitching a ride on the next-generation Orion Multi-Purpose Crew Vehicle. After the Orion and the asteroid are attached, the astronauts take a spacewalk to the captured object. Once the Orion docks with the remote-operated asteroid capture device, the crew performs a spacewalk that sees them climb almost the length of the conjoined vehicles to an exposed section of the asteroid they take photos of and scoop samples from, the video shows. After the mission is complete, Orion returns to Earth on the same path it journeyed out on, loops around the moon included, and splashes down in an ocean – likely the Pacific – 10 days later, as seen in the video. One planned mission is to a near-Earth asteroid, Gerstenmaier said. 'NASA will employ SLS and Orion for an early human exploration mission to perform pioneering human operations further from the Earth than ever before, rendezvousing with and returning samples from an asteroid redirected to at stable orbit around the Moon by the robotic segment of the Asteroid Redirect Mission (ARM),' he explained. 'We're going to grab a piece of the solar system, we're going to deflect it around the moon and insert it into a distant retrograde orbit around the moon where our crews can go visit," he said. 'To think we're moving a piece of the solar system for our use that will allow us to learn skills and techniques that we need to push the human presence into the solar system, that's a pretty awe-inspiring statement.' However, the ambitious Mars mission could be delayed or derailed if funding from a budget-conscious Congress continues to erode, or if other countries’ plans for a lunar mission force the U.S. to change course for security reasons. How it compares: The SLS system is larger than the Saturn rockets than launched man to the moon in its final configuration . | Deep space rocket already being built . Small missions would lead to first manned mission to Mars in 2030s . Asteroid will be used as a base to send astronauts to Mars . Back to Mail Online home . Back to the page you came from . | d5a947895136098f101f9f7fe3d419e8598ebe70 |
(CNN) -- Former Serbian President Milan Milutinovic was Thursday found not guilty of war crimes and crimes against humanity in Kosovo by a U.N. tribunal. Milan Milutinovic had was cleared of war crimes in Kosovo. Five other former high-ranking Serb officials -- Nikola Sainovic, Dragoljub Ojdanic, Nebojsa Pavkovic, Vladimir Lazarevic and Sreten Lukic -- were found guilty on all or some of the same charges. The judgment was the first by The Hague, Netherlands-based tribunal for crimes by the former Yugoslav and Serbian forces during a military campaign against Kosovo's ethnic Albanians in 1999. Their crimes took place during a Serb-led military campaign against Kosovo's ethnic Albanian population during the first six months of 1999 before a NATO bombing campaign forced a halt to the operation. Sainovic, former Yugoslav deputy prime minister and Pavkovic, a former Yugoslav army general were each sentenced to 22 years in prison for crimes against humanity and war crimes. Watch Milutinovic receive not guilty verdict » . Lazarevic, another ex-general and Ojdanic, who was chief of general staff, were each sentenced to 15 years on charges of forced deportation of Kosovo's ethnic Albanian population. The International Criminal Tribunal for the former Yugoslavia had heard during the two year tribunal how military forces of the former Republic of Yugoslavia and Serbia waged a campaign of terror against Kosovo Albanians. The court said Milutinovic didn't have "direct individual control" over the army and that "in practice" then-Yugoslav President Slobodan Milosevic "exercised actual command authority" over the army during the NATO campaign. Milosevic eventually surrendered to Serbian authorities in 2001 and had been extradited to The Hague, where he was on trial between 2002 and 2006 for the alleged offences in Kosovo and for alleged crimes in Croatia and Bosnia and Herzegovina. He died from natural causes in March 2006 before the trial ended and before a judgment was made. He was the first sitting head of state to be charged for war crimes when he was indicted in 1999. Kosovo's government declared its independence from Serbia in February 2008 after being administered by the United Nations since 1999. The U.S., Britain and France have recognized Kosovo's independence, but China and Russia joined Serbia in opposing the move. | U.N. tribunal clears ex-Serb President Milan Milutinovic of war crimes . Milutinovic, 4 other top Serbs officials face charges of crimes against humanity . Allegations centered on Serb-led campaign in Kosovo in 1999 . | 4e062cfdc06f9bc8c20dc99b3a37ffd41fc09a14 |
Liverpool manager Brendan Rodgers insists his side have learned from last season's crushing defeat by Chelsea and will go looking for the victory he hopes will kick-start their season. Last April Jose Mourinho, under whom Rodgers worked first time around at Stamford Bridge, came to Anfield with a tactical plan to stifle and frustrate and take advantage of any weakness. It worked perfectly as the then free-scoring home side failed to break down a disciplined defence and were caught twice on the counter-attack - the first coming, now famously, after Steven Gerrard's slip allowed Demba Ba to race through to score. Liverpool captain Steven Gerrard walks off dejected to be consoled by his manager Brendan Rodgers (left) after his mistake led to their 2-0 defeat by Chelsea that ended their Premier League title hopes last season . Demba Ba's strike changed complexion of the game and allowed Chelsea to pick Liverpool off on the counter . Jose Mourinho (left) and Chelsea ruined Liverpool's title dream last season in a spiky encounter . The defeat was the beginning of the end of Liverpool's title dream but now the tables have turned and it is Chelsea who are in top spot, unbeaten in their opening 10 matches. Mourinho will have adapted his game plan for Saturday but Rodgers insists his team are ready for the considerable challenge which awaits them, having already lost at home to Aston Villa and been held by Everton and Hull. 'We will have learned from that. This is a new challenge and it will be a tough game,' said Rodgers. 'Chelsea were obviously strong last year and they have big experience in their squad and know the league and that helps them massively. Brendan Rodgers looked relaxed in training on Thursday, despite Liverpool's poor start to the season . Rodgers will been keen to get striker Mario Balotelli firing on all cylinders as soon as possible . 'Add to that the players who have come in and Diego Costa, one of Europe's top strikers, and Cesc Fabregas, who knows the league and is a real creative force, and add (Eden) Hazard to that who is one of the best young players in the world and they are a strong outfit. 'This offers us a great chance at home to get a great result and then hopefully that can kick-start the season for us. 'I can see the improvements in us day-by-day. 'We've had injuries and in patches we have shown the level of our game is okay but it is not consistent enough and we haven't scored as many goals as last season. 'We are trying to find that solution and balance but that is something which is ongoing.' Part of Rodgers' problem is that few of his players are operating at the level they were in the second half of last season when they seemed destined to end their 24-year wait for the title. Steven Gerrard take a free-kick during training as Balotelli and Jordan Henderson look on . Liverpool forward Raheem Sterling in action at their Melwood headquarters on Thursday . It means he does not really know what his strongest team is, which is why all the furore over his team selection against Real Madrid in midweek needed to be viewed with some degree of perspective. 'My job is just to focus on our games,' added the Reds boss. 'I will always think in the best possible way for Liverpool and look at every performance making the fans proud and it will be the same this weekend when we will pick a team to win the game.' Adam Lallana and Joe Allen were all smiles during training ahead of the visit of Chelsea . Gerrard enjoys himself in the rain as Balotelli looks on during training on Thursday . While Rodgers will recall big names like Steven Gerrard, Jordan Henderson and Raheem Sterling - all rested in the Bernabeu - others may find they have been overtaken. With defence being such a problem again this season the performance of Kolo Toure, who had not started anything other a Capital One Cup match since mid-February, has put £20million summer signing Dejan Lovren under threat. The 33-year-old Ivory Coast international had come to be viewed as a centre-back always likely to make a mistake but he barely put a foot wrong against the world-class talent of Cristiano Ronaldo and Karim Benzema. Manager Rodgers issues instructions to his captain during training at Melwood on Thursday . Kolo Toure turned in an impressive performance against Real Madrid in the Champions League on Tuesday . 'Kolo was outstanding on the night and it is a great mark of his professionalism that he can come in and play as well as he did,' said Rodgers. 'One of the reasons we wanted to bring him in was because he was the right type of character. 'He knew that he may not play as many games as he has done in the past but his influence off the field and his character is contagious. 'He loves football and has a wonderful enthusiasm for the game and whether he's in the team or not, he's always the same: supporting the players. 'When called upon he can do a good job, as we saw the other night with his leadership qualities and organisation. 'Overall, I thought he and Martin Skrtel were outstanding.' | Liverpool welcome Premier League leaders Chelsea to Anfield on Saturday . Chelsea all but ended Liverpool's title challenge last season with 2-0 win . Brendan Rodgers said the Merseysiders have learned from the defeat . And the manager hopes Liverpool can kick-start their season with a win against Chelsea this weekend . Click here to flashback to last season's classic that saw a historical Anfield atmosphere, Steven Gerrard slip and a Jose Mourinho tactical masterclass . | b6dbcdf18c2ba47ab1ad82b51656429e49b0ae11 |
By . Stephanie Linning For Mailonline . An idyllic estate on the Channel Islands haven of Sark is up for sale - perfect for those looking to escape the city... and their taxes. The country retreat, near the island's quiet village, is on the market for £2.95million, and is the offers 'privacy, peace and tranquilty', according to the estate agents selling the property. The main house, a stunning seven-bedroom country home, boasts sweeping views out towards the Channel while the two other properties included in the price - a two-bedroom granite cottage and four-bedroom Scandinavian-style log house - mean that the new owner will have plenty of room for guests. Scroll down for video . Country home: Plaisance, the main house, is a detached house which has been beautifully and thoughtfully restored and carefully maintained by the current owner . Rustic: This spacious country kitchen is one of two in the main house - the current owners use one of the rooms as a small chocolate factory . Life of luxury: The estate, which is on the market for £2.9million, boasts a heated pool which is tucked away in a quiet corner of the sprawling gardens . Living simply: Sark's 600 inhabitants are not allowed to own cars and must travel by bicycle, horse-drawn carriage or on foot. Pictured: The view from the main house . Spacious: One of the main house's three reception rooms, pictured, offers plenty of light while an ornate fireplace gives the space a touch of character . In a brochure advertising the estate, Strutt & Parker also drew attention to the 'numerous offshore fiscal advantages' that could be gained by living on the remote island, namely the absence of VAT, Income Tax, Capital Gains or Corporation Taxes. It was originally listed at £3.95million - £1million more than it is currently - but has just had its price brought down. Sark, the fourth biggest of the Channel . Islands, is around 18 miles south of England. The island's 600 inhabitants are not allowed to own cars and no airport means that it can be tricky to get to. The remote island can be . reached by a one-hour ferry from Guernsey - which is a one-hour . flight from London. Once there, visitors can explore the picturesque village - and surrounding dramatic cliffs - by bicycle, on foot - or by horse-drawn carriage. The main house boasts a . reception hall, drawing room, dining room, shower room and two kitchens - . one that is currently used as a chocolate factory. It is set in large gardens and is just a short walk from the property's paddocks, large workshop, heated swimming pool and pool house. Quaint cottage: This additional property sits in front of the main house and offers two bedrooms and a large studio space - as well as its own contained gardens . Grand: The main house will offer a perfect retreat for those looking to escape city life - and their taxes - with a move to the Channel Islands . Rural: Just a few minutes' stroll from the two properties is a Scandinavian-style log house, which boasts views over the coastline - a perfect place to watch the sun set . Breathtaking: The three rural properties offer stunning views in all directions of the dramatic nearby cliffs and the English Channel below . Local village: The estate is just a short walk from an array of restaurants, shops and small hotels, allowing the new owners to enjoy the best of country life . The house offers incredible views over its own land and out towards the sea. And the fact that it is close to the local village means that the new owner will still enjoy a rural atmosphere and a wonderful feeling of privacy without feeling too cut off. In front of the main house there is a small detached granite cottage which offers two bedrooms, kitchen, living room, bathroom, boiler room, private patio and a large office/studio. Just a few minutes' stroll from the two properties is a Scandinavian-style log house, which boasts views over the coastline - a perfect place to watch the sun set, according to Strutt & Parker. It boasts four double bedrooms, an extensive open plan kitchen and living room, two separate bathrooms, cloakroom, utility room and a woodenveranda. The master bedroom also boasts a wonderful sea view balcony. Outside the property is surrounded by private gardens and leads straight out onto the cliffs. Outdoor activities: A fisherman at work of the coast of Sark, which is the fourth largest Channel Island and about 18 miles south of England . Incredible views: The surrounding gardens are well cared for with open lawns leading down to the coast, as seen through this window in the main house . Traditional: One of Sark's 600 residents drives a horse-drawn carriage down one of the island's country roads, where cars are not allowed . Coastal beauty: The Scandinavian log house is surrounded by private gardens and leads straight out onto the cliffs, offering residents breathtaking views . History: A cannon, mounted on a wooden cart, is perched on the clifftop just a short walk from the rural property . | Rural estate boasts country home, two-bedroom detached granite cottage and Scandinavian-style log house . Idyllic property comes with paddocks, large workshop, heated swimming pool and pool house . It is just a short walk from the village on the island of Sark, which is about 18 miles from the south of England . The peaceful island's 600 inhabitants cannot own cars and must travel on foot, by bicycle - or horse-drawn carriage . | 73b1b64be2d58e90b6ecdd6dcd6a34907d3f4c3c |
(CNN) -- Cannes has been a hotbed of controversy since the beginning. The first festival, organized by the French in 1939 as a response to the Venice Film Festival -- then a vehicle for Nazi propaganda movies -- had to be canceled after it launched on the day WWII broke out. The festival returned in 1946 and has since been a fertile ground for taboo-breaking films, wannabes disrobing for a shot at fame, public spats between directors and critics and publicity stunts gone wrong. The latest rumpus surrounds "Grace of Monaco," a biopic of Grace Kelly, the Oscar-winning American actress who subsequently became the princess of Monaco. The film has been criticized by the Monaco royal family who said it contains "major historical untruths and a series of purely fictional scenes." The festival would not comment on whether Prince Albert and his sisters, Caroline and Stéphanie would attend the gala premiere. Altercations, scandals and stunts are arguably as much the lifeblood of Cannes as the films and here, in no particular order, are some of the greatest. Robert Mitchum and the topless starlet . Publicity-hungry starlet Simone Silva took her top off during a photo shoot with Hollywood star Robert Mitchum and briefly made global headlines during an infamous incident at the 1954 festival. The British B-movie actress and glamor model turned up on the Croisette looking for exposure and was quickly crowned "Miss Festival" by organizers who set the photo shoot up for her on the beach. "The photographers got down on their knees to plead with me to take the top off," she was quoted as saying in Ohio newspaper, The Daily Reporter. She did, removing her flimsy scarf top and cuddling up to Robert Mitchum, in just a grass skirt and covering her breasts with her hands. In the ensuing scrum three photographers fell into the Mediterranean, a fourth broke his ankle and another suffered a fractured elbow. Silva left the festival a few days later, after being asked to leave, but remained defiant: "As long as sex is box office and I keep my figure, I'm out to be the sexiest thing on, oh, two legs." Dead pigeon gag gone wrong . There are some things you just know are a bad idea, right? Apparently not if you are the upstart cast of a hot Brit-flick. In 2001, actors from "24 Hour Party People," which tells the story of the Manchester music scene in the late '80s, attacked each other with dead pigeons on a private Cannes beach splattering diners at an exclusive restaurant with fake blood, feathers and worse. Security guards threatened the actors with mace and they were unceremoniously ejected from the beach along with the film crew and entourage of British journalists who had been watching gleefully. Actor Danny Cunningham, who played Shaun Ryder the wild lead singer of Manchester indie band Happy Mondays came up with the ill-judged publicity stunt. He said it was inspired by an alleged incident from Ryder's youth shown in the film where he poisoned 3,000 Manchester pigeons with crack cocaine. The actors brought stuffed pigeons as props for the stunt. Cunningham, who received a cut to the head in the scuffle, told the BBC: "I think Shaun would have been proud of us. We came to Cannes to be wild and now we are going home." See: Movies to watch out for at Cannes 2014 . New Wave on the beach . It was May 1968 and revolution was in the air. Students were marching in the streets and workers were participating in the biggest strike France has ever seen. It was, perhaps, inevitable that some of that fever would infiltrate the rarefied movie theaters of Cannes. Politics burst into the festival when a group of filmmakers led by New Wave directors Jean-Luc Godard and Francois Truffaut demanded it close in solidarity with the strikes. "We're talking solidarity with students and workers and you are talking dolly shots and close-ups," Godard memorably shouted from behind a pair of Ray-Bans. "You're assholes!" Godard and Truffaut stopped the next screening by hanging off the curtain as it was being pulled back and the festival was canceled shortly after, five days before its scheduled end. No prizes were handed out. Over the next few years, counterculture also invaded the content of the festival with films like "Easy Rider" and "M*A*S*H." Vincent Gallo vs Roger Ebert . When cult film director and actor Vincent Gallo turned up to Cannes in 2003 with "The Brown Bunny," an incoherent road movie with a graphic, unsimulated oral sex scene, the critics booed in boredom and disgust and Roger Ebert called it "the worst film in the history of the festival." A humiliated Gallo returned to the U.S. and began a new edit of the film but found the time to embark on a vicious war of words with Ebert, calling him "a fat pig," who "had the physique of a slave trader," topping it off by putting a hex on his colon and saying he hoped he got cancer. Ebert retorted, tartly: "I had a colonoscopy once, and they let me watch it on TV. It was more entertaining than "The Brown Bunny." And added, in a twist on late UK Prime Minister Winston Churchill's immortal line: "It is true that I am fat, but one day I will be thin, and he will still be the director of 'The Brown Bunny.'" Amazingly, the spat ended in a truce. Gallo finished his re-edit and showed "The Brown Bunny" at Toronto where Ebert saw it again, this time awarding it three out of a possible four stars. Lars von Trier: 'Ok, I'm a Nazi' In 2011, famously eccentric Danish director Lars von Trier told onlookers at a press conference that he was a Nazi, that he understood Hitler and that his next film could be The Final Solution. "I understand Hitler. I think he did some wrong things, yes absolutely, but I can see him sitting in his bunker in the end. I think I understand the man," said Von Trier while Kirsten Dunst and Charlotte Gainsbourg, stars of his sci-fi drama "Melancholia," looked on in helpless disbelief. "How do I get out of this? Ok, I'm a Nazi," he added shortly after in what could kindly be described as an ill-judged joke. Festival officials condemned his statements, which he retracted shortly after, but officials still took unusual step of banning him from the festival. Von Trier has been a one-man scandal factory since he started showing films at Cannes in the '80s. Incensed at being passed over for the top prize in 1991, he called Jury President Roman Polanski a "midget," while Icelandic musician Bjork, who won Best Actress for her starring role in his 2000 film "Dancer in the Dark" said she would never act again. But perhaps his greatest scandal (apart from the Nazi joke) was in 2009 when there were reports that some audience members fainted from shock after watching a scene in his grotesque art-horror "Antichrist" in which Charlotte Gainsbourg mutilates her genitals. The ecumenical jury at Cannes called it "misogynistic" and awarded it a special anti-prize. 2014 Cannes Film Festival: The red carpet . | Since its inception, Cannes has attracted protests, spats and stunts . CNN looks at some of the greatest scandals to have rocked the festival . Among them: Danish director Lars von Trier says he is a Nazi and is banned . '50s starlet strips on beach and photographer breaks ankle in scrum for photos . | 9fb61674f6d026c055918e8d0c05e762189edcac |
(CNN) -- The first ever video footage of a giant squid swimming in the ocean depths is "an enormous breakthrough," according to a prominent marine conservationist who wrote a book about the quest to find the mysterious creatures. "People have been searching for them for hundreds of years, literally," said Richard Ellis, the author of "The Search for the Giant Squid: The Biology and Mythology of the World's Most Elusive Sea Creature." Scientists and television broadcasters released images this week of the 10-foot-long giant squid they had filmed deep in the Pacific Ocean, far off the coast of the Japanese mainland, during hundreds of hours of underwater research. The discovery is significant for both science and mythology, in which giant squids have long played a notable role, Ellis said in an interview on CNN. "We're going to learn how this thing moves," he said. "How it swims, what it does with its arms when it swims." He described the squid as having eight arms and "two very, very long tentacles which it uses to grasp its prey." Its limbs have suckers lined with sharp teeth. Monsters reminiscent of giant squids have been featured in fables and imagery through the ages, like the Kraken in Norse legend and the Scylla in Greek mythology. "For a long time, people didn't even think they existed," Ellis said. The carcasses of dead giant squid that washed ashore eventually proved that the creatures were real, but finding live ones in the wild has proved extremely challenging. The first still photographs of one of the huge creatures were captured in 2004, and footage was taken of one floating on the surface of the water in 2006. But researchers and cameramen had never before managed to catch a glimpse of them in the ocean abyss where they live. The mission that finally tracked down the creature involved 55 dives in two special submersible vehicles that spent a total of more than 285 hours far beneath the waves. Some of the dives went deeper than 3,000 feet. The team of scientists and filmmakers on the mission came from a variety of institutions, including the National Science Museum of Japan, the Discovery Channel and the Japanese broadcaster NHK. They used equipment including "ultra-sensitive camera systems with light invisible to squid, bio luminescent lures and secret squid attractants," the Discovery Channel said. NHK and the Discovery Channel say they plan to air their programs about the squid sighting this month. | The 10-foot-long giant squid was caught on tape deep in the Pacific Ocean . The creatures had never before been filmed in their natural habitat . The discovery is significant for science and mythology, a marine expert says . | c9405195b6f1895c2a0d327f8bc4d42f93fbf6cf |
By . Alex Ward . PUBLISHED: . 08:38 EST, 13 July 2012 . | . UPDATED: . 12:08 EST, 13 July 2012 . Roger Waters’ live tour has outsold Bruce Springsteen and Madonna to become the top-selling live act in 2012 so far. The former Pink Floyd singer-songwriter's The Last Few Bricks tour in America and Canada has sold more than 1.4 million tickets globally – that’s $158.1 million – according to Pollstar Magazine which monitors the live concert business. Bruce Springsteen’s Wrecking Ball tour, which started in March, came in a distant second making $79.9 million in ticket sales, and Madonna’s world tour came in third totaling $42 million so far. Best seller: Roger Waters' live tour which included a show in Charlotte, North Carolina (pictured) has made $158.1 million in ticket sales this year ahead of big names like Bruce Springsteen and Madonna . Might be toppled: Pollstar Magazine doesn't think Waters' (pictured performing in Raleigh, North Carolina) time at the top will last long with Springsteen and Madonna still with plenty of concerts to come . In tough times for concert promoters, ticket prices have dropped by an average of $6.34 to $60.68 – the lowest price since 2007 in what Pollstar called ‘today’s economic realities’. Lady Gaga, Coldplay, Madonna and Paul McCartney have also been on the road this year and have helped push ticket sales for the 100 largest American concerts up 1.2 per cent, selling a record 18.6 million tickets to the tune of $1.1 billion. Working hard: Springsteen (pictured left performing in Berlin, Germany) and Madonna (pictured right performing in Italy) have sold $79.9 million and $42 million in tickets respectively . Smash hit: Waters wrote the hit 1979 Pink Floyd album The Wall which was adapted into a feature film by the same name . But Waters’ time at the top could be short lived according to Pollstar. The . magazine wrote: ‘While Waters still has a few walls left to build on . his itinerary, Springsteen also has a long way to go before the end of . the Wrecking Ball tour, and still could finish with the year's top . outing. ‘Madonna has yet to hit North America (and) also has an outside shot.’ Waters, . 68, who sang and played bass for Pink Floyd, wrote the hit 1979 album . The Wall which charts the decline and fall of a rock star so emotionally . scarred by the loss of his father during the war that he retreats ever . further behind a psychological barrier. The album was used as the soundtrack to a film of the same name directed by Alan Parker in 1982, which included unforgettable animations of artwork by Gerald Scarfe, and starred Bob Geldof as the angst-ridden rock star Pink, a clear stand-in for Roger Waters. | Roger Waters has sold more than 1.4 million tickets generating $158.1 million . His The Last Few Bricks tour is the top-selling live act for 2012 so far . He's beating Springsteen and Madonna on tour, but they might past him yet . Tickets to live concerts have dropped to the lowest price since 2007 in a tough time for concert promoters . | 162fa3b068ce3d6521593e48c9c64d021c262413 |
With Stephen Colbert bowing out from his Comedy Central show on Thursday, the network has unveiled the first promo for his replacement Larry Wilmore. Emmy-winning comedy veteran Wilmore was previously Senior Black Correspondent on The Daily Show With John Stewart. He was first announced as Colbert's replacement in May when the show was called The Minority Report, but the name has since been changed to The Nightly Show With Larry Wilmore. Scroll down for video . With Stephen Colbert bowing out from his Comedy Central show on Thursday, the network has unveiled the first promo for his replacement Larry Wilmore . The promo clips riffs on the idea that Wilmore, who despite his experience isn't a recognizable name, as he introduces himself to a diner full of slightly confused people . The promo clips riffs on the idea that Wilmore, who despite his experience isn't a recognizable name, as he introduces himself to a diner full of slightly confused people. Wilmore promises to bring a bit more diversity to late night television and extra 'Nightly-ness' as he describes it in the clip. The show, created by Wilmore alongside former Daily Show Executive Producer Rory Albanese, aims to tackle current events from the perspective of the underdog. The show's name got changed after Fox decided to develop a pilot based on the 2002 Tom Cruise film Minority Report, reported The New York Times last month. Wilmore has said that the new name may actually convey the show's mission statement more accurately. 'It was never intended to be a show only about minorities,' he said. 'It's a show about underdogs, and that happens in a lot of different forms, whether it's race, gender or whatever.' The Nightly Show With Larry Wilmore is scheduled to premiere on January 19 on Comedy Central, while Stephen Colbert's debut hosting The Late Show won't happen until the spring . Wilmore is a showbusiness veteran who has an Emmy Award to his name and has written for several shows including In Living Color, The Fresh Prince of Bel Air, The Office and others. He also co-created The Bernie Mac Show. The comedian was also a writer on ABC's autumn comedy hit Black-ish, although he has now quit his involvement with that show. The Nightly Show With Larry Wilmore is scheduled to premiere on January 19 on Comedy Central. Stephen Colbert's debut as replacement for David Letterman as host of The Late Show is expected in the spring. Larry Wilmore has written for a host of shows including In Living Color, The Fresh Prince of Bel Air, The Office and Black-ish . | Emmy-winning comedian Wilmore is taking over the post-John Stewart slot vacated by Stephen Colbert's departure to CBS . The Nightly Show With Larry Wilmore debuts on January 19 . Show promises to tackle current events from the perspective of the underdog . The final Colbert Report is on Thursday, although his debut as host of The Late Show isn't until the spring . | 5ef1862660f17af432c0df8ae82c40b0a6e92687 |
By . Jill Reilly . PUBLISHED: . 07:52 EST, 3 April 2012 . | . UPDATED: . 02:44 EST, 4 April 2012 . A Tory MP’s housekeeper has spoken of her horror as she saw her gentle pet labrador savagely attacked by a pack of 10 vicious hounds at her employer's orchard. Grandmother Debbie Bower, who works at the Somerset home of MP Jacob Rees-Mogg, was terrified that Dozer had died from his injuries during the horrific 25-minute ordeal. He was mauled so viciously, that he was minutes away from death and only just pulled through a three-and-a-half hour operation to save his life. Vicious attack: Dozer, seen here immediately after the brutal attack, was mauled so viciously, that he was minutes away from death and only just pulled through a three-and-a-half hour operation to save his life . Terrifying experience: Dozer, had been playing in the garden with his owner's grandchildren, when the animals, which weren't on leads, charged towards Ms Bower's grandson before attacking him for 25 minutes . Now Ms Bower, 46, is calling for a change in the law to make dog-on-dog attacks illegal and wants to enable dog owners to be punished if their pets attack other animals. Her employer, Mr Rees-Mogg is backing her case and has pledged to raise the issue in Parliament if Ms Bower raises 1,000 signatures on a petition outlining her proposals. The bloody attack took place on March 18 at the constituency home of Mr Rees-Mogg, the Conservative MP for North East Somerset, in West Harptree, Somerset. Dozer, a six-year-old labrador, had been playing in the garden with Ms Bower’s grandchildren when a pack of 10 dogs, which were being walked by a local man, jumped over the garden fence from a public footpath, which runs alongside Mr Rees-Mogg's land. Campaign: His owner Debbie Bower, is now calling for a change in the law to make dog-on-dog attacks illegal and enable dog owners to be punished if their pets attack other animals . Recuperating: Dozer is still recovering from his ordeal and Ms Bower said 'We have to go into the garden with Dozer now because we're scared it could happen again' Made up of Staffordshire Bull Terriers, Jack Russells and Whippets, the pack - none of which were on leads - charged towards Ms Bower’s grandson before cornering the labrador in a prolonged attack that lasted nearly half an hour. Dozer was left with such horrific injuries that Ms Bower was sure her beloved pet had been killed. Support: The bloody attack took place at the constituency home of Mr Rees-Mogg, the Conservative MP for North East Somerset - he has pledged to raise the issue in Parliament enough petition signatures . She said: 'His leg was bitten down to the bone, he had bites all over his head - he is lucky to be alive, I thought he was dead. 'His instincts kicked in and he played dead, I think that is the only thing that saved him. He had to undergo a three-and-a-half hour operation under anaesthetic. 'The dogs should have been kept on a lead. One of the dogs ran at my grandson first before going at Dozer - my grandchildren were hysterical and terrified. She said that although the owner of the vicious dogs did try to intervene, he should not have been walking 10 dogs at one time, without them all being on a lead. 'It’s not the first time these dogs have attacked.I saw a woman walking her dog with a pitchfork in fear of them. People aren’t feeling safe because of the animals,' she added. She said that she now has to accompany Dozer into the garden because "we’re scared it could happen again." Mr . Rees-Mogg, who was elected MP for North East Somerset in 2010, has . spoken of his shock. He said: 'The event happened in my garden and I was shocked and very concerned about it. My children play in that garden. Investigation: Avon and Somerset Police are investigating Ms Bower's complaint, but as yet no charges have been brought against the owner of the dogs . 'The owner of the dogs has expressed his concern at the event and he has recognised his responsibility. He says he will now walk his animals on a lead. 'It is important dog owners keep their dog under control and take responsibility for the way they behave. 'The Dangerous Dogs Act deals with dogs who are a risk to people but I think owners have a duty of care towards other dogs too. 'If Deborah gets a petition signed, I will present it in Parliament.' Avon . and Somerset Police are investigating Ms Bower’s complaint, but as yet . no charges have been brought against the owner of the dogs. | Dozer was mauled so viciously he was minutes away from death and only just pulled through a three-and-a-half hour operation to save his life . The pack of dogs were being walked by a local man but were not on leads . Labrador's owner, Debbie Bower, is calling for a change in the law to make dog-on-dog attacks illegal . Tory MP Jacob Rees-Mogg is backing Ms Bower's case and has . pledged to raise the issue in Parliament if she gains enough signatures on a petition . | 7e79131d33beab3144ddc008804cc4157e411f4f |
(CNN) -- A 6.6-magnitude earthquake struck early Sunday in the western Pacific off Papua New Guinea, the U.S. Geological Survey reported. The tremor did not immediately prompt any tsunami warnings by the U.S. National Weather Service's Pacific Tsunami Warning Center or the Japan Meteorological Agency. The Intergovernmental Oceanographic Commission Tsunami Programme, which is affiliated with the United Nations, likewise said historical data suggests there is "no destructive widespread tsunami threat." "However, earthquakes of this size sometimes generate local tsunamis that can be destructive along coasts located within a hundred kilometers of the earthquake epicenter," the IOC said in a bulletin. "Authorities in the region of the epicenter should be aware of this possibility and take appropriate action." The quake was centered 70 kilometers (43.5 miles) deep under the ocean floor, the U.S. Geological Survey said. It happened shortly after 6 a.m. Sunday (4 p.m. ET Saturday). The epicenter was about 33 kilometers south-southeast of Taron, in the eastern part of Papua New Guinea. The island nation's capital of Port Moresby was some 850 kilometers away. There were no immediate reports of damage due to the quake. | NEW: An international group warns such a quake can "generate local tsunamis" The quake struck around 6 a.m. Sunday local time . It hit about 37 kilometers from Taron in eastern Papua New Guinea . | 72036d7a391fac8d507500ccbb39b523b8b839a2 |
By . Daily Mail Reporter . PUBLISHED: . 16:01 EST, 26 May 2013 . | . UPDATED: . 03:34 EST, 27 May 2013 . Fears that the Syrian civil war is spreading into Lebanon grew yesterday after a rocket attack on Beirut. Two southern neighbourhoods of the Lebanese capital which are strongholds of Hezbollah were targeted. At least four people were injured. It came just hours after Hezbollah – a militant Iranian-backed Shia Muslim group – reaffirmed its support for Syrian dictator President Assad. Victim: A wounded man awaits medical attention after two rockets hit his house in Beirut's suburbs . Strike: Lebanese army soldiers investigate at a damaged room where a rocket hit an apartment in Chiyah district, south of Beirut . The group’s leader, Sheikh Hassan Nasrallah, vowed to help Assad win the civil war and warned that his overthrow would give rise to extremists. Assad’s opponents are overwhelmingly Sunni Muslims and Lebanon’s sectarian divide mirrors that of Syria, with Lebanese factions taking sides in their neighbour’s civil war. One rebel leader has threatened to strike Hezbollah strongholds in retaliation for the group sending men to fight alongside Assad’s forces. The rocket attack came two days after Russia's foreign ministry said the Syrian government has agreed to a conference on the country's future proposed by Russia and the United States. A Lebanese man shows the remains of one of the rockets. Hezbollah supports President Assad, but Sunni opponents in Lebanon favour the Syrian opposition . Tensions have been running high in Lebanon, and Syrian rebels have threatened to retaliate against Hezbollah for sending fighters to assist President Bashar Assad's forces in Syria . The Syrian government had 'agreed in principle' to participate in the conference in Geneva which is expected within two weeks, Foreign Ministry spokesman Alexander Lukashevich said in televised remarks. Mr Lukashevich, however, said that it was impossible to set the date for the conference at this point because there is 'no clarity about who will speak on behalf of the opposition and what powers they will have'. Opposition groups have spoken against President Bashar Assad's representatives taking part. Blast zone: Lebanese security officials said at least four people were injured . Sectarian: A flag with an icon of Imam Ali, an important figure for Shia Muslims, is seen in front of a balcony where a rocket struck . A Lebanese army officer investigates part of a rocket which struck a car on the street in the Mar Mikhael district, south of Beirut . More than 70,000 people have been killed and several million displaced since the uprising against Mr Assad erupted in March 2011 and escalated into a civil war. It was the first confirmation that Mr Assad's government would be willing to take part in the talks with the opposition. But despite the announcement from Moscow, one of Mr Assad's staunchest allies, Damascus has not offered any definitive statement on the proposed talks. The US-Russian plan, similar to the one set out last year in Geneva, calls for talks on a transitional government and an open-ended ceasefire. All that is left of a building in the city of Homs after the recent fighting and shelling that is destroying the country . | Two neighbourhoods hit by rockets, sparking fears of wider conflict . Hezbollah has pledged support to President Assad . Lebanese rival factions could be dragged into bloody conflict . | bef9eefd2e1cdb23e3a1752bd8d990ad9f00aecd |
By . Leon Watson . and Liz Hull . They would have been a deeply unwelcome sight in 1944 – and 70 years on, nothing has changed. Visitors who turned up to a D-Day commemoration wearing Nazi uniform were banned from shops and accused of being insensitive and offensive. Some 25,000 people – many in period costume – flock to Haworth every year for the West Yorkshire town’s 1940s Home Front festival which highlights the heroics of those involved in the Second World War. But two years ago a handful of visitors in Nazi uniforms tried to hijack the two-day event, upsetting a number of people including a group of German visitors to the town which is a tourist hotspot because of its links with the Bronte family. Organisers decided to take action but were powerless to ban offensive clothing, so teashops, pubs and stores put up No Nazi notices and refused to serve anyone in SS uniform. Not welcome: An attendee dressed in a Nazi uniform at Haworth's 1940s Weekend, an annual World War II-themed event, at Haworth, Yorkshire . Not encouraged: Attendees dressed in Nazi uniforms at Haworth's 1940s Weekend . Stephen . King of the Soldiers', Sailors' and Airmen's Families Association armed . forces charity said visitors had been encouraged not to wear such . uniforms at the event. He said: 'We can't actually ban people from wearing these outfits but it's something we always discourage. Many . people lost their lives in the Second World War and the last thing we'd . want is for those people to be mocked or disrespected in any way. 'A lot of the shops in the village put up signs saying they won't serve anyone wearing Nazi or SS uniforms. 'We also seek guidance from the police to make sure it is discouraged but unfortunately it isn't something we have control over. 'We just urge people not to do it but unfortunately some people feel the need to wear such costumes.' Signs at several shops and pubs in the village warned ‘No Nazi or SS uniforms or insignia allowed on these premises'. Some . visitors to the village, near Bradford, were seen wearing garments from . SS uniforms - the Third Reich paramilitary organisation responsible for . many of the atrocities against humanity in the Second World War. Mike Reid (left) wears a replica Nazi uniform to that of German General Sepp Dietrich, who was in charge of the Panzer division . Tens of thousands of visitors descended on Haworth, West Yorkshire as part of 1940s weekend but many were left disgusted as they were greeted by the few in Nazi outfits . Chocks away, chaps: Men in RAF fancy dress at the Haworth 1940s weekend festival . The scene was quintessentially British: Union Flag bunting, men and women dressed in 1940s gear and the sound of Vera Lynn ringing in the air . Two women in 1940s dress with pints of lager, at the Haworth 1940s weekend festival . One the unwanted was Mike Reid, who wore a replica of German General Sepp Dietrich's Nazi uniform, who was in charge of the Panzer division. Cafe . owner Jill Ross revealed she put up a sign warning people not to enter . in Nazi or SS costumes as many visitors were left offended at a previous . event. She said: 'A couple of years ago we had people in SS and Nazi uniforms in the cafe and a lot of people were upset. 'We put the sign up as have many others in the streets around here asking for people to refrain from wearing these outfits.' Another visitor, who asked not to be named, said: 'It's incredibly insensitive. Keep calm: Signs were put up around the village saying Nazi uniforms were not allowed . Stephen King of the Soldiers', Sailors' and Airmen's Families Association armed forces charity said visitors had been encouraged not to wear such uniforms at the event . The Second World War weekend event is held annually in Haworth, West Yorkshire . Two visitors dressed in 1950s period costume, the man on the right in an RAF uniform . Two soldiers in full Second World War uniform. The man on the right dressed as a U.S. soldier . Organisers admitted there is no law against wearing the uniforms, meaning it is ¿impossible' to impose an outright ban on the costumes . 'There are people here today that were alive during the War and don't want to remember such things. 'It's highly offensive.' The . event attracts around 25,000 to 30,000 guests each year, with this . year's festival commemorating the 70th anniversary of the 1944 D-Day . landings. Organisers . admitted there is no law against wearing the uniforms, meaning it is . ‘impossible' to impose an outright ban on the costumes. They are hoping to raise more than £25,000 at the two-day event, with proceeds going towards the armed forces charity. Haworth revellers dressed as a British Navy sailor (left) and a member of the U.S. Airborne Division (right) | Visitors to the Haworth's annual event in Yorkshire left shocked and appalled . The men turned up sporting swastikas, the Iron Cross and the emblem of the SS . Organisers said event meant to commemorate the heroics of those involved in WWII . Shop-keepers even put out signs saying visitors dressed as Nazis were not allowed . But that didn't stop the group of Nazi costume-wearing men from turning up . | 415a6fb48e2e486b9b711ba9d638dba71b7be155 |
A stripper who worked for the nightclub owner that shot President Kennedy's killer has now claimed that her boss was not part of a bigger conspiracy. For the 50 years since JFK's assassination in Dallas on November 22, 1963, a range of wild stories have suggested that any number of masterminds behind the assassination and alleged cover up- from Kennedy's vice President Lyndon Johnson or his long time rival Richard Nixon or mob bosses and international gangsters. Tammi True, who worked as a stripper at the time, has now opened up about how she believes that her then-boss Jack Ruby was acting on his own accord when he shot and killed Lee Harvey Oswald. Scroll down for video . The moment: Nightclub owner Jack Ruby (in the hat at right) shot and killed Kennedy assassin Lee Harvey Oswald when he was being transferred from the Dallas police station to a nearby jail two days after killing the president . Fatal ride: Oswald shot and killed President Kennedy as he drove through Dallas on November 22 . 'Jack did it because he had the opportunity,' Ms True said. 'There were a lot of people who wanted to do what Jack did.' The moment he fatally shot Oswald inside the Dallas police office was caught on film, meaning that there was no way to argue he was guilty. Instead, the big question became why did he kill the man who crippled the country? At the time, there were investigations into whether Ruby was pressured to kill Oswald in order to shut him up and keep him from revealing the true motivations behind the assassination. The man she knew: Tammi True (right) worked in one of Ruby's (left) Dallas clubs in 1963 . Still in the spotlight: Ms True (pictured in 2011), who is now 75, is featured in an upcoming film about the Kennedy assassination called 'True Tales' Telling her story: 'True Tales' is the latest in a number of movies and documentaries to come out this year in honor of the 50th anniversary of Kennedy's death . Ms True, who is now 75-years-old, is featured in an upcoming film called True Tales, where she gives insight into Ruby and his possible motivations. She said that there was no way that his killing of Oswald was planned because he overslept that morning. The Dallas Star Telegram reports that Ms True said Ruby was headed to wire money to another stripper with his dachshund in tow once he finally got out of bed. Watch more of the interview with Tammi True here. Big man: Ruby, seen here with two of his dancers in front of his Carousel Club, has been the subject of a number of conspiracy theories as many believe that he killed Oswald to keep him from confessing about a larger plan . Way with the wings: The involvement of Ruby brought the darker underbelly of his clubs and mob connections into question . It was just a matter of timing, she said, that led Ruby to cross paths with Oswald as he was being escorted by police at the station. Even if that is the case, there was some level of undisputed planning that went into it as Ruby had to make his way to the basement of the police station and jumped out from behind a crowd of reporters in order to fatally shoot Oswald in the stomach. Many of the reporters were filming live so millions of Americans saw the shooting happen in real time. | Nightclub owner Jack Ruby shot Kennedy assassin Lee Harvey Oswald two days after Oswald shot the President . Many thought that Ruby was part of a cover-up conspiracy to stop Oswald from talking about who 'hired' him to kill the President . A striptease dancer at one of Ruby's nightclubs has now spoken out saying that he did not have a plan to kill Oswald . | 50a4858bf189375d2d6f7770c3fab382f246e6a6 |
By . Helen Collis . PUBLISHED: . 09:33 EST, 4 September 2013 . | . UPDATED: . 10:59 EST, 4 September 2013 . It seems cats the world over have trouble judging what size holes they can fit through. This adventurous feline had to be rescued by firefighters in Italy after it tried to squeeze through a small hole in a storage container. It comes days after a British cat had to be rescued after it too got its head stuck - but this time in a can of cat food. Not the purrfect escape: A cat trapped inside a metal container tried to escape through a tiny hole but ended up getting trapped . The head of the distressed Italian moggie was spotted by a neighbour in Bolzano, northern Italy. The well-fed feline managed to squeeze its face through the hole in the side of a storage container, but couldn't wriggle its body through the small gap. People walking past could just see a cats head protruding from the container, but nothing else. Firefighters spent an hour carefully cutting through the metal unit until it was wide enough for the feline to get through. Stuck: The inquisitive feline misjudged the size of its body when it tried to squeeze through the hole in the metal container . Carefully does it: Firefighters in Bolzano, northern Italy took care not to harm the cat when they cut through the container to free it . 'We think it must have slipped in while the door was open and then got trapped inside,' said one firefighter. 'A neighbour called us after seeing it looking very sorry for itself with its head stuck through the wall. 'It wasn't hurt so after a quick check with the vet we let it go,' they added. | Firefighters think the cat got trapped in the container and tried to escape . But it misjudged the size of its body when it tried to squeeze through a hole . It had to be carefully cut free from the metal container, in Bolzano, Italy . | eaaaf2d50b56c82902c4e82ceaf360da217f158c |
It was one of those unavoidably surreal moments in broadcasting history. BBC presenters Julian Worricker and Sophie . Long were delivering the news from one side of a glass-screen studio . when a small figure in a turquoise coat loomed into view on the newsroom . behind them. The Queen was shown surrounded and all but mobbed by . dozens of staff, apparently ignoring instructions to remain in their . seats as the monarch toured the building. Newsflash: Presenters Julian Worricker and Sophie Long turn round to find the Queen has turned up during one their bulletins . Caught unawares: The newsreaders appeared a little flustered as their celebrity guest appeared in the background . Earlier she had sat motionless as she . listened to a special performance in the ‘Live Lounge’. Just for a moment, she seemed somewhat alone. Pensive: The Queen on a visit to the BBC yesterday, as Prince Philip underwent abdominal surgery . The cameras fleetingly caught her . looking reflective, the briefest of expressions to confirm there was a . great deal on the Queen’s mind yesterday. In . different circumstances the Duke of Edinburgh would have been at her . side for this, one of hundreds of engagements they carry out together . throughout a busy working year. But yesterday – not for the first time – she found herself unexpectedly on a solo mission to maintain business as usual . The Queen is . known to be a fan of classical music but she was treated to a rendition . of David Bowie’s ‘Heroes’ – which became a theme song for the Olympics – . by Irish band The Script. At . the end she chatted briefly to Script lead singer and Voice host Danny . O’Donoghue and when she learnt he was playing the Glastonbury festival, . joked about the mud. She said: ‘Glastonbury, the place you get covered . in mud? The singer replied with a laugh: ‘You’ve got to bring good . wellies.’ The Queen was at the BBC’s new . £1billion Broadcasting House headquarters on the fringes of the West . End, a tour that had been on each of their diaries for months. A . thousand yards away, the Duke was preparing to go under anaesthetic for . an operation at The London Clinic. For . each of these two most senior royals, at a time when they are gently . being advised to pull back from the most arduous engagements they . undertake, more lone appearances such as this could easily be a taste of . the future. He will not be alongside her for two key events next week, Beating Retreat, and Trooping the Colour. Guided tour: The Queen visited the BBC to officially open the new £1 billion studios in Portland Place, central London . Joining in: Radio 4 presenters Sian Williams (left) and James Naughtie sit alongside the Queen . Speech: Speaking on Radio 4 and the World Service she said how she had been to the original Broadcasting House with her parents before the war and then later before her Coronation, with Prince Philip . Happy: The Queen looked relaxed as Buckingham Palace said Prince Philip is 'progressing satisfactorily' after his operation . Not . that you would otherwise have detected any sign of easing off . yesterday, despite the last-minute logistical difficulties of turning a . two-person tour into one. Prince . Philip (‘Do I look bloody ill?’, as he angrily once put it) might not . have been cracking as many jokes as he had done at a Palace garden party . some 24 hours earlier, but even from his hospital bed, it is safe to . assume he would have wondered what all the fuss was about. The Queen, meanwhile, maintained her . usual calm, although she did have to unveil a yet-to-be corrected plaque . that declared she was accompanied by Prince Philip. Showstopper: Presenters on BBC Radio 4 do their best to maintain their cool despite their star guest . Drawing a crowd: The Queen maintained her usual calm as her appearance caused quite a stir at the BBC . On set: Her Majesty looking pleased as she walks past the Tardis during her tour . Stoic: The Queen remained utterly composed, despite not having Prince Philip by her side . Queen of the screen: Actress Jenny Agutter introduces herself to Her Majesty in front of a huge mural of Morecambe and Wise . Dutiful: Newsreader Huw Edwards bows as he shakes Her Majesty's hand . Greetings: Grinning Radio 1 DJ Nick Grimshaw makes his introduction . Then she had to fend off a question . from fearless veteran broadcaster John Humphrys, apparently the only BBC . soul bold enough to ask how her husband was. ‘I have no idea,’ she . said, looking slightly displeased. ‘He’s only just gone in.’ Her . Majesty was escorted around the recently revamped building on a day . when she and the Duke were making headlines around the world. ‘Is that . me?’ she enquired, watching herself on the news screens. All smiles: The presenters turned around and laughed when they realised Britain's monarch was standing behind them in the studio . Chat: She spoke to lead singer Danny O'Donoghue of The Script, and they briefly discussed Glastonbury, with her Majesty saying he should be careful of the mud . Royal performance: The Script played a cover of David Bowie's track 'Heroes' which became a theme song for the Olympics . Reflection: Only on once occasion did the Queen look to have something on her mind as she sat in the BBC's Live Lounge . Famous fan: The Queen is known to be a fan of classical music but appeared to be listening intently to The Script . Stars: Strictly Come Dancing presenter Tess . Daley was joined by Doctor Who actress Jenna-Louise Coleman also came to . Portland Place in Central London to see Her Majesty . Brave: The Queen still managed to smile despite being forced to visit BBC Broadcasting House without her beloved husband Prince Philip, who is in hospital nearby . She seemed unimpressed by the modern music (although she did volunteer later she was a big fan of EastEnders). Two more familiar icons of entertainment – Sir Bruce Forsyth and a Dalek – were among those who paid their respects. Brucie said afterwards it was ‘a great shame’ the Duke could not attend the opening. Her encounter with Humphrys came before the Today Programme stalwart presented her with a special edition digital radio. He wished her many happy hours of listening to the radio, only to be told rather waspishly: ‘Well I don’t get a lot of (time)...to listen to the radio.’ She was later shown an original television camera used during the Coronation broadcast, and was introduced to Sylvia Peters, the BBC announcer who introduced the coverage back in 1953. Miss Peters spoke to her about how people’s voices tend to get lower over the years. ‘I hadn’t noticed that,’ said the Queen, adding: ‘Maybe one’s been getting deaf.’ Aside from her reflective moment, the . Queen looked relaxed and at ease, appearing to enjoy meeting famous . faces from television and radio. Hundreds of BBC staff lined the . approach to the new building yesterday, many waving Union Jacks. Meet and greet: Sir Bruce Forsyth and his wife, . former Miss World Wilnelia Merced, as well as veteran broadcaster David . Dimbleby also met the Queen . Nice to meet you: The Queen says hello to Sir Bruce Forsyth with Dvid Dimbleby, Tess Daly and Claudia Winkleman . Scores of office workers and shoppers also paused to watch the Queen arrive and depart, following the BBC journalists’ lead to take souvenir snapshots on their mobile phone cameras. Outside in the crowd, Iris McIntosh carried a ‘Get Well Soon’ card she planned to deliver to the clinic afterwards. ‘I’ve always liked the Duke,’ the 66-year-old charity worker said. ‘Of all the older royals, he seems to be the most down to earth.’ For all the proud history of Broadcasting House, possibly one of the most familiar addresses in the land, the Queen was still able to put it all into context. She was already six when the building was opened in 1932. She first visited it in 1939, when she was still princess Elizabeth, accompanying her father King George VI, and subsequently made four more visits, not including this one. In a live broadcast yesterday she said it was ‘a great pleasure’ to come again, adding: ‘I hope this new building will serve you well in the future.’ Guest of honour: The Queen was already six when Broadcasting House first opened in 1932 . Royal welcome: Lord Patten, chairman of the BBC Trust (centre) and the BBC's new director general Tony Hall are ecstatic to meet Her Majesty on the red carpet . Royal arrival: Crowds turned out to greet Her Majesty as she arrived at Broadcasting House, five minutes away from where Prince Philip is in hospital . Pleased to see her: Flag-waving crowds turned out to wish Her Majesty well as she came to visit the BBC's £1bn home . Goodbye: Her Majesty smiles and waves to the crowds outside Broadcasting House as she heads back to the Palace . Together: Queen Elizabeth II and Prince Philip arrive to attend a garden party yesterday at the Palace . Guards: Police stand outside The London Clinic this morning, where Prince Philip has been brought for an operation . All smiles: The Queen presents the Duke with New Zealand's highest honour, the Order of New Zealand, in the presence of Sir Lockwood Smith, High Commissioner for New Zealand, at Buckingham Palace yesterday . Earlier this week: Queen Elizabeth II and the Duke of Edinburgh attended a service at Westminster Abbey in central London on Tuesday to mark the 60th anniversary of the Queen's coronation . | Presenters Julian Warricker and Sophie Long interrupted mid-broadcast . Her Majesty appeared behind them as they read the news . Mobbed by staff who ignored instructions to remain in their seats . Showed typically stoical attitude during visit to new BBC studio . Prince Philip said to be 'progressing satisfactorily' after operation . When John Humprys asked after his health, Queen replied: 'He's not ill' | d49aecdcdf243c127afbea836b495e64233174f9 |
Britain’s worst benefit-scrounging con artists can today be exposed. Using fake identities of dead pensioners, Irish immigrants and even a fake MI5 spy benefit fraudsters stole hundreds of thousands of pounds last year, MailOnline can reveal. One man stole £85,000 using a raft of stolen identities which he claimed he needed in his role as an undercover British agent. Another woman posed as her dead mother to claim more than £70,000 – while living in Portugal. A gang of fraudsters meanwhile illegally claimed more than £100,000 in illness and disability benefits claiming to be Irish immigrants unable to work because they had been injured in car crashes. Peter Fischer (left) claimed he worked as a ‘sub-contractor’ for MI5 to steal benefits, while Maria Lucas claimed British welfare for her dead mother while living in Portugal . PETER FISCHER . James Bond imitator Peter Fischer fraudulently claimed Income Support, Disability Living Allowance and Pension Credit using multiple identities. He offered the excuse that he worked as a ‘sub-contractor’ for MI5 - which meant he needed to create ‘legends’ to be able to work in various areas. Fischer insisted throughout that he was an undercover agent, using the identities as a 'legend' to infiltrate enemies of the UK. He told investigators that several lives would be in jeopardy if we took him to Court as his real identity would become known. The fraudster claimed the property that he owned in Spain was used as a base for MI5 agents to rest and recuperate. He was actually running a business from Spain while claiming benefits in the UK. He was sentenced to 15 months in prison for stealing £85,000 - suspended for 15 months. MARIA JOAO FERREIRA LUCAS . Maria Joao Ferreira Lucas was sent down for a year after stealing £73,500 in benefits. Lucas posed as her dead mother to claim benefits – failing to inform the Department for Work and Pensions of her death while transferring all the cash claimed by her mother into her own account. In June 2008 Lucas phoned the DWP, posing as her mother who had died six months earlier, and asked for all benefits to be paid into her account. Lucas then wrote to Lambeth Local Authority, claiming to be her mother and asked for all council tax benefits to also be redirected to her own account in Portugal. Officials eventually tracked down her down in Portugal and when she returned to the UK on September 10 she was arrested and interviewed. She admitted that she had fraudulently claimed benefits in her dead mother’s name and that she had been living in Portugal. The hearing last month discovered that she had stolen a total of some £73,526.66, from false claims of Disability Living Allowance, Housing Benefit, Carers Allowance and Income Support. DEREK FIELDS . Derek Fields was monitored by Government officials and found to be part of a gang who used stolen identities of Irish workers to work to claim out of work benefits . Mr Fields and his gang stole £103,000 of taxpayers’ money after hijacking the identities of 60 people . Derek Fields was part of a gang who used stolen identities of Irish workers to work to claim out of work benefits. The gang stole £103,000 of taxpayers’ money after hijacking the identities of 60 people. In the vast majority of cases, they claimed Employment and Support Allowance under the pretence that they had broken limbs in car crashes. The fraud took place over 18 months while the Government eventually caught them through undercover surveillance. Derek Fields was sentenced in January this year to 30 months in prison, with 15 months to be served on licence. LEONARD SHEPPARD AND MERLE SHEPPARD . For over ten years, Leonard Sheppard assumed the identity of another man who had died in 1986. He made false claims for Invalidity benefit, Retirement pension, Pension credit, Attendance allowance, Housing benefit and Council tax benefit totalling over £120,000. He had also fraudulently obtained a driving licence in the name of the dead man. Leonard Sheppard, pictured with his wife Merle, assumed the identity of another man who had died in 1986 . He stole tens of thousands of pounds in false claims for Invalidity benefit, Retirement pension, Pension credit, Attendance allowance, Housing benefit and Council tax . Meanwhile, his wife Merle Sheppard lived with Sheppard for several years while claiming benefits as a single person – as well as Housing Benefit and Council Tax Benefit for a property she didn’t live in. Investigators discovered large sums of monies credited to an account in the name of the dead man – including a payment for almost £150,000. When arrested at his home in Peterborough, he admitted that his real name was Leonard Sheppard. His partner was also arrested. A search on the property resulted in £30,000.00 being seized in cash. Merle Sheppard lived with her husband for several years while claiming benefits as a single person . Leonard was sentenced in January 2014 to 12 months in prison. Merle was sentenced in September 2014 to a three month suspended prison sentence . Leonard admitted hijacking the Identity of someone who had died. He claimed the large sums of money in his account was from his late mother – who passed away in the late 1980s – and he put into a fund for his daughter. He was charged with six offences - one of cheating the public revenue, two of fraud by false representation, and three of social security act charges in relation to the housing benefit and council tax benefit. He was sentenced in January 2014 to 12 months in prison. Merle was sentenced in September 2014 to a three month suspended prison sentence. IAN BURNS . Ian Burns stole benefits using the name of a dead Irishman . Pensioner Ian Burns claimed three other people’s state pension and a host of other benefits, including that of a dead Irish national. Over an 11 year period he claimed over £226,000 before eventually being found guilty in December. The shocking scale of abuse has forced the Government to introduce a major clampdown on people abroad who steal the identities of dead pensioners. Overseas pensioners must now provide life certificates every two years to prove they are still eligible for the state pension. Department for Work and Pensions Minister Mark Harper said: ‘Benefit fraudsters are fast discovering that they have nowhere to hide when they break the law. ‘We know it’s a minority who commit identity fraud but we will do everything in our power to stop these people from stealing money from hardworking taxpayers. ‘Our fraud investigators have new and better methods of detecting benefit cheats so it’s becoming more difficult to escape punishment.’ Richard West, Director, DWP Fraud and Error Service, added: ‘These cases should send a clear message to any criminals cheating the system that no matter where they are in the world, we have the means to catch them. ‘Anyone found guilty of fraud will have to pay the stolen money back, and under tougher new rules they will have to do so more quickly. That’s on top of any prison sentence or fine handed out by the courts.’ In the last year the Government recovered more than £1.3 billion in fraudulent payments and has introduced a raft of measures to counter benefit fraud. | James Bond imitator Peter Fischer fraudulently claimed £85,000 in benefits . Maria Lucas posed as her dead mother after stealing £73,500 in welfare . One gang stole £103,000 by hijacking the identities of 60 people . | 6a6e867a3b573a5025253e60b67d13e7215a767b |
(CNN) -- The effects of the U.S. federal government shutdown are threatening to ripple out into the solar system. NASA's next mission to Mars, due to launch next month, is in danger of being delayed. "We are just inside of seven weeks to launch and we are shut down," Bruce Jakosky, the head of the mission, said late Wednesday. The project, known as Mars Atmosphere and Volatile Evolution Mission (MAVEN), aims to put a spacecraft in orbit around the Red Planet to study how it lost much of its atmosphere and became a desolate world. Scientists find evidence of supervolcanoes on Mars . MAVEN is currently scheduled to take off from Kennedy Space Center in Florida on November 18 and has a 20-day launch window. If it misses that opportunity, the team will have to wait more than two years for their next chance to launch, according to Jakosky, a planetary scientist at the University of Colorado, Boulder. Large parts of the U.S. government began shutting down early Tuesday, and there is so far little sign of a solution to the political crisis that caused the stoppages. The shutdown has already had an effect on preparations for the Mars mission, with a launch dress rehearsal and mission readiness review canceled this week, Jakosky said. The mission has some margin for delays in its schedule, he said, but "every day is gold. We hate to give up margin days." Water discovered in Martian soil . When the shutdown started to become a real prospect, MAVEN scientists began talking to NASA's Goddard Space Flight Center in Maryland in the hope that their project would be exempt, Jakosky said. But it wasn't. Opinion: Shutdown a huge waste and cost to science . If the paralysis drags on, the setback to the project could be more than just a 26 month wait for the next launch window. "The MAVEN mission is studying the sun's impact on the Mars upper atmosphere," Jakosky said. "Launching in this window places them at a solar maximum, for the greatest impacts of the sun's effect on Mars' upper atmosphere. The next window, if they are forced to launch, would put the spacecraft's arrival at solar minimum." NASA grounded by shutdown . | Seven weeks before the planned launch, "we are shutdown," says project leader . If the mission misses its window, it will have to wait another 26 months . The MAVEN project aims to study the Red Planet's loss of much of its atmosphere . A launch rehearsal and mission readiness review have already been canceled . | 10421c364b14afcc615b203c03da57911b58d72e |
A top Dallas doctor today described the moment nurse Nina Pham learned she had contracted Ebola after caring for victim Thomas Eric Duncan in hospital, saying: 'She was scared'. Dr Gary Weinstein worked alongside 26-year-old Miss Pham to treat Mr Duncan, a 42-year-old Liberian who was rushed to Texas Health Presbyterian Hospital on September 28. He said his colleague was petrified when she realised she had been infected with the deadly virus, saying: 'She risked her life to care for a patient, and now she was afraid for her life.' But he added: 'I think once she got over the initial fear and concern and was surrounded by her friends and colleagues, that was comforting. She did remarkably well, emotionally.' Scroll down for videos . Doctor: Dr Gary Weinstein today described the moment his colleague Nina Pham, 26, learned she had contracted Ebola after caring for victim Thomas Eric Duncan in hospital, saying: 'She was scared' Victim: Dr Weinstein worked alongside Miss Pham (pictured, left, and, right, in hospital after her diagnosis) to treat Mr Duncan, a Liberian who was rushed to Texas Health Presbyterian Hospital on September 28 . Miss Pham, who suffered from a fever with a temperature of above 100.5 degrees prior to her devastating diagnosis, is now in a 'fair' condition at a National Institutes of Health isolation unit. She is one of two nurses to have developed Ebola after caring for Mr Duncan, who died on October 8. The second worker, Amber Vinson, 29, was diagnosed with the disease on Wednesday. She was later airlifted to Atlanta's Emory University Hospital in Georgia on a specialized plane with a quarantine unit. Speaking to WFAA-TV, Dr Weinstein insisted the two nurses - along with the rest of the team - had followed CDC guidelines, which, at the time, did not include the use of a full respiratory mask. When asked why Miss Pham and Miss Vinson caught Ebola, he said: 'I think that these two nurses took care of a critically-ill patient at a time when he was not in control of his body fluids. 'And at a time when the recommendations from the CDC (Centers of Disease Control and Prevention) that we were following did not include the full respiratory mask.' Bedridden: Dr Weinstein, who was captured on video earlier this week telling a bedridden Miss Pham not to cry (pictured), said his colleague was petrified when she realised she had been infected with the virus . Comforting: The doctor, who was behind the camera, told the brave nurse: 'Well, happy tears are okay' Hospital: During the converstion, Dr Weinsten insisted Miss Pham - along with the rest of the team at Texas Health Presbyterian Hospital (pictured) - had followed CDC guidelines during their care of Mr Duncan . His comments are in stark contrast to the CDC's claims that a 'breach of protocol' must have taken place to enable the infection to spread through the two nurses' protective gear. The center is currently preparing to issue new guidelines on protective gear to safeguard the well-being of doctors and nurses who are caring for Ebola patients. During the conversation, Dr Weinstei said despite knowing of Mr Duncan's contagious condition, both Miss Vinson and Miss Pham volunteered to look after him, joining an 'amazing' medical team. 'It's been so heartwarming. This kind of illness, this process that we've been through, this is the essence of nursing. This is the epitome of health care,' he said. Another patient: Miss Pham is one of two nurses to have developed Ebola after caring for Mr Duncan, who died on October 8. The second, Amber Vinson (pictured) was diagnosed with the disease on Wednesday . Transfer: She was later airlifted to Atlanta's Emory University Hospital in Georgia on a specialized plane . The doctor, who was captured on video earlier this week telling a bedridden Miss Pham not to cry - unless they were 'happy tears'' - gave the nurse a hug in his hazmat suit following her diagnosis. He told the news station that Mr Duncan's death 10 days ago was 'very, very quick', saying: 'He was critically ill and unstable, and over a period of minutes, he lost his pulse and was dead,' He also revealed that, in terms of Ebola, he considered himself to be 'no risk', despite having spent days caring for all three victims of the disease at the Dallas-based hospital. He said this was because Mr Duncan's bodily fluids were being controlled by the time he started caring for him, and he has worn a respiratory mask in the presence of all three patients. Tragic: Dr Weinstein said he considered himself 'no risk' because Mr Duncan's (pictured) bodily fluids were being controlled by the time he started caring for him, and he has worn a respiratory mask at all times . 'My only interactions with any of these patients have been in completely covered respirators, no skin showing to the outside world,' said Dr Weinstein. 'I think I'm no risk.' However, he revealed he has been asked by officials to avoid public places and public transport, and to take his temperature on a daily basis. According to the latest figures, the Ebola death toll has now struck 4,546, bringing the total number of confirmed and suspected cases of the virus to 9,191. Outbreak: It comes as the Ebola death toll has struck 4,546, bringing the total number of confirmed and suspected cases of the virus to 9,191. Above, a health worker carries a baby to an Ebola holding center . Most cases of the virus have been recorded in Liberia, Guinea and Sierra Leone, all in West Africa . Symptoms of Ebola include a fever, a headache, diarrhea, vomiting, muscle and joint aches and in some cases bleeding. These appear two to 21 days after exposure to the disease, the CDC said. Even if a person is infected, the virus can only be passed on once symptoms appear. It is transmitted through direct contact with the affected person's bodily fluids. | Dr Gary Weinstein worked with Nina Pham, 26, at Dallas-based hospital . Both cared for Thomas Eric Duncan, who died from Ebola on October 8 . He said the nurse was petrified when she learned she had caught virus . 'She risked her life for a patient, now she was afraid for her life,' he said . He added that team followed CDC guidelines while caring for Mr Duncan . At one point, this did not include use of full respiratory masks, he said . Miss Pham is in 'fair' state at National Institutes of Health isolation unit . Second nurse Amber Vinson, 29, diagnosed with Ebola on Wednesday . | a5296b870c86b9e28aa3d224658ba2456ec7b28d |
ATLANTA, Georgia (CNN) -- Several years ago, in honor of the new millennium, Playboy magazine asked musicians for lists of their top 10 songs of the previous 1,000 years. The Beatles placed six albums in Tom Moon's "1,000 Recordings to Hear Before You Die." Most of them stuck to the era of recorded sound, but guitarist Richard Thompson cheekily took Playboy's request seriously and submitted a list that included such songs as "Sumer Is Icumen In," a hit from the 13th century, and "Blackleg Miner," a folk ballad of the 1800s. Playboy was not amused, and did not print Thompson's list. Such is the fate that awaits many people who compile expansive lists of the greatest or most influential songs, movies, TV shows, romantic getaways or baseball players shorter than 5 feet 9. Everybody's a critic. At best, your list will inspire furious discussion; at worst, it will be ignored by your prospective debaters and sink as forlornly as a pebble in the Atlantic Ocean. Which hasn't stopped a slew of new entries in the list-making business -- and not just simple top 10s, either. A handful of authors and publications have released, or are planning to release, works with up to 1,001 suggestions you should know about right now. Tom Moon, author of "1,000 Recordings to Hear Before You Die" (Workman), knew what a daunting task he had been assigned. "Could one person be counted on to do all kinds of music?" says Moon, the former music critic for The Philadelphia Inquirer and a regular contributor to NPR, describing himself as apprehensive about the project. But he found himself warming to the idea. As a music journalist, he prides himself on being a generalist, though he admits he's mostly stayed close to the pop realms. A book such as "1,000 Recordings," he says, can help people see past their particular favorite artists or genres and tap into the whole world of recorded music. "It's like having a tour guide with a flashlight shining into unknown places," he says in a recent interview at CNN Center. "It's someone saying, 'This is cool. Check this out.' " Watch Moon defend the inclusion of Britney Spears' "Toxic" » . Moon isn't the only one marking time by making lists this season. Movie critic David Thomson put out " 'Have You Seen ...?': A Personal Introduction to 1,000 Films" (Knopf) in October. The January issue of Blender magazine blares "1,001 Greatest Songs to Download Right Now" on its cover. The minds behind the music Web site Pitchfork have "The Pitchfork 500: Our Guide to the Greatest Songs from Punk to the Present" (Simon and Schuster). And then there are the other big lists, past and future, including Dave Marsh's 1989 singles compendium "The Heart of Rock and Soul" (Marsh chose 1,001 influential singles) and Robert Hofler's forthcoming "Variety's 'The Movie That Changed My Life' " (120 notables pick their favorites). So where does one start? Thomson and Moon wanted references that included well-known titles and obscurities, often cheek by jowl. "I wanted a 'bumper' book for your laps," writes Thomson in his introduction. "I wanted old favorites to be neighbors with films you've never heard of. I wanted you to entertain the unlikely possibility that 'everything' is here. Of course, it is not -- everything remains out in our scattered 'there.' " So "Have You Seen ...?", which is organized in alphabetical order by title, includes some interesting juxtapositions. The laconic Humphrey Bogart film "The Big Sleep," directed by the no-nonsense Howard Hawks, precedes Alfred Hitchcock's "The Birds." The Frank Capra-directed "Mr. Smith Goes to Washington," starring an earnest James Stewart, resides next to David Lynch's loopily creepy "Mulholland Dr." Thomson picks some films for their artistry, others because ... well, because he wanted to, and it's his book. Moon says he set some ground rules. He wanted to stick with albums, not singles or specific cuts. He knew he'd have to include certain essential recordings, but wanted room to roam. "There's no way to be definitive about music," he says. "My thought was, let me find some of the best of the best ... then find stuff as thrilling, but perhaps not as accessible." So "1,000 Recordings" includes the Jimi Hendrix Experience's "Are You Experienced" and Glenn Gould's two albums of Bach's Goldberg Variations, but also Guided By Voices' "Bee Thousand" and Toumani Diabate and Ballake Sissoko's "New Ancient Strings." "Born to Run" makes the list; so does Henry Mancini's score for "Breakfast at Tiffany's." But like Thomson's film book, it has some idiosyncracies. The Beatles get six selections; the Rolling Stones get two, and one is a singles collection. There's a Beau Brummels album, but only a Dion single (yes, Moon breaks his own rules occasionally). And the curmudgeonly listeners at Pitchfork, Down Beat and the classical magazine Gramophone no doubt are wondering where some of their favorites are. For Moon -- as with probably anyone who's ever tried to make a comprehensive list of anything -- that's all part of the fun. Go ahead and argue; passion is better than indifference. "These are starting points," he says. | Critics offering mega-lists of albums, films, other things to know about . Critic Tom Moon on his "1,000 Recordings": "It's someone saying, 'This is cool' " Moon says he's not providing be-all and end-all: "These are starting points" | c49e58ac77d4001325fa36ccb5a1c26c2f293ce9 |
President Obama's chief spokesman refused on Thursday to rule out the possibility that the U.S. will strike a nuclear deal with Iran while the Islamic Republic holds several Americans captive – including a Washington Post journalist being tried by the mullahs' Revolutionary Court without public notice of the charges. The case is the mirror opposite of Cuba, where the White House announced steps toward normalizing diplomatic relations on the condition that President Raul Castro release American Alan Gross and a Cuban citizen who had been a U.S. intelligence asset. White House Press Secretary Josh Earnest said efforts to slow down Tehran's ability to create fissionable nuclear material that could be used in long-range weapons remain unrelated to the administration's attempts to free four Americans. 'These two priorities have been raised on two separate tracks, but they are priorities nonetheless,' he said. NOT RULING IT OUT: White House Press Secretary Josh Earnest said the U.S. isn't linking the releas of prisoners in Iran to a nuclear deal with the Islamic republic . CHUMMY: U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry (left) and Iranian Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif (right) discussed the cases of Americans held by Tehran this week but no resolution was reached . Earnest did reiterate the Obama administration's call for their release, but said balancing the intertwined hostage and nuclear talks is 'one of the more vexing and far-reaching policy challenges' facing the West Wing and the State Department. The captives include Washington Post correspdent and Iranian-American Jason Rezaian, and Americans Amir Hekmati, Saeed Abedini and Robert Levinson. Levinson is officially considered 'missing' because Iran hasn't acknowledged holding him. Hekmati has been detained in Iran since August 2011 'on false espionage charges while visiting his family in Iran,' according to the U.S. State Department. Abedini has been held since September 2012 and was sentenced to eight years in prison for 'undermining national security' – in reality a prosecution for helping Christians operate 'home churches' that provide places for Iran's estimated 700,000 non-Muslims to worship. At the time of his arrest, Abedini was building a state-approved orphanage. Levinson went missing in March 2007 on Kish Island, a place that foreigners can visit without visas. Oran hasn't denied holding him. Rezaian was scheduled to appear before a Revolutionary Court tribunal on Thursday. 'The White House is certainly aware of Iranian press reports stating that Jason Rezaian's case has been referred to a court,' Earnest told reporters. 'We continue to monitor the situation closely and to seek further information,' and 'call for his immediate release.' He said Secretary John Kerry had raised the Rezaian case during a meeting this week with his Iranian counterpart Mohammad Javad Zarif . 'Secretary Kerry raised Mr. Rezaian's case,' Earnest said. 'That is an indication of how seriously the United States takes this case.' Kerry, he said, also called for the release of the other three captives. But 'at the same time,' Earnest insisted, 'we've also been explicit about the fact that these conversations, while important, are separate' from negotiations over Iran's nuclear program. ON TRIAL BUT NO PUBLIC CHARGES: Jason Rezaian, an Iranian-American correspondent for the Washington Post, has been indicted on unspecified charges and faces trial by a Revolutionary Court – a process usually reserved for national security crimes . HELD: Saaed Abedini (left) and Amir Hekmati (center) are definitely being detained by Iran's Islamic government, while Bob Levinson (right)is officially missing but assumed to be a captive . 'These two priorities have been raised on two separate tracks, but they are priorities nonetheless.' 'We believe these American citizens should be released,' Earnest told reporters. "And we also believe the Iranian regime should take the steps that are necessary' to end crippling economic sanctions and bring transparency to its nuclear ambitions. He dismissed concerns that President Obama has treated Iran with kid gloves, compared with his insistence that Cuba release prisoners before a diplomatic deal could move forward. Even with an agreement on the hostages, Earnest said, 'the relations between the U.S. and Iran would fall far from normal.' He cited 'their rhetoric and treatment of Israel,' and said 'there are a whole host of concerns we have with the Iranians.' 'Our concerns with Iran,' he said, 'are part of a much longer list.' The U.S. remains opposed to Iran's nuclear program. According to the White House, Obama told Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Monday that America 'is focused on reaching a comprehensive deal with Iran that prevents Iran from acquiring a nuclear weapon and verifiably assures the international community of the exclusively peaceful nature of its nuclear program.' | Obama press secretary says nuclear talks are on a 'separate track' from efforts to free Americans held by Tehran . Iranian-American Jason Rezaian, a Washington Post correspondent, is being tried by Iran's Revolutionary Court but the government won't say what he is charged with . Josh Earnest told reporters that efforts to free him and other Americans, 'while important, are separate' from nuclear negotiations . Iran also holds Saeed Abedini and Amir Hekmati; Robert Levinson is believed to be held but Tehran won't confirm it . White House calls the problem one of America's 'more vexing and far-reaching policy challenges' but won't demand hostage releases in trade for normalized relations and relaxed sanctions as it did with Cuba . | d30b9b3ab84161364fa017d376dc393d010743dd |
By . Sarah Griffiths . PUBLISHED: . 07:15 EST, 24 January 2014 . | . UPDATED: . 08:08 EST, 24 January 2014 . If you have ever wanted to pout like Kim Kardashian or to make a speech in the style of Barack Obama, a new app lets you try on their faces so you can do a convincing impression. An open-source Javascript project lets people sitting in front of a webcam 're-skin' their face as someone more famous, including Audrey Hepburn and Queen Elizabeth II. Users can pull faces in front of a camera and see themselves react as their favourite celebrity in an effect that is almost like digital plastic surgery. Scroll down for video . An open-source Javascript project lets . people sitting in front of a web cam re-skin their face (demo pictured left) as someone more . famous, including Kim Kardashian (pictured right) Norwegian computer scientist Audun Øygard created CLMtrackr so that a webcam can map 70 distinct points on a person’s face and then put someone else’s facial features on top of them in a web browser. The technology works in realtime so that the celebrity mask mirrors a user’s facial expressions. Mr Øygard told Co.Design: ‘It's a really eerie effect to “wear” someone else's face when you're mostly used to seeing your own face in the mirror. ‘I noticed that I subconsciously changed my facial expressions depending on which face I was “wearing,” which was kind of funny.’ The technology works in realtime so that the celebrity mask mirrors a user’s facial expressions. Here, President Obama's features are super imposed on a user's face . Mr Øygard was inspired to create his software, having seen the work of Kyle McDonalds, who also made an app to enable 'facial substitution'. Here, a user pouts as Paris Hilton . Kyle McDonalds also made an app to enable 'facial substitution' where he shows how a user can pull faces as Marilyn Monroe, Steve Jobs and Salvador Dali (pictured) While it is reported that the software can struggle to keep a mask in place if a user moves their head too suddenly, it does skew a person’s sense of self. ‘I think a lot of things are coming together right now that makes it possible to change or augment your perception of reality,’ Mr Øygard said. ‘Face substitution is one of the things which probably will get much better over time and we'll see it pop up more places.’ Mr Øygard was inspired to create his software, having seen the work of Kyle McDonalds, who also made an app to enable 'facial substitution' where he shows how a user can pull faces as Marilyn Monroe, Salvador Dali, Steve Jobs, Michael Jackson and Paris Hilton, to name but a few celebrities featured in a demonstration video. While the technology currently allows users to have fun virtually dressing up as celebrities, including Marilyn Monroe, it could pave the way for advanced video chatting services and facial recognition apps . Users report that the software skews their sense . of self and they tend to adopt similar facial expressiosn to those . regularly shown by the celebrity whose face they are trying on. Left, is . George Clooney's features imposed on a user's face, and the star at an . event (right) He explained in a blog post that fitting a facial model is useful for pinpointing facial features for detecting an emotion or identifying someone. The app is based on an algorithm used to fit a facial model to a real face in a video and consists of 70 points or ‘classifiers’. Given an approximate position, the classifiers search a small region around each facial point to get the best fit for the mask. Norwegian computer scientist Audun Øygard created 'CLMtrackr' so that a webcam can map 70 distinct points on a person's face . Face substitution will get much better over time and will be used in more situations than simply trying on celebrities' features for fun. Here, a software demo shows a young man with the Queen's features superimposed on his face. Queen Elizabeth II is pictured right . Mr Øygard said there is room for improvement, as the app does not fit 'postures' that deviate from the average very well. He said a 3D model instead of a 2D one could help to make the software more accurate, but building a 3D model is more difficult. If the concept is made to look more realistic, it could perhaps be used as an alternative to real plastic surgery in the future, as people could create their ideal appearance to use online. In the future a 3D model instead of a 2D one could help to make the software more accurate, but building a 3D model is more difficult. Here,a demonstrator tests our Rihanna's face . If the concept is made to look more . realistic, it could perhaps be used as an alternative to real plastic . surgery, as people could create their ideal appearance to use online. Here, a user is pictured trying out Audrey Hepburn's look (left), while the actress is pictured right . | Open-source software lets people sitting in front of a webcam 're-skin' their face as someone more famous . Demo includes features of George Clooney, Queen Elizabeth II, Kim Kardashian, Barack Obama, Audrey Hepburn and the Terminator . Users need a web cam to 'wear' a celebrity face in realtime . | 6e1b2f65673f47b6a12fb53c0ce2e6a79c03782e |
Cover-up: Former head of news Helen Boaden said the 2006 seminar affected a 'broad range of output', but that its attendees should be kept from the public . The BBC has spent tens of thousands of pounds over six years trying to keep secret an extraordinary ‘eco’ conference which has shaped its coverage of global warming, The Mail on Sunday can reveal. The controversial seminar was run by a body set up by the BBC’s own environment analyst Roger Harrabin and funded via a £67,000 grant from the then Labour government, which hoped to see its ‘line’ on climate change and other Third World issues promoted in BBC reporting. At the event, in 2006, green activists and scientists – one of whom believes climate change is a bigger danger than global nuclear war – lectured 28 of the Corporation’s most senior executives. Then director of television Jana Bennett opened the seminar by telling the executives to ask themselves: ‘How do you plan and run a city that is going to be submerged?’ And she asked them to consider if climate change laboratories might offer material for a thriller. A lobby group with close links to green campaigners, the International Broadcasting Trust (IBT), helped to arrange government funding for both the climate seminar and other BBC seminars run by Mr Harrabin – one of which was attended by then Labour Cabinet Minister Hilary Benn. Applying for money from Mr Benn’s Department for International Development (DFID), the IBT promised Ministers the seminars would influence programme content for years to come. The BBC began its long legal battle to keep details of the conference secret after an amateur climate blogger spotted a passing reference to it in an official report. Tony Newbery, 69, from North Wales, asked for further disclosure under the Freedom of Information Act. The BBC’s resistance to revealing anything about its funding and the names of those present led to a protracted struggle in the Information Tribunal. The BBC has admitted it has spent more than £20,000 on barristers’ fees. However, the full cost of their legal battle is understood to be much higher. In a written statement opposing disclosure in 2012, former BBC news chief and current director of BBC radio Helen Boaden, who attended the event, admitted: ‘In my view, the seminar had an impact on a broad range of BBC output.’ Plea: Part of Helen Boaden's statement opposing disclosure in 2012. She also said the seminar had sought to 'identify where the main areas of debate lie'. She is now the director of BBC radio . She said this included news reports by Mr Harrabin, and a three-part BBC 2 series presented by geologist Iain Stewart, who told viewers global warming was ‘truly scary’. According to Ms Boaden, ‘Editors and executives who attended were inspired to be more ambitious and creative in their editorial coverage of this slow-moving and complex issue.’ She claimed the seminar sought to ‘identify where the main areas of debate lie’. However, there were no expert climate sceptics present. In an internal report, the IBT boasted that the seminars organised with Mr Harrabin had had ‘a significant impact on the BBC’s output’. Blogger: Tony Newbery, who went to an information tribunal, said the seminar was 'propaganda' Mr Newbery, who finally won his battle last month, said: ‘It is very disappointing that the BBC tried so hard to cover this up. It seems clear that this seminar was a means of exposing executives to green propaganda.’ The freshly disclosed documents show that a number of BBC attendees still occupy senior roles at the Corporation. All four scientists present were strong advocates of the dangers posed by global warming. They were led by Lord May, former president of the Royal Society, who, though not a climate expert, has argued that warming is a greater threat than nuclear war. Other non-BBC staff who attended included Blake Lee-Harwood, head of campaigns at Greenpeace, John Ashton from the powerful green lobby group E3G, Andrew Simms of the New Economics Foundation, who argued there were only 100 months left to save the planet through radical emissions cuts, and Ashok Sinha of Stop Climate Chaos. The BBC contingent included future director-general George Entwistle, Peter Horrocks, head of TV news, Stephen Mitchell, head of radio news, Francesca Unsworth, head of newsgathering, and Peter Rippon, editor of Radio 4’s PM. Mr Harrabin was the seminar’s principal organiser. He ran it through the Cambridge Media Environment Programme, an outfit he set up with Open University lecturer Joe Smith. Mr Harrabin and Mr Smith did not derive personal financial benefit from the seminar. But by teaming up with the IBT, an avowed lobby group trying to influence coverage, and accepting government funds when Labour was advocating radical policies to combat global warming, Mr Harrabin exposed himself to the charge he could be compromising the Corporation’s impartiality. During the legal battle, the BBC tried to airbrush both the IBT and its approach to the Government for funding from the record. Submissions and witness statements made no mention of it. Influence: The seminar was led by Lord May (left), the former president of the Royal Society who has said climate change is worse than nuclear war, and attendees included former chief George Entwistle (right) Mr Harrabin formed a partnership with the IBT in 2004. According to the newly-disclosed funding application to DFID, drawn up by IBT director Mark Galloway, it helped organise two BBC seminars on Third World themes with Mr Harrabin that year. These, Mr Galloway wrote, ‘had clearly influenced editorial staff and resulted in several new commissions’. DFID’s budget is supposed to be devoted to overseas aid projects. But Mr Galloway asked for £115,305 for the two years from March 2005, adding: ‘We have a firm commitment from the BBC to take part in seminars in 2005 and 2006 and to give all the support they can to this project.’ The DFID did not meet the IBT’s full bid. But the documents show it paid £67,404 over two years. A BBC spokesman said yesterday the seminar had ‘no agenda’, and that the organisers recognised BBC rules on impartiality, while the IBT’s funding application was a ‘matter for them’. COMMENT by DAVID ROSE . Last week was a big one for weather news: the storms and floods in Britain, and the end of the bizarre saga which saw the Akademik Shokalskiy, the ship carrying climate scientists, tourists and a BBC reporter to inspect the ravages of global warming, trapped in Antarctic ice. In both cases, the BBC stuck closely to its skewed, climate alarmist agenda. David Cameron fuelled suggestions that the storms might be due to climate change by saying in the Commons he had ‘suspicions’ they were. The Met Office denied this was the case. Swamped: Flooding on the River Thames last week. David Rose said the BBC followed an agenda . But repeatedly, the BBC followed the PM’s line. Slots on the Radio 4 Today programme and Radio 5 repeated the bogus proposition on three separate days – and in none were sceptics allowed to present an alternative view. Yet the facts are clear. Met Office records show that December 2013 was only the 20th wettest since 1910. It had just two-thirds the rainfall of the wettest, 1914. For October to December, 2013 was only the 14th wettest year, and there has been no discernible trend in UK or English rainfall for more than 100 years. But though the BBC was suggesting the storms were ‘climate’ rather than ‘weather’, it took a contradictory view over the icebound ship. Radio 4’s Inside Science told listeners that the ice was a freak, unpredictable event – driven by weather, not climate – and even added it had been falsely ‘used by climate deniers’ to advance their case. Rescue: The crew of the trapped Russian vessel MV Akademik Shokalskiy were airlifted from the Antarctic . Nevertheless, it allowed an interviewee to state without challenge that overall, Antarctic sea ice is only one per cent above average. In fact, it is at record levels, 15 per cent (3.5 million square miles) above normal, and has been increasing for years – a trend the UN Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change admits it cannot explain. | Pensioner forces BBC to lift veil on 2006 eco-seminar to top executives . Papers reveal influence of top green campaigners including Greenpeace . Then-head of news Helen Boaden said it impacted a 'broad range of output' Yet BBC has spent more than £20,000 in legal fees trying to keep it secret . | 8d77d7727e6e7fd8a6d49cada78e862937b71607 |
Breastfeeding can halve the risk of children being obese by the age of eight, a study says. The risk of children being overweight is also cut by around 15 per cent in those breastfed for six months, compared with those fed formula milk. Only a small number of women in the UK breastfeed for long periods, with less than two per cent of babies being breastfed exclusively for six months. Benefits: The risk of children being overweight is cut by around 15 per cent in those breastfed . A new study from Japan says breastfeeding should be encouraged 'even in developed countries' because of the long-term impact on weight gain among children. Previous research shows breast milk protects babies against stomach bugs, chest infections, asthma, and allergies, and confers health advantages in later life, with some studies suggesting a small cut in the risk of obesity. But only a small number of women in the UK breastfeed their babies for long periods and the number of new mums starting in 2011 fell slightly to 73.9 per cent. Less than two per cent of babies are breastfed exclusively for six months. Researchers carried out a study involving 43,000 Japanese children where they had information about their feeding during infancy around 2001. They measured for underweight, normal weight, overweight, and obesity at 7 and 8 years of age defined by using international cut-off points of body mass index by sex and age. Around 20 per cent of children in the study were exclusively breastfed for six months. The study found exclusive breastfeeding for the first six or seven months of life compared with formula feeding led to a reduced risk of overweight and obesity among school children. Encouragement: Researchers say women should breastfeed for longer, even though it is less fashionable than it once was . At the age of seven, breastfed children were 15 per cent less likely to be overweight and 45 per cent less at risk of obesity. The reduction in risk of becoming overweight was similar at the age of eight, but the chances of being obese were even lower with a cut in risk of 55 per cent. The study took account of factors affecting children such as sex, television viewing time, and computer game playing time and maternal factors including educational attainment, smoking status, and working status. The study led by Michiyo Yamakawa, of the Okayama University Graduate School of Medicine, Dentistry, and Pharmaceutical Sciences, Okayama City, was published in the journal JAMA Pediatrics. Dr Yamakawa said 'Breastfeeding is associated with decreased risk of overweight and obesity among school children in Japan. 'Therefore, it would be better to encourage breastfeeding even in developed countries.' Breastfeeding is known to be associated with slower weight gain which appears to establish healthier eating patterns - while it is thought infant formula increases the production of fat cells, fuelling weight gain throughout childhood. Latest figures for England show one in 10 children was obese when they started school in 2011. The proportion doubled to almost 20 per cent among children going to senior school at the ages of 10 and 11 in the same year. Later problems: Breastfeeding can ease difficulties with overweight children . Overall Clare Byam Cook, former nurse and midwife and independent breast feeding counsellor, said mothers who can breastfeed their babies easily are giving them a great start in life. She said 'But most women who give up find it too difficult to continue. 'They are not unaware of the benefits to the baby, they have been brainwashed into thinking if they don't their baby will miss out and it can be a very worrying time. 'But many find it too difficult to continue and they don't get long-term support.' The UK has one of the lowest breastfeeding rates in Europe, with almost one in four new mothers never attempting to breastfeed compared with two per cent in Sweden. By four months old, 75 per cent of babies in Britain drink formula rather than breast milk. | Exclusive breastfeeding for first . six months . reduced risk of obesity . UK has one of the lowest breastfeeding rates in Europe . | 7f686d1b29f1714a9b316a40328559bf5ef3f0aa |
(CNN) -- President Barack Obama will make his first overseas trip since taking office at the end of this month, visiting England, France, Germany and the Czech Republic, the White House said Thursday. President Obama wil travel with first lady Michelle Obama to four European nations in the coming weeks. The trip is scheduled from March 31-April 5. Obama, who will be joined by first lady Michelle Obama, will first visit London, where he will attend a summit with other world leaders. He is to meet with French President Nicolas Sarkozy and German Chancellor Angela Merkel on April 3. Obama will also attend NATO summit meetings in Strasbourg, France, and Kehl, Germany, then travel to Prague, Czech Republic, to meet with Czech leaders and leaders of other European Union nations. His first trip outside the United States was to Canada last month. | The trip is scheduled from March 31-April 5 . Obama first heads to London, where he will attend a summit of world leaders . He will also join NATO meetings in France and Germany . His first trip outside the United States was to Canada last month . | a4c5f7cf63b76943f9bbb1e3097818a4195108bc |
By . Daily Mail Reporter . PUBLISHED: . 23:09 EST, 21 December 2012 . | . UPDATED: . 02:10 EST, 23 December 2012 . A black bear cub was hit by a car in Chesterfield County, Virginia, and is recovering at a local Wildlife Center after undergoing surgery. The cute cub suffered a broken leg in the accident that occurred on Genito Road near Clover Hill High School Thursday evening, police said. The cub was first taken to the Metro Richmond Zoo where it was treated for its injuries by a local veterinarian. Scroll down for video . Poor cub: This black bear cub was hit by a car in Chesterfield County, Virginia near a local high school . Injury: The cub suffered a broken leg in the accident . Treatment: The cub was first taken to the Metro Richmond Zoo where it was treated for its injuries by a local veterinarian. After completing her initial diagnosis and treatment, the veterinarian drove the bear to the Wildlife Center in Waynesboro, Metro Richmond zoo owner Jim Andelin told CBS 6. ‘They found several lacerations, some blood in the nose, and some scleral hemorrhages in the eyes (burst blood vessels) – but the big issue is the broken right femur,’ Wildlife Center of Virginia Director of Outreach Amanda Nicholson wrote in an email to the local news channel. ‘They’ll be attempting to pin the fracture today and then will settle the bear into our bear pen facility for recovery,’ Nicholson wrote. He said the surgery, which began Friday afternoon, would take a couple of hours. The bear cub is expected to be ok. Recovery: The cub is now recovering at the local Wildlife Center after undergoing surgery . Hurt paw: The cub was treated for its broken leg . On the mend: The cub is expected to be ok . Watch video of surgery here: . | The cub was hit by a car and is recovering at a local Wildlife Center in Virginia after undergoing surgery . The cute cub suffered a broken leg in the accident . | 52e0e1410deecaf6790646e610847da0bfd68027 |
Former U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton accepted a $225,000 speaking fee Monday night from a university where she said young Americans should be able to afford college without incurring massive debt. The check will be cashed by Clinton's family foundation – not by the politician herself – but angry students at the University of Nevada Las Vegas complained earlier this year that the money should have been devoted to scholarships instead. UNLV tuition has nearly tripled since 2004 and is slated to go up 4 per cent for each of the next four years. Student loan debt 'can feel like an anchor tied to their feet dragging them down,' Clinton said of students on Monday. SCROLL DOWN FOR VIDEO AND CLINTON'S SPEAKING CONTRACT . Hillary Rodham Clinton was presented with a shoe during the UNLV Foundation annual dinner on Monday as a joking gesture from Las Vegas Sun CEO Brian Greenspun. A woman threw a shoe at Clinton during a separate Las Vegas appearance in April - and is she going to run for president? 'I think our young people deserve a fair shot,' she told about 900 people gathered at the swanky Bellagio resort for the annual UNLV Foundation dinner. The 1-1/2-hour commitment netted Mrs. Clinton a cool $2,500 per minute. UNLV student Jordan Mason told MailOnline in June that a nearly quarter-million-dollar payday for Clinton should have been out of the question. '$225,000? That's obscene!' Mason said. 'And the money is all fungible, right? Even if some CEO is writing the check, that's money that the person probably would have given to the university in some other way.' 'I like Hillary,' the student added, 'but if she's not willing to support us without all that money changing hands, maybe they should book someone else who won't add to the reasons we're paying more for school.' Elias Benjelloun, UNLV’s undergraduate student body president, told the Las Vegas Sun this summer that the school's trustees were trying to improve its offerings 'on the backs of students.' Clinton's speaking contract originally required UNLV to close the event to the press. But last week she relented. Recordings were strictly forbidden, however. The $200 per plate dinner included some attendees paying as much as $20,000 for special sponsorships that included a private photo session with the guest of honor. The UNLV Foundation earned 49 million in its last fiscal year and ended up with $228 million in assets, according to its publicly available tax return. Clinton also addressed the American public's possible reluctance to get involved in conflicts around the world, referring to the threats posed by the Ebola virus and the ISIS terror army. 'They want to bring the fight to Europe and the fight to the United States,' she said of the terrorist group. Clinton caught grief from UNLV students when the terms of her pricey contract were leaked since tuition at the school has tripled in the last decade . And Ebola is not going to stay confined, the former first lady said. 'We can't say we're not going to be involved because these things are other people's problems,' she said. The remarks were part of questions from longtime friend and Las Vegas Sun Publisher Brian Greenspun after Clinton's prepared speech. In her talk, she touched on her thoughts on Russian President Vladimir Putin, saying, 'I see a very cold-blooded, calculated former KGB agent who is determined to not only enrich himself and his closest colleagues but also to try to revive Russia's influence around its border.' She mentioned the most important person she's ever met – Nelson Mandela for his 'level of self-awareness and political skill.' Clinton added that her most difficult decision as secretary of State was 'whether or not to go after [Osama] bin Laden based on the evidence we had.' That decision was ultimately made by President Barack Obama and his military leaders at the Pentagon. Before the questions, Greenspun presented her with a gift: a pair of Nike athletic shoes, a reference to one of her last appearances in Las Vegas in April when a woman in the crowd threw a shoe at Clinton. 'How do we make amends?' he asked. By giving her two shoes instead of just the one. Playing coy: Asked if she's running for president, Hillary would only say: 'I'm really going to have to ponder that seriously' ISIS warning: 'They want to bring the fight to Europe and the fight to the United States,' she said . Greenspun pointed out the pair came from the 'running' shoes section, a coy reference to speculation surrounding a possible presidential run by Clinton. She didn't give anything away about her future plans after Greenspun pressed a second time about any unfinished business she might have and how she would finish it, a reference to a chapter in her book, 'Hard Choices.' 'I'm really going to have to ponder that seriously,' she said. Before Monday's event, Clinton made a stop in Denver to campaign for Colorado Sen. Mark Udall and later appeared at a Nevada Democratic Party fundraiser in Las Vegas with Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid. The Las Vegas Sun reported that VIP tickets to the fundraiser at the Aria resort cost $10,000 each. The UNLV Foundation dinner also honored billionaire Republican fundraiser and Sands Corp. CEO Sheldon Adelson. Despite the political chasm separating them, Clinton commended Adelson for his donations to the university. The casino-hotel mogul's Las Vegas Sands has committed $7 million to fund construction of Hospitality Hall for the university's Harrah Hotel College and a proposed Center for Professional and Leadership Studies. Hillary Clinton Speaking Contract - UNLV by MailOnline . | Former secretary of state earned $225,000 for a 90-minute college event in sin city . Students were angered when her contract was announced because their tuition has nearly tripled in the last decade . Newspaper mogul presented Clinton with a single Nike sneaker as a joke, referring to the April Las Vegas speech where a women threw a shoe at her . Clinton wouldn't hint at a possible presidential run, saying only that 'I'm really going to have to ponder that seriously' | e3e231bafa3a05058cf33c34508e54e91d80d51f |
Vienna, Austria (CNN) -- If anyone can understand what the Cleveland abduction victims must have endured, it's Natasha Kampusch. Like the three women, the 25-year-old Austrian spent most of a decade imprisoned in her abductor's house after being abducted on a Vienna street in 1998. Wolfgang Priklopil kept her locked in his cellar for eight tortuous years. He raped her, then committed suicide when she finally escaped seven years ago. She said Amanda Berry, Gina DeJesus and Michelle Knight should enjoy the feeling of freedom but be careful. "It was an enormous feeling of joy that cannot be compared to anything else," she told CNN. "You see all of the possibilities laid out in front of you. ... "The women in Cleveland should really try to savor this joyous feeling as long as possible, and to avoid letting themselves be pushed back into everyday life too soon." In 1998, Kampusch, then 10, was dragged into a car while walking to school. She was often locked inside a "hermetically sealed" concrete jail. Her abductor used restraints on her to keep her in bed with him as he slept. She wrote that she was beaten as many as 200 times a week -- until she heard her own spine "snap." She escaped in August 2006 and wrote a book entitled "3,096 Days" about the ordeal. The days immediately after her escape were hard. "It was a very difficult time to experience for me, the media everywhere, and re-establishing my relationship with my parents again," she said. In many ways the case in Cleveland is a lot like hers, but she was alone, while the three Ohio women had each other to talk to during their captivity. She also never heard her abductor explain why he did it, but she said that wasn't as important as knowing he would never be able to harm anyone else. She said she was glad the women were still alive. "I am very happy for the three women, and thank God they had survived their ordeal," she said. "They are certainly very strong women." Kampusch said former captives need to take time to work through the emotional issues themselves. "Don't let other people take over," she said, standing outside the home where she was held. She owns it now; it was awarded to her by the Austrian courts as damages. The property is an important symbol, she said, and keeping it is her way of dealing with her past. "It's so very emotional for me because it never stops," she said. "You live with it." The ordeal will be with her for her whole life, she said. She tries to see positives in her life and look forward, not back. She had to "bury the hate you feel for the person who did this to you," she said. Besides assimilating back into normal lives slowly, former captives also have to deal with the people who don't believe their stories are entirely true. She would tell the Cleveland women: "Don't worry what people say. They are the ones that experienced it, they are the ones who survived it, and they are the ones who have to come to terms with what they experienced their entire lives." It's a sobering message for women already scarred by years of terrible conditions. Their captivity has ended, but their ordeal may be far from over. CNN's Matthew Chance reported from Vienna, and Steve Almasy wrote in Atlanta. CNN's Victoria Eastwood contributed to this report. | Natasha Kampusch was held for eight years in an Austrian man's basement . She escaped and was reunited with her family in August 2006 . She says the Cleveland women should return to normal lives slowly . Kampusch says she had to "bury hate" for her abductor, who later committed suicide . | 2837fc98da9764c84fdf8694998915330f88d340 |
By . Daily Mail Reporter . PUBLISHED: . 23:12 EST, 5 August 2013 . | . UPDATED: . 03:04 EST, 6 August 2013 . A Democratic candidate for Arizona governor has ignited controversy after releasing a photo of himself with darkened skin and a beard to make himself look like the character in Dos Equis beer commercials. Critics say the photo is an attempt by the candidate, Fred DuVal to 'look more Hispanic,' the Arizona Daily Independent reported. But DuVal says it was a joke response to the Arizona Republican Party's attempts to label him as the 'the most uninteresting man in the world.' Fred DuVal, a Democratic candidate for Arizona governor, has ignited controversy after releasing this photo of himself with darkened skin and a beard to make himself look like the character in Dos Equis beer commercials . DuVal says the photo was a joke response to the Arizona Republican Party's attempts to label him as the 'the most uninteresting man in the world' The GOP applied that label in an ad that criticizes the state's Democratic Party for being unable to 'find candidates that people can relate to.' DuVal responded by delivering a case of Dos Equis beer to two Republican leaders with what he called a 'tongue-in-cheek thank-you card' that put a twist on Dos Equis' ad campaign featuring 'the most interesting man in the world.' The card featured the message: 'Stay desperate, my friends,' over a picture of a darker-skinned DuVal attempting to imitate Jonathan Goldsmith's Latino DosEquis character. 'Honestly, I was flattered the Republican Party decided to target me a full year before the election,' DuVal said. DuVal was attempting to imitate Jonathan Goldsmith's Latino Dos Equis character, pictured here . 'But instead of responding to their insult negatively I wanted to show them that I am a good sport and will bring a new spirit of cooperation to the state capital when I am elected governor,' he added. In response, the Arizona GOP said: 'DuVal digitally morphed himself to resemble the person pictured here, put the doctored image out on Twitter and hand-delivered a printed copy to the AZGOP. Painful attempts at humor, especially with racial overtones, usually backfire on candidates.' The Arizona GOP's remarks were reported by the Arizona Daily Independent. DuVal says the controversy has helped him raise $11,000 for his campaign. | Democratic candidate Fred DuVal says he was playing a joke on the GOP when he released a photo of himself in imitation of the Latino character in Dos Equis commercials . The GOP says the photo had 'racial overtones' | 4edbff178e1c39dcdc0e7ae8ca5f69172a0edbf3 |
Rio Ferdinand was banned for three matches and fined £25,000 after failing to respond to an FA charge of misconduct regarding an abusive tweet. The Queens Park Rangers defender had reacted to online provocation by using the word ‘sket’ in a post about the person’s mother. Sket is a Caribbean word meaning a whore or a promiscuous girl or woman. Failure to admit the charge may have counted against the 35-year-old, who recently served on FA chairman Greg Dyke’s England commission. The tweet may also have been considered a second offence, given it is only two years since Ferdinand was fined £45,000 for referring to Ashley Cole as a ‘choc ice’. Queens Park Rangers defender Rio Ferdinand has been given a three-game suspension by the FA . Ferdinand has been charged for this tweet, made on September 1, for using the slang term 'sket' VIDEO Ferdinand banned for Twitter taunt . According to various dictionaries, 'sket' is a Caribbean term for a whore, and the FA received a number of complaints from members of the public. Ferdinand failed to respond to the initial charge on October 14, something which is believed to have contributed to the length of the ban imposed by the FA. He is understood to be unhappy about the severity of the punishment given that his legal representatives did communicate with the FA over the issue. Ferdinand posted the offending tweet on September 1 and Sportsmail understands the FA received a letter from London law firm Mishcon de Reya on September 10. The letter stated that they did not believe their client had committed an offence but did stress he would be more careful with his comments on social media. The defender, pictured here playing for QPR against West Ham United, has until October 21 to respond . Why Ferdinand did not then respond to the FA’s charge is for him to explain. But it may have been fuelled by a sense that there is a lack of consistency with these cases. Premier League chief executive Richard Scudamore faced no action from the FA earlier this year over a series of emails that contained sexist comments, and the FA have yet to charge Malky Mackay and Iain Moody over an exchange of emails and tweets that contained sexist as well as racist and homophobic remarks. The FA would no doubt point to the difference between private correspondence and comments made on social media. But the law would not see a distinction, particularly once private communications are made public. Ferdinand was considering an appeal on Wednesday night. But if he accepts the punishment he will miss three matches with immediate effect and have to attend an education programme. An FA statement said they considered Ferdinand’s to be an aggravated offence because his tweet included a reference to gender. A statement on the FA website said: 'Queens Park Rangers defender Rio Ferdinand has been suspended for three matches commencing with immediate effect, subject to any appeal, after an FA misconduct charge against him was found proven. Ferdinand is active on social media, with 5.9million followers on his Twitter page and over 14,500 tweets . 'It was alleged a comment Ferdinand posted on his twitter account was abusive and/or indecent and/or insulting and/or improper. 'It was further alleged that this breach was aggravated pursuant to FA Rule E3(2) as the comment included a reference to gender. 'Following an Independent Regulatory Commission hearing on Wednesday 29 October, Ferdinand was also fined £25,000, severely warned as to his future conduct and ordered to attend an education programme, arranged by The FA within four months.' But this is becoming a complex area for the FA when Ferdinand will be only too aware that in recent months the governing body took no action against either Premier League chief executive Scudamore or FA referees chief David Elleray over discrimination issues. Ferdinand (right) is alleged to have 'included a reference to gender' and has been charged with misconduct . The FA have charged Ferdinand, despite the fact that he has been a member of FA chairman Greg Dyke's England commission. He was even linked recently with the post of FIFA vice-president. Ferdinand's profile is huge. He has 5.9million Twitter followers and embraces social media to such an extent that he launched a chapter of his new book on Facebook. He is also an ambassador for BT Sport — indeed he was involved in a BT Sport event with presenter Jake Humphrey in London on Tuesday night — and has worked as a pundit for the BBC. Both BT Sport and the BBC declined to comment, but a tweet from Gary Lineker was fairly representative of the wider response. The Match of the Day presenter said: 'Thanks to @rioferdy5 I've just learnt a new word. The most surprising aspect of his charge is that the FA knew what a 'sket' was.' | Queens Park Rangers defender Rio Ferdinand charged with misconduct . The former Manchester United man has been banned for three games . The suspension comes into effect immediately but can be appealed . Ferdinand has been fined £25,000 and severely warned about his conduct . He must attend an FA education programme within four months . The Football Association announced the charge on its official website . He is alleged to have breached FA Rule E3(2) on 'reference to gender' In the tweet, Ferdinand used slang term 'sket' to refer to someone's mother . | ea4b17f9ad1db9470f840f34e6420b870801b7c3 |
West Ham striker Diafra Sakho has spoken of his 'sadness and anger' at criticism directed towards him for not representing Senegal at the African Nations Cup this month. Sakho was ruled out of the three-week tournament with a back injury, but came off the bench to score the winner on Sunday as the Hammers beat Bristol City 1-0 in the FA Cup fourth round. A number of Senegal fans vented their frustration on Sakho's official Facebook page by posting comments underneath a picture of him celebrating the goal at Ashton Gate. West Ham striker Diafra Sakho celebrate putting Sam Allardyce's side into a 1-0 lead against Bristol City . Sakho salutes the travelling fans after coming off the bench and giving the Irons a crucial late lead . One fan wrote: 'So you're not injured?' and another commented: 'Congratulations on your goal, I hope you never play for Senegal again, the Senegalese people feel betrayed.' Sakho responded: 'I took the time to browse all your reactions on social networks. Very quickly my joy from scoring and rescuing my club has turned into sadness and anger. 'Sadness because some of your words touched me deep in my person and my heart and this, without you knowing what has really happened. Sakho and Aaron Cresswell celebrate in front of the 1,006 Hammers faithful at Ashton Gate . 'And great anger, because after all my struggles day after day, season after season to finally wear the jersey of my homeland, and my family, the only nation that matters to me - you doubt my love and my patriotism. 'My absence at CAN 2015 (the African Nations Cup), my first CAN, was not painless. 'The dream of contributing to the victory of my country got away from me this year, but it is not dead! 'Never doubt the lion sleeping in me, as I never doubt the passion that burns within you.' Senegal accused West Ham of a 'lack of respect' when the striker withdrew from the African Nations Cup earlier this month and threatened to consult FIFA and the Football Association to prevent the 25-year-old from playing during the competition. Sakho is joined by his jubilant team-mates, including Carroll, whose right-footed cross found its marker . Sakho, who has scored 10 goals since moving to Upton Park in the summer, suffered a recurrence of a back injury against West Brom on New Year's Day. Senegal asked to carry out their own medical assessment on the striker, as is their right according to FIFA rules, but West Ham said Sakho could not fly and suggested Senegal's doctors came to London instead. The Hammers also sent Senegal independent medical reports, as well as the club's own examinations, to prove the extent of the injury. FIFA said it would not comment on individual cases, but Annexe 1 of its regulations state: 'A player who has been called up by his association for one of its representative teams is, unless otherwise agreed by the relevant association, not entitled to play for the club with which he is registered during the period for which he has been released or should have been released pursuant to the provisions of this annexe. 'This restriction on playing for the club shall, moreover, be prolonged by five days in the event that the player, for whatsoever reason, did not wish to or was unable to comply with the call-up.' Sakho could feature in two further games before the African Nations Cup ends, as West Ham play Liverpool and Manchester United before the tournament final on February 8. Senegal are top of Group C and need only a draw against Algeria on Tuesday to qualify for the knockout stages. | Diafra Sakho missed was ruled out of the three-week tournament . The West Ham striker was suffering with a back injury . Sakho scored the winner for the Hammers against Bristol City in the FA Cup fourth round on Sunday . He has scored 10 goals since moving to Upton Park in the summer . | 316e8b88209789eaf4a34405ec9be79e80b5a11f |
By . Chris Pleasance . PUBLISHED: . 04:37 EST, 19 December 2013 . | . UPDATED: . 06:12 EST, 19 December 2013 . The UK is evacuating Britons from South Sudan today after 500 people were killed in a suspected coup attempt. The Foreign Office says it has been contacted by 150 British nationals who need help leaving the African nation following fighting on the streets of the capital Juba. A spokeswoman said: 'A UK aircraft is en route to Juba to evacuate British nationals who wish to leave from Juba airport on Thursday 19 December. Scroll down for video . The UK is airlifting Britons out of South Sudan today after an armed coup attempted to force President Salva Kiir (pictured) from power . 'If you are a British national and you wish to leave Juba you should contact the FCO as soon as possible.' President Salva Kiir has declared a night time curfew in the city and accuses ex-Vice President Riek Machar of trying to oust him from power. The British embassy in South Sudan will remain open, but a spokesman said the situation is under 'constant review' while the Foreign Office is also advising against all travel to Juba, Jonglei State and South Sudan's border with Sudan; and against all but essential travel to the rest of the country. According to the UN around 20,000 civilians have so far taken refuge in its camps around the city to escape the fighting. Machar was fired along with the entire South Sudan cabinet back in July after announcing he would contest the 2015 general election. Since the clashes began ten ex-government ministers have been arrested, with the exception of Machar, who is now though to be in hiding. Machar denies using troop loyal to his cause to try and stage a coup, saying the fighting is due to a misunderstanding between presidential guards. French UN ambassador Gerard Araud has warned that the conflict has the potential to turn into a civil war between ethnic groups because Kiir is from the minority Dinka population, while Machar is a Nuer. Following UN calls for an end to the violence, Kiir has said he is willing to enter talks with Machar, but says he is unsure what the outcome will be. The conflict began on Sunday when President Kiir accused uniformed soldiers of opening fire at a government meeting. After sporadic fighting Kiir appeared on television to announce the government was back in control and to impose the curfew, but since then clashes have continued and the conflict is now entering its third day. Since becoming an independent nation in . 2011, South Sudan has struggled to establish a stable government, and . there are many active armed groups across the country. Government tanks have taken to the streets in order to regain control and President Kiir has imposed a curfew . Fighting began on Sunday after troops loyal to ex-Vice President Riek Machar allegedly opened fire at a government meeting. Clashes have continued ever since leaving 500 dead and 20,000 seeking shelter in UN camps (file picture) After declaring independence South Sudan became Africa's third most oil-rich country, after Nigeria and Angola, taking two thirds of Sudan's oil reserves. In 2012 a dispute with Sudan over oil lead to a 15-month halt in production which cut the country's economy in half. So far there is no indication that oil production has been affected by the latest clashes. British nationals seeking to leave South Sudan are urged to contact the FO in London for advice, by calling 0207 008 1500 or by emailing [email protected]. | UK has sent a plane to airlift Britons out of South Sudan . Coup attempt began Sunday when troops opened fire at meeting . Riek Machar accused of trying to force President Salva Kiir from power . Former Vice President Machar sacked in July along with entire cabinet . At least 500 have been killed and 20,000 are seeking refuge . | cf879dfd7284719a72fb6fd53a08ab029bf4346f |
By . James Slack, Chris Greenwood and Larisa Brown . PUBLISHED: . 18:54 EST, 4 November 2013 . | . UPDATED: . 19:24 EST, 4 November 2013 . Fanatic fiasco: Mohammed Ahmed Mohamed gave police the slip by entering a London mosque in his regular clothes - then leaving disguised in a burka . A new tagging fiasco has plunged the monitoring of Britain’s most dangerous terror suspects into chaos. Three men who were accused of tampering with their supposedly state-of-the-art monitoring equipment walked free from court after their lawyers successfully argued the tags were ‘faulty’. One of the men – Al Qaeda-trained fanatic Mohammed Ahmed Mohamed – was last night the subject of an international manhunt after going on the run only a few hours after the case collapsed. After being freed, the 27-year-old jihadist gave police the slip by entering a London mosque in his regular clothes – then leaving disguised in a burka. Lawyers for the Somali-born British citizen had claimed he had damaged his electronic tag when kneeling down to pray. The other two men involved in the tagging case are a fanatic linked to the foiled 2006 airline liquid bomb plot and an Iranian explosives expert. The shocking revelations have led to a review of the tagging regime. Last night there were also demands from MPs for the burka to be banned. Tory MP Philip Hollobone said the burka had proved the ‘most complete disguise for a Muslim terrorist suspect’. On a day of drama at Westminster, Home Secretary Theresa May appeared before MPs to explain what had gone so badly wrong with the monitoring of Mohamed. He is linked to the Al-Shabaab terror group and is accused of plotting attacks against Western interests in east Africa. Mohamed was under a terrorism prevention and investigation measures order, or T-Pim, to restrict his movements. Along with eight other men who are the subject of a T-Pim, the conditions included wearing a new GPS electronic tag, which allow their every step to be tracked on a computer screen. Mohamed, along with two other terror suspects, was accused of tampering with his tag – a crime which potentially carries a five-year jail term. But last week the case against all three men collapsed when the Crown Prosecution Service said there was insufficient evidence. Defence lawyers say that the cases had to be dropped because the design of the new tags is flawed. They say that the tags do not appear to have been stress-tested to cope with a devout Muslim who prostrates himself in prayer five times a day. Faulty: Mohamed, along with two other terror . suspects, was accused of tampering with his tag. But their lawyers . successfully argued the devices were damaged by the stress of the . five-times-a-day Muslim prayers . Caught on CCTV: Mohamed entered the An-Noor Masjid Mosque and Community Centre in Acton, West London, at 10am. He was last seen inside the mosque at 3.15pm before leaving disguised in a burka (right) It was in the immediate aftermath of . the verdict in his case on Friday that Mohamed entered the An-Noor . Masjid Mosque and Community Centre in Acton, West London, at 10am. He was last seen inside the mosque at 3.15pm before leaving disguised in a burka. Somali-born Mohammed Ahmed Mohamed, 27, has been linked to the Somali terror group Al-Shabaab – the extremists behind the Kenyan mall massacre – and is accused of plotting attacks on Western interests in east Africa. It is understood he took part in terrorist training in 2008 and is believed to have helped various individuals travel from the UK to Somalia to allow them to engage in terrorism-related activity. Mohamed, who is 5ft 8in and of medium build, is also suspected of helping to plan attacks in Somalia and overseas, including an attack intended for the Juba Hotel in Mogadishu in 2010. He is thought to be a member of a UK-based network which had access to money, false passports and documentation, as well as equipment, and is understood to have procured funds and weapons for terrorism uses for the network. It emerged last night that he repeatedly purchased phone cards used to call contacts overseas in the weeks before he fled. He bought the international Lycamobile cards from a newsagent close to the An-Noor Masjid Mosque and Community Centre in West London – the same mosque from which he made his escape dressed in a burka last Friday. The purchase of the phone cards will fuel suspicions he had long been plotting to escape abroad, possibly back to his Al-Shabaab associates in Somalia. It was also revealed last night that the son of extradited hate preacher Abu Hamza is viewed as a local ‘celebrity’ at the mosque. Uthman Mustafa Kamal was said to have built up a following at the mosque. He has also prayed for holy war in a video uploaded to the mosque’s YouTube site. The case immediately led to an on-going international manhunt. Security officials fear he may already be overseas. In the Commons, Shadow Home Secretary . Yvette Cooper demanded to know the role the tagging fiasco had played, . asking: ‘Why did the Government drop the case? Were the tags faulty?’ She . also attacked the T-Pims which the Coalition introduced as an . alternative to Labour’s control orders. Mohamed is the second man to . flee while under a T-Pim in only ten months. Unlike . control orders, it is no longer possible for the police and security . services to force a terror suspect to relocate to another part of the . country and so break up their support network. Mohamed, . who had originally been subject of a control order and moved out of . London, was allowed to move back when T-Pims came into force in January . 2012. Miss Cooper said: ‘This Home Secretary has made it easier for terror suspects to disappear and that is irresponsible.’ Mrs May denied T-Pims had put the public at risk and said Mohamed’s tag was thought to have be working correctly when he absconded. Officials were aware he may have gone on the run on Friday afternoon and began urgent work to track him. His identity was made public on Sunday night. The Ministry of Justice said it was investigating whether ‘a very small number of GPS tags currently in use ... may be overly sensitive to tamper alerts’. █ The Serious Fraud Office has opened an investigation into the Government’s multi-million-pound contracts with security firms G4S and Serco for tagging criminals. An audit suggested that the companies had been charging for tagging criminals who were either dead, in jail or never tagged in the first place. In some cases bills continued to be paid for months or years after tags were taken off, Justice Secretary Chris Grayling told MPs. Both G4S and Serco said they would ‘co-operate fully’ with the investigation. ANALYSIS by JAMES SLACK . Fiasco: Nick Clegg's insisting control orders must be significantly watered down may have paved the way for Mohamed's escape from custody . It was Theresa May who was dragged to the Commons yesterday to explain how another terrorism suspect had been allowed to slip through the net. But this is a fiasco covered in the fingerprints of Nick Clegg, the Deputy Prime Minister. When the Coalition was formed in 2010, both sides committed to a review of Labour’s controversial control order regime, which allowed fanatics to be placed under virtual house arrest. They could be made to stay indoors for up to 16 hours a day, banned from having computers and mobile phones and – crucially – forced to relocate to another part of the UK. Months of wrangling between the Tories and Lib Dems followed, with Mr Clegg insisting control orders must be significantly watered down. Mrs May fought hard on behalf of the security services, but, in order to keep the overnight curfew element of the control orders (albeit reduced to ten hours), she was forced to sacrifice the power of relocation. Labour now insists she is paying a heavy price for this compromise – which stripped MI5 of a powerful tool that could be used to break up terrorist support networks. As we report today, Mohammed Ahmed Mohamed had previously been the subject of a relocation order when he was subject to a control order. But, under the T-Pim regime insisted upon by Mr Clegg, he was free to move back to London in early 2012. Would he really have been able to plot his escape – or get away so easily – had he been living in a smaller town or city, without having his associates and support network close by? What is certain is that he is not the first terror suspect to vanish after having his relocation order quashed. Ibrahim Magag – an associate of Mohamed, who attended training camps in Somalia – had been sent from London to live in the west of England under the terms of his control order. Back in the capital, he gave the police the slip by jumping into the back of a black cab in London’s Triton Street on Boxing Day 2012 and hasn’t been seen since. The fanatic is now understood to be abroad. Heavy price: But it was Home Secretary Theresa May who had to answer to the Commons about it yesterday . Mrs May says the scrapping of the relocation power should not be blamed, pointing out that under Labour’s control orders there were seven absconds and six of the suspects were never apprehended. Currently there are nine terror suspects, including Mohamed, subject to a T-Pim, which are used against those who cannot be prosecuted in court because there is insufficient admissible evidence. Normally, this is because handing the evidence to suspects would expose secret intelligence gathering techniques or put agents’ lives at risk. | Three men accused of tampering with tags walk free after lawyers argue it was their regular prayer that interfered with the devices . One of them, Al Qaeda-trained Mohamed Ahmed Mohamed, was then able to give police the slip after disguising himself with a full-face veil . The Al Shabaab-linked terror suspect, who is accused of plotting attacks in East Africa, is now subject to an international manhunt . | 084869e7ced2c994e13413652da6afe3bbc8e8b8 |
An unlikely ally is offering a glimmer of hope that President Barack Obama can make good on his vow to close Guantanamo Bay before leaving office. Republican Sen. John McCain, a fierce critic of Obama's foreign policy, is about to take the chairmanship of the powerful Senate Armed Services Committee. He says it's still possible the war on terror camp in Cuba could be shut down -- but warns that the administration will have to come up with a clear plan to overcome Republican opposition. Asked in a CNN interview whether he was prepared to help his old political foe, despite a congressional ban on sending detainees to the U.S. mainland, McCain said, "I am prepared to and I think it can be done." But he warned that ever since he started talking to the administration about Guantanamo Bay in 2009, it had "never come forward with a plan as to how we treat those individuals that have been judged as too dangerous to ever be released, and that is the hangup." McCain, himself a former prisoner of war, has long favored closing Guantanamo Bay, which critics say stains the reputation of the United States and is a recruiting tool for terrorists. But key players in Congress, including many senior Republicans, have barred funding for the administration to send remaining inmates elsewhere or to build facilities on the U.S. mainland. Speculation about the camp's future is being stoked by the recent transfers of a group of prisoners to Uruguay last week. The U.S. response to the 9/11 attacks in 2001 is also back in the spotlight because of the recent release of a Senate report on enhanced interrogation tactics critics say equate to torture. McCain said he thought that Republican opposition could be overcome, if the administration laid out exactly how it believed it could close Guantanamo. "If I went to the members of the committee today and said, 'Look they are going to be moved to a maximum security prison in some location in the United States of America and we have a plan for that transfer, I think most of them would be perfectly happy about that," McCain said. Last weekend, the Obama administration sent six Guantanamo Bay detainees to Uruguay for resettlement as refugees as part of its plan to depopulate the camp prior to its closure. Four of the former detainees -- Ahmed Adnan Ahjam, Ali Hussain Shaabaan, Omar Mahmoud Faraj, and Jihad Diyab -- are Syrian nationals, while Abdul Bin Mohammed Abis Ourgy is Tunisian, and Mohammed Tahanmatan is Palestinian, according to Pentagon press secretary Rear Adm. John Kirby. RELATED: GOP congressman: We 'ought to rethink' Gitmo transfer policy . I just don't think that is trustworthy," McCain said, adding that former inmates needed re-education to ensure they did not return to extremism. "I am very concerned," he said. Republicans complain that released detainees are not sufficiently monitored when they leave Guantanamo Bay, and cite figures saying that nearly 30 percent of those released are back in the fight against U.S. forces. The transfers leave only 136 detainees at Guantanamo Bay, out of an peak population of more than 750. That's the lowest number of inmates at the base in Cuba since detainees started arriving in 2002. Gitmo inmate: My treatment shames American flag . But that leaves the most problematic prisoners, including those who the administration says are too dangerous to be released, and cannot be tried in civilian courts as they are considered enemy combatants or the evidence against them is seen as tainted because it was obtained under duress. The Wall Street Journal reported in October that Obama remained determined to close Guantanamo Bay, and was prepared to use executive power to do so if Congress would not go along. Since he won re-election in 2012, Obama has appointed special envoys at the Defense and State departments to try to get foreign countries to accept more foreign detainees. He has also lifted the moratorium on lifting sending Yemeni prisoners back home. Nearly all Guantanamo prisoners are being held without charges, and while about half of those are considered high-level threat detainees, the remainder were determined to be low-level threats by a task force of top U.S. intelligence and law enforcement agencies. Those in the latter group could gain their freedom, provided security conditions could first be met in their host countries. In December 2010, Congress amended the annual defense budget bill to prevent the transfer of any Guantanamo detainees to the United States. That defeated the Obama administration's plans announced a year earlier to try several Guantanamo detainees involved in the 9/11 terrorist attacks in U.S. federal court. Shutting down Guantanamo: Who's left and what's in the way . | Sen. John McCain says Guantanamo could still be closed . But demands Obama administration offer clear plan . Congress banned detainee transfers to U.S. mainland in 2010 . | 9fb26fab5641a104fca83de282998b29b3b14d20 |
Amadou Bagayoko and Mariam Doumbia are the blind husband and wife team from Mali who first gained widespread international attention in 2005 with their album "Dimanche a Bamako". Amadou and Mariam have made the crossover to find international pop success. After writing and performing together since they met at Institute of Young Blind of Bamako in 1977, their international break-through came when world music heavyweight Manu Chao produced their commercial hit album. With a more pop-friendly sound but with the couple's positive and mesmeric vocals and Bagayoko's guitar playing, the duo have been feted by musicians across the world; the played opening sets for the Scissor Sisters and will be the opening act for Coldplay on their latest tour. Having made the transition from world music to international pop sensations the couple talk to African Voices about their journey through music, coping with the setback of blindness and how their careers are on a high over 30 years after they began singing. Watch the show on CNN on Saturday July 25, 12.30, 21.30 GMT and Sunday July 26, 18.00 GMT. | Blind husband and wife team from Mali have become international music stars . Met at Institute for Young Blind in Bamako in 1977, married three years later . 2005 album brought them crossover fame; opening act for Coldplay before solo tour . | 0eceb74253cbb01c34167d38fa9845c44b1d3af7 |
It's an international air disaster in a war zone -- a commercial flight with almost 300 people on board shot down in eastern Ukraine. As new details emerge, here is a look at basic questions about the tragedy: . Was the plane shot down? All evidence so far says yes. President Barack Obama declared Friday that a surface-to-air missile blasted the Malaysia Airlines Boeing 777 on Thursday over the Donetsk region of Ukraine near the Russian border. According to a senior American official, a U.S. radar system saw a surface-to-air missile system turn on and track an aircraft right before plane went down. A second system saw a heat signature, which would indicate a missile rising from the ground into the air at the time the airliner was hit, the official explained. Does anyone dispute that? Not at this point. While the Ukrainian government trades accusations of blame with pro-Russian rebels it is fighting in eastern Ukraine and Russia itself, no one has offered evidence of an alternative theory. The plane's debris field indicates a mid-air explosion. Who did it? A preliminary classified U.S. intelligence analysis concludes the rebels most likely fired the missile, according to an American defense official with direct access to the latest information. "Evidence indicates that the plane was shot down by a surface-to-air missile that was launched from an area that is controlled by Russian-backed separatists inside of Ukraine," Obama told reporters. However, he stopped short of blaming any particular group. Ukrainian officials accused the rebels, who denied it. Russia also denied involvement. Now Ukrainian officials have released what they say are intercepted communications in which rebels talk about downing the civilian airliner. CNN had no way of immediately verifying the authenticity of the audio recordings. The leader of the rebels in Donetsk said Saturday he believed the flight was shot down, but Alexander Borodai reiterated his denial that his forces did it. What kind of missile was used? We don't know for sure, but the altitude of the plane -- 32,000 feet -- means the missile must have come from a sophisticated system such as a Buk or Russian-made S-200 missiles. Both Russia and Ukraine have such systems, but Ukrainian officials say none of theirs were in the rebel-controlled area where the plane went down. Russia has been arming and supplying the rebels in eastern Ukraine, and U.S. officials said heavy weaponry, including rocket launchers, recently went across the border into the conflict area. Can anyone fire such a missile? No. The system requires a trained team to properly fix on a target and fire the missile that is longer than an average car. Obama noted the rebels get weapons and training from Russia and had previously shot down government aircraft, including a claimed strike of a fighter jet. "A group of separatists can't shoot down military transport planes, or they claim, shoot down fighter jets, without sophisticated equipment and sophisticated training, and that is coming from Russia," the President said. Did surface-to-air missile take down Malaysia Airlines Flight 17? Should downed Malaysian jet have flown over Ukraine? Why was the plane flying over what is essentially a war zone? The Malaysia Airlines flight left Amsterdam for Kuala Lumpur and flew over eastern Ukraine, a common route for international carriers. Most airlines follow the guidelines and rules set by their national civil aviation authorities and take the most direct route available, said Mary Schiavo, a former inspector general of the U.S. Department of Transportation. The Federal Aviation Administration and other national civil aviation authorities had yet to designate the area where the Malaysian aircraft was shot down as part of the conflict zone in Ukraine, according to Schiavo. "They hadn't defined it as a stay-away area" even though there was violence in the region, she said. Have airlines now avoided that airspace? Yes. The FAA said U.S. airlines had voluntarily agreed not to operate in airspace near the Russian-Ukraine border. Later, it issued a notice prohibiting U.S. flight operations in the airspace over eastern Ukraine until further notice. International airlines also were rerouting flights to avoid the region. Who are the victims? No survivors have been found from the 298 passengers and crew aboard. Malaysia Airlines said Saturday there were 193 Dutch citizens on the flight, the most of any nation. Passengers came from 11 other countries including two who held dual citizenship. The lone American had dual Dutch-U.S. citizenship, according to the list. Who will lead the investigation? Under international convention, Ukraine would as the country where the disaster occurred. Ukrainian President Petro Poroshenko said experts from the International Civilian Aviation Organization, an agency of the United Nations, have joined the Netherlands, Malaysia and the United States on a special commission. A team of 131 Malaysia investigators arrived Saturday in Kiev, but it was unclear when it would get access to the crash site, Malaysia's official news agency Bernama reported. The FBI and the National Transportation Safety Board said Friday they were sending experts. Where are the black boxes? That is not clear. Some reports say separatist forces found the plane's data and cockpit voice recorders and handed them over to Russia, though that remains unproven. A Ukrainian official said Friday the recorders still were in the country, but he didn't know their exact location or who had them. On Saturday, Borodai -- the rebel leader in Donetsk -- said his group didn't have them. Examining the recorders will be key, but CNN aviation analyst Miles O'Brien said the crash location in such a volatile region made their recovery uncertain. "The big question will be, in whose hands will they fall, and will this be a really objective, international investigation?" he said. Who is in charge of the crash site? It is in rebel-controlled territory, and the international community has yet to establish full authority over the area. Rebels were among the first to the crash site and some of them went through the debris. Photos show people standing on pieces of wreckage. "It basically looks like one of the biggest, or the biggest, crime scene in the world right now, guarded by a bunch of guys in uniform with heavy fire power, who are quite inhospitable," said Michael Bociurkiw of the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe, which sent a special monitoring mission to the crash site on Friday. "And there didn't seem to be anyone really in control," he added. "For example, one of our top priorities was to find out what happened to the black boxes. No one was there to answer those questions." A Ukrainian government official said that talks were underway on creating a demilitarized zone around the crash site with a safe corridor to provide access for investigators and family members of the victims. The White House and Malaysia's government insist on full and immediate access for investigators. Malaysian Transport Minister Liow Tiong Lai said Saturday the crash site's integrity had been compromised, adding "there are indications that vital evidence has not been preserved in place." Why impede an investigation? If the rebels fired a Russian missile, as suspected, the international backlash could be severe. Russia could face increasing international isolation and tougher sanctions, while Ukraine could get military aid from the United States and Europe. Russian President Vladimir Putin said he urged his nation's full cooperation with the investigation, but Ukrainian officials accuse Russia of trying to cover up its role in what happened. Vitaly Nayda, the counter-intelligence chief of Ukraine's Security Service, told reporters on Saturday that three Buk missile systems crossed into Russia before Thursday's disaster, all three have now left Ukrainian territory. CNN had no way to independently verify his assertion. How will the United States and its allies respond? Nations who had citizens die in the attack will demand a full investigation, as well as the normal response to any air tragedy such as return of remains and reparations for family of victims. Countries with particular expertise, such as the United States, also will participate in the investigation. The Ukraine unrest -- which pits the U.S. and European-backed government in Kiev against the rebels in eastern Ukraine backed by Moscow -- adds further complexity. Both Washington and the European Union have imposed sanctions on Russia for annexing Crimea from Ukraine and failing to take steps to stop the conflict. Some U.S. conservatives, such as Republican Sen. John McCain, already call for tougher sanctions and arming the Ukraine military in its fight against the rebels. Obama said further sanctions would come if Russia continued backing the rebels and otherwise contributing to a continuation of the Ukraine conflict. CNN Flight 17 full coverage . Plane tragedy escalates the Ukraine conflict . List of civilian planes shot down . | Donetsk rebel official: Plane shot down, but not by us . Malaysian official says the crash site's integrity has been compromised . President Obama says evidence points to a missile strike by pro-Russian rebels . Russia could face increasing international isolation and tougher sanctions . | 5014e4282825e9055bc2bef5aa8c166f81a1b1fd |
By . James Gordon . The world's biggest retailer is also America's most popular store. Walmart is the nation's favorite place to shop with more than 4,570 locations, in 2012 the supermarket chain brought in nearly $329 billion in retail sales. The Golden Arches of McDonald's came in at number two on the list compiled by Placed, a consumer habits data service provider that monitors American consumer activity. The place to go: Americans' favorite place to go of all is Walmart. They have increased their store count to 4,570 locations in 2012, and spent $1.8 billion on advertising that same year . Top of the food chain: McDonald's was by far the most visited fast-food restaurant in the nation in March. Although McDonald's remains hugely popular . According to the report, half off the retailers Americans are visiting these days are fast-food restaurants or stores that are chains throughout the country. The reason for these being the most popular stores, as explained by Placed founder and CEO David Shim, is logical. The information was analyzed and compiled by the financial news website Wall St. 24/7. A person doesn’t need household supplies every day, but people need eat three or more times per day. Naturally, he says, there is a higher propensity for the masses to visit the food businesses more often. In at 3: Among restaurants, Subway trails only McDonald's in popularity. While more Americans visit the Golden Arches, by the end of 2010 Subway actually passed McDonald's in the number of stores globally, at 33,749 . Still growing: Starbucks has dominated U.S. coffee sales for years. Its sales have generally continued to grow since its initial public offering in the early 1990s. The coffee chain has changed its product lineup in recent years, introducing a range of foods, including a larger breakfast and lunch menu . America's Top Ten stores: . Wal-Mart . McDonald’s . Subway . Starbucks . Walgreens . Target . CVS Caremark . Burger King . Taco Bell . 7-Eleven . Data provided by: Placed . Subway came in at number three on the list. It would appear the half-a-billion dollars they spend yearly on advertising may finally be paying off. Starbucks also made the list as it continues to attract coffee-drinking consumers of all ages. Given all the bad publicity that Target has had after their data breach, you may be surprised to find them also named among America's most popular stores - but they ranked a respectable six. Also on list was Taco Bell. The fast-food chain has had a surge in popularity in part due to their new breakfast menu, but also the consistency with low prices and staying open later. Consumers also regularly shop at the country's biggest drugstore chains and big-box retailers with . Walgreens, CVS Caremark, Burger King, and 7-eleven also making the list of most popular stores in the U.S. In addition to selling widely purchased . goods, these retailers have the most locations in the country. Walgreens, 7-Eleven and CVS Caremark all had more than 7,000 U.S. locations in 2012, among the most stores nationwide. Food chains were . even more numerous. Subway, McDonald's and Starbucks were all among the . top five companies by store count, each with well over 14,000 U.S. locations in 2012. Down on the corner: As with many retailers, Walgreens was more popular among women than men. Women were 11% more likely to visit Walgreens than men . | Supermarkets and fast-food chains make up the bulk of the list . Placed, a consumer habits data service provider monitored the behavior of more than 150,000 American consumers . Advertising dollars do matter - those that marketed the most saw the highest number of customers . | 623130c9247a826fb7c73f2aaf82607fe53d8422 |
(CNN) -- Fox isn't getting rid of mainstay "American Idol," but the network is rethinking its approach. That was one of the highlights of Fox's unveiling of its 2014-2015 schedule on Monday, during which the network placed a spotlight on new series such as "Gotham," its highly publicized Batman prequel, and "Red Band Society," a sometimes comedic drama starring Oscar winner Octavia Spencer. And yet the most intriguing news didn't have to do with Fox's fall season lineup at all, but what's to come in 2015. Fox Entertainment Chairman Kevin Reilly told reporters that the network plans to "streamline" "American Idol" as the long-running singing competition heads into its 14th season. "Next year, the format will be different. There will be less hours," Reilly told reporters Monday on a conference call. "I think it will be a two-night format initially during the audition phase, and will quite likely end up as a two-hour show on one night for most of its run." This news comes on the heels of a New York Times story about music-based shows losing viewiership. Reilly also touched on the changes coming for another one of the network's flagship series: "Glee." The song-driven drama/comedy will return for its final episodes in the midseason, and Reilly indicated that the network is still discussing with the show's co-creators on how best to wrap up the series. While Fox has ordered 22 episodes for "Glee's" last stretch, Reilly said that could change. "We need to sit down with (co-creator) Ryan Murphy on how to end it," Reilly said. "The advantage of airing it later in the season is that it doesn't have to feel the pressure of delivering." As far as the fall 2014 season, it looks like Fox is relying heavily on "Gotham," placing the series up front and center on Mondays. Here's what to look for on the network this fall; new shows are in bold and all times are Eastern. Monday . 8 to 9 p.m.: "Gotham": Starring Ben McKenzie as a young Jim Gordon, this drama serves as an origin story for the Caped Crusader and his friends and foes, from Gordon to Catwoman and The Penguin. Jada Pinkett Smith also stars as the gangster Fish Mooney. 9 to 10 p.m.: "Sleepy Hollow" Tuesday . 8 to 9 p.m.: "Utopia": Fifteen individuals are moved to an isolated location and told to make their own civilization in this unscripted, twice-weekly series that questions whether a perfect world can exist. 9 to 9:30 p.m.: "New Girl" 9:30 to 10 p.m.: "The Mindy Project" Wednesday . 8 to 9 p.m.: "Hell's Kitchen" 9 to 10 p.m.: "Red Band Society": A group of teenagers bonds when they meet as patients in the pediatric ward of a Los Angeles hospital. Thursday . 8 to 9 p.m.: "Bones" 9 to 10 p.m.: "Gracepoint": A 10-episode event series that follows a small beach town's investigation into the murder of a young boy. Starring David Tennant, the mystery crime drama is based on the U.K.'s successful series "Broadchurch." Friday . 8 to 9 p.m.: "Masterchef Junior" 9 to 10 p.m.: "Utopia" Saturday . 7 to 10:30 p.m.: "Fox Sports Saturday: Fox College Football" Sunday . 7 to 7:30 p.m.: "NFL on FOX" 7:30 to 8 p.m.: "The OT"/"Bob's Burgers" 8 to 8:30 p.m.: "The Simpsons" 8:30 to 9 p.m.: "Brooklyn Nine-Nine" 9 to 9:30 p.m.: "Family Guy" 9:30 to 10 p.m.: "Mulaney": The new comedy on Fox's block stars John Mulaney as a stand-up comic looking for his big break as his friends both support him and get in the way. Along with "Glee" and "American Idol," Fox is planning to roll out detective series "Backstrom"; Seth MacFarlane's animated series "Bordertown"; and Lee Daniels' family drama "Empire" in 2015. | Fox announces its 2014-2015 season on Monday . The network has two new dramas and an event series planned for the fall . There will also be a new comedy from John Mulaney . | 23dda2ade7bdad476b2f305f8eab29e5fa250d9c |
(CNN) -- A system that was pushing ferocious storm cells in a track from Mississippi to the mid-Atlantic states brought reports of tornado sightings and delays at several large airports on Wednesday. Tornadoes had been reported Wednesday in North Carolina, Virginia and Maryland, the National Weather Service said, though it had not yet confirmed the sightings. Tornado watches were in effect Wednesday afternoon in arc extending from Mississippi to New Jersey. A pair of apparent tornadoes had been spotted in eastern Virginia's Hanover County on Wednesday night, dispatch supervisor Nancy Langley told CNN. Local authorities have not received reports of injuries or calls for rescue, but fire crews and EMS workers are combing the area for victims, she said. In northern North Carolina's Orange County, an eyewitness saw a tornado damage a church and reported downed trees and power lines, the National Weather Service said. In Henrico County in southeastern Virginia, a dispatcher said that trees and power lines were felled Wednesday and that there was a widespread power outage. Flights heading into Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport were delayed an average of more than three hours, the Federal Aviation Administration said Wednesday evening. Planes into New York's John F. Kennedy International Airport were delayed an average of two hours and 39 minutes, according to the FAA. Similar and shorter delays also were reported at Chicago O'Hare International Airport; Minneapolis-St. Paul International Airport, New York's LaGuardia Airport, Philadelphia International Airport, and Newark International Airport. The system, which spawned at least 26 possible tornadoes Tuesday, brought snow and high winds across the Midwest. Wind advisories were posted across the Upper Midwest and sections of the Ohio Valley. Winter storm warnings -- with the promise of snow -- were in effect in North Dakota and Minnesota. CNN iReporter Gretchen Pearl in Duluth, Minnesota, said the area was experiencing high winds, heavy snow and slick roads. "It's a very strong storm system that moved in," Pearl said. "It's definitely been causing a major disruption." Wednesday was a day of cleanup for many communities in North Carolina, Alabama, Tennessee, Indiana, Wisconsin and Illinois. In addition to the tornadoes, some places recorded wind gusts exceeding 70 mph. The National Weather Service's Storm Prediction Center said there were 268 reports of wind damage Tuesday. High winds canceled hundreds of flights Tuesday -- more than 500 at Chicago's O'Hare International Airport alone -- along with dozens more in Minnesota. The Minneapolis-St. Paul airport reduced air traffic from three runways to one for landings and takeoffs Tuesday because of high winds. Extensive damage from the high winds, tornadoes and possible tornadoes was reported from New York and Wisconsin to the Gulf Coast, but it was most heavily concentrated in Indiana, Ohio and Kentucky. Six tornadoes were confirmed in Indiana, three in Ohio and one each in Virginia, Wisconsin and Kentucky. In Lincoln County, North Carolina, five homes were damaged and three destroyed by a possible tornado, spokesman Dion Burleson said late Tuesday. Eleven people were hurt -- one with life-threatening injuries. Storms brought down trees, which took power lines with them, knocking out electricity for hundreds of residents. Several cars were overturned in North Carolina's Catawba County, according to the National Weather Service. Catawba emergency dispatch reported minor injuries, along with home damage. In Chattanooga, Tennessee, a possible tornado struck a fence near Chickamauga Dam and threw debris into a roadway, police said. Five people suffered injuries. Ten to 15 homes were damaged near the town of Geraldine in DeKalb County, Alabama, said Lauree Ashcom, spokeswoman for the Alabama Emergency Management Agency. A tornado smashed into a business in LaPorte County, Indiana. Dan Hill, general manager of Hoosier Machinery Solutions, heard a weather siren and went to check. He turned to another employee after spying an odd cloud formation outside the business door. "'Does that look like a tornado?' I asked. As soon as I said that, it touched down." The twister tore a roof off a pole barn, damaged some reconditioned recycling equipment and employees' cars. No one was hurt. The 10 employees "all ran for [heavy] equipment and got inside," Hill said. . CNN's Craig Bell, Phil Gast, Ed Payne, Scott Thompson, Maria White, Jamie Morrison and Shawn Nottingham contributed to this report. | NEW: Tornadoes are suspected in North Carolina, Virginia and Maryland, but aren't confirmed . Delays build at busy airports . Tornado warnings and watches stretch from Mississippi to New Jersey . The system spawned 26 possible tornadoes Tuesday; 12 twisters are confirmed . | 133306374f71a579d42c38f7deaf597c72166dde |
(CNN) -- Football's world governing body, FIFA, has officially sanctioned the wearing of religious headscarves. The announcement made at the Annual General Meeting of the International Football Association Board (IFAB) in Zurich, Switzerland follows a successful trial period which began in July 2012. "The IFAB approved the modification to the interpretation of 'Law 4 -- The Players' Equipment' specifying the provisions by which male and female players can now wear head covers," read a statement on FIFA's website on Saturday. "After a two-year pilot, The IFAB agreed that there was no indication as to why the wearing of head covers should be prohibited..." FIFA banned the wearing of headscarves in 2007 on the grounds of safety, but the ruling caused controversy. In 2011, Iran's women's team forfeited a Olympic qualifying match against Jordan because members of their team were prohibited from wearing headscarves. However, following a request by Zhang Jilong from the Asian Football Federation in January 2012, FIFA unanimously approved headscarves for a trial period six months later. A further relaxation of FIFA rules came in July 2013 after the Canadian Soccer Federation lobbied FIFA to change rules to allow turbans to be worn on the football pitch. No more slogans on undershirts . On the same day it was relaxing its position on headscarves, IFAB also announced a tightening up of rules on undergarments bearing slogans. Until now, some slogans have been allowed but a blanket ban will now be imposed. "Players must not reveal undergarments showing slogans or advertising. The basic compulsory equipment must not have any political, religious or personal statements. A player removing his jersey or shirt to reveal slogans or advertising will be sanctioned by the competition organiser," FIFA states. "From now on there can be no slogan or image whatsoever on undergarments even good-natured ones. This will apply from June 1 and will be in force for the World Cup," FIFA secretary general, Jerome Valcke said. Players frequently lift their shirts after scoring a goal to reveal a range of messages from dedications to new born babies to get well soon messages to players or friends. But these, along with more colorful statements like Mario Balotelli's "Why always me?" revealed while playing for Manchester City in 2011, will now be banned. "The idea is to get some consistency. The simplest rule for the image of the game is to start from the basis that slogans will not be allowed," said Alex Horne, general secretary of the English Football Association. Read more: UEFA sees red over Bendtner's underpants . | FIFA sanctions wearing of headscarves following a successful trial period . Football governing body caused controversy when imposing ban in 2007 . FIFA also announce that all slogans on undergarments will be banned from June 1 . | 179cfb516aecc6d8ff4558df92f68910a9f59e31 |
Aston Villa look set for a third consecutive Premier League relegation battle this season and supporters are beginning to turn on manager Paul Lambert and owner Randy Lerner. The Midlands club are currently 13th in the league just three points clear of the dreaded drop-zone and Villa have only scored 11 goals from 21 games this season. Supporters have proposed a large-scale protest in the Holte End of Villa Park ahead of the visit of Liverpool urging fans to leave their seat vacant for the first eight minutes, the number of years Lerner has been in charge of the club. David Michael of Aston Villa blog MyOldManSaid.com says supporters want their club back. Aston Villa supporters are losing patience with manager Paul Lambert and owner Randy Lerner . There’s a saying among Villa fans, that you don’t chose Aston Villa, it chooses you. At the moment though, supporting the club feels like having to serve a sentence for a crime you didn’t commit. Since Martin O’Neill stormed out of the club after having drained chairman Randy Lerner’s resources in a bid to reach the honeypot of the Champions League, Villa have been in free fall. O’Neill ultimately failed, Lerner wasn’t impressed and Villa supporters simply suffered. Current boss Paul Lambert said after Villa’s last game, when responding to questions about agitated supporters calling for his head, that ‘the expectancy levels outweigh the realism’. Lambert knows, though, considering his 41 and 38-point season finishes and the unwanted records he’s collected, including having the worst Premier League record of any Villa manager, one thing fans have been is patient with him. Aston Villa were beaten 1-0 by Premier League strugglers Leicester last weekend . Sections of the Villa crowd called for Lambert to be sacked during the defeat to Nigel Pearson's side . I’ve lost count of the number of managers local rivals West Brom have fired during Lambert’s time at Villa Park. Even in the face of constant humiliation (losing to Bradford City in a semi-final, being beaten 8-0 by Chelsea, suffering a record 10 home league defeats in a season, and losing six games in a row this season), we’ve always hoped Lambert could turn it around. But he hasn’t. With 11 goals in 21 league games our ‘expectancy levels’ have now dropped to praying for shots on target and maybe seeing a Villa goal some day. It’s sad. Certainly in my lifetime, Villa have traditionally been considered a top-half team with ambitions of European football. I’ve personally seen them win everything bar the FA Cup. Yet, as the club enters its fifth consecutive relegation battle, fans' ambition has been dumbed down to Premier League survival. Tempers flared on the pitch after a bad challenge by Leicester's Matthew James led to a red card . Relegation shouldn’t even be in an Aston Villa supporter’s vernacular, and you have to feel sorry for the younger generation of Villa fans who have experienced nothing but the bland decay of their beloved club. The overriding problem is a lack of strategic consistency. There was a change in transfer policy from young and hungry (and cheap) to low-cost journeymen, an astonishing U-turn on the exiled ‘bomb squad’ players. While on the pitch, Lambert, recently switched to the same possession-based ethos he abandoned during his first season in charge. The latest edition, again offers a chronic lack of cutting edge in the final third, but hopefully the signing of Carles Gil will remedy that and make the increasingly disillusioned Christian Benteke a threat once again. Aston Villa have signed midfielder Carles Gil from Valencia for £3.25millon . Lambert attends press conference with his new signing, who he will hope can add a creative spark . Off the pitch, the last we heard directly from our chairman was a statement in May last year, saying he was selling the club. He told us: ‘I owe it to Villa to move on, and look for fresh, invigorated leadership, if in my heart I feel I can no longer do the job.’ He’s still the chairman, yet we haven’t heard from him since, although we are often reminded by Lambert that Lerner owns a telephone and television, so he knows what is happening at the club. But do you know he gave the Villa boss a new four-year contract, a mere four games after he ended the previous season with relegation form of 38 points? It’s baffling. Villa have only managed to scored 11 goals from 21 league games this season . The new Villa CEO Tom Fox talks about the club’s future being in Europe, but increasingly-worried supporters feel it’s more likely to be in the Championship. After all, we’ve heard the Europe line before from Fox’s predecessor. The proposed supporter demonstration of vacating the Holte End for the first eight minutes of the game against Liverpool is simply saying ‘enough is enough’. This compromised version of Aston Villa can’t continue. We want to be confident of what the custodians of our club are doing. We want clarity. We want ambition. And most of all, we want our Villa back. Twitter: @oldmansaid . | Aston Villa supporters are planning a protest against owner Randy Lerner . Villa are 13th in the Premier League as another relegation fight beckons . Aston Villa blogger shares his thoughts on the current situation . | b15382e0d2236f6005f8c48a6f7d46420c52bb67 |
(CNN) -- A surprise in Kansas Wednesday night is setting the stage for an even more interesting U.S. Senate race this fall. Democratic candidate Chad Taylor decided to drop out of the race, which means more support may go to an independent candidate against Republican incumbent Sen. Pat Roberts. In a statement to the Wichita Eagle, Taylor said, "After much consideration and prolonged discussion with my supporters, my staff, and party leadership at every level, I have decided to end my campaign for the United States Senate." The move came hours after independent candidate Greg Orman announced support from a group of moderate Republicans. Orman's campaign may have a better shot now that the contest has narrowed to a two-person race. After word spread of Taylor's withdrawal, Orman in a statement said, "This is certainly an unexpected turn of events. Chad Taylor is a committed public servant. He ran an honorable campaign and worked hard, and I wish him and his family well." As CNN Chief National Correspondent John King reported Sunday on growing GOP concern about Roberts' campaign, the GOP needs a gain of six seats to win the Senate majority. If the party lost a Republican-held seat, such as the one in Kansas, it would have to win another Democratic seat toward the goal of netting six. "A number of top Republican strategists who have seen the latest research say (Roberts' re-election) is now hardly a sure thing," King said Sunday, while Democrat Taylor was still in the race. "These strategists are furious with Roberts personally, and even more so with a campaign team they say has not risen to the challenge. So there is mounting pressure on the other Kansas senator, Jerry Moran, who just happens to lead the National Republican Senatorial Committee." King added that "leading GOP voices" are pushing the NRSC to get more aggressive, including pushing for a shakeup in the Roberts campaign team. "And in the GOP super-PAC community, there are conversations that it might become necessary to spend money in a state that no one thought would be -- or should be -- on a 2014 list of potential Democratic pickups," King said. If the GOP super PACs have to suddenly shift money to Kansas, "a few GOP challengers in other states could see their outside help shrink," King said. | The Democratic candidate withdraws from the U.S. Senate race in Kansas . That means more support could go to the independent candidate . Republican incumbent Sen. Pat Roberts was once thought to be a shoe-in . GOP strategists are pushing Roberts to step it up . | b8f6af1b9a43c9442e1bce36fe71fd224ce1d745 |
By . Sarah Griffiths . Tracy Rainieri suffered crippling stomach pain at the Bon Jovi concert three months before her wedding day. She is pictured with her father . A bride-to-be nearly died after suffering crippling stomach pain at a Bon Jovi concert when an ulcer in her abdomen burst. With three months to go until her big day, Tracy Rainieri, 42, went to the concert at Cardiff City Stadium with her fiancé, when she suffered crippling the excruciating pain later diagnosed as a perforated ulcer. The mother-of-one was put into an induced coma as doctors battled to save her life. But after recovering from her life-threatening ordeal Mrs Rainieri walked down the aisle as planned last October. Mrs Rainieri said: ‘I thanked my lucky stars as I walked weakly towards my groom. 'To me, the day couldn’t have been more perfect. 'I can’t believe I almost died before my wedding day.’ Her now husband, Massimo Rainieri, 38, proposed on Christmas Day, 2012. Before she fell ill, Mrs Rainieri, from Pontypridd in South Wales, had been planning her nuptials in Cardiff. By June 2013, she had already booked the venue, picked a dress, chosen flowers and booked a photographer. The mother-of-one, who runs an online personal assistant business, started to experience sharp pains in her stomach several days before she and her now husband joined friends at a Bon Jovi concert on June 12. ‘I was at the concert with Massimo and two friends and I could feel a sharp pain in my tummy,’ she said. ‘I popped a painkiller and tried to ignore it - I had been having the pains for the last two days but I wanted to enjoy the concert. ‘Then later . that night I woke up in absolute agony. My stomach felt like it was on . fire and I begged Massimo to take me to hospital.’ Doctors at the Royal Glamorgan Hospital in Llantrisant, told Mrs Rainieri that she had a perforated duodenal ulcer. Mrs Rainieri was put into an induced coma as doctors tried to save her life, but after recovering, she walked down the aisle as planned last October. The bride is pictured with her extended family at the wedding . Mrs Rainieri's condition is rare and affects around one in 350 people with a stomach ulcer. The lining of the stomach splits open, which is serious because it enables the bacteria living in the stomach to escape and infect the lining of the abdomen. The most common symptom of this peritonitis is sudden abdominal pain, which gets steadily worse. In peritonitis, an infection can rapidly spread into the blood before spreading to other organs. This carries the risk of multiple organ failure and can be fatal if left untreated.Source: NHS Choices . A perforated ulcer is a potentially life-threatening condition where an untreated ulcer can burn through the wall of the stomach allowing digestive juices and food to escape into the abdominal cavity. She said: ‘Poison was rapidly swimming through my body and they had to operate fast.’ When medics anesthetised Mrs Rainieri she had a severe allergic reaction and went into anaphylactic shock, causing parts of her body to swell up and her heart to stop. Surgeons were forced to put her into an induced coma, while they worked on repairing her stomach lining. Two days . later Mrs Rainieri came around and a fortnight later she underwent a . second operation to restore her perforated stomach lining. But it was not until a month after being first admitted that doctors said she was well enough to go home. At the Bon Jovi concert (pictured) Mrs Rainieri took a painkiller and tried to ignore the pain in her stomach, but was afterwards in agony and was taken to the Royal Glamorgan Hospital in Llantrisant by her fiancé . Doctors told Mrs Rainieri that she had a perforated duodenal ulcer, which had burst through her stomach lining. She needed an operation but suffered a severe allergic reaction to the anaesthetic. Despite being put into an induced coma at the time, she was healthy enough to enjoy her honeymoon three months later (pictured) Mrs Rainieri said: ‘I returned home in July, weak as a kitten and weighing just seven stone. ‘I . thought my wedding dreams were shattered and that I couldn’t get . married in the state I was in. I could hardly walk and I still had the . feeding tube in my stomach. ‘I . hadn’t even had time to send the wedding invitations out, and I thought . about calling it off, but I would have to have been back in hospital . before I seriously considered cancelling.’ Determined that the wedding day should not be postponed, Mrs Rainieri’s mother and future husband took over the planning of the big day. ‘My mum took up the organising and Massimo told me to focus on walking down the aisle,’ she said. On October 6, 2013, the couple were married in front of 70 guests. She said: ‘It was a relief to me and everyone else that I made it to the wedding. ‘In every photo I have this stupid grin on my face, I was in pain and I was really weak but I could not stop smiling. It was one of the best days of my life.’ Mr and Mrs Rainieri’s first dance was to the Bon Jovi power ballad Always. Mrs Rainieri said: ‘I still wanted to have my first dance to Bon Jovi, even though I nearly died the day I saw them in concert.’ The mother-of-one is recovering well and enjoying married life. While Mrs Rainieri was recovering, her mother and future husband took over the planning of the big day and on October 6, 2013, the couple were married in front of 70 guests (pictured) | Tracy Rainieri, 42, went to the concert at Cardiff City Stadium three months before her wedding . Mother-of-one experienced stomach pain and was later rushed to hospital with a burst stomach ulcer . After suffering a severe allergic reaction to an anesthetic, Mrs Rainieri was put into an induced coma and took a month to recover . Her mother and fiance took over the wedding planning so the bride-to-be could walk down the aisle to enjoy her big day . | 0d7cde298452c00a145dba55da5afe298913f8a7 |
England will go into inquest mode on Monday morning and must confront the uncomfortable truth they are showing no sign of gaining ground on rugby’s leading nations, with 10 months to go until the World Cup. On Saturday they suffered a fifth successive Test defeat — the worst losing run since 2006. This was their 12th consecutive match without a win against the Springboks, also stretching back eight years. While there was talk of a narrow margin, the scoreline once again disguised glaring shortcomings — 14 English points came against 14 men and the Boks were short of their own imposing peak. Stuart Lancaster's England team is in crisis after their loss to South Africa exposed a raft of shortcomings . England celebrate Ben Morgan's try, their second while South Africa's Victor Matfield was in the sin bin . When the numbers were even, those in white were largely unable to find ways through the green wall ahead of them. Instead of building momentum for next year’s tournament, England are struggling to maintain standards set in Stuart Lancaster’s tenure as head coach. Defeats by New Zealand and South Africa have left them in crisis going into their remaining QBE series clashes with Samoa and Australia. Those fixtures must lead to an urgent upturn in performance and results, otherwise all talk of progress will be exposed as hollow. As it is, the situation is critical and here are the pressing issues that need to be addressed… . Cut out the errors . England are making too many fundamental errors in handling and kicking, along with all the other lapses in timing and discipline which led to missed scoring chances or penalties being conceded. Dave Attwood made a searing break in the first half on Saturday but delayed his pass and a certain try was squandered. Dave Attwood made an excellent break but his poor decision-making squandered a certain try . These are the margins. Even when conditions improved, there were too many fumbles and spills and misjudgments. New Zealand’s dominance is founded on superb consistency in their catch-and-pass skills. It is not a mystery formula; it comes down to accuracy when the heat is on. England lack that edge. Playing smart . This was a much-repeated theme during the post-match discussions. There was once again a lack of English composure and authority in terms of decision-making. Wrong options were taken by scrambled minds, stalked by doubts, as typified by Danny Care’s intercepted pass which led to Jan Serfontein storming clear to score from halfway, and Owen Farrell’s ill-advised attempt to launch a counter-attack from his own 22 early on. Players are selected in part due to their natural instincts but somehow these are being eroded in the Test environment. Better ability to read the flow of the game and adapt on the hoof is needed. England's players are helpless as Jan Serfontein races away after intercepting Danny Care's pass . Trouble at No 10 . The faith shown in Owen Farrell by the management has become dangerously excessive. It is turning into a blind spot. It appears that George Ford will start at fly-half against Samoa and his promotion is overdue. England have to consider other options and accept that their first-choice playmaker’s game is in tatters at the moment. The delay in removing him on Saturday was damaging. The Saracen was clearly in discomfort and his kicking from hand had become a grave problem. He appeared hesitant in attacking the opposition’s defensive line and releasing runners around him. It was noticeable how Ford — aided and abetted by Ben Youngs’ dynamic work — managed to create space after coming on. Owen Farrell has enjoyed the faith of the coaching staff but that has become dangerously excessive . Kicking woes . This is not just about Farrell, it is a more general concern in terms of the balance of the team and the lack of impact in this key area. England have spoken about their quest to deliver more contestable kicks, but the results remain mixed. South Africa caused trouble with a clever range of astute high kicks and chips into space, such as the one with which Patrick Lambie paved the way for Cobus Reinach’s try. Farrell and Care have struggled with their in-field kicking and England’s touch-finding efforts are a major concern. With a midfield combination of Kyle Eastmond and Brad Barritt, Lancaster is short of front-line kicking options. Wasted wings . Look what happened when Jonny May was given the ball in space against New Zealand — he left them in his vapour trail to conjure a superb solo try. Sadly, those moments are rare. England are simply not utilising the firepower at their disposal. May and Anthony Watson were rarely released to stretch the Springboks with their blistering pace. Conditions have played their part in the last two games — necessarily narrowing the approach — but nevertheless, the inability to free strike runners is a concern. There had been an expansion of the attacking gameplan this year, based on a clever range of distribution, but it is still all too rare that England go wide and manage to circumvent the best defences. Jonny May (left) Anthony Watson (right) were rarely given the chance to stretch the Springboks defence . Breakdown bother . The rolling maul was a productive weapon on both sides at Twickenham but England continue to suffer against teams who are more effective at rucks. The Boks won too many turnovers for English comfort as home carriers were too often isolated and support was too slow to arrive. Lancaster’s men have been unable to fight fire with fire in this regard — relying on collective force due to a dearth of established poachers. They are missing the positive breakdown impact made by Joe Launchbury and Dan Cole, among others. Dylan Hartley trudges from the Twickenham pitch after being sin-binned for stamping in a ruck . Taking ‘positives’ This phrase should be banished from the England set-up. Amid all the talk of Test defeats hurting like hell, especially those at home, there is far too much willingness to apply spin. Coaches must set the tone by refusing to take minor consolations from bad results with a view to forward-planning. A young team is chosen because it is regarded as England’s finest available line-up, in which case it must be judged accordingly. Of course there will be a background focus on preparing for the World Cup next year but in their current predicament, England’s first priority must be beating Samoa and Australia. The sole ‘positive’ on England’s radar has to be dispatching all-comers to revive their momentum. Home rule matters . The grand English plan involves Twickenham becoming a fortress ahead of the 2015 showpiece event in this country, but it’s not happening — far from it. New Zealand and South Africa expect to win in London as a matter of routine and even troubled Australia will arrive with hope later this month. Twickenham should be a fortress but major southern hemisphere nations don't fear the home of rugby . In the absence of victories, all the innovations designed to ignite the crowd at HQ and raise the volume are not really working. Players walking in from the car park inside a tight cordon of stewards and numerous flashing screens imploring England fans to ‘carry them home’ are not the factors which will terrify opponents. Twickenham is no Millennium Stadium or Ellis Park. It is no bear-pit. The only way it will become a forbidding place is by the hosts winning there and gradually building up a sense of dread in away teams. | England's 28-31 loss to South Africa was their fifth successive Test defeat . They have now gone 12 matches without victory against the Springboks . Stuart Lancaster's side is making too many errors and wasting the wingers . Their faith in Owen Farrell at No 10 is becoming dangerously excessive . | f55132d7c9b12ecf110da2ee5f5bc76ac6aaf6e6 |
News makers: Vanity Fair magazine released it's 'New Establishment' rankings for 2013, with music mogul Jay Z and his wife Beyonce taking the first position . A new ranking of American movers and shakers confirms what we all already knew: our first couple isn't the Obamas - it's the Carters. According to Vanity Fair's 'New Establishment' for 2013, musician couple Jay Z and Beyonce are the most important powers that be in the U.S. Mr and Mrs Shaun Carter were last ranked number eight, but their busy year propelled them to the number one spot. Helping them nab the top honor was Jay Z's new album, Magna Carter Holy Grail, which went platinum before it even hit store shelves thanks to a strategically planned pre-order release. Beyonce did her part too by booking a Super Bowl halftime performance, selling out her world tour and releasing a documentary about her life on HBO. Also in the top five were outgoing New York City mayor Michael Bloomberg, as well as the heads of Comcast, Disney and 21st Century Fox. New additions to the list include J. Crew's creative director Jenna Lyons and new Stars Wars franchise director JJ Abrams. Steve Jobs' widow Laurene Powell Jobs also made the list this year for her work on immigration reform. Since her husband's passing, it is estimated that Mrs Powell-Jobs is worth $11billion. And for starting the Beats electronics company, rapper turned producer Dr Dre came in at number six with his partner Jimmy Iovine. Scroll down for the full list . Power couple: Jay Z and wife Beyonce share the number one spot after a busy year of album releases, sold out tours and HBO documentaries . New faces: Rapper-turned-producer Dr Dre, left, entered the list this year for starting Beats headphones. J. Crew Creative Director Jenna Lyons, right, was also added to the list for injecting new life into the preppy clothes company . Here to stay: Michael Bloomberg may be leaving his office as mayor of New York City, but he still maintained a high place on the list as the public wonders what he'll do next . Of course there were a lot of old faces on the list, like New York Times editor Jill Abramson and film producers the Weinstein brothers . Jon Feltheimer, the head of Lionsgate, was knocked up to number 20 for his work acquiring three teen movie franchises: The Hunger Games, Ender's Game and Divergent. The TV production side of his business has been booming as well with hits like Mad Men, Nashville and Orange is the New Black. Most of the returning influencers only moved up and down a few rankings. The next generation: Filmmaker JJ Abrams recently nabbed the honor of getting to direct a Star Wars reboot. He ranked number 13 on the list . In charge: Jon Feltheimer, left, and Jill Abramson, right, both moved up on the list for their leadership of Lionsgate and the New York Times, respectively . Activist: Steve Jobs' widow, Laurene Powell Jobs, was on the list for the first time this year for her activism on immigration reform . Exceptions include Tim Armstrong and Arianna Huffington at AOL who fell 13 spots to the anchor position of number 25. Robert Thomson rose six spots for his recent promotion to Chief Executive of Rupert Murdoch's new News Corp, after working since 2008 as the managing editor of the Wall Street Journal. 1. Jay Z & Beyonce, musicians2. Michael Bloomberg, New York City mayor3. Brian Roberts & Steve Burke, Comcast4. Bob Iger, The Walt Disney Company5. Rupert Murdoch, 21st Century Fox6. Jimmy Iovine & Dr Dre, Beats Electronics7. David Zaslav, Discovery Communications8. Jill Abramson, editor of The New York Times 9. Jenna Lyons, J. Crew creative director10. Harvey & Bob Weinstein, The Weinstein Company11. Jon Stewart & Stephen Colbert, Comedy Central12. Robert Thomson, News Corp13. JJ Abrams, Filmmaker14. Lionel Barber, Financial Times15. Matt Drudge, Drudge Report 16. Michael Kors, Michael Kors Holdings17. Len Blavatnik, Access Industries 18. Laurene Powell Jobs, Emerson Collective19. Tory Burch, designer20. Jon Feltheimer, Lionsgate21. Peter Chernin, The Chernin Group 22. Trey Parker & Matt Stone, Important Studios23. Mike Allen, Politico 24. Ben Affleck, actor and director25. Tim Armstrong & Ariana Huffington, AOL . | Jay Z and wife Beyonce were rated the most powerful people in the American establishment by Vanity Fair magazine . New additions to this years list include Steve Jobs' widow Laurene Powell Jobs and Jenna Lyons, the creative director of J. Crew . Tim Armstrong and Arianna Huffington at AOL came in at last place, falling 13 spots from last year's list . | 7712d61d500fba62dd63febace44f927853a4ffd |
(CNN) -- The Hubert H. Humphrey Metrodome will shutter its doors through at least the first quarter of 2011, the commission that runs the facility said Wednesday. "The Metropolitan Sports Facilities Commission informed the organizers of every scheduled event through the month of March that the Hubert H. Humphrey Metrodome will not be available," Bill Lester, executive director of the MSFC, said in a statement. "It has become increasingly clear that any repair or replacement scenario for the damaged roof will require at least through the month of March to be completed." Heavy snow that hit the Midwest earlier in December caused a stunning collapse in the roof of the Metrodome. A full report on the damage and a recommended repair or replacement plan is expected to be completed by the end of January. The Metrodome is home to the Minnesota Vikings and hosts many other events. | A damage and repair estimate is expected by the end of January . Heavy snow collapsed the roof in December . The Minnesota Vikings play at the Metrodome . | 6cd98ecf2a47a014af5bd47bce9f7468451e6ee5 |
Washington (CNN) -- The nation's growing acceptance of same-sex marriage has happened in slow and painstaking moves, eventually building into a momentum that is sweeping even the most unlikely of converts. Even though he said in 2008 that he could only support civil unions for same-sex couples, President Barack Obama nonetheless enjoyed strong support among the gay community. He disappointed many with his conspicuously subdued first-term response to the same-sex marriage debate. Last year, after Vice President Joe Biden announced his support, the president then said his position had evolved and he, too, supported same-sex marriage. So it was no small matter when on Thursday the Obama administration formally expressed its support of same-sex marriage in a court brief weighing in on California's Proposition 8, which bans same-sex weddings. The administration's effort was matched by at least 100 high-profile Republicans — some of whom in elections past depended on gay marriage as a wedge issue guaranteed to rally the base — who signed onto a brief supporting gay couples to legally wed. Obama on same-sex marriage: Everyone is equal . Then there are the polls that show that an increasing number of Americans now support same-sex marriage. These polls show that nearly half of the nation's Catholics and white, mainstream Protestants and more than half of the nation's women, liberals and political moderates all support same-sex marriage. According to Pew Research Center polling, 48% of Americans support same-sex marriage with 43% opposed. Back in 2001, 57% opposed same-sex marriage while 35% supported it. In last year's presidential election, same-sex marriage scarcely raised a ripple. That sea change is not lost on the president. "The same evolution I've gone through is the same evolution the country as a whole has gone through," Obama told reporters on Friday. Craig Rimmerman, professor of public policy and political science at Hobart and William Smith colleges says there is history at work here and the administration is wise to get on the right side. "There is no doubt that President Obama's shifting position on Proposition 8 and same-sex marriage more broadly is due to his desire to situate himself on the right side of history with respect to the fight over same-sex marriage," said Rimmerman, author of "From Identity to Politics: The Lesbian and Gay Movements in the United States." "I also think that broader changes in public opinion showing greater support for same-sex marriage, especially among young people, but in the country at large as well, has created a cultural context for Obama to alter his views." For years, Obama had frustrated many in the gay community by not offering full-throated support of same-sex marriage. However, the president's revelation last year that conversations with his daughters and friends led him to change his mind gave many in that community hope. Last year, the Obama administration criticized a measure in North Carolina that banned same-sex marriage and made civil unions illegal. The president took the same position on a similar Minnesota proposal. Obama administration officials point to what they see as the administration's biggest accomplishment in the gay rights cause: repealing "don't ask, don't tell," the military's ban on openly gay and lesbian members serving in the forces. Then there was the president's inaugural address which placed the gay community's struggle for equality alongside similar civil rights fights by women and African-Americans. "Our journey is not complete until our gay brothers and sisters are treated like anyone else under the law, for if we are truly created equal, then surely the love we commit to one another must be equal, as well," Obama said in his address after being sworn in. In offering its support and asserting in the brief that "prejudice may not be the basis for differential treatment under the law," the Obama administration is setting up a high stakes political and constitutional showdown at the U.S. Supreme Court over a fast-evolving and contentious issue. The justices will hear California's Proposition 8 case in March. That case and another appeal over the federal Defense of Marriage Act will produce blockbuster rulings from the justices in coming months. Beyond the legal wranglings there is a strong social and historic component, one that has helped open the way for the administration to push what could prove to be a social issue that defines Obama's second term legacy, Rimmerman said. The nation is redefining itself on this issue, as well. Pew survey: Changing attitudes on gay marriage . The changes are due, in part, to generational shifts. Younger people show a higher level of support than their older peers, according to Pew polling "Millennials are almost twice as likely as the Silent Generation to support same-sex marriage." "As people have grown up with people having the right to marry the generational momentum has been very, very strong," said Evan Wolfson, president of Freedom to Marry, a gay rights organization. That is not to say that there isn't still opposition. Pew polling found that most Republicans and conservatives remain opposed to same-sex marriage. In 2001, 21% of Republicans were supportive; in 2012 that number nudged slightly to 25%. Conservative groups expressed dismay at the administration's same-sex marriage support. "President Obama, who was against same-sex 'marriage' before he was for it, and his administration, which said the Defense of Marriage Act was constitutional before they said it was unconstitutional, has now flip-flopped again on the issue of same-sex 'marriage,' putting allegiance to extreme liberal social policies ahead of constitutional principle," Family Research Council President Tony Perkins said in a statement. But there are signs of movement even among some high profile Republican leaders . Top Republicans sign brief supporting same-sex marriage . The Republican-penned friend of the court brief, which is designed to influence conservative justices on the high court, includes a number of top officials from the George W. Bush administration, Mitt Romney's former campaign manager and former GOP presidential candidate Jon Huntsman. It is also at odds with the Republican Party's platform, which opposes same-sex marriage and defines marriage as a union between a man and a woman. Still, with White House and high-profile Republican support, legal and legislative victories in a number of states and polls that show an increasing number of Americans support same sex-marriage, proponents feel that the winds of history are with them. "What we've seen is accelerating and irrefutable momentum as Americans have come to understand who gay people are and why marriage matters," Wolfson said. "We now have a solid national majority and growing support across every demographic. We have leaders across the spectrum, including Republicans, all saying it's time to end marriage discrimination." CNN's Peter Hamby, Ashley Killough and Bill Mears contributed to this report. | The president and the nation have shifted perspectives on same-sex marriage . Supreme Court ruling on California's same-sex marriage ban a critical test . Growing public support for gay marriage give proponents hope for change . | e0d1d5e945b2810635b67ce6ac101129cdb0f5be |
U.S. police are under pressure not only . for the killing of an unarmed teenager in Ferguson, Missouri - for which a grand jury decided yesterday not to indict the officer - but also for the military-style response to the . sometimes violent protests that followed. The sight in August of police in camouflage gear, backed up . by armoured vehicles and brandishing assault rifles, was a . reminder that some American police departments have recently . acquired U.S. military-surplus hardware from wars abroad. Yet many other law enforcers around the world have rules of . engagement that allow lethal force to be used relatively freely. Power: Serbian police officers from the Special Anti-Terrorist Unit pose for a picture in their base outside the capital city Belgrade . Armed: Belgian special forces pose for a photograph with an armoured vehicle and working dog outside their headquarters in central Brussels . Padded: A member of the Philippine National Police bomb squad stands with a bomb scanner and padded suit at a police station in Manila . Lightly armed: Afghan police officers pose with light bullet-proof vests and assault rifles outside a base in Kabul . Smart: London police constables Ben Sinclair and Karen Spencer pose for a photograph wearing their Metropolitan Police beat uniforms . Venezuela's Interior Ministry decrees that, when peaceful . methods of resolution have failed, police must warn violent . demonstrators that there will be a 'progressive, differentiated . use of force'. While no firearms must be carried for peaceful . demonstrations, when things turn violent, the emphasis is on . avoiding harm to children, pregnant women and the elderly. Afghanistan's police, often themselves the target of armed . attacks, are officially authorised to respond with weapons 'and . explosives', albeit only after other methods have failed, and no . fewer than six warnings have been issued. But for every regulation that gives police wide scope to use . firearms, there is another code that sharply limits their use. Mexican and Indian riot police follow defined escalation . protocols that go from verbal warnings to physical constraint, . tear gas, water cannon or pepper spray, rubber bullets or baton . rounds, and then use of firearms. Ready for work: Members of Belgium's special forces pose for pictures at their headquarters in central Brussels . Rounds: A group of Philippine National Police Special Weapons and Tactics (SWAT) team officers pose outside a Majila police station . Transport: A Philippine National Police officer poses for a picture with a patrol segway motorcycle in front of a police station in Manila . Malaysia's public order police, the Federal Reserve Unit, are seen wearing riot control equipment at their headquarters in Kuala Lumpur . Austrians: Two Austrian police officers are seen posing in front of a water cannon in Vienna. Left, the officer wears the kind of full combat wear used in life threatening missions. Right, another officer wears clothing and body armour used in a riot situation . Rank and file: Austrian police officers pose in various uniforms in front of a water cannon at their headquarters in Vienna . Yet while Mexican police commanders can decide when to . escalate, India's Rapid Action Force requires approval from an . on-the-spot magistrate for each new step. Many countries spell out that any use of firearms is a last . resort, though this can be defined many ways. Britain, Serbia, Bosnia and the Philippines allow guns to be . fired only if a life is at risk. Britain stands out for its . insistence that 'individual officers are accountable and . responsible for any use of force and must be able to justify . their actions in law'. Other Western European countries, meanwhile, allow firearms to . be used 'where necessary' to detain suspects or to prevent a . serious crime. Shields: Members of the Task Force for Mexico City pose for a photograph in an empty car park outside their base . Lineup: Various ranks of the Task Force for Mexico City pose for a photograph with their armoured vehicles and a working dog . Venezuelan national police officers pose for a picture with their riot equipment in Caracas. They stand next to a mannequin dressed in uniform . No body armour: Members of the United Nations security forces pose in front of the U.N. European headquarters in Geneva . Tough: Afghan policeman Zabiullah, 24, poses for photo in Kabul. He wears no body armour and carries an old-fashioned assault rifle . Police at the extraterritorial United Nations buildings in . Geneva are not subject to Swiss law but still conform to local . police rules. These rules, like those governing police in Italy, . Austria, Belgium and Bosnia, specify that the use of force must . be 'proportionate'. In Belgium, human rights monitors say, this means firearms . can never be used for crowd control. Malaysia's Federal Reserve Unit, the main riot force, is . permitted to use firearms only when protesters are using them, . but it is in a fortunate position. Its deputy superintendent, . Kulwant Singh, says that 'firearms have not been used in the 59 . years since the FRU was formed'. Mighty: Members of the Bosnian Special Police Support Unit pose for photo in front of their base in the town of Zenicav . Defence brigade: India's Rapid Action Force (RAF) personnel pose for pictures inside their base camp in New Delhi . An Indian police constable stands guard next to an armoured vehicle outside the police commissioner's office in Mumbai . London police constable Ben Sinclair (left) poses for a photograph while wearing his Metropolitan Police uniform with a high visibility jacket. His colleague Karen Spencer (right) wears the more traditional Metropolitan Police beat uniform, used for daytime street patrols . Picturesque: Italian Carabinieri pose in front of St. Peter's Basilica in Rome as a Carabinieri helicopter flies overhead . Highly skilled: Serbian gendarmerie officers pose near a building used for training outside their base in Belgrade . | Special forces in Serbia and Bosnia carry huge weapons and wear intimidating black masks and body armour . Meanwhile officers in Afghanistan and India wear considerably lighter clothing, offering much less protection . Britain stands out for its insistence that individual officers must be able to justify their use of force . | ae0f612399ec6a20ee312f5cd21fbcd012330250 |
Sporting Lisbon defender Marcos Rojo is being hit with disciplinary action by the club amid talk of him being wanted by Manchester United. Reports suggest United have made a bid of around £16million for the 24-year-old Argentina international and that Rojo has refused to train with Sporting, handed in a transfer request and asked to be allowed to join the Red Devils. Sporting president Bruno de Carvalho has been quoted as saying that both Rojo and team-mate Islam Slimani are 'subject to strong disciplinary measures' and will not play in the club's Portuguese league opener against Academica on Saturday. VIDEO Scroll down for 'Rojo likes to have a hit from range as this compilation shows' Naughty boy: Marcos Rojo (left) is set to face disciplinary action from his club Sporting Lisbon . Rebel: Rojo (right) has handed in a transfer request in order to force a move to Manchester United, say reports . De Carvalho, quoted by Portuguese newspaper Record from an interview with Sporting TV, said: 'They will not play next weekend. 'This will take as long as it takes. If something doesn't change, you're going to end up with the players seeing out their contracts. 'They can watch the game on television. On Saturday, against Academica, we will play to win and we will win. 'There is no player bigger than the club. I would not give up the honour, the club's history, for the attitudes of anyone. 'I give a piece of advice: don't use the press, be professional. 'These two, in defence of our magnificent group, must be removed. They are subject to strong disciplinary measures. 'Both players have taken decisions that have caused sharp indiscipline at Sporting. 'A message: any player who does not follow the rules of the club can have illusions and pretensions, but with the way these two did things, the situation is just complicated.' Out of action: Rojo will miss Sporting's opening league game of the season against Academica . VIDEO Rojo hands in transfer request . Sorry we are not currently accepting comments on this article. | Marcos Rojo is being hit with disciplinary action by Sporting Lisbon . Reports suggest Rojo handed in transfer request and refused to train as he forces Manchester United move . United are reported to have made a £16million bid for the defender . Sporting president Bruno de Carvalho says Rojo and fellow want-away team-mate Islam Slimani are 'subject to strong disciplinary measures' | 97c5fbfcd1504892829af8d070dc18594289bdf0 |
By . Leon Watson . PUBLISHED: . 12:59 EST, 7 January 2014 . | . UPDATED: . 13:53 EST, 7 January 2014 . A Second World War hero who was horrifically injured during a German shell attack at Arnhem before going on to become a much-loved MP has died, aged 90. Captain Robert Boscawen represented Wells and Somerton and Frome for more than 20 years after he returned from the war a decorated veteran. The tank commander was among the first to enter Brussels in 1944 and was awarded the distinguished Military Cross for his efforts in the battle to relieve Arnhem. War hero and distinguished parliamentarian Robert Boscawen (left) who has died aged 90 . The Coldstream Guard was severely wounded and left disfigured, with burns to his face and body, when an enemy shell pierced his tank in April 1945 - the last month of the war. He was evacuated to the pioneering plastic surgery unit at East Grinstead, West Sussex - known as the Guinea Pig Club - where he spent three years in and out of hospital recovering alongside Battle of Britain Spitfire pilots. But undaunted by his injuries, he periodically volunteered with the British Red Cross civilian relief teams in Hamburg, West Germany, in 1947 and 1948. He joined the Young Conservatives in the final year but it was not until 1970 that he was elected as an MP - after two failed attempts in 1964 and 1966. The former MP for Wells, and then Somerton and Frome, was the child of a generation dominated by war . Captain Boscawen pictured far right with Michael Eavis, who ran the Glastonbury Festival . Captain Boscawen, who died aged 90, pictured far right on the tank at his book launch . The former MP for Wells, and then Somerton and Frome, was the child of a generation dominated by war . Mr Boscawen - the eldest son of Lord . Falmouth - remained member for Wells for 13 years until boundary changes . saw him become the MP for Somerton and Frome until 1992. The . Eton College graduate also held the esteemed position of Comptroller of . the Royal Household in 1988 - the MP responsible for keeping the Queen . up to date with Commons business. He joined the Privy Council - a group of advisers to the sovereign - in 1992, the same year he retired from politics. Speaking in 2007, he said being born in 1923 and then serving in World War Two meant his life had been shaped by war. He said: 'They were world wars - total wars. We were of the age when life was enormously affected by war.' Family said Mr Boscawen - known as Bob to his friends - passed away peacefully on December 28 on the Isle of Wight. Robert Boscawen on the right in the boat wearing the black hat, taking part in Wells moat boat race . In 1944, Britain's normally cautious Field Marshall Bernard Montgomery proposed a bold gambit to bust through German lines at Arnhem, in Holland. He suggested British and American parachute formations drop miles behind enemy lines to create a path for the British armored forces. The Allied commanders hoped to cross the Rhine, outflank the German defenses protecting the Ruhr industrial region, and bring about the collapse of the Third Reich. It was a daring plan but the final river crossing at Arnhem could not be held by the outnumbered British paratroopers. The offensive failed to achieve its objective. Conservative parliamentary candidate for the Wells constituency James Heappey, paid tribute to the esteemed politician. He said: 'It is with great sadness that I learned of the death of the Bob Boscawen. 'Whether winning the Military Cross by . defeating a massive Nazi tank attack in the Second World War or serving . this constituency with great dedication and distinction in the 1970s . and 1980s, he was a great man who cared dearly for our local area and . who set an example that I aspire to follow.' He leaves three children - Dozmary, 63, Hugh, 59, and Karenza, 53. Captain Boscawe's wife Mary died in May, aged 89. His funeral service will be held in Wells Cathedral on Thursday January 16, at 2pm. Family has requested no flowers but donations can be made to the Coldstream Guards Charitable Funds. | Captain Boscawen represented Wells and Somerton and Frome . He was elected to Parliament in 1970, and served for more than 20 years . The tank commander was among the first to enter Brussels in 1944 . He was awarded the Military Cross for his efforts at Arnhem . | a9dc12fb52ada675a4547a28bccbfb79a7b94f97 |
By . Brian Marjoribanks . Rangers striker Kris Boyd admitted he would be prepared to play for free if the financial crisis at Ibrox escalates. The Glasgow giants will learn on Tuesday whether they will be allowed to appeal last Friday’s decision at the Court of Session that saw former director Imran Ahmad succeed in freezing £620,000 of the club’s cash. Ruling in Ahmad’s favour, Lord Stewart declared there to be a ‘risk of Rangers becoming insolvent’ for the second time in just two years with the Championship side only currently having £1.2million in the bank. Charity man: Kris Boyd is supporting a cancer charity and says he will play for Rangers for free . Generosity: Boyd poses with Gillian Hailstones, centre manager of Maggie's, as he lends his support . Boyd turned his back on offers from Scottish Premiership clubs Aberdeen and Dundee United to step down a division with Rangers in the summer after leaving Kilmarnock. But with cash in the bank from lucrative moves to Middlesbrough, Turkey and the United States, the 31-year-old star striker insists money was not his motivation for re-joining the Ibrox men. Boyd said: I’d have walked through those doors for nothing because I was so desperate to play for this club. I wanted the jersey back on. ‘I don’t want to sound smart — or ignorant — but whatever I earn between now and the end of my career is not going to change the way I live. ‘I have managed my finances over the past few years to get what I hope for me and my family going forward is correct. Proud blue: Boyd wants to play for Rangers regardless of their money troubles which are again an issue . ‘So whatever I do between now and (the end of my career) it’s just about getting myself back enjoying the game. ‘I started off as a young kid going on to a football field and scoring goals. I did that last year at Kilmarnock. ‘Did I ask for assurances about the state of Rangers before I signed? You can sit here and talk about assurances but I just want to do the same as I did at Kilmarnock last season and make up for lost time.’ Rangers need their forthcoming £4m ‘open’ share offer to be fully subscribed to enable them to pay player and staff wages, which fall due on the last Thursday of this month. On top of that, they still owe £1.5m in loans to Sandy Easdale and George Letham, debts that were originally due to have been paid off by the end of August. Firepower: Boyd has been leading the line for the Ibrox club since re-signing from Kilmarnock in the summer . Top class: Boyd makes an ambitious attempt at goal during Rangers' game against Queen of the South . The club also seem likely now to bring forward an EGM designed to seek permission for a larger scale share issue, which could allow prospective investors Mike Ashley or Dave King to plough much-needed funds into the club. Almost 500 Rangers fans have signed up to a scheme seeking to buy a controlling stake in the club since the share issue was launched last month. Backed by Supporters Direct Scotland, fans’ group Rangers First have set up a similar scheme to the one used to rescue Hearts from their administration battle. Fightback: Rangers fans will have to copy Boyd's fighting spirit to keep their club going with donations . They now say that have seen the number of members volunteering monthly donations rise to over 1,400. At current totals, the scheme is pulling in almost £32,500 a month and organisers have now revealed they will use some of that income to take part in this month’s open offer. Kris Boyd was speaking as Rangers unveiled Maggie’s as the Rangers Charity Foundation’s new National Charity Partner for season 2014/15 in memory of the late, great Sandy Jardine. Comeback: Kenny Miller and Boyd are hoping to fire Rangers to another promotion and back to the top . | Rangers hear on Tuesday if they can appeal Court of Session decision . Former director Imran Ahmad has frozen £620,000 of the club's cash . Rangers are at risk of becoming insolvent for second time in two years . Boyd turned down Aberdeen and Dundee to move back to Ibrox . He has made money through his career at Middlesbrough and in the US . Now he says he will play for the club he loves for free if problems persist . Members are volunteering donations to save the club . Almost 500 Rangers fans have signed up to try to take a controlling stake . | 066616ddb4f1441b07e3343358ff73b1a9722fb5 |
The blood of thousands on his hands, SS General Hans Kammler killed himself in 1945 in the dying days of Hitler’s Germany. That, at least, was his official fate. The man steeped in the horrors of the death camps had met his just deserts. However, it is now claimed that Kammler survived the war, spirited away to America and given a new identity by the US authorities. S.S. general Hans Kammler (left and right), who was said to have killed himself at the end of the war, may have escaped to America in order to pass on the Nazis' secret weapons programme, claims a new documentary . Weapons programme: The German V2 rocket was the ancestor of Cold War missiles which were still to come . For the general wasn’t just an expert in the technicalities of industrial scale slavery and slaughter, he was also deeply involved in the Nazis’ secret weapons programme. The Americans, according to a TV documentary, were determined to have his know-how and not let him fall into the hands of the Russians. Both the US and the Soviet Union tried to recruit Hitler’s scientists after the war to help with their own space and military programmes. But it is claimed that Kammler’s record was so monstrous that his death had to be faked and he had to have a new identity. ‘The whole history of suicide is staged,’ said Berlin historian Rainer Karlsch. ‘There are several documents that clearly demonstrate that Kammler was captured by the Americans.’ Another expert, Matthias Uhl of the German Historical Institute in Moscow, said: ‘The reports from America are more credible than those given about the alleged suicide by Kammler’s associates.’ Born in 1901, by the end of the Second World War Kammler was almost as powerful as SS Chief Heinrich Himmler and armaments Minister Albert Speer. He had access to the Nazi’s most advanced technology including the ‘weapons of retaliation’ – the V1 and V2 rockets that caused death and destruction in Britain, but came too late to turn the tide of the conflict. Kammler designed and built the crematoria at Auschwitz which incinerated most of the bodies of the estimated 1.2 million people murdered at the camp in Nazi-occupied Poland . Kammler was also responsible for the construction of the so-called 'weapons of retaliation' - the V-1s and V-2s that caused tremendous death and destruction in Britain, but which came too late to turn the tide of the conflict in Germany's favour. Pictured, left, are soldiers of the US Army at Bomskirchen, Germany, inspecting a captured V-2 bomb and, right, a German V-2 rocket taking off . He was also involved in the construction of death camps, including the design of the crematoria at Auschwitz which incinerated most of the bodies of the estimated 1.2million people murdered at the camp in occupied Poland. The history books say that, one day after the Third Reich surrendered on May 9, 1945, he either shot himself or took poison in the former German city of Stettin, now Szcecin in Poland. His body was never found. ‘This whole story of suicide was staged by two of his closest aides who were committed to him,’ Karlsch tells ZDF TV in Germany. At the war’s end America, while taking part in the punishment of many top Nazis at the Nuremberg trials, also launched the covert Operation Paperclip – the secret exit of top Nazi scientists. ZDF says in the documentary: ‘Sources say that Kammler was captured by the Americans and interrogated by the US Counterintelligence CIC. The secret service man responsible was Donald Richardson, a personal confidant of allied supreme commander General Dwight D Eisenhower.’ Police officers call for stretchers amid the damage cause by a V-2 bomb attack on Smithfield, London . The sons of the secret service man told programme makers that their father was in charge of the German weapons expert after 1945. One of them, John Richardson, said: ‘This engineer brought a special treasure from the Third Reich into the United States. He offered modern weapons for us. ‘It was put to my father that he should bring this “useful” German into the United States to prevent him from falling into the hands of the Russian intelligence service.’ It is not revealed under what name Kammler lived or when he died, though some archival material speaks of a ‘special guest’ living under Richardson’s wing. | S.S. general Hans Kammler was head of construction and defence projects . He planned forced labour factories at Auschwitz and secret V-2 rocket plants . Officially he committed suicide near Prague on May 9, 1945 . But a new documentary has suggested his suicide was faked by the Americans who wanted his secrets of Hitler's weapon programme . | 297def124f99232c72b2324194147d3586826a5d |
Apple is preparing to launch a range of iMacs with Ultra HD 'Retina' display screens in a bid to reinvigorate desktop computer sales. The firm is expected to reveal them alongside a new version of its Mac software called Yosemite, and news iPads next month. The new iPads are set to use a thinner design similar to the iPhone 6 and include a Touch ID fingerprint sensor. Scroll down for video . iThe new iMacs are expected to retain a similar design to the current model (pictured) but include an ultra high definition Retina screen. The iPad is expected to have a 9.7 inch screen, while the new version of the iPad mini will have a 7.9 inch screen, Bloomberg earlier reported, citing people familiar with the matter. The iPads are expected to have a thinner, curved design similar to the new iPhone 6, and a Touch ID fingerprint sensor. Apple is also believed to be working on a larger 'iPad Plus' for release next year with a 12.9inch screen. 'A new line of iMacs with ultra high-resolution Retina Displays is in late testing stages within Apple, according to our sources who have used the future desktop computer,' said 9to5 Mac. 'While the machine will sport a thin profile similar to that of the current design, which was introduced in 2012, it will be packed with new internals such as faster processors and improved WiFi antennas,' it says. The iPad is expected to have a 9.7 inch screen, while the new version of the iPad mini will have a 7.9 inch screen, Bloomberg earlier reported, citing people familiar with the matter. The iPads are expected to have a thinner, curved design similar to the new iPhone 6, and a Touch ID fingerprint sensor. Apple is also believed to be working on a larger 'iPad Plus' for release next year with a 12.9inch screen. The firm will also launch a new version of its Mac software called Yosemite. The first thing that strikes you about Yosemite is that there is less to look at. Gones are the bells and whistles, the fake leather and other distractions of previous versions. Instead, what you have is, without doubt, the best looking operating system ever seen. Apple's obsession with detail is clear, and when combined with high high resolution retina display of the firm's latest laptops, the difference is incredibly obvious. Even the tiny details, such as a new font Apple designed, give everything a crisp, uncluttered feel. Menus also now have a transparent feel, giving the system an almost glass-like feel as you move windows around. Although iOS 8 is not yet available so we were unable to try out the call and 'handoff' features, the new notification centre on screen gives a real sense that the iPhone, iPad and Mac are now one system, system than three separate gadgets. The Yosemite software will allow users to make and receive calls and notifications from their Mac - even if their iPhone is in another room. Notifications can carry over from your iPhone, and the 'today' view mimics that iPhone users are used to. Also surprisingly useful are the upgrades to Spotlight, the Mac's search system. Searching now shows you information from Wikipedia pages, and you can even search the web without having to open a seperate browser window - although it does Bing rather than Google. you can also do basic sums, and even currency conversions form the spotlight window, and even show you cinema times if you search for a film - a real timesaver. The mail app has also been updated, with a new 'markup' feature that lets you easily draw on images - which is great fun to play with. Surprisingly for what is still a test piece of software, Yosemite also feels incredibly fast and snappy. As well as being the best looking OS we've ever seen, Yosemite really does give a glimpse into the future of Apple, where all your devices work together seamlessly - as long at they are made by Apple. Mark Prigg . The Yosemite software will allow users to make and receive calls and notifications from their Mac - even if their iPhone is in another room. The software has also been overhauled with a new 'flat' look, and can search the web without having to open a browser. The software is the first to be overseen by Apple's Sir Jonathan Ive, who was recently given responsibility for the design of both hardware and software at Apple. | Retina screens already used in iPhones, iPads and Macbook Pro laptops . Expected to be launched alongside new iPads with Touch Id fingerprint sensors . Will allow users to easily edit and create Ultra HD video . | 377b2526c45b814fa37090e48895e900332e5670 |
By . John Preston . Back in March 1898, a group of scientists set sail from London for the Torres Straits between Australia and New Guinea. They were going to study islanders in the hope that they would learn important lessons about the way the brain works. With them they took various colour photos and some ‘footer shirts’, which they were confident would prove irresistible to natives. Over the next 14 months, they conducted a series of tests — one scientist would measure people’s sight, another hearing, another skin sensitivity and so on. When they came back, they presented their findings to the British Association For The Advancement Of Science. Pioneer: Jonathan Pryce as Dr William Rivers in the film Regeneration, based on his work . It was a total disaster. Far from showing any big differences between the way in which a Bornean tribesman perceived the world and, say, a Cambridge academic did, their tests revealed almost no variations at all. Only one conclusion could be drawn, the Association believed: the tests had been hopelessly botched. The scientists’ efforts were pooh-poohed, their reputations were blackened and that was apparently that. But over the next few years, doubts began to creep in. Maybe the fact that there were no key differences between people’s senses wasn’t actually a blunder, but a discovery of huge significance. Far from there being — as was generally accepted — a human evolutionary ladder in which the British stood at the top with everyone else on the lower rungs, maybe we were all essentially the same. And this is just the arm.... As part of their experiment the scientists would stick needle's into parts of Henry Head's body - including his penis (posed by model) With their reputations restored, the scientists set out once again, trying to find out how the human brain developed in the way that it did. Originally, smell was by far the dominant sense, but as mammals began to live in trees, sight, sound and taste surged to the fore. The tricky part, as far as the scientists were concerned, was trying to measure things that seemed to defy analysis — like pain or the way people react to stress. One of the members of the original expedition, a psychologist called William Rivers, conducted a series of experiments with a fledgling neurologist called Henry Head. The two men would sit in Head’s rooms in Cambridge, with Rivers pulling out Head’s hairs and sticking needles into various parts of his body — including his penis — and recording the results. Not surprisingly, Head found that he could work for only an hour at a time before he started to feel a bit queasy. In between sessions, the two men would engage in bursts of vigorous exercise such as running or horseriding. The results were encouraging, but what they really wanted was a kind of mass experiment in which large numbers of people could be subjected to the same trauma to see how they reacted. They didn’t have to wait long. In August 1914, World War I was declared. Within months, Rivers, Head and their fellow scientists were confronted with what amounted to the biggest laboratory on Earth. What interested them most of all were the effects of prolonged exposure to gunfire. Although it was another of the original expedition members, Charles Myers, who coined the phrase ‘shell shock’, it was Rivers’s work at Craiglockhart Hospital near Edinburgh (where poets Siegfried Sassoon and Wilfred Owen were among his patients) that proved the most significant. At first, Army doctors would label traumatised soldiers ‘Mental’, ‘Insane’ or even ‘GOK’ (‘God Only Knows’). But as the war went on and it became obvious that soldiers were not faking their symptoms, attitudes started to change and treatments to improve. Shell shocked: The scientists were particularity interested in studying the effects of prolonged exposure to gunfire on soldiers . Yet the psychologists were still feeling their way in the dark. William McDougall, who had also been on the original expedition, treated a soldier called Percy Meek, who had been a basket-weaver in Norfolk before the war. As well as having severe shell shock, Meek was suffering from amnesia. Under hypnosis, he revealed that he was visited every night by the ghost of a German soldier whom he had killed on the Marne in 1914. After a while Meek stopped seeing the ghost, but his condition became even worse — his twitching grew more pronounced, he lost the power of speech and spent all day playing with dolls. There is astonishing archive film of him cowering in a wheelchair with a teddy bear on his kneeMcDougall was inclined to write him off as a helpless case, but then, in 1917, something extraordinary happened: Meek made a spontaneous recovery. His memory and his speech came back, and within another year he was teaching basket-weaving to fellow patients — proof perhaps that the brain is even more mysterious than McDougall and his colleagues had ever anticipated. A war of nerves: Shell shocked soldiers receiving treatment in hospital . As he proved with the critically acclaimed A War Of Nerves: Soldiers And Psychiatrists 1914-1994, Shephard writes exceptionally well about how the mind functions under duress. His account of how a small group of scientists defied ridicule in their quest to learn how the brain works is as stirring as it is dramatic. While Shephard clearly possesses a sharp eye for absurdity, there’s a broad streak of sympathy throughout. In the early Thirties, the Prince of Wales visited the newly founded National Institute For Industrial Psychology in London. By accident, he was taken in through the wrong door and ended up in the office block next door, chatting with bemused office workers under the impression they were psychologists, before someone put him right. It’s tempting to see this story as an illustration of how psychology developed in this country — there may have been a lot of wrong turns, but eventually its pioneers steered a path through a fog of confusion to reach a greater understanding of who we are and how we got to be that way. | A group of pioneering scientists studying the senses decided to examine the effects of stress . They would pull out their subject's hair and stick needles into him - including his penis - while he worked to monitor his response . Their work allowed soldiers with shell shock in WW1 to be treated . Discoveries allowed psychology to develop to the point it is at today . | 6a31a4a7bc1d679aaedd5990000241b91f72a8cc |
A school has transformed standards of behaviour after hiring former Royal Navy personnel to patrol corridors and eject disruptive pupils from lessons. Charter Academy in Portsmouth deployed a team of three retired naval staff - including an ex-Royal Marine - to help enforce consistent discipline and provide boys with positive male role models. The former sailors – part of the school’s pastoral staff – insisted on high standards of behaviour around the school and in the playground and even drove to pupils’ homes if they failed to turn up in the morning and brought them to lessons. Scroll down for video . Prime Minister David Cameron speaks to students during a visit to the Ark Charter Academy School in Portsmouth . The initiative was praised by David Cameron yesterday as he visited the comprehensive to launch a package of measures aimed at turning round failing schools. Plans include giving powers to a new network of commissioners to intervene immediately in failing schools and order changes such as new uniform policies and setting by ability. An elite corps of 1,500 expert teachers will also be built up and dispatched around the country to boost under-performing schools. Mr Cameron hailed the role of the former military personnel as he toured Charter Academy and suggested other schools adopt similar schemes. ‘I was delighted to meet the former Royal Navy personnel who have made such a difference to behaviour and discipline at the Charter Academy in Portsmouth. They have played a key role in the dramatic turnaround at this school under their brilliant head teacher Dame Sharon Hollows,’ he said. The comprehensive has transformed standards of behaviour after hiring former Royal Navy personnel to patrol corridors and eject disruptive pupils from lessons . ‘At the heart of our reforms, we want to give head teachers the freedom to make the decisions that will improve standards in their school - and this is a perfect example.’ The ex-naval staff were brought in by Dame Sharon after she became the academy’ s first head five years ago. The school had long been in the doldrums in its previous incarnation - St Luke’ s Church of England Secondary – regularly achieving some of the worst exam results in the country. Dame Sharon – ennobled in 2000 for turning round struggling schools – began by tackling poor behaviour and attendance. This included drawing on Portsmouth’s naval links to build a team of school pastoral support workers. Their responsibilities included driving a school car to the homes of youngsters who had failed to turn up for classes – assuming no good reason had been given – and insisting they get out of bed and come to school. Prime Minister David Cameron accompanied by education secretary Nicky Morgan are met by head girl Brittanni Carvell, 15, and deputy head boy George Carnell, 15 . They also checked behaviour in corridors and removed pupils from lessons if they were seriously misbehaving. Another of their key roles was standing at the school gates and ensuring pupils were behaving well before entering the premises. ‘They were really useful members of staff because they were non-confrontational but have great personal presence and were very very good at being consistent about implementing our school policies,’ said Dame Sharon. ‘They also presented very positive male role models to the students and of course many of our students don’t have positive male role models in their lives.’ She added: ‘The Navy is a very valuable source of personnel. Most of them retire from the Navy in their early forties.’ Behaviour among pupils at St Luke’s had previously been so poor other schools had resisted using its pool facilities. ‘When I asked them why, they said that when they had used it in the past, the children used to throw chairs at them out of the third floor window and spit at them,’ said Dame Sharon. Following the introduction of a tough new disciplinary code backed up by the pastoral support workers, behaviour steadily improved. Charter Academy in Portsmouth deployed a team of three retired naval staff - including an ex-Royal Marine - to help enforce consistent discipline and provide boys with positive male role models . The school also emerged last year as the second most improved in the country and the best-performing in Portsmouth with 68 per cent of pupils achieving a set of five good GCSEs including English and maths. Other measures adopted by the academy - motto ‘work hard, be nice and no excuses’ – include a strict new dress code with traditional blazers and a house system. Teachers also drew on methods used in Singapore to boost maths teaching while primary school specialists were brought in to help pupils with very low reading ages. The techniques are among those that may be introduced more widely under Mr Cameron’s plan to give regional school commissioners strong powers to intervene directly in schools judged as failing by Ofsted. They will be able to sack heads and bring in new governing bodies as well as introducing new policies on classroom discipline, school uniform and homework. Schools may also become academies under the control of outside sponsors with a remit to drive up standards. But the reforms provoked consternation among heads who feared their jobs would become vulnerable. Russell Hobby, general secretary of the National Association of Head Teachers, said: ‘Here we see the first reverberations of UKIP on education policy. Today's announcement may make good politics to some but it makes lousy school improvement.’ | Charter Academy in Portsmouth deployed a team of three retired naval staff . Former sailors would drive to pupils’ homes if they failed to show for class . Initiative praised by PM who visited comprehensive for education speech . Announced package of new measures including elite corps of 1,500 expert teachers to boost under-performing schools . | 57f8aa33927a4a558015f99c5b2d855d573698e4 |
By . Sam Webb . PUBLISHED: . 08:11 EST, 11 December 2012 . | . UPDATED: . 10:57 EST, 11 December 2012 . A woman slumps in her chair in a darkened hall in the aftermath of a party, the very picture of the loneliness and isolation some people feel after the last song is played and the celebrations are over. The picture is one of a series of miserable and disturbing - but often oddly amusing - images created by a pair of French artists who use cardboard boxes to build scenes showing the bleak side of the human experience. Belgian photographers Maxime Delvaux, 28, and Kevin Laloux, 30, use . 20 boxes per scene to painstakingly produce the disquieting . scenes in a bid to showcase their talents and break into the advertising . industry. Lonely: A glum girl in a party dress sits by herself in the aftermath of a party. The scene was created by two French artists using cardboard and models . In another a rifle-wielding child in his pyjamas coldly . peers down at the bloodied body of the home invader he has just gunned . down by the chimney - jolly old Santa Claus. They say the realistic scenes, which . include a woman nonchalantly smoking while surveying a car that has . ploughed through her kitchen wall, are intended to strike a balance . between tragedy and humour. Each bizarre scene takes between two and four days to create. 'When people first see these images there is an element of surprise,' said Maxime. Definitely on the naughty list: Father Christmas is taken out by a young boy mistaking him for a burglar. Nonchalant: A woman smoking a cigarette watches a Mercedes that has smashed the walls of her cardboard kitchen . 'They usually don't spot the cardboard at first. 'We needed to show the skills you have to master to produce advertising photography. 'These include creating complex lightning and being able to make realistic photomontages.' Darkness: A girl shines a torch on a mysterious pile of rickety dollhouse furniture in this scene . Light: A semi-naked man watches his clothes burn in his cardboard flat, which also begins to smoulder in the blaze . He added: 'So we first came up with making scenes in realistic miniatures houses with doll house furniture but it was too realistic so we decided to break it with a very common and recognisable material - cardboard. 'It's fun to see that even now, people don't notice at first that these scenes take place in a miniature setting.' Maxime explained how he was able to create these extraordinary scenes using dollhouse miniatures bought from a nearby model shop. Dark: This strange tableau of an older and younger man is both uncomfortable and saddening . A woman in her tattered living room gazes blankly into space. Each scene takes between two and four days . Narrative: A pregnant woman and her baby outside a ramshackle cardboard house. Delvaux says he wants people to create their own stories to go with each scene . Darkness and light: A child stands in the street in a corrugated cityscape in this macabre image . He said: 'There is no hidden message. We want to make people to make their own stories for each image. 'It may be a bit depressing but I hope we are somewhere between tragedy and humour.' | Startlingly lifelike images made using cardboard boxes . French artists create darkly comical scenes . They used cardboard as early attempts with dollhouses were 'too realistic' | eea6cac7f1704ae7e6c4c9b9827254a1ecf7f69c |
(CNN) -- Rory McIlroy has never played in a World Match Play semifinal before, and he has never been ranked No. 1. Lee Westwood lost his top spot at the World Golf Championship event in Arizona a year ago, and he wants it back. Before this week the Englishman had never made it past the second round of the 64-man tournament in 11 attempts. Ideally they would be meeting in Sunday's 18-hole final in a showdown to see who will depose Luke Donald as golf's top dog, but instead they will have to clash in the semi. The winner of that morning match will play either Hunter Mahan or Mark Wilson, with the U.S. assured of a shot at the trophy for the first time since Tiger Woods took it home for the third occasion in 2008. "I think it's the match that most people wanted and definitely the match that I wanted," world No. 2 McIlroy told reporters after beating South Korea's Bae Sang-moon 3&2 in his quarterfinal on Saturday. "I'm excited about tomorrow, it should be a lot of fun and very exciting for everyone involved. "All I need to do is focus on the match tomorrow morning, and then I think the biggest task for both of us, me and Lee, is getting yourself so much up for the semifinal. "You have to get yourself up for that again. So that will be the tough task because obviously both of us feel you've got to get past each other -- for Lee to get back to number one and me to get there for the first time. "You have to put your all into that and then whoever wins tomorrow morning, you get yourself back up again to go back out tomorrow afternoon and win the whole thing." While McIlroy has already won the U.S. Open at the age of 22, the 38-year-old Westwood is still waiting for his first major victory -- though he has topped the European Tour money list and ended Woods' record-breaking run at the top of the rankings in 2010. "We've played a lot together. It will be a good match -- I hope it will be a great match, that we both play well and make a lot of birdies," Westwood said of the clash with his European Ryder Cup teammate after his 4&2 victory over Scotland's Martin Laird. "My priorities were to win major championships and win World Golf Championships because I haven't ever won any. I've been at No. 1 a couple of times. It would be a different way of thinking to me compared to Rory, who hasn't been No. 1. He may be thinking about it, but my main goal is to play well or play as well as I've been playing tomorrow morning and try and win that match." Neither Mahan nor Wilson are ranked inside the top 20, but have both been in fine form at the Ritz-Carlton course this week. World No. 22 Mahan went through after thrashing U.S. Ryder Cup teammate Matt Kuchar 6&5 in the shortest quarterfinal since the tournament started in 1999. "Matt couldn't find the putter today, which is rare for him, because he's a great putter," Mahan said of his 14th-ranked opponent. "I got lucky in that aspect. But I played solid, didn't make any bogeys and didn't give many holes -- and kept the pressure on him. That was nice to do." Wilson, ranked 42nd and a three-time winner on the PGA Tour, cruised past Sweden's Peter Hanson 4&3, and has yet to play past the 16th hole this week. "I don't think too many people picked me to win," said Wilson, who is looking to follow in the example of last year's winner Donald and his predecessor Ian Poulter -- none of the trio are long hitters. | World No.2 Rory McIlroy to play third-ranked Lee Westwood in World Match Play semifinals . The winner will depose Luke Donald at the top of the world rankings if they can also win the title . The U.S. will have a shot at the title for the first time since Tiger Woods won it in 2008 . U.S. Ryder Cup player Hunter Mahan will play compatriot Mark Wilson in the other semifinal in Arizona . | bc0251d081d5f57306c6e4ae73578a55a603b095 |
By . Ben Spencer . Scientists have discovered the first new river dolphin species in almost 100 years. They have named the new breed, which is only the fifth river dolphin species in the world, ‘Araguaia’, after the Brazilian river where it was found. Writing in the journal Plos One, the researchers say the new species, the first discovered since 1918, diverged from other South American river species more than two million years ago. Scientists have named the breed, which is only the fifth river dolphin species in the world, ¿Araguaia¿, (pictured) after the Brazilian river where it was found. It is the first new species of river dolphin discovered since 1918 . They estimate there are 1,000 of the creatures living in the Araguaia river basin. River dolphins are incredibly rare. Out of the five species, three are on the critically endangered Red List, and the scientists believe the Araguaia dolphins should join them. They tend to have long beaks which let them hunt for fish in the mud at the bottom of rivers, unlike the short-nosed sea dolphins. Dr Tomas Hrbek, from the Federal University of Amazonas, said: ‘It was something that was very unexpected, it is an area where people see them all the time, they are a large mammal, the thing is nobody really looked. It is very exciting.’ River dolphins are incredibly rare. Out of the five species, three are on the critically endangered Red List, and the scientists believe the Araguaia dolphins (skulls pictured) should join them. They tend to have long beaks which let them hunt for fish in the mud at the bottom of rivers . The closest relation to the new breed, the Amazon or pink river dolphin, is said to be the most intelligent of all the river species. The scientists say there are some differences in the number of teeth and they suspect the Araguaia river species is smaller, but most of the clues to the difference were found in their genes. Dr Hrbek said the dolphins are at risk because they clash with local fishermen. ‘The dolphins are at the top of the line, they eat a lot of fish,’ he said. ‘They rob fishing nets so the fishermen tend to not like them, people shoot them.’ | Scientists have named the new breed, which is . only the fifth river dolphin species in the world, ‘Araguaia’, after the . Brazilian river where it was found . River dolphins are very rare. Out . of the 5 species, 3 are on the critically endangered Red List, . and scientists believe the Araguaia should join it . | 00c400ae121839f68a311ee40a0f6f053a26a03c |
By . Kerry Mcdermott . PUBLISHED: . 10:46 EST, 7 May 2013 . | . UPDATED: . 11:50 EST, 7 May 2013 . A joint hunt master and a terrierman pleaded guilty to interfering with a badger sett today after they caused the 'most severe' damage an RSPCA officer had seen in 25 years. Stuart Radborne, 28, was caught 'waist-deep' in the sett as he and Ben Pethers, 29, frantically excavated the animals' home to try and find a lost terrier called Jimmy. Members of the public suspected them of illegal hunting and alerted the police and the RSPCA. 'Damage': Stuart Radborne, 28, left, and Ben Pethers, 29, both seen outside court in Wiltshire, were caught 'waist deep' in a badger sett . They were charged with the badger set attack and jointly charged with breaching the Hunting Act along with Jonathon Seed, 54, the former master of the Avon Vale Hunt, and two other hunt staff, Paul Tylee-Hinder, 58, and Josh Charlesworth, 18. But today, at North Wiltshire Magistrates Court in Wiltshire, the RSPCA dropped the hunt charges after Radborne and Pethers pleaded guilty to interfering with a badger sett. Outside court an outraged Mr Seed condemned the RSPCA prosecution as a 'complete outrage' and a 'disgrace'. Mr Seed, a Conservative councillor for Wiltshire, said: 'It has been a complete outrage and I would hope that every single member of the public think as to whether they give their hard earned money to the society in order to waste it. 'The RSPCA has spent £50,000 pursuing this and they have been given £500 in costs. It is an absolute disgrace. 'The two members of our group who pleaded guilty to interfering with a badger sett is an unfortunate event but they were going after their dog and the sentence reflected the judges view.' Hunt: (L-R) Stuart Radbourne, Paul Tylee-Hinder, Ben Pethers and Joshua Charlesworth are seen leaving the court, some carrying evidence bags . District Judge Simon Cooper heard that on March 6 2012 the five men, who were out hunting, were alerted that their dogs had marked a fox in a nearby field. Radbourne and Pethers, who were riding on a quad bike, reached the area first and began to assess the situation. They let the inexperienced terrier, Jimmy, loose and it ran off and disappeared. The huntsmen located the dog in the sett after they heard barking from below the ground. They tried to use a location collar to pull him out but when that failed they began digging at the ground to free him, the court was told. Jeremy Cave, prosecuting, said: 'An onlooker saw the men digging in the sett and describes the digging as furious with soiling flying. Former hunt master: Jonathan Seed branded the court case a 'complete outrage', and claimed the RSPCA had spent £50,000 pursuing it . 'The police and the RSPCA turned up and the men were questioned. 'There had been considerable interference with the set, digging and filling in the entrances. In total there were 15 entrances to the sett, 11 of which had been blocked. 'RSPCA Inspector Ian Burns, who turned up at the site, described it as "the worst find he has ever witnessed in his 25 years of being an inspector".' He added that Radbourne had been seen by another onlooker waist deep in the sett digging.The traumatised terrier eventually resurfaced two hours after it had first become stuck, suffering deep cuts and puncture wounds to his neck and face. The RSPCA had originally brought charges against all five huntsman of breaking the Hunting Act ban, but decided to drop the cases after accepting the guilty pleas from Radbourne, of Chippenham, and Pethers, of Southwick. Mr Seed, of Bromham, Mr Tylee-Hinder, of Calne, and Mr Charlesworth, of East Tytherton, all denied any wrong-doing. Clive Rees, defending Radbourne, told the court: 'It was certainly a badger sett and it was accepted that he had been the one who was up to his waist in it and he took full responsibility for that. 'But it was out of concern for the terrier. 'Mr Radbourne accepted his responsibility from the beginning. Seeing it was an active badger set made him even more concerned about Jimmy.' Janet Gedrych, for Mr Pethers, said her client had accepted that it was 'reckless' to let Jimmy free. 'It was clear that Jimmy had escaped and it was reckless to allow the dog out of the cage before fully investigating,' he said. 'He accepts that he was digging in an effort to find his dog, he didn't intentionally set out to damage the sett but he acted recklessly to find his lost dog.' District Judge Cooper handed the pair a £300 fine and ordered them to pay £250 costs and a £15 victim surcharge. He told them: 'In my mind the main aspect of this case was a failure to control Jimmy. 'Reliable or not, he should have been kept in his box. He got out and disappeared down the sett. 'Why he did it is speculation, but that he should have been allowed to do it was wrong. You are both responsible and you both could have prevented it.' Tim Bonner, director of campaigns at the Countryside Alliance, accused the RSPCA of wasting money on a 'politically motivated' prosecution. He said: 'It is absolutely disgraceful that the RSPCA has spent 14 months and £50,000 of its members' money on a prosecution which was completely groundless and clearly politically motivated. 'It is even worse that the taxpayer has had to pick up the bill for the court and the defendants' costs. 'The RSPCA investigation set out to find evidence to justify a prosecution, not to seek out the truth. Even so it has now had to accept that there was absolutely no basis for the prosecution.' The RSPCA inspector who complied the case against the five men said he would have been 'heavily criticised' if he had walked away from prosecution. Inspector Ian Burns said: 'There was severe damage to that badger sett and with all the money it has cost I would have been heavily criticised if I had walked away and left it. 'I have had 25 years' experience as a wildlife officer and I have dealt with numerous badger cases and that is the biggest, deepest, hole that I have seen dug.' A spokesman for the RSPCA added: 'The RSPCA received a call that a group of men had been seen on and around a badger sett in Stockley Hollow at the time that the Avon Vale was riding in the vicinity. 'On examining the area, RSPCA inspector Ian Burns found that a large hole had been dug directly down into the active badger sett, breaking a tunnel and entrances had been blocked up. 'A small Patterdale terrier emerged from the sett, muddy, dazed and bleeding badly from his jaw. He was fitted with an underground location collar. 'The dog, which belonged to Pethers, was taken to a vet who found his injuries were consistent with having been attacked by the claws and teeth of an animal whilst underground. 'The defendants gave conflicting accounts at the scene including chasing foxes, rabbits and searching for a lost dog.' The badger sett where the men were spotted was in Stockley Hollow, near Calne, Wiltshire. The RSPCA was today unable to confirm the exact amount spent on the prosecution. | Stuart Radborne, 28, and Ben Pethers, 29, admitted interfering with sett . Caused 'most severe damage' RSPCA officer had ever seen . Members of hunt had been trying to find lost terrier called Jimmy . Judge fined pair £300 and ordered them to pay £250 in costs . Former hunt master branded court case a 'complete outrage' | 6dda883d4f4ccb6abef4486771b3718a6f3fc2ef |
(CNN) -- Every Halloween, I get the same questions from parents: . "Should I let my kids have candy?" "How much candy is safe?" And a question not necessarily tied to Halloween: "How can I raise my kids with healthy habits but also without making them feeling deprived?" The answer isn't simple. All the focus is on the candy we eat once a year at Halloween when we eat even worse foods all year long. My opinion as a dentist has evolved over the last 25 years, and it continues to evolve as I learn from my patients and from my own children. To begin to answer this question, we first need to understand: How bad is candy, really? The effects of candy on our children are twofold. There are biological effects that we all know about, such as the adage "candy rots your teeth," but there are also psychological effects of binging on all that well-marketed candy. The effect candy has on your kids' teeth . The increased consumption of sugar in our culture is linked to diabetes and obesity. Consider: . • Sugar is changing our children's taste buds. By exposing our kids to sugar-laden foods, we are corrupting their taste for the sweetness in fresh fruit and "superfeeding" the bacteria that cause tooth decay. • "Just this once" actually has a lasting effect. So what's the big deal if your children binge on candy just once a year? That one binge may lead to an altered taste sensitivity, which can lead to cravings for other things. Those things might include soda, which we know is linked to increased risk of diabetes, obesity and other health issues. The dental screening that could save your life . Sugar addiction has also been shown to activate the same parts of the brain as cocaine addiction. Would we let our children have cocaine "just once" each year? In this way, Halloween candy may be a gateway to serious systemic diseases. • Candy plays a role in your children's future dental health. The effects of candy have compounding ramifications as children get older. The more tooth damage that occurs, the earlier people have issues with their teeth as adults in terms of crowns, root canals, extractions or implants -- or all of the above. By delaying damage during childhood and the adolescent years, you bypass a crucial and vulnerable time in life. Children are more vulnerable to the effects of candy than adults because they often aren't aware of the ramifications (such as a $1,400 root canal that comes later in life), and they don't brush, floss and take other actions to negate the effects of bad decisions. The exposure your children have to candy and the habits they form will determine their dental future. Beyond the teeth . Perhaps just as concerning as the damage to the teeth are the psychological effects of all this candy. Those include: . • It's an unhealthy message. All year long, we tell our children, "Don't take candy from strangers." But isn't Halloween asking them to do just that, making an exception? What if that confusing and conflicting message were to jeopardize a child's safety one day? • Halloween doesn't teach moderation. The binge culture that Halloween promotes might be just as damaging as the sugar itself. The name of the Halloween game is, how much candy can you get in your bag before midnight? Or worse -- how much can you eat in one sitting? Candy is no longer a treat for Saturdays from the candy shop -- it now comes in big bags from warehouse stores. 5 things to do at the dentist's office . It's all about quantity, rather than an infrequent treat that is savored. Grandma was right when she said "everything in moderation." Those who live the longest, healthiest lives cite moderation as key to their longevity. • Selling and marketing food to children is big business. The food industry spends nearly $2 billion annually to market and advertise food to children and adolescents. Children are vulnerable to messages from their favorite television character who is endorsing a candy. So, how bad is candy? You'll have to make the decision for yourself and for your family, but the important issue is that we're aware of the physical and psychological costs of candy and can make an educated decision about it. One solution I've found to all this madness to invoke the spirit of the Great Pumpkin, who collects candy left on doorsteps every Halloween night to replace the candy with a real treat -- a book, new computer game, skateboard, etc. So, are you a bad parent if you let your children eat Halloween candy? I'd encourage you to ask a different question: Am I empowering my children with healthy habits and knowledge before they go trick-or-treating this Halloween? Am I an enabler to all the candy madness, or am I modeling healthy habits and moderation? One of the responsibilities of parenthood is educating our children and setting them up with healthy habits that they'll carry through to adulthood and even on to the next generation. We likely aren't going to bar our children from going trick-or-treating, but modeling and teaching them what happens afterward is what will determine their habits around candy for life. If you can answer yes to all those questions, then you and your children are in the clear. Healthy habits are the real treat. Baby's teeth: What you should know . The opinions expressed in this commentary are solely those of Dr. Mark Burhenne. | A dentist offers points to consider about letting children binge on Halloween candy . Eating candy can affect children's later dental health, he says . Moderation and setting up healthy habits is key, dentist says . | 88aed80cd34b3d571b071687cdf174a30287c486 |
(CNN) -- Vice President Joe Biden kicks off a two-day swing Wednesday through the eastern edge of the must-win battleground state of Ohio, an area that President Barack Obama is unlikely to visit this election year. And while the vice president apologized to the president last week for seemingly jumping the gun on the issue of same-sex marriage, this trip is an illustration of just how valuable Biden is for Obama as he bids for a second term in the White House. "As much as political insiders joke about Joe Biden, he's indispensable to the Obama ticket," says Republican strategist and CNN contributor Alex Castellanos. According to the Obama re-election campaign, the vice president will travel to Ohio's Mahoning and Ohio valleys "to highlight the impact of President Obama's efforts to strengthen the region's manufacturing and auto industries, as well as bolster middle-class security for Ohio's workers." The campaign says Biden will speak at an advanced manufacturing facility in Youngstown and at a Chevrolet dealership in Martins Ferry. The general manger of the dealership, Joe Staffilino II, says he's "really surprised" that the vice president is dropping by and that people in the area "are real excited about the visit." It's not an area friendly to Obama, said Paul Beck, professor of political science at The Ohio State University. "These are areas of traditional Democratic strength, steel working areas, areas with a lot of working class Democrats from the old days. President Obama has not played well there," Beck explained. Obama was soundly defeated by then-Sen. Hillary Clinton in southeast and eastern Ohio in the Democratic presidential primary in March 2008, and while he won the state by five points over Sen. John McCain in the general election that November, he didn't perform as well in the eastern edge of the state. "Part of the problem is that these tend to be more conservative Democrats. For some of them his race may be an issue, probably not among the younger ones but among some of the older voters. These tend to be depressed areas, with a lot of job loss over the past couple of decades. There are deeply entrenched pockets of unemployment and economic distress," Beck added. Biden grew up in Scranton, in neighboring Pennsylvania, an area that's also witnessed tough times in the past few decades. "These are places where I think Joe Biden has particular appeal, as a kind of traditional Democrat of the old school. He comes from a part of Pennsylvania that's very much like the eastern part of Ohio. I think he can really connect with voters there in a way which President Obama cannot," Beck said. The president's been to Ohio 21 times since taking office. But only two of those trips took him through the state's eastern edge. But it's not just Obama -- presumptive Republican presidential nominee Mitt Romney was edged out by former Sen. Rick Santorum of Pennsylvania in much of the region in the March GOP primary. Santorum gave his primary night speech in the Ohio River valley city of Steubenville. Beck predicted that Romney will likely not "be able to connect with (eastern Ohio voters) well either" ahead of the November election. Which is why Biden may come in so handy in blue-collar areas in eastern Ohio, western and central Pennsylvania, and in parts of Michigan. "His working-class honesty cuts through all the political bull in Washington. He grounds Obama in the real world. In blue-collar swing states like Ohio, Pennsylvania, and Michigan, Joe Biden is a tremendous asset to Obama who, at times, makes voters feel like he is president of the elite, for the elite, and by the elite," added Castellanos, who was a top media adviser for Romney's 2008 nomination bid, but who stayed neutral in this year's battle for the GOP nomination. Democratic strategist and CNN contributor Paul Begala agrees. "Unlike Mitt Romney, Joe Biden can talk to middle-class people without an interpreter. Even though he's traveled the globe and is one of the most powerful people in the world, he's still Joe -- a middle-class guy from Scranton. "Biden's ability to connect with working families is one of the Obama campaign's greatest assets. I bet they'll be seeing a lot of him in the next six months," said Begala, who was a top adviser in the Clinton White House and who now is a senior adviser to Priorities USA, the pro-Obama super PAC. But some Republicans disagree about Biden's value to the Democratic ticket.
"It speaks to President Obama's vulnerability that the campaign has to rely on Vice President Biden to campaign in key states like Ohio because Obama can't identify with voters. Between his infamous gaffes and his liberal positions on the free market and our nation's debt, having Biden on the stump carries its own set of risks," Republican National Committee press secretary Kirsten Kukowski told CNN. Biden's been in the spotlight recently for his comments a week and a half ago on NBC's "Meet the Press," that he was "absolutely comfortable" with legal same-sex marriages, a position that the president had yet to take. Obama was forced to speed up his timetable on the issue and come out with his own comments approving the unions three days later. Some political pundits said that Biden was a liability to the president, while others pointed to the argument that running mates rarely matter in the race for the White House. "Sure, people vote for the top of the ticket, but this election will likely turn on who can build an economy for the middle class," Begala said. "If that's the question, Biden is a big part of the answer." "If I were Biden, I would keep Obama on my ticket," Castellanos said. CNN's Steve Brusk contributed to this report . | Eastern Ohio wasn't a friendly region for Obama in 2008 . Beck: Biden can connect with voters there, he's an old-school Democrat . Hillary Clinton took eastern and southeast Ohio in the 2008 primary . Biden hails from Scranton, Pennsylvania, which has also seen hard times . | a38d32e54117849f049da0c499b53d65d2cdf09e |
By . Daniel Miller and Victoria Wellman . PUBLISHED: . 14:51 EST, 15 October 2012 . | . UPDATED: . 14:58 EST, 15 October 2012 . The family of an Illinois woman reported missing with her two young children seven days ago are breathing a huge sigh of relief after police found all three alive and safe 150 miles away in Wisconsin yesterday. Aneta Marsek and her daughters were reported missing by her estranged husband after family members had been unable to reach her since the previous Saturday evening. Police located Ms Marsek, 33 and her two daughters, Chevelle, 2, and Macenzie, four months, after the mother asked a garage attendant in Wisconsin Dells to call the police and let them know they were alive and living in her SUV. Found: Aneta Marsek and her daughters Macenzie, four months, and Chevelle, 2, had been missing for seven days before police found them parked in Wisconsin Dells where they had been living in the car . The Volo mother told Lake County . Sheriff's department that she 'needed to get away' and that she many . 'childhood memories' of the Wisconsin Dells area. Missing mom: Aneta Marsek, 33, told police that she had needed to get away and that the area reminded her of her childhood . The trio were found living in Ms . Marsek's Chevrolet Trailblazer in a 'secluded wooded area' near County . Road H and Fitzgerald Road. Karen Kates of the Lake County . Sheriff's office told MailOnline that despite the long period of time . away from home with an infant, Ms Marsek ' had supplies to care for the . baby.' Before their return home, the mother and her two children had last seen leaving her parents' Wauconda home at around 7pm Saturday night though police now say she didn't leave for Wisconsin until Monday. Police cordoned off the family home . in the nearby village of Volo. A CSI van was parked in the driveway and . investigators were seen moving in and out of the house with equipment. Days ago, family friend Kelly Lizzo told Chicago's WGNTV: 'We're worried about her. We're worried about the kids. 'We . don't know what happened. We don't know where she is, and of course, . not knowing, anything and everything is going through your head.' Police issued an 'endangered missing person' notice and distributed 9,000 posters appealing to the public for help. Memories: Ms Marsek and her daughters were living in her car in a secluded area of Wisconsin Dells near County Road H and Fitzgerald Road . Home: The trio had been living in a similar Chevrolet Trailblazer in which Lake County Sheriff's office says the mother packed enough supplies to care for the baby . On Saturday night, losing hope for the . safe return of Ms Marsek and her daughters, nearly 100 people turned out . to a vigil held by the family. Found safe and sound, all three were taken to St. Clair Hospital in Baraboo, Wisconsin to be examined. Investigation: A CSI van is seen parked in the family home in the village of Volo, Lake County, Illinois . Search: . A CSI team carrying equipment out of the family hom. Mrs Marsek and her . daughters were reported missing by her estranged husband Dan . Described by police as being in 'good health' the two little girls were released into the custody of their father, Dan Marsek, while Aneta Marsek was transported to the Winnebago Mental Health Facility in Oshkosh, Wisconsin for further examination. Karen Kates confirmed that the case had now been turned over to Lake County state's attorney's office to review. Praying: Around 100 people attended a vigil for the missing mother and her two babies when she showed no signs of turning up last week . | Aneta Marsek found living in Chevrolet Trailblazer in Wisconsin Dells, 150 miles from her home . Both children in 'good health' have been released into custody of their father . Trio last seen leaving parents' home in Wauconda, Illinois on Saturday night . Police and CSI team searched family home in the nearby village of Volo . Family held vigil on Saturday night before she called police on Sunday with news of her whereabouts . | aeede7e1ba4899bf97ca822fbd3f79851c47131a |
Sales of leading brands of extra virgin olive oil have plummeted in the wake of a hefty hike in prices, a new report showed yesterday. For the average price of branded olive oil has shot up 16.4 per cent to £5.19 a litre over the course of the past year and the increase has taken its toll on sales to supermarket shoppers, according to the latest research. While overall sales of extra virgin olive oil have risen 4.7 per cent in volume and 12.5 per cent in value, branded volumes have slumped 11.7 per cent and the 2.8 per cent rise in value is almost entirely attributable to price inflation, data from market analysts Kantar Worldpanel shows. Among the . best-selling olive oil brands, the worst hit in the last year was Napolina followed by Don Mario and then Filippo Berio (pictured) Trade magazine The Grocer said yesterday: ‘There is a limit to how much Brits will pay for quality and it seems some of Britain's biggest extra virgin olive oil brands have hit it. The report says that, own label products, on the other hand, have kept a lid on inflation. The upshot is that the difference between own label and brands has widened from 19.1 per cent to 28.7 per cent and own-label sales have soared 25.8 per cent in value on volumes up 22.8 per cent. Among the best-selling olive oil brands, the worst hit in the last year was Napolina with volume sales down 31.9 per cent followed by Don Mario which was down 28.9 per cent and Filippo Berio down 7.1 per cent. The Grocer said that reduced deal activity from the brands has not helped but they have lost out to other premium oil brands, notably rapeseed. The report says that extra virgin olive oil brands are still reeling from the after-effects of prolonged drought in Spain which decimated the country's 2012/13 olive harvest, slashing production from 1.6 million tonnes in the previous season to just 616,300 tonnes. Factory gate prices surged by more than 40 per cent in some cases as supplies were squeezed, said Walter Zanre, managing director of Filippo Berio UK. ‘People were scrambling around for oil towards the end of the season and the accessibility of raw materials was very tight,’ he told the magazine. Mr Zanre says he sees no imminent end to the sky-high prices despite the recent Spanish harvest being up 150 per cent on last year's to an estimated 1.5 million tonnes. He says there is no reason for prices to fall and the industry needs another good year to make up for the shortfall. The report says that although cost hikes affect brands and own label alike, until now only the brands have passed on the increases and this has resulted in a significant price discrepancy between branded and own label. The Grocer said: ‘With raw material costs likely to stay high, how long suppliers will be able to keep a lid on own label extra virgin olive oil costs – up just 2½ per cent in the past year – is now in question. And if the difference between own label and branded prices begins to narrow again, brands could claw back some of the lost share over the coming year.’ | Overall sales of extra virgin olive oil . have risen 4.7 per cent in volume and 12.5 per cent in value . Branded . volumes have slumped 11.7 per cent . Extra virgin olive oil brands still reeling from after-effects of prolonged drought in Spain . | aca6a0ae9a5373651bbc854b14c899c2ef247e03 |
(CNN) -- The debate over the controversial practice of child marriage in Saudi Arabia was pushed back into the spotlight this week, with the kingdom's top cleric saying that it's OK for girls as young as 10 to wed. "It is incorrect to say that it's not permitted to marry off girls who are 15 and younger," Sheikh Abdul Aziz Al-Sheikh, the kingdom's grand mufti, said in remarks quoted Wednesday in the regional Al-Hayat newspaper. "A girl aged 10 or 12 can be married. Those who think she's too young are wrong and they are being unfair to her." The issue of child marriage has been a hot-button topic in the deeply conservative kingdom in recent weeks. Late last month, a Saudi judge refused to annul the marriage of an 8-year-old girl to a 47-year-old man. The judge, Sheikh Habib Abdallah al-Habib, rejected a petition from the girl's mother, whose lawyer said the marriage was arranged by her father to settle a debt with "a close friend." The judge required the girl's husband to sign a pledge that he would not have sex with her until she reaches puberty. Al-Sheikh was asked during a Monday lecture about parents forcing their underage daughters to marry. "We hear a lot in the media about the marriage of underage girls," he said, according to the newspaper. "We should know that Shariah law has not brought injustice to women." Christoph Wilcke, a Saudi Arabia researcher for Human Rights Watch, recently told CNN that his organization has heard many other cases of child marriages. "We've been hearing about these types of cases once every four or five months because the Saudi public is now able to express this kind of anger -- especially so when girls are traded off to older men," Wilcke said. Wilcke explained that while Saudi ministries may make decisions designed to protect children, "It is still the religious establishment that holds sway in the courts, and in many realms beyond the court." Last month, Zuhair al-Harithi, a spokesman for the Saudi government-run Human Rights Commission, said his organization is fighting against child marriages. "The Human Rights Commission opposes child marriages in Saudi Arabia," al-Harithi said. "Child marriages violate international agreements that have been signed by Saudi Arabia and should not be allowed." He added that his organization has been able to intervene and stop at least one child marriage from taking place. Wajeha al-Huwaider, co-founder of the Society of Defending Women's Rights in Saudi Arabia, told CNN last month that achieving human rights in the kingdom means standing against those who want to "keep us backward and in the dark ages." She said the marriages cause girls to "lose their sense of security and safety. Also, it destroys their feeling of being loved and nurtured. It causes them a lifetime of psychological problems and severe depression." The Saudi Ministry of Justice has made no public comment on the issue. CNN's Mohammed Jamjoom contributed to this report. | Grand mufti speaks out after judge refuses to annul marriage of man, 47, to girl, 8 . Sheikh Abdul Aziz Al-Sheikh: "Shariah law has not brought injustice to women" Human Rights Commission fighting child marriages . | c5e8a4975aa01ced07e310714d98b7e4f004648a |
(CNN) -- Sitcom star Valerie Harper might not have much time left on Earth, but she is determined to live life to the fullest. "I just want folks to see me, that I'm OK, that I'm not suffering so far," said Harper, who was recently diagnosed with a rare and terminal type of brain cancer. "There may be pain. There may be a lot of things ahead, but whatever they are, they're ahead. They're not now." Harper, 73, is best known for playing Rhoda Morgenstern on "The Mary Tyler Moore Show," and its spinoff, "Rhoda." Like Harper in real life, Rhoda was outgoing and had a smile that lit up the screen. The actress told CNN's "Piers Morgan Live" on Tuesday night that she feels good and hasn't had any side effects from treatment. Opinion: My open source cure for brain cancer . She said she is trying to live in the moment and had this advice: "Keep your chin up and don't go to the funeral, mine or yours or your loved ones, until the day of the funeral because then you miss the life that you have left." News of Harper's illness was first reported by People magazine. It says she was told in January that she has leptomeningeal carcinomatosis, a condition in which cancer cells spread into the membranes that surround the brain and spinal cord. Harpers' doctors say she could have as little as three months to live, People reported. "The disease I have is quite a rare cancer and it is located in a limited area -- a very widespread area, but narrow. So a lot can happen if the cancer starts getting really aggressive, pressing on parts of the brain and causing me to lose either my speech or my ability to think, etc," Harper told Morgan. But for now, she said, she is focused on putting one foot in front of the other, doing book tours, exercising, "just living my life." An uncertain journey with brain cancer . "Death is out there for all of us," she said. "There's other ways to handle it than just sit on the couch and accept." Harper previously battled lung cancer. Leptomeningeal carcinomatosis, which is also known as neoplastic meningitis, affects approximately 5% of cancer patients, according to the Fox Chase Cancer Center in Philadelphia. It is a difficult disease to treat because chemotherapy drugs often do not reach powerful enough concentrations in the membranes to be effective, the center said. Treatment can include radiation therapy and chemotherapy delivered straight to the spinal fluid. "I have had a magnificent run -- the most wonderful husband in the world for 34 years, a great career," Harper said. "I really look at my life as blessed." | NEW: She talks to "Piers Morgan Live" on Tuesday night . Harper, 73, is best known for her work on "The Mary Tyler Moore Show" and "Rhoda" She was recently diagnosed with a rare and terminal type of brain cancer . "I have had a magnificent run ... I really look at my life as blessed," she says . | 6bef3ac5f3cbb6dff6d008f41f6f86e7f3feadbc |
There has been no bigger beneficiary from Alastair Cook’s demise as England one-day captain than Ian Bell who has stepped up from the Sri Lankan sidelines to become a thoroughly modern World Cup opener in a couple of easy strides. Bell’s participation in the biggest tournament in one-day cricket was in doubt when he was left out after two matches of England’s tour of Sri Lanka but the late switch away from Cook gave him a lifeline he has gratefully seized. Now after following up his 187 in a warm-up match in Canberra with a dreamy unbeaten 88 against India he can reflect on a dramatic switch in one-day fortunes that sees him with one final chance of making a World Cup impact. Ian Bell enjoys an England training session ahead of Friday's clash with Australia . ‘I still thought I would get on the trip,’ insisted Bell as he reflected on his pre-Christmas plight ahead of Friday’s Tri-series game against Australia. ‘I’m someone with experience who can play in a variety of roles. But I probably didn’t expect to be in this position. ‘When I spoke to Eoin Morgan out here and he said he wanted me to open it was a massive confidence boost. Looking back, my most successful time in one-day cricket came in the two years I opened so I wanted to get back to that.’ His elevation, which was proposed by the England coaches and then endorsed by new captain Morgan, was interpreted by many as a reflection of the ‘old-fashioned’ tactics that had held England back in the limited-overs game. Yet the coaches still had reservations about Alex Hales' technique and wanted to continue with their original game-plan of having a ‘proper’ batsman at the top of the order to try to bat through the 50 overs. Cook ran out of chances to show he was in good enough form to fulfil the brief so Bell has been able to step up. England’s classiest Test batsman is clear on his role. ‘Moeen Ali has come out and had a really good go at the bowlers and I want to be similar to that,’ said Bell. ‘Maybe it will be in a slightly different style, a bit more orthodox, but the important thing is recognising the surface you’re on and putting your foot down if it’s flat or getting through it if it’s doing a bit.’ Bell leaves the field after England's impressive victory over India in which he hit an unbeaten 88 . If England are going to make an impact in the World Cup then they will have to post scores of 300 plus with at least one batsman making the big century or even double hundred that are becoming common place in one-day cricket. Bell is convinced he can deliver the goods. ‘Opening the batting in those first 10 overs suits my game, certainly in these conditions when there’s more bounce and you can play off the back foot or hit it over the field. ‘I’ve tried to work hard even in Sri Lanka when I wasn’t playing. When you play for England you always try to get better and not stand still. This game is changing all the time and you have to go with that or you get left behind. ‘I wouldn’t say I’ve changed anything dramatically. I wouldn’t say that anything I did the other night or in Canberra was any different. It’s just we’ve given a lot of thought over the last few months as to what we want to do here and it’s about executing that now. There are certain areas we’ve identified.’ Bell plays a shot past India's bowler Stuart Binny during their one-day clash . It would be a huge boost for England if they could execute those plans against Australia at the Bellerive Oval and they will never have a better chance to end their dismal run of results here as the hosts are missing key players. Shane Watson became the latest Australian to pull out through injury and he joins Mitchell Johnson, David Warner and George Bailey on the sidelines. Bell was out first ball to the pace of Mitchell Starc when Australia won in Sydney at the start of this warm-up Tri-series and knows he has to succeed against them if he is to truly establish himself among the leading openers here. ‘I didn’t spend enough time at the crease to lose form,’ said Bell of his golden duck. ‘It was disappointing but those opening 10 overs from Australia were world-class. We have to start well now. It would be good to do it against Australia and kick on from there.’ | Ian Bell has seized his chance after Alastair Cook was axed as captain . Bell hit 187 in a warm-up match in Canberra and 88 against India . He will now have one final shot at World Cup glory with England . | 007d623bca383a2fc28355de2d293d16f51849bf |
The family of Ebola-stricken nurse Amber Vinson have hired a powerful attorney with a history of high-profile legal cases after angrily denying she was 'careless' in flying to Ohio and back while carrying the virus. Amber Vinson, 29, who works at Texas Health Presbyterian Hospital in Dallas caught Ebola after helping to care for 'patient zero' Thomas Eric Duncan. Billy Martin is a D.C.-based trial lawyer who has represented Wesley Snipes during his tax case, NFL player Michael Vick while he fought dog-fighting charges and the mother of Monica Lewinsky during the Clinton sex scandal. Scroll down for video . The family of Ebola-stricken nurse Amber Vinson (left) have hired DC attorney Billy Martin (right) after coming to her defense against the CDC . Hazmat workers help each other put on protective clothing before entering The Village Bend East apartment complex where Amber Vinson lives. Some 153 people are being monitored - and three are under quarantine - in Ohio as a result of a visit Vinson made while unknowingly carrying Ebola . In a statement released by Miss Vinson's family on Sunday, they said the nurse would never 'knowingly' put anybody at risk, was vigilant in testing herself for signs, and followed all the relevant protocols. The statement attacked any suggestion that she ignored medical or government guidelines. The statement added: 'In the interest of Amber and our family, we have retained esteemed attorney Billy Martin to provide us with legal counsel during this unfortunate and troubling time.' Miss Vinson flew from Dallas to Cleveland on October 10 and flew back on October 13. She was hospitalized with the virulent illness hours after her return last week. In the wake of the nurse's trip to plan her upcoming wedding, 153 people are being monitored for signs of the disease, and three are in quarantine. Medical staff who care for patients with Ebola are allowed to fly provided they were wearing protective gear while dealing with the virus. The statement said she reported her body temperature three times before boarding her flight home last week. The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has acknowledged Miss Vinson checked in repeatedly and was cleared for travel. Cleveland station WOIO reported the family's statement and said that they feel public comments and media outlets 'mischaracterize Amber and her actions'. It said: 'Suggestions that she ignored any of the physician and government-provided protocols recommended to her are patently untrue and hurtful. 'Although the majority of the correspondences we have received since her diagnosis have been positive, we are troubled by some of the negative public comments and media coverage that mischaracterize Amber and her actions . 'To be clear, in no way was Amber careless prior to or after her exposure to Mr. Thomas Eric Duncan. She has not and would not knowingly expose herself or anyone else.' Three people have been quarantined in northeast Ohio following Vinson's visit to Cleveland to prepare for her wedding. None of the three, quarantined after new monitoring guidelines by the state, has exhibited Ebola-like symptoms. Police keep watch over the house in Ohio last week where Miss Vinson stayed with her stepfather last weekend after flying to her hometown from Texas . 'Patient zero': Thomas Eric Duncan was the first person to die of Ebola in the United States. He brought the virus over from Liberia and died on October 8 . Every day, the Ebola sufferers in the United States and their caregivers produce an astonishing eight 55-gallon barrels of medical waste PER DAY. Masks, gloves, linens, utensils, medical instruments--everything the patient contacts must be destroyed and the garbage is piling up. While one surefire way to destroy the pathogen is to incinerate the waste, some states have already said 'no way' to requests they accept the tainted garbage. Missouri's attorney general has even made moves to bar Ebola-contaminated waste from being destroyed at a St. Louis facility, reports the LA Times. Earlier this month, a Louisiana waste disposal site refused to accept the ashes generated when a Thomas Eric Duncan's belongings from his apartment were incinerated and a judge even signed an order temporarily blocking the disposal in the state. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention Director Dr. Thomas Frieden said during a news conference that the virus is not considered to be hardy in the environment and that incineration and chemical treatment of the infected waste is sufficient to remove any risk. Initially, only Vinson's stepfather had been quarantined, in his home in suburban Akron. The two others, in Cuyahoga County, which includes Cleveland, and in Summit County, were quarantined after. Ohio governor John Kasich ordered the new guidelines, which include travel restrictions, on Saturday. A state health official said the guidelines are meant to remove any chance of Ebola spreading. 'As we've seen, travel is a potential problem,' state epidemiologist Dr. Mary DiOrio said. 'It's why the people of Ohio are dealing with the situation we have right now.' Under the guidelines, anyone who has had direct contact with the skin, mucus membranes, blood or bodily fluids of someone diagnosed with Ebola must be quarantined for 21 days. Anyone who did not have direct skin contact but reported spending more than an hour in close proximity to an infected person is not to travel commercially for 21 days. Such people also are to seek permission to travel outside the health jurisdictions where they live. People who were in the same enclosed space as an Ebola carrier are not to travel outside the U.S. Ebola is spread through bodily fluids. Someone who is infected does not become contagious until he or she shows symptoms of the disease. Health officials have said Vinson exhibited some symptoms while in Ohio. There are 153 people being monitored in Ohio because of contact or potential contact with Vinson. They include people with whom Vinson had direct contact, those who visited the Akron bridal shop where her bridesmaids tried on dresses on October 11 and those who were passengers on the flights she took. Vinson is being cared for at a specialized unit at Emory University Hospital in Atlanta. Her family said she is a 'deeply committed nurse driven by a fundamental passion for helping others'. One of Miss Vinson's Dallas hospital colleagues, 26-year-old nurse Nina Pham, also is being treated for Ebola. | Billy Martin is a D.C.-based lawyer who represented Wesley Snipes during his tax case, NFL player Michael Vick while he fought dog-fighting charges . Nurse Amber Vinson, 29, cared for Thomas Eric Duncan at Texas Health Presbyterian Hospital . She flew to Ohio and back while carrying Ebola, triggering quarantines . Miss Vinson was not diagnosed until after return and family said CDC comments tried to 'mischaracterize' her actions . Some 153 people are being monitored for signs of the disease and three are in quarantine . | 29a0de909479a5fca2a407ce9176eaba840afc2e |
A judge in California has sent a strong message to anyone who thinks that pointing lasers at aircraft is just harmless fun 'n' games. U.S. District Judge Stephen V. Wilson sentenced a 19-year-old man on Monday to 30 months in federal prison for shining a laser pointer at a plane and police helicopter, according to a news release from the U.S. Attorney's Office, which prosecuted the case. Adam Gardenhire deliberately pointed the commercial grade green laser at a private Cessna Citation that was landing at the Burbank Bob Hope Airport in California on March 29, 2012. Gardenhire, of North Hollywood, California, was arrested and pleaded guilty in the incident as part of an agreement with prosecutors in October. FBI: 'Epidemic level' of laser attacks on planes in U.S. The pilot of the corporate jet was hit in the eye multiple times and had vision problems through the next day, court documents say. Later, a helicopter sent by the Pasadena Police Department to investigate the incident also was again hit by a laser, but the pilot had protective equipment and was not injured. In court documents, his attorney argued he did not intend to put anyone at risk. "Gardenhire had no idea that the deceptively ordinary laser he had borrowed from a friend was powerful enough to be seen by, much less distract, a pilot thousands of feet away," wrote attorney Sean Kennedy. Gardenhire is the second person indicted under the new federal law making it a federal crime to target aircraft with lasers, according the U.S. Attorney's office. In 2005, there were fewer than 300 incidents where planes were targeted, but that number grew by more than 12 times to nearly 3600 in 2011, according to the FAA. "Shining a laser into the cockpit of an aircraft is not a joke," the agency's former administrator, Randy Babbitt, said in 2011 announcing a crackdown. "These lasers can temporarily blind a pilot and make it impossible to safely land the aircraft, jeopardizing the safety of the passengers and people on the ground." The FAA attributes the massive increase in incidents to laser pointers being more widely available online, stronger power levels, and an increase in green lasers which are easier to see, as well as better reporting of the incidents by pilots. | Adam Gardenhire, 19, gets two and a half years in federal prison . He admitted last year that he pointed laser at aircraft in Burbank, California . His attorney writes that Gardenhire had no idea of hazards the laser could pose . U.S. Attorney's Office said the judge sent message with the sentence . | fc34692d2b2889b5c21bdb1065f3a3035dd8f46f |
(CNN) -- Saudi Arabia's Interior Ministry has identified the suicide bomber who attempted to assassinate the country's assistant interior minister last Thursday and released details of a phone conversation between the two men prior to the attack. A Saudi man reads a newspaper featuring a front-page story on Thursday's attack. The disclosures reported by the country's official news agency were highly unusual. The agency, SPA, reported the attacker, Abdullah Hassan Talea' Asiri, a wanted Saudi militant who had been hiding in Yemen, got in touch with Saudi authorities telling them he wanted to turn himself in to Saudi Prince Mohammed bin Naif, the assistant minister of Interior for Security Affairs. After arriving back in Saudi Arabia, Asiri spoke by phone to Mohammed, who agreed to see him during a Ramadan reception at his home in the city of Jeddah. According to a transcript provided by SPA, during the phone call the men exchanged greetings and discussed the importance of the holy month of Ramadan. Mohammed is quoted as telling Asiri that "one should be careful; evil people would like to exploit all of you. Now only you to fear Allah Almighty and come home." Later in the conversation, Asiri asked if a special plane could be dispatched to take him to meet with Mohammed. Asiri, escorted by security, was transported to Jeddah, where he met with the prince at his palace. During the meeting, Asiri explained to Mohammed that other Saudi militants in Yemen also wished to surrender but sought reassurances from the prince. According to SPA, a call was then placed to one of the militants in Yemen. While the prince was on the phone, Asiri blew himself up, SPA reported. Mohammed, who is also the son of the country's Interior Minister, was lightly injured in the attack. Saudi King Abdullah was shown visiting the prince in the hospital after the attack on Saudi TV. The king asked the prince why the militant was allowed to get so close him without being inspected properly and searched thoroughly. Prince Mohammed answered the king by telling him it had been a mistake. SPA adds that "the concerned security authorities opened an investigation into the incident. However, the criminal laboratory and a forensic report have reached conclusions that, for security considerations, will not be announced at this time." Asiri's name was on a list of 85 most wanted suspects released by Saudi Arabia in February. At the time the list was released, Saudi Arabia asked Interpol for its help in apprehending dozens of the wanted Saudis on the list who were suspected of plotting attacks against Saudi Arabia from abroad. The announcement was significant because it is rare for the kingdom to announce that some of its most wanted terrorists are on the loose. It is also unusual for Saudi Arabia to ask for help in finding them. Some of the suspects on the most wanted list had been released from Guantanamo Bay, returned to Saudi Arabia, and had then gone through a Jihadi reeducation program run by the Interior Ministry, before fleeing to Yemen and taking up terrorist activity once more. Saudi Arabia has been battling terrorism since 2003, when al Qaeda launched a series of attacks inside the Kingdom. In the security crackdown that followed, Asiri, like many other wanted Saudi militants, fled to Yemen. Earlier this year, Saudi al Qaeda and Yemeni al Qaeda merged to form "Al Qaeda in the Arabian Peninsula." Al Qaeda in the Arabian Peninsula, which operates out of Yemen, claimed responsibility earlier this week for the attack against Mohammed. In August, Saudi Arabia's Interior Ministry announced that over the past year, 44 al Qaeda suspects across the country had been arrested. While the Interior Ministry is calling the attempted assassination an "action of treachery and treason", SPA reports that the Ministry will not change its "open-door policy" of granting amnesty to militants wishing to surrender - in particular, "those citizens residing outside the country" who wish to "take advantage of the state-sponsored program of advice and care." | Wanted Saudi militant Abdullah Hassan Talea' Asiri had been hiding in Yemen . Reportedly got in touch with Saudi authorities saying he wanted to turn himself in . Asiri met with Saudi assistant minister of Interior for Security Affairs . He explained other Saudi militants in Yemen also wished to surrender . | 769084f224ed8d05a4f689070eb0bd1cca1f1932 |
By . Damien Gayle . A wealthy Russian who survived an attempt on his life in London cannot be extradited to face murder charges in Moldova because it would breach his human rights. A judge at Westminster Magistrates Court ruled that Moldovan authorities had failed to give assurances that German Gorbuntsov, 48, would not be tortured in their custody. Mr Gorbuntsov said after the hearing that he believes there is a half-million-pound contract on his life. In 2012 an assassin shot him six times outside his flat in Docklands. German Gorbuntsov outside court today: He will not be extradited to face charges of ordering a contract killing in Moldova after a judge ruled that the country's authorities had failed to guarantee he would not be tortured . Moldovan prosecutors accuse Mr Gurbuntsov of ordering the contract killing of a rival businessman in a fight for control of a bank worth more than £5million. He was detained on a European Arrest Warrant but today a judge ruled he could remain in Britain because the former Soviet republic could not guarantee he would not be subjected to torture or degrading or inhumane treatment. After the decision, Mr Gorbuntsov, speaking through a translator, told reporters: 'The English Court made the right decision. 'I can say one thing, the justice system in Great Britain is straight forward and fair. Investigators and detectives did more than I had hoped. 'But the threat is still there. It was a Moldovan person with eight bullets that tried to kill me. 'The Moldovan government has declared that they will pay £500,000 if somebody will bring me in a body bag. Living in fear: Mr Gorbuntsov came out of hiding to attend court today accompanied by his partner, Natalia Semchenkova, pictured left, and bodyguards . 'The man who tried to have me killed is now a presidential candidate in Moldova, he could be the most powerful man in the country. 'The man who shot me has been arrested, he is now in Romania where he is accused of other murders. 'Three weeks ago I had a serious operation to help heal the injuries from the attempt on my life, I have been left with a 70cm scar on my stomach. 'Now we will go to celebrate and I will continue my treatment. 'I plan to stay here in the UK, I have a family here and I have children here but this has effected everything, my life, my business. 'I am under police protection, I am paying for it out of my own money, but it is dangerous to go out in public. I still fear for my life, of course.' Mr Gorbuntsov's past is not well known. After the collapse of the Soviet Union, he made a fortune operating banks in Russia and Moldova and set up nearly 40 companies involved in security, construction, real estate and finance. He fled to Britain in 2010, following the attempted murder of another financier, Alexander Antonov, in Moscow - a crime in which he was implicated but of which he has consistently maintained his innocence. In March 2012, Mr Gorbuntsov had just stepped from a taxi outside his Docklands apartment black when a would-be assassin emerged frm the shadows. He was shot six times with an automatic pistol before he was able to punch the code in the front door lock and leap behind a wall just a few feet from the entrance. Since the attempt on his life, which he claims was ordered by the same men who arranged the attack on Mr Antonov, he has lived in a secret location under armed police guard. He broke cover to attend court today accompanied by his partner, Natalia Semchenkova, and bodyguards. Moldovan prosecutors allege that Mr Gorbuntsov ordered the contract killing of Renat Usatiy who had bought a stake in Universal Bank in Moldova for £1.2 million at a time when Mr Gorbuntsov was facing debt problems. According to Mr Usatiy, who spoke to the Mail on Sunday about the claims last year, Mr Gorbuntsov accused him of trying to steal the bank from under his nose. When Mr Usatiy refused to give up his investment, he claims Mr Gorbuntsov ordered his assassination. 'Fearful of what could happen, I increased my security and brought my armoured car from Moscow to Chisinau [the Moldovan capital], and went to the police,' he said. Westminster Magistrates Court: Ben Lloyd, representing the Moldovan Government, was unable to tell the court why a letter from prosecutors had failed to address the issues surrounding Mr Gorbuntzov's human rights . Flanked by a uniformed police officer, the Mr Gorbuntsov stood in the dock today wearing a grubby black t-shirt and black tracksuit pants, speaking only to confirm his name through an interpreter. Alun Jones QC, representing Mr Gorbuntsov, said Moldovian authorities had failed to provide written assurances they would respect article three of the European Convention of Human Rights, as had been required by a previous hearing. Article three prohibits, without exceptions of limitations, torture and 'inhuman or degrading treatment or punishment' - a human right which applies 'irrespective of a victim's conduct', courts have ruled. Mr Jones said experts had given evidence about the appalling conditions in Moldovan prisons. 'The Chief Magistrate Howard Riddle said that the CPS and the requesting authority should provide evidence to rebut it, if not [the extradition request] would be dismissed,' he said. British prosecutors had received correspondence from the Moldovan authorities, but Mr Jones said: 'We didn't hear anything until yesterday until a letter arrived yesterday. 'It is a dummy letter, it does not do anything at all, it does not address the issues. 'Mr Gorbuntsov has spent much of the month of June in hospital after undergoing a serious operation, we have been to this court now for four weeks. 'Our submission is the case should now be thrown out and discharged immediately.' Ben Lloyd, representing the Moldovan Government, was unable to tell the court why the letter had failed to address the issues surrounding Mr Gorbuntzov's human rights. He said: 'I don't make a submission that this is a significant document, I think that is all I can say.' Making his ruling Judge Ikram said: 'There have been three cases previously where Article Three has been raised in relation to the Republic of Moldova. 'There has been no evidence to rebut the evidence in relation to conditions within prisons in that country. 'A letter was received by those who act for the requesting authority that seems to be a recital of the law and does not, it seems to be considered by all parties, deal with the issue in hand. 'I must come to the same conclusion and therefore based on the evidence that has been accepted by this court on previous hearings I come to the view that the Warrant should be discharged. 'You are free to go.' There was applause from the public gallery, while Gorbuntzov looked confused as a Russian interpreter explained that he had been freed. Mr Gorbuntzov's lawyers applied for some of his costs to be paid by the British government. | German Gorbuntsov was shot six times outside his Docklands home in 2012 . Moldova had sought his extradition on claims he ordered a hit of his own . But a judge rules prosecutors there have failed to guarantee his rights . | ef2fcffc7273ee26d4f16cec2c82f3b53fce7be8 |
By . Daily Mail Reporter . JPMorgan Chase said Friday that a bad trade cost the bank $5.8billion this year, almost triple its original estimate, and raised the prospect that traders lied to cover up the multi-billion blunder. The bank said managers tied to the bad trade had been fired without severance and that it planned to revoke two years' worth of pay from each of those executives. The infamous so-called ‘London whale’ trader Bruno Iksil, who placed the extremely risky bets on the credit market prompting the massive loss, has also left the bank. A whale of a drop: JPMorgan Chase's share price dropped dramatically after the news of the multi-billion-dollar blunder surfaced in mid April but is now on the rise, coming in at $36 just before noon on Friday . Trouble: JPMorgan Chase CEO Jamie Dimon is seen entering the bank Friday before announcing that a bad trade lead to $5.8billion in losses in the past quarter, nearly three times the amount it was expected to lose . Achilles Macris, who headed the Chief Investment Office in Europe, and a third colleague, Martin Javier-Artajo, were also no longer listed in the company's internal employment database as of Thursday, the Wall Street Journal reported earlier on Friday. The company in May accepted the early retirement of Ina Drew, who headed the overall Chief Investment Office and worked for the bank for more than 20 years. She was the one to report that the bank lost an additional $1.4billion in the first three months of the year. Preparing: Jamie Dimon, seen inside the New York headquarters, has close ties to President Obama but that didn't stop him from appearing before two House investigation committees . CEO Jamie Dimon spoke highly of Drew’s talents and integrity, saying she volunteered to leave and to repay the maximum 'clawback' amount of the $31.5million she was awarded in 2010 and 2011. 'I got several letters from former chairmen who talked about her contribution,' Dimon said. 'One even said she saved the company. She has acted with integrity and tried to do what was right for the company at all times, even though she was part of this mistake.' The $5.8billion loss total is up from their earlier report that a trade lost $4.4billion from April through June, which was double the initial May 10 estimate by Dimon that the bank only lost $2billion. Speaking broadly about the trading loss on Friday, Dimon told analysts: 'We don't take it lightly.' He added: 'We're not making light of this error, but we do think it's an isolated event.' Dimon said the bank had closed the division of the bank responsible for the bad trade and moved the remainder of the trading position under its investment banking division. Dimon told Congress last month that the trade was meant to hedge risk to the company and protect it in case 'things got really bad' in the global economy. Instead, the trade has backfired and damaged the bank's reputation. 'This has shaken our company to the core,' CEO Jamie Dimon said. As part of the long scandal, the bank organized an internal investigation. Since looking over employees’ emails and voice messages, they announced Friday that they believe some traders may have lied while setting the values for certain bets in order to mask losses elsewhere. Paltry estimates: CEO Jamie Dimon initially thought that the bank would lose $2billion from the bad trade but that has ballooned into $5.8billion according to a statement Friday . Retired early: Ina Drew had been at the bank for over 20 years and retired amid the scandal and quickly offered to give back the $31.5million she earned in the last two years . The bank said that it was reducing its . net income for the first quarter by $459million because it had . discovered information that 'raises questions about the integrity' of . values placed on certain trades. Adding . to the perception problems facing JP Morgan, the bank said it earned . $5billion, or $1.21 per share, for the second quarter, which covers . April through June and includes the bank's disclosure of the trading . loss on May 10. This marks . an unexpected profit, as analysts surveyed by FactSet, a provider of . financial data, had expected JPMorgan to earn 76 cents per share. JPMorgan's . stock climbed $1, or 3 per cent, to $35.05 after Dimon seemed to . indicate that the losses from the trade were contained. Dimon said that . the trade might not lose any more money. Investors were also cheered to hear that the bank might resume its plan to buy back its own stock. Dimon said the bank was in discussions . with the Federal Reserve and would submit a plan in hopes of buying back . stock starting late this year. The company suspended an earlier plan to . buy back $15billion of its stock after reporting the trading loss. Just three months ago, JPMorgan was viewed as the top American bank, guided by Dimon's steady hand. Since the disclosure of the trading loss, however, that reputation has been eroded. President Obama didn't seem too . perturbed by Dimon's andling of the situation, and stuck by his friend . when asked about the financial sector during an appearance on The View. Mr Obama said Dimon 'is one of the smartest bankers we got, and they still lost $2billion and counting.' Dimon, who originally dismissed . concerns about the bank's trading as a 'tempest in a teapot,' appeared . before Congress twice to apologize and explain himself, and several . government agencies have launched investigations. Explanation: Dimon appeared twice in front of the House Financial Services committee to apologize and explain the loss and many described his attitude as cavalier . The Securities and Exchange Commission and Justice Department did not immediately respond to requests for comment. JPMorgan has lost about 15 per cent of its market value since the loss came to light. Dimon said Friday that Ina Drew, the bank's former chief investment officer, who left after the trading loss came to light, had volunteered to give back the maximum possible amount of pay. The maximum appeared to be two years' worth of pay. Drew made $15million in 2011. Mike Cavanaugh, who is leading a team of JPMorgan executives overseeing the trading loss, said the bank would also seek to revoke two years' worth of pay from other top managers tied to the trade. That procedure is known as a 'clawback.' It would be the first time JPMorgan exercised such a procedure. The Wall Street Journal reported Friday that three other employees of the bank tied to the trade, including one who was known as the 'London whale,' had left the bank. Under close questioning from lawmakers in June about his own role in setting up the investment division responsible for the mess, Dimon declared: 'We made a mistake. I'm absolutely responsible. The buck stops with me.' The trading loss has raised concerns that the biggest banks still pose risks to the U.S. financial system, less than four years after the financial crisis erupted in the fall of 2008. | Company initially said risky trade would lose $2billion but announced Friday the total is now $5.8billion . The trader responsible, called the 'London whale', no longer works at bank . Internal investigation reports employees likely lied to about trade values in effort to cover up losses . Share price rises to $36 just before noon on Friday . | 917661a95bf3cd7819f07ed389542e2106498c0b |
(CNN) -- Leaders of the Gulf Cooperation Council arrived in Saudi Arabia Monday for a meeting to discuss transforming their six nations into a union similar to the European Union. The idea of integrating the GCC nations into one entity -- and replacing what exists now as simply a cooperative -- was first floated by Saudi Arabia in December. Monday's meeting in Riyadh will lay out the timetable for it. The GCC comprises Bahrain, Kuwait, Oman, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, and the United Arab Emirates. "The threats of all kinds require the hard works of the GCC countries to shift from a current formula of cooperation to a union formula acceptable to the six countries," Saudi Foreign Minister Saud al-Faisal said last month. He didn't specify what threats he was referring to. But some analysts have said the GCC move could be an effort to counter the growing influence of Shiite Iran. The GCC was formed in 1981, soon after Iran instituted a Shiite theocracy and went to war with primarily Sunni Iraq. Iran and Iraq have enjoyed closer ties in recent years, especially as Iraq's Shia Muslim majority has solidified its power in the absence of former leader Saddam Hussein, a Sunni Muslim. After U.S. forces pulled out of Iraq last year, Tehran expanded military and security cooperation with Baghdad. Also, GCC member Bahrain blames Iran for fueling the anti-government unrest that continues to roil the country. Tehran has denied involvement. Bahrain is a predominantly Shiite country, ruled by a Sunni royal family. Last year, at the height of the protests, Bahrain called in troops from member nations Saudi Arabia and the UAE and cracked down. Iran is also engaged in a longtime dispute with the UAE over three Persian Gulf islands; Abu Mousa, and Greater and Lesser Tunb. The UAE says Iran has illegally occupied the islands. Iran views them as part of its territory. "I think President (Mahmoud) Ahmadinejad, when he visited the Abu Mousa island a couple weeks ago, in a way he highlighted the need for the union to counter the adventurism of the Iranian government," said GCC Assistant Secretary General Abdel Aziz Aluwaisheg. In this climate comes the GCC move to form a union. "Such strategic vision would include common approaches to defense, security, political and economic long-term interests," Aluwaisheg said in an opinion piece Sunday in the Saudi English-language daily, Arab News. Already, Al Wefaq, Bahrain's main Shiite opposition party, has demanded that the Bahraini government put the idea to a popular vote before it agrees. "The people of the states of the European Union voted on the union decision before the union was announced. The people of the Gulf should also have their say," said Al-Wefaq Secretary General Shaikh Ali Salman. Aluwaisheg disagrees. "The GCC is much more popular among the people than the EU (is) among the people of Europe. It's extremely popular," he said. "No need to take a vote because it's really a done deal. If anything, the GCC has always been criticized for being too slow." | NEW: Leaders of the Gulf Cooperation Council arrive in Saudi Arabia . A union is needed to "counter the adventurism" of Iran, an official says . "Threats of all kinds" require such a union, the Saudi foreign minister says . Bahrain blames Iran for the anti-government protests . | 8a8304d77a042f01eb55dfc2bba20549e588ffc3 |
Jay Carney is stepping down as White House press secretary, President Barack Obama announced on Friday. Obama said Carney told him of his decision in April, and Carney later said he plans to leave the position in mid-June. The President announced that deputy press secretary Josh Earnest will step into the role. Obama considers Carney "one of my closest friends." "He's got good judgment. He has good temperament and he's got a good heart, and I will miss him a lot," Obama said. Carney previously spent 21 years in journalism, including a stint as Washington bureau chief for Time magazine, and Obama noted that he went from one of those asking the questions to the person behind the podium in the White House briefing room. He is Obama's second press secretary during the more than five years of his presidency. Carney took over in 2011 when Robert Gibbs stepped down, and has been Obama's chief spokesman through budget battles with Congress, the 2012 reelection, the rocky Obamacare rollout, the controversy over the Benghazi terror attack, the Edward Snowden NSA leaks, and now the scandal engulfing the Veterans Affairs Department. "It's been an amazing experience," Carney told reporters. "In midlife you don't often make a whole new set of friends, and not just friends, but people you would fight by and for under any circumstances and that's certainly what I have been lucky enough to get over these past five and a half years," he said. Carney said that he's had discussions about what's next for him but hasn't made any firm decisions. He was a former director of communications for Vice President Joe Biden before ascending to the White House job he has now. Carney's married to journalist Claire Shipman, a senior correspondent for ABC News. As for Carney's successor, Obama called Earnest a "straight shooter and a great guy." He said their history dates to the 2008 Iowa caucus, where Earnest served as Obama's communication's director in the Hawkeye State. "As you know, his name describes his demeanor," the President said of Earnest. Shinseki resigns, but will that improve things at VA hospitals? | Carney is the second press secretary for President Obama . Josh Earnest will replace Carney at the White House briefing room podium . Obama said that Carney 'is one of my closest friends' | c13715a9cd43382c534a0c4d2b8d96bf2621678f |
An amateur photographer has captured an eerie photo from the shore of Loch Ness which could encourage those who believe in tales of a monster living beneath the surface of the lake. The image was taken by David Elder at Fort Augustus, at the south-west end of the 23-mile-long body of water in northern Scotland. It shows a long bow wave apparently caused by some sort of disturbance on the surface of the loch. Scroll down for video . Mystery: This bizarre picture of an unexplained phenomenon was taken from the shore of Loch Ness . The 50-year-old photography enthusiast insists the only thing that could have caused it is 'a solid black object under the water'. Mr Elder, from East Kilbride in Lanarkshire, was able to take still photos as well as filming a video of the mysterious scene. 'We were at the pier head at Fort Augustus and I was taking a picture of a swan at the time,' he said. 'Out of the corner of my right eye I caught site of a black area of water about 15ft long which developed into a kind of bow wave. 'I'm convinced this was caused by a solid black object under the water. The water was very still at the time and there were no ripples coming off the wave and no other activity on the water. 'Water was definitely going over something solid and making the wave. It looks like the sort of wave perhaps created by a windsurfing board but there was nobody on the loch at the time, no boats, nothing. 'The disturbance in the water began moving up the Loch sideways. It is something I just can't explain.' The extraordinary picture will doubtless fuel the imaginations of anyone who believes the story that there is a sea creature living in the lake, which is Britain's largest due to its 230m depth. However, sceptics will ascribe the wave to a freak gust of wind or other natural phenomenon. Iconic: This is the 'surgeon's photograph' taken in 1934 which purports to show the Loch Ness Monster . The story of the Loch Ness Monster goes back as far as the medieval period, but it first came to widespread public attention in 1933. That year a couple named the Spicers claimed to have seen a creature with a large body and long neck jumped in to the loch, causing a national sensation. The next year, the iconic 'surgeon's photograph' was published, purporting to show the creature swimming in Loch Ness with its head out of the water. Although that image has been debunked as a hoax, the search for Nessie has continued, with true believers undeterred by the failure of repeated attempts by scientists to find the creature. | David Elder, 50, takes mysterious picture while photographing a swan . Insists the image must show 'a solid black object under the water' New photo will fuel theories about the existence of the Loch Ness Monster . | d1b175dc4f881767e2bb8d252b9ac0fd56c21053 |
WASHINGTON (CNN) -- The Bush administration hailed North Korea's declaration of its nuclear program as a success for the multilateral diplomacy it engaged in through the six party talks with South Korea, China, Japan and Russia. Workers remove fuel rods on the reactor floor at North Korea's Yongbyon nuclear facility this year. In fact, North Korea's confessions of many of its nuclear sins -- and its shutdown of its nuclear reactor at Yongbyon -- are the closest the international community has come to curbing North Korea's nuclear program. As a result of Pyongyang's handover of the 60-page declaration document -- and Friday's expected destruction of the cooling tower at Yongbyon -- President Bush ordered some sanctions against North Korea lifted and instructed the State Department to remove the reclusive communist nation from U.S. lists of enemies and nations that support terrorism. But as important as what the document says is what it doesn't say. There is no mention of how many weapons North Korea has or where they are hidden. Nor did North Korea admit to a suspected uranium enrichment program or what nuclear secrets it may have shared with Syria. Both issues are reduced in the declaration to "concerns" Pyongyang promises to address down the road. Bush and Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice have pledged a robust verification process to double-check North Korea's claims. And North Korea has promised to allow U.S. inspectors access to the Yongbyon facility and to interview its nuclear experts. But it is far from clear whether Pyongyang will allow the kind of intrusive inspections of its entire nuclear arsenal that the United States will need to get a complete picture of North Korea's program. Congressional Republicans not so sure about Pyongyang . The stiffest opposition to the deal is coming from conservative Republicans. Once considered President Bush's strongest allies in confronting North Korea's nuclear ambition, they feel that the Bush administration has let North Korea off the hook, especially when it comes to its enriched uranium program and suspected proliferation to Syria. Rep. Ileana Ros-Lehtinen, R-Florida, the top Republican on the Foreign Affairs Committee, expressed "profound disappointment" over Bush's announcement that North Korea would be coming off the lists of enemies and state sponsors of terrorism. And Rep. Pete Hoekstra, R-Michigan, the top Republican on the Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence, accused President Bush of sacrificing its principles for a foreign policy success. "A decision seemingly has been made that it is more important for the White House to reach a legacy agreement than to get to the bottom of North Korea's nuclear efforts," Hoekstra said. "Lifting sanctions and removing North Korea from the list of state sponsors of terrorism flies in the face of history and rewards its brutal dictator for shallow gestures." Rep. Ed Royce, R-California, called North Korea's declaration late and incomplete, alleging that North Korea built a nuclear facility for Syria, considered a terrorist state by the United States, while the nuclear negotiations were ongoing. That, he said, was proof that Pyongyang can't be trusted. "How do you have a meaningful declaration of your nuclear program without saying how many bombs you have?" Royce asked. "This is a signal to other proliferating regimes that nuclear weapons will be rewarded without ever having to give them up." Democrats, who once criticized Bush for not talking directly to North Korea about its nuclear program, are cautiously supportive of the deal. Howard Berman, the Democratic chairman of the House Foreign Affairs Committee, called the North's submission of a declaration "encouraging." Even former presidential candidate Sen. John Kerry, D-Massachusetts, praised the Bush administration, saying "engaging our enemies can pay dividends." But Kerry added, "historians will long wonder why this administration did not directly engage North Korea before Pyongyang gathered enough material for several nuclear weapons, tested a nuclear device and the missiles to deliver them." Are we headed down the same road with Iran? In his 2002 State of the Union address, Bush termed Iraq, North Korea and Iran the "axis of evil," saying they were "arming to threaten the peace of the world." Fourteen months after delivering that speech -- and after dictator Saddam Hussein released a 12,000-page declaration that it had no weapons of mass destruction -- U.S. forces invaded Iraq. But no such program was found, nor were stockpiles of chemical or biological weapons of mass destruction. More than five years into the war, the United States is still battling al Qaeda and Iraqi insurgents there. Six-party talks with North Korea began in 2003, after North Korea withdrew from the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty. Progress was limited until 2007, when North Korea agreed to shut down Yongbyon and allow international monitors back into the country for monitoring and verification. Progress has been even more limited for the third member of the "axis of evil," Iran. The Bush administration has joined the other members of the U.N. Security Council -- Britain, France, China and Russia, along with Germany -- in offering Iran a set of political and economic incentives similar to the ones North Korea was given in exchange for suspending its uranium enrichment program. But the United States has refused to sit down with Iran until that suspension takes place. The U.N. Security Council has passed three resolutions imposing sanctions against Iran, and the United States has worked with some success to isolate Iran from the international financial community. But unlike North Korea, which is isolated and desperately in need of international aid, Iran is rich in oil and a powerful force in the Middle East. And it's only getting richer and more immune to sanctions as oil prices skyrocket. And Iran seems to be running out the clock and waiting to try its luck with a new U.S. president. Sen. Barack Obama, the presumptive Democratic nominee, has pledged to engage Iran in direct talks to try to curb its nuclear ambitions. Sen. John McCain, the presumptive GOP nominee, has taken a much tougher line, refusing to rule out military action to prevent a nuclear-armed Iran. With the coming change in the U.S. administration, U.S. officials, diplomats and other Iran experts believe that it would be at least eight months to a year before the United States and Iran could seriously think about talking. Meanwhile, by its own admission, Iran continues to perfect its nuclear technology. If the North Korean experience can serve as a lesson for the next U.S. president, that lesson may well be that the longer the United States waits to talk to Iran, the higher the cost will be to get Tehran out of the nuclear business. | Just as important as what the nuclear declaration says is what it doesn't say . North Korea didn't admit to uranium enrichment or sharing secrets with Syria . Many Republicans say Bush administration has let Pyongyang off the hook . U.S. may be headed down the same road with Iran . | e386d9ed70bac668fa6048b572f445d9b7b62f75 |
By . Sarah Griffiths . PUBLISHED: . 09:13 EST, 26 September 2013 . | . UPDATED: . 09:53 EST, 26 September 2013 . It has long been hailed as the ultimate way to let off steam by some members of the fairer sex. Now, U.S. scientists have discovered that not only does retail therapy exist, but that it could be caused by an individual's fear of sudden death. Researchers found materialistic people find terrorism and war more stressful than others - and are more likely to spend compulsively to help them cope. Psychologists believe the rise of materialism around the world and its therapeutic effect on extreme stress might be a response to fear of death caused by acts of terrorism, disease and natural disasters. U.S. scientists have discovered that not only does retail therapy exist, but that it could be caused by an individual's fear of death. Researchers found materialistic people find terrorism and war more stressful than others and are more likely to spend compulsively to help them cope . The scientists from Michigan State University said people with possession obsessions often have lower self-esteem than others so are more likely splurge in the wake of severe psychological trauma. Ayalla Ruvio, a business professor who studied people's shopping habits while rockets fell in Israel, said: 'When the going gets tough, the materialistic go shopping. 'And this compulsive and impulsive spending is likely to produce even greater stress and lower well-being. Essentially, materialism appears to make bad events even worse.' Dr Ruvio led a two-part study of Israeli citizens living in a town that came under extreme rocket attacks for about six months in 2007. Psychologists believe the rise of materialism around the world and its therapeutic effect on extreme stress might be a response to fear of death caused by acts of terrorism, disease and natural disasters. The aftermath of an airstrike in Gaza is pictured . She compared 139 residents of the southern town with 170 from another town that was not under attack to see how their symptoms of post-traumatic stress and shopping habits varied. Along with researchers from the University of Haifa in Israel and the University of Illinois, Dr Ruvio analysed the psychological condition of the two groups. The psychologists found that, when faced with a mortal threat, those who where highly materialistic suffered much higher levels of post-traumatic stress, while their tendency to buy impulsively and compulsively was increased. Dr Ruvio compared 139 Israeli residents of a town hit by rockets with 170 people from another town that wasn't under attack to see how their symptoms of post-traumatic stress and shopping habits varied. A market in Jerusalem is pictured . Dr Ruvio said: 'The relationship between materialism and stress may be more harmful than commonly thought.' The second stage of their research, which was published in the Journal of the Academy of Marketing Science, surveyed 855 Americans about their materialistic nature and fear of death. They found that shopping was used to relieve feelings of stress and anxiety about death among more materialistic people, but this was in response to fear of a variety of life-threatening events like car accidents, criminal attacks and natural disasters. | U.S. scientists found materialistic people find terrorism and . war more stressful than others - and are more likely to spend compulsively . A psychologist from Michigan State University said the relationship between materialism and stress may be more harmful than commonly thought . The research observed the shopping habits of Americans and Israeli citizens coping with life under the threat of rocket attacks . | 28e0a689353b681c4fe520f9af9815caea1284ba |
A lawyer battling sexual harassment in the workplace has revealed how strippers and brothels have cost Australian companies millions. Executives are being forced to cough up cash to female employees after using seedy corporate entertainment in scenes like something out of The Wolf Of Wall Street, lawyer Michael Harmer revealed. Female employees are suing bosses for having to endure a culture where harassment and discrimination is commonplace. Australian companies are using seedy entertainment in scenes like something out of Wall Of Wall Street . Mr Harmer, known in court as The Undertaker, has blasted the employers he has so far bought cases against. He claimed companies have paid from $1million to $3.5million in out of court settlements in sexual harassment cases to keep their reputations intact. Harmer, who is responsible for bringing the largest sex discrimination claim in Australian history - Christina Rich v Pricewaterhouse-Coopers - said he 'objects' to the crude practices used in the legal, accounting, finance and property industries. ‘Where alcohol and the degradation of women is used as entertainment, you can get an overstepping of the mark by either other employees or clients,’ he told the Financial Review. In the interview he described how he’d heard of a global chairman charging brothels to his corporate credit card. Mr Harmer claimed companies have paid from $1million to $3.5million in out of court settlements in sexual harassment cases to keep their reputations intact after using strippers and brothels . Lawyer Michael Harmer is responsible for winning the largest sex discrimination claim in Australian history . In the landmark Christina Rich v Pricewaterhouse-Coopers case, Ms Rich received an out of court settlement in 2008 believed to be worth about $5million to $6million, plus legal costs, from the firm that she said was blighted with a 'boys' club' culture of harassment. PwC has always denied the claims. Mr Harmer's colleague Joydeep Hor, former managing partner of Harmers Workplace Lawyers, said at the time that many such cases were never revealed in public. 'It's a shame the public, the employers don't see the case,' he said. 'Most of my clients are employers - they don't appreciate the significance of these issues until they have been burnt.' Harmers Workplace Lawyers, which supplies psychological help for its clients, also previously acted for Kristy Fraser-Kirk. The 25-year-old woman’s sexual harassment complaint against David Jones chief executive Mark McInnes triggered his shock resignation and a confession of ‘unbecoming’ conduct. Her $37 million lawsuit against David Jones, its McInnes and nine directors of the retailer was settled for $850,000, including a 'smaller' contribution from Mr McInnes. Meanwhile, Federal Sex Discrimination Commissioner Elizabeth Broderick told the Financial Review how she had been contacted by concerned women who worked in the mining industry. Mr Harmer described how he'd heard of a global chairman charging brothels to his corporate credit card . Last year a West Australian mayor said mining towns across the state are trying to distance themselves from a reputation of a heavy drinking culture and topless barmaids . They were scheduled to attend the annual ‘Diggers and Dealers’ conference where a delegation of mining and exploration companies, brokers, bankers, gather in the unofficial gold capital of Australia, Kalgoorlie, WA. In 2013 a West Australian mayor said mining towns across the state are trying to distance themselves from their association with topless barmaids. However, he spoke to the ABC in the same week that a WA pub was fined after a 'skimpy' barmaid appeared completely naked. In the Martin Scorsese film The Wolf of Wall Street, starring Leonardo DiCaprio, penny stockbrokers in the 1980s and 1990s are seen binging on women. There is an orgy scene on the trading floor, amongst other outrageous incidents. | Lawyer Michael Harmer said many employers are settling expensive sexual harassment claims out of court as female employees fight back . Topless barmaids called 'skimpies' are used by mining industry bosses . Some executives also put brothel visits on their company credit cards . Harmer's clients have received $1million to $3.5million in settlements . | bfda0703c8f5862bf30f36f4250c67b3d9e2f363 |
By . Daily Mail Reporter . and Ap . Lawyers for an Irish nanny accused of killing a Massachusetts baby said Thursday that medical experts hired by prosecutors have concluded the child suffered bone fractures weeks before her death when she was not in the nanny's care. Aisling Brady McCarthy's lawyers said in a written motion that prosecutors recently gave them reports from two medical experts — one at Children's Hospital in Boston and the other at the Miller School of Medicine at the University of Miami — who found that compression fractures to Rehma Sabir's spine were inflicted three to four weeks before her death in January 2013. The motion asks Judge S. Jane Haggerty to order prosecutors to give McCarthy's lawyers any other records and information related to the medical reports on the earlier injuries. Nanny: Brady McCarthy is accused of killing a 1-year-old girl who was in her care when she died in January of 2013 . During a pretrial hearing, also Thursday, McCarthy lawyer David Meier said the baby was 'literally on the other side of the globe,' traveling overseas with her mother during that time and not under McCarthy's care. Several weeks later, Rehma was taken to the hospital with severe head injuries on her first birthday. She died two days later. Prosecutors allege McCarthy was the baby's only caretaker when the fatal injuries were inflicted. Prosecutors did not immediately respond to the claims made by McCarthy's lawyers. The judge scheduled a hearing on the defense motion for Jan. 14, when she said she will also hear the defense request to release McCarthy on bail while she awaits her trial, scheduled to begin April 7. Mother: Brady's lawyers say the baby was traveling with her mother, Nada Siddiqui, when she sustained the injuries that killed her . MaryBeth Long, a spokeswoman for Middlesex District Attorney Marian Ryan, declined to comment specifically on the defense claims regarding the baby's earlier injuries, but said prosecutors will respond in writing and during the hearing next week. 'This is an important case and it will be tried in court,' Long said. Elliot Weinstein, a lawyer who represents the baby's parents, did not immediately return a call seeking comment. McCarthy's lawyers have previously complained that prosecutors presented information about the earlier bone fractures to the grand jury that indicted her, but offered no evidence linking McCarthy to those injuries. Attorney Melinda Thompson said during a hearing in September that prosecutors put evidence of the bone fractures before the grand jury 'to make it seem like my client was abusing this child.' Prosecutors have said that none of the witnesses who testified before the grand jury expressed an opinion on the cause of the bone fractures. McCarthy maintains that she had nothing to do with the baby's death and doesn't know what caused the child to not wake up . In the motion filed Thursday, the defense said the state's own experts have now concluded — a year after McCarthy was charged — that compression fractures to 10 of Rehma's thoracic vertebral bones were inflicted during a time when the baby was not with McCarthy. The girl's parents told police that McCarthy had been their nanny for about six months, caring for the baby in their apartment in Cambridge, just outside Boston. McCarthy lived in nearby Quincy. Prosecutors have said that Dr. Alice Newton, medical director of the Child Protection Team at Boston Children's Hospital, diagnosed the girl as a victim of abusive head trauma, which she said includes injuries caused by violent shaking and by striking the head or causing the head to strike another object or surface. After McCarthy's arrest, immigration officials said she was in the U.S. illegally after arriving from Ireland in 2002 under a program that authorized her to stay 90 days. | Lawyers say experts found injuries sustained weeks before the baby's death . 1-year-old Rehma Sabir was found dead in January 2013 while in the care of McCarthy . Lawyers say the girl died from injuries sustained weeks earlier when she was 'on the other side of the globe' traveling with her mother . | dfef828972411650be9ed6ac104e085f006c980b |
(CNN) -- In his weekly address, President Obama said that the Christmas Day airline bomber acted under orders from an al Qaeda branch in Yemen, which "trained him, equipped him with those explosives and directed him to attack that plane headed for America." Vowing to hold accountable all those involved in the attempted act of terrorism on Christmas, Obama sent a letter to his Yemeni counterpart, Ali Abdullah Saleh, delivered by Gen. David Petraeus, head of the U.S. Central Command, in which he pledged to double the $70 million in counterterrorism aid to the poverty-stricken country in 2009, a figure that does not include covert programs run by U.S. special forces and the CIA. With the increase in security assistance, Yemen now tops Pakistan, which receives about $112 million, a clear indication of the growing threat of al Qaeda in the Arabian Peninsula (known as AQAP Yemen-based) in U.S. eyes. American strategy is driven by assumptions that do not fully recognize the complexity and gravity of the situation in Yemen. The first premise is that with increased U.S. security assistance, the Yemen government will take the fight to al Qaeda and uproot it. Secondly, U.S. officials assume that confronting al Qaeda requires mainly counterterrorism measures. What is alarming about the resurgence of this al Qaeda branch is its linkage to Yemen's deepening social and political crises and failing state institutions. In the last three years, against all odds, the al Qaeda branch has revived the central organization's declining fortune in the Arabian Peninsula and emerged as a potentially potent force. AQAP numbers between 100 and 300 core operatives -- as many as those in Pakistan, though they are younger and lack the operational skills and sophistication of their Pakistani cohorts. Most are rookies with little combat experience, unlike the previous Afghanistan generation. The structure and composition of the Yemen branch appears to have changed because of the merger with militant elements from Saudi Arabia last January, forming AQAP and revitalizing the jihadist network there. Some fighters had returned from war zones in Iraq, Afghanistan and Pakistan and have supplied military training and ideological motivation and leadership. In 2007 I interviewed several hardened Yemeni and Saudi returnees from Iraq who made it clear that they would target America and Britain if U.S. and U.K. troops do not withdraw from Muslim lands. These hard-liners were neither bluffing nor making empty threats. There are also some signs of cross-fertilization between AQAP and Somalia's al-Shabab, an al Qaeda like-minded group fighting for control of the war-torn country facilitated by the flow of thousands of Somali refugees to Yemen. That is not the whole story, however. The recent revival of al Qaeda in Yemen is a product of a structural socioeconomic crisis and political divisions and fault lines that have pushed the country to the brink of all-out war. Al Qaeda is a parasite feeding on lawlessness, social and political instability, and abject poverty and despair. Today Yemen is a fragile state with failing institutions and a collapsed economy. Forty percent of the country's 23 million people are unemployed. More than a third of the population is undernourished and almost 50 percent live in absolute poverty. Yemen, the poorest Arab country, has one of the highest fertility rates. A huge youth explosion (60 percent of the population is under the age of 20) faces a grim future -- and radicalization. With every visit to this stunningly beautiful country, I observe a deteriorating security situation and declining social conditions. It is now common to see many women of all ages clad in black from head to toe begging on the streets of major cities, an alarming sign of social breakdown in an ultraconservative Muslim society where women do not appear in public. The sound of Soviet-made fighter jets often shatters the peace of the early hours of the morning. The jets are on their way to bomb Houthi (Shia) rebels in the Sada'adah province and the Harf Sufian district of Amran province, a mini-civil war in the north that has raged on and off for four years and has claimed more than a thousand lives, most of whom are civilians. A secessionist movement in the south has gained momentum, with a sizable segment of southern public opinion demanding a divorce from the forced union imposed by the north in the early 1990s. What the al Qaeda branch has tried to do is to submerge and embed itself in these raging local conflicts and to position itself as the spearhead of opposition and resistance to the Saleh regime. For example, al Qaeda has allied itself with tribes in the separatist south in the fight against the central government, a radical move because many separatists are socialist and not religiously inclined. Ironically, in 1994 President Saleh relied greatly on jihadists and Islamists to subdue the socialist south and unify Yemen. From his base in Sudan, Osama bin Laden, whose father was born in Yemen, exhorted his men to fight the "Godless Marxists" in the south, who they massacred. The al Qaeda-Yemen connection goes back to the foundation of the jihadist organization. Yemen has always had powerful Islamist and jihadist movements. In the 1980s, thousands of Yemenis joined the Afghan jihad against occupying Soviet forces and most returned home emboldened and militarized. Unlike their Middle Eastern counterparts, Yemeni returnees were welcomed by the Saleh regime. In the early 1990s when bin Laden set up al Qaeda in Sudan and then in Afghanistan, he heavily and personally recruited Yemenis whom he trusted. Bin Laden, a Saudi, has often said he has a soft spot in his heart for Yemen because of its people's religiosity and tribal code of honor and hospitality and harsh, mountainous landscape. The Saudi-Yemeni contingent was the largest within the bin Laden organization, as well as in the detention facility at Guantanamo Bay. Many of his bodyguards, personal secretaries, drivers and cooks were Yemenis. AQAP chief Nasir al-Wuhayshi (reportedly killed by a U.S.-directed airstrike on December 24), once served as bin Laden's personal secretary. Bin Laden entrusted the protection and transportation of his wives and children to his Yemeni men, a fact that speaks volumes about his mindset. U.S. officials appear to overestimate the capacity of the Yemen government to meet the multiple challenges and threats to its authority and integrity. Its security forces are spread thin. Four years after the outbreak of the Houthi rebellion, the state has failed to resolve it. More importantly, the government can no longer deliver the social goods and patronage, historically solid underpinnings of the Saleh rule. The country has been badly affected by falling oil revenues (Yemen is the smallest oil producer in the Middle East), pervasive corruption, and the international financial downturn. After more than three decades in power, President Saleh's ability to co-opt adversaries and maintain friends has shrunk considerably, plunging Yemen into an uncertain future. On its own, counterterrorism will most likely fail in expelling al Qaeda from Yemen's tribal areas and might trigger a backlash against the Saleh regime and its Western patrons. Of all Middle Easterners, Yemenis voice strong anti-American foreign policy sentiments and take pride in sacrificing blood and treasure in defense of Arab and Muslim causes. Any U.S. policy course that neglects the local context will help al Qaeda sell its narrative to a receptive audience. What Yemen desperately needs is a political and economic vision that tackles deteriorating security and social conditions and empowers state and society, not just the Saleh regime. This vision cannot be made in the USA. Yemen's neighbors, particularly Saudi Arabia and Kuwait, along with the League of Arab States, should take the lead in finding solutions to Yemen's political and tribal divisions and providing the means to prevent Yemen from becoming a failed state. More than any other country, Saudi Arabia has more to lose by the breakdown of its next-door neighbor. The United States and Great Britain should provide leadership and assistance in shepherding the reconstruction process through and ensuring that inclusive governance, transparency, and accountability are adhered to. A good start is British Prime Minister Gordon Brown's call for a high-level international meeting this month to discuss ways of combating al Qaeda influence in Yemen. But the most effective means to combat al Qaeda is to to tackle Yemen's structural social and political crisis and to fully involve Yemen's Arab neighbors in the talks. The opinions expressed in this commentary are solely those of Fawaz Gerges. | Al Qaeda is benefiting from civil unrest and economic woes in Yemen, says Fawaz Gerges . He says sending more aid, focusing on counterterrorism won't be a successful policy . He says Arab nations should take the lead, with U.S., Britain helping in the background . Gerges: It's crucial to tackle Yemen's social and political crisis . | 5f555cf8747d516737a8accf64d19756ab533b08 |
By . Daily Mail Reporter . PUBLISHED: . 19:46 EST, 1 December 2012 . | . UPDATED: . 12:25 EST, 2 December 2012 . Dolphins might be playful creatures, but they can also play rough. A hungry dolphin bit an 8-year-old girl at Sea World in Orlando, Florida, last week as she was feeding it scraps of fish. Jillian Thomas of Georgia suffered three puncture wounds the size of dimes and a swollen left hand after the unexpected biting occurred, her parents told the Orlando Sentinel. Scroll down for video . Seemingly safe: Jillian Thomas, 8, and her younger brother James were feeding the dolphins at Orlando SeaWorld . Close contact: Jillian's younger brother leans in close to feed one of the marine mammals . Unaware: Jillian turned away from the dolphin she was feeding fish scrap to . Jillian’s father, Jamie Thomas, captured the incident on video displaying images of his daughter being nearly dragged into the water with the dolphin that clamped down on her wrist as she looked away. Thomas posted the video online as a warning to other parents. ‘The first thing I thought was I would have to jump in water and save my daughter's life,’ he told the Sentinel. ‘I literally thought she was going to be pulled into the water.’ His daughter’s cuts are healing, he said, but Thomas and his wife are upset with the way SeaWorld employees handled the incident, saying they trivialized the severity of it. Surprise bite: The dolphin bit Jillian, clamping down on her left wrist . Painful moment: Jillian cringes as the dolphin bites down harder . Strong pull: The dolphin nearly drags Jillian into the water with it . While dolphins are known for their playful behaviour and permanently painted smiles, they are also known for their sheer physical power and sharp teeth which have led to attacks on humans. Human feeding is linked behind many reported attacks though other incidents have been seen during moments of sexual aggression. Federal officials say dolphins are of little threat to people in captive swim programs - with in 1994 less than 1 out of 10,000 people injured - but those animals in the wild are far more spontaneous and unpredictable in their behaviour. Earlier this year in Louisiana a single wild dolphin was reported terrorizing residents in a waterside community in Slidell where it bit three people in June. In one incident a boater's hand was sliced open by the dolphin's teeth while he stuck his hand in the water to clean it. In another case a girl was dragged into the water by her ankle. Other reports described the dolphin as head butting and chasing acquaintances. Like many other incidents, officials in Louisiana said there were related reports of people feeding the dolphin and attempting to lure it out with food potentially leading to its association of all humans having food. ‘Thank God it didn’t pull her in the . water. It’s only a matter of time before someone gets seriously injured . at this attraction,’ Thomas wrote in a message at the end of his video. This isn’t the first dolphin bite the park has seen. In 2006, two adults pried open a dolphin's mouth to free a 7-year-old boy from its grip, which left a bruise on the boy’s hand, according to another Sentinel article. SeaWorld spokesperson Becca Bides at the time told the Sentinel that no changes were being planned for the attraction. Jullian’s mother, Amy Thomas, said she would have been more careful if she had known her daughter might get bitten. ‘I felt safe,’ she said. ‘Everyone . just imagines dolphins as smiling, non-biting animals with knobby teeth. You forget these are wild animals.’ The . Thomas family said they do not plan to take legal action against the . Orlando-based theme park, but said they would like Sea World to increase . the age limit for children feeding dolphins and remind parents that . dolphins aren’t always as friendly as they look. SeaWorld did not return requests for comment from MailOnline. Dolphin wounds: Jillian suffered three puncture wounds the size of dimes and a swollen left hand after the unexpected biting occurred . Not the first time: SeaWorld has had trouble with its dolphins biting young visitors in the past . Watch video here: . | Jillian Thomas, 8, was bitten by a dolphin at SeaWorld Orlando while feeding it fish scraps . Her father caught the incident on video and posted in online to raise awareness . SeaWorld has had prior troubles with dolphins biting young visitors . | b2e2206a4b5f67f0c0eb1654783fb8ef3be95367 |
By . E. Epstein . PUBLISHED: . 10:32 EST, 1 July 2012 . | . UPDATED: . 12:32 EST, 1 July 2012 . Five years ago, Tony Bilau, 30, was too fat to skydive. Determined to leap from a plane at all costs, he got a personal trainer, changed his diet and dropped 50lbs to go from french fries to flight. Now a champion diver, the Nebraska resident's signature move is an homage to his former self - putting his hands behind his head and extending his legs out in a reclining position, he pretends to be laid out on a couch - at 10,000 feet in the air. Scroll down for video . Moves: Tony Bilau's signature move is an homage to his former self: putting his hands behind his head and extending his legs out in a reclining position, he pretends he's laid out on a couch . Before: The weight limit on most skydiving equipment is 230lbs, meaning that at 260lbs, Mr Bilau had to make a considerable change . Mr Bilau told the Journal Star that before free-falling from planes, his preferred sport of choice was virtual: video games. 'Skydiving just got me out there,' Mr Bilau said. 'I never really left the house. This got me out there and living life, finally.' The weight limit on most skydiving equipment is 230lbs, meaning that at 260lbs, Mr Bilau had to make a considerable change. With a bit of professional help and a whole lot of will power, Mr Bilau dropped the weight and then some. No Simulation: Before free-falling from planes, his preferred sport of choice was virtual: video games . Champ: For his first dive, he even chose not to go tandem with an instructor, insisting that he would go it alone . For his first dive, he even chose not to go tandem with an instructor, insisting that he would go it alone. 'When that door opened the first time, so much goes through your mind, like, "What I’m I doing?"' Mr Bilau said. 'But I crawled out and did my jump and made it down fine. It was just instant addiction.' Will Power: Determined to leap from an airplane at all costs, he got a personal trainer, changed his diet, and dropped 50lbs to go from french fries to flight . Mr Bilau committed himself to the sport, going on to win medals in numerous competitions. At just 190lbs, he now dives at least once a weekend. This month he'll be competing in Nebraska's Cornhusker State Games, an amateur sports festival in late July. He's . also been chosen to participate in the Torch Run, a 1,100 mile race . that began June 6 and ends with the Games. Mr Bilau dedicated his lap to . a friend with cancer. Commitment: Mr Bilau committed himself to the sport, going on to win medals in numerous competitions . | Tony Bilau, 30, from Nebraska was too fat to skydive . Gave up potato chips and hired a personal trainer . | 9cfb15795a2ae6f8efde4ddecaea3811e8eb0485 |
American lingerie line Victoria’s Secret sparked controversy last week with its latest campaign, which has a line-up of super-skinny models next to the slogan ‘The perfect body’. Does it promote an unrealistic body shape, fuelling low self-esteem and eating disorders? Probably – but it’s just a drop in the ocean of airbrushed images of doll-like perfection that bombard us every day. The fact is, not even the VS Angels are born like that. Their fashion show comes to the UK next month, and models such as Adriana Lima and Doutzen Kroes will follow a gruelling diet and workout schedule to prepare. Victoria's Secret models train intensely for five hours a day before catwalk shows, pictured in New York . They’ve been open about the extremes they go to, dispelling any notion they just flop out of bed and into a pair of diamante knickers. Lima admitted to living on meal replacement shakes for nine days before she hits the catwalk. There’s even a training camp for them in Tulum, Mexico, led by Michael Olajide Jr, the former boxer behind the 1,000-calorie workout. It involves up to five hours of exercise a day. No wonder these girls are known as the athletes of the modelling world. The fashion ‘diet’ of cigarettes and coffee seems to have been replaced, thankfully – but is this new version any healthier? Models such as Adriana Lima and Karlie Kloss (pictured) follow a gruelling diet and workout regime . Why I've fallen for park runs . No wonder they choose this time of year for the New York marathon, which takes place today. I usually hate running, but the fall weather is so nice in NYC that I’ve been inspired to get outside and jog around my local park. Not only does it feel refreshing to mix up my usual routine with something different, but there are all sorts of benefits to exercising outdoors. You increase your workload by up to ten per cent by running outside compared to on the treadmill, and the constantly changing environment maximises the co-ordination between your muscles and your nervous system. As most of us are Vitamin D-deficient, any activity that means more exposure to sunlight is surely a good thing. Fuel up before hitting the gym . Q: I’m always starving after exercise and find myself craving chips, chocolate and everything I know I shouldn’t be eating. Do you have any tips for helping me avoid this? A: Feeling hungry right after you work out could be a sign that you’re not fuelling up properly before you hit the gym. Sports dietician Marni Sumbal recommends a small carb-based snack about 45 to 60 minutes before your workout: ‘Try eating half a piece of pita bread with a teaspoon of peanut butter, or a small banana and a few nuts.’ You could also be mistaking thirst for hunger – especially if you’re craving salty foods such as chips. If you do work out on a regular basis, you need to up your overall water intake to reflect this and could also experiment with a home-made electrolyte drink to sip in the gym – simply add a pinch of sea salt and a squeeze of fresh lime to your regular water bottle. Before hitting the gum you should drink plenty of water and eat a small, carb-based snack, says sports dietician Marni Sumbal . Drinking coconut water after your workout will also help replace the electrolytes you lose in your sweat, and satisfy your sweet tooth for very few calories, too. Most importantly, though, you shouldn’t try to fight these cravings as ignoring your hunger is a sure-fire way to set yourself up for a binge later in the day. But instead of reaching for the nearest chocolate bar, my nutritionist Gena Hemshaw suggests seeking out natural sources of sugar and salt. ‘For a sweet post-workout treat, I love to have two pitted Medjool dates stuffed with almond butter. And if you’re craving something salty, how about some chickpeas roasted in coconut oil, sea salt and pepper. This snack is a fabulous source of protein, fat, sodium, and complex carbohydrates,’ she says. Taking a little more effort to have these kinds of snacks on hand after your workout is well worth the effort. But remember you can also time your workout so that it’s time for one of your proper meals when you finish. Exercising right before lunch or dinner means you can tuck in to your heart’s content. You might have seen enough of pumpkins for one year, but the word in the wellness world is that pumpkin seed oil (PSO) is acquiring superfood status. Packed with Vitamins A and E, zinc, omega-3 and 6, fatty acids and antioxidants, PSO has benefits for hair, skin and diet – and it’s showing up on menus and in beauty products everywhere. The juicing backlash has begun on my side of the pond, over sugar content. Latest government guidelines recommend fewer than 25g of sugar per day, while the famous Doctor Green Juice at cult outlet Juice Press contains 38g – one gram less than a can of Coke here. Next big thing? Green smoothies, which are higher in fibre. | Victoria's Secret models train intensely for five hours a day before shows . Adriana Lima admitted to living on meal replacement shakes for nine days . There is a training camp for them in Tulum, Mexico, led by Michael Olajide Jr . | 36acbece4b11149f8abd73bdc3a627cd39c0903f |
By . Martin Robinson . and Larisa Brown . Rape victims were left traumatised after their attackers sent them threatening letters from their prison cells. Nicola Richardson and Jemma Myhill received ‘hostile’ letters written by their rapists while they were in prison. Last night the women, who have waived their right to anonymity, said they had been failed by a flawed victim protection system which should have kept them safe. Miss Myhill, now 19, was raped and sexually abused by her 44-year-old uncle Darren Myhill between the ages of eight and 16. Her attacker was jailed in March 2013 after admitting 22 charges of rape, indecency with a child, indecent assault and incitement against five children. Shocking: Nicola Richardson, 34, whose husband Wayne Scott was jailed for 19 years for raping her, together left, and Jemma Myhill, who was raped by her uncle, have been receiving unwanted letters from their attackers . But only a . few weeks after he was jailed, Miss Myhill, from Newcastle upon Tyne, . received a hand-written letter from Holme House Prison in . Stockton-on-Tees, County Durham. She said: . ‘A few weeks after Darren was sent to prison I was at home when I heard . the letter box clatter. I walked over to the front door to pick up the . letters. ‘One of the . letters was addressed to me and it bared a prison stamp. I ripped open . the envelope, skimmed over the writing and started to scream. I grabbed . my phone from my pocket and rang my mam. Darren had sent me a letter . from prison. ‘He had written to me telling me he knew which pubs I had been in and who I had been with. I felt sick to my stomach.’ Her mother . Julie Myhill also received a letter from the prisoner, suggesting that . she had been to blame for her daughter ‘going off the rails’. She quickly rang the probation service and they promised to step in to stop any more letters being sent to the house. Mrs Myhill . said: ‘The prison tried to suggest that the letters might have been . smuggled out, but they had the prison stamp. We still haven’t received . any apology from the prison.’ Trauma: Jemma's letters from her abusive uncle said he knew where she had been going after he was jailed . Disgraced: Written on prison paper, her uncle was able to tell her he loved her and that he wanted to kill himself . Jemma's mother Julie, who ensured her daughter's attacker had his sentenced increased, also received letters . Mrs . Richardson, who also received letters from her attacker, said: ‘I have . been told by police that prisons have lists of people inmates are not . allowed to contact, but there are obviously flaws in the system. ‘I am disgusted that this happened at a time when I was particularly vulnerable.’ Mrs Richardson was repeatedly raped by her husband Wayne Scott, a policeman, who has since been jailed for 19 years. Serial child rapist Darren Myhill, 44, persistantly posted letters from prison to one of his victims - his neice' But he was able to send 34-year-old Mrs Richardson at least three letters during his time in prison. The first letter was sent from Armley in Leeds where Scott, who has two children with his victim, was being held on remand. Mrs . Richardson received it in the summer of last year just a few months . after Scott was arrested. She said: ‘I had recognised the handwriting on . the envelope straight away. I felt sick. I couldn’t believe this had . been allowed to happen.’ Mrs Richardson, also from Stockton-on-Tees, . passed the letter on to police and assumed that it would be the last . time she heard from her husband. But she . received two more letters while Scott was being held in Leeds and then a . hostile one from Durham Prison where he was sent after his conviction. Prisoners have a legal right to send and receive letters in jail but their communications are supposed to be checked. Any inmates . wishing to correspond with their victims must apply to the prison . governor for permission to do so – who should in turn get in touch with . victim liaison officers before any letters leave the prison. A Prison . Service spokesman said: ‘There are very strict rules governing . correspondence and contact between offenders and their victims. ‘Any breach of these rules is unacceptable and will be dealt with swiftly and robustly.’ But Adam . Pemberton, assistant chief executive of Victim Support, said: ‘Something . has gone wrong here – this kind of contact is not supposed to happen. Abusive: Nicola Richardson suffered for years because of her husband Wayne, who has continued to torment her from his cell, even during his trial . Unhinged: Scott, a former police officer, sent letters declaring his love for his wife before they became more abusive . | Nicola Richardson and Jemma Myhill both had letters from their attackers . Hand written notes were sent to their homes from attackers' prison cells . Miss Myhill, 19, sexually abused by her uncle between the age of 8 and 16 . Yet Darren Myhill was able to send letters, some threatening, to her . Nicola Richardson, 34, was raped and beaten by her police officer husband . Wayne Scott pestered her from prison, and sent one 'hostile' letter . | 1b9b6ed43ce9176722c21b2ac3bd3b05ebef05cc |
A group of teenage boys have been caught on video attacking two adults and screaming 'white dogs' after trying to rob money from a busker. The pack of about ten hyped-up youths viciously lunged at the two men outside the Carillon City shopping centre in Perth's city centre as the men tried to stand up for themselves. The video has received over one million views since it was uploaded to Facebook on Saturday, with many commenters claiming the city's young population is out of control. A group of teenage boys have been caught on video attacking two adults after trying to rob money from a busker . In the footage, a man can be heard shouting 'hey leave him alone' after a young boy in a red top attacks the street performer, with his sights set on his busking money. A violent fight ensues as the busker runs after the boy and his group of mates step in to back him up. A man, dressed in black, can be seen coming to the aid of the busker to his detriment as the group immediately reshift their focus onto the good samaritan . The pack of about ten hyped-up youths viciously lunge at the two men outside the Carillon City shopping centre in Perth's city centre as the men try to stand up for themselves . Within minutes the boys surround the man and the busker, with one furious teen screaming 'you see this c***, you see what they do? white dogs' at the top of his voice. He continues to roar 'white dog' into the man's face as other youths come forward kicking out at the man and laughing as they take their shot. A large group gathered around the men as the punches were thrown, with many whipping out camera phones to record the incident. In the footage, a man can be heard shouting 'hey leave him alone' after a young boy in a red top attacks the street performer, with his sights set on his busking money . Within minutes the boys surround the man and the busker, with one furious teen screaming 'You see this c***, you see what they do? white dogs' at the top of his voice . The Carillon City shopping centre joins up with Perth's city centre train station and is a busy thoroughfare for shoppers and workers in the city. Disgusted Perth locals took to Facebook to vent their anger at the pack of boys, claiming this type of behaviour is becoming too common in the city. 'Kids have no respect. Walk in&outta the house as the please cause even their parents can't discipline them,' one man said. Disgusted Perth locals took to Facebook to vent their anger at the pack of boys, claiming this type of behaviour is becoming too common in the city . Facebook users took to their pages to vent their anger at the youths . Commenter called the boys 'oxygen thieves', 'losers' and 'gross'. One Facebook user said this kind of fighting is the reason he now refuses to busk in Perth's city centre. Another Facebook user said: 'Not unique to Perth, kids and tempers thinking they are all that, come in all colors and from all countries.' The fight, which escalated quickly, has been watched over a million times on Facebook . Commenters said that the young population in Perth is 'out of control' | A group of youths have been caught on video attacking two men . The teenagers had tried to rob money from a busker in Perth . A man who came to his aid was viciously attacked by the group . One man screamed 'white dogs' at the two men as he punched them . The video has received over one million views in two days . | 55bc83d61530c7187d98c7def8897cda872c2b2b |
By . Deni Kirkova . PUBLISHED: . 09:04 EST, 18 October 2013 . | . UPDATED: . 10:32 EST, 18 October 2013 . A mother feared she'd never find love again as she suffered from an undiagnosed condition which meant she couldn't stay awake long enough to enjoy a date. Sadie Jones's illness was as dangerous as it was embarrassing as she could unexpectedly nod off at any moment. The 39-year-old from Devon had been known to snooze in shops, next to loud speakers - and even standing up cutting someone's hair. Something I said? Sadie Jones, with partner Nick Threadgold, kept falling asleep in embarrassing situations like on dates . Then when she separated from the father of her two sons and daughter, she feared she would never find love again due to her constant need for a quick nap. She said: 'I went on a date to a . restaurant but within minutes, even before ordering my meal, I had . fallen straight to sleep. It was so embarrassing and awful for him - he . must have thought I found him so boring. 'On . other occasions I've been known to fall asleep as soon as we got to the . bar. If only I'd known I had narcolepsy all those years ago.' After 20 years of suffering, Sadie was finally told she had narcolepsy - which causes people to fall asleep multiple times a day without warning. Now Sadie is finally being treated and has been able to stay awake long enough to form a happy relationship with partner Nick Threadgold. Diagnosis at last: After 20 years of suffering, Sadie, 39, was finally told she had narcolepsy . Nick, 39, was understanding after her diagnosis earlier this year and the pair's relationship has gone from strength to strength. Sadie said: 'Since I've started my medication we've been able to talk in the car, before I would just fall straight to sleep. 'Before he was always so bored, waiting for me to wake up, but now we can finally spend quality time together.' 'I couldn't even take a bath, as I could have fallen asleep and drowned' Nick said: 'Now that Sadie is on medication it has greatly improved our relationship. 'She is able to keep going during the day and we can actually have conversations when she's comfortable as normally she'd be straight asleep.' She's been known to snooze next to club speakers, in taxis, at the bus stop and even in shops. Sadie said: 'I was doing a computer course at college but I had to quit because I would always fall asleep and it was really embarrassing. New love: Nick, 39, was understanding and after her diagnosis, the pair's relationship has gone from strength to strength . 'I hadn't been diagnosed with narcolepsy so people didn't really have much sympathy.' Sadie, who would fall to sleep up to four times a day and for up to two hours a time never let her ‘unknown' condition control her future. She said: 'I had always wanted to become a hairdresser and despite falling asleep all the time I was determined to not let it dominate my life. Now I've been diagnosed with narcolepsy I can start doing more with my children during the day without always falling asleep . 'I was cutting someone's hair one day and completely fell asleep while standing. 'It was embarrassing really as people would just resume I was really lazy. 'I couldn't even take a bath, as I could easily have fallen asleep and drowned.' But this year Sadie finally found the answers she was looking for following a sleep study and lumbar puncture (a medical procedure where a needle is inserted into the lower part of the spine, in order to look for evidence of conditions affecting the brain). She said: 'I just don't understand why it took so long to diagnose Narcolepsy when I knew myself I had it for 20-years and I'm not a doctor.' One of Sadie's friends who were diagnosed decades before her would often comment on how her sleeping pattern was similar to that of herself. Moving on with their lives: Sadie finally found the answers she was looking for following a sleep study and lumbar puncture . Sadie's final diagnosis was given this year after a 20-year wait. Sadie said: 'Now I've been diagnosed with narcolepsy I can start doing more with my children during the day without always falling asleep. I can finally look forward to sleep-free days.' The condition is a rare sleep disorder affecting around 31,000 people in the UK. Nicola Rule, Treasurer of Narcolepsy UK said: 'So few people know about this medical condition, it is a very complex and chronic illness that won't disappear. 'So many narcolepsy sufferers wait a long time to be diagnosed as many GPs are not fully aware of this neurological condition. 'Our charity aims to raise more awareness so people can be diagnosed quicker.' | Sadie Jones, 39, from Devon, has narcolepsy . She can snooze next to loud speakers - and even standing up . Finally diagnosed after 20 years via lumbar puncture medical procedure . Partner Nick says: 'The medication has greatly improved our relationship' | de1c5b9236b1b5e7860b7911eeeed84c56219900 |
NEW YORK (CNN) -- Frank DiPascali, formerly the finance chief at Bernard Madoff's investment advisory business, pleaded guilty in federal court in Manhattan on Tuesday to 10 charges including securities fraud and international money laundering. Frank DiPascali, center in this courtroom sketch, said he knew for about 20 years he was engaged in wrongdoing. The charges carry a maximum sentence of 125 years. With his guilty plea, DiPascali waived his right to a trial. As Tuesday's hearing commenced, U.S. District Judge Richard J. Sullivan explained that for him to accept DiPascali's guilty plea, DiPascali would have to sufficiently convince him that he was, in fact, guilty. That set the stage for a dramatic statement from DiPascali about his history at Madoff's firm, his personal relationship with Madoff, and the mechanics of a multibillion-dollar Ponzi scheme for which Madoff was convicted in June. While DiPascali's guilty plea and the judge's acceptance of it were expected, both the defense and the prosecution were surprised by the judge's decision to reject DiPascali's bail agreement -- and to have him escorted from the courtroom in handcuffs. The defense and even the prosecution pleaded with the judge not to order DiPascali into custody. Prosecutors told the judge they believed remanding DiPascali would impede the "efficiency" of their Madoff investigation. Marc Mukasey, the lead defense attorney, stood multiple times to dispute the decision, variously suggesting to the judge that DiPascali instead be put under house detention, that he wear an electronic monitoring device, and that the decision on his bail agreement be postponed for 48 to 72 hours. He added that DiPascali's family was "completely unprepared" for this outcome. While Sullivan patiently heard out Mukasey's many counterproposals, he refused to back down from his decision, asserting that DiPascali was too serious a flight risk given the "astronomical" maximum sentence he may receive. The judge also said that he could not "overlook the conduct [DiPascali] admitted to" despite DiPascali's avowed determination to do the right thing henceforth. Though DiPascali remained outwardly calm for much of Tuesday's proceedings, the judge's decision not to grant him bail appeared to stun him. He seemed in a daze as it became clear he would leave the courtroom in handcuffs, cupping his head in his hands and rubbing his temples. Earlier in his testimony, DiPascali recounted how he joined Madoff's company as a newly minted high-school grad in 1975. He held numerous jobs during his 33-year tenure -- options trader and research analyst among them -- but above all he was a "guy who did whatever he was told to do around the office." Working side by side with Madoff for decades, DiPascali developed a tight bond with his employer. "Bernie was a mentor to me and more," he said, adding that he was "loyal to a terrible, terrible fault." His sense of loyalty led him to falsify documents for his boss for years on end, he said. Using a financial program, he looked up historical prices of stocks and then drafted customer statements showing bogus stock transactions. He calculated theoretical commissions that the business should have received from the trades that it did not actually make, and then wired money from account to account to make those commissions appear, he said. And as a principal point of contact for investors in Madoff's investment advisory business, DiPascali said, he also regularly fielded calls from investors curious about how their money was being managed, knowing that the trades he told them about were entirely fictitious. He said he had been aware that what he was doing was wrong since the "late '80s, early '90s." "I don't know how I went from an 18-year-old kid who happened to have a job [to] standing in front of you today," he said. DiPascali repeatedly stated that he perpetrated the massive fraud in collusion "with others," though he specified neither who those other were nor how many they numbered. DiPascali said he rationalized to himself that Madoff's victims would have a soft landing if the Ponzi scheme ever came crumbling down. He said he thought Madoff had assets he could liquefy in a worst-case scenario. "I know my apology means nothing," DiPascali said. His voice quavered as he expressed remorse for his part in swindling charities that had invested with Madoff. Miriam Siegman, a Madoff victim who said she lost 40 years' worth of personal savings in the scheme and was now on the brink of homelessness, asked the judge to reject DiPascali's guilty plea. She insisted that the "full truth" would come out only if DiPascali stood trial. Both legal teams said they expected sentencing to happen in May. Each side will have the opportunity to submit documents and testimonies in support of or against DiPascali before Sullivan hands down the sentence. DiPascali is the second person involved in the Madoff scheme to land behind bars as a result of the fraud. In June, Madoff pleaded guilty to 11 counts and was sentenced to 150 years in prison for masterminding the scheme. Prosecutors have said it was the largest investor fraud committed by a single person, totaling billions in losses to investors. | NEW: Judge denies bail for Frank DiPascali, despite deal he had with prosecutors . DiPascali, Bernie Madoff's fiance chief, pleads guilty to securities fraud . Madoff was sentenced to prison this year for orchestrating Ponzi scheme . DiPascali admits to creating false statements with historical stock prices . | 6260a2947a190e1ab25c98600243ad242a51c4c8 |
A couple from Texas that unsuccessfully tried to have children for five years were blessed with a set of twins - for the third time. Mark and Kristi Riggs of Prosper recently welcomed Maxim and Slate into the world. The boys already have four siblings: Tatum, Lincoln, Titan and Steel. Scroll down for video . Mark and Kristi Riggs of Prosper, Texas, were surprised to find out they were having twins Maxim and Slate (pictured). The couple already has two sets of twins . Tatum (top left) and Lincoln (top right) holding their younger siblings Titan and Steel. The two sets of twins are about five years apart . Kristi and Mark turned to in vitro fertilization after being told they would never be able to have children . After having difficulty conceiving, Mark and Kristi turned to in vitro fertilization. 'We were told we couldn't get pregnant,' Kristi told NBC 5. After using IVF treatment, they were finally able to have their first set of twins, Tatum and Lincoln. About five years later, they had Titan and Steel. The gender ratio - five boys and one girl - is a little skewed, but Mark and Kristi couldn't be happier. A sample is taken from the couple and a series of embryos are made from the samples to make sure they are healthy. Genetic markers in the embryo indicate whether the baby will be a boy or girl and, as a result, the desired sex will then be implanted into the mother. The remaining embryos are then either frozen for future pregnancies, disposed of or donated to other parents, depending on the wishes of a couple . The process is popular in the US, with one in ten IVF cycles performed now being carried out for gender selection. Kristi said: 'We know that as soon as they get older it will be a lot of fun to have all these kids close in age.' They do admit Maxim and Slate were a bit of a surprise. When Mark found out the newest set of twins, all he could say was 'Huh?' Kristi had a similar response when a nurse told her everything was going to be okay. She said: 'For who? 'All you have to do is deliver. 'I have to take home.' There is at least one drawback to having so many little ones. 'It's about $143 a month in diapers,' Kristi said. During IVF treatment, an embryo is selected (pictured) and then implanted into the mother . A 2012 study found that some couples who previously used IVF to conceive were able to have a baby naturally after the treatment. Researchers found that in some cases the couple had a baby even after an unsuccessful experience with IVF. 'Most infertile couples think that they are unable to conceive spontaneously whereas our study shows (this) remains possible,' Dr. Pénélope Troude at the French national medical research institute, INSERM, told Reuters Health. 'Our results should give hope to couples who have been unsuccessfully treated by IVF,' Troude wrote in the study. | Mark and Kristi Riggs of Prosper recently had sons Maxim and Slate . Boys have three brothers - Lincoln, Titan and Steel - and one sister - Tatum . Couple unsuccessfully tried having kids for five years before conceiving . | 1bc6420720f660482790ba9475628e2e6c09aa0c |
By . Rick Dewsbury . PUBLISHED: . 22:37 EST, 4 July 2012 . | . UPDATED: . 07:52 EST, 5 July 2012 . Inconsolable: The mother of a four-year-old girl raped at home by a teenage babysitter says she regularly breaks down in tears (picture posed by model) The mother of a four-year-old girl raped by a teenage babysitter has revealed the pain that has haunted her since the horrific ordeal. The woman said there are days when she 'can't stop crying' after discovering her daughter had been assaulted by the 14-year-old son of a family friend. And the father is tormented by feelings of guilt for allowing the toddler to be left in the clutches of the disturbed babysitter. Speaking publicly for the first time since the attacker walked free from court, the couple blasted the decision not to impose a custodial sentence - and feared their daughter could bump into her rapist any day. Instead, the judge imposed a three-year community order after blaming ‘the world and society’ for his exposure to porn. 'Our daughter was just four years old and so small for her age, she was still wearing age two to three clothing. He was a lot bigger than her,' the distressed mother told the Sun. She said that when her daughter - who cannot be identified for legal reasons - told her what had happened she 'was sick' then fell to the floor crying. The teenager used the toddler's favourite Hello Kitty apron to blindfold her while he carried out the attack - promising her chocolate if she played his 'game'. The mother said the first chilling sign that something 'terrible' had happened was when she returned home and noticed the apron wasn't hanging in its usual place, but was scrunched up on the floor. Still numb from what happened, she added: 'There have been days where I just can’t stop bursting into tears and I feel sick all the time. I can’t cope any more.' Her daughter, who is now five, knows 'something horrible' happened but doesn't understand what. The girl is likely to have counselling . as she grows up to deal with the long-term effects of the ordeal, but . both parents are 'worried' about what her future now holds. The girl's father, a businessman in . his 40s, told how they went to watch their older child in school play . while leaving the younger daughter with the boy, who they trusted and . had known a long time. Attack: The teenager raped the girl in her home while he was babysitting her. He used the girl's Hello Kitty apron to blindfold her as he carried out the attack (file picture posed by model) Corrupted: The teenager told officers that he had lost his mind because 'hormones had taken over'. Cambridge Crown Court heard how he watched internet pornography every day . When the parents returned home nothing seemed out of the ordinary and they paid the babysitter £10 and he left . It was only when the father was getting his daughter ready for bed that she told him what happened. The Daily . Mail's Block Online Porn campaign has called for the introduction . of ‘opt-in’ systems, under which internet . service providers would automatically block pornography unless an adult . asked for it to be available. There is growing alarm about the impact of sexual content on the internet on Britain’s children. Just . three per cent of pornographic websites require proof of age before . granting access to sexually explicit material, and research suggests as . many as one in three under-tens has seen pornography online. The Department for Culture, Media and . Sport angered campaigners earlier this year by suggesting it was ruling . out the idea of an automatic block on porn, on civil liberties grounds. But . following the Mail’s campaign, ministers have now included questions . about the opt-in system in a public consultation document, launched last week on the department’s website. He stormed over to the boy's home, just a few hundred yards down the road, and told his mother what the girl had said. Together they confronted the teenager . who denied the girl's claims - saying that she had walked in on him in . the bathroom and had seen him exposed. But when the concerned father returned . home and spoke to his daughter once more it became apparent that the . boy was lying and the police were called. The teenager admitted the offence to . officers the following day - telling them that he had lost his mind . because 'hormones' had taken over. 'I should want to rip this boy's head . off - but I think I let my daughter down,' the guilt-ridden father said. 'I blame myself because I left her in a room with him and made the . wrong judgment.' He said that even when his little girl tells him he's the best dad in the world, he doesn't believe it anymore. The teenager - who still lives a few . hundred yards from the victim - wore his school uniform in the dock at . Cambridge Crown Court on Monday as Judge Gareth Hawkesworth told him he . would have received a six-and-a-half year jail term if he had been an . adult. Judge Hawkesworth said: ‘You have not . shown any particular sexual interest in children. I’m satisfied it was . impulsive and I believe you have become sexualised by your exposure to . and the corruption of pornography. ‘Your exposure at such a young age has ended in tragedy. It was the fault of the world and society.’ The boy told police who were . interviewing that he had regularly accessed porn on the internet at his . parents’ home without their knowledge. In court he admitted raping a . girl under 13. The mother of the victim says the . judge justified the lenient sentence by making a 'cheap point' to use . pornography as an excuse for what happened. She said the family of the teenager had been expecting him to receive a custodial sentence of three years and were shocked that he had walked free from court. The sentence 'just isn't enough' as it . sends the 'wrong message' about rape and could prevent other victims . from coming forward, she added. The Daily Mail is calling for an automatic block under which adult content would be filtered out by default. Users would have to opt in to see it. 'Corrupting influence': Judge Gareth Hawkesworth accepted said the boy had become sexualised by his exposure to and the corruption of pornography (picture right posed by model) The teenager wore his school uniform in the dock at Cambridge Crown Court, pictured, on Monday as he was told he would have received a six-and-a-half year jail term if he had been an adult . The campaign has attracted the support of Deputy Children’s Commissioner Sue Berelowitz and Sara Payne, whose schoolgirl daughter Sarah was murdered by paedophile Roy Whiting. Tory MP Claire Perry, leader of an all-party group of MPs campaigning against open access to porn, said the rape case proved the ‘serious negative impacts’ such images can have on children’s lives. 'I believe an “opt-in” model, along with better education and awareness, would provide the best tools for parents to protect their children online,’ she said. Jon Brown of the NSPCC said: ‘This case underlines why we want a system where adults have to actively opt in to get access to internet pornography.’ | Mother knew something was wrong after seeing daughter's Hello Kitty apron scrunched up on the floor . Rapist had used the it to blindfold her as he carried out the chilling attack . 'Our daughter was so small for her age, she was still wearing age two to three clothing. I was sick after what happened.' Father tormented by guilt for allowing girl to be left with teenage assailant . Lack of custodial sentence will prevent victims from coming forward, says mother . | 3cae4298f3dc53cd355f72392659df63131f981d |
They're bigger, brawnier, and faster than the typical male, but are National Football League players healthier than other men their age? Justin Bannan, who plays for the Baltimore Ravens, participated in the study on NFL players. Yes and no, according to a new NFL-funded study that looks at the cardiovascular health of young athletes. The good news is that NFL players have cholesterol levels similar to other men in their 20s and 30s, and their blood sugar tends to be even healthier. However, they are much more likely to have high blood pressure or borderline hypertension when compared with men who aren't professional athletes. "It's a step in the right direction to have this study," says Justin Bannan, 30, who plays defensive tackle for the Baltimore Ravens and took part in the research. "I think the more information we can find out and the more studies we can do, the better." The study, published this week in the Journal of the American Medical Association, is important, particularly as more and more players are weighing in at 300-plus pounds. The extra weight could potentially strain an athlete's heart in youth or even after retirement, and many question whether it has played a role in a handful of high-profile deaths. Health.com: Eat right advice: Fiber, starch, fats, serving sizes . In particular, the death of Thomas Herrion at age 23 has raised concerns about the heart health of larger players. Herrion, who was 6'3" and 330 pounds, had just finished an exhibition game with the San Francisco 49ers when he collapsed and died in 2005. "He's sort of the prototype of the bigger, stronger linemen that populates the NFL now, as compared with 20 or 30 years ago," says lead study author Dr. Andrew M. Tucker, the team physician for the Baltimore Ravens. "We have so many big, strong guys over 300 pounds. I think that case in particular was important in stimulating the whole study and the investigation." Other heavy players-- such as defensive end Reggie White-- have also died at an early age. White was 43 when he died from cardiac arrhythmia in 2004. In the study, Tucker, who is the cochair of the NFL subcommittee on cardiovascular health, and his colleagues looked at 504 active players from 12 teams in 2007. The researchers measured the players' height, weight, percentage of body fat, and other factors, and then compared them to 1,959 men ages 23 to 35 who participated in a study called CARDIA (Coronary Artery Risk Development in Young Adults). Health.com: 20 little ways to lose drop the pounds and keep them off . They found that players were less likely to smoke or have blood-sugar problems than other men (only 6.7 percent of players had impaired fasting glucose compared to 15.5 percent of other men) and their cholesterol levels were essentially the same. However, 13.8 percent of players had high blood pressure and 64.5 percent had prehypertension, or borderline high blood pressure, compared to 5.5 percent and 24.2 percent of other men, respectively. Tucker notes that the football players outweighed the men in the CARDIA study by an average of 70 pounds and that it's natural to assume that larger people may have higher blood pressure. "But what was fascinating to us was the category of prehypertension," says Tucker, who is also the medical director of sports medicine at Union Memorial Hospital in Baltimore, Maryland. Health.com: How to eat out without getting fat . The study found that NFL athletes are more likely to have prehypertension than other men-- regardless of the size of the player or his position. "So our lean players who play defensive back and wide receiver, they have prevalence of prehypertension just as common as the really big guys playing offensive and defensive line," says Tucker. "So there's something that we're trying to investigate now that accounts for elevated blood pressures in our active players that is not accounted for by size alone-- there's got to be something else." Health.com: Cut up to 900 calories with simple substitutions . That "something else" could be strength or resistance training, the use of nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, sleep apnea (which is characterized by heavy snoring and a hike in blood pressure), or diet, including excessive sodium intake. Dr. Tucker doesn't think anabolic steroids are to blame. Even though he and his colleagues didn't ask players if they used steroids, he says that the NFL's year-round testing program should have ruled out any use. "[However] I'm concerned about the widespread use of performance-enhancing agents, which contain stimulants that can not only increase blood pressure but of course have stimulating effects on the heart," says Dr. Tucker. He adds that, in the last several years, such stimulants have been linked to sporadic deaths in college and even professional athletes. Although today's players are much more likely to weigh in excess of 300 pounds than those in the past, it doesn't necessarily mean they are fat, Dr. Tucker explains. Athletes are larger nowadays due to rule changes in the 1970s and 1980s that were aimed at protecting their lower bodies; those guidelines also gave larger players a competitive advantage. If one goes by body mass index alone-- a measure of height and weight that doesn't take into account muscle mass-- more than half of players are obese, according to a 2005 study. However, Tucker and his team found that the average percentage of body fat was 14 percent, ranging from 8 percent to 10 percent in the leaner positions-- such as wide receivers and linebackers-- to 20 percent in defensive linemen and 25 percent in offensive linemen. "Even our offensive linemen are really on the upper limits of what's considered healthy," says Tucker. "There are plenty of my regular patients who would take that." Health.com: Olympic swimmer discusses life with exercise-induced asthma . Overall, Tucker says he is most worried about older, retired athletes. "I'm concerned about whether there is a constellation of things going on that puts them at risk when they're 45 or 55," he says. More attention is being paid to detraining athletes so that they can adopt healthier lifestyles and better nutrition after they retire, says William Kraemer, Ph.D., a professor in the department of kinesiology at the University of Connecticut. "It really is tough because you're trying to stay big in your playing days," says Kraemer. "The big fear is, [after retirement] you stop exercising and you keep eating the way you used to when you were expending a lot of calories. A lot of times when kids get out of college or they get out of the pros, there is no system in place that helps them make the transition." The Ravens' Bannan says the older generation is teaching younger players the importance of changing their lifestyle after retirement. "If you're a heavier player, a lineman that's over 300 pounds, really what it comes down to is a lifestyle change and eating healthier, losing weight when you are done, and staying active and staying healthy," says Bannan, who is 6'3" and 310 pounds. "Make a few changes in your life; I think that's going to make things a lot better for you down the road." Enter to win a monthly Room Makeover Giveaway from MyHomeIdeas.com . Copyright Health Magazine 2009 . | Death of Thomas Herrion has raised worries over the heart health of big players . Researchers looked at 504 active NFL players from 12 teams in 2007 . Players were less likely to smoke or have blood-sugar problems than other men . NFL athletes are more likely to have prehypertension than other men . | ba74f7e195f6ecc56fabc280ad58dee51ce74110 |
By . Kerry Mcqueeney . Last updated at 11:20 PM on 27th October 2011 . Veterans of the Second World War were joined by serving soldiers today to launch this year's Poppy Appeal, marking the movement's 90th anniversary. Troops . from The Royal Highland Fusiliers, 2nd Battalion the Royal Regiment of . Scotland formed a giant 90 at their Glencorse Barracks in . Penicuik, Midlothian. The . event marks the start of the Scottish Poppy Appeal, which uses money . raised to provide support to veterans of all ages and from all . conflicts. It also coincides with the official launch of the Royal British Legion's Poppy Appeal in London, fronted by television presenter Gethin Jones. Past meets present: Second World War veterans and serving soldiers stood side by side to launch the 90th Poppy Appeal . Milestone: TV presenter Gethin Jones officially launched the Royal British Legion's 90th Poppy Appeal for 2011 at the Riverside Studios in London . William Walker, a 90-year-old veteran . who was wounded while serving with the Royal Scots in Burma in 1943, . was among those who attended the event to launch the appeal. Mr Walker, from Edinburgh, said: 'I was just a lad when I was shot in World War II and it was a terrifying experience. 'The . Scottish Poppy Appeal was there for our boys then and it is comforting . to know that it is still here, helping the men and women who are coming . back from Afghanistan today with terrible injuries. 'The Scottish Poppy Appeal changes lives and I would ask people to be generous when they are buying their poppy this year.' Side by side: Gethin Jones (second from right) with music group The Soldiers (from left to right) Lance Corporal Ryan Idzi, Staff Sergeant Ritchie Maddocks and Sergeant Major Gary Chilton . Last . year, a record £2.35 million was collected but Poppyscotland, the . charity that runs the appeal, said more money needs to be raised as it . believes there will be an increase in the numbers of veterans needing . support in the future. Ian . McGregor, the charity's chief executive, said: 'When the Scottish Poppy . Appeal was created in 1921, no-one would have considered that ninety . years on it would still be needed. 'Sadly, . it is needed as much now as it ever was, with more and more veterans . requiring a great deal of support to help them deal with often complex . and multiple needs. 'That's . why we are calling for the Scottish public to give as much as they can . to the appeal to ensure that veterans and their families, and Scotland, . will receive the help they need and deserve now and in the future.' Meanwhile the Royal British Legion's poppy appeal was launched by television presenter Gethin Jones today who was joined by the musical band The Soldiers. The trio of servicemen - consisting of Lance Corporal Ryan Idzi, Staff Sergant Ritchie Maddocks and Sergeant Major Gary Chilton - have recorded the official Poppy Appeal Song, I've Gotta Get A Message To You. To mark its 90th anniversary year, . the Legion launched its Poppy Appeal under the slogan of standing . 'shoulder to shoulder with all who serve'. The theme is backed by an online campaign and a chart-destined official single recorded by Robin Gibb and The Soldiers. The appeal will run from October 27 to November 13. | Past and present troops stand side-by-side to launch the appeal in its milestone year . A 90-year-old Second World War veteran who served in Burma was among those at the launch . | 3b684c9e9ba19257945f71402009b59137e3e982 |
Dos Equis' 'The Most Interesting Man in the World' was once a 'surprise guest' at a birthday party for President Barack Obama, the actor featured in the popular commercials revealed on Thursday. Asked during on a reddit forum who the most interesting man in the world is that he's met, actor Jonathan Goldsmith tossed out the president's name and recounted the time he spent a day and a half with the Commander in Chief at Camp David several years ago. 'He had brought out 10 of his dear friends going all the way back to Grade School, I felt very honored and privileged to be there,' Goldsmith said. Scroll down for video . Actor Jonathan Goldsmith, best known as Dos Equis' 'Most Interesting Man in the World,' said Thursday that the most interesting man he's met is the President Barack Obama, whose birthday party he once attended as a 'surprise guest' 'I will report that the President is a very good marksman, contrary to frequently held opinions,' Goldsmith said, defending Obama, whose shooting ability became the butt of jokes last year after the White House released this picture of him last year . 'We talked. And he was sharing a lot of stories with his dear friends, going back to some of the early years of school, to as far back as grad school. and I was very glad to be there, it was a lot of fun,'he noted. Goldsmith did not say when his rendezvous with the president and his pals took place, but it may have occurred during the first year Obama was in office. That summer the first lady held a surprise party for her husband at the presidential retreat in Frederick County, Maryland, to celebrate his forty-eighth birthday. The exclusive party was reportedly attended by longtime friends of the president from Chicago and Hawaii. Obama has spent three other birthday weekends at Camp David, including one following his most recent birthday last month. The president used the government operated getaway spot as his birthday party venue in 2012 and 2013, as well. Goldsmith told redditors on Thursday that the year he attended the president's birthday bash, guests competed in archery, went bowling and shot skeet. 'I will report that the President is a very good marksman, contrary to frequently held opinions,' Goldsmith said, defending Obama, whose shooting ability became the butt of jokes last year after he claimed he shot skeet 'all the time' at Camp David. The White House then released a photo of Obama shooting a shot gun while wearing protective glasses and ear muffs to prove that the president, who has aggressively worked to place sharper restrictions on gun sales, does in fact know how to shoot a firearm. Goldsmith said Obama and his friends also played basketball during the special visit, though the actor said he personally sat those festivities out. 'My basketball playing days are a little behind me and I didn't want to embarrass myself with these kids,' he admitted. Goldsmith was so taken with Obama that in the fall of 2012 he hosted a fundraiser for the president's reelection campaign. The move angered some Dos Equis drinkers, Advertising Age noted at the time, who consider Goldsmith and the character he plays in the TV commercials to be one in the same. | Jonathan Goldsmith, AKA 'The Most Interesting Man in the World' said Thursday that Obama is the most interesting person he'd met . The two became acquainted after Goldsmith attended a birthday party of the president's at Camp David . Goldsmith said guests at the party competed in archery, shot sheet, played basketball and went bowling . | b46a7a44b4bcc3ef1c4bf7ecad65940f34307f9e |
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