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A 94-year-old man gave airport security staff the surprise of a lifetime when they realized he was carrying a loaded .38-caliber gun on his hip at a checkpoint. Staff at LaGuardia Airport said the man entered a body scanner on Wednesday with the dangerous weapon clipped to his belt. The Transportation Security Administration said the firearm had at least six rounds in it, and was hooked on the man's belt near the small of his back as he stepped into the scanner. Gun: Staff at LaGuardia Airport said this .38 caliber gun was clipped to the 94-year-old's belt . Scanner: The elderly man, not seen here, entered a body scanner on Wednesday with the weapon on him . Port Authority police arrived and confiscated the firearm from the man. However, the incident did not affect travel during one of the busiest weeks at the airport - the Thanksgiving holiday. The elderly man is from Brooklyn, New York. There are no further details on the identity of the man or why he was trying to board a plane with a handgun. Confiscated: TSA screeners alerted Port Authority police and they confiscated the firearm from the man . | Police at LaGuardia Airport were forced to confiscate the loaded gun . The unidentified elderly man is originally from Brooklyn, New York . The firearm had at least six rounds in it, and was hooked on the man's belt . | b18be6c336817a2142667f5ad12f9636ef567ec4 |
(CNN) -- It's often assumed that older people generally aren't very digitally savvy -- but new research from Pew indicates that older people are becoming about as skilled online as younger ones. According to the 2010 Generations report from the Pew Internet and American Life project, "The biggest online trend (we found) is that, while the very youngest and oldest cohorts may differ, certain key internet uses are becoming more uniformly popular across all age groups." The study found that internet users aged 34 and older are more likely than those age 33 and younger to engage in several online activities, including visiting government sites and getting financial information online. These online activities are becoming more uniformly popular across all age groups: e-mail, search engines, getting health information, following the news, researching or making purchases (including travel reservations), online banking, supplying reviews or ratings, donating to charity, and downloading podcasts. And get ready: Your grandmother might soon try to friend you on Facebook. Even though younger people are significantly more likely to use social networking services, Pew reports that "the fastest growth has come from internet users 74 and older: social network site usage for this oldest cohort has quadrupled since 2008, from 4% to 16%." Some online trends are creeping down the age ladder, too. According to Pew, it used to be mostly older adults who searched for online health information. But now this has become "the third most popular online activity for all internet users 18 and older." Wireless net access is definitely not the exclusive province of youth. Like the recent iPass mobile workforce study -- which put the median aged of a mobile-enabled worker at 46 -- Pew found that 55% of people aged 46-55 access websites or other digital media or services via a laptop, cell phone, or other internet-connected mobile device. That figure drops to 46% for people aged 56-64, and 33% for people aged 65-73. The bottom line is, don't assume you know how digitally savvy someone is based on their age. That octogenarian sitting across the Starbucks from you might be using Firesheep to sidejack your Facebook account right now. | New research from Pew focuses on generational trends in the digital world . Research found people 74 and older have the fastest growth in social networking services . Internet users aged 34 and older are more likely to engage in several common activities . | df2a1d0d353eb996e65f91197059dfd561fbe771 |
A confident Duchess of Cornwall nearly stole the show as she arrived looking wonderful in a regal white gown and diamond tiara that echoed the Queen's ensemble in Westminster today. Just over a year since she made her debut appearance at the State Opening of Parliament, her repeat visit today will be seen as a victory for Prince Charles who has long wanted his wife to play a greater role in royal life. And it seems his work has paid off after a radiant Camilla drew admiring glances and loud cheers from the crowds outside the Palace of Westminster as she made her way inside on her husband's arm. Scroll down for video . Listening in: The Duchess of Cornwall and the Prince of Wales listened intently as the Queen made the traditional Queen's speech to the House of Lords . Ceremonial: The Queen makes the traditional Queen's speech during the State Opening of Parliament as the Duke of Edinburgh looks on . Regal: The Duchess of Cornwall wore a white dress and diamond tiara for the State Opening of Parliament, while the Queen wore the heavy Imperial State Crown . Elegant: . Camilla looked radiant in her white gown and diamond tiara as she made . her way through the packed House of Lords at the State Opening of . Parliament . The past month has been a difficult one for Camilla, who is still struggling to come to terms with the sudden death of her brother Mark Shand at the end of April. But instead of retreating to her country home, the Duchess has thrown herself into royal duties and yesterday joined the Queen and the Duke of Edinburgh for a garden party at Buckingham Palace. Today, glamorous in a white gown, traditional sash and a diamond tiara, the Duchess looked every inch the princess, although even she couldn't eclipse the Queen, who wore the magnificent Imperial State Crown as she made her address to Parliament. With 2,868 diamonds, 273 pearls, 17 sapphires, 11 emeralds, and five rubies, the crown, which was made for the coronation of George VI in 1937, is one of the most important of the Crown Jewels. Based on an earlier version made for Queen Victoria, the crown also boasts several famous jewels, among them King Edward's Sapphire which was taken from a ring belonging to the Anglo-Saxon king and builder of the first Westminster Abbey, Edward the Confessor. Taking . their seats: Prince Charles and the Duchess of Cornwall took slightly . lower seats than the Queen and Prince Phillip, while the ladies in . waiting stood . More . comfortable: The Queen removed the Imperial State Crown after making . the speech and beamed at the Earl Marshall as she left the Palace of . Westminster . Glamorous: The Duchess of Cornwall's regal ensemble consisting of a state sash, white gown and diamond tiara echoed that of the Queen herself . Surrounded: The Queen, with the Duke of Edinburgh at her side, processed through the Royal Gallery on her way into the Palace of Westminster . Magnificent: For the State Opening of Parliament, the Queen wore a traditional ermine robe and the Imperial State Crown which has 2,868 diamonds . On her way: The Queen makes her way into the Palace of Westminster minus the Imperial State Crown which she put on after arriving at the Palace . Arrival: The Queen and Duke of Edinburgh, accompanied by ladies in waiting, are escorted through the elaborate Norman Porch at the Palace of Westminster . Escort: Yeomen of the Guard prepare to conduct the ceremonial search ahead of the Queen's arrival at the Palace of Westminster for the State Opening of Parliament . The most important of all the Queen's crowns, the current Imperial State Crown was made in 1937 and boasts 2,868 diamonds, 273 pearls, 17 sapphires, 11 emeralds, and five rubies. Although there has been an Imperial State Crown since the 15th century, there have been several different versions with the current one based on Queen Victoria's. Among the jewels is the sapphire of King Edward the Confessor, the Anglo-Saxon king who founded Westminster Abbey. Joining the Queen and Camilla at the Houses of Parliament were Prince Charles, who sported a traditional military uniform, and a cheerful-looking Duke of Edinburgh. The royal party arrived after the traditional ceremonial procession from Buckingham Palace to the Palace of Westminster, which also saw the debut of the new Diamond Jubilee State Coach. The vehicle, which contains fragments from Henry VIII's doomed battleship, the Mary Rose, a bullet from the Battle of Waterloo and a piece of Newton's apple tree, boasts diamond doorhandles and a hidden 'Queen cam' which offers a 360 degree view of the crowds. Among the other historical mementos incorporated into the coach are slivers from Scott’s Antarctic sled, a part of Hut Six, which was one of several used at codebreaking centre Bletchley Park, and a piece of Scotland’s Stone of Destiny, upon which monarchs are traditionally crowned. The state opening of Parliament marks the start of a busy few days for the Queen, who tomorrow will travel to France for a state visit. Accompanied by the Duke of Edinburgh, the monarch will travel to Paris by Eurostar and will be welcomed by French president François Hollande at the Arc de Triomphe. Later, the Queen will travel to the Elysée Palace for meetings with France's socialist head of state ahead of a garden party at the British Ambassador's residence in Paris. The following day, the Queen will join the Prince of Wales and the Duchess of Cornwall in Normandy for a series of visits commemorating the 70th anniversary of the D-Day landings, before returning to the Elysée Palace for a state dinner. Travelling in style: The Queen travelled to the Palace of Westminster in the new Diamond Jubilee State Coach which contains parts of the Mary Rose . On the Mall: The Queen and the Duke of Edinburgh were followed by the Prince of Wales and the Duchess of Cornwall in a separate state coach . Ceremonial: The Queen's Guard of Honour makes their way out onto the Mall (left) and right, a state coach carrying the Prince of Wales and Duchess of Cornwall . Busy: The Mall was a sea of Union flags as the monarch processed from Buckingham Palace to the Palace of Westminster in the Diamond Jubilee Coach . On her way: The Queen gets her first ride in the brand new Diamond Jubilee State Coach as she is taken to Westminster Palace to deliver the traditional Queen's speech . Quick march! The Queen's Guard of Honour marches out of Buckingham Palace . and heads down the Mall during the ceremonial procession to the Palace . of Westminster . Guards! A Guard of Honour makes its way out of Buckingham Palace ahead of the Queen for the ceremonial state procession to the Palace of Westminster . Arrival: . The Prime Minister and Leader of the Opposition Ed Milliband make their . way through the Members' Lobby as they head to the State Opening of . Parliament . On their way: Home Secretary Theresa May, who recently won plaudits for her handling of the Police Federation, was elegant in an orange suit . Packed: In addition to the Lords Temporal and Spiritual, the State Opening of Parliament is attended by all MPs, the Prime Minister and the Leader of the Opposition . Magnificent: The Queen addresses the House of Lords as she sets out the Government's legislative programme for the next 12 months . | The Duchess of Cornwall was making her second appearance at the State Opening of Parliament . She drew admiring glances and cheers from the crowd outside Parliament as she arrived with the Prince of Wales . Her ensemble, which included the state sash and a diamond tiara, echoed the formal outfit worn by Her Majesty . The Queen looked on spritely form and wore the magnificent Imperial State Crown which boasts 2,868 diamonds . | de63d53d1206173d7a62a544b295b638960d1797 |
By . Harry Mount . PUBLISHED: . 17:45 EST, 5 September 2013 . | . UPDATED: . 18:11 EST, 5 September 2013 . They make up the most famous — and valuable — series of pictures in the history of art. In a staggering burst of creative energy, culminating in an agonising mental breakdown that led him to slice off his own ear, Vincent van Gogh produced a series of paintings of cut sunflowers in a vase. In total, there were seven different versions. The pictures are now scattered to the far corners of the world. Missing link: This photograph of the destroyed second version was found in a Japanese museum . One, unseen in public since 1948, is in the private collection of an unknown millionaire, revealed only to his closest friends. Five others are in museums — in Philadelphia, Amsterdam, Munich, Tokyo (bought for a world-record £25 million in 1987) and our own National Gallery in London. But the seventh was destroyed during World War II. Called Six Sunflowers and painted in August 1888, it had been in the collection of a wealthy collector, Koyata Yamamoto, living on Japan’s coast when his town was hit by an American bomb on August 6, 1945 — coincidentally, the day the atomic bomb fell on Hiroshima. The painting, hanging over the sofa in Yamamoto’s sitting room, was obliterated. Yamamoto managed to escape the raging firestorm, but his prized picture — with its heavy frame — was too cumbersome to carry. Now, almost 70 years later, a British art historian has unearthed a colour photograph which reveals the work in all its glory. Tortured: A self-portrait of Van Gogh . The print — with its vivid yellows, . glowing oranges, citrus greens and royal blue background — gives us a . rare glimpse of what the original might have looked like. Art . historian Martin Bailey stumbled on the photo while researching a book . on the Sunflower series. As well as preserving Van Gogh’s original bold . colours, it also shows the unusual, heavy, timber frame that was . specially chosen by the artist. While most picture frames at the time were white, Van Gogh chose an orange one to play against the orange of the sunflowers. With . the rediscovery of the photograph of the seventh picture, the full . story of the Sunflowers series at last falls into place. Van Gogh . painted them at a critical point in his life. Aged 35, he was less than . two years from death, his career an unmitigated failure, his excitement . at painting mingled with disappointment, sadness and self-destructive . mania. Before turning to painting, he had . been an art dealer and teacher in England — in Brixton, Ramsgate and . Isleworth — a bookseller in Holland, and a missionary in Belgium. Those . around him despaired of his prospects almost as much as he despaired of . himself. In one letter, he . angrily reported that his family wanted him to become a carpenter, . accountant or baker. Safe to say, the prospects of being a world-famous . artist seemed remote. His . romantic life was an equal disaster. When he proposed to the daughter of . his Brixton landlady, she refused because she was already engaged to a . former lodger. The first version: Van Gogh's initial painting is in a private collection . A decade later, proposing to his widowed Dutch cousin, she replied: ‘Nooit, neen, nimmer.’ (‘No, nay, never.’) When . she told him that he couldn’t see her again, he thrust his hand into . the flame of a light, saying to her father, his uncle: ‘Let me see her . for as long as I can hold my hand in this flame.’ The desperate ploy . didn’t work. A relationship . with an alcoholic prostitute followed — and his romantic prospects . weren’t improved by a bout of gonorrhoea in 1883. He is also thought to . have contracted syphilis. Nor were his violent mood swings helped by a . poor diet, rich only in absinthe and tobacco. In February 1888, he moved . to Arles in Provence, seeking refuge from his misery and hoping the . fresh air would alleviate his chronic smoker’s cough. The third version (left) is in the Neue Pinakothek in Munich, while the fourth version (right) hangs in the National Gallery in London . He signed a lease on the so-called Yellow House, which he was to immortalise in so many of his canvases, and started painting obsessively. And what obsessed him most were sunflowers. A letter written at the time from Van Gogh to his art-dealer brother, Theo, survives. ‘I’m painting with the gusto of a Marseillais eating bouillabaisse [a local fish soup],’ he wrote, ‘which won’t surprise you when it’s a question of painting large sunflowers. I’d like to do a decoration for the studio. Nothing but large sunflowers.’ And so he began the pictures that would sell for millions — but not until after his death. During his lifetime, Van Gogh was painfully aware of how unpopular his work was. In fact, he only ever sold one painting. Two days after that first letter to Theo, he wrote another, saying: ‘We live in times when there’s no market for what we do ... I fear that it will scarcely change during our lifetime.’ Van Gogh didn’t just have an exceptional talent. He was also astonishingly quick — the first four sunflower pictures were done in a week. But for all their golden, glowing colours, no one would buy them. A repeat of painting No 3 (left): On show at the Philadelphia Museum of Art, and (right) a replica of number four...now in Amsterdam's Van Gogh Museum . Despairing, but not yet defeated, Van Gogh continued working at a furious rate through the autumn of 1888. He painted a self-portrait, a picture of fellow artist Paul Gauguin who was visiting him at Arles and several famous pictures of empty chairs. Relations with Gauguin were stormy and Van Gogh was terrified his friend might desert him, leaving him alone with his demons in Arles. Then came the blow that sent him off the rails for good. On December 23, he received a letter from his adored brother, Theo, saying he was getting married. That very evening, he slashed off a chunk of his ear in an Arles brothel, handing it over, wrapped in newspaper, to a prostitute, asking her to ‘keep this object carefully’. It wasn’t that Van Gogh disliked his new sister-in-law, Johanna Bonger, but he feared she would interfere with his close relationship with his brother. ‘Vincent was worried about losing his brother’s support, both emotional and financial,’ art historian Martin Bailey writes in his new book. ‘And these fears played a key role in provoking his self-mutilation a few hours later.’ By January, Van Gogh had recovered enough to leave hospital and paint three winter copies of his summer sunflower pictures. But the damage had been done and he entered a spiral of self-destruction. Between February and May, he was in hospital again, suffering from hallucinations and paranoid fantasies that he was being poisoned. Among local villagers he had acquired the nickname ‘fou roux’, the mad redhead. Final painting of version four: See it at Sompo Museum of Art, Tokyo . In May, he was moved to an asylum in nearby Saint-Rémy-de-Provence. He remained there for a year, sometimes seeming to recover his senses, at other times suffering crippling relapses. Though his mind was tortured with visions and delusions, he continued to produce bold, ravishing canvases of the neighbouring olive groves, vineyards and cornfields. Then, in July 1890, two months after leaving the asylum, he shot himself in the stomach in Auvers, north-west of Paris. He chose to do it in the summer wheatfields — the landscape he had just been painting so memorably. Two days later, he died in the Auberge Ravoux, the inn where he was lodging. Biographers still debate the exact causes of Van Gogh’s acute mental condition. Some say it was syphilis, which can induce symptoms of madness, others that it was manic depression or schizophrenia. Whatever the cause, Van Gogh’s mental decline was certainly exacerbated by absinthe, acute anxiety, poverty and malnutrition. But through this fog of madness, Van Gogh produced some of the most extraordinary paintings the world has ever seen. What is more remarkable still, is that these masterpieces came about quite by chance. One hot, breathless August day in Arles, the models Van Gogh had engaged to sit for him failed to turn up and it was too stifling to consider taking his easel outside. So he cast his eye around the Yellow House for inspiration. Seizing a handful of sunflowers, already wilting and curling in the heat, he arranged the blooms haphazardly in several green, cream and yellow earthenware pots. Martin Bailey imagines that the pots might have been just the sort of thing Van Gogh would have ready in his studio as ‘the ideal thing to put paintbrushes in’. So, with his peasant pots and dying sunflowers, Van Gogh produced seven paintings of astonishing brilliance. Now, thanks to a British scholar’s rediscovery of an image of Van Gogh’s lost masterpiece, we are once again able to admire them in all their end-of-summer glory. n The Sunflowers Are Mine — The Story Of Van Gogh’s Masterpiece by Martin Bailey (Frances Lincoln, £25). | Seven different versions of the paintings of sunflowers in a vase . One not seen in public since 1948 and belongs to an unknown millionaire . Five in international museums, including the National Gallery in London . Seventh estroyed during World War II during a bombing raid on Japan . Art historian Martin Bailey stumbled on photo while researching a book . | fb9c80cf81d806929d9e02dffb3aba4afea584be |
By . Simon Tomlinson . PUBLISHED: . 08:33 EST, 7 January 2013 . | . UPDATED: . 11:56 EST, 7 January 2013 . A senior detective close to a phone-hacking probe tried to sell information to the News of the World including claims that former deputy prime minister John Prescott had been 'interfering' with the investigation, jurors were told today. Detective Chief Inspector April Casburn, 53, is accused of offering the now-defunct tabloid information about Operation Varec, the investigation into whether Scotland Yard’s inquiry into phone hacking should be reopened. She is accused of one count of misconduct in public office on September 11, 2010, which she denies. On trial: Detective Chief Inspector April Casburn (left) has been accused of trying to sell information to the News of the World about a Met Police phone-hacking probe, including claims that former deputy prime minister John Prescott (right) was 'interfering' with the investigation . At that time, she was working in counter terrorism, managing the National Terrorist Financial Investigation Unit. Today Southwark Crown Court was told that one of her team had been asked to carry out financial investigations as part of the Scotland Yard probe into phone hacking. It is alleged that she rang the news desk of the tabloid at 7.51am that Saturday morning to offer information in exchange for payment. The court heard that the call was taken by a journalist called Tim Wood, who was then a news editor for the NotW. He said the caller refused to give her name, but introduced herself as a senior police officer. Mr Wood told the jury: 'The one thing that stands out in my mind is the fact that she kept going on about Lord Prescott. 'Her . saying that he was pressing for them to put charges on the News of the . World, and she was saying that she felt it was wrong that he was . interfering in the scandal, so to speak, and she resented that.' Claims: Casburn allegedly also told the news editor of the News of the World that six people were under investigation including former NotW editor Andy Coulson (left) and reporter Sean Hoare (right) He added: 'She was almost justifying her call by saying that it was this interference by Prescott that had upset her.' Mr . Wood sent an email to news editor Ian Edmondson and crime journalist . Lucy Panton after the call to say that a police officer wanted 'to sell . inside information' on the phone-hacking inquiry. Casburn . told him that six people were under investigation including former NotW . editor Andy Coulson and reporter Sean Hoare, Mr Wood said. She also mentioned that 'counter-terrorism assets' were being used in the probe, which was 'highly unusual'. Prosecutor Mark Bryant-Heron said: . 'The prosecution says she sought to undermine a highly sensitive and . high-profile investigation at the point of its launch. 'The . prosecution say, and it’s a matter for you 12, that the act of . telephoning the News of the World to offer to sell information and the . provision of some information during that call was misconduct, it was . misconduct in public office. 'It . was a gross breach of the trust that the public places in a police . officer not to disclose information on a current investigation in an . unauthorised way, or to offer to do so in the future for payment.' Charged: Casburn, 53, is accused of offering the now-defunct tabloid information about Operation Varec, the investigation into whether Scotland Yard’s inquiry into phone hacking should be reopened . The newspaper did not publish anything and no payment changed hands, the court heard. The . court then heard from Detective Superintendent Christos Kalamatianos . who led the 60-strong National Terrorist Financial Investigation Unit. He . said that his relationship with Casburn was 'cordial', but on one or . two occasions she had accused him of failing to support her and the . unit. Later, Casburn sobbed in the dock as a colleague gave evidence against her. The . 53-year-old was seen taking her glasses off so she could dab her eyes . with tissue as she listened to Detective Superintendent Christos . Kalamatianous talk about the terror unit she used to run at Scotland . Yard. Mr Justice Fulford . paused proceedings at Southwark Crown Court after noticing Casburn, who . has been suspended from the force, was 'distressed.' Accused: It is alleged Casburn rang the news desk of the tabloid at its offices in Wapping (above) at 7.51am one Saturday morning to offer information in exchange for payment . Det Supt Kalamatianous said Casburn, who he line managed, said on occasion she felt unsupported by him and the unit, but that they always seemed to resolve matters. Previously the court heard she felt . bullied at work and was going through a divorce and failed adoption . proceedings at the time she made the call on September 11, 2010. He said: 'I believe I was managing her sensitively, I don't know that I was managing her well.' Casburn had no desk for some time, jurors were told, despite more junior officers having them. However Mr Kalamatianos said his relationship with her was not hostile and he supported her application for promotion. Detective Chief Superintendent Dean Haydon, who led Operation Varec in September 2010, told the court how the investigation was set up following allegations linked to phone hacking made in an article in the New York Times. He said he was initially following seven lines of inquiry: the editor of the New York Times and the journalist who wrote the article, and six former journalists, Coulson, Hoare, Sharon Marshall, Brendan Montague, Ross Hall and Paul McMullan. An investigator from Casburn's unit was asked to check financial records for the six to make sure officers had the correct address for each of them. They were also asked to look at whether Mr Hoare received payment for the New York Times article, although this line of inquiry was discontinued. Mr Haydon said the work for the investigator would have been 'minimal' and he would have been 'very surprised' had Casburn raised concerns about resources. When asked in cross-examination whether the counter-terrorism unit was investigating 'active plots' at the time, he said: 'There are always active investigations being led by the command into terrorism-related activity.' He also told jurors that one financial investigator on Operation Varec admitted he had been at a dinner party with a journalist who worked for the Sun, and had discussed phone hacking. The investigator was then removed from the team. Dressed in a navy skirt suit, tights and high heels, Casburn struggled to compose herself in the afternoon of the first day of her trial, which is expected to last four days. Casburn, from Hatfield Peverel, Essex, admits making the phone call, but denies asking for money, and says she had reasonable excuse. She says she was concerned that resources that were supposed to be used to combat terrorism were being allocated to the phone hacking investigation and that much of the information was already public knowledge. The trial continues. Sorry we are unable to accept comments for legal reasons. | DCI April Casburn, 53, accused of trying to sell information to tabloid . News editor claims she said Lord Prescott was 'pressing for them to put charges on the NotW' Prosecutor: 'She sought to undermine a highly sensitive investigation' Casburn sobbed in the dock as colleague gave evidence against her . Casburn, who has been suspended from the force, denies one count of misconduct in a public office . | fbe498e2eb605344f9d7b16510aec9bd1dc84004 |
(CNN) -- This month, Inside the Middle East celebrates its 100th episode with a special look at education, focusing on the ways Egypt, Lebanon, and the United Arab Emirates are developing their future generation of leaders. From Egypt's bustling capital Cairo, to the coastal city of Alexandria, IME host Rima Maktabi meets young Egyptians who explain the challenges of studying -- or simply learning how to read -- in a nation currently undergoing a rocky transition to democracy. IME then travels to Beirut and learns why most Lebanese students are not taught some of the basic history of their nation's 15-year civil war. Finally, in the UAE capital of Abu Dhabi, we meet world-famous Iraqi musician Naseer Shamma, a man devoting his life to teaching young people the history and melodies of the oud, a traditional Middle Eastern guitar heard in most songs across the region. Watch the June show at the following times: . Wednesday June 6: 0930, 1630, . Saturday June 9: 0430, 1830, . Sunday June 10: 1130, . Saturday June 16: 1130, . Sunday June 17: 0430 . (all times GMT) | IME celebrates its centennial episode focusing on education in the Middle East . Rima Maktabi explores the challenges of studying in a post-revolution Egypt . IME looks at why Lebanese students are not taught about some aspects of the civil war . | 6f1c1b6e2be7cb0a7bbe478d184de2107b492770 |
By . Daily Mail Reporter . PUBLISHED: . 14:11 EST, 4 August 2013 . | . UPDATED: . 14:11 EST, 4 August 2013 . The man who confessed to one of the most infamous crimes in New York City's history may go free because authorities say there simply isn't enough evidence to win a prosecution. Last year, Pedro Hernandez, 52, confessed to murdering 6-year-old Etan Patz on May 25, 1979 after luring him into the basement of a SoHo bodega. Once Patz was in the basement, Hernandez says he strangled the boy to death, put his body in a bag and then left him on the street in a pile of trash. The problem for prosecutors is that even though Hernandez has confessed, there's no physical evidence or eyewitnesses linking him to the crime - and Patz's body has never been recovered (it's suspected it was hauled to a landfill). Did he do it? Other than a confession, there is no evidence that Pedro Hernandez had anything to do with Patz's death . Tragic: Etan Patz disappeared in May of 1979 - when he was just 6 years old - while he was walking to school alone for the first time . Another challenge for prosecutors is Hernandez's mental state - according to his attorney, the alleged killer suffers from schizophrenia and bipolar disorder. 'There’s a consensus among prosecutors there that this case cannot be . won,' a former prosecutor in the Manhattan District Attorney’s Office . told The New York Post. Several members of the NYPD's Missing Person Squad continue to investigate the case looking for any piece of evidence to help prove that Hernandez is the killer - or that he's not. 'They’ve interviewed these people over and over and over again. Some of . them five to 10 times. This has been going on for over a year. It’s . exhausting,' a police source said. Reopened: In 2010, the Patz case was reopened, which led authorities to tear up a cement floor in SoHo looking for a body. They found nothing . Patz's disappearance received a lot of coverage in the media and continues to garner headlines. Patz was the first missing child featured on a milk carton. Over the years, other suspects have emerged in the Patz case, most notably convicted child rapist Jose Ramos, who was a friend of a woman who'd babysat the boy. Ramos was convicted of multiple counts of child molestation and served a 20-year prison sentence in Pennsylvania. While incarcerated, a jailhouse snitch told authorities that Ramos had confessed to him that he knew what happened to Patz. However, it wasn't enough evidence for prosecutors to pursue charges. Despite no criminal charges, the Patz family sued Ramos in civil court, where he was found to have been responsible for the boy's death. The Patz's were awarded a ceremonial $2million, which they never attempted to collect. Hernandez was arrested after Manhattan District Attorney Cy Vance reopened the case in 2010 and police started getting new leads, including calls from Hernandez's family members who said he'd told them - and his priest - that he killed Patz. Suspect: Until Hernandez's confession, child rapist Jose Ramos always was considered the prime suspect in Patz's disappearance . During his videotaped confession to police, Hernandez asked the officers to kneel and pray . alongside him, which they did. His attorney, Harvey Fishbein, says the officers' praying with Hernandez was 'manipulative.' Fishbein is arguing that Hernandez's mental illness contributed to his making what he believes to be a false confession. 'We are not admitting in any sense that he committed this crime. This is . not a defense of not guilty by reason of insanity — '‘I did it but I was . crazy,'” Fishbein told The Post. 'He didn’t do it. He confessed to it, . and it’s the reliability of that confession that’s the issue here.' Regardless of whether Hernandez's confession is true, both prosecutors and the defense acknowledge that convicting him without any additional evidence will be challenging, if not impossible. | Authorities worry they won't be able to convict Pedro Hernandez because there is no evidence other than his confession . Hernandez's attorney says his client's mental illness caused him to falsely confess to killing Patz . | 6456d74eb1e6d3f49969a073441669324bc9969e |
The family of a woman murdered on Valentine’s Day by her boyfriend say they have been caused additional pain and suffering after being told that the SpongeBob SquarePants headstones that they paid $26,000 to have built are ‘inappropriate’ for the Cincinnati cemetery where their daughter is buried. Sgt. Kimberly Walker, 28, was found dead in a Colorado Springs, Colo., hotel room on Valentine’s Day and her boyfriend, also a soldier, has been charged with first-degree murder. To stand as a tribute to their lost loved one, the Walker family decided it would be fitting to erect two 7,000-pound SpongeBob SquarePants monuments at Walker’s graveside in the historic Spring Grove Cemetery. Scroll down for video . Kimberly Walker, right, was found strangled earlier this year, she was a massive fan of SpongeBob SquarePants and so her family decided that two 6ft monuments of the kid's favorite would be a fitting tribute . Each SpongeBob wears a military uniform, one in an Army uniform for Kimberly and the other in a Navy uniform for twin sister Kara. They also have an American flag on one sleeve and the No. 24 for Kimberly¿s favorite racecar driver Jeff Gordon on the other . According to Deborah Walker, Kimberly’s mother, her daughter loved everything to do with the cartoon character and had countless SpongeBob-branded items including shower curtains. ‘SpongeBob went in her casket before we laid her in the ground,’ she told WLWT.com. After receiving approval from a cemetery employee in March, the family decided on the design for the SpongeBob monuments and paid 10 percent of the price for the two $13,000 each statues upfront. The Walkers also purchased six plots together at the cemetery to provide the required space to erect them. Mom Deborah Walker has said that the family want to honor their dead daughter with the SpongeBob statues, while Kimberly's twin sister Kara has described them as 'the greatest thing in the cemetery' The SpongeBob monuments were erected on Oct 10, but the next day bosses contacted the family to say that their design was 'inappropriate' for such a historic cemetery . ‘They stand 6 feet tall and he’s 4 feet wide and he’s on a platform of eight inches, so it makes him 6 feet 8 inches tall,’ said Ms Walker. Each SpongeBob wears a military uniform, one in an Army uniform for Kimberly and the other in a Navy uniform for twin sister Kara, who is an IT Specialist in the U.S. Navy. The monuments also have an American flag on one sleeve and the No. 24 for Kimberly’s favorite Nascar driver Jeff Gordon on the other. ‘I thought it was the greatest thing in the cemetery. I even told the people there that I think this is the best monument I’ve ever seen. It’s the best headstone in the cemetery and they all agreed. It came out really nice,’ said sister Kara. The monuments were finally installed at the cemetery on October 10, but the next day cemetery officials informed the Walker family that the twin SpongeBobs were inappropriate and had to be removed. Kimberly's boyfriend Sgt. Montrell Mayo, right, was charged with first-degree murder following her death in February, while left is the SpongeBob monument decked out as a tribute to Kara Walker . Spring Grove has apologized for the misunderstanding and has offered to pay for something more in keeping with the surroundings, but the family wants to keep SpongeBob . Spring Grove has accepted responsibility for the misunderstanding and promised to work with the family to design at alternative which they hope will be more in keeping with the historic cemetery. ‘Spring Grove is deeply sorry for the issues involving the monument the Walker family recently purchased. Although the family chose a design with the guidance of a Spring Grove employee, unfortunately the monument did not fit within Spring Grove Cemetery guidelines,’ President and CEO Gary Freytag told WLWT in a written statement. ‘As an historic cemetery, we must constantly balance the needs of families who have just suffered a loss with the thousands of families who have entrusted us in the past. 'We are working with the Walker family and are committed to design a solution, at our expense, that will properly memorialize Kimberly, within the context of Spring Grove’s historic landscape and guidelines.’ Cemetery officials and the Walkers are scheduled to meet later this week to reach a resolution, but the family are upset that Spring Grove is going back on the agreement made in March to honor their daughter with twin SpongeBob monuments. Kimberley's twin sister Kara, who is an IT Specialist in the U.S. Navy, poses beside the SpongeBob monument that celebrates her sister and is dressed in army fatigues . Kimberly Walker was a massive fan of SpongeBob SquarePants, left, and Nascar driver Jeff Gordon . ‘I feel like, and we all feel like, SpongeBob should stay there. We bought the plots, all six of them. We put the monuments there, we did what we had to do and they said they could provide that service to us,’ said Ms Walker. Following Walker’s murder in February, her boyfriend Sgt. Montrell Mayo was charged with first-degree murder. The . arrest affidavit states that Mayo, a Fort Carson soldier, admitted to . his supervisor in a phone call ‘I think I killed my girlfriend’ after . the two had an altercation at a hotel in Colorado Springs . The . affidavit states that Mayo told his supervisor that Walker threatened . his career, then he hit her with a glass and doesn’t remember anything . after that . Police who responded to the scene found Walker’s body and blood on the bed sheets, clothing and sink. An autopsy report states that Walker was strangled. | Sgt. Kimberly Walker, 28, was found strangled to death in a Colorado hotel room in February . As a tribute to their loved one, her family decided to build two monuments of her favorite cartoon character at her graveside . The Spring Grove Cemetery in Cincinnati gave approval for the statues back in March and they were finally erected on October 10 . The next day bosses contacted the family to say that design was 'inappropriate' for such a historic cemetery . Spring Grove has apologized for the misunderstanding and offered to pay for something more in keeping with the surroundings . The family want to keep SpongeBob and the two sides will meet later this week to attempt to find a compromise . | bf4db0e95d4d3dfe410ae799b4cf11f54e23ae6b |
By . Sarah Griffiths . One of Leonardo da Vinci's masterpieces, drawn in the early 1500s and thought to be a self-portrait, is in extremely poor condition and continues to deteriorate each day. The artwork, drawn in red chalk, has been exposed to humidity over the centuries and has yellowed, but thanks to breakthrough technology there is new hope for halting its degradation. Scientists have developed a new approach to identify the culprit of the yellowing without interfering with the original drawing and the knowledge gleaned could be used to preserve and save the precious self- portrait. Look carefully: A chalk drawing by Leonardo Da Vinci which is thought to be a self-portrait has suffered considerable discolouration because of humid storage conditions over the centuries. Now scientists have developed a new approach to identify the culprit of the yellowing without interfering with the original drawing, and this knowledge could be used to preserve and save the precious portrait . Centuries of storage in humid conditions has led to widespread yellowing and browning of the paper, which is reducing the contrast between the colours of chalk and paper, diminishing the visibility of the drawing. Experts in paper degradation from Italy and Poland were tasked with determining whether the destructive process has now slowed after conservation measures have been taken, or if the ageing process is continuing and could threaten the survival of the drawing. To do this, they developed an approach to non-destructively identify and quantify the concentration of light-absorbing molecules known as chromophores in ancient paper, which are responsible for the ‘yellowing’ of the cellulose within ancient documents and works of art. ‘During the centuries, the combined actions of light, heat, moisture, metallic and acidic impurities and pollutant gases modify the white colour of ancient paper's main component: cellulose,’ Joanna Łojewska, a professor in the Department of Chemistry at Jagiellonian University in Krakow, Poland explained. The new technique could be used to preserve and protect the drawing and other artworks and letters (stock image) ‘This phenomenon is known as “yellowing,” which causes severe damage and negatively affects the aesthetic enjoyment of ancient art works on paper.’ Chromophores are key to understanding the visual degradation process because they are among the chemical products developed by oxidation during ageing and are behind the ‘yellowing’ within cellulose. Yellowing occurs when ‘chromophores within cellulose absorb the violet and blue range of visible light and largely scatter the yellow and red portions, resulting in the characteristic yellow-brown hue,’ said Olivia Pulci, a professor in the Physics Department at the University of Rome Tor Vergata. The experts can now identify and quantify the concentration of chromophores within paper to determine the degradation rate of the paper. Their new technique involves obtaining ‘optical reflectance spectra’ - the measure of the proportion of light or other radiation striking a surface which is reflected off it - of paper samples in the near-infrared, visible and near-ultraviolet wavelength ranges. Using the data, they calculated what sort of light is absorbed by the cellulose fibres in the paper. They then applied computer simulations based on quantum mechanics to calculate the light absorbtion spectrum of chromophores in cellulose. Adriano Mosca Conte, a researcher at the University of Rome Tor Vergata said: ‘Using our approach, we were able to evaluate the state of degradation of Leonardo da Vinci's self-portrait and other paper specimens from ancient books dating from the 15th century.’ ‘By comparing the results of ancient papers with those of artificially aged samples, we gained significant insights into the environmental conditions in which Leonardo da Vinci's self-portrait was stored during its lifetime.’ The new technique involves calculating what sort of light is absorbed by cellulose fibres in paper. This data is then applied in computer simulations based on quantum mechanics to calculate the light absorption spectrum of chromophores in cellulose. IT could be used to prevent the decay of old books (pictured) and other drawings . Mauro Missori, a researcher at the Institute for Complex Systems in Rome, said explained that the type of chromophores present in Leonardo's self-portrait are ‘similar to those found in ancient and modern paper samples aged in extremely humid conditions or within a closed environment, which agrees with its documented history’. One of the most significant implications of their work is that the state of degradation of ancient paper can be measured and quantified by evaluation of the concentrations of chromophores in cellulose fibres. Dr Conte said: ‘The periodic repetition of our approach is fundamental to establishing the formation rate of chromophores within the self-portrait. Now our approach can serve as a precious tool to preserve and save not only this invaluable work of art, but others as well.’ A British chemistry teacher has explained the distinctive scent of antique books. Old books have a sweet smell with notes of vanilla flowers and almonds, caused by the breakdown of chemical compounds in the paper, while new books smell like they do because of chemicals used in their manufacture. The anonymous blogger said the chemical breakdown of compounds within paper leads to the production of ‘old book smell’. Paper contains cellulose and small amounts of lignin - a complex polymer of aromatic alcohols – and finer papers contain less lignin than cheaper material like newsprint. Lignin is what makes paper yellow with age because oxidation reactions cause it to break down into acids, which then help break down cellulose, he explained in the Compound Interest blog. The smell of old books comes from chemical degradation and a number of compounds have been pinpointed. Benzaldehyde adds an almond-like scent, vanillin smells of vanilla and ethyl hexanol has a ‘slightly floral’ scent. Ethyl benzene and toluene, which are also produced give off sweet odours. These volatile organic compounds are created by reactions known as ‘acid hydrolysis’ and together make up the smell of old books along with other alcohols produced by the reactions. | Scientists from Poland and Italy developed the new approach to identify the culprit of the yellowing without interfering with the original drawing . Centuries of storage in humid conditions has led to widespread yellowing and browning of the paper used for the rumoured self-portrait by da Vinci . They can now identify and quantify the concentration of light-absorbing molecules known as chromophores in ancient paper . Technique could be used to preserve and protect the drawing and others . | ad72693724bb9b96cc31cfd9ef2981a03d08a074 |
By . Emily Crane . An Adelaide cigarette shop has come under fire from angry parents after it advertised a free in store face painting event for children. The face painting was on offer at the Smokemart & GiftBox store at West Lakes, north-west of Adelaide, on Saturday. Cancer Council SA say they fielded a number of complaints from 'shocked' parents before and after the event. The face painting was on offer at the Smokemart & GiftBox store at West Lakes, north-west of Adelaide, on Saturday . 'We received calls from concerned members of the public who were understandably shocked that children were being encouraged to visit a cigarette retailer through an in-store face painting promotion,' Dr Marion Eckert, Cancer Council SA's general manager of cancer control, told MailOnline. 'To entice children into a tobacconist on the basis of a fun activity like face painting, simply adds to the miscomprehension of the dangers of smoking.' The face painting event was organised as a fundraiser in conjunction with Westfield West Lakes to raise money for the Cora Barclay centre – a charity for deaf children. The advertised event was organised as a fundraiser in conjunction with Westfield West Lakes . A spokesman from the Smokemart store said he didn't agree that it was 'inappropriate' to hold an event for children at the cigarette shop, according to the Advertiser. Tony De Maria, from Peregrine Corporation which owns the Smokemart chain, told the newspaper they had been invited to take part and donated a few hundred dollars, which Westfield then matched. 'We sell many other products - all the cigarettes are against one wall and most of them are hidden by legislation (and) most of our shop is a gift shop,' Mr De Maria said. Cancer Council SA say they fielded a number of complaints from parents who were 'shocked that children were being encouraged to visit a cigarette retailer' He said the face painting was held outside the store, despite it being advertised online as an 'in store' event. The Cancer Council said around 90 percent of smokers start when they are teenagers and don't 'fully comprehend the consequences of taking up the habit'. 'Tobacco kills around 20 South Australians every week and it is entirely inappropriate to have children's promotions associated in any way with these deadly product,' Dr Eckert said. | Smokemart store at West Lakes advertised in store face painting for kids . Cancer Council received a number of complaints from 'shocked' parents . Event on Saturday was held in conjunction with Westfield shopping centre to raise money for children's charity . Smokemart spokesman said they donated money to take part in fundraiser . | 23e8ce26cbc6b73fad8970a9f9247ffea41abe72 |
By . Paul Bentley and Tara Brady . PUBLISHED: . 10:38 EST, 8 December 2013 . | . UPDATED: . 00:09 EST, 9 December 2013 . Crowds of shoppers pushed and shoved their way into Aldi supermarkets to get their hands on the store's own tablet which went on sale today. At one branch in Old Kent Road, South London, hundreds of people clambered to get hold of the tablet when they discovered there were only 12 gadgets left in the store. The launch has opened up a festive price war with other high street brands by launching the tablet which costs just £79. Rush: Hundreds of people pushed to get through the doors of Aldi in Tottenham which today launched its Christmas alternative to the iPad - a £70 tablet called the Lifetab . Customers couldn't wait to get their hands on Aldi's latest gadget - its own version of the iPad which is just a snip of the price at £79 . Success: Tes was the first person to buy the Aldi Lifetab gadget at the Old Kent Road store in south London . Tesco has already enjoyed huge success with its low-priced Hudl tablet, which launched in September. But at £119 it is now far more expensive than the Lifetab. Experts . said that while the quality of budget options might not compare with . Apple’s original tablet computer, the affordability factor would lead to . a rush of new sales. Tony Cripps, of technology analysts Ovum, said: ‘It is a real threat to anyone in the tablet market.’ Bargain: Shoppers at Aldi on Tottenham High Road, north London, waiting to pick up their new tablet for £79 . Shoppers inside Aldi in Tottenham High Road frantically buying the stores own version of the iPad . Ben Cole with his daughter Felicia, seven, (left) and other excited shoppers (right) were lucky enough to purchase one of the tablets in the Tottenham store despite one box being delivered . Popular purchase: Shoppers at Aldi in Tottenham High Road waiting for the launch of its new budget tablet . Experts said that while the quality of budget options might not compare with Apple¿s original tablet computer, the affordability factor would lead to a rush of new sales . Aldi's Lifetab E7316, created with electronics firm Medion, may be cheaper but it has just 8GB of storage - half that of Tesco's tablet . When . it launched Tesco’s Hudl was the cheapest tablet on the market and sold . incredibly well, with supermarkets shifting 35,000 models in the first . 48 hours, and it has sold out twice since. Last week nearly every colour model, other than purple, is shown as ‘currently unavailable’ on Tesco’s website, and a number of accessories aren’t available either. This has raised fears customers may not be able to get hold of the cut-price gadget in time for Christmas. Yet, the company has dismissed claims that the shortfall is due to supply problems. The Hudl is manufactured by French company Archos. It has 16GB of built-in memory - the same as the iPad mini and Google’s £80 more expensive Nexus 7 - and can access the internet and stream music and movies as well as on-demand TV services from Tesco-owned Blinkbox. It has front and rear-facing cameras, allowing users to talk face to face via Skype, too. The device also features a ‘Tesco launcher’ button to access online grocery shopping and the supermarket chain’s other businesses including clothing, banking and mobile phone services. Aldi’s . Lifetab E7316, created with electronics firm Medion, may be cheaper but . it has just 8GB of storage – half that of Tesco’s tablet – and offers . just four hours of battery life compared to 9.5 hours on the Hudl. But it does come with a three year warranty. Argos also tried to grab a share of the market, launching its £100 MyTablet in October. It has now almost sold out. Both the Lifetab and the Hudl will now also compete with Amazon’s Kindle Fire HD, on offer at £159, as well as the retail giant’s new 7-inch Kindle Fire HDX, which was reduced from £199 to £169 for Cyber Monday. Apple’s second-generation iPad mini was launched last month, and costs £319, but has a slightly larger 7.9-inch screen. Tablets have proved hugely popular since the launch of the iPad three years ago and some forecasters have predicted they will overtake sales of traditional computers by the end of this year.Three quarters of households still do not have one however. Tony . Baines, of Aldi, said: ‘We have positioned our Christmas offering this . year to cater for every member of the immediate family with a fantastic . gift at a manageable price, without compromising on quality.’ The . number of parents reading books to their children at bedtime is in . rapid decline, according to a survey. Some 70 per cent of 2,000 parents . questioned now use tablets, computers or iPhone apps instead. But . parents said technology was helping to revive the tradition, and more . than half felt that it made bedtime reading more stimulating. | Aldi's Lifetab has been created with electronics firm Medion . It has just 8GB of storage – half that of Tesco’s tablet . Tablets proved hugely popular since the launch of the iPad three years ago . | 4d806ce71cf7d1c9a498b046c263ae13c9fd00d4 |
It has taken just seven weeks for John Guidetti to go from the hottest property in Scottish football to being frozen out of the Celtic team. In between opening his account against Hearts in a 3-0 League Cup win on September 24 and scoring a controversial penalty in a 4-0 win against the same opponents at Tynecastle on November 30, it rained goals for the 22-year-old. His 11 in 10 appearances, including a stunning League Cup hat-trick against Partick Thistle, had the Celtic fans beseeching their board to shell out the £3million required to land the Swede permanently from Manchester City. John Guidetti has suffered a dip in form in recent weeks after an excellent start to his Celtic career . That clamour has faded to bemused silence in recent weeks as Guidetti has gone from scoring hero to simply scoring zero. On the pitch, his miserable run of form included six appearances without a goal before Ronny Deila left him on the bench during wins at Hamilton and at home to Motherwell in midweek. The only YouTube highlights for Guidetti fans to watch in recent weeks have involved a video of the forward giving an impromptu rapping performance, with team-mate Virgil van Dijk on human beatbox. In Guidetti’s absence from the team Leigh Griffiths, who looked on his way out of Parkhead, has taken on the mantle of golden Bhoy at Parkhead, drawing plaudits from Deila this week for his ‘fantastic’ attitude and ‘world class’ left foot. With the Celtic manager preferring Stefan Scepovic as an impact substitute, Guidetti appears to have been pushed down to third-choice forward, with Anthony Stokes being deployed out wide left. It’s not thought Guidetti’s decision to stall talks on a permanent move until April are keeping him out of Deila’s starting XI. In recent weeks the manager has suggested it is just a form dip, saying: ‘All strikers go through periods like this. We have to focus on what is going to get him out of this situation.’ With Griffiths now seemingly in pole position to start next Sunday’s Old Firm QTS League Cup semi-final at Hampden, Guidetti may not get the chance to back up his bold promise to grab a hat-trick against Rangers. In the middle of his barren run, he vowed to become the first Celtic player since Harry Hood in 1973 to score a hat-trick against the Ibrox side, adding nonchalantly: ‘Diego Costa went four games without a goal a few weeks ago and no one mentioned it — but when John Guidetti does the same it’s the biggest thing in the world. I take it as a compliment.’ If the rise and fall of John Guidetti is a curious case indeed, one property he does not appear to lack is confidence. Yet, according Frank McAvennie, a former Celtic striker who shares Guidetti’s hunger for goals and his off-field sense of fun, it may be that the Manchester City forward is suffering an unexpected bout of self-doubt. On a previous loan in Holland, Guidetti scored 20 in 23 games for Feyenoord, only for food poisoning from eating chicken to leave him with paralysis of the right leg, ending his season. Prior to joining Celtic, he had not played for the best part of two years and McAvennie suspects the player may be harbouring an injury and that ghosts of setbacks past may be preying upon him. The Celtic forward looks dejected after missing a chance against Ross County last month . ‘Maybe John Guidetti’s just biding his time before bursting back into the limelight to score that hat-trick he promised against Rangers,’ chuckles McAvennie. ‘I love the boy’s confidence. You need confidence as a striker. I love his banter and I’d love to see John Guidetti — or anyone — score a hat-trick against Rangers! ‘But it looks to me he may have a wee knock that we don’t know about. Take it from me, you just don’t go from being a super-confident striker scoring 11 in 10 games to not scoring at all. ‘He was flying but almost overnight it’s all changed. That’s why I think he maybe has a knock. Unless you’re 100 per cent fit as a striker you’re maybe going to lack that little extra half-yard of sharpness to get in front of a defender and score goals. ‘Guidetti’s been out long-term before with illness and injury and even though he’s a confident boy, once you’ve had your first big injury you start to worry. It preys on your mind the next time. It’s only human nature. ‘I’m hoping it is just something minor like that and nothing else because I like the boy and he is a very decent player.’ Guidetti’s last goal was a controversial penalty at Tynecastle, awarded by Willie Collum despite there being no contact on the Swede by the sliding Hearts defender Brad McKay. Afterwards, Sky pundit Neil McCann — a former Rangers and Hearts winger — claimed the loanee had ‘thrown himself down’ and ‘conned the referee’. But McAvennie does not believe the ‘diving’ fallout led to Guidetti’s form crashing. Nor does he view Griffiths as the Swede’s main rival for the leading striking berth. Guidetti may not get the chance to score his promised hat-trick against Rangers next weekend . ‘Guidetti never claimed for the penalty, there was no action taken against him and it all died down quickly,’ he said. ‘And he doesn’t seem the type to let that sort of thing affect him anyway. ‘The change in Leigh Griffiths’ fortunes has been interesting. He was seemingly on his way out of the club but now he’s getting picked. ‘I watched him against Motherwell the other night and he’s a typical striker, he gets his head down and there’s no chance of him passing. People were screaming at him to pass against Motherwell. He reminds me of Andy Walker in that regard. He would never pass it either! ‘But I’ve actually got a sneaking feeling that Scepovic is going to be Celtic’s first-choice striker. He’s a decent player, he makes good runs and I think he will come good eventually.’ Frank McGarvey, another maverick former Celtic forward, admits he is equally puzzled as to why Guidetti’s goals have dried up. But he is clear that the player he rates as Celtic’s finest striker should not be given a crack from the start against Rangers. Guidetti in better times as he enjoyed a run of form that saw him score 11 in 10 earlier this season . ‘It’s a real mystery and there’s a lot of people scratching their heads on this one,” said McGarvey. ‘John Guidetti was scoring a lot of goals but now the other guys are all ahead of him in the pecking order. If it’s not an injury it must be some kind of internal issue because nobody can understand it. ‘I think Guidetti is the best striker at Celtic, and maybe also the best striker in Scotland. It’s not just his goals, but he brings workrate to the team and his attitude seems great as well. ‘Everyone is looking at the situation and saying: “Why is this guy not getting a game?”. ‘I’ve always thought that if Ronny Deila played Guidetti alongside Leigh Griffiths up front with Kris Commons in behind then Celtic would score goals for fun. ‘But Celtic without Guidetti won 4-0 against Motherwell in midweek and they’ve got maximum points in their last three games. You don’t change a winning team. If it ain’t broke, don’t fix it. So I wouldn’t start Guidetti against Rangers, even if he is promising to grab a hat-trick. ‘Everything comes out in the wash and I’m sure we will get to the bottom of this situation sometime. But, right now, John Guidetti’s situation is a big mystery...’ | John Guidetti has gone from hero to zero at Celtic as his form has dipped . He started with 11 goals in 10 games, but is now on a barren run . Guidetti may not get chance to score promised hat-trick against Rangers . | 4abe9840cfa54ab4fd516e1f4dbb031e75255b39 |
By . Joel Christie . and Joshua Gardner . Police were called to break up a fight between figure skating champion Johnny Weir and his husband Victor Voronov on Saturday night in the latest chapter of the couple's tumultuous relationship. According to TMZ, Weir allegedly attacked his husband of two years at their New Jersey home following a fight over text messages. Voronov is said to have told police on Sunday that Weir found proof his partner had been 'badmouthing him' and lashed out, scratching Voronov's knee, hand and wrist. The incident comes just 12 days after the pair announced on Twitter that their on-off relationship was back on again. Scroll down for video . 911: Figure skating sensation Johnny Weir was allegedly reported to police for attacking his husband of two years, Victor Voronov, at their New Jersey home on Saturday night . Voronov's injuries: Weir found proof that his partner had been 'badmouthing him' and lashed out, scratching his knee, hand and wrist . TMZ obtained photos of Voronov's injuries and reported that he chose not to get an emergency restraining order. The text messages are believed to have been written during their bitter separation. Weir . - who filed for divorce in February, claiming Voronov physically and . mentally abused him - announced their second reconciliation on Twitter . on May 6. 'My husband and I have happily reconciled,' wrote the 29-year-old. 'Please respect our privacy and integrity at this time.' Trouble in paradise: Georgetown Law graduate Victor Voronov (left) reportedly called police on Sunday saying husband Johnny Weir had scratched him multiple times after finding 'badmouthing' text messages . Weir is alleged to have to have scratched and bitten his husband in several places including leaving this wound . Change of tune: The medal-winning figure skater announced on May 6 that he and Voronov had patched things up . 'Love is dangerous,' he went on. 'Love is safe. Love is ugly. Love is beautiful.' The message was a dramatic about-face from the one Weir posted on March 19. 'It is with great sadness that I announce that my husband and I are no longer together,' he tweeted. Days later, Weir told Access Hollywood of the 'personal hell' he was experiencing when the cameras turned off during his stint as a Sochi commentator because of Voronov, who he called abusive. 'Some of my closest friends have seen him hit me before,' he said at the time. Not to be outdone, Weir's non-practicing, Georgetown-educated attorney husband shot back with accusations of Weir's infidelity. TMZ revealed court documents in which Voronoz painted himself as a victim of Weir's theatrical self obsession and said Weir cheated on him with a porn star and a club owner. TMZ also posted a photo allegedly showing a nasty little bite mark on Voronov's arm left by Weir after one spat. According to Radar, it subsequently leaked that Weir used gay sex hookup app Grindr on which the skater sent full-front naked selfies to other men. The battle raged, though with fewer tantalizing public details, until around mid-April. That's when . makeup number one came as Voronov agreed to move back in with Weir so . long as he agree to a list of stipulations that included a public . apology from Weir and written agreement that the skater's mother must . butt out of their married life. Weir then shot back the next day with a bizarre 'post-nuptial agreement' with the reality star's own demands. Video Source Inside Edition . Happier times: The couple had been married just two years (pictured here is their 2011 wedding day) when they announced their divorce in March . Real victim? The couple's dog Tema became a source of drama as Voronov accused Weir of holding the canine hostage . Weir and Voronov married in what looked to be a match made in heaven back in December 2011, but a little over two years in, things publicly started to go downhill fast. Because they also went uphill just as quickly--and on more than one occasion--here is a timeline of the breakups and makeups and some of the juicy bits therein. Breakup, March 19: Weir announced the split via a tweet that read, 'My husband and I are no longer together. My heart hurts, and I wish him well.' Weir quickly decided he no longer wished Voronov well as he accused the out-of-work lawyer of physical and emotional abuse. Voronov shot back with accusations of ménage à trois infidelities, Weir's own violent streak (he said Weir bit him) and a claim that the skater was holding their little dog Tema hostage. Makeup, April 14: Voronov reportedly agreed to reconcile and move back into the couple's home, but only if Weir agreed to publicly apologize. The next day, Weir hit back with a sexually explicit 5-page 'post-nuptial' agreement. Breakup, April 16: it was revealed that the couple were not patching things up after all, which Voronov publicly blamed on Weir's mother Pamela. Weir remained mostly silent after this breakup. Makeup, May 6: Weir took to Twitter at 4am to happily announce his second reconciliation with Voronov in two months, writing: . 'To love hard, is the greatest gift, even with all it's flaws. Keep shining.' 'Brawl', May 17: Voronov reportedly called police, claiming Weir had scratched him at their home in New Jersey. The 5-page document included a list of no-no's like extramarital sexting and mutual masturbation outside the marriage, denied each the right to be 'in close range' of any exes and required bi-yearly STD tests from both parties. Something . about the list must not have settled well with Voronov, because the . following day the couple were off again thanks to Weir's mom Patti, who . Voronov told Us Weekly was 'definitely the source of the breakdown of . our marriage.' Fast . forward to 4am on Tuesday morning and, without revealing how fences . were mended or if his mother finally butt out, Weir happily announced he . was back with Voronov. He tweeted following his announcement: . 'To love hard, is the greatest gift, even with all it's flaws. Keep shining.' Olympic favorite: Weir was a hit as he commentated on the Sochi Olympics with Tara Lipinski earlier this year - but he has said that behind the scenes he was struggling with his demanding and emotionally abusive husband . Nasty divorce: Weir, pictured naked on his show Be Good Johnny Weir, was accused by Vornonov of sending nude photos and steamy messages to men online, and his husband also has nude images of him . | Johnny Weir, 29, reported to police on Sunday for attacking Victor Voronov at the couple's New Jersey home on Saturday night . The pair had only announced their reconciliation on May 6 after filing for divorce in February . Weir had accused Voronov of abusing him, while Voronov said Weir had cheated on him with seedy men on hookup apps . Weekend altercation left Voronov with scratch marks on his knee, hand and wrist . | 5883bcf0b4c9b3b05ee514e767ca75124f547c05 |
(CNN) -- Which politician do you hate? Do you think President Barack Obama wants to destroy America? Or do you believe former President George W. Bush is the one who sent the country into the abyss? What about Ted Cruz, Nancy Pelosi or John Boehner -- which one of them do you think is the devil incarnate? Americans, disgusted by the failures in Washington, have increasingly resorted to personalizing the blame, drawing imaginary bull's-eyes and throwing figurative darts at the faces of the politicians whose views they disagree with, all the while fantasizing about throwing the people they despise out of political office. Unfortunately, the problem goes much deeper than a few individuals, however incompetent or despicable: Throw out the ones you hate, and you'll get new ones to blame, because the problems will not disappear without repairing the flaws in the system that brought the country to this embarrassing and self-destructive place. The people are rightly fed up. In the middle of the just-ended federal shutdown, polls showed most Americans blamed the mess on Republicans, but approval for the entire Congress, which has Democrats as well as Republicans, sank to an incredible 5%. The prevailing sentiment was revulsion. The question, however, is not how awful the politicians are. The question is why American voters ended up with representatives whose performance they find so thoroughly reprehensible. The answer to that question provides a path to solving the problem. The problem is not just that the nation has divided and moved into partisan echo chambers, where everyone listens only to the people with whom they agree. Each side listens to its own favorite commentators on television and radio; each follows like-minded thinkers on Twitter and Facebook. In that system, the most vitriolic speech is the most highly rewarded. Moderate Americans have less tantalizing things to say. If you think the other side is driven only by selfish motives or by nefarious goals, you will find a willing, enthusiastic and fast-growing audience. But if you believe that the differences stem from different life experiences and honest philosophical disagreements and if you believe that Republicans and Democrats want what is best for the country but have distinct ideas about what that means or how to achieve it, your views will get little traction in this emotionally charged environment. The irony is that those moderate views represent America most faithfully. A recent poll by NBC and Esquire magazine concluded that most Americans are social and political centrists, in sharp contrast to the clashes of extremes that we see in the media, on the Internet and in Congress. The poll showed the majority supports same-sex marriage, legal marijuana, paid maternity leave, child care subsidies to help new mothers get back to work, a higher minimum wage and paid sick leave. But a majority also supports the death penalty, offshore drilling and the end of affirmative action in hiring and education. This is not the picture of an extremist country. It's the picture of a nation trying to come to grips with difficult questions. That, of course, is not how Congress looks. There, everyone seems absolutely certain on every issue, even if certainty is something that should elude us all frequently if we are honest about our human limitations. So how did we end up with a Congress that looks so different from America? One of the main reasons is voter apathy. Most voters are paying attention right now, horrified by the spectacle put on by their representatives. But when the time comes for choosing those representatives, particularly during midterms and local elections, they become distracted, leaving the job to the zealots, those people who care most passionately about politics and are most closely affiliated with activist political groups. As a result, whichever side is most energized -- often the one feeling most aggrieved -- manages to mobilize for the low-turnout elections. In 2010, the flames of hatred against Barack Obama burned hot, just as they had once burned against George W. Bush on the other side of the political spectrum. The 2010 election not only took more right-wing Republicans to Washington, it also gave them historic gains in state legislatures. Local control of legislatures has allowed the parties to sharpen their gerrymandering pens -- drawing safe congressional districts that all but guarantee re-election. Americans may want to fire all of Congress, but they don't want to fire their own representative. That means there is little incentive to compromise. Inflexible politicians are rewarded by voters, and the country suffers. Not only is the government not providing the best possible solutions for America's problems, it is, in fact, creating new problems, causing unemployment. Just as the U.S. economy managed to pull out of recession, the politicians put their shoulder to the wheel and pushed in the wrong direction. The shutdown that just ended and the flirtation with the potential disaster of running against the debt ceiling are the latest chapter in a long-running political soap opera. It might be entertaining if it weren't so damaging. According to one study, the fiscal standoffs since 2009 have lowered growth by 0.3% of GDP each year, amounting by some calculations, to $700 billion in lost GDP. Among other costs, that means 900,000 jobs lost. The shutdown has cost America in global leadership, a loss it won't soon recover. America has been weakened. Its rivals are gloating. And now that the two sides have finally reached a deal to reopen the government, the agreement is good for just three months. That means more uncertainty, more government-made pushback against recovery and job creation, more talented federal employees deciding they've had enough of working for an employer that suddenly tells them "don't come to work tomorrow, even if you want to." Centrists, the majority of the country, would help America simply by speaking out as forcefully for moderate positions as the zealots do, by encouraging people to listen to different points of views, by pushing for a return to more mixed congressional districts and by making sure to vote in all elections. Instead of wasting energy raging against individual politicians, it would be more productive to fight against apathy and against demonization. Hating individual politicians misses the point. Fight instead to fix the system that is broken. The opinions expressed in this commentary are solely those of Frida Ghitis . | Frida Ghitis: Frustration with politics leads people to lash out with hatred . She says rather than hate Bush, Obama, Boehner or Cruz, look at the root causes . Ghitis says U.S. political system rewards polarization, which wins low-turnout elections . Centrists need to speak out to put politicians on the right track, she says . | 600af11d49593cc462fff5c222111d8077fde369 |
West Ham United are preparing a move to sign Manchester United midfielder Darren Fletcher - but are likely to face competition from West Bromwich Albion. The Scotland international, who has six months left on his contract at Old Trafford, is expected to move on in order to gain more regular football as he has only made 16 appearances this season, the last of which was against Yeovil Town in the FA Cup. That has alerted Sam Allardyce, who is a keen admirer of the 30-year-old and wants to bring Fletcher to Upton Park to provide experience, as West Ham chase the dream of having European football when they move to the Olympic Stadium. Darren Fletcher (pictured left against Yeovil on Jauary 4) is a target for West Ham United . Fletcher (left) is keen on getting more game time and that is likely to come away from Old Trafford . West Ham have space on their wage bill to add Fletcher, having just released Portuguese forward Ricardo Vaz Te; Allardyce is not expected to make too many additions to his squad during this window but the chance to sign Fletcher is something he would jump at. There is plenty of interest in Fletcher, however. Valencia and Celtic have made enquiries about Fletcher, who had made 340 appearances during his United career, winning the Champions League, the Barclays Premier League on five occasions, as well as 66 Scotland caps. West Brom are also understood to have ambitions of signing Fletcher, who has accepted that his opportunities to play for Louis van Gaal are going to decrease as he continues to overhaul United’s squad in the future. A move to The Hawthorns might be attractive from a personal point of view as Fletcher would not necessarily have to leave home. He is expected to make his decision over the next fortnight. The Scotland international has six months left on his current contract at Old Trafford . Fletcher (centre), alongside Marouane Fellaini ad Adnan Januzaj, is a big figure in the United dressing room . | Darren Fletcher is attracting interest from a number of clubs . West Ham United are the latest Premier League side to show interest . West Bromwich Albion, Valencia and Celtic also interested in Fletcher . The Manchester United man has six months left on his current contract . Click here for Manchester United transfer news . | fa89bcac35f826859a46a3c2d192569ff4f8b842 |
Firefighters that responded to a call out for an elderly man that had a heart attack while shoveling snow have inspired an outpouring of good deeds. The first responders from the Greenfield Fire Department in Wisconsin rushed the man to a nearby hospital for treatment. They then returned to his house and finished clearing a foot of snow from his driveway. The Greenfield Fire Department in Wisconsin first took an elderly man having a heart attack to hospital and then returned to finish shoveling a foot of snow from his driveway . The incident was captured on camera and posted to Reddit and later on Facebook by the Fire Department. 'An elderly man in my neighborhood had a heart attack while shoveling his driveway. Paramedics took him to the hospital, then returned to finish shoveling his driveway for him,' Reddit user Optimoprimo reported. Firefighters first used the plow on their truck and then shoveled away what the plow couldn't reach. The Greenfield Fire Department has since launched a 'Shovel It Forward' campaign to encourage residents to help those who may have difficulty shoveling snow. The department has encouraged people to share their good deeds using the hashtag #shovelitforward. The Greenfield Fire Department in Wisconsin has received national attention since news of their good deed went viral. They are encouraging others to help out neighbors that may face difficulties clearing snow . 'They just saw someone that needed help and they took time out of their day and their busy schedules to do something like that. It's amazing. It's awesome,' the elderly man's daughter told ABC affiliate WISN. The driveway was snowed in again the next day and someone came and cleared it again according to Optimoprimo. Someone from the neighborhood with a snowblower will help the man out from now on he reported. | Firefighters responding to a call out when an elderly man had a heart attack returned to his house and cleared his driveway after taking him to hospital . The Greenfield Fire Department in Wisconsin has since launched a 'Shovel It Forward' campaign encouraging residents to help their neighbors . The campaign has spread on social media through the hashtag #shovelitforward . | 40a546b7ce4c4aec124629f04f10d54f2d9f52b9 |
(CNN) -- G8 summits are often fertile ground for the most grandiose of political promises. True to form, this year's one didn't disappoint: The leaders of the U.S. and the EU fired the starting gun in the race to create the biggest bilateral trade agreement the world has ever seen. Despite tensions surrounding revelations of alleged U.S. spying on key EU figures, the talks officially kicked off this week. But what are the chances of such a deal coming to fruition? Read more: EU envoys meet over claims of U.S. spying on European allies . And by the time each side has had its say, will the new pact really bring the benefits touted today? At a recent event I chaired in Brussels, former World Bank president and one-time U.S. trade negotiator Bob Zoellick was skeptical. Talk is cheap, he said, what matters is what's achieved. Obama visit: Why U.S. now needs Germany more than ever . One thing Zoellick was adamant about is that it will take years to get any definite deal up and running, and by the time concessions have been made the agreement is likely to look rather different to the original blueprint. The Transatlantic Trade and Investment Partnership -- or TTIP for short -- is an ambitious project, designed to boost what is already the world's most important inter-regional trading relationship. Both partners are betting it will add generously to the 13 million or so jobs that depend on transatlantic trade, whilst boosting investment in key sectors starved of cash during the global financial crisis. Outgoing World Bank chief: Fix eurozone . Make no mistake, each side needs this deal badly: To speed up the painfully slow recovery and provide an effective counterweight to China, whose cheap exports have put scores of American and European firms out of business. But there are limits to what each side will accept. The logic is by removing all tariffs on goods and harmonizing regulatory standards for the production of cars to crops, the regions will be able to create one gargantuan market for their goods and services. France has so far successfully lobbied to protect Europe's film and music industry while the U.S. could retaliate with its own conditions, meaning the chances of a fully comprehensive framework look slim. Worth up to around $280 billion, the TTIP will cement an alliance between two blocs which already account for almost half of the world's gross domestic product. Richard Quest: US-EU trade deal not in 'our lifetime' All this may sound great in principle but the reality is stronger U.S.-EU ties risk alienating large emerging economies that have been deliberately excluded. China has watched the transatlantic nations' dubious stewardship of the world economy with increasing alarm. It will not take kindly to their stranglehold over world trade. Back in Europe, some are already questioning whether the TTIP's economic benefits will be evenly shared. A survey commissioned by Germany's Bertelsmann Foundation expected U.S. incomes would rise 13.4% per head thanks to the TTIP, whereas those in Europe would only increase 5%. Even among EU member states the trickle down effect is likely to be uneven with the UK's economy likely to grow 9.7% while that of France would expand just 2.6%, the study found. What also remains unclear is the effect increased trade with the U.S. would have on intra-EU commerce upon which many member states are heavily reliant. Still, on balance, even if there are fewer crumbs to be had on its side of the table, Europe has the most to lose if the TTIP doesn't go through. Why? because it has fewer options than America. Dogged by uncomfortably high unemployment and repeated recessions, one gets the sense the European Commission views the TTIP rather like a "get out of jail" card. Faced with no effective policy to tackle its issues, a crisis of leadership and a dearth of funds, Brussels appears to believe the TTIP will prove to be some sort of panacea. Another unknown is whether the business community will buy into the TTIP. Large firms often talk up the merits of free trade but shy away from the cumbersome aspects that new trading environments often offer. The nascent U.S.-EU trade negotiations aim to achieve much but it will take years to work out the details and by the time the TTIP is up and running the economy will probably be back on its feet again. Hopefully by then they will have dreamed up a new name though. After all "TIP" is hardly a promising acronym for the biggest deal on the planet. | Worth up to around $280 billion, the agreement will cement an alliance between the two blocs . Both partners are betting it will add generously to the 13 million or so jobs that depend on transatlantic trade . But stronger U.S.-EU ties risk alienating large emerging economies that have been deliberately excluded . | 1c9d9723b499d2fedc1ad1dc80066cd46d49a92f |
(CNN) -- The mayor of a Montana college town Wednesday welcomed a federal investigation into allegations that sexual assault and rape complaints were improperly handled. But John Engen, mayor since 2006, was also surprised when he was notified of the probe. "This is uncharted territory for us," he told CNN. The U.S. Justice Department announced Tuesday it was launching a probe into allegations that up to 80 complaints of sexual assault over three years were not investigated thoroughly because of gender bias. Of those, 11 cases involved students at the University of Montana -- at least two involving football players. "If Justice has enough information that it believes an investigation is warranted, I'm not going to question that," Engen said. "Clearly they have a responsibility to act on whatever complaints they are hearing. I think time will tell whether this was the right call or not." Assistant Attorney General Thomas Perez of the Justice Department's Civil Rights Division said the focus of the investigation was not on the number of reported allegations, but on the response. "Our focus is on systemic issues; that is, do the university and the law enforcement agencies have the necessary policies and practices in place to protect women in a comprehensive and integrated manner," Perez said at a news conference Tuesday. The Department of Education is coordinating with Justice officials, a spokesman told CNN. Fred Van Valkenburg, Missoula County chief prosecutor, vehemently defended his office and the police officers involved in the investigations. "We adamantly deny that we have done any such thing, and we are deeply disturbed with the allegation that we have done so," he told reporters. "I do not believe there is any reason to think that anyone at UM is violating anyone's constitutional rights," he said. "We have not been told even in the most minimal fashion what it is we have allegedly done wrong. We are left to speculate what allegations are being made." Perez defended the Justice investigation, saying that it was the only way to determine whether there has been any wrongdoing. "There are a lot of women in this community and a lot of stakeholders in this community who have strong concerns right now," he said. In December, the University of Montana initiated its own investigation after allegations of a female student being gang-raped and possibly drugged by other students. The university hired Montana Supreme Court Justice Diane Barz to investigate, and she looked into nine alleged sexual assaults from September 2010 through December. Barz wrote in her report that the university has "a problem of sexual assault on and off campus." That report triggered a preliminary review by the Justice Department, which resulted in the investigation. Engen said Perez notified him last Thursday and met him and other officials involved Tuesday morning before the announcement. At least 11 allegations of sexual assault involving students were reported in the last 18 months. And at least two of the allegations are said to involve football players on the University of Montana Grizzlies football team. "As to the university, we are investigating whether it responds promptly and effectively to allegations of sexual assault and harassment on campus and has taken the necessary steps to combat sexual violence," Perez said. University of Montana President Royce Engstrom said the school was "fully committed to cooperating and collaborating in this investigation. We have taken this matter extremely seriously from day one." Engen said the Penn State child sex abuse scandal changed the way many people think about campus incidents. "Missoula is no Penn State," he said. "But I think we are like a lot of places. Our experience is not unique." In March, the university dismissed football coach Robin Pflugrad and athletic director Jim O'Day. University officials gave no specific reason -- only that it was time for new leadership. But students reacted, some with anger. Andrew Fink wrote on a university Facebook page that the administration was to blame -- not the coach and the athletic director. "I'm glad I'm not a Grizzly anymore! You hold Robin Pflugrad responsible for the sexual assaults on campus? How despicable! These men should be accountable for their own actions!" Jason Woodill wrote that the university's handling of sexual assaults on campus was a joke. "The way the U of M has handled the sexual assaults makes me ashamed to be a student. The level (of) incompetency is blatant and ludicrous," he wrote on Facebook. Missoula, a city of about 68,000 people in western Montana, is closely linked to the school. The University of Montana is the top employer in the city, and many local professionals are alumni. The city of Missoula recently launched a campaign called "It's Your Call -- 911" to encourage victims of sexual assault and rape to come forward. The city police website now has extensive information answering this question: "What will happen if I contact the Missoula Police Department about being sexually assaulted?" "I think there has been an expectation that as a community, we ramp up our efforts," Engen said. "Ultimately as mayor, my responsibility is to the broader public, its safety and welfare. I want justice done." | NEW: The mayor says Missoula is in uncharted territory . The investigation focuses on complaints at the University of Montana in Missoula . A Missoula prosecutor defends his office and the police officers involved in the investigations . More than 80 cases of sexual assault and rape were reported over three years . | 4f5a326704a6db2927b8537be0836d6bf7893b71 |
By . Chris Brooke . PUBLISHED: . 06:41 EST, 5 March 2013 . | . UPDATED: . 20:54 EST, 5 March 2013 . A pub landlady who underwent a gastric bypass operation has become so thin she must eat a mountain of food every day to stay alive. A rare complication of the slimming surgery caused Julie Dunbar’s body to stop absorbing the nutrients it needs. In 12 months, her weight plummeted from 20st 7lbs to a skeletal 6st – and she ended up in hospital dangerously malnourished and close to death. Scroll down for video . Piling it high: Julie Dunbar has to eat 5,000 calories a day after weight loss surgery left her severely undernourished . Full-time job: Ms Dubar says her daily calorie requirement (pictured) means she is 'constantly eating' and spends at least £200 a week on food . Doctors told her the only solution was . to eat 5,000 calories a day – more than double the recommended daily . amount for women and far more than she ever used to eat – because her . body can ingest only a fraction of the nutrients she takes in. Her daily menu includes half a block . of cheese, a packet of smoked salmon, a packet of biscuits, nuts, fruit, . cake, a curry or shepherd’s pie for dinner and bags of sweets. Miss Dunbar, 51, of Leeds, West . Yorkshire, said: ‘It’s a full-time job. Our food bill is phenomenal. It . must cost about £200 to feed me a week. ‘It was enjoyable at first but now it’s a pain and I hate it. Even if I don’t feel like it I still really need to eat.’ Ms Dunbar, 51, decided to have weight loss surgery after her weight crept up to 20st 7lb . Malnourished: Ms Dunbar's weight plummeted to 6st after surgery and she had to be fed through a tube . In 2010, Miss Dunbar paid £10,000 to . have the biliopancreatic diversion with a duodenal switch operation at . the private Spire Hospital in Leeds. In this type of weight-loss surgery . a large part of the stomach is removed and the small intestine . re-routed. The object is to reduce the amount of time the body has to capture calories and absorb fat. Following the operation, her weight dropped so quickly that her sister Karen, 50, was inspired to have the same procedure. But while the sister’s weight levelled . off at 10st, Miss Dunbar’s continued to drop at an alarming rate. She . said: ‘It was an absolutely awful time. In the pub, people looked at me . and thought, “She is not going to make it”. Then and now: She says she now eats far more than when she was overweight . ‘My face was like a skeleton and it was totally sunken in. There wasn’t an ounce of flesh on me.’ She was so malnourished she developed Wernicke Encephalopathy, . normally seen in alcoholics, people with HIV or those who have been . starved, leaving her with memory loss and balance problems. BREAKFAST: . Three cups of coffee with milk . Two egg omelette with 175g of cheese (around about half a block) Two yoghurts . Bowl of crunchy nut cornflakes . DINNER: . Thai curry with rice, roast dinner, shepherd's pie . SNACKS THROUGHOUT THE DAY: . A whole packet of parma ham or smoked salmon . Chicken liver parfait on toast . Cheese and biscuits . 100g of cashew nuts . Biscuits and chocolate . Lots of fruit . Water, milk and Lucozade . Bags of sweets, especially jelly beans and fruit pastels . A huge piece of cake in the middle of the night . Miss Dunbar added: ‘Looking at . pictures of myself is like looking at a picture of an African child that . is starving. I’m just bones. ‘I went into hospital to lose weight and I came out as a different person.’ Miss Dunbar underwent two more . operations last year to increase her stomach size to aid the intake of . nutrients, but nothing else can be done to maintain a healthy weight . apart from eating. She is now a healthy eight stone but has to continue to eat as much as she can to ensure she continues to gain weight. 'To combat the illness, I need to absorb as much as I can from food,' she said. 'For example, whereas a normal person would consume about 30-40g of protein a day, I need to take 125g in to get my levels up to where they should be. 'It has completely changed me as a person. 'At the beginning I was really happy, because I was dropping lots of weight. 'But then it's supposed to stop and it just didn't. 'There was no light at the end of the tunnel - it was an absolutely awful time. Now, thanks to her huge calorie intake, she has managed to prevent her condition from worsening. | Julie Dunbar, 51, had weight loss surgery after her weight hit 20st 7lb . Lost 14 stone in a year and became dangerously malnourished . Needed tube feeding and three more ops to partly undo stomach reduction . Now has illness resulting from severe malnourishment and lack of vitamins . Has to eat 5,000 calories a day to get enough nutrients to stay alive . | 5cd0d46df3e4eed89690cc2a6e7443369fde44d0 |
(CNN) -- Ghanaian officials swore in a new president Tuesday, hours after the death of the West African nation's leader. John Evans Atta Mills died suddenly at a military hospital Tuesday afternoon a few hours after becoming ill, Chief of Staff John Henry Martey Newman said in a statement. He was 68. In a ceremony broadcast on state television, John Dramani Mahama -- formerly Ghana's vice president -- became the country's new president and ordered that flags be flown at half-staff for a week. "This is the saddest day in our nation's history. Tears have engulfed our nation and we're deeply saddened and distraught. I never imagined that one day I will address our nation in such difficult circumstances," Mahama said. "I'm personally devastated. I've lost a father, I've lost a friend, I've lost a mentor and a senior comrade." Opinion: Mills' election victory was a 'victory for democracy in Africa' Officials did not specify what caused Mills' death. The president had denied rumors about his health for months. "Does my continued living pose a threat to some people?" he told reporters at a January event, according to the state-run Ghana News Agency. On June 25, he returned from a medical checkup in the United States, the news agency reported. Mills was a former law professor and a tax expert. He was Ghana's vice president from 1997 to 2000. Before his political career, he taught at the University of Ghana and also was a visiting lecturer at Temple University in Pennsylvania and Leiden University in the Netherlands. Mills ran for president unsuccessfully in 2000 and 2004 before narrowly winning a runoff in 2009. Mills' death came several days after he celebrated his 68th birthday. He had said he would run for re-election in December. In a statement read on his behalf by Ghana's information minister Monday, Mills said his government had focused on developing the nation's economy, according to the Ghana News Agency. "We made a promise to expand our country's infrastructural base in support of our economy take-off," the statement said. "We also decided to invest in the people of our country so as to make them competitive both locally and abroad." Mahama said Tuesday that Mills was a "prince of peace" who "brought a distinctive insight into Ghanaian politics." The opposition New Patriotic Party expressed condolences in a statement Tuesday. "We join the nation in mourning this sad loss to Ghana," the statement said. U.S. President Barack Obama met with Mills when he visited Ghana in July 2009. Obama praised the country as a model for democracy and stability when Mills visited Washington this year. "Ghana has become a wonderful success story economically on the continent," Obama said. "In part because of the initiatives of President Mills, you've seen high growth rates over the last several years. Food productivity and food security is up. There's been strong foreign investment." In a statement Tuesday, British Prime Minister David Cameron described Mills as "a tireless defender of democracy in West Africa and across the continent." Part of a former British colony, Ghana was among the first African countries to gain independence, in 1957. It endured a series of coups before a military dictator, Jerry Rawlings, took power in 1981. Rawlings led Ghana through a transition to democracy about 10 years later. Mahama, 53, is a former member of Ghana's parliament who has served as director of communication for the National Democratic Congress party. On Tuesday, the new president called on Ghanaians to respect Mills' legacy. "Our finest tribute to him at this moment is to maintain the unity and stability of our nation," Mahama said. Obama hailed Ghana as 'model for democracy' Share your memories of Mills with CNN iReport. Journalist Israel Laryea contributed to this report. | NEW: "This is the saddest day in our nation's history," the new president says . John Evans Atta Mills died a few hours after falling ill, his chief of staff said . The president was a former law professor and tax expert . The president died at a military hospital, the government says . | 39eafc70b3ef1c9099b2eabfdf44ba03147af87d |
New evidence showing the level of atmospheric CO2 millions of years ago supports recent climate change predictions from the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC), according to research scientists. A multinational research team, led by scientists at the University of Southampton, has analysed new records showing the CO2 content of Earth's atmosphere between 2.3 to 3.3 million years ago, during the Pliocene era. And this data could be used to work out how Earth today will react as the climate continues to warm due to human activities. Scroll down for video . Research led by the University of Southampton looked at the history of Earth's climate 2.3 to 3.3 million years ago in the Pilocene era. They say this data confirms the IPCC's warnings about our modern climate (stock image shown) if CO2 levels are allowed to continue to rise . During the Pliocene, the Earth was around 2°C warmer than it is today and atmospheric CO2 levels were around 350-400 parts per million (ppm), similar to the levels reached in recent years. By studying the relationship between CO2 levels and climate change during a warmer period in Earth's history, the scientists have been able to estimate how the climate will respond to increasing levels of carbon dioxide, a parameter known as climate sensitivity. The Pliocene is particularly useful as it is the last time CO2 levels on Earth were as high as they are today, Dr Gavin Foster, co-author of the study, told MailOnline. Continued emission of greenhouse gases will cause further warming and long-lasting changes. It will increase the likelihood of 'severe, pervasive and irreversible impacts for people and ecosystems.' This includes extreme weather and rising sea levels, heat waves, flooding and droughts. Ocean acidification, which comes from the added carbon absorbed by oceans, will harm marine life. Without changes in emissions, 'climate change risks are likely to be high or very high by the end of the 21st century.' At the current rate, by mid-century temperatures will increase by about another 2°C (3.6°F) compared to temperatures from 1986 to 2005. By the end of the century, that scenario will bring temperatures that are about 3.7°C (6.7°F) warmer. The impact on the Earth could already be considered dangerous, the report claims. He said the Arctic ‘wasn’t a tropical paradise, but it certainly had animals and trees, it was a lot warmer back then.’ The geological record provides a rich archive that we can dip in to, to see the effects on our planet as the climate continues to warm. As the planet warms even further at a rapid rate that cannot be attributed to natural processes alone, it will be necessary to go further and further back in time in the geological record. For example, 50 million years ago it was 12°C warmer than it is today, when there were crocodiles in the Arctic and sub-tropical forests on Antarctica. The findings, which have been published in Nature, also show how climate sensitivity can vary over the long term. Dr Foster added in a release: 'Today the Earth is still adjusting to the recent rapid rise of CO2 caused by human activities, whereas the longer-term Pliocene records document the full response of CO2-related warming. 'Our estimates of climate sensitivity lie well within the range of 1.5 to 4.5°C increase per CO2 doubling summarised in the latest IPCC report. 'This suggests that the research community has a sound understanding of what the climate will be like as we move toward a Pliocene-like warmer future caused by human greenhouse gas emissions.' CO2 levels in the Pliocene - when animals like the sabre-tooth cat Dinofelis (illustrated) roamed - were similar to the levels now reached. At that time the Arctic was warm enough to have animals and trees. And as the climate warms further due to human activity, scientists will look even further back in the geological record . The Pliocene is particularly useful as it is the last time CO2 levels on Earth were as high as they are today, now due to man-made emissions (stock image shown), Dr Gavin Foster told MailOnline . Lead author of the study, Dr Miguel Martinez-Boti, also from Southampton said: 'Our new records also reveal an important change at around 2.8 million years ago, when levels rapidly dropped to values of about 280ppm, similar to those seen before the Industrial Revolution. 'This caused a dramatic global cooling that initiated the ice-age cycles that have dominated Earth's climate ever since.' The research team also assessed whether climate sensitivity was different in warmer times, like the Pliocene, than in colder times, like the glacial cycles of the last 800,000 years. Dr Eelco Rohling, of the Australian National University in Canberra, said: 'We find that climate change in response to CO2 change in the warmer period was around half that of the colder period. 'We determine that this difference is driven by the growth and retreat of large continental ice sheets that are present in the cold ice-age climates; these ice sheets reflect a lot of sunlight and their growth consequently amplifies the impact of CO2 changes.' Dr Richard Pancost, from the University of Bristol Cabot Institute, added: 'When we account for the influence of the ice sheets, we confirm that the Earth's climate changed with a similar sensitivity to overall [radiative] forcing during both warmer and colder climates.' According to last year's IPCC report, continued emission of greenhouse gases will cause further warming and long-lasting changes (some shown on the map). It will increase the likelihood of 'severe, pervasive and irreversible impacts for people and ecosystems,' said the report . | Research led by the University of Southampton looked at the history of Earth's climate 2.3 to 3.3 million years ago in the Pilocene era . They say this data confirms the IPCC's warnings about our planet . CO2 levels in the Pliocene were similar to the levels now reached . At that time the Arctic was warm enough to have animals and trees . And as the climate warms further due to human activity, the scientists say the geological record further back can also predict what will happen . | 76c635e2073033e7889c4f12aec842ddea7687fa |
(CNN) -- The Casey Anthony murder trial ended an hour and a half early Thursday, with Orange County Chief Judge Belvin Perry Jr. telling members of the media in the courtroom that Anthony was ill. Jurors were not told why the trial ended early Thursday, and Perry asked them not to speculate. He said court would be in recess until Friday. After the jurors left, Perry spoke to members of the media in the courtroom, saying that Anthony was ill and that neither the prosecution nor the defense had any comment on the matter. The judge asked reporters not to question either side about it. The details of Anthony's illness were not given. During a short break before the announcement, Anthony drank a bottle of water quietly as attorneys spoke together and went back to Perry's chambers, according to In Session's Michael Christian. She was escorted out of the courtroom during the break, then brought back in, but lay her head down on her arms at the defense table. She did not stand as the jurors left the courtroom. In a statement released Thursday evening, Orange County Jail spokesman, Allen Moore said Anthony had been returned to jail and was receiving medical attention from the facility's health services provider. "No information can be released regarding her treatment or medical condition due to HIPPA and Florida Medical and Mental Health Confidentiality Laws," Moore said. For security reasons, Moore also declined to state whether Anthony would return to court Friday. "Orange County Corrections will never reveal the transport of any inmate in our custody due to the security risks posed by such knowledge being made public," Moore said. Earlier Thursday, testimony centered on the recovery of the skeletal remains of her 2-year-old daughter, Caylee, from a wooded area in December 2008. Anthony cried as photographs of the remains were displayed in the Orlando courtroom and avoided looking at the screen where they were displayed. Anthony, 25, faces seven counts in Caylee's death, including first-degree murder, aggravated child abuse and misleading investigators. If convicted, she could face the death penalty. The toddler's family last saw her on June 16, 2008, but no one alerted police until July 15, when the girl's maternal grandmother tracked down Casey Anthony and demanded answers. Prosecutors allege Casey Anthony used chloroform on her daughter and suffocated her by putting duct tape over the little girl's mouth and nose. They allege she put her daughter's body in her car trunk before disposing of it. Caylee's skeletal remains were found on December 11, 2008, less than a mile from the home of Casey Anthony's parents. Casey Anthony has pleaded not guilty and denied having anything to do with her daughter's death. Defense attorney Jose Baez has said that when all the facts are known, it will become clear his client is innocent. As the photographs were displayed Thursday, jurors heard testimony from Orange County Sheriff's Office crime scene technician Jennifer Welch, along with Steve Hanson, chief investigator for the medical examiner's office, and Gary Utz, Orange County chief deputy . Welch detailed items found with the little girl's remains, including a black plastic bag, an off-white canvas bag, a red plastic Disney bag, a pair of shorts, a blanket and "clothing remnants." Duct tape could be seen on the facial region of the skull, she testified. Anthony's parents, George and Cindy Anthony, were not in the courtroom while the photos were shown Thursday. Jurors also heard a recording of a 911 call in which a utility worker reported that meter reader Roy Kronk claimed to have found a skull at the site where the remains were found. Questioned by Baez, Welch agreed that it was paramount that a crime scene or remains not be tampered with, saying it could affect an investigation. Numerous photographs were introduced into evidence of the skull, along with the duct tape on it and other items found at the scene, such as the canvas laundry bag. Utz testified the skull had its jawbone, or mandible, still attached, which was relatively rare given the stage of decomposition. The duct tape, he testified, was helping keep the jawbone attached, along with hair on the skull. Thursday morning, jurors heard testimony from Casey Anthony's brother, who testified that his sister -- out of jail on bail the month after Caylee was reported missing -- told him an alternate version of how the little girl was kidnapped by her nanny. He said his sister told him in August 2008 that she had met the nanny, Zenaida Fernandez-Gonzalez, at an Orlando park along with Gonzalez's sister. Casey Anthony told him that Gonzalez held her down and told her that she was taking Caylee from her because she wasn't a good mother, "to teach her a lesson," Lee Anthony said. Gonzalez also warned her not to go to the police, according to Casey Anthony's account. Lee Anthony recalled his sister saying, "she couldn't believe it was happening, and it felt kind of surreal to her," he testified. She said she did nothing to stop her child from being taken, he recounted, because "she was scared and she didn't know what to do." His sister told him that, from time to time, Gonzalez would contact her through Casey Anthony's MySpace page and direct her as to what to do and where to go. She went to the locations, she said, in hopes of seeing or retrieving her daughter but was never successful in finding her. Casey Anthony's account, as related by Lee Anthony, differed markedly from the one she gave authorities after Caylee was reported missing. She maintained to police she dropped the child off at the nanny's apartment that morning and never saw her again. Authorities were never able to find the nanny. They did find a woman named Zenaida Gonzalez, who denied ever meeting Casey Anthony or Caylee and later sued for defamation. "Zanny never materialized?" Baez asked Lee Anthony Thursday. "To this day, no," he replied. Lee Anthony also testified Thursday that he was the one searching the Internet on the Anthony family computer July 15 and 16, 2008. A computer examiner testified Wednesday that no searches for Zenaida Fernandez-Gonzalez were found on the computer until July 16 -- dealing a potential blow to Casey Anthony's claims to authorities that she was frantically searching for her daughter in the month before her disappearance was reported. Computer experts testified Wednesday that in March, someone using the desktop computer, located in the home Casey Anthony shared with her parents, searched for terms including "chloroform," "inhalation," "how to make chloroform" and "head injury." The searches were found in a portion of the computer's hard drive that indicated they had been deleted, Detective Sandra Osborne of the Orange County Sheriff's Office testified Wednesday. However, she told jurors, deleted material remains on a computer's hard drive and can be retrieved until it is overwritten by new data. It had not been overwritten on the Anthonys' computer, she said, and "a complete Internet history" was obtained. It appears the computer user first searched for "chloraform" on Google and received results for "chloroform," said John Bradley, owner of the software development company that created the software used to retrieve the data. One of the search results was from Wikipedia.org, which was accessed, he testified. On the other terms, he said the user either typed those terms in to search, or in some instances may have clicked on hyperlinks on the Wikipedia site. Bradley agreed with Baez's assertion that the links do not tell jurors what was on the websites accessed, and that some sites could have been jokes or information on self-defense. He also agreed he could not say how closely the user was examining the websites or whether a user was looking at multiple browsers. There were two user-created profiles on the computer, but Osborne told Baez she could not tell who performed the searches. Despite her assertions, prosecutors allege Casey Anthony was not looking for her missing daughter during the month before police were notified of her disappearance. Anthony's former boyfriend, friends and acquaintances who saw her during that time recalled her shopping, eating out, going to parties and hitting nightclubs, but all of them testified she never mentioned her missing daughter and none of them noticed any change in her demeanor. Her mother testified that Anthony had moved out of her parents' home about the time Caylee went missing, offering little in the way of explanation, and that when she inquired after Caylee, she was told Caylee was with her nanny, Gonzalez. Earlier in the week, jurors heard testimony regarding a foul odor emanating from Casey Anthony's trunk. A scientist testified that compounds associated with human decomposition were found there, and a cadaver dog handler testified that his dog "alerted" to the trunk. In Session's Michael Christian contributed to this report. Watch Nancy Grace Monday through Sunday starting at 8 p.m. ET on HLN. For the latest from Nancy Grace click here. | NEW: Anthony receiving medical attention in jail . The judge did not give details of Anthony's illness . She cried earlier Thursday as photos of her daughter's remains were shown . She is accused of killing her daughter Caylee, 2, in 2008 . | cb58711797ecb339ddaf814eaa9d837de6bb5048 |
Celebrity chef Matt Moran has leapt to the defence of Jamie Oliver who was blasted by the Victorian child commissioner for being a 'd***head' on Tuesday after he admitted he disciplined his daughter by feeding her one of the world's hottest chilis. Oliver admitted on Monday that when one of his four young children became unruly or disrespectful, he would coat their sliced apple with a type of chili known as the Scotch bonnet - because 'you can't smack naughty kids'. In an interview with Daily Mail Australia to mark ShopSmall month, the ARIA owner Moran said: 'Look, I probably wouldn't do that. I've had some fun with my kids over the years. It's all in jest, all a bit of fun. 'No one's going to hurt their kid. I don't think Jamie went out there to make his kids suffer. Someone's taken it a bit too far.' Scroll down for video . Victoria's children's commissioner Bernie Geary blasted Jamie Oliver (pictured, above) with wife, Jools and, from left, daughters Poppy, 12, Petal, 5, Daisy, 11, and four-year-old son Buddy . 'Way off the planet': After Jamie Oliver (above, left) admitted he used ultra-hot chilis to discipline his children when they were naughty, Victoria's children's commissioner, Bernie Geary (above, right) described him as 'cruel' and ' a d***head' Chef Matt Moran (pictured) came to the defence of Jamie Oliver and also criticised his . On Tuesday, Victoria's children's commissioner Bernie Geary blasted Oliver, calling him 'a d***head' and cruel' for disciplining his daughter by feeding her one of the world's hottest chilis. Scotch bonnets have a rating on the Scoville scale, which measures chili heat, of 100,000 to 350,000, making them up to 140 times hotter than a normal chili pepper. Speaking with Radio 3AW's Neil Mitchell, Mr Geary said, 'He's a d***head Neil. It's just not appropriate to use cruelty as a form of discipline.' Mr Geary went on to say that Oliver's chili trick was a form of 'child abuse'. 'This bloke, he should realise the influence he has as a high-profile public figure and a high-profile father,' Mr Geary said. 'If he's joking it's not even appropriate because some parents and families might think it's a legitimate or alternative way of disciplining children. He's way off the planet as far as I'm concerned.' A scorcher: the 'Scotch bonnet' chili (pictured) that Jamie Oliver feeds his children is 140 hotter than a normal pepper . Mr Geary was responding to Oliver's confession about how he disciplines his children, saying on Monday, 'I give them chillies for punishment. It is not very popular beating kids any more, it's not very fashionable and you are not allowed to do it and if you are a celebrity chef like me it does not look very good in the paper. So you need a few options.' Oliver said he had once tricked his 12-year-old daughter into eating an ultra-hot Scotch Bonnet, much to the annoyance of his wife, Jools. At the BBC Good Food Show, Oliver said: 'Poppy was quite disrespectful and rude to me and she pushed her luck. In my day I would have got a bit of a telling-off but you are not allowed to do that. 'Five minutes later she thought I had forgotten and I hadn't. She asked for an apple. I cut it up into several pieces and rubbed it with Scotch Bonnet and it worked a treat. She ran up to mum and said, 'This is peppery'. I was in the corner laughing. [Jools] said to me, 'Don't you ever do that again'.' Mr Geary, who is Victoria's Commissioner for Children and Young People, said Oliver's role as an educator made his actions even more troubling. 'He purports to be a teacher and a role model and works with children. If he worked in a school in Victoria they'd sack him,' he said. Given his struggle to impose order on daughters Poppy Honey Rosie, Daisy Boo Pamela, 11, and Petal Blossom Rainbow, five, and son Buddy Bear Maurice, four, perhaps it is no surprise Oliver is not keen to add to his family. He revealed he argued with his wife of 14 years about the idea, saying: 'You know what she said last night? She is 40 in about ten days and I took her out and she goes, 'OK are we going to have another kid then?' I said, 'You what?'. Between the preparation and the simmering family tensions, Christmas lunch is often a painful experience for many Australians. But there are ways you can make it easier, according to celebrity chef Matt Moran. He provided some of his top tips about how to prepare the perfect festive meal to mark ShopSmall month, a month-long campaign to encourage customers to buy from the nation's small businesses. 1. Prepare, prepare, prepare . 'To me, it's all about preparation,' Moran told Daily Mail Australia. In other words, spend some time getting your meal together before the big day. It will make your special day that much easier. 'Have everything done, making stuff beforehand, so you're just basically cooking things in the morning. 'Your brandy custard should be done prior. Your Christmas pudding should already be done.' 'The last thing you really want to do is be spending more time in the kitchen when you should be opening presents and having a lot of fun.' 2. Too much is never enough . One of the best things about Christmas meals is the days and days of leftovers it produces, Moran said. And you shouldn't be afraid of making too much food. 'The great thing I love about a ham and a turkey is you are eating it for the next five days. To me, that's the festive season. I love that. 'I love the fact I can (grab) some ham four days later and have it for breakfast. I can have turkey sandwiches three or four days after.' 3. Buy local produce - it tastes better . Whatever you do, make sure you buy local, Moran said. 'There's nothing better than going into your local shop.' 'People want that one-on-one contact. The guy recognises you straight away - to me, that's just a nice feeling.' 'It's about buying local, supporting your guy,' he said. That could from your local butcher, fishmonger or fruit and veg provider. 'And it's Christmas, it's a festive time and you know if you buy local, it always tastes better too.' 4. Try something different . Yes, you look forward to sinking your teeth into a delicious slab of Christmas ham each year. It can stay on the table. But why not add a little extra something else to your meal? Moran told Daily Mail Australia you should take the opportunity to try something a little different this festive season. 'Go to your local grower's markets, your local fruit and veg guy, go in there and ask ... what is actually good. 'Go down to your fishmarkets. You might find something a little bit different. You might find your local fishmonger might have some... Balmain bugs or some scampi.' 5. If you want to chill out, go out . If the prospect of guests trashing your home gives you the sweats, there's the option of taking your meal somewhere else, Moran said. For the top chef, Christmas is a time of family and friends, and he keeps his restaurants closed for the day. 'We don't open Christmas Day and the reason why we don't is I spent many, many years as a young chef working Christmas Day. 'I missed out on about a dozen of them. I just always have that in my mind... I don't want my staff to (miss out).' ARIA chef Matt Moran has provided some of his top tips to make a perfect Christmas meal . The family pose together for the December issue of Red magazine, where the couple talk about family life . 'The woman wants another baby. So watch this space. But with all the power in my body we are not having another baby.' He admitted, however, that Mrs Oliver usually wins the arguments at home – even about food. He said: 'My wife loves a destroyed steak. I have been with her since I was 18 years old, how romantic, but it is hard to keep loving someone when they want a well-done steak. I have tried to tell her but she is a very single-minded, dominant woman.' The couple – who have a combined wealth of £240million – met when they were 17. The chef drove to a cinema, but crashed the car. He has joked she started dating him out of pity as a result. Mrs Oliver, a former model, has worked as her husband's PA and now designs children's clothing. Jamie Oliver, who was named as a Special Achievement Honouree at the LOVIE awards last week, said his wife Jools has asked whether they can have another child - their fifth - but the chef has said no . | Celebrity chef Matt Moran jumps to the defence of Jamie Oliver after discipline row: 'Someone's taken it a bit too far' Victoria's children's commissioner Bernie Geary called Jamie Oliver 'a d***head' for feeding his daughter with one of the world's hottest chilis . Oliver says he punishes his 12-year-old daughter Poppy for being disrespectful . He rubs a type of chilli pepper named the 'Scotch bonnet' onto apple slices . In an interview to mark Shop Small month, Moran also provided readers with his top tips for a perfect Christmas meal . | 0cb7b7acd2c8a78d5c3ee56039aeb1e9ca2decb4 |
By . Larisa Brown . PUBLISHED: . 21:13 EST, 1 May 2013 . | . UPDATED: . 09:45 EST, 2 May 2013 . Prince Charles used his feudal entitlements to £3.3million in unclaimed estates to support his own charities . Prince Charles has used his feudal entitlement to £3.3m of the unclaimed legacies of dead people to fund his own charities and support his old Scottish private school which he once described as ‘Colditz with kilts’. His title as Duke of Cornwall means he becomes the owner of the assets of anyone living in the county of Cornwall who dies ‘intestate’, meaning who dies without a will or known relations. Last year this entitlement provided him with more than £450,000 and he is sitting on £3.3m in cash from years of collecting Cornish legacies, according to latest accounts seen by the Guardian. In 2012 the benevolent fund he set up to use the money made its biggest grant of £20,000 to Charles’s charity Business in the Community, whose supporters include some of the biggest companies in Britain. Another of its largest grants was of £5,000 to Gordonstoun, the Scottish public school, which Charles attended in 1962 and reportedly hated, and where a place now costs £30,000 a year. The money was provided to support bursaries for Cornish children who otherwise would not be able to afford the fees. A total of £1,000 went to his London-based Prince’s Foundation for Building Communities, which backs the prince’s controversial ideas about architecture and planning. His title as Duke of Cornwall means he becomes owner of assets of anyone in the county who dies intestate . Last year the foundation established a . five-year partnership with the Ideal Home Show to showcase the value of . sustainable design, which has been championed by Charles. The . foundation believes that sustainably planned, built and maintained . communities improve the quality of life of everyone who’s part of them, . according to its chief executive Hank Dittmar, and ‘is empowering people . to want better places to live in and helping them to achieve it’. Prince Charles’ title already lands him an £18m private annual income. The donations provided by deceased people in Cornwall have drawn particular criticism in the county. Last night there were calls for the inheritances to be channelled into the public purse as they are in the rest of England. Burt . Biscoe, a councillor in Truro, told the Guardian Charles was ‘abusing . the loyalty’ of Cornish people and the ‘privilege’ of receiving the . intestate assets. A grant of £5,000 was given to his old school Gordonstoun that he once called 'Colditz with kilts' A grant of £1,000 was given to his Prince's Foundation for Building Community, which backs his planning ideas . He said: ‘Think what he could achieve if he gave that £450,000 to Cornwall every year … The area of giving should coincide with the area of taking.’ Charles has also been criticised for only distributing £100,000 – less than a quarter of the assets received from the deceased last year. A Duchy of Cornwall spokesman said all of the money received would eventually be given to charity – minus the administration costs – but all the money from donations comes in at different points in the year and so is not allocated immediately. Graham Smith, director of Republic, the campaign for an elected head of state, added: ‘Charles is sitting on those funds when they could be supporting the vital work of charities, many of whom are really struggling at the moment.’ The benevolent fund made 151 grants last year, including ones to the Soil Association, the organic farming movement which Charles supports and the Dorchester arts festival near his Poundbury housing development in Dorset. A spokesman added that the Soil Association, Business in the Community and the Prince’s Foundation for Building Communities all carry out work in the south west. A Duchy of Cornwall spokesman said: ‘The Prince of Wales personally decided that the money from bona vacantia should be donated to charity. ‘Any charity can apply for a grant but the Fund favours charitable causes in the South West.’ | Duke of Cornwall's title means he . becomes owner of assets of anyone living in the county who dies ‘intestate’ Grants have been given to his former public school Gordonstoun . Thousands of pounds also given to his own charitable trusts . Critics say Royal 'abusing the loyalty' of the Cornish people . | dc11a3a8aad18eb5c1c8c72e0686838e828a3ff6 |
By . Freya Noble And Aap . A Perth man has escaped the death penalty for a second time after a Malaysian court rejected an appeal against his acquittal on drugs charges. Dominic Bird, 34, was accused of supplying 167 grams of methamphetamine to an undercover police officer in March 2012 . He was acquitted on September 4 last year, but was re-arrested minutes before he was about to board a flight home to Australia from Kuala Lumpur airport after prosecutors launched an 11th hour appeal. Scroll down for video . Dominic Bird has escaped the death penalty for the second time since 2012, over drug charges in Malaysia . Possessing more than 50 grams carries a mandatory death penalty in Malaysia. Mr Bird was freed on Wednesday afternoon as he fronted the Malaysian Court of Appeal. He claimed he was set up by a police officer who planted the substance on him, drug squad detective Luther Nurjib. There is still a chance prosecutors may launch one more appeal. Mr Bird said earlier on Wednesday he was prepared for that prospect. 'I'm remaining optimistic about the result, I think we'll do well,' he told AAP. Mr Bird (right) leaving the Malaysia High Court a free man for the second time with his lawyer Muhammed Shafee Abdullah (left) 'I've prepared myself for the DPP (Department of Public Prosecutions) appealing again, so that's still an option they can exercise.' Before the court's decision, Mr Bird said he would try to leave for Australian immediately if the prosecution's appeal was rejected. His lawyer, Muhammed Shafee Abdullah, in earlier hearings had argued that the arrest at the boarding gate at Malaysia's international airport was unconstitutional on the grounds his client had been declared by the Kuala Lumpur High Court to be a free man. But Court of Appeal Justice Azahar Mohamed rejected that argument, and ruled the arrest was lawful, and that the appeal was simply a continuation of the trial. Mr Bird, having already spent more than 18 months behind bars, was granted bail pending the outcome of the appeal. He was accused of possessing 167 grams of the illegal substance while at a cafe near his home in Kualar Lumpur. The prosecution have one more chance to appeal against the Perth man's sentence, pictured here with his father Clayton Bird (right) Prosecutor Awang Armadajaya told AAP he would consult with his superiors at the Attorney-General's office about whether or not to pursue Mr Bird. The prosecution has 14 days to appeal, and Mr Awang said he may seek an injunction to prevent Mr Bird from leaving Malaysia while the Attorney-General's office considers its options. In a unanimous decision, the panel of three judges ruled that the trial judge had not erred in throwing out the testimony of Inspector Luther, and that the defence had presented enough reasonable doubt to warrant acquittal. Justice Aziah Ali, the chairwoman of the panel of three judges, said that it was clear from the High Court judge's earlier ruling that he had found Inspector Luther to be completely unreliable as a witness. 'That's the difficulty for you because your witness on whose evidence the case of the prosecution lies has been found to be not credible - a liar,' Justice Aziah said in an address to the prosecutor. Also at question was whether it was Inspector Luther or Mr Bird who had arrived at the cafe carrying a bag that contained the drugs, after two witnesses at trial gave contradictory testimony. | Dominic Bird was arrested in March 2012 accused of possessing 167 grams of methamphetamine . The Perth man was acquitted in September 2013 after the prosecution's case fell apart . As he was boarding a plane home to Australia he was re-arrested at Kuala Lumpur International Airport . On Wednesday he was freed again, escaping the death penalty for the second time . | 62e3820fcf82b3c27bb53375827d9c86e8d41f22 |
Fashion designer Stella came under fire from fans yesterday after posting a picture on her Instagram page of an emaciated model in a vest from her brand’s Summer 2015 collection, alongside the caption: ‘Worn well!! X Stella.’ Hundreds took to the page to express their disapproval, with one writing: ‘Disgusting. That is not worn well, it’s hanging over bones.’ Another added: ‘Appalling image. This young lady is clearly very ill and the body image being used is all that is wrong with the fashion world.’ Stella then removed the image, replacing it with a shot of model Malaika Firth in the same top, and apologising to her fans, calling the original picture 'misleading.' Scroll down for video . Comments on the new photograph of Malaika Firth are still focused on the original shot, praising Stella for removing it but also berating her for posting it in the first place . Furore: Fashion designer Stella McCartney came under fire from fans after posting this picture on her Instagram page of an emaciated model, alongside the caption: 'Worn well!! X Stella' Fans still seems angry at the designers choice of model, despite her apology . A representative from the brand told the Independent: 'We are a house that celebrates all shapes, all sizes, all races and all ages . 'We should have been more mindful… It was a quick snap done backstage that was misleading. 'We listened to our followers and we took it down and replaced it. We can only apologise if we offended anyone.' The new image seems to have somewhat placated fans of the designer, some of whom even began a campaign to ‘unfollow Stella’ on Instagram. Identified as Ji Hye Park, the model, who walked in the show, is stated on her agency’s website to have a 32in bust, 24in waist and 34in hips, which, at 5ft 10in, is extremely slim, but not out of line with hundreds of other models. Ji was one of the models in the edgy campaign for Rihanna's A/W13 collection for River Island . Ji is a well established model, having starred in the campaign images for Rihanna’s A/W13 show for River Island alongside Nayasha Kusakina, Milou Van Grossen and Tati Cotliar were styled by Mel Ottenberg and the shoot was personally overseen by the singer. When contacted by MailOnline, Ji’s model agency Premiere said: ‘She is not too thin. We will not be making further comment'. Comments were mixed after Stella changed the shot, which she admits was 'misleading' One comment on the picture of Malaika says: 'Much better, but still incredibly disappointed in your first choice of model. Please *think* next time', while another berates 'Considering what a huge influence stella is on young people and as the mother of a young girl I'm appalled at the previous 'model' pic.' On Twitter one girl says: 'Let's use anorexia to promote my clothes as a publicity stunt', but then admits 'I do like that top though.' The British designer has also come under fire this week for 'weird' comments about her latest collection after saying strong women 'are not terribly attractive' McCartney was backstage after showcasing her spring/summer 2015 collection when she said: ‘Strength on its own in a woman is quite aggressive and not terribly attractive all the time. ‘This collection is really celebrating the gentle side.’ Some of McCartney's (left) fans began a campaign to 'unfollow Stella' on Instagram forcing the designer to remove the image and issue an apology . She drew criticism from feminists after she revealed her latest collection ‘was celebrating the softness of a woman, and her fragility. Strength on its own in a woman is quite aggressive and not terribly attractive at times’. Comments: The furore follows comments Stella made at her Paris Fashion Week show on Monday, suggesting strong women are unattractive . | Fashion designer came under fire after posting picture of emaciated model . Hundreds expressed their disapproval, with one calling image 'disgusting' Designer replaced image with one of model Malaika Firth in same top . Issued apology saying it was a 'quick snap done backstage that was misleading' Claims the brand 'celebrates all shapes, all sizes, all races and all ages' Comes after McCartney, 43, suggested strong women are unattractive . | 41083f6221d643c3cd497187ecf57aec63f2bb3f |
With her elegant outfit and chic make-up, Emma Watson looks all set for another film premiere. But the 24-year-old Harry Potter star was attending a very different type of photo call – as she continued her work as a UN Goodwill Ambassador. She was at the launch of the HeForShe campaign in New York on Saturday, where she delivered a speech calling for men to play a greater role in ending gender inequality. Scroll down for video . Emma Watson attended the launch of the UN Women HeForShe campaign in New York on Saturday . At the United Nations headquarters, she revealed the sexism she has experienced throughout her life, saying it started at the age of eight when she was branded 'bossy' for wanting to direct school plays. She continued: 'At 15 my girlfriends started dropping out of their sports teams because they didn't want to appear 'muscly'...at 18 my male friends were unable to express their feelings.' Miss Watson, who played the witch Hermione in the Harry Potter films, is the latest celebrity to take on a role with the UN, following stars such as George Clooney and Angelina Jolie. The UN Women HeForShe campaign aims to get 100,000 men and boys involved in the fight to achieve gender equality. She revealed the sexism she has experienced throughout her life, saying it started at the age of eight when she was branded 'bossy' for wanting to direct school plays . Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon (left) will activate an online map to track the progress of countries in promoting equality of the sexes . Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon will activate an online map to track the progress of countries in promoting equality of the sexes. 'Our main goal is to increase the involvement of men and boys in the struggle to achieve gender equality,' said head of UN Women Phumzile Mlambo Ngcuka. 'It cannot be that women will do this alone,' she said. 'It remains an important women's issue that requires the whole of society, men and women, to be involved.' Mlambo Ngcuka, who announced the 'HeForShe' campaign in March, called on the world's fathers, sons, husbands and brothers to stand up and support equality for women in all areas of life. The Inter-Parliamentary Union says less that 22 percent of parliamentarians are women. There are also still 100 countries with laws that prevent women's meaningful involvement in the economy, Mlambo Ngcuka said. She said projections indicate that if things don't change it will take 95 years to achieve gender equality, and by 2020 and some 140,000 girls will be forced into child marriage. UN Women said supporters of the HeForShe campaign include actors Matt Damon, Patrick Stewart, Antonio Banderas and Kiefer Sutherland, and South African Nobel peace laureate Archbishop Desmond Tutu. The actress revealed her girlfriends started dropping out of their sports teams at the age of 15 because they didn't want to appear 'muscly' Miss Watson with United Nations Secretary General Ban Ki-moon, his wife Ban Soon-Taek, and actor Kiefer Sutherland . | Emma Watson attended UN Women HeForShe campaign launch . She called for men to play a greater role in ending gender inequality . Actress said she was branded 'bossy' for wanting to direct school plays . Revealed friends dropped out of sports as they didn't want to be muscly . | 64b44c65dde220a3a5b650e436ecd659c37d42a4 |
(CNN) -- Italian champions Inter Milan have handed a new three-year contract to veteran defender Marco Materazzi. Marco Materazzi now seems set to end his playing career with Inter Milan. The 35-year-old World Cup winner's existing deal had been due to run out at the end of next summer, but he is now set to stay at the San Siro until 2012. A statement on the Inter Web site read: ''FC Internazionale and Marco Materazzi announce the agreement for an extension which will bind the player to the club until 30 June 2012.'' The center-back has made almost 250 appearances for the Nerazzurri since joining Inter in 2001, winning four Serie A titles. However, last season he was restricted to just 15 outings under new manager Jose Mourinho. "I'll be Inter for life," he wrote on his official Web site, Goal.com reported on Thursday. "And it's not just a figure of speech. I could not have been more satisfied before leaving for my holidays -- I have extended my contract with Inter until 2012, hence until the end of my career. "That's what I have always desired, since I am an Inter fan as much as I am one of their players. "I will quit football wearing this shirt, and now I only want to try and win as much as we can both in Italy and in Europe. We'll see each other on July 10 for the start of the new season. I will be fired up." Materazzi is still best known for his antics in the 2006 World Cup final, when his comments to Zinedine Zidane led to the France playmaker being sent off for a vicious headbutt in his farewell international which ended with the Italians being crowned world champions. Meanwhile, Inter have also completed the signing of Genoa midfielder Thiago Motta on a four-year contract. The 26-year-old, who resurrected his career last season after moving from Barcelona, has finalized a deal that was agreed earlier in the summer and also saw Argentine striker Diego Milito move to the San Siro on Tuesday. Inter confirmed that midfielder Francesco Bolzoni, defender Leonardo Bonucci and striker Riccardo Meggiorini will join the Grifoni on a permanent basis in an overall package including the five players worth a reported $42 million. | Marco Materazzi handed new three-year contract by Italian champions . The 35-year-old defender now tied to Inter Milan until the summer of 2012 . The center-back's existing deal was due to expire in a year's time . Inter complete signing of Brazilian midfielder Thiago Motta from Genoa . | 69452757e0c77a93a74dbbd51e5e7dfebfdb3fb8 |
NEW YORK (CNN) -- In that strange intersection of economics and politics, there is a new fashion: Trillion is the new billion. One trillion $1 bills stacked one on top of the other would reach nearly 68,000 miles into the sky. A billion is a thousand million, and a trillion is a thousand billion. To provide some perspective on just how big a trillion dollars is, think about it like this: A trillion dollars is the number 1 followed by 12 zeroes. Or you can think of it this way: One trillion $1 bills stacked one on top of the other would reach nearly 68,000 miles (about 109,400 kilometers) into the sky, or about a third of the way from the Earth to the moon. Some Republicans are hardly over the moon about the growing size of the proposed economic stimulus plan. Senate Republican leader Mitch McConnell said this week that Americans have become desensitized to just how much money that is. "To put a trillion dollars in context, if you spend a million dollars every day since Jesus was born, you still wouldn't have spent a trillion," McConnell said. CNN checked McConnell's numbers with noted Temple University math professor and author John Allen Paulos. "A million dollars a day for 2,000 years is only three-quarters of a trillion dollars. It's a big number no matter how you slice it," Paulos said. Here's another way to look at it. "A million seconds is about 11½ days. A billion seconds is about 32 years, and a trillion seconds is 32,000 years," Paulos said. "People tend to lump them together, perhaps because they rhyme, but if you think of it in terms of a jail sentence, do you want to go to jail for 11½ days or 32 years or maybe 32,000 years? So, they're vastly different, and people generally don't really have a real visceral grasp of the differences among them." Everyone is tossing around the words million, billion and trillion. With the national debt now topping $10 trillion, following a $700 billion bank rescue and proposed $800 billion-plus stimulus package, have we become numb to the numbers? How much is a trillion? » . " 'Number' itself can be parsed 'number' or 'numb-er.' And maybe in this case, the latter is a better pronunciation," Paulos said. "I think to some extent, we have ... evolved in a context where such big numbers were completely foreign." Perhaps a better way to get a "grasp of the numbers," Paulos said, is to use them to describe the budgets of government programs. "The [Environmental Protection Agency's], for example, annual budget is about $7.5 billion. So, a trillion dollars would fund the EPA in present dollars for 130 years -- more than a century. Or the National Science Foundation or National Cancer Institute have budgets of $5 [billion] or $6 billion. You could fund those for almost 200 years," he said. Times have certainly changed. Back in 1993, President Bill Clinton wanted a $30 billion jobs and investment package. He didn't get it. Just last year, President George W. Bush signed an emergency economic stimulus of $168 billion --- a tally that seems paltry compared with the amount requested today. The economic problem, many say, demands huge spending. Former Federal Reserve Chairman Paul Volcker has called it "the mother of all crises." The numbers are big, but so is the United States economy. The gross domestic product, which measures the total value of goods and services produced in a country, is about $14 trillion. Still, many wonder if we can afford it. "So we do have a big economy that may not be as vibrant as it was, but it is still a powerful economic engine. Knock on wood, we'll see what happens," said Paulos. Last week, the House passed an $819 billion emergency stimulus, and the Senate version is approaching $900 billion. In the end, whatever lawmakers hash out probably won't reach $1 trillion. But consider this: If all of the financial market interventions, loans, guarantees, bailouts and rescues are approved, they will total more than $7 trillion. | One billion is equal to 1,000 million; One trillion is equal to 1,000 billion . One trillion stacked dollars would reach nearly 60,000 miles, one-third way to moon . Professor: You couldn't spend $1 trillion if you spent $1M a day since Jesus' birth . All financial market interventions, loans, bailouts total more than $7 trillion . | 328939a73448ddd8076239318f1639888ee848eb |
By . Spencer Matthews . It seems there’s been a bit of a kerfuffle recently about my half a million pound bar bill, so perhaps I should set the record straight. Several newspapers and websites ran a story yesterday saying that I spent £488,706.08 on a night out clubbing. Not true, but it is fair to say that the rather stiff bar tab did come as a bit of a shock. I was out at Morton’s in Mayfair on Saturday night and was having a good time as always. The 2&8 Club downstairs was full with their usual well-heeled and beautiful clientele, and the drinks were reassuringly expensive and well made. Revealed: Spencer Matthews explains the true story behind THAT bar bill and reveals what each of his co-stars will be getting for Christmas . The female bartender was particularly attractive and we chatted as I ordered two Grey Goose sodas with fresh lime, and two shots of Patrone Silver Tequila. However on this occasion, trying to charm the barmaid was my downfall. She was distracted as she keyed in the bill and what should have been £48 ended up as £488,706.08. What a charmer: Trying to charm the barmaid was Spennie's downfall. She was distracted as she keyed in the bill and what should have been £48 ended up as £488,706.08, oops! My heart skipped a beat or two and I was concerned that prices had gone up a bit since I'd last been at the club only a few days before, but it didn’t take Sherlock Holmes to work out the mystery of the six-figure bill. It was resolved very quickly and we had a good laugh about it, but then I made a schoolboy error of judgement – I tweeted the bill. It was meant to be a joke. Surely no one could seriously think I would drop £500K on a round of drinks. Wrong. I woke up the next day to over 3,000 retweets, and several people berating me for such an outrageously extravagant waste of money and that I should have donated the money to the Philippines DEC campaign instead of a boozy night out. Well for once I wholeheartedly agree with my twitter critics. Typhoon Haiyan has left more than 4,000 dead and half a million people without homes. The DEC campaign is certainly a worthy cause and I am happy to match my night’s drinks bill pound for pound (the real one), and I would ask you to do the same and you can make your donations here. With what money I have left over from Saturday’s night out I’ve started to think about Christmas and I’m looking to buy gifts for all of my Made in Chelsea chums. I’m doing most of my shopping online this year, and hopefully this will help get back in their good books… . Binky Felstead is really into her beauty as readers of her DM online blog will know well, and this Guerlain Crazy Paris – ticks two of her favourite boxes, perfume and glitter. Crazy Paris It’s glittery shimmer powder for hair and skin and the black cherry and rose scent is divine. Perfect for party season (£45.90 @ Escentual.com). Is it inappropriate to buy lingerie for an ex-girlfriend? I hope not. I’m thinking of this rather beautiful Bluebella outfit for Louise Thompson. The Lavinia looks sexy and classy and a woman can never have enough lingerie. (£43 at Bluebella.com), and also this Gigi basque is gorgeous as well (£38 @ Bluebella.com). Lucky Lucy: Spencer is planning on buying Miss Watson these kinky handcuffs (R) Saucy: Is it inappropriate to buy lingerie for an ex-girlfriend? I hope not. I'm thinking of this rather beautiful Bluebella outfit for Louise Thompson . Jewellery is a big part of Rosie Fortescue’s life and she even has her own Dreamy range out, so I need to come up with something rather clever – and this Marc Jacobs Honey Solid Perfume Necklace is jewellery with fragrance all in one – is a double whammy. Its charm resembles a golden butterfly with black striped wings, which twists open to reveal the Honey solid perfume. It smells as delightful as it looks (£28.90 at Escentual.com). Yet again last night Jamie was channeling a Boris Johnson Junior coiffure, so perhaps he will benefit from this Tigi Bed Head Headrush. And it’s a snip at £7.95 at Escentual.com . Stevie Johnson is one the nicest guys I know but he needs a bit of a re-brand for the party season to get him to snare the right girl. So he’s getting the Clarins Men Grooming Essentials Gift Set (£38 at Escentual.com) Fashion faux pas: I need to Andy Jordan a a new shooting jacket - I would advise this classic waxed Barbour Steve McQueen Collection Baker Jacket, says on-trend Spencer . Andy Jordan made a slightly unusual choice of attire at our day out shooting clays on last night’s MIC show so I think I need to buy him a new shooting jacket – I would advise this classic waxed Barbour Steve McQueen Collection Baker Jacket (£299 at The Highland Store). Finally I’m giving Lucy Watson some 50 Shades of Grey handcuffs (£14.99 @ Lovehoney.co.uk). And if she behaves herself in 2014, I’ll send her the key as well. Happy Christmas shopping, all the best, Spencer xx . | Says the bar tab price was a mistake by barmaid . Shares his Christmas list for MIC cast - and Louise and Lucy are getting lingerie and handcuffs . | 4c25688fe7d500c61f2603d94a4a25bb4c1173e5 |
By . Phil Vinter . PUBLISHED: . 08:13 EST, 19 September 2012 . | . UPDATED: . 12:29 EST, 29 September 2013 . A judge's wife compromised her position on a county school board by having affairs with two high-ranking bankers who were bidding for lucrative contracts, it was revealed today. Jennifer Gottlieb resigned last year from her role as a Broward County School Board member after a pair of Citigroup bankers who did business with the school admitted to investigators that they had affairs with her. According to Local 10, investigative reports reveal that Rick Patterson, of Tampa, and Michael Baldwin, of Orlando, financed millions in public . bonds to build schools. Jennifer Gottlieb, left, resigned last year from her role as a Broward County School Board member after having affairs with two Citigroup bankers including Rick Patterson, right . Florida Department of Law Enforcement . investigators said 'Gottlieb at no time reported her relationship . with [the Citigroup bankers] to the board and continued to cast votes on . matters concerning [Citigroup] that came before the board.' The issue came to light following a Grand Jury investigation into corruption on the school board. Grand Jury witness Pete Brewer said: 'I think it's a very bad issue of conflict of interest. She is evidently dating the guy and she's voting on his contracts, which is wrong.' During interviews with investigators one of the Citigroup bankers broke down in tears, saying he and Gottlieb were 'in love like high school kids' and had been a romantic item for three years. Robert Jarvis, an ethics professor at Nova Southeastern University, said: 'You shake your head and you go, 'What were they thinking? In what universe could they have thought this was appropriate behavior?' Reports suggest Gottlieb, who is married to a Broward County Judge, intentionally kept her affairs secret from the school by using pre-paid phones to make calls to her lovers and using personal email addresses. During interviews with investigators one of the Citigroup bankers broke down in tears, saying he and Mrs Gottlieb were 'in love like high school kids' Mr Jarvis said because Gottlieb had actively taken the decision to 'conceal and defraud the public the issue was a criminal, not an ethical matter. However, neither the Florida Department of Law Enforcement or the grand jury took the decision to indict Gottlieb because there is not a law forbidding voting on public matters that involve intimate friends. Gottlieb is alleged to have conducted covert trips to the airport, had secret meetings with the men and spent days in local hotel rooms. According to Local 10, reports indicate that Gottlieb knew that what she was doing was wrong. Following the revelations her husband filed for divorce in June this year. | Issue came to light following Grand Jury investigation into corruption . In interviews one of the Citigroup bankers broke down in tears . Bankers were bidding for contracts worth millions in public . bonds . Jennifer Gottlieb will not be indicted because there is no law forbidding voting on public matters that involve intimate friends . | 538d480aaded379d4e801ab13219e8ed5337e9e7 |
(CNN) -- The carnage began early in the afternoon on Saturday at Nairobi's Westgate Shopping Mall, with gunshots shattering the calm of a popular weekend meeting spot where Kenyans and expatriates shop for groceries, grab a coffee or catch a movie. The ensuing hostage standoff left dozens of people dead and hundreds more wounded. Two days later, the Kenyan authorities claim to have regained control of the complex, but the stories of those who escaped paint a terrifying picture of how the attack unfolded: . Ben Mulwa: Caught in parking lot . It was about 12:50 p.m. when Ben Mulwa, a Nairobi County politician, and a friend pulled into the multilevel parking garage attached to the five-story mall. Mulwa, who was at Westgate for a lunch meeting at the Java House, was parking the car when he heard a gunshot, he told the NTV television channel. His first thought: It's a robbery. Then came the rapid gunfire. He said he got out of the car and hid near the main entrance of the parking lot. That's when he saw some of the attackers -- four men wearing checked head scarves and carrying "very long rifles." They didn't cover their faces, he said. He could hear them but couldn't understand them. "It sounded like a variation of Swahili," he said. Then they turned their guns in Mulwa's direction, taking aim at a security guard hiding near him. "He was shot in the head, and he died instantly," he said. Then they fired at him, aiming for his head. A bullet grazed him in the head, he said. He also suffered a gunshot wound to the leg. The gunmen then calmly turned and walked into the mall, Mulwa said. By all accounts, more gunmen were making their way into the mall through other entrances. Not seeing the attackers was part of the terror . Bendita Malakia: Refuge in a store . It was shortly after noon when Bendita Malakia of Elizabeth City, North Carolina, made her way into the mall to have lunch with a friend when the attack began, she told CNN affiliate WAVY via Skype. Malakia, who moved to Nairobi in July to work with a financial company, was in the middle of lunch on the mall's terrace when the gunmen stormed the area, throwing what she believes were hand grenades and firing assault rifles. "We stood up and started to turn, and we heard machine guns. Then, we started to run and there was a second explosion, which knocked us on the ground," Malakia told WAVY. Malakia and her friend got up and ran to a store where dozens of people had taken refuge. Once inside, the store manager pulled down a metal gate at the store's entrance to try to prevent the gunmen from coming in, she said. But it didn't block out the sounds of the gunmen. "While we were back there, you could hear them methodically going from store to store, talking to people and asking questions," Malakia said. "They were shooting, screaming. Then it would stop for a while and they would go to another store." Four hours later, Malakia and her friend were rescued by security forces. Malakia believes she was "completely lucky" because she was on the ground floor when the assault began and where she was hiding was easily accessible to her rescuers. Al-Shabaab breaks new ground with complex Kenya attack . Andrew McLaren: About to leave Kenya . Andrew McLaren and his wife, Kathy, were at a coffee shop near the mall entrance of the Nakumatt Supermarket, one of Kenya's biggest chain grocery stores, when the attack began, his mother told TVNZ. The couple, who had been in Kenya for work, were enjoying one of their last weekends in Nairobi before returning to their native New Zealand. The two dropped to the ground for cover, according to Elaine McLaren-Crawley, who recounted a conversation with her daughter-in-law. But the gunmen sprayed the cafe with gunfire. "... Andrew was shot through the back as he and Kathy lay on the floor of the coffee house," McLaren-Crawley said. It wasn't immediately clear from the report how the McLarens escaped the mall. McLaren was listed in stable condition at the Aga Khan hospital, his mother said. Safety: Can the mall attack happen again? Uche Kaigwa-Okoye: 'We were really scared' Uche Kaigwa-Okoye was sipping coffee when he heard what first sounded like a fallen table, then the continuing rat-a-tat of gunfire. As the gunshots became louder, screaming crowds headed for the exits. He joined 20 people who took shelter for about five hours in a women's bathroom cubicle. "We were really scared," he said. "Every sound sounded scary. We couldn't make out sounds, and they had grenades. It was really, really loud ... They must have passed our corridor several times. We heard gunshots down our corridor," he told CNN. Some people ventured out but quickly returned, saying it was unsafe. Kaigwa-Okoye heard firing but then realized police had arrived on the floor where he was hiding in the restroom. They were firing tear gas. Officers told them to walk out single file and made them throw away their bags. Zulobia Kassam: 'Random shots from everywhere' Zulobia Kassam had just finished a cup of coffee at a cafe when she made here way toward the mall entrance to the Nakumatt Supermarket to pick up a few items. "We entered and the lights went off," she said. She waited for the generator to kick in, but instead she heard gunshots and saw people running. "We rushed to the back and hid ourselves," Kassam told CNN. "We heard random shots from everywhere -- upstairs, downstairs ... we even heard shots 30 feet from us," she said. "People were petrified, crying, praying," she said. Kassam hid for more than two hours when a security person arrived and said it was safe to flee. She and others walked through a storage area. "We saw lots of blood, sandals and shoes," she said. She made it outside to the main road. And even at what seemed a safe distance, she again heard shooting in the distance. Al-Shabaab grew amid Somalia's lawlessness . Sara Head: 'I thought it was a car accident' American Sara Head told CNN she had just parked after leaving a meeting a few blocks from the mall when she heard three shots. "I thought actually, it was a car accident, I thought someone had been rear-ended. Then I saw people running and my colleague, who worked elsewhere, recognized the sound of gunshots and she yelled at me and we and other people in the parking garage began crawling underneath cars and behind cars and we heard more shots so we began running." Head, her colleague and their driver followed several other people into the stairwell of the garage. "We had gone down into the parking garage so I thought when I entered the stairwell that I would just go up one level and I would be able to exit -- and that was not the case," she said. "There were two people in the stairwell with me who were superficially wounded from gunshots. When we initially entered the stairwell we kept going up and then we heard shots above us so we ended up staying there for about an hour and a half." The door to the supermarket then reopened, the lights came on and people began exiting, she said. "I was very, very hesitant because there was no information to tell me that it was safe to exit. It was just that the people in front of me were exiting, Head said. "I was sort of a sheep following everyone else in front of me and I was very eager of course to get outside and as far away from the situation as possible." CNN security analyst: How Al-Shabaab picks its targets . | Ben Mulwa saw four gunmen wearing checked head scarves open fire . He says the faces of the gunmen were not covered . Mulwa says he heard the gunmen, but could not understand them . Bendita Malakia says she could hear gunmen going store to store . | d65d97525f233ae439e00601277a5b00c50efecb |
Stick or twist? That was the dilemma for Wasps. Move or die? They have taken the right decision, but they are going in the wrong direction. Sentiment and tradition are all very well, but in the professional era they sometimes have to give way to cold, hard reality. Wasps’ tenancy in High Wycombe wasn’t working. Crowds of 5-6,000 simply won’t suffice. No wonder the club have been losing £3million a year. The announcement of their relocation to Coventry has been accompanied by an outcry on behalf of the supporters, but a lack of them is one of the primary problems. Of course, the loyal followers who turn up at game after game are entitled to vent their angst, but the bottom line is that the club had to gamble on developing a larger fan-base elsewhere. It is brutal. It is business. That’s modern sport – for better or worse. Wasps' James Haskell, Dai Young and Andy Goode during the announcement of a new stadium and sponsor . Dai Young (right) speaks to press during the announcement of Land Rover as the new club sponsors . Wasps’ training ground in Acton is sub-standard, as is the venue they have played in for so long. Shifting to the Ricoh Arena and – eventually – a new, purpose-built training ground in Coventry makes sense in terms of facilities and growth potential, but not in terms of geography. Why the West Midlands? This column’s misgivings are not sentimental ones. Wasps may have been a ‘London’ club for the bulk of their long history, but in the professional era they have drifted, from Sudbury to Shepherd’s Bush and on to Buckinghamshire – 30 miles from the capital. Alternative options in their familiar territory were considered and discarded. They have decided to take the caravan to a large city with a strong rugby heritage, which is wise, but it is in a congested area of elite clubs. Worcester are angry at what they regard as rivals parking a tank on their lawn, with some justification. Leicester are even nearer – just 24 miles away and Northampton are also in close proximity. A major sponsorship deal partly explains the choice of location, but they had a prime chance to expand the map of the sport in this country, which is too narrow. Large swathes of the south and east represent an untapped market. Three regular starters in the England team; Joe Marler, Joe Launchbury and Billy Twelvetrees, come from Sussex and the impressive Brighton Community Stadium is hosting World Cup matches next year. Why not harness that galvanising factor and head for the coast? There are potentially suitable stadia in Hampshire and Kent too, or Suffolk and Norfolk – where the Youngs brothers hail from. Coventry City Football Club have only recently returned to the Ricoh Arena after a year away . Wasps are moving away from Adams Park, located in High Wycombe, to further their ambitions as a club . Places exist where an ambitious club could establish strong roots, without straying on to patches which are already occupied. But now that Wasps have made their decision, more pertinent even than the grievance of fans will be the views of the players. If their leading men are prepared to embrace the relocation and strong links are forged with Coventry Rugby Club and Coventry City FC, the move may not be doomed to failure as many suggest. But if life away from London doesn’t appeal to the likes of Joe Launchbury, James Haskell and Christian Wade – leading to a break-up of the current squad – the venture is destined to fail. Good news for Leicester and England – Manu Tuilagi is back. The wrecking-ball centre has recovered from a persistent groin problem to start for the Tigers in Friday night's Aviva Premiership clash against Harlequins at Welford Road. How the East Midlands club need him. With Tuilagi in midfield, they won their first two games of the season. In his absence, they have lost three on the bounce. If Leicester are beaten on Friday night, it would be the first time in a decade they have lost four in a row, but Tuilagi’s timely return means Vereniki Goneva reverts to the wing and Mathew Tait is fit to resume at full back. Argentina prop Marcos Ayerza has completed the long-haul trek from Mendoza to a place on the Tigers’ bench, six days after being at the vanguard of his country’s historic victory over Australia. Tom Croft is missing again – which suggests that his knee injury is worse than first thought. Meanwhile, Quins have recalled Will Collier at tighthead prop in an otherwise unchanged side. Manu Tuilagi will be hoping to steady the Leicester ship as he makes his return from injury on Friday night . The backlash has begun. Just four days after Sam Burgess’s selfless heroics for South Sydney Rabbitohs in the NRL Grand Final, rugby league authorities in Australia have asked the club to explain why the Yorkshireman was allowed to play the whole game with a broken cheekbone and eye socket. At a time when concussion is a hot topic, acclaim for Burgess’s brave contribution to an epic triumph has been superseded by accusations that he shouldn’t have been allowed to keep taking so many punishing hits when he had already incurred significant damage. The 25-year-old has had four metal plates inserted into his face and his cross-code move to Bath has been delayed by a month, at least, as he recovers from surgery. His staggering commitment last Sunday served to whet union’s appetite – beyond the confines of the West Country – for their next convert. Burgess is a prodigious talent and a true warrior, but Bath and England must be prepared to occasionally save him from himself. Sam Burgess (left) played on with a broken cheekbone and eye socket for South Sydney in the NRL Grand Final . Rugby’s gravy train continues to rumble on in France. The All Blacks’ playmaker, Dan Carter, is angling for a return to the Gallic game – after a previous, injury-wrecked stint at Perpignan – and the asking price is thought to be EU1million per year. That was the figure that Racing Metro reportedly offered in a vain attempt to lure Matt Giteau from Toulon, so the Parisian club’s owner, Jacky Lorenzetti, won’t want to miss out on another iconic southern hemisphere player to replace the departing Jonathan Sexton. Initial indications are that Toulon won’t enter this particular auction, so Racing may have a clear run, as even most rich French clubs will baulk at an unprecedented seven-figure salary. Carter’s fitness and playing powers may be in gradual decline, but he remains a stellar talent with commercial clout – the world’s ultimate bums-on-seats signing. Dan Carter is being linked with a big money move to Europe after next year's Rugby World Cup . Last Word – The state of turmoil in Australian rugby is reaching critical levels. Last weekend, the Wallabies became Argentina’s first victims in the Rugby Championship, as their scrum and discipline disintegrated. Amid fears about a post-World Cup player exodus, the outlook for Kurtley Beale looks increasingly bleak as he faces an investigation over allegations of sending ‘inappropriate and deeply offensive’ texts about a member of ARU staff. Meanwhile, Robbie Deans has released a book savaging the players who capitulated to the Lions last year, in his final match as national coach, and Giteau has shown Australia what they are missing by earning the award for Player of the Year in France’s Top 14 league. All this comes against a backdrop of panic that the ARU could be insolvent next year, as revenues have slumped. Trouble and strife Down Under won’t elicit much sympathy in these parts, but it is not good for the game at large. The Wallabies are stumbling towards next year’s World Cup, but Pool A opponents England and Wales should be wary of seeing them as easy prey. Kurtley Beale has been suspended by Australian Rugby over an allegation of deeply offensive text messages . | Sussex, Kent, Suffolk and Norfolk are all crying out for Premiership rugby . Wasps settled for a move to a the Ricoh Arena, inside a rugby hotbed . Manu Tuilagi will make his Leicester comeback on Friday night . Sam Burgess’s selfless heroics for South Sydney have re-opened the concussion debate after he played on with a fractured eye socket . Dan Carter is seeking a big money move to Europe after the World Cup . | 7115dffc49ce85880a43db57d7d3b4369556ee7e |
A Romanian who moved to England to become a bodyguard has boasted he has more money than he can spend and filmed himself showering in bundles of £20 notes. Petre Craete, known at home as 'The Redneck with a Maserati', posted pictures of himself naked in a bath full of cash and he claims he earned all the money in just four hours. In a message to his countrymen he said he was broke but now after starting a new life in Britain he has more money than he know what to do with. Scroll down for video . Boast: Romanian bodyguard Petre Craete posted pictures of himself in a bath full of notes saying he has more cash than he can spend . Previous: Petre has in the past posted pictures of himself driving expensive cars and living in a VIP apartment . At work: Mr Craete protecting Alex Reid and his then partner Chantelle Houghton at an event in east London in 2011 . He said: 'My biggest worry when I have a quiet moment to myself is where am I going to find a wallet big enough to take it all home with.' He added: 'The reality is that I've got so much money I don't know where to put it. It's enough to make you cry, in Romania I never had any money and now I have so much I can't even carry at all. I wouldn't be able to walk if I tried to stuff it in my trouser pocket. Having fun: Mr Craete pictured in a sports car in London on his Twitter account . The Romanian said he moved to London in the past few years where he was able to get work as a bodyguard quickly graduating up to celebrity clients. Between 2011 and 2012 he was the bodyguard for former cage fighter Alex Reid. He was close to Katie Price's ex-husband and is known to have socialised with him and Chantelle Houghton, who won the Celebrity Big Brother in 2006. He earned his nickname The Redneck with a Maserati after was spotted driving one of the top of the range cars and living in a penthouse in the UK. The bodyguard is said to tell his clients he is so scary he even frightens himself when he looks in the mirror. Petre has posted pictures of himself driving expensive cars and living in a VIP apartment. But some have claimed that the car belonged to one of his employers and the house also didn't belong to him. But in the cash video, from October last year, he said: 'I have a tip for my critics, if you come London buy an umbrella because it rains a lot. As every British person knows it's bad luck to open the umbrella inside a house, so I won't do it, and in my house it only rains with money anyway.' Stuffing it in: The bodyguard showed himself showering himself in money before putting it down his top because he didn't have a big enough wallet . The Romanian moved to Britain and quickly became a bodyguard for reality stars like Alex Reid (pictured together) Contrast: In the film he says: 'In Romania I never had any money and now I have so much I can't even carry at all' Message: Mr Craete says he has more cash than he can spend and earned the cash in four hours . Petre is from Targu-Jiu in Southern Romania's Gorj County. Alex Reid used to call him Ninja Pete and posted messages like: 'At cinema with Miss Houghton and ninja Pete. Very romantic, haha, even managed 2 get her 2 watch super hero film! X' | Petre Craete filmed himself naked showering himself in a bath of cash . The Romanian says he was broke at home but is now rich in Britain . Video shows him with bundles of cash earned in less than four hours . Mr Craete has been a bodyguard for people like Alex Reid since 2011 . | 261dbdfc40d173a6dd86073eb99f4a6ead0b9246 |
(CNN) -- Actor Patrick Swayze's achievements include several feature films such as "Dirty Dancing" and "Ghost," as well as living with advanced pancreatic cancer for longer than most patients. Patrick Swayze died at age 57 of pancreatic cancer. He fought the disease for nearly two years. That Swayze, who died Monday at age 57, survived nearly two years with the condition is "quite an accomplishment," Dr. George Fisher, an oncologist who treated the star at Stanford Hospitals and Clinics, told CNN's Larry King on Tuesday. Fisher revealed in early March 2008 that the actor was fighting pancreatic cancer. Swayze participated in a clinical trial at Stanford and took an experimental drug there, Fisher said. Fewer than one in four patients who have the disease that has spread outside the pancreas, as Swayze did, are alive a year later, he said. Watch Fisher talk to King about Swayze's case » . "Patients can survive two years -- even longer, even with standard treatment," Fisher said. "It's just sad that not as many do." Pancreatic cancer has affected several other prominent figures, including National Collegiate Athletic Association President Myles Brand, who died of the disease Wednesday. Apple Inc.'s Steve Jobs and U.S. Supreme Court Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg have also undergone treatment for the disease. The American Cancer Society puts pancreatic cancer as the fourth most common cause of death from cancer in the United States. Lung, colon and breast cancer are the first three. Experts say that about 95 percent of those with pancreatic cancer die from the disease. Symptoms such as abdominal pain, jaundice or sudden weight loss may lead doctors to look for pancreatic cancer, said Dr. Steven Cohen, acting chief for gastrointestinal medical oncology at the Fox Chase Cancer Center in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. Cohen was not involved in Swayze's care. Doctors say early detection carries a better chance of curing the cancer, but often a patient's disease is diagnosed after it has spread. CAT scans may detect the disease early, but that does not mean everyone should have a scan with their physical, Fisher said. "We're developing algorithms for trying to identify people at risk, and then less invasive ... tests to try to figure out who's got it and who doesn't," he said. Despite his illness, Swayze went forward with plans to star in A&E network's "The Beast." After the actor responded well to cancer treatment, the network agreed to shoot an entire season of the show. Working on the show while undergoing treatment was "a great idea," Fisher said on "Larry King Live." "I had my doubts as to whether he could actually do it or not, and we had many conversations around that fact," Fisher said. Swayze understood "how difficult the treatment could be, and he understood how difficult the disease could be. But it's just like Patrick to just say he's going to do it and damn it, nobody should get in his way." "The Beast" was canceled in June because of Swayze's illness, after doctors told him the cancer had spread to his liver. For pancreatic cancer patients, doctors are not as concerned with what happens with the pancreas as they are with how the disease spreads elsewhere, often to the liver or abdominal cavity, Cohen said. Failure of other organs that the cancer affects may ultimately cause death. Swayze's participation in the Stanford clinical trial is an important take-away point, Cohen said. Only about 5 percent of cancer patients participate in clinical trials, he said. "Particularly for a disease like pancreatic cancer, where the standard treatments help some patients but not the majority, the ability to look at new treatments that are promising in the context and controlled setting of clinical trials, I think, is really important," he said. Dozens of drugs are in development or being tested in trials for pancreatic cancer, Cohen said. One such medication is paclitaxel, which is currently only approved for breast cancer but has shown promise experimentally in pancreatic tumors, he said. Cohen said he and his colleagues encourage patients to continue their daily activities and live their lives normally as best they can while undergoing treatment. A chemotherapy drug commonly used in patients, called gemcitabine, does not have the harsh symptoms of nausea, vomiting and hair loss seen in other cancer drugs. But sometimes, patients are too ill from their underlying cancer to do much, he said. "Toward the end, they can get increasing abdominal pain, nausea, loss of appetite, very low energy, sort of a wasting syndrome, and there, a lot of patients just don't feel up to do anything," he said. | Patrick Swayze battled pancreatic cancer for nearly two years . About 95 percent of those with pancreatic cancer die from it, experts say . Dozens of drugs are in development or being tested in trials for the disease . Doctors encourage patients to try to live their lives normally while in treatment . | 88bdeed81f968e85c458e087b874067dddfb4c24 |
West Ham are now capable of mixing up their style of play to beat the Premier League's best sides, according to boss Sam Allardyce. The high-flying Hammers recovered from going a goal down to Swansea last weekend to win 3-1, with Andy Carroll scoring twice and setting up Diafra Sakho late on. That victory - West Ham's eighth of the season - temporarily moved the east London outfit up to third in the league, although it was the nature of the performance which really pleased Allardyce. West Ham striker Andy Carroll rises highest to head home his side's winning goal against Swansea on Sunday . Hammers boss Sam Allardyce was delighted with his side's 'most complete performance of the season' Carroll leaps into the air to celebrate scoring his second goal of the game against Garry Monk's side . Writing in his column for the Evening Standard, the former Bolton manager said: 'It was very satisfying to be able to break down a team which defended in numbers for most of the game because we've invariably struggled to overcome that since we've been back in the Premier League. 'In the past, teams have sat back and we've not been able to find a way through. Now we can mix it up and break down teams who want to play that way. That's great for a manager.' While their goals against Garry Monk's side arrived with the help of Carroll's head, the Hammers have also earned plaudits for their flowing football this season. And Allardyce, who is preparing his side to face Sunderland on Saturday, admits he has no problem with rewarding his players with a Christmas Party, providing they don't cause any trouble. Carroll's second goal sent West Ham up to third in the Premier League table for just over 24 hours . Allardyce clenches his fists in celebration as the Hammers continued their form with a win against Swansea . Striker Diafra Sakho shows off a specially-made t-shirt after netting West Ham's third goal against the Swans . He added: 'Managers have varying views on players' Christmas parties but I'm okay with them, as long as everyone's sensible. I make sure they know, beforehand, that if there is any trouble, it will cost them a lot of money. 'I want them to enjoy themselves - but in a sensible way. It's not like it used to be when you could go out in your home town and no one would stitch you up. Now, you have to be aware of people only too keen to make a few quid by selling pictures. 'Everyone needs a release from time to time, players included.' | West Ham came from behind to beat Swansea 3-1 last weekend . Sam Allardyce believes his side are now more potent in attack . The Hammers face Sunderland on Saturday as they look to go third . Allardyce admits he does not have an issue with Christmas parties . | 32d2a2da56711c814f0966bde25854251577b70d |
Washington (CNN) -- The administration's top counterterrorism adviser said Thursday he was aware of the CIA's enhanced interrogation techniques that critics describe as torture while serving as a top official at the agency but did nothing to stop them because he had no oversight role. "I did not take steps to stop the CIA use of those techniques," John Brennan told his Senate confirmation hearing. Brennan was nominated by President Barack Obama to lead the spy agency after Gen. David Petraeus resigned from the job over an extramarital affair. The issue was controversial in the administration of former President George W. Bush in the aftermath of the September 11, 2001, terrorist attacks. In answering questions about the techniques, Brennan acknowledged that he knew another part of the agency was carrying out a directive from the Bush administration. Five things we learned from John Brennan's confirmation hearing . "I had awareness that the agency was being asked to do it; I was aware that the agency was moving ahead on it," he told the Senate Intelligence Committee, adding that he was not involved in managing it. At the time, Brennan was the CIA's deputy executive director. On the same issue, Brennan said a committee report on the interrogation techniques contained "disturbing" information that raised questions about whether he knew what really happened. The 6,000-page report took six years to compile, and Brennan said he read the 300-page executive summary before Thursday's hearing. "Now I have to determine what the truth is," he said. "I do not know what the truth is." Under persistent questioning by Sen. Carl Levin, D-Michigan, Brennan pledged that waterboarding would never be used under his direction, but he refused to label it torture. On the issue of drone strikes on terrorist targets abroad, Brennan defended the 2011 killing of Yemeni-American Anwar al-Awlaki as part of the war against al Qaeda. Brennan said al-Awlaki's involvement in efforts to kill Americans made him a legitimate military target. Under prodding from committee Chairwoman Sen. Dianne Feinstein, D-California, Brennan confirmed a connection between al-Awlaki and Umar Farouk AbdulMutallab, who failed in his attempt to detonate an explosive in his underwear as his Northwest Airlines flight approached Detroit on Christmas Day in 2009. However, Brennan offered no details of the connection, and noted al-Awlaki's role as a propagandist for al-Qaeda who fomented anti-American sentiments via the Internet. The hearing was temporarily halted at the start when protesters repeatedly interrupted Brennan's opening statement. Some waved signs accusing him of war crimes because of the drone attacks. Feinstein ordered the room cleared of spectators and told security officers to prevent the re-entry of protesters from Code Pink, which describes itself as a women-initiated group for peace and social justice. Brennan is considered to be behind the administration's dramatic rise in the use of drones against terrorist suspects. Several strikes have killed Americans, notably al-Awlaki. Opinion: Bring drones out of the shadows . Brennan defended the drone program, saying that Obama "insisted that any actions we take will be legally grounded, will be thoroughly anchored in intelligence, will have the appropriate review process, approval process before any action is contemplated, including those actions that might involve the use of lethal force." "My role as the president's counterterrorism adviser was to help to orchestrate this effort over the past four years to ensure, again, that any actions we take fully comport with our law and meet the standards that I think this committee and the American people expect of us as far as taking actions we need to protect the American people, but at the same time ensuring that we do everything possible before we need to resort to lethal force," he said. An unclassified outline of the administration's policy given last summer to Congress indicated that the government could use lethal force against an American overseas if the person was a senior operational leader of al Qaeda or one of its affiliates and an attack was imminent. The Senate Intelligence Committee received a classified document on Thursday that seeks to justify the administration's policy of targeting Americans overseas via drone attacks, a congressional aide told CNN. The document was demanded by lawmakers, mainly Democrats concerned about secrecy in national security decision making, before Brennan's hearing. It outlines the Justice Department's legal rationale for the policy of using lethal force against U.S. citizens fighting on behalf of terrorist groups. CNN Explains: U.S. drones . According to an official who spoke on the condition of not being identified, Obama decided to turn over the legal opinion because he believes the scrutiny and debate is healthy. On Thursday, Senate Judiciary Committee Chairman Patrick Leahy, D-Vermont, and Ranking Member Chuck Grassley, R-Iowa, sent a letter to Obama calling on him to share with the committee any legal memos on the targeted killings of Americans abroad. "The deliberate killing of a United States citizen pursuant to a targeted operation authorized or aided by our Government raises significant constitutional and legal concerns that fall squarely within the jurisdiction of the Committee," they wrote. One of the questions the committee submitted to Brennan in advance of the hearing asked how it was determined that an individual was associated with al Qaeda and that a threat was imminent. Brennan responded in writing that such decisions were made on a "case-by-case basis" in a process involving other agencies. The White House said this week that questions on the matter have been weighed against legal concerns and discussed publicly. The Supreme Court has held that the military may use force against an American who is part of enemy forces. Still civil liberties and other groups want more answers. Amnesty International said Congress should grill Brennan on his claim that the Obama administration's drone strikes are "conducted in full compliance with the law." Opinion: John Brennan, Obama's counterterrorist . Other controversies at hand . Brennan's chances to lead the CIA at the start of Obama's first term were scuttled by questions about the enhanced interrogations of terrorist suspects. At Thursday's hearing, Brennan said he had raised objections with colleagues to the enhanced interrogation techniques, but denied any role in managing or enabling their use. Asked if the techniques had yielded intelligence that saved lives, Brennan did not answer directly. Instead, he repeated his insistence that such techniques would never be used under his watch. Senate lawmakers also asked about Brennan's role in administration leaks about covert operations, including a foiled al Qaeda bomb plot in Yemen involving a mole. He denied any wrongdoing, saying that he had gotten involved only after the leaks became public and that he tried to stem a "hemorrhaging" of leaked information in the matter. Brennan acknowledged in his written responses to committee questions that he voluntarily was interviewed by prosecutors about two investigations. He said in both cases his counsel told him he was being interviewed as a witness, not a target. Report: Numerous countries involved in CIA interrogation programs . A powerful figure at White House . As CIA director, Brennan would report to James Clapper, the director of national intelligence. But he would also have a direct path to the president, talking to him on the phone or briefing him personally. CNN's Tom Dunlavey and Lesa Jansen contributed to this report. | John Brennan says lethal targeting of terrorists is carried out legally . Drone campaign against al Qaeda has been legacy of Brennan as Obama adviser . Lawmakers get classified document on drone policy . Brennan's knowledge of harsh interrogations, leaks is scrutinized . | 3c38d5d94c17a13fdda5cbe87043793ba0def7bd |
Authorities are intensifying their efforts to find a missing 12-year-old girl who disappeared over the weekend as her parents and prosecutors are offering a $10,000 reward for information leading to her whereabouts. Autumn Pasquale was last seen riding a white BMX bicycle as she left her home in Clayton, Gloucester County at around 12.30pm on Saturday. FBI investigators joined police officers from 40 departments to search through the night for any trace of the missing girl. Scroll down for video . Lost: FBI agents and hundreds of searches have joined N.J. Police in the hunt to find Autumn Pasquale . Volunteer: John Reed spent yesterday handing out fliers to passers-by in case someone had seen Autumn . Autumn is described as white, about 5ft 2ins tall, around 120 pounds with blue eyes and blonde hair which she was wearing in a pony tail or bun. She was wearing navy blue sweatpants, a distinctive yellow T-shirt with the words 'Clayton Soccer' on the front, bright blue high-top sneakers and a silver or light gray cinch backpack with 'Reckless' printed on the back. Her father Tony Pasquale told NBC news: 'It's not like her. 'Everyone's working together to try and find her. We love her and we want her to come home.' Hundreds of local people yesterday met at a church to organise search parties and distribute flyers. They had been asked to stay out of local woods so bloodhounds could try to pick up the missing girl's scent. Gloucester County Proescutor Sean Dalton's office has joined with Pasquale's parents to offer a $10,000 reward for information about her whereabouts . Searching: Volunteers and law enforcement agents have intensified their efforts to find Pasquale . Description: Autumn is about 5ft 2ins tall, with blue eyes and blonde hair. She was wearing navy blue sweatpants, a distinctive yellow T-shirt with the words 'Clayton Soccer' on the front . A signal from Autumn's phonecell was . picked up by a phone tower in nearby Williamstown. Investigators believe . the phone is now either switched off or has run out of power. Michelle Connell whose daughter is a friend of Autumn's told NBC news: 'People have been out searching all day everywhere. 'All over town, every little park, railroad parks and school buildings. Every place we can think of. 'She's a good kid. She's a sweet girl. Everyone is upset.' Residence: Autumn was last seen leaving her home (pictured) on a white BMX bicycle at 12.30pm on Saturday . Hunt: Local volunteers gather on Sunday to organise search parties for Autumn . Missing: Autumn Pasquale, 12, was last seen leaving her family home in Clayton, Gloucester County on Saturday at 12.30pm . View more videos at: http://nbcphiladelphia.com. | FBI joins police from 40 departments in hunt for missing Autumn Pasquale . Last seen riding white BMX bicycle as she left home at 12.10pm Saturday . Parents and local prosecutors offering $10k reward . | e8d128d8ab2d1d99a3913050b55058eb5ad73e7b |
By . Sara Malm . PUBLISHED: . 16:05 EST, 18 February 2013 . | . UPDATED: . 18:32 EST, 18 February 2013 . The mother of a 13-year-old dancer killed when their car was hit by a drug dealer chased by police, has spoken of her ‘unbearable’ grief over losing her daughter. Wiktoria Was died instantly when 33-year-old Devon Newell crashed into the car she was travelling in with her mother, stepfather and four-year-old brother in Southwark, south-east London on January 6. Her mother Anna Uroda said her life was ‘incomplete’ without her daughter adding: ‘I will be tortured for the rest of my life,’ Woolwich Crown Court heard today. Victim: Talented Wiktoria Was, left, died when Devon Newell, right, hit her family's car fleeing from police . Year 9 pupil Wiktoria and her mother . were travelling with her step-father Maciek Struzik and four-year-old . brother Max Uroda at the time of the crash. Drug dealer Newell, who did not have a . drivers licence, was trying to evade capture when he slammed into the . back of the family’s VW Polo causing the car to spin violently onto the . pavement and into a wall. The court was shown police video that . Newell had driven to speeds up to 70 miles per hour, sometimes three . times the speed limits, going through red lights and swerving onto the . other side of the road moments before the crash. Seconds later, after his vehicle had . spun 180 degrees into the other side of the road, he ran out of the car . leaving his female passenger, Ms Brooks, in the passenger seat but he . was soon caught by police officers. Wiktoria was pronounced dead 20 . minutes later despite CPR from police and paramedics and emergency . surgery carried out on the roadside. Tragic: Wiktoria died in the crash in New Cross, south-east London on January 6 . Injuries: Wiktoria was pronounced dead at the scene and her stepfather was taken to hospital . In a statement read out in court Ms . Uroda said her daughter was ‘loveable, sensitive, trustworthy, happy, . intelligent, hardworking and a sensible young girl full of life and . blossoming into a beautiful blue-eyed young lady’. The statement continued: ‘It breaks my . heart open with unbearable emotion, all purpose of life have become a . mystery. How do I tell Max that he will never see his sister again? He . says, ‘Where is Wiktoria? I want Wiktoria, I love Wiktoria.’ ‘Without Wiktoria my life is incomplete, I will be tortured for the rest of my life for it. I face only darkness. ‘If only life had a stop and rewind button, Wiktoria would be with us safe and sound.’ The court was told that following the . crash, Wiktoria’s little brother had been left traumatised suffering . from night terrors and bedwetting. Her stepfather had also suffered . serious injuries and was awaiting physiotherapy for four fractures to . the left side of his lumber vertebra but he had not been permanently . disabled. Newell, who pleaded guilty to one . count of causing death by dangerous driving, one count of causing . serious injury by dangerous driving and one summary count of driving . without a licence and without insurance, had been bailed by Sussex . Police for another offence in October of last year. Crash: Mr Newell was being chased by a marked police car when he hit the back of the Volkswagen Polo where Wiktoria had been sat in the back, pictured . The court heard that he had a series . of previous convictions including drug dealing and sexual offences and . had never owned a full driving licence, having had his provisional one . revoked in 1998. ‘It was driving characterised by ignoring obvious signals by police for him to stop’, said prosecutor Peter Clement. ‘The danger that he posed in driving the way that he did, deliberately ignoring the rules of the road, was obvious’ ‘He demonstrated absolute disregard for the speed limits, traffic lights, or other road users. ‘In short, we suggest the defendant had regard only for himself.’ Sentencing him to a total of eight and . a half years, Judge Hilliard said: ‘This case represents a terrible . tragedy and you are responsible for it. Because of your criminal . conduct, 13-year-old Wiktoria Was was killed. Her own life ended, all . that promise, all those hopes for the future, all brought to an end and . by you. Her mother, parents, her family, they have always got to live . with that loss long after you have been released from the sentence I . will pass. No sentence I pass will make up for what you have done. The . sentence is not for one moment intended to reflect the value of human . life, which of course is wholly beyond value.’ Damage: Council workers are pictured trying to repair a traffic light damaged in the fatal collision . News of Wiktoria’s death prompted an outpouring of grief from her fellow pupils at Goffs School, in Cheshunt, Hertfordshire . Headteacher Alison Garner said immediately after the death that staff and pupils were still in shock after receiving the news. ‘Wiktoria was a highly valued member . of our community - funny, charming, bubbly and with a bright future . ahead of her’, she said. ‘She will be much missed by us all.’ In a statement on the school’s website Mrs Garner paid tribute to Wiktoria. She said: ‘It was impossible to be in . Wiktoria’s company without being struck by her wonderful personality and . humour, as well as her many talents, and her loss is felt deeply . throughout our school.’ The family requested all Goffs School students wear their uniform to the funeral, as blue was Wiktoria’s favourite colour. Following the funeral mass, the family attended a private cremation before returning to the Church Hall. | Wiktoria Was, 13, died following the crash in Southwark, south-east London . Year 9 pupil was pronounced dead at the scene on January 6 this year . Devon Newell, 33, was today sentenced to eight-and-a-half years in prison . | 4a7348ad92d0f6500ec97e5dae629742a38cd3fd |
By . Simon Cable . PUBLISHED: . 19:46 EST, 1 October 2013 . | . UPDATED: . 03:31 EST, 2 October 2013 . Good news: Billy Connolly last night announced he had been given the all-clear from prostrate cancer . Billy Connolly has been given the all-clear from prostate cancer. The Scots comedian, affectionately known as the Big Yin, announced the news during a live television interview ahead of Celtic’s Champions League match against Barcelona last night. The 70-year-old star, who is an avid Celtic fan, travelled to Glasgow for the match from his home in New York. He told Sky Sports News yesterday: ‘My health - I got the clearance on Wednesday on my cancer so I’m OK.’ Last month it was revealed that Connolly, 70, had undergone surgery for the condition and was receiving treatment for the initial stages of Parkinson’s disease. Prostate cancer is the most common cancer in men, second only to lung cancer in terms of how many it kills. Around 40,000 men a year are diagnosed with the illness. Former chatshow host Sir Michael Parkinson has also been battling the illness. The comedian’s announcement comes six weeks after it was revealed that Sir Michael is similarly expected to recover from the illness after completing a month of intensive radiotherapy. Connolly underwent an operation in the US which was described as ‘a total success’, but doctors spotted signs of the shaking disorder. Parkinson’s affects 127,000 Britons and symptoms include tremors while the victim rests, rigidity of muscles, slowness of movement, unsteady balance and memory loss. Connolly’s spokesman revealed that, despite the setback, the star will continue with his work commitments. Lifelong fan: Connolly travelled to last night's Celtic match from his New York home. He was pictured here in 2007 when he was named patron of the club's charity association . She said last month: ‘Billy has been assured by experts that the findings will in no way inhibit or affect his ability to work, and he will start filming a TV series in the near future, as well as undertaking an extensive theatrical tour of New Zealand in the new year.’ Fans were concerned earlier this year when Connolly admitted he had started to forget his lines during performances. A show at the Waterfront Hall in Belfast in April was marred by forgetful moments where he asked the audience what he was talking about. | Much-loved comic watched Celtic in last night's Champions League clash . He admitted doctors had given him the all-clear from prostrate cancer . Connolly will continue to work despite Parkinson's disease diagnosis . | b04724206bb63c4aba31e94b620594f5899a1678 |
By . Larisa Brown . A couple who ran a cannabis factory and spent their fortune on helping poor African families and charities have been jailed. Michael Foster, 62, and Susan Cooper, 63, made £400,000 by illegally growing hundreds of plants at their farmhouse home during a six-year operation. But instead of pocketing the money, they spent a large proportion of it on people in a Kenyan village - paying for life-saving surgery, computers for an eye hospital and schooling for poor children. Jailed: Michael Foster, left, and Susan Copper, right, spent the majority of their money made from selling cannabis grown in their farmhouse home on poor people living in a Kenyan village . When the pair, from Lincolnshire, were not helping people in Kenya, they were living an incredible double life selling wholesale kilo deals of cannabis to a local drugs baron. Although the Judge appeared impressed with their good work, they were jailed for three years at Lincoln Crown Court. Prosecutor Jon Dee told the court Foster and Cooper’s life was the 'most unusual cannabis growing case of its type'. He added: 'This couple were both in their 60s and were of previous good character. 'For six years they produced cannabis in significant quantities. This was a professional and commercial set up.' Gareth Wheetman, representing Foster, said. 'The very fact they were repeatedly flying off to Kenya in itself required money but the evidence demonstrates much of the money was being put to charitable and good use.' Cooper’s lawyer, Chris Milligan, added: 'Susan Cooper is a good person who has done a bad thing. There is another side to her. In 2004 the couple converted two buildings on their farm in Long Sutton, Lincolnshire into a cannabis factory . 'When a young adult called Wilson got a gangrenous infection in his leg he was given two days to live. She paid for that treatment.' The court heard how the couple were regular visitors to a village in the Kwale district, near the tourist coastal town of Mombasa, Kenya. The couple told police much of the money they illegally obtained was spent helping the local people they met. They used the money to pay for life-saving surgery for people in the village and schooling for the children (file photo) Diani Beach, a tourist hotspot in the Kwale District of Kenya, not too far from where the couple visited regularly . Jailing the couple, Judge Sean Morris told them: 'You were growing it on a significant scale, jetting off to Kenya on it. 'Lots of money was going into your bank accounts, over a number of years hundreds of thousands went in. 'I am sure you were doing good things in Kenya with your drugs money, whether that was to appease your consciences I can only speculate.' In 2004 Foster and Cooper converted . two buildings on their farm in Long Sutton, Lincolnshire, into a . cannabis factory, where they grew hundreds of illegal plants and sold . kilos of the drug to a local dealer. Police . only caught the couple by accident when an officer, who happened to . stumble across their home while pursuing a burglar nearby, smelled the . cannabis. Inside police found 159 cannabis plants, worth an estimated £20,000. Two of the buildings . had been converted into a growing room and drying room. Officers also . recovered £20,000 in £1,000 bundles from a carrier bag. Foster and Cooper were arrested and interviewed following the raid in June 2010. Mr Dee added: 'At the time this couple were completely off the police radar. They were caught completely by chance.' When . the officer knocked on the farmhouse door Cooper, a divorcee, answered. She replied 'Yes I do' when the officer asked if she knew why he was . there. The couple admitted four charges of producing cannabis and a single offence of possessing criminal cash. | Pair paid for life-saving surgery, computers in a hospital and schooling . 'Most unusual cannabis growing case of its type', says prosecutor . Couple, in their 60s, visited village near coastal town of Mombasa regularly . | 45d37d548b2bc1981a9d0983a7ef959414aa57ca |
By . John Hall . A German woman has started transporting her two-foot tall miniature horse in the boot of her Smart Car after finding it impossible to safely secure him in a horse box. Kim Scholz, 23, said she had been stopped by police several times while driving in her hometown of Koenigsbrunn in Bavaria, but has always been able to prove that four-year-old Sammy - who is about as tall as a medium-sized dog - is properly secured. The University of Augsburg student said she was forced to adopt unorthodox methods to transport the Argentinian Falabella after realising he was far safer in the boot of her car than in a full-sized horse box, where he is too small to be suitably fastened. Taken for a ride: Sammy - a four-year-old Argentinian Falabella - has to travel in the boot of his owner's Smart car because he is too small to travel in a normal-sized horse box . Unusual: Sammy's owner Kim Scholz (pictured in white) said she was forced to adopt unorthodox methods to transport him after realising he was far safer in the boot of her car than in a horse box . Cute: The four-year-old stallion is an Argentinian Falabella - one of the smallest breeds of horse in the world . Ms Scholz contacted local media to explain her reasons for transporting Sammy in the back of her black Smart Car after photographs started appearing in national media. She felt she needed to explain that not only was Sammy traveling in the boot for his own safety, it was also a perfectly legal way of transporting an animal of his size. 'I have actually been stopped several times by the police, but once they see that Sammy is properly secured in the back of the car and in fact that he seems to be quite enjoying it in there, they always let me carry on,' Ms Scholz said. 'In the horse box it is not possible to properly secure him because he is so small, and he only has a white wall to look at which is nowhere near as interesting as having a window in the car,' she added. Entertainer: Two-foot tall Sammy now routinely travels in the back of a Smart car whenever he needs to travel to perform in a show or an event . Strapped in: Kim Scholz said she had been stopped by police several times while driving in her hometown of Koenigsbrunn in Bavaria, but has always been able to prove that Sammy is properly secured . Adorable: Ms Scholz adopted Sammy two years ago after seeing him advertised on the internet . Bad fit: Ms Scholz started transporting her two-foot tall miniature horse in the boot of her Smart Car after realising he was too small secure properly in a normal horse box. It also allows him to look out the window . Ms Scholz said Sammy now routinely travels in the back of her Smart Car whenever he needs to travel to perform in a show or an event. 'It is particularly practical for short journeys just to put him in the boot,' she said. Ms Scholz adopted Sammy two years ago after seeing him advertised on the internet. He . had been badly treated and underfed by a previous owner and required a . lot of extra care and attention to become calm enough to perform at . local horse shows. The four-year-old stallion is an Argentinian Falabella - one of the smallest breeds of horse in the world. For the record: Kim Scholz contacted local media to explain her reasons for transporting Sammy in the back of her black Smart car after photographs started appearing in national media . Loved: Sammy had been badly treated and underfed by a previous owner and required a lot of extra care and attention to become calm enough to perform at local horse shows . Trot: Despite the fact they seldom grow much taller than a medium-sized dog Argentinian Falabellas are classed as horses, not ponies. Because they are so small, they are not suitable for riding . What a sight! Kim Scholz felt she needed to explain that not only was Sammy traveling in the boot for his own safety, it was also a perfectly legal way of transporting an animal of his size . Despite the fact they seldom grow much taller than a medium-sized dog Falabellas are horses, not ponies. Although the difference between the two is usually based on height, the actual definition is in fact based on phenotypes - the physical characteristics and temperament of the animal. In short, despite being smaller than many ponies, the character and physicality of an Argentinian Falabella has far more in common with a horse, and they are therefore defined as such. Because they are so small, Argentinian Falabellas are not suitable for riding. They are, however, highly intelligent and are occasionally used as an alternative to a guide dog for blind people. | Argentinian Falabella 'Sammy' is too small to travel in a normal horse box . Owner Kim Scholz, 23, instead transports him in the boot of her Smart car . Student from Koenigsbrunn, Germany says police regularly pull her over . But she has always been able to prove that Sammy is happy and secure . | f9f46652f6dcd4254329a50f1c97b4d346089004 |
(OPRAH.com) -- It's probably good that I'm not rich. Money, it seems to me, sends people in one of three directions: . Lisa Kogan cites the increase in intelligent, witty, creative women as a reason she can be cheerful. It accelerates an innate inclination to be generous, or it accelerates a kamikaze inclination to party with the Olsen twins, or it sucks away your sense of purpose and produces a desperate need to eat nothing but those little white cheddar Cheez-It crackers while staring blankly at an endless cycle of "Will & Grace" reruns. I like to think that if I were rich, I'd be the kind of person who looks at the world and decides to fund cancer research and build schools and feed the hungry, and save whoever needs saving, but there's an excellent chance I'd be the kind of person who looks at the world and decides never to get out of bed again. In fact, despite my very real (and utterly inconvenient) need to earn a living, I'm still the kind of person who leans toward the whole Cheez-It thing. To begin with, I have a slight tendency toward depression (think Sylvia Plath listening to a freshly downloaded acoustic set from Leonard Cohen). And when this particular brain chemistry is confronted with the incredibly unsettling knowledge that people no longer work like dogs to get ahead, they work like dogs just to stay where they are, well, a girl starts needing a few good reasons to get up, put on a little lipstick, and venture out. But it's no secret that it's not pretty out there. Food prices are soaring, the housing market is plummeting, the middle class is disappearing, the climate is changing, and Madonna is touring. This is all the more reason to keep a soothing thought or two close at hand. Someday soon, I promise, we can sit down together and come up with a breathtaking bucket list that finally commits us to skydiving with Morgan Freeman just as we've secretly prayed we would, but today I'm offering a different kind of list. Oprah.com: How you (yes, you!) should live your life . Good reasons to put on a little lipstick and venture out (or at least put on clean pajamas and raise your window shade a couple of inches): . • Junior high is just one long daisy chain of nonstop mean, and you have officially survived it. That's right, my friend, you may have to face locusts, drought, and World War III, but you can now go forth secure in the understanding that seventh grade is over. You get to wake up each and every morning without worrying that Arleen Posner got the same Frye boots as you. You will never have to read "Beowulf," be groped by a 13-year-old reeking of his father's Aqua Velva, or feather your bangs again. The enormity of this revelation must not be underestimated. • Javier Bardem walks among us. • My delightfully decadent friend Stephen Whitlock recently discovered a recipe for bacon ice cream (DavidLebovitz.com), and get this -- the first step involves candying the bacon! Let's all take a moment of hushed reverence to contemplate this. Oprah.com: Five friends every woman should have . First came the polio vaccine, then Neil Armstrong made a giant leap for mankind, and today we actually have the technology to combine pork fat with butter fat, salty with sweet, crunchy with creamy. I firmly believe that what chicken soup does for the common cold, bacon ice cream will one day do for the premenstrual woman. • One word: Spanx. We can now have our scoop of bacon ice cream and wear a clingy Diane Von Furstenberg jersey wrap dress too. • Intelligent, witty, creative women appear to be on the rise. I like men. I like men so much that I even had a baby with one of 'em, but the baby is now 5, and it's nice to be able to show her some brilliantly talented females -- Rachel Maddow (MSNBC host), Mindy Kaling (playwright, producer, actress, "The Office"), Janice Lee (her debut novel, "The Piano Teacher", hits stores in January, and it's an absolute knockout) -- who are very good at what they do. As role models go, Dora the Explorer only takes a mom so far. Besides, check out Dora's expressionless little brow -- I'm pretty sure it's coursing with Botox. • Ordinarily, I would not include houseguests on my list of bright spots, but Mabel, the dog I am currently babysitting, is causing me to rethink my position. Mabel suffers from a chronic greeting disorder that manifests itself as follows: I leave the room for 10, maybe 12 seconds. Upon reentry, Mabel welcomes me with a level of enthusiasm usually reserved for soldiers returning from three years in a POW camp -- a one-dog mariachi band of pure, unmitigated joy. Unless my boyfriend and our daughter sense that I'm carrying a pizza, my return from nine or 10 hours at the office rarely merits more than a mumbled "They never came to fix the dishwasher." There's something to be said for a bit of good old-fashioned, uncomplicated affection, even when it comes from a shedding, slightly incontinent 14-year-old beagle. • Tony Soprano is either dead or eating onion rings, but Don Draper is alive and mesmerizing every week on "Mad Men." • You know those little stain remover pens that everybody keeps in their bags and desk drawers? I couldn't care less about them. Life is inherently messy, and I accept the odd spot of cranberry juice as part of God's great plan for me and the vast majority of my T-shirts. But the other night at our local diner when Julia accidentally catapulted her chocolate milk shake across our booth, there was my pal Valerie, dry cleaner's pen, ice water, and paper napkins at the ready. Val is just one of those intuitive, insightful, ironic, wildly generous, deeply adorable women who, despite working two jobs, is quietly, unequivocally there for the people she loves. If you need a complex carbohydrate, she's got the whole grain pasta salad. If you need a sock puppet, she's got the glue gun. If you need a boost, she's got the ceramic vase brimming with sunflowers. The woman once went on vacation, and I was absolutely bereft. Two weeks without Valerie Soll feels like a house without books. You see, Javier Bardem, bacon ice cream, and all the mad men in the world don't change the hard truth that plans frequently fail and dreams have been known to dim. But come the morning, there are your friends offering sweet salvation and good gossip and the occasional glass of Sauvignon Blanc with lunch. If ever there was a reason for hope, I think maybe that's it. By Lisa Kogan from "O, The Oprah Magazine," November 2008 . Subscribe to O, The Oprah Magazine for up to 75% off the newsstand price. That's like getting 18 issues FREE. Subscribe now! TM & © 2009 Harpo Productions, Inc. All Rights Reserved. | Columnist shares a few excellent reasons to venture out in the world . Reason one: You survived junior high, "Beowulf," feathering your bangs . Reason three: Friend invented bacon ice cream . Reason seven: Don Draper is mesmerizing every week on "Mad Men" | a187209d7645822575d12a2025f48f548f921818 |
By . Alasdair Glennie for the Daily Mail . and Miles Goslett . The wife of actor Andrew Sachs condemned the BBC last night for bringing Jonathan Ross back to Radio 2 for the first time since he left the BBC following Sachsgate scandal. Melody Sachs said it was a ‘slap in the face’ to give the disgraced presenter a job on the same station on which he insulted her husband six years ago. Ross has been hired to provide holiday cover for Steve Wright’s afternoon music and chat show at the end of the month. 'It's highly inappropriate and disgusting': Melody Sachs, pictured with her husband Andrew Sachs, condemned the BBC last night for bringing Jonathan Ross back to Radio 2 . He will be paid an estimated £4,000 to host four three-hour programmes between August 26 and 29. Last night Mrs Sachs, 79, said: ‘It’s highly inappropriate and I think it’s disgusting.’ In 2008, Ross used an appearance on comedian Russell Brand’s Radio 2 show to leave a series of obscene messages on Mr Sachs’s answerphone. The incident provoked 42,000 complaints after Brand boasted of sleeping with the 84-year-old actor’s granddaughter and joked that the Fawlty Towers star might hang himself as a result of the calls. Brand later resigned and Ross was suspended for 12 weeks, later moving to ITV. The BBC was fined £150,000 by Ofcom. Incident: Jonathan Ross (right) and Russell Brand are pictured insulting Mr Sachs on the BBC's Radio 2 show . Although Ross, 53, has said he feels ‘immense regret’, the Sachs family have refused to forgive him and claimed he used the publicity to advance his career. Mrs Sachs added: ‘I’m so surprised that the BBC has welcomed him back. I’m amazed that they could do such a thing. It’s like a slap in the face for us, especially after Andrew spent so much of his working life with the BBC writing, acting and directing. It’s very sad and thoughtless and disrespectful.’ It is the first time since he left the BBC that Ross has been allowed back on Radio 2, although he has appeared on one-off TV. On Monday he appeared as a guest on Radio 4 panel show Just A Minute. Criticism: Tory MP Philip Davies (left) has also criticised the decision to allow Ross (right) back on the airwaves . Last night Tory MP Philip Davies also criticised the decision to allow Ross back on the airwaves. He said: ‘My view is that what he did was completely and utterly unacceptable. He doesn’t appear to have accepted that, and until he does I don’t think the BBC should employ him.’ Ross was never fired from the BBC. Instead he chose to leave in 2010 after the corporation decided not to renew his £18million contract. He later claimed the scandal had made him a ‘better person’. A BBC spokesman said: ‘Jonathan is an experienced and talented broadcaster … [who] is returning for this one-off stint of holiday cover for Steve Wright. There are no plans to bring him back permanently.’ | Jonathan Ross left obscene messages on Andrew Sachs's answerphone . The incident on Russell Brand's Radio 2 show sparked 42,000 complaints . Now, Ross has been hired by BBC to cover Steve Wright's afternoon show . Disgraced presenter will be paid £4,000 for four three-hour programmes . Melody Sachs described the broadcaster's decision as a 'slap in the face' | f368abd2b8ec32e2fc272007e08dc968f3e0d28f |
By . Jack Gaughan . Manchester United manager David Moyes is refusing to admit defeat in the race for Champions League qualification. The manager has endured a turbulent first season in charge at Old Trafford, which could end in United missing out on European competition altogether. They currently lie 11 points beneath Arsenal in fourth and face an almost impossible task of qualifying for the continent's premier competition. VIDEO Scroll down to watch David Moyes bemoan United's form in big games . Still plugging away: David Moyes believes Manchester United can reach the top four this season . Better: United have picked up two good results since being humbled by Liverpool at home last week . Pick that one out! Wayne Rooney inspired United to a 2-0 victory away at West Ham on Saturday . Range: Analysis after the match showed Rooney was 57.9 yards out when he struck the ball . Mind the gap: United are 11 points behind Arsenal in fourth having played the same number of matches . That, however, doesn't deter Moyes, who goes into Tuesday's Manchester derby looking for a third victory on the spin after being humiliated by Liverpool. He remains insistent - publicly at least - that they are able to bridge the gap. 'Until it is impossible for us to qualify for next season's Champions League with a top-four finish, we will continue to try and reach that goal,' Moyes wrote in his programme notes. 'Football is cyclical and it will not be long before we are on the up. 'At this present time we sit behind City in the Premier League table, but that is something we will be looking to rectify in the future. 'The title race is something we are aiming to be involved in over the coming campaigns, just as we have been in the past.' Moyes has been backed by Sir Bobby Charlton ahead of the game, insisting that the former Everton man is 'right' for the job. It comes on the same day as Fernandinho chose to taunt United revealing his surprise at how poor last season's champions were when the sides met in September. Confident: Charlton says the club have no intention of changing the man at the top following bad results . Anxious? Moyes has always retained the support of the board through a turbulent first year in charge . | Manchester United 11 points behind Arsenal in fourth place . David Moyes say his team will aim for fourth 'until it is impossible' 'It will not be long before we're on the up', insists Moyes . United manager aims to be fighting for the title next season . | 3e9c7d028e13791880ec20bf9b292f0f644d6b3f |
The eight-year-old boy who was tragically killed by falling concrete slabs at a construction site two days before Christmas has been described as a happy child 'with heaps of energy'. Erwin Makafana was playing at a Tongan community church construction site in Sydney's southwest, while his father and elder brother Alalate, 17, helped build a fence, when the slabs fell on him. Erwin's distraught brother discovered he'd been injured after one of the men shouted out that someone was 'trapped,' News.com.au reports. 'He's a kid with heaps of energy, always has a smile on his face and I'll always miss him,' the boy's brother Alalate Makafana reportedly told Seven News. Scroll down for video . Erwin Makafana was playing at a construction site in Sydney's southwest when he was killed . Police and emergency services attended the location and treated the unconscious eight-year-old boy . Erwin was at the Sydney Tongan Seventh-Day Adventist Church's property in Leppington on Tuesday afternoon when he was crushed. He was treated by emergency services at the site before being rushed to Liverpool Hospital, where he was pronounced dead. Pastor Sitiveni Fine Teaupa said all work on the church hall construction site had been suspended until a thorough investigation was completed. Police cordon off the area on the construction site where the accident took place . An emergency services helicopter prepares to bring the injured boy to hospital . 'I am devastated by this accident. Our whole community is heartbroken. There is nothing more precious to us than our children,' he said in a statement. 'Please keep the family in your thoughts and prayers. We are all in deep shock.' Police will prepare a report for the coroner. The tragic accident took place at a construction site on George Road at Leppington . The young boy was playing at a construction site when he was knocked unconscious after concrete slabs fell on him . A church is being built on the construction site where the boy had been playing . | Erwin Makafana was killed at a construction site in Sydney's southwest . Initial reports say the boy was playing on a pile of concrete slabs, when some of the slabs slipped and fell on top of him . His brother Alalate, 17, and father were working on the church site . The boy was rushed to Liverpool Hospital, however he was pronounced dead shortly afterwards . | 10c400b5ba886c0c6540ead2967e394a2824e40f |
Ethereal and magical, these patterns look like they could be out of a fantasy movie, but they are actually made by fireflies buzzing through the twilight captured by clever photography. Photographer Vincent Brady, 25, shot the stunning series of images using time-lapse photography to portray the beauty of fireflies in a whole new light. Mr Brady stacks his images - taken over a few seconds - to allow the flickering bugs to create vibrant beams of light against the still, dark backdrops. Stunning: Photographer Vincent Brady captured these remarkable images of fireflies by using time lapse photography . Conditions: The pictures were shot in humid, night time conditions when fireflies produce a cold light from their bodies . Chemical reaction: The light is created by a chemical reaction called bioluminescence which the arthropods use mainly to attract a mate . Setting: Mr Brady managed to capture the remarkable images in the Lake of the Ozarks, in Missouri, and Grand Ledge, in Michigan . The pictures, taken in the Lake of the Ozarks, in Missouri, and Grand Ledge, in Michigan, were shot in humid, night time conditions when fireflies produce a cold light from their bodies. The light is created by a chemical reaction called bioluminescence which the arthropods use mainly to attract a mate. Mr Brady became interested in capturing fireflies in 2012 when he used the same technique he had previously tried to capture star trails to photograph the bugs. He said: 'Fireflies are incredible - the more I learn about them the more interesting they seem to become. Technique: The photographer became interested in capturing fireflies in 2012 when he used a technique he had previously tried to capture star trails to photograph the bugs . Otherworldly: The series of images look like they have come out of a fantasy movie, but they were all taken in natural settings . Swarm: Mr Brady said he would scope out spots where he wanted to shoot during the daytime, although the fireflies often would not appear where he had hoped . Scene: The photographer said he enjoyed chasing the fireflies as he attempted to capture these impressive images . Lighting up the sky: The fireflies appear to light up the night sky as the stars stream above them in this remarkable image, taken using time-lapse photography . 'I would scope out spots in the daytime to shoot, but often where I wanted to shoot wasn't where they wanted to be so I'd always scramble in the blue hour just after the sun goes down as they begin the disco to set up a shot. 'The moon was also a factor. In open areas along the lake where the only light shining was the moon they wouldn't be active as they don't like to compete with the moonlight. 'It is good fun chasing them. Cruising along the lake under the stars with the fireflies lighting up the treeline is breathtaking.' The light fantastic: Fireflies, pictured at the Lake of Ozarks, Missouri, surround a bridge as they light up the night sky . Breathtaking: Mr Brady said it was 'good fun chasing them. Cruising along the lake under the stars with the fireflies lighting up the treeline is breathtaking' Photography: Mr Brady stacks his images, which are taken over a few seconds, to allow the flickering bugs to create vibrant beams of light against the still, dark backdrops . | Photographer Vincent Brady, 25, shot images using time-lapse photography to capture fireflies in a whole new light . Pictures were taken in the Lake of the Ozarks, Missouri, and Grand Ledge, Michigan, in humid, night time conditions . Mr Brady stacks his images - taken over a few seconds - to allow the flickering bugs to create vibrant beams of light . | f9399205369fa1ee01060b79ee0b3985298ba0b5 |
Growing up, Cheikhou Kouyate always dreamed of following in the footsteps of his idol Patrick Vieira. His journey to London, signing for West Ham for £7million this summer, and development as a player have been so similar to the Arsenal great they could practically have worn the same shoes. Both were born in Dakar, Senegal, but travelled through Europe to gain their footballing education as teenagers in various countries before ending up in the Barclays Premier League. Vieira moved to France and then Italy before landing in England at Arsenal. Kouyate’s route was even longer. In pursuit of football he moved first to Greece, leaving his family behind, then to France and finally Belgium before he found East London this summer. Midfield man: New West Ham man Cheikhou Kouyate joined the Hammers from Anderlecht in a £7million deal . But their similarities stretch further than simple geography. They are both 6ft 4in and of a similar imposing build. Both are known on the football field for their immense physicality and tough tackling. t was not long before the comparisons came when Kouyate finally broke into the first-team at Brussels in 2007 aged 18. ‘When I started playing in Belgium I played 10 matches and people began comparing me with Patrick Vieira,’ Kouyate said. ‘It was an immense pleasure to be compared to such a fantastic player because he was a role model for us Senegalese and an inspiration. ‘When he showed how good he was, he made us dream and aspire to achieve similar things. I know it will be tough. Now it is up to me that I deserve the comparison. ‘To do that, I need to give the best to my team. I hope to achieve just a bit of what he achieved. I know it will be difficult. It is now up to me to show my qualities and play like I can.’ Idol: Kouyate has followed in the footsteps of his hero Patrick Vieira in making it to the Premier League . Thumbs up: Kouyate poses with fellow West Ham new boys Diego Poyet (left) and Mauro Zarate (centre) It was that ‘obsession,’ as Kouyate describes it, to get to England that drove him on when he felt lonely and homesick and wanted to give it all up. The first three months away from home were the hardest, but it is this experience which, he believes, gives him the mental strength for the English top flight. ‘It was so difficult that I wanted to go back to Senegal,’ he said. ‘It was the first time I had left my country without my family, I had nothing and was completely on my own. It was really cold. It was the first time I had seen snow. ‘But I spoke to my grandmother and my mum on the telephone and they told me to stay put. I was on my own a lot of the time, but I got used to it. It was then my mental strength began to increase, I became tougher.’ Big move: Kouyate moved to Belgium from Senegal and made his debut for Anderlecht at the age of 18 in 2007 . His mother and brother are getting loose ends tied up with work in Senegal but plan to move over here. There is talk of December, but they may wait until next summer so the temperature is not such a shock to the system. Luckily, through his travels, Kouyate is fully prepared for the cold, wet and windy evening and afternoon games ahead. He played with Romeleu Lukaku at Anderlecht, where he signed from this summer, and garnered advice from him. He also spoke to other Senegalese players El Hadji Diouf and Mo Diame. He added: ‘Diouf said I need to work hard, concentrate in training and that I mustn’t hold back.’ When Kouyate takes to the field at Upton Park against Tottenham this afternoon [SAT], provided he does not hold back he will be a step closer to emulating his idol. | West Ham's Cheikhou Kouyate dreamed of moving to Premier League . Former Arsenal star Patrick Vieira was Kouyate's hero . Midfielder joined Hammers from Anderlecht in £7million deal this summer . | 38e7e5e8448b15063eeca1f110dc87ea6ff429ea |
By . Daily Mail Reporter . PUBLISHED: . 15:55 EST, 24 January 2014 . | . UPDATED: . 16:57 EST, 24 January 2014 . A historic Massachusetts town could be reduced to whisper if a strict new noise ordinance is passed. Hingham, which lies just south of Boston, is considering rules that would fine residents who made over 55 decibels of noise during the day and more than 45 decibels at night. Technically you could be fined $100 for your first offense for being louder than a coffee percolator (55 db), a refrigerator (50 db) or even just more than normal conversation (60 db), according to a decibel chart. Be quiet! Loring Hall at the center of historic Hingham, Massachusetts, a town that is considering a very strict noise ordinance . Danger: The proposed law could fine residents for making noise above 55 decibels - normal conversation rates at around 60db . 'It's really a question of giving police some tools to deal with a quality of life issue,' Hingham Board of Selectmen Chairman Bruce Rabuffo told WBZ. Hingham town authorities get around 350 complaints a year, with the most in July. The ordinance, which can seen on the town's website, remains very much a proposal at the moment, but it would also ban construction noise in residential areas between 7pm and 7am. Power tools would not be permitted between 8pm and 7pm. Noise above the limits would be permitted during the day for no more than 15 minutes in an hour. Lawn mowers, snow blowers and tractors are all louder than 55 decibels. Clearing up: Under the rules, snow blowers could only be used for 15 minutes in an hour . Exceptions would be made with certain permits and in emergency situations. But under the new rules residents would be fined $100 for a first offense, $200 for the second and $300 for the third and any thereafter. Hingham Selectmen discussed the proposal on Thursday after putting it out for public discussion and they are now working on the document following comments. Selectman Irma Lauter told the Patriot Ledger: 'I don't think it's ready for prime time yet.' Some residents of the town were concerned about the possible law change. Mike Pungitore, who is in the landscaping business, didn't agree with the idea that loud noises could last no longer than 15 minutes in an hour. Harsh: Under the new rules, town residents would be fined $100 for a first offense, $200 for the second and $300 for the third and any thereafter . 'For many houses in this town, it will take longer than 15 minutes to mow a lawn,' he told the paper. And local man Warren Pelissier of Main Street to the Patriot Ledger: 'It does kind of seem that we are killing a flea with a sledgehammer here.' | Hingham, Massachusetts, considers noise ordinance that would fine residents for making noise louder than 55 decibels during the day . Normal conversation is 60 decibels . 'It does kind of seem that we are killing a flea with a sledgehammer here,' said one resident . | af9f877b72123af4332c4924fbd82a53405d80f5 |
By . Anna Hodgekiss for MailOnline . A Chinese farmer left with a large chunk missing from his skull is to have it repaired with the help of a 3D printer. The man, known only as 46-year-old Hu, was injured after falling from the third floor of his home in Xi'an, Shaanxi province. Doctors are now planning to re-build his skull with a titanium mesh created by a 3D printer. The man, known only as 46-year-old Hu, was injured after falling from the third floor of his home in Xi'an . Doctors are now planning to re-build his skull with a titanium mesh created by a 3D printer . The custom-made implant will be inserted under Hu's skin and attached to his skull. If the procedure is successful, doctors say the mesh will restore the original shape of his head. Last week surgeons in China successfully implanted an artificial 3D-printed vertebra into a 12-year-old bone cancer patient to help him walk again. Doctors at Peking University Hospital in Beijing first removed a tumour located in the second vertebra of the boy's neck. They then replaced it with the 3D-printed implant between the first and third vertebrae to allow him to lift his head. The five-hour surgery was a world first and will enable the boy named Minghao to walk again after spending two months confined to a hospital bed. While 3D-printed organs are not yet commonly used, there have been previous cases of patients being implanted with 3D-printed jaws, hips and even a pelvis. 'This is the first use of a 3D-printed vertebra as an implant for orthopaedic spine surgery in the world,' Dr Liu Zhongjun, who performed the surgery, told Chinese media CCTV. The custom-made implant will be inserted under Hu's skin and attached to his skull. If the procedure is successful, doctors say the titanium mesh will restore the original shape of his head. Using existing technology, the patient's head needs to be framed with pins after surgery. The patient's head cannot touch the bed when he is resting. This lasts for at least three months,' Dr Liu said. 'But with 3D printing technology, we can simulate the shape of the vertebra, which is much stronger and more convenient than traditional methods,' said Dr Liu Zhongjun, who performed the surgery . And last year, British surgeons used 3D printing technology to recreate the severely injured face of a road accident victim. The unaffected side of the biker’s face was used to create a mirror image, to enable perfect facial reconstruction. The images are were both to design guides to cut and position facial bones with pinpoint accuracy and create tailor-made implants for the patient. The guides and implants were produced in medical-grade titanium in Belgium, at one of the world’s few specialist 3D printing facilities. Last week surgeons in China successfully implanted an artificial 3D-printed vertebra into a 12-year-old bone cancer patient to help him walk again. | 46-year-old Hu was injured after falling from the third floor of his home . Is now having skull re-built with a titanium mesh created by a 3D printer . Implant will be inserted under Hu's skin and attached to his skull . If successful, mesh will restore the original shape of his head, doctors say . Comes after surgeons used 3D printed vertebra to help a patient walk again . | 00c53a47dc6eb289b268ace210b85e51300ca285 |
By . Suzannah Hills . PUBLISHED: . 04:09 EST, 24 January 2013 . | . UPDATED: . 09:50 EST, 24 January 2013 . Relatives of a pastor's son accused of killing his parents and three siblings in New Mexico claim the teenager is not a 'monster' but a may have suffered a mental breakdown. Nehemiah Griego, 15, allegedly used his father's .22 rifle and AR-15 semiautomatic rifle to shoot his sleeping mother Sara before killing his nine-year-old brother Zephania and two sisters, Jael, five, and Angelina, two. It is claimed he then lay in wait at least four hours for his father, Greg, to return to the family home in a rural area southwest of downtown Albuquerque and then shot him dead late on Saturday night. Police believe the video game-obsessed teen - who had allegedly spent a week plotting the murders - then spent the rest of the day at his local church. But his uncle has claimed the teenager was a doting older brother who could not be responsible for the horrific killing spree. Scroll down for video . This undated photo provided by shows Nehemiah Griego who is charged with killing five family members, including his father, mother, and three youngest siblings in Albuquerque, New Mexico on Saturday . Family murder: The shooting took place inside the Griego home, and Nehemiah waited there for hours after killing his mother and siblings until his father arrived home from work . House of guns: The boy allegedly used his father's .22 rifle and an AR-15 semiautomatic rifle to shoot his family . In a statement he said: 'We have not been able to comprehend what led to this incredibly sad situation. However, we are deeply concerned about the portrayal in some media of Nehemiah as some kind of a monster. 'It is clear to those of us who know and love him that something went terribly wrong. Whether it was a mental breakdown or some deeper undiagnosed psychological issue, we can’t be sure yet. 'What we do know is that none of us, even in our wildest nightmare, could have imagined that he could do something like this. 'He is a troubled young man who made a terrible decision that will haunt him and his family forever. 'Five lives have been senselessly and needlessly ended. Ruining one more without trying to get to the bottom of what really happened and more importantly - why - would be equally tragic.' It comes as police revealed that Griego spent the rest of day after the killings wandering the church grounds while Sunday school teachers were being trained on how to deal with a shooter. The teen then allegedly told a pastor he had found his family dead in his home. Former police officer and Calvary Albuquerque security chief Vince Harrison, who was teaching the Sunday School security class, then took Griego to his house where he discovered the murdered family. Crime scene: Authorities investigate the death of Pastor Gregory Griego and family members at his home on Sunday morning . Filling in the gaps: Sheriff Dan Houston (right) and Lt. Sid Covington (left) said that the teen has been 'very unemotional' throughout his questioning and is currently being held in the local juvenile detention center . Religious: The boy's father, a former pastor, was thought to be working at a local mission at the time that his wife and three children were killed, and only returned home at around 5am when his son then allegedly shot him . He said: 'When I met Nehemiah, I knew something wasn't right. I could feel it, I could see it in his eyes and I could see it in his behavior and his demeanor so the red flags went up and that's when I called the sheriff's department.' Harrison, who had known the Griego family for about 10 years, said he drove the teen back to the family's rural southwest Albuquerque home to meet authorities, interviewing him along the way. 'He went into detail of where they were, where the guns were and he was very matter-of-fact, really cold so I knew something wasn't right,' Harrison said. After finding the bodies, sheriff's officials say, they took the teen to headquarters. During questioning, they say he confessed to shooting his mother and three younger siblings in their beds shortly after 1 am. Investigators said he admitted he was 'frustrated' with his mother, but only seemed to show emotion when he spoke about video games he loved, such as Modern Warfare and Grand Theft Auto. They say he then waited in a bathroom with a military-style semi-automatic rifle to ambush his father upon his return from an overnight shift at a homeless shelter. He allegedly also told them he had reloaded the family's rifles and taken them with him in the family van with plans to randomly shoot more people. Suspected shooter: Nehemiah Griego, 15, was said to regularly wear military camouflage gear around the neighborhood . 'Quiet': Nehemiah was not registered with the school district so he was thought to be home schooled . 'That sends chills down my spine,' Harrison said. Harrison said several people spotted Griego at the church but thought nothing of it until his arrest. He said officials then reviewed security video and found the teen had spent much of the day there. He said he doesn't know why Griego decided to come to the church, but that it was like a second home for the boy, who was schooled at his house. 'It was a familiar place to him,' Harrison said. 'I think if he did have in his mindset to do something foolish and start shooting people there also, I think his demeanor was tamed a little bit because he saw people there he knew.' A prayer vigil was held at the church on Wednesday night for victims Greg Griego, 51, his wife, Sarah Griego, 40, and three of their children - a 9-year-old boy, Zephania Griego, and daughters Jael Griego, 5, and Angelina Griego, 2. Before the start of the vigil, members of the crowd shared hugs and handshakes as photographs of the victims were displayed on large digital screens at the front of the church. An estimated 2,000 people attended and nearly every seat was filled for the hour-long service. Tragedy: One of the victims of the shooting was identified as Gregory Griego, pictured center, a former pastor at the Calvary Albuquerque church . Killing: Five people were shot to death at the home in Albuquerque, New Mexico, in the Saturday night shooting . Location: The bodies were found at a home on Long Lane Southwest in South Valley, New Mexico . | Nehemiah Griego, 15, arrested and charged with shooting his relatives . Victims identified as former pastor Gregory Griego, 51, his wife Sara, 40, and . their three youngest children Zephania, 9, Jael, 5, and Angelina, 2 . Each . victim was shot multiple times at the . family home in Albuquerque . Griegothen allegedly went to church where he spent the day before telling a pastor he had found his family dead . Shocked surviving relatives say Griego was a doting older brother . | 23a663f25de526b284ea639121d6b1371d10d837 |
Singer FKA twigs has proven just what a lucky man her boyfriend Robert Pattinson is, posing topless in a tasteful, yet risque, cover shoot for fashion favorite V Magazine. The British-born musician, real name Tahliah Barnett, showcases her enviable figure in the striking images, while wearing nothing other than a pair of nude panties and a selection of chunky silver necklaces. And while the 26-year-old does not discuss her relationship with Pattinson, 28, who she has been dating for four months, in the accompanying interview with The New Yorker's Sasha-Frere Jones, she does touch on the way in which she feels she has grown as a woman in recent months. Bold and beautiful: Singer FKA twigs appears on the cover of V Magazine's New Music Issue this month . 'I feel more like a woman': The 26-year-old revealed in the interview that she has felt more able to embrace her own femininity after seeing men who are comfortable with their own . Speaking about her background as a ballet dancer, FKA explains that she feels she has only really been able to grow as a woman after seeing male dancers embrace their own femininity. 'I wrote a song, a month ago,' she says. 'I can't remember the lyrics. It was something like "boys growing boys growing girls into women". 'I've felt more like a woman since I've met these men so in touch with their femininity. They teach me how to be a woman, how to feel, how to have class and poise, and how to feel good about myself. 'I'll dance for them and I'll dance for myself, as thanks.' But while she doesn't mention 28-year-old Pattinson in the piece, it is clear that the couple's relationship is growing more serious. So in love: FKA has been dating Twilight star Robert Pattinson for four months . According to a recent report in the Mail on Sunday, the pair spent Christmas at the home of Pattinson's parents in Barnes, West London, with a source close to the actor claiming Mr and Mrs Pattinson made it very clear that they prefer FKA to their son's ex-girlfriend and former Twilight co-star Kristen Stewart. 'FKA is not as clean-cut,' said a family friend. 'But that makes her more fun, and Robert can get very serious.' While her relationship with her actor beau has seen her launched into the public spotlight in recent months, the former ballerina has been careful to distance herself from Pattinson in a professional sense - and has done everything she can to make a name for herself within the music industry in her own right. Indeed, when it comes to her own unique style of music and performance, FKA is very clear about the way in which she wants her music to be seen and even hit out at the people who insist on labeling her music 'alternative' during her V Magazine interview. 'If I say "alternative red" to you, it's not red, is it?' she explains. '"Alternative R&B is patronizing to R&B. Baring all: American musician Tinashe also posed topless for her own V Magazine cover . In good company: FKA's fellow Brits Sam Smith (L) and Jessie Ware (R) were also chosen to appear on the cover of this month's New Music Issue . 'R&B is R&B - it doesn't need an alternative. There are plenty of artists now experimenting with electronic music, manipulating sounds.' Despite her confident cover shoot the musician, whose critically-acclaimed debut album LP1 reached number one in both the US and UK, revealed to Vogue last month that she doesn't enjoy having her photo taken. 'Sometimes I really struggle having my picture taken,' she told the publication, after being named their next Style Breakout Star. Luckily, her shoot in V Magazine's New Music Issue saw her joined by three other successful chart-toppers: Sam Smith, Tinashe, and Jessie Ware, all of whom shot their own covers for the publication, with American musician Tinashe also opting to pose topless. | The 26-year-old took part in one of four different cover shoots for the publication's New Music Issue . While she does not discuss her relationship, the British-born singer admits she has 'felt more like a woman' in recent months . | fe8a829a12ac3c52dc654d15dc7e89a99ab8cfd5 |
Tottenham are poised to complete their protracted signing of Sevilla central defender Federico Fazio after paying his £8million buy-out clause. Sportsmail revealed last week how Spurs were closing in on the 6ft 4in Argentine, and the deal is now virtually complete after the Premier League club made the transaction. Fazio will sign a four-year deal at White Hart Lane before the weekend. VIDEO Scroll down for Mauricio Pochettino: We're trying to build a philosophy at Tottenham . All action: Federico Fazio does battle with Cristiano Ronaldo while playing for Sevilla, and he is set to join Spurs . Imposing: Fazio stands at 6ft 4in and helped Sevilla win the Europa League last season . Tottenham have moved quickly to tie up a move for Fazio after a deal for Villareal defender Mateo Musacchio fell through over third-party ownership issues. The 27-year-old will replace club captain Michael Dawson, who completed his move to Hull City yesterday. Dawson joins Steve Bruce's side on a three-year deal for an undisclosed fee, understood to be £6million. Replacement: Fazio will take the place of the departing captain Michael Dawson, who has left for Hull . Stalwart: Dawson spent nine years at White Hart Lane and was popular with fans for his committed approach . | Tottenham are poised to sign Federico Fazio from Sevilla . Spurs have triggered the central defender's £8million buy-out clause . The 6ft 4in Argentinian will sign a four-year deal at White Hart Lane . The signing follows centre-back Michael Dawson joining Hull for £6million . | e1736a9a6282395a79afd38b903c894df1123673 |
By . Helen Pow . A South Carolina widow has managed to save a piece of sidewalk that her late husband used to declared his love for her more than 52 years ago. David Hewitt scrawled an affectionate message to his wife Sissy - then Josephine Hope - on a piece of freshly poured concrete along Murray Boulevard in Charleston when they were just 12 years old. David sadly died in 2008, but his love note was recently rescued amid road work and lives on in Sissy's backyard as a symbol of the couple's enduring love. Sissy said there was an instant connection when she first met David, who lived just two doors down, at a friend's 'boy-girl party.' Saved: Sissy Hewitt looks up as she kneels next to a section of sidewalk in which David Hewitt wrote 'David + Sissy' more than 50 years ago, at her home June 2, 2014, in Mount Pleasant, South Carolina. His eventual wife--and now widow--recently received the section of the sidewalk . 'I can't say it was love. I was 12,' she told Post and Courier, 'but I was totally infatuated with him.' David felt the same way, and expressed his love by writing 'David + Sissy' in the sidewalk near Limehouse Street soon after. When David left for military school in Georgia, the couple kept in touch and rekindled their romance during holidays and summer breaks. They were reunited when both attended the University of South Carolina and they married soon after graduating. Sissy and David had a baby before returning to Charleston and buying a house on Limehouse Street, just a block away from David's message. When their family grew to two children and four grandchildren, the sentimental sidewalk remained, becoming a go-to place for family pictures. Their daughter, Angie Hewitt Chakeris, told the Post Courier the story of the sidewalk is one of her earliest childhood memories. 'I remember thinking, "Oh my gosh, you were dating when you were 12?" That's a little crazy, isn't it?' she told the newspaper . When David Hewitt died in early 2008 after a battle with myeloma, the sidewalk took on even greater importance to the family. So when Angie drove past it recently and saw orange tape surrounding the site, her heart sank. She returned straight after work and found the sidewalk was broken but the message intact. She then contacted City Hall to see if the family could have it, and officials said 'sure' - but only if the family could move it. So Angie's brother Pitts Hewitt arranged to have a 5-inch thick chunk cut and transported to his mother's house. A grateful Sissy placed the stone between her home and garage, where she sees it every day. She told the newspaper that while she misses her husband everyday, she considers herself blessed.'How many people go their whole lives looking for someone to love? And I had that love from age 12.' | David Hewitt scrawled 'David + Sissy' on a piece of freshly poured concrete along Murray Boulevard in Charleston for a young Josephine Hope . The couple went on to marry, have two children, four grandchildren and a long life together . David sadly died in 2008 after a battle with myeloma . But his love note was recently rescued amid road work and the 5inch thick slab of concrete now lives on in Sissy's backyard as a symbol of their love . | 8fc2e2e20bc9516fb92b8bf3cd70986b91593242 |
(CNN) -- Britain's prestigious Royal Ascot has increased its prize money to a record $7.5 million, in an effort to attract the top race horses from around the world. The country's premier five-day racing festival -- home to Queen Elizabeth's namesake race, the Diamond Jubilee Stakes -- has boosted its prize money by a whopping $756,750 on last year. The world-renowned meeting, which attracts a "who's who" list of royal and celebrity guests, will now also honor Prince William with a race named after him. But despite the prestige associated with Ascot, its prize money still lags behind the rest of the world. The richest horse racing event on the planet, the Dubai World Cup, kicks off later this month with a total prize pool of $27 million, for nine group races. Similarly, the U.S. Breeders' Cup races offer combined prize money of $25 million, while France's Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe has a purse of $12.6 million. "We have seen some remarkable racing at Ascot in recent years and whilst the importance of winning at Royal Ascot both in terms of prestige and in value to the bloodstock industry can't be denied, increasing prize money is equally crucial to attracting the best horses to run in a highly competitive market," Ascot chief executive Charles Barnett said. "It is very important to us to have a significant minimum amount on offer, and we have set that at £60,000 ($90,700)." It may not offer the same cash as other international competitions, but Royal Ascot last year attracted the top four rated race horses in the world -- Frankel, Cirrus Des Aigles, Black Caviar and Excelebration. Retired British champion Frankel, who won 14 races on the trot, chose Royal Ascot's Champion Stakes to make his final appearance, drawing a sellout crowd of 32,000. Australian super mare Black Caviar, who remains unbeaten in a remarkable 23 consecutive races, made her Ascot debut with a nailbiting win in the Diamond Jubilee Stakes. That flagship race remains capped at $756,750 -- compared to $10 million for Dubai's premier World Cup race -- but prize purses for the St James's Palace stakes and Coronation Stakes will rise from $378,000 to $530,000 each. The total prize money on offer at Ascot throughout 2013 is now just over $20 million. This year Queen Elizabeth's grandson William, who is expecting his first child with wife Catherine, the Duchess of Cambridge, will have extra reason to celebrate after the Windsor Forest Stakes was renamed the Duke of Cambridge Stakes in his honor. Pomp and pageantry define the historic track, with the royal family arriving each June in a lavish horse-drawn carriage. So highly regarded is tradition and decorum at Ascot, that last year organizers even had dress code administrators on hand to assess the thousands of people who descend on the Berkshire venue -- with a strict list of dos and don'ts issued to prevent standards slipping. The Royal Enclosure, where Her Majesty watches all five days of the meeting, is where the most stringent regulations are enforced -- including a ban on the widely popular fascinator headpieces. | Britain's Royal Ascot increases prize money to record $7.5 million . Prestigious English track attracts royalty and celebrity guests . But despite prestige, Ascot still lags behind world in prize money . World's richest racing event, Dubai World Cup, offers $27 million . | b1ee4dc7734e5458c767944b2d0ab0882ab35b1c |
By . Daily Mail Reporter . A teacher who threatened to give a student an 'atomic wedgie,' swore and hit pupils with books has been banned from teaching for life. David Foster, 44, was struck off over his inappropriate behaviour with students, including playing with a girl's hair and making comments about her breasts. Foster, who was employed as a science teacher at Derby Moor Community Sports College, in Littleover, was banned from teaching in England indefinitely, by a disciplinary panel. David Foster was a teacher at Derby Moor Community Sports College in Derby, pictured, . Foster admitted swearing - with pupils reporting that Foster said one student was 's**t at chemistry' and telling another pupil, 'I love you but I sometimes don't half want to kill you: atomic wedgie. They split you in half'. Shockingly, another pupil said in a statement about Foster: 'He also mentions my breasts when playing with my hair - "stop rubbing your boobs".' Foster admitted saying this. Other pupils made statements which stated Foster had slapped their backs, as well as poking them and digging his elbows into pupil's backs. In a witness statement, one pupil said: 'Numerous times I have been punched in the back, smacked around the face and head with a book, pulled hair a bit.... also the books around the head and punches in the back came to the point it hurts.' Foster admitted hitting pupils on their heads with books but said he would 'have done this lightly'. The National College for Teaching and Leadership heard that, in June 2013, a number of allegations regarding the behaviour of Foster were raised by pupils. The panel's report said: 'The derogatory and abusive terms used towards pupils did not safeguard their well-being and were likely to have affected their self-esteem.' Despite a formal oral warning about his behaviour in 2011, the panel found that Foster had continued and that the pupils 'were not referring to a one-off incident'. Banning Mr Foster from teaching for life, the panel said that he had not 'demonstrated any insight into the impact his behaviour may have had on the pupils'. Foster, who did not appear at the hearing, was barred from teaching indefinitely, but has the right of appeal within 28 days. Wendy Whelan, head teacher at Derby Moor Community Sports College, said: 'Mr Foster was employed at Derby Moor and was dismissed from his post in July 2013 for reasons as detailed in the NCTL report. 'Once the school became aware of the issues highlighted, it acted swiftly to follow due process such that proper protocols were adhered to and student safety was ensured.' | David Foster was struck off after an investigation into his teaching style . Foster, 44, threw books at one of his students inside the classroom . The teacher even played with one girl's hair and commented on her breasts . | a1d48f62d640fcc50f8da4b5850d8cfce33ced61 |
Washington (CNN)On what was supposed to be the last day before summer recess, dysfunction reigned in Congress. House Republican leaders called off a vote Thursday on their $659 million emergency response to the border influx from Central America overwhelming immigration resources, unable to agree among themselves about what to do. That sparked a revolt in their caucus over doing nothing, which forced GOP leaders to delay the start of August break to discuss the matter further on Friday morning. And in the Senate, a $2.7 billion Democratic plan to respond to the immigrant surge failed in a procedural vote. Caucus revolt . Asked what happens now, Speaker John Boehner said he'd be working with his caucus. Asked if that would go into the night, he responded: "Oh yeah." The Senate measure fell short of the 60 votes needed to advance after Republicans opposed the measure because it didn't include any policy changes to make it easier to deport children back to Central America. Two moderate Democrats voted with Republicans to block the bill. The end result? Politicians eventually go home for five weeks to campaign for the November congressional elections without sending President Barack Obama legislation to address what both parties agree is a humanitarian crisis at the southern border. Volatile issue . Such inability to compromise, let alone even pass any kind of legislation, showed the volatility of the immigration issue in America just over three months before the November elections. Obama asked for $3.7 billion in emergency funding to strengthen border security and speed up the processing of the tens of thousands of arrivals -- many unaccompanied minors -- from Guatemala, Honduras and El Salvador in the past 10 months. House Republicans slashed that figure and added changes to a 2008 anti-trafficking law that would remove the guarantee of an immigration hearing for children arriving on their own from Central America. Facing Democratic opposition, GOP leaders needed almost all of their majority caucus to support the bill. However, many Republicans -- mostly conservatives -- argued against approving any new money and argued the measure failed to effectively limit Obama from acting on his own to allow illegal immigrants to stay in the country. Obama criticism . They contend he has failed to enforce immigration laws by halting deportations of some child immigrants who arrived years earlier. And they now expect further unilateral steps signaled by the White House that would allow more undocumented immigrants to work in the United States. After a partisan debate on the measure, an expected vote suddenly got canceled. A subsequent 90-minute GOP caucus meeting behind closed doors resulted in the decision to keep going on Friday to get something passed, participants said. "I was prepared to be very critical of the decision to go home but thankfully the leadership is doing the right thing and saying we're going to get this thing through," said Rep. Adam Kinzinger of Illinois, while Rep. John Fleming of Louisiana described it as "an emotional 'we've got to do something' kind of cheerleading event." Several House Republicans told CNN that GOP leaders made it clear they won't hold a vote on the border bill until they knew it had enough support t pass, even it that took beyond Friday. Embarrassing result . It was an embarrassing result for Boehner and his new leadership team put together after former Majority Leader Eric Cantor's primary defeat last month, displaying the continuing deep divisions between conservative and more moderate House Republicans that has caused similar episodes in the past on other spending matters. "This situation shows the intense concern within our conference -- and among the American people -- about the need to ensure the security of our borders and the President's refusal to faithfully execute our laws," the House Republican leadership said in a statement. In one of the political ironies of Washington, the GOP leaders called for Obama to take steps on his own to address the border issue without congressional approval, a day after voting to sue him for doing exactly that. "There are numerous steps the President can and should be taking right now, without the need for congressional action, to secure our borders and ensure these children are returned swiftly and safely to their countries," the statement said. Shortly after, White House senior adviser Dan Pfeiffer tweeted: "By pulling their own bill, the House GOP once again proves why the President must act on his own to solve problems." Unilateral action . White House spokesman Josh Earnest said Obama will do what he can to address immigration reform because House Republicans have refused to vote on a comprehensive measure passed last year by the Senate. "The President can't do as much as Congress could do in terms of addressing some of these problems, but we're gonna figure out what exactly the law will allow the President to do and we're going to do as much as possible within the confines of the law to address a problem whose solution Republicans in Congress continue to actively block," Earnest said. He told reporters the Obama administration already shifted resources from the nation's interior to the border to try to speed up the processing of new arrivals. "We have surged some technology to allow immigration judges and other ICE (Immigration and Customs Enforcement) prosecutors and asylum officials the opportunity to try to whittle down the bottleneck or the backlog of immigration cases that currently exists," Earnest said. "We've prioritized the cases of recent border crossers to try to process those cases more efficiently." Senate challenges . Republicans led by conservative Sen. Jeff Sessions of Alabama say Obama plans to unilaterally issue work permits to as many as 6 million immigrants living illegally in the United States, which the critics call a violation of the Immigration and Nationality Act. Sessions tried to get an amendment that would block such presidential action added to the Senate border legislation, but Democrats defeated his motion. However, Senate Democrats were unable later to secure the 60 votes necessary to overcome a budget challenge against the measure, which included $2.7 billion in immigration funding along with $900 million to fight U.S. wildfires and bolster Israel's Iron Dome missile defense system. Sessions raised the budget challenge, noting the total $3.6 billion cost of the proposal would all be borrowed. CNN's Dana Bash contributed to this report. | Senate border bill gets killed on procedural vote . House Republicans delay August recess after pulling border bill . Congress was supposed to start a five-week summer recess Friday . With no legislation, President Obama has vowed act on his own . | cfaac2593fee9fca95e5648ea6b9a32f59fd3950 |
(CNN) -- Hours after a North Carolina police chief issued a tearful plea for help in locating a registered sex offender suspected in the death of his 23-year-old daughter, the man was arrested in upstate New York, authorities said Monday. Michael Neal Harvey, 34, was arrested without incident by FBI agents and U.S. marshals in Niagara Falls, New York, on Monday morning in connection with the death of Valerie Hamilton, according to a statement issued by Charlotte-Mecklenburg, North Carolina, police. Detectives from Charlotte were on the way to New York to interview Harvey and "work on the extradition process," the statement said. Harvey was located inside a house in Niagara Falls, said Charlotte-Mecklenburg Police Chief Rodney Monroe. The town was one of the places authorities thought he might flee, because he has relatives there, Monroe said. Warrants for Harvey were issued on murder and auto theft charges, police said. A stolen 1996 Chevy Blazer that police had said Harvey was last seen driving also was recovered in Niagara Falls, Charlotte-Mecklenburg police said. Authorities earlier had issued a description of the vehicle. Earlier Monday, Hamilton's father, Merl Hamilton, the chief of police of Concord, North Carolina, about 30 miles northeast of Charlotte, issued a tearful plea on "Good Morning America" for help locating the suspect. "I just want to get this guy now," he said. Valerie Hamilton, who lived in Charlotte, was last seen between 12:30 and 1:30 a.m. Wednesday at the Thomas Street Tavern in Charlotte with a man believed to be Harvey. Her friends and family became concerned when she failed to show up at the Little Otter Swim School, where she worked as a children's swim coach, according to CNN affiliate WSOC. "It's not like her not to show up and let us know," her boss, John Kirk, told the station. He described Valerie Hamilton as "one of those bright, shining people that a kid can't cry around." After several days of searching, Valerie Hamilton's body was found in a Charlotte storage unit late Saturday. Monroe said repeated witness interviews and "very aggressive investigation" led authorities to the storage unit. He said the cause and manner of death was not immediately known, but an autopsy was being conducted Monday. When the body was found, it was wrapped, he said, and authorities avoided disturbing it as much as possible, he said. The cause and manner of Valerie Hamilton's death, when determined, could result in additional charges being filed or the modification of existing charges, he said. Investigators are focusing on several areas, including a hotel where media reports said Harvey was thought to have stayed and the storage unit where the body was found. Authorities are not sure whether Valerie Hamilton was abducted or left the tavern willingly with Harvey, Monroe said. "Just trying to rehash Miss Hamilton's steps ... led us to Mr. Harvey," he said. Authorities believe Valerie Hamilton was killed shortly after she was last seen, and her body had been in the storage unit for a couple of days, Monroe said. When a reporter from CNN affiliate WVIB in Buffalo, New York, approached Harvey's relatives over the weekend, they refused to go on camera. "He hasn't been here in six years," an unidentified man told the station. "Leave. That's my comment." Monroe said authorities had not found a connection between Harvey's relatives and the house where he was located. "I want to ask my law enforcement brothers and sisters across the country to help me with this," Merl Hamilton said Monday on ABC. "I'm trying to stay strong, and they know what it means because the cameras are on -- but he took my daughter, guys. And play it right, play by the rules, but y'all get out there and find this guy for me, and when it comes my way, I'll pay you back." Harvey is a registered sex offender with a 1996 first-degree sex offense conviction out of New York, according to the state sex offender registry website. WIVB and the Charlotte Observer newspaper reported he had served time in prison. He also has a lengthy police record in North Carolina, including drug and weapons charges, Charlotte-Mecklenburg police spokeswoman Officer Rosalyn Harrington said. Monroe said police had gotten word that Harvey knew he was wanted. "I don't think it came as any real surprise to him that authorities were able to locate him," he said. Neighbors of Harvey's family described their Niagara Falls neighborhood as a quiet one, where families remain for a number of years, WIVB said. Concord is "a very close-knit community," Mayor Scott Padgett said on "Good Morning America." He said there had been a "tremendous outpouring" of support for the chief and his family. Hamilton told ABC young women should remember the safety lessons they have been taught. "It carries into when you're in your 20s," he said. "... Make sure these men treat you with respect, and be safe." Asked to describe his daughter, the chief said, "She was a good kid. She was a wonderful kid. She lived her life to take care of children. That's all she wanted to do. She was the perfect daughter, and I miss her, and I need justice for her and I need folks to be looking for this guy." CNN's Ashley Hayes contributed to this report. | NEW: Police have recovered the vehicle the suspect was thought to be driving . The suspect was arrested in Niagara Falls, New York . The body of 23-year-old Valerie Hamilton was found Saturday . Her father, a police chief, issued a tearful plea Monday . | f5078817abebdd383829f84219eead9dcc051f38 |
Admission: Tony Barrett called a TV station newsroom saying he killed his wife . A Washington man was apprehended after he called a TV newsroom and declared that he had just killed his wife, then asked the station to broadcast the news on their Facebook page. Tony Barrett, 41, was arrested early Thursday after a high-speed chase that reached 100 mph from Tacoma to Gig Harbor, where police and state troopers stopped his car with spike strips, authorities said. 'I just killed my wife... I want you to put it on your Facebook,' Barrett told KOMO in a phone call late Wednesday night. 'It was supposed to be `til death do us part, but she wouldn't...' His wife and mother of their three sons, 42-year-old Sara Barrett, was found dead from 'homicidal violence' around 6 a.m. THursday at a Tacoma motel, Pierce County sheriff's spokesman Ed Troyer said. The discovery came just hours after Barrett, who has a history of violence against his wife, was arrested around 2:30 a.m. 'He got out swinging a crowbar' at officers who used a police dog to take him down, Troyer said. He was treated at a hospital for dog bites on the way to jail and held for investigation of murder. Barrett had called the station because he didn't have a Facebook page and wanted the station to post the message, Troyer said. The caller did not say where the woman could be found. The assignment desk asked if there was someone they could notify, and the caller said, 'No, I'm not going to be here much longer.' He said he and his wife had been together 28 years. He disconnected the call when they mentioned police. Tragedy: The couple had been married for 28 years, according to Tony Barrett (right) 'Very odd,' Troyer said. 'That was a full-blown confession to place on Facebook.' Concerned for the wife, the station worked with the sheriff's office. Investigators were able to identify the man, his wife and their cars. Authorities said Barrett's car was spotted around 2:30 a.m. Thursday in Tacoma and he sped away over Tacoma Narrows Bridge, with police and troopers in pursuit until his tires were flattened and he was arrested. He wouldn't talk to officers about his wife. The investigation led detectives to the body at the motel, where the couple had checked in Wednesday evening, Troyer said. 'We were hoping to find her' alive, Troyer said. 'But obviously it didn't work that way.' The couple was estranged and investigators did not know what led to the killing, Troyer said. Court records show Barrett had attacked his wife in 2007, holding a pillow over her face until she nearly suffocated, the station reported. The couple's grown son broke down the bedroom door and stopped the attack. Barrett pleaded guilty to third-degree assault and served a day in jail and two years under supervision by the Department of Corrections. He pleaded guilty to to third-degree assault and served one day in jail. He was also ordered not to have any hostile contact with Sara Barrett for five years. That order expired on Feb. 25. Sara Barrett had filed for protection orders against her husband in 2009 and again in 2012, but she failed to show up for court so they were denied. In the second petition, she said her husband had followed her to her car after work one day and forced her into his car at knifepoint so they could talk. 'He has said that he will never let me go,' she wrote in the petition. 'I am afraid for my life when it comes to him.' Barrett works as a delivery driver for the Tacoma School District’s purchasing department, delivering food, school and office supplies to various campuses. He began working there in July 2001 and is currently on a two-week vacation, district spokesman Dan Voelpel said. | Tony Barrett, 41, was arrested early Thursday after a high-speed chase . His wife, 42-year-old Sara Barrett, a mother of three, was found dead in a motel room . He called a local television station in Washington and said, 'I just killed my wife... I want you to put it on your Facebook' Tony Barrett pleaded guilty in 2007 to nearly suffocating his wife before their son broke down their bedroom door and saved her . Sara Barrett has filed for two protective orders against him since then . | daf2e720766579649ace9b1454fcb86cfa74bd77 |
(CNN) -- Former England cricket star Chris Lewis was remanded in custody by a British court Tuesday, charged with attempting to smuggle drugs through an airport. Chris Lewis joined Surrey to play in Twenty20 matches for the 2008 season. The 40-year-old all-rounder, who played 32 Tests and 53 one-day internationals for England in the 1990s, was arrested Monday when border officials at London's Gatwick Airport found cocaine hidden in luggage that had arrived on a flight from the Caribbean island of St. Lucia. Four kilograms of cocaine with a street value of around $350,000 was seized by the UK Border Agency, the UK's Press Association said. The drugs were in a liquid form hidden in fruit tins, officials said. Lewis and basketball player Chad Kirnon, 26, both from London, were held and questioned by Customs officials and later charged. British Revenue & Customs spokesman Bob Gaiger told PA: "This was an excellent detection by UK Border Agency officers. "HMRC, together with UKBA, play a vital role in the fight to prevent illegal drugs from entering the UK and in protecting our communities from the violence and corruption that always accompany this hideous trade." The two men made a brief appearance at Crawley Magistrates' Court in West Sussex on Tuesday afternoon, where Lewis had a bail application refused, PA reported. They were remanded in custody to appear via video link in court next Wednesday. | Four kilos of cocaine worth $350,000 seized at Gatwick Airport . Officials: Drugs were in a liquid form hidden in fruit tins in luggage . Chris Lewis played cricket for England during the 1990s . | 0b7a83bf0d1f093220ba88e5d934d3cd864be72b |
(CNN) -- We are not living up to the promise of the American Dream. Even now, our leaders are talking about cutting, instead of creating jobs to grow our way out of the deficit. Congress is ignoring big problems, congratulating itself on avoiding a fiscal cliff of its own creation. The federal budget props up broken parts of our economic system -- big banks, big polluters and big defense contractors -- instead of investing in areas such as education and infrastructure that would benefit everyone. Now, a new breed of companies is leveraging the power of networks and sharing -- and showing us what a more sustainable, prosperous future can look like. One of the most well-known examples is Zipcar. Its tagline, "wheels when you want them," pretty much sums up the company. Zipcar was just bought by rental giant Avis Budget Group for nearly $500 million as part of Avis' push to compete with Hertz's and Enterprise's new car-sharing services. The demographics of car-sharing customers holds promise for future growth as younger, tech-savvy consumers tend to prefer sharing services. Then there is Mosaic, a new addition to the share economy. Mosaic just launched the first online clean energy investment marketplace. (Full disclosure: I am an uncompensated adviser to the company.) Here's how it works: Mosaic connects investors to solar projects in need of financing. The projects generate revenue by selling the electricity they generate, which allows the investors to get paid back with interest. Through the company, you can pick a solar project that you like, make an investment for as little as $25 and get returns starting at 4.5% annually. Of course, as with nearly any investment that isn't federally insured, there's a risk involved. Instead of earning close to nothing on your money at a bank, you can directly invest in things that offer solid returns and create real or lasting value. Together, consumers can start rebuilding the economy from the community up. Together, we can crowdsource investments in American infrastructure and create 21st-century energy jobs all by ourselves. The mega-banks that financed the fossil fuel era aren't well matched to the emerging clean energy economy, which is more decentralized. There are enough rooftops In Los Angeles alone to create 5 gigawatts of clean power. Instead of two mega coal plants, the energy could come from hundreds of thousands of people, all making money by selling energy from their roofs and contributing to a more sustainable and resilient energy grid. Warren Buffett's MidAmerican Energy made news last week with its investment of more than $2 billion in two solar power plants in California. But you know who has more money than even Buffett? All of us combined. All of us who are looking to invest responsibly and grow clean energy are a powerful force for change. In some cities, the demand for car-sharing services is so great that people are renting out their personal cars through services such as RelayRides and Getaround. San Francisco's Scoot aims to be the Zipcar of electric scooters. Services such as Airbnb and CouchSurfing allow people to rent their homes or rooms to strangers vetted by their peers. Through TaskRabbit and Fiverr, anyone can hire a personal assistant to run errands or complete more complex tasks such as accounting for your small business. These sharing services are proving that sharing isn't just for the do-gooders anymore -- it can make you real money. Airbnb hosts make an average of $6,000 per year for renting out their homes. People who loan cars through Relay Rides generally make enough to cover their monthly car payments. And a few people are making $5,000 per month just from completing tasks through TaskRabbit. A few months after the Move Your Money campaign launched in 2011, and on the heels of a controversy surrounding debit card fees, more than 650,000 people turned to opening credit union accounts. Today, environmentalists such as Bill McKibben and his 350.org are leading the charge for divesting from big polluters. The opportunity for people-driven, shareable, sustainable business doesn't stop with solar or transportation projects. We can invest in American businesses that power our country with all kinds of innovative technologies such as wind turbines, solar panels, geothermal systems, hybrid and electric cars, and next-generation batteries. And we should put Americans to work making our homes and buildings energy-efficient. We need to avoid a lost generation of young people who will be playing economic catch-up their whole lives. We cannot stop pressing our leaders to help struggling poor and middle-class Americans. But we can never forget that together, we are a tremendous force for change. As we call on Washington to act, we can also call on each other to create jobs and spark the clean-energy economy of the future -- an economy that works for everyone. The opinions expressed in this commentary are solely those of Van Jones. | Van Jones: A new breed of companies is leveraging the power of sharing . Jones says younger, tech-savvy consumers tend to prefer sharing services . He says opportunities for people-driven, shareable, sustainable businesses are many . Jones: Together, consumers can start rebuilding the economy from the community up . | 90f5ea85a82cd8b196dda33313bc358242aabb60 |
WASHINGTON (CNN) -- Frank Woodruff Buckles was just 15 years old when he joined the U.S. Army. Soon, he was deployed to war and headed overseas on the Carpathia -- the same ship used in the rescue mission of the Titanic. World War I veteran Frank Buckles entered the Army at age 15. "I didn't lie," he said with a laugh this week. He drove ambulances in Britain and France for soldiers wounded during World War I. A few decades later, Buckles was in the Philippines as a civilian, on December 7, 1941, the day Japan attacked Pearl Harbor. He was taken as a prisoner of war for 39 months in Manila, eating his meals out of a single tin cup. More than 60 years later, he still clings to that cup, the one that sustained his life. Weathered with age, the cup has flecks of white paint chipped off. He keeps it as a reminder of his sacrifice for the country he so loves. He also still has his dog tags. At age 107, there's not much the war veteran, POW and West Virginia farmer hasn't seen. But this week, this quietly accomplished man was humbled. Buckles, the last known surviving World War I U.S. veteran, met the president of the United States and received a standing ovation at the Pentagon. "I didn't lie; nobody calls me a liar," he said with a chuckle, referring to how he became a soldier at just 15. Speaking with a hushed, deep voice, he conceded, "I may have increased my age." He spoke from a wheelchair, dressed in a dark blazer with his military medals pinned over his heart. Those in attendance clung to his words. "We cherish the chance to say thank you in person to Cpl. Frank Buckles," Defense Secretary Robert Gates said, before unveiling a portrait of him. At the White House, President Bush thanked him for his "love for America" and called him "the last living 'doughboy' from World War I." Watch Bush honor a national hero » . "Mr. Buckles has a vivid recollection of historic times, and one way for me to honor the service of those who wear the uniform in the past and those who wear it today is to herald you, sir, and to thank you very much for your patriotism and your love for America," the president said, seated with Buckles in the Oval Office. Buckles' tour of Washington was part of a series of events to honor the veterans of World War I, which included the opening of a photographic display at the Pentagon on Thursday. There will be nine formal portraits on permanent exhibition at the Pentagon. All were donated by David DeJonge who spent a decade finding and photographing the last of the World War I vets. DeJonge wants a more elaborate memorial in Washington to honor the veterans. For now, the only public site is an unpretentious gazebo near the Jefferson Memorial established by the city of Washington D.C. Buckles visited the site Thursday afternoon. Watch Buckles view the memorial . "I think it was a very nice idea," he said after he and an aide toured the structure. But Buckles noticed the memorial is not national but built primarily to honor veterans from the District of Columbia. "I can read here that it was started to include the names of those who were local," Buckles said. He was greeted at the site by two young Army Medical Corps candidates in training at the Uniformed Services University of the Health Sciences in Bethesda, Maryland. "It's just an honor to see somebody that served so much before us, to be in the same shoes as him, like, a century later," said Reeme Sikka, 22. One passerby, Vietnam veteran Zeke Musa, was embarrassed by the unkempt condition of the memorial. "These guys served their country, you know. It's a shame," he said. According to an autobiography the Pentagon released, Buckles was eager to join the war. He said his recruiter in the summer of 1917 told him that "the ambulance service was the quickest way to get to France," so he trained in trench casualty retrieval. Buckles eventually served as an officer's escort in France before joining a transport detail for German prisoners of war. He now lives on his family's cattle farm near Charles Town, West Virginia. By the end of Thursday, the last of America's World War I doughboys was clearly effected by the day's events. "I feel honored," he said. E-mail to a friend . CNN's Paul Courson contributed to this report. | World War I veteran set sail on same ship used in rescue mission of Titanic . Frank Buckles honored by President Bush, Defense Secretary Robert Gates . Buckles was also held as civilian POW in the Philippines during World War II . He still has a tin cup he ate from for more than three years of captivity . | bec13c26fff280445b72cabdc2e8b59f13ecabee |
The Israeli military used their Iron Dome missile defense system to successfully shoot down a rocket launched at a Red Sea resort town near the border with Egypt today, an army spokesman said. The incident, which comes after days of tension along the Egypt-Israel border, was the first time the system has intercepted a rocket in the area around the resort of Eilat. The al-Qaida-inspired militant group Ansar Jerusalem, . based in Egypt's Sinai Peninsula, claimed . responsibility for launching the rocket. Scroll down for video . The Israeli military shot down a rocket aimed at a holiday resort on the Red Sea using their Iron Dome missile defence system (file picture) The army said the rocket was intercepted early Tuesday and that there were no injuries. It didn't provide more details and declined to comment on the origins of the projectile. Ansar Jerusalem, a little known group, is hostile to both Israel and Egypt and was behind an attack in August 2011 near Eilat that killed eight people. In Cairo, Egypt's state MENA news agency quoted an unnamed security official as saying authorities could not confirm that the rocket was launched from Sinai. The report said Egyptian forces were investigating. Most Iron Dome batteries have been . deployed along Israel's border with Gaza, and the missile defense system . intercepted rockets during Israel's fighting with Gaza militants in . 2012. An Israeli military spokesman said it was the first time the missile defence system has been successfully in the area of Eilat, a resort on the Red Sea . Other batteries have been placed on Israel's border with Lebanon. Last Thursday, Israel briefly closed the Eilat airport in response to unspecified security warnings. The following day, five suspected Islamic militants were killed in Egypt's volatile Sinai Peninsula, and a rocket launcher there was reportedly destroyed, according to Egyptian officials. Ansar Jerusalem said four of its men were killed in the strike and blamed the deaths on Israel. The discrepancy between the group's death toll and the one offered by Egyptian authorities could not be reconciled. Egyptian security officials attributed Friday's strike to a drone fired from the Israeli side of the border, but Israel has remained silent about the attack, likely out of concerns about exposing Egypt's military to domestic criticism over an Israeli strike on its soil. Egypt and Israel signed a peace treaty in 1979, but many in Egypt still view Israel with suspicion. | Attack on resort of Eilat follows days of tension along Egypt-Israel border . It was the first time the system has intercepted an attack in the area . Al-Qaida-inspired militant group Ansar Jerusalem claimed responsibility . | 0769673ed1e3b29af671f2b65e0a9a43ec9d9f58 |
By . Travelmail Reporter . It is India's most iconic attraction, so the Taj Mahal always needs to looks its best - which is why it is set to undergo a mudpack treatment. The white marble mausoleum will receive the unusual treatment to help eliminate discolouration caused by pollution. The cleaning treatment is similar to a traditional mud pack used by Indian women on their faces to attain a natural glow. Marble masterpiece: The Taj Mahal is set to undergo a mud pack treatment to counter discolouration caused by pollution . Based in the city of Agra and not far from an oil refinery, the white marble of the UNESCO World Heritage Site yellows over time due to pollution. The lime-rich clay will be applied all over the building, left to dry then cleaned off using distilled water. It is the fourth time the Taj Mahal has undergone the treatment, which has previously been carried out in 1994, 2001 and 2008. The high levels of pollution in the area are why it has been carried out more frequently in recent years. The Taj Mahal is famed as the finest example of Mughal art in India and attracts millions of visitors every year. All white: The mud has been used three times before, the last time in 2008, as pollution from Agra and a nearby oil refinery cause discolouration of the white marble . Reassurance: The treatment will take place over six months so tourism won't be affected . It was built by Emperor Shah Jahan for his third wife Mumtaz Mahal, who was his favourite and died in childbirth, and was completed in 1653. During the beauty treatment the monument will remain open to tourists. B M Bhatnagar from the Archeological Survey of India told the Press Trust of India: 'In the last treatment, which cost around Rs.10.4 lakh ($24,000), a team of two dozen experts had carried out the work in small sections over a period of six months to ensure that the tourist inflow does not suffer.' The special mud pack is already being made and a 2mm-thick layer will be added to sections of the building soon. | The lime-rich clay mask is traditionally used by Indian women on their faces . The Taj Mahal treatment will take six months to complete . It is the fourth time the mud pack has been applied to the mausoleum . | f036c12e104b68182b107d5cb751ae62572dfb27 |
Arguably some of the most risqué moments in fashion have been voted the most famous. Kylie Minogue wearing tiny gold hot pants in her 2000 hit video Spinning Around comes in at first place, while a close second is Liz Hurley in a revealing Versace safety pin dress while accompanying Hugh Grant to the 1994 Four Weddings and a Funeral premiere. Coming in third place is Sarah Jessica Parker's flamboyant style in Sex And The City, which made tutus and stilettos acceptable daytime attire, and brought back the name plate necklace. Scroll down for video . Kylie Minogue wearing tiny gold hot pants in her 2000 hit video Spinning Around comes in at first place . KISS FM (UK) YouTube channel . Champions of girl power, the Spice Girls, and their love for platform trainers, glitz and garishness also make an appearance on the iconic list at number four. The top ten charts a stylish and humorous look at a generation of fashion followers over two decades that have shaped what women wear today. Prior to 2005 Wellington boots were favoured by the hunting, shooting, fishing set. When Kate Moss rocked up to Glastonbury festival 2005 in a pair of Hunters teamed with denim cut-offs, she created the staple shorts and Wellie 'festival chic' combo. The look is much admired by many of the 2,500 Debenhams customers quizzed in the online poll and makes it on the list in fifth place. Liz Hurley in a revealing Versace safety pin dress comes second, while Carrie's style comes third . Girl band All Saints' sexing-up of combat trousers, complete the top five of the ten most memorable moments which have swayed our fashion choices. The return of the shoulder pad in 2010 saw their resurgence as many young women imitated artists such as Lady Gaga and Rihanna in their 1980s style jackets with exaggerated shoulders, who in turn paid homage to the mothers of 'Power Dressing'; Dallas and Dynasty's Joan Collins, Linda Evans and Victoria Principal. Still on the American theme, the double-denim red carpet look from Britney Spears and her-then-partner Justin Timberlake at the 2001 American Music Awards proved unforgettable for some, coming in at number nine on the list. Royal Princess, Beatrice and her 'pretzel' hat brought a smile to the faces of many at the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge's wedding in 2011 and made it to number ten in the poll. Created by Debenhams' first Designer, Philip Treacy, the titfer raised more than a few eyebrows - proving she's a good sport, Bea later sold the tea rose silk headgear on eBay and made £81,100 for charity. 1. Kylie Minogue's Gold Hot Pants (2000) 2. Liz Hurley's Safety Pin Dress (1994) 3. Carrie Bradshaw's style in Sex and the City (1998 -2004) 4. Spice Girls, Union Platform Sole Trainers (1996) Geri's Union Jack dress, Brit Awards (1997) The Spice Girls, and their love for platform trainers, glitz and garishness also make an appearance . 5. Kate Moss' Hunter Wellies at Glastonbury (2005) 6. Girl Group All Saints' Combat Trousers (1995) 7. Lady Gaga and Rihanna's Shoulder Pads (2010) 8. Alicia Silverstone's Tartan Mini Skirt in Clueless (1995) 9. Britney Spears and Justin Timberlake in double denim (2001) 10. Princes Beatrice's Royal Wedding Hat (2011) The poll celebrates 21 years of Designers at Debenhams. The retailer now has 20 designers in its stable, and some of its earliest collaborators such as Jasper Conran, and Ben di Lisi, are still on board. A spokesperson said: 'Our customers have a keen eye for fashion and it was great fun to find out what they thought were the most memorable fashion moments since 1993 when the ground-breaking Designers at Debenhams concept was born. 'For the first time fashion fans could find bona-fide designer clothing in a high street department store. In one fell swoop designer wear became both accessible and affordable, an achievement we are very proud of. 'By bringing designer fashion to the high street, the retailer has given designers a much-needed commercial outlet which spans across every category from footwear to furniture.' | Some of the most risqué moments in fashion have been voted most famous . Survey of 2,500 people celebrates 21 years of Designers at Debenhams . In third place is Sarah Jessica Parker's flamboyant style in Sex And The City . | 8148e74160db2c4c68e5f521ac1c9683781b5312 |
By . Daily Mail Reporter . PUBLISHED: . 14:20 EST, 15 May 2012 . | . UPDATED: . 14:20 EST, 15 May 2012 . Linebacker: Andrew Sweat, a standout at Ohio State University, says he won't play in the NFL . A college football standout is causing a fan frenzy after deciding that he would rather hit the books than opposing players. Andrew Sweat, a talented linebacker at Ohio State University, was brimming with excitement when he was offered a free-agent deal with the Cleveland Browns last month, but has since changed his mind. Sweat, 23, announced that he is now declining the offer, saying that he cares more about his own well-being than a career in the gridiron. He took to Twitter on Monday morning, telling his followers: 'Concussion symptoms didn't want to risk it.. Thanks to the Browns for the opportunity. Health trumps football any day'. Instead, Sweat will enroll in law school - and he's got five to choose from, The Columbus Dispatch reported. While many football fans praised Sweat for his decision and offered their support, others could not help but shake a finger at the young athlete. Among them was Elie Mystal, an editor at AbovetheLaw.com, who wrote in a blog post that Sweat was making ‘the biggest mistake of his life.' Mystal also drew comparisons between a lawyer drowning in student loan debt to a rookie football player making at least $390,000 a year. Conflict: Much is being said about football head injuries after the suicide of Junior Seau, left. Jacob Bell, right, announced his retirement several days later - at 31 . With the shocking suicide of former NFL superstar Junior Seau earlier this month, and revelations of a brutal New Orleans Saints 'crush for cash' bounty program, debates have erupted about the brutality of football. More than 100 NFL players have donated their brains to research in the hope that scientists can explain head trauma from their playing days. At just 31 years old, St Louis Rams offensive guard Jacob Bell made the decision to retire from the sport days after Seau's death. Competitor: Sweat, who graduates on June 1, says he will go to law school . Speaking to StlToday.com two weeks ago, Bell said: 'I don't want to be at the point where I'm jeopardizing my true health for money pretty much - for money and for celebrity.' Likewise, health is a major concern for Sweat, who was sidelined for most of last season with a concussion and an injured elbow. He told the Cleveland Plain Dealer last month: 'I was hurt my whole senior year… I'll let my actions speak for themselves and go out and play.' Sweat graduates from Ohio State on June 1. | Andrew Sweat was offered free-agent deal with the Cleveland Browns . Says he will instead attend law school after June 1 graduation . | 414a52819e0379dad74ae8fd0c0794da1b8b7a1c |
Kagadi, Uganda (CNN) -- Two more people have died in Uganda's Ebola outbreak, officials working at a hospital said Wednesday. This brings the death toll to 16 people. They died in an outbreak that began in the Kibaale district in western Uganda. One of the two latest deaths was of a 14-year-old boy whose nine relatives also have died in the outbreak in the district's Nyanswiga village, where the first case is thought to have been. The two died in a hospital in Kagadi, a town close to the Congolese border. About three dozen suspected cases have been reported, World Health Organization spokesman Tariq Jasarevic said Tuesday. What does the Ebola outbreak mean? The deaths have stoked heightened fear about the spread of the virus, a highly infectious, often fatal agent spread through direct contact with bodily fluids. Symptoms can include fever, vomiting, diarrhea, abdominal pain, headache, a measles-like rash, red eyes and, at times, bleeding from body openings. Market day was canceled Wednesday after Uganda's president warned people not to gather in large groups. Drivers of taxi motorbikes called boda-boda have become reluctant to take on passengers and there have been rumors that public transportation will be banned. Health officials urged the public to report any suspected cases, to avoid contact with anyone infected and to wear gloves and masks while disinfecting bedding and clothing of infected people. Officials also advised avoiding public gatherings in the affected district. Teams in Uganda are taking an aggressive approach, including trying to track down anyone who came into contact with patients infected with the virus and health workers have been gearing up for better protection of health workers and an influx of cases. The workers include people from Uganda's ministry of health, the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and the WHO. The outbreak initially went undetected because patients did not show typical symptoms, Ugandan Health Minister Dr. Christine Ondoa told CNN on Sunday. Patients had fevers and were vomiting, but did not show other typical symptoms, such as hemorrhaging. Diagnosis in an individual who has only recently been infected can be difficult since early symptoms, such as red eyes and skin rash, are seen more frequently in patients who have more common diseases, the CDC said. Uganda's Ministry of Health declared the outbreak in Kibaale district Saturday after the Uganda Virus Research Institute identified the disease as Ebola hemorrhagic fever, Sudan strain. Some people delayed seeking treatment, in part, because they believed that "evil spirits" had sickened them, according to a report from district health authorities. "This caused civil strife among the community, requiring police intervention to quell the animosity," the Health Ministry said. An emergency team of 100 volunteers underwent training this week to help spread the word in vulnerable communities about the disease and its transmission, the Uganda Red Cross Society said. Medecins Sans Frontieres, also known as Doctors Without Borders, helped set up a hospital isolation center. The WHO did not recommend any travel or trade restrictions be applied to Uganda because of the outbreak. The U.S. Embassy in Kampala issued an emergency message for U.S. citizens that said the outbreak appeared to be centered in Nyamarunda Sub County, Kibaale district, although one suspected victim is reported to have traveled to Kampala for treatment at Mulago Hospital, where he died on July 22. It urged avoiding contact with dead animals, especially primates, and refraining from eating "bushmeat." The Ebola virus was first detected in 1976 in the central African nation of Zaire (now the Democratic Republic of the Congo). The virus is named after a river in that country, where the first outbreak of the disease was found. There are five species of Ebola viruses, all named after the areas where they were found: Zaire, Sudan, Cote d'Ivoire, Bundibugyo and Reston, according to the WHO. | One of the dead is a teen whose relatives previously died of the virus . Concerns over infection ripple across Uganda . Health teams are working to deal with the issue . | 4169b0028a605d515cb85fff8857612b1fc46f9b |
(CNN) -- During the recent Republican presidential debate, the issue of vaccinating girls against human papillomavirus, or HPV, came up several times, and some statements have been made that may concern parents of children scheduled to receive the vaccine. The statements questioned the safety of HPV vaccines and the rationale for the recommendations for their use from the Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the American Academy of Pediatrics and the American Academy of Family Physicians. HPV vaccines have the promise of improving the lives of both women and men. The recommendations for use of the vaccine are based on scientific data, including safety studies, which indicate that the benefits of HPV vaccines far outweigh any of the known risks. The safety record of these vaccines is excellent. After five years and more than 35 million doses of HPV vaccines given, all of the available scientific evidence shows that HPV vaccines are safe and effective, and that the current recommendations will result in the best opportunity to prevent HPV infection and its consequences. HPV is the most common sexually transmitted infection. Studies show that 50% to 70% of women will develop an HPV infection during their sexually active lives and that infection occurs soon after they become sexually active. Although most infections resolve over six to 24 months, some persist and can lead to cancer. Certain types of HPV are responsible for almost all cases of cervical cancer, other cancers of the anal and genital areas and a significant percentage of oropharyngeal cancers in men and women. Other HPV types cause genital warts. In the United States, each year about 12,000 cases of cervical cancer are diagnosed, and nearly 4,000 women die of complications of cervical cancer. HPV vaccines are an important scientific breakthrough. They prevent infection with the HPV types most commonly associated with the development of cancer and therefore are expected to reduce significantly the number of cases of HPV-related cancer in women and men. Two HPV vaccines are available in the United States. The first, Gardasil, was licensed by the Food and Drug Administration in 2006 for girls 9 through 26 years of age to prevent cervical cancer and genital warts. In 2009, the license was extended to include boys 9 through 26. More recent data show Gardasil also prevents other genital cancers in women and anal cancer in both women and men. The second HPV vaccine, Cervarix, licensed in 2009 for women 10 through 25 years of age, targets the prevention of cervical and related genital cancers. Both vaccines were studied extensively before the FDA licensed them. The rationale for the recommendation to immunize at 11 through 12 is that the vaccine will be most effective if given before a person becomes sexually active. Protection is expected to last for many years. "Catch-up" vaccinations to age 26 are also important. Even though some persons in this age group already will have been infected with one or more of the HPV types in the vaccine, the vaccine will protect them against the HPV types in the vaccine to which they remain susceptible. By the time the FDA licenses a vaccine, common side effects are known; evaluation for adverse health effects is an important requirement of the clinical trials that lead to licensure. No serious safety concerns were detected during the clinical trials of either of the two HPV vaccines. After a vaccine is licensed, a number of systems are in place in the United States to monitor vaccine safety. These include the Vaccine Adverse Event Reporting System, a passive reporting system that can detect early-warning signals about possible new vaccine adverse effects, and the CDC's Vaccine Safety Datalink project, which provides a database for planned immunization safety studies of possible adverse effects arising from review of those reporting system reports and medical literature. But investigation of reports to VAERS since both HPV vaccines were licensed has suggested that rare serious allergic reactions (including anaphylaxis) and fainting spells, which can occur after any immunization, can also occur after HPV vaccine. Vaccine providers, particularly when vaccinating adolescents, should consider observing patients (with patients seated or lying down) for 15 minutes after vaccination to decrease the risk for injury should they faint. A recent study was conducted in CDC's Vaccine Safety Datalink among females 9-26 years of age who received HPV vaccine (Gardasil). The study found no statistically significant increased risk for any of outcomes studied after vaccination. Studies on HPV vaccine safety will continue and reports of any rare event occurring after receipt of HPV vaccine will be reviewed.) And the Institute of Medicine, part of the United States National Academy of Sciences, recently reviewed reported vaccine-related, adverse events and did not find that data supported a causal relationship of HPV vaccine to any neurologic condition. Parents have a great opportunity today to reduce the risk of HPV-related cancers in their children. Parents who have concerns about HPV vaccine and some of the statements made about safety should ask their children's doctors for information. The CDC has a website that provides accurate, up-to-date information about the safety and effectiveness of HPV vaccines. Parents would do well to use trusted and reliable resources when making the important decision to protect their children from HPV infection and HPV-related cancers. The opinions expressed in this commentary are solely those of Joseph Bocchini. | Joseph Bocchini notes issue of HPV vaccine safety coming up in recent GOP debates . He says CDC, others say vaccine helps prevent HPV, which can lead to cancers . He says vaccine has been widely tested and is safe with side effects rare . Bocchini: Parents should listen to reliable information in deciding to vaccinate their kids . | 446594102c8801146760ae7204811c06926f538d |
A space entrepreneur and billionaire has teased plans for a 'hyperloop' super train which he claims will enable people to make the 380-mile journey between Los Angeles and San Francisco in just 30 minutes - faster than it takes to fly. Elon Musk claims his super train, which he describes as a cross between 'a Concorde, a rail gun, and an air-hockey table', will travel at speeds twice as fast as a plane and make the trip in half an hour. He plans to reveal the full details, including how the train would work and the maximum running speed, next month but claims an engineer who tweeted a hypothetical drawing of the train and its tracks was the 'closest guess so far.' Scroll down for video . Elon Musk will reveal his 'alpha design' for a 'hyperloop' super train next month. Many people have tried to guess how the proposed transport system might work but engineer John Gardi's explanation (pictured) has come the closest so far, according to the tech entrepreneur . An alternative theory, put forward by physicist Brian Dodson, suggests the hyperloop could be a pneumatic transport system consisting of a closed tube making loops between Los Angeles and San Francisco. The idea was inspired by plans proposed during the early 1900s, pictured . While some may think his ideas plain loopy, Musk has a track-record of thinking big. He . is the CEO of SpaceX, the first private company to send supplied to the . International Space Station as well as founding PayPal and electronic . car manufacturer Tesla Motors. Musk said that he will publish an 'alpha design' for his ambitious transportation project on 12 August. Musk teased the plans initially during the D11 Conference in California in May. Many people have been trying to guess what Musk's hyperloop system might look like and how it might work. It currently takes around 12 hours on the Coast Line train to make the journey between the two cities. The journey can be done in around eight hours in a car and it takes just one and half hours to fly. The top secret hyperloop train will take passengers along a route from Los Angeles to San Francisco, pictured, in a mere half hour. In a tweet, the Tesla Motors co-founder behind the plans promised to publish the alpha design by 12 August . Engineer John Gardi tweeted his vision of how hyperloop could be realised and Musk responded to his drawing with a tweet that said: 'Your guess is the closest I've seen anyone guess so far'. Musk has been teasing his high-speed transport network plans for around a year and has previously described it as 'a cross between a Concorde, a rail gun, and an air-hockey table'. Another idea about how the super-train might work came from Gizmag physicist Brian Dodson. Dodson ruled out two popular theories; that the train could involve a vacuum tunnel or could be accelerated along the track using an electromagnetic cable system. Instead, Dodson believes that Musk is proposing a subsonic train. He thinks the hyperloop will be a pneumatic transport system that 'consists of a closed tube making loops between Los Angeles and San Francisco and passengers would ride in capsules within the tube.' The tech entrepreneur claims that his hyperloop super train could be three to four times faster than a ballet train like this one from the East Japan Railway. However he has plenty of problems to overcome from finding a business partner to obtaining land for this ambitious transport project . Elon Musk claims that his hyperloop super train will connect the Californian cities of Los Angeles (Venice Beach is pictured left) and San Francisco (right) with journey times of just 30 minutes . He first talked about the hyperloop in July 2012 in an interview with tech site PandoDaily. He said that the system will never . crash, is immune to weather, is three or four times faster than a . conventional bullet train and travels twice as fast as the average speed . of an aircraft. He has also reportedly said that the . ambitious system could be powered by solar energy and even generate more . energy that it would use. Musk believes the super fast service would have a build cost of around $6bn. While this might sound like a lot, current plans for a bullet train service between L.A. and San Francisco with a time of around 3 hours is predicted to cost in the region of $68bn. Responding to questions on Twitter, Musk said that his first design and possibly the technologies involved will be open source and that 'critical feedback for improvements would be much appreciated'. Elon Musk was born in Pretoria, South Africa before moving to Canada and later the U.S. He taught himself how to program a computer and by the time he reached 12 year's old he had created and sold his first software program - a space game called Blastar - for around $500. Musk started Zip2 - an online content publishing software - in 1998 with his brother, Kimbal Musk, which was bought in 1999 by Compaq's AltaVista division for a reported $300million. Musk then co-found X.com - an online finance and email payment company - and a year later this firm merged with Confinity, which later became known as PayPal. In October 2002, PayPal was bought by eBay for $1.5billion in stock and Musk, the company's largest shareholder, owned 11.7 per cent of these shares. In June 2002 Musk founded Space Exploration Technologies (SpaceX). SpaceX develops and manufactures space launch vehicles. The company's first two launch vehicles were the Falcon 1 and Falcon 9 rockets and its first spacecraft is Dragon. SpaceX was awarded a billion-dollar NASA contract in December 2008, for 12 flights of their Falcon 9 rocket and Dragon spacecraft to the International Space Station, replacing the Space Shuttle after it retired in 2011. Initially, Falcon 9/Dragon will replace the cargo transport function of the Shuttle and astronaut transport will be handled by the Soyuz. Musk is also co-founder and head of product design at Tesla Motors. He was previously CEO of the company but due to reported layoffs in the company, he took a different position in 2008. He is reported to have a 32 per cent stake in the car company, which is currently valued above $12 billion, as of 29 May 2013. Additionally, Musk provided the initial concept for SolarCity, which was co-found with his cousin Lyndon Rive, and Musk is the company's largest shareholder and chairman of the board. SolarCity is the largest provider of solar power systems in the U.S His cousin Lyndon Rive is the CEO and co-founder. He said: 'I really hate patents unless critical to company survival. Will publish Hyperloop as open source.' He also suggested that he could consider a partnership if he can find someone with the 'shared philosophical goal of breakthrough tech done fast & without wasting money on b******t' he tweeted. There is much speculation about how the grand project could work. According to The Register, the most likely scenario is a maglev train running in vacuum tubes. This type of train is non-contact and electric-powered so is not slowed down by friction and could reach incredibly fast speeds using a relatively small amount of power. The idea has been around for years but have never been really successful executed. As well as relatively new technology, the hyperloop transport system faces additional challenges, including securing land in a picturesque and expensive location. However, answering questions from the public about his latest venture, Mr Musk said that the super train will be safe to use in areas prone to earthquakes. Previous theories of how hyperloop might work include a series of conveyor belts and even pneumatic tubes to push passengers along the line. | Elon Musk will reveal how his 'hyperloop' super train works next month . The tech entrepreneur claims it will let people travel between San Francisco and Los Angeles in just 30 minutes . The 'train' could also travel up to twice as fast as a plane . Musk's plans will be open source and he is encouraging 'critical feedback for improvement' | 7804f0a9b01ce04672c1a1c0141e3ea50696ba86 |
By . Chris Waugh . Follow @@ChrisDHWaugh . Alberto Contador has confirmed he will ride in the Vuelta a Espana after recovering from the broken shin bone which ruled him out of the Tour de France. The Spaniard originally stated last month that he would be unfit to recover in time to take part in his home Grand Tour. Contador and Team Sky's Chris Froome - who will also ride the Vuelta - had been pre-race favourites for the Tour de France in July but both crashed out of the race with injuries. VIDEO Scroll down to watch Alberto Contador reveal that he will take part in the Vuelta . Out: Alberto Contador was forced to withdraw from the Tour de France with a broken shin bone . Ready: The Spaniard will make his return at the Vuelta a Espana, however, after recovering from his injury . Glory: Contador will look to win his home Grand Tour for the third time in his career later this month . Rivals: Contador (right) had to pull out of the Tour de France and Vincenzo Nibali (left) went on to win the race . On Thursday morning, the four-time Grand Tour winner - who has triumphed in the Vuelta twice before - posted a video on Twitter confirming he would take part in the tour. And in a statement released by his Tinkoff-Saxo team soon after, he said: 'I've been riding the bicycle for the last 10 days and yesterday was the first day I could climb a mountain pass without knee pain. 'That excites me, motivates me and has led me to make the decision to run the Tour of Spain. 'I know it's a Tour of Spain I'll have to do in a very different way than I had thought earlier in the season, or as I planned the Tour de France, but I think it can be very good considering the end of season and to start next year with guarantees.' Colombian Giro d'Italia victor Nairo Quintana (Movistar), Garmin-Sharp's Andrew Talansky and Joaquim Rodriguez will also be at the Vuelta. The three-week race begins with a time trial in Jerez de la Frontera on August 23. Gone: Team Sky's Chris Froome was also forced to withdraw from the Tour de France after crashing . Pressure: One of Froome or Contador is expected to win the Vuelta, after they were favourites for the Tour . | Contador will ride in his home Grand Tour, which he has won twice before . The Spaniard crashed out of the Tour de France with a broken shin . Chris Froome also left the Tour early with injuries and will ride as well . Contador originally said last month he would miss Vuelta a Espana . Three-week race begins with a time-trial in Jerez de la Frontera on August 23 . | 70bf477ff51c191a0ba3794363e9f905be6fa1b2 |
CNN -- Elton John may be famous for smash hits such as "Tiny Dancer" and scores for films such as "The Lion King," but he's also made a name for himself in HIV/AIDS activism. Advances in treatments for HIV/AIDS have led to some people taking more risks, Elton John says. The singer-songwriter established the Elton John AIDS Foundation in the United States and the United Kingdom to support HIV prevention programs, efforts to eliminate stigma and discrimination associated with the disease, and care and support services for people living with the condition. The foundation has raised more than $150 million. John has said that Ryan White, an Indiana teenager who died of HIV/AIDS in 1990, inspired him to create this foundation. John sat down with CNN Chief Medical Correspondent Dr. Sanjay Gupta before speaking Tuesday at the Bio International Convention in Atlanta, Georgia. Here is an edited transcript. CNN: What are you doing here today? Elton John: I'm doing a speech about the situation with AIDS in America basically, and how we need to address what's going on. We seem to be falling a little behind in America. I find this disease very cyclical. Every 10 years or so, after we spend a lot of money trying to educate people -- a new generation of people -- and we tell them to have safe sex and to abstain sometimes but have safe sex, wear condoms, we find that after 10 years another whole group of people come along. And we have to start all over again, which is really, really frustrating because it takes money for education. And we find that if we could get into the schools at a grass-roots levels, which we do in places like Africa where we get to kids at a young age and we tell them about preventive measures for not getting HIV, we find the success rate is tremendous. Watch more of Dr. Gupta's interview with Elton John » . CNN: Sometimes in medicine, you can actually be a victim of your own success. When the medications are pretty good, you see a resurgence of high-risk behavior. How do you affect that? John: I'm a recovering alcoholic and drug addict. I know that when I used to use and drink, that my mind situation was altered completely. Your caution goes out the window and you think, "Oh, well, we'll gamble, we'll have..." and luckily, I was so lucky enough to not be HIV infected. Once you have that drink and that drug, your mind-set goes out the window and a lot of people think, "Oh yeah, because there's medicine available now," as you say, "We're going to be OK, and we have to take now one pill a day maybe," which is incredible, because initially people had to take God knows how many pills a day, various cocktails to get them through this disease. Now, people are going back into the work force, they're becoming alive again, they live for a much longer time, which is great. But, this is incredibly toxic medicine you're taking, and it doesn't work for everybody, and you're really playing... Russian roulette with your life. And it's sad -- you think that after all this time, and all of this education that has gone down, and with all the statistics and deaths that people have seen, and the Ryan White situation going down, that people would be a little bit more careful. But we're finding they're not. CNN: When you look at your foundation, and you're talking to the people who work with you, how do you measure your success? John: We're very small, and I've kept it small because I've always wanted to keep an eye on what was going on. We have two people basically running the organization in America and about seven or eight in Britain plus volunteers. In America for the last four years, I've measured the success by the fact that we have a four-star rating from the Charity Navigator for the last four years, which means that we are doing a fantastic job. We don't waste any money, we don't gamble with our money. CNN: You go to South Africa every year, I understand? John: Every year at the beginning of the year, we start the year on safari, we go and visit our AIDS projects, and as soon as you go there and see -- and you have to visit your projects from time to time, wherever they are, whether it's in America, South America, West Indies, whatever -- we go and visit these projects on a regular basis to see the results that we're doing, to see if it's working, to see if our money's being spent the right way, and to come back and feel "yes, we're working, its working, so let's do more." When you see something that's working, you want to do more. You say, "This is fantastic." CNN: What are some of those success stories? John: Well, in Kalicha, in Cape Town, there was a woman we visited about five years ago. Somebody left a baby on her doorstep one night, and the mother had thrown herself in front of a train, the baby was orphaned, and they gave it to Rosalia. And she took it in, and then everyone started leaving babies on their doorstep. So there were about 120 kids sleeping in a shack, her home, like six to a bed. And we were reduced to tears -- one woman and volunteers were looking after all of these kids. We said, "One day, this whole street where you're living, we'll build you some homes, proper homes for these kids to live in." Now there are six "cluster homes," they call them, where they have running water, showers, proper bedrooms, they're like beautiful little houses. So that street now, there's no original shack left, it's got all beautiful houses for these kids to live in. You go there, you see how happy they are, and you think, God this is amazing. We were inspired because of this one woman. We do good work, but these people on the ground, these people that are actually in the trenches every day who are looking after AIDS patients, who are looking after orphans, they're the heroes -- we're not. We're just trying to make their lives a bit easier, and because they're doing such great humanitarian work. CNN: What is your routine like? John: Well lets put it like this: I have a musical nominated for 15 Tonys, I'm doing an animation movie for Disney that I'm writing the music for, I'm producing, we have a show called "Spectacle" which is on Sundance which is with Elvis Costello, which is an incredibly well-received show. I'm going to do an album with Leon Russell next year, I have a ballet going to be done by the Alberta Ballet, I have the AIDS foundation, I have my management company [in] which we manage lots of young artists, and I still have free time. I love my life and I'm 62, I've never felt better. I've never had more joy than I have in my life right now, and the AIDS foundation is a huge part of that. | The Elton John AIDS Foundation has raised more than $150 million . The singer is a recovering alcoholic and drug addict . He goes to South Africa every year to visit projects . John's foundation helped build homes for orphans in South Africa . | 520985dfc4b2d58bc078f45cc52346336b7a215d |
By . Simon Cable Showbusiness Correspondent . PUBLISHED: . 17:44 EST, 15 October 2013 . | . UPDATED: . 21:09 EST, 15 October 2013 . Dull: Sir Elton John (pictured here in 1968) was branded 'dull and pretentious' by BBC talent scouts . The short, geeky singer with the glasses failed to impress the BBC’s talent spotters. He was a dull performer with a thin voice, they declared. As for his songs, they were pretentious. Rather embarrassing, in hindsight, for the BBC’s Talent Selection Group, as their subject was Elton John. The year was 1968. They were equally scathing about David Bowie, who they wrote off as amateurish and out of tune. The future superstars were among aspiring artists dismissed by BBC talent spotters in the early days of their careers, documents have revealed. All were required to have an audition in front of the now defunct selection panel before they were allowed to perform on radio and TV shows. The Rolling Stones also fell foul of the panel, rebuffed in 1963 as ‘unsuitable for our purposes’. Elton performed three songs in front of producers – All Across the Havens, Lady Samantha and Skyline Pigeon. They said: ‘The items are not songs. Pretentious material, self-written, sung in an extremely dull fashion without any feeling and precious little musical ability. Thin, piercing voice with NO emotion. Not a tuneful voice.’ A producer added: ‘He writes dreary songs and he sounds like a wonky singer.’ Despite the appraisal, a tape of Elton John’s audition was passed on to BBC bosses, who agreed he would be able to perform. Bowie was not so lucky in 1965. He performed a version of Chim Chim Cher-ee, from the Mary Poppins film. Scathing: The reviewers wrote David Bowie (pictured here in 1966) off as 'amateurish and out of tune' How wrong could you be? David Bowie (left) has an impressive career behind him while Elton John (right) has a wildly successful career and performs all over the globe . Who they liked...And who they didn't . The producers said: ‘Amateur sounding vocalist who sings wrong notes and out of tune.’ The Who turned up in February 1965 with two members arriving 25 minutes late. ‘Not endowed with much sense of urgency,’ wrote the producer. ‘Overall, not very original and below standard.’ Simon and Garfunkel and Nick Drake impressed, but Marc Bolan’s music was described as ‘c**p, and pretentious c**p at that.’ The verdicts are revealed in a Radio 4 documentary Auditioning For Auntie, due to air next week. Marc Bolan's music was described as 'c**p, and pretentious c**p at that' The BBC’s head of popular music during the 1960s, Donald McLean, said of the ‘Civil-Service-style’ talent spotters: ‘They were nice people, but very old fashioned. The man I had to persuade to give me the budget and the air time to get a John Peel series had made his name by writing a book called Poultry Keeping For Profit.’ Another reject, Judy Dyble, a singer with Fairport Convention, described the audition process as ‘like being interviewed for a job, with three people sitting behind a table. It was still in those days when BBC technicians wore lab coats’. Before the launch of Radio 1 in 1967, the BBC broadcast little more than two hours a week of recorded pop music. Shows on BBC Radio’s The Light Programme such as Saturday Club, The Talent Spot and Top Gear were virtually the only place for pop performers to get exposure in the early 1960s. | Elton John labelled a 'dull performer with a thin voice' David Bowie panned as 'amateurish and out of tune' Future superstars dismissed by BBC talent bosses in the 1960s . | ea7d184f5611623a66ba49edac501de0f3672c4f |
The ground just swallowed him up. A Florida man fell into a sinkhole that opened suddenly Thursday night beneath the bedroom of his suburban Tampa home, calling out to his brother for help as he fell, the brother said Friday. "I ran toward my brother's bedroom because I heard my brother scream," Jeremy Bush told CNN's "AC360." "Everything was gone. My brother's bed, my brother's dresser, my brother's TV. My brother was gone." Bush frantically tried to rescue his brother, Jeff Bush, by standing in the hole and digging at the rubble with a shovel until police arrived and pulled him out, saying the floor was still collapsing. "I couldn't get him out. I tried so hard. I tried everything I could," he said through tears. "I could swear I heard him calling out." Jeremy Bush and four other people, including a 2-year-old child, escaped from the blue, one-story 1970s-era home in Seffner, a Tampa suburb. Sinkholes: Common, costly and sometimes deadly . What began with hopes of rescue turned into a body recovery operation after monitoring equipment failed to detect any signs that Jeff Bush survived the fall into the hole, according the Hillsborough County Sheriff's Office. Rescuers still hadn't gone into the hole -- it's too dangerous, Fire Chief Ron Rogers told reporters. Authorities say they worry the hole is still spreading and the house could collapse at any time. "Until we know where it's safe to bring the equipment, we really are just handicapped and paralyzed, and can't really do a whole lot more than sit and wait. It's a tough situation. It's even tougher for the family," Rogers said. The sinkhole is about 20 feet to 30 feet across and may be 30 feet deep, said Bill Bracken, president of an engineering company assisting emergency workers. The hole was originally reported to be 100 feet across, but that is the diameter of the safety zone surrounding it, Bracken said. "It started in the bedroom, and it has been expanding outward and it's taking the house with it as it opens up," he said. As the sinkhole continued to deepen, nearby homes were evacuated as a precaution. Check out images of the sinkhole house . On Friday, the Hillsborough County Sheriff's Office released a 911 call from the night before. "The house just fell through," a female voice says on the recording. She asks for an ambulance and the police. "The bedroom floor just collapsed, and my brother-in-law is in there. He's underneath the house," she says. Jessica Damico, Hillsborough County Fire Department spokeswoman, said about 40 police and firefighters were standing by at the scene Friday morning. Meanwhile, engineers hoped to use more sophisticated equipment to get a three-dimensional image of the sinkhole. Family members were also on hand, waiting out what they feared would be a devastating day. "I'm praying that there's an air pocket in there ... but I can't see nobody surviving that long in a hole like that. There was too much dirt, too much stuff," Jeremy Bush said. "He was my brother, man, I loved him." Sinkholes are common in Florida, according to the Florida Department of Environmental Protection. The state lies on bedrock made of limestone or other carbonate rock that can be eaten away by acidic groundwater, forming voids that collapse when the rock can no longer support the weight of what's above it. Hillsborough County is part of an area known as "sinkhole alley" that accounts for two-thirds of the sinkhole-related insurance claims in the state, according to a Florida state Senate Insurance and Banking Committee report. But Mike Merrill, county administrator for Hillsborough County, stressed Friday that the sinkhole in question was not "your typical sinkhole." "They still have not been able to find the boundaries of the underground chasm. For that reason, we're being very deliberate, he said. "We're very frustrated. But we're pursuing it as quickly as we can, as safely as we can." | Man's brother talks to CNN's "AC360" about trying to save his brother . Site remains unstable, complicating recovery efforts . "It's a tough situation. It's even tougher for the family," says a fire chief . Authorities release the audio of a 911 call: "The house just fell through" | 96f2951a2e86e844ed4b6be12f8a58f986cbf9e4 |
They are among the most fearsome creatures on earth, but this killer shark looks as though it is flashing a massive grin as it comes face-to-face with a daring photographer. Far from trying to rip 26-year-old cameraman Zach Ransom to shreds with its deadly knashers, it instead appears to pull a series of poses which reveal a somewhat friendlier side. Incredibly, the stunning pictures were taken my Mr Ransom without the safety of a protective cage. Jaws-dropping: A fearsome shark gets up close and personal with cameraman Zach Ransom - and appears to flash him a grin . Smile! The deadly creature flashes his pearly whites as snapper Zach tries his luck and gets ever closer . Poser: The shark strikes another grin for the cameras and is photobombed by a friend . The aquarist at Seaworld Orlando went under water with his friends at Little Bahama Bank in the Bahamas to get the incredible images. The area is a hotspot for tiger sharks, as well as species such as lemon shark and reef shark, allowing the divers to get up close and personal with the potentially dangerous animals. Mr Ransom, from Orlando, Florida, said: 'I've always loved the ocean since I was a child. I think most children start out with a love of sharks, dinosaurs and outer space - I just never grew out of it. 'I have been diving for 14 years now and most of that time has been spent in search of sharks. 'This location north of West End, Grand Bahama, is an incredible area with relatively untouched coral reefs and some of the healthiest shark populations on the planet. Daring: Zach got so close to the sharks he was able to touch them . Fearless: Zach, from Orlando, Florida, opted to go underwater without any protection from a cage . Surrounded: Zach is circled by three sharks hut is unmoved as he continues to take his incredible pictures . 'Sharing the water with such an immense and powerful creature is thrilling for sure but the experience is so much more than that. 'I feel completely calm and at peace in these situations. Sharks are amazingly deliberate and cautious in their movements and though a highly instinctual animal they still display curiosity with regard to the novelties in their world. 'Eye contact is an important part of being in close quarters with large sharks, when you break your gaze, they often decide it's safe to move a little closer. 'So to capture these moments with my camera and share them with the world in hope of possibly breaking some negative stereotypes, that is the payoff for me. 'And if I can play some minuscule role in preventing a species from going extinct in my lifetime then that is my purpose.' Zach argues that while activist groups, film makers and photographers are turning the tide in shark conservation, there is still more that needs to be done to protect them. That's more like it: This shark strikes a more traditional pose . Razor sharp: These teeth could do some serious damage but Zach was undeterred . Endangered: Some shark species have dropped by up to 90 per cent . Under threat: Every year between 20 and 100 million sharks are killed by fishing activity . He added: 'People flock from around the world to see African lions in their natural environment, however, none dare to leave the relative safety of the safari vehicle. 'This is of course due to an innate respect for the apex predator of the ecosystem. Thousands of people interact with sharks everyday unprotected, without incident. 'Lions are often revered and respected as beautiful creatures, iconic to the continent of Africa. As the apex predators of the ocean, sharks should be regarded with the same esteem. 'Every year between 20 and 100 million sharks are killed from fishing activity. As many species are slow to mature and may only produce one pup a year it doesn't bode well for long term population. 'Some species' populations have dropped 50-90% but in recent years many people have become aware of the plight that sharks face with regard to the fining industry and over fishing in general. 'Although the numbers are quite grim - I still have hope that it's not too late.' | Fearless Zach Ransom got up close and personal with fish in the Bahamas . He went underwater without any protection in order to get the incredible snaps . | ef3ab06c65233069930af5dbc38498e68596cb13 |
By . Martin Robinson for MailOnline . An author who wrote her own Fifty Shades of Grey-style novel has accused a council of being 'judgemental prudes' after she lost her job at a children's centre over her erotic fiction. Bettina Bunte, 51, said her book 'The Lost Soul' was loosely based on her affair with a married middle-aged man when she was a teenager. She has been promoting the novel in the local press but after complaints from parents about some sexually explicit passages Kent County Council had her sacked. Ms Bunte's inspiration for the book came from her 15-year romance classroom technician when she was 18. In shock: Erotic fiction writer Bettina Bunte has lost her job in a children's centre on the Kent coast over her Fifty Shades of Grey-style book . She later fell pregnant with her daughter but when he refused to leave his wife for her their relationship ended. She wrote under the pseudonym Cass E Ritter and published the book herself - but her detailed of descriptions of sex have caused upset and she was forced from her post at Joy Lane Children's Centre in Whitstable on the Kent coast. 'I told the council they were judgemental prudes,' she said. 'I doubt the people who decided to sack me have read Fifty Shades of Grey, let alone my book. The Lost Soul is described as 'a journey to remember' for main character Nina who discovers 'lasting friendship, forbidden love and sizzling passion' with 'a man who cannot be hers' 'They obviously just see it as pornography, but it is not - it is just explicit sexual descriptions of what adults think about and do every day. 'The council told be that it could not be seen to be promoting "this sort of thing" and that was the end of it - I'd lost my job.' The Lost Soul is described as 'a journey to remember' for main character Nina who discovers 'lasting friendship, forbidden love and sizzling passion' with 'a man who cannot be hers'. It is being sold on Amazon in its erotica section. Ms Bunte had recently been offered a permanent position to join the centre after four years working for an agency and said she was shocked at losing her job. She said: 'They called me during work in the morning to attend a meeting in the afternoon. 'I asked what it was about but all they said was it is something about the book. 'We discussed it at the meeting where they asked me a number of questions. I was told KCC cannot be seen to promote this sort of thing. 'They felt it was a problem as it had damaged the reputation by making the link between the book and children's centre. 'I had applied and was offered a permanent position which was then withdrawn and my employment was terminated. 'I was shocked, extremely shocked. I tried not to say anything rude. I felt their reaction was out of proportion and judgmental.' Kent County Council said they took action after concerns were raised by staff and parents after the novel's release. On the attack: Ms Bunte, who is writing a sequel, says that Kent County Council are 'judgemental prudes' A spokeswoman said: 'Ms Bunte was employed through an agency to work at one of our children's centres. 'Following the publicity around her self-published novel and the issues discussed in the article, concerns were raised by staff and parents. 'Managers met with Ms Bunte to discuss these issues and, following this meeting, continued to have concerns about her suitability to continue working at the centre. 'It was felt that the most appropriate action was to stop her employment as agency cover. She will no longer be working for us.' German-born Bettina said she took legal advice in the hope of challenging her dismissal but is unable to as she works for an agency as opposed to a company. She added: 'They did what they did because they can. I was working in a very good team with a supportive manager but I have no comeback against them.' Bettina, who grew up in Munich before moving to a school in Kent, said the illicit romance helped her through her troubled teens when she was estranged from her family. She said: 'I was a loner at school. He took the trouble to be kind and we became friends. It was a safe place for me to go with no fighting or strife. 'This friendship helped me to build my own new life without my family - a life where I was worth something and didn't feel constantly criticised.' | Bettina Bunte, 51, said Kent County Council are all 'judgemental prudes' 'The Lost Soul' loosely based on her affair with a married man as teenager . She has been promoting her erotic book and lost her job in the process . 'I doubt the people who decided to sack me have read Fifty Shades of Grey, let alone my book. They obviously just see it as pornography, but it is not' Council say after a meeting with Ms Bunte they still had concerns about her . 'It was felt that the most appropriate action was to stop her employment as agency cover. She will no longer be working for us,' spokesman said . | 60d396fe9b383c5052cddc754e0975983321993e |
By . Simon Tomlinson for MailOnline . A three-year-old girl was murdered after being abducted from her kindergarten. The body of Viktoria Vylegzhanina was found five days after she was snatched by an apparent stranger. Her mother Galina only realised her daughter was missing when she went to collect her at the end of the day. Tragedy: Three-year-old Viktoria Vylegzhanina (left) was found murdered five days after her mother Galina (right) discovered she had been abducted from her kindergarten . After an hour of searching in all her daughter's favourite places, including the swings at the local park, she called police who launched a full-scale search operation. By the second day, the numbers involved in the search in the Siberian city of Tomsk had increased to over 1,000. But five days later tragedy struck when the toddler's body was found, it was reported by The Siberian Times. Mrs Vylegzhanina said: 'I was told that a man had collected her and I called my husband Eduard but it was not him.' Eduard said: 'My wife called me and asked me "Did you take Vika from kindergarten?" 'I said no and then she said "In that case our girl is missing".' Hunt for killer: A one million rouble (£15,000) reward has been offered for information Viktoria's murder . He is convinced it is not anyone known to the family. 'Any child could be in our Vika's place,' he said. 'It was not someone we knew. I think that he pulled her over the fence.' All that is known of the man who abducted the girl is that he was in his 40s and wearing a coloured T-shirt. A one million rouble (£15,000) reward has been offered for information on her abductor. Tomsk mayor Ivan Klein earlier praised volunteers who joined the hunt for the missing girl, many with dogs, saying: 'We examined almost the entire territory. 'But at the end we can only offer our condolences to the family, and redouble our efforts to find Vika's killer.' | Toddler Viktoria Vylegzhanina 'pulled over fence of nursery' by stranger . Body found after 1,000 people join police in massive search operation . | 70dd73f52f0b9a6e86c702122a0c3eec7db677df |
By . Daniel Martin . PUBLISHED: . 18:28 EST, 28 April 2013 . | . UPDATED: . 06:49 EST, 29 April 2013 . The mother of a British man accused of drug offences in Dubai has told of his appalling treatment and torture by police. A Dubai judge is due to give a verdict today in the trial of Grant Cameron and fellow Britons Suneet Jeerh and Karl Williams who all deny the charges against them. Yesterday, ahead of a state visit to Britain by the president of the UAE, David Cameron told of his ‘concern’ over the treatment of the three men. David Cameron has spoken about his 'concern' over the treatment of the three men while in custody . In a letter, the Prime Minister wrote: ‘Our concerns about the allegations of torture have been repeatedly raised with the Emirati authorities, including by the Foreign Office and [Foreign Office minister] Alastair Burt. ‘The absence of an independent medical examination remains a concern. We continue to press for evidence of a full, impartial and independent investigation.’ The human rights charity Reprieve said the charges should have been dropped and the men - who went on trial in February - should be released because of the torture allegations. The three men, who are charged with possessing, taking and intending to distribute illegal drugs, were arrested on holiday in August after police said they found a quantity of synthetic cannabis known as “spice” in their car. Police in the country have denied any wrongdoing but Tracy Cameron described her son’s ‘terrifying ordeal’ and said she sincerely believed he was going to die. There have been allegations of torture, including electric shock and beatings, from the police in Dubai (pictured) She said: ‘They were taken back to their hotel room, they were beaten in their hotel room, it does appear they were separated from each other and each taken to a different room. ‘Karl was laid out on the bed, his trousers were stripped down and electric shocks were administered to his testicles while he was blindfolded. ‘I believe all boys had guns held to their head - they were told they were going to die. ‘Grant sustained electric shocks to his torso and I believe Suneet had shocks administered to him to the back of his head and his back.’ She said all the men were pressured into signing statements written in Arabic which they did not understand. When her son phoned and told her of the torture, Mrs Cameron said she felt ‘beside myself, sheer horror, terror, just complete and utter meltdown really’. ‘Your son being arrested so far away from home is challenge enough to deal with but, once he told us how he’d been treated, I can only describe it as something from a horror story.’ The Foreign Office has called for a full, independent and impartial inquiry into the allegations and says it has raised them with “very senior officials” in the United Arab Emirates. A spokeswoman for Reprieve said torture by Dubai police was ‘hugely common’ and the charity believed the men’s ‘extremely plausible’ account, which she said had been backed up by notes from Foreign Office staff who had visited the men and documented their injuries. However, Doctor Abdul-Kallek Abdulla, a professor of political science in the UAE, told BBC Radio Five Live there was no proof to support the torture claims and ‘absolutely no truth’ to the allegations heard in the British media. He said: ‘You could say whatever you want but I go by official statements. The UAE is not a country which practices these things.’ The three men were arrested in Dubai in July last year after being accused of drug offences.The three were apparently subjected to torture by police, including electric shocks and beatings, resulting in a broken hand for Mr Williams. If the judge finds them guilty, they face at least 15 years in jail. The three men have denied charges of ‘consumption and possession with intent to distribute’, and appeared at their first trial hearing in February after spending seven months in custody. | Grant Cameron, Suneet Jeerh and Karl Williams all face drugs charges . Tracy Cameron has spoke of her son's 'terrifying ordeal' in Dubai . She said that she sincerely believed that he is going to die . David Cameron has told of his concern over the treatment of the three men . | dba97801e724bb03386a9c7b62069656c2810ac7 |
By . Rob Preece . PUBLISHED: . 09:52 EST, 17 May 2012 . | . UPDATED: . 11:50 EST, 17 May 2012 . Fine weather usually brings a welcome boost for the economy as consumers head outdoors to spend, spend, spend. But record high temperatures in March have left maple syrup producers in the U.S. feeling as flat as a pancake. Warm conditions are being blamed for bad-tasting syrup and a fall in supplies of up to 40 per cent. Sweet or sour? Producers in the U.S. say warm weather has given their maple syrup, usually served with pancakes, a bad taste . Some sugar maple trees, which need freezing temperatures at night to sustain sap production, have dried up early while others have produced syrup with a poor taste. In northeastern parts of the U.S., where nearly all the country's maple syrup is produced, sugarmakers traditionally gather sap during a six-week season from late February to early April before buds appear on the trees. But the 2012 season was cut short by the warmest March since records began in 1895. Alfred Carrier, a sugarmaker in Glover, Vermont, said: 'You take 80 degrees in March by golly it don't help nothing. 'We had quite a lot of off-flavored syrup. 'I don't think you'd want to put it on a pancake.' Feeling the heat: Some sugar maple trees have dried up early while others have produced syrup with a poor taste . Denise Marshall, owner of syrup distributor D&D Sugarwoods in Glover, said trees that did not dry up prematurely ended up producing 'yucky' syrup. 'It was kind of a disaster,' Marshall said. Maple syrup production has been increasing in the U.S. over the past decade as a result of new technology and a rising number of trees in production. It takes about 40 gallons of sap, usually gathered from the tapped trees through plastic tubing using a vacuum system, to yield one gallon of syrup. Short supply: The U.S. is expected to produce 18million pounds of syrup this year, down from 30million pounds in 2011 . Vermont, New York and Maine are the states which produce the most. Syrup unsuitable for the breakfast table is typically sold for industrial purposes such as flavouring chewing tobacco or salad dressing. The U.S. is expected to produce 18million pounds of syrup this year, down from 30million pounds in 2011, according to a crop estimate report by Arthur Coombs of Bascom Maple Farms. Other uses: Syrup unsuitable for the breakfast table is sold for industrial purposes such as flavouring chewing tobacco or salad dressing . Mr Coombs's company, based in Alstead, New Hampshire, is one of the four largest maple processors in the U.S. Mr Coombs said that, despite the shortfall, retail prices have risen by only 5 per cent this year. He said this was because the Federation of Quebec Maple Producers has retained 38million pounds of syrup in reserve from a bumper crop in 2011. Quebec produces about 80 per cent of the world's maple syrup. Scientists said the average March temperature of 51.1F in the U.S. was 8.6 degrees above the 20th-century average for the month. | Hot conditions blamed for 'off-flavoured' taste and sharp fall in production . Season cut short by warmest March in the U.S. since records began in 1895 . | 5904f8b5d7205958a3d39d50e44b6ba39cd8c6e3 |
By . Simon Tomlinson . PUBLISHED: . 11:39 EST, 24 October 2012 . | . UPDATED: . 14:18 EST, 24 October 2012 . 'Murdered': Shaun Corey (pictured), the boyfriend of Karen Otmani who allegedly killed him then kept his body in a wheelie bin in her bedroom for 11 days . A woman killed her boyfriend and kept his body in a wheelie bin in her bedroom for 11 days, a court heard today. When police found Shaun Corey, 42, his body was so decomposed they could not say how he died. Karen Otmani, 42, had been talking about getting rid of her on-off lover and had even asked another boyfriend to experiment with some blue liquid to see if it would knock him out, Bobbie Cheema, prosecuting, told the Old Bailey. Miss Cheema said: 'But when she began to speak about killing Mr Corey, he did not take it seriously. Mr Corey was last seen at Otmani’s home in Forest Hill, south London, on June 4 last year. Miss Cheema said he was heard arguing with Otmani in her bedroom before they were joined by Bernard Beddoe, 60, who she called uncle. After about 10 minutes, it went quiet and Otmani and Beddoe went into the kitchen to make a drink, the court heard. Miss Cheema added: 'Shaun Corey died at the hands of these two defendants. 'His body was found during a search of Karen Otmani’s bedroom. It was hidden inside of a large green wheelie bin.' 'Uncle': Bernard Beddoe (pictured) denies murder and an alternative charge of assisting Otmani knowing she had killed Mr Corey . The court heard Mr Corey was tied to Otmani's bed before he was killed. A post mortem found an 'acute dose' of a drug Xanax in his body - a treatment for anxiety which causes drowsiness, sedation and a reduced alertness. Miss Cheema said Beddoe had gone to Otmani's flat when Mr Corey was still alive. The victim was drugged, taken into Otmani's bedroom and tied to her bed. 'He had been shouting - no doubt from fear having found himself being tied up on Otmani's bed,' Miss Cheema said. 'Beddoe was a willing accomplice before, during and after the murder of Shaun Corey.' The body was wrapped in four layers of tarpaulin and packaging before it was packed into a blue plastic box. It was then put into the wheelie bin in the bedroom. Trial: A post mortem found an 'acute dose' of a drug Xanax in his body - a treatment for anxiety which causes drowsiness, sedation and a reduced alertness, the Old Bailey (pictured) heard . When the packing was examined shoe prints belonging to both the accused killers were found on the tarpaulin. Otmani will admit taking part in the killing of her boyfriend but will claim that she acted out of a 'sudden loss of control.' She will also say she was the victim of 'battered women' syndrome and had been attacked by both Mr Corey and other men. But Miss Cheema said: 'She was an emotional and manipulative woman.'She had toyed with the idea of killing Shaun a long time before June 4.'Beddoe will deny taking part in the murder at all. A boy who heard Mr Corey being killed told police in a video taped interview that Otmani and the victim were 'always arguing.' He said they were shouting at each other before he got up on the morning Mr Corey was killed. The boy said he went upstairs to watch television but could still hear them yelling at eachother. 'Ten minutes later the arguing stopped. They stayed down there for a little while. 'Then they came up. They were making drinks and that. I thought they may have killed Shaun.' But he said after the incident both Beddoes and Otmani 'acted as normal.' Otmani and Beddoe deny murder. Beddoe, of Brockley, south-east London, also denies an alternative charge of assisting Otmani knowing she had killed Mr Corey. The trial continues. Sorry we are unable to accept comments for legal reasons. | Shaun Corey was so decomposed police couldn't tell how he died, court heard . 'Karen Otmani had been talking about getting rid of her on-off lover' She and Bernard Beddoe deny murdering 42-year-old . | 27944fc1d9ec2daed348ecb503f813c89b5c45b7 |
By . Emily Allen . Last updated at 7:59 PM on 9th February 2012 . The former wife of Sir Paul McCartney never authorised former Mirror editor Piers Morgan, or anybody else, to listen to her voicemails, she told the inquiry into press standards today. Chat show host Morgan has previously told the inquiry he listened to a voicemail message left to Mills by Sir Paul, but refused to say when or where he heard it because he wanted to protect a 'source' - but did not suggest it had been Ms Mills. Today Ms Mills said she had never authorised Morgan, or anybody, to access or listen to her voicemails, and neither had she ever played a recording to the former editor. Heather Mills speaking at the Leveson Inquiry where she said she had never authorised Morgan, or anybody, to access or listen to her voicemails . 'I couldn't quite believe that he would even try to insinuate, a man that has written nothing but awful things about me for years, would relish in telling the court if I had played a voicemail message to him,' she said. Ms Mills told the inquiry . that in early 2001 she and Sir Paul had argued about a trip she was . planning to Gujurat, and while she stayed with a friend in Middlesex he . left a series of messages on her voicemail. She said: 'In . the morning, when I woke up, there were many messages, but they were . all saved messages which I did not quite understand, because normally . they wouldn't be but I didn't think too much of it. 'I thought I must have pressed a wrong button. 'There were about 25 messages all asking for forgiveness of what had happened. 'One of them said, 'please forgive me' and sang a little ditty of one of his songs on the voicemail. 'So that afternoon I went back and all was forgiven.' She told the hearing she had never recorded the messages and deleted them straight away. Piers Morgan told the inquiry in December (pictured) he would not disclose a source who played him a tape of a message that Sir Paul left Mills . But she said she was then called by a former Trinity Mirror employee - who the inquiry heard was not a Daily Mirror journalist, nor anybody working under the supervision of Morgan - saying they had heard a recording of the message. 'I said, 'there's no way that you could know that unless you have been listening to my messages',' she told the inquiry. 'And he laughed.' She said she threatened to take action if the story was published, and it wasn't. But in 2006, in a piece in the Daily Mail, Morgan referred to having listened to the message. Giving evidence in December, Morgan told the inquiry he would not disclose a source who played him a tape of a message that Sir Paul left Mills. Ms Mills said she was told by detectives from Operation Weeting that they had evidence that her voicemails had been hacked . He said: 'I am not going to discuss where I heard it or who played it to me. 'I don't think it's right. In fact the inquiry has already stated to me you don't expect me to identify sources.' Lord Justice Leveson told him the only person who would be able to lawfully listen to the message was Mills or somebody authorised on her behalf. He told Morgan: 'I am perfectly happy to call Lady McCartney to give evidence as to whether she authorised you to listen to her voicemails. 'She may say she did in which case you're not compromising anybody, but if she didn't then we can proceed on the premise that it's somebody else, can't we.' Asked by counsel for the inquiry Robert Jay QC: 'Did you authorise Mr Morgan to access your voicemail?', she replied 'never'. He asked: 'Did you authorise Mr Morgan to listen to your voicemail?' 'Never ever,' she answered. Ms Mills said that before 1999 press coverage of her had been positive . Mr Jay also asked: 'Have you ever played to Mr Morgan or authorised him to listen to a recording of this or any other voicemail left on your messaging system?', she replied 'Never, never'. And asked if she had ever done this to anybody, she answered: 'No'. Ms Mills said she was told by detectives from Operation Weeting that they had evidence that her voicemails had been hacked. She then showed the court a home video which she had compiled of her interactions with paparazzi photographers. A . man was captured trying to look through a fence surrounding her home . saying: 'Someone should just bring a hand-drill down and put a hole . though.' One subtitle in the video read: 'Hunting Heather becomes a national sport.' She told the inquiry she had 64 hours of footage of alleged harassment. Ms Mills said that before 1999 press coverage of her had been positive but it became negative when she met Sir Paul. She said: 'The second I met my ex-husband I became a one-legged bitch, and cow, and every awful word you could think of.' Ms . Mills told the inquiry that no-win-no-fee agreements needed to ensure . that newspapers would pick up entire costs of cases brought by people . who have 'absolutely no money'. 'There are hundreds and hundreds of people out there who have been through horrific situations with papers making up stories and they have no recourse.' She said the PCC should be a public body sat on by 'respected individual members of the public' for a year, meaning they could not be bribed, blackmailed, or threatened into making decisions. Paul McCartney and his former wife Ms Mills in 2007. She said Sir Paul had left a series of 25 messages on her phone after a row . Also giving evidence, the News of the World's former head of news told the inquiry he was told to deliberately mislead the McCanns' spokesman about the newspaper's plans to publish Kate McCann's diary. Ian Edmondson said former editor Colin Myler told him to have a 'woolly' conversation with Clarence Mitchell about plans to publish Mrs McCann's diary so he did not know what the paper was planning. Mrs McCann said she felt 'violated' when the private journal appeared in the newspaper on September 14 2008. Mr Myler has said he would never have published it if he had realised she was not aware of the paper's plans, and claimed Mr Edmondson told him he had cleared the story with Mr Mitchell. But Mr Edmondson said he was deliberately unclear in his conversation with Mr Mitchell, on the express instructions of Mr Myler. '(Mr Myler) decided to ask me to make a call to Mr Mitchell, not make it clear what we had, telling him in general terms, basically make it woolly. 'He was frightened that if Clarence knew what we had, he might take action.' He also told the inquiry there was a culture of bullying at the News of the World, of which Mr Myler was a part. Mr Mitchell said today he felt vindicated by the evidence. 'I have always said the News of the World actively sought to deceive me over the publication of Kate's diary. 'But to hear that it was apparently done at the editor's direct behest was particularly shocking, if not surprising. Clearly, Mr Myler now has some serious questions to answer. 'The distress this episode caused Kate, Gerry and myself was immense. I am glad we are getting to the truth at last.' | Morgan said he listened to a voicemail left to Mills by Sir Paul but refused to say where or when he heard it . | e3fcfd58a46e8390c017147ba809ae4d7991e40c |
Islamic State militants are planning to murder 150 Christian hostages they kidnapped after sweeping through villages in Syria if the U.S. does not stop air strikes, it has been reported. The abductions of the Christians took place yesterday after ISIS seized two Assyrian communities from Kurdish forces in the northeast province of Hassakeh. The dawn raids are said to have spread 'panic' in the villages, inhabited by the ancient Christian minority along the banks of the Khabur River near the town of Tel Hmar with most coming from the village of Tal Shamiram. Coptic Christians being held by ISIS fighters in Libya. Now the terror group is reportedly planning to threaten to kill another 150 Christian hostages that were seized in Syria . Most of the captives are said to have came from the village of Tal Shamiram, located 50 miles miles southwest of the Hassakeh provincial capital of Qamishli, with others taken from Tal Hermuz . It is thought that the militants are holding the seized women and children in houses in the ISIS-held town of al-Shadadi and using them as human shields from air strikes. Now CNN has reported that the terror group are now planning to release a video as early as today, where they will threaten to kill the hostages if air strikes don't stop. Osama Edward, founder of the Assyrian Human Rights Network told the station that the video will be directed to US President Barack Obama and other members of the U.S.-led coalition against ISIS. The video is expected to say that the hostages will be killed unless the strikes stop. Meanwhile, it has also been reported that at least 500 families escaped the attack and fled to a nearby church in Hasakah city, where they found refuge. Mr Edward told the IBTimesUK: 'We're involved, many of them are friends and relatives. I'm trying not to get involved and be as objctive and accurate as possible without surrender to personal feelings.' The kidnappings come as ISIS released a video showing militants beheading 21 Egyptian Coptic Christians in Libya earlier this month. The United States has condemned the attack on the Assyrian Christians and demanded their immediate release. It is thought that ISIS militants, pictured, are holding the seized women and children in houses in the ISIS-held town of al-Shadadi and using them as human shields from air strikes . US State Department spokeswoman Jen Psaki said: 'ISIS latest targeting of a religious minority is only further testament to its brutal and inhumane treatment of all those who disagree with its divisive goals and toxic beliefs. 'ISIS continues to exact its evil upon innocents of all faiths, and the majority of its victims have been Muslims. 'To bring an end to these daily horrors, we remain committed to leading the international coalition to degrade and defeat ISIS and to working towards a negotiated political solution that stops the bloodshed and secures a future of freedom, justice, and dignity for all Syrians.' After ISIS attacked the two villages as well as the nearby town of Tal Tamr, which remains under Kurdish control, the jihadists set fire to a church there and then installed fighters in the remains of the building, an activist network reported. After ISIS attacked the two villages as well as the nearby town of Tal Tamr, which remains under Kurdish control, the jihadists set fire to a church there (file picture) The US-led coalition fighting ISIS, which has backed Kurdish forces battling the group, then bombed the building on Monday, destroying it and killing IS militants inside, said the Syrian Revolution General Commission. Control of Hassakeh province is largely divided between Kurdish forces, who in some places patrol with regime troops, and ISIS fighters. Since recapturing the strategic border town of Kobane in Aleppo from IS fighters on January 26, Kurdish forces have taken dozens of nearby villages. They have also seized 19 villages from IS in Raqa, where the jihadist group has its de facto capital, and another 30 villages and hamlets in Hassakeh. The Kurdish advances have been aided by the US-led air strikes, including a series in Hassakeh on Monday that killed at least 14 IS fighters, the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights said. | ISIS are reportedly planning to release a video showing Christian hostages . Will threaten to kill them if US does not to air strikes on militants in Syria . Thought seized women and children are being held as human shields . Comes after 150 hostages were taken from two Assyrian communities . They were seized during dawn raids which have spread panic among local Christians . | f5c2f99996e122edffcc2e6cf29d1a95b23137ac |
Tireless ‘name and shame’ campaigner Derryn Hinch has praised the Northern Territory as it becomes the first jurisdiction in Australia to introduce a public sex offender register, to be named after murdered Queensland teenager Daniel Morcombe. Daniel was murdered in 2003, at the age of 13, by a man with a long history of abusing children. Hinch has urged other states that they must now follow in introducing a website that would include an image, physical description and regional whereabouts of convicted ‘serious sex offenders’. 'This is a crack in the wall. I thought it would be Queensland that became the first state to crumble. But now one has the others will fall in line too. It won’t happen overnight but it will happen,' Mr Hinch told Daily Mail Australia.’ The move comes after a decade of Daniel's parent's, Bruce and Denise, calling for a national sex offender register, a proposal recently rejected by other states and territories at a Council of Australian Governments meeting. 'Every parent has the right to know if there is a dangerous sex offender living in their neighbourhood,' they said in a statement. Scroll down for video . A public sex offender register named after murdered teenager Daniel Morcombe will be introduced in the NT . 'We truly hope that the introduction of Daniel's Law will prevent another family going through the pain and grief we experienced following Daniel's death.' Mr Hinch added: ‘I can’t stress how important it is that it’s going to happen… You can’t listen to the rubbish saying it will drive them underground - they are already underground. Their biggest weapon is secrecy.' The veteran journalist, who was informed of the NT legislation by Bruce Morcombe, said it is important for the website to be nationalised or sex offenders will simply move and cross state borders. ‘If you are a predator in the Northern Territory and a photo description of you is online, why wouldn’t you move elsewhere in Australia?’ he asked. Tireless ‘name and shame’ campaigner Derryn Hinch has praised the new legislation . Mr Hinch, who has served time in jail and five weeks under house arrest as a consequence of his belief that the public have ‘a right to know’ who sex offenders are, said that Australia is home to over 100,000 predators. In NSW there are 7,000 convicted sex offenders, for example, but he claims 'even police officers don’t have an automatic right to know who or where they are'. This year Mr Hinch completed a ten-day, 180-kilometre, walk from Langi Kal Kal Prison, where he had been serving 50 days in lieu of a $100,000 fine for contempt of court, to Victoria’s Parliament House. Upon reaching Parliament House, flanked by Daniel Morcombe’s parents, he presented a petition with nearly 130,000 names calling for a national public register of convicted paedophiles. Bruce Morcombe phoned him on Wednesday to share the NT news. Daniel's parents, Denise and Bruce Morcombe, were in Darwin for the announcement after campaigning for years for a national sex offenders register . Adam Giles, Chief Minister of the Northern Territory, announced that the NT Sex Offender Public Website legislation will be named Daniel's Law . 'He said hey “it’s going to happen in the NT” he knows how passionate I am.' It is finally a sign of progress for the ardent campaigner, who spent two weeks in solitary confinement in a locked prison cell just metres away from convicted sex offenders – the people he is fighting against - while in jail this year. Mr Hinch explained that there has been resistance to introduce a public sex offenders register in Australia because of fears of vigilante action. However, after visiting the United States, where they have had a public register named Megan’s Law since 1996, Mr Hinch is convinced it would work in Australia. ‘In Texas they have more guns than Tim Tams but the register works there,’ Mr Hinch said. Daniel was last seen waiting at a bus stop on the Sunshine Coast when he was abducted and later murdered by serial child sex offender Brett Peter Cowan. It was another eight years before his remains were found . Bruce and Denise Morcombe, seen here leaving the Supreme Court in Brisbane on March 13, 2014, when a jury found Brett Peter Cowan, 44, guilty of the abduction and murder of their son . ‘When I was in Florida the sheriff showed me street signs saying “warning predator lives here"… I got an app on my phone in Time Square [in New York] that showed me there were 25 predators in the area – it showed me their name, photos and address. ‘I drove around Texas with Sarah Monahan, Robert Hughes’ victim, the app showed us paedophiles' houses. It means people can warn their children “don’t knock on that door”… that’s the common sense attitude,’ Mr Hinch reasoned. In his eyes ‘knowledge is power’. Mr Hinch said he is still waiting to find out the details of Daniel’s Law, for example “what constitutes a serious sex offender”, but hopes that within three years there is a national register. 'The federal government has the power to overturn the legislation but I don’t think they would be stupid enough to do this,' Mr Hinch added. Prime Minister Tony Abbott has indicated he's not in favour of a national sex offenders register . Federal coalition MP George Christensen has also urged the Abbott government to roll out the register nationally, saying sex offenders gave up their right to privacy by committing the 'most heinous of crimes'. 'Parents have a right to know where these serious sex offenders are and what they look like so they can protect their children,' the Liberal National MP said. 'We owe it to the Morcombes and to all parents to do whatever we can to avoid the same thing happening again.' However, Prime Minister Tony Abbott has indicated he's not in favour of a national sex offenders register, saying such lists don't exist for murderers, thieves or white collar criminals. Mr Abbott says he's 'disinclined' to single out particular crimes for public registers. 'We don't have a national murders register. We don't have a national thieves register. We don't have a national white collar criminals register,' he told reporters in Melbourne. 'The important thing is ... to have strong and effective law enforcement agencies, to have strong and effective laws.' | The NT will introduce a public sex offender register website . New legislation will be named Daniel's Law after murdered Queensland teenager Daniel Morcombe . It is based on similar legislation in the United States, but unlike the American laws will not give the exact address of an offender . People will be able to see an image, physical description and regional whereabouts of offenders in the Territory . 'Name and shame' campaigner Derryn Hinch wants a national register . He does not believe vigilante action against offenders would be a problem . 'In Texas they have more guns than Tim Tams but the register works there,' Mr Hinch said . Prime Minister Tony Abbott has indicated he's not in favour of the register . | f5c44028cc8c1c0dc4c337beb67f497013e14b55 |
By . Sophie Borland . PUBLISHED: . 20:16 EST, 18 November 2013 . | . UPDATED: . 20:16 EST, 18 November 2013 . Charge: A think-tank suggests the NHS could use money earned from GP visits towards opening hours . Patients should be charged £10 a night to stay in hospital and £10 every time they see their GP, according to a think-tank. It also wants to raise prescription fees, make dying patients pay for end-of-life care and impose £10 fines for every missed appointment. Reform, an independent think-tank, says the charges could be used to improve certain NHS services such as funding surgeries to open at weekends. It also claims the fees are ‘unavoidable’ as the NHS is incurring billions of debts footing the bill for the care of the aging population. But campaigners fear such charges will unfairly penalise the elderly and those with long-term conditions and may deter them from seeking help. Estimates show the health service will have annual debts of £30billion by 2020 and there are growing concerns that standards are far worse compared to other countries in Europe. Around two-thirds of Western countries charge patients to see their GP ranging from 80p in France to £18 in Sweden, with an extra £5 for a home visit. And half make patients pay for hospitals visits or stays including Sweden where they are £7.50 per night and Portugal which makes them pay £8 every time they go to A&E. Thomas Cawston, research director at the think-tank said: ‘The Government must find a way of generating more money for the NHS. ‘We currently have a system which is very generous. ‘A lot of people who are reasonably well off wouldn’t mind paying £10 for a GP appointment on a Saturday morning, for example.’ ‘Few will want to debate higher NHS charges but the funding outlook for the service makes it unavoidable. Prescription charges are the easiest route to new revenue, with exemptions for people on low incomes built in.’ The think-tank also recommends charging patients £10 for every night they spend in hospital and would consider making them pay for unnecessary A&E visits. Poll: More than half of GPs are in favour of the change, with some suggesting charges of up to £25 . It would also raise prescription costs from £7.85 to £10 and make the elderly and pregnant women pay - currently they are exempt from charges. Controversially, it wants to impose a means-tested system for end of life care meaning the majority of dying patients would pay for pain relief and extra nursing. This summer a poll found that half of GPs are in favour of charging patients for appointments - with some wanting to impose fees of between £5 and £25 a time. A poll of 440 GPs by Pulse magazine found that 51 per cent were in favour of making patients pay to deter them for turning up unnecessarily. One, Dr Shailendra Bhatt, a GP in Hemel Hempstead in Hertfordshire, said: ‘I work in a walk-in centre. ‘The amount of people who come through the door for practically no reason at all and say “I was out and saw this sign for a walk-in centre where one can see a doctor, so I came in.” ‘People don’t value the things if they get it cheap, worse still if they get it for nothing.’ | More than half of doctors polled were in favour, with some suggesting £25 . The think-tank, Reform, said funds could be put towards opening weekends . Two-thirds of Western countries charge patients to visit their GP . | f84821891ec9fb157a603bea02e3004744e34ff9 |
Serie A leaders Juventus are keen on signing Radamel Falcao, Ramires and Miranda even if they choose not to cash in on £70million-rated Paul Pogba. La Gazzetta Sportiva have labelled 2015 'The year of Pogba' as Juventus will have to fight off interest from a selection of the world's best teams. Pogba has been linked with a move back to Manchester United in recent weeks but the Old Lady are keen on keeping hold of the France international. Juventus do not want to sell £70million-rated Manchester United target Paul Pogba . The Old Lady have aspirations to sign Man United's on-loan forward Radamel Falcao and Chelsea's Ramires . The Italian publication claims Massimiliano Allegri will look to bring in Falcao if Manchester United choose not to sign the Colombian on a permanent deal at the end of the season. Chelsea midfielder Ramires and Atletico Madrid defender Miranda are also said to be high up on Juventus' transfer agenda. Corriere dello Sport believe Inter Milan are leading the race to sign Bayern Munich's playmaker Xherdan Shaqiri. Juventus and Liverpool are interested in signing the 23-year-old, however Roberto Mancini's side have 'taken a step forward' in their pursuit of the unsettled star. Bayern Munich playmaker Xherdan Shaqiri could join Inter Milan, while Juventus make Wesley Sneijder bid . Napoli's Marek Hamsik has said he would 'embrace' former team-mate Ezequiel Lavezzi if he was to return to the Stadio San Paolo. Lavezzi, who joined Paris Saint-Germain from Napoli in 2012, has been linked with a move back to Italy. Wesley Sneijder continues to be linked with a move back to Serie A with the Dutchman said to be mulling over an offer from Juventus. The Bianconeri have opened talks with Galatasaray over the possibility of signing the former Inter Milan star, according to Tuttosport. Sneijder (right) could seal a return back to Serie A with Juventus said to be leading the race . | Juventus hope to convince Paul Pogba to stay at the club . The Serie A giants could make a move for Radamel Falcao if Manchester United do not take up option to sign the Colombian ace . The Old Lady are also keen on signing Ramires and Miranda . Galatasaray's Wesley Sneijder is attracting interest from Juventus . | 3e878853bf11700a833e9b0b0673d27b41f7aae7 |
By . Daily Mail Reporter . PUBLISHED: . 08:18 EST, 9 March 2013 . | . UPDATED: . 19:45 EST, 9 March 2013 . Rich mothers are more likely to give birth by cesarean section than women from poorer areas, new figures have revealed. Stats show the more wealthy the postcode, the more likely it is women will shun the traditional method of childbirth, giving weight to the theory that some mothers really are 'too posh to push'. The highest cesarean section rates were recorded at University College London and Chelsea and Westminster Hospital Trusts, where one in three births involved surgery, above the national average of one in four. Surgeons perform a caesarean section (file picture). Figures have shown women from richer postcodes are much more likely to opt for that form of childbirth than their counterparts in poorer areas . Poorer areas like Doncaster and London had much lower rates. King George Hospital in east London delivered fewer than one in 10 babies by caesarean section and scandal–hit Stafford Hospital one in six. Janet Fyle, midwife adviser at the Royal College of Midwives, told the Daily Telegraph she would like to see the number of operations come down but supported the mother's right to choose. 'I do not think it is only 'too posh to push', she said. 'Some women are fearful of labour and giving birth. Sometimes this is from experience.' The Chelsea and Westminster Hospital in Fulham Road, London. One in three mothers elect to shun natural childbirth there . But it's a different story at Barnsley Hospital where the figure is just one in 20 . The statistics combine elective caesareans, when the mother chooses the procedure in advance, and emergency ones required when there are complications during labour. Critics suggest mothers in more affluent areas request the operations to avoid the experience of natural birth. Delivering a baby by caesarean section costs the NHS about £2,600, more than double the £1,200 cost of a natural birth. Research shows having a caesarean section makes women three times more likely to need a hysterectomy after their next pregnancy, and raises the risk of death, blood clots and breathing problems in infants. Portland Hospital, London - 35 per centChelsea and Westminster Hospital - 15.8%University College Hospital, London - 15%Northampton General Hospital - 13.9%Kingston Hospital - 13.5% . Barnsley Hospital - 5.3 per centStafford Hospital - 5.7% Bassetlaw Hospital, Doncaster - 6.2% University Hospital, Southampton - 6.2% Queen Elizabeth Hospital, King's Lynn - 6.3% . At Chelsea and Westminster Hospital, which lies in one of the wealthiest areas of London, one in six surgical births were performed by choice rather than in an emergency. In some private hospitals the rate is even higher. At Portland hospital in Surrey, more than half of births last year were caesarean section and over a third of them elective. The national average for elective surgery is one in 10, and in some hospitals such as Barnsley in South Yorkshire, as low as one in 20. The figures for 2011–12 showed the overall caesarean section rate rose 0.2 per cent despite guidance issued in late 2011 saying mothers should have the freedom to choose how they give birth. The operation was more common in older women, with one in three mothers over the age of 35 having a caesarean section compared with fewer than one in six under the age of 25. | As many as one in three new babies in Chelsea born by caesarean section . But only one in 20 mothers shun natural birth in Barnsley, Yorkshire . | 5d3e6ea7adc5fd80cbda50026cb3b06c5f0c2062 |
Vernon Kay looks ahead to the second International Series game at Wembley this season as the Detroit Lions take on the Atlanta Falcons. Detroit head into the game in with a 5-2 record atop the NFC North, and they’ll be looking for another win against a Falcons team that have lost their last four games. Everyone knows that the Atlanta Falcons are struggling with their offensive line and that is going to be a major issue at Wembley on Sunday. The Detroit Lions have the No 1 defense in the league and are only conceding 15 points per game. This could be a blowout by the Lions, but it could be a close game if the Falcons defense can step up to the mark. The Atlanta Falcons have been struggling with their offensive line ahead of the clash with the Detroit Lions . Detroit vs Atlanta, 1.30pm . Seattle at Carolina, 5pm . Baltimore at Cincinnati, 5pm . Miami at Jacksonville, 5pm . St Louis at Kansas City, 5pm . Chicago at New England, 5pm . Buffalo at New York Jets, 5pm . Minnesota at Tampa Bay, 5pm . Houston at Tennessee, 5pm . Philadelphia at Arizona, 8.05pm . Oakland at Cleveland, 8.25pm . Indianapolis at Pittsburgh, 8.25pm . Green Bay at New Orleans, 12.30am . Detroit have a formidable force up front on defense. When you watch the game live on Channel 4 at 1.30pm, make sure you look out for defensive tackle Ndamukong Suh. I was fortunate enough to meet him this week at an NFL event at NikeTown and he is a monster. He is nearly 23 stone of pure muscle and three times as wide as I am. I’m 6’4” and weigh 221lbs, but this guy literally dwarfed me and put me in a shadow as big as a solid oak tree. Falcons quarterback Matt Ryan will have to establish his passing game early but, because of the amount of pressure that Suh and Nick Fairley are putting on quarterbacks, the Lions defensive backs are having a field day. The Lions have had 21 sacks and eight interceptions so far this season. This Sunday is the first time ever that an NFL regular-season game will start as early as 9.30am Eastern Time. I’ve been fortunate enough to be at functions where the NFL have really played on the fact that we have an early kick-off. It is something they want to experiment with and see if there’s a market and an audience for a breakfast game in the States. If it gets good viewing figures, we may see future London International Series games being midday or 1pm kick-offs. Calvin ‘Megatron’ Johnson is doubtful for the game and it will be a massive coup for the NFL if he plays on the hallowed turf at Wembley. He is a superstar and was on the cover of the game Madden, which is always a sign of respect. Johnson is tall, strong powerful and can run like the wind. He studies opposition so well to the point where he can manipulate them with the way he moves. Calvin Johnson is a doubt for the clash at Wembley but it will be a massive coup should he play on Sunday . I spoke to Detroit quarterback Matt Stafford this week. I said to him: ‘No disrespect, but if I was Detroit Lions quarterback I would just throw the ball in Megatron’s direction.’ Stafford was laughing and said ‘absolutely, that’s all I do.’ Everyone thought Megatron would be a massive loss for the Lions but his replacements Golden Tate and Corey Fuller have really stepped up to the mark. What is opening people’s eyes is that the Lions have proved they can be successful without Megatron. At running back, Reggie Bush seems to have settled and Joique Bell is taking the workload off him too. Their quarterback Stafford is a former first-round draft pick and has high expectations on his shoulders. He said this week that the transition of having a new head coach (Jim Caldwell) is always difficult, but everyone seems to have knuckled down as a team. You have to tip your cap to coach Caldwell and the offense for being so successful without Megatron. Golden Tate (pictured against New Orleans) has stepped up in the absence of 'Megatron' for the Detroit Lions . Everyone thought they were a one-threat team, but who knows what is going to happen when Megatron comes back… hopefully this week at Wembley. The Falcons are struggling at 2-5 and I feel sorry for quarterback Ryan. He was expected to have a phenomenal year but they have had such a slow start with injuries and key players out on the offensive line. But they are still in the mix in the NFC South. It is a division that is really lacking in consistency and being led by a Carolina Panthers team at 3-3-1. I think it’s going to be a really close-fought division, but I wouldn’t count out the Saints. Each team in this division needs to get some momentum going. If whoever wins it ends up at 8-8, they’re not going to go much further than Wild Card weekend. WHAT TO WATCH OUT FOR AT WEMBLEY . 1. We are going to be in for a serious aerial bombardment. We have got two great quarterbacks who have established themselves in the NFL and can both throw the football in Stafford and Ryan. 2. If Megatron doesn’t play, look out for Tate. He is a former Seattle Seahawk and won a Super Bowl ring last year. Tate’s arrival has helped the Lions establish another aerial threat outside of Megatron. 3. Anyone who loves sport for the athleticism of the game, look out for Steven Jackson. The man is absolutely huge. When he puts his shoulder down, it is very difficult for defenders to stop him. I’m excited to see how he can run the ball. SUPERDOME SHOWDOWN . The Green Bay Packers visit the New Orleans Saints in the late game on Channel 4 on Sunday. The Saints are struggling, but it is always a joy to watch Drew Brees. But the Packers are flying at the moment and, if Aaron Rodgers can do what he has been doing in previous games, this will be a two-score win for Green Bay. Last week there was a really positive debate on my Twitter feed about what defines the best quarterback. Peyton Manning has defined himself as the best quarterback the league has ever seen from a statistical point of view - but he has only got one Super Bowl ring. Rodgers is definitely in the group just below Manning and my favourite Tom Brady. What he brings to the team is an air of calmness. He is a real leader, but from a different angle. He uses a relaxed approach to the game and just lets his skills do the talking. Vernon Kay presents NFL: The American Football Show, Mondays at 11.50pm on Channel 4. This Sunday, Channel 4 will broadcast live coverage of the Detroit Lions vs Atlanta Falcons from Wembley, as well as the Green Bay Packers against the New Orleans Saints. | Detroit Lions face Atlanta Falcons at Wembley on Sunday afternoon . Game is second International Series contest of the season . Calvin ‘Megatron’ Johnson limited in practice and still an injury doubt . Atlanta have lost their last four games and enter week eight with 2-5 record . | 9eaf567b7436f1218ad2f1feafe24a42e1e83cae |
Typewriter sales are booming in Germany as government departments, businesses and people go back-to-the-future to thwart spying by American spooks. Old tech is trumping the new in the wake of the NSA spying scandals which saw Chancellor Merkel's phone hacked on numerous occasions by Washington and culminated in the expulsion of the CIA spy chief from Berlin earlier this month. The head of the parliamentary inquiry into spying by the US National Security Service in Germany said his committee is considering using typewriters. But many have already made the switch. Sales of typewriters have jumped in Germany following allegations about American agents spying on MPs . Typewriter makers Olympia and Bandermann both report a revival in their fortunes. 'We sell about 10,000 typewriters every year,' Bandermann manager Rolf Bonnen told a German website, adding that sales last year were up a third on 2012. Last year Triumph Adler, part of Bandermann, made a YouTube video announcing its machines were 'Bug proof. NSA proof.' An . Olympia spokesman said the company expects to sell more typewriters . this year than at any time in the last 20 years, with sales set to . double in 2014 over last year's figures. Defence . contractor Diehl, several big businesses and many individuals are now . shunning their computers to put sensitive data on to paper. 'We will certainly cross the 10,000 threshold,' said Olympia manager Andreas Fostiropoulis. He said their Russian business partners had asked for 20 typewriters for the country’s secret services. President Barack Obama has today . dispatched two senior advisers to Germany in an apparent effort to . soothe tensions following new allegations of American spying. The prospect of German MPs reverting to typewriters comes a year after allegations surfaced that the mobile telephone of German Chancellor Angela Merkel, pictured, had been bugged by American agents . The White House says chief of staff Denis McDonough and counter-terrorism adviser Lisa Monaco are in Berlin for meetings with their German counterparts. The White House says intelligence and security matters were in the agenda. The . meetings follow the discovery earlier this month of two alleged US spies . in Germany, prompting Chancellor Angela Merkel to demand the departure . of the CIA station chief in Berlin. The . allegations follow revelations that the US National Security Agency was . conducting mass surveillance of German citizens and eavesdropping on Ms . Merkel's cellphone. The White House says the US and Germany agreed to set up a dialogue to address intelligence concerns on both sides. The . jump in sales comes after Christian Democrat politician Patrick . Sensburg, head of the Bundestag’s parliamentary inquiry into the NSA . surveillance scandal, was asked on television last week whether . politicians were considering a return to older technology. Obama has today sent two senior advisers to Germany in an attempt to smooth relations after the expulsion of the CIA spy chief from Berlin earlier this month . Speaking . on the Morgenmagazin TV programme, he replied ‘As a matter of fact, we . have – and not electronic models either’ before adding ‘Yes, no joke,' The Guardian reports. Mr . Sensburg added: 'Of course we have to keep our internal communication . secure, send encrypted emails, use encrypted telephones and other . things, which I'm not going to say here.' The decision to order the CIA representative out came after dramatic reports of U.S. espionage in Germany. Public outrage at the revelations put pressure on German Chancellor Angela Merkel to take action against the United States. Last week, Berlin said it had discovered a suspected U.S. spy in the Defence Ministry. That came just days after a German foreign intelligence worker was arrested on suspicion of being a CIA informant and admitted passing documents to a U.S. contact. The scandal has chilled relations between Berlin and Washington to levels not seen since Merkel's predecessor opposed the U.S. invasion of Iraq in 2003. It would not be the first time a country had turned to less sophisticated technology to counter spy activity. Russia's Federal Guard Service opted to use more typewriters after classified NSA documents were leaked by the organisation's former contractor Edward Snowden. | German typewriter companies showing jump in sales as people downgrade . Increase follows revelations about US spying on German politicians . MPs prevously said non-electronic models could be used in government . Chancellor Angela Merkel's phone was allegedly bugged by U.S agents . German officials unearthed two suspected spies in the country last week . Obama has today sent to senior officials to Germany to smooth relations . | 55f9161f75f20b39308f111f10b8621d13e92af3 |
By . Associated Press Reporter . PUBLISHED: . 22:28 EST, 7 December 2013 . | . UPDATED: . 22:55 EST, 7 December 2013 . A personal trainer jumps down onto the subway tracks to save an unconscious man as a train barrels down. A trucker stops to pull a driver from a burning car. A quick-thinking plumber uses his belt as a tourniquet to save a woman badly injured in a crash. In New York City, which often has a keep-to-yourself, don't-get-involved reputation, at least a dozen Good Samaritans this past year were willing to risk their own safety to save a stranger. ‘It's the way I was brought up: Always look out for each other,’ said Dennis Codrington, the personal trainer who, along with two others, helped pull up a bleeding, unconscious man who had fallen onto the tracks of the No. 1 train late one February night. Savior: Dennis Codrington, 24, who rescued a man . after he fell onto the subway tracks, stands near the site of the incident . on the Columbus Circle subway platform . Codrington was headed home from a party when he saw the 6-foot-tall man at the edge of the platform and then disappear. About 55 people are struck by New York subway trains and die every year, and the 24-year-old Codrington wasn't going to let this guy be one of them. So he and the two others jumped down to hoist the bleeding, heavy stranger up - as the time clock flashed that another train was due in the station in one minute. In the nick of time: Codrington and two others jumped down to hoist a heavily bleeding, 6-foot-1 stranger up a minute before a train was due to pull into the station . ‘It was really nerve-racking,’ Codrington said. ‘But we couldn't leave him there.’ Miami emergency room doctor Ben Abo found himself in a similar dilemma at a New Jersey commuter train stop in Greenwich Village during his summer vacation to New York City. The 32-year-old was headed back to Jersey City, where he was staying, when a straphanger took an extra step and fell off the platform. ‘He went down right over the edge. He was walking as if the platform was still there and wanted to take another step,’ Abo said. The man fell head-first and lay on the tracks, bleeding heavily. Abo looked to see if a train was coming and jumped in, yelling for the two dozen people on the platform to pull a fire alarm and get help. Sweating, he heaved the man up overhead, back onto the platform, as someone helped from above, and he then tried to pull himself back up, too. He felt a gush of wind and saw headlights reflecting off the wall. ‘I said to myself: “You have one chance to get up,”’ he said. He made it and set to work trying to stop the bleeding, while a crowd gathered around him - holding up smartphones to take video. Psychologists say some people have the right mix of qualities it takes for risky heroic acts - altruism, courage, knowing the right thing and being reflexive about it, as well as the ability to inhibit fear that stops most people from getting involved. Average Joe: Plumber David Justino, pictured with celebrity doctor Mehmet Oz, used his belt as a tourniquet to stop a tourist from bleeding to death after an out-of-control taxi struck her, severing a leg . Grateful: Injured British traveler Sian Green said on the Today Show that if it weren't for the strangers who came to her aid after the collision, she would have been dead . ‘It's not one hero gene. It's a very complex set of characteristics that converge and that person is unique, and thank God for them,’ said psychologist Dr. Rachel Yehuda at Mount Sinai Medical Center. Ervin Straub, a professor emeritus of psychology at the University of Massachusetts, who has studied altruism extensively, said crowds in a big city can work against such heroism by creating a ‘diffusion of responsibility.’ ‘When there are a bunch of people around, there is often a “Why me? Somebody else can do it,”’ he said. ‘But if someone else developed a strong sense of responsibility, they are not likely to wait. By seeing the others' passivity, their feeling of responsibility may kick in.’ A gaggle of videotaping onlookers surrounded 44-year-old plumber David Justino this summer as he tried to stop a tourist from bleeding to death after an out-of-control taxi struck her, severing one leg and badly injuring the other. First responder: Ben Abo, a Miami, Florida emergency room doctor visiting New York rescued a man who fell onto the tracks in the 9th street PATH station seconds before a train arrived . He used his belt as a tourniquet and poured bottled water over her severed limbs, which were gushing blood. ‘I had no choice,’ he said. ‘I had to help her, someone had to.’ Truck driver Alex Mitchell, 37, of Queens, was alone on the Long Island Expressway two months ago at about 1am when he saw a man in an SUV driving erratically, then crash into a tree. Mitchell pulled over and ran to the scene. ‘There was a flickering of lights, and by the time I got there, it was a big ball of fire and smoke,’ he said. He reached the man, yanked him up and helped him away from the burning vehicle. ‘The only thing I was thinking was, “We have to get out of here before this thing goes up,”’ he said. Both Mitchell and Justino have since contacted the people they saved to see how they're doing; the tourist, Sian Green of England, is healing. ‘There's good people in this world, very good people in this world that I can't thank enough,’ Green said on NBC's Today show in September. ‘They saved my life. If it wasn't for them, I wouldn't be sitting here right now telling this story.’ Quick-thinking action: Truck driver Alex Mitchell, 37, of Queens, pulled a man from a fiery car wreck on the Long Island Expressways . The driver saved by Mitchell was released from the hospital and later charged with driving while intoxicated. Mitchell said the man, who has four kids, found out his name and left a note at his office thanking him. Abo got a ‘thank you’ and a pat on the back from police. Then, covered in the injured man's blood, he boarded another train and went home to Miami. He doesn't know what happened to the man he saved. Neither does Codrington. ‘The last time I saw him, he was bleeding profusely and not conscious,’ Codrington said. ‘I wish I knew whether he was alive.’ | Dennis Codrington, 24, rescued a bleeding, 6-foot-1 stranger who fell onto tracks a minute before train came . Plumber David Justino used his belt as a tourniquet to stop tourist Sian Green from bleeding to death after a cab struck her and severed her leg . Miami ER doctor Ben Abo rescued a man who fell onto the tracks seconds before PATH train arrived . Truck driver Alex Mitchell, 37, of Queens, pulled a man to safety after his car slammed into a tree and burst into flames . | 6cc99ac86864cd58dd794cf9a1301a6f14c58f51 |
Several official BBC Twitter accounts were hacked today by what appeared to be supporters of Syrian President Bashar al-Assad. The @BBCWeather, @BBCArabicOnline and @BBCRadioUlster accounts, which between them have more than 120,000 followers, were targeted by a group calling itself the Syrian Electronic Army. It sent a series of tweets from the accounts, including several with anti-Israeli sentiments on the day that U.S. President Barack Obama visited the country. Timeline: The tweets were purportedly posted on the BBC Weather feed by the Syrian Electronic Army . Taken over: The rogue tweets appear to have been first posted on the BBC Weather feed at around 1pm . A BBC spokesman confirmed the security . breaches, saying: 'We're aware that in the past few hours several BBC . Twitter accounts have been hacked. We're actively working to resolve . this ASAP.' BBC social media editor Chris Hamilton . had also confirmed that the Corporation was investigating, saying on . Twitter: 'Yes, @bbcweather has been hacked. We’re working on it.' The first tweet sent by the hackers . read: ‘Syrian Electronic Army Was Here via @Official_SEA #SEA #Syria’ and another said: ‘'Long Live #Syria Al-Assad #SEA’. Couple: The BBC Twitter feed was today apparently hacked by supporters of Syrian President Bashar al-Assad, who is pictured (left) with his wife Asma (right) Carnage: Motorists drive past damaged buildings in Aleppo, Syria. A tweet was purportedly posted on the BBC Weather account at around 1pm by online propaganda group the Syrian Electronic Army . In apparently anti-semitic posts, . tweets were sent saying: ‘Forecast for Tel Aviv on Saturday - 5000 . degrees Kelvin with northern fog and eastern high pressure front,’ followed by: ‘Tsunami alert for Haifa: Residents are advised to return . to Poland.’ Another seemed to criticise the UK . Government, saying: ‘Edinburgh storm warning station decommissioned . after maintenance fund diverted to arming Syrian opposition.’ President: Al-Assad is pictured at a mosque in Damascus. The hackers were purportedly supporters of him . Others criticised the governments of . Qatar, the Lebanon and Turkey. Another said: ‘Saudi weather station down . due to head on-collision with camel.’ A post on the @Official-SEA account . said: "@BBCArabicOnline &@bbcweather &@bbcradioulster was hacked . by Syrian Electronic Army #SEA #Syria" The cyber-attack came on the seventh anniversary of Twitter being launched. A message posted this afternoon on the @BBCWeather account read: ‘Sorry about that, we were hacked. Normal service resumes.’ Nine rogue tweets were posted in less . than an hour on the account, between 12:59pm and 1:54pm. The rogue . tweets were deleted by around 3pm. The BBC was the latest media company . to be targeted by the SEA, which says it is ‘supporting the Syrian . people against #FSA (Free Syrian Army) terrorism’. Probe: BBC social media editor Chris Hamilton confirmed on Twitter that the Corporation was investigating . Destruction: In this image provided by the Aleppo Media Center, Syrian citizens inspect destroyed houses that were destroyed from a Syrian forces airstrike, at al-Marjeh neighborhood, in Aleppo on Tuesday . Others targeted in the past include . the Agence France-Presse agency, whose @AFPphoto account was taken . over last month and images purporting to be from the warzone in Syria . were posted. The group has previously claimed . credit for hacking the Twitter and Facebook accounts of Sky News Arabia, . Al-Jazeera Mobile, German Deutsche Welle, France 24 . and Israeli newspaper Haaretz. Last month fast food chain Burger King's Twitter account was hacked by a McDonald’s fan. The branding of their page was . changed to feature their rival’s food - and even their logo and name . were changed, appearing as McDonalds @BurgerKing. But it changed back to . normal hours later. On the same day, BBC Top Gear host Jeremy Clarkson had his Twitter account hacked by someone giving his 1.3million followers a link to 'the fastest way to lose body fat in two weeks'. | Syrian Electronic Army apparently took over BBC's Twitter account . BBC social media editor confirmed investigation had been launched . Nine rogue tweets posted by online propaganda group in one hour . | bb642c97bd2ef4a25a219faf5e2a652f3b7e833e |
By . Kerry Mcdermott . PUBLISHED: . 03:02 EST, 17 July 2013 . | . UPDATED: . 04:08 EST, 17 July 2013 . Eight members of a drug-trafficking gang which flooded the north of England with £25million worth of cocaine have been jailed for a total of 121 years. The men adopted code names inspired by Stanley Kubrick’s cult war film Full Metal Jacket to smuggle drugs from Mexico into Yorkshire. Senior gang member Paul Robinson was . known as 'Colonel' in recognition of his role, while accomplice Frank . Babar used the pseudonym 'G-man' and 45-year-old Richard Stead was . nicknamed 'Ten Seconds'. Nicknames: Richard Stead, left, known as Ten Seconds - a reference to the film Full Metal Jacket - was jailed for 21 years for conspiracy to supply drugs, Brent Padgett, right, was jailed for 16 years . The gang renamed Sheffield 'Saigon', . Manchester was 'Hollywood', and Sheffield's Ecclesall Road - where the . gang met to discuss deals and pick up deliveries of cocaine - was dubbed . 'The Strip'. Prosecutor David Brooke told a six-week trial at Sheffield Crown Court: 'They’ve been both clever and incredibly stupid to use these nicknames as they gave police a very good idea of the part each member played.' Detectives used surveillance, . bugging devices and intelligence to foil the activities of the gang, . which was turning over between £400,000 and £500,000 every month at its . height. The men imported up . to 200kg of cocaine from Mexico over a period of two years, concealed . in the hydraulic arms of scissor lifts. Full Metal Jacket: Michael Dyson, left, 41, was jailed for 18 years after admitting conspiracy to import and supply drugs, and Joseph Fawcett, right, 26, was jailed for 12 years after admitting conspiracy to supply . Police discovered parts for several lifts at an industrial unit in Battersea, London, and another unit at the Wharncliffe Business Park in Barnsley, where they also found a dust mask contaminated with cocaine. The gang was captured after South Yorkshire Police launched a huge investigation in August 2011 involving several other forces, the Serious and Organised Crime Agency and foreign law enforcement agencies. They tailed suspect Carl Carlton in his car to a layby in Rawmarsh, near Rotherham, where he picked up half a kilo of cocaine with a street value of £40,000. After Carlton was arrested police seized his phones and began tracing the rest of the gang, who were dealing in 80 per cent pure cocaine. The pair involved in the exchange were acting for Stead and Robinson. Code names and pseudonyms: The gang referred to Sheffield's Ecclesall Road - where they would meet to discuss drug deals - as 'The Strip' The real deal: The actual Strip, in gamblers' paradise Las Vegas, is slightly more glamorous than the gang's South Yorkshire meeting spot . Several members of the gang lived . luxury lifestyles, the court heard. One defendant, Michael Dyson, had to . be repatriated from the Netherlands for the trial. Stead . brought kilos of cocaine, MCat and Class B drugs into South Yorkshire. He was secretly taped talking about selling drugs and the cost of . barrels of cutting agents used to dilute cocaine. Stead, of Wilthorpe, Barnsley was found guilty after trial of conspiracy to supply cocaine and MCat and was jailed for 21 years. Seven other gang members were also sent to prison. 'Stupid': Police said the gang had been 'incredibly stupid' to use nicknames inspired by the film, as they gave detectives an indication of the role played by each member . Michael Dyson, 41, of the Netherlands and Paul Robinson, 35, of Shafton, Barnsley were each jailed for 18 years after admitting conspiracy to import and supply cocaine and other drugs. Brent Padgett, 30, of Barnburgh, Doncaster admitted conspiracy to supply cocaine and other drugs and was jailed for 16 years. Four other men were jailed for 12 years each after admitting conspiracy to supply cocaine and other drugs. They were: Tristan Clarke, 28, of Sheffield, Joseph Fawcett, 26, of Sheffield, Anthony Urban, 35, of High Wycombe and Frazer Guest, 35, of Chesterfield. Babar, 48, of Richmond, London will be sentenced later after being convicted of conspiracy to import cocaine and concealing criminal property. The court heard he bought a tennis equipment company from ex-Wimbledon champion Pat Cash and a Dragon’s Den entrepreneur Richard Farleigh whom he knew through playing chess. He denied it was a front for his criminal activities. Another defendant, Marco Russo, 41, of Streatham, London was cleared of conspiracy to import cocaine. Kubrick’s violent 1987 film follows a platoon of U.S. Marines during the Vietnam War. | Men flooded north of England with £25million worth of cocaine . Adopted code names inspired by cult war film Full Metal Jacket . Imported up to 200kg of cocaine from Mexico over two years . Gang turning over up to £500,000 per month at its height . Police used surveillance, bugging and intelligence to foil gang's activities . | 557e7c90abf66f4033928d7ac701ded25afe9806 |
Manchester United’s executive vice-chairman Ed Woodward will have two special arrivals to contend with during the January transfer window. Woodward’s wife Isobel is expecting twins that month but Ed says it will be business as usual. Woodward received a lot of stick for his first transfer window in overall charge of Old Trafford in August 2013 when David Moyes had just joined as manager. Ed Woodward (right, talking to Sir Bobby Charlton) is expecting twins in January . Channel 4’s sports chief Jamie Aitchison is surprisingly leaving the station to join London media agency Aurora, set up two years ago, in the newly created role of commercial and development director. C4 insist Aitchison, who has overseen the station’s botched revamp of their racing coverage and was responsible for the hapless Ortis Deley fronting the 2011 athletics World Championships, is leaving by choice rather than being pushed. It is understood that Arsenal’s Aaron Ramsey and Manchester United’s Adnan Januzaj will be the two big boot signings when kit suppliers Warrior rebrand as New Balance, the American parent company. Ramsey, whose adidas deal has expired, has been photographed wearing an all-white shoe that could be a prototype for New Balance’s entry into the football boot market. Aaron Ramsey is expected to sign a deal with kit supplier Warrior when it rebrands as New Balance . Qatar, who have told FIFA they will stage the 2022 World Cup whenever required, seem to be leaning towards a winter tournament. The Qataris’ presentation to a FIFA task force stressed the advantages to tourism in the Middle East of a World Cup in November and December, when training camps could be held in neighbouring countries. The Professional Game Match Officials’ strange protocol, which saw Mark Clattenburg dropped for one game for not leaving a match in the official transport, does allow Chris Foy and other officials to be dropped off at Tube stations after London matches. The PGMO, who are under extra scrutiny following the Clattenburg fuss, will not comment on the ‘injury’ that has kept assistant referee John Flynn off the match list since last March. Mark Clattenburg was dropped for one Premier League game after breaking rules over transport . It’s understood Flynn was sidelined after a five-a-side training incident with an elite referee that led to blows. William Hill, one of the FA’s major sponsorship partners, produce a crass survey asking punters to decide the football effigy they would most like to burn on a bonfire. FIFA president Sepp Blatter was the first choice, followed by Adrian Chiles, in a poll that was taken despite the FA having investigated alleged racist chanting about the Ferdinand brothers by England fans during the World Cup qualifier against San Marino last year. They were heard singing: ‘Build a bonfire, then burn the f****** lot.’ | Woodward says birth will not affect his role during transfer window . Aaron Ramsey and Adnan Januzaj expected to sign boot deals with Warrior when they rebrand as New Balance . Qatar stressed benefits of a winter World Cup in 2022 to a FIFA task force . | b3f656371ccff0838dfa1edede314e2247fea633 |
By . Matt Roper . PUBLISHED: . 05:08 EST, 20 November 2012 . | . UPDATED: . 06:21 EST, 20 November 2012 . A groom died hours after marrying his bride during the wedding reception after he tripped over and landed on a beer glass. Fabio Jefferson Maciel, 33, had wed fiancee Geise Guimaraes six hours before bleeding to death following the freak tragedy in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. Over 200 people had watched the couple tie the knot in a church ceremony before heading on to a lavish reception at a beachside club. Wedding tragedy: Fabio Jefferson Maciel (left) died six hours after he married Geise Guimaraes (right) in Rio de Janeiro. A beer glass smashed in his pocket and severed his femoral vein. Witnesses said Mr Maciel, a Brazilian navy sergeant, was fooling around with one of the young bridesmaids at 2am on Monday morning when he tripped and fell on his front. A beer glass which he had put in the left-side trouser pocket shattered and a piece severed his femoral vein - a major artery to the top of the leg - causing rapid blood loss. Mr Maciel died on the way to hospital in the Ilha do Governador district of the city. Friends said Mr Maciel had been planning the perfect wedding since the start of the year, when he had also started building a home for him and his wife-to-be to begin their married life. The house was finished just a week ago. Freak accident: Maciel, 33, was a sergeant in the Brazilian Navy. He had just finished building a home for him and his new wife to live in . Shock: Guests come to terms with the tragedy at the beachfront venue in Rio de Janeiro where the wedding reception was being held . Wedding invitations were sent out five months ago and the groom's family flew in from his home city of Manaus, north Brazil, for the ceremony. Fabiana Sena, 31, a friend of the couple, said Mr Maciel's widow is still in a state of shock. She told Brazil's O Globo newspaper: 'She just cries and says "I want my husband back". Nobody can believe what happened, and even less the way it happened.' Mr Maciel's body is due to be flown back to Manaus, where family members will attend his funeral on Wednesday. | Fabio Jefferson Maciel, 33, had wed fiancee Geise Guimaraes in a church in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil on Sunday evening . A beer glass in his trouser pocket smashed when he fell over and a shard pierced his femoral vein, causing massive blood loss . | 69d0d589d5ab04ce4ee1e7e3a94d56fb1e61bbc6 |
By . Associated Press . and Helen Pow . Shelly Sterling demanded the official lifetime title of 'Clippers' Number 1 Fan' before she agreed to sell the basketball team, it emerged today. The bizarre clause was revealed by TMZ Sports, which got hold of the $2 billion contract between Shelly and Donald Sterling and Steve Ballmer, the team's hopeful new owner. The contract also promises Mrs Sterling 12 tickets to every Clippers home game for life. 'Buyer shall also give Shelly Sterling the title of "Owner Emeritus" and "Clippers' Number 1 Fan," which titles she shall retain for the duration of her lifetime,' the contract reads. Making deals: Shelly Sterling demanded the title of 'Clippers' Number 1 Fan' The news comes after the Sterlings faced off as official foes for the first time today when their lawyers appeared in court as the fate of their NBA team and a landmark $2billion deal hangs in the balance. An attorney asked a probate court judge in Los Angeles to confirm Shelly Sterling's authority to sell the Clippers against the will of her husband, according to a person familiar with the matter not authorized to speak publicly and speaking on the condition of anonymity. Donald Sterling said in a statement Tuesday that he's not just fighting for the Clippers but taking a stand against the NBA, which he called 'a band of hypocrites and bullies' and 'despicable monsters' who want 'to take away our privacy rights and freedom of speech.' 'Strange estrangement': Donald and Shelly Sterling, seen together on April 19, have been separated for years but are not legally divorced and are co-owners of the LA Clippers NBA team . Donald Sterling is suing the league for $1billion. The league has sought to ban him for life since racist remarks emerged in a recording in April. Shelly Sterling brokered what would be a record-breaking $2billion deal with former Microsoft CEO Steve Ballmer to sell the team less than two weeks ago. She contends she is the sole trustee of The Sterling Family Trust, which owns the team. Donald Sterling was stripped as co-trustee after two neurologists last month determined he has dementia and is 'mentally incapacitated' under the trust's conditions, according to a person who is familiar with the trust and the medical evaluations but could not speak publicly. The relationship between Donald and Shelly is a strange one, as the long-separated married couple had a relatively peaceful partnership running the Los Angeles Clippers for years before the release of his racist recording. One person close to them as 'a strange estrangement’. Fading: Donald Sterling's alleged mistress V. Stiviano (pictured Thursday) was the one heard on the racist recording that prompted the expected sale of the team . The aim of Shelly Sterling's court bid is to have a judge confirm provisions of the family trust to ensure the Ballmer sale moves forward without a hitch. Donald Sterling has the right to present his side at any hearing and appeal any decision. His attorney Maxwell Blecher said a representative for Donald Sterling will be at the hearing, and that the main issue to be decided is whether Donald Sterling is mentally competent. 'There isn't the slightest evidence he's incapable of managing his affairs,' Blecher said. He said the next step is to have other doctors evaluate Sterling. 'I have no doubt at the end of the day the court is not going to say he's incompetent. That's a very high burden in the probate court - otherwise people would get their sisters and wife and brother-in-laws and everybody declared incompetent.' Though both Sterlings will have their own attorneys at the hearing Wednesday and they live apart, the couple remain 'chummy,' Blecher said. 'It's what I describe to people as a strange estrangement, they don't seem at all hostile to each other, and he's very solicitous of her,' Blecher said. 'They've been married 58 years. Each threatens the other one they're going to get a divorce but they never did and never have.' | Shelly Sterling demanded the official lifetime title of 'Clippers' Number 1 Fan' before she agreed to sell the basketball team, it emerged today . The bizarre clause was revealed in the $2 billion contract between Shelly and Donald Sterling and Steve Ballmer, the team's hopeful new owner . Meanwhile Mrs Sterling's attorneys are fighting to get approval to sell the team against her husband's will . His legal team originally said that he would be willing to have the LA Clippers sold in light of the racist recording but he has changed his mind . Slammed the NBA on Tuesday calling them 'a band of hypocrites and bullies', vowing to sue them for $1billion . The $2billion sale to the former Microsoft head Steve Ballmer that Shelly brokered is at stake . | d5724e6015c1c4545d823368589532a676208ba6 |
A tiny purple sweater is being credited with protecting a Chihuahua puppy from a raging fire that destroyed her owners' home in California earlier this week. Firefighters responded Wednesday at around 8am to a house fire in the 3300 block of West Camille Street in Santa Ana. The family living in the house were able to escape, but their 6-month-old Chihuahua named Mellie was left behind on the front porch, where she was tied by her leash. Scroll down for video . Lucky dog! This 6-month-old Chihuahua named Mellie escaped a house fire with relatively minor injuries thanks to the purple sweater she had on, which protected her body . Inferno: An electrical malfunction sparked a giant blaze inside this home in Santa Ana, California, Wednesday . As first responders were working to extinguish the 50-foot-high flames consuming the structure, Mellie came out running after the fire burnt through her tether, officials told KCAL. 'The first thing that I noticed was that it had a little sweater on that was literally melted to its fur,' Santa Ana Police Department Animal Services Supervisor Sondra Berg told KTLA. 'The sweater was so crisp it was almost like plastic on the outer layer.' Berg sliced off the knitwear with a knife, to reveal Mellie's body underneath almost entirely untouched by the flames. The puppy did suffer third-degree burns to her exposed tail and paws, and her whiskers were also singed off. The lucky dog was taken to the 17th Street Animal Hospital, where veterinarians offered to treat Mellie free of charge, as her owners could not afford to pay for her care after having lost everything in the fire. Great escape: Mellie had been trapped on the porch, surrounded by 50-foot flames, but she was able to escape to safety after the fire burned through her leash . New leash on life: Dr. David Weber (left) confirmed that the Chihuahua owes her life that the wee knitted outfit she had on; Mellie is expected to make a full recovery . Total loss: The inferno, which impacted two homes, caused an estimated $175,000 in property damage . Dr. David Weber confirmed that the Chihuahua owes her life to the wee knitted outfit she had on at the time of the blaze. She is expected to make a full recovery. It is believed that the fire was sparked by an electrical malfunction. It took firefighters about an hour to put out the flames. The inferno, which impacted two homes, caused an estimated $175,000 in property damage and displaced more than a dozen members of two families, among them six children. The family living in the rear house also lost $80,000 worth of possessions, including collectibles, reported the OC Register. In addition, the fire also destroyed an SUV parked on the property. Mellie's owner was treated for anxiety symptoms she experienced after seeing her dog's injuries. | Electrical fire ravaged two houses in Santa Ana, California, trapping 6-month-old Chihuahua named Mellie on front porch . Dog was able to escape with minor injuries thanks to her sweater that protected her body . Mellie's paws sustained third-degree burns because they were exposed; fire singed her tail and whiskers . | 33b38e102efb6da9d208803ac4911b9a255c0e29 |
(CNN) -- For the first time, a health care worker for a World Health Organization partner organization has fallen ill from Ebola, WHO told CNN on Sunday. The health worker, a man from Senegal, is in Sierra Leone and receiving care, the WHO said. He's an epidemiologist working for the Global Outbreak Alert and Response Network, which was established by WHO and other partners to respond to international public health emergencies. No further details were given immediately. "This is the first time someone working under the aegis of WHO has fallen ill with #Ebola," reported WHO via its verified Twitter account. Added WHO spokesman Gregory Hartl via Twitter: "No @WHO worker has been infected with #Ebola. The epidemiologist is from a #GOARN partner." When asked how the worker contracted the virus, a WHO spokesperson said officials don't yet know all the details. Separately, a British citizen infected with the virus in Sierra Leone is being flown home, the British Department of Health announced Sunday. The man, identified simply as William, lives in the West African nation in a home established by an American university for researchers. He is a volunteer nurse in Kenema Government Hospital, where he was working with Ebola patients, according to Dr. Robert Garry of Tulane University. Garry is manager of the university's program that researches Ebola. The hospital is run by the government of Sierra Leone, but receives support from Tulane researchers. The UK government said a specially equipped C17 Royal Air Force plane would transport the patient, who would be transferred to an isolation unit at the Royal Free London NHS Foundation Trust. "UK hospitals have a proven record of dealing with imported infectious diseases and this patient will be isolated and will receive the best care possible," said deputy chief medical officer John Watson in a press release. Meanwhile, the Democratic Republic of the Congo reported that two of eight people from the town of Gera suffering from a hemorrhagic fever tested positive for Ebola, a government spokesperson told CNN. The government has set up a lab, mobile treatment center and quarantine area in Gera, which is 1,200 kilometers (750 miles)from Kinshasa. The strain of Ebola is different from the one in West Africa, government spokesperson Lambert Mende Omalanga said. Confirmation testing will likely be done by WHO on Monday, said WHO spokesman Hartl via Twitter. Ivory Coast announced Saturday that it's closing its borders in response to the Ebola outbreak in West Africa. Prime Minister Daniel Duncan signed the order that closes the land borders Ivory Coast shares with Guinea and Liberia. The borders will remain closed until further notice in an effort to prevent the Ebola virus from spreading into its territory, according to the government statement. Ebola is one of the world's most virulent diseases, according to the WHO. The virus is introduced to human populations through the human handling of infected animals -- like fruit bats, gorillas and monkeys, to name a few -- found sick or dying in the rainforest. The infection is then transmitted among humans through direct contact with the blood or other bodily fluids of infected people. WHO's maps of confirmed cases show the Ebola outbreak is limited to four West African nations -- Liberia, Sierra Leone, Guinea and Nigeria. So far, nearly 2,500 suspected cases have been reported in what the WHO says is the worst known outbreak of the disease. However, the WHO's website says the survival rate for people with Ebola in this outbreak has been 47%, which is a substantial improvement over the disease's survival rate, historically. CNN's Katia Hetter, Aliza Kassim and Carma Hassan contributed to this report. | NEW: He's the first worker from a WHO partner to fall ill from Ebola . NEW: Congo reports two cases of Ebola . Separately, a Briton infected in Sierra Leone is being flown home . Ivory Coast is closing its borders with Guinea and Liberia in an effort to keep Ebola out . | 342ae65b2c29d876094fa3f94ef4a43151e839d8 |
Move over Grumpy Cat - the world's ugliest kitten is hot on your tail. The internet's most sour faced feline may just have met her fierce gazed match in Stitch - the new unfortunate looking cat in town. The five-month-old kitten's pointy ears, wide green eyes and wrinkly face and coat have earned him thousands of adoring Instagram fans. The internet's most sour faced feline Grumpy Cat may just have met her fierce gazed match in Stitch - hailed the world's ugliest cat . The five-month-old kitten's pointy ears, wide green eyes and wrinkly face and coat have earned him thousands of adoring Instagram fans . Stitch, a Devon Rex, has racked up more than 12,000 followers on the Thousand Faces of Stitch page . Stitch, a Devon Rex, has racked up more than 12,000 followers on the Thousand Faces of Stitch page - and he is named after the alien in the Disney film Lilo and Stitch. Owner Darya Leon, from Shrewsbury, Shropshire, said: 'The majority of people who see Stitch or his photos always say he is strange looking, and most people call him ugly. 'And he is often compared to an alien. 'In fact that's where his name came from - as in Stitch from the Disney film Lilo and Stitch, because of his big ears. 'We bred Stitch and he wasn't supposed to stay with us. His alien like looks means he is named after the alien in the Disney film Lilo and Stitch . Owner Darya Leon, a photographer, noticed that the kitten was a natural in front of the camera when he was just a young kitten . 'But when he got to about five-weeks-old I realised it would be impossible to say goodbye to him and so he stayed. 'He was the most fascinating little thing, with his unusual markings and adorable behaviour.' The Thousand Faces of Stitch account features hundreds of pictures of the attention seeking moggy who does not appear to be bothered by his unfortunate looks. Ms Leon, a photographer, noticed that the kitten was a natural in front of the camera when he was just a young kitten. She added: 'Stich was a curious little cat who always followed me around, and he started joining me in my studio. The Thousand Faces of Stitch account features hundreds of pictures of the attention seeking moggy who does not appear to be bothered by his unfortunate looks . The Thousand Faces of Stitch account features hundreds of pictures of the attention seeking moggy who does not appear to be bothered by his unfortunate looks. Ms Leon said: 'Stitch was a curious little cat who always followed me around, and he started joining me in my studio' 'This gave me chance to practice different lighting techniques with him in exchange for his favourite shrimp treats. 'Before I knew it I had a whole portfolio of his photographs. 'Some of the images were hilarious and people suggested I should start a social media account for Stitch - I chose Instagram because of its concentration on imagery. 'I did it partly for a laugh, but also as a way of showing my work to potential clients who might be interested in pet and family photography. 'And to my surprise Stitch started to appear on blogs and websites in just a matter of days. The photographer added: 'I did it partly for a laugh, but also as a way of showing my work to potential clients who might be interested in pet and family photography' She added: 'Stitch loves being photographed, whenever he sees me pick up my camera he races ahead of me into my studio' 'Stitch loves being photographed, whenever he sees me pick up my camera he races ahead of me into my studio. 'The only problem now is that I cannot get rid of him - he just can't accept the fact he is not the only one who needs to be photographed.' The other internet star Grumpy Cat - real name Tardar Sauce - became a celebrity in 2012 after her photo was posted onto Reddit. She became a sensation after a series of YouTube videos went viral and now has her own range of merchandise, including toys and clothing. Ugly Cat follows in the footsteps of Grumpy Cat, real name Tardar Sauce - an Internet celebrity known for her grumpy facial expression . Celebrity pet Grumpy Cat arrives at the MTV Movie Awards at Nokia Theatre in Los Angeles, America. But not even a best-selling book, a movie deal and her own ranges of food and coffee can cheer up this miserable moggy . She has a best-selling book, a movie deal and her own ranges of food and coffee - but she doesn't seem overly happy about it. Grumpy Cat’s seven-figure wealth is founded on her frown which has endorsed thousands of soft toys, Christmas cards, calendars, mugs, T-shirts and fridge magnets all bearing her delicate features. The two year old Grumpy Cat has the sort of fan base that would make a human celebrity weep — 116,000 followers on Twitter and 1.6 million fans on Facebook. Thanks to a single photo posted on an internet site in 2012, the world’s most feted feline now has her own manager, her own lawyer and a burly minder to keep fans from cramping her rather unique style during public appearances. Owner Tabatha Bundesen alongside Grumpy Cat at her 'Grumpiest' Birthday Bash . | Ugly Cat has earned thousands of fans of his wide eyes and wrinkly skin . Named after alien in Disney's Lilo and Stitch - thanks to martian-like face . Stitch, a Devon Rex, has racked up more than 12,000 Instagram followers . Follows in footsteps of Grumpy Cat, whose sourpuss face made her a star . | e8655941c0984a8965733414f25e3b0e3dc4af6f |
By . Leslie Larson . PUBLISHED: . 09:40 EST, 25 August 2012 . | . UPDATED: . 18:00 EST, 25 August 2012 . 70 mph... 90mph... 110 mph... 120 mph. An Iowa mom helplessly watched as the speedometer on her Kia Sorento surged forward due to a stuck accelerator, and she was left to hold on for dear life. The mechanical malfunction on Sunday sent Lauri Ulvestad on a fast and furious, 59 mile journey down a Missouri highway in 35 minutes. Scroll down for video. Terrifying speed: Lauri Ulvestad (in the black SUV on the left) frantically tried to avoid other vehicles as she maneuvered her speeding SUV down Interstate 35 . Squeezing by: The driver had to move into the road's shoulder under this bridge to avoid a collision . The driver somehow managed to maneuver her unstoppable SUV by weaving in . and out of traffic, swerving to avoid cars and barreling through a . construction zone, in footage captured by state troopers. Luckily, no injuries resulted from the fast-moving ride north on Interstate 35. 'I knew I was going to die,' Ulvestad, 47, told KCCI-TV. 'I didn't have any doubt about. I really thought I was going to die... and no matter what I did, I couldn't slow it down.' Unstoppable: Footage from Missouri State Troopers show Iowa driver Lauri Ulvestad swerving into the median to avoid hitting cars . Close call: The driver narrowly missed veering into a construction zone as she tries to steer clear of a sedan . Though her foot was not even on the accelerator, the rapid moving . car continued on and the brakes had no power to bring the vehicle to a . halt. The freakish malfunction occurred when Ulvestad was returning . to her home in Ames, Iowa after a weekend with friends in Kansas City, . Missouri. After she stopped for gas and returned to the road, near Bethanny, Missouri, she noticed her car speeding up. And then the out-of-control Sorento took off. Clear the road: Missouri State Troopers used sirens to try and clear the road for the speeding SUV . Half hour of hell: Lauri Ulvestad sped from Bethanny, Missouri to Osceola, Iowa, a 59 mile journey, in 35 minutes . Ulvestad was able to call 911 and state troopers with blaring sirens came to her aid to move traffic out of the way. A . 911 operator stayed on the phone with her during the petrifying ordeal . and passed on advice on how to get the vehicle stopped. But despite their best efforts, after a half hour nothing worked. 'I had a little angel that said, 'Don't drive faster than I can . fly,'' Ulvestad told the local news station, choking up just thinking . about those harrowing 30-minutes behind the wheel. 'And I think that's what helped me.' Finally, the troopers suggested she try and lift up the accelerator and push on the brake at the same time. Relief: The 47-year-old (in red sweater) fell into the arms of an officer when her car finally started to slow down . Take it: A Missouri State Trooper prepares to get behind the wheel and get the vehicle to a complete stop . 'I did that, and it slammed me from 119 mph to like nothing. It . slowed down enough that I jumped out, and [the car] kept going and then . the officers went and tracked it down and unhooked the battery,' she . said. Footage shows Ulvestad jumping out of her vehicle and falling into the arms of an officer, overwhelmed with relief and emotion. 'I went and hugged him and said, 'I'm safe, I'm safe, I'm safe, I'm safe -- Thank you! Thank you! Thank you! Thank you!'' Grateful: After the frightening ordeal Lauri Ulvestad thanked her guardian angel and the 911 operator who stayed on the line with her during the ride . After the Sunday incident, Kia Motors looked at Ulvestad's car and issued . a statement saying they cannot identify what caused the accelerator to . stick. 'Our technicians have been unable to duplicate the issue and this appears to be an isolated incident. KMA will continue to investigate and analyze the facts of this situation and will work with the customer to resolve the matter in a timely manner,' the company said. Investigation: Kia Motors is looking into what could have caused the malfunction but still has no answers. The South Korean automaker began producing the Sorento (pictured) in 2002 . In the meantime, Kia has provided Ulvestad with alternative transportation as they study her vehicle. The Sorento is a mid-size crossover SUV (or CUV) that has been produced since 2002 by the South Korean based automaker. The Sorento is assembled at Kia’s first U.S. factory, located in West Point, Georgia. Recent feedback on the vehicle has been positive, with one reviewer on Edmunds.com praising the Sorento for being 'smooth and quiet, the handling is secure and the driving position puts you at a commanding height.' | Kia Sorento sped from 70 mph to 120 mph in a matter of minutes . 'I knew I was going to die,' the Iowa driver said about the harrowing ride . Kia Motors has reviewed the out-of-control SUV and cannot determine what caused the malfunction . | 1b823661536462c9c83db8007dfcf6ace85341db |
SAVANNAH, Georgia (CNN) -- What does it really take to dress someone as fashion-forward and in the spotlight as Michelle Obama? Designer Yigal Azrouël talks with students at the Savannah College of Art and Design. "Bravery," says Isabel Toledo, designer of the first lady's attention-grabbing lemongrass yellow wool and lace ensemble that she wore for the inauguration of her husband President Obama. But along with bravery about their fashion sense, new graduates at the Savannah College of Art and Design (SCAD) will need courage in the face of the current recession. "Fashion is being hit particularly hard in the new job market. Fashion as a whole is feeling a greater level of lost revenues and in turn has lost opportunities for sustaining volume and even more so for growth," said Marshal Cohen, chief analyst and expert fashion analyst for the NPD market research group. "The ironic thing is that new ideas and creations are just what the industry needs but is too cautious to react to it," he added. Full of new ideas, student designers say they are aware of the challenges as they head out into the work force, but they're optimistic they can make it in these tough times. "After I graduate, I'm going to New York, I have an internship lined up with a trend forecasting company, Promostyl," said Shelby Simon whose designs made it into SCAD's annual fashion show. See the runway fashions » . "Everyone needs an assistant so hopefully I'll be able to find something pretty easily," said Caitlin Clarke. She would like to land an internship in New York and has interviewed with New York & Co. and applied for positions at Oscar de la Renta, Calvin Klein and Zac Posen. Toledo, a world-renown designer, knows it can be tough to make it in fashion. She and her fashion illustrator husband Ruben Toledo didn't have much money when they arrived from Cuba in the late 60s as political refugees. She says she found inspiration in the little things. Experts' advice on getting to top of fashion business » . "Go out there and look at things, look at things well. Study them; the smallest things can inspire you. That will make you able to do what you want on any level. Many times kids think you have to have all this backing coming into a big industry. I didn't do that, I started from the bottom and as a matter of fact you can only go up," said Isabel Toledo. Toledo was at the school last weekend to accept the 2009 André Leon Talley Lifetime Achievement Award. But for six months, two other top designers, Yigal Azrouël and Lars Nilsson, have been mentoring and critiquing 23 students to help them develop their designs for the runway. Azrouël, a self-taught designer, says it's a tough industry and students have to pay their dues. "It's not what people think it is or what it looks like from the outside. If you want to be a fashion designer you have to carry fabric on your back, you need to learn how to cut and sew. The fame is going to come later." More known for his expert draping techniques, Yigal Azrouël taught students more than how to incorporate intricate folds and pleats in their designs. "If you love something, go ahead and do it, but, be very consistent with it," advised Azrouël. SCAD senior Caitlin Clarke says working with Nilsson really helped her create new silhouettes and structured angles with interesting seams. "Lars was so helpful. I remember this one time when he came in and said 'Ah, there's something not right with this dress' and then he helped me cut it up and fix it," said Clarke. Nilsson enjoyed the process. "I really tried to spend a lot of time seeing what they [the students] had to say, giving them advice and push them forward to express themselves," said Nilsson. "It's been a great collaboration, and I must say that I've learned a lot myself, too." The visiting designers give the students an edge in their job search, says SCAD president Paula Wallace. "It's very important to bring in the top professionals because they inspire the students and they provide contacts and networking for the students after they graduate." Students are also using social media sites such as Twitter, Facebook and MySpace to reach out to their peers and other industry professionals. In order to succeed you have to have innovative approaches to market, sell and sustain your product lines, said retail analyst Hitha Prabhakar. Right now retailers are in "survival of the fittest" mode and a handful of designers including Mui Mui, Allessandro Del Acqua, Allegra Hicks and Krizia have had to shut their store doors on Madison Avenue, she said. SCAD senior Shelby Simon feels some students went into fashion because they like to shop, but she warns there is so much more to learn about the craft.. "The truth is hard work, nose to the grind stone and learning. All the people I know who became great designers didn't do it over night," said Vogue magazine's editor-at-large André Leon Talley, who has been involved with SCAD students over the years. "Jason Wu, a wonderful designer, a young designer, was making doll clothes for years. He was saving his money then opened his own company and look where he is today, dressing Michelle Obama." | Fashion industry job market is being hit very hard, analyst says . Students at Savannah College of Art and Design get advice from designers . Vogue's André Leon Talley says Jason Wu made doll clothing for years . Designer Isabel Toledo says when you start at bottom, you can only go up . | 4ba7d2cd2eed959000ff8d1b1891cb72a8d2fe8a |
By . Reuters Reporter . PUBLISHED: . 09:08 EST, 18 December 2012 . | . UPDATED: . 09:31 EST, 18 December 2012 . The schools of Newtown will again ring with the sounds of students and teachers today in the wake of Friday's shooting rampage, but the doors at Sandy Hook Elementary will remain shut. Most schools in the area have stood empty since 20-year-old gunman Adam Lanza slaughtered 20 children and six teachers and school staff in one of America's worst school massacres. But classes for most students will resume as the Connecticut town struggles to return to normal. Though things will be far from 'normal.' Back to school: Newtown school district students, pictured, are taken to school as classes resume for most Friday's massacre . Among the regular sounds of a school day - teachers reading to children, the scratch of pencil on paper - students will hear new ones, including the murmur of grief counselors and the footsteps of police officers. Four days after Lanza strode into Sandy Hook Elementary school and gunned down a score of 6- and 7-year-olds, in addition to six faculty and staff, that school will stay shut. It is an active crime scene, with police coming and going past a line of 26 Christmas trees that visitors have decorated with ornaments, stuffed animals and balloons in the school colors of green and white as a memorial to the victims. The massacre - one of the deadliest school shootings in U.S. history - shocked Americans, prompting some lawmakers to call for tighter restrictions on guns and causing school administrators around the country to assess their safety protocols. Sobering: Most schools have stood empty since Friday's shooting rampage that took 26 of their own . Normality: The Connecticut town is struggling to return to normal after the devastating shooting on Friday . Support: Grief counselors and police officers will be on hand at the schools to support students, pictured . Bus: A school bus drives past a farm while picking up students in Newtown, Connecticut, on Tuesday as classes resume after the massacre . Newtown police plan to have officers at the six schools scheduled to reopen on Tuesday, trying to offer a sense of security to the students and faculty, many of whom spent the weekend in mourning. School buses toured the countryside, picking up students while nervous parents in SUVs and pickup trucks dropped their children at the school gates. Newtown Police Lieutenant George Sinko acknowledged it may be difficult to ease the worries of the roughly 4,700 returning students and their families. 'Obviously, there's going to be a lot of apprehension. We just had a horrific tragedy. We had babies sent to school that should be safe and they weren't,' Sinko said. 'You can't help but think ... if this could happen again.' Newtown High School Principal Charles Dumais, in an e-mail to parents, said schools in the district would open two hours later than usual, with counselors available to students and their families. 'This is a day to start healing,' Dumais said. While school officials have not yet decided when Sandy Hook students will resume their studies, the building that they will move into - the unused Chalk Hill School in the nearby town of Monroe - already showed signs of preparation. Grieving community: Angel figurines rest near a Christmas tree on Tuesday at a makeshift memorial for victims who died in the December 14 shootings . Memorial: By Tuesday, a makeshift memorial for the victims who were killed on Friday had grown to cover numerous Christmas trees, pictured . On a fence opposite the building, a green sign with white lettering proclaimed 'Welcome Sandy Hook Elementary!' In Washington, the massacre prompted U.S. President Barack Obama on Monday to call a White House meeting with advisors to discuss ways to respond, a first step toward fulfilling the pledge he made a day earlier in Newtown. The administration's plans to curb violence include but are not limited to gun-control measures, a spokesman said. Police have warned it could take months for them to finish their investigation into the attack, which started when Adam Lanza killed his mother, Nancy, at home, before driving to the school armed with a Bushmaster AR 15 rifle and two handguns. After shooting 26 people at the school, he turned his gun on himself when he heard police approaching. First of the funerals: Mourners gathered outside a funeral home at the wake for little Jack Pinto on Monday, pictured . Life cut short: The funeral for six-year-old Noah Pozner was also held on Monday, in Fairfield, Conn. In total, 28 people died in the incident. Many of the students and faculty of Sandy Hook and its neighbors will still have funerals to attend. The first two victims, Noah Pozner and Jack Pinto, both six, were buried on Monday, with the boys' bodies laid out in white coffins. Jack was dressed in a New York Giants jersey with his favorite player's number, while mourners left a teddy bear outside Noah's service. More funerals were expected today, for victims including James Mattioli and Jessica Rekos. Each was six years old. 'It's still not real that my little girl, who was so full of life and who wants a horse so badly and who's going to get cowgirl boots for Christmas isn't coming home,' Krista Rekos, Jessica's mother, told ABC News on Monday. | Schools in the area closed after Friday's shooting that killed 26 children and educators . Buses picked up students this morning for the first time since the tragedy as the Connecticut town struggles to return to normal . Grief counselors and police officers will be on hand to help students, staff and parents . | f215402d624ba7117b70153222e2521bc18ca8a5 |
By . Hugo Gye . PUBLISHED: . 09:33 EST, 17 May 2013 . | . UPDATED: . 10:08 EST, 17 May 2013 . Social services are under fire for failing to prevent a 13-month-old boy being killed by his mother's boyfriend - despite desperate warnings from his father in the weeks before his death. Slater Sharkey was repeatedly being abused by Richard Morgan, who lived with his mother Rachel Peacock. When the toddler died in December 2010, he was covered head-to-toe in 25 bruises. Death: Slater Sharkey died aged 13 months when he was beaten by his mother's boyfriend . His father Carl Sharkey had complained to officials that the boy was at risk, but they told him they had 'no concerns' for Slater and refused to investigate his care - later saying they were distracted by strategy meetings. It has also emerged that Peacock took her son to a GP when he was having trouble breathing, but ignored the doctor's advice to visit hospital to treat the bruises on his head. A report has criticised child welfare agencies for failing to act on a series of warning signs, and concluded that Slater was not 'properly safeguarded' in the 24 hours leading up to his death. Although Mr Sharkey contacted both social workers and police, his concerns 'do not appear to have been acted on'. Convicted: The boy's mother Rachel Peacock, left, was sentenced to a community order over his death, while her boyfriend Richard Morgan, right, is serving a seven-and-a-half-year jail term . The report found that as well as poor communication with the victim's father, information about the boy's welfare was recorded inaccurately. 'The child's father, who lived with him for the first ten months of his life, and who then cared for him overnight for the final three months of his short life, was not visible,' it said. 'He had to ring the social worker, rather than the other way around. He expressed concerns to the social worker, police and the HV, but these do not appear to have been acted on.' A spokeswoman for the Durham Local Safeguarding Children Board (LSCB) apologised for the failures and said no one could have predicted Slater's death . Gill Rigg, the author of a serious case review for LSCB, said that on the day of Slater's first birthday in November 2010 concerns had been raised when Peacock contacted medical professionals. Killer: Morgan was convicted of manslaughter despite trying to claim that Slater's death was an accident . She wrote: 'There were sufficient concerns identified on that evening, and on the following day that could and should have triggered a child protection investigation had the totality of the information been considered at a strategy meeting. 'Slater's mother initially said he had stopped breathing but failed to seek help for several hours. 'Slater had a bruise on his forehead. His mother arrived at the GP surgery with no warning, and left before the GP could complete the referral to the hospital. She then failed to attend hospital as directed.' Mrs Rigg said social workers had failed to challenge medical opinions about his injuries, and the meeting with the GP had not been recorded properly. Senior managers claimed they had not carried out a review of Slater's care because 'too many strategy meetings were being held'. But Mrs Rigg said the true explanation was 'more subtle', and a 'misunderstanding' meant senior managers had failed to properly safeguard Slater. Following the review, in which Slater was referred to as 'Child R', Mrs Rigg said the boy's death was 'not predictable' but a 'different course of events' should have occurred in November 2010. Fran Gosling Thomas, chair of Durham LSCB, said the authority 'wishes to offer its sincere condolences to family members who have been very much a part of this review. We thank them for helping us at such a tragic time.' She added: 'The review highlighted errors regarding recording of information, issues around poor communication and a lack of robust assessment and professional curiosity and challenge by a number of agencies. 'There were broader issues in that Child R's father and wider family members were not given the opportunity to contribute to assessments in relation to Child R.' Following a trial at Newcastle Crown Court, Peacock, 31, was found guilty of cruelty and sentenced to a 12-month community order by Mr Justice King. Morgan, who lived with Peacock in Tantobie, County Durham, claimed he had left the baby in the living room and found him collapsed when he returned. He was sentenced to seven and half years in prison for manslaughter after a jury found he had inflicted the fatal injuries. | Slater Sharkey was covered head-to-toe in bruises when he died in 2010 . His father had already warned about danger posed by mother's boyfriend . Mother ignored GP's advice to take toddler to hospital over bruising . Officials say they were too busy with strategy meetings to review the case . | 677ae9cf7e371ab9e711bbd5d7e2ac3bc8e2ba2a |
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