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Missouri Democratic Gov. Jay Nixon forcefully pushed back Tuesday against his Republican Lieutenant Governor Peter Kinder, saying it's 'false and absurd' to suggest he failed to deploy National Guard troops Monday in downtown Ferguson, Missouri because the Obama administration intervened. 'Politics has nothing to do with what anyone up here is doing,' Nixon insisted, referring to police commanders standing behind hi, during a mid-afternoon press conference. 'Politics has not one bit to do with the tasks at hand ... with the seriousness of this mission,' he said. Kinder had accused the Obama administration on Monday night of pressuring Nixon into keeping militarized guardsmen out of the riot zone as buildings in Ferguson burned, police cars were set alight and gunfire pierced the night's chaos. Nixon also dodged a question on Tuesday about whether or not guardsmen were positioned in downtown Ferguson before chaos erupted. 'Politics has not one bit to do with the tasks at hand,' Missouri Gov. Jay Nixon insisted when confronted with questions about whether the federal government had leaned on him to keep National Guard troops out of downtown Ferguson . Missouri Lt. Gov. Peter Kinder said Monday night that the only reason National Guard troops were kept out of Ferguson was pressure from the Obama administration . OUT OF DANGER: National Guard troops were stationed everywhere but Ferguson's central business district on Monday . Nixon officially mobilized the Missouri National Guard a week ago but their duties on Monday were restricted to keeping the peace at a courthouse, patrolling the outskirts of town and preventing disturbances in other suburbs. Only Tuesday morning did the guard's camouflaged humvees roll down West Florissant Avenue where rioters had looted, torched and smashed countless businesses – and fired weapons in the direction of first responders. Nixon sidestepped a reporter's request to comment on whether Guard troops were present on West Florissant Avenue, Ferguson's main commercial street, before the grand jury decision was announced Monday night. He said, however, that 700 guardsmen were deployed Monday to 100 locations – mostly command posts – so that other law enforcement personnel were freed up to manage riots. Nixon added that Tuesday night's deployment had been upped to 2,200. Kinder, however, was apoplectic on Monday. Nixon 'declared a State of Emergency almost a week ago and mobilized the National Guard,' he told a Fox News Channel audience. 'Then they were kept away at the crucial time while Ferguson burned.' 'We know they were kept away because they did not come in and stop that from the get-go. They were deployed in other parts of the St. Louis region,' he said. 'Why were they not in there at the first sign of an overturned police car or a smashed police car window with a show of force that would have stopped this?' The lawlessness began after a grand jury declined after a grand jury declined to indict a white police officer in the shooting death of a black teen who attacked him. OUT OF SIGHT: This National Guard humvee was photographed in Clayton, Missouri on Tuesday – 13 miles away from Ferguson – near the county courthouse where grad jurors made their decision . OUT OF FERGUSON: These guardsmen were posted in nearby Dellwood, Missouri on Tuesday but never ventured into the urban war zone . 'A NATION OF COWARDS': Attorney General Eric Holder (left) visited Ferguson's city center in late August but reportedly pressured Missouri Gov. Jay Nixon to keep the National Guard from following suit . Rioters burned buildings, fired guns at police officers and firefighters, looted and set police cars ablaze. 'Here's my question that the governor must answer,' Kinder demanded: 'Is the reason that the national guard was not in there because the Obama administration and the Holder Justice Department leaned on you to keep them out?' 'I cannot imagine any other reason why the governor who mobilized the National Guard would not have them in [downtown Ferguson] to stop this before it started.' Kinder is a Republican. Nixon is a Democrat. In Missouri the two offices are elected separately. The Obama Department of Justice, led by outgoing Attorney General Eric Holder, expressed frustration a week ago after Nixon held a press conference to announce that he had called the guard up to active duty. A top Holder aide called Nixon's office to relay the message, according to The Washington Post. 'Instead of de-escalating the situation, the governor escalated it,' a DOJ official told the Post. 'He sent the wrong message. The tone of the press conference was counterproductive.' WRONG NEIGHBORHOOD? Guardsmen kept watch outside a shopping mall on Tuesday . PROTECTING THE SYSTEM: Members of Missouri National Guard patrolled outside the Buzz Westfall Justice Center before the announcement of the grand jury decision . Missouri Gov. Jay Nixon buckled to pressure from Washington and kept his state's National Guard unit on the sidelines, according to the lieutenant governor . As his town descended into burning chaos, Ferguson Mayor James Knowles grew angry at the absence of National Guard troops. He told reporters that he could not reach state government officials to get help. 'I've called every number that I've got ... All I've been able to do is leave messages,' he told KTVI-TV2 in St. Louis. 'They were deployed at other parts of the St. Louis region ... Why were they not in [Ferguson] at the first sign of an overturned police car or a smashed police car window with a show of force that would have stopped this?' 'I’ve requested the National Guard troops to come out from the command post to help restore order along the business district,' he insisted. 'We have not seen that.' 'It’s my understanding that the commanders out on the street have requested this, and those calls have gone unheeded at this point. ... We need to have the governor step up, give us the resources that he’s promised from the beginning.' | Democratic Gov. Jay Nixon drew fire from Republican Lt. Gov. Peter Kinder for calling in the guard but then never deploying them into the riot zone . Nixon fired back Tuesday, calling the accusation 'false and absurd' Kinder had pointed fingers at Attorney General Eric Holder and the Obama administration, saying they pressured Nixon to show restraint . 'I cannot imagine any other reason why the governor who mobilized the National Guard would not have them in [Ferguson] to stop this' Guardsmen were deployed to other St. Louis suburbs Monday night but only arrived in Ferguson on Tuesday morning to survey the wreckage . Nixon dodged a question about whether or not guard troops were on Ferguson's main streets before the chaos erupted . | 4242d99e367a17b485e54f70a0dc6dbf6288c376 |
Los Angeles (CNN)Romel David is terrified. He and his family can't sleep, and they can't stop thinking about what will happen in Syria, thousands of miles away from the comfort of their California home. David said his brother-in-law, who emigrated to the United States about four years ago with his wife and two daughters, has been abducted by ISIS in Syria along with several other members of the family he had hoped to bring to the United States to get them out of harm's way. David said his brother-in-law decided to return to Syria two years ago to be with them as they went through the process of applying for visas to the United States. The 59-year-old and 11 other family members were among the people taken by ISIS, which has targeted Assyrian villages in Syria this week. "We anticipate the unthinkable. It's absolutely devastating," David told CNN. "It's happening; another Holocaust before our very eyes. There is nothing that we can do. But the world must do something. Please. Please, the world powers must do something for all of these people." They are devout Christians, who like many in their village, farmed and lived simple but hard lives off the land. They were taken hostage early Tuesday morning from Hassakeh in northeastern Syria. ISIS abducts scores of Christians in northeastern Syria, groups say . David and his family in Modesto, California, found out about their capture in a devastating phone call. An elderly Syrian man who lived nearby called. He was too sick to leave his home when everyone began fleeing as ISIS fighters stormed the villages in northeast Syria about 30 miles from the Turkish border. "With his cell phone he called my brother-in-law's wife and my wife's sister and told him what has transpired," David said. The family hasn't heard from the old man since nor any of their captured family members. "Feeling helpless is overwhelming. We can't sleep. It's devastated us. ... We fear the worst, and we pray for mercy and intervention from God," David said. David said ISIS was trying to exact an impossible amount of money, a tax on Christians in Syrian villages and cities they control. The amount was so high -- more than most make in five years -- it was impossible for families to pay, he said. David would not reveal his brother-in-law's name for fear that ISIS is so media savvy they would single him and his family out if they found out that his brother-in-law is indeed a legal U.S. resident. But he said his brother-in-law is man of deep conviction and could not live comfortably with only part of his family safe in the United States, a country he had come to love. "He was happy that he was America's adopted son. He was looking forward to having his son and his son's family join him and proceeding with a life of prosperity here," David said. Now his mission to try to get his remaining family members to America has resulted in him being captured along with them. "When things started falling apart, he feared for the welfare of his son and son's family. He couldn't very well be here having safe haven here so he went. He is a loving father, and a devout Christian who truly loves God. May God protect him," David said. ISIS has attacked numerous minority groups during a bloody campaign to create a vast caliphate across Syria and Iraq under its extreme version of Sharia law. The number of Assyrians estimated to be in captivity has climbed steadily, from an initial estimate of between 70 and 100 people seized earlier this week to 150 as of Wednesday, with women, children and the elderly among them. The London-based Syrian Observatory for Human Rights put the number of Assyrian hostages seized over three days at 220, in a statement released Thursday. Osama Edward, founder of the Assyrian Human Rights Network, said the number is even higher -- 262. Activist: ISIS now holds 262 Christians hostages in Syria . The Assyrians are a proud people who've overcome a lot in their history. They can trace their roots back some 4,000 years to the time of Mesopotamia, considered one of the cradles of civilization and birthplace of writing and literature. While their first religion was Ashurism, Assyrians have been predominantly Christian since the third century. "How can Syria be Syria without the Assyrians?" Edward said. "We gave the country our name." The captured Assyrians have gotten the attention of Rep. Ana Eshoo, a California Democrat, who wrote a letter to President Barack Obama pleading for Washington and the United Nations to try to help secure a safe haven for religious minorities in Syria and Iraq. "For the past decade we have been witnessing a rapid decline of Syria and Iraq's Christian communities," Eshoo writes. "The situation for religious minorities in Syria and Iraq remains desperate and soon will be hopeless. We must act now." She has proposed more safe havens inside Iraq and Syria for religious minorities, specifically in the Nineveh Plains, as well as adequate humanitarian assistance in refugee camps. CNN's Steve Almasy contributed to this report. | Romel David's brother-in-law went to Syria to be with his son and family as they applied for visas . ISIS this week has taken hundreds of Christians hostage . "We fear the worst," David says . | 6db4901071924070c96d0ee77fe96895e1db2f63 |
Scotland Yard is investigating a suspected arson attack that took place at the Houses of Parliament, The Mail on Sunday has discovered. Detectives believe a fire that broke out close to offices in the southern end of the House of Lords may have been started deliberately. They are also looking at a series of other incidents involving damage to computers during the recess, when most MPs are away on holiday. Scotland Yard is investigating a suspected arson attack at Westminster which is believed to taken place in the House of Lords . The investigation has prompted fears that a vengeful employee may be waging a campaign of criminal damage. A Metropolitan Police spokesman said: ‘Police are investigating other incidents of damage in the same building, but are yet to determine if these are linked to the fire.’ Last summer a small blaze broke out in the House of Commons, closing areas of the Parliament temporarily. Sources said at the time there was no significant . damage but areas were being cordoned off because of the potential danger . from toxic substances such as asbestos. In March Labour leader Ed Miliband was left shaken after his House of Commons office was mysteriously broken into. Intruders suspiciously left money and valuable objects untouched, but ransacked papers and forced a drawer open after breaking down the office's front door. | Scotland Yard is investigating the incident which took place in the House of Lords . Police fear the attack could have been the vengeful campaign of a former employee . Damage done to computers during the summer recess is also under investigation . | db3f600d34ce3955111f64041012d28ebdead559 |
By . Larisa Brown . PUBLISHED: . 11:17 EST, 27 September 2012 . | . UPDATED: . 11:22 EST, 27 September 2012 . Michael Warrener, who was jailed for 19 years in May for the rape and indecent assault of his daughter Claire Warrener. An inquest heard how she killed herself after reporting her father to the police . A woman killed herself after reporting her father to police for raping her when she was a child. Claire Warrener, 22, finally gained the courage to report the abuse in 2010, six years after it ended. But she found it hard to cope after telling police she had been abused from the age of 11, an inquest was told. Michael Warrener, 59, of Newcastle, went on to stand trial for raping and indecently assaulting her and was convicted in May this year. Claire took her own life months after reporting the sick attacks, and the sentencing judge at Newcastle Crown Court blamed her father for her death as he handed Warrener a 19-year jail term. An inquest in Sunderland yesterday heard how Claire’s cousin Ashleigh found her body in the kitchen of her home in Hendon. Paramedics tried to save her, but she was pronounced dead at Sunderland Royal Hospital on December 9 last year. Her sister Stacey broke down and was unable to continue giving evidence to the hearing held at Sunderland Civic Centre. Stacey said: 'He had been following her about town. She was scared about the trial.' Investigating officer Detective Constable David Garrity, who led the investigation into the allegations about Michael Warrener, gave evidence at the hearing. He said: 'Prior to her death, she had made a report to the police with regards to sexual abuse by her father. 'I think on speaking with Claire and throughout the investigation, it had a clearly significant effect and massive impact on her life.' Dr Hugh Cochrane, a pathologist at Sunderland Royal Hospital, said Claire would have died suddenly from heart failure. He added that there were marks of self-harm on her body and small amounts of alcohol and amphetamine was found in her blood. Tragic: Claire Warrener, right, when she was 18, and her sister Stacey, aged 20. Claire found it difficult to cope after she told police she had been abused from the age of 11 . Claire, left, 8, with her sister Stacey, 10, right. Her sister Stacey broke down during the hearing held at Sunderland Civic Centre and was unable to continue giving evidence . Coroner Derek Winter praised Claire’s 'courage' in reporting the abuse. He said: 'The death of Claire Warrener was a very tragic culmination of events in her life around which she had very little, if any control.' He recorded a verdict that Claire had killed herself. | Claire Warrener found it hard to cope after telling police she had been abused since she was 11 . 'She was scared about the trial', says sister at an inquest into her death . | d0395ee2e3fecf860b8c8b72c5cd1467a2e98e54 |
(CNN) -- Floyd Mayweather will cement his position as the most bankable boxer in the world in Saturday night's non-title welterweight fight against fellow American Shane Mosley in Las Vegas. The 33-year-old, whose nicknames include "Money," has already generated $292 million in revenue in six pay-per-view fights for broadcaster HBO, from 5.5 million buys. He is expected to take home $58.5 million for himself if the battle with veteran Mosley achieves two million subscribers. Mayweather is already fourth on the broadcaster's all-time list behind Oscar De La Hoya ($610.6 million on 12.6 million buys from 18 events), Mike Tyson ($545 million on 12.4 million buys, 12 bouts) and Evander Holyfield ($543 million on 12.6 million buys, 14 fights). De La Hoya and Tyson have both retired, while the 47-year-old Holyfield last month kept alive his unlikely dream of winning the world heavyweight title for a record fifth time by claiming the little-regarded WBF crown in front of just 3,000 people in Vegas. Mayweather's 2007 victory over De La Hoya earned a record $120 million for a single pay-per-view event from 2.15 million buys, and HBO told CNN that his fight with the 38-year-old Mosley is set to qualify as a true "megafight." "In boxing, megafights are those that reach one million buys," HBO Pay-Per-View senior vice-president Mark Taffet said. "By every indicator -- ticket sales, closed circuit television sales, views of video on the Internet, and the number of viewers of HBO's 24/7 series -- Mayweather-Mosley is on track to becoming a true PPV megafight. "Whether on television, radio, newspapers, magazines, Internet, Facebook, MySpace, iTunes, Youtube, HBO, or at retail stores across the country, fans everywhere are surrounded by this great event. The Mayweather-Mosley buzz is everywhere." Mayweather is undefeated in 40 fights, and has won six world titles at five different weights. However, he has lost his No. 1 ranking as the highly-regarded Ring Magazine's world's top pound-for-pound boxer to rival Manny Pacquiao. The two were due to clash earlier this year but the Filipino pulled out due to Mayweather's demands for Olympic-style blood-testing. "Floyd Mayweather is a bonafide PPV superstar," Taffet said. "He is one of most prolific performers in PPV history. "But it takes two to make a true megafight and, like Floyd Mayweather, Shane Mosley is a future Hall-of-Famer and one of the most recognizable boxing stars of this era. Shane is a critical ingredient in the megafight status of Mayweather-Mosley. "While Shane and Floyd definitely have very passionate fan bases in their hometowns [Lynwood, California and Grand Rapids, Michigan respectively], both Mayweather and Mosley are national figures with broad and diverse fan bases throughout the entire U.S. "As the 'Who R U Picking?' polls indicate, fans everywhere are talking about this matchup and it is virtually a 50-50 split as to who the fans think will win." While many pundits expect Mayweather and Pacquiao to agree to fight by the end of this year, the American has taunted the Filipino by saying he is not enough of a box office draw. Pacquiao's fights with De La Hoya and Juan Marquez brought in significantly fewer buys than Mayweather's clashes with the duo. "He needs to learn how to do numbers like I'm doing," Mayweather, who shunned the chance of winning the WBA belt against Mosley as he did not want to pay the sanctioning fees, told Boxingscene.com. "He needs to step his game up. I'm not worried about this [Mosley fight]. I know I'm going to do crazy numbers. I should walk away with about $40 million. With or without Pacquiao I'm going to be able to go out and make $20 million or $30 million a night." | Floyd Mayweather is fourth in all-time list of revenue earners in pay-per-view fights . Saturday's non-title fight with Shane Mosley will push him past $300 million mark . Mayweather's 2007 win over Oscar De La Hoya most lucrative event in boxing history . The 33-year-old opted out of title fight as he did not want to pay WBA sanctioning fee . | 49327b670a524e6082bcf11a2bf5c0bb8829dcec |
By . Daily Mail Reporter . UPDATED: . 20:45 EST, 26 September 2013 . A babysitter who was charged with having sex with two underage boys two years ago will be spared jail time. Loni Bouchard, 22, of Clinton, Connecticut, was sentenced Thursday to three years in prison, but her sentence was suspended and she was instead given two years of probation, the Hartford Courant reports. It helped her case that the family of one of her victims - who was 14 at the time of the charges - supported the no-jail sentence, Judge David P. Gold said. Under her probation, she is barred from any contact with boys who are under the age of 16. Arrested again: Police released their latest mugshot photo of Loni Bouchard, far left, as she was arrested again yesterday. It is the third mugshot that has been taken of the 20-year-old since July . She is also barred from contacting her victims. 'I'm . really sorry to the victim and their families,' Bouchard, who was 19 at . the time of the relationships, said. 'This will never happen again.' She had previously pleaded guilty to three counts of first-degree reckless endangerment. In . her journal, which was acquired by police, Bouchard wrote that she knew . her relationship with the first victim - whom she had been hired to . babysit - was against the law but did not believe the law had the right . to tell her who she could and couldn't love. She . wrote about the 'amazing' sex she had with the boy, how much she loved . him and wondered why the five-year age gap even mattered. Also charged: Bouchard's mother Kimmy Bouchard pleaded guilty to risk of injury for providing alcohol and marijuana to one of the under age boys . It . also emerged that her mother, Kimmie Bouchard, 46, supplied the boy . with marijuana and alcohol when he visited their Southington home. Kimmi . Bouchard pleaded guilty to risk of injury and received probation. The . victim's mother learned of the relationship with the younger Bouchard . through a Facebook message she intercepted and reported her to police . and got a restraining order. Babysitter's seduction: Loni Bouchard had a sexual relationship with a 14-year-old boy who she was hired to look after . Bouchard had written in her diary about how much she missed him and how unfair it was they couldn't see each other. She . wrote: 'I have finally found the guy who treats me right and makes me . so happy and I can't be with him because the law says so? 'I . don't care about the law. I just want to be with him and not have to . hide it. How can the law tell us who to fall for, who to like and who to . love and especially who to date? I thought America was a free country'. She . also reportedly sent the boy's parents text messages after they found . out about the affair, asking if they could 'work this out'. She also told them they 'don't need to call the police' and 'let's act like adults'. The boy's parents filed a restraining order against Miss Bouchard in May. Around . that time, she wrote in her journal: ‘His mom absolutely HATES me . because of the situation and I understand why, but she's being immature . about it.’ She also wrote that she was cutting herself and used a bracelet the boy gave her to cover the scratches. In . a separate notebook seized from her home, police found letters written . to the boy, where Miss Bouchard said she was upset his parents had filed . the restraining order, and missed waking up next to him. She . was also involved with another underage boy - also 14 - from . Southington. His parents did not allow him to speak with police . investigators. According to the Hartford Courant, bouchard met the boy she claimed to have been in love with at a summer campground in Salem. | Loni Bouchard, now 22, had sex with two 14-year-old boys when she was 19 . She wrote in her journal about the 'amazing sex' she had with one of the 14-year-olds . She was sentenced to three years in prison but a judge suspended all of it and gave her probation instead . | 9f2e497cd4237aba11d5b0a5d050aa5b3bbcd66c |
(CNN) -- Automaker Peugeot has fired its chief executive, replacing Christian Streiff with Philippe Varin, currently the CEO at Corus, an Anglo-Dutch steelmaker. Peugeot is Europe's second biggest carmaker . "Given the extraordinary difficulties currently faced by the automotive industry, the Supervisory Board decided unanimously that a change in the senior leadership position was necessary," said Thierry Peugeot, chairman of the PSA Peugeot Citroen supervisory board Sunday. "I am confident that under the leadership of Philippe Varin, the Group will be able, with all the teams, to unlock its potential." Varin will officially take over Peugeot's top post on June 1, but will begin "familiarizing himself" with operations starting next month. Roland Vardanega, a member of the managing board, will act as interim chairman until Varin assumes his new job. Peugeot, Europe's second biggest automaker, posted a loss of €343 million, or $456 million, in 2008 and also expects to lose money in 2009. | Christian Streiff replaced with Philippe Varin, currently CEO at Corus . Peugeot posted a loss of €343 million, or $456 million, in 2008 . Peugeot board: "Change in the senior leadership position was necessary" | d6dbd2e15dd08398bd3cd915f6e8f7f1b0ba32c7 |
By . Emma Thomas . PUBLISHED: . 05:41 EST, 1 November 2013 . | . UPDATED: . 09:22 EST, 1 November 2013 . A ten-year-old boy has died after a teacher 'told him' to jump from a building. The Chinese youngster, named as Jun Jun, fell 30 floors to his death after failing to write a self-criticism letter demanded by his teacher. The fifth-grade primary school student had been told to write a 1,000-character apology by his teacher, Miss Chen, for talking in class. His devastated parents have now launched a campaign against the extreme pressure put on Chinese students. Devastated: The parents of ten-year-old Jun Jun who jumped to his death from a 30-storey building in China. The parents left devastated by the loss of their son have now started a campaign against the pressure students are put under in Chinese schools and are demanding that the teacher be sacked . Tragic: Jun Jun jumped from the 30th floor of a building and landed on a parked car outside the family home at a residential building in Chengdu, Sichuan province, in southwest China . Jun Jun wrote 'teacher, I can't do it' in his textbook. He also wrote 'I flinched several time when I tried to jump from the building' Neighbours say the 30-year-old teacher told him to jump out of a building after he didn't do the task. 'Teacher, I can't do it,' was found written in one of his textbooks, along with 'I flinched several times when I tried to jump from the building.' The child smashed into a parked car beneath the flat where his family live in Jinjiang district. Due to China's strict one-child policy, it is likely Jun Jun was the couple's only child. His family have posted a banner outside the school in the southwestern city of Chengdu saying 'The teacher forced our kid to jump off the building'. 'The police investigation is still under way,' an official in Jinjiang district said, refusing to comment further, the Hindustan Times reported. The . boy's school said today on its verified account on Sina Weibo, a . Chinese equivalent of Twitter, that the child and some of his classmates . had been ordered to write reviews of their behaviour after they . disturbed a speaking competition. He died 'by accident', it said. Strict . discipline is an essential part of China's education system and . culture, and tradition demands deference to authority, putting children . under pressure to obey instructions. Campaign: A banner outside Jun Jun's school was put up by his heartbroken relatives. He was reportedly told to jump from a building by his teacher Miss Chen as punishment for not completing a task he was set . Fired: Jun Jun's parents are calling for the teacher that allegedly told him to jump from a building to be sacked . Messages: Photographs of the boy's study book pasted around the school by his parents showed that he had written several times that he had tried to jump from a building . School: The school is based in the southwestern city of Chengdu (pictured here) | Fifth-grade student was told to write a 1,000-character apology . Neighbours say teacher told him to jump out of building when he failed task . Relatives put up banner saying 'Teacher forced our kid to jump off building' | a70cede661958de92452a2652f7f95e16e631c9a |
Editor's note: In our Behind the Scenes series, CNN correspondents share their experiences in covering news and analyze the stories behind the events. Here, John Vause describes the effect tainted food has had on a foreigner. CNN's John Vause says he's lost 10 pounds in recent weeks as reports of tainted food have come out in China. BEIJING, China (CNN) -- Eating out in China used to be one of the great experiences of living here. I often thought going out with friends and colleagues for dinner was a bit like the game of "Hungry Hungry Hippos" -- vast quantities of amazing food that made dining a pleasure. Best of all, it was affordable and palatable. But these days, the joy of anticipation of what the next dish will bring has been replaced with, well, the dread of what the next dish may contain. When ordering at restaurants, I wonder: Is that drug-tainted fish and shrimp? Did that pork come from a pig that was force-fed wastewater? Any melamine added to those noodles? Those are among some of the recent food scares here. Even drinking a glass of water instills fear: A recent government report found half the bottled watered in this city was counterfeit. I was never a particularly brave soul when it came to eating at exotic little restaurants here, but now I am terrified. When traveling across China, that fear goes off the charts. Packing for trips now includes muesli bars made in the United States and imported almonds. Watch food elitism in Hong Kong » . And then there is the grocery shopping. Everyone else around the world it seems is buying cheap food and other products made in China. Not the Vause house. My wife searches across this city for breakfast cereal made in the United States. We have meat and fish flown in from Australia, milk from New Zealand, and on it goes. Some things are unavoidable, but we do our best. Maybe it's irrational on my part. Certainly many friends who have lived here longer than I have insist there's nothing to fear. They argue in a country this size there will always be isolated cases like the ones that have surfaced lately. But I have another perspective. In a Communist country where corruption is rampant and the press appears only free to go after the little guy, I believe the deep systemic problems go unreported -- that is until dogs and cats in the United States start dying from pet food made with Chinese-tainted ingredients and the world starts asking China some very difficult questions. The Communist leadership has acknowledged the corruption problem in China and they know they can make all the pronouncements about food quality they want from Beijing. But that means almost zilch as long as the local businessmen are paying off local officials who are paying off the local police who are meant to enforce whatever new standards and regulations are announced. And that's the rub. There's a fortune to be made cutting corners and ignoring the rules, and almost no risk if you get caught. Watch the cures that kill . There are notable exceptions. For instance, the former head of China's Food and Drug Administration was executed for taking bribes and approving deadly medicine. The People's Daily, the mouthpiece for the Communist Party, wrote the day after Zhen Xiaoyu's death sentence was carried out that it was a warning to all officials. "Corrupt elements will be thoroughly investigated no matter who they are, how high their post, or how deep they hide, and there can be no appeasement or softness," it said. I have my doubts. I also met with the general manager of one of the companies at the center of the melamine-tainted rice gluten exports earlier this year. He was in prison and looked dazed and confused. I got the distinct impression that he had no idea why he was in jail for something widely believed being done by so many others. It's just that his melamine loaded rice gluten killed dogs and cats in the United States. The bottom line is: If you're worried about Chinese exports, rest assured the local stuff is without doubt many, many times worse. It's scary to live here not knowing if the food and drinks are safe. But on the upside, in the last month, since the food scare story really took off, I've dropped 10 pounds. I guess there is an upside to everything. E-mail to a friend . | CNN's John Vause says ordering food in China has been replaced with dread . Vause: It took pet food scare in U.S. to get Beijing to answer tough questions . China says execution of former FDA chief is a message to others . | 45e371348853d7c8f2ca635804b49653e6c5da6d |
(CNET) -- Microsoft has applied for a patent on metered, pay-as-you-go computing. Under a Microsoft proposal, consumers would receive heavily discounted PCs, then pay fees for usage. U.S. patent application number 20080319910, published on Christmas Day, details Microsoft's vision of a situation where a "standard model" of PC is given away or heavily subsidized by someone in the supply chain. The end user then pays to use the computer, with charges based on both the length of usage time and the performance levels utilized, along with a "one-time charge." Microsoft notes in the application that the end user could end up paying more for the computer, compared with the one-off cost entailed in the existing PC business model, but argues the user would benefit by having a PC with an extended "useful life." "A computer with scalable performance level components and selectable software and service options has a user interface that allows individual performance levels to be selected," reads the patent application's abstract. The patent application was filed June 21, 2007. "The scalable performance level components may include a processor, memory, graphics controller, etc. Software and services may include word processing, email, browsing, database access, etc. To support a pay-per-use business model, each selectable item may have a cost associated with it, allowing a user to pay for the services actually selected and that presumably correspond to the task or tasks being performed," the abstract continues. Integral to Microsoft's vision is a security module, embedded in the PC, that would effectively lock the PC to a certain supplier. "The metering agents and specific elements of the security module...allow an underwriter in the supply chain to confidently supply a computer at little or no upfront cost to a user or business, aware that their investment is protected and that the scalable performance capabilities generate revenue commensurate with actual performance level settings and usage," the application reads. 'A more granular approach' According to the application, the issue with the existing PC business model is that it "requires more or less a one chance at the consumer kind of mentality, where elasticity curves are based on the pressure to maximize profits on a one-time-sale, one-shot-at-the-consumer mentality." Microsoft's proposed model, on the other hand, could "allow a more granular approach to hardware and software sales," the application states, adding that the user "may be able to select a level of performance related to processor, memory, graphics power, etc that is driven not by a lifetime maximum requirement but rather by the need of the moment." "When the need is browsing, a low level of performance may be used and, when network-based interactive gaming is the need of the moment, the highest available performance may be made available to the user," the document reads. "Because the user only pays for the performance level of the moment, the user may see no reason to not acquire a device with a high degree of functionality, in terms of both hardware and software, and experiment with a usage level that suits different performance requirements." By way of example, the application posits a situation involving three "bundles" of applications and performance: office, gaming, and browsing. "The office bundle may include word-processing and spreadsheet applications, medium graphics performance and two of three processor cores," the document reads. "The gaming bundle may include no productivity applications but may include 3D graphics support and three of three processor cores. The browsing bundle may include no productivity applications, medium graphics performance and high-speed network interface." "Charging for the various bundles may be by bundle and by duration. For example, the office bundle may be $1.00 [68 pence] per hour, the gaming bundle may be $1.25 per hour and the browsing bundle may be $0.80 per hour. The usage charges may be abstracted to 'units/hour' to make currency conversions simpler. Alternatively, a bundle may incur a one-time charge that is operable until changed or for a fixed-usage period," the document reads. Microsoft's patent application does acknowledge that a per-use model of computing would probably increase the cost of ownership over the PC's lifetime. The company argues in its application, however, that "the payments can be deferred and the user can extend the useful life of the computer beyond that of the one-time purchase machine." The document suggests that "both users and suppliers benefit from this new business model" because "the user is able to migrate the performance level of the computer as needs change over time, while the supplier can develop a revenue stream business that may actually have higher value than the one-time purchase model currently practiced." "Rather than suffering through less-than-adequate performance for a significant portion of the life of a computer, a user can increase performance level over time, at a slight premium of payments," the application reads. "When the performance level finally reaches its maximum and still better performance is required, then the user may upgrade to a new computer, running at a relatively low performance level, probably with little or no change in the cost of use." © 2009 CBS Interactive Inc. All rights reserved. CNET, CNET.com and the CNET logo are registered trademarks of CBS Interactive Inc. Used by permission. | Microsoft has applied for a patent on metered, pay-as-you-go computing . Under its plan, a standard PC would be given away or heavily subsidized . Consumers would then pay regular fees to use the computer . Charges would be based on length of usage time and PC performance levels . | 64b579813cab5ce844b19e26697fe0c1908e2ac1 |
Shy bladder sufferers have condemned a DirecTV advert that uses a 'painfully awkward' Rob Lowe who cannot urinate in public restrooms to encourage viewers to switch from cable. In the campaign, the 50-year-old actor plays two characters: a handsome Lowe in a slick suit who is a satellite customer and a goofy-looking Lowe who is a cable user. In one scene, the latter character is filmed standing awkwardly at a urinal with two other men. Unlike his doppelganger's formal attire, he is donning a fanny pack with his hair parted in the middle. In response to the other Lowe's remark that cable TV makes subscribers wait, he states: 'Fact. I can't go with other people in the room', before unsuccessfully trying to urinate. SCROLL DOWN FOR VIDEO . Controversial: In this DirecTV campaign, actor Rob Lowe plays two characters: a handsome Lowe in a slick suit who is a satellite customer and a goofy-looking Lowe (pictured in a public restroom), who is a cable user . A sensitive topic: In one scene, the latter character is filmed standing awkwardly at a urinal with two other men (pictured). Unlike his double's formal attire, he is donning a fanny pack with his hair parted in the middle . Doppelganger: In response to the other Lowe's remark that cable TV makes subscribers wait, he states: 'Fact. I can't go with other people in the room'. Above, handsome Lowe (right) enters the public restroom . DirecTV, a satellite service provider based in El Segundo, California, claims viewers should be able to take the advert in the humorous way in which it was intended. But a shy bladder group has lambasted the company, saying the advert ridicules a serious issue in America, where around seven per cent of people have some form of 'shy bladder syndrome'. Steve Soifer, CEO of the International Paruresis Association and a social work professor at the University of Memphis, said he didn't mind if 'people have a little fun' with the condition. But he added: 'It's a situation that a lot of people don't understand. In this particular case, the portrayal is making it look ridiculous, that this guy is a loser for having a problem. Criticism: Steve Soifer, (right), CEO of the International Paruresis Association, says the Rob Lowe (left) advert ridicules a serious issue in America, where 7 per cent of people have some form of 'shy bladder syndrome' Cable customer: Mr Sofier said: 'In this particular case, the portrayal is making it look ridiculous, that this guy is a loser for having a problem.' Above, awkward Lowe is pictured in another scene of the advert . A popular man: Other clips in the advert see handsome Lowe (pictured) claim that DirecTv is number one in terms of customer satisfaction and that satellite has been ranked higher than cable 'for over 10 years' 'What if he didn't have a leg or an arm? Are you going to make fun of them?' Since the campaign's launch in late October, members of the Association have written to DirecTV asking for the advert to be removed. But Darris Gringeri, spokesman for DirecTV, said the service will not be fulfilling their request. 'The ads will continue to run for the vast majority of viewers who have told us they enjoy the spots and understand that, like all of our commercials, they take place in a fantasy world and are not based in reality,' he said. Waiting: Meanwhile, 'painfully awkward' Lowe says cable workers take 'forever' to show up at your house . Satellite TV: DirecTV is a satellite TV service provider which is based in El Segundo, California (file picture) Other scenes in the advert see handsome Lowe claim that DirecTv is number one in terms of customer satisfaction and that satellite has been ranked higher than cable 'for over 10 years'. Meanwhile, 'painfully awkward' Lowe says cable workers take 'forever' to show up at your house. | Campaign aims to encourage viewers to switch from cable to satellite TV . Actor Rob Lowe plays two characters - one is a handsome satellite user . The other is 'painfully awkward' Lowe with a fanny pack and parted hair . This Lowe is filmed standing in public restroom alongside two other men . Failing to urinate, he says: 'Fact. I can't go with other people in the room' International Paruresis Association says advert ridiculous serious issue . But despite complaints, DirecTV has refused to remove advert from air . Around 7% of Americans have some form of 'shy bladder syndrome' | 984b00d9dddb5a1e4df3862bb8eb0415662a5f9d |
By . Snejana Farberov . PUBLISHED: . 19:29 EST, 14 September 2012 . | . UPDATED: . 21:11 EST, 14 September 2012 . A police officer and former U.S. Marine who survived two tours of duty in Iraq was gunned down on Thursday while pursuing a hit-and-run driver in Plymouth Township, Pennsylvania, a day before his 35th birthday. According to officials, Brad Fox was running down a suspect, identified as 44-year-old Andrew Charles Thomas, following a car accident when he was shot in the head - becoming the first officer from his department to be killed in the line of duty. Thomas was later found dead after apparently turning the gun on himself, according to police. Partners: Officer Brad Fox was killed in the line of duty while pursuing a suspect in a hit-and-run crash, while his K-9 dog, Nick, was injured . Hero: Fox, a former combat Marine, served two tours of duty in Iraq before attending a Philadelphia K-9 school and joining the Plymouth Township police force . Fox, a seven-year veteran on the force who had just graduated from a Philadelphia K-9 school, leaves behind a wife pregnant with their second child, and a five-month-old daughter. 'There are just no words that can begin to express the magnitude of this tragedy,' said Montgomery County District Attorney Risa Vetri Ferman during a Thursday night press conference. 'Officer Fox served two tours of duty in Iraq. He put his life on the line day in and day out. Men around him lost their lives. 'He was able to come back from that service, come back to the comfort of his country and to lose his life so senselessly today. There are just no words to explain how horrific it is, how senseless it is,' Ferman said. Hectic scene: Fox and other officers responded to the scene of an accident involving an SUV that drove off after smashing into another car . Hot pursuit: Fox spotted the SUV abandoned and chased the driver on foot into an industrial area . Ambush: Police say the suspect fired at least four rounds at Fox from a hiding place on a hill, striking him in the head at this spot now marked by flags . The tragedy began unfolding at around 5:16pm Thursday when officers responded to a three-car accident on East Ridge Pike in the Conshohocken section of the suburb, according to WFMZ. About half-an-hour later, officers on the scene spotted a 2006 Infiniti SUV speeding past other cars in the opposing lane of traffic. Fox and his fellow officers followed the SUV as it slammed into another vehicle and drove off, according to investigators. Fox, accompanied by his K-9 dog, Nick, found the SUV abandoned on Ernest Station Road and went in pursuit of the driver on foot into an industrial area along the Schuylkill River Trail. Shortly after, responding officers came across Fox lying in the grass with a gunshot wound to the head, His dog was also grazed by a bullet, but survived. The 34-year-old was rushed to a nearby hospital, where he died soon after. Suicide: Police found the killer in the grass next to train tracks with two self-inflicted gunshot wounds to the chest . No. 1 suspect: Fox's suspected killer, Andrew Charles Thomas, left, was questioned in the 1999 disappearance of his fiance, Maria Procopio, right, but was never chagred in that case . Officers scoured the area and found the suspected killer on the other side of the train tracks with two fatal gunshot wounds to the chest, according to police. A .9mm Beretta gun was discovered next to his body. ‘This was a senseless, senseless act for a car accident,’ Plymouth Township Police Chief Joseph Lawrence said. A preliminary investigation has revealed that Thomas ambushed Fox from his hiding place on the hill above the train tracks and fired at least four shots at the officer and his dog. Thomas has been a fugitive on a forgery charge for seven years before he was captured this May. He pleaded guilty to the count which stemmed from him using $140 worth of counterfeit Acme gift certificates in 2005, according to police. Family tragedy: Fox leaves behind a wife, who is pregnant with their second child . Family man: Fox was the proud father of a five-month-old baby girl . Last honors: Police gather to salute the body of slain Plymouth Township canine officer Brad Fox, on Thursday Sept. 13, 2012, at Montgomery Hospital in Norristown . Solemn procession: Fox's fellow officers formed an honor guard in a motorcade transporting his body to a funeral home . Thomas was on probation for theft and had assaulted a police officer in the past during an arrest. However, beside the small-time crimes, the 44-year-old had been the prime suspect in the 1999 high-profile disappearance of his fiance, 34-year-old Maria Procopio, according to NBC10. Loyal friend: Nick, Fox's K-9 partner, was grazed by a bullet, but is expected to recover . Procopio went missing in September of 1999 after leaving her shift at QVC in West Chester, Pennsylvania. Her body was never found, and Thomas was never charged in the case. Officials say that while serving time for the assault, Thomas told officers to dig up a wooded area in Whitemarsh Township, where a cache of weapons was unearthed. Thomas used up to 40 different aliases and social security numbers during his life, police said. On Thursday evening, Fox's fellow officers rode in a motorcade to escort his body from the Medical Examiner's Office to the funeral home. Fox, who was described by Police Chief Lawrence as a hero, was an organ donor, so even in his death he will help save lives. The officer's killing sent shock waves . through the suburban community, with many local residents flying . American flags at half-staff in honor of the fallen hero. Many grieving friends and even strangers also took to . the Internet, launching a Facebook page called RIP Officer Brad Officer, . which has attracted nearly 23,000 followers by Friday night. Plymouth Township police will be off duty through at least September 19, according to Patch.com. Volunteers to cover their shifts were being solicited from other police forces around the region on Thursday night. | Officer Brad Fox was shot in the head one day before his 35th birthday . Served two tours of duty in Iraq before joining the police force . Suspected killer Andrew Charles Thomas took his own life . Thomas was questioned by police in the 1999 disappearance of his fiancée . | 3fd44251c4ccde7663661ccd26bd12e1f0d9308e |
By . Daily Mail Reporter and Associated Press . PUBLISHED: . 20:16 EST, 25 October 2012 . | . UPDATED: . 22:29 EST, 25 October 2012 . Found: Tony Wawrzynski of Reno, Nevada has found his son that was kidnapped by the boy's mother 15 years ago -- and the boy is believed to be a victim in a Georgia child abuse scandal . A Nevada man's 15-year search for his missing son has ended after the boy, now 18, was found wandering around Los Angeles following years of alleged abuse by his biological mother and stepfather. Tony Wawrzynski of Reno, Nevada says he hasn't seen his son, Mitch, since the boy's mother kidnapped him when he was just three years old. Wawrzynski has written dozens of letters and hired a private investigator to try and find the boy, but his mother had changed her name and moved across the country. As the years passed, Wawrzynski had all but given up hope that he would ever find his son. Then last week, a detective found one of Wawrzynski's letters in the Georgia home of Sheila Comer, who is being investigated for allegedly locking her child in a room and starving him for years. That child's name is Mitch, and investigators believe that he is the son who Wawrzynski lost so many years ago. Authorities called Wawrzynski last week and informed him of their discovery and the Nevada father was overjoyed, but also heartbroken over what investigators believe his son has endured. 'It’s been really hard on me, I mean, me and Mitch when he was a baby, we were really close,' Wawrzynski told the Atlanta Journal Constitution. 'We were inseparable. When Mitch was a baby, I was the one that fed him. I was the one that changed his diapers.' Investigators say 18-year-old Mitch Comer was locked in a room in his home for years and was so malnourished that he still had his baby teeth and looked like a pre-teen . Shackled: Paul and Sheila Comer are led into Georgia courtroom for a hearing. They have been charged with child abuse . The pair were shackled in chains and in stripey jumpsuits when they arrived at court today . 'I thought he was a 12-year-old boy,' said Georgia Detective Kevin Morgan at the bond hearing of Paul and Sheila Comer, who were arrested last month on charges of cruelty to children and false imprisonment. Mitch Comer was just 5' 1" and weighed only 87 pounds when he was found wandering around downtown Los Angeles. He was so neglected, his skin was translucent and he told investigators he hadn't seen the sun in two years. He said he was confined to a bathroom and bedroom and wasn't fed often, occasionally getting soup or cereal but little of substance, Morgan said. Wawrzynski said he's not sure how much his son knows about him, since he was taken from him at such a young age. He is hoping to reunite with him at a Nov. 10 fundraiser for Mitch in Powder Springs, Georgia, he said. 'I definitely want some time for us to be able to talk and for him to get to know me,' Wawrzynski said. 'My hopes are definitely that I’m gonna have my son back.' Arrest warrants filed in Georgia say the . Comers 'made Mitch kneel on the floor, bend his head and place his . forehead against the wall, and place his hands behind his head for long . periods of time.' In jail: Paul and Sheila Marie Comer allegedly starving and maltreating 18-year-old Mitch, who was found wandering around a bus station more than 2,000 miles from home . Detectives said the 18-year-old boy had practically translucent skin and looked no more than 12 or 13 years old. Pictured, police searching the family home . The Comers' two daughters, who are 11 and 13, told investigators they heard him cry and scream for food often, Morgan said. Paul and Sheila Comer, who had lived in the house 14 months, admitted to investigators that Mitch was confined to the room. 'They both conceded that that was his life,' Morgan said. 'He lived in that room for years.' The boy was kept in such seclusion . that his two younger sisters in the same house did not know what he . looked like, the authorities revealed. 'The . sisters haven't seen the brother in over two years,' said Paulding's . Cpl. Ashley Henson. 'They didn't even know what color his hair was.' Paul . Comer told investigators he brought Mitch Comer food at 7am noon and . 7pm each day and fed him whatever the family was eating. On September 11, a retired police sergeant working security at a downtown Los Angeles bus station noticed Mitch Comer. Police . decided to investigate further because the teen looked much younger . than the 18 years he claimed, Los Angeles police said last month. Parents: Mr Comer and the boy's mother Sheila Marie were arrested on six charges of child abuse and one charge of false imprisonment on September 12, at their home near Dallas . The teen told authorities he had suffered from years of abuse after being taken out of school in the eighth grade. He . told authorities his stepfather gave him $200 and a list of homeless . shelters before he was put on a bus to Los Angeles on his 18th birthday. Paul Comer told investigators Mitch Comer wanted to be an actor. Mr Comer and the boy's mother Sheila Marie were arrested on six charges of child abuse and one charge of false imprisonment on September 12, at their home near Dallas. As an 18-year-old, Mitch was not eligible for foster care, but has been taken in by a local family and is 'doing well', detectives said. He did not know his own address, but his parents . were quickly tracked down. The couple’s two daughters have been in protective custody since their parents were arrested, investigators said. The Comers have no prior criminal . history, but were the subject of a 2009 investigation by local . authorities following an abuse allegation when the family lived in . Cherokee County. The case was referred to the Cherokee Sheriff’s Office, but was later closed, and no charges were filed. Neighbours . on the quiet cul-de-sac of two-story brick and vinyl siding homes, . about 30 miles outside Atlanta, said the couple kept to themselves and were shocked to discover that the family had a son. 'Abuse': Mitch told detectives he was forced to stand against the wall at the family home near Dallas, Georgia, for up to eight hours at a time . The FBI and the Georgia Bureau of Investigation have joined the case, Cpl. Henson added. Mrs Comer’s mother, Diana Powell, of Iowa, said she hadn’t spoken to her daughter in more than a decade and hadn’t seen her grandson since he was a toddler. Powell told the station that she had feared her daughter and husband abused their children but had no direct evidence. 'They mistreated him something terrible. I got on her case about it and she disappeared from my life,’ she said crying. Authorities say that they are just at . the ‘tip of the iceberg’ with the case and more charges could be . brought against the parents. Monica Moore, an investigator with the Paulding County District Attorney’s office, described the 18-year-old victim as small, very timid, and extremely polite. Moore confirmed that a local family had agreed to house the teenager, according to Channel 2. A spokesman from Paulding County Public Schools could also not confirm whether the children have ever been enrolled in the school system. Records show the Comers have lived in almost two dozen different homes during the past two decades. Neighbours said the family had lived at their large Dallas home for at least a few years. Dion Walker and Mea Smith told the Atlanta Journal Constitution that their children had played with the Comers’ daughters over the years but that they had never even seen Mitch. They said they were surprised to learn the family had a son. 'Maybe, when the young girls would stare at us, were they trying to say something?' said Mr Walker. 'Should we have noticed?' Mitch was flown back to Dallas on Wednesday to participate in the investigation and legal proceedings. His stepfather had his own business repairing home appliances, said next-door neighbour John White. They rarely spoke. Mrs Comer never left the house unless she was with her husband, . not even to check the mail, said Mr White. Their two daughters would . sometimes come outside and play, but only in the back yard. Neighbours . assumed the girls didn't go to school either – they never caught the bus . that picked up other children in the cul-de-sac every morning. Neighbors said they had no clue the Comers had a son until a detective came knocking at their doors asking questions last week. 'I had no idea, no clue. There were no signs of a son at all,' said Mr Walker, who has lived next to the Comers for two years. 'The few . occasions we would see them go to the van, it was always the parents and . the two girls.' Walker said police swarmed the Comers' home last week, arresting the parents and taking both girls into protective custody. Walker said the Comer family did not take part in neighbourhood . association meetings and their girls never attended the neighbourhood . Halloween block parties. Watch video here . | Tony Wawrzynski of Nevada was informed by Georgia detectives that his long-lost son, now 18, is the alleged victim in a Georgia abuse scandal . Wawrzynski said his son, Mitch, was kidnapped by the boy's mother 15 years ago . A retired policeman found Mitch in Los Angeles looking malnourished, confused and only around 12 or 13 years old . Mitch told police he was put on a bus to California on his 18th birthday by his stepfather . He said his parents had barely fed him and forced him to stand on his tiptoes, facing a wall, with his hands on his head for eight hours every day . His two stepsisters said they could hear him cry and scream for food . | 1df47bbad8f74f4434421a2da409dcdadbf1bcc9 |
By . Beth Stebner . PUBLISHED: . 11:34 EST, 4 May 2012 . | . UPDATED: . 15:01 EST, 4 May 2012 . One of the Colombian escorts embattled in the Secret Service scandal in Cartagena broke her silence today and spilled some sordid details of the night several of President Obama’s men became embroiled with scandal. Dania Suarez, 24, spoke in an exclusive interview to W Radio in Colombia, and told listeners in Spanish that one of the agents, identified as Arthur Huntington, was ‘heavily intoxicated.’ Huntington has since left the Secret Service. Scroll down for video . Prostitute Dania Suarez spoke out onW Radio and Caracol TV, in Madrid, Spain on Friday, her first public interview . Secret Service agents paid nine women after they took them back to their Colombian hotel rooms, including Dania, who was almost denied her fee entirely . The young single mother appeared in the studio looking tan, with her long, dark hair tumbling down her back. While she denies being a ‘prostitute,’ she said she requested ‘a little present’ of $800. She said that the luggage and documents in the suitcase in his hotel room were left out in the open, and could easily have been taken, if she were a spy, according to ABC News. Suarez also said she never would have complained about not being paid had she known the agent was part of Mr Obama’s security detail. She said she fled the country after the scandal broke for fear of retribution, and spent time in Dubai with a person she had met in Cartagena. She said in the interview that she will gladly sell her story and has contracted one of Colombia’s top lawyers, according to the interview. When asked whether or not she and Huntington had sex, she responded: ‘If I answer this, you will know what happened.’ However, she said that Huntington . ‘did not feel he got what he was being asked to pay for,’ which led to . the now-infamous feud and the scandal breaking out. Suarez said she considers herself an escort, because prostitutes ‘are lower class and live in brothels.’ A government report published earlier this week tells how the . Secret Service agents involved in the Colombian prostitution scandal . paid nine of the 12 women that they took home from the bar on that wild . evening. Hotel: The agent allegedly took the prostitute to his room in Cartagena's Hotel Caribe . The Secret Service submitted a . detailed report about what exactly happened on the night that a dozen . agents were partying at a bar in Cartagena while in the country to . protect the President. The report confirms that nine of the . women who went back to the Hotel Caribe with the agents were paid . thought their identities were not publicly revealed. The Washington Post says that the . 24-page report was submitted to the relevant congressional committees . who are investigating the scandal, and those officials will not release . the full extent of their findings. Investigators from the Secret Service . are continuing their hunt for more information about the evening, and so . far they have only spoken with those nine women. They are still looking . to talk to the remaining three women. So far, they have done background . checks on the first nine and have reported that none of them have . connections to terrorist organizations or drug cartels, which was a . major concern at the beginning of the scandal since they had access to . the Secret Service agent's hotel rooms. The women were aged between 20 and 39 years old. Taking care of business: Suarez said that she is now willing to sell her story . 'We’re going to use this as a base to . operate from, but we’re also waiting for those statements from the . women,' Congressman Peter King told The Washington Post. Mr King, one of those in charge of the . congressional investigations, said that speaking to the remaining three . women 'will fill in a lot of the gaps'. The . embarrassing prostitution scandal has resulted in the Secret Service . sending about 100 of its agents on an ethics training course. The agents will take part in two days of training this week from professors at Johns Hopkins University near Washington. The Secret Service has originally scheduled training for just 20 agents. But following the scandal, it expanded the course to include about 100. The university has previously worked with the Secret Service and so was deemed a good choice. Some of the new guidelines include: . The report also details the staff ranks of some of the dozen agents involved with the women in Cartagena, Colombia. Two were supervisory criminal investigators, three were snipers, three were part of a counterassault team. Nine of the 12 agents submitted to polygraph exams, while three chose not to cooperate. One of the three that did not submit . to a test was the man who initially caused the whole fiasco by refusing . to pay his prostitute in full. That man, identified as Arthur Huntington, would not pay the $800 he initially agreed to pay prostitute Diana Suarez. Huntington's wife, Jolie, told . relatives she will ‘make the marriage work’ with Arthur Huntington, her . husband of nearly 20 years. Friends and family of the couple say that he would never have intentionally hurt her. Huntington has left the agency since . the incident earlier this month, but the circumstances of his departure . are unclear. His home in Severna Park, Maryland reportedly went on sale . last week. Ms Suarez has previously told her side . of the story, saying she met Huntington and the other men in a local . bar and agreed to go back to their hotel. In the morning the hotel forced her to leave, but Huntington refused to hand over the $800 she believed she was owed. Police were called, setting off a . Secret Service investigation which involved 12 agents and another 12 . members of the military and which overshadowed Barack Obama's visit to . the Summit of the Americas. Protectee: The scandal eclipsed the point of the . summit; President Obama has made jokes at the Secret Service's expense . at last week's White House Correspondents' Dinner . Father: Huntington, who has now left the Secret Service, is said to be married with two children . The revelation came as the Secret . Service circulated 'enhanced standards of conduct' from director Mark . Sullivan in response to the prostitution scandal in Colombia. The document instructed employees to 'consider your conduct through the lens of the past several weeks.' Highlights of the guidelines included standards of conduct briefings for all protective visits and events. | Dania Suarez, 24, spoke out for the first time since the Secret Service scandal erupted in Cartagena, Colombia . Said agents were drinking heavily and that former agent Arthur Huntington was a 'very clumsy dancer' Wouldn't reveal whether or not they had sex . | c8c7390ed1a4a6907a7af629d2407ea326d9a61c |
(CNN) -- The State Department told U.S. government employees in Monterrey, Mexico, on Friday to send their children elsewhere because of heightened security risks related to drug violence. The order is the first of its kind in any Mexican city, said Brian Quigley, a spokesman for the U.S. Consulate General in Monterrey, adding it reflects an increasingly violent and insecure reality. Monterrey is located in northern Mexico. The travel warning was issued after an August 20 shooting in front of the American Foundation School in Monterrey, said the State Department. The high incidence of area kidnappings was also cited as a motive behind the move. "U.S. government personnel from the Consulate General in Monterrey have been advised that the immediate, practical and reliable way to reduce the security risks for children of U.S. government personnel is to remove them from the city," the State Department said in a statement. The new rule will take effect on September 10 and affect roughly 25 families, Quigley said. In a separate message, also issued on Friday, the U.S. consulate in Monterrey said adequate safeguards simply do not exist to protect the children of U.S. employees. "Local police and private patrols do not have the capacity to deter criminal elements from areas around the schools attended by the children of U.S. personnel assigned to the consulate," read the statement from Monterrey. The authorized departure of family members of U.S. government personnel from consulates in the Mexican cities of Tijuana, Nogales, Ciudad Juarez, Nuevo Laredo, Monterrey and Matamoros remains in place, the State Department said. The United States has a travel warning issued for Mexico because of drug-related violence, particularly in the northern border areas. | NEW: Some 25 families are expected to be affected by the decision . Diplomats are asked to have their children out of Monterrey by September 10 . The travel warning follows an August 20 shooting in front of an international school . The U.S. has a travel warning issued for Mexico because of drug-related violence . | 185fa1ba9614424bb68b4388ae29c75eda503ad1 |
Paul Fleiss, the pediatrician father of former Hollywood madam Heidi Fleiss, has died aged 80. The beloved doctor, who pleaded guilty in 1995 to conspiring to hide profits from his daughter's prostitution ring, passed away in his Los Angeles home on Saturday with his son Jesse by his side. Radar Online reported he died from complications after being hit by a car about six months ago. 'He cycled every Sunday with a friend, until he was hit by a car,' a family insider said. Tragic: Beloved pediatrician Paul Fleiss died in his Los Angeles home on Saturday aged 80 (undated picture) Supportive dad: Paul Fleiss pictured with his infamous daughter, former Hollywood madam Heidi Fleiss, at the signing of her 2003 memoir 'Pandering' in California (date of picture unknown) Jesse . Fleiss heard his dad struggling to breathe and called 911 on Saturday morning, but he was . pronounced dead at the scene when paramedics arrived. Although . Dr Fleiss rose to fame in the 1990s when his daughter's exclusive . call-girl ring was exposed, he was known to many as a dedicated . children's doctor. Dr Fleiss, an avid cycler, was known for his . gentle bedside manner and continuing to make house calls into his old age. He also ran his own medical practice. While . he . was a pediatrician to the children of several Hollywood celebrities, he . also looked after patients whose families could not afford to pay him. A . vocal opponent of circumcision, he penned the landmark 2002 book, 'What . Your Doctor May Not Tell You About Circumcision', outlining . misconceptions and myths around the common surgery. Family man: Dr. Paul Fleiss, pictured with his grandson, was a beloved and well-known pediatrician . Tributes have poured in on social media for the renowned doctor, with many of his patients describing him as a 'champion of infant health, breastfeeding, and conscious parenting'. 'My children were beyond lucky to have this delightful, gentle man as their pediatrician, Los Angeles mom Erin Riley wrote on Facebook. 'He blazed a path away from old accepted child rearing beliefs, such as corporal punishment, and and a doctor-knows-best attitude to focus parenting and health care on the child as an individual and as a whole person.' Mom Stephanie Glazer Wieland wrote: 'He gave me the confidence to nurse my daughter, even through emergency gallbladder surgery when she was only 3 weeks old, and when the hospital doctors were telling me I was crazy and should just switch to formula.' Dr Fleiss was born on September 8, 1933, in . Detroit. He trained as a pharmacist and osteopath and moved to Los Angeles . wher he completed a residency in . pediatrics at Los Angeles County-USC Medical Center. His marriage to Elissa Ash, Heidi Fleiss' mother, ended in divorce. Court battle: Paul Fleiss addresses the media outside the Federal Courts Building in Los Angeles on Tuesday, October 1, 1996. He pleaded guilty in 1995 to conspiring to hide profits made by his daughter Heidi Fleiss . 'Hollywood madam to the stars': Heidi Fleiss, who was convicted on pandering charges in late 1994, appears in court on 30 January 1995 for a hearing to request a retrial . The father-of-six was infamously convicted in 1995 for signing the mortgage to a luxury home used as a base for his daughter's illegal escort business. Surrounded by hundreds of his supporters in court, Dr Fleiss was sentenced to three years’ probation, 625 hours of community service and a $50,000 fine. However he escaped a lengthy prison term and his medical license was not suspended. 'I never intended to cheat or lie or steal,' Dr Fleiss said outside the courtroom. 'I only wanted to help my daughter.' His daughter apologized for her dad's troubles, saying outside court: 'I'm so sorry. He didn't deserve any of this.' Heidi Fleiss, who began a prostitution ring in 1990, had call-girls who serviced some of the biggest stars in Hollywood, such as Charlie Sheen and Timothy Hutton. Fleiss was arrested in 1994 following a police sting in which one of her girls was arrested and cooperated with the police. She was convicted on a slew of charges, including pandering, which were overturned in 1996. She was later charged and convicted of tax evasion, was imprisoned for 20 months and was released to a halfway house in 1998 where she lived for about a year. Celebrity clients: Dr Paul Fleiss announces that Madonna had just delivered a baby girl named Lourdes Maria Ciccone Leon at Good Samaritan Hospital in LA on October 14, 1996 . Patients: Dr Paul Fleiss delivered Madonna's daughter, Lourdes (both pictured at the Vanity Fair Oscar Party in California in 2011) Dr Fleiss was back in the news in October 1996, a year after his sentencing, when he announced outside Good Samaritan Hospital that singer Madonna had given birth to a girl, Lourdes. Dr Fleiss is survived by daughters Heidi, Amy, Shana and Kim., and son Jesse. His son Jason died in a drowning accident. | Dr Paul Fleiss died Saturday from complications 'after he was hit by a car' He pleaded guilty in 1995 to signing the mortgage on a luxury home his daughter used as the headquarters for her prostitution ring . He was sentenced to 3 years probation, community service and a $50,000 fine . The renowned children's doctor was known for opposing circumcision . He reportedly delivered Madonna's daughter Lourdes . | fcb6e2abe0588171e0b0d931abd0226e193005a2 |
By . Marielle Simon For Daily Mail Australia . Would you say yes to this prickly proposal? Dressed in a green body suit, a man proposed in the Shijingshan district of Beijing as 'Cactuar', a character from the video game franchise Final Fantasy. Possibly the game's biggest fan, the man known as Mr Wu, was seen in the middle of a shopping mall bending down on one knee and reciting a Final Fantasy-themed proposal to his girlfriend Min Min. Scroll down for video . Dressed in a green body suit, a man proposed in the Shijingshan district of Beijing as 'Cactuar', a character from Final Fantasy, a Chinese video game franchise . The proposal was placed online by a friend of 'Cactuar', and those passing by who captured the 'intimate moments' between the couple as he proposed. While holding a colourful bouquet of flowers and while donning the green 'Cactuar' costume, Mr Wu said to his beloved: 'I've loved you since Final Fantasy VII, and now we're all the way up to Final Fantasy XIV. It's been so long, and I've never had another in my eyes. I finally have the courage to say this: Min Min, will you marry me?!' The Final Fantasy spectacle made for a happy ending, when Min Min thankfully accepted 'Cactuar's' proposal. Possibly Final Fantasy's biggest fan, the man, surnamed Wu, was seen in the middle of a shopping mall bending down on one knee and reciting a Final Fantasy proposal to his girlfriend Min Min . This is the third romantic stunt in China over the past few weeks, but some Chinese viewers are questioning whether this could be just a publicity stunt for the upcoming release of Final Fantasy XIV. According to china.com the quirky proposal was no stunt. In fact, the 14 year court-ship began when Mr Wu, 12-years-old, first met the then 10-year-old Min Min. Mr Wu offered a colourful bouquet of flowers to his long time girlfriend Min Min . The proposal was placed online by a friend of 'Cactuar', aka Mr Wu and passersby who captured the intimate moments between the couple . Min Min says YES! 'You always said that I'm not romantic, that I don't care for you. Please forgive me! Do you know how excited I am right now? I'm very scared, I waited a long time for this. You might think this costume is strange but did you know Cactuars always strive for love? Looking back at the time, I've loved you since Final Fantasy VII, and now we're all the way up to Final Fantasy XIV. It's been so long, and I've never had another in my eyes. I finally have the courage to say this: Min Min, will you marry me?!' | Chinese man dressed as Final Fantasy character 'Cactuar' proposes to girlfriend in Beijing shopping mall . The man recited a Final Fantasy proposal to his long time girlfriend of 14 years . The proposal was placed online by a friend of 'Cactuar', aka Mr Wu and passersby who captured the intimate moments between the couple . Mr Wu said: 'I've loved you since Final Fantasy IV ... and now we're all the way up to Final Fantasy XIV' | 9fabb4e20094a28c24a972829dce8dd082f36b9e |
(CNN) -- South African President Jacob Zuma was discharged from the hospital Sunday and will rest at home for a few days, state media reported. Doctors hospitalized Zuma, 72, for a "thorough checkup following a demanding schedule" and "are happy with the results," the presidency said, according to the South African Press Association. "The President will continue to rest for a few days and will work mainly from home during the rest period," said Jeff Radebe, minister in the presidency. "We thank the public for the messages of support and good wishes that have been received since the news of the hospitalization of the president was made public." Zuma was re-elected to a second term last month despite economic woes, deadly mining protests and corruption allegations. Doctors had advised Zuma to rest after "a demanding election and transition program to the new administration," his spokesman said Saturday. His party, the African National Congress, won the general election with 62% of the vote, which was lower than the previous election. After a turbulent first term, Zuma said during his inaugural address that his government will perform better this time around and take responsibility for any shortcomings. "We will ... ensure much tighter accountability, with firm consequences where there is a failure to deliver services to our people," he promised. CNN's Christabelle Fombu and Susanna Capelouto contributed to this report. | State media: South African President Jacob Zuma went to the hospital for a checkup . Zuma will rest for a few days and work from home, an official says . Zuma won a second term and was inaugurated last month . Doctors advised rest after his re-election, statement says . | ba0bf31e26beb98e02f1c41c11b85f73c06ce32e |
Russian Orthodox Church spokesman Vsevolod Chaplin said Russia should not be dictated to by liberal Western values . The Orthodox Church in Russia has demanded a national referendum on criminalising gay relationships in a move certain to deepen conflict with the West. The demand comes less than a month before the start of the Winter Olympics in Sochi when a number of participants and visitors are expected to stage protests against laws banning the promotion of homosexuality to young people. President Vladimir Putin - who signed the legislation into force - has promised to make sure that gay and lesbian 'athletes, fans and guests feel comfortable at the Olympic Games.' The spokesman for the church - which . is seen as close to Putin - said Russia should not be dictated to by . liberal Western values, and urged a referendum on a return to a Soviet . law enacted by Stalin which criminalised homosexuality. 'There is no question that society should discuss this issue since we live in a democracy,' said Vsevolod Chaplin. 'For this reason, it is . precisely the majority of our people and not some outside powers that . should decide what should be a criminal offence and what should not.' He . urged in an interview with pro-Kremlin Izvestia website: 'I am . convinced that such sexual contacts should be completely excluded from . the life of our society. 'If we manage to do this through moral pressure, all the better. The Orthodox Church in Russia has demanded a national referendum on criminalising gay relationships in a move certain to deepen conflict with the West. Picuttured: Officers detain gay right activists during a protest in Moscow . President Vladimir Putin has promised to make sure that gay and lesbian 'athletes, fans and guests feel comfortable at the Olympic Games' He . urged in an interview with pro-Kremlin Izvestia website: 'I am . convinced that such sexual contacts should be completely excluded from . the life of our society. 'If we manage to do this through moral pressure, all the better.' 'But if we need to revert to assistance from the law, then let us ask the people if they are ready for this.' Chaplin is seen as a powerful figure within the church and his call has been echoed by MPs. The Kremlin did not immediately respond. 'If you stage a referendum in Russia, . 90 percent would back both the death penalty and the idea of shooting . all homosexuals,' said gay pride parade organiser Eduard Murzin. 'By discriminating against minorities, the authorities want to deflect attention away from other problems.' The demand comes less than a month before the start of the Winter Olympics in Sochi when a number of participants and visitors are expected to stage protests against laws banning the promotion of homosexuality to young people . Russian traffic police officers stand guard during patrol on a road near venues at the Olympic Park near Sochi this week . Clergyman Chaplin recently accused Western governments of being out of touch with values elsewhere in the world. 'Western . civilization still cannot realize that its model of social order is . shared by the minority of people in the world,' he said. The demonstration in a Moscow cathedral by Pussy Riot was linked to the church's alleged close ties to Putin. Two singers were jailed after the protest which Putin branded 'hooliganism'. | Demand comes just before the start of the Winter Olympics in Sochi . Church spokesman said Russia should not be dictated to by Western values . | d9d776877b58393830ac2cadada3e238b1da1fa0 |
Talk about your peaking too early. Normally fans know that these major events are a marathon, not a sprint. And if we did ever forget, then the Olympics comes along every four years to remind us. With a major football tournament, there is often the sense you can still squeeze in a bit of real life early on, before you formally retire to the settee for the foreseeable future. Then Fred goes and flops to the floor for a crucial penalty in super slowmo. And Robin van Persie is neither a bird, nor a plane as he is captured by multi cameras gliding through the air for his headed version of the Marco van Basten volley. VIDEO Scroll down for Thierry Henry on what it means to play for your country . Down he goes: Fred goes down to win Brazil a penalty . In other words, do you remember not many weeks ago when some people were saying ‘England against Italy, 11 o’clock at night? That’s a bit late, isn’t it?’. Cut to Saturday night, and in the words of a Stevie Wonder classic other than the BBC’s theme tune ‘Another Star’, our nation had caught ‘jungle fever’. Even before we went across to Gary Lineker and the boys in Rio, other BBC folk were already at it. ‘High pressure will dominate’ weatherman Matt Taylor told us prophetically on the forecast. Flying through the air: Robin van Persie scored one of the best goals of the tournament . While the lady on continuity duties - presumably wrapped in the flag of St George in her voice over booth - exclaimed ‘let’s do this’. And - because I’m guessing he missed the old ‘barber window’ before he left - even Gary Lineker’s hair looked excited! When we joined him in the BBC studio, he was doing a reasonable impression of a Harry Enfield Double Take Brother. So much so in fact, that when he told us there was ‘a late injury to Buffon’, you couldn’t help thinking, do you mean your one, Gary? Perhaps not surprisingly, the only person who appeared to be remaining super cool under pressure was, mais oui, Thierry Henry. In the hotset: Gary Lineker anchors the BBC's coverage from Rio . The experts: The BBC had Thierry Henry, Alan Shearer and Rio Ferdinand in the studio . While all around him were in shirtsleeves and starting to glow somewhat with expectation, Monsieur Va Va Voom was suaveness itself. And as if to emphasize the point, he was also sporting what might possibly be the only cardigan in the whole of South America. The laconic Frenchman is already proving the perfect foil in a finely balanced pundit line up. Alan Shearer is looking very much at home, to me. He seems to really be relishing the rapport that he and Lineker have been building on Match of the Day. And already in Rio, we’re beginning to feel the benefit. ‘This is Rooney’s biggest game for England. He has to perform’ he insisted. It was a decisive, bold point, and deliberately made. Missed opportunity: Wayne Rooney did not have his best night in an England shirt . Then there’s Rio Ferdinand; in Brazil to continue his burgeoning TV apprenticeship. And as the current Premier League pro in the line-up, he played his role with style. ‘You’ve got to kick him’ was his verdict for handling Mario Balotelli. Which may have sounded rather agricultural, but was part of an astute answer that gave us first hand insight into a man we were about to see in the middle of the action. Not quite with his finger on the pulse was a man who, at times, sounded like someone perhaps ought to check his? Whereas commentator Guy Mowbray sounded like he was in the heart of the action, his co-commentator Phil Neville felt as if he was phoning his work in from his front room. While the missus was upstairs trying to get some sleep! Watching on: Roy Hodgson and Ray Lewington look on as England go behind . And it wasn’t so much what he said, it was just the thoroughly flat lined manner in which he said it. Brother Gary has hit the ground running as a TV pundit. But Phil is going to need some serious producing between now and his next game if he is going to even begin to match his sibling at this tournament. Of course at times, only downbeat will do. And this was the case when Mowbray sighed ‘the anguish of Roy and Ray’ over what could well end up being the enduring TV image of this game. That of Messrs Hodgson and Lewington simultaneously placing their heads in their hands. It was a moment of despair that was reflected on the return to the studio. Shearer in particular was ticking there, having earlier called on Rooney to bring his A game. Backlash: Phil Neville has been criticised for his co-commentary by fans and celebrities on Twitter . He made it clear he didn’t think he had delivered. To which Rio put up a boisterous defence of his former team mate. But Al bit. ‘He’s got to score there, Rio’ he said rather tersely. Causing Ferdinand to further defend his old pal. Even Henry got involved by pointing out that Rooney had ‘done everything but score’. But Shearer was not letting it go. ‘The most important thing’, he responded unequivocally. Well, it was hot, and we had lost. But at least it was honest and passionate. And our French friend did manage to lighten the mood a little towards the end when he said of Pirlo’s late free kick, ‘he’s that good he meant to hit the crossbar’. That got a chuckle from a studio that already feels like you can’t wait to get back to it.But let’s just hope that Phil Neville has also embraced some of that spirit the next time we hear from him. | World Cup gets off to a fast start with exciting games and great goals . Gary Lineker and Alan Shearer have a good relationship on screen but Thierry Henry is the star . Phil Neville has work to do to match brother Gary in the commentary box . | 891f388cd3ba3d478318e894d8bea25c9239298c |
Australians who join forces with Islamic State are being used as 'cannon fodder' by militants, the government has warned. Around a quarter of those who have fled to the Middle East to fight with Islamic State have been killed, as new warnings say that key battlegrounds such as the town of Kobane on the Turkish-Syrian border are fast becoming 'graveyards' for naive foreign fighters. The Australian reported that five or six Australians have been killed in Kobane in recent weeks, as Attorney General George Brandis revealed those who travel to fight with IS are being misled about their role. Scroll down for video . Queensland man Zia Abdul Haq (right), 33, was reportedly killed while fighting with IS in October . 'They (Islamic State) are simply using them as frontline cannon fodder, suicide bombers and propaganda tools,' Senator Brandis told The Australian. He also revealed that the death toll for Australian fighters had risen since last count in September by ASIO, one of those being that of Mohamed Ali Baryalei - a senior Islamic State recruiter. 'The government is aware of around 20 Australians who have died in the conflict in Syria and Iraq', Senator Brandis said. Ginger Jihadi Abdullah Elmir has appeared in two propaganda videos released by Islamic State . Around 20 Australians have now been killed in Iraq and Syria, such as senior IS recruiter Mohamed Ali Baryalei . It is understood nearly 100 Australians are now fighting in Syria and Iraq, such as Khaled Sharrouf (right) The war is fast turning into one of propaganda and publicity, and IS is said to be deliberately exploiting Western recruits by leading them to believe they are crucial to the fight. Queensland man Zia Abdul Haq, 33, is one of the most recent casualties, killed while fighting with IS in October. Around 90 Australians are believed to be still fighting in the area including Australian-born ginger jihadist Abdullah Elmir who has appeared in two propaganda videos released by Islamic State. The 17-year-old, who grew up in Bankstown in Sydney's west, is seen in the latest video on the banks of the river Tigris, surrounded by dozens of men dressed in black wielding weapons. The production, titled An Evening On The Banks Of The Tigris River In The Province Of Nineveh In The Islamic State, is more than six minutes long and shows throngs of militants praying and chanting. Mohamed Elomar was a champion boxer before he joined the brutal Islamic State . Elomar gained notoriety after he tweeted pictures of the severed heads of Syrian soldiers. Professor Greg Barton, from Monash University's Global Terrorism Research Centre, said Elmir was recruited by another wanted terrorist, Mohammad Ali Baryalei, an Australian based in Syria. He said terror recruiters lured targets by making friends through social media, like many sexual predators. He said the boy appeared as a 'pawn in the machine' in the first chilling video. Elmir is not the only Aussie jihadist to have been used for Islamic State publicity. Sydney friends Mohamed Elomar and Khaled Sharrouf gained notoriety after they tweeted pictures of the severed heads of Syrian soldiers. Former boxer Elomar, the son of a successful 1970s Lebanese migrant, previously appeared on pay-per-view TV while championing at the combat sport. This year the 30-year-old’s smiling face was splashed across the news as he held up decapitated heads in Syria and threatened Australia with a terrorist attack. Sharouff a former Sydney resident, is thought to be fighting with IS and took his young sons to the Middle East with him . Sharrouf will be arrested on terrorism-related charges if he ever returns to Australia . Elomar and Sharrouf – who posted a photo on his Twitter account showing his seven-year-old son holding a severed head - are fighting with the al-Qaeda off-shoot and will be arrested on terrorism-related charges if they ever return to Australia. After one Twitter user told him not to come back, he replied: 'No u idiot injured, dnt worry wouldn't want to go bk u should be more worried about wats coming to australia! [sic]' Meanwhile, there are also reports that 20 fighters have returned home. An Australian man who has spent time on the frontline in Syria supported Senator Brandis' comments. Yehye El Kholed has been on numerous humanitarian trips to the area and warned that Australians were dying for the 'pride' of the leader of Islamic State Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi. Kholed also echoed the claims that Western fighters were being deliberately misled, saying many militants often do not even know who they're fighting. The Australian government has warned Australians who flee to fight with Islamic State are being treated as expendable by the militants . Around 90 Australians are believed to be still fighting in the area, and there are also reports that 20 fighters have returned home . Militant Islamist fighters take part in a military parade along the streets of Syria's northern Raqqa province in June . | Western foreign fighters are being treated as expendable by Islamic State . At least 20 Australians who fled to fight with the militants have now died . Attorney General George Brandis has warned they are simply being used as 'cannon fodder' | 76eb14e981565c273f28e18520840603b61e2d39 |
Sportsmail brings you the second column from Formula One star Nico Rosberg. The Mercedes driver looks back at his victory in Australia and ahead to this weekend's Malaysian Grand Prix. My victory at the Australian Grand Prix was a special moment for the team. For us all to be together – and I was with my fiancée Vivian, too – it was great. But we didn't really celebrate too much because it should only be the beginning. We swiftly turned our attention and focus to the next race here in Malaysia, which shows that maturity is a huge strength within the team. In fact 'mature' is probably the best word to describe us at the moment. We have grown as a team and our time will come very, very soon where we will be winning more races – already to have success is a huge thing for us. Cheer we go: Nico Rosberg celebrates his victory at the Australian Grand Prix, and right, with fiancée Vivian . All smiles: Rosberg and his Mercedes team pose for a celebratory picture following the Australian Grand Prix . After the race, I went to Bali on holiday with my fiancée and some friends, which was very nice, but throughout the trip, I remained in close contact with the team because there was so much that we learned from Melbourne, and subsequently there was so much information to go through – even while I was on holiday! Despite winning by almost 25 seconds, my victory in Australia was not as straightforward as it appeared. There were various issues that we had to deal with. The tyres, for example, were right on the edge of being too cold, so I had to keep the pace up all the time to ensure they stayed at the right temperature. Of course, pre-season testing had gone well so we expected to look good in Australia, but to have such an advantage was still a surprise. Understandably, I was very happy with that. Getting the job done: Rosberg leads the drivers' standings after romping to victory at the Australian Grand Prix . I'll drink to that: Rosberg toasts with Daniel Ricciardo - the Red Bull man was later disqualified from the race . In Melbourne, we had the fastest car, but we must be careful because Malaysia is a totally different story, so we must keep an open mind. However, it is possible that we can do really well here, too. Daniel Ricciardo was disqualified from . the Australian Grand Prix. I don't wish to comment on the details because I don't have all the information, but it was definitely a big pity . because he is Australian and to have an Aussie on the podium was a great . thing for the home crowd. There have been lots of comments about the new sound of Formula One. The thing with this sport is that we always tend to focus on the negatives, but there are so many more positives this year. The power units are much more contemporary and fuel efficient. The pack has also been shuffled around so there isn't always the same winner and that is very good for Formula One. I can understand people's views about the noise. It isn't the same as with the V8 engines, but let's focus on the positives. We are going to have some good racing for sure, and the cars are really exciting to drive and watch, from what I saw after the race. We shouldn’t rush into anything but take our time and see how things unfold over the next races. I have been in Kuala Lumpur since Sunday. Petronas are the team's biggest partner, so I have been representing them and doing a lot of PR. We have done a lot of interesting things, like diving with sharks for instance, and it is great to do different activities, but the main thing is the Malaysian people are backing us and they are really enthusiastic about our team which is excellent to see. Before and after: The Mercedes driver spent time at an aquarium in Malaysia where he dived with sharks . It has obviously been a very difficult week for Malaysia with the focus on the tragic events of flight MH370, and my thoughts and sympathies go to all the families and friends who have been affected. I only hope that, with the race this weekend, we can help to focus a more positive light on Malaysia and its wonderful people. The Malaysian Grand Prix is one of the toughest on the calendar because of the intense heat and humidity, so you have to be very fit. I try and acclimatise to the conditions by staying outside as much as possible and doing sport outdoors. It is vital to stay hydrated, too. In fact, I am drinking right now because during the race I can sweat up to four litres which is massive and probably double the amount of a regular race. The race will be very demanding. By the end of the grand prix, your concentration levels will not be as high as they were at the beginning nor my fitness which will have reduced, too. No hard feelings: Lewis Hamilton (left) and Rosberg shake hands after last year's Malaysian Grand Prix . At last year's Malaysian Grand Prix, I was asked to 'hold station' behind my team-mate Lewis Hamilton, but I don't want to go into that because it is history. What I can say is that this year we will give you some exciting racing because that is what Mercedes is here to do. We want to entertain and put on a good show. At the same time there will be circumstances where we as drivers have to put the team first, and they have already been discussed so everything is clear. Closed chapter: Rosberg says his incident with Hamilton at last year's race has been consigned to history . Bayern Munich won the Bundesliga title earlier this week which is an amazing achievement. I am very happy about it. They were rewarded with the Laureus Team of the Year award on Wednesday night which was great to see because they fully deserve it. I was at the ceremony because it was held here in Kuala Lumpur, and I am an ambassador, so it was nice to be there. We face Manchester United in the Champions League next week which could be very exciting. United aren't at the top of their game at the moment so hopefully we will beat them, and I am confident that we can. Ambassador: Rosberg with future wife Vivien at this week's Laureus Awards in Kuala Lumpur . Nico Rosberg's fee for his column . will be donated to the Grand Prix Mechanics’ Charitable Trust, which is . dedicated to providing help to former and current Formula One mechanics . and their families, putting F1 mechanics throughout the world in touch . with each other and raising funds to help in times of need. You can . follow Rosberg on Twitter @nico_rosberg and MERCEDES AMG PETRONAS @MercedesAMGF1. | My Mercedes team didn’t really celebrate winning the Australian Grand Prix . Victory in Melbourne wasn’t as straightforward as it seemed . It’s a big pity Daniel Ricciardo got disqualified in season opener . The Malaysian Grand Prix is one of the toughest races because of the humidity. I sweat up to four litres - double a regular race . I’m confident Bayern Munich will beat United in the Champions League . | e7c902b65f2e68212ee51a125293b34fec2a5fab |
By . Leon Watson . PUBLISHED: . 03:47 EST, 26 May 2013 . | . UPDATED: . 06:16 EST, 26 May 2013 . The creator of hit U.S. gang crime drama The Wire has claimed legalising cannabis would only help 'white middle-class kids' and there is a 'racial bias' in his country's multi-billion dollar war on drugs. Former Baltimore crime reporter David Simon, whose bleak portrait of his drug-ravaged home city has been hailed as the greatest television drama of all time, said he wanted the drugs debate re-framed. Speaking at a debate hosted by the Observer at the Royal Institution in London, Simon called the government crusade against drugs 'a holocaust in slow motion'. Drugs debate: Producer David Simon at the premiere of HBO's The Wire in 2006 in New York City. The thought-provoking series went on to be a massive hit . Dominic West (left) as Jimmy McNulty speaking to youths on the streets of Baltimore in The Wire . Asked about recent votes in Colorado and Washington to legalise marijuana, he said: 'I'm against it. 'The last thing I want . to do is rationalise the easiest, the most benign end of this. The . whole concept needs to be changed, the debate reframed. 'I want the thing to fall as one complete edifice. If they manage to let a few white middle-class people off the hook, that's very dangerous. If they can find a way for white kids in middle-class suburbia to get high without them going to jail and getting them to think that what they do is a million miles away from black kids taking crack, that is what politicians would do.' Simon claimed if marijuana were legalised it would mean another 10 to 40 years of 'assigning people of colour to this dystopia', the Observer reported. He argued that the American economy has left 10 to 12 per cent of the population 'abandoned' without any hope of finding work. As a result, he claimed the dealing drugs was the only industry left in places such as Baltimore and east St Louis. The Wire creator Simon said the drugs war is making cost-effective policing on the streets of Baltimore too easy, to the detriment of police work on non drug-related crime. Pictured is a scene from series one of the drama . Jimmy McNulty (left), played by Dominic West, and Detective Bunk Moreland (right), played by Wendell Pierce, in The Wire . Simon said Baltimore had seen a decrease in arrests for non-drug offences from 70 to 90 per cent to 20 to 40 per cent . He described it as making 'cost-efficient' policing in Baltimore whereby small-time dealers are picked up on the street easy for the authorities. But he said criminal activity other than drugs was ignored because prosecutions were expensive and time-consuming. Simon said Baltimore had seen a decrease in arrests for non-drug offences from 70 to 90 per cent to 20 to 40 per cent, while drug-related arrests increased on some beats from 5,000 to 30,000. Simon concluded that the policy has made the city more unsafe while drugs have become cheaper and more available than ever. Simon's long-running saga, which looked at the dark underbelly of the city of Baltimore, ran for five seasons on HBO. Each season of The Wire focused on a different facet of the drugs trade in the city of Baltimore, Maryland. In order they were the drug trade on the streets, the seaport system, corruption within the city government and bureaucracy, the school system, and the print news media. The Wire, which ran from 2002 to 2008 . and became a huge cult hit, being hailed by many critics as the best . television programme of the last decade or even of all time. | David Simon said he wanted the drugs debate re-framed . He called U.S. crusade against drugs 'a holocaust in slow motion' Speaking in London, Simon said he's against legalisation of marijuana . | 1667cf92766282cec959db618dff288eeadf54ea |
By . Julian Robinson . A midwife insists she is still 'a nice person' despite constantly seeing raised eyebrows from people looking at her heavily tattooed arms. Mother-of-one Claire O'Sullivan, whose tattoos include skulls, butterflies and mermaids, says 'kindness, compassion and ability' are the key to being a good nurse rather than just having clear skin. Now the 30-year-old, of Gwersyllt in North Wales, is hoping to be crowned Miss Tattoo UK and is on a mission to be an inspiration for all tattooed women. Midwife Claire O'Sullivan, from Gwersyllt in North Wales, says she is 'a nice person' despite people raising their eyebrows at her heavily tattooed arms while she is working on the ward . Midwife Claire O'Sullivan, who is bidding to become Miss Tattoo UK. On her back she has a large dove overlooking two stars to commemorate the death of a close friend who left behind two children . The 30-year-old, who has a host of . tattoos as well as body piercings, likens body art to people decorating . their houses and wants to dispel negative stereotypes about tattooed . people. She admits some eyebrows have been raised over her heavily tattooed arms especially when she rolls up her scrubs on the wards at her work place in North Wales. Her tattoos include a mum with a baby . symbolising her work as a midwife on her left arm and a mermaid with a . baby on her right arm which Claire had done as a tribute to daughter . Molly. On . her back she has a large dove overlooking two stars to commemorate the . death of a close friend who left behind two children. Other pieces . include a large rose-based design up her right leg and a tribal chest . piece. But she wants to prove people wrong about judging her on the way she looks. Ms O'Sullivan said: 'Working in the healthcare environment means I have to have the skin on my arms exposed to ensure good hand hygiene and to prevent the spread of infection. Midwife Claire O'Sullivan, 30, says she has worked hard to ensure she is seen as an equal to her peers at work - despite her body art raising eyebrows on the ward . 'This means exposing my extensively tattooed arms and I have worked hard to ensure I am seen as an equal to my peers. 'Despite having tattoos, I am a nice person. 'I have raised some eyebrows along the way and have always tried to prove that kindness, compassion and ability is what you need to make a good midwife, not clear skin. 'Tattooed people come from all walks of life. I am a mother and I have had to deal with raised eyebrows at the school gate and my daughter Molly has had comments made to her about my appearance. 'My daughter understands the importance of respecting individuals for who they are not what they look like and she has a very healthy outlook on life as a result and would never dream of judging a person on their clothing, their appearance or their choice of self expression.' Midwife Claire O'Sullivan, who is a finalist in Miss Tattoo UK next month, has tattoos representing her daughter Molly as well as to commemorate the death of a close friend who left behind two children . Ms O'Sullivan said she was overjoyed . to have come first in an online poll of 40 women hoping to qualify for . the final of the competition. And now the proud mother, who is also a singer in rock band Thunderlizard, will compete against nine other women at the Liverpool Tattoo Convention next month in the hope of being crowned Miss Tattoo UK. The final of the competition, now in its third year, will be held at the Britannia Adelphi Hotel in the city centre on May 17 as part of the three-day convention on all things body art. | Midwife Claire O'Sullivan, from North Wales, in final of Miss Tattoo UK . Mother-of-one admits her tattooed arms have caused 'raised eyebrows' She insists 'Kindness, compassion and ability' are all a midwife needs . 30-year-old wants to be an inspiration for all people with tattoos . | 2dfd6c82d2d9a52f37e244b252b659fd735132ce |
New York (CNN) -- Attorneys for the family of a 9/11 victim said they will push forward with a wrongful death lawsuit against United Airlines and a private security company despite a federal judge's decision to dismiss the Massachusetts Port Authority from the suit. The lawsuit, originally filed in Manhattan federal court, alleges that Massport, United Airlines and security company Huntleigh USA were responsible for the security breaches that led to the death of Mark Bavis, 31, who was aboard United Flight 175 when it crashed into the World Trade Center's South Tower on September 11, 2001. Donald Migliori, an attorney for Bavis' family, said that Wednesday's dismissal of Massport -- the agency that owns and operates Boston Logan International Airport -- from the lawsuit was a disappointment, but that it narrows the case's focus around security on the airplane itself. "It will be very targeted to United Airlines," he said of the lawsuit. "United failed wholesale at keeping the American public safe." The suit claims that security screeners at Logan International had trouble communicating in English, were unable to detect weapons such as the chemical spray Mace, and were operating under a general manager who was unaware of the al Qaeda terrorist threat. "This was a tragic event and we are actively working to resolve this case," said United Airlines spokeswoman Megan McCarthy. From the start, the defendants have said they are not liable for the attacks. Massport filed a motion to dismiss in May, claiming that the Federal Aviation Administrations regulations for screening passengers and their baggage was the airline's responsibility, not the airport's. Massport was dismissed from the suit on Wednesday. "The entire Logan airport community will forever carry in its heart the events of September 11, 2001," said Massport interim CEO David Mackey in a statement released after the dismissal. "Our thoughts and prayers will always be with the victims of that tragic day and their families." The Bavis family is one of 96 families who opted not to settle through the September 11th Victim Compensation Fund, Migliori said. Their lawsuit, which is the last remaining suit brought by family members of 9/11 victims, was filed in 2002. "There are lessons that can be learned from this and they want those lessons to be viewed and not buried," Migliori said. The trial is set to start November 7. CNN's Sheila Steffen contributed to this report . | The family of a 9/11 victim filed the lawsuit . The suit also names United Airlines and security company Huntleigh USA . It claims security screeners at Boston's airport were unable to detect weapons . | f6bdaa6b3dda906b6115334fc57aeacf22fc855d |
There is an 800lb elephant in the room for this Australian Open semi-final in the shape of Dani Vallverdu, but my advice would be: don’t make it personal. Andy Murray’s match with Tomas Berdych will be won between the lines of the tennis court, although there is no doubt it can be strange for all concerned when a coach switches corners. I experienced this in 2003 in my first match as a coach against Andre Agassi following our eight-year association. I was working with Andy Roddick at Queen’s Club and he won in three sets against Andre. The whole experience gave me a vaguely sick feeling. Andy Murray celebrates his straight sets win over Nick Kyrgios in the quarter-finals . Murray is set to come up against his long-term friend Dani Vallverdu, who now coaches Berdych . The key to this match is whether Murray can maintain the more aggressive style he has been playing. The stats don’t lie and there is a reason Andy has a 4-6 record against the Czech: too often he has tried to beat him relying on his more defensive game and most of the time it has not worked. If I was coaching Andy, I would tell him he needs to keep playing ‘first-strike’ tennis — being aggressive with the first ball that is there to hit. He has to take the ball on if it is anywhere near the centre of the court, and must avoid giving Berdych ‘meatballs’, those more passive plays that give him the chance to belt heavy groundstroke winners. The second serve will be crucial for Andy. He has been averaging 87mph on it here as opposed to 84mph in 2014 — an improvement, but still not enough by the highest standards. Novak Djokovic tends to average around 100mph and Murray needs to get closer to that. Tomas Berdych is Murray's next opponent after he saw off Rafael Nadal 6-2, 6-0, 7-6 in the quarter-finals . Murray, working on his serve in practice on Wednesday, will have to serve well against the big hitting Czech . If the Czech has a weakness, it is that his second serve tends to be the most predictable of the top 10, but there are already signs Vallverdu is doing a good job coaching him. Tomas is picking when to really go for a winner much better. Before he would strike out too soon, especially when out wide, but now he is more intelligent. Another key for Tomas is that, at 29, he has improved his movement around the court significantly. Conditions are going to play a part. If, as expected, it is a cool evening and the ball flies relatively slowly, that favours the greater power of Berdych. But if it is significantly breezy, then Murray’s control is superior in the wind. Put me on the spot and I will say that there will be four tight sets, with the Brit going through to another final. The two-time Grand Slam champion has been in fine form so far in Melbourne, aiming for a fourth final . | Andy Murray faces Tomas Berdych in Australian Open semis on Thursday . The Czech World No 7 is coached by Andy Murray's friend Dani Vallverdu . Murray has a 4-6 head-to-head record against Berdych . The winner will face Novak Djokovic or Stan Wawrinka in the final . Click here for more from Australian Open 2015 . | 68b7ecb52f97e03da48889c6d951f567a0446da0 |
By . Daily Mail Reporter . Last updated at 5:31 PM on 5th August 2011 . A fugitive sex offender who police want to question over the disappearance of a young nursing student Holly Bobo has been arrested. Victor George Wall, 43, who was convicted of molesting a child in Washington state more than 20 years ago, was found at his girlfriend's home in Duluth, Minnesota. Miss Bobo, 20, from Parsons, Tennessee, went missing four months ago after she was abducted from her home by a man wearing camouflage clothing. Abducted: Holly Bobo went missing from her home in April . Wall was asleep at the time, arrested without incident and booked into the St. Louis County Jail. He will be extradited to Tennessee. He used to live near Bobo's Tennessee home. Victor Wall, seen here in a 2007 mugshot, was arrested at his girlfriend's home . Bobo, a cousin of country music star Whitney . Duncan was last seen being dragged across the carport from her family . home towards a wooded area. Her heartbroken parents Dana and Karen Bobo have continued the search for their daughter but the case has remained unsolved. Her brother Clint Bobo, 25, told . police that he saw his sister outside the house with a man before she . was kidnapped at around 7.30am on April 13. Mr Bobo only saw the man from the back and . told police he believed at the time it was the University of Tennessee . student’s boyfriend. But shocked Mr Bobo later called 911 after he witnessed an attack and saw blood outside the home. Miss Bobo’s lunchbox was later found several miles away. Police had said they believe the man . who kidnapped Miss Bobo could live in or near the college student’s home-town . of Parsons. Officials have not yet reported any previous connection between Wall and Miss Bobo, reported Fox News. Miss Bobo was abducted as she was leaving . for university.She is 5ft 3in tall with shoulder-length blonde hair and . weighs around 110lbs. Help: Volunteers unloaded from trucks and trailers in April to begin searching along rural roads for evidence . Devastated: Her parents Dan and Karen Bobo made an appeal for anyone with details to come forward . She was wearing a pink shirt and light blue jeans at the time of her suspected abduction. Devastated family and friends have been working with police to try and find her. 'Please pray for her': Country singer Whitney Duncan, Holly's cousin, appealed on Facebook . Police conducted a grid . search of the area on horseback and used sniffer dogs and a helicopter . in a bid to find her. The missing student's parents Dan and Karen have made repeated pleas for help in finding their daughter. Barely able to contain his tears, Dan Bobo said earlier this year: 'We've got thousands of people, we've got friends and neighbours and people we don't even know helping us. When asked what he would say to his missing daughter he replied: 'I would tell her I love her, and tell her to call us. 'We are hopeful she is going to be brought back soon.' Speculating on who may have abducted his daughter, Mr Bobo added: 'The way it looks to me myself, it might have been somebody close. 'Somebody that kinda knew our routine, knew when she (Karen) left, when I left, when my daughter left to go to school, is what I kinda got in my mind, but I don't know that for sure.' Barely able to talk, Karen Bobo said: 'Holly I love you so much, please try and get back to us.' Miss Bobo's cousin, the country singer Whitney Duncan, also made an appeal at the time for help to her fans to pray for Holly's safe return. My cousin Holly was kidnapped this . morning,' she wrote on Facebook. 'Please pray for her & our family. This is really sad & shocking.' She tweeted: 'Lord have mercy. I feel . like I'm walking in a nightmare. Thanks for all the prayers and please . keep spreading the amber alert.' Happy: Holly Bobo seen here with her sister and the family dog before the disappearance . Wilderness: Search parties have been scouring the rural areas around Holly's home in the hunt for clues . Abduction: The family home in Darden, Tennessee, where Holly Bobo disappeared earlier this year . Bud Grimes, a spokesman for the University of Tennessee at Martin, said Miss Bobo was studying to be a licensed practical nurse through the Tennessee Technology Center. She was taking classes at the university's extension campus in Parsons, but was not a UT-Martin student. Family friend David Ivey, whose son went to high school with Miss Bobo, said the young woman has an 'angelic voice' and loved to show it off in talent contests at school. She also would sing solos at Corinth Baptist Church where she was a member, he said. Her pastor, Don Franks, from the Corinth Baptist Church, said he has known the young woman all her life and called her 'a fine young Christian girl' with the voice of an angel. | Holly Bobo went missing in April from her home in Parsons, Tennessee . Convicted child molester Victor George Wall arrested in Duluth, Minnesota . Family continue search for missing student as case remains unsolved . | 65ba4deb0376caf6501862d5ed88fb3750fa5c44 |
By . Daily Mail Reporter . PUBLISHED: . 16:25 EST, 31 December 2013 . | . UPDATED: . 17:41 EST, 31 December 2013 . If you want to keep that New Year's cheer tonight, wrap up warm - because 2014 is expected to start with freezing temperatures and a generous dusting of snow. Revelers watching the ball drop in New York City will see just a sprinkling of snow as a blizzard moves north before blanketing Chicago with as many as ten inches throughout the night. Party-goers celebrating the start of the year at the city's Navy Pier midnight fireworks can expect to see a significant snow storm, WLF meteorologist Mike Caplan warned. 'We're forecasting 6 inch snowfall totals . widespread across the area and, in some cases, it will be 10 inch or more . from the looks of it,' he said. Blizzard: A woman battles snow in Wilkes-Barre, Pennsylvania as the country prepares to welcome 2014 . Fighter: Tony Orelski clears snow from around vehicles in his neighborhood in Erie, Pennsylvania on Tuesday . The Weather Channel said temperatures in Chicago should reach around 15 degrees, while New York City is expected to endure temperatures around 23 degrees and clear skies. 'Temperatures across the central U.S. will continue to be 10-30 degrees below normal as an arctic airmass remains in place,' the National Weather Service said. 'Gusty winds in this region will contribute to extremely cold wind chills.' One of the coldest celebrations could be in Plymouth, Wisconsin, where the city will drop a large ball of cheese to mark the start of 2014, and where temperatures are expected to hit 0 degrees. But in other parts of the country, celebrations will be graced with balmier temperatures. The warmest welcome for 2014 may take place in Key West, Florida, where party-goers watching a six-foot conch shell being dropped, can expect temperatures of 72 degrees. Forecast: Meteorologists warned heavy snow could hit the Midwest and the northern states tonight . Blanketed: A Toronto street is covered with snow and broken tree limbs ahead of New Year celebrations . Over on the other coast, revelers in Los Angeles can expect temperatures of 48 degrees. But . the rest of the country should brace itself for two weather systems . which are expected to merge and bring a major snowstorm as early as . Thursday. According to AccuWeather . Canada Weather Expert Brett Anderson, 'Some all-time record lows could . be challenged in parts of southern Quebec, northern New England and . northern upstate New York, when the core of the cold air settles in . Wednesday night.' Highs in Chicago will only just reach the teens. Confetti or snow? Revelers at New York's Times Square will need to dress warmly . Getting ready: A police officer uses a metal detector to search a person entering the Times Square pens . Joy: Veronica Boshen and Brittany Wells, of Allentown, Pennsylvania, get ready to party in Times Square . The National Weather Service says . there will be bitter cold across the Northern Plains and Upper Midwest, . as well as light to moderate snow. The Gulf Coast can expect cold and wet weather, spreading eastward. High . temperatures for the northeastern half of the Dakotas into Minnesota . will remain in the single digits or below zero - which is a good 20 to . 30 degrees below averagefor this time of year. Across the southern United States it will be cold and wet with light rain on Tuesday night and heavier falls Wednesday. Prediction: Two storms will converge on the Northeast on Thursday with the potential for a major snowstorm. How quickly they get together and strengthen will determine which areas are hit with very heavy snow and which areas will have a more manageable snowfall . The storm could have a major negative impact on travel for people returning from holiday destinations, heading back to school or resuming business activities . | Freezing weather is predicted around the country for the new year and parts of Chicago could see between six and 10 inches of snow . Temperatures will remain 10-30 degrees below normal, but temperatures in the south and on the West Coast will be balmy and wet . | 07fa28cbfc6b9da70fa42848f1d037db530a9d47 |
A man dressed as Santa is in custody after shooting two people early Sunday morning at a Detroit gas station. The unidentified victims - both 29-year-old men - were reportedly recovering after the shooting. Officers said the gunman reportedly felt threatened after an argument between himself and the two men at the Speedway on East Jefferson Ave. and I-375. Scroll down for video . Bad Santa: This suspect was arrested after allegedly shooting two people after a . Officers said the gunman reportedly felt threatened after an argument between himself and the two men at the Speedway on East Jefferson Ave. and I-375 . Detroit police officer Adam Madera told CBS Detroit that the man dressed as Santa had reason to believe the situation was going to escalate. 'An individual who was dressed as Santa and two other individuals got into some kind of confrontation,; he said. 'Two of the individuals went to their vehicle; they believe that Santa felt maybe that they were going to get a weapon. He then shot these individuals.' A man dressed as Santa is in custody after shooting two people early Sunday morning at a Detroit gas station. The suspect was then chased from the scene on foot by two off-duty officers. The suspect's name has yet to be released to the public. One victim is said to have non-life threatening injuries. The other remains in critical condition. | The unidentified victims - both 29-year-old men - were reportedly recovering after the shooting . Unidentified suspect chased down by off-duty cops . Man in Santa suit said he believed he was in danger as argument with two men escalated . | a354826283e8231bd90cc8afa25c1a9f8005e709 |
By . James Nye . A shocking photograph of a sick and distressed coyote cramped into a tiny cage has again placed Animal Planet's troubled Call of the Wildman reality show firmly under the spotlight. According to the whistleblower who took the depressing picture, the coyote had been captured and held for three days beforehand for use in a scripted scene in which the show's star, Ernie 'Turtleman' Brown, Jr., lures and traps a wild coyote lurking in a barn. Even more damning for Animal Planet, the person who provided the photograph alleges that when the time came to film the scene, the coyote was too sick, so the show runners paid $500 to have another one transported from Ohio to Kentucky - which is illegal. Caged: This is the coyote that was allegedly held while sick for Animal Planet's Call of the Wildman show for use in filming in May 2013 . It is then alleged, that even with the replacement coyote on set, the producers still brought the sick one on location for the May 10, 2013 filming, 'just in case something happens'. The scripted segment was aired in the episode Lured into Danger in July 2013 and was filmed on May 10, 2013 in Waddy, Kentucky, three days after the photograph of the caged coyote was taken in Bowling Green Kentucky. According to an investigation by Mother Jones, Sharp Entertainment - the production company commissioned by Animal Planet to make Call of the Wildman - obtained the first coyote through the Kentucky Nuisance Wildlife Control Operators (NWCO). Mother Jones' investigation also alleges that even though the sick coyote was captured by a licensed wildlife control operator - the show broke Kentucky regulations that forbid keeping captive wildlife for more than 48 hours. More-so, the investigation also got hold of government documents that show state wildlife regulators had been warning Turtleman about violations and animal welfare issues since March 2012. According to the allegations of the man who provided the photograph, a NWCO official captured the coyote at the request of the show and 'was transported for hours in cramped conditions'. Reality show: The show follows the exploits of Kentucky woodsman Ernie Brown, Jr., nicknamed 'The Turtleman' as he traps nuisance animals across the United States . However, it is not known if the coyote was kept inside the cage it was pictured in for three whole days, but regardless, as the May 10 shoot approached the coyote was sick and had begun to limp. The fact it was brought to the filming location along with its replacement left the source who provided the photograph to Mother Jones, 'sickened'. Another person who witnessed the coyote said that it 'was just sitting there, so they had to get another coyote fairly quickly.' Internal documents obtained from Sharp Entertainment reveal that the second coyote was obtained from Kokas Exotics, a farm in Ohio that breeds exotic animals. Its owner, John Kokas made the news in 2011 when one of his own kangaroos attacked and injured him. The new coyote was fetched by staffers from Sharp on May 9 for $500 and brought to Kentucky. This is against Kentucky law and while the state can exempt zoos or researchers to do this, it is uncommon. Friends: Eric Brown is aided in the show by his friend Neal James - but it has come under fire in the last year for allegations of animal cruelty during filming . Chad Soard, an official with the Kentucky Department of Fish and Wildlife Resources told Mother Jones the main concern is rabies. According to Kentucky officials there are no recorded exemptions dated on May 9 or 10 for the transportation of a coyote into Kentucky. So far representatives from Animal Planet and Sharp Entertainment have refused to comment on the matter. However, Sharp’s Vice President Dan Adler denied the practice of snaring animals deliberately for the reality show and insisted that the 'coyote in question was determined to be sick by the licensed officers on location, and the determination was made not to film with it because production policy is not to film with sick or injured animals. 'On the day in question you bring up, a licensed NWCO officer arrived to a location with a coyote he had caught after receiving a nuisance call, and when he brought it to us, the licensed NWCO officers on set moved it from the smaller cage it was caught in to an appropriately sized cage.' In its tagline, Call of the Wildman is supposed to give nusiance wildlife 'a second lease on life.' During previous allegations that the show is too scripted, Sharp Entertainment has said that 'NWCO officers are compensated for bringing animals to production that they have captured in the regular course of their work.' Commissioned: Animal Planet have said 'The notion that there is a culture of 'neglect' at the only network that is devoted to celebrating and protecting animals is absurd' Animal rights groups, already sickened by prior allegations of abuse by the show have called for the show to be axed. 'It appears that numerous Kentucky animal-protection laws were violated in the way that this ailing coyote was handled, and PETA is filing a complaint with the Kentucky Department of Fish & Wildlife Resources,' said People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA), Foundation Deputy Counsel, Delcianna Winders. 'PETA will also file a complaint with the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service regarding numerous apparent violations of the federal Lacey Act in the production of this episode of ‘Call of the Wildman’ and numerous others.' Earlier this year, Mother Jones allaged that the production team associated with Call of the Wildman mistreated animals and 'found "evidence of a culture that tolerated legally and ethically dubious activities.' The allegations included a zebra being sedated and animals being trapped beforehand only to be caught again as part of a script. Legal warnings for Call of the Wildman: In August 2013, Kentucky Fish and Wildlife sent Ernie Brown a warning letter that some of his actions on the show were a violation of his Nuisance Wildlife Control Officer permit . Animal Planet released a statement to CNN's New Day, saying in part: . 'The life and welfare of all animals is of paramount importance to Animal Planet. It is core to our ethos that every animal's life has value... The notion that there is a culture of 'neglect' at the only network that is devoted to celebrating and protecting animals is absurd. 'Claims in the 'Mother Jones' article were brought to the production company's attention nearly nine months ago. Where appropriate, Sharp Entertainment promptly instituted changes to further ensure the welfare of animals while filming the series.' it read. Dan Adler, senior vice president of Sharp Entertainment, said "The idea that there is a culture of neglect or abuse on the show is completely false ... Everyone on the show from staff to talent love animals.' 'The idea that animals are killed or drugged on 'Call of the Wildman' is false,' he said. The U.S. Department of Agriculture, which enforces the Animal Welfare . Act, told CNN in January it is 'fact-finding' but has not launched an . investigation. | Photograph shows 'sick and unresponsive' coyote captured for use in Call of the Wildman on set in Kentucky in May 2013 . Picture was taken by member of the production team concerned for the animals welfare . Coyote was allegedly held for three days - the legal limit for trapped animals in Kentucky is 48 hours . The animal was so sick that a replacement was brought in from Ohio for $500 from an exotic animal breeder . This contravenes inter-state laws designed to stop the spread of rabies . This is the latest revelation to hit the troubled show after allegations of animal abuse earlier in the year . Animal Planet and production company Sharp Entertainment have called allegations of mistreatment 'absurd' | bc20f2f635528e08a4efe9dd4fb0fc1a0f2c0390 |
Domestic violence campaigners are calling for a boycott of the hotly-anticipated Fifty Shades of Grey film because they say it 'glorifies' and 'romanticizes' abuse against women. The National Center on Sexual Exploitation has launched a campaign titled Fifty Shades Is Abuse, which urges people to donate to local women's shelters instead of buying movie tickets. And Dr. Gail Dines, a professor of sociology and women's studies at Wheelock College in Boston, says she will definitely not be seeing the film because any 'woman who's ever met a real-life Christian Grey does everything she can to avoid repeating it.' The National Center on Sexual Exploitation has launched a campaign titled Fifty Shades Is Abuse, which urges people to donate to local women's shelters instead of buying movie tickets . She adds, in an article for verilymag.com, that the plot 'eroticses violence against women' and renders 'invisible the predatory tactics the 'hero' uses to groom, seduce, and abuse a much younger woman.' Amanda Smith, who is helping run the Fifty Shades Is Abuse initiative, agrees with Dr Dines' standpoint. Commenting on the upcoming release, which contains scenes of bondage and sadomasochism, she told the Associated Press: 'It's such a lie. 'Telling women that they should want to endure this kind of physical abuse and telling them that women want it, and also pushing the lie that if women are obedient and subservient enough, then they can fix a violent and controlling man.' American Family Association President, Tim Wildmon, also believes that Fifty Shades of Grey topic is not one that should be mainstreamed to audiences aged 17 and up. Hotly-anticipated: Dakota Johnson, left, and Jamie Dornan appear in a scene from Fifty Shades of Grey . Under-fire: The film is getting a big thumbs-down from religious and other groups who say it's degrading to women and endorses sexual violence . 'We'd like to see theater chains refuse to take the movie,' he said. Thistle Pettersen planned to join picketers outside Marcus Point Cinema in Madison, Wisconsin, on Thursday during a protest organized by the feminist Radical Alliance of Women. She said the group would carry rainbow-hued signs in contrast to grey and distribute Valentine's Day cards with information about domestic violence abuse intervention. 'I was really prompted by hearing stories of women who have survived that kind of abuse,' Pettersen, a musician and environmental activist, said. Religious groups have also slammed Fifty Shades of Grey. In a letter to members of the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops, Buffalo Bishop Richard Malone said the film provided an opportunity to remind the faithful of the church's idea of marriage and 'the moral reprehensibility of all domestic violence and sexual exploitation.' 'The contrast between the message of Fifty Shades of Grey and God's design for self-giving and self-sacrificing love, marriage and sexual intimacy could not be greater,' Malone wrote in his role as the conference's chairman of the committee on Laity, Marriage, Family Life and Youth. Blockbuster: Despite the outcry, theaters are unlikely to take the film off their playlists - here moviegoers are seen queuing for the world premiere of Fifty Shades of Grey in London . Despite the outcry, theaters are unlikely to take the film off their playlists. The ticket-buying site Fandango has said pre-sales have propelled the movie, which stars Jamie Dornan and Dakota Johnson, into the company's all-time Top 5 for R-rated selections, and fans of the book are giddily building the big-screen version into Valentine's weekend plans. The movie - which is set to gross more than $100 million at the box office - opens in theaters Friday. It's based on a best-selling book by E L James about a college student and her torrid affair with a 27-year-old billionaire with a penchant for bondage, discipline, sadism and masochism. James, who wrote the erotic trilogy that launched the film, has heard the backlash and says the critics have it all wrong. 'Who is interested, as a woman, in reading about abuse? Why have these books taken off if they are about abuse?' said James, who discussed the film with the AP over the weekend. 'Domestic violence, rape, are unacceptable. They are not entertaining in any way. 'Let me be absolutely clear. Everything that happens in this book is safe and consensual . . . What do I need to do to convince people?' | The National Center on Sexual Exploitation has launched a campaign titled Fifty Shades Is Abuse . It urges people to donate to local women's shelters instead of buying movie tickets . Dr. Gail Dines, a professor of sociology and women's studies at Wheelock College in Boston, says she will definitely not be seeing the film . 'Any woman who's ever met a real-life Christian Grey does everything she can to avoid repeating it,' she said . | fe2a584d726fc603010c22194ee8c6557dd9f9fd |
A protest against racism and police violence packed sidewalks in New York on Tuesday, despite calls from the city's mayor for a pause in demonstrations. As they marched past shops on the city's storied Fifth Avenue, some protesters chanted "Hey-hey, ho-ho. These racist cops have got to go" and "How do you spell racist? N-Y-P-D."; others carried signs saying "Jail killer cops" and "Stop the war on Black America." Mayor Bill de Blasio had asked for the demonstrations to stop until after funerals for two police officers who were slain over the weekend in Brooklyn. But organizers of Tuesday's protest said there was no reason to "give in to hysteria" and call off the march. At first, marchers stayed on the sidewalks as a large police presence, with officers -- some wearing riot helmets and face shields -- keeping protesters from impeding holiday traffic. Eventually, the demonstration spilled into the streets. The protest came hours after a moment of silence at New York's City Hall at 2:47 p.m., three days to the minute since a gunman ambushed New York Police Department Officers Rafael Ramos and Wenjian Liu. "There's a lot of pain right now that we have to work our way through," de Blasio said. "We have to keep working to bring police and community together. We have to put the divisions of the past behind us." The mayor repeated his calls for the city to focus on the families of the fallen officers. "Please embrace those around you as a symbol of our belief that we will move forward together," he said after marking the moment when two officers were shot in an ambush. Buildings and landmarks on the New York skyline -- including the Empire State and Chrysler buildings, One World Trade Center and 30 Rockefeller Plaza -- were set to dim their lights for five minutes Tuesday night in honor of slain officers. Mourners flock to memorial . De Blasio and his wife were among the mourners who stopped Tuesday by a memorial at the site where the officers were killed, looking at flowers and an American flag hanging on the wall of a building. Also drawn to the street memorial: the daughter of Eric Garner. "It was important to me, because in the case of my dad, people came out and they supported us. I just felt really saddened by it, because a young kid lost their father like I did," Emerald Garner told CNN's "AC360." Protesters have been pushing for a peaceful response, she said. And pushing for change, she said, doesn't mean they're anti-police. "Not all cops are bad," she said. "We've just got to salute the good ones and weed out the bad ones." The gunman who killed the officers ignored their message and "took it upon himself to take negative actions," she said. "It's ugly and it's very tragic," Garner said. "I don't want anybody to die. There shouldn't be any more bloodshed. Nobody needs to lose their life in a senseless way." The backlash . De Blasio has come under fire since the shooting, facing criticism that he's fanned tensions between the public and police. Authorities haven't established the gunman's motive, but they've noted that Ismaaiyl Brinsley, 28, broadcast his plans to kill police on social media. And in some of his posts, investigators have said, he mentioned the controversial cases of Michael Brown and Eric Garner, African-American men who were killed by police. Since Saturday's shooting, critics have taken aim at de Blasio's earlier comments supporting protesters who've voiced their concerns about the case of Garner, a 43-year-old who died in July after police in Staten Island placed him in what appeared to be a chokehold. A wave of protests erupted in New York City -- and nationwide -- after the officer involved was not indicted. The head of New York's police union said de Blasio had "blood on his hands." And, in the aftermath of Saturday's shootings, video showed officers turning their backs on the mayor as he walked through a hospital. Organizers of Tuesday's protest in New York accused some leaders of manipulating the situation. "This is a misguided response to the current situation and is meant to chill the expression of free speech rights," the ANSWER Coalition said in a statement. "Representatives of police unions are taking advantage of and seizing upon the actions of a lone, troubled individual who shot his ex-girlfriend and then killed two police officers in Brooklyn to smear, discredit and end the broad social movement that has demanded accountability, an end to police misconduct and police violence." Police seeking help . Police are asking the public's help to piece together how the gunman who killed the two officers spent two hours before the slayings. Brinsley, who ranted against the government and law enforcement on social media, ambushed and shot to death Ramos and Liu as they sat in their patrol car at about 2:45 p.m. Saturday in the Brooklyn neighborhood of Bedford-Stuyvesant. Police have said Brinsley started his day in Baltimore, where he shot and seriously wounded his ex-girlfriend at her apartment in the early morning and then took a Bolt bus to New York. Police Commissioner William Bratton told reporters that investigators believe the gunman acted alone, but he said that police still need a full understanding of Brinsley's actions. "We owe it to the families to find out what happened," Bratton said. "That's why we're seeking to build this case up, so we know going forward exactly who talked to this man." | Eric Garner's daughter: Gunman ignored protesters' peaceful message . Protesters in New York chant, "How do you spell racist? N-Y-P-D" Demonstration against racism and police violence packs sidewalks . Mayor, who's called for a pause in protests, leads moment of silence for slain officers . | 1982350f233c47bad531867a1dcfb11a2dd0e905 |
By . Louise Boyle . UPDATED: . 09:40 EST, 19 November 2012 . There has been further humiliation for the weatherman whose story was dubbed the 'real-life Hangover' after he was drugged and swindled out of more than . $40,000 by Eastern European bar girls which saw him fired from his job. John Bolaris appeared in a Miami court last Friday to testify against the crime ring which had stolen $43,000 from him. His moment of retribution however was tainted by one of the accused's testimony that during his wild weekend in 2010, he defecated in his pants. Weathering the storm: John Bolaris has been further humiliated after being scammed out of $43,000 in Miami when one of the accused told the court that he defecated himself . Party time! Mr Bolaris, 54, spent $43,000 in a single weekend in Miami after falling victim to a Russian honeytrap scam . The 54-year-old denied the embarrassing incident when asked about it in court and later told Philly.com: 'No. 1, it didn't happen. If it did happen, I would say it happened. He added: 'I am trying to have some dignity.' Earlier this year, Mr Bolaris gave several interviews where he pieced together the weekend's hazy events. The weatherman said he was having a drink at a . South Beach bar in Miami in March 2010 when he was approached by two . women with Russian accents. He explained: 'They come over and they . said, "Do you want to do a shot?" And I go, "No I don't want to do a . shot". 'Then one comes behind me, rubs my shoulders, pulls back my head . and says, "Come on, do a shot". And I said, "All right, I'll do a . shot".' Prize: The women, two pictured from left Kristina Takhalov, 29, of Miami Beach and Agnese Rudaka, 22, of Latvia, were promised a 20 per cent commission off of the men's bar tabs . Baited: As part of the scam, women were flown in from Russia and the Baltic States to manipulate men at private South Beach clubs, including pictured Anna Kilimatova, 25, of Latvia . After having a few drinks with the . women they took him in a taxi to their friend's art shop. He said after . that the details are very sketchy. 'I remember standing up ... signing something, vaguely. Next thing I know, I'm in a cab with a big painting [of a woman's head]. 'Then I woke up, I had red wine on my shirt, fully clothes and I'm thinking - something happened, but what?' Surprisingly, one of the 'B-girls' called him to say she had his sunglasses and they agreed to meet up . later so he could return the piece of art. He . said he got in a taxi with them and 'next thing I know I'm passed out'. He woke up the next morning feeling sick and very worried before receiving a . call from American Express to tell him $43,712.25 had been charged to . his card - including $2,480 for the painting. American . Express wouldn't let him dispute the charges because a man called Stan . Pavlenko - who was later arrested in the case - supplied them with a . photo of the weather man at the bar showing he was using his own card. Mr Bolaris won a court case in June with American Express to get his money back plus damages. After he gave interviews about his experience to 20/20 and Playboy, his employer, Philadelphia Fox 29 affiliated WTXF where he had worked for four years, fired him. The company issued a statement saying they 'mutually agreed that it was time to part ways'. Mr Bolaris, who recently got engaged to former Playboy Playmate girlfriend Erica Smitheman, said: 'On face value, it looks like a ''Hangover''-type movie. It's easy to sit outside and make fun of it.' He added that if it wasn't for the fact he approached the FBI, the gang would not have been caught. On the run: Alec Simchuk fled to Eastern Europe after the FBI investigation but was arrested this week . Ladies' man: Mr Bolaris, 54, is a notorious ladies' man and is pictured here with his former Playboy Playmate girlfriend Erica Smitheman . After contacting the FBI, they launched a criminal investigation of the Eastern European criminal activities in the South Beach clubs, using an undercover cop to get information. Alec Simchuk, who was arrested in July, ran some of the Miami clubs where girls would get patrons drunk - while they were throwing out their own drinks - and charge them exorbitant amounts for drinks, enforcing Florida's 'innkeeper law' to force customers to pay. The law requires patrons disputing a charge to challenge the bill with their own credit card company rather than the vendor. Patrons who refuse to sign their bill risk getting arrested. After spending more than a year and an estimated $1million investigating the case, 16 suspects - including almost a dozen b-girls and a handful of male managers and accountants - were arrested after a fake birthday party was thrown by the undercover officer. The case is ongoing. Watch video here: . | John Bolaris, 54, approached by two women in Miami in 2010 who asked him to do shots . Woke up the next day with an American Express bill for $43,712 - including a $2,400 painting . | 4936430dbe617590deaf8647b1102ec578e31bb4 |
(CNN) -- David Haye claims that Wladimir Klitschko will "freeze like an iceberg" when the heavyweight boxing champions finally meet in Hamburg on July 2, after the date and venue was confirmed on Wednesday. The British fighter will put his WBA belt on the line against the Ukrainian's IBF/WBO and IBO crowns in a long-awaited unification fight at the 57,000-capacity Imtech Arena. The German city is the adopted home of the 35-year-old Klitschko and his elder brother Vitali, who Haye also hopes to fight before his planned retirement in October. "It's great to finally find out the date and venue," Haye said on his website. "I've been training for this fight since the end of 2010 and it's nice to now have a concrete date to work towards. "Hamburg is an accessible city for a lot of British fans, so I'm expecting a huge turnout for what is undoubtedly the biggest boxing event of the year. We're going to have an army of Brits invading Germany on July 2nd and I can't wait to sample the atmosphere." Haye mocks 'fat' Solis after farcical Klitschko defeat . The Klitschko camp confirmed that the details had been finalized with a statement on their Facebook page: "Let's get ready to rumble!!! The highly anticipated fight is on." The showdown between two of boxing's biggest names has been on the cards since Haye stepped up from the cruiserweight division where he was also a champion, but he pulled out of a planned fight with Wladimir in 2009 due to a back injury. Both camps have engaged in a war of words since, with tensions heightened when Wladimir agreed to fight Haye's lower-ranked compatriot Dereck Chisora in December. Boxing needs Klitschko/Haye showdown . Klitschko pulled out of that bout, but then agreed to reschedule it for March in a move that further angered Haye, before another injury put paid to that plan. "Wladimir has a history of being knocked out by fast punchers, and I punch faster than every other heavyweight in the world," Haye boasted. "I've got no doubt Wladimir will freeze like an iceberg when I hit him on the chin in Hamburg. He won't know how to react, will panic, attempt to run for cover and then realize big brother Vitali is in the corner mopping up tears with a white towel." | Wladimir Klitschko will defend his three heavyweight titles against David Haye . The British fighter will put his WBA belt on the line in Hamburg on July 2 . Long-awaited bout has been on cards since 2009 when Haye pulled out due to injury . It had been in doubt after Klitschko agreed to fight Haye's compatriot Dereck Chisora . | c1a4a954b63f6e3db42d6315f0f6f25d5542aad9 |
By . Daily Mail Reporter . PUBLISHED: . 19:28 EST, 23 November 2013 . | . UPDATED: . 19:29 EST, 23 November 2013 . Stores are giving as little as 6.7 per cent of the price of charity Christmas cards to good causes. A Which? Money survey of 15 chains found Asda was the least generous retailer, while rivals Sainsbury’s and Waitrose both gave ten per cent of the profits made to charity. Their small donation compares meagerly to buying Christmas cards from charities directly, with most ensuring all funds go to the organisation. A market research survey has found supermarkets have been giving as little as six per cent of Christmas charity card profits to good causes . Asda sold packs of charity cards for £3, of which just 20p was donated to charity – working out at only 6.7 per cent of the selling price, the survey found. Marie Curie Cancer Care however sold cards at £3.99 a pack, with only £1 of the retail price going towards the cost of production. Oxfam said that for every Christmas card sold, 44p of every £1 went directly back into the charity. Researchers polled a number of online and in store retailers in the survey. A Which? spokeswoman said: 'Consumers may want to check how much will be donated if they’re buying charity Christmas cards because our research shows this can vary widely.' WH Smith did sell one pack of cards that had 100 per cent of the selling price going to charity and another set that had a 20 per cent donation. Debenhams sold one pack of cards where 100 per cent of the profits from the cards went to charity, but excluded VAT. It also excluded VAT from the 20 per cent of the selling price it donated on its other charity cards. Waitrose sold a set of cards that donated 100 per cent including VAT, while Boots gave 10 per cent on its 'standard' charity cards and 20 per cent on its Children in Need cards, including VAT. The most generous retailer across its full range of Christmas cards, by size of donation, was John Lewis. It gave 25 per cent of the selling price on all its own-brand cards. | Asda revealed as least generous retailer giving just 6.7 per cent to charity . John Lewis gave most with 25 per cent of profits from own-brand cards donated to good causes . | f04382eecf31c7120c607c11813f02101d8d46c4 |
An enormous impact crater thought to have been created by a meteorite the size of a house smashing into Earth has been discovered in the Antarctic ice sheet. Scientists conducting a routine aerial research flight above East Antarctica noticed a strange ring-like structure in the normally flat and featureless ice. It appeared to be a series of broken 'icebergs' surrounded by a 2km (1.24 miles) wide circular scar, surrounded by a few other smaller circular scars in the ice. Scroll down for video . The 2km (1.24 miles) wide ring above is thought to have been caused by a meteorite that smashed into the ice . The researchers later found two separate studies reporting that a meteorite fell in the area in 2004. The solar system is teaming with debris of ice and rocks in orbit around our sun. Occassionally these come close enough to the Earth to interact with the planets atmosphere, causing a streak of light in the sky. The debris that makes it to the surface are known as meteroites. They can vary in size from tiny grains to large boulders and form impact craters when they strike the surface at between 26,800mph 44,700mph. One of the largest meteorite found on Earth is the Hoba meteorite from southwest Africa, which weighs roughly 54,000 kg (119,000 pounds). Scientists predict that a meteorite around 30-50m (98 to 164 feet) across is capable of forming a 1km (0.6 miles) crater, will occur around every 1,000 years. However, the last impact of this size that we know of took place 55,000 years ago. Small but potentially devastating events such as the 1908 Tunguska impact in Russia are likely to occur every few hundred years. In February 2013, a meteor thought to be part of a family of asteroids orbiting around 93 million miles from our sun, streaked across the sky above Chelyabinsk, Russia. It exploded with the force of 500 kilotons at a height of around 18 miles in the atmopshere, creating a bright flash and a cloud of dust. It is thought that some fragments made it to Earth, however, and small fragments have been recovered from impact craters made in the ice. An impact crater created by the meteor that exploded over Chelyabinksk in February 2013 . One reported a series of infrasound - low frequency sound capable of traveling huge distances below the limit of human hearing - detected on 2 September 2004. Six detectors around the world detected this infrasound thrown out by the exploding meteorite, allowing scientists to pinpoint it somewhere over East Antarctica. In a separate study, scientists at Davis Station, Australia's permanent base off the coast of East Antarctica, reported seeing a dust trail high up in the atmosphere around that time. They estimated that the falling object would have landed on the ice shelf. The findings suggests that a house-sized meteorite broke up in the atmosphere over Antarctica before the remains smashed into the ice sheet. Dr Christian Müller, a geophysicist from surveying company Fielax, was the scientist who first spotted the impact crater. He said: 'We were on a routine measuring flight near to the coast and we were flying above a small ice bluff. 'I looked out of the window and saw some unusual structures in the surface of the ice that were some broken ice looking like icebergs that is very unusual on a very flat ice shelf surrounded by a large wing shaped circular structure. 'I've never seen something like that before. My first thoughts were that it might be an impact structure from something from space like a meteorite.' The researchers, who are part of the Alfred Wegener Institute in Germany, had been flying on a Basler BT-67 aircraft called Polar 6 over an area that is known as the Princess Ragnhild Coast of Queen Maud Land in Antarctica as part of a survey to study the rock beneath the ice. The aircraft, which was flying from the Princess Elisabeth Antarctica Research Station, is equipped with ice penetrating radar that can map the geology beneath the ice sheet. They were also using magnetometers to measure small disturbances in the magnetic properties of the bedrock to help determine more about the terrain. As they flew over the Antarctic coast on 24 December 2014, Dr Müller spotted the large circular scar on the King Baudoin Ice Shelf, which forms over the ocean. The team then later returned to the site on 26 December, taking photographs and video of the site as well as using a laser to create a topographical map. They also used radar to help build up an image of the interior of the ice shelf beneath the circular structure in the hope of seeing what lies beneath it. The remains of the impact site was found on an ice shelf off the Princess Ragnhild Coast of East Antarctica. The researchers had flown from Princess Elisabeth Research Station while scientists at the Australian Davis Research Station had spotted debris from a suspected meteorite heading towards the area in 2004 . Six infrasound stations (marked by black triangles, detected the noise waves created by the meteor as travelled around the world, allowed scientists to pinpoint the source above East Antarctica as can be seen where the lines cross in the diagram above from a research paper in the Journal Earth Moon Planet . The scientists were flying in a Basler BT-67 aircraft called Polar 6 (above) from the Princess Elisabeth Station . They are still processing detail but Dr Graeme Eagles, a geophysicist and leader of the Alfred Wegener Institute's geophysical survey team at Princess Elisabeth Station, said that it appeared the ice and snow on the top part of the ice shelf had been disturbed. He said that this data should help to confirm that it was a meteorite that had caused the crater. He said: 'We can't say that with any confidence at this point. We can say we've found something very unusual. 'However, there are two very promising prior results - the infrasound data and the observed dust trail in 2004 - which support the hypothesis that this structure could have been created by a meteorite impact and certainly support the decision to collect more data for further analysis and investigation. 'The Australian study estimates that the body that left the debris they measured would have likely been about the size of a house and that it may have broken up on its way though the atmosphere. 'Interestingly enough, when we flew out to the circular structure in the ice on December 26th, we also spotted a number of smaller circular and sub-circular structures in the ice as well, which is consistent with the conclusion of the Australian study.' An image from NASA’s Aqua satellite of the meteor’s dust trail one hour after it is thought to have exploded above Antarctica in September 2004. The dust was spotted by Australian researchers in Antarctica at the time . Geophysicist Dr Christian Müller, above, spotted the impact crater from the window of the Polar 6 aircraft . Dr Müller and his colleague Tobais Binder (above) were conducting a survey on board the Polar 6 aircraft . Research by the Australian scientists after they saw the meteorite debris above Antarctica inn 2004 suggested that it was around seven to ten metres (23 to 33 feet) wide and weighted between 600 and 1,900 tonnes. They estimated that it exploded in the sky above Antarctica with the force of 12,000 tonnes of TNT and was travelling at a speed of 29,080 mph. The debris created by the explosion would then have crashed to Earth, smashing into the ice. Dr Eagles said that the team were now considering drilling down into the ice beneath the crater to see if they can find out more about what caused it. Dr Eagles added: 'if this object did break up before hitting the ice shelf, that perhaps some of the pieces were not travelling with enough energy to penetrate the ice shelf, and may have settled on or within it. 'We may find evidence of a dust layer in the ice surrounding the crater beneath 10 years of snow accumulation. I think that would be worth having a look at.' The scientists used radar carried in the nose of Polar 6, seen above, to peer through the ice in the crater . Meteorites hit the Earth frequently, but few are big enough to cause any damage and occur in remote areas . | German scientists spotted the 2km (1.24mile) ring on a routine survey flight . The scar of broken ice was found in Antarctica's King Baudoin Ice Shelf . Scientists believe it was made by a 7-10 m wide meteorite that hit in 2004 . Researchers in Antarctica at the time reported seeing dust left in the sky . They estimated it had exploded with the force of 12,000 tonnes of TNT . Infrasound stations also picked up the explosion and matched the location . | b99196ea7b00bb78e0472acd76bbe3427fdab214 |
Chancellor George Osborne (pictured)has said that no new tax rises will be needed after the election to fund his plans . Families face a huge tax bombshell whoever wins the general election, experts warned last night. The Institute for Fiscal Studies warned voters to brace themselves for a £5 billion tax rise after the election in May – equal to a 1p in the pound increase in the headline rate of VAT or income tax. Chancellor George Osborne has said that no new tax rises will be needed after the election to fund his plans, with the remainder of the deficit reduction programme coming from big cuts to welfare and spending. Most of Labour’s publicly announced tax rises have already been earmarked for spending on particular issues, such as the NHS, rather than reducing the deficit. But neither party has completely ruled out a rise in VAT. The Lib Dems will today break ranks by threatening ‘at least’ £8billion of tax increases after the election, but has not yet spelled out in full where they will fall. The IFS warned that the first year after each of the last five elections has seen tax increases totalling £5billion at today’s prices, whichever party has won. Paul Johnson, the respected think-tank’s director, suggested neither of the main parties may be telling the full truth about their tax plans. Asked whether the IFS was predicting tax rises following the election, Mr Johnson said: ‘Are we saying that tax rises are inevitable? No. The e IFS warned that the first year after each of the last five elections has seen hikes totalling £5billion at today's prices, whichever party has won . 'Are we saying that tax rises have tended to happen after elections and there is a big gap to fill? Yes. ‘I don’t know whether the next government will do but I wouldn’t fall off my stool if there were some tax rises there.’ A report by the IFS, the leading independent expert on tax and spending issues in Britain, said the main options for raising significant tax revenues would be increases in VAT, income tax or National Insurance. British families are set to enjoy their best year since 2001 thanks to rising wages, falling petrol prices and bock-bottom interest rates, a leading economist has said. Andrew Goodwin, senior UK economist at forecasters Oxford Economics, said consumer spending would pick up by more than 3% this year, as families find they have more money to splash out. And he said that the outlook for business was 'very positive', with strong profitability and confidence about demand encouraging investment by companies which are sitting on 'the largest piles of cash for 15 to 20 years' after pulling in their horns in the wake of the recession. Growth in investment could top 5% this year, he said. Mr Goodwin made his optimistic forecast at the launch of the Institute for Fiscal Studies' annual Green Budget, produced in collaboration with Oxford Economics. It said increasing any of these would ‘weaken work incentives’. Other options include big rises in fuel duty, business rates or corporation tax. The IFS also questioned whether the parties would be able to focus tax rises on the rich, warning that tax revenues are already ‘highly concentrated’, with the top 3 per cent of taxpayers contributing half of all income tax. The warning came as the IFS launched its ‘Green Budget’, its annual assessment of the economy and the public finances ahead of the Budget. Economists predicted rising wages and falling inflation will leave the average voter more than £400 better off this year. They said plummeting oil prices, combined with the economic recovery, would produce a ‘real turnaround in household finances’ this year – providing the biggest boost to personal income since 2001. But they warned that the sickly public finances left behind by the last Labour government will need further major surgery after the election. The IFS said Tory plans to balance the books would require the biggest package of cuts among the world’s leading 32 industrialised nations, outpacing even those pencilled in for austerity-hit Greece. It said cuts on this scale would be ‘difficult’ to achieve and would require up to 900,000 job losses in the public sector. The report found the Coalition has achieved just over half of the cuts needed, with 45 per cent still to go. But the think-tank also warned that Labour’s plans, which involve smaller cuts, would saddle Britain with an extra £170billion of debt. The study said Labour would already be borrowing an extra £27billion a year by now if it had won the election. The Tories seized on the findings as evidence Labour could not be trusted with the economy. A Conservative spokesman said: ‘The independent experts say that Labour’s policy would mean £10,000 more borrowing for every household in Britain – more debt than our children could ever hope to repay.’ In 2010 the coalition increased VAT to 20 per cent, despite the Lib Dems vowing not to do so before election . | Families face a huge tax bombshell whoever wins the general election . Institute for Fiscal Studies says tax rises would would not be 'surprising' Chancellor George Osborne said no new tax rises will be needed . But taxes have risen after in the year after each of the last five elections . Britain to brace itself for the toughest austerity programme in the world . | 4603d08333a5a18e74e84a61f8af640f15f7e73e |
By . Claire Bates . PUBLISHED: . 08:36 EST, 16 November 2012 . | . UPDATED: . 12:08 EST, 16 November 2012 . WARNING GRAPHIC CONTENT . Doctors were stunned after an 11-year-old schoolgirl was admitted to a hospital in China with a third arm sprouting out of her back. The large mass was revealed to be part of an identical twin that had failed to develop and had been enveloped into the body of its sister. Further investigation found it consisted of a breast and an arm which included a shoulder blade and two fingers. The case came to the attention of the medical world after it was highlighted by Professor Baogan Peng, of the General Hospital of Armed Police Force in Beijing. The 11-year-old Chinese girl was found to have a malformed parasitic twin on her back . Writing in the journal BMJ Case Reports, Prof Peng said: 'Based on physical examination and imaging findings, a diagnosis of fetus in fetu was made preoperatively.' Fetus in fetu in an incredibly rare condition that affects only one in five million live births. It is a condition where the malformed foetus is found in the body of its twin. The foetus is found in the abdomen in 80 per cent of cases, although there have been reports of it occurring in the skull. However, this is the first time that is has been reported in the back. The young patient also suffered from diastematomyelia, which is a congenital disorder in which the spinal cord is split. Prof Peng, who is an expert in spinal surgery, said doctors successfully removed the parasitic twin, despite there being no clear way of separating them. He added that a later analysis also found digestive tract lining in the tissue. A back X-ray revealed abnormal curvatures of the spine (left). The case was reported by Professor Baogan Peng, of the General Hospital of Armed Police Force in Beijing (right) A CT scan of the girl's back. The arrow points towards evidence of a split spinal cord . | Large mass on girl's back contained a breast and an arm with two fingers . Doctors said it was part of an identical twin that had failed to develop and was enveloped by its sister . Case was reported in a British journal by doctor based in Beijing, China . | 47ae8787f3976f4b30b440184106b92be1283f52 |
It comes after major firms such as . Telstra, Coles and Lexus Australia pulled their advertising campaigns . following the death of Jacintha Saldanha . By . Anthony Bond . PUBLISHED: . 19:00 EST, 8 December 2012 . | . UPDATED: . 20:26 EST, 8 December 2012 . The radio station which allowed two of its DJs to prank call the Duchess of Cambridge's hospital has suspended all advertising on its shows. Radio network Austereo announced it had suspended all advertising on 2Day FM following a number of high-profile advertiser boycotts. Major firms such as Telstra, Coles and Lexus Australia had already pulled their advertising campaigns following the death of 46-year-old nurse Jacintha Saldanha. Loss: The radio station which allowed two of its DJs to prank call the Duchess of Cambridge's hospital has suspended all advertising on its shows. 2day FM radio hosts Mel Greig, left, and Michael Christian, right, are pictured . It is believed that other large companies including Woolworths and Optus . were also considering withdrawing their advertisements. According to The Sydney Morning Herald, Sandy Kaye, a spokeswoman for Austereo, said: 'We have pulled advertising on 2Day FM . indefinitely.' The decision means that no advertising will run on the station from Saturday afternoon until at least Monday. When asked how much the loss of advertising might cost, Ms Kaye added that money was 'not important right now ... [the] focus is on all people . concerned first and foremost'. The advertising has been pulled until Monday at least with Ms Kaye saying the management at the station were more concerned with the welfare of DJs Mel Greig and Michael Christian . Mrs Saldanha was found dead on Friday morning. It was just three days after the 46-year-old nurse had transferred a hoax call from Greig and Christian who obtained intimate details about the Duchess of Cambridge while she was staying at King Edward VII hospital. Tragic: The grieving husband of nurse Jacintha Saldanha who died in a suspected suicide has told of his devastation at her death. She is pictured centre, believed to be with her two children . Since then the radio station has faced global outrage and come under sustained abuse online. TMZ reported that Lexus Australia became the latest advertiser to axe all of its advertising from the radio station. A spokesman for the car giant said it had pulled its media campaign because of the 'current situation'. It is believed the firm pulled advertising from the station last year following a different incident. The new campaign, which began on November 1, was the first time the firm had advertised with the station since the previous incident. The telephone giant Telstra had earlier joined a list of companies removing their advertising from the radio station. The station's owner was forced to pull advertising over panic from advertisers. Facing the media; Southern Cross Austereo CEO Rhys Holleran came out in defence of the DJs behind the prank call to Kate Middleton's hospital . Yesterday, King Edward VII hospital said they it written a letter of complaint to the Australian radio station's parent company about the 'truly appalling' prank. The hospital's chairman Lord Glenarthur said he wanted to 'protest' against the 'extremely foolish' gag which he branded 'truly appalling'. Lord Glenarthur said Mrs Saldanha's death was 'tragic beyond words'. His letter to Southern Cross Austereo said the immediate consequence of the station's 'premeditated and ill-considered actions' led to the 'humiliation' of Ms Saldanha and another nurse. 'I appreciate that you cannot undo the damage which has been done but I would urge you to take steps to ensure that such an incident could never be repeated,' it added. Nurse Jacintha Saldanha, 46, died in an apparent suicide after she transferred a hoax call from Australian DJs who retrieved sensitive information about Kate Middleton while in hospital . The boss of the radio company at the centre of the royal hoax call yesterday refused to sack the DJs behind the stunt and painted them as victims. 2DayFM presenters Greig and Christian were taken off air after it emerged Ms Saldanha - who took their prank call at Kate Middleton's hospital - had died in a suspected suicide. The mother of two had been manning the hospital switchboard when the Australian hoaxers called and she transferred the call to the Duchess of Cambridge's ward. Rhys Holleran, the chief executive of Southern Cross Austereo, which owns the station, said the presenters were 'completely shattered' and had been offered counselling. Mr Holleran told a press conference in Melbourne that the primary concern was for the family of Jacintha Saldanha, whose body was found yards from the King Edward VII Hospital. He said: 'I spoke to both presenters early this morning and it's fair to say they are completely shattered. 'These people aren't machines, they're human beings. What happened is incredibly tragic and we’re deeply saddened and we’re incredibly affected by that.’ He added: 'I think prank calls as a craft in radio have been going for decades and decades and are not just part of one radio station or network or country. 'No-one could have reasonably foreseen what ended up being an incredibly tragic day.' Mr Holleran declined to reveal who had dreamed up the prank call but said: ‘These things are often done collaboratively.' Co-hosts: The DJ duo has been suspended from the Sydney-based station . A source confirmed that 2DayFM’s lawyers had listened to audio of the entire call and had given it clearance to go to air. Mr Holleran said it was ‘a bit early’ to be drawing conclusions from what was really a ‘deeply tragic matter.’ He added: ‘I don’t think anyone could have reasonably foreseen that this was going to be a result.' | Radio network Austereo has suspended all advertising on 2DayFM . It comes after major firms such as . Telstra, Coles and Lexus Australia pulled their advertising campaigns . following the death of Jacintha Saldanha . | d82e9f10d42bc7a40be81c68a42b26a624e79322 |
A video of a precocious five-year-old doling out some sage advice to his crying sister has scooped an impressive $10,000 prize on America’s Funniest Home Videos. The clip shows Charlotte Carr, two, sobbing at her family's kitchen table in Canal Winchester, Ohio, only to be reprimanded by her exasperated older brother Wesley. 'Did you have a nap today?' he asks matter-of-factly, while glaring at his emotional sibling. Straight talk: Wesley (left) has given his crying sister Charlotte (right) some practical advice in a funny new video . 'I didn't!' she responds, sobbing. Rather than asking what has upset her, Wesley delivers some tough love, simply replying: 'Well, you need one.' Charlotte remains unimpressed with Wesley's advice, grabbing his arm while insisting: 'No, I don't!' Important question: 'Did you have a nap today?' Wesley calmly asked Charlotte as she sobbed . Pillow talk: 'Well, you need one,' Wesley advised after Charlotte admitted she hadn't had a nap . The children's father, Jared Carr, told Daily Mail Online that Wesley has always had a 'great relationship' with his little sister. 'They certainly have their moments of fighting, pestering and competing like most young siblings, but are mostly pleasant with one another. Wes has a tender heart and it's not uncommon for him to run to his sister to comfort her if she's upset.' Mr Carr added: 'Wes is wise beyond his years. He’s had a lot of experience with little ones. He has two small cousins close by. He's pretty sharp and soaks up a lot of what mom and dad say. I do think he doesn't like to see her cry…especially if it's because she's in trouble. A lot of times he’ll advise her on what to do, trying to steer her out of trouble.' The reason for Charlotte's tears, he added, was a lack of interest in the dinner options he was offering her. Popular: The video won a $10,000 prize on America's Funniest Home Videos last week . While Mr Carr doesn't usually record his children crying, he wanted their mother to witness Charlotte's stubborn reaction when she returned home. 'Most parents know that sometimes your kids are having such a meltdown it's almost funny,' he added. Both children were very excited about winning a prize on America's Funniest Home Videos - but Wesley more than Charlotte. Mr Carr said: 'He had some ideas on how we should spend the money. Charlotte was probably more excited about the plane ride and candy backstage.' The 13-second video has garnered nearly 1.8 views on YouTube since it was posted on January 5. | Charlotte Carr, two, was crying at her family's kitchen table in Canal Winchester, Ohio, when her brother Wesley delivered some tough love . | 6dec4facb0e4e4c7d1dd0ccb394e842df2cc02b5 |
San Diego (CNN) -- Smartphones have made it more difficult to separate work from personal lives. Corporate managers tend to embrace smartphones because they make workers constantly accessible, but the devices have proved to be a headache for the departments concerned with keeping data secure. Devices that transmit and receive sensitive business files should be locked down from being accessed by most third parties, experts say. And some companies are encouraging employees to keep their two worlds separate. Contrary to many workers' wishes, corporate-information chiefs would prefer they not harvest virtual farmland or fling angry avians on the same device they use to review their companies' financial documents. That's not necessarily due to worries over lost productivity (that's the boss's concern). Instead, technology departments fear that amidst all the innocent games and other applications a person installs, malicious software could sneak in and gobble up e-mails, files and contact lists. A solution may come in the form of new phones with split personalities. AT&T, LG and heavily financed startups are presenting their own takes on the concept. Each company is trying to sell companies on their wares so that they'll install the security packages on employees' phones. These security systems are primarily being designed for hardware that runs Google's Android platform. In addition to being the most popular smartphone operating system, Android is perceived as the most vulnerable to attacks because Google doesn't review apps before they are posted to its online store, like Apple and Microsoft do. Developers can embed their programs deep within Android's file system, unlike with competing software. A service introduced this week called AT&T Toggle separates an Android phone into personal and work environments, and the user can switch between the two. AT&T's stance is that -- much to the chagrin of IT professionals -- the bring-your-device-to-work trend is inescapable. And the Toggle concept is the natural antibiotic, said Glenn Lurie, the president of AT&T's emerging devices group. Toggle is based on work by Enterproid, a company that has taken venture capital from Google's ventures arm and from mobile-chip maker Qualcomm. Enterproid has said it plans to release a version for iPhone. For security-minded executives attending the wireless-trade group CTIA's enterprise conference this week in San Diego, Enterproid's concept has been a popular topic of conversation. Phone manufacturer LG has its own take on this, which Ki Kim, a vice president for LG Electronics' business-to-business unit, calls the "dual persona." It incorporates technology from VMware, which develops virtualization software that lets a worker access his office computer's desktop from home. "Google continues to develop (Android) with a focus on a consumer market," Kim said. "So far, data security has been a bottleneck." Samsung is forgoing the dual-persona approach for now, but its Stratosphere, an Android phone for Verizon Wireless that hit stores on Thursday, is being marketed heavily to businesspeople, said Ryan Bidan, a marketing exec for the company. The Stratosphere is the company's first handset with a new set of security features that will probably make their way into other Samsung phones, he said. Bidan, who defected a few months ago from BlackBerry maker Research in Motion, said Samsung's position is promising, especially "having come from RIM and being on the losing end of the bring-your-own-device trend," he said. "We've been very consumer-focused," Bidan said of Samsung's business. However, "we want to make it easy on the (chief information officers)." This split-personality approach to phone usage hasn't caught on yet, but security experts see it as a promising alternative to asking workers to carry around BlackBerrys in addition to their personal cell phones. Many companies favor RIM for their work forces because the company handles the message encryption on its own servers. The downside of that approach is that when RIM's servers go down, as they did this week, so does a company's access to mobile data services. For RIM's competitors, perhaps there is no better time than now to try to shift big corporate buyers to a new platform, where reliability along with security will be a major selling point. | Software makers are looking to solve security issues in Android . AT&T Toggle creates two modes on a phone, for work and personal use . LG is developing its own solution to this problem . | 3adc8895e036290a3bf154d53d2a1e9bc9043a01 |
By . Matt Blake . PUBLISHED: . 08:43 EST, 25 November 2013 . | . UPDATED: . 09:55 EST, 25 November 2013 . The European Union has sparked fury after it approved a plan for a 'social police' to control benefits handouts, healthcare and homelessness across the continent. The plan is among a raft of measures laid out in a new report that calls for the creation of a 'social scoreboard' to allow for a 'better and earlier identification of major employment and social problems'. But the plan, approved by a majority of the Parliament sitting in Strasbourg last week, triggered anger among Conservative MEPs who claim the EU is attempting to impose itself as 'Europe's social . conscience.' Controversial: The plan was approved by a majority of the Parliament sitting in Strasbourg last week prompting anger among Conservative MEPs who attempted to have the measures thrown out . Anthea McIntyre MEP, Conservative . spokesman on employment and social affairs, said: 'Clearly this is the . Parliament manoeuvring to create a role for the EU as Europe's social . conscience. 'Worse than . that, they want to appropriate powers to supervise and intervene over . the way member states deal with social problems. They want to set . themselves up as the social police. 'Nobody . is saying poverty, ill health and homelessness are not real problems in . need of real solutions. What we are saying is that individual states . and governments must be allowed to address them as they see fit, not . according to a set of rules set down in Brussels. 'Sadly, . my Labour and Liberal colleagues appear to think British voters are not . responsible or compassionate enough to decide for themselves how to . respond.' Angry: MEP Anthea McIntyre branded the move as an attempt to create 'social police' Under the title 'Social Dimensions of the European Monetary Union', the report, by French Socialist MEP Pervenche Beres, seeks to treat 'social imbalances on the same footing as economic indicators such as gross domestic product or national debt,' she added. The report calls for a 'social scoreboard' to score member states on measures such as child-poverty levels, access to healthcare, homelessness on a 'decent-work index'. But Tory MEPs say that, although the report is presented in the context of the single currency, there is no clause exempting countries outside the Eurozone, such as the United Kingdom. The text also makes references to a European Unemployment Benefit Scheme, Ms McIntyre said, claiming it betrayed a 'clear ambition for Brussels to control benefits payments across Europe'. However, the European Public Health Alliance (EPHA) called the plan 'a potential watershed moment in economic governance', adding: 'With one out of four people in the EU at risk of poverty or social exclusion and 11 per cent unemployment, it is clear that the current approach has not delivered on the Europe 2020 poverty and employment targets. 'This resolution will convey that a much stronger commitment is required from the EU and Member States to achieve the social objectives of the EU.' European Commission president Jose Manuel Barroso added: 'The EU has taken giant . leaps forward in terms of economic governance in the last five years, . providing financial lifelines to many vulnerable Member States. Vital reform: European Commission president Jose Manuel Barroso said the plans would ensure there is a 'strong social dimension in the way we run our Economic and Monetary Union' 'From the . start of the crisis, we have taken targeted action to deal with the . social distress created in part of our societies. 'But the severity of . the crisis, particularly in the euro area, has taught us that we need to . work even more closely to heal the social scars it has left behind. 'This Communication is about building on the rules we have already put in . place under the European Semester to ensure there is a strong social . dimension in the way we run our Economic and Monetary Union. We owe that . to the 26 million unemployed and the most deprived in our society.' | The plan will create 'social scoreboard' to rate countries on social matters . They include poverty-levels, health care, benefits and . housing policy . Furious Tory MEPs claim EU is angling to be 'Europe's social conscience' They claim EU wants to appropriate powers to supervise and intervene over . the way member states deal with social problems' | 7540a49a1474049d219bf6ca5e1183f85822a678 |
By . Kirk Maltais . and Associated Press . Actor Dwayne Johnson, otherwise known as wrestling legend 'The Rock', laid the smackdown on a video posted earlier this week by New Jersey Governor Chris Christies' PR team, demanding that his name and image be removed from the video. The video, entitled 'No Pain. No Gain', was a send-up of movie trailers for summer blockbusters, taking aim at pension reform in New Jersey. It was posted on YouTube on July 15. The title also was reference to 'Pain & Gain', a 2013 movie starring Johnson with Mark Wahlberg. Scroll Down for Video . Dwayne Johnson, otherwise known as 'The Rock' (pictured left) requested to have his image removed from a video posted by the PR team for New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie. The video was a spoof of Johnson's 2013 movie 'Pain & Gain' (pictured right) Jabroni: Christie's video 'No Pain. No Gain.' was a spoof of Summer movie trailers regarding Chrisities' push for pension reform in New Jersey . Johnson soon reacted to being in the . clip, and the video was edited and re-released the next day with . Johnson's name and likeness removed. Despite Johnson being a registered Republican voter, and being friends with members of the GOP, Johnson says that he did not want to be associated with the content of the video. 'I know Gov. Christie. We've met a couple of times,' Johnson said in an interview Friday while promoting his new movie 'Hercules'. 'But in no way was I associated with what he had going on. He had his team of people around him who kind of put that together. I saw it. I was like well, I don't have anything to do with it, so now you've got to pull it down.' Can you smell what The Rock is cookin'? The clip of the Johnson walking away from a huge inferno used by Christies' video . The subtitle listing 'The Rock', making it seem as if Johnson participated in and endorsed Christies' video . The video consisted of dramatized cuts of Christie talking about a looming debt crisis in the state, over a soundtrack designed to mimic a big budget action movie. In the second half of the trailer, explosions are shown, one scene quickly showing Johnson walking away from the carnage. The name 'The Rock' is then shown after Chris Christies' in a series of titles similar to a movie trailer. Christies' office reposted the video the next day, with a tweet stating 'Unfortunately The Rock is on high demand & won't be able to appear in our Summer flick.' Johnson told CBS New York . that he had 'no hard feelings' about his inclusion into the parody . video. However, despite his affiliation with the GOP, he says that he's . friend with politicians on both sides of the aisle. Johnson as Hercules in his new movie. While not wanting to be included in Chrisitie's video, he said that there were 'no hard feelings' between him and the Governor . According to Johnson, in addition to friend in the GOP, both Obama (pictured left) and Clinton (pictured right) are 'good buddies' of his . Tweet from Christies' PR team, which included the edited video omitting The Rock . 'I have good friends who are politicians on both sides," he said in the interview. "Clinton is a good buddy of mine, Obama is a good buddy of mine. A multitude of people who are buddies.' The 42-year-old action star spoke at the Republican National Convention in 2000. Now, he says he's 'more patriotic"' than political. But he won't rule out a future run at elected office, saying he's 'learned never to say never.' Should Johnson choose to jump into politics, he would be following in the footsteps of other Republican actors-turned-elected representatives, such as Ronald Reagan and Arnold Schwarzenegger. Johnson's 'Hercules' is set to hit theaters July 25. | Johnson, otherwise known as WWE Superstar 'The Rock', requested to be removed from a video released by Christies' PR team . The video, entitled 'No Pain. No Gain' was a knock-off of the 2013 movie 'Pain & Gain', which starred Johnson . Johnson, a registered Republican, says that prominent Democrats Obama and Bill Clinton are also his 'good buddies' | b2300670fde4ce7d7d8d4c62745021d09646ad63 |
New research shows a major section of west Antarctica's ice sheet will completely melt in coming centuries and probably raise sea levels higher than previously predicted, revealing another impact from the world's changing climate. According to a study released Monday, warm ocean currents and geographic peculiarities have helped kick off a chain reaction at the Amundsen Sea-area glaciers, melting them faster than previously realized and pushing them "past the point of no return," NASA glaciologist Eric Rignot told reporters. The glacial retreat there "appears unstoppable," said Rignot, lead author of a joint NASA-University of California Irvine paper that used 40 years of satellite data and aircraft studies. NASA says the region has enough ice to raise global sea levels by 4 feet. According to Rignot, conservative estimates indicate the complete melting of the Antarctic ice cited in the study could take several centuries. However, the melting could have an impact this century, according to Sridhar Anandakrishnan, a geosciences professor at Pennsylvania State University. The United Nations' most recent climate change report estimated sea levels could rise from about 1 foot to 3 feet by 2100. Such a rise could displace tens of millions of people from coastal areas around the world. Anandakrishnan said the U.N. estimate largely didn't take into account the melting ice sheet from west Antarctica, because few studies for that area had been completed. "So as this paper and others come out, the (U.N.) numbers for 2100 will almost certainly" lean closer to 3 feet, he said. Why scientists think it's unstoppable . The rate at which the area's ice is melting has increased 77% since 1973, and there are several reasons, researchers said. The ice sheet there, unlike those in much of east Antarctica, is attached to a bed below sea level. That means ocean currents can deliver warm water at the glaciers' base, or grounding lines -- places where the ice attaches to the bed, NASA said. The heat makes the grounding line retreat inland, leaving a less massive ice shelf above. When ice shelves lose mass, they can't hold back inland glaciers from flowing toward the sea. Glaciers then flow faster and become thin as a result, and this thinning is conducive to more grounding-line retreat, NASA said. "The system (becomes) a chain reaction that is unstoppable, (with) every process of retreat feeding the next one," Rignot said. Iceberg is twice the size of Atlanta . A hill or a mountain behind the grounding line would slow this retreat. But the beds behind nearly all the Amundsen Sea glaciers slope downward, researchers said. Rignot said he believes climate change and a depletion of the Earth's ozone layer are partly to blame, saying they have changed the winds in the area to cause more warm water to go toward the glaciers. Climate change skeptics, many backed by a huge campaign funded by the fossil fuels industry, seek to undermine research findings on the impacts of what is popularly referred to as global warming. They challenge the scientific validity of climate change, as well as the role of human-produced pollution in contributing to it. For example, such opponents of policies to reduce U.S. carbon emissions say the severe North American winter that just ended and evidence of increasing Antarctic sea ice defied the claims by scientists of a warming planet. However, Rignot and Anandakrishnan said their findings on the west Antarctica ice shelf don't clash with news of the record levels of Antarctic sea ice. They noted that sea ice forms and melts quickly, while glaciers are subject to longer-term change. Rignot added that the same winds that stir subsurface heat toward the base of Antarctic ice shelf also can expand sea ice cover. Not a first . Such a melting would be uncommon, but not necessarily unprecedented, Anandakrishnan said. Evidence shows that west Antarctica retained an ice sheet during the last few 100,000-year cycles of glacial formation and retreat, he said. But evidence also suggests the entire west Antarctica ice sheet might have melted 500,000 to 600,000 years ago, Anandakrishnan said. The six Amundsen Sea glaciers are just a portion of the entire west Antarctic ice sheet. Though much of the other west Antarctic sections are grounded below sea level, the Amundsen Sea area is more vulnerable, in part because it has fewer hills behind the leading edges and because the shape of the sea floor helps usher more warm water to the base, NASA said. Anandakrishnan said it was possible that the melting in the Amundsen Sea area could destabilize other ice sheets. The entire west Antarctic ice sheet has enough ice to raise the global sea level by about 16 feet, NASA said. | Warm currents, other factors have caused chain reaction, NASA says . Region has enough ice to raise global sea levels by 4 feet, scientists say . Researchers: Melting could take several hundred years, but could have impact this century . | b35d7e8f1e40b9f33439e393fde16f0d68e7c2f9 |
(CNN) -- Boxing great Oscar De La Hoya says he's back in rehab. It's not the first stint in rehab for De La Hoya, 40, who has previously spoken about problems with drug and alcohol abuse. The world-champion boxer announced he had entered treatment just days before Canelo Alvarez, who De La Hoya's Golden Boy Promotions represents, is set to square off against Floyd Mayweather. "Canelo Alvarez and I have big fights coming up this weekend. His is in the ring and mine in treatment," De La Hoya said in a written statement Tuesday. "I will not be at the fight to cheer Canelo to victory since I have voluntarily admitted myself into a treatment facility." He said he had explained the situation to Alvarez. "He understood that my health and longterm recovery from my disease must come first," De La Hoya said. "Thank you for your understanding. I ask for your support and privacy during this difficult time for me and my family." CNN's David Close contributed to this report. | Oscar De La Hoya announces he's in rehab . "I have voluntarily admitted myself into a treatment facility," he says . The boxer has previously admitted problems with drug and alcohol abuse . | 8b2d69ea330d32ae1f2ea52de8769176504eaa48 |
By . James Daniel . PUBLISHED: . 00:02 EST, 14 May 2013 . | . UPDATED: . 07:15 EST, 17 May 2013 . Former First Daughter Caroline Kennedy is to sit on a Manhattan jury that will help decide the fate of a cocaine dealer . The only surviving child of President John F. Kennedy and the late Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis will serve on the Supreme Court panel hearing the case of Nelson Chatman. When asked during jury selection if she or any member of her family had ever been a victim of a crime, Caroline Bouvier Kennedy Schlossberg decided to skip and not answer. I do solemnly swear: Caroline Kennedy will be sitting on a jury in Manhattan this week in the trial of a coke dealer . She would of course had to mention that her father, former President John F Kennedy and her uncle, former U.S. Attorney General Robert F. Kennedy, were both victims of assassinations. 'I have not been convicted of a crime,' Kennedy said during jury selection at the Centre St. courthouse. She also didn't mention the stalking episodes her family had to endure a couple of years ago. The next question on the survey asked whether any member of her family had been involved with law enforcement. Kennedy curse: Caroline Kennedy mentioned that her brother John Junior was a former district attorney but did not mention his tragic death in a place crash off the Massachusetts coast in 1999 . 'My brother, years ago, worked as an assistant district attorney,' she said. Ms. Kennedy did not mention that her late brother, John F Kennedy Jr was killed in a private plane crash off Martha's Vineyard. She was also uneasy when a defense lawyer asked her if she knew anyone with a drug problem. 'I know a few people,' she muttered. A number of Kennedy's have admitted their problems with drugs in the past including cousins Robert F. Junior and David who used heroin and Patrick J who took cocaine. It's not clear whether Kennedy gave a fuller account of her law enforcement ties behind closed doors about her family history of drug use or connection to two of the biggest political crimes in the twentieth century. Other jurors who were in the gallery to be chosen for jury service listened intently as the mother of three began to speak. Daddy's little girl: President Kennedy, and Caroline seated in car in 1963. She did not mention her father's assassination during jury selection at Manhattan Supreme Court . Family history: President Kennedy, little John Jr. and Caroline in August 1963. Now, Caroline is a mother of 3, lives on the Upper East Side of Manhattan, has a law degree and is an author . 'My name is Caroline Kennedy,' said the 55-year-old. 'I live on the upper East Side. I’ve lived at my present address for 25 years. I live with my husband and two grown children. I have a law degree and I’m an author,' Kennedy said. She will sit on the trial of Nelson Chatman, 31, who is contesting charges of selling cocaine. He was caught in December selling drugs on a street corner in Harlem to an undercover police officer. Kennedy has written at least seven books including 'The Right to Privacy' and her latest 'Poems to Learn By Heart' came out this spring. She said her writing career would not influence her ability to make a decision in the case. Chatman’s trial starts today and will last for about a week. | Kennedy did not mention her family's tragic history involving the assassinations of her father and uncle . Former first daughter said she was 'a mother of three, I have a law degree and I am an author' Trial will likely last for a week at Manhattan Supreme Court . | cf093df19fe0bb0164ba01d568bcaa5cba78483c |
(CNN) -- "Beware the fury of the patient man." -- John Dryden . In January, 1956, Egyptian President Gamal Abdel Nasser was pledging to take over Palestine. In the United States, a "sensational new RCA Victor Star," just days away from cracking the music charts with his first hit, "Heartbreak Hotel," was touring with Hank Snow and the stars of Grand Old Opry. Norma Jeane Mortenson was preparing to change her name. Also that month, a fresh-faced U.S. senator gave Richard Nixon an autographed copy of his second book, "Profiles in Courage". In that best-seller, John F. Kennedy applauded leaders with the courage to represent "the actual sentiments of the silent majority of their constituents in opposition to the screams of a vocal minority." That "silent majority" was a constituency neither Nixon nor the country would forget: Fifty-six years later, Mitt Romney is counting on it to win the presidency. Nixon could have thanked Kennedy's hardcover for one of his many resurrections. His appeal to the "silent majority" turned around his political fortunes, driving his approval ratings from the mid-50s to more than 80%. Opinion: Both parties have a huge race problem . His pivotal speech contrasted a "vocal minority" of idealistic but impractical, young, anti-Vietnam protestors, cultural elites and intellectuals with their stodgy parents, older, blue-collar, working-class Americans. Until Nixon drew the silent majority from the shadows, their simmering outrage at the left's lack of respect for time-tested American values was undetected. Political historian Teddy White characterized the split between "what the silent people think" and what the country's "more important thinkers think." He wrote, "Never have America's leading cultural media, its university thinkers, its influence makers been more intrigued by experiment and change; but in no election have the mute masses more completely separated themselves from such leadership and thinking." At least, until today. By some measures, little has changed since the seminal year of 1969. Marilyn Monroe remains a powerful symbol of fragile, sexual romanticism. The Arab world still lusts for the Palestinian territory. Elvis is making more money than ever. And we are still fighting the Vietnam War. The division between Nixon's silent majority, on one hand, and, on the other, Democrat-leaning young voters, Hollywood stars, academia, the music industry, fashionistas, and news media elites has never repaired itself. In the "The Conquest of Cool," Thomas Frank chronicled how the social ferment of the 60's not only failed to overthrow establishment culture, but was absorbed by it. The counter-culture of the 60s revolution turned into the "Me Generation" of the 80s. They settled into entitled consumerism, grew fat and became today's establishment. Now the counterculture defines itself by the brands it wears, not the institutions it protests. Being different today requires the latest IPhone and a vanilla, extra-shot latte. The counter culture wears a Nike swoosh, not a tie-died shirt. The Axis of Cool, born in protest against the war that has defined all future wars, has become a culture of locust-like consumption. It devours public and private resources. It remains allied against the previous generation's antiquated ethos of self-discipline, personal responsibility and moderation. Over five decades, the counterculture became our culture. It expanded its home within the Democratic Party, finding its identity challenging the quaint social norms of tragically uncool Republicans. We are an easy cultural target. We are suspicious of all cutting-edge music, abstract art, avant-garde style and trendy thought. We advocate unimaginative self-restraint and standards we often fail to meet -- and we get no credit for trying. Our imperfections are labeled hypocritical, not human. Hip America is more fun. And in 2008, it found its leader, the coolest president ever. President Obama hangs out with movie stars, makes no decisions without consulting the academic elite and sings like Al Green. Obama is the president of cool America. To oppose him, where did Republicans turn? We chose the strait-laced personification of everything Obama is not. We made ourselves even more dated. Mitt Romney is the chaperone to be eluded at every prom. He's common-sense parental advice, not counter-intuitive academic insight. He has stepped down, fresh and perfect, from a Norman Rockwell painting. As Ashley Parker notes in the New York Times, an emotional outburst from the proper Romney is limited to saying "the heck with it." Even my own daughter writes that Romney's "tendency to say 'shoot' and 'darn it' tells us he's from another generation." Being terminally uncool, however, may be the secret of Romney's success. Nixon's majority was silent a long time, until aroused by Obama, whose self-admitted superiority led him to denigrate their bitter attachment to their values. They slept, this quiet group of Americans who worked hard, paid their taxes and played by the rules, until awakened by a president who violated their core ethic of responsibility, telling them the cure for too much debt is even more debt. They are mature. They are responsible. And now they are frightened. They worry that everything they've worked for is being consumed, leaving only a bare orchard of fruitless trees and leafless branches. They have heard an alarm. And now they stand to defend what is plain and boring and true. They rise to tell us their values, like the lines on the side of the road, are there for a purpose. They are there to keep us straight. Now it is the silent majority who takes to the streets in protest of their government's fiscal fantasies. They are adults, rising to say that their country's time-honored values are not luxuries we can discard, but obligations that must be met. Their children, who think themselves the first generation with the mental capacity to understand the world's problems, stare at them. They confuse their parent's civility with softness. They are baffled to hear that success requires self-discipline -- not just self-indulgence, good intentions and intellect. Polls say this race is tied. The president of cool is suddenly in a tight race against America's most uncool parent. Are the "mute masses" Nixon aroused still a majority? Early turnout and absentee voting data from the Republican National Committee indicates that GOP vote totals are up over 2% from 2008 while Democrat totals are down 6%. GOP pollsters report Republicans are heading into 2012 with a significant advantage in voter interest and intensity. No-drama Obama has got the cool. All Romney has is the fury of the patient man. If he wins, Romney could make being uncool, cool again. The opinions expressed in this commentary are solely those of Alex Castellanos. | Alex Castellanos says election may echo old split between cultural elite, silent majority . He says Obama is widely viewed as the "cool president," Romney is the opposite of cool . Castellanos: Could Romney's persona be a plus in this year's election? | 2627fa061a52e954e0501e28f816d6fafcf73db3 |
(CNN) -- "I do not believe we can keep doing the same thing for over five decades and expect a different result," President Barack Obama pronounced Wednesday. "Moreover, it does not serve America's interests, or the Cuban people, to try to push Cuba toward collapse." And with these words, Obama introduced a long-absent element of lucidity into U.S. policy approaches to Cuba. On the Cuban side, President Raúl Castro also welcomed the renewal of dialogue and committed his government to work with the United States to resolve "profound differences" on a host of issues. The implications of the action go far beyond Obama abandoning an utterly anomalous policy, one without internal logic, one that was both counterproductive and contradictory -- a policy in fact that contributed to the very conditions it professed to abhor. To speak to Cuba is to speak to Latin America. It is a powerful affirmation of a U.S. willingness to respect the propositions of national sovereignty and self-determination in a region of the world where centuries of colonialism have made the pursuit of national sovereignty and self-determination something of national obsession. It is an acknowledgment that history does matter, and that a shared awareness of that history cannot but result in salutary outcomes. The commitment to normalize diplomatic relations also signals the end of a policy that had as its overriding objective the overthrow of the Cuban government. The idea was to use economic sanctions to induce calamity, make daily life as difficult and as grim as possible, and increase Cuban suffering as a means to foment popular disaffection in the hope that Cuban people, driven by want and motivated by despair, would rise up against their government. This has served as the cornerstone of a half-century policy. "The only foreseeable means of alienating internal support is through disenchantment and disaffection based on economic dissatisfaction and hardship," a State Department official insisted in a memo in 1960, and thereupon proceeded to call for actions designed "to bring about hunger, desperation and (the) overthrow of government." The President's assertion that it is not in U.S. interests to push Cuba toward collapse is a remarkable policy reversal. But it is also true that to signal the end of a policy of "regime change" has far-reaching implications in Cuba. For much of the last 50 years, and especially since the collapse of the Soviet Union, U.S. policy has served as a means for the Cuban leadership to sustain moral authority. The United States has represented a looming threat to Cuban national sovereignty -- that is, Cuban national security. As Americans have learned in the last dozen years, the invocation of "national security" does not readily accommodate to the demands of civil liberties. A commitment to ease economic sanctions serves to counter the perception of the United States as a threat to Cuban sovereignty, thereby denying those in Cuba the pretext of U.S. hostility to limit public debate and restrict civil liberties. The change of policy represents a momentous occasion -- rare indeed in U.S.-Latin American relations -- where the Americans are signaling a desire to engage the Cubans on the basis of mutual respect, to engage Cubans in normal political and economic interactions, and thereby contribute to the creation of space in which Cubans themselves could proceed to address their most pressing issues, on their terms, within the logic of their own history, and act accordingly. It is a measure, in the end, of enlightened American self-interest. It shows respect for the Cuban people by acting on the premise that Cubans themselves know what is in their best interest. | Louis Perez: Obama normalizing relations with Cuba an overdue moment of U.S. lucidity . Perez: In Latin America scarred by colonialism, move shows support for national sovereignty . He says it removes Cuban leadership pretext for "moral authority" in face of U.S. hostility . Perez: Change in misbegotten U.S. policy gives Cubans space to decide own best interests . | f94b665f8f2b0902ecdbfcb4671cb090394b6fa5 |
Dubai, United Arab Emirates (CNN) -- Two more suspects in the killing of a Hamas leader in Dubai, both carrying British passports, have been identified, police said Tuesday. This brings to eight the number of people who entered Dubai with British passports to allegedly take part in the killing of Mahmoud al-Mabhouh, a founding member of the military wing of the Palestinian Islamist movement. The development is likely to deepen concerns over how the killers acquired the passports a day after the European Union condemned what it said were brazen cases of identity theft. Elvis passport exposes security flaw . Altogether, 18 people -- 16 men and two women -- were part of the Dubai hit-squad, police said. Fifteen of them had European passports -- eight from Britain, five from Ireland, one from France and one from Germany. Two more were Palestinians and are being held by police in Dubai after being arrested in Jordan. The country of origin of the 18th passport has not been released. The passports used are not fake or forged, but are authentic passports meant for other people, officials have said. Dubai's police chief has said he is "99-percent" certain that the Mossad, the secretive Israeli foreign intelligence unit, is behind al-Mabhouh's killing. European officials have been pressing Israel for answers. Israel has a policy of neither confirming nor denying involvement in security matters, and government officials declined to comment on the "assassination" statement. Al-Mabhouh was behind the kidnapping and killing of two Israeli soldiers in 1989, according to Hamas. | Police say eight people entered Dubai on UK passports to carry out killing . A total of 18 people took part in assassination, police say . Dubai's police chief says he is "99-percent" certain Israel involved in killing . | 9d8c62f998a1920d36ade44dd55ef6b43f0b302b |
By . Laurie Whitwell . Follow @@lauriewhitwell . Joleon Lescott is undergoing a medical at West Bromwich Albion. The former England defender returned from holiday and headed straight for the club's training ground to complete a series of fitness tests. Albion are in pole position to sign the 31-year-old amid interest from Hull and Stoke, while Crystal Palace are also believed to have registered late interest. Undergoing: Joleon Lescott is having a medical at West Bromwich Albion ahead of a potential switch . Victor: Lescott won two Premier League titles during his time at Manchester City . New West Brom head coach Alan Irvine knows Lescott from their time together at Everton but admitted wage demands by the centre-back, available of a free after leaving Manchester City, could prove prohibitive. Yet it is understood Lescott would be willing to reduce his salary from the £90,000-per-week he received at the Etihad to around £40-45,000 per week. Negotiations still need to be completed but West Brom plan to offer Lescott what he wants. | Lescott undergoing medical at West Brom ahead of a move . 31-year-old released by Man City at the end of last season on free transfer . Hull City, Stoke and Crystal Palace also interested in the defender . | 34bd159ef0f7ae689195c24d71f2b09922acb175 |
By . Amanda Williams . PUBLISHED: . 11:02 EST, 13 February 2013 . | . UPDATED: . 02:46 EST, 14 February 2013 . Fashion chain Republic has collapsed into administration putting 2,500 jobs at risk, it has today been confirmed. Ernst & Young, announced today as administrator to the Leeds-based group, said the 121 shops would continue to trade while a buyer for the business is sought. Republic started as a men’s denim retailer in 1986 under the Best Jeans brand in Leeds. But it was hit by a 'sudden and rapid decline' in sales at the end of last month after poor trading results over the autumn. So far 150 staff have been made redundant at Republic’s headquarters in Leeds. Casualty: Fashion chain Republic has called in administrators, it has today been announced . Administrator Hunter Kelly said: . 'Republic suffered poor trading results in the autumn, and whilst sales . picked up in December there has been a sudden and rapid decline in sales . in late January. Another 164 stores at DVD and games rental firm Blockbuster are to shut. The latest planned closures, which threaten around 800 jobs, come on top of the 168 shops already identified for closure by Deloitte. Blockbuster collapsed last month amid competition from internet firms and the digital streaming of movies and games. Having started with 528 stores at the time of its appointment, Deloitte will continue to look for buyers for the stores not currently up for closure. Joint administrator Lee Manning said: 'We have continued to review the performance of individual stores since our appointment a month ago and have concluded that further closures are necessary in order to restructure the company for sale. 'We are in discussions with a number of parties interested in purchasing all or parts of the business and will update on progress in due course.' The 164 stores identified today employ an average of five members of staff and will close over the coming weeks. Deloitte said: 'Staff in the stores affected by the closures will be facing redundancy. A dedicated employee helpline is in place and the company is running an employee assistance programme to help those staff facing redundancy find other jobs.' Customers will be notified in advance of the closure so that they can return their outstanding rental items beforehand. He added: 'We will continue to trade . Republic, with a view to selling the business as a going concern. 'The . brand Republic is well recognised, particularly in the North. It has a . powerful website offering, owns well-known brand names, and has some . very attractive and profitable stores.' Republic, which targets the competitive youth fashion market, sells brands including Jack Jones, SoulCal, Diesel and Firetrap. It was bought by private equity firm . TPG in June 2010 in a deal worth around £300 million, with the founders . understood to have retained a significant stake. It concentrated sales focus in the north of . England - an area that has been hit particularly badly by the recession - a move which . is thought to have contributed to poor trading. Mr Kelly said the impact of recent . poor results on cash flow had meant the business was unable to continue . to operate outside of an insolvency process. The chain’s decline follow a bleak start . to the year for the retail sector, with a series of high-profile firms . having hit the wall. Thousands of jobs have been axed . after music retailer HMV, camera group Jessops and DVD and games rental . group Blockbuster called in administrators last month. Republic’s chairman Andy Bond, a . former Asda boss, stepped down last week having handed in his notice . last year after less than two years. The chain recently hired ex-TK Maxx . boss Paul Sweetenham as chief executive. Mr Kelly said: 'We are grateful for . the continued support of all employees and customers during this time, . and would like to thank everyone at Republic for their commitment and . hard work as the business continues to trade.' In trouble: DVD and game rental chain Blockbuster was one of three high street casualties to call in administrators last month . Struggling: HMV came under fire last month after refusing to accept customers' gift vouchers bought as late as a day before the chain entered administration . Republic's collapse into administration makes it the latest in a long line of high-profile high street firms to fail - the most visible legacy of the financial crisis and subsequent double-dip recession. Going: Electrical giant Comet closed its doors for the last time shortly before Christmas . December 2008: MFI, the furniture retailer, was one of the first major firms to go out of business at the start of the downturn, as retail sales began to fall following a sharp rise in unemploymentWoolworths . January 2009: Woolworths shuttered its 800 stores, bringing home to many the scale of the UK's economic collapse as the country entered recession for the first time . February 2009: Zavvi stopped trading around Christmas - and refused to honour its gift cards, leading to widespread customer anger . December 2009: Borders was another entertainment behemoth to go under as sale of CDs and DVDs were squeezed by digital downloads and online retailers . October 2012: JJB Sports closed all but 20 of its stores, which were taken over and re-branded by Sports Direct - leading to the death of the JJB brand and 550 employees losing their jobs . Casualty: Jessops called in administrators in January and was closed . December 2012: Comet shut down just before Christmas, leaving nearly 7,000 staff out of work and forcing the taxpayer to pick up a £50million tab related to its bankruptcy, which was blamed on soaring energy prices and a reduction in the number of home buyers . January 2013: Jessops was closed by administrator PwC earlier this month after years of struggling with online competition as customers turned away from traditional photography . January 2013: HMV, which has 239 shops and 4,500 staff, announced that it was calling in administrators. The company came under fire for not honouring gift vouchers which they had been selling all over Christmas. January 2013: Blockbusters, called in . administrator Deloitte who announced that 129 stores across the UK would . close and 760 employees would lose their jobs. In trouble: Music chain HMV called in administrators last month . | Ernst & Young, lined up to handle administration, says 121 shops would continue to trade while a buyer for the business is sought . It has been owned by private equity firm TPG since 2010 . It follows HMV, Jessops and Blockbusters into administration . | d303d5007508455b9920b1f34d4bbcca8441adb1 |
Formula 1 legend Michael Schumacher is 'waking up very slowly' following the skiing accident which left him with horrific brain injuries, it emerged today. The news of his slow recovery was passed on by the Schumacher's 15-year-old son Mick, a kart-racing driver. The 45-year-old is being treated at home after spending six months in a medically-induced coma following the accident in Meribel, France, in December last year. Scroll down for video . Formula 1 legend Michael Schumacher (left) is 'waking up very slowly', his son Mick, 15, (right) has revealed . Kart-racing driver Mick (pictured) told French F1 commentator Jean-Louis Moncet that things are going 'at a slow pace' French F1 commentator Jean-Louis Moncet told Europe 1 radio station: 'I saw his son and he told me that Schumi is waking up very slowly; very slowly. 'Although things are going at a slow pace, he has a lot of time, I would say he has his whole life in front of him to get back on track.' Moncet, 69, also cast new light on the manner in which Schumacher was injured when he struck a rock during the fall. 'The problem for Michael was not the hit, but the mounting of the Go-Pro camera that he had on his helmet that injured his brain,' said Moncet. Moncet confirmed that Schumacher was still 'fighting' at his Swiss mansion, where he is being cared for in a purpose-built medical suite. The seven times world champion returned to his home with his wife and children two months ago after being discharged from a rehabilitation clinic in Lausanne, Switzerland. Michael Schumacher and Mick attending the Monaco Formula One Grand Prix in Monte-Carlo in 2010 . Schumacher spent time in the rehab clinic after coming out of his medically-induced coma following the accident, which left him with catastrophic brain injuries. Updates on his condition have been few and far between. After he was moved home, Schumacher's manager Sabine Kehm said there was a 'long and difficult' road ahead. Former Ferrari boss Jean Todt visited Schumacher last month, saying: 'What's important is that he lives and that his family is with him. We really believe that things will get better. He needs time and to be left alone. Accident: Schumacher, pictured with wife Corinna, suffered severe brain injuries after a ski accident in December last year and was put in a medically induced coma . 'In the past weeks and months, he has made progress in relation to the severity of his injury,' said Todt, now president of the International Automobile Federation. 'But a long and hard road is in front of him. Hopefully things will improve. His family is close to him. He needs time and peace.' Schumacher is being cared for by a team of 15 experts at his home. It is understood he remains immobile and unable to speak. His care is estimated to be costing his family 100,000 pounds per month. At the end of the year his father Rolf is moving from his home in Germany into a specially constructed residence built for him in the grounds of the 35 million pound Schumacher mansion at Gland, on the shores of Lake Geneva. Mick has been tipped to follow in his father's footsteps in his own motorsport career. The 15-year-old finished runner-up at the world championships in France last month, before coming second again in the German junior kart championships last week. Having raced under the surname of Betsch, his mother Corinna's maiden name, Mick Schumacher adopted the name Mick Jnr this season. Last month he spoke of his intention to pursue a career in the sport, saying that it was 'only the beginning'. | Formula 1 driver's son Mick passed on the news about his father's condition . He told commentator Jean-Louis Moncet that things are going at 'slow pace' Moncet said mounting of 'Schumi's' Go-Pro camera caused brain injuries . 45-year-old injured in accident in French resort of Meribel in December 2013 . Schumacher is still 'fighting' in purpose-built medical suite at Swiss mansion . | 36455b80019793718647f1e3a5592b22d5ec18aa |
(CNN) -- Monday, January 18 . 10:32 p.m. -- The Haitian National Police force in Port-au-Prince, normally with 4,000 people, has dropped to about 1,500 people since last week's quake, according to National Police Chief Mario Andresol. Many of those who haven't reported to work are dead or injured, he says. 9:56 p.m. -- The American Red Cross and UNICEF's United States Fund have raised nearly $5 million since 8 p.m. ET, when "Haiti How You Can Help," a special "Larry King Live," started, according to CNN's Larry King. The show ends at 10 p.m. ET and is scheduled to repeat at midnight. How you can help . 9:47 p.m. -- Maxine Fallon, the 23-year-old student rescued today in the rubble of a building at Universite G.O.C. in Port-au-Prince, says she was pressed in the same position, with legs folded uncomfortably and very little wiggle room, for all six days she was trapped, CNN's Chris Lawrence reports. Watch | Read . 9:39 p.m. -- The American Red Cross and UNICEF's United States Fund have raised $2.9 million since 8 p.m. ET, when "Haiti How You Can Help," a special "Larry King Live," started, according to CNN's Larry King. The show lasts until 10 p.m. ET. 9:36 p.m. -- While visiting the injured at a U.N. clinic in Port-au-Prince, Haitian President Rene Preval says his country -- already the Western Hemisphere's poorest -- needs not only medicine and food, but also long-term reconstruction assistance. "The more we receive help, the more we can take care of them," he said. 9:12 p.m. -- A U.S. Air Force cargo plane on Monday, bypassing the gridlock at Haiti's main airport in Port-au-Prince, dropped 40 pallets of bottled water and ready-to-eat food on a field just north of the airport, CNN's Larry Shaughnessy reported. "There are so many relief agencies funneling through the airport that it has kind of created a bottleneck," U.S. Air Force Lt. Col. Leon Strickland said en route to the drop point. "We're going to put things directly out of the air onto the ground and open up another distribution point north of the [Port-au-Prince] airfield." 8:31 p.m. -- The following video shows CNN's Anderson Cooper dragging a bleeding boy from a crowd as looting went on Monday in a Port-au-Prince street. The video includes graphic content. Viewer discretion is advised. Watch . 7:39 p.m. -- The student saved today from the rubble of a Port-au-Prince university building, 23-year-old Maxine Fallon, says she prayed for someone to find her. "I had hoped I would be rescued," Fallon said. Doctors told CNN that Fallon is suffering from severe lacerations and trauma to her organs, among other injuries. She was drifting in and out of consciousness and was transported to a field hospital in the Port-au-Prince suburb of Petionville, CNN's Chris Lawrence and Arthur Brice reported. Read . 6:41 p.m. -- A volunteer at Sacre Coeur Hospital in northern Haiti said the facility has large numbers of open beds, but no easy way to get patients there from Port-au-Prince. "My surgeons are sitting around looking at each other, wondering why they came," Tim Traynor told CNN. The hospital, in Milot, has more than 200 beds but fewer than 30 patients, Traynor said. He said the U.S. Coast Guard has flown some injured people up from Port-au-Prince, "one or two or three or four people at a time." Another volunteer, Carol Fipp, said: "Shout it from the mountaintops: We need helicopters." 6:35 p.m. -- Limited runway space and battered telecommunications networks are hindering efforts to get food, water and medical aid into the hands of desperate Haitians, relief agencies say. The U.S. Ambassador to Haiti, Kenneth Merten, says another big obstacle is Haiti's damaged infrastructure, which is making it difficult to move aid from the airport quickly. 5:41 p.m. -- A 12-year-old girl on whom CNN's Dr. Sanjay Gupta performed brain surgery on the aircraft carrier USS Carl Vinson this morning is "doing very well," Gupta says. Shrapnel had penetrated her brain. A military helicopter flew Gupta from Port-au-Prince to the aircraft carrier for the procedure. 5:23 p.m. -- The people who've just rescued student Maxine Fallon from the crumbled university knew to go there because text messages had been sent from beneath the rubble, said paramedic Clever Sobrino, who added that more trapped survivors are believed to be inside. Read . 5:20 p.m. -- The student who has just been rescued from the Port-au-Prince university rubble, Maxine Fallon, 23, was treated by an Israeli doctor and taken to a U.N. treatment center on the back of a CNN truck, CNN's Chris Lawrence reports. A paramedic had flagged down the truck, which was passing through the area, and asked that the truck be used to take Fallon to the treatment center. 5:09 p.m. -- A university student has been pulled out of the rubble of a school in Port-au-Prince and taken to a hospital. 5:05 p.m. -- In his interview with CNN's Christiane Amanpour, U.N. Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon couldn't give a timeline for how long it will take to get the abundance of aid collected for Haiti flowing freely into the country. "We are in an initial stage of this, coordinating and organizing effective way of delivering aid," Ban said. Read . 4:27 p.m. -- U.N. Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon tells CNN's Christiane Amanpour that 46 U.N. staff members have died as a result of last week's earthquake, and he fears that number could rise. The previous confirmed toll was 37. The U.N.'s mission headquarters in Port-au-Prince collapsed in the earthquake. Read . 4:11 p.m. -- Two South Florida residents talk to CNN affiliate WFOR about their mother's rescue from a Port-au-Prince grocery store 108 hours after the earthquake. 3:46 p.m. -- The U.S. State Department now says the number of Haitian children who have left Haiti to be with adoptive parents in the U.S. since last week's earthquake is 24, not 150 as officials said Sunday. The State Department says it's working on nearly 300 cases of Americans who are waiting to adopt Haitian children, and 200 of those cases are being accelerated, CNN's Elise Labott reports. 3:30 p.m. -- A campaign using text messages to raise money for the Red Cross has tallied more than $21 million for relief efforts in Haiti, CNN's Doug Gross reports. The total has obliterated the nearly $4 million that, according to the Red Cross, was donated to all charities by mobile texts in all of 2009. Read . 3:25 p.m. -- At a press conference, Haitian-American musician Wyclef Jean tearfully denies recent allegations that he misappropriated funds from his Yele Haiti charity. Meanwhile, experts on nonprofits say they can't find serious wrongdoing, except for a lapse of discipline in filing his taxes, CNNMoney.com reports. Read . 3:17 p.m. -- CNN's Anderson Cooper provides more detail on the looting he saw in downtown Port-au-Prince on Monday: Several hundred people broke into a damaged supply store, and some of them -- young men holding two-by-fours with nails hammered into them -- began attacking each other. One boy collapsed onto the street in a pool of blood. Some people came with money, buying supplies from looters -- in some cases hoping to sell for more somewhere else. 1:50 p.m. -- Twenty-four Americans are confirmed dead in the Haiti quake, the State Department said. About 25 other American deaths have been reported but not confirmed. 1:47 p.m. -- U.S. Muslims have raised more than $800,000 for Haiti's earthquake victims since a call to help went out at Friday prayers across the country, according to the group Islamic Relief USA. "We will probably reach our million dollar goal by this afternoon," spokesman Anwar Khan told CNN on Monday. 1:24 p.m. -- Former President Bill Clinton has arrived in Haiti, accompanied by his daughter, Chelsea, to check on relief efforts. 12:58 p.m. -- CNN's Anderson Cooper reports widespread looting in downtown Port-au-Prince. "People are actually stealing this, then will sell it later and then they'll use that money for their families," Cooper said. 12:40 p.m. -- The amphibious assault ship USS Bataan and accompanying ships with more than 2,200 Marines on board were arriving off Haiti on Monday, the Pentagon said. The Marines bring with them heavy lift and earth-moving equipment, a dozen helicopters and additional medical support capabilities. 12:33 p.m. -- Rescue crews in Haiti have saved more than 75 people from the rubble, and continue to search for survivors six days after the earthquake, U.S. Ambassador Kenneth Merten said Monday. 12:20 p.m. -- Former Senate Majority Leader Bill Frist, a medical doctor, arrived in Port-au-Prince, Haiti, on Monday to help in the relief effort. The Tennessee Republican will be working at Baptist Mission Hospital in Haiti with the international relief agency Samaritan's Purse, according to a statement from Hope Through Healing Hands, Frist's nonprofit aid organization. iReport.com: Looking for loved ones . 12:09 p.m. -- Military officials now say three Americans, not 30, were injured in an incident outside the Port-au-Prince airport. They are being treated for injuries that are not life-threatening, CNN Pentagon correspondent Chris Lawrence reports. 11:40 a.m. -- Military officials in Port-au-Prince, Haiti, tell CNN Pentagon correspondent Chris Lawrence that 30 Americans have been hurt. 10:37 a.m. -- Rick Santos, president and CEO of the humanitarian organization IMA World Health, said he and a few of his colleagues survived 50 hours beneath the rubble of a hotel, sustained by a Tootsie Pop and a bit of chewing gum. Read . Share your earthquake stories . 8:22 a.m. -- CNN's Dr. Sanjay Gupta is on board the aircraft carrier USS Carl Vinson assisting in the care of a 12-year-old girl with a serious head injury. The military sought Gupta's help, and he was taken to the ship by helicopter. CNN has been told that the girl's condition is stable. 8:15 a.m. -- Bill Clinton, the U.N. special envoy to Haiti, is set to meet with local officials to discuss how best to proceed with recovery operations in Haiti. 6:30 a.m. -- The Pentagon said it will have 7,000 personnel in Haiti on Monday working on earthquake relief. U.S. military personnel have supplied 130,000 rations and 70,000 bottles of water as of Monday morning, it said. Follow daily developments: . Tuesday . Wednesday . Thursday . Friday . Saturday . Sunday . | Read Twitter feeds to stay up to date on the latest in Haiti . Read CNN.com's complete special coverage of the Haiti earthquake . iReport: Looking for loved ones . | 9c296e3af6aa953b35fc903760d64f9b2d8c239f |
They are the undisputed predators of the ocean, armed with razor-sharp teeth, capable of reaching speeds of 35mph - and now a great white shark could be headed towards Britain. A ferocious predator - called Lydia - is currently just 1,000 miles of the coast of Cornwall and Ireland in the Atlantic. And if she continues on her path, the 14.5ft, 2,000lb beast could arrive in British waters by Monday, which would make her the first great white to cross the Atlantic. She was tagged as part of the Ocearch . project, which aims to monitor sharks to learn more about their . movements and Lydia’s progress can be followed on the project’s website. SCROLL DOWN FOR VIDEO . Deadly cargo: Tagging the shark (pictured) was a feat in itself, with heavy machinery used to hoist Lydia from the water in order to fit the tracking device . Lydia was tagged by the Ocearch project, which aims to monitor sharks to learn more about their movements . She has swum more than 19,000 miles since a tracking device was fitted to her near Florida as part of the Ocearch scientific project. She is currently near the mid-Atlantic ridge and researchers tracking her progress said she has travelled 380miles in just 72 hours. 'She technically does not cross the . Atlantic until she crosses the mid-Atlantic ridge, which she has yet to . do,’ said Dr Gregory Skomal, senior fisheries biologist with . Massachusetts Marine Fisheries. He believes she is closer to Europe than North America. Lydia has swum 380-miles in just 72 hours and is currently near the mid-Atlantic ridge (marked). If she swims over the mid-Atlantic range then she will be the first recorded great white to cross the Atlantic Ocean . The shark has travelled more than 19,000 miles since a tracking device was fitted to her near Florida as part of the Ocearch scientific project . In transit: Lydia is currently near the mid-Atlantic ridge - Dr Gregory Skomal says she technically does not cross the Atlantic until she crosses the ridge . 'We have no idea how far she will go, but Europe, the Med, and the coast of Africa are all feasible,' Dr Skomal said. The act of tagging the shark, let alone predicting where it will travel, was a feat in itself. A 75,000lb hydraulic platform was used to hoist Lydia from the water in order to fit the tracking device. Though Lydia's journey is impressive, great whites are known for their marathon migrations. In 2003 a great white nicknamed Nicole travelled from South Africa to Australia and back - a some 12,400 miles. In recent years there have been several sightings of Great whites off the coast of Britain. In September last year, fisherman David Bond said he had spotted a 14ft beast swimming close to his boat off the coast of Looe in southern Cornwall. The suspected sighting came just a day after a fisherman on board a lobster boat said he spotted a 'giant shark' get close to his vessel. All those who witnessed the shark dismissed the idea it could be a basking shark, saying the creature was much larger, prompting experts to consider the possibility it was a Great white. Great white sharks are the largest predatory fish in the world, reaching up to 20ft in length and more than 4,400lb in weight. Satelitte tracking of the giant species has afforded researchers and scientists more accurate information about their habits and long-distance journeys. The OCEARCH Global Shark Tracker Project has tagged around 100 sharks since 2009. The study has shown that Great whites can travel up to 3,000 miles in three months. They . are traditionally tracked off the coasts of South Africa, Australia, . New Zealand, the west coast of America from California up to Alaska, the . Gulf coast and Hawaii. The . creatures have a ferocious reputation but are respsonsible for between a . third and a half of the average 100 shark attacks across the world each . year. They are highly adapted predators, detecting a single drop of blood in 100 litres of water up to three miles away. Their mouths are lined with around 300 serrated teeth, arranged across several rows. Gathering . speed and approaching their prey from beneath, Great whites can leap . clear of the water, breaching like whales to attack. They commonly feed on sea lions, seals, small toothed whales, and sea turtles. The predators live for up to 25 years and eat around 11 tonnes of food each year. If food is scarce, the sharks will try to avoid fighting, instead engaging in a tail-slapping contest along the surface of the water. The winner delivers the most slaps. Scientists . do not have a reliable idea of the species' population across the . world, but agree their number are decreasing due to overfishing and . sharks being caught accidentally in nets. They are listed as an endangered species. | Lydia, a satellite-tagged 15ft, 2,000lb great white, is currently 1,000 miles from the coast of Cornwall and Ireland . She has swam 380 miles in 72 hours and is near the mid-Atlantic ridge . If she swims over the mid-Atlantic range she will be the first recorded great white to cross the Atlantic . | 341a5e5f866528c6bb9e5941620ec516a89d25ac |
Hong Kong (CNN) -- Crossing borders as a transgender woman is always a challenge. There are many reasons immigration authorities reject you, but sometimes it's simply because they don't seem to understand who we are. My name is Eliana Rubashkyn and I was born in Bogotá, Colombia. I'm a trained pharmacist and speak five languages fluently, and until recently, I was studying for an MBA in Health Administration in Taiwan on a government scholarship. I also used to be a man. Last year, I was forced to travel to Hong Kong to renew my passport because of my altered gender. Hong Kong -- a one-hour flight away -- is the nearest Colombian consulate from Taiwan. The trip was also necessary to allow me to apply for the second year of my graduate degree. Little did I know my life would be turned upside down when I boarded that plane. Confusion, hostility . On arrival at Hong Kong's sprawling international airport, immigration officials reacted with a combination of confusion and hostility after looking at my travel documents. I arrived as a woman but my passport identified me as a man. It hadn't occurred to me to check the implications of changing my sex on my freedom to travel and the way I'd be treated. I was immediately refused entry and told that I was facing being deported. I was detained in a cramped room at the airport and permitted access to the male toilet only, despite my repeated requests to be allowed to use the female facilities. [The Hong Kong Customs department told CNN in a statement that according to their procedures they have to take into account the gender as indicated on the passport. As Rubashkyn's passport still carried the "male" gender marker, officials had to follow procedures for those identified as men.] . A deportation letter was soon issued to me, which meant Hong Kong authorities were forcing me to leave. I feared I'd be sent back to Colombia, a place I had left because I suffered discrimination and violent abuse -- including two murder attempts -- precisely because I'm transgender. After hours of crying and appeals to all my Facebook friends using my smartphone, several lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) rights groups in Hong Kong contacted me and appealed to immigration officials to give me permission to enter the city. [Two independent sources with knowledge of this case told CNN Rubashkyn's release was secured via the local Colombian consulate. Once consular officials were notified, they secured her conditional release, meaning she could enter Hong Kong but not leave for anywhere but Colombia. As a result, she filed a refugee claim with the local UNHCR office.] . Stateless . While the process to become a refugee can take years, the situation was so clear for the agency that full status was conferred in only 12 days. September 30 last year marked the day I became a "stateless person." I had effectively surrendered my nationality. [While the UNHCR doesn't comment on specific cases for the security of the refugee status claimant, they provided the following statement to CNN: "An applicant's sexual orientation and/or gender identity can be relevant to a refugee claim where he or she fears persecutory harm on account of his or her actual or perceived sexual orientation and/or gender identity."] . Yet I was still holding a deportation letter from Hong Kong. My fear of being deported to a place where I am not allowed to be myself and where exposing myself could lead me to face death, forced me to request resettlement with the UNHCR and forget the life I had built in Taiwan. Inner identity . Since I was six years old, I knew that my physical gender did not match my inner feelings and inner identity, and I had to grow in the wrong way being a person I was not. I tried to be myself in my room several times as a teen, by dressing in women's clothes, but when I was in my 20s I decided to show the world the person I really was. I needed courage to go out on the streets as Eliana knowing the hazards that existed in a dangerous city like Bogotá. Colombia is a country where machismo, transphobia and homophobia are deeply ingrained in society. South America accounts for 80% of globally reported trans-people murders since 2008, from a total of 643 cases -- according to the International Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Trans and Intersex Association (ILGA), a Geneva-based NGO. Of that figure, Colombia alone accounts for around 12% of cases. In Taiwan I found a safe place to be myself, where I could start my medical treatment and my transition from male to female, while working towards my MBA -- fulfilling a double dream of being Eliana and advancing my career. Over time I could see and feel my body changing. I was becoming a woman only a year after the hormone replacement therapy started in Taiwan. In Hong Kong, this medical treatment was as necessary as food and shelter. After almost nine months in the city in which local LGBT group Rainbow made my survival possible, I moved to New Zealand, where I was allowed to reside in a resettlement center. Hong Kong hardship . The situation for refugees in Hong Kong is more complicated. We are forced to live in miserable conditions, without any control over our lives. We are not allowed to work and study, and Hong Kong only provides us about US$150 per month for food and other basic needs. The city's statutory minimum wage for a 40-hour-a-week employee is US$620 per month. I also discovered other perils. In October last year, I fainted in the street because I was lacking the medical treatment needed as part of my gender transformation. I was sent to the emergency room of the city's Queen Elizabeth hospital. When they realized who I was, I was given basic treatment and placed in a padded room in a psychiatric ward and restrained on a bed. [A statement from the Health Authority, the government department responsible for public hospitals in Hong Kong, said Rubashkyn "received appropriate clinical treatment and nursing care" and that "all arrangements were made based on the clinical needs of the patient."] . Again, Rainbow rescued me. The group pleaded at the hospital for my release. This followed full UNHCR refugee recognition, which places the person concerned under the agency's protection. [The Health Authority clarified in the same statement to CNN that discharge was to "handle (a) refugee-related issue."] . For the UNHCR, the process has been very complicated. Most countries require sex reassignment surgery; few countries allow gender changes on paper if they weren't done on the body. There are few options in terms of countries suitable for me in my situation. They include Canada, the United States, New Zealand, Sweden and more recently, Australia. The struggle for many like me continues, but there is always hope. When it seems there is not a clear reason to continue fighting, my life still has a meaning -- being myself, being Eliana. CNN Espanol's Diego Laje and CNN's Paul Armstrong contributed to this report. | Eliana Rubashkyn needed to renew her Taiwan visa after changing her sex . Forced to travel to nearest Colombian consulate in Hong Kong . But she encountered problems trying to travel on her existing passport in Hong Kong . Fearing deportation to Colombia, she had to apply for refugee status . | 50c268f7183c450d03f73af5231a7f1f2fb90235 |
(CNN) -- A suspect in the shooting death of South African soccer team captain Senzo Meyiwa has been charged with murder and robbery, a National Prosecuting Authority spokesman said Friday. Zanokuhle Mbatha appeared at the Boksburg Magistrate Court to face the charges and then was remanded in custody until November 11 to give him time to apply for legal aid, National Prosecuting Authority spokesman Nathi Mncube said on Twitter. "There are still suspects outstanding & we appeal to public to continue providing info," authorities added on Twitter. Football world mourns death of South Africa captain Meyiwa . Meyiwa was shot and killed Sunday night during a botched robbery by intruders who went into a house in the Vosloorus township near Johannesburg, authorities said. Police haven't disclosed what led to the shooting, but local media circulated reports that it may have been over a mobile phone. Meyiwa, 27, was captain of the national team as well as his club, Orlando Pirates. Meyiwa began playing for the Pirates in 2005 and made his debut with the national team in June 2013. The goalkeeper didn't concede a single goal in the last four games in the African Cup of Nations qualifiers. His last match was Saturday when the Pirates advanced to the semifinals of the South African League Cup. The police have offered a reward of 150,000 rand ($13,670) for information leading to the "arrest/conviction" of suspects in the case. CNN's Ralph Ellis contributed to this report. | Zanokuhle Mbatha is charged with murder and robbery in Senzo Meyiwa's death . Mbatha appears in court and will be given time to apply for legal aid . "There are still suspects outstanding," authorities say . Meyiwa was fatally shot Sunday during a botched robbery, authorities say . | a58c73236cfe8d3bba0146b21750d1156f4f6d59 |
As temperatures hovered at around 3C this morning, residents in a north London suburb were waking up to get ready for work. But already gathered in a quiet street in Stanmore, since before the sun had risen and temperatures began to increase, were queues of migrants looking for a day's work. The large groups of men were seen standing in the road in long queues, hopeful to pick up work from passing builders and tradesmen in white vans who would pay them for an extra pair of hands today. So many have started to gather in the leafy London suburb that the queue had spilled out to in front of Selco warehouse in Honeypot Lane, which appeared to have security guards standing outside to ensure the large groups were kept under control. Groups of migrants are queuing outside a north London warehouse in the hope of picking up a day's work . Groups have been gathering at the spot from about 6.30am and there are reports of some approaching local workers directly to ask for work, and others stopping vans to ask if they are needed. They are frequently paid in cash - meaning they often don't pay tax or National Insurance. Just 19, Iusti came to the UK four months ago from Botosani in northern Romania. His father died in August, his mother lives in Italy, his sister in Spain and he has a 16-year-old girlfriend, Valentina, back home. Her father works, earning about £160 a month. He said he came here on his own to earn money. Soon after driving to London in a van with seven other people he found work near Victoria and Pimlico, labouring for three weeks. Work has been sporadic and he now lives with 13 other people in a house on an estate in Queensbury, Harrow, doing occasional jobs in the area as a roofer. Iusti says around 30 or 40 men, Romanians and Romanian gypsies, turn out at around 6am every morning looking for work. Some have been in the UK just a few months and speak little English, and most send money home. In four months he thinks he has been able to find about six weeks' work. But he has not had any for four days. Despite waiting since 7am today, his British boss had not turned up by lunchtime. 'I get about £40, £60 a day, boss takes about £300, £400. Cash, no taxes. Three day work, three day no work. Two day work, five day no work. Dozens of men, dressed for the cold weather, were seen gathering in Stanmore from early this morning . A security guard is photographed outside Selco warehouse, where the groups have recently started to gather . 'In Romania is £100 to £150 a month, £10 for one day. Not work every day in Romania. No money in Romania. Problem. I will send money back to Romania. My girlfriend, Valentina, in Romania, I go to see her for Christmas.' His mother will send him the money so he can drive home, as he cannot afford it. Iusti says he is torn over his situation - between being trapped in his home country where there is no work, and being so far away from home and living alone. 'I like it in England, everything is working, I like. Zero money, no like,' he says. 'It is difficult. Here money, no family. In Romania family, no money. Life here is get food money, smoke money, sleep.' Last week it emerged that up to 200 men from Romania and Bulgaria were gathering every day between a B&Q store on Honeypot Lane and a bar and restaurant named The Honeypot in a bid to find 'off the books' jobs. The latest pictures show the queue spilling over to in front of the nearby Selco warehouse. The men start to arrive at about 6.30am and are hopeful of getting a day's work which will be off the books . Migrants are being picked up by passing builders and tradesmen who need an extra pair of hands for the day . Men standing there are hopeful that passing builders will pick them up for a day's work. They have been seen speaking to builders and other passing tradesmen who travel past in vans. However their presence has not been welcomed in the leafy London suburb, with residents saying they felt intimidated by the large number of people hanging around outside their homes. Groups begin to disperse about 2pm after most vans stop coming past. Suresh Varsani, who runs Dillons estate agents in Honeypot Lane, says Eastern European workers have been touting for work outside his shop six days a week for the last year. Around 50 or 60 people gather at Selco and B&Q every morning from 6am, sometimes staying until noon. Up to 200 migrants were seen queuing up for work outside The Honeypot bar in north London last week . He said: 'It even happens when I am driving. They just come up and say, 'job, job'. It has become a central place for everybody to come for work, and builders are taking them on. I think most of them are cash in hand and it is not right. 'It is an issue and needs to be dealt with. It is not the proper manner for looking for work. I get them hanging around my shop, which I don't really like. It stops other people coming in and it is not a good impression for people outside my shop.' The appearance of large groups of men have led to criticism that Britain is becoming a 'honeypot nation', with endless low pay caused by the constant supply of cheap labour from eastern Europe. Migrant workers from Poland can double their basic pay by coming to the UK, and new arrivals from Bulgaria are able to increase their pay by up to 250 per cent, according to latest figures from the Open Europe think tank. | Large groups of migrant workers seen queuing in north London suburb . Queues of men spotted last week have spilled over to outside warehouse . Security guards have been seen outside Selco warehouse in Stanmore . Dozens of migrants queue up, hoping to be picked up by passing builders . Romanian teenager said he turns up at 7am every day and sees 30-40 men . He said he can earn up to £60 a day in cash, so he doesn't have to pay tax . | 7ed229e201eaec34cbfc8a0d5ea552cf1816ff75 |
Islamabad, Pakistan (CNN) -- The death toll from a suicide attack in southwestern Pakistan has risen to 73, police said Saturday. At least 206 people were wounded in the Friday attack that the Pakistani Taliban claimed responsibility for. Officials on Friday reported that 59 people were killed in the attack. Qari Hussain, a senior member of the group -- also known as Tehrik-e-Taliban Pakistan, or TTP -- said the attack avenged the deaths of Sunni religious leaders by Shiites. The TTP also claimed responsibility this week for a trio of suicide attacks Wednesday during Shiite processions in Lahore, which killed 31 people. The blast in the city of Quetta occurred during an Al Quds day rally, an annual event in the Arab and Muslim world that criticizes Israeli policies toward Palestinians. Dramatic television images showed what appeared to be the blast, followed by heavy gunfire and people dispersing. Images also showed many casualties being treated. The U.S. Justice Department announced this week that a key TTP leader, Hakimullah Mehsud, has been charged for his alleged involvement in the killings of seven U.S. citizens at an American military base in Afghanistan in 2009 and the attempted Times Square bombing this year. A $5 million reward is being offered for information leading to the capture of Mehsud and another top Pakistani Taliban leader, Wali Ur Rehman, U.S. officials said. Hussain said his group felt proud that the United States felt "threatened" by the Taliban. "We will continue to attempt the kind of attacks we tried in New York Times Square, but next time, we will succeed," he said. "Soon the world will realize that we are very effective." State Department spokesman P.J. Crowley said U.S. officials "strongly condemn the recent barbaric attacks on religious processions in Lahore and Quetta and on a place of worship in Mardan, near Peshawar. Our sympathies are with the victims and their families and all those affected by these cruel acts of hatred. We stand with all of the people of Pakistan who should have the freedom to peacefully observe their religion, especially during Ramadan, and focus on rebuilding their lives after the floods, not mourn friends and family killed in terrorist attacks." In an apparently unrelated incident Friday in northwestern Pakistan, a suicide bomber blew himself up outside an Ahmadi worship place in Mardan, killing himself and a pedestrian, police said. The incident occurred in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province. Waqif Khan, Mardan's police chief, said guards fired on the suicide bomber when he tried to breach the site's security barrier. After he was injured, the attacker detonated his explosives. Four other people were injured in the attack. Ahmadis, who call themselves Muslims, are considered heretical and have been persecuted in the Muslim world. Recently, there was fighting between Ahmadis and non-Ahmadi Muslims in Indonesia. Sunnis and Shiites do not consider the Ahmadis part of Islam because they do not regard Mohammed as the last prophet sent by God. As such, they have been targeted by Islamic extremists. Pakistan's population is largely Sunni Muslim. Journalist Nasir Habib contributed to this report. | NEW: Pakistani Taliban claim responsibility for deadly bombing . NEW: U.S. condemns "barbaric attacks" The bombing occurred in Quetta, in southwestern Pakistan . The attack took place during a rally protesting Israel's treatment of Palestinians . | d21bd1c3b71f618fc31adf294ff30ec74d67420c |
(CNN) -- For the residents of Christchurch, New Zealand, time stopped at 12.51pm on February 22, 2011, when a massive earthquake ripped through the city, destroying homes, lives and businesses. One year on, reminders are never too far away, from the broken buildings to frequent aftershocks that rattle the city every day. Some are too minor to feel; others cause a sharp intake of breath. "February, 22, 2011... is a date permanently etched into all of our minds, a date that will go down in the history of New Zealand as one of our darkest days," Prime Minister John Key told crowds gathered for a civic memorial service in the city Wednesday. The magnitude 6.3 quake shook the city for a matter of seconds, but it was long enough to kill 185 people from 14 countries. Many more were injured. The tremor brought down buildings in the city center in the middle of the working day, trapping workers and triggering a national state of emergency as rescuers scrambled to save lives. Most of the victims -- 115 -- were buried in the rubble of the Canterbury Television (CTV) building, which was later found by a government report to have been poorly constructed. One survivor, Anne Vos, spoke to the media by cellphone as she lay trapped under her desk in the rubble of the five-story Pyne Gould Corporation building. After being pulled out, 24 hours later, she told CNN, "I was finding it hard to breathe, and I really thought that was it for me. I thought 'this is it - I'm not coming out of here.'" Anne Vos: A survivor's story . One year later, Christchurch remains locked in recovery mode, a city carved into zones labeled by color to indicate the severity of the earthquake damage to homes and land. For residents in the red zone, there is no future there. Around 6,800 homes, many clustered along the Avon River, have been designated for destruction. The government says around 46% of residents in the red zone have accepted its offer to buy their land. Some have cut their ties with the area; others are still wading through insurance claims on homes waiting to be destroyed. Before the quake, 22-year-old desktop publisher Sarah Boyd lived with her partner in Avonside, a small suburb that has now been condemned. "It was a tiny wee suburb and nearly every house there has gone," she said. "They said that our house was sinking towards the river. They reckon all land would travel towards the river." They moved out of the red zone in November, but Boyd said their new home suffered damage during the February quake and subsequent aftershocks, and may also need to be demolished. Boyd works at the office at the Catholic Diocese of Christchurch, which suffered a blow during the quake with the near collapse of the Cathedral of the Blessed Sacrament. It is currently being propped up with shipping containers while work continues to determine exactly how much of the building can be saved. The brightly-colored containers can been seen dotted through the city, at the makeshift "Re:Start" mall in the city center and along roads below unstable cliffs considered to be at risk of landslide. "It's a city of two parts really," said Matt O'Connell, the earthquake recovery coordinator for the Catholic Diocese, who works in the same office as Boyd. Last week he took part in an Ecumenical door-knocking team made up of representatives from varying faiths in the city. "Even just on one street we met a family there who are struggling for food who had eight to ten people living in a two-bedroom house," he said. "A lot of people are tired, stressed and frustrated. The rebuild seems to be going relatively slowly. There are lots of issues." Recovery efforts are being hampered by frequent aftershocks. The February 22 quake was one itself, after a larger, magnitude 7.1 quake the previous September. That one ran deeper so caused less damage. The government said there have been 10,000 quakes since last September, including 39 of a magnitude of five or greater. "We had a really good run from June until December the 23rd, then we got hit with a magnitude six quake, two days before Christmas. It really, really set people back. There was further damage, no one was injured, but it was a psychological blow for many people," O'Connell said. While people struggle to recover, work continues to rebuild shattered buildings and infrastructure. Prime Minister Key has said the recovery plan is making "good progress." Construction has started on 26 "significant" commercial buildings in the city center. Work on 80% of the 1,406 buildings marked for partial or full demolition has been completed. And 200 infrastructure repair projects are now underway, he said. "Long term Christchurch will look much different but it will be vibrant, new and a great place to live," Key added. Thousands have not stayed around to find out. Population figures released in October, the first numbers made public since the quake, showed more than 10,000 people had left the city in the year to June 2011. On the eve of the anniversary, the city buried the unidentified remains of four people who were killed in the quake in a new cemetery. It will be one of the more somber reminders of that day. The city came to a halt for two minutes at 12.51 local time, as residents paid their respects to those who were killed. Tomorrow they'll get back to the long, drawn-out task of rebuilding their lives and moving forward. | Magnitude 6.3 quake shook city on February 22, 2011 . 185 people died, thousands of buildings destroyed . Recovery progressing slowly, many residents frustrated . Key: New Christchurch will be "vibrant, great place to live" | 0ba1836a6018ac7227144bca8b17b4258bfb2c59 |
This is the dramatic moment a woman jumped through a window and grabbed hold of the steering wheel of a bus after the driver lay unconscious. Shannon Ivey gained control of the runaway school bus after the unresponsive driver, Aubrey Liverpool, 62, began groaning and was slumped over at the controls. Ivey, along with other good Samaritans staged the incredible rescue at the intersection of 56th Street and Busch Boulevard, in Florida after Liverpool lost control of the empty bus and hit a truck. Scroll down for video . Control: Shannon Ivey gained control of the runaway bus after the unresponsive driver, Aubrey Liverpool, 62, began groaning and lay motionless at the controls . Assistance: Ivey opened the folding door while the bus was moving, allowing two men outside to come and help the bus driver . Help: A man unbuckles Liverpool's seatbelt during the incredible rescue at the intersection of 56th Street and Busch Boulevard, in Florida . The mom's quick reactions were caught on surveillance footage and are being credited with preventing the accident from becoming much worst. According to Fox 13, Ivey was travelling five cars behind the bus and caught sight of someone banging on the vehicle's door. The driver of the truck that had just been hit by the bus had gotten out of his vehicle to talk to Liverpool, but could not get his attention. He spotted Liverpool slumped down in his chair and groaning inside the bus. Ivey said: 'The light turned green, everybody started going, just kind of going around [the accident]. We saw a gentleman banging on the bus door.' Kenneth Pierce, Ivey's fiancé, told the TV station: 'It's like a gut feeling. I don't know how to describe it too much. (I just thought) 'Get this guy out. Help him.' The truck driver yelled at the other drivers for help. Rescue: The men carried Liverpool out of the bus but when they had him on the ground, he wanted to get up . Sick: 'He was passed out and unresponsive,' Ivey told Fox 13 News. 'His tongue was sticking out' Recovery: The rescuers stayed with Liverpool until an ambulance arrived. He was released from the hospital on Friday afternoon and is expected to recover . 'He was basically screaming 'Help! Call 911!'' said Pierce who was in the car with her and their eighth grade son Aaron. They ran to the bus and attempted to prize open the door but couldn't as the bus began to roll backwards. Dramatic footage caught on surveillance camera shows Ivey climb through the driver's side window, and grab the wheel in front of the driver. She then opened the folding door while the bus was moving, allowing two men waited outside on the Florida road to come and help the bus driver. Once inside a man turned off the ignition and put the bus in park as another unbuckled Liverpool's seat belt and began to pull the unconscious driver out of his seat. 'He was passed out and unresponsive,' Ivey told Fox 13 News. 'His tongue was sticking out.' The men carried Liverpool out of the bus but when they had him on the ground, he wanted to get up. The rescuers stayed with Liverpool until an ambulance arrived. He was released from the hospital on Friday afternoon and is expected to recover. | Shannon Ivey grabbed the wheel from driver, Aubrey Liverpool, 62, . Ivey, and other good Samaritans staged the rescue in the middle of a road . She was travelling five cars behind the bus when she saw a problem . Liverpool was taken to hospital and is expected to make a good recovery . | 410ca007b0154ad87388418c649041097a1c7120 |
(CNN)Yemen has been mired in political unrest, and Wednesday's decision by the United States, the United Kingdom and France to suspend embassy operations shows just how far the nation on the southwestern edge of the Arabian Peninsula has fallen into chaos. Yemen has been without clear leadership and potentially on the brink of armed conflict since Houthi rebels seized control of key government facilities, dissolved parliament, and placed the President under house arrest. President Abdu Rabu Mansour Hadi later resigned in protest. There are competing political interests across the troubled Middle Eastern nation and how they play out will have implications that reverberate around the globe. Many would-be jihadis from the West are recruited into al Qaeda through a slick English-language online magazine, Inspire, that's run out of Yemen. And U.S. officials consider the Yemen-based Al Qaeda in the Arabian Peninsula the most dangerous branch of al Qaeda. With that in mind, here are the things you need to know to make sure you're up to date on what's happening in Yemen. The U.S. State Department cited a deteriorating security situation in the capital, Sanaa, terrorist activities and civil unrest in its travel warning for Yemen. "The level of instability and ongoing threats in Yemen remain extremely concerning," the warning said. "Demonstrations continue to take place in various parts of the country and may quickly escalate and turn violent." There's been a political vacuum in Yemen since Houthi rebels rolled into Sanaa. Because of the instability, the U.S. Embassy had been operating with reduced staffing since September and a skeletal crew since January. The Houthi are Shia from northern Yemen and make up about 30% of the population in the majority Sunni country. Saying they have been marginalized, they've been at war with the central government for the best part of a decade. In September, they marched in to the capital, Sanaa, and seized government building and its airport. They demanded greater political influence. Some Western diplomats allege that Iran, one of the few Shiite Muslim nations, is bankrolling the Houthi rebellion in an effort to control Yemen's Red Sea coast on one of the world's busiest shipping lanes. The Houthis deny that. President Hadi has said the Houthis are being trained and advised by Hezbollah, the Lebanese Shiite militia. There's also a third party that's often mentioned: Ali Abdullah Saleh. He is Yemen's former President, who clung to power until he was forced out two years ago in the Arab Spring protests. The Houthis have more recently forged an alliance with his supporters, said Meda Al Rowas, a senior analyst at IHS Country Risk. But politics, as we know, makes strange bedfellows. The alliance is fragile, she said, not least because Saleh in the past waged military campaigns against the Houthis. It really depends on the part of Yemen one lives in. The central government has never been terribly strong. The Houthis hold sway in the north. But the South is a different matter. Southern separatists are a strong political force there. Ever since North and South Yemen united in 1990, southerners not happy with the decision have long wanted to go independent again. Then there's Al Qaeda in the Arabian Peninsula, which exerts influence over many rural areas stretching from the country's southwest to the northeast. Finally, the unrest in Yemen also has provided an opening for ISIS, which is keen to outflank al Qaeda and prove itself the true defender of the faith. In November, ISIS leader Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi called on Yemeni Sunnis to resist the Houthis. Still, ISIS remains a relatively small player in Yemen compared to al Qaeda. There are also a number of heavily armed rural tribes that control their territories. Terrorists in Yemen have reached into the United States. Remember Umar Farouk AbdulMutallab, the "underwear bomber" who tried to blow up an American jetliner over Detroit in 2009? He took his marching orders from AQAP. The Boston Marathon bombing suspects and Maj. Nidal Hasan, the American soldier who gunned down 13 people at Fort Hood, Texas, apparently were inspired by an American-born cleric in Yemen, Anwar al-Awlaki. An American drone killed him in 2011. Chaos is good for terrorists and bad for Western anti-terror efforts. The weaker the government, the easier it will be for al Qaeda to bring in people and train them for terrorism, which can be unleashed on the West. Under the old government, the United States had an ally against the terrorist network. With the chaotic situation in Yemen, Western efforts to hunt down al Qaeda are not impossible, but greatly hampered. CNN's Laura Smith-Spark, Raja Razek, Ralph Ellis and Nick Thompson contributed to this report. | The U.S., UK and France suspend embassy operations in Sanaa . The reason: A deteriorating security situation, terrorist activities and civil unrest . | e2ba0150a33f4e52daf19033c2487ac36f054e07 |
BOLINGBROOK, Illinois (CNN) -- The disappearance of a suburban Chicago police sergeant's wife is now being treated as a potential homicide, and her husband is a suspect, authorities said Friday. Stacy Peterson, 23, has been missing from her suburban Chicago home since October 28. In another development, a judge signed an order to exhume the body of Drew Peterson's third wife, who was found drowned in a bathtub in 2004, said Will County State Attorney James Glasgow. Peterson, 53, said he last spoke to 23-year-old Stacy Peterson -- his fourth wife -- the night of October 28. Drew Peterson initially told the media he believed his wife ran off with another man, but he hasn't repeated that accusation. CNN has been unable to contact Drew Peterson for comment. The couple have been married four years and have two children, who have been interviewed for the investigation, Glasgow said. Drew Peterson also has older children from a previous marriage. Investigators have twice searched the couple's home and vehicles, and removed several items, including computers, said Illinois State Police Capt. Carl Dobrich. Drew Peterson allowed a limited search on the night his wife was reported missing, but investigators were not allowed to look throughout the entire house and were given access to only one of the vehicles at that time, Dobrich said. "Early on, we looked at this as a missing persons case, but also believed strongly ... it was strongly starting to look at Drew Peterson as being a person of interest," Dobrich said. "I would say that right now, Drew Peterson has gone from being a person of interest to being a suspect." New information turned up during the investigation also raised questions about the death of Peterson's third wife, Kathleen Savio, which was ruled an accident by a coroner's jury, Glasgow said. "There are strong indications that it was a homicide," he said. "That's why we are doing the exhumation, because there are tests that need to be done that weren't done during the first autopsy." Watch why authorities want to exhume the body » . Glasgow cited abrasions on Savio's body and a gash on her head that could not be readily explained. "Our main thrust is to determine whether or not it was a homicide, and as we do that, we will see if there is any evidence that implicates anyone," he said. Glasgow, who was not state attorney at the time of Savio's death, said he reviewed the case file before deciding to reopen the case. "With 29 years of experience, there was no doubt in my mind it wasn't an accident," he said. "That was clear." In 2002, Savio was charged once with battery and once with domestic battery against her husband, but was found not guilty at trial, Glasgow said. Another time, she tried to bring domestic battery charges against Peterson, but no charges were ever filed. Savio's sister, Sue Doman, said Savio expressed fear of Drew Peterson. "She told me all the time, 'He's gonna kill me. It's gonna look like an accident,' " Doman said. Doman said she didn't believe her sister could have died in the way the investigation concluded. "I don't understand accidental drowning. You just don't drown in the bathtub, especially a small whirlpool. You just don't do that," she said. Meanwhile, friends and family of Stacy Peterson said she expressed concerns about her husband. A friend, Steve Cesare, has told CNN he received e-mail from her describing her relationship as abusive. The woman's aunt, Candace Aikin, of El Monte, California, said Stacy Peterson confided in her that there were problems during a visit to the Peterson home in suburban Chicago last month. "She said that she was afraid because he was following her around 24/7, even inside the house," Aikin said. "He was very obsessed and stalking her, even inside her house. She was very, very full of stress and just not happy in her marriage at all," Aikin said. E-mail to a friend . | NEW: Judge signs order to exhume the body of Drew Peterson's third wife . Peterson has said he believed his fourth wife left him for another man . Police: Case shifts from a missing persons search to a potential homicide . Friends and family: Stacy Peterson expressed concerns about her husband . | 9313988d26672c576f08e130c895edf20d8aa626 |
French paper L'Equipe dedicated five pages to Thierry Henry on Wednesday after the 37-year-old announced his retirement from football. Most recently with New York Red Bulls, the former striker made his name with Arsenal and Barcelona, along with the French national team. He will now work as a pundit with Sky Sports, and l'Equipe have splashed with the headline 'A king leaves'. French publication L'Equipe dedicated five pages to Thierry Henry on Friday with the headline 'a king leaves' Henry was a World Cup winner with France and Arsene Wenger believes he deserves a national tribute . Pages inside include quotes from Henry himself, as well as former manager Arsene Wenger who admitted Arsenal would arrange a party for their record goalscorer. 'I hope the France team will also make him the tribute he deserves,' Wenger said. Elsewhere in the European press, Marca and AS waxed lyrical about Real Madrid after their comprehensive victory against Cruz Azul in the Club World Cup. Marca and AS splash about Real Madrid's 4-0 demolition of Cruz Azul in the Club World Cup on Tuesday . In Italian publication Tuttosport, Chelsea loanee Fernando Torres is linked with a return to Atletico Madrid, with Alessio Cerci possibly heading to AC Milan in a swap deal. Inter Milan president Massimo Moratti, meanwhile, revealed he's not completely happy with Roberto Mancini's tenure so far. 'As a fan I'd get rid of them all,' he is quoted as saying. A swap deal between Fernando Torres and Alessio Cerci is talked up in the Italian press . | Thierry Henry announced retirement from football on Tuesday . Former Arsenal striker will now be pundit with Sky Sports . l'Equipe dedicate five pages to him - headlined 'A King leaves' - and Arsene Wenger admits Arsenal will throw a party for their record goalscorer . AS and Marca wax lyrical about Real Madrid after their Club World Cup win . Italian press link Fernando Torres with return to Atletico Madrid . | 2310f71a890f5a3942827a7e5e64de962128a917 |
Taking paracetamol has no effect on lower back pain despite being the treatment most widely recommended by doctors, according to a study. Paracetamol is the first-line treatment for GPs dealing with acute attacks of the most common form of back pain, while the NHS Choices websites advises patients to take it. But a major trial shows the painkiller does not help sufferers recover more quickly, reduce their pain levels or improve their sleep or quality of life. Taking paracetamol has no effect on back pain, according to a new study by Sydney University . The research suggests advice and reassurance can do as much good for back pain patients as regular doses of paracetamol. This could include advising patients to rest and to improve their posture and reassuring them that they will get better. Lower back pain is thought to affect two in five people at some point in their lives, being triggered by bad posture, bending awkwardly or lifting incorrectly. In many cases it gets better within 12 weeks, with sufferers taking painkillers and keeping mobile. Despite universal advice to doctors about prescribing paracetamol to alleviate low back pain, there is no high-quality evidence which shows it works, according to Australian researchers. They carried out their study on 1,652 people with acute lower back pain in Sydney. The volunteers, who had an average age of 45, were split into three groups. One group received regular doses of paracetamol three times a day for up to four weeks. They were given up to 3,990mg per day. Another group received up to 4,000mg of paracetamol per day when required, and the third were given a placebo (dummy pills). The study found little difference in the number of days it took to recover between the treatment groups, with the placebo group having an average recovery time of 16 days, a day faster than the other two groups. Paracetamol also had no effect on short-term pain levels, disability, function, sleep quality or quality of life, says to a report in The Lancet medical journal. Paracetamol is the first-line treatment for GPs dealing with acute attacks of the most common form of back pain . According to study leader Dr Christopher Williams, from Sydney University, paracetamol was effective in treating some acute pain such as tooth extraction and post-operative pain. But the study findings threw into doubt its role in treating low back pain. ‘Simple analgesics such as paracetamol might not be of primary importance in the management of acute lower back pain,’ he said. ‘The results suggest we need to reconsider the universal recommendation to provide paracetamol as a first-line treatment for low back pain, although understanding why paracetamol works for other pain states but not low back pain would help direct future treatments. In view of the quick time frame in which participants in our trial improved compared with other cohorts, it would be interesting to see whether advice and reassurance, as provided in our trial, might be more effective than pharmacological strategies for acute low back pain.’ But Dutch experts Bart Koes and Wendy Enthoven, from Erasmus University Medical Centre in Rotterdam, also writing in The Lancet, said it was too early to change clinical guidelines. They said: ‘Although the findings from this high-quality trial are clear, the content of guidelines should not be changed on the basis of a single trial; more robust and consistent evidence, including verification of the results in other populations, is needed.’ Paracetamol works by blocking prostaglandin enzymes in the brain and spinal cord involved in the transmission of pain. In addition to paracetamol tablets, the drug is available in many cold and flu remedies. In 2011 the NHS spent £61million on paracetamol for GPs’ patients. | Major trial shows the painkiller does not help sufferers recover more quickly . Paracetamol is the most widely used treatment recommended by doctors . Research suggests advice and reassurance can do as much good as pills . | cc2657c812e4339a96de74b16e09f9321c44fdfd |
Millions of Samsung devices may be at risk of attack due to a vulnerability in the firm's Find My Mobile service. An Egyptian security researcher has discovered a way to hack into the service and remotely unlock handsets from a PC. Once a hacker has access to a device, they can also change the PIN code rendering it useless to the owner. Scroll down for video . Samsung devices are at risk of attack due to a vulnerability in its Find My Mobile service (pictured). Security experts have discovered a way to hack into the service and remotely unlock handsets from a PC. Once a hacker has access to a device, they can also change the PIN code rendering it useless to the owner . Find My Mobile is automatically enabled when a user registers for a Samsung Account. It lets users remotely lock and wipe their devices if they're lost or stolen. The 'Ring my device' sounds the default ringtone at its maximum volume for one minute, regardless of any sound or vibration settings. By sounding the ringtone, it can alert people to the lost device, increasing the chances of it being found. Its Call logs feature additionally lets users check to see a list of recent calls, and if the SIM card is changed, the owner is informed. Uses beyond this are not known, and it is unclear whether hackers will be able to exploit it further to access personal information on the device. Mohamad Baset posted a proof-of-concept video at the weekend that shows him hacking a device, unlocking it, changing the greeting message and remotely calling it. His hack is controlled using the web on a PC. There are three modes of attack seen in the video: Remote mobile device lock, remote mobile device unlock, and remote device mobile ring. The flaw has also been reported by the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) in the US on its National Vulnerability Database (NVD). The security researchers have given it a high-severity rating of 7.8, with an ‘exploitability sub-score’ of 10.0. This means it is a relatively easy hack and doesn't require authentication. NIST’s vulnerability report explained: ‘The Remote Controls feature on Samsung mobile devices does not validate the source of lock-code data received over a network. '[This] makes it easier for remote attackers to cause a denial of service - screen locking with an arbitrary code - by triggering unexpected Find My Mobile network traffic.’ Egyptian researcher Mohamad Baset has posted a proof-of-concept video (screengrab pictured) that shows him hacking a device, unlocking it, changing the greeting message and remotely calling it. The flaw has also been reported by the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) The flaw affects any Samsung device with Find My Mobile enabled (Galaxy S5 pictured) Samsung told MailOnline: 'The reported issue occurred in web user interface, and it was fixed through a patch update on 13 October.' But Mr Baset's proof-of-concept was posted on 27 October, after this patch date. MailOnline has contacted Mr Baset to discover when the video was filmed, and if the flaw is still being exploited. Find My Mobile is automatically enabled when a user registers for a Samsung Account. It lets users remotely lock and wipe their devices if they're lost or stolen. It is also used to help locate a missing device. The 'Ring my device' sounds the default ringtone at its maximum volume for one minute, regardless of any sound or vibration settings. By sounding the ringtone, it can alert people to the lost device, increasing the chances of it being found. Its Call logs feature additionally lets users check to see a list of recent calls, and if the SIM card is changed, the owner is automatically informed. The flaw affects any Samsung device that has enabled the Find My Mobile service. To protect themselves,users can check the service’s access by opening Menu, Settings, Location and security and Find My Mobile. | The flaw was discovered by Egyptian security researcher Mohamed Baset . Vulnerability affects any device using the firm’s Find My Mobile service . It means hackers can remotely unlock devices and change PIN codes . A proof-of-concept video also shows hackers remotely calling the device . National Institute of Standards and Technology gave it ‘high-severity’ rating . Samsung claims the reported issue was fixed on 13 October, but Mr Baset's demonstration was posted since that date . MailOnline has contacted Mr Baset to confirm if the flaw is still exploitable . | 0ae92c07a8a3bc77bc886a4d01606c4818bf1947 |
By . Steve Doughty . UPDATED: . 07:54 EST, 16 November 2011 . Lord Judge: Warned that European judges could ask English courts to disapply British statute for the first time . England's most senior judge yesterday warned the European Court of Human Rights against interfering too far in British law. The Lord Chief Justice, Lord Judge, said judges in Strasbourg could be about to make the extraordinary demand that British courts ignore laws set down by Parliament. He told MPs and peers that an imminent ruling ‘has huge implications’ and ‘could in effect call on us to disapply the 2003 Criminal Justice Act’. The looming showdown relates to the case of Imad Al-Khawaja, who was convicted of indecent assault in 2004. One witness gave evidence but died before his trial. A statement she made to police was read to the jury. Mr Al-Khawaja’s is now a test case over whether criminals can be convicted on the basis of so-called ‘hearsay’ evidence from witnesses who do not appear in court. British law says they can, and the principle has been backed by the Supreme Court. But Strasbourg’s final appeal body, the Grand Chamber, is thought to be likely to over-rule that decision with its own, due shortly. European human rights judges have regularly ordered Parliament to rethink its laws, as in the ongoing dispute over votes for prisoners. However, they are yet to order courts to actually ignore current statutes. Lord Judge told the Parliamentary Joint Committee on Human Rights that a decision to overrule the Supreme Court would amount to trespass on British independence and contravene the ‘margin of appreciation’ – the term for how much Strasbourg may interfere in domestic laws. Rights showdown: Grand Chamber is expected to rule that British courts should disapply the Criminal Justice Act 2003 . ‘If the decision is that [Al-Khawaja] had an unfair trial, then that decision will be a very good demonstration that the margin of appreciation is not being followed,’ he said. Lord Judge told the committee that the decision on whose law must be obeyed – that of Westminster or Strasbourg – will eventually go to the Supreme Court. ‘It will have to be resolved,’ he said. He also claimed that British courts had been following Strasbourg’s rulings too closely. ‘Most of the decisions are fact-specific decisions; they are not deciding any point of principle. They are just saying “here are the facts, here is the answer”. That is not precedent for anything,’ he said. ‘There has been a tendency to follow much more closely than I think we should.’ In addition, the Lord Chief Justice indicated that he fears European Union manoeuvres may remove any opportunity for British courts to defy Strasbourg. At present, the Human Rights Act states that courts should merely ‘take account’ of the court’s judgments. But the EU is negotiating to use its new constitutional powers, granted by the Lisbon Treaty, to become a member of the ECHR, with the same status as member nations. If it succeeds, the EU’s own European Court of Justice, which sits in Luxembourg, will be able to tell EU countries to follow the judgments of Strasbourg. Lord Judge said: ‘There is a difference between Luxembourg and Strasbourg. ‘Never mind take account of – we will be ordered to follow Strasbourg law because Luxembourg is following it.’ | British courts could be told by European judges to ignore laws Acts of Parliament . Lord Chief Justice 'fears EU may stop our judges defying Strasbourg' | afc1a5a0cdf245f1536056e5d20dc2e9d8022adb |
(CNN) -- London 2012 organizers could argue that one of the many attractions of holding the Olympics in the British capital is the number of great restaurants on offer for visitors harboring a hunger for tasty morsels. But gastronomy does not always entail gluttony. Eating the right food is vital to your health -- especially for the thousands of athletes who will be heading to the Olympic Park for the July 27-August 12 sporting showpiece. Team CNN's Zain Verjee traveled to Michelin-starred Danesfield House, on the outskirts of the city, with former British 400 meters runner Katharine Merry to help prepare a nutritious three-course meal that the Sydney 2000 Olympics bronze medalist described as: "Nice and light. Like a pre-competition meal you would have the night before." The first course delivered a simple blend of fruit tastes from England, strawberries being the berry of choice in July. But crucially it also delivered a hit of protein from the natural yoghurt and milk and a burst of energy via the natural fructose and xylitol. Nutritionist James Collins, an adviser for Team Great Britain during the 2008 Beijing Olympics, agreed that fruit smoothies were the perfect snack for training athletes. "As a sprinter you need to make sure the protein intake is high enough to support muscle recovery. Things like meats and other dairy products are great for this," the director of London company Performance Nutrition told CNN. "Berries and other fruits are full of antioxidants. They help athletes get rid of free-radicals, helping the muscles to be less sore the next day. "Smoothies with milk or yoghurt are also a good source of calcium. A lot of athletes have high-impact workout sessions so they need a high calcium intake to make sure their bones are strong." Merry, who retired in 2005 after injuries stopped her following up her medal achievement, now works as a television pundit. "Smoothies are a good start to the day," the 37-year-old said. "They can be very filling. Just an extra oomph of protein powder mixed into a smoothie like this really does kickstart your day." Next up was a light lunch of fresh mackerel with cucumber relish and palm hearts. The raw fish and accompanying oysters were packed full of protein, essential for energy and muscle repair. Cut into bite-size pieces, the fish was both light and sustaining for Olympic athletes in training. "I used to eat a lot of sushi because the rawer the meat is in terms of fish, the higher the nutritional value. The more you cook it, the more you'll lose out of it," Merry said. "Meat is the essential part of an athlete's diet, and power-based sports as well need the protein to build muscle maintenance." Collins said that eating fish helps assist muscle repair. "Fish such as herring or mackerel have a high Omega 3 content, which helps the blood have more anti-inflammatory properties. It can really help them recover so you're not as sore the next day," he said. Last on the menu was a dessert of poached black figs with apple sorbet and goat's curd. The figs offered a sweet treat that was both low in calories and high in fiber. Merry said that anyone can follow an athlete's diet, which is similar to what everyone needs for a healthy life. "Athletes must be looking out for high carbohydrates for energy to help you get through your training session and the race. They also need a good intake of protein to ensure muscle growth and maintenance," she said. "Basically, an athlete's diet is the same as everyone else's -- as in eat sensibly, five fruit a day -- but in larger quantities." To cook like an award-winning chef and eat like an athlete, follow these recipes from Danesfield House's head chef Adam Simmonds: . Strawberry Smoothie (ingredients in fact box) Remove the top of the strawberries. Halve the strawberries and place into the blender, add the yoghurt and milk blend until a smooth consistency is achieved. Add Xylitol to taste if you prefer the smoothie to be a little sweeter. Pour into 4 large cooled glasses and garnish with a sprinkling of granola and wild strawberries. Mackerel with Cucumber and Palm Hearts (ingredients in fact box) Relish: . Combine the sugar, water, vinegar and spices and bring to the boil. Remove and allow to cool. Dice the cucumber, minus the seeds and salt for for 1 ½ hours with the chopped shallot. Wash excess salt and pat dry. Pour pickling liquor over the cucumber and marinade, preferably overnight. Cucumber Hearts: . With an apple corer, push down the center of an unpeeled cucumber several times, so that a number of cylinder shapes are achieved. With the remaining cucumber, put through a juicer and pass through a fine sieve. Season with salt. Place a little of the juice in a vac pac bag and compress tightly. Reserve the remaining cucumber juice for poaching the oyster. Assembling the dish: . Poach the oyster lightly in the remaining cucumber juice, drain and cut in half. Thinly slice the mackerel and brush with lemon juice, seasoned with salt to start the curing process. On a mandolin, slice the palm hearts into strips. Drain the relish and cucumber hearts and assemble in the middle of the plate, naturally. Place the oysters on the cucumber. In a pan of salted water, blanch the palm hearts, scurvey grass and rock samphire, quickly, to keep the nutrients. Scatter over the cucumber and lay the mackerel slices in and around. Garnish with pak choi flowers. | Michelin-starred chef Adam Simmonds cooks for former British runner Katharine Merry . Olympic bronze medalist Katharine Merry discusses the importance of nutrition for Olympic athletes . Follow the recipe below to cook a delicious starter of strawberry smoothies and mackerel lunch . | 0f39b7f997694230941807c04c768dcb8691ddc5 |
Russian business owners are using American flags as doormats as resentment over U.S. economic sanctions puts the squeeze on traders. Customers have been filmed wiping their feet on the fabled stars and stripes as they enter and exit stores across Moscow, as struggling retailers take a hopeless swipe at their Cold War adversaries. Negotiations between the two nations are currently deadlocked over Russia's involvement in the Ukrainian crisis and the U.S. has initiated hard-hitting economic sanctions to try and force a compromise. Scroll down for video . A customer wipes his feet on the stars and stripes as he enters a Moscow supermarket . The doormats are being used by retailers in a novel attempt to show their anti-U.S. sentiments . In the video, the store owners' anti-U.S. sentiment is clear, as doormats emblazoned with the U.S. flag are positioned in doorways and corridors. Customers are then filmed walking on the flags as they enter and exit the stores. While recently announced U.S. sanctions have been dismissed by the Kremlin as useless, stabilizing the ruble, which is one of the world's worst-performing currencies this year following the sanctions imposed on Russia for its involvement in Ukraine, is a priority for Russia's monetary authorities. The country's statistics agency reported today that consumer prices rose 0.9 percent last week when the ruble was in freefall - there was clear evidence last week that retailers of imported products, such as electronics and cars, were raising prices in the wake of the ruble's fall. The weekly rise was the biggest since records began in 2008. Measures taken include last week's increase in the Central Bank's main interest rate to a whopping 17 percent in the hope that it makes holding rubles more attractive for traders. A woman walks across two U.S. flag doormats at a retail store in Moscow . The supermarket (pictured) owners used the doormats to take a small swipe at the U.S. And in a bid to boost hard currency offering at the markets, the government has encouraged major companies to sell more hard currency. Yesterday, it formally instructed five of the country's biggest state-controlled exporters to reduce their foreign currency assets to October levels and to not raise them again until March. However the ruble performs over the coming days and weeks, the Russian economy is predicted to fall into recession next year and inflation to spike - many forecasters expect the annual inflation rate to double from the current 10 percent. Some, like ex-Finance Minister Alexei Kudrin, are warning of a full-blown crisis. | Resentful Russian traders are using U.S. flags as doormats in their stores . Customers are using them to wipe their feet as they enter and exit shops . U.S. and European economic sanctions are squeezing traders . | 701ad2514e05413da0b4998c9179b7bafa7e7515 |
Manchester United manager Louis van Gaal has warned his injured and suspended players they face a fight to automatically win their place back. United beat Everton 2-1 before the international break without 10 players including Michael Carrick, Phil Jones and Wayne Rooney. Some of them are available to return against West Brom on Monday night, though Rooney is still serving a three-match ban, but van Gaal is offering no guarantees. VIDEO Scroll down to watch Louis van Gaal: The last 30 minutes of our games are the issue . Louis van Gaal says Manchester United's injured stars aren't guaranteed to win their places back . Wayne Rooney (left, next to Ashley Young) was missing for United before the international break . 'Nobody is walking back in my team, believe me,' said the Dutchman. 'You have to earn it on the training ground and every player knows that. 'I have always said it's not automatically players with the biggest names who are the best. I am looking for a consistent level.' Van Gaal may be forced to make some changes with youngster Paddy McNair and Antonio Valencia receiving fresh knocks. On the positive side defenders Chris Smalling and Jones have been training again with midfielders Ashley Young, Michael Carrick and Ander Herrera. Van Gaal said: 'I've got great respect and confidence in the players I have used this season. Wayne Rooney, Michael Carrick and Phil Jones are great football players but we have other great players too, believe me sometimes the other players are doing better. Phil Jones and Michael Carrick are both back in contention for Van Gaal's side away at West Brom on Monday . Youngster Paddy McNair has impressed at the heart of United's defence in the absence of others . 'McNair was outstanding in his first match and you saw the reaction of the fans, they applauded every time he touched the ball. 'He was fantastic in the games he played when Jones, Evans and Smalling were not available. Everyone has to earn their position.' Van Gaal's words will be a comfort to youngsters Tyler Blackett and Luke Shaw who have played recently due to injuries. Despite United being linked with centre-halves in the January transfer window with Aston Villa's Dutchman Ron Vlaar available at £12million, Van Gaal has played down the need for new blood, saying that when players return from the treatment table he will have the optimum 26 players he likes to train with. | Wayne Rooney has been suspended for Manchester United . Phil Jones and Michael Carrick have been missing recently . Youngster Paddy McNair impressed at the back in their absence . | f64f4b0453e50725dffedc185d8ffeff47795e6d |
The sister of one of the terrorists behind the heinous Paris attacks has been found the be the creator of a type of dance therapy based on twerking. Amedy Coulibaly, 32, killed four hostages at a Paris kosher supermarket the day after shooting a policewoman dead in the street last week. His sister Maimouna, 39, is a well-known choreographer who has appeared on French TV and runs empowering 'Booty Therapy' classes worldwide. Worlds apart: Maimouna Couilbaly, sister of Paris jihadist Amedy Coulibaly, is a choreographer who runs 'Booty Therapy' classes and has made several appearances on French TV . Maimouna Couilbaly has appeared several times on shows such as France's Got Talent (La France a un Incroyable Talent) and runs a dance company with classes in popular Afro-urban dance styles. She is the creator of 'Booty Therapy', a dance class set to 'liberate' and empower women, and can be seen surrounded by exhilarated twerking students in several YouTube videos. Maimouna holds classes in France and the U.S. and a 'Booty Therapy' course of 20 lessons costs £230 (300 euro). The 39-year-old is best known for her dance show which set out to highlight culture clashes and everyday racism faced by young immigrants in France. The play, Hééé Mariamou, is based on Maimouna's experience growing up on a council estate, a 'cite', in Grigny, an impoverished suburb of Paris, as the daughter of Mali immigrants. Condemnation: After the attacks by her jihadist brother Amedy, pictured, Maimouna and her mother released a statement condeming his actions and offering their 'sincere condolences' to the families of those killed . Attack: CCTV from the kosher supermarket show Amedy Coulibaly and the hostages during the seige . CCTV images showing Coulibaly's common-law wife Hayat Boumeddiene entering Turkey through an Istanbul airport a week before her partner killed four hostages in a Kosher grocery store in Paris . 'I always felt misunderstood in my youth. I did not know where my place in society, at home, at school,' Ms Coulibali writes on her website . She writes that she drew on 'all my frustrations, insults suffered in my youth, racism, prejudice... Towards my mother and myself. 'To hear all the c*** said on TV or in the newspapers about the estates,the way they judge without knowing, I wanted to express myself, give my point of view. Since its first run in 1999, Hééé Mariamou has been staged in Paris and San Francisco . Shortly after police released the name of the man responsible for the terrorist attack on the kosher deli in Paris, Amedy Coulibaly's family condemned his actions and offered their 'sincere condolences' to the families of those killed. 'We condemn these acts,' Mariamou and her mother said in a statement. 'We absolutely do not share these extreme ideas. We hope there will not be any confusion between these odious acts and the Muslim religion.' | Amedy Coulibaly killed five people in attack on a kosher market in Paris . His sister Maimouna is a well-known dancer specializing in twerking . The 39-year-old runs empowering 'Booty Therapy' classes worldwide . Created a show based on her experiences growing up in Paris suburb . Maimouna and her mother have strongly condemned the attacks . | a151ba58fc9c4cc183901b105c9b5c4d8f1edf25 |
By . Tara Brady . PUBLISHED: . 14:00 EST, 1 April 2013 . | . UPDATED: . 16:56 EST, 1 April 2013 . A graffiti artist painted a memorial to Leon Bartholomew who died from a rare form of cancer . A graffiti artist has paid tribute to a two-year-old boy who died from a rare form of cancer by spray painting the toddler's face onto a 30ft memorial wall. Scott Vincent spent two days painting the skate park mural in honour of little Leon Bartholomew, who lost a six month battle against the disease. It shows the cartoon-mad youngster with Mickey Mouse ears and has been described as a 'shrine' by his grieving father Daniel, 25. Family and friends have flocked to the wall in his hometown of New Milton, Hampshire, to lay flowers, light candles and add messages. Leon was diagnosed with undifferentiated sarcoma, which caused tumours to form his lungs and brain. Mr Bartholomew was touched when Mr Vincent travelled from his home in Brighton, East Sussex, to commemorate Leon's life. He described the finished work as a 'perfect picture' of his son. The former warehouse worker, who had to quit his job when Leon fell ill, said: 'The whole family was warmed when we saw the wall for the first time. 'We were all devastated when Leon passed away after battling a rare form of cancer for six months. 'But the wall is the a great way to remember our son and people have treated it with respect - it's just like a shrine.' The wall is on the grounds of the skate park in New Milton where neighbours have been paying their respects. Mr Bartholomew added: 'The response from the public has been amazing. 'Even people that didn't know Leon or the family have been down to the wall to lay flowers and light candles. Tribute: Scott Vincent spent two days painting the skate park mural in honour of little Leon Bartholomew, who lost a six month battle against the disease . Talented: Scott Vincent spray painting the wall in honour of Leon Bartholomew . Mr Bartholomew was touched when Mr Vincent travelled from his home in Brighton to commemorate Leon's life . Missed: Leon was diagnosed with undifferentiated sarcoma, which caused tumours to form his lungs and brain . 'Everyone loves it and the graffiti wall is the talk of the town. 'People have been writing special messages, it's great because it's as if it's Leon's wall.' The family heard of Mr Vincent from a friend who contacted him about doing something special for Leon. Mr Bartholomew added: 'We gave the artist a photo of Leon and he has managed to recreate the perfect picture of our son. Five tumours were found in Leon's brain when he was rushed to hospital after a suffering a seizure . 'It only took Scott two days to spray and I couldn't believe how accurate it was, as he just used a photo we gave him. 'He wanted to create something light-hearted and fun and decided to spray it as a cartoon. I think it's perfect. 'Leon loved cartoons. We love the wall and think it's perfect. I can't thank Scott enough. 'People still go down to the skate park every day to pay their respects.'. A Facebook page was set up so Leon's family could receive messages of support from well-wishers and update people on his progress after he was diagnosed in October 2012. In February, Leon was rushed to hospital after suffering a seizure, where he was stabilised and recovered well. But a CT scan revealed five tumours in his brain and he passed away on March 22. His family informed followers of his death by writing: 'Leon Bartholomew fell asleep and grew his angel wings this morning surrounded by love and kindness. 'No matter what was thrown at him, no matter what he had to go through, he always came back fighting, with a giggle and a cheeky grin. 'Not many people could go through the things he did and not complain a single time. 'He had so much fight in him, and so much strength, he truly was an inspiration to us all. 'We love him with our entire hearts, minds and souls.' Leon's mother, Rowena Hyett, 25, set up a Just Giving website that has already raised more than £1,000 for children's cancer charity CLIC Sargent. To donate to CLIC Sargent, visit www.justgiving.com/leonbartholomew . In memory: Family and friends have visited the mural to remember little Leon who lost his life to a rare form of cancer . The tribute shows the cartoon-mad youngster with Mickey Mouse ears and has been described as a 'shrine' by his grieving father Daniel . Loss: Leon's mother and father have left a floral tribute at the mural for their son who died . | Leon Bartholomew was diagnosed with undifferentiated sarcoma which caused tumours to form in his brain . The toddler died on March 22 after a six-month battle against the disease . Scott Vincent spent two days painting a mural in honour of the child . Family and friends have laid flowers at the shrine in Hampshire . | 18ace93d44a05e8fab590c34aedf3bd38807704e |
A new reality show is aiming to turn one young man and one young woman into the next big things in the world of adult entertainment. The Sex Factor puts eight men and eight women who have no prior experience in a Las Vegas home together as they compete for stardom and a $1million prize. And among the contestants are Wall Street intern Paige Jennings, who goes by the name Veronica Vain, and recently made waves when she announces she was leaving the financial world to pursue her dreams of porn. Duke University porn star Belle Knox had previously been named as the host, but has now been replaced by Asa Akira. Scroll down for video . A new reality show, The Sex Factor, will have eight men and eight women (some contestants above) competing for a $1million prize and a three-year porn contract . Remy LaCroix (left), Keiran Lee (second from left), Lexi Belle (right), and Tori Black (second from right) will be the judges, while Asa Akira (center) is the host . One of the contestants is Paige Jennings, who goes by the stage name Veronica Vain (above), and made waves when she announced she was leaving finance for porn . The show is the creation of Buddy Ruben, a former Silicon Valley software developer with no television or porn experience. 'I would say I enjoy porn as much as the next guy, no more, no less,' he said in an interview with Nightline. After a casting call went out on social media, finalists came to audition for a panel of judges that include female stars Tori Black, Lexi Belle and Remy LaCroix and the lone male of the group, Keiran Lee. Lee is a British star famous for having his penis insured for $1million by Lloyd's of London. Those who made it through the casting process also now have some experience in the business. 'They’ve actually already had sex on camera to audition,' said Ruben. 'Part of the casting process.' In a scene from the show, judges Lee and LaCroix give one contestant (above) some tips . Lee (second from right) became famous when he had his penis insured by Lloyd's of London for $1million . As for the contestants, some have always dreamed of working in the adult film industry, while others are after the money. 'I’m not here because I want to have sex with random people,' explained contestant Allie Knox, which is not her real name. 'I’m here because I think this will elevate me to the next level. It will drive a lot of traffic for me. It will open a lot of doors.' She also said; 'I’m sitting on this huge amount of student loan debt. That’s kind of why I just need to really step up on my game in this business.' The audition process for the show (above) required the contestants to have sex on camera for the judges . Duke University porn star Belle Knox (above) has been named as the host, but has since been replaced by Asa Akira . The industry has made millions for stars like Jenna Jameson, Tera Patrick and Sasha Grey, and female performers earn between $500 and $1500 for one scene. Then there is Buddy Hollywood, a self-proclaimed sex addict, who says of his decision to compete on the show; 'I like to have sex and I love women, everything about them.' And while contestants won't be paid for being on the show, save the two winners who will also get a three-year porn contract, they are getting tips and guidance from a panel of experts explained Ruben. As for the show's lack of a network, Ruben teased that he would 'have a big announcement in the near future.' | The Sex Factor is a new show that has eight men and eight women competing for a $1million prize and three-year porn contract . Among the contestants is Wall Street intern Paige Jennings, who made waves when she announced she was leaving finance for porn . The contestants all have no porn experience, and had sex on camera for the first time during the audition process . The judges include adult stars Tori Black, Lexi Belle, Remy LaCroix and Keiran Lee, whose penis was insured by $1million by Lloyd's of London . Duke University porn star Belle Knox was originally set to host, but has been replaced by Asa Akira . | aa86f68545363ccb4d52ea2b8943af03b2db5c4a |
(CNN) -- What would you have done? Last month in Florida, a school bus driver witnessed a vicious assault on a 13-year-old boy. He radioed the bus dispatcher and frantically begged for assistance, as he feared the victim was being seriously injured. But he did not intervene. While the victim's physical injuries may heal, his psychological trauma will undoubtedly linger, including the harrowing knowledge that no one would help him. Teens trained to spot drama before it turns dangerous . But before we pile on the driver, let's be clear: The most egregious wrongdoers here are the violent teens. They victimized a boy horribly and wronged the agonized bystanders. The driver's anguish over his own inaction may be real and palpable, but should he still have done more? Obviously, he wasn't confident enough of his own physical ability to handle several violent teenagers, although he had a special responsibility to protect the children on that bus. We all want to think that we would disregard our own personal safety to help children, but in a highly charged moment, a bystander is forced to make an instant, possibly haunting judgment about risk and danger. Violence works both by crushing a victim and by intimidating others. When you're not there, it's easy to dismiss the terror, but for the bystander, it's often a lose-lose proposition. Fail to intervene, and it haunts you; intervene, and you may become the victim. Intervention requires bystanders to overcome the basic self-protective instinct that ensures their own survival, and that's probably why there's no one we admire more than those who disregard their own personal safety to help others. Teachers' lesson in heroism and healing . Despite that admiration, and despite our sense as adults that we need to protect children, many of us find that we do not, and cannot, intervene as bystanders. To complicate matters, some violent situations can actually be worsened when a bystander intervenes. My own research (PDF) at the Massachusetts Aggression Reduction Center at Bridgewater State University, and similar studies (PDF) at the Youth Voice Project at Penn State, have found that bystander interventions in bullying episodes frequently backfire. The bully, feeling publicly humiliated, takes revenge against the original victim. Knowing that you might worsen the victim's situation only makes these incidents more frustrating. If an adult shouldn't throw himself in the middle of a physical altercation, what else can he do? In the Florida situation, there was an immediate danger that required a response but not necessarily significant physical risk. A recent study in the journal Aggressive Behavior found that interveners typically used nonviolent methods. If the school bus company had developed a set of emergency procedures that didn't require high personal jeopardy, perhaps the entire crisis could have been avoided. Bus drivers can be trained in the use of tools and techniques that can help disable violent teens (e.g., use of pepper spray). Calls to dispatch can be augmented with 911 calls and emergency "panic" buttons. No one likes to consider that such preparations are necessary, and they will cost money, but by thinking ahead and preparing for such scenarios, we might be able to avoid a situation where the choice is simply who will end up with the broken bones. Interrupting the cycle of teen violence . The opinions expressed in this commentary are solely those of Elizabeth Englander. | Florida school bus driver did not help when teen was beaten on bus . Elizabeth Englander says before criticizing, place blame on assailants; driver in terrible spot . Studies show intervening can backfire; people need alternative to assuming risk, she says . Englander: Bus companies should have tools, techniques to disable assailants till help arrives . | 0e8eb82fcdd0d2e2577014595a2c0199049275b1 |
WASHINGTON (CNN) -- The United States is losing access to one of its three counternarcotics bases in Latin America, U.S. military officials said Wednesday. The Ecuadorian government has told the Bush administration it will not renew a 10-year agreement letting U.S. troops conduct anti-drug operations from Manta Air Base, an Ecuadorian Air Force installation, military officials said. The United States has used Manta Air Base since 1999 to run aerial surveillance of the eastern Pacific Ocean, looking for drug runners on the high seas as well as illicit flights. Ecuador notified the U.S. Embassy on Tuesday that it will not renew the agreement after it expires in November 2009, the U.S. military officials said. "The Ecuadorian people do not want foreign troops on our soil, and the government has to follow the mandate of its people," Luis Gallegos, Ecuador's ambassador to the United States, said Wednesday. "We have spent more than $150 million on troops to monitor the border with Colombia and will continue to support anti-narcotics operations in our country," Gallegos said. The U.S. State Department's reaction to the announcement was mixed. "The operations there are critical to our overall counternarcotics strategy, but Ecuador has promised continued close cooperation to confront the threat of drug smuggling," said Heidi Bronke, a spokeswoman for the department. State Department chief spokesman Sean McCormack said the decision was Ecuador's to make. "We note, however, that the closure will leave a serious gap in efforts by the United States and our partners to confront illegal drug trafficking throughout the region," he added. Up to eight planes fly missions from Manta. About 250 U.S. military personnel and civilians work there. Since the start of U.S. operations there, about 60 percent of the drug interdictions in the eastern Pacific have involved the planes based out of Manta, including the capture of more than 200 metric tons of drugs in 2007, according to U.S. military officials. State Department officials said they could not talk about plans to move the mission to another country. Manta is the only U.S. base in South America. The U.S. military operates two other counternarcotics bases in the region: a naval operation in El Salvador and an air operation in Curacao in the Caribbean. | Deal that expires next year lets U.S. conduct anti-drug operations from Ecuador . Citizens "do not want foreign troops on our soil," Ecuadorian ambassador says . U.S. State Department spokesman: Move will leave "serious gap" in anti-drug effort . | cb8ec877233aefae9ff3d1b081d33ad99d2a7b47 |
By . Matt Chorley, Political Editor for MailOnline . Prime Minister David Cameron, on a visit to Yateley in Hampshire today, has insisted he will not resign if Scotland votes Yes . Parliament could be recalled as early as Saturday, if Scotland votes for independence. David Cameron will come under immediate pressure to address the nation if the Union is torn up by Thursday's historic vote. The final result is expected around 7am on Friday morning, which means MPs could be summoned to Westminster this weekend for the most important speech of Mr Cameron's premiership. There has been growing speculation that if Scotland does vote for independence, Mr Cameron will have to resign, as the Prime Minister who oversaw the break-up of the Union. However, some economists fear a vote for independence could trigger a run on banks and a stock market crash. So Mr Cameron's first job will be to steady the ship and provide leadership to calm the markets. Many Tory MPs now say it is 'inevitable' that Parliament will be recalled this weekend, raising the prospect of the first Saturday sitting since the Falklands War. Previous Saturday sittings were ordered on the outbreak of World War Two in September 1939, the last summer sitting in July 1949 and the Suez Crisis in November 1956. A weekend debate in the Commons would be a chance for the Westminster government to set out how it will deal with Alex Salmond, and carving up the UK's assets, at a time when stock markets are closed. However, the move risks giving Tory MPs and others the opportunity to publicly call for Mr Cameron to resign. During the final Prime Minister's Questions before the referendum, Tory MP Sir Edward Leigh warned Mr Cameron: 'If we were to lose the Union, it would be not only a disaster for Scotland, but a national humiliation of catastrophic proportions.' Today Mr Cameron signalled that he will resist calls to quit. Speaking to reporters during a visit to a factory in Fleet, Hampshire, he said he was determined to fight on to next year's general election. 'My name is not on the ballot paper. What's on the ballot paper is 'does Scotland want to stay in the United Kingdom, or does Scotland want to separate itself from the United Kingdom?'. 'That's the only question that will be decided on Thursday night. The question about my future will be decided at the British general election coming soon.' With the opinion polls on a knife-edge, there is dismay among Tory MPs at the prospect of a possible Yes vote. Even if the result is in favour of remaining part of the UK, some Conservative are angry at the way the three main party leaders have promised greater devolution of powers to Scotland while continuing higher levels of public spending. It would be the first time the Commons has been recalled on a Saturday since the Falklands War, and would be used to reassure the financial markets about the impact of the break up of the UK . With less than 24 hours to go until the polling stations open, 350,000 voters still don't know who to support . Mr Cameron sought to play down suggestions of backbench unrest, saying that the whole party believed in 'our family of nations'. 'The Conservative Party and all our backbenchers want to see the United Kingdom survive and thrive,' he said. The Prime Minister admitted that he was feeling 'nervous' ahead of the vote, but insisted that he was confident about the case for a No vote. 'Well of course everyone who cares about our United Kingdom - and I care passionately about our United Kingdom - is nervous,' he said. 'But I'm confident that we've set out how Scotland can have the best of both worlds - a successful economy with a growing number of jobs ... combined with the ability of Scots if they vote No to have even more powers and even more say over how to run their own affairs in Scotland.' Bookies Paddy Power today revealed the latest betting odds on the referendum outside the Scottish Parliament in Edinburgh on the bare backsides of kilt wearing Scots . Banks have been transferring millions of banknotes from England into Scotland ahead of tomorrow's referendum amidst fears high demand on cash machines if the country votes for independence. It is still not clear what currency would be used in an independent Scotland, meaning that some Scots could rush to withdraw as many pounds as possible in the event of a Yes vote. In anticipation of the poll, extra supplies of cash have been moved north of the border to reassure Scottish account-holders that they will have access to their money, according to reports. As the polls have tightened over the past few weeks, the value of the pound has fallen while large companies based in Scotland have seen their shares dip due to the market uncertainty. Panic: Banks in Scotland are stocking up on banknotes ahead of tomorrow's referendum (file photo) Banking sources told the Independent that they had transferred additional banknotes into Scotland in case customers started panicking and withdrawing large amounts of cash. One said: 'This forms part of our contingency planning. We are, of course, monitoring the situation very closely from hour to hour.' Another insider told the Daily Telegraph: 'It is prudent for banks to stock up on demand. This happens normally in the run-up to Christmas, and in that sense the referendum is no different.' Banknotes are printed by the Bank of England, but their distribution is controlled by a small group of institutions including the Post Office, Barclays, HSBC and the Royal Bank of Scotland. They have been delivering huge quantities of cash to banks in Scotland so they can stock up at branches and cash machines. However, the Bank of England would stand behind the pound in Scotland as well as the rest of the UK at least until March 2016, when the country is set to split in the event of a Yes vote. In another attempt to reassure banking customers, financial institutions such as the Royal Bank of Scotland and Lloyds have promised to move their headquarters to London if Scotland becomes independent, so they can enjoy the support of the UK Government. | MPs could be summoned to Westminster to hear first reaction to the result . Cameron will face immediate pressure to explain the impact of independence . He insists he will not resign as PM if the vote goes against him . It would be the first time Parliament sat on a Saturday since the Falklands . Even with a No vote, Cameron under fire over more powers to Scotland . | 1d69c32c8097a981e62825212c8ff01a16b08f74 |
By . Ruth Styles . PUBLISHED: . 07:05 EST, 21 March 2013 . | . UPDATED: . 07:25 EST, 22 March 2013 . She could have had caviar and canapes but Pippa Middleton was clearly in the mood for something a little more down to earth last night. Fresh from an appearance at the Cheltenham Festival last week, the Duchess of Cambridge's sister was spotted heading into West London hotdog restaurant, Bubbledogs, last night. Joined by stockbroker boyfriend, Nico Jackson, fitness fanatic Pippa looked fresh and happy in a chic leather jacket, simple beige blouse and black skinny jeans, accessorised with a gorgeous nude Vienna tote by hip British brand, Milli Millu. Supper: Pippa Middleton and boyfriend Nico Jackson leave London's Bubbledogs restaurant . Chums: The couple were joined by friends for their hotdog and champagne supper . Tanned Jackson looked equally relaxed and was dapper in a neat black coat and white shirt, a dove grey scarf jauntily protruding from the collar. While the choice of venue was relatively low key, West London's Bubbledogs doesn't exactly offer the humble fare found in burger vans. The restaurant specialises in so called gourmet hotdogs, which include the 'K-Dawg', which comes with Korean pickled cabbage dish, kimchi, fermented red bean paste and lettuce, and the 'Reuben', which is a delicious sounding mix of sauerkraut, Russian dressing and melted Swiss cheese. The hotdogs are served with champagne, which can be bought by the glass and, according to the restaurant, is produced by artisan wineries. Fun: Pippa and her friends looked to be in high spirits as they were driven away . Shy? Pippa stayed a few feet behind Nico who looked more interested in his phone than the socialite . Pippa has just returned from a week in the glamorous Swiss ski resort of St Moritz, where, like her sister Kate and Prince Harry before her, she went public with her new romance. The 29-year-old was seen planting a kiss on the 35-year-old stockbroker's lips on the ski slope and the pair were all smiles when they went for lunch with friends in the Swiss resort, where they were seen pausing to look at a jewellery store's window display as they strolled arm-in-arm. Pippa and Nico have been dating since they met on a different ski trip earlier this year. Attention: Pippa kept her eyes lowered to avoid the camera flashes while Nico fiddled with his mobile . That's better! Pippa was all smiles once safely in the back of the car surrounded by friends . Stylish: Hip London restaurant, Bubbledogs, specialises in fast food with a luxury twist . | The pair were joined by friends for supper at West London hotdog restaurant, Bubbledogs . The Duchess of Cambridge's younger sister recently returned from the glamorous Swiss resort of St Moritz . Pippa also put in an appearance at the Cheltenham Festival last week . | 883258f03d337beb253427e70dfe6fc4474ec704 |
A Chinese mother of two disfigured by horrific tumours growing on her face has been told by doctors she will make a full recovery after the government said it would foot the bill for her surgery. Li Hongfang, 40, was shunned in public after a rare type of bone cancer caused tissue to grow under her skin, distorting her features beyond recognition. Ms Hongfang endured the condition, known as Chordoma, for more than a decade because she had no money to pay for the £60,000 (600,000 yuan) surgery. Suffering: Li Hongfang, pictured in hospital, was unable to afford £60,000 on her tumours without help . Intervention: The 40-year-old is now about to have surgery to help cure her condition - known as Chordoma - after her plight received international attention . But after her plight touched hearts around the world earlier this month, shaming the country's ailing health service on a global stage, the Communist government gave doctors all the money they needed to save her. Staff at Qianxian People’s Hospital, near Xi’an in western China’s Shaanxi province, are now doing all they can to rescue a woman, whose tumour-ridden face has found international sympathy. The hospital's medical director, Xue Gang, said: 'Our superiors told us specially that we should cure Li Hongfang’s illness at all costs.' Local government officials pledged to meet all costs for her surgery and ongoing radiotherapy to make sure the tumours stay away. Spokesman Si Dangku confirmed: 'We will pay and if we run out of funds, the regional government will pay.' Surgeon Pan Lin - from Xijing Hospital, where Hongfang is preparing for her operation - said the operation will make her look 'beautiful again'. Distorted features: Ms Hongfang originally thought a small swelling on her forehead was an insect bite - but gradually the tumours spread . 'I am NOT a monster': Li Hongfang, 40, has a rare condition which has caused tumours to grow on her face - but she is unable to afford treatment . 'The condition is rare but the tumours are benign so her life is not in danger,' he said. 'After the tumours have been removed we will provide some cosmetic surgery and she will end up a beauty again.' Ms Hongfang is now undergoing a series of pre-op tests before the surgery can begin. She said: 'I am so grateful to the people who made this happen.' 'I just want to look normal again, like I feel inside. I'm not a monster and I don't want to look like one.' Nightmare illness: The mother-of-two is shunned in public because of her rare condition. The tumours on her face have been growing for the last 10 years . Grief: Li Hongfang was hit by the death of her husband shortly after she was diagnosed with Chordoma . The woman she used to be: Lu Hongfang with her son before the tumours began to grow . Ms Hongfang originally thought the first swelling on her forehead, which appeared in 2001, was an infected insect bite. 'It didn't even itch or ache in any way – but it also didn't go away and in fact just got bigger and bigger,' she said. Li Hongfang has Chordoma which is a type of bone cancer which causes tissue to grow. The most common place where the tumours begin to grow is in the skull and at the bottom of the spine. Although global figures are not available, in the US the cancer affects around one in a million people. In western countries, a sufferer would have the tumour removed before being given high doses of radiation therapy. But because of China's healthcare system, Ms Hongfang has been unable to afford proper care. The cancer may be rare, but there have been some instances of several members of the same family being hit by the tumours. When her condition was finally diagnosed four years later, doctors said she had seven tumours growing on her face. Ms Hongfang was living with her husband and two sons at the time, in Tianchao village, Qianxian county, in west China’s Shaanxi province. She said: 'We didn't have much money . but we were very happy and we loved each other and our two boys. I would . say life was good then.' Soon after wards, her sorrows increased after her husband died. By . 2009 she met Guo Yingping, 40, an orphan, and the two became friends . and later married. Her two sons, now aged 17 and 14, have now left home . to work. She added: 'I know that a lot of people see me as a monster but I am just a normal woman and a mother inside.' The . mother of two is one of many victims of China's health service falling . apart when the old state system was dismantled and medical fees . introduced. Tens of millions of people, particularly those living in the countryside, cannot access a doctor and cannot afford treatment. Officials . are debating a programme which aims to provide health insurance for all . its 1.3billion people by 2020, but at present, the health . system falls far behind the needs of those it is supposed to be . treating. | Mother-of-two Li Hongfang, 40, had watched seven tumours grow on her face for the last TEN years . She had been unable to afford £60,000 medical bill to have them removed . They started growing slowly in 2001 but she ignored the swelling because she thought it was nothing to worry about . | f26a3ffa105ec22917017d3d36cb67be54c1aaeb |
A heavily pregnant woman was forced to undergo a humiliating medical examination on a packed plane to prove that she was fit to fly. Kerry Deane was horrified when staff on the Thomson Holidays flight ordered her to the front of the plane in front of passengers to be checked by two doctors in an area where food is prepared. Miss Deane, who was 35 weeks pregnant, and showing no signs of going into labour, was eventually escorted off the flight with her partner and three young children. This was despite the 32-year-old carrying documentation from her GP stating that she was fit to travel. Kerry Deane, pictured with her son Hudson, was forced to undergo a humiliating internal exam at the front of the plane after flight staff apparently decided she was too close to her due date to fly . Then, instead of the usual four-hour flight from Tunisia to Glasgow, the family had to endure a 19-hour marathon before finally stepping through their front door. Miss Deane said: ‘The way were treated was an absolute disgrace, and we haven’t even had an apology from Thomson. ‘To say it was an ordeal is an understatement. I was upset and sobbing, but they didn’t take any notice, and just kept saying: “It’ll be OK”.’ Miss Deane, who was pregnant with son Hudson, now three months old, was due to fly out of Tunisia after a week away when she was approached on board and told that she had to be examined by medical staff based at Enfidha airport. The women doctors took her blood pressure and checked her bump, before carrying out an intrusive examination in the plane’s front galley. Miss Deane said: ‘They didn’t carry out the examination in any sort of sterile way. ‘And I can’t believe we were thrown off the plane as it was obvious I was not in labour.’ She said she was left fearing she would have to stay in Tunisia to give birth. ‘How do you get home from Tunisia if you cannot fly?’ Miss Deane said. ‘I was thinking, I’m stuck here for at least seven weeks. What about my children? I only had a week’s clothes.’ Ms Deane, 32, had checked she would be okay to fly (boarding pass pictured left) - and even had a note from her doctors showing she was under the 36 week cut off (right) Ms Deane said the experience left her humiliated - but Thomson, which was not operating the flight that day, have refused to take any responsibility . After being taken off the plane last September, Miss Deane, her partner and children Broxon, ten, Alicia, nine, and Garyn, six, then endured a 19-hour ordeal to get home. First they had a lengthy wait for a flight to Newcastle – rather than their preferred destination of Glasgow. As a result they then had to sit on a minibus to get to their home in Kilsyth, North Lanarkshire. NHS advice states that it is normally safe to fly while you are pregnant - but it is the airlines which decide whether or not to let you fly towards the end. British Airways says it restricts travel beyond the end of the 36th week, while people carrying twins or triplet cannot fly beyond the end of the 32nd week. However, the airline does say it would like women to carry a doctors note after the 28th week, confirming due date and the fact it isn't complicated. Easyjet allows mothers to fly until the 35th week, and women carrying twins until the 32nd. RyanAir has the same cut off dates as BA, and asks mothers to carry the letter from 28 weeks - but says it reserves the right to refuse travel from this point if they don't have one. Emirates asks for letter after the 29th week, but has the same cut off dates as BA. Miss Deane said that the family was not offered any vouchers for food or water while they waited for the later flight, and said she ran up a £100 phone bill calling relatives in distress. She added: ‘You go with these big companies because you think they have procedures, but it means nothing. ‘It’s crazy. The whole situation shows how you have no rights. We cannot protect ourselves.’ Before flying, Miss Deane had sought the advice of her GP on four occasions, and said she checked with Thomson as instructed by their staff because she was concerned about the timing of the holiday, which she had booked before she was aware she was pregnant. She said she even requested her GP to fax to Thomson’s headquarters documentation permitting her to fly. However, Thomson, whose rules state a woman can fly up to 36 weeks pregnant, has distanced itself from the incident, claiming that the flight was operated by a third party. A spokesman said: ‘We are sorry to hear of Miss Deane’s experience on the return from her holiday in Tunisia. ‘On this occasion the flight was not operated by us but by a third party airline. As every airline has its own policy regarding flying during pregnancy we advised Miss Deane to speak directly to this airline prior to travel to avoid any potential issues. ‘As we understand Miss Deane has instructed a solicitor, it would be inappropriate for us to comment further.' | Kerry Deane, from Glasgow, had been enjoying a holiday with her family . The 32-year-old was 35 weeks pregnant - within Thomson's 36 week cut-off . Despite having a doctor's note, she was made to undergo an examination . The examination took place in the food preparation area of the plane . Ms Deane, her partner and children were then made to get off the flight . Thomson has apologised - and said it was not operating the flight that day . | 87452078f36c0d38971c8abd93981ec9ec27d555 |
By . Mark Duell . George Michael has revealed how he rarely left his cell while in prison during a traumatic experience that saw him ‘put in with the paedophiles’. The singer served half of an eight-week sentence at HMP Pentonville in North London and Highpoint Prison in Suffolk three years ago after crashing his car into a shop while high on cannabis. He said going to Category B jail Pentonville in September 2010 was a ‘horrific’ experience, before he was transferred to the Category C prison Highpoint, which is known for its easy-going regime. 'Horrific' experience: Singer George Michael, 50, has revealed how he rarely left his cell while in prison . Life on the inside: Michael spent three nights of his jail sentence in the tough HMP Pentonville in North London . Michael, 50, told BBC Radio 2: ‘Pentonville was really quite a horrific experience, and I was put in with the paedophiles and the bullied, I suppose. I didn’t leave my cell very much in those few days.’ The former Wham! Star added: ‘From the moment that last crash happened (I started to get sober) - because apart from anything else, I realised it had to be something to do with me. ‘It shook me out of my denial in a way that the others hadn’t, probably because there was a chance I’d go to prison. So from the day after that crash happened, I started in drug counselling.’ He told the Up Close with George Michael programme that he spent two weeks in detox, without making it public, and that his troubles relating to taking illegal drugs ‘feel so completely behind me’. Jail time: Michael arrives for his sentencing at Highbury Corner Magistrates' Court in September 2010 (left) and is pictured after his release four weeks later (right) Inmate: The singer was sent to HMP Pentonville after crashing his car into a shop while high on cannabis . Michael said he decided to end his relationship with Kenny Goss, his partner of 13 years, and added that his jail time led to a ‘burst of creativity’ that saw him write eight songs in less than three weeks. Following his release from jail in October 2010, Michael said that he wanted to 'start again' and stop running away from the press, adding: ‘You'll get sick of me. You'll see me about.' He said it was 'fantastic' to be free, that he wanted to 'go out', and added: 'It's a beautiful day. I just want to say thank you for everybody who has supported me in there, it's quite inspirational.' Michael was jailed in September 2010 after he admitted driving while unfit through drugs and possessing two cannabis cigarettes when he appeared at Highbury Corner Magistrates' Court. How it finished: Michael said he decided to end his relationship with Kenny Goss, his partner of 13 years . Category C: The singer was held in the good behaviour unit of Highpoint Prison in Suffolk, which houses the most trusted inmates in the jail, leading to claims he was getting preferential treatment . He served the remaining four weeks of his eight-week sentence on licence, in addition to paying £1,365 in fines and costs and a five-year driving ban. 'Pentonville was really quite a horrific experience, and I was put in with the paedophiles and the bullied' George Michael . The singer was held in the good behaviour unit of Highpoint, which houses the most trusted inmates, leading to claims he was getting preferential treatment - something he denied. Michael spent three nights in the tough Pentonville prison moving to Highpoint, which is nicknamed Hi-de-Highpoint after the TV holiday camp comedy camp due to its easy-going regime. In his interview of Radio 2 last night, Michael - who has sold 120million records - also told presenter Vicki Wickham how he battled pneumonia mid-way through a concert schedule three years ago. | Michael jailed in 2010 after crashing his car while high on cannabis . Sent to Pentonville in London then moved to Highpoint in Suffolk . Jail time led to 'burst of creativity' that saw him write eight songs . | 37bcc80fbfdbba8cb91dd040cbe5a5a9a9b28650 |
By . Ashley Collman . The New Jersey woman who was impregnated five times by her father, an award-winning music video director, is writing a memoir about her childhood abuse. From the age of 10, Aziza Kibibi (now 35) was treated as a sex slave by her father Aswad Ayinde, a music-video director who won fame producing The Fugees' 'Killing Me Softly' music video. But after being convicted of abusing Kibibi and one of her sisters, Ayinde is now behind bars with a 90-year sentence. Despite being abused by her father, and treated like the other women by her mother, Kibibi has overcome her dark past and plans to put the whole thing behind her by publishing a memoir. Scroll down for video . Sharing her story: Aziza Kibibi, 35, plans on publishing a memoir about her dark childhood. Her father started raping her at the age of 10 and she eventually went on to have four children out of incest . 'The number one solution for ending something that is dark is to bring it to light,' Kibibi said in a fundraising video. Locked up: Her father, Aswad Ayinde, now faces a combined 90 years in prison for the sexual abuses he committed against two of his daughters . Kibibi recently started a campaign on Indiegogo to raise 19,000 to self-publish her book, titled Unashamed. It took her three years to write the 410 page manuscript about her polygamous family upbringing. She says she wants to share her story in order to 'raise awareness and lend a voice to those that are and have been abused'. The book is set to be published next June. Kibibi also recently won a $10,0000 college grant from Soroptimist, a female empowerment organization. 'Many of the women that have received the grant have overcome enormous obstacles including poverty, sexual and domestic violence, the death of a spouse, and substance abuse,' Soroptimist said in an announcement. The grant will help Kibibi finish college. She is currently attending Essex County College. Last August, Kibibi shared the story of her tumultuous childhood with NJ.com. Her early life was relatively normal. She lived with her mother and father on the third-floor of an apartment in Paterson, New Jersey, with her Jamaican immigrant grandparents living below. Kibibi was home-schooled but still allowed to play with the neighborhood children. When her family grew to include eight children they moved into a bigger apartment in the same building. Double life: Kibibi's father became famous for directing the music video for The Fugees' song 'Killing Me Softly' It was when Kibibi started to mature that her father started giving her unwanted attention. 'He told me I was special. Initially, it was to teach me to be a woman,' she said. 'By the time he started having intercourse with me, he was getting more and more violent. When I would start fighting him, he would hit me. It was more about threats.' Her father began to change, and became more controlling over the family. He moved them out of their grandparent's apartment to another house in Paterson before relocating to Eatontown in Southern New Jersey. The children were only allowed to watch a small amount of TV, and nothing that depicted traditional family life. Modern medicine was outlawed in the house, and he actually told his wife that his relations with Kibibi were to treat her eczema. Getting her degree: Kibibi recently won a $10,000 scholarship to finish college from a female empowerment organization. She currently attends Essex County College . Kibibi wasn't the only one Ayinde was having sex with. He had a mistress - a Manhattan lawyer whom he had another two children with - and was also abusing one of Kibibi's sisters. He called himself a polygamist and a prophet. His family was allowed to pray to god but could only do so through him. 'He said the world was going to end, and it was just going to be him and his offspring and that he was chosen,' his ex-wife, Beverly Ayinde testified at a 2010 pre-trial hearing. She said he was attempting to create a 'pure' bloodline by procreating with his daughters. When Kibibi's first child was born without defects, Ayinde took it as proof and continued to rape the girl to get her pregnant. Damaging: Kibibi gave birth to five children by her father, and many of them inherited a rare genetic disorder due to inbreeding . But the following children would not be . so lucky. Two further daughters born from her father would be diagnosed . with phenylketonuria (PKU) a disease that prevents the body from . breaking down amino acids. PKU can cause brain damage and seizures. Dr. Anna Haroutunian, a PKU specialist who has treated Kibibi's children, said they definitely got the disease because of inbreeding. PKU is a recessive gene, so both parents must have the gene in order for it to pass along to the child. The gene only appears at a rate of 1 in 4,000 world wide and is much lower for African-Americans. Likely Kibibi's paternal grandfather had the gene. Over the years, Kibibi became obsessed with escaping. She would sleep just because her dreams were better than real life. Saved: When she was younger, Kibibi would dream of escaping her father. Eventually she did when she brought her sick son to a hospital and triggered a social worker to step in . 'I'd dream about running away. I'd dream about getting all my brothers and sisters — one of my sisters was a baby, and I was taking care of her — I'd dream about growing breasts and getting milk and running away with them somewhere,' she said. When she was older and one of her sons fell sick, she finally got the courage to take him to the hospital since Ayinde was out of town on a business trip. But she didn't know how to interact with the doctors and a social worker stepped in, alerting the Department of Youth and Family Services. When Ayinde returned from his business trip he was enraged, and threatened to forcibly remove his son from the hospital. Child services stepped in before he could do that and placed them in separate homes. Ambition: In addition to attending school, Kibibi runs her own bakery business . After that Kibibi, her mother and her sisters moved away from Ayinde as she attempted to get her children back. Her performance in state-mandated courses and counseling impressed the government officials and eventually her children were returned to her. 'She has been an exceptional mother,' Haroutunian said. 'She was so attentive and patient, it's remarkable. For a young girl - with all she's had - she has been just wonderful.' Having to fight to get her children back also empowered Kibibi, and translated to her life after abuse. She now lives in East Orange, New Jersey with her husband. Defects: When Kibibi's first child was born without defects, Ayinde took it as a sign that he was creating a 'pure' bloodline . She went back to school for her GED and will finish her liberal arts degree from Essex County College this fall. She also runs her own baking business and plans to start a restaurant someday. Kibibi and her sister decided to finally bring charges against their abusive father. They delayed pressing charges since they were unsure the affect it would have on the children. She shared her story in hopes of making a difference with those in a similar situation. 'Instead of just being an experience that I had, maybe this strengthened me. What doesn't break us makes us stronger.' | Aziza Kibibi, 35, was raped by her father Aswad Ayinde starting at the young age of 10 . Over the years, he fathered four of her five children . In July, Ayinde was sentenced to a combined 90 years in prison for abusing both Kibibi and her sister . Kibibi is now married, going to school and running a baking business in East Orange, New Jersey . She is currently fundraising to self-publish her memoir, Unashamed . Kibibi also recently won a $10,000 grant to finish college . | 1526b56091d40327f5d8dcca356ebdeee6173969 |
Lleyton Hewitt refused to be drawn on his future after his 19th consecutive Australian Open appearance came to a heartbreaking end against Germany's Benjamin Becker. Hewitt produced some inspired tennis to race through the opening two sets on Rod Laver Arena against a player who had never won a five-set match in his career. However, the former Wimbledon champion was unable to maintain that level and Becker - who admitted to kicking a door to let off some steam after leaving the court following the second set - roared back to secure a 2-6 1-6 6-3 6-4 6-2 victory in just over three hours. Veteran Lleyton Hewitt waves goodbye after crashing out of the Australian Open in Melbourne . The former Wimbledon champion would not confirm what his future now holds . Australian tennis fans cheer on their fading hero at Melbourne Park . Becker's win over Andre Agassi in the third round of the US Open in 2006 prompted Agassi to retire, but the 33-year-old German said: 'I hope it's not Lleyton's last match because then I get asked about it all the time. He is a great warrior, an unbelievable player, so I hope he continues.' Asked about his future plans, Hewitt - who won just one grand slam match in 2014 - said: 'I'll sit down and think about it. As I've said the whole time, I haven't thought about anything. 'But obviously the Davis Cup is the next main thing. Now that we've got some guys playing really good tennis at the moment, it's an exciting time. We have a good chance to possibly pull off an upset away (against the Czech Republic in Ostrava). That's the next focus.' Earlier in the day, top seed and four-time champion Novak Djokovic lost just five games as he cruised into the third round. World No 1 Djokovic thrashed Russian Andrey Kuznetsov 6-0 6-1 6-4 in an hour and 24 minutes, with all three singles matches on Rod Laver Arena in the afternoon completed so quickly that a men's doubles match was hastily added to the day schedule. The 33-year-old Australian raced to a two sets lead before blowing it against Benjamin Becker . Hewitt's wife Bec was in the stands to watch what may be her husband's final match at the Australian Open . Becker punches the air after completing a remarkable five set comeback . Djokovic won the first nine games against a hopelessly outclassed Kuznetsov, who received a sympathetic cheer when he finally troubled the scorers in the fourth game of the second set. The former Wimbledon boys' champion at least had the temerity to break Djokovic at the start of the third, but normal service was instantly resumed and Djokovic closed out the match in ruthless fashion. 'After my first-round match I was hoping to have this kind of performance, especially the opening two sets,' Djokovic said. 'Everything went as I planned and wished and hopefully I can stay on this path. '(Kuznetsov) is a very talented player. He's still young and he's of the generation of my younger brother (Marko) who knows him well, so I spoke to him because I had not seen Kuznetsov play a lot.' Djokovic has dropped just two sets over the first and second rounds since 2007, winning his first title at Melbourne Park in 2008 and lifting the trophy three years in succession from 2011. 'Generally this is my most successful grand slam and the tournament where over the years I've performed my best tennis,' the 27-year-old said. 'The reason? I think there is not one reason. A few reasons together. Andre Agassi cries as he announces his retirement after losing to Becker at the 2006 US Open . World No 1 Novak Djokovic breezed into the next round for the loss of just five games . Russian Andrey Kuznetsov could not cope with Djokovic's superiority on centre court . 'Probably the fact that I enjoy the conditions of play. Even though the last two years the courts have played faster, significantly faster than they were before, still I do enjoy being here in Australia. Some nice, positive, easy-going, sport-oriented energy going around. People appreciate the sport and make you feel good. 'Of course it's the beginning of the year. It's the first big tournament. Everybody comes fresh and motivated. I guess in this kind of package it's a combination of things that make me feel comfortable on the court here.' Defending champion Stan Wawrinka, who ended Djokovic's 25-match unbeaten run here in the quarter-finals last year, also safely reached the last 32, but needed two hours and 16 minutes to finally subdue the resistance of Romanian qualifier Marius Copil. The first two sets took longer to complete than Djokovic's entire match as they lasted an hour and 35 minutes, with Wawrinka winning both in tie-breaks before taking the third set 6-3. 'It was quite a tough match,' fourth seed Wawrinka said. 'I'm happy to get through, especially in three sets. Djokovic's coach and former Australian Open champ Boris Becker applauds his charge from the sidelines . Defending champion Stan Wawrinka was forced to work before coming through againstqualifier Marius Copil . 'The conditions weren't easy today. Quite hot. Really fast on the court. And he was playing great. He was serving big, putting lots of pressure. I wasn't playing my best tennis, but I'm happy the way I fight today and the way I did with the match. 'I'm happy with my game in general. To win the two first matches in three sets, it's great. I'm playing great tennis. As I say, if you want to get far in the tournament, it can be two long weeks. So you need to be ready to have some ups and downs. So far it's been good tennis. I'm happy.' Wawrinka will face Jarkko Nieminen in the third round after the Finn defeated German qualifier Matthias Bachinger in straight sets, with fifth seed Kei Nishikori taking on American Steve Johnson after coming from a set down to beat Croatia's Ivan Dodig. | Lleyton Hewitt lost to Benjamin Becker in five sets at the Australian Open . The 33-year-old former Grand Slam winner wouldn't be drawn on his future . Becker's win over Andre Agassi at 2006 US Open prompted his retirement . | f940ce7dac36473ad82601cf16e52d431ec3583e |
Thirty soldiers until recently stationed in West Africa will be quarantined in Italy when they arrive Wednesday after leaving the Ebola-stricken region this morning, Army officials tell CNN. The soldier will join Army Major General Darryl A. Williams, commander of U.S. Army Africa, and approximately 10 other personnel who are now in "controlled monitoring" in Italy after returning there from West Africa over the weekend, according to multiple U.S. military officials. The American personnel are effectively under quarantine, but Pentagon officials declined to use that terminology. Williams' plane was met on the ground by Italian authorities "in full CDC gear," the official said, referring to the type of protective equipment worn by U.S. health care workers. There is no indication at this time any of the team have symptoms of Ebola. Ebola outbreak: Get up to speed with the latest developments . They will be monitored for 21 days at a "separate location" at the U.S. military installation at Vicenza Italy, according to U.S. military officials. Senior Pentagon officials say it is not a "quarantine," but rather "controlled monitoring." However, the troops are being housed in an access controlled location on base, and are not allowed to go home for the 21 day period while they undergo twice daily temperature checks. It is not clear yet if they will be allowed visits from family members. 4 issues raised at the House Ebola hearing . Williams and his team have been in West Africa for 30 days, to set up the initial U.S. military assistance there and have traveled extensively around Liberia. The team was in treatment and testing areas during their travels. Speaking to reporters two weeks ago while he was still overseas in Liberia, Williams spoke of the extensive monitoring that he was given. "We measure, while we're here -- twice a day, are monitoring as required by the recent guidance that was put out while we're here in Liberia. I -- yesterday, I had my temperature taken, I think, eight times, before I got on and off aircraft, before I went in and out of the embassy, before I went out of my place where I'm staying," William said during the October 16 press conference. Boy under evaluation in New York; nurse ordered released . "As long as you exercise basic sanitation and cleanliness sort of protocols using the chlorine wash on your hands and your feet, get your temperature taken, limiting the exposure, the -- no handshaking, those sorts of protocols, I think the risk is relatively low." Officials could not explain why the group was being put under into controlled monitoring, which is counter to the Pentagon policy. The current DOD policy on monitoring returning troops says "as long as individuals remain asymptomatic, they may return to work and routine daily activities with family members." White House Press Secretary Josh Earnest said Monday that the Defense Department "has not issued a policy related to their workers that have spent time in West Africa." "I know that there was this decision that was made by one commanding officer in the Department of Defense, but it does not reflect a department-wide policy that I understand is still under development," Earnest said. The Pentagon has, though, published plans that detail how it will handle troops who are deployed to the region -- including potential quarantines. Jessica L. Wright, the undersecretary of Defense for personnel and readiness, issued an Oct. 10 memo that said troops who have faced an elevated risk of exposure to Ebola will be quarantined for 21 days -- and that those who haven't faced any known exposure will be monitored for three weeks. Wright's memo also lays out the Pentagon's plans to train troops before they're sent to West Africa and to monitor them during their deployment to the epicenter of the Ebola outbreak. Pressed again during his briefing Monday, Earnest said it's up to the Defense Department to announce its policies for troops that return from the region. "We are seeing this administration put in place the policies that we believe are necessary to protect the American people and to protect the American troops," he said. "And we're going to let science drive that process. And as soon as we have a policy to announce on this, we'll let you know." A senior military officials described the living quarters as one building with rooms equipped for between one and four people. The quarantined personnel will eat in a dining tent. They have a gym and they have access to both unclassified and classified means of communication, according to the official. The quarantined personnel are supposed to be getting access to chaplains soonest for worship services in the near future. | 30 U.S. soldiers will join a group of approximately 10 in Italy already under quarantine. The Pentagon is using the term "controlled monitoring," which effectively a quarantine. There's no indication that anyone on the team has symptoms of Ebola. It's unclear why they're undergoing this kind of monitoring, which is not Pentagon policy. | b7d262ac711e95f6301a55839c3d11a36e19720d |
By . Daily Mail Reporter . PUBLISHED: . 22:51 EST, 15 December 2013 . | . UPDATED: . 04:10 EST, 16 December 2013 . The families of a young pregnant California woman murdered in Hawaii and her missing boyfriend fear that he too may have been killed. Boaz Johnson, 22, is a suspect in the murder of his girlfriend Brittany Royal, 25, but he has not been seen since before Royal's body was discovered strangled and dumped in the ocean on the coast off Hawaii's Big Island. 'We're definitely concerned that he was also murdered alongside Brittany. It's very possible her body showed up and his didn't,' Boaz Johnson's sister Sarah Johnson said. What happened? Brittany Royal, 25, was murdered in Hawaii in May and her boyfriend, Bo Johnson, 22, vanished and was suspected of killing her. But her family is not convinced he was responsible . 'It just seems all too easy to blame someone who isn't even here, may not even be alive to defend himself.' Royal's body was found in May this year and there has been no sign of Johnson in the seven months since. Neither family knows what to believe and are finding it difficult to grieve without knowing what happened to Brittany and Bo. Brittany . Jane Royal was newly pregnant when she was strangled with rope, . dragged across rocks and thrown into the ocean off Kalpana, Hawaii. Police . initially suspected her missing boyfriend Johnson, but . family members have insisted he had no money to escape or motive to kill . her. Months later, a . local news site received a cryptic note suggesting Johnson, known to his . friends and family as 'Bo', had also been killed amid racial tensions. Now the Royal and Johnson families have been left with little to go on and no further to finding out exactly what happened to their loved ones. 'Whoever killed her does not deserve to be walking around,' Royal's mother Julie told People magazine in a new interview. 'But I feel like I can't really grieve right now because of the not knowing. It's always there. It's always going to be there.' Julie was initially worried about how . trusting her 'free spirited' daughter could be but knew it was right . for Brittany when she decided to go traveling to the Big Island of . Hawaii in January. There, . she met Johnson and just months later they returned to the family home . in Tustin, California to break the news: they were expecting a baby. They also announced their plans for the . future; Brittany said she would work as a yoga instructor while Bo . wanted give lava tours. Missed: Brittany's mother Julie, pictured with her left and as a baby, said she cannot grieve until she knows what happened to her daughter, who was strangled, and who was responsible . Tragedy: Brittany was newly pregnant and looking forward to starting a yoga business when she was killed . 'She seemed finally ready to settle down,' Royal said. But less than three weeks later, Bo failed to turn up to a meeting with a real estate agent and Brittany didn't call her mother to wish her a happy birthday. Days later, on May 28, a fisherman found her body in waters off the island. Unanswered questions: Brittany's family became concerned when she failed to call her mother on her birthday, and her partner missed an appointment with a real estate agent . Police believe Boaz Johnson, the . only suspect in the case, may have stayed in a local hostel two weeks . after Brittany's death using a pseudonym. According to ABC News, . the manager of the hostel said she recognized his face from pictures but . said he checked-in as Jeffrey Allen. But Bo's sister Sarah told the magazine: 'He's not capable of this. He has a good heart. We were taught right from wrong.' Then . to further complicate the case, a news site received the anonymous . letter claiming that Bo had also been killed following racial tensions. The note listed specifics about the alleged murder. Bizzare: Signs have started appearing around the town saying that Bo was murdered on the lava fields . The writer explains that Bo had intended to buy land at Kalapana and conduct lava tours without paying locals a cut of $1,000 a week. 'Haole had to be killed befor (sic) he buy land... said this message 2 haole, stay out of Puna - Puna is for the pono,' the note said. In Hawaii, 'haole' is a term used for Caucasians and 'pono' is a Hawaiian word for righteousness. Posters also began to emerge around the town, reading: 'You killed the baby! They killed Bo on the lava flow! Confess!' Ahead of his disappearance, Bo was supposed to meet with a realtor and was going to sign a deal to purchase 10 acres of land - but he never showed up. Scene: Her body was found off the coast of Kalpana, Hawaii near to where the couple had been camping . Now his family doesn't know what to think. 'If he isn't the murderer, that means he's dead,' his sister said. 'So what do we have to look forward to. I keep praying that the police get their job done and they find this killer.' Both of the families have said that the police have failed to keep them updated with the case, and for now, all they can do is wonder what happened to their loved ones and who is responsible. | Brittany Royal was found strangled and dumped in the ocean off Big Island in Hawaii in May and her boyfriend, Bo Johnson, was reported missing . Police said they suspected Johnson in her murder . But mysterious notes sent to local media and posted around the town have since suggested he was also murdered amid racial tensions . Families said they do not know what to believe but cannot grieve until the police give them answers . | fdb3359eb84ad24708f8c5d4eaca57ce5ba39a44 |
New York (CNN) -- Michelle Matson has a nagging reminder of the cycling crash that could have killed her. A year and a half later, flecks of asphalt remain lodged in her skin. There's also the metal pole extending from her kneecap down to her ankle, along with countless screws, keeping her left leg intact. "My body was destroyed," said Matson, an artist living in Brooklyn. "My whole life was put on hold for months, and no one seemed to care." It happened in October, 2010, on what Matson and her boyfriend, James Paz, thought was an innocuous bike ride home from a concert. "I was riding in front of Michelle, about 10 feet in front of her," Paz said. "I heard a loud scraping, scratching noise, there was a second of blackness, and then I was flying through the air." What had lofted Paz into the air was a speeding driver who, according to witnesses, fled the scene. Paz hobbled to his feet, noted the mangled remains of his bike and scanned the area for Matson. When he did not see her, he panicked. "I was screaming her name," Paz said. "Then I saw her lying in the middle of the right-hand lane of the road ... at that time I didn't know if she was alive." No charges have been filed in the case. Matson's story is a reminder of a growing problem in many of the nation's busy, sprawling urban landscapes: More people are using bikes for transportation amid a culture and infrastructure designed for automobiles. Although New York police and the city's Department of Transportation report increasing bicyclists, the number of bike deaths has remained steady. In fact, overall traffic deaths have dropped by 39% since 2001, according to the NYPD. But that statistic offers little comfort to Matson. It's not just the facts of the incident -- or even the tiny particles of debris from the New York City street still in Matson's body -- that have left her upset. It's what Matson describes as investigative inertia by the New York City Police Department when it came to her case. "There were no legal repercussions for the driver whatsoever, because the NYPD chose not to investigate the hit-and-run," Matson said. "It blows my mind that this is even possible ... people get in worse trouble for double-parking." In 2010, in more than 6,000 New York City traffic accidents involving cyclists, 36 people died, according to the state Department of Motor Vehicles. Transportation Nation reported that no criminal charges were filed against the drivers involved. One woman -- the mother of an artist named Mathieu Lefevre, who was killed on a bike -- is on a crusade to learn more about his death and to make roads safer for cyclists. There is a growing sense among the city's cycling community that to many authorities, bicyclists don't matter. "Cyclists and pedestrians are being killed and seriously injured all over our city, once every 35 hours in fact," New York City Councilman James Vacca said at a hearing this year. "And the drivers are literally getting away with it." CNN repeatedly contacted the NYPD for comment about Matson's hit-and-run and the department's policy about cycling accident investigations, but did not receive a response. Cyclists who think police are biased against them are fueled by another statistic: In 2011, the NYPD issued 10,415 criminal court summonses to truck operators. During the same year, 34,813 summonses were issued to bicyclists. "While there may be some lawbreaking among the cycling population, very few if any of those transgressions of the law are resulting in death or serious injury," said Paul Steely White, executive director of Transportation Alternatives, a bicycling advocacy group. "But when a trucker runs the red light or speeds, the consequences very often are deadly." There are also problems, in the eyes of lawmakers and advocates alike, with how crashes are investigated. According to statements made by the NYPD, only traffic accidents involving imminent or actual death are investigated. Those cases are handled by one of 19 members of a special unit called the Accident Investigation Squad, or AIS. "Their role is to utilize their special training to conduct a more comprehensive investigation, employing a variety of techniques in order to establish speed, analyze skid marks and other physical characteristics of the accident scene," said John Cassidy, executive officer of the Transportation Bureau of the NYPD, at a City Council hearing in February. "In essence, reconstruct the accident so that a more definitive cause, possibly resulting in criminal charges, may be determined." But with only 19 detectives, AIS resources are stretched, so members of the unit are not always deployed, even when death is imminent, according to activists. "Staffing for these crashes is not what it should be," said Steve Vaccaro, an attorney with Rankin and Taylor, a law firm specializing in cases involving bicycling accidents. "This resource is not what it should be if we're going to have these investigations." The issue has hit the blogosphere. Advocates are pushing for a law that would force police to investigate all serious bike accidents. For Matson and Paz, virtually no investigation of their case occurred, they say. That leaves Matson, who still struggles with a debilitating injury to her left leg, with little legal recourse after her accident. "If you lose your limbs in a [bike] crash, you don't get an investigation," said White, the bicycling advocate. "Without that investigation, it's virtually impossible to hold reckless drivers accountable when they do break traffic laws and they seriously injure pedestrians or cyclists." Perhaps not surprisingly, a year and a half after her hit-and-run, Matson has refused to ride a bike. | Bicyclist struggles with injury to her left leg a year and a half after hit-and-run . Bicyclists complain that police aren't investigating enough bike traffic accidents . New York police didn't respond to CNN requests for comment . New York City considers requiring police to investigate all serious bike accidents . | 9a045e5224f92a7b42c279fe03ca94b272e26350 |
(CNN) -- Seven and a half years after allegedly fatally shooting his wife in the back and head, a now 42-year-old man is in custody -- in Italy, according to the U.S. Marshals Service. Italian authorities arrested Miguel Torres on Friday at his home in the northern city of Bologna, the U.S. Marshals Service announced. His capture came after the U.S. Marshals Service, working with Italian law enforcement and U.S. Diplomatic Security Service, learned that he was living in Italy under the alias Rene Rondon. After she moved out of his home, Torres' wife sought and got a restraining order against him in September 2005, according to the Marshals Service. Later that month, Torres allegedly hid in the backseat of his wife's car -- getting in with a spare key he had -- waiting for her to get out of work in Reading, Pennsylvania. He got out after she spotted him and she ran, with Torres allegedly first shooting her in the back before walking up to her and shooting her in the head, the U.S. Marshals Service said. According to the Berks County Sheriff, Torres -- who was a Reading resident at the time of the incident -- is charged with murder. In June 2011, the U.S. Marshals Service added Torres to its list of 15 Most Wanted individuals. "This final act of aggression was in keeping with his history of violence and abuse and we will do our best to swiftly bring him to justice," Geoffrey Shank, then the federal agency's acting assistant director of investigative operations, said at the time. | Authorities allege Miguel Torres ambushed his wife in 2005, then killed her . He is charged with murder, but authorities hadn't been able to track him down . The U.S. Marshals Service put Torres on its 15 Most Wanted list in 2011 . Torres is arrested in Italy, where he was believed to be living and using an alias . | 2f34601d6e9bd88168fc3e8d2b7534cdd64ac2b6 |
(CNN) -- You could say that Kilian Fischhuber is on top of his game. For almost a decade, the 30-year-old has scaled the peaks of competitive free-climbing, becoming one of the most successful boulderers the sport has ever known with five overall World Cup titles to his name. Bouldering -- the sport of climbing small rocks or boulders without ropes or harnesses -- combines athletic agility with incredible strength, which are two qualities the Austrian has in abundance. "As a professional you need to be really focused and train really hard," Fischhuber told CNN's Human to Hero series. "I think the thing that makes my climbing unique is that I'm really diverse. "I'm really strong in different areas of climbing whether it's steep or flat, or long or short climbs. I'm a very powerful and dynamic climber, so this helps me to combine all the skills of the different areas of climbing." Born in Waidhofen an der Ybbs, Fischhuber began climbing at the age of 11, honing his skills on indoor walls before moving outside to climb on rocks. He turned pro by the time he'd reached his late teens, and in 2005 he clinched his first World Cup title aged just 22. Once upon a time, bouldering was used solely for practice by climbers preparing for bigger climbs, but the rise in popularity of indoor climbing centers in recent decades has seen it morph into a sport. In 1998, it officially became a new climbing discipline, and the following year the International Federation of Sport Climbing held the first World Cup. This year, the competition was contested over eight meetings held around the globe, with competitors battling it out on a variety of artificial climbing walls with crash mats below. The winner is the climber who can conquer the most boulders in the fewest attempts. "In competing, it's a lot about knowing what other people did and knowing you have to better them ... and that makes it really difficult," Fischhuber says. "It's both mental and physical, but it depends on the situation. It can be very mental and not physical at all, but usually it's a combination." Fischhuber has successfully mastered both over the last decade, recording a top-three finish in nine of the last 10 years. And while he didn't win the overall title this year, he made up for it by chalking up his first win at the European Championships in Eindhoven, Netherlands in September. "Next season, I'm going to try to win the World Championships, which I haven't achieved yet ... that's one of my goals. And besides that, I want to climb hard stuff ... to push my limits," he says. Away from the competition walls, Fischhuber has already completed some of the toughest outdoor climbs. In 2006, he became one of only a handful of climbers to successfully scale Action Directe -- a famously difficult, 15-meter high rock in Frankenjura, Germany -- and in 2009, Fischhuber showed he was no slouch at longer climbs either, completing a 250-meter alpine ascent of "The Emporer's New Clothes" route in Austria's Wilder Kaiser region. "Wherever I am, I always look out for rock faces. It would be good to discover something new, to go to places no-one has ever climbed before. I find myself on the Internet looking for places to climb. It's an addiction." A recent trip to Zimbabwe uncovered "some great rock faces and great places to develop climbing," he says, and from a personal perspective, he's keen to one day grapple with the mighty El Capitan, the 900 feet (275 meters) granite monolith in Yosemite National Park, California. But his heart, along with his fingers, remains firmly wedded to Europe's crags and cliffs, not least those flanking the Zillertal and Otztal valleys near his home in Innsbruck. It's a place where he can mix sport and pleasure, he says, picking routes that are sometimes really hard but also beautiful. "It's not just the difficulty, it's also the aesthetics -- that it's a really nice climb makes it fun to do. It's a nice mix." Fischhuber climbs the 100-meter cliff with the assistance of ropes, a harness and bolts anchored in the rock and a climbing partner called a belayer who controls the amount of friction on the rope. "In sport climbing, or free climbing, you have a partner who belays you with a rope. Bolts are usually pre-placed -- drilled in, so really safe -- and you climb without resting or falling into the ropes. That's the objective ... It's usually a long process but it gives you a great feeling of satisfaction," Fischhuber says. "There are situations when you are afraid -- for example, if you are really high above the last belay place, the last bolt -- but usually climbing and bouldering is not too dangerous. "Sometimes it's difficult mentally, when you work on a route and you're not sure if it's possible. You put a lot of effort into it and learn later it's not possible, that's a big drawback, but you need to stay positive and have fun. It's just a really cool feeling to be up there alone." Solitude at the top of a cliff is replaced by companionship when he gets back down. More often he's met by his girlfriend and fellow free climber Anna Stohr. The 25-year-old, a four-time overall World Cup winner and double world champion has the knack of keeping Fischhuber emotionally grounded while pushing him towards new career highs. "All my travels and competitions and places I go, I spend time with her. With Anna, it's funny, she is successful. She has more titles than me and competing with her helps me a lot ... when we rock climb it's really inspiring. We can really push each other," he says. "I still want to achieve harder climbs, longer climbs, some good places and results in competing. "I think it's an old expression but when you die you don't want to look back at your life and think you haven't lived. So it's important what we do while we're alive." | World-beating competition climber Kilian Fischhuber talks to CNN's Human to Hero series . Austrian is a five-time Bouldering World Cup winner and reigning European champ . Boulderers are incredibly athletic and strong and climb with no ropes . Fischhuber one of few climbers to scale the famously difficult Action Directe sport climb . | 4f0649092112c3c602e4f538b1ad4d8ca31e6a14 |
(CNN) -- In Mexico City, the government ran out of surgical masks after handing them out to one of every five residents. A mother and son wear face masks as protection from swine flu at Sydney international Airport in Australia. Manufacturers and pharmacies in Europe are also reporting a surge in demand for face masks. And a Texas-based surgical mask producer says it's ramping up to meet demand and expects a shortage of masks. But their real value seems to be in keeping people who are already ill from spreading the virus, rather than protecting healthy people, experts said. Dr. Richard Besser, acting director of the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, said Monday in a press briefing that the "evidence is not very strong" for masks' value outside of health care settings, and outside of settings in which people come into face-to-face contact with a person with an infectious disease. "We would not recommend that people generally wear masks in their workplace as a precautionary measure," he said. Watch for more on staying safe from swine flu » . The World Health Organization (WHO) also warns against relying on face masks, especially for those not infected with the virus. "They are mainly useful for people who are already sick, to prevent spreading. Not so much to stop people from catching the virus," Sarah Cumberland of the WHO told CNN. The United Kingdom's Health Protection Agency also told CNN that the use of face masks was not necessary or recommended for protection against the swine flu virus. Although it's not known for sure how much benefit a surgical mask has in preventing the transmission of swine flu, people who have the illness may consider wearing one as a way to reduce the amount they cough and sneeze onto others, said Dr. Arthur Reingold, head of the epidemiology division at the University of California, Berkeley, School of Public Health. "I think that this is a perfectly reasonable thing for someone with a respiratory illness to do," he said. More effective than soft surgical masks is the N95, which is an example of a "respirator." This kind of tight-fitting face covering protects people against breathing very small particles, which may contain viruses. The downside is that it's more expensive, uncomfortable to wear for long periods of time and has to be custom fit, Reingold said, so it's suited for people working in high-risk laboratories. Masks carry both physical and psychological benefits, said Dr. Julio Frenk, former health minister of Mexico and current dean of the Harvard School of Public Health. Masks are a "reminder to people that they should avoid close contact with other persons," he said. "They also have this effect of isolating people and reminding them that they should not be kissing people, shaking hands, things like that." For health care workers, it's important to have high-efficiency masks, which protect better against infectious diseases, he said. But people in the United States should generally not have to wear masks because the cases are localized, he said. By contrast, it is more of a widespread problem in Mexico, especially in the capital city, a "huge urban conglomeration." Measures such as closing schools are the most effective in stopping the spread of the disease, he said. Mexico's schools are closed until at least May 6. By early Tuesday, the swine flu outbreak in Mexico was suspected in 152 deaths and more than 1,600 illnesses, the country's health minister said. Swine flu has reached phase 4 (out of 6) on the pandemic scale, according to the WHO guidelines, but has not yet attained the status of global pandemic. During a flu pandemic, people should consider wearing a face mask if they are sick with the flu, live with someone who has the flu or need to be in a crowded place, the CDC Web site says. If you are caring for a person thought to have pandemic flu or will be close to someone who may have it, consider a respirator, for example an N95 or high-filtering face piece respirator, the CDC Web site says. Some health care workers, such as nurses and doctors, use respirators when dealing with patients who have airborne diseases, the CDC said. iReport.com: Worried about swine flu? In the current swine flu situation, rather than masks, the CDC is pushing hand-washing, covering coughs and refraining from "giving somebody that little kiss of greeting," Besser said. "If you're in an infected area or if you have the swine flu, it's probably best not to, to not give a kiss, but we're not recommending an end of affection during the period. It's a period of time when we need a little more affection, but doing it in a way that isn't going to transmit a respiratory disease would be a CDC approach," he said. | Manufacturers and pharmacies are reporting a surge in demand for face masks . It is unknown exactly how much protection a surgical face mask provides . A more effective type of mask is called an N95, which is expensive . Doctor: Masks carry both physical and psychological benefits . | 701df40c916dba0bfe4396d391166fb92fe99b0a |
By . Ellie Zolfagharifard . PUBLISHED: . 12:08 EST, 31 January 2014 . | . UPDATED: . 12:11 EST, 31 January 2014 . Two Chinese monkeys, named Ningning and Mingming, have become the first genetically-modified primates to be born using a powerful ‘cut and paste’ DNA technique. Scientists claim the technology could usher in a new era in genetic medicine and help combat diseases such as Alzheimer's and Parkinson's. Dubbed CRISPR-Cas9, the technology precisely changes target parts of genetic code and could create more realistic research models of human disease. Two Chinese monkeys, named Ningning and Mingming, have become the first genetically-modified primates to be born using a powerful 'cut and paste' DNA technique . In this case, it was used to manipulate two genes in fertilised monkey eggs before they were transferred to surrogate mothers. Writing in the journal, Cell, the team from Nanjing Medical University reported the successful delivery of twin female long-tailed macaques using the technique. Five surrogate mothers miscarried and four more pregnancies are ongoing. Scientists have previously used the new genome-editing technology to delete, insert, and modify DNA in human cells grown in petri dishes. The ladder-rung patterns in an image of a DNA gel show that genome editing successfully modified a gene in two macaque infants (shown in the central columns), but not in an untreated animal (right column) CRISPR-Cas9 technology precisely changes target parts of genetic code . Unlike other gene-silencing tools, the CRISPR-Cas9 system targets the genome’s source material and permanently turns off genes at the DNA level. The DNA cut – known as a double strand break – closely mimics the kinds of mutations that occur naturally, for instance after chronic sun exposure. But unlike UV rays that can result in genetic alterations, the CRISPR-Cas9 system causes a mutation at a precise location in the genome. When cellular machinery repairs the DNA break, it removes a small snip of DNA. In this way, researchers can precisely turn off specific genes in the genome. But the new study shows for the first time that CRISPR-Cas9 can create healthy primates with their DNA modified at specific targeted genes. Jiahao Sha, who led the Chinese team, said that CRISPR-Cas9 could be used to create monkeys that carry genetic faults that lead to diseases in humans for animal testing. The technology can also be used to grow human organs in the lab, and used to test drugs, or to monitor how serious diseases can affect the body. Precise changes in DNA are also being investigated as a way to make people resistant to HIV. Scientists believe CRISPR-Cas9 has the potential to overcome many of the limitations of currently available gene-silencing techniques. ‘We can now use this technology on a genome-wide scale, giving us the ability to interrogate any gene we want,’ said Feng Zhang, a member of the Broad Institute and assistant professor at MIT. CRISPR-Cas9 technology precisely changes target parts of genetic code. Unlike other gene-silencing tools, the CRISPR-Cas9 system targets the genome's source material and permanently turns off genes at the DNA level . Unlike other gene-silencing tools, the CRISPR-Cas9 system targets the genome’s source material and permanently turns off genes at the DNA level. The DNA cut – known as a double strand break – closely mimics the kinds of mutations that occur naturally, for instance after chronic sun exposure. But unlike UV rays that can result in genetic alterations, the CRISPR-Cas9 system causes a mutation at a precise location in the genome. When cellular machinery repairs the DNA break, it removes a small snip of DNA, making a gene non-functional. In this way, researchers can precisely turn off specific genes in the genome. The CRISPR-Cas9 procedure has been welcomed by geneticists in labs around the world because of its huge potential. But this recent breakthrough has created opposition by some groups opposed to animal testing. 'Our study shows that the CRISPR/Cas9 system enables simultaneous disruption of two target genes in one step without producing off-target mutations, said study author Jiahao Sha of Nanjing Medical University. 'Considering that many human diseases are caused by genetic abnormalities, targeted genetic modification in monkeys is invaluable for the generation of human disease models.' | CRISPR-Cas9 technique can be used to create monkeys with genetic faults . Scientists say they serve accurate research models for human disease . They hope it will help combat diseases such as Alzheimer's and Parkinson's . | 76434bd775643304a4cf0123e69fdbda011cc25d |
Plans for TV debates ahead of next year’s General Election are in chaos, with growing doubts over whether they will take place. Ukip leader Nigel Farage has been offered a slot in one of the debates under plans unveiled by broadcasters yesterday. One debate would be be a straight fight between Tory David Cameron and Labour's Ed Miliband, a second debate will also feature Lib Dem Nick Clegg, but in the third Mr Farage will also join the line-up. But the plans were immediately plunged into chaos amid threats of legal action, with the Lib Dems opposing any attempt to exclude Mr Clegg, Ukip suggesting Mr Farage should be included in more than one and the Greens and Respect demanding a place. Scroll down for video . Ukip leader Nigel Farage, pictured in Westminster, has been offered a coveted slot in a TV debate alongside Ed Miliband, David Cameron and Nick Clegg . David Cameron, Nick Clegg and Ed Miliband have been urged to sign up to the debates but there remain doubts about the details . More than 20million people watched the TV debates in 2010, the first time political leaders had gone head-to-head in Britain. The debates form a traditional part of US Presidential elections, but critics said they risked sucking the life out of the wider campaign. The decision to offer Mr Farage a place in one of the debates is likely to prove controversial, but the broadcasters said they are 'responding to the changes in the political landscape'. Ukip won its first elected MP - Douglas Carswell - in last week's Clacton by-election and aims to secure a second seat in Rochester and Strood. One opinion poll yesterday put Ukip on 25 per cent, just behind Labour and the Tories tied on 31 per cent. In theory, this level of support could give Ukip 128 MPs. Under the plans, Channel 4 and Sky News will host a debate between Mr Miliband and Mr Cameron, hosted by former Newsnight host Jeremy Paxman. This is likely to appeal to the Conservatives, who want to present the next election as a straight choice over who should be the next Prime Minister. Polls suggest fewer than one in five voters think Mr Miliband should be PM. Mr Cameron said: 'I will have a look at this proposal. I think there are some questions over it. 'Why have all the debates inside the election campaign, rather than spreading them out over a longer period? And also, why include some parties and not other parties?' Mr Cameron suggested that he would only be willing to take part in a debate against Mr Farage if other minor parties are included, such as the Greens. 'I'm in favour of TV debates, but you've got to make sure you come up with a proposal that everyone can agree to, and I can't see how you can have one party in that has an MP in Parliament, and not another party. 'I'm sure clever people can get together and sort these issues out, but they do need to take these sorts of points into account.' The PM also repeated his suggestion that any debate should begin before the official election period, to avoid overshadowing the rest of the campaign. Mr Farage welcomed the offer, but suggested that he should be included in more than one debate . The BBC is planning to host a debate, chaired by David Dimbleby, between Mr Cameron, Mr Miliband and Mr Clegg – a repeat of the three-way format seen in 2010. ITV will host a four-way debate, including Mr Farage for the first time. It would hosted by ITV presenter Julie Etchingham. John Ryley, head of Sky News, said: 'There are only 24 weeks to go before the start of the General Election Campaign. 'Sky, Channel Four, the BBC and ITV have put together a clear compelling proposal; three debates during the election campaign. It's now critical that the political parties engage and start negotiating for the debates seriously.' The 2010 general election saw Britain's first live TV debates between the main party leaders, with Labour Prime Minister Gordon Brown going head-to-head with Tory leader Mr Cameron and the Lib Dems' Mr Clegg. More than 20million people watched the TV debates in 2010, the first time party leaders had gone head-to-head in a general election campaign . As the least known leader at the three, Mr Clegg was seen as the big winner of the first of the three debates, with his poll ratings rocketing to record levels. Senior figures in the Conservative party fear allowing Ukip to take part could see Mr Farage benefit in the same way, depriving them of an overall majority in what is certain to be another close election. Mr Clegg has previously accused the Tories of refusing to sign up to the debates because of concern about giving Ukip a publicity boost. The Lib Dems welcomed moves to ensure the debates happened again, but opposed any attempt to exclude Mr Clegg. A spokesman said: 'The Liberal Democrats, like the Labour Party, have publicly said that we would be prepared to sign up to the same 3-3-3 system we had in 2010. 'We do not accept the proposal that the Liberal Democrats, as a party of government, should be prevented from defending our record in one of the TV debates. 'That is the case we will make strongly in the negotiations that will now take place and we urge the other parties to join us around the negotiating table without excuse or delay.' A Conservative Party spokesman said: 'We note the request and will respond accordingly.' Ukip have risen dramatically in the polls since April 2012 when they languished on 9% with little hope of an MP . Mr Miliband welcomed the proposals as a 'positive step forward' . He added: 'I hope David Cameron is not going to put up false obstacles to these TV debates happening. 'He should be saying they will happen, they must happen during the campaign. For my part, I'm going to make sure they do.' He added: 'I think they are a good basis for moving forward. I think the most important thing is to give the public what they are entitled to, which is these TV debates. 'They happened at the last general election, we must make sure they happen in this general election too.' Both the Green party and Respect - which like Ukip have each an one MP - demanded to be included alongside Mr Farage. Mr Cameron questioned how it would be possible to include one party with a single MP – Ukip – but exclude the Greens and Respect, who also each have one member of the Commons. ‘I will have a look at this proposal. I think there are some questions over it,’ the Prime Minister said. ‘Why have all the debates inside the election campaign, rather than spreading them out over a longer period? And also, why include some parties and not other parties?’ Plaid Cymru leader Leanne Wood added: ‘The people of Wales deserve nothing less than to hear what all parties have to offer them and we will be taking immediate steps to ensure that this happens.’ Only Mr Miliband welcomed the proposals as a ‘positive step forward’. ‘I hope David Cameron is not going to put up false obstacles to these TV debates happening,’ he said. Katie Ghose, chief executive of the Electoral Reform Society, which campaigns for democratic reform, criticised broadcasters for seeking to exclude smaller parties. She said: ‘The format suggested by the broadcasters doesn’t really reflect the fact that we are now firmly in a multi-party era.’ Respect MP George Galloway threatened legal action to be included in the debates, along with Green party MP Caroline Lucas . Green Party leader Natalie Bennett said: 'With these proposals the broadcasters are demonstrating just how out of touch they are with the public mood, and how ridiculously they cling to the idea that the future of politics looks like the past. 'It is clear from votes and polls that the public are fed up with the three business-as-usual parties and are looking around for alternatives. 'That is also demonstrated by the soaring membership of the Green parties of England and Wales and Scotland, now exceeding 27,000. 'Those members, the fast-growing numbers of likely Green voters (matching Lib Dems numbers), and the majority who back Green policies like bringing the railways back into public hands and the living wage for all workers would be seriously short-changed by debates from which we were excluded.' Respect MP George Galloway later wrote on Twitter: 'I am ready to join Caroline Lucas MP in a legal challenge against our exclusion from the leaders debates in the forthcoming general election.' | TV firms unveil details of three debates ahead of general election in May . Channel 4 and Sky to host straight fight between Cameron and Miliband . BBC offers a debate between Cameron, Miliband and Clegg . ITV promising a four-way debate with three leaders plus Nigel Farage . Move sparks row, with Lib Dems demanding Clegg be included in all three . David Cameron says there are 'some questions' about the proposal . Respect MP George Galloway offers to join Green party in legal action . | 169cd543b619db34472c5afb956f4f555dabc750 |
BROOKLYN, New York (CNN) -- Every Friday evening, the Nunez family sits down to a traditional religious dinner. Moshe Nunez and his family moved to Crown Heights, a New York neighborhood with thousands of Hasidic Jews. Like most families in their Crown Heights neighborhood in Brooklyn, New York, their Jewish Sabbath meal includes blessings over the wine and bread, the company of family and friends and excellent food. But for the Nunez family, the Sabbath table would not be complete without salsa picada and jalapeno dip. Moshe Nunez, an information technology consultant and motivational speaker, was born to a Mexican father and American mother and raised in Guadalajara, Mexico. His wife, ChanaLeah, grew up in Panama, the daughter of a Salvadoran mother and American-born father. "Our home is a Latin American home," Nunez says. "We bring into our home a mixture of the American and Latin culture, and that's reflected in the way we eat. We also enjoy hosting guests, so it's a very Hispanic thing, and a Jewish thing." The couple and their two children moved to Brooklyn's Crown Heights area about five years ago so their son, Michael, 17, and daughter, Simcha, 18, could have "the best Jewish education available," Nunez says. Crown Heights is the headquarters of the Chabad-Lubavitch movement, a branch of Hasidism that is itself a form of Orthodox Judaism. Among the thousands of Hasidic families in the neighborhood, a significant number are also Latinos, Nunez says. "There are a lot of Latin American Jews here," Nunez says. "Some of them have moved from countries like Venezuela, Colombia and Argentina, where there's political unrest. We make a life here, settle down and become part of the fabric of American society, but we still don't lose our roots." Join the conversation: How has America changed Latinos? Many non-Jewish Latinos are surprised to see Orthodox Jews in Brooklyn who speak Spanish, carry on their Hispanic traditions and even keep up with soccer scores from their home countries, Nunez says. Although Moshe and ChanaLeah Nunez were raised in Christian homes, they believe that Moshe's family name is proof that his ancestors are Marranos -- Jews who were forced to denounce or abandon their faith centuries ago in Europe. Moshe Nunez began studying his family genealogy about 13 years ago, while the family was living in Atlanta, Georgia. He met Lorraine Nunez, a woman raised as a Christian who believed she was a direct descendant of Samuel Nunez, a Portuguese physician who fled Europe in the early 1700s to help start one of the oldest Jewish synagogues in the United States, Congregation Mikve Israel in Savannah, Georgia. Like other Marranos living in Europe, Samuel Nunez pretended to be Catholic and practiced Judaism in secret, according to Chabad.org, the Chabad-Lubavitch movement's Web site. Meeting Lorraine Nunez inspired Moshe Nunez -- who was still going by his Christian name, Marco -- to further explore his own genealogy. ChanaLeah -- who was going by her Christian name, Jacqueline -- had already known that her grandfather, a well-known army colonel in El Salvador, was Jewish. Like many Jews of his time, he hid his Judaism and married a non-Jewish woman. Marco and Jacqueline believed that their descendants were also Marranos from Spain and Portugal who had to hide their Judaism for fear of persecution. "The Nunez family started as a Jewish name," Moshe Nunez says. "During the Inquisition they were forced to convert or practice their faith in secret. Most of the Nunez family... like mine assimilated and lost their Judaism." Watch Nunez talk about his life in Crown Heights » . While researching his genealogy, Moshe Nunez also began to study the Bible more closely, including the Torah, the first five books of the Old Testament. "When I began studying the Torah, I saw that the Sabbath was on Saturday and not Sunday," he says. "That opened [a] Pandora's Box," he says, figuring that "if the Jews had the Sabbath right, maybe they have other stuff right, too." Around that time, the Nunez family relocated to Milan, Italy, for Nunez' work as a consultant. Marco and Jacqueline -- who changed their names to the Hebrew Moshe and ChanaLeah while in Italy -- continued their Judaic studies under the tutelage of Orthodox rabbis and decided to undergo an Orthodox conversion to Judaism. "When I got to Italy and continued to research our family name and studied the Torah, I decided we were going to live a Jewish life," Nunez says. The Jewish community in Milan welcomed the family "with open arms," Moshe said. "The rabbi said to me, 'Moshe, you are Jewish, you were always Jewish.'" Moshe says he and ChanaLeah "took every step together," going through a formal conversion process. As part of the process Moshe and his son had ritual circumcisions. (They had both been circumcised at birth.) The final step was for the family to appear before a Beit Din, or religious council, to approve the conversion. "We decided we had to make our full return to Judaism, and we had such good mazal (luck) because the rabbis made it relatively easy. They saw that we were serious people that had studied the religion," Nunez says. The Nunez family's story is not out of the ordinary, says Rabbi Shea Rubenstein, an Argentine rabbi who leads the Jewish Latin American Connection at The Shul in Surfside, Florida. "We have a very vibrant synagogue, and a very large percentage happen to be from Spanish background from countries such as Venezuela, Peru, Argentina, Mexico and Cuba," the rabbi says. Rubenstein says that quite a few non-Jewish Hispanics come to The Shul to learn more about Judaism, and while they may not be able to prove they are Jewish, they believe they are descendants of Jews and seek to reconnect with their Jewish roots. If a person wants to practice Judaism but cannot verify their Jewish roots, Rubenstein recommends they go through a formal conversion as the Nunez family did. "It's difficult to verify because there's some 400 or 500 years of history that people cannot trace, especially since Judaism is passed through the mother and the last name reflects that of the father," Rubenstein says. Inspired by their experiences, Moshe and ChanaLeah -- both songwriters and musicians -- wrote a song called "Jews of Spain," with lyrics in Spanish, English and Hebrew. Nunez recorded the song, part of the album "Kol Haneshema (Every Soul)." Aside from his work as a consultant and musician, Nunez leads seminars, conducts a weekly program called Quality Life Now at the Empire State Building and teaches weekly Webinars from his Brooklyn home. His seminars, taught in both Spanish and English, focus on seven core values found in the Old Testament. The seven values are often referred to as the Noahide Laws. According to the Bible, the laws were given from God to Noah to serve as a moral code for all humankind. "I've taken the seven Noahide Laws and I teach them as universal core values, so everyday people can apply them to their lifestyle," Nunez says. He says he hopes to share his teachings with all of mankind, regardless of religion, to help them lead a more meaningful life. "Sharing the knowledge of Torah to the world through education, songs and acts of kindness will help ensure that what happened to the Marranos during the Inquisition will never happen again." | Moshe and ChanaLeah Nunez are Latino Jews who were raised in Christian homes . Nunez believes he is a decendant of Jews who left oppression in medieval Europe . He and his wife converted to Judaism and moved to a Hasidic New York area . The couple and their children blend Latino and Jewish culture in their lives . | 6c6fe74303e45c7b2b0c87cc43d16a48dca57af8 |
LOS ANGELES, California (CNN) -- The Los Angeles County coroner has ruled that Michael Jackson's death was a homicide involving a combination of drugs. Michael Jackson was found dead on June 25. He had been preparing for a comeback concert series in London. "The drugs propofol and lorazepam were found to be the primary drugs responsible for Mr. Jackson's death," said a news release issued Friday by the coroner. "Other drugs detected were: midazolam, diazepam, lidocaine and ephedrine." The release said Jackson died from "acute propofol intoxication," but said "other conditions contributing to death: benzodiazepine effect." Lorazepam, midazolam and diazepam are benzodiazepines. A lawyer for Jackson's personal physician criticized the coroner for releasing only a brief summary of his findings, saying it contained "nothing new" and had "all the earmarks of police gamesmanship." Michael Jackson's family issued a statement in reaction: "The Jackson family again wishes to commend the actions of the Coroner, the LAPD and other law enforcement agencies, and looks forward to the day that justice can be served." Federal and state agencies also have launched independent investigations into "matters uncovered" by Los Angeles police while looking into Jackson's death, authorities said. Watch a report on the coroner's findings » . The Los Angeles Police Department, which has been conducting a criminal investigation of Jackson's death, requested at an interagency meeting last week that federal and state agencies pursue their own investigations, according to statements issued Friday by California's attorney general and the Drug Enforcement Administration. The full and final autopsy report and the complete toxicology report "will remain on security hold at the request of the Los Angeles Police Department and the Los Angeles County district attorney," the release said. See a timeline of events in the case » . Dr. Conrad Murray, Jackson's personal physician, told investigators that he had given Jackson three anti-anxiety drugs -- lorazepam, midazolam and diazepam -- in an effort to help him sleep in the hours before he stopped breathing, according to a police affidavit made public earlier this week. Murray also told detectives he administered a dosage of the anesthetic propofol, diluted with lidocaine, to Jackson a short time before he stopped breathing, the affidavit said. The 32-page sworn statement was written by Los Angeles Police detective Orlando Martinez to outline probable cause for warrants to search Murray's offices, home and storage rooms in Texas and Nevada. Murray told detectives he had been treating Jackson for insomnia for six weeks, giving him 50 milligrams of propofol, the generic name for Diprivan, diluted with the anesthetic lidocaine every night via an intravenous drip, the affidavit said. Worried that Jackson might become addicted to the drug, Murray said he tried to wean Jackson from it, putting together combinations of other drugs that succeeded in helping him sleep during the two nights before his death. But on the morning of June 25 other drugs failed to do the job. Murray recounted the events to detectives in an hour-by-hour account that was detailed by Martinez: . • About 1:30 a.m., Murray gave Jackson 10 mg of Valium (diazepam). • About 2 a.m., he injected Jackson with 2 mg of the antianxiety drug Ativan (lorazepam). • About 3 a.m., Murray then administered 2 mg of the sedative Versed (midazolam). • About 5 a.m., he administered another 2 mg of Ativan. • About 7:30 a.m., Murray gave Jackson yet another 2 mg of Versed while monitoring him with a device that measures the oxygen saturation of his blood. • About 10:40 a.m., "after repeated demands/requests from Jackson," Murray administered 25 mg of propofol, the document said. "Jackson finally went to sleep and Murray stated that he remained monitoring him. After approximately 10 minutes, Murray stated he left Jackson's side to go to the restroom and relieve himself. Murray stated he was out of the room for about two minutes maximum. Upon his return, Murray noticed that Jackson was no longer breathing." Efforts at CPR proved fruitless. Jackson was pronounced dead at UCLA Medical Center at 2:26 p.m. Earlier this week, Murray's lawyer disputed the final section of the timeline. "Dr. Murray simply never told investigators that he found Michael Jackson at 11 a.m. not breathing," Chernoff said. "He also never said that he waited a mere 10 minutes before leaving to make several phone calls. In fact, Dr. Murray never said that he left Michael Jackson's room to make phone calls at all." In Friday, Chernoff criticized the coroner's office for making the "contains nothing new." "For two months we have been hearing the same information, usually from leaks out of the coroner's office," Chernoff said. "One has to wonder why the coroner felt compelled to release anything at all if the police investigation is not yet complete." Agents from the California attorney general's office also will investigate physicians whose names have come up in the course of the Jackson death probe, Attorney General Jerry Brown said. The federal drug administration also responded with its own independent investigations "into matters that the LAPD's investigation uncovered that may not be directly related to the cause of death," the agency said. Last week Drug Enforcement agents executed a federal administrative search warrant at the Mickey Fine Pharmacy in Beverly Hills, California, looking for prescription records relating to Jackson, an agency spokesman said. The pharmacy sits directly below the offices of Jackson's dermatologist, Dr. Arnold Klein. Shortly before his death, Jackson visited the building several times to see Klein. Klein, who treated Jackson for decades, denied in a CNN interview last month that he had given Jackson dangerous drugs. Attorney General Brown said that agents with his Bureau of Narcotic Enforcement "will review relevant records and documents." The attorney general's office maintains a computerized prescription drug monitoring system that tracks controlled substances. CNN's Stan Wilson contributed to this report. | NEW: Lawyer for Jackson physician says report reveals "nothing new" Federal, state agencies launch independent probes into Jackson's death . Jackson died from lethal combination of drugs, Los Angeles coroner's office says . The legendary pop singer was found dead on June 25 . | c4eee7d267ba0787f66cc11598f8e7f8422fcf91 |
By . Stephen Adams . A couple have been left heartbroken after a leading IVF clinic destroyed their frozen embryos by mistake – and with it their hopes of giving their son a brother or sister. Zeb and Nadia Urfan had planned to have the embryos implanted to expand their family and give their five-year-old son a sibling. But in a terrible administrative blunder, the embryos were removed from the deep-freeze at Jessop Fertility in Sheffield. A couple have been left heartbroken after a leading IVF clinic destroyed their frozen embryos by mistake - and with it their hopes of giving their son a brother or sister (file photo) Staff at the NHS clinic, which is part of the Royal Hallamshire Hospital, took them out because they had not received a consent form from the couple which they needed by law to keep the embryos in storage. Originally they told the Urfans the form had not arrived at the hospital, but it has now emerged that the document, which the couple sent recorded delivery, did arrive – but may have been sent to the wrong department. Last night the Jessop admitted there had been a mistake and offered its ‘heartfelt apologies’ to the couple. But Mr Urfan, 39, a property landlord, said: ‘This should not have happened. We have been punished because of someone’s negligence. Our world has been turned upside down. They have taken away our dreams. ‘Our son is an adorable boy and I feel that we owe him a sibling, but now we cannot give him that.’ The couple, from Leicester, said they had decided to bring the matter to the public’s attention to make sure that it ‘never happens again’. Staff at the NHS clinic, which is part of the Royal Hallamshire Hospital, took them out because they had not received a consent form from the couple which they needed by law to keep the embryos in storage (file photo) Mrs Urfan, 35, originally underwent IVF with donor eggs to conceive their son, who is now almost six. She had the treatment after being told her chances of conceiving naturally were virtually zero. The IVF cycle, which used Mr Urfan’s sperm and the same donor’s eggs, resulted in two spare viable embryos that were subsequently put in storage. But last week they discovered that both the embryos had been destroyed. Dotty Watkins, head of midwifery at the Jessop, said the consent form may have been signed for in a different hospital department – meaning staff at the Jessop never got it. She added: ‘We are carrying out a full review into what has happened and I would like to offer our heartfelt apologies to the couple concerned. We can only imagine how distressed they must be.’ She insisted that the unit had stored embryos for ‘hundreds of couples over the past 13 years and this has never happened before’. And she explained that it was routine practice to send out consent forms when the initial five-year storage period was up, adding: ‘Regrettably the Assisted Conception Unit did not receive the recorded delivery letter which was sent back by the couple stating that they wanted to extend the storage period. As a consequence of this the embryos were then thawed. ‘We have contacted the couple to apologise formally and we will be providing them with a full response in writing once the review is complete to explain fully what happened. ‘We will also be looking at any additional changes that need to be put in place to limit the chances of this happening again. We are so very sorry this has happened.’ | Zeb and Nadia Urfan wanted to give their five-year-old son a sibling . But due to a terrible administrative blunder, the embryos were destroyed . They were removed from the deep-freeze at Jessop Fertility in Sheffield . | 5c03a484e9353e6a77532032129182fc80af56f1 |
By . Associated Press . and Daily Mail Reporter . Legendary Motown songwriter-producer Deke Richards has died from cancer at a hospice facility in Washington state. He was 68. Richards, whose real name was Dennis Lussier, died on Sunday at the Whatcom Hospice House, Peace Health St Joseph Medical Center spokeswoman Amy Cloud confirmed Monday. Richards had been battling esophageal cancer, according to a statement from Universal Music. The team: Deke Richards, center, was the leader of the Motown songwriting, arranging and producing team known as The Corporation, which was also comprised of Alphonzo Mizell, left, and Freddie Perren, right . He was the leader of the Motown songwriting, arranging and producing team known as The Corporation, which was comprised of Motown Records founder Berry Gordy, Alphonzo Mizell and Freddie Perren. Richards was heavily involved in writing and producing many Jackson 5 hits, according to a release from Universal Music. Those songs included the Jackson 5's first three No. 1 hits - 'I Want You Back,' 'ABC,' and 'The Love You Save.' Speaking to the Detroit News after Michael Jackson's death in 2009, Richards said that the King of Pop was a 'true genius.' He told the paper: 'Whatever it took . to be able to take and mold and help to put together that piece of clay, . I'll tell you something, it was like your hands were guided by God.' Hitmakers: Richards was involved in writing and producing many songs by the Jackson 5, pictured, including No. 1 hits 'I Want You Back,' 'ABC,' and 'The Love You Save' He also co-wrote 'Love Child' for Diana Ross & The Supremes, as well Ross' solo 'I'm Still Waiting.' Other recording artists for whom Richards produced or wrote songs include Bobby Darin, The Four Tops and Martha Reeves & the Vandellas. He is survived by his wife, Joan Lussier, a brother and two nephews. Billboard.com reported that a private family celebration of his life is being planned. The family has asked industry colleagues to memorialize Richards by supporting programs like the HAL Awards for music education. Legends: Richards also contributed his talents to music icon Diana Ross, center, and the Supremes - Lynda Laurence, left, and Scherrie Payne, right . | Deke Richards had been battling esophageal cancer . He was the leader of the songwriting, arranging and production team, The Corporation, which produced key Motown hits in the 70s . He had a hand in such songs as the Jackson 5's 'ABC' and 'I Want You Back' | b662acf0635c43cba7f4c60714a1627e585c0dd2 |
By . Chris Pleasance . PUBLISHED: . 06:19 EST, 18 January 2014 . | . UPDATED: . 12:58 EST, 18 January 2014 . With the ski season well underway now is the time of year that many holidaymakers will be jetting off to the pistes of Europe for some fun in the snow. But if you have been left stranded at home this winter longing for the enjoyment of the slopes, or just prefer a pair of slippers to ski boots, then fear not - as this amazing 360 degree video will let you enjoy the thrill from your computer. Using the arrows at the bottom of this clip, you can watch from every angle as professional ski racer Bruno Kernen zips down the 2.7 mile-long Lauberhorn mountain track in the Swiss Alps at speeds approaching 100mph. In order to rotate the video press and hold on the arrows at the bottom, or hold down the left mouse button and drag it across the video screen . Bruno Krenen has captured the longest professional ski run in the world using a specially adapted camera on his helmet allowing it to be viewed from every angle . The camera can be rotated through a full 360 degrees. This shot comes from the same point on the course as the previous one, but viewed from Krenen's left hand side . Using a specially adapted camera fixed on to his helmet, Kernen has captured the longest downhill race track in the world, allowing people to watch as the flags zip past his face, or rotate the lens to watch the slope disappear into the distance. Using the magnifying glass keys, viewers can also zoom in and out for a closer look at the scenery of the famous mountain range, though the speed at which Kernen takes the corners of the run might make it difficult to concentrate. The FIS Ski World Cup is being held on the course this weekend, attracting skiers from across the globe to compete in downhill, slalom and combined events. Krenen can also be seen leaning through the twists and turns of the course by rotating the camera so it is facing backwards . The run was filmed at Lauberhorn in the Swiss Alps during the FSI Ski World Cup which is taking place there this weekend . Kernen is a professional skier who won gold in the 1997 Sestrières downhill event, along with a silver medal at the same event in the combined category, and a bronze medal at a different event in 2007. In 2003 Kernen won a bronze medal on this course in the downhill event, and has a corner of the track named after him after crashing there in 2006. This year marks the 84th annual Ski World Cup at Lauberhorn. The event is watched live by tens of thousands of spectators on the mountainside, and on television by over a million people each year. The race, which started in 1930 and is therefore one of the oldest in the world, costs around £4.2million to stage and brings in around £3.4million for the region. | Professional skier Bruno Kernen has used a special camera on his helmet to capture the stunning video . In the clip he can be seen racing down the Lauberhorn, the longest run in the world, at speeds of up to 100mph . Arrows at the bottom of the video allow watchers to spin through 360 degrees and watch from every angle . | 447bbb683eb7cb6cfd5af56bb2752d73df4cb49d |
Washington (CNN) -- Xe, the private security firm once known as Blackwater, has reached a $42 million settlement with the U.S. State Department over alleged export violations, a State Department official said. Darby Holladay, a State Department duty officer, said the civil settlement was reached Wednesday for 288 violations between 2003 and 2009, when the company personnel were guarding U.S. staff overseas. They involve the "unauthorized export" of defense articles and services to "foreign end-users in multiple countries" and "false statements and misrepresentation or omission of material facts in information provided to the department." Also, Holladay said, there were violations "of provisos or limitations on export licenses." But the violations, he said, "did not involve sensitive technologies or cause known harm to U.S. national security." Xe is pleased with the settlement, which will allow it to continue to get government contracts. Company spokeswoman Stacy DeLuke also said the settlement "will resolve outstanding allegations, continues external compliance oversight, and continues and improves compliance measures." "Most violations occurred in training programs for U.S. or allied governments. The vast majority of the exports were eventually authorized" and that "most of these violations were committed when the company was undergoing rapid growth." She said that in reaching the resolution, "a number of significant steps" have been made "to remedy the situation," including the replacement of senior management. In October 2008, Xe established an independent committee to oversee its compliance procedures. Blackwater's actions stoked controversy in Iraq and Afghanistan. An incident involving its personnel in 2007 left 17 Iraqi civilians dead in Baghdad. Blackwater lost its contract to guard U.S. staff in Iraq there after Iraq's government refused to renew its operating license. The company changed its name to Xe, and continues to receive multimillion-dollar contracts in Afghanistan. However, Afghan President Hamid Karzai is in the process of disbanding all private security firms in his country. CNN's Joe Sterling and Scott Spoerry contributed to this report. | There were dozens of alleged export violations . There was no "known harm to U.S. national security" Blackwater lost its contract in Iraq after Baghdad incident . | 502fe6bb937a2853829cad1be81cba82858d5677 |
Children with an autism spectrum disorder spend about twice as much time playing video games as those who do not have a developmental disability, according to a new study. Researchers also found that children with an autism spectrum disorder or ADHD are at an increased risk of gaming addictions, compared to children without the disabilities. ‘What we found is that it looks like addictive gaming is largely driven by inattention,’ Christopher Engelhardt, from the University of Missouri in Columbia, U.S., said. Children with an autism spectrum disorder spend about twice as much time playing video games as those who do not have a developmental disability . Previous studies have found that children with an autism spectrum disorder or ADHD spend more time playing video games and are at increased risk of gaming addictions than other children, the researchers wrote in the journal Paediatrics. No single study, however, has looked at the three groups to see whether shared features of autism and ADHD - such as inattention or hyperactivity - seem to drive video game use. For the new study, Mr Engelhardt and his colleague surveyed the parents of 141 boys between the ages of eight and 18. Of those, 56 had an autism spectrum disorder, 44 had ADHD, and 41 were developing normally. Overall, they found that children with an autism spectrum disorder played - on average - 2.1 hours of video games per day. Children with ADHD spent about 1.7 hours per day playing video games and normally developing children played about 1.2 hours per day. Children with an autism spectrum disorder or ADHD were also more likely to have a video game system in their rooms, according to the researchers. Children with an autism spectrum disorder or ADHD are at an increased risk of gaming addictions . The American Academy of Paediatrics recommends that children do not spend more than two hours in front of a screen per day. The researchers also asked the parents to answer questions about the types of video games their children played the most, about their gaming behaviour, and their symptoms of hyperactivity and inattention. While normally developing children tended to pick first-person shooter or sports games, children with autism and ADHD were more likely to play role-playing games. Role-playing games have been linked to video game addiction in previous studies. The researchers did find that children with an autism spectrum disorder or ADHD were more likely to exhibit symptoms of video game addiction or ‘problematic video game use’, compared to those with typical development. Overall, they found the number of hours a child spent playing video games and inattention were linked to video game addiction. ‘Among people with autism, the score on problematic video game behaviour was driven by inattention and role-playing video games and not hyperactivity,’ Mr Engelhardt told Reuters Health. | Children with autism and ADHD are at greater risk of gaming addictions . Those with autism play video games for an average of 2.1 hours per day . Children without autism play video games for an average of 1.2 hours a day . Children with autism tend to prefer role-playing games while those without it prefer first-person games . | 521f74fa7506af63af85e6f079a62910114064ef |
Chairman of the Joint Chiefs Martin Dempsey sent White House and Pentagon officials scrambling on Tuesday, insisting that the chief military officer's comments on Capitol Hill don't contradict President Barack Obama's pledge to "not get dragged into another ground war in Iraq" and not put American "boots on the ground." The uproar started after Dempsey said that if ISIS retakes the strategically important Mosul Dam in Iraq, he would recommend that some of the 1,700 American forces currently in Iraq could move to the front lines to advise Iraqi troops trying to get the dam back. Those troops would then be advisers in a combat role. "If we reach the point where I believe our advisers should accompany Iraqi troops on attacks against specific (ISIS) targets, I will recommend that to the President," Dempsey said during a Senate hearing on Tuesday. White House Press Secretary Josh Earnest said Dempsey was just responding to a hypothetical situation. The policy -- no boots on the ground -- remains. "It's the responsibility of the President's military advisers to plan and consider all the wide range of contingencies," said Earnest. "It's also the responsibility of the Commander-in-Chief to set out a clear policy. And the President has been clear about what that policy is. He reiterated it on a number of occasions ... the President does not believe that it would be in the best interest of our national security to deploy American ground troops in a combat role in Iraq and Syria. That policy has not changed." House leaders lobby wavering colleagues ahead of ISIS vote . So what's the difference? If 1,700 American forces are already on the ground in Iraq why aren't they considered "boots on the ground"? For starters, those 1,700 Americans aren't currently the "close combat advisers" that Dempsey said he could recommend. Today, advisers aren't supposed to be near combat. "He wasn't talking about specific troops in a combat role on the ground, more advising and assisting at a lower level," Rear Adm. John Kirby told CNN's Christiane Amanpour. Dempsey also made it clear that U.S. military advisers on the ground are currently in a "combat advisory role" and "not participating in direct combat -- and there is "no intention for them to do so." But U.S. soldiers are always combat-ready, Dempsey said. "That's all we grow. We -- when we bring a young man or woman in the military, they come in to be a combat soldier or a combat Marine ... we don't bring them in to be anything other than combat capable," Dempsey said. Retired Lt. Gen. Mark Hertling said he read Obama's pledge not to put "boots on the ground" as ensuring no "large formations of Americans" would enter combat. "I don't see Gen. Dempsey -- who I know pretty well -- contradicting the President at all," Hertling told CNN. Another beheading. What's the world going to do about ISIS? But if Obama were to approve putting military advisers in "close combat roles," the risk of American casualties would increase -- regardless of whether those troops are firing weapons themselves or advising Iraqi forces who are. That's because a combat support role can turn into combat "in a heartbeat," retired Gen. James "Spider" Marks said. "Enemy advances are not distinctive, you could suddenly be in the midst of a really hairy dogfight and you think you're just refueling trucks," Marks said. Ultimately the distinction between boots on the ground and troops in advisory roles is semantic, retired Lt. Col. Rick Francona said on CNN. "Right now we've got young American men and women putting their lives on the line dropping bombs," Francona said. "We've got people in combat, I think we should just say that." And Dempsey produced a quick and direct response when Sen. Jim Inhofe of Oklahoma, ranking member of the Armed Services Committee, asked Dempsey whether U.S. pilots dropping bombs over Iraq are in a combat mission and whether the U.S. would "put boots on the ground" to rescue a downed pilot. "Yes and yes," Dempsey confirmed. Inhofe also lasered in on Obama's "boots on the ground" distinction later Tuesday in an interview with CNN. "The President's just flat not telling the truth. We already have boots on the ground there," said Inhofe, a chief political antagonist of the White House. "He knows we're going to have to have boots on the ground. Let's just go ahead and face it and admit we're in a war and you just don't win a war unless you're out there fighting." Who is doing what in the coalition battle against ISIS? While Dempsey insisted the current strategy is the right one, the top general made it clear that he wasn't ruling anything out. Dempsey's more open position comes after President Obama has faced criticism from Republicans and military strategists for completely shutting the door on ever sending American combat troops to Iraq. "I would never tell the enemy what I was willing to do or unwilling to do," House Speaker John Boehner said last week. "The President has made clear that he doesn't want U.S. boots on the ground. Well, somebody's boots have to be on the ground." Obama faced similar criticism from Sens. John McCain of Arizona and South Carolina's Lindsey Graham. And while Obama's unequivocal statements about combat troops may give ISIS insight into the U.S. military playbook, the President's statements aim to reassure a war-weary American public. While three-quarters of Americans favor airstrikes against ISIS, 61% of Americans oppose putting U.S. forces in combat situations in Iraq and Syria, according to a September 8 CNN/ORC poll. But after ordering 475 more military advisers to Iraq, Obama has kicked up the total U.S. military presence in the country to about 1,700. And the line separating combat troops from military advisers could become more blurred with time, said Julian Zelizer, a history and public affairs professor at Princeton University. And American casualties could push the U.S. to ramp up the military effort in Iraq. "Whenever you put someone in danger overseas whether they're fighting or advising, it gives the potential to get bigger," Zelizer said. "Any war can expand into something much greater, you just can't predict how it will unfold." American casualties could tip the balance, he said, noting that the current escalation came shortly after two American journalists were beheaded by ISIS in a video posted online. "You can imagine the same thing happening with two people who are serving directly the U.S. government," Zelizer said. How many more Western captives is ISIS holding? | Gen. Dempsey goes to Capitol Hill, makes remarks that have White House scrambling . The Joint Chiefs chairman talks about military advisers in Iraq . The point could come when advisers would go with Iraqi troops attacking ISIS, he said . White House says he was talking hypothetically -- Obama's no boots on the ground remains . | 55a094b13e133ee78ebdd2affe1de1ff255ccf74 |
(CNN) -- FIFA general secretary Jerome Valcke has admitted to flaws in the ticketing system for the World Cup in South Africa and vowed not to make the same mistakes for the 2014 event in Brazil. Tickets for the 2010 World Cup were slow to sell after FIFA's rigid internet-based system alienated South Africans, who are more accustomed to buying tickets at the stadium. With fewer foreign fans making the trip than expected, FIFA belatedly introduced an over-the-counter system in order to attract more local support, but only 45,000 tickets were sold to African countries outside the host nation. In an interview with CNN, Valcke said the key lesson for the sport's governing body was to engage more with the local culture before deciding on the ticketing system. "Let's check first how Brazilians are being tickets," he said. "We arrived in South Africa using the internet. It was the wrong system. "If the internet is working in Brazil let's use the internet. But let's just make sure we understand exactly how it works before we decide the system we put in place." Valcke said the key difference between South Africa 2010 and Brazil 2014 would be the strength of the host nation. While South Africa became the first host nation to be eliminated at the group stage, five-time champions Brazil will be expected to go all the way on home soil. "In South Africa the goal was not to win the World Cup, the goal was to organize," said Valcke. "In Brazil the goal will be to win the World Cup at home for the first time." | FIFA general secretary Jerome Valcke admits South Africa 2010 ticketing errors . Internet-system was wrong way to sell tickets to African fans, Valcke says . Valcke says FIFA will engage with Brazilian culture before deciding system for 2014 . | faa92033060ef4719ed369ba69d1fd750ce8c110 |
(CNN) -- Three Pakistani paramilitary soldiers were killed this week in a cross-border firefight between Pakistan and India, officials said Thursday. The soldiers were moving from one post to another along the border when they came under fire by Indian forces, said Maj. Gen. Athar Abbas, Pakistan army spokesman. Since a cease-fire is in effect, the firing by Indian forces was unprovoked, Abbas said. But Pakistani forces retaliated after the shots were fired, he said. It was unclear whether the incident took place late Tuesday or Wednesday, as Pakistani and Indian officials provided different times. Lt. Col. J.S. Brar, Indian defense spokesman for the disputed Kashmir region, said there were two violations of the cease-fire on the Line of Control, the de facto border between Indian- and Pakistan-administered Kashmir. In the first, fighting continued for about an hour, he said. A second violation took place Thursday morning, he said, and one Indian soldier was injured. Brar said he could not comment on Pakistani casualties. Pakistani officials said severe weather conditions in Kashmir, a Himalayan region, hampered removal of the soldiers' bodies. Pakistan has asked the Indian local commanding authority for a full report on the incident. India and Pakistan have have fought three wars since the partition of the Asian subcontinent in 1947. Two of them were over Kashmir, which is claimed by both nuclear powers. On August 20, an Indian army officer and five militants were killed in clashes along the Line of Control. India has accused Pakistan of aiding infiltration into Indian Kashmir, which has battled separatist violence for more than two decades. Islamabad has denied the accusations. More than 40,000 have died in the violence, officials say. CNN's Sumnima Das and Mukhtar Ahmed and journalist Shaan Khan contributed to this report. | The incident occurred along the Line of Control . The line divides Indian- and Pakistan-administered Kashmir . The area is claimed by both nations . | bffdca3df71f591bd9dc6d74e9f7134e12128bf3 |
(CNN) -- Late last month, Michelle Russell somberly walked on a Maui beach in Hawaii to mark her daughter Sarah Skiba's 20th birthday. Sarah Skiba visited her father, Paul Skiba, every other weekend. For Russell, who last saw Sarah more than a decade ago, when she was just 9 years old, some images will never fade with the passage of time. Russell especially recalls the cold Friday morning in February 1999 when she dropped Sarah off at a bus stop in Westminster, Colorado, for her ride to school. "She loved to go to school," Russell said, remembering that Sarah ran for the bus and slipped on ice. "She skinned her wrist at the bottom of her hand, and she was crying," Russell said. "I had a first aid kit and gave her a Band-Aid." After school that day, Sarah's father, Paul Skiba, met Sarah to spend the weekend together, a visitation arrangement in place since Russell and Skiba divorced several years earlier. "Her father picked her up at 3:30 p.m.," Russell said. "She visited her father every other weekend." On Sunday, Sarah joined her father -- who owned a moving company -- and his employee Lorenzo Chivers as they went to a moving job. Watch a report about the case » . "We know they had two moving jobs that day, one in the morning and one in the afternoon," said Thornton Police Department Sgt. Pat Long, the original investigator on the case. The second job was for a man who lived in Morrison, Colorado. The girl, her father and Chivers left Morrison between 5 and 5:30 p.m. to return the moving truck to the Westminster parking lot where Skiba stored his vehicles, Long says. On the way, a 12-year-old relative of Paul Skiba's girlfriend, Theresa Donovan, received a call from Sarah. The girl said they were on their way to return the truck and would then come home. But Sarah and her father never made it back to the house he and Donovan shared. Michelle Russell later called police, who initially thought it was a parental abduction, even though Chivers was also missing. "It was almost three weeks after that that I became involved," Long said. "I think we lost some key evidence during the initial time that passed at the scene." Paul Skiba's family and friends went to his truck storage lot one week after the girl and the two men went missing and grew suspicious when they found what they believed were two bullet holes in the exteriors of Skiba's moving trucks, Long said. They also noticed that Skiba's only functioning truck was not parked quite the way he would have done it himself. "Paul was adamant that the moving truck always be parked in a certain position, and the way it was found was pulled nose-in and not back-in," Long said. "Everyone knows he was anal about the way that truck was parked." Suspected ambush . Long said he thinks there was an attempt to disguise the scene to make it appear that the victims had come back to the lot and left. Investigators from the Thornton Police Department CSI, the Colorado Bureau of Investigation and the Westminster Police Department confirmed that bullets had, in fact, pierced Skiba's trucks. They also identified blood spatter on the two trucks and blood inside the cab of the truck used in the move. Hair attached to a piece of scalp was found on the hood of Skiba's moving truck, and additional hair was on the truck's fender. DNA tests revealed that blood on the ground belonged to Paul and Sarah Skiba. The piece of scalp belonged to Paul. The hair was Sarah's. "The pool of blood on the ground looked like motor oil that had spilled," Long said. Authorities believe that the three were ambushed and killed when they returned the truck to the lot. Police think their bodies were put in the back of Skiba's moving truck, driven to another location and dumped. Chivers may have been forcibly taken from the lot and then murdered or killed at the lot in a manner that would have produced no evidence, according to police. No bodies were ever found, leaving police to suspect that Chivers was also a victim. "We did have a witness who saw the truck come back to the lot," Long said. The truck's loading ramp, moving blankets and straps were also missing. Chivers' and Skiba's personal cars, which they had left at the lot during their Sunday moving jobs, were parked at separate apartment complexes across Denver. Investigators were never able to make a direct link between the victims and those buildings. Skiba was the likely target, they say, and Sarah and Chivers were bystanders. Police have interviewed as many as 80 people, but no arrests have been made. "In my opinion, I believe we know or we have a strong feeling who is involved in the murders," Long said, declining to say more or disclose the possible motive. A tragic anniversary . Meanwhile, Russell has been doing her part to help solve the tragic mystery. "I've done air, water and land searches, door-to-door searches, you name it," she said. She has also raised $50,000 in reward money for information leading to an arrest and conviction in Sarah's disappearance and apparent murder. "This being the 10-year anniversary, we just really wanted to get a lot of focus on this case again and find my daughter and what has happened to her," Russell said. On the beach, Russell did things she knew her daughter would enjoy. She even brought cupcakes. "We went for a walk, drove around. ... I was on my own, but I was with her," Russell said. "It's pretty sad when the guest of honor is nowhere to be found." In her short time, Sarah celebrated life with sports, learning and music. "Sarah sang as soon as she got up each morning, as well as at the dinner table, in the bathroom and to pet her dogs,'' Russell said. ' 'They were like her siblings,'' she added, explaining that Sarah was an only child. "Someone took her away from me unjustly. I'm not going to sleep until I know why." Anyone with more information is asked to call the Westminster Police Department at (303) 658-2400. | Sarah Skiba and father went missing in 1999, along with employee Lorenzo Chivers . DNA tests show pool of blood on the ground belonged to Sarah and her father . Police have interviewed as many as 80 people, but no arrests have been made . "Someone took her away from me unjustly," Sarah's mother says . | 5a7649ed3c3809d9514f461d06c5a1541df4a2e1 |
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