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(CNN) -- Roger Federer is through to the final of the World Tennis Tournament in Rotterdam after a hard fought semifinal victory over Nikolay Davydenko on Saturday. The world number three came from a set down to eventually prevail 4-6 6-3 6-4 to claim his 17th win over the Russian in 19 meetings. "I've played him a lot, we are the same age," said the 30-year-old Federer, AFP reported. "He was in the top four or five for years and we played a lot of big matches. I'm happy to live up to expectations, he's playing fantastic again but not enough to beat me. We had a great match," Federer added, AFP reported. The 16-time grand slam champion will face Argentina's Juan Martin del Potro in Sunday's final. Earlier, del Potro dispatched Tomas Berdych with ease 6-3 6-1 to book his place in Sunday's final. 15-love: Top tennis romances . The Argentine third seed ended the Czech player's eight-game unbeaten run to record his third straight win over the world number seven. "I'm really happy to beat a top-10 player. I'm getting closer to my best level again," Del Potro said, AFP reported. "But I still have a lot of work do to. I'm trying to work every day. Hopefully in the future I can fight again for number one," he added, AFP reported. Del Potro will be looking to repeat his performance at the 2009 U.S. Open final where he beat the Swiss legend in a five-set thriller. Meanwhile, second seed Andy Roddick crashed out of the SAP Open in San Jose on Friday losing to unseeded Denis Istomin from Uzbekistan in straight sets 6-2 6-4 in San Jose. The former U.S. Open champion was his usual gracious self in defeat. "He played better than I did in every aspect. He played well. I was hoping to be able to serve my way into it. That didn't work. From there, it was tough," Roddick said, ATPWorldTour.com reported. The reward for Istomin is a match up against number five seed Julien Benneteau from France who defeated Belgian Steve Darcis in three sets 3-6 6-1 6-2. Canada's Milos Raonic joins Istomin in the last four after a 7-5 7-6 win over number-six seed Kevin Anderson from South Africa. The big-serving number-three seed fired 16 aces in all in a match lasting one hour and 42 minutes. "Obviously, my job was to take care of my serve. That's the most important thing. If you fall behind, it's easy for him to close out the set. It's a straining match, but at the same time you just have to be patient," Raonic said, ATPWorldTour.com reported. Ryan Harrison stands between Raonic and a place in the final after the American defeated Bulgarian qualifier Dimitar Kutrovsky 6-1 6-4. | Roger Federer battles through to final of ATP Tour 500 event beating Nikolay Davydenko 4-6 6-3 6-4 . Argentina's Juan Martin del Potro beats Tomas Berdych in straight sets to advance to final . Victoria Azarenka through to final of Qater Open in Doha where she will face Samantha Stosur . Andy Roddick knocked out of SA P Open by unseeded Uzbekistani Denis Istomin . | d5cefd16c11883c1b4a730308da076cf904207b3 |
(CNN) -- Neither his name is known nor a motive for the grisly crime he allegedly committed. But what is clear is that the U.S. soldier, a staff sergeant in his 30s, faces grave accusations unlike others faced by Americans in Afghanistan so far. He is alleged to have killed 16 villagers, nine of them children, in the sanctuary of their homes deep into the night. The dearth of information from the U.S. military heightens speculation by the day about the accused soldier and his mental condition. What soldier could commit such a heinous act? Authorities and mental health experts caution against drawing conclusions, but what's known is that the soldier was on his fourth combat tour. He served in Iraq three times and potentially was at risk for combat stress symptoms -- anxiety, depression, anger. He also suffered a brain injury in a vehicle rollover, though the extent of it is unclear. "We're going to look into all of that," Gen. John Allen, who commands U.S. and NATO troops in Afghanistan, told CNN, declining to say more. The full details will likely surface after the military investigates and begins legal proceedings. "It's a tragedy all the way around. There's no question about that," said Seattle attorney John Henry Browne, who told CNN Thursday that he was representing the accused soldier. "I think it's of interest that we have a soldier who has an exemplary record, a decorated soldier who was injured in Iraq to his brain and to his body, and then despite that, was sent back. I think that's an issue. I think it's a concern." Michael Waddington, a civilian lawyer who has represented U.S. soldiers in military murder trials, said Sunday's shootings in the villages in Kandahar province represented the worst of chilling incidents involving U.S. troops. FBI: Massacre could prompt attacks in U.S. There have been cases of the innocent who are mistakenly killed or die in the crossfire. But it was shocking to Waddington to hear of a U.S. soldier turning his weapon on civilians. If true, he said, the crime amounts to no less than executions of people inside their homes. The soldier could face 16 counts of premeditated murder, Waddington said. The officer who will preside over the soldier's Article 32 hearing, the military's rough equivalent of a grand jury proceeding, will decide whether to try it as a capital case. There has to be at least one aggravating factor -- such as the accused knowingly created a grave risk of substantial damage to U.S. national security -- in order for a death penalty proceeding. Army Sgt. Hasan Akbar was sentenced to death for carrying out a grenade and rifle attack on his comrades in Kuwait during the opening days of the Iraq war, killing two officers. Prosecutors sought the death penalty for Pvt. Steven Green, who raped a 14-year-old Iraqi girl and murdered her and her family, but a jury could not reach a unanimous decision, and Green received life in prison without parole. Other than those two cases, Waddington said he could not think of another instance where a soldier was condemned to die for murders committed on overseas combat tours. The soldier accused in Sunday's shooting spree has been transferred to Kuwait, where he is likely being detained in solitary confinement. The military will consider several factors in determining a location for the trial. Among them will be key witnesses, forensic evidence and expert testimony. Prosecutors, Waddington said, may push for the Article 32 hearing to be held in Afghanistan so that witnesses from the villages where the killings took place are able to come to court to testify. They are unlikely to do so if the hearing is held outside Afghanistan and lawyers on both sides will have to rely on depositions. But a hearing and then a trial in Kabul could present security risks with angry Afghans clamoring for the accused's head. "I do believe security is going to become a problem the longer he is in the country," Waddington said. "There's a chance someone is going to kill him. You'd be a national hero if you killed this guy." Given the risks, the military could decide to hold the trial in the United States. If so, it would most likely be at Joint Base Lewis-McChord near Tacoma, Washington, where the soldier was stationed. Waddington said the military will probably order a full sanity probe in this case. That entails comprehensive interviews with the soldier, his family, friends and colleagues by three mental health officials, including a forensic psychologist. Waddington has defended soldiers charged with killing Iraqis and Afghans. Among them was Pvt. Jeremy Morlock, one of five Stryker Brigade soldiers also based at Lewis-McChord, charged with belonging to a rogue "kill squad" that targeted civilians. He pleaded guilty and was sentenced to 24 years in prison. Morlock said the soldiers in his squad carried out the executions on the spur of the moment. Waddington said he was struck by the brutality of killing children inside their homes but is somewhat surprised these sorts of crimes don't occur more often. Some soldiers are on medications. Since 2001, many have had no lives other than to deploy over and over again. Others struggle to find tangible successes to their mission. Sometimes, Waddington said, they despise the people they have to defend. "Take the postal worker and multiply him by a million. That's a service member," he said of the stress. Some people have suggested the soldier accused in the Kandahar village shootings suffered from post-traumatic stress disorder or PTSD. But Paul Newhouse, a professor of psychiatry at Vanderbilt University and a former Army psychiatrist, said the violence against others is not usually considered a part of the cluster of symptoms associated with PTSD. "So I think it's more likely that we're going to discover that there was some either psychotic illness or delusional condition or some evidence that this person was more seriously deranged or impaired than we would typically see in PTSD," Newhouse said. Neuropsychologist Eric Zillmer, co-author of "Military Psychology: Clinical and Operational Applications," said more than 1 million people in the United States suffer a traumatic brain injury each year. Many experience problems, but execution-style killings are not among them. "So while it's possible that 'brain damage' is a contributing factor, it is unlikely to explain the slayings," Zillmer wrote on CNN.com. A convenient answer, he wrote, would be to explain the slayings as the act of a bad apple who temporarily lost his sanity. "If that were the case, then no military leader or peer could have predicted the rampage," Zillmer wrote. "However, one can't help but wonder whether the recent spate of events, including the desecration of Taliban corpses by four Marines, the burning of the Quran by U.S. troops and now the slaying of Afghan civilians point to the toll that the Afghanistan war is taking. Has the psychological impact of the long war been underestimated?" And there is another question circulating after Afghan President Hamid Karzai urged U.S. troops to withdraw from village outposts and international forces to hand over security control of the country by 2013 instead of the planned 2014. How will Sunday's shootings affect the U.S. role in the war? "This may be the end of our mission in Afghanistan," Waddington said. On the streets of Afghanistan, angry people thirsted for justice. But that could be a long time coming. Waddington predicted that at the very least, it would take a year for a trial to begin, probably longer. And given the current situation, time may preclude a trial from taking place in Kabul. The U.S. military might be long gone by then. CNN's Ashley Hayes and Casey Wian contributed to this report. | NEW: Attorney: The soldier was injured in Iraq and, "despite that, was sent back" into battle . A U.S. soldier accused of killing 16 Afghan civilians has been moved to Kuwait . He has not been charged yet, and it's not clear where he would be tried . The Army will probably conduct a full probe of the suspect's mental condition . | 8bb7b03fa7af7d1a1e419064422393d4e8e2bb11 |
By . Anna Edwards . PUBLISHED: . 11:58 EST, 30 March 2013 . | . UPDATED: . 12:04 EST, 30 March 2013 . Thousands of people have taken to the streets of the UK in protest at cuts to housing benefit for those with spare bedrooms. Around 3,000 people marched on George Square in Glasgow while up to 1,000 people assembled outside the Scottish Parliament in Edinburgh, according to police estimates. The protesters insist that the new UK Government policy, dubbed the 'bedroom tax', will disproportionately affect disabled people and women, and could lead to evictions and deaths. Protestors claim the new tax will disproportionately affect disabled people and women, and could lead to evictions and deaths . Protesters took to the streets in Georges Square, Glasgow, to take part in the 'Axe the bedroom tax' demonstration . It will hit 660,000 households with an average loss of £14 per week, according to Crisis. The plans are aimed at those renting council housing or housing association properties and not those in private properties. The changes are an attempt to encourage those who have spare bedrooms to downsize. People took to the streets of London, Glasgow and Edinburgh to complain about the tax. Disability rights activist Susan Archibald, in Edinburgh, said: 'We have heard talk about "strivers and skivers". 'One person can be a striver one day and then get made redundant. Will they be a skiver the next day? That's how easy it happens.' John McArdle, from anti-disability discrimination campaign Black Triangle, said: 'Every day our campaign receives more messages from desperate people who are on the brink of suicide. 'This government is killing disabled people, and we must stand together and say enough is enough.' Protestors gather in Trafalgar Square to protest against the policy. The majority of the protests have been organised by Labour Left think tank with others involving the SNP, Greens and SWP together with various Trades Councils and Trade Unions . Angry protestors paraded through London, days before the new cut will come into effect . Some hid their faces behind masks, which have been used by internet hackers. Thousands protested in Trafalgar Square as charity Crisis warned that the cuts would be devastating . Protestors called Iain Duncan Smith a 'ratbag' Bill Scott, from disability campaign . group Inclusion Scotland, said two-thirds of UK properties affected . house a disabled person, rising to four-fifths in Scotland. 'The . purpose of an equality impact assessment is to find out and then change . your policy so it doesn't disproportionately impact on the vulnerable,' he said. 'Instead, the UK Government went ahead . and implemented that policy completely unchanged. It is a disgrace that . this government chose to attack disabled people.' Work and Pensions Secretary Iain Duncan Smith was branded a 'ratbag' by a heckler during his visit to Edinburgh last week. The . insult was adopted liberally at today's march, with protesters wearing . t-shirts and waving placards with the word 'ratbag' superimposed over Mr . Duncan Smith`s face. Kelly Parry, representing the National Union of Students, said: 'He is a ratbag. The cuts that are going to come in are going to disproportionately affect women. 'We need to fight back so that never again will the people of this country be robbed by Westminster.' In a statement of support for the marchers, SNP MSP Linda Fabiani said: 'The Scottish Government has brought in mitigation measures and has made a firm commitment to scrap the policy in an independent Scotland. 'There is no doubt that the bedroom tax is an abhorrent policy and the level of outrage surrounding what is being imposed is entirely justified.' The raft of Government welfare cuts that come into effect next week will heap misery on the UK's poorest families, a charity warned today. Queues at food banks are poised to get longer and homelessness is expected to increase, according to Crisis. Millions of homes will be hit by the combination of reforms that comes in from April, with low-paid workers, the unemployed and disabled people bearing the brunt of the cuts, it added. Hundreds of people took to Edinburgh's streets to protest against the introduction of the so-called Bedroom Tax . Council tax benefit, which covers some or all of the cost of the bill for struggling families, will be replaced by a new system that will be run by English local authorities but on 10 per cent less funding. Pensioners are protected under the changes but that is expected to mean a bigger burden on poor working age adults. Crisis said it also had 'serious concerns' about the replacement of disability living allowance (DLA) with a personal independence payment (PIP), claiming the the assessment process for the new benefit will exclude many disabled people who need support. Restrictions on the uprating of a number of welfare payments will also hit millions of households, it warned. Crisis chief executive Leslie Morphy, said: 'Our poorest households face a bleak April as they struggle to budget for all these cuts coming at once. People are already cutting back on the essentials of food and heating but there is only so much they can do. 'The result will be misery - cold rooms, longer queues at food banks, broken families, missed rent payments and yet more people facing homelessness - devastating for those directly affected, but bad for us all.' | Police estimated that about 4,000 people marched in Scotland . Crisis charity warns that the cuts will be devastating . | 000efdbb001fd19666b37456e239c78c52908655 |
Atlanta, Georgia (CNN) -- A building at a Georgia university was evacuated Monday morning after some Civil War relics stored there were found to be possibly dangerous, officials said. Officials at Kennesaw State University in suburban Atlanta called an all-clear around 1 p.m., about an hour and a half after they evacuated the school's Social Sciences Building and its surrounding area. "Some Civil War relics stored on the third floor were noticed as being a potential hazard," the university said in a news release. The relics included two cannonballs that were located in a display case within a room that was accessible only with a card-key, the university said. The cannonballs had been on display in the building for about three years as part of a collection within the university's Center for the Study of the Civil War Era, the school said. They were donated by a private individual. A new administrative faculty member at the university was the person who raised concerns about the cannonballs, Kennesaw State said. A local bomb squad responded to the university and removed the relics in question, and the building was reopened. | Civil War relics at Kennesaw State University were deemed potentially hazardous . Officials evacuated the building as a precaution . A bomb squad removed the questionable relics . | df02f86ddcebac8cc182875668f9df8904a2b516 |
By . Lydia Warren for MailOnline . A school superintendent has come under fire for reportedly telling her students they were dressed like 'skanks' before making them bend over so she could check the length of their skirts. Ronda Bass insists she did nothing wrong and was simply trying to protect the girls of Noble High School in Oklahoma after noticing they were not following the dress code on the first day of school. When she addressed the issue in assembly, she left many of the girls humiliated, students said. 'As I was greeting the children coming in I knew we had a major, major problem on our hands,' she told KFOR. Under fire: Ronda Bass, pictured, reportedly upset students after she called them out for wearing inappropriate clothing to school. Students claim she called them 'skanks with their a**es hanging out' 'The first question I asked was, "How many of you in here believe that there are female students on the campus today that are dressed completely inappropriate?" Most of their hands went up.' But students said that is not the language she used. Student Katelynn Hill told KOCO the teacher actually said: 'Have any of you guys seen anybody around here dressed like a skank? If you can feel your skin on the bleachers then you’re showing your a**. And I don’t want to see anybody's a** hanging out of their shorts.' Another student, Sophie Stephens, said that Bass singled her out even though she believed her shorts and long-sleeved shirt were appropriate for school. She explained that Bass walked into her classroom and told the girls to stand while she checked their clothes. 'She told us to go out into the hallway and I actually watched her ask one of my classmates to bend over so she could see how short her shorts are,' Sophie told KOCO. Inappropriate? One student, Sophie Stephens, left, said she was singled out for this outfit, right, while some of her classmates were told to bend over so Bass could check that the length of their shorts . Humiliated: Students, including Katelynn Hill, said they did not believe the situation was handled well . Bass, who calls herself Momma Bear of the district, denied calling the girls 'skanks' but said she was strict about the clothing because she had heard her students were being ridiculed by other schools. 'I wouldn't have chosen this job unless I was willing to take on some of the stresses of it,' she said. 'I want us to be known as the classy lady Bears.' She said she also sent an email to teachers saying the girls were 'pushing the limits' and wanted their help establishing modesty throughout the school. Despite her comments, students said that some of the girls were humiliated and do not believe Bass approached the issue in an appropriate way. Some parents are petitioning for her resignation - while Bass said she has also received calls from parents applauding what she did. | Ronda Bass said she noticed girls at Noble High School in Oklahoma were 'pushing the limits' with their uniform so addressed it in assembly . But students claim she called them 'skanks' with their 'a**es hanging out' She 'made girls bend over so she could check the length of their shorts' Some parents are calling for her resignation, but others have thanked her . | 6c344dc9086fe818a91fe6753b45bbee94d746c0 |
(CNN) -- Half of the firefighters on duty in San Francisco on Tuesday night were battling a blaze at a construction site that is threatening nearby buildings, authorities said. Officials evacuated "several hundred" residents who live across the street from the blaze, said Mindy Talmadge of the San Francisco Fire Department. "The buildings across the street that are inhabited were evacuated," Talmadge said. "The heat from the fire was making the windows pop and firefighters had to put up a water curtain to protect the buildings." The construction site and the scaffolding around it have collapsed into the site, she said. Authorities said the entire structure will likely collapse due to a combination of water used on the blaze and damage. Mayor Edwin M. Lee said an investigation is under way to determine the cause. "The city and the Red Cross will work closely with any displaced residents of nearby homes," Lee said. "Thanks to the leadership and determined action of our Fire Department, the very real potential of severe damage to other homes, businesses and structures in the neighborhood was avoided." At least 150 firefighters are involved in the blaze at Mission Bay neighborhood. CNN's Mayra Cuevas contributed to this report . | At least 150 firefighters are involved in the blaze at Mission Bay neighborhood . The entire structure will likely collapse due to water and damage . Residents who live across the street from the blaze evacuated . | f3cf37befd0b85907b927007bc91565e9f57c99e |
Men have long been maligned for their lack of hygiene but now they have no excuse for not washing their hands after a visit to the bathroom. A Latvian designer has come up with a novel toilet design to improve men's hand washing habits by by including a built-in tap. Kaspars Jursons' design is called STAND and was created to encourage men to wash their hands after using the facilities. Latvia-based designer Kaspars Jursons has a new design for the urinal in the men's room and it includes a tap . But opinion is divided about whether it is hygienic to wash your hands in a urinal. The tap is hands-free and activated by sensors, arguably making it more hygienic than a traditional tap and even easier to use. Mr . Jursons said: 'If you did not have the habit of washing your hands . after you go to the bathroom before, you will definitely be reminded . now, when you are faced with a tap right at the urinal.' A recent study by environmental health experts at Michigan State University, found that just one in 20 people wash their hands for long enough to kill harmful germs after visiting the toilet. The design is called STAND and it encourages all men to wash their hands after their bathroom activity. The tap is hands-free and activated by sensors . Furthermore, a third do not use soap and 10 per cent do not wash their hands at all. The research named and shamed men as particularly bad at washing their hands correctly. Hand washing is the single most effective thing to do to reduce the spread of infectious diseases, according to the U.S. Centres for Disease Control and Prevention. Failing to sufficiently wash hands contributes to nearly 50 per cent of all food borne illness outbreaks, it said. Just one in 20 people wash their hands for long enough to kill harmful germs after visiting the toilet. Furthermore, a third do not use soap and 10 per cent do not wash their hands at all . Experts say it takes 15 to 20 seconds of vigorous hand washing with soap and water to effectively kill the germs which cause infections. Yet the study found that people washed their hands for, on average, only about six seconds. A third of people do not use soap when washing their hands and 10 per cent do not wash their hands at all . The research named and shamed men as particularly bad at washing their hands correctly. Another study found that posters reminding people to wash their hands really did have a big effect. The designer hoped that making a tap so convenient will provide a similar prompt . Professor Carl Borchgrevink, associate professor of hospitality business and his team observed hand washing in toilets in bars, restaurants and other public establishments. The study claims to be one of the first to take into account factors such as duration of the hand washing and whether people used soap. Among the findings were that 15 per cent of men did not wash their hands at all, compared with seven per cent of women and when they did wash their hands, only 50 per cent of men used soap, compared with 78 per cent of women. Research found that 15 per cent of men did not wash their hands at all, compared with seven per cent of women and when they did wash their hands, only 50 per cent of men used soap, compared with 78 per cent of women . In another study, researchers from a group of US universities recently revealed that men are more likely to wash their hands after going to the toilet if they see messages reminding them to do so. The scientists posted signs in college restrooms that read 'four out of five students wash their hands EVERY time they use the bathroom'. Before the posters went up male participants self-reported washing their hands 75per cent of the time but after the reminders were pasted above sinks this figure jumped to 86 per cent. Experts say it takes 15 to 20 seconds of vigorous hand washing with soap and water to effectively kill the germs which cause infections . | Latvian designer's urinal aims to promote hand-washing among men . tap is hands-free and activated by sensors, arguably making it more hygienic than a traditional tap and even easier to use . A recent study by Michigan State University revealed that 15% of men do not wash their . hands at all, compared with 7% of women . Only 50% of men used soap, compared with 78% of women . | 0812ff2419e5832a554b84ca6dfa91f69813e5c9 |
The celebrated Class of ’92, some of whom are destined to take charge of leading football clubs, have rubber-stamped their first managerial sacking as co-owners of non-League Salford City. The Manchester United quintet of Ryan Giggs, Paul Scholes, Nicky Butt and Gary and Phil Neville endorsed the Salford management’s decision to part company with assistant Stuart Rudd. Ryan Giggs, Paul Scholes, Nicky Butt and Gary and Phil Neville are co-owners of Salford City . Former United stars Butt, Scholes, Gary Neville and Giggs have ambitious plans for Salford City . Popular former Salford player Rudd had caused the club embarrassment by sending Northern Premier League side Trafford FC winger Shelton Payne a text inquiring about his availability and telling him Scholes rated him. Salford, very aware of the need to conduct all their business correctly because of the scrutiny the Class of ’92 attracts, saw that the Rudd text could be considered an illegal approach — especially as it was made public on Twitter. Added to that was the use of Scholes’s name when the former midfielder has never seen Payne play. Giggs, Scholes, Butt and and the Neville brothers were part of the Class of '92 at Manchester United . Rudd is understood to be upset at the way he was dismissed by chairwoman Karen Baird this week without being given a reason shortly after being asked to sign a confidentiality agreement. Salford have announced Rudd’s departure as part of a ‘reshuffle’. The reasons why 2014 FA Cup final referee Lee Probert (above) has not taken charge of a game since the Wembley showcase is another example of the chronic lack of transparency surrounding the Professional Game Match Officials Ltd. All they say is Probert is injured but will not reveal any more detail apart from him being due back on the elite referee match-list by the end of this month. The Lawn Tennis Association, whose ridiculous extravagance was highlighted by the £640,000 annual package paid to Roger Draper, don’t seem to have learned anything since low-key Canadian Michael Downey took the helm. New communications and marketing director Alex Mawer has decided he needs more help in promoting tennis so the LTA have promptly chucked another £200,000 a year at four more PR jobs described as ‘new unique roles’. Boris Johnson will follow launching The Paddington Trail by being the official NFL coin tosser on Sunday . London Mayor Boris Johnson will no doubt revel in being the official NFL coin tosser on Sunday. The toss before a regular-season game has been done by the referee since 1921. But Boris is conducting the ceremony before the Jacksonville-Dallas game at Wembley. Blame the topsoil, Roy . The FA are blaming the poor state of their Wembley pitch on too much topsoil being applied in the summer — rather than the American football games which have upset England manager Roy Hodgson. It’s seen by the FA as a technical problem that can be resolved, with the surface back in pristine condition before two Rugby World Cup games and three NFL matches next autumn provide another big test. Jacksonville Jaguars take on Dallas Cowboys at Wembley just days before England's Euro 2016 qualifier . Meanwhile, it has caused considerable surprise within the NFL that Hodgson should be so negative about American football at Wembley when FA general secretary Alex Horne had so recently described bringing an NFL franchise to the national stadium as a priority. There can be no complaints for a change about England teams failing to utilise their £100million St George’s Park training facility during the upcoming international week. Seven England sides — seniors, Under 21, U20, U19, women, cerebral palsy and blind — will be in residence and all will be respecting the 11am two-minute Armistice Day silence on Tuesday. A panel including Bruce Buck, David Sheepshanks and Kevin Keegan decided in their wisdom that the wholly unnecessary football business awards’ ‘outstanding contribution’ should go to former Manchester United and Chelsea chief executive Peter Kenyon (above), who is now running football funds involved in third-party ownership outlawed in English football. Junior rugby outfit Bracknell hold more Twickenham debenture seats than any club apart from Harlequins and Richmond. Bracknell’s savvy move was helped by club member and RFU grandee Jonathan Dance having devised the terms and conditions of Twickenham ticketing policy during his years on the ticketing committee, when he did everything by the book. Dance now occupies the best seat in the house as president of the RFU. | Ryan Giggs, Paul Scholes, Nicky Butt and Gary and Phil Neville are co-owners of non-League Salford City . Manchester United quintet endorsed club's decision to part company with Salford No 2 Stuart Rudd . Rudd had sent text to a player inquiring about his availability and telling him Scholes rated him . | 47a288ab2f4ef0fdc4182c0aef8e4c287165f776 |
By . Anthony Bond . Last updated at 10:15 AM on 2nd March 2012 . A heartbroken mother gave birth just five hours after the funeral of her baby's father. Grieving Kelly Jones, 26, went into labour at the graveside of her fiancé killed in a car crash just days earlier. Miss Jones was eight months pregnant when her childhood sweetheart Ricky Norman, 27, died in the country road accident. Tragic: Grieving Kelly Jones went into labour at the graveside of her fiance killed in a car crash just days earlier. She is pictured here with baby Ava . She was determined to go to his funeral - but her midwife insisted on being at her side. Miss Jones managed to get through the service but strong labour pains began as she knelt to lay roses on Mr Norman's grave. She was rushed to hospital from the cemetery - and gave birth to baby Ava five hours later. Miss Jones said: 'It was a tragic day - we said goodbye to Ricky on the same day that Ava said hello to the world. 'Giving birth should have been one of the happiest days of our lives together and Ricky would have been at my side. 'My family and friends are saying Ava is Ricky's parting gift to me and that's the way I will always think of her.' One in a million: Ricky Norman was on his way to work when his car was in a head-on crash with a lorry on an icy mountain road . Mr Norman, a railway maintenance engineer, was on his way to work when his car was in a head-on crash with a lorry on an icy mountain road. He had chosen his unborn baby girl's name just the day before - Ava Rikki Leigh Norman-Jones. Miss Jones said: 'When I heard the news I was crying all day - it didn't feel real to me. 'I felt like I was dreaming and all I wanted to do was wake up from a nightmare. 'If it wasn't for me expecting Ava, I don't think I would have been able to cope.' Healthy Ava arrived three weeks early at Prince Charles Hospital in Merthyr Tydfil, South Wales, just a mile from the cemetery where her father was buried that day. Holding baby Ava close, Miss Jones said: 'It's as if it was meant to be, as if he wanted to see her there that day. 'Ricky would have loved Ava so much. I can't believe he is gone. 'He was a one-in-a-million, everything a woman would want in a man. He was kind, caring and changed my life forever.' The family will now never forget February 22 - the day Mr Norman was buried and his daughter was born. Miss Jones, of Merthyr Tydfil, said: 'I don't know how I will feel on her birthday - part of me will be celebrating for Ava, but part of me will be grieving for Ricky.' The couple have another son, one-year-old Jackson, and were planning to marry next year. Mr Norman's mother Sylvia Norman, 47, also told how her world has been 'turned upside down' following the loss of her son. She said: 'I cannot explain it myself. I had just laid my son to rest and hours later his daughter was born. 'It will never be the same without our son. We loved him dearly, he was our life. 'The children are the only thing keeping me going. We've got to be there for Ava. That's what Ricky would've wanted. 'He knew how hard it was going to be for us. That's why Ava was born on that day. It was his present to us.' Police are still investigating the crash in which Mr Norman and work colleague Robert McGovern, 35, were killed at Storey Arms in the Brecon Beacons. | Kelly Jones, 26, went into labour as she knelt to lay flowers at the grave of Ricky Norman, 27 . Mr Norman died in country road car crash . Baby Ava was born three weeks early . | acc3eed9e1b74c1f68706d0e474777baf94801d3 |
By . Lucy Waterlow . A personal trainer to the stars says you don't need to match the salaries of celebrities in order to emulate their athletic physiques. Instead, Jon Denoris - whose clients include singers Rachel Stevens and Natasha Bedingfield and The Hills star Whitney Port - said all you need to stay in shape is some basic equipment like dumbbells... and his new book. And if you can't afford the dumbbells he recommends working with what you have instead, whether that's a water bottle, brief case or handbag. Solutions for all: Jon says anyone can get fit without expensive equipment - even a water bottle could be used as a weight. The svelte Rachel Stevens, right, is one of his celebrity clients . London based Jon, 39, has written 'The . Pop-Up Gym', published by Bloomsbury next week, in which he reveals the . fitness secrets he shares with the stars. He explained to MailOnline that it's not about spending money but changing lifestyle habits and getting active - no matter where you are. As such, his workouts can be done at home, in the local park or even at work or while on holiday. He said: 'Working with people in the entertainment . and business worlds, I have had to find fitness solutions for them that . are creative and spontaneous, for example at the recording studio, on . set or in hotel rooms on the road. The book is a natural progression of . this type of work.' The park is your oyster: A local bench can be used for step ups, or you can do the moves on your stairs at home . No dumbbells? Use your bag to tone up your arms by weightlifting without going to the gym . No need for fancy equipment: Jon demonstrates to a client how a tree can be used for pull ups . He added: 'I hope that it breaks down some of . the barriers to fitness and demonstrates just how easy it can be to . enjoy fitness and have fun. It's aimed at anyone who wants to become . more active, particularly those who are time pressured and who don't . always have fancy equipment close by.' Jon has devised a number of routines aimed at raising the heart rate and strength and conditioning. Moves include lunges, squats and press ups and high intensity interval work. While this type of workout is nothing new, Jon said it is often overlooked as people look for complicated challenges over simplicity - when the latter can provide just as good, or better, results. Mobile workouts: Jon said the aim of the book is to help people keep fit wherever they are . He said: 'Most experts try to make fitness sound . complicated, I wanted to create something that was so simple that it . would be usable. I've always felt that simplicity is an art form, fitness unplugged if . you like.' As a result, Jon is all for using what you have around you to help you achieve your fitness goals, rather than splashing out on expensive gym membership and equipment. For example, if you can't afford to buy dumbbells or an Olympic bar, he suggests lifting a heavy bag or brief case instead or do pull ups using a tree branch. Your local park bench is a useful tool for step ups and press ups while the stairs at home can also be used to keep fit. He said: 'Everyone is an individual. I want people to work . as hard as they can safely, while having fun. I want them to create . habits that encourage consistency - this is where so many people fall . short in their fitness routines, you have to be in it for life.' This is why Jon says it's important for people to find out which location works for them. For some of his celebrity clients, like blogger Perez Hilton, this means exercising in his hotel room when travelling for work. Perez said: 'Despite my poor diet while I was in town . and drinking like a Londoner, I still managed to lose weight and improve . my fitness during my recent trip. And I have Jon to thank for that.' Busy London Mayor Boris Johnson is another of Jon's clients and he advised him to do daily stretches and moves that were possible to do in his office incorporating his furniture like his desk and chair. Even though Jon owns a fitness studio of his own, Club 51, in London, he believes exercising in a non-gym environment is the future. He said: 'Gyms need to spend more time working on behavioral change and helping people plan lifestyle fitness solutions, they are too easily led down the fad route and often don't offer value, this is why the budget gyms are booming. 'Thanks to advances in wearable technology and remote-based coaching, people can now get levels of support and help that the traditional gym will be unable to match.' Along with the exercise routines, Jon explains how to get your mind in gear for a long-term commitment to fitness. He also shares motivational tips, fat‐burning advice and nutritional information. The Pop‐up Gym by Jon Denoris is published by Bloomsbury Sport on 8th May, paperback £12.99 . | Jon Denoris has worked with Rachel Stevens, Natasha Bedingfield and Whitney Port . Devised exercises they could do anywhere . Now sharing his tips in new book, The Pop Up Gym . He says there's no need to join a gym to get fit . Advises using bags for weights and trees for pull ups . | 5bb6f1ad5a12cd793458c863a66179c6ff389f1e |
Relive Sportsmail's minute-by-coverage of England's clash against South Africa as Stuart Lancaster's side looked for their first win from the Autumn internationals. Host commentator . It may have looked close, but England were a long way behind South Africa today. The winless run is now up to 12 games against the Springboks, and surely Stuart Lancaster needs to change things against Samoa next week. 80mins: It nearly gets worse for South Africa, but La Roux knocks the ball on before celebrating scoring. 78mins: Just like last week against New Zealand, it seems as though England are going to be beaten by the clock. Seconds remain, as Brad Barritt goes over in the corner - but George Ford misses the tricky conversion. 76mins: And that, should be that. The visitors build some pressure in England's half and the ball is placed back for Lambie, who has kicked well all day, to send home a drop goal. England have been galvanised by their replacement half-backs. Ben Youngs has added tempo and energy behind the pack and George Ford has already shown his willingness to take the ball to the line and challenge the opposition at close quarters. As a result, England have started finding spaces and they have reignited the crowd. A grandstand finish is in prospect. 71mins: Sin-bin is over! Can England fight back and score that crucial try? 67mins: Perfect restart from England and 21-year-old George Ford sends the ball over the posts. 66mins: Now England could be in trouble. South Africa opt for the three points instead of kicking for the corner and Lambie holds his nerve. Significant changes - interesting with Ford now - must play territory, the chance of winning is through driving play. 64mins: George Ford and Ben Youngs on, Owen Farrell and Danny Care off. 61mins: Now it's England's turn to readjust after a dismissal. Dylan Hartley is off for stamping on an opponent, the referee saw it, but went to the TMO to check if it was worse than he thought. It was, and the hosts are a man down. 60mins: With Attfield back on, England are struggling to penetrate this backline again. Watson and Farrell have struggled today, is it time for Yarde and Ford from the bench? One of the reasons why England lost to New Zealand last week was because they failed to capitalise on having a numerical advantage when Dane Coles was sin-binned in the second half. This time, with Victor Matfield in the sin-bin, the hosts seized their chance in style by scoring two tries from outstanding rolling mauls, but Schalk Burger's riposte in similar fashion at the other end has put the Springboks back in the box-seat. 54mins: They're a man down but now it's South Africa's turn to overpower the hosts! They work a line-out towards the corner and Schalk Burger can't be stopped. Really heavy blows being landed, this is an incredible start to the second-half. 49mins: I said it was all over... what do I know! Chris Robshaw's me have really taken advantage of their, er, man advantage, and go straight through the middle yet again. Ben Morgan surges through, and three South African defenders can't stop him powering over the line. Game on, and the hosts want more! 45mins: Maybe this isn't over! Immediately after Attfield's dismissal Robshaw piles the pressure on the South African pack, and prop David Willson eventually goes over. It ended up being about nine against six there, and the crowd are back up for this one. 44mins: Attfield collapses the scrum... and we all know the referee had warned him! 41mins: Wow. 43 seconds into the second-half and South Africa may have wrapped this game up... A beautiful kick from Lambie opens up a two-on-one situation and Cobus Reinach eventually goes over for his first international try. Perfect exection, but what about the England defence? Huge mountain to climb now. Can England regroup, and mount a comeback here? It could have been worse after those opening ten minutes, but ultimately a disappointing half for England. Too many unforced errors, including one that lead to the only try, have cost them and Stuart Lancaster's side have been unable to put the visitors under any sustained pressure. The kicking game is off once again, the handling has been poor, while the decision making has prevented the few points on offer from being scored. 35mins: England win the penalty after Billy Vunipola's attacking tap and run. Not many chances so far but enough errors from either defence to see some points being scored. Handling errors just killing England so far - we have territory but again some attacking kicks needed to turn this defence. 32mins: Both sides are warned by the referee that any more collapsing of the maul could result in further action, Courtney Lawes the latest culprit and Lambie makes no mistake. Chris Foy: Steve Walsh has told the captains that there is a 'line in the sand' and the next offender will be sin-binned. 27mins: Much better spell from England, but there was a chance for more points. Attwood exploited a hole in defence and were he to unleash Watson, there was a try on offer in the corner. Instead he kept possession and the winger had to stop his run. In the end, South Africa are penalised for not releasing and Farrell gets England on their way. 22mins: Courtney Lawes charges down a kick in South Africa's 22 but the visitors are cool and kick the pool downfield despite the pressure. Need some points on the board. 20mins: Mike Brown surges through the defence to try and make things happen. but unforced errors mean England can't build up any sustained pressure. Chris Foy: England have dominated territory and possession so far in this game, using their rolling maul to good effect, but now they are in early crisis mode. The home side really need the next score or the pressure levels could engulf them. Stuart Lancaster will want to see his pack continue to use their driving game and harness Billy Vunipola's improved carrying. The irony is that they were calmly and patiently building a promising attack before Danny Care's intercepted pass gifted a try to the Springboks. So many unforced errors - four in a row from Engalnd - and it's costing us. How good are our basic skills? 1-15 poor kicking game so far, and it's wet. We have to turn them. Oh dear, oh dear. England finally get their hands back on the ball again, but Danny Care's pass is intercepted by Jan Serfontein. The centre has the whole pitch to run but is virtually unopposed; an easy try and an extremely sloppy start from England. It's converted from in front of the posts. Owen Farrell will be mighty relieved that his ill-advised attempt to run the ball out of his 22 only ultimately resulted in a penalty to South Africa, rather than a try. He tried to release Anthony Watson despite England being vastly out-numbered deep in their own territory and given the difficult handling conditions, he should have realised that it was a dangerous gamble. South Africa so nearly scored a try from turn-over ball - New Zealand would have done. 10mins: All that early pressure but a mistake has surely gifted South Africa the first points. Owen Farrell is back under his own posts to collect and could have cleared, but instead plays an inside pass to Anthony Watson despite the presence of two opposing defenders. It's turned over, and in fact Habana nearly goes over in the corner before it's dropped. They'll take the three. 7mins: Plenty of early territory for England. Kyle Eastmond tries his hand at storming through the defence with his pace but fumbles. Rain definitely a factor here, several knock-ons so far. 4mins: England deliver their own big hitting and earn themselves a penalty in their own half. In for some game looking at the two packs so far. No doubt that England are in an emotionally-charged state going into this game, judging by the sight of Billy Vunipola in tears during the national anthem. The Saracens No 8 knows he needs to deliver a big performance today and he is not the only home player under pressure to deliver. 2mins: First penalty of the game and it goes South Africa's way, near their own 22. Tough tackling from the visitors and England were struggling with their hands there, perhaps because of this wet weather. Eight years on from that last win, this is a huge chance for England to finally get one over the South Africans. We're underway with Farrell kicking off! Danny Care leads his team out at Twickenham on his 50th cap. Decent tache for Movember, too. Not long now! CHRIS FOY: Barometer readings at Twickenham are destined to soar off the scale today, as England attempt to cope with stifling, intensifying pressure while standing in the path of a thunderous South African juggernaut. National coach Stuart Lancaster, his assistants and players are painfully aware that the stakes are rising as they engage in the second instalment of their QBE autumn Test series. Saturday’s encounter represents the edge of an abyss. A fifth successive defeat would leave England in freefall, just when they need to be building towards next year’s World Cup. Sir Clive Woodward, speaking on Sky Sports, says England 'have to win... so will win.' One thing's for sure, the kicking game will have to improve. And can Jonny May build on his performance last weekend? Kyle Eastmond against Jean de Villiers, Anthony Watson vs Bryan Habana... how do the two teams match-up? The players have arrived, the fans are in good spirit, the stage is set at Twickenham. With 13 games until the World Cup (can you believe that?) this Autumn international is crucial for both England and South Africa. Who will come out on top after last week's defeats? | Jan Serfontein intercepts Danny Care try to go over for try early on . Cobus Reinach scores 43 seconds into the second-half to make it 20-6 . England come back with David Willson try after Victor Matfield sin-bin . Ben Morgan levels the score as England overpower visitors . But Schalk Burger capitalises on sloppy play to seal victory . Anthony Watson makes debut on the wing for England . Youngster will be up against South Africa's Bryan Habana . England lost to New Zealand last week, while South Africa were beaten by Ireland . Match starts at Twickenham at 2.30pm . | 855948d8d59671c2b4acd1abffb97b2d53aefe3e |
By . Lizzie Edmonds . A couple have been asked to move wedding venues because President Barack Obama could be having dinner nearby on the same date. Christie Connolly, 25, and her fiancé Sam Holland, 28, were planning on tying the knot in the grand . City Hall in Cardiff, South Wales, this September. But their special day was thrown into chaos when venue staff told them NATO are due to dine at the nearby on the same day - and their wedding party would have to go elsewhere. Scroll down for video . Christie Connolly, 25, and her fiance Sam Holland, 28, were asked to . move wedding venue from Cardiff City Hall because President Obama and . other world leaders are in the area on the same day . The couple were due to have their September wedding at City Hall, . Cardiff, pictured. Staff at City Hall have now rearranged for the pair to wed at Lord Mayor's Mansion House in Cardiff. Miss Connolly said the couple have invited the President, his wife Michelle and their secret service team to their new venue for a piece of cake. She said: 'I got a letter through saying that because of the NATO summit, City Hall and the surrounding areas would be inaccessible. 'When I read the first paragraph of the letter I nearly fainted. 'I thought: "Oh God, we haven't got the money to make new plans and it's a little bit late as we've already booked stuff!" but then I read the rest and was OK. The couple's special day will now be held at Mansion House in Cardiff, pictured. Miss Connolly has sent an invite to the Obamas - who she hopes will drop in for a slice of wedding cake . 'They've decided to move all marriage bookings from City Hall to the Lord Mayor's Mansion House. 'We're going to have to reprint invitations and things like that. It was a little bit hectic at first but the registrar has been great and really helpful. Obama and other world leaders are due to be in south Wales for the NATO summit this September . 'We were amazed when she told us that there was a dinner for the NATO leaders in which Barack Obama would be attending and they've got a shut down for the two days to accommodate it.' The couple, who have been together for seven years, are now sending out all their invitations again to friends and family following the change in venue. And the pair have also sent an invite to President Obama to drop in on their happy day for a piece of wedding cake. Miss Connolly said: 'I sent an email through The White House website and said: "I understand this is just what happens when the leader of the free world comes to town and everything gets put on hold, but it's okay because you, your wife and your secret service guys are welcome to come down for a bit of cake!"' She added: "I'm not expecting him to turn up but just to get an email back would be quite cool. 'And if he wants to pay for the wedding off the back of it, well I'm more than happy!' The NATO summit is being organised by the UK Government on behalf of NATO and will be held in September at the Celtic Manor resort near Newport. | Christie Connolly, 25, and Sam Holland, 28, due to wed at Cardiff's City Hall . But September wedding throw in to chaos because of President Obama . He and other world leaders attending NATO summit may dine at the venue . Couple will now have their special day at another venue in the city . Miss Connolly has even invited the Obamas to reception for a slice of cake . | 9fb9030bed225a7bda14178ee8cd8e65b68945f2 |
The Dogecoin started off as a penniless Internet joke. But Matt Thompson plans on selling his vacation home for this meme-inspired currency. The 27-year-old entrepreneur has been selling games and gadgets over the Internet for years, but nothing as big as his Wisconsin vacation home, which he is offering for 100 million Dogecoins. Dogecoin (pronounced DOHJ-coin) isn't something tangible like the dollar bills in your wallet. It's an open source file-sharing form of cryptocurrency that was created by programmer Billy Markus in December 2013. The newbie cryptocurrency started off as a parody of Bitcoin, using the image of a perplexed Japanese dog. Chances are, you've probably seen Dogecoin's mascot somewhere on the Internet already. As the Shiba Inu would say: Wow, much coin-cidence. But this satirical currency isn't just a punchline anymore. Through trading and transactions between users, the currency went from being worth nothing to being valued at more than $65 million, and it has a uniquely supportive community of users from the site Reddit. Thompson, a user of Bitcoins since 2011, started buying and selling Dogecoins two days after they were made available online. But the early adopter didn't think of selling his vacation home for cryptocurrency until his property got no offers after several months on the market. His three-bedroom, two-bath home is one of 2,300 properties on sale in Sawyer County, in the state's northern woods. To attract potential buyers, he decided to accept Dogecoins as a payment form. He sees potential in it. "I don't mind holding on to (Dogecoins) for a multitude of reasons, including that I believe I can use them to further my business," he explained. Thompson, who lives in Minnesota, primarily sells video and electronic game accessories online. He's been able to buy and sell inventory from places such as China by using the digital currency. "It's safe and easy with minimal fees," he said. "To date, I've found it to be very good for supplementing payment methods." Timothy Lee, who has written about cryptocurrency for The Washington Post, says Dogecoin can be a feasible alternative to Bitcoin, but it is important to put it into context. Bitcoin is the most popularly traded cryptocurrency and has the largest community of users in the digital currency realm. Dogecoin is one of the top 10 cryptocurrencies, but it has a far smaller following. Ben Doernberg of the Dogecoin Foundation -- yes, the founders even established a nonprofit organization -- says what makes it special compared with its competitors is its community. "It was important to the founders that the currency would be friendly and accepting. Most of these Bitcoin competitors are created to make a lot of money, but it's hard to generate a healthy supportive community," he said. Doernberg estimates that more than 100,000 people use Dogecoin actively. That does make for a limited pool of users who can fork up Thompson's 100 million Dogecoin price tag, which translates to roughly $135,000. The value of a Dogecoin is about one-tenth of a penny, whereas a Bitcoin is valued at a hefty $630 -- and at their peak Bitcoins were trading at $1,200. Bitcoin prices plunge as technical problems persist . Even though the value of Dogecoin is only a fraction of other cryptocurrenices, that doesn't mean it's easy to earn. There's a process, says Dogecoin user Lionel Vogt, who first shared Thompson's story with CNN iReport. The Georgia resident explained that people use graphic cards and their computers to help "mine" Dogecoins. (In doge-ism speak, it's called "digging" for coins.) Mining is the process used to create digital currencies -- it's where computers solve mathematical equations in exchange for Dogecoins. It's similar to producing other popular cryptocurrencies such as Bitcoin, Litecoin and Peercoin. Dogecoin even has its own website, which has step-by-step instructions on how to get started using the currency. It also features a flashy introductory video of an animated Shiba Inu flying through a fictional city on a rocket ship. The Dogecoin community is doing more than just joking around and financing online shopping sprees. The currency is being used to raise money for events and people. Before the Sochi Winter Olympics kicked off, Dogecoin fundraisers helped send the Jamaican bobsled team and an Indian luge contender to Russia to compete in the Games. The Dogecoin Foundation and Reddit's r/Dogecoin community were able to raise more than $30,000 for the two causes. Bitcoin regulations coming this year . Despite the Dogecoin community's generosity, Thompson says the cryptocurrency has its critics. "So many people, especially people involved with Bitcoin, tend to believe it's a copycat. I really don't think you can be so shortsighted. I believe the value of an economic system is the sum of all of its parts. So, there is room for all sorts of coins," he said. Markus, the creator of Dogecoin, explains that the currency is not meant to be a rival to Bitcoin. Both use the same technology. "Dogecoin wouldn't be where it is without Bitcoin leading the way," said the Portland, Oregon, resident. "Bitcoin is the trailblazer and Dogecoin is a friendly spin that helps introduce the world of cryptocurrency." Dogecoin's longevity is also dependent on network effect, Lee explains. "Dogecoin is sort of this self-fulfilling prophecy," he said. "The more people who accept it, the more value it has. Bitcoin has a head start on that," he said. Bitcoin has been around for five years whereas Dogecoin has been in circulation for three months. With the cryptocurrency still in its infancy and only a fraction of the value of its popular counterparts, it begs the question: Has Thompson received any offers for his six-acre vacation home? Not yet, he says. But he's definitely made an impression with the Dogecoin community. "I've been asked a lot of questions about this house, and I think it's a good effect. It gets more people talking," he said. Dogecoin Foundation's Doernberg says all the chatter is a good thing for the digital currency. "The U.S. dollar is only valuable because people are willing to accept it. In currency, that is the most important thing," he said. "Dogecoin's priorities are 'let's get everyone to the moon,' " Doernberg said. "Cryptocurrency is really powerful and instead of locking it up for a few people, let's get everyone in the world on it." | After failing to get any offers, a man says he'll take Dogecoins for his vacation home . Dogecoin is an alternative digital coin to the popularly traded cryptocurrency Bitcoin . Although it started off as a parody to Bitcoin, Dogecoin is now worth more than $65 million . | dcb836428d4311970c01568789e718649923a995 |
By . Pat Hagan . PUBLISHED: . 19:43 EST, 5 April 2013 . | . UPDATED: . 19:44 EST, 5 April 2013 . Overweight people have an in-built ‘fat-nav’ that helps them remember where high-calorie food is, a study suggests. The discovery comes after psychologists at the University of Aberdeen asked 41 students to imagine they were going to a food fair. They were then shown images of fruit and vegetables and high-calorie snacks, and briefly shown the location of stalls selling them. In tests, those who were better at remembering where to buy fatty snacks were more likely to have a higher body mass index – which compares height with weight. Overweight people have an in-built 'fat-nav' that helps them remember where high-calorie food is . The trait may have helped our ancestors survive when food was in short supply, by pointing them towards energy-rich options. The latest research suggests it may explain why some find it so hard to resist over-consumption of calorie dense snacks, even though food is in abundance.Obesity has emerged as a major burden on the NHS. Recent figures showed the number of people admitted to hospital for obesity-related illnesses has shot up by more than 10 times in the past decade. These range from surgery to have gastric bands fitted or undergo gastric bypass procedures, to weight-related ailments such as breathing difficulties and even organ failure. Health experts predict Britain’s obesity epidemic will cost the NHS and the economy £60bn annually by 2050. Previous research has highlighted that both men and women have a better spatial memory for high calorie foods instead of low calorie ones. Spatial memory is where we store information about our immediate environment. When our predecessors were foraging for foods, the ability to recall the location of energy-rich items would have been crucial for survival. The research found that students who were better at remembering where to buy fatty snacks had a higher body mass index . The latest research, led by Dr Kevin Allan, from the School of Psychology at Aberdeen University, looked at whether there was a direct link between this evolutionary trait and body mass index, a measure of weight compared to height. He recruited 41 female students with body mass index ratings varying from 18.5 to 30. Anything between 18 and 25 is judged to be healthy but a score of 30 or more is classed as obese.Researchers chose women for the study because the evidence suggests they have a better memory for the location of ‘gatherable’ foodstuffs than men. The volunteers were told to imagine they were at an international food fair with 24 stalls. They were then shown images of either healthy fruit and vegetables or calorie-loaded snacks and the location of the stall selling them, before these details were taken away from them. Participants were asked to think about how desirable each food item was and to try and remember where on the map each one came from. The results, published online in the journal Appetite, showed women who were better able to remember which stalls sold the snack foods were also more likely to have a higher body mass index. In a report on their findings the researchers said: ‘Improved spatial memory for high-calorie snacks predicted higher and less healthy body mass index. ‘In contrast, no significant relationship existed between women’s BMI and spatial memory for fruits and vegetables. ‘These findings reveal, for the first time to our knowledge, a link between spatial memory function and weight gain in the modern urban food environment.’ | Researchers at University of Aberdeen gave 41 students memory test . Those who could remember where to buy fatty snacks had higher BMI . Trait may have pointed our ancestors towards energy-rich food . | 9778e614b9d64c36c82ab4a344508f26b5652add |
By . Hugo Gye and Simon Tomlinson . PUBLISHED: . 03:51 EST, 18 April 2013 . | . UPDATED: . 10:02 EST, 18 April 2013 . Security will be tightened at this weekend's London Marathon in the light of the Boston bombings, the Home Secretary told MPs today. Theresa May revealed that more police will monitor the event to prevent a repeated of the horrific terror attack at the finish line of the race in America on Monday. Giving evidence to the Home Affairs Select Committee, Mrs May said: 'They’ve made some adjustments to policing. They’ve put in some increased policing for the marathon.' Nearly all of those who had signed up for Sunday's race say they will run despite the attack, although some admit they are nervous for the safety of spectators. Scroll down for video . Security: Theresa May has revealed more police will be on duty at the London Marathon, where runners will be wearing black ribbons like the one pictured right . Runner: Olympic gold medallist Mo Farah is planning to run a half-marathon during Sunday's race . Nick Clegg today insisted everything possible was being done to ensure the London Marathon passes off safely following the Boston bombing. The marathon, which will be preceded by 30 seconds' silence for the bombing victims, will feature an appearance by Prince Harry. The attack in Boston on Monday saw two bombs go off at the finish line of the famous race, killing three people and injuring more than 170. But a number of London runners told ITV News last night that they would not be cowed by the terrorist atrocity. 'There's . going to be an element of worry but they are ultimately there to . support us and everyone's going to stick together,' one said. 'We are . not going to let anybody put us off finishing.' Atrocity: Runners in the London Marathon have vowed to continue despite the carnage in Boston, pictured . One mother of three said she was worried about spectators being hurt at the event, saying: 'I'm not taking my children now because they are just nine months, four and five and I don't feel comfortable about taking them.' Another added: 'I have a question mark over whether my husband will bring my six-year-old daughter to the finish line. 'We have tickets for the grandstand through the charity we are running for and obviously since Boston that makes us feel a little bit nervous.' In his weekly LBC 97.3 radio . phone-in, the Deputy Prime Minister said the images from the United . States had been 'heartbreaking' and he understood that people were . anxious. 'I have spoken . to the Met Commissioner himself about this yesterday, and I have a huge . amount of confidence in the police and security services of this . country,' Mr Clegg said. 'They . do an amazing job keeping us safe all the time. They are doing a . double, triple, quadruple checking of all their arrangements for the . Marathon, because of course what happened in Boston is just horrific. 'To see all these pictures of these happy families on a summer day at the finishing line, and of course these photos of this poor little eight-year-old, is just heartbreaking. So anxiety is the most natural response to that.' In attendance: Prince Harry will hand out medals at the race, which will feature well-known competitors such as former England captain Andrew Strauss, right . Prince Harry has a long-standing commitment to preside over the medal ceremony at the end of the race, and Palace sources this week said that his plans had not changed. Runners will be encouraged to wear a black ribbon to commemorate the victims of the Boston bombing. Marathon chief executive Nick Bitel said he was confident the race would be safe and would be an event in which 'humanity can be united'. 'One of the great things about the London Marathon is that it is perceived as being this event that brings people together,' he said. 'One of the founding principles of the London Marathon was to show that at least on one day humanity can be united. 'We instigated a full security review. Considerable extra police and our own security resources will be employed. 'London . is one of the safest cities in the world. We saw last year with the . Olympic Games the Metropolitan Police lead an incredible security effort . around the Games. There is really no finer force in the world in . answering these type of threats.' Triumphant: The London event will continue; the finish line of the 2010 event is pictured here . One of the runners will be former England cricket captain Andrew Strauss, who said he wanted to represent the people of Boston and prove that 'terrorism doesn't work'. The 36-year-old will represent the Lord's Taverners charity in the race. It is not the first time Mr Strauss has had to stand firm in the face of terror fears, as he was part of the England team which toured India in the aftermath of the Mumbai attacks in 2008. 'It's a horrendous tragedy and I think this is an opportunity for all of us that are involved in the London Marathon to come out and do our bit and show a bit of solidarity and also show that we're not going to cower with fear,' he said. 'The world goes on and this is our opportunity to show in our own tiny little way that terrorism doesn't work.' Other celebrities, including reality TV star Amy Childs and Holby City actress Amanda Mealing, also said the attacks had made them even more determined to do well in the marathon. Kenyan runner Wilson Kipsang has vowed to defend his London title, saying: 'We are really sorry for what happened in Boston, but we should have no fear during the race because security matters will be put in place and we will run feeling free.' | 'We are not going to let anybody put us off finishing,' one runner says . But others admit they will not allow their children to watch race after attack . Nick Clegg insists event will be safe and pays tribute to Metropolitan Police . Marathon will be attended by Prince Harry as runners wear black ribbons . Boston bombing on Monday left three dead and more than 170 injured . | 539141a282e5e1c36fc151d69c234c428b4fcc4a |
Top clubs across Europe are keeping an eye on Shakhtar Donetsk's Brazilian stars after six of them refused to return to Ukraine for the new season. The six include two of Shakhtar's . key midfielders, Alex Teixeira and Douglas Costa, as well as . Argentinian striker Facundo Ferreyra. Costa, 23, is a long-term target of Manchester United. The players remained in France following a friendly against Lyon on Saturday, as fighting continues in the city of Donetsk. VIDEO: Scroll down to watch Shakhtar's Bernard score and get sent off for removing shirt . Star man: Douglas Costa has often been linked with moves to top clubs and could leave Ukraine . Creative spark: Bernard was a member of the Brazil World Cup squad and was an Arsenal target last summer . Meanwhile, . Brazil winger Bernard, Shakhtar's most high-profile player who chose a . move to Ukraine over a transfer to Arsenal last summer, is yet to rejoin . the squad after his World Cup exploits in his native country. It is not yet known whether the 21-year-old will join his compatriots in their refusal to return to the war-torn country. Shakhtar's owner says the six players will be punished financially if they fail to return. 'If they . don't come then in the first instance they will suffer,' the club's . billionaire owner Rinat Akhmetov said in a statement on the Shakhtar . website. No return: Alex Teixera, who stared against Manchester United last season, is among those to stay in Europe . A fine mess: Shakhtar owner Rinat Akhmetov has threatened financial punishments if the players stay away . Refusing to fulfil their contracts could cost the players 'tens of millions of euros' in compensation payments to the club, he warned. 'I don't rule out that these players will return to the club soon,' Akhmetov said, adding that several of them could arrive Monday and that the club would not seek to sell them. The Ukrainian military is attempting to retake the city of Donetsk in the east of the country, which is controlled by pro-Russian rebels. Akhmetov is Ukraine's richest man and a leading power-broker in the east of the country, where his companies employ hundreds of thousands of people. Samba stars: Shakhtar have a reputation for buying and selling Brazilians, including Willian and Fernandinho . He has publicly opposed the rebels and earlier this month pleaded with Ukrainian forces not to bomb Donetsk. The Ukrainian Football Federation has yet to rule where Shakhtar will play their home games while the conflict rages. Akhmetov has expressed a preference for the mostly Russian-speaking city of Kharkiv in the north-east. 'We aren't going to take risks and in no way will we take players to somewhere that is dangerous,' Akhmetov said. Future worries: Shakhtar are due to play Champions League football again next season . Argentinian striker Sebastian Blanco has also refused to return to his Ukrainian club, Metalist Kharkiv, ahead of the new season, local media report. Shakhtar's first game of the season is the Ukrainian Super Cup against Dynamo Kiev, which will be played in the western city of Lviv. As Ukrainian champions, Shakhtar have qualified for the group stage of this season's Champions League. VIDEO United will continue to spend - Woodward . | Five Brazilians and an Argentinian stayed in France after preseason tour . Includes key players Alex Teixeira and Douglas Costa . Brazil star Bernard yet to return from World Cup . Man United and Arsenal have tried to sign Costa and Bernard in past . Donetsk has seen ongoing fighting between rebels and Ukraine . Owner threatens to fine players if they don't return . Shakhtar are due to play in Champions League this season . Club will be playing their home games at an alternative ground . | 760544551782fbcb6d13efb08b8acb9ea3222624 |
Crumpled, grubby bank notes could soon be on their way out in the UK, according to the Bank of England. By 2016, the UK will be switching its £5 and £10 bills to polymer bank notes as they're more durable, harder to forge, and cheaper in the long run. For over 300 years the Bank of England has been printing bank notes, and despite the growth of credit and debit cards and online transactions, there's more cash in circulation than ever before. The challenge is how to keep ahead of the counterfeiters, and this has prompted the Bank of England to follow recent technology in converting some of its notes. "The key part of a bank note is 'I promise to pay' and people need to believe the bank will always promise to pay, but they also need to believe the notes they hold are genuine notes and not counterfeited notes," explained Victoria Cleland, chief cashier of the Bank of England, to CNN's Nina Dos Santos in an interview. The UK will be one of just a handful of currencies produced this way. Already, Australia and Canada have been moving away from paper to polymer in order to crack the counterfeiters and ensure the notes last longer. A key security feature of the polymer note is a window you can look through. Another feature of the plastic note is that it's quite thin and flexible, and still includes the raised print which people seem to prefer, said Cleland. "One of the advantages of polymer notes is that they will hold their shape a lot more and they're more durable," Cleland explained to Dos Santos, showing CNN the slick new, washing-machine proof notes being printed. While the process of converting traditional notes to a plastic form will be an expensive endeavor, the Bank believes a polymer note will last at least two and a half times longer than paper. The £5 note will get the first facelift in 2016, followed by the £10 note. Winston Churchill will become the face on the £5 note, while Jane Austen will grace the £10 note. A polymer note is more expensive to produce initially and there will be some transitional costs, but Cleland said that over a 10 year period of switching the £5 and £10 notes, the Bank will save at least £100 million, a lot of it because of the increased longevity of the notes. And it's not just British notes which are getting a makeover. The Royal Mint has proposed a new design for the one pound coin, with state of the art anti-counterfeiting technology embedded into the metal which they claim will make it the most secure coin in the world. The Royal Mint has been casting coins for over eleven hundred years, producing coins and medals for up to 60 countries and supplying about 15% of global demand. The £1 pound coin has been used for 30 years but has become increasingly vulnerable to counterfeiters, with 45 million coins -- or 3% of the coins in circulation -- now being forgeries. "The current electromagnetic signature in a coin can wear over time making forgeries harder to detect," said Andrew Mills, director of circulating coin sales at the Royal Mint. The new £1 coin, which is set to be introduced in 2017, will have the ISIS Technology -- Integrated Secure Identification Systems -- which has been used in bank notes for 20 years. This will enable enhanced security throughout the cash cycle, said Mills, protecting the public, vending machine operators, retailers and the banking system. With all the talk of a cashless society, it seems that cash is here to stay, albeit in its new plastic format. | By 2016, the Bank of England will be printing polymer £5 and £10 notes . The plastic notes will help fight counterfeiters and will be more durable . While the switch to polymer will be expensive, in the long-term it will save millions . | 4b484f0065bd28fd6349bef04cdc58f4726a01cd |
Balanced high above the ground on a cherry picker, powerful hedge-cutter in his outstretched arms and dwarfed by a tree many times his size, this gardener looks like he’s got his work cut out. But it’s a far from daunting task for David Swanton, head gardener at Powis Castle in Welshpool, mid Wales, for he and his team gather every year to give this magnificent 300-year-old, 46ft tall yew tree its yearly trim. The job has been made much easier by the introduction of easily-manoeuvrable cherry pickers that have replaced the cumbersome and hard-to-move wooden ladders of old, meaning a job that used to take many months now takes mere weeks. And when the team do get a chance to take a break, then the views from on high are certainly worth savouring. The centrepiece of the National Trust tourist attraction is the magnificent castle that was originally built in 1200 as a medieval fortress. But it’s often the magnificent gardens and greenery that draw the most gasps – vast hedges, magnificent borders that grow on a slope - giving the impression that they’re hanging in the air - and the enormous yew hedges that have grown to such an extent they've formed a tunnel that visitors can pass through. Head for heights: David Swanton, head gardener at Powis Castle in Welshpool, mid Wales, at work on the yearly task of trimming the enormous yew trees . Bit of a trim: The work used to take many months to complete, with people having to scale heavy wooden ladders. Now modern cherry pickers, above, are used . Beautiful scene: The National Trust property in Powys near the Welsh/English border features extensive gardens, terraces and parkland . What a yew! A glimpse over the top of the tree offers views of carefully-tended lawns, well-kept borders and animals wandering in the castle's fields . Powis Castle, above, was originally built as a fortress in 1200 and was home to a succession of Welsh princes . Shear green: Two gardeners put the finishing touches to an area of the yew that they've worked on all morning . The task takes weeks to complete but appearances must be maintained for the thousands of tourists and gardening enthusiasts who visit each year . Vertical challenge: Some of the impressive shrubbery and gardens in the grounds are planted on steep slopes . Lift-off: The new cherry pickers help the workers to reach hard-to-get-at areas of the tree that were sometimes missed in the past . Tree way: The gigantic yew hedges have been around for 300 years and have grown to such an extent that a tunnel has been formed that visitors can walk through . The gardeners use ear-defenders to combat the noise of their hedge-cutters as they trim the foliage in the grounds of the National Trust property . Green giant: Elements of the trees have fused together over hundreds of years to form one enormous green growth . European influence: The gardens have been designed according to French and Italian styles . Neat and tidy: A great deal of work was carried out in the early twentieth century to restore the gardens after they had endured a period of neglect . Lady Violet, the wife of the fourth Earl of Powis, who was responsible for restoring the gardens, said they had the potential to be ‘the most beautiful in England and Wales’ This job's growing on me: The gardeners have become pruning experts thanks to their many hours spent tending the trees . | Gardeners have to use cherry pickers to reach the top of the trees . Yews have grown so big that visitors can walk a path within them . Powis Castle in Welshpool, mid Wales, is famed for its impressive gardens . | 077701fee149f8453ae090f4350333601b9a9a87 |
By . Ben Spencer . Families should be banned from sending any food waste to landfill, according to a group of MPs. The controversial proposal, which would see all English homes forced to use ‘slop buckets’ to recycle kitchen scraps, was last night welcomed by green campaigners. Claiming its aim is to tackle a throwaway society, the Commons Environmental Audit Committee urged the Government to force councils to compost or re-use 100 per cent of food waste. Scroll down for video . The Commons Environmental Audit Committee wants to ban households from sending food waste to landfills . Labour MP . Joan Walley, who chairs the committee, said: ‘Food waste could be used . to produce biogas for energy and fertiliser for our farming system, yet . at the moment too much is thrown into landfill where its value is lost . and it produces climate-changing gases like methane.’ Nearly . 7.6million households in Britain – 27 per cent of all homes – already . have kitchen waste collections. But many are reluctant to use them, with . just 6 per cent of all food sent for recycling. They consider the food caddies unhygienic and messy, and too liable to be knocked over and targeted by vermin. Doretta . Cocks, founder of the Campaign for Weekly Waste Collection, said: ‘I . have a food caddy and I don’t use it – I don’t want it sitting in my . kitchen and I don’t want it sitting on the pavement. ‘They get full of maggots, they aren’t done up properly and they spill over on the street. ‘What I can’t see is how councils would enforce a rule like this – bin men aren’t going to go through your wheelie bin to check if there’s any food in there are they?’ The green lobby is keen to see the expansion of food collections and stricter rubbish rules. Friends of the Earth campaigner Julian Kirby said: ‘We live in a throwaway society we cannot sustain. With the enormous energy, water and land cost of producing food, particularly meat and dairy products, the committee is absolutely right to propose a ban on food waste to landfill.’ The committee’s report said: ‘Just 400,000 tonnes of food waste is separately collected for organic recycling in the UK out of the 7.2million tonnes thrown out by households every year – around 6 per cent. Instead this food waste could be collected separately and composted or used in anaerobic digesters to produce biogas and renewable energy and fertiliser.’ The report also criticised councils’ inconsistent recycling schemes, which it said should be standardised across England. It also proposed lower VAT on recycled products and longer warranties for consumer goods. But the report was dismissed by the Government as unrealistic.The Department for Communities and Local Government, which has authority over England’s councils, has tried to bring back weekly bin collections and simplify the recycling system. But it has faced resistance from authorities trying to cope with reduced costs while meeting tough EU recycling targets. Penny Mordaunt, who was appointed Communities Minister in last week’s reshuffle, said: ‘We don’t agree with these calls which would result in a proliferation of bins. ‘Rather than bullying families with unfair fines and confusing bin rules, councils should be providing regular and comprehensive rubbish and recycling collections, especially given people pay a lot of money in council tax.’ The Local Government Association, which represents councils, said: ‘There is a strong case for banning not just food from landfill, but also furniture, paints and textiles. This will help promote a thriving reuse economy.’ | Government urged to force councils to compost or re-use all food waste . Nearly 7.6million UK households already have kitchen waste collections . Just 400,000 tonnes of food waste recycled out of 7.2m tonnes binned . Food waste to be used to produce biogas and make fertilliser for farms . | 81be9c041875c4cdbbe152cb0a88d2786973ed03 |
Los Angeles (CNN) -- Justin Bieber is completely off the hook for an incident in which a Los Angeles woman accused him of trying to take her cell phone last month. But a Los Angeles prosecutor is expected to soon charge Bieber, 20, with vandalism in a separate incident, the egging of his neighbor's mansion, a source involved in the case told CNN on Monday. The Los Angeles city attorney decided Monday there was "a lack of evidence" to prosecute the singer for attempted robbery in connection with an argument with a woman at a miniature golf park last month, according to spokesman Rob Wilcox. The case was handed to the city attorney's office last week for consideration of a misdemeanor charge after the Los Angeles district attorney declined to file a felony charge. Justin Bieber avoids felony robbery charge in cell phone 'tussle' A criminal charge in the egging probe is coming as soon as Monday afternoon, a source told CNN. The Los Angeles County district attorney has been considering the case since February, when sheriff's investigators recommended that Bieber, be charged with felony vandalism for the January incident. The vandalism case is what lawyers call a "wobbler," meaning the district attorney must decide if it will be prosecuted as a felony -- which could have much more serious consequences for the singer -- or as a misdemeanor. There was no indication which charge would be filed against Bieber, the source said. Justin Bieber: 'Don't believe rumors' A spokeswoman for the district attorney declined to confirm the report. "When something happens, we will let everyone know at the same time," Jane Robison told CNN on Monday. The family living in the mansion next to Bieber's in an exclusive Calabasas, California, neighborhood accused the singer of tossing eggs from his yard onto their home. Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department detectives are pushing for a felony charge, based on the estimated $20,000 in damage caused by the eggs. Is Justin Bieber getting special treatment? Bieber's attorneys met with prosecutors in March to argue that since the egging was "a silly prank" and Bieber has no criminal record, it should be treated as a misdemeanor, two sources at the time said. Bieber, 20, has since moved from the neighborhood, selling the mansion to Khloe Kardashian. Bieber's drunken driving charge in Miami is also still pending, although a source close to that case said talks are under way to reach a plea deal to avoid a trial. Justin Bieber again caught in racial controversy . | NEW: City attorney cites "lack of evidence" for a misdemeanor robbery charge . Investigators want Bieber to be charged with felony vandalism for the January incident . Bieber's ex-neighbors accuse the singer of tossing eggs from his yard onto their home . Bieber's lawyer calls it "a silly prank" | 3e63d38829ed1e5cc297eed17dc3d2928bf1f742 |
With just over seven months to go until he becomes a father for the second time, the Duke of Cambridge has clearly decided some extra help is required. During an investiture at Windsor Castle, a 'charming' Prince William asked one of the nation’s most senior midwives if she would like to 'come and help' him and his wife. Professor Lesley Page, president of the Royal College of Midwives spoke to the royal about the Duchess of Cambridge’s pregnancy when he presented her with a CBE. Scroll down for video . Proud: Professor Lesley Page, who said Prince William spoke about Kate's pregnancy, with her CBE . 'Well I’m a midwife so he talked about Catherine’s pregnancy,' explained Professor Page following the investiture. 'We talked about my being a midwife for well over 30 years and what’s changed, and what I’m doing now after becoming president of the Royal College of Midwives.' Asked whether she gave the prince any advice, she said: 'I almost said to him the second is much easier but I don’t think I quite got that out. 'He actually said to me, "Would you like to come and help us?"' Unsurprisingly, Professor Page's response was: 'Yes, of course.' Professor Page received her CBE for services to midwifery and delightedly told journalists afterwards that she is 'very proud' of her profession. Help for Kate: According to Professor Page, William asked her to 'come and help' Kate during her pregnancy . Thrilled: Wales rugby coach Warren Gatland and Mrs Emma Saysell were invested with MBEs at the same time . Speaking about meeting William at what was the first investiture ceremony he has held at Windsor Castle, the professor said he was 'very charming', adding: 'and he said he was well looked after by midwives'. The Duchess of Cambridge, who is pregnant with her second child, is being treated for hyperemesis gravidarum, a form of acute morning sickness. As a result, Kate has not been seen in public since the news of a second royal baby was announced and has had to scale back her engagements on the advice of doctors. But although William was happy to discuss the royal pregnancy with Professor Page, she revealed that he said nothing about she is currently doing. Yesterday the duchess sent a message of support to a children’s art therapy charity after having to cancel a visit. Proud father: The Duke of Cambridge with his wife and son during the royal tour of Australia earlier this year . Ecstatic: After the ceremony, Warren Gatland posed outside Windsor Castle with his new MBE . Honour: David Elleray and Janferie Wilton (right) were also presented with MBEs by the Duke of Cambridge . She had hoped to attend the launch of The Clore Art Room at Barlby Primary School in London. In a message read out at the school on her behalf, the Duchess said she was 'truly sorry' to have missed the launch. Others receiving awards at the ceremony today included head coach of the Wales rugby team Warren Gatland who was awarded an OBE, the headteacher of Wellington College Sir Anthony Seldon who received a knighthood, and former football referee David Elleray who received an MBE. During the ceremony, William chose not to stand on a riser as he wanted to make it more comfortable for the recipients, according to a royal spokesman. Hyperemesis gravidarum afflicts one in 50 pregnancies and is much more serious than the nausea commonly experienced by expectant mothers. The condition is thought to be caused by elevated levels of ‘pregnancy hormone’ HCG, or human chorionic gonadotropin, which increases after conception. Pregnant mothers expecting twins are often more likely to suffer the condition, due to the higher levels of hormones in their system. Miss Leila Hanna, Consultant Gynaecologist and Obstetrician at Queen Mary's Hospital in London and BMI The Sloane Hospital, told MailOnline 'twice the hormones' often means 'twice the sickness'. She said: 'The condition is extremely common in the first 12 weeks of pregnancy. 'It is associated with the changes in hormonal levels in the body, where the pregnancy hormones are quite high and it is the effect of those on the expectant mother. 'If anything it is associated with a normal, healthy pregnancy. Every so often, in extreme cases it is necessary to scan the mother to see if she could be expecting twins. 'In twins expectant mothers experience twice the hormones, and so often twice the sickness.' She said the condition is usually diagnosed around the six week mark and in most cases carries on until 12 weeks. 'The majority of ladies feel much better after 12 weeks, but a small group do carry on suffering the symptoms well into their second trimester, up to 24 weeks,' Miss Hanna told MailOnline. Hyperemesis gravidarum leads to severe dehydration and puts both mother and baby at risk of being deprived of essential nutrients. Sufferers can be left vomiting up to 30 times a day, with exhausting and hazardous consequences. They cannot eat or drink without retching and may lose up to 10 per cent of their body weight when they are supposed to be gaining about 1lb a week. This can trigger a build-up of toxins in the blood or urine known as ketosis as the body tries to compensate for lack of food. Hospital treatment for these women is essential, as without intravenous feeding and fluids they are at risk of becoming dangerously dehydrated. In less severe cases the condition can be managed with supplementary hydration, medication and nurtrients. Some women take vitamin B6 – which prevents sickness – as soon as they know they are pregnant. Others may take stronger anti-nausea tablets such as cyclizine, which is also used to treat travel sickness and is said to be very effective. Sufferers are advised to take plenty of fluids and try to have small snacks throughout the day as an empty stomach can trigger nausea. If they cannot keep food down they will need anti-sickness medication and to be put on a drip. Miss Hanna said Kate is more susceptible to suffering hyperemesis gravidarum, having endured the acute sickness during her pregnancy with Prince George. She said: 'If you have suffered this condition before, it is more likely you will again. 'If you have already reacted once to the raised hormone levels in the way she has, it is quite normal during subsequent pregnancies.' She said in most cases pregnant women are given advice to avoid spicy foods and eat a diet of bland food including toast, bananas and mashed potato, little and often. 'Women suffering the condition are at risk of dehydration and so we often advise they keep their water levels up and avoid fizzy drinks,' said Miss Hanna. 'For the majority of women these simple measures will make them feel better, but in some more extreme cases we would prescribe anti-sickness medication, something like Stemetil or Maxolon (metoclopramide). 'If, despite everything, the expectant mother is not keeping anything down, and is suffering bloating, they are often taken into hospital where they can be closely monitored, given regular fluids and more regular anti-sickness drugs. 'In very extreme cases, steroids can be given.' Hyperemesis gravidarum can cause serious complications for mother and baby. Those who are hospitalised, as the Duchess was with Prince George, before 12 weeks are around 20 per cent more likely to be at risk of pre-eclampsia, according to some studies. But Miss Hanna, who has 35 years of experience and has been a consultant for the last 25 years, said the risk of any complications for Kate is reduced given the fact she did not experience any during her first pregnancy. She told MailOnline: 'She did very well during her first pregnancy, and as a result there is no reason to think anything will be different this time around. 'Second pregnancies are kinder and easier on the body, because the body has done it before. 'Kate will know what to expect and there is no reason she will face any complications. | William asked Professor Lesley Page for help during an investiture . Professor Page is the president of the Royal College of Midwives . She was at Windsor Castle to receive a CBE for services to midwifery . The professor said William gave no hint as to Kate's current condition . | 856be79869296d8da3e04eb9a32373ae01bcdd1a |
His party has been rising in the polls. And now Nigel Farage hopes Ukip will enter the pop charts with a song by former Radio 1 DJ Mike Read. The party leader called on supporters to buy the party anthem, which warns of ‘illegal immigrants in every town’ and looks forward to ‘when Nigel is at Number 10’. Scroll down for video . Mike Read attended the 2014 UKIP Conference at Doncaster Racecourse last month and has now recorded a song for the eurosceptic party . But Mr Read was yesterday forced to defend the track sung in a mock Jamaican accent against claims that it is racist. The song raises the issue of immigration with the lyrics: ‘Leaders committed a cardinal sin, open the borders let them all come in, illegal immigrants in every town, stand up and be counted Blair and Brown.’ It continues: ‘Oh yes, when we take charge, and the new prime minister is Farage, we can trade with the world again – when Nigel is at No 10.’ Other lyrics include digs at the European Union such as ‘With the EU we must be on our mettle, want to change our lawnmowers and our kettles. The EU live in wonderland, tried to ban bent bananas and British jam, we don't want jam the EU way, jam yesterday tomorrow but never today.’ Mr Read, a former Conservative supporter, also warns against trusting the Prime Minister, singing: ‘The British people have been let down, that's why Ukip is making ground. From Crewe to Cleethorpes, from Hull to Hendon, they don't believe Cameron's referendum. ‘The other parties will count the cost, in Eastleigh, Thanet, Thurrock and Boston, Labour and Tories shaking in their boots when Ukip kick them up the grass roots.’ Mr Read's song has sparked accusations of racism for using a mock Jamaican accent . The song raises the issue of immigration with the lyrics: ‘Leaders committed a cardinal sin, open the borders let them all come in' Mr Read has launched a bid for chart success with a song singing the praises of Ukip and its leader Nigel Farage . The song also mentions Mr Farage’s love of ‘fags and beer’ and jokes about the frequency of his appearances on the BBC’s Question Time. Mr Read yesterday said there was ‘nothing remotely racist’ about the song and said critics had ‘lost their sense of humour’. He told Sky News: ‘It's a satire and a bit of fun. It's not terribly serious. It wouldn't have sounded very good sung in a Surrey accent.’ He said that if he had done an Australian song he would have put on an Australian accent. Ukip’s Commonwealth spokesman Winston McKenzie defended the song. Appearing on Newsnight last night he said: ‘Ever since the beginning of time – the Beatles, Elvis, the Rolling Stones – they have taken off the black man. ‘What he has done is fantastic and the PC brigade have to grow up and get with it. The guy has made a song.’ Ukip leader Nigel Farage has called on the party's supporters to get the song to Number 1 in the charts . Ukip's Commonwealth spokesman Winston McKenzie attacked the 'PC brigade' which had criticised the song . Mr Read, who currently hosts an afternoon show on BBC Berkshire, spent more than a decade at Radio 1. He hit the headlines in 1984 when he refused to play the Frankie Goes to Hollywood single, Relax, because he objected to its lyrics. A BBC spokesman said he had not breached the corporation's guidelines on impartiality by recording the song in support of the anti-EU party. The song, which is being sold for 79p, yesterday reached as high as number 17 on the iTunes chart. Some bookmakers put the track at 50-1 to go straight into the charts at Number 1 on Sunday. Mr Farage posted on Twitter: ‘Help get the UKIP Calypso by The Independents to Number 1.’ The song had mixed reviews on Amazon. One wrote: ‘My god, the musical equivalent of the Ebola virus. Anyway, isn't calypso music a bit foreign for Ukip?’ Another review said: ‘A triumph. What a blend of cultures, using a Jamaican style to highlight some very British issues, and I would never have guessed the signer wasn't a native of the Caribbean but top pop DJ Mike Read.’ A further comment said: ‘John, Paul, George, Ringo, Farage.’ Some criticised Mr Read’s accent on the song. One wrote: ‘Surely we should have moved on from white men singing in funny accents? I found this song a sad reflection of a sick society.’ ‘Pretty sick with faux Jamaican accent. Shows UKIP in its true light as a nasty racist party,’ added another. In May, Ukip had to cancel a ‘carnival of colour’ with a steel band in Croydon after it descended into farce. The event was supposed to demonstrate the party welcomed members from all ethnic minorities, but rows broke out between supporters and demonstrators. The steel band stopped playing and packed up after they found out the event was in support of the party. Taxpayers’ money where does it go? Not even George Osborne knows, when we're in power and we engage, there will be no tax on the minimum wage. Leaders committed a cardinal sin, open the borders let them all come in, illegal immigrants in every town, stand up and be counted Blair and Brown. Oh yes, when we take charge, and the new prime minister is Farage, we can trade with the world again when Nigel is at No. 10. The British people have been let down, that’s why Ukip is making ground, from Crewe to Cleethorpes, outer Hendon, they don't believe Cameron's referendum. Coalition could be a fact, with any party we could make a pact, stop telling lies about us do, and we’ll stop telling the truth about you. Oh yes, when we take charge, and the new prime minister is Farage, we can trade with the world again when Nigel is at No. 10. Though our pensions scheme is in a mess, we need money for the NHS, to Jean-Cleade Juncker we’re giving away £55m a day. Oh what a farce he won the vote, this is my favourite Juncker quote, he looked a reporter straight in the eye and said “when things get serious it's time to lie”. Oh yes, when we take charge, and the new prime minister is Farage, we can trade with the world again when Nigel is at No. 10. The EU live in wonderland, tried to ban bent bananas and British jam, we don't want jam the EU way, jam yesterday tomorrow but never today . The daily polls suggest somehow, Ukip are the third party now, in the euro elections we were so immersed, we weren't the third party we were the first . Oh yes, when we take charge, and the new prime minister is Farage, we can trade with the world again when Nigel is at No. 10. With the government sitting on the fence, Ukip policy makes more sense, to get out of Europe is our target, Commonwealth not common market. Other parties please take note, Ukip is not a protest vote, so mark your cross and by word of mouth, tell them what to do in Thanet South. Oh yes, when we take charge, and the new prime minister is Farage, we can trade with the world again when Nigel is at No. 10. With the EU we must be on our mettle, want to change our lawnmowers and our kettles, our hairdryers, smart phones and vacuum cleaners, but Ukip is wise to their misdemeanours. Farage likes his fags and beer, but there is one thing I want to get clear, now I like Nigel, he’s a friend of mine, but he appears more than Dimbleby on Question Time. Oh yes, when we take charge, and the new prime minister is Farage, we can trade with the world again when Nigel is at No. 10. The other parties will count the cost, in Eastleigh, Thanet, Thurrock and Boston, Labour and Tories shaking in their boots when Ukip kick them up the grass roots. Meanwhile down at Clacton-on-Sea, Ukip are making history, Douglas Carswell, we're quite adamant, will be the first MP in parliament. Oh yes, when we take charge, and the new prime minister is Farage, we can trade with the world again when Nigel is at No. 10. | DJ has recorded a Caribbean pop song hailing Nigel Farage as the next PM . Ukip leader has urged party supporters to get the song to Number 1 . Song sitting at number 17 in the iTunes top 100 song download chart . Lyrics include: 'Leaders committed cardinal sin, opened borders let them in' | 73cb365b770568bd8451bef1c058484bd358b21e |
(Health.com) -- Erase extra flab with these super-effective tricks. IN THE GYM . 1. Catch the running bug. You'll continue to burn fat after your jog: People who run for at least four hours a week melt more calories than non-runners, even when they're not running, a Yale University School of Medicine study reports. 2. Crank it up early. Working out harder during the first half of your workout and taking it easier during the second burns up to 23 percent more fat than doing the opposite, according to a study from The College of New Jersey. 3 & 4. Go hard -- and make it quick. Staying at 80 percent of your max heart rate for 40 minutes can amp your metabolism for 19 hours afterward, research published in Obesity notes. And doing a shorter workout at 75 percent of your max aerobic capacity will give you a greater metabolic boost than sweating longer at 50 percent, a Colorado State University reveals. Health.com: 10-minute ab workout . 5 to 7. Lift dumbbells ... slowly. More muscle equals mega metabolism boost. Strength training can help you trim major fat, research reveals -- and doing super-slow (versus normal speed) reps increases strength by 50 percent. Plus, using dumbbells activates more muscle fibers than using machines, explains Gregory Haff, Ph.D., an associate professor in the exercise physiology department at West Virginia University. 8. Speed up, slow down. Alternating bouts of high-intensity and low-intensity cardio has been shown to torch pounds. 9. Put on weight (literally). Wearing a weighted vest (about 10 percent of your body weight) while walking can boost your calorie burn by 8 percent. 10. Download Rihanna, not Brahms. Listening to up-tempo songs actually makes you run faster and harder than listening to slower-paced music, British scientists say. 11. Let kettlebells ring. Not only does working out with kettlebells build muscle, but doing it for 20 minutes burns as many calories as running at a 6-minute-mile pace for the same amount of time. Health.com: Get gorgeous arms . 12. Keep it up. As few as 80 minutes a week of aerobic or weight training helps keep you from regaining belly fat after losing weight, according to researchers at the University of Alabama at Birmingham. 13. Add poles. Use Nordic poles while you walk, and you'll burn 20 percent more calories, says research from The Cooper Institute in Dallas. 14 & 15. Lift first, nix the rest. Doing strength training before cardio can torch more fat than cardio alone. And if you do one move after another without pausing, "you'll see more gains in strength and muscle mass," says Dr. Pierre Manfroy, M.D., consultant for the book "100 Ways to Supercharge Your Metabolism." 16. Add pounds. Lift heavier weights for fewer reps to make your workout more intense -- and burn more fat -- Manfroy says. 17. Try aromatherapy. Exercisers who inhaled strawberry and buttered-popcorn scents torched more calories than those who sniffed neutral odors, according to research from the Smell and Taste Treatment and Research Foundation in Chicago. Health.com: Aromatherapy massages: touch and scents can vaporize stress . 18. Box yourself in. Wii boxing knocks out nearly twice as many calories as some other games, like Wii golf. 19. Kick it. Playing soccer not only torches more fat and builds more muscle than jogging, but it feels less tiring, Danish research reveals. 20. Stay in shape. Fit people have more fat-burning metabolites in their blood than couch potatoes do, scientists say. IN THE KITCHEN . 22. Get more protein. Eating a protein-packed breakfast and lunch helps you burn more post-meal fat than if you eat lower-protein meals, according to Australian research. 23 & 24. Guzzle green tea -- or coffee. Downing five 5-ounce cups of green tea a day boosts metabolism, says Lyssie Lakatos, R.D., author of "Fire Up Your Metabolism." Two cups of coffee will also do the trick, one study shows. Health.com: Is coffee healthier than you think? 25. Have an omelet. Eating two eggs for breakfast while dieting will help you trim more weight and body fat than if you ate the same amount of calories noshing on a bagel, scientists say. 26. Stay above 1,200 calories... "The average person's body goes into starvation mode if she eats fewer than 1,200 calories a day," says Eric Berg, author of "The 7 Principles of Fat Burning." "That's stress, and stress creates more belly fat." 27. ... and cut calories gradually. If you diet, don't trim more than 250 calories a day. Cutting calories too quickly slows your metabolism down, Dr. Manfroy says. 28 to 33. Munch on these. Almonds, cherries, yogurt, grapefruit, whole grains, and spicy foods have all been shown to torch fat. Health.com: 7 foods that fight fat . 34. Fuel up right. Eating a low-glycemic-index breakfast (such as muesli and peaches) will help you burn more fat during a subsequent workout than eating a high-glycemic-index meal (like waffles), researchers from the University of Nottingham reveal. 35. Think before you drink. Sipping as few as 90 calories' worth of vodka can slow your metabolism by 73 percent, one study shows. 36. Graze. Women who go without eating for long periods are more likely to have higher body-fat percentages than women who nosh more regularly, one study notes. 37. Dine like a Greek. Eating a diet rich in monounsaturated fat (think olive oil, avocados) can help trim both weight and fat, research published in the British Journal of Nutrition shows. 38. Stop gorging. Your body can only handle so much food at a time, so stick to 600 calories or less per meal to maximize fat-burning, says Leslie Cooper, co-author of "Flip the Switch: Proven Strategies to Fuel Your Metabolism and Burn Fat 24 Hours a Day." 39. Skip juice. Reaching for an apple instead of apple juice is not only better calorie-wise, but it'll also do a better job of boosting your metabolism, Dr. Manfroy explains. Health.com: The best ways to boost your metabolism . IN YOUR LIFE . 41 & 42. Get C and D. Vitamin C can help you burn more fat, and D may help you lose fat, research notes. Aim for 400 to 500 mg of C and 800 mg of D a day. 43 & 44. Walk more (in denim). Researchers found that fitness-friendly offices (think treadmill desks, mobile headsets) helped people trim pounds and fat, as did wearing jeans to work, since dressing casual encourages you to move more. Wear comfy clothes when you can, pace while on the phone, and stand while chatting with co-workers. 45. Add fish oil (And work out). Taking 6 grams of fish oil per day and hitting the gym three times a week can help nix body fat, an Australian study reveals. 46. Work the day shift. Keeping nontraditional hours lowers levels of hormones that trigger satiety, increases blood glucose and insulin levels, and raises levels of the stress hormone cortisol (which can drive you to eat more), scientists say. 47. Nix the boob tube. Cut your TV time in half, and you'll burn more calories each day, research from the University of Vermont suggests. Health.com: Too much TV linked to earlier death . 48. Go mental. People who visualized themselves training a specific muscle boosted the strength in that muscle group, researchers found. 49. Eat a smaller dinner. Your body may not digest food -- and burn fat -- as efficiently if you down a huge meal right before bedtime, especially because your metabolism is slower while you sleep, Dr. Manfroy says. 50. Jump-start your morning. Wake up your metabolism -- and get fat-burning started -- by doing some sort of exercise within the first few hours of being awake, Cooper suggests. 51. Get your snooze on. Sleep for a solid 81D 2 hours instead of 51D 2, according to research published in the Annals of Internal Medicine, and you'll lose more fat. Sweet dreams! Copyright Health Magazine 2011 . | People who run for at least four hours a week melt more calories than non-runners . Downing five 5-ounce cups of green tea a day boosts metabolism . Vitamin C can help you burn more fat, and D may help you lose fat . Your body may not burn fat as efficiently if you down a huge meal right before bedtime . | d48c3bcd9a0ff8da7192e7d9b3cca5774171fbb4 |
By . Hugo Duncan . PUBLISHED: . 05:24 EST, 24 January 2014 . | . UPDATED: . 19:43 EST, 24 January 2014 . Mark Carney yesterday said he would not raise interest rates for some time, even as Britain’s economy records the strongest growth in the developed world. The Bank of England’s Governor confirmed that borrowing costs will not rise when unemployment falls below 7 per cent – a threshold the Bank set for considering an increase less than six months ago. Mr Carney also said that any eventual increases ‘would be gradual’ and lead to rates ‘somewhat lower than before the crisis’, when they averaged about 5 per cent. Bank of England governor Mark Carney reassured mortgage-holders that there is no immediate need to increase interest rates . The comments, to British executives at the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland, were welcomed by the audience. One business leader said borrowing costs ‘should remain low to help sustain the recovery’. George Osborne said merely discussing the possibility of higher interest rates was ‘a mark of success’ for the economy, as it shows ‘we have started to see the recovery take off’ – but added that ‘there is not a need for an immediate rise’. The Chancellor, who was also in Davos, would prefer that interest rates do not rise until after next May’s general election. However, with the economy powering ahead, the jobless rate falling and concern growing about a credit boom, the interest rate-setting Monetary Policy Committee could feel the need to act before then. The Bank’s base rate has been at 0.5 per cent since March 2009, but the economic revival has fuelled speculation that the MPC could soon raise it for the first time in nearly seven years. Experts have warned that the move, which would hammer millions of families with mortgages, could snuff out the UK recovery. In August, with unemployment at 7.8 per cent, the Bank said it would not consider raising rates until the jobless figure fell to 7 per cent – something it did not expect to happen until late 2016. The unemployment rate fell sharply to 7.1%, putting it within a whisker of the 7% target set by the Bank of England when it could consider putting up interest rates . The policy – known as forward guidance . – is now set for the scrapheap after data this week showed unemployment . has fallen to 7.1 per cent. Mr Carney said the MPC will ‘evolve’ and . ‘update’ its forward guidance next month. The . Bank has several options. It could ditch the link between joblessness . and interest rates altogether; lower the threshold to 6.5 or 6 per cent; . or incorporate other indicators such as wage growth. Chancellor George Osborne has previously warned about the dangers of an interest rate rise . The Governor said that although the UK, along with the US, is ‘leading the pack’ in terms of economic growth in the developed world, there are nearly 750,000 more Britons out of work than before the financial crisis struck, and another 750,000 part-time workers who want a full-time job. ‘Many of the headwinds holding back the economy will remain for some time yet,’ the Canadian said. ‘A few quarters of growth driven by household spending represent a good start, but they aren’t sufficient.’ The Chancellor agreed: ‘The job is not done. It is not even half done.’ He said the next step would be for business investments and exports to become ‘key components’ of the recovery. Mr Carney stressed in his speech: ‘Even though unemployment is falling faster than expected, the recovery has some way to run before it would be appropriate to consider moving away from the emergency setting of [interest rates] ... It is widely recognised that our 7 per cent threshold is not a trigger.’ David Cameron, who was also in Davos, defended Mr Carney. ‘To be fair, he always said that this was a threshold, not a trigger,’ he told Bloomberg television, adding that the Governor’s latest comments are ‘consistent with that’. John Cridland, the head of the Confederation of British Industry and a member of Mr Carney’s audience yesterday, said: ‘Business will welcome the Governor’s comments on interest rates. Interest rates should remain low to help sustain the recovery.’ However, former Bank of England economist Rob Wood said there was a 30 per cent chance of a rate increase by the end of the year, claiming such a move would be necessary ‘in late 2014’. | As economic recovery builds, unemployment has fallen to just 7.1% . Bank of England had said it will consider interest rate rise when it hits 7% . But Mark Carney appeared to ditch the guidance to ease fears of a hike . The Bank has denied reports that Mr Carney wants the Chancellor to water down the Help to Buy scheme to prevent a new housing boom. A spokesman said claims that Mr Carney wanted the maximum loan to be reduced from £600,000 were ‘completely without foundation’. | ba38cc286a5f64c1b28e114ac434b8c87c2676a9 |
The spokesman for ISIS who brazenly declared that jihadists would ‘raise the flag of Allah in the White House’ has been killed by a Syrian air strike, according to a message posted on social media. A pro-Isis Twitter account said of the gun-toting PR representative: ‘This brother Abu Moussa was martyred during missile clashes at the Taqba airbase.’ His death has not yet been officially confirmed. Scroll down for video . Reportedly dead: Isis spokesman Abu Mosa has been killed in an airstrike, according to a Twitter account that's sympathetic to the terrorists . Mosa recently granted a journalist access to Isis fighters and even took him to the frontline in Syria, where he astonishingly broke off an interview to take pot shots at government soldiers. In a video for Vice News, he said: ‘I say to America that the Islamic Caliphate has been established and we will not stop. Don’t be cowards and attack us with drones. ‘Instead send your soldiers, the ones we humiliated in Iraq. We will humiliate them everywhere, God willing. And we will raise the flag of Allah in the White House.’ Mosa recently granted a journalist access to Isis fighters and even took him to the frontline in Syria . The news follows the revelation that at least one in four of the estimated 2,000 foreigners fighting for ISIS in Syria and Iraq is British - and half of those are already back in the UK. Serious questions have been raised as to whether enough is being done to stem the flow of fighters after the Government revealed it has only seized 23 passports this year to prevent them travelling to the war zone. The Government says there are around 500 British among the fighters while a further 250 are thought to have already returned to the UK where the police and security services are attempting to watch them. That means there are now almost three times as many British Muslims fighting for Islamic State than there are serving in the UK military, an MP has claimed. Islamic State released a video purportedly of Iraq's minority Yazidis taking part in a conversion ritual at an unknown location . But Khalid Mahmood, Labour MP for Birmingham Perry Barr, told Channel 4 News the lack of border controls meant the Government’s estimates of jihadi numbers were too low. ‘I think it’s about 2,000 people,’ he added. According to the Ministry of Defence, there are around 600 British Muslims currently serving in the Armed Forces - just 0.4 per cent of total personnel. This is far below the 4.3 per cent of the British population as a whole who are Muslim. Irish police also believe that 30 jihadists are using the country as a base while travelling to and from Syria and Iraq. The murder of James Foley apparently by 'John' - one of a gang of British jihadis known as 'The Beatles' - has raised fears the killing fields of Syria and Iraq are dominated by extremist Britons. Peshmerga fighters stand on a vehicle with a Kurdish flag as they guard Mosul Dam in northern Iraq, which was in the hands of ISIS . | A pro-Isis Twitter account said ISIS PR man Abu Mosa has been killed . It said: 'This brother Abu Moussa was martyred during missile clashes' Mosa granted a journalist access to ISIS fighters at the Syrian frontline . While there he astonishingly broke off an interview to fire at troops . | 0ca73b6100d823dd3499815e184ae370bfe90770 |
(CNN) -- It happens every four years, usually right around September. Calls come in from all over the United States from people threatening to flee their homeland if a candidate they despise wins the Oval Office. "That's the amazing thing, when they speak on the phone. They're adamant. They feel very, very strong about it," said David Cohen, a Montreal-based immigration lawyer. "'This government doesn't speak for me' is the language that we often hear." As a partner at the Campbell Cohen firm, which specializes in immigration to Canada, Cohen says he has received these calls for decades. It sometimes makes him "feel like a therapist because they vent for a while, get this cathartic release." But when it comes down to it, Americans don't move to Canada unless it's for a relationship or new job -- essentially, love and money. Opinion: Where Obama, and America, go from here . Cohen says he can remember only three of four cases in more than 30 years that involved someone actually making good on their threat to move to Canada to escape an American president. This election cycle, he said, most of the calls "tended to be conservative or Romney supporters. There were not as many from the other side, so maybe they had kind of a premonition." It's all part of the election season's bluster cycle, and while partisan hot air is typical this time of year, this year's squabbling has been "palpably ugly," even if most of it is just talk, said Jerrold Post, director of George Washington University's political psychology program and author of "Political Paranoia: The Psychopolitics of Hatred." "That's always been the case: more extreme talk than actions," he said. "You can entertain any idea you want to, but there's a difference between having an idea and acting on an idea." "But," Post added, "throw enough ugly ideas into a pot and something is going to boil over." Sure, Facebook and Twitter were rife with threats to leave the country if Barack Obama or Mitt Romney won, but we've also seen the more serious headlines. Bryan Fischer of the evangelical group the American Family Association reportedly said last week, "I think there will be blood" if Obama wins. In north Georgia, the president of the Cottages of Woodstock homeowners' association, a residential community for the elderly, said he would shut the complex's gates for fear of "negative repercussions (that) may occur because of the results of the election," The New York Times reported. In August, Lubbock County, Texas, Judge Tom Head warned that the country could descend into civil war if Obama was re-elected and, as the county's emergency management coordinator, he considered whether he'd have to "call out the militia" if Obama ordered U.N. troops to quell the uprising. Opinion: Obama's critics, repudiated at last . More recently, after Tuesday's election results came in, real estate mogul and reality TV star Donald Trump called for "revolution!" and urged his 1.8 million Twitter followers to "march on Washington and stop this travesty." He further called on them to "fight like hell and stop this great and disgusting injustice," while proclaiming the country was now in "serious and unprecedented trouble...like never before." Trump has since deleted the revolution missive. Post noted that Trump was at the forefront of the so-called "birther movement," which falsely claims Obama wasn't born in the United States, so he wasn't surprised to see Trump sound off, but "the intensity of that was rather shocking." Best Election Night tweets . Asked if he thought Obama's race played a part in the vitriolic nature of the polemics around the country, Post said it "seems to be an issue that was played upon, but you can certainly have hatred and delegitimization with two white candidates as well." One place where race played a factor is Oxford, Mississippi, where Ole Miss students "exchanged racial epithets and violent, politicized chants" after Obama's re-election was announced, according to the student-run Daily Mississippian. University police had to "forcibly disperse" a crowd from a popular gathering spot on campus, the paper said. A university statement said the crowd reached 400 people at its pinnacle, and there were only two arrests for disorderly conduct. School Chancellor Dan Jones was quoted as saying Ole Miss "universally condemned" the racial epithets and uncivil language, and he regretted that a few students had tarnished the reputations of those classmates "who are more representative of our university creed." Obama makes history again . It appeared to be an isolated incident. In Lubbock County, GOP chairman Carl Tepper chuckled when asked if Judge Head's ominous prediction about Obama's re-election had come to fruition. "No unrest," he said. "Just a lot of disappointed people." The staunchly conservative county voted more than seven to three for Romney, he said, so now the focus moves to strengthening the Republican Party and "carrying our message of self-reliance to the rest of the country." "Republicans are pretty naturally a law-and-order-type people," he said. "I'm still satisfied America has this amazing, peaceful process of selecting government. No matter who wins, we still have our rights, our businesses, our schools, and life goes on. We'll get 'em next time." So, there are no tanks rolling through the nations' metropolises, no disappointed partisans reaching for their rifles. As Tepper said, life goes on, as it does after each election cycle, despite the disappointment of those in the losing candidate's camp. And those souls who swear they're abandoning this land for fear of Obama turning tyrannical in his second term? Yeah, not happening. Obama photo a social-media sensation . Cohen, the immigration lawyer, said that though the calls inquiring about Canadian citizenship will continue for the next few months, he feels Americans are simply too loyal to leave the country they love. "I've had Americans tell me this: When your national anthem plays, the hair on their arms stands up, and that's not like most people in the world," he said. "Americans at the end of the day are just a very patriotic group, and it doesn't matter what side you're on." Post said he hopes bipartisanship will take hold on Capitol Hill, but it won't be easy because each party is torn by conflicting ideals: catering to their bases and governing in the best interest of the people. "It's hard to reach across the aisle and get slapped down, but that's what has to happen. There's a lot of wounds to heal," Post said. No shortage of pressing issues for Obama's next term . | Montreal-based immigration attorney says Americans simply too patriotic to flee homeland . Airwaves, social media filled with bluster, but expert says this year it's 'palpably ugly' Two arrested at University of Mississippi after racial epithets uttered at campus protest . No unrest in Lubbock County, Texas, despite 'civil war' prediction by judge . | 651a72935a9428a5cb64724e8ae2e7b30fde2a19 |
A TV football presenter says she was told to leave the side of the pitch on a number of occasions because she was distracting the players by being too attractive. Katarina Sreckovic, who hosts a show about Serbia's Red Star Belgrade, told how players initially struggled to answer her questions because the young men couldn't concentrate in her presence. The 25-year-old, who has studied Chinese and literature, said she feared for her future in what she described as her 'dream job' but the players appear to have got over it. VIDEO Scroll down for Katarina Sreckovic: Red Star Belgrade TV presenter . TV host Katarina Sreckovic, 25, says players requested she leave pitchside as she was too distracting . Sreckovic plays on the training ground during a TV show piece with a Red Star player . Sreckovic, who hosts a show about Red Star, takes a series of selfies that were posted on her Instagram page . 'I admit it was a problem at the start but I think they've got used to me now,' she said. 'It was tough though because for a while it seemed as if they might not be able to work with me at all. 'I was also asked to go away a couple of times because I was a distraction on the pitch, and players complained that they couldn't concentrate.' Sreckovic says she is a huge fan of Red Star, who won the European Cup in 1991, as is her boyfriend - who is not a footballer. Srekovic said she was worried players 'might not be able to work with me at all' The 25-year-old presenter poses for an image at Red Star Stadium, the home of her favourite team . Sreckovic has a penchant for posting selfies and shots of her legs on Instagram . While going through a period of financial trouble Red Star remains a powerhouse in the Serbian SuperLiga alongside city rivals Partizan - their matches are referred to as 'the Eternal Derby'. Adding to their hard times, Red Star were excluded from the Champions League for the 2014/15 season due to a breach in UEFA's Financial Fair Play regulations. The club was found by European football's Club Financial Control Body to have numerous overdue payments to employees and other clubs. Red Star's Goran Gogic (left) slides in for a tackle on Partizan's Darko Brasanac during the Eternal Derby . Red Star was excluded from the Champions League for the 2014-15 season due to Financial Fair Play breaches . | Katarina Sreckovic, 25, feared for her job when players were distracted . Serbia's Red Star Belgrade players struggled to answer interview questions . She said the role with the 1991 European Champions is her 'dream job' | aba688b9905e060fdd51bc89cf967c6044adc1e1 |
By . Daily Mail Reporter . PUBLISHED: . 08:59 EST, 12 June 2013 . | . UPDATED: . 14:01 EST, 12 June 2013 . Pensioners who sold their homes in hope of a dream retirement have today told an inquiry how their hopes were shattered after learning they had actually been sold part time holiday homes. Residents of the Lakeminster Park development, near Beverley, East Yorkshire, said they were 'blissfully unaware' when they sold their old homes that they were actually moving into holiday accommodation rather than permanent residences. A council has rejected retrospective planning permission for them to be used as full-time houses leaving them with the prospect of being evicted. Lakeminster Park, in Beverley, where pensioners who have paid £130,00 for their homes face eviction. From left Alan and Hilary Coates, Dave and Pam Foulstone and Eric and Connie Wrighton . A fraud investigation is running at the same time as the planning inquiry. Four people have been arrested as part of the alleged fraudulent selling of the homes. More than 100 pensioners in 78 homes are affected. They include sufferers of lung cancer, Parkinson’s disease, arthritis, diabetes, and other crippling ailments who need homes with easy access, and had given up their jobs looking forward to a mortgage-free life away from city estates. The planning inquiry is currently under way to decide whether East Riding Council was right to refuse them retrospective planning permission. Dave Foulstone, 61, and his wife sold their bungalow to buy their £140,000 park home on the site. Mr Foulstone said: 'We found out to our dismay we had purchased a holiday home - not a permanent home. 'We were in a complete state of shock. We would be devastated if we had to leave the site and do not have the money to purchase another property.' Residents at the park were 'blissfully unaware' when they sold their old homes that they were actually moving into holiday accommodation rather than permanent residences . A council rejected retrospective planning permission for them to be used as full-time houses leaving them with the prospect of being evicted . Residents say they sold up and bought the properties as full-time homes, but were then told the park homes are only for holiday use and they must have another permanent address. Retired civil servant Alan Coates was one of the first to move onto the park, and had been 'blissfully unaware' anything was wrong after selling his bungalow. He is one of the guiding lights of an appeal against East Riding Council’s refusal to grant the consent for permanent homes on the site. He and his frail wife had been living there more than two years before council bosses wrote to them to say there was a planning problem. He told the inquiry: 'I can’t see we are doing much harm. 'We live in a nice community and pay our taxes. I can’t understand the council’s view for us to have to leave.' Barrister Ruth Stockley, representing Mr Coates, told the first day of the inquiry that the outcome would affect every person living there. In her opening statement, Miss Stockley said: 'The dismissal of this appeal will result in all the residents of this site losing their homes. Residents say they sold up and bought the properties as full-time homes, but were then told the park homes are only for holiday use and they must have another permanent address . 'They’ll be made homeless and you will hear about the difficulties they will face.' Barrister Nicola Allan, representing East Riding Council, said: 'The establishment of a retirement park home village in the open countryside would set a precedent that would inevitably encourage breaches elsewhere. 'This is particularly the case in this council’s area, which has a substantial number of caravans in holiday use. The council maintains this is a flagrant breach of planning control and the development is contrary to the development plan.' Those arrested as part of the fraud inquiry include a solicitor of 40 years, a 50-year-old man, a 52-year-old woman, and a 31-year-old woman from Beverley. A 47-year-old woman was arrested in relation to money laundering allegations linked to Lakeminster.The inquiry is expected to last another fortnight. Sorry we are unable to accept comments for legal reasons. | They sold homes and moved to Lakeminster Park, East Yorkshire . 'Blissfully unaware' they were actually moving into holiday accommodation . Council rejected retrospective planning permission for full time houses . A fraud investigation is running at the same time as the planning inquiry . | 068e2fd86fa96c369c782a233daf0670dab579dc |
Le Bourget, France (CNN) -- Once upon a time, the airship was hailed as the future of flight: as glamorous, luxurious and fashionable as the Art Deco era which marked its heyday. But a series of disasters, not least the crash of the Hindenburg in New Jersey, in 1937, with the loss of 36 lives, put paid to the dreams of intercontinental Zeppelin travel. Blimps are still a familiar sight in advertising, but those who design and build these aircraft believe there's much more to them -- and to their future -- than simply signposting the local car dealership or giving TV audiences a better view of the football field during the big match. Now, 90 years after the launch of America's first airship, the USS Shenandoah, dirigibles and aerostats are undergoing something of a renaissance. Among those hoping to lead the charge is California-based Aeros, which is developing what it hopes will be a revolutionary new cargo airship, the Aeroscraft, combining elements of regular 'lighter-than-air' (LTA) craft and traditional fixed-wing planes. In addition, it has a magic ingredient: the vertical take-off and landing capabilities of a helicopter, meaning it has no need for a runway or airfield. Read more: Test your aviation knowledge . The idea was developed by Kazakhstan-born engineer Igor Pasternak, who moved to the U.S. in 1994 and set up in business building advertising blimps. He's spent the past two decades working to solve the problems posed by traditional airships. "I understand airships well," he told CNN. "I've built a lot of them." His Aeroscraft is a rigid-hulled dirigible measuring a whopping 169 meters in length, with a payload of 66 tonnes (and plans for a 250 tonne version), a cruising speed of up to 120 knots, and a range of 3,100 nautical miles. "It's a little bit like my dream vehicle," he said. "In natural disasters and other situations where infrastructure is non-existent, the Aeroscraft could be used to bring in emergency supplies: food, water, blankets -- 66 tonnes of relief at a time," explained the company's communications director John Kiehle. And while its primary purpose is likely to be logistical, moving cargo, military troops and humanitarian relief supplies into remote and inhospitable terrain, the company admits that down the line there may be other uses for the technology, from "floating hotels" to "sky yachts for millionaires." Read more: 50 years of Paris Airshow . So far, the company has created a scaled-down version of the aircraft to prove that the design can work; the next step is a full-size prototype. The aim is to have the first Aeroscraft flying by 2016, and the initial fleet of 24 vehicles up and running by 2020 to 2021. "This truly is a game-changer," said Bill Feeley, the company's director of strategic finances. "It's a real shift in industrial technology, on a par with the building of skyscrapers, or the creation of nuclear energy." Pasternak and Kiehle say one of the Aeroscraft's biggest advantages is that it runs on regular diesel, rather than expensive aviation fuel which can be tough to get hold of in the world's more inaccessible regions. But another airship project currently in research and development could end up being even cheaper and easier to power: innovation and engineering consultancy group Altran's Sun Cloud is a dirigible powered by solar energy. It's an area the company has some experience in, having already worked on Solar Impulse, the world's first plane powered solely by the sun. Like Aeros' airship, the Sun Cloud is designed to carry large loads of cargo over long distances -- but the Sun Cloud is missing one component likely to be key to the Aeroscraft's success: the pilot. Altran's feasibility study is examining whether it is possible to move payloads of up to 250 tonnes from place to place in what is effectively a super-sized drone. Read more: On your marks, jet set, go! "We're not looking to replace traditional forms of cargo transportation," explained the program's manager, Ali Jafaar. "Container ships can carry 500,000 tonnes at a time -- we're not looking to do that." Instead the idea is to be able to move large items, such as plane parts, long distances from one factory to another. Reliance on solar power means the aircraft would be far slower than a regular plane, traveling at just 25km an hour, but the fact it is is unmanned means it could potentially remain airborne, at high altitudes, for lengthy periods of time. "It's all about speed, and optimizing energy," said Jafaar. "What uses up energy is going fast. Humans always want to be going faster but we're not going to be carrying humans, so the slower speeds can be tolerated." If and when the Sun Cloud gets off the ground -- which Jafaar admits is not likely to happen for some years yet -- it may well find it isn't the only airship hovering around above us. U.S. defense contractor Raytheon is already planning to put its own aerostats (airships which are tethered to the ground) into the skies above the U.S. capital, Washington. Read more: Paris airshow's incredible moments . But instead of carrying troops or manufacturing supplies, Raytheon's blimps will be loaded with surveillance equipment, to watch for the threat of attacks. The catchily-titled Joint Land Attack Cruise Missile Defense Elevated Netted Sensor, or JLENS for short, is designed to scan the skies, the seas and the streets below for signs of danger, be it from incoming missiles and drones, or suspicious boats or trucks. "An airplane can only stay up for so long, but JLENS is persistent," said Raytheon's Keith McNamara. "Because it's tethered, with its power source on the ground, it can stay up there 24/7 for 30 days at a time. "And because it's so much higher up than radar on the ground, it can see much further, hundreds of kilometres, as opposed to tens of kilometres." While Raytheon's blimps will be equipped with all the latest technology, the idea itself is nothing new: hydrogen-filled balloons were used for surveillance during the American Civil War. It seems that some 260 years after the Montgolfier brothers first ascended into the skies above Paris in a hot air balloon, the glory days of the dirigible may be yet to come. | U.S. company Aeros developing massive airship to carry heavy cargo long distances . Aeroscraft will take off and land vertically, like a helicopter, without need for a runway . Project is just one of a number of airships and aerostats being planned for a variety of uses . Airships once feted as future of flying, but fell out of favor after the Hindenburg disaster . | 3e4e411fefc36ea7165fa05212f5620ebf08b841 |
(CNN) -- Three Senegalese peacekeeping officers were killed in an attack on a convoy in Darfur on Sunday, the United Nations said. An unidentified armed group ambushed a water convoy on its way to a regional headquarters of the joint African Union-United Nations peacekeeping force, a U.N. statement said. One truck was hijacked but recovered later. Seven Tanzanian peacekeepers were killed in a similar ambush in July. The UN estimates as many as 300,000 people have been killed and almost 3 million people have been displaced from their homes since a conflict began in 2003 in Darfur, a region of Sudan along the border with the new nation of South Sudan. Widespread atrocities have occurred during fighting between Sudan's government forces and militias and other rebel groups. The peacekeeping operation began in 2007. UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon called on the government of Sudan to apprehend the attackers. Mohamed Ibn Chambas, special representative for the peacekeeping force, commended the Sudanese military for pursuing and firing on the assailants. "Such incidents are a reminder to all of us of the great price everyone pays in the absence of peace. Our peacekeepers have made the ultimate sacrifice while attempting to bring peace to Darfur," Chambas said. | Slain peacekeepers were from Senegal . Similar ambush killed 7 Tanzanian peacekeepers in July . Secretary-general calls on Sudan to apprehend attackers . Decade of conflict in Darfur has killed up to 300,000, displaced almost 3 million . | 9ff7b07e1f5a4328dc9d512c0f3c6a7954f10501 |
Brazilian football legend Ronaldo has challenged tennis star Rafael Nadal to a live head-to-head poker match. The Spanish 14-time Grand Slam champion has accepted the duel with the game scheduled to take place on November 6 in London. The global sports stars clashed last year in the European Poker Tour Prague Charity Challenge, which raised £79,000 for good causes. Pokerstars.com are putting on the eagerly anticipated event and will broadcast it live. Nadal took the spoils, seeing off Ronaldo and four other players.en route to winning the tournament. Tennis hero Nadal said: 'It was my first live poker tournament when I last played against Ronaldo and one year later I'm more confident with my skill level. 'I really enjoy playing poker and the challenge of learning as quickly as possible, so I can't wait to get back into training on my game.' Ronaldo (right) is taking on Rafael Nadal in an eagerly anticipated poker clash . Former Chelsea striker Andriy Shevchenko (front left) is another sports hero on the PokerStars circuit . Ronaldo added: 'The last time we played together Rafa won and it was a lot of fun. 'This time it will be different, though, because I have been improving on my poker strategy and will be more prepared.' PokerStars will broadcast Ronaldo's challenge live on September 22 at 7pm. | Brazil legend Ronaldo and 14-time Grand Slam winner Nadal to meet in live one-on-one poker clash . The pair met at the gambling table last year in a Prague charity event . Nadal came out on top but Ronaldo is hoping for revenge . He said: 'This time it will be different because I've been improving my poker strategy' Event will take place in London on November 6 . | 6223f996a5947ba0dd6150d91672c2b850339785 |
LONDON, England (CNN) -- Blake Mycoskie was traveling in South America when he saw, for the first time, hundreds of children without shoes. TOMS founder and entrepreneur Blake Mycoskie says he wanted to make money and do good at the same time. "I had never met anyone who didn't have shoes," the veteran entrepreneur told CNN. That visit to a village in Argentina inspired the creation of a socially responsible footwear company that blends philanthropy and business. Mycoskie called the company TOMS: Shoes For Tomorrow -- a name that reflects his desire to provide shoes for disadvantaged children in a sustainable way. Mycoskie, now 32, said he realized he could make money and do good at the same time with TOMS. The company's mission is uncomplicated: It gives a free pair of shoes to a child in need every time it sells a pair. Santa Monica, Calif.-based TOMS gave away 10,000 pairs of shoes in the first six months after its launch in 2006. This year the company is on track to donate 200,000 pairs. The stylish slip-ons, which Vogue magazine declared "cool shoes for a cool cause," have become a must-have item among fashion elite and received the People's Design Award from the Smithsonian's Cooper-Hewitt Museum last year. By the time he launched TOMS, Mycoskie already had four start-ups under his belt. But he didn't always have his sights set on the business world. Growing up, his aim was to play professional tennis. He trained hard and earned a scholarship to Southern Methodist University, where he studied philosophy and finance. But an injury sidelined him his sophomore year. That's when he got the idea for his first venture, a college laundry service. Within one year, the business, Easy Laundry, had 40 employees, had expanded to three schools and was generating nearly $1 million in sales. That's when Mycoskie realized he was born to be an entrepreneur and dropped out of school. "I realized I loved doing this. I realized I loved the idea of creating something out of scratch and seeing it work and seeing the benefits of that," he said. Mycoskie eventually sold the company and began other ventures, including an outdoor advertising company and a 24-hours-a-day, 7-days-a-week reality TV channel, which he launched after appearing on the second season of "The Amazing Race" with his sister. They finished the competition in third place (missing out on the million-dollar prize by just four minutes), but the experience exposed Mycoskie to the astounding amount of poverty in the world -- a problem that TOMS is tackling today, one pair of shoes at a time. | Entrepreneur Blake Mycoskie is blending philanthropy with business . He is the designer and self-titled "chief shoe giver" at TOMS Shoes . His company gives away a pair of shoes for every pair it sells . TOMS expects to donate 200,000 pairs of shoes to children in need this year . | 7a95238f66e445124a51bef621d78ed2015b675d |
By . Tamara Abraham . PUBLISHED: . 14:35 EST, 9 April 2013 . | . UPDATED: . 14:41 EST, 9 April 2013 . A shoot featuring Kate Upton playing nurse to a baby tiger, lion and gibbon has sparked anger from animal rights activists. The Harper's Bazaar spread, titled The Animal Nursery, was styled by Carine Roitfeld and will appear in all 26 international editions of the magazine. But PETA argues that the endangered animals are being treated like props. In a statement published on Fashionista.com, the organization singled out the young gibbon as being particularly vulnerable. Fashion gone wild? Kate Upton poses with a three-month-old tiger in the new issue of Harper's Bazaar. But animal rights activists have voiced concern over the feline's welfare . It read: 'The gibbon featured in the photographs is an infant and should be . with his mother at all times. Besides the emotional trauma that he has . undoubtedly suffered as a result of the separation, his delicate immune . system is still developing, and he is susceptible to illnesses that . humans carry. 'All the animals in the photographs are endangered and . should be protected, rather than being treated like props.' Suzie Dundas USA Communications Manager for the World Society for the Protection of Animals also expressed reservations. 'Though Carine Roitfeld may have had the best intentions, the animals used in this ad are endangered, exotic animals – they're not domesticated and shouldn’t be viewed as cuddly pets,' she told MailOnline. Monkey business: A seven-month-old gibbon also featured in the high fashion shoot, and was provided by the Miami-based Zoological Wildlife Foundation . Nurse Kate: The supermodel plays carer to the young endangered animals while posing in Chanel . 'Even if these animals were sourced legally, the global exotic pet trade involves capturing, killing, and harming animals to remove them from the wild for breeding or – in the case of these ads – entertainment. It is in the nature of these animals to be wild, and this ad could misrepresent to consumers how dangerous (and endangered) they truly are.' 'These animals are hand-raised by . humans because the mother has rejected them. Without us, they would not have survived' The three-month-old tiger and the seven-month-old gibbon featured in the shoot were provided by the Miami-based Zoological Wildlife Foundation, which was furious about the PETA accusations. ZWF Vice President Maria Tabraue told MailOnline that its animals are captive-born for at least five generations. 'These [animals] are hand-raised by . humans because the mother has rejected them,' she explained, adding that . without the organization's help, they would not have survived. Small wonder: A baby leopard also featured in the Carine Roitfeld-styled shoot, though it was not supplied by the Zoological Wildlife Foundation . 'They have the care of two full time veterinarians, and get the same respect, love and passion as a human being,' she added. Of the animals' treatment on photo shoots, she added: 'These animals are always accompanied by professional, licensed handlers.' The ZWF hopes that its words will reassure commenters who have voiced concern about the animals' welfare. Defense: The Zoological Wildlife Foundation says its animals are captive-born for at least five generations, and are hand-raised by humans because the mother has rejected them . Initial reactions to the shoot were extreme. One wrote on Fashionista.com: 'I will no longer be buying Harpers after this.' Another added: 'This is disgusting use of an endangered infant primate to sell clothes. This poor gibbon was no doubt ripped from its mother in the wild, just to become the play item of a dumb fashion model. Really… what is the matter with people??' And a third acerbically read: 'Endangered primates as accessories?! Makes the model unattractive, the stylist talentless, and the magazine more valuable as toilet paper.' | The Harper's Bazaar spread was styled by Carine Roitfeld and will appear in all 26 international editions of the magazine . | f2769a11be45b1e21f7c2779a968d5634c05bc54 |
By . Steph Cockroft for MailOnline . A Catholic priest and a former children's home boss have appeared in court accused of indecently assaulting young boys. Father Anthony McSweeney, 67, and John Stingemore, 72, are charged with abusing young boys in their care during the 1980s. Both men are accused of together indecently assaulting a boy under 16 between November 1980 and July 1981 at Grafton Close children's home in Hounslow, west London. Father Anthony McSweeney, 67, pictured left, and John Stingemore, 73, pictured right are accused of indecently assaulting young boys in the 1980s . The home is at the centre of Operation Fernbridge, a Met probe launched last February looking into claims of a paedophile ring operating out of the Elm Guest House in Barnes, South West London. As part of the probe investigators are looking into claims that children were taken from the home to the Elm Guest House to be sexually abused. Detectives are examining allegations that several high profile figures including the late MP Cyril Smith, abused children from Grafton Close at the guest house. McSweeney, from Pease Pottage, West Sussex, was a trainee priest at the time of the alleged attacks. He was leading the congregation at St George's Church in north Norwich when the claims against him emerged. Stingemore, from St-Leonards-on-Sea, was in charge of the Richmond Council-run home between February 1980 and July 1981. He is also charged with two further counts of the same offence, one count of taking indecent photos of the child, one count of conspiring to bugger and one count of buggery. Both men appeared at Westminster Magistrates' Court today for a brief hearing. Dressed in a black suit, red patterned tie and red pocket square, McSweeney spoke only to confirm his name, age and address. Stingemore, wearing a blue anorak, sat hunched in his wheelchair throughout the hearing and only sat up when asked to confirm his identity. The two defendants appeared today at Westminster Magistrates Court. McSweeney pleaded not guilty to the charge, while Stingemore did not enter any pleas . McSweeney indicated a not guilty plea to the charge while no indication was made on behalf of Stingemore. Both men are already due to stand trial at Southwark Crown Court in February charged with a string of similar offences. McSweeney is due to stand trial accused of taking an indecent photograph of a child and two counts of indecent assault on a male person in the 1980s. He also faces three counts of making indecent photographs of a child and a further count of possessing indecent images. He will stand trial alongside Stingemore, who denies five counts of indecent assault on a male person, indecency with a child and taking an indecent photograph of a child. The home was run as an adolescent unit where children were assessed before being placed into foster care or more permanent homes. Stingemore and McSweeney, who were released on unconditional bail, are due to next appear at Southwark Crown Court on September 9 when it is thought an application will be made for the two cases against them to be joined. Sorry we are not currently accepting comments on this article. | Father Anthony McSweeney, 67, pleaded not guilty to one charge of assault . John Stingemore, 72, accused of three charges of assaulting boy under 16 . Stingemore is also charged with buggery and taking indecent photos . Offences allegedly took place at Grafton Close children's home in Hounslow . Both men are due to stand trial at Southwark Crown Court in February . | 89196a9f30b6bc10747f9c72577dd3046127c447 |
It sounds like something from a science fiction film, but a pill to counter the ageing process could become a reality. Scientists in Russia are testing a new formula, which they claim can delay the start of the ageing process. They hope the tablet, which is being tested on rats, mice, fish and dogs, will allow people to live to at least 120. Scroll down for video . Scientists are working on a pill to counter ageing that would allow people to live to 120. They are testing a new formula on rats, mice, fish and dogs, which they claim can delay the ageing process . Researcher Dr Maxim Skulachev, from the Moscow State University project, said: 'A lot of aging diseases developed much slower.' The scientists are using a 'new type of antioxidant', which they hope will impact on on the mitochondria, the energy-producing part of cells, which is seen as triggering ageing. 'The mitochondria are to be blamed for heart attacks, they are linked to diseases like Alzheimer's and Parkinson's,' he said. Dr Maxim Skulachev, from the Moscow State University said if successful, ''t will be possible to postpone old age' He pointed to the naked mole-rat of east Africa renowned for longevity and evidently immune to cancer. A realistic goal was to aim for a life span for humans of 120, and anti-ageing medication was 'technically possible', he told Moskovsky Komsomolets newspaper. 'I don't believe we will be able to live to 800,' he said. 'Most probably, some new disease will emerge, let's say, a typical disease for a 120-year-old. 'That was the case with cancer, which was a rare disease when ancient people died much younger.' The Russian tests have not led to an significant life span increase, but delayed the onset of ageing, he said. 'If it turns out that diseases develop more slowly, our idea to fight aging through mitochondria is the right one, added Dr Skulachev, who has been working to perfect his treatment for decades. 'It will be possible to postpone old age.' | Russian scientists have tested a new formula on rats, mice, fish and dogs . They are using a new type of antioxidant which will impact on mitochondria . These are the energy-producing part of cells, thought to trigger ageing . Mitochondria can be blamed for heart attacks and are linked to Alzheimer's . | 04fed1cb6de89b8aca5dc2d9d8f512ceb5db80cb |
Brendan Rodgers has teed up Liverpool’s trip to Manchester United by declaring: 'this is more than just a game'. The Reds boss finds himself under sustained scrutiny for the first time since taking over at Anfield two years ago and won’t want a defeat against United adding to the club’s list of woes this season. In fact, Rodgers believes the intensity of this fixture could be just the tonic for a side finding it difficult to find the net without the injured Daniel Sturridge. VIDEO Scroll down for Brendan Rodgers: Perfect time to play Manchester United . Liverpool manager Brendan Rodgers (right) shouts some instructions during training at Melwood . Steven Gerrard gets on the end of header as Liverpool prepare for Sunday's clash with Manchester United . Adam Lallana (left) and Kolo Toure appear in good spirits despite Liverpool's stuttering recent form . ‘It's more than a game. You are representing a city. Today on the training field out job as staff was to lift the spirit. The game against Manchester United is perfect for us,’ Rodgers said. ‘You perform better when you are happy and confident but we can't dwell on it. You just have to refocus the minds of the players and get them focused on a great opportunity. ‘They know what is expected of them. They are playing for Liverpool. You always look at the next game as the start point. I know what I am working with in terms of the players. With confidence, we will get results. We don't compare to anyone. We are just focused on being strong ourselves.’ Adam Lallana is ready to play through the pain barrier against United after missing the Basle game . Rodgers looks down in the dumps after Liverpool were eliminated from the Champions League on Tuesday . Sports analysts Bloomberg Sports believe a Man United win is the most likely outcome against Liverpool . Rodgers asserts that he is ‘more determined to succeed’ and says he is giving Mario Balotelli every chance to prove his fitness before Sunday. ‘It's very important game, always is, ' Rodgers explained. 'A massive game in the fixture list and we want to do well,’ he added. ‘We will assess Mario. He has looked good in training but we will see how he is. Adam Lallana looks fully up to speed. I hadn't mentioned as I wanted to protect him. We are looking to improve our performance level.’ And the manager has no problems with winger Raheem Sterling amid talk of contracts, saying: ‘If you look at Raheem's performance, that will do the talking. He loves being at the club. ‘There is certainly no unhappiness. I see him train, I see him play. It is up to the club and his representatives to get things sorted out.’ Gerrard and Raheem Sterling look dejected after failing to qualify for the knockout stage . | Liverpool face Manchester United at Old Trafford on Sunday . Louis van Gaal's side are currently third in the Premier League table . Brendan Rodgers' men have slipped down to ninth in recent weeks . The Reds crashed out of the Champions League on Tuesday . Liverpool won the corresponding fixture 3-0 last season . | 5c2e93d3bf4773fd13d3b049896c07447aed7c81 |
A boy of three went into toxic shock after a holiday henna tattoo left him struggling to breathe in a hospital burns unit. Ellis Burke's arm started reacting to the black henna Spiderman tattoo almost immediately after having it done while in Marbella, Spain. Days later back in Oldham, Greater Manchester, he began struggling to breathe, had a high temperature and started vomiting so his worried parents called an ambulance. Ellis Burke had a Spiderman black henna tattoo while on holiday in Marbella, Spain. His arm started reacting almost immediately . He was taken to the Royal Oldham Hospital and later discharged. But the next day when he was no better his mum took him to the Oldham Integrated Care Centre where they diagnosed severe toxic shock and immediately sent him to the children's burns unit at Manchester Royal Infirmary. Ellis was forced to spend the night there while they stabilised his condition and cleaned up his wounds. His mother Shabana Murray says Ellis has had a terrible ordeal and she warned against anyone having the black henna tattoo which contains a chemical called para-phenylenediamine (PPD) and sometimes even kerosene or petrol. 'As soon as he had it done it started to react so we washed his arm in the sea but it made no difference,' said Shabana, from Middleton Road, Chadderton. 'The next day it started to blister so we went to the pharmacy and got some anti-allergy medication but it just got worse and worse. Ellis Murray, three, was scarred by a henna tattoo after an allergic reaction. He is pictured here with his mother Shabana Murray, from Oldham . 'As soon as we got home we went to A&E where they just prescribed antibiotics and more Piriton but they didn't clean it they just put the dressing back on. 'A few days later he just suddenly went down hill and woke up struggling to breathe and vomiting, his temperature was 39.4C when the ambulance arrived. 'But it was only at the walk-in centre they finally diagnosed toxic shock and sent him to Manchester Royal where they said they've never seen such a bad reaction. In fact they said they were going to use his case to inform other doctors of the effects of PPD.' Mrs Murray says she could never had imagined something so terrible and dangerous would have come from a temporary tattoo. 'We've been going to the same resort for the last four years and my eldest son has had it done several times at the same place by the same guy,' she said. 'In fact Ellis had one done the week before and was fine. 'People need to know about this and basically avoid having one because the consequences are serious and can be life-threatening. 'I knew nothing about this PPD until I came back and read about it online. As far as I know its use in henna tattoos is banned in this country. 'I now have to clean and dress his arm three times a day and it's likely there will be permanent scarring. 'He'll also be sensitive to anything with PPD in like hair dye so will have to be careful for the rest of his life.' | Ellis Burke's arm started reacting to the tattoo almost immediately . The three-year-old had it done while on a family holiday in Marbella . Days later back in Oldham he struggled to breathe and was vomiting . | decf3ea0021055ca2eed5bf044407679b267be74 |
The moment Moses parts the Red Sea is one the most famous Biblical miracles. But instead of relying on God to divide the water into two huge columns, as seen in the 1956 film, 'The Ten Commandments,’ Moses may have instead used his knowledge of tides to guide the Israelites to safety and escape the Pharaoh’s army. This is the claim made by Dr Bruce Parker, an author, visiting professor at the Stevens Institute of Technology, New Jersey, and former chief scientist of the of National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA’s) National Ocean Service. Scroll down for video . Moses may have instead used his knowledge of tides to guide the Israelites to safety and escape the Pharaoh’s army, according to Dr Bruce Parker, former chief scientist of the (NOAA’s) National Ocean Service. A screenshot of the moment from Ridley Scott's new film, ‘Exodus: Gods and Kings,’ is pictured . In the Biblical story, Moses parts the sea, allowing the children of Israel to cross a dry seabed to the opposite shore, while the waters ‘close’ and drown the Pharaoh’s soldiers, who are in pursuit. The tale will feature in Ridley Scott’s ‘Exodus: Gods and Kings,’ who claims that his version will be more ‘realistic,’ with the parting explained by a tsunami caused by an earthquake. This is because, before a tsunami strikes, coastal waters often recede. However, Dr Parker writes in The Wall Street Journal that the explanation is flawed, because waters typically only drawback for up to 20 minutes, which could not have given the Israelites enough time to cross the dry seabed, thought to be at the Gulf of Suez, at the northern end of the Red Sea. Moses would not have been able to predict an earthquake and tsunami, unless he was tipped off by God, he added. Instead, the expert believes that Moses used his local knowledge of tides to ensure his people got safe passage. In the Gulf of Suez (stock image), the low tides mean that parts of the seabed can be dry for hours, before the waters make a sudden return. According to the Bible, the children of Israel were camped on the western shore of the Gulf when Pharoah’s troops were spotted in the distance . Accounts from the Bible suggest that God gave Moses the power to part the waters in the form of a miracle. It has been suggested that the water parted because of a tsunami caused by an earthquake. This is because, before a tsunami strikes, coastal waters often recede. Hollywood Director, Ridley Scott, chose this explanation to depict in his new film, 'Exodus: Gods and Kings'. Dr Bruce Parker believes that Moses used his knowledge of the tides to enable his people to cross shallow waters at low tide. His perfect timing meant that as the last of the Israelites crossed to safety, pursuing Egyptian soldiers were drowned as the waters suddenly returned. In the Gulf of Suez, the low tides mean that parts of the seabed can be dry for hours, before the waters make a sudden return. According to the Bible, the children of Israel were camped on the western shore of the Gulf when the Pharaoh's troops were spotted in the distance. Dust clouds raised by chariots and horses of the approaching army would have allowed Moses to calculate their time of arrival, Dr Parker said. Having lived in the wilderness, Moses would have known useful low tide Red Sea crossings and by looking at the moon, he could have predicted when low tide would occur. This knowledge would not have been used by the soldiers who lived along the River Nile, which is connected to the Mediterranean Sea and does not have dramatic tides. Dr Parker writes: ‘Knowing when low tide would occur, how long the sea bottom would remain dry and when the waters would rush back in, Moses could plan the Israelites’ escape.’ The Biblical tale cites a full moon on the night of the dramatic escape, which would have meant that the low tide would be at its lowest, allowing the seabed to have stayed drier for longer, giving the people longer to cross. If this was the case, the high tide would also have been higher and more likely to drown an army, as described in the Biblical story. This is the parting of the Red Sea as depicted in the Hollywood blockbuster, 'The Ten Commandments'. Because water levels were higher in the Red Sea in Biblical times, the expert estimates that ‘walls’ of water may well have come crashing down on the Egyptian soldiers, but they wouldn't have parted in this way . In order for this to happen, Moses’ timing would have had to be perfect, so that the last of the Israelites crossed the dry sea just before the return of the high tide – enticing the Pharaoh's army to follow them and letting the powerful returning waters catch them unawares. Dr Parker says Moses may have managed this either by using some sort of delaying tactic, or by sending his most able-bodied people back to entice the soldiers to chase them across the seabed. The Biblical story also mentions a strong east wind that helped to ‘push back’ the waters. Dr Parker said that it is true that wind blowing across a shallow waterway pushes it back, so such a wind may have heightened the effect of low tide to reveal more dry seabed than normal. Of course, such a wind could be attributed to divine intervention, but Dr Parker believes that Moses’ timing ‘had to be based on a tide prediction’. Because water levels were higher in the Red Sea in Biblical times, the expert estimates that ‘walls’ of water may well have come crashing down on the Egyptian soldiers. Dr Parker is not the first scientist to suggest this theory to explain the Red Sea miracle. An account written by an ancient historian called Artapanus between 80 and 40 BC, says: ‘Moses, being acquainted with the country, waited for the ebb and took the people across the sea when dry.’ | Dr Bruce Parker, former chief scientist of the NOAA’s National Ocean Service believes Moses understood the moon and tides . Knowledge helped him predict when the Israelites could cross the Red Sea during low tide, when the sea bed was dry . Perfect timing meant waters rushed back when the soldiers were crossing . A rival explanation of the 'miracle' which will appear in the film, 'Exodus: Gods and Kings' is that a tsunami caused the sea to part . | 43eba62299af26cb90738826045dd95e28bdb5f1 |
Brendan Rodgers believes Thibaut Courtois was the main reason Chelsea reached the Capital One Cup final after his Liverpool side were dumped out after extra-time at Stamford Bridge. After a brilliant performance in the first leg at Anfield, Courtois kept a clean sheet as Jose Mourinho's men advanced with a 1-0 victory (2-1 on aggregate) courtesy of Branislav Ivanovic's header. Rodgers claimed his side were the better team over the two legs, despite failing to make it to Wembley. Thibaut Courtois (left) keeps the score level at 0-0 with a fine save from Liverpool's Alberto Moreno . Brendan Rodgers insists his side were the better team despite being knocked out by Chelsea over two legs . He said: 'I'm very proud of the team, over the two legs we were the better side and their goalkeeper has got them to the final. At Anfield and here tonight he's made very, very important saves and that's won them the game. 'Obviously they got the goal at the beginning of extra-time but that was irrelevant - we knew we needed to score tonight and the players gave everything. They're dead on their feet at the end. 'We pressed, worked hard, played fantastic football and created chances to win the game but unfortunately we were not clinical enough.' Branislav Ivanovic rises highest to score the decisive goal and send Chelsea to Wembley . Diego Costa appeared to stamp on Emre Can during the first half, caught Martin Skrtel with his studs in the second period and then clashed with Reds skipper Steven Gerrard. Asked about Costa's clashes, Rodgers said: 'These things happen but I don't think anyone watching likes to see what Diego Costa's done, not just on (Martin) Skrtel, but also on Can, a young player who is clearly stamped on. 'It's easy to land somewhere else without having to land directly on an opponent's ankle and it's disappointing to see on the replay. He's very fortunate the linesman and referee didn't see that.' Diego Costa appears to stamp on Emre Can's right leg during a feisty opening period at Stamford Bridge . Chelsea striker Costa stands on the foot of Martin Skrtel as he chases down a pass . Rodgers decided to leave Daniel Sturridge out despite the striker's return to training, although he is hopeful he will see some action against West Ham on Saturday. 'It was too soon for this game but we really relish him coming into the team,' said Rodgers. 'He's worked very hard to get back and trained with the team. Hopefully by the weekend he can play some part.' | Chelsea beat Liverpool 1-0 after extra-time (2-1 on aggregate) Brendan Rodgers heaped praise on Chelsea goalkeeper Thibaut Courtois . The Liverpool boss believes his side were the better team over two legs . Rodgers was unhappy with Diego Costa's behaviour at Stamford Bridge . | fbe117dee501af80debf83d5e39536a9d4aca147 |
Editor's note: CNN.com has a business partnership with CareerBuilder.com, which serves as the exclusive provider of job listings and services to CNN.com. You can sell your skills, your time or your used stuff to make some extra money. With an abundance of job losses, salary cuts, eliminated bonuses and diminished 401(K) matching contributions, your income is shrinking -- but the bills aren't. If your regular job isn't earning you enough cash or you've lost your job altogether, these simple side gigs can help put some padding in your pockets until -- maybe even after -- you get back on your feet. Here are 10 ways real people are creatively taking home some extra dough: . 1. Do freelance work . Felice Premeau Devine left her lucrative, full-time job two years ago to raise her son. In the interim, she's picked up writing and editing freelance work and started a blog, where she is able to earn a little cash from advertising. Nowadays, almost any job can be done on a contract or freelance basis. Check out sites like Sologig, which lead job seekers to contract, consulting, freelance, temp-to-hire and part-time project opportunities in your field. 2. Sell your books . If you're a college student or you hung on to your college textbooks thinking you might want to read them again somewhere down the line, select retailers like Barnes & Noble allow you to sell your textbooks for some quick cash. Or, take some classics from your personal library and sell them at a local second-hand bookstore. 3. Search circulating coinage . Susan Headley, the "guide to coins" on About.com, is a lifetime coin collector who has been boosting her income by searching through circulating coinage for the past six years. In 2008, she made about $2,500 and so far in 2009, she has earned approximately $500 from coins she's found. People who search circulating coinage successfully for a side income do so in very large numbers, she says. They buy rolls of coins from banks, typically in whole boxes, and sort through it to find stuff that just doesn't belong, Headley says. Half dollars, for example, were no longer made from 90 percent silver after 1965, but they still had 40 percent silver in them until 1970; either of these turn a nice profit. Presidential dollar errors can be worth $50 to $5,000 each; uncirculated state quarters can sell from $10 to $50 per roll; and rare error coins can value up to $35,000. 4. Start a "business" Turn your hobby, skills or expertise into a part-time business. Sites like Jobvana can help you do so by providing you with free tools to market your services and offer specialized skills to those looking for help. Peter Olson says he built a profile in September 2008 offering to teach guitar lessons. He has since gained two students, earning about $240 extra dollars per month and grossing around $1,000 since he started teaching. 5. Enter local and online sweepstakes . Wendy Limauge has been entering sweepstakes since 1993 and teaching others to win through her Web site, Sweeties Sweeps, since 2002. Though winning sweepstakes rarely provides actual cash, her winnings have consistently provided her and her family with 200 to 300 prizes a year, many of them large items she and her husband couldn't afford on their incomes alone. Prizes she has won include three TVs, two of which are flat-screens; a home theatre system; three dishwashers, each won on separate occasions; at least $1,500 in grocery gift certificates; an $18,000 voucher for the vehicle of her choice; a trip to France valued at $25,000; and, in March 2009, she won $5,000 in an instant-win game. "The Internet has so many options for saving money, getting something for free, winning a prize or earning money from home," Limauge says. "You just need to find those resources that offer helpful information and point you in the right direction to get you started and keep you motivated." 6. Give your opinion -- and get paid . Linda Childers, a California-based freelance writer, says many of her friends participate in focus groups. Contributing an hour of your time can earn you up to $100, sometimes more. Online surveys, phone surveys and product trials can also earn you anywhere from $5 to $150. Check out Free Paid Surveys or FindFocusGroups. 7. Sell your junk . Terri Jay earns $2,000 - $3,000 per month just by selling junk. On eBay, Jay not only sells stuff she isn't using; she hits up local thrift stores on 99-cent days, garage sales and tack sales, looking for things of which she knows the value. She says her best sale was for a drink tray from the 70s: She paid 25 cents for it and it sold for $87. "The trick is to [sell] what you know," she advises. "Therefore you can list them [at correct prices] so they will get picked up in searches [on eBay]." 8. Join a direct selling company . Direct selling is one of the easiest ways to earn some extra cash, especially if you sell products you love. Avon, for example, allows you start your own business for $10 -- your take home depends on your efforts. Some full-time representatives earn six-figure salaries, others own licensed Avon Beauty Centers and many just sell Avon part time around their family's schedules. Haizel MacIntyre started her Avon business in June of 2008 to earn supplemental income to her full-time job when her husband was laid off. Since joining Avon, MacIntyre averages $1,800 a month in sales and her husband is helping her run the business. Her Avon earnings help pay the bills, provide extras for her three kids and she is hoping to earn enough to put towards her college tuition when she goes back to school to get her Masters in Social Work. 9. Be a secret shopper . Keen eyes for detail as well as a good memory are really all that it takes to succeed as a secret shopper, says Zippy Sandler, who has been mystery shopping for about 13 years. After registering with a secret shopping company, you are paid to basically go undercover and report on a company's operation from the customer point of view. Sandler decided to start secret shopping not only to earn money eating, traveling and shopping, but also to learn customer service skills to pass along to the employees she managed at a retail store. Depending on the clients she is shopping for, Sandler says she has earned everywhere from $100 to $2,000 per month. 10. Sell your photos to stock agencies . It doesn't matter if you're a hobbyist, an amateur or a seasoned photographer - anyone can submit their photos to stock photo agencies like Shutterstock.com. If your images are accepted, they will be available for download by subscribers. Each time someone downloads your photos, you get 25 cents. Copyright CareerBuilder.com 2009. All rights reserved. The information contained in this article may not be published, broadcast or otherwise distributed without the prior written authority . | There are creative ways to earn extra money . Sell your photographs to stock photo agencies; sell your used books . Join a direct selling company like Avon cosmetics . Get paid for opinion surveys, enter local or online sweepstakes . | 9b59ff5942e25665d8f17877afc905d6a63fa8a1 |
(CNN) -- Nightclub DJ Samantha Ronson faces a drunken driving charge after a California Highway Patrol officer stopped her for speeding as she was returning to Los Angeles from a weekend in Las Vegas, a law enforcement official said. Ronson, 33, was once in a romantic relationship with actress Lindsay Lohan and she is the sister of Mark Ronson, the producer of Amy Winehouse's Grammy-winning songs. Contrary to published reports, Ronson was not in Las Vegas to work as a DJ at the Lavo nightclub in the Palazzo Hotel, a club spokeswoman said. "Samantha Ronson was not the hired DJ for Sunday night, simply a patron who, as DJs often do, hopped into the booth for a few songs with Lavo's DJ," spokeswoman Maggie Feldman said. She was stopped on Interstate 15 near Baker, California, Monday morning, police said. Ronson was charged with suspicion of driving under the influence. A mugshot released by the San Bernadino County Sheriff showed Ronson smirking at the jail camera. CNN's Rachel Wells contributed to this report. | NEW: Ronson was partying, not working, a club spokeswoman says . Ronson was romantically involved with Lindsay Lohan . Her brother is Mark Ronson, music producer for Amy Winehouse . She was charged with DUI after a traffic stop near Baker, California . | 50a7ba36cacae28ebce91ac2371002db2cb84bb8 |
One of Sydney's popular shopping precincts has been listed in the top five expensive places in the world to rent as retail space. This was unveiled in the 2014-15 edition Cushman and Wakefield's Main Streets Across the World survey, showing Australia's Pitt Street Mall jumped from eighth to fifth place since the last 2013-14 report. Sydney is placed after New York's Upper 5th Avenue which is the costliest destination in the world followed by Hong Kong's Causeway Bay, Avenue des Champs-Elysees of Paris and London's New Bond Street. One of Sydney's popular shopping precincts - Pitt Street Mall - has been listed in the top five expensive places in the world to rent as retail space . This was unveiled in the 2014-15 edition Cushman and Wakefield's 'Main Streets Across the World' survey, showing Australia's Pitt Street Mall jumped from eighth to fifth place since the last report . With a growth of 25 per cent in rental costs over the past year at Pitt Street, this is the second most significant increase in the Asia-Pacific region after Bejing's CBD recorded 26.4 per cent. The report, released about two weeks ago, sourced the dramatic rise of rent on Sydney's prominent shopping area to 'a large influx of international retailers signing new leases in the last six months and taking up large space'. 'This was generally through the amalgamation of several smaller stores, which in turn significantly reduced the supply of traditional 200 square metre units,' the report continued. The report further found Pitt Street Mall rents cost US$1,016 (about AUS$1,185) per square foot, which is more expensive than well-known shopping districts such as Milan's Via Montenapoleone and Tokyo's Ginza. The prominent Avenue des Champs-Elysees in Paris retained its third place in the list of expensive retail spaces around the world . Hong Kong's famous Causeway Bay , ranked first last year, dropped to second place in this year's report . Rents at New York's Upper Fifth Avenue, which was placed second in last year's report, reached a record US$3,500 (about AUS$4,085) per square foot per year. Hong Kong's Causeway Bay saw a fall of 6.8 per cent in rents from first place to second. Avenue des Champs-Elysees in Paris retained its third place as well as London’s New Bond Street in fourth. The Cushman and Wakefield survey ranks 330 locations across 65 countries around the world. Pitt Street Mall has seen the addition of international fashion brands including Zara and Uniqlo pop-up store. Multi-billion dollar fashion chain H&M also announced in September they will open its second Sydney store in Pitt Street's Glasshouse centre in mid-2015. The first Sydney store was welcomed at North Ryde's Macquarie Centre, north-west of Sydney, last month. 1) USA New York Upper 5th Avenue US$3,500, ranked second last year; . 2) Hong Kong (China) Hong Kong Causeway Bay US$2,735, ranked first last year; . 3) France Paris Avenue des Champs-Elysees US$1,556, also ranked third last year; . 4) UK London New Bond Street US$1,216, also ranked fourth last year; . 5) Australia Sydney Pitt Street Mall US$1,016, ranked eighth last year; . 6) Italy Milan Via Montenapoleone US$98, also ranked sixth last year; . 7) Japan Tokyo Ginza US$953, ranked fifth last year; . 8) South Korea Seoul Myeongdong US$932, ranked ninth last year; . 9) Switzerland Zurich Bahnhofstrasse US$875, ranked seventh last year; . 10) Russia Moscow Stoleshnikov US$557, ranked 12th last year. | Sydney's Pitt Street Mall listed as the world's fifth most costly retail rental places . The location jumped from eighth to fifth in a year according to Cushman and Wakefield's report . New York's Upper 5th Avenue is the costliest destination in the world . Sydney is placed after Hong Kong's Causeway Bay, Champs-Elysees of Paris and London's New Bond Street . | a90131b8e62b2969e33cf68358ae3f76fccc38d5 |
Berlin (CNN) -- As the number of German farms closed because of possibly contaminated animal feed grew Friday, authorities said they had filed criminal charges against the company at the heart of the country's tainted egg scandal. The company, Harles and Jentzsch, apparently knew for months that fatty acid it was delivering to animal-feed makers was . contaminated with dioxin, said Christian Seifert, a spokesman for the agricultural ministry in the German state of Schleswig-Holstein said. Criminal charges have been filed against the company, Seifert said, "because they did not immediately inform" the agricultural ministry that dioxin levels surpassed the allowed amount. Authorities allege that the company sold about 3,000 tons of contaminated fatty acids to dozens of companies making animal feed across Germany. The country's government has quarantined more than 4,700 pig and poultry farms. Harles and Jentzsch laboratory tests from March 2010 showed they exceeded the ceiling level for dioxin, he said. "At that point they had to stop delivering this product and immediately inform the authorities. They did not do either," Seifert said. Government officials learned of the higher concentrations of dioxin in December, he said. Several attempts to reach Harles and Jentzsch for comment were unsuccessful. Police raided the company's offices Wednesday and confiscated documents, but arrested no one, the state prosecutor's office in Schleswig-Holstein told CNN. Dioxin levels in the final feed product were diluted and likely did not exceed allowed amounts, Seifert said. "Of course that is no excuse. The conduct is still wrong," he said. Agricultural ministry investigators are continuing lab tests of samples taken from the company's premises, he said. The 4,709 farms shut down include not only chicken and other poultry, but also pig farms, said Pierre Vetter, a spokesman for Germany's Ministry for Agriculture and Consumer Protection. State authorities are quarantining all farms that received animal feed from companies affected, regardless of whether there is proof that the feed was contaminated, the ministry's website said. "The state authorities are right to quarantine products -- eggs and meat -- that may have been exposed to contaminated feed, even if there is no concrete scientific evidence in all cases," German Agriculture and Consumer Protection Minister Ilse Aigner said in a statement. About 130,000 possibly contaminated eggs were exported from a company in Germany to a food company in the Netherlands, where they were to be used in industrial food production, said Holger Eichele, a spokesman for Germany's Ministry for Agriculture and Consumer Protection. The UK Food Standards Agency said a pasteurized mixture including some of the contaminated eggs was distributed in the UK. "The mixing of the eggs will have diluted the levels of dioxins and they are not thought to be a risk to health," the agency said in a statement. Dioxins are a family of toxic chemicals that share a similar chemical structure and have been characterized by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency as likely human carcinogens. CNN's Laura Perez Maestro contributed to this report. | A government spokesman says a company knew its fatty acid was contaminated with dioxin . Police have raided the company's offices . More than 4,700 German poultry and pig farms are quarantined . Dioxins are classified by the EPA as likely human carcinogens . | 861151202b53f7fa549f4b434e9132184e9bfbed |
February 10, 2015 . Economics, international politics, rocket science and careers are four subjects explored this Tuesday on CNN Student News. First up: U.S. cities like Boston are strapped for cash when it comes to their snow-removal budgets. Then, we examine why approval ratings are high for Russia's president despite the strains on his nation's economy. We'll explain the big goal of an upcoming rocket launch and look at the salaries of photographers and helicopter pilots. On this page you will find today's show Transcript and a place for you to request to be on the CNN Student News Roll Call. TRANSCRIPT . Click here to access the transcript of today's CNN Student News program. Please note that there may be a delay between the time when the video is available and when the transcript is published. CNN Student News is created by a team of journalists who consider the Common Core State Standards, national standards in different subject areas, and state standards when producing the show. ROLL CALL . For a chance to be mentioned on the next CNN Student News, comment on the bottom of this page with your school name, mascot, city and state. We will be selecting schools from the comments of the previous show. You must be a teacher or a student age 13 or older to request a mention on the CNN Student News Roll Call! Thank you for using CNN Student News! | This page includes the show Transcript . Use the Transcript to help students with reading comprehension and vocabulary . At the bottom of the page, comment for a chance to be mentioned on CNN Student News. You must be a teacher or a student age 13 or older to request a mention on the CNN Student News Roll Call. | 1647f34613dfa54ca72bba2e4258ecf285b0c98d |
Appeal: Helen Curran lost her Patricia last Christmas at the hands of her daughter's ex . A mother is urging people in violent relationships to speak out this Christmas, a year after her daughter was killed by her ex while she was preparing the turkey. Helen Curran’s 42-year-old daughter, Patricia, was stabbed five times by Clifford Burns, who also wounded his step-daughter, Megan, in the savage Christmas Eve attack at their home in New York. Mrs Curran said: ‘I can’t wait for Christmas to be over. It holds nothing but painful memories for me. I urge anyone in an abusive relationship to get out. I wish my Trish had.’ In her first interview since her daughter’s death, Mrs Curran has revealed she had doubts about Burns almost as soon as he and mother-of-three Patricia got together in 1997. ‘Patricia told me Clifford’s dad had abused his mother for years, once shooting her in the chest,’ Mrs Curran explained. ‘Then he killed himself after kidnapping her. Clifford had only been a teenager at the time. I dreaded to think what impact it could’ve had on him psychologically.’ But Patricia did not listen to her mother’s warning. Instead they married, going on to have two children, Harley and Autumn, together. ‘Patricia told me everyone has good in them,’ Mrs Curran said. ‘Except I knew Clifford didn’t. He beat Patricia but she always went back to him. As a mother, that was unbearable.’ Finally, after one particularly brutal attack, Patricia found the strength to have a five-year restraining order taken out against Burns. ‘Patricia moved to a new place with the kids and got a job as a nurse at the local hospice. It was perfect for my caring daughter,’ Mrs Curran said. But last year, Patricia confided in her mother that Burns had failed to pay child support. Patricia (left) was just 42 when she was savagely murdered by her ex-husband Clifford Burns (right) who is currently serving 23 years to life for the crime which took place last Christmas . Mother-of-four Patricia had finally left Clifford, who was abusive, and was starting a new life with her children . ‘I spoke to her on Christmas Eve and she sounded so much happier,’ she said. ‘We were all going over to her house for Christmas dinner and she told me she was popping out to get some last minute bits and couldn’t wait to see me.’ But that night, Mrs Curran was woken by her grandson Nicholas - Patricia’s eldest son - phoning with horrific news. ‘He was frantic and told me to turn on the television,’ she recalled. ‘I switched on the news and saw a photo of my smiling girl on the screen. The reporter said she’d been knifed at home and died in the ambulance. They also said Megan had gone to hospital with stab wounds. I couldn’t take it in.’ Megan (left) was with her mother Patricia (right) when the attack happened and suffered several stab wounds . Helen and her husband Gerald rushed to their granddaughter’s side. ‘There were police everywhere and medics surrounded Megan,’ she said. ‘I heard one of them say that if the blade had hit her artery she’d be dead.’ The 73-year-old listened in horror as her granddaughter explained what had happened. ‘She said Clifford turned up while she, Patricia and Autumn were preparing Christmas dinner. He was wearing camouflage and had a knife. Helen was altered to the tragedy by her grandson Nicholas (with her left), and rushed with her husband Gerald (together right) to be with their injured grand-daughter at hospital . ‘She told me her mum was begging for her life. She tried to get in the way but Clifford stabbed her as well.’ Daughter Autumn, just 14, had seen the whole thing. She called the ambulance and put pressure on her mother’s wounds. But it was too late. Burns was arrested following a high-speed car chase. At Warren County Court, New York, US, he pleaded guilty to second degree-murder. Helen is urging other women in abusive relationships to seek help (pictured: Helen and Patricia together) This Christmas the family will hold a remembrance for Patricia, pictured left and right . The court heard he had sent his 16-year-old daughter Harley a chilling text message which read: I have a special gift coming soon something for everyone to talk about and it will be hand delivered on foot not by car... Clifford Burns, 46, was sentenced to 23 years to life and barred from contacting Megan, Harley or Autumn ever again. He is appealing. ‘I went along and glared at him straight in the eye,’ Mrs Curran said. ‘I don’t feel it’s long enough. I had to listen as Autumn’s hysterical call to the emergency services was played where she pleaded with her mummy to hold on. It was heartbreaking. ‘The children and I have been handed our own life sentence, one without a wonderful mum and daughter. Christmas will never be the same. This year we will be holding a remembrance for her. ‘If I can stop one other family going through what my Trish did then that will be a start. I knew Clifford Burns was rotten to the core the day I met him. ‘I just wish Trish had seen what I did – a monster.’ If you or anyone you know is a victim of domestic abuse you can find help at Women's Aid, Refuge or by contacting your local police department . | Helen Curran's daughter Patricia was killed last Christmas Eve . She was stabbed by ex-husband Clifford Burns in their New York home . Daughter Megan was also stabbed in the attack but survived . Patricia had just finally found the strength to leave Burns, who was abusive . In her first time speaking of the tragedy, Helen urges others to seek help . | bdc0e6f567341ca0a491dbe2c68de8013ba19591 |
Everyday life is a battle for the animals that call Kenya's Masai Mara home. And one holidaymaker's pictures sum up life for a pride of lions more than most, after he spent hours crouched by 30 feet from the big cats to capture their interactions on camera. Saudi equity trader Mohammed Alnaser captured the intimate shots by carefully observing the animals for six hours while on safari. Mum and dad bare their fearsome jaws at one another; it's difficult to tell whether this is meant to be a show of affection . It's playtime for the lion cubs, yet the one on the far right appears to want to distance themselves from the fun . After having a bit of fun, the mother lion comes to calm her young down and moves on to pastures new . He caught amazing action shots of a family, consisting of two adults and three cubs, going about their daily lives, playfighting, bickering and tucking into food. 'I love lions so much, they are my favourite animals,' said 36-year-old Mohammed. 'I try my best to capture the rare moments particularly the unique expressions or emotions shown by lions. 'They are very compassionate and show a lot of love to each other.' The famous Masai Mara National Reserve is thought to be home to around wild 600 lions, with the world's second highest population density of these magnificent predators. However, tragically there numbers are believed to have dropped by 20 per cent in their past 30 years thanks to hunting and the destruction of the herds of wildebeest and other game they depend on for survival. The famous Masai Mara National Reserve is thought to be home to around wild 600 lions . This cub appears to have got on the wrong end of playtime, as they are left battered and bruised . The ferocious jaws of the adult lion are captured perfectly by Saudi equity trader Mohammed Alnaser . It's time for some gentle nuzzling by the male adult as the pride seem tired out by their efforts . 'It is totally different seeing animals in the wild when compared to visiting them in zoos,' added Mohammed. 'I always come across people who are visiting Africa for the first time. 'It is always nice to see their reaction when they see incredible wildlife moments for themselves. 'They become very happy and excited about it.' In a battle of who is the fiercest, it's difficult to separate the mother and father lion at the Kenyan reserve . After exerting themselves on the plain, the lions get the chance to cool off in the water . The cub shows its love for mum in this tender photograph, captured less than 30 feet away . | Mohammed Alnaser captured the intimate shots by observing the animals for six-hours at a distance of just 30 feet . Lions photographed play-fighting, but when things turn rough cubs are left bloodied and battered . The famous Masai Mara National Reserve is thought to be home to around wild 600 lions . | 10d75a778cd51bffff2f52f60f2c08eb2a48df10 |
By . Snejana Farberov . PUBLISHED: . 06:50 EST, 17 July 2013 . | . UPDATED: . 08:28 EST, 17 July 2013 . The two New York City police officers who posed for a photograph with a topless model on the street are facing an internal investigation, it has emerged. Model Cheyenne Lutek, 19, was photographed with the officers on Sunday, a week after she exposed her bare breasts at Verso Restaurant in Alphabet City while astounded patrons looked on. After she was told to cover up by staff, the glamorous blonde upped the ante by taking the X-rated stunt on to the streets of Manhattan and posing with the officers near their Housing Bureau station. Law and order: Cheyenne Lutek poses half-naked with two grinning NYPD cops. It is entirely legal for women to appear in New York City streets partially nude but the officers are now under investigation . Photographer Allen Henson told the New . York Daily News that one of the officers 'couldn't stop grinning' while . the other was more awkward around the topless model. After . snapping the shot, Henson tweeted: 'A nice stroll on a New York Summer . evening. With @Cheyenne_Lutek and a couple of NYC's finest boys in . blue.' Police sources told . the newspaper that the Internal Affairs Bureau has launched an . investigation, which will likely be given to the officers' integrity . control officer. The men are . allowed to pose for photographs but sources told the Daily News that . the raunchy nature of the picture could lead to a verbal reprimand. This unidentified woman walked into a restaurant, sat down clothed, then too her shirt off while a man snapped photos . In May, the New York City Police Department released an official memo cited by The New York Times . informing all police officers that it is not illegal for women to walk . around the city shirtless, and that they should not be cited for public . lewdness or indecent exposure. The . order given to the city’s 34,000 cops stems from a 1992 New York State . Court of Appeals, which states that baring one's chest in public is . legal for a woman as it is for a man. Miss Lutek and Mr Henson hit a trendy Italian restaurant last weekend where the photographer pulled out his camera and proceeded to snap pictures of the X-rated scene. Verso's owner Labinot Baraliu rushed over the table and demanded that the half-naked woman put her clothes back on. Hot spot: The owner of Verso restaurant in Alphabet City promptly rushed over and asked the woman to put her shirt back on, but she protested she had the law on her side . In response, Miss Lutek insisted that it was 'perfectly legal' to go topless in the restaurant. 'In 15 years [in the restaurant business] I've seen all kinds of things, but not this,' Baraliu explained to the East Village blog EV Grieve. 'It was funny, but at the same time I was like "WTF - is this really happening?"' After exchanging a few words with the owner, the couple were escorted out of the bistro. Despite the legislation because a restaurant is private property, its patrons are subject to whatever rules the business has in place. | Model Cheyenne Lutek posed on a Manhattan street on Sunday with two NYPD officers - but now they're under investigation . Last wekk, Lutek went topless in a restaurant but was asked to cover up . | 5146aeb39db6383bae0433358d1ae8ec22ae4627 |
(CNN) -- The diminutive Derartu Tulu -- she stands only 1.56 meters (5 feet 2 inches) tall -- is one of, if not the greatest-ever female runners, the only woman ever to have won a long-distance gold at two separate Olympics. Two Olympic 10,000-meter victories have made Tulu an Ethiopian icon. Born, like so many great athletes, in the highlands of Ethiopia, a member of the Oromo tribe, she grew up tending cattle on the family farm, and was not even aware that she was an especially fast runner until she started taking part in athletics competitions in her teens. She won the World Junior 10,000 meters title in 1990, and at the 1991 World Championships in Tokyo, won her semifinal heat in an Ethiopian national record of 31 minutes 45.95 seconds. In the final, however, she came a disappointing eighth, leading many pundits to dismiss her chances of success at the following year's Barcelona Olympics. They couldn't have been more wrong. In one of the most thrilling 10,000-meter races of all time Tulu overtook South Africa's Elana Meyer just before the bell, running the final lap in 64 seconds to win by 30 meters, in the process becoming the first ever black African woman to win Olympic gold. The race over, she waited at the line for Meyer, a white south African, the two women embracing before joining hands and setting off on an emotional lap of honor together draped in their respective national flags, a gesture that seemed to symbolize hope for a new Africa. Defending her title four years later in Atlanta she could only manage fourth place. Triumphant return . At the 2000 Sydney Games, however, she made a triumphant return, overtaking her compatriot Gete Wami at the bell and sprinting the final 400 meters in an astounding 60 seconds to win in 30 minutes 17.49 seconds, a new African and Olympic record. Her victory made her the first woman ever to win two Olympic long-distance gold medals, and cemented her place as an Ethiopian national icon alongside fellow running legend Haile Gebreselassie (Addis Ababa city council subsequently named a school in her honor). In addition to her two Olympic titles Tulu has won a World Championship gold medal (2001), three World Cross Country titles and the London Marathon (2000). Although her mantle has, in recent years, passed to Britain's Paul Radcliffe, her place in the pantheon of athletic greats remains assured. She has a six year-old daughter, Tsion. | Olympic record: 2 gold medals . Only woman to have won a long-distance gold at two separate Olympics . The first ever black African woman to win Olympic gold . Runner; born March 21, 1972, in Bekoji, Ethiopia . | dd63b45b5010fb9b2536e9a667fd92fbe2ee7b6b |
By . Jennifer Smith . For city dwellers, a spot of rain can bring the end to any good hair day. And it seems the problem's no different for those living on the wild side, as one lion proved when he awoke to a serious case of bed-head. Unfortunately for the animal, Tiny, his embarrassment was documented by a group of wildlife photographers at the Wildlife Heritage Foundation Big Cat Sanctuary in Kent. Tiny the lion was left feeling a little flat when a spot of drizzle ruined his luscious golden mane at the Wildlife Heritage Foundation Big Cat Sanctuary in Kent . Photographer Gary Brookshaw was able to capture the animal's melancholy as he woke up from a nap. 'It was a miserable wet day and this lion brought a smile to our faces as his normally glorious mane was soaked and flat - he looked completely fed up,' the 43-year-old said. 'I was really pleased to get the shot as it was almost the first one of the day and I knew it was a good moment and technically good shot.' Tiny, who lives at the sanctuary with his two brothers, Manzi and Kafara, was born with a digestion problem causing him to regurgitate food and not grow properly. After having a stomach valve corrected, he has made a full recovery and is now a normal size. That's better: Tiny looking his usual preened self (left) and his two brothers, Kafari and Manzi (left) cuddle up on the sanctuary where all three moved in 2005 . The African Lions were born at the Woburn Safari Park in 2003 and were moved to the big cat sanctuary in Kent at the age of two . 'He's called Tiny because he kept regurgitating his food when young so he didn't grow at the normal rate. He had an operation to correct a stomach valve and things got better for him. 'He has had some hairy moments, when in 2008 some horse mane got stuck in his intestines and he almost died,' added Mr Brookshaw, who gives workshops on wildlife photography at the sanctuary. 'He had an operation where they had to cut out almost 5 foot of intestine but luckily lived to tell the tale. 'Despite these troubles he's still an impressive lion and full of character.' | Tiny the lion awoke to find his luscious mane flattened by a spot of rain . His disgruntled expression was captured by wildlife photographer on site . Tiny lives with his two brothers at Wildlife Heritage Foundation in Kent . | e55602752fe7cb292256ff9d4ffd8659b0c911bb |
An Irish golfer says giving up Coca-Cola has ruined his athletic performance. Peter Lawrie has fallen down the golf league tables in recent years, and has blamed his slump in form on the fact he gave up drinking litres of Coca-Cola a day. The Irishman was ranked No 105 in the world rankings in October 2010 but is now sitting at a lowly position of No 726. And Mr Lawrie claims this was because he went from drinking litres of fizzy drinks to just a few cans. Peter Lawrie says quitting an 'addiction' to Coca-Cola has affected his athletic performance. He claims he has seena slump in form ever since he stopped drinking litres of Coca-Cola a day. He is pictured in action during the third round of the Maybank Malaysian Open last week . A 330ml can of Coca-Cola contains 35g of sugar, the equivalent of almost nine teaspoons. It also contains 32mg of caffeine, a third of the amount in a mug of instant coffee . Mr Lawrie, 40, told Irish radio station Newstalk: 'I cut it out completely and went from such a high on sugar to a dramatic low. I never recovered. 'I lost all confidence in myself. I wouldn't say I went through a breakdown but I definitely got exceptionally emotional. 'It was very difficult to deal with all of the situations coming at me. 'Whether that had anything to do with my mental state in any shape or form, I have no idea. 'I drink two or three cans a day [now] but I was drinking litres of the stuff. 'Even in the hottest country, like Malaysia, I'd have a Coke on the golf course because I was addicted to it.' Coca-Cola contains 53g of sugar per 500m bottle. This means if that if Mr Lawrie was drinking two litres a day, he would be consuming 212g of sugar a day. Peter Lawrie said he was drinking several litres of Coca-Cola a day. ONE litre of Coca-Cola contains: . 106 g sugar: the equivalent of 26 and a half teaspoons . 420 calories: 17 per cent of an average man's daily recommended calorie intake and 21 per cent of a woman's. 106 mg caffeine, the equivalent to a mug of instant coffee. Chris Cashin, chair of Sports Dietitians UK, said Mr Lawrie would have been consuming high levels of sugar and caffeine if he was drinking litres of Coca-Cola a day. She told MailOnline: ‘Coke has caffeine in it which is performance enhancing. It’s a stimulant, it makes you more alert. 'It can enhances fatty acid tissue, so it aids recovery too.’ ‘If you have caffeine withdrawals that can affect you mood, concentration and athletic performance.’ ‘Cutting all that sugar out could certainly have caused a dip in Mr Lawrie's mood.' She added: ‘Normal people who drink fizzy drinks would be overweight. He’s burning off the calories because he’s very active. ‘In some people drinking that much sugar, there will be concerns about diabetes and insulin resistance.’ Another problem with consuming large volumes of fizzy drinks is they cause tooth decay, she said. She added: ‘Anecdotally, clients who drink a lot of Coke complain of heartburn. 'It’s very acidic. I buy it to clean my jewellery. If it’s able to strip dirt off gold, imagine what it’s doing to your insides.’ That’s the equivalent of 53 teaspoons of sugar. It’s also more than double the recommended amount of sugar (50g) that an adult should eat in a day, according to current guidelines from the World Health Organisation. Sugar should account for no more than 10 per cent of the calories in the diet, or around 12.5 teaspoons. However there are plans in the pipeline to halve this recommended daily amount to just 25g, or around six teaspoons. Chris Cashin, chair of Sports Dietitians UK who has worked with several professional golfers – and other athletes – agreed that Mr Lawrie would have been consuming high levels of sugar and caffeine if he was drinking litres of Coca-Cola a day. Stopping suddenly could have plausibly caused a dip in his mood and performance if he wasn’t replacing the carbohydrates he had been previously been drinking, she said. She told MailOnline: ‘Cutting all that sugar out, could certainly have caused a dip in his mood. ‘He didn’t specify whether he was eating food as well, so it may have been he was getting all his carbohydrates from Coke. 'I would far rather athletes get their carbs - which play a role in mood regulation - in the form of potatoes and wholegrain pasta, for example. ‘Normal people who drink fizzy drinks would be overweight. He’s burning off the calories because he’s very active. ‘In some people drinking that much sugar, there will be concerns about diabetes and insulin resistance, too.' Drinking such large volumes of Coca-Cola would also have meant he was consuming high levels of caffeine - and stopping this suddenly could cause a a dip in mood and performance. One litre of Coca-Cola contains 106mg of caffeine, the equivalent to a mug of instant coffee. Experts recommend drinking no more than 400mg of caffeine a day. Ms Cashin said: ‘Coke has caffeine in it which is performance enhancing. It’s a stimulant, it makes you more alert. ‘However if you have caffeine withdrawal, that can affect you mood, concentration and athletic performance.’ Caffeine was on the World Anti-Doping Agency’s list of banned substances until 2004. Mr Lawrie says after quitting drinking two litres of Coca-Cola a day he lost confidence in himself. He said: 'I wouldn't say I went through a breakdown but I definitely got exceptionally emotional. It was very difficult to deal with all of the situations coming at me' Ms Cashin added: ‘Ten years ago we were advising people not to drink it, as 350mg a day pushed you over the limit.' Another problem with consuming large volumes of fizzy drinks is they cause tooth decay, she said. ‘We are beginning to see athletes with tooth problems due to fizzy drinks and sports drinks. 'The diet versions also erode the enamel. I’m always conscious of talking to athletes about their teeth.’ The evidence on whether sugar or caffeine is addictive or not is unclear, she said, however some athletes develop a psychological dependence. She said: ‘It could be a psychological habit or addiction. Lots of athletes do very strange things and feel upset if they don’t do them. So it could be something like that. ‘I wouldn’t like to link Mr Lawrie’s performance with his Coke “addiction” because in my view it sends out a message to younger athletes who we’re trying to tell not to drink these drinks.’ | Peter Lawrie says his slump in form was due to an addiction to fizzy drinks . He was previously drinking 'litres' of Coca-Cola a day but quit the habit . The Irishman has fallen from No 105 to No 726 in the world rankings . Dietitian says this could be withdrawal symptoms from sugar and caffeine . | 2d78f574cb4a3c0af108c8c9dc8201285f9ab34f |
The scary thing is that Lionel Messi still has years to go. At just 27 years old, he became the all-time top scorer in Spanish football history, scoring a brilliant hat-trick to cement his place in the record books above Telmo Zarra. Messi began the game on 250 goals, one behind the former Athletic Bilbao striker. He ended it on 253, putting paid to the last few weeks of wondering just how and when he would eventually become, inarguably, the greatest goalscorer La Liga has ever known. Of course, Messi is so much more than a goalscorer. Sevilla found that out the hard way on Saturday night, with the Argentine the heartbeat of a Barcelona side which didn’t trip up in a potentially tricky clash against Unai Emery’s high-flying Andalusians, moving back to second place, two points behind Real Madrid. VIDEO Scroll down to watch Sportsmail's Big Match Stats: Barcelona 5-1 Sevilla . Barcelona superstar Lionel Messi (top) created history as he became La Liga's all-time top goalscorer on Saturday . Messi (top) is hoisted up high by his Barcelona team-mates after his second goal of the night broke Telmo Zarra's record . Messi (centre) slid home his second - and Barcelona's fourth of the night against Sevilla - to score his 252nd goal in La Liga . Barcelona: Bravo, Alves, Pique, Mathieu, Alba (Adriano 80), Busquets, Rakitic, Xavi (Rafinha 77), L Suarez (Pedro 74), Messi, Neymar. Subs not used: Ter Stegen, Bartra, Sergi Roberto, Munir. Booked: Mathieu. Goals: Messi 21, 72, 78, Neymar 48, Rakitic 65. Sevilla: Beto, Coke, Carrico, Pareja, Diogo, Krychowiak, Banega, D Suarez (Gameiro 62), Aleix Vidal (Deulofeu 62), Vitolo, Bacca (Aspas 74). Subs not used: Sergio Rico, Reyes, Kolodziejczak, M’Bia. Booked: Coke. Goal: Alba OG 47. Referee: Juan Martinez Munuera. Attendance: 78,283 . The Nou Camp chanted his name, his team-mates threw him up into the air, giving him the bumps. Messi walked towards the tunnel, clutching the match ball. Before he was allowed to leave, the Barcelona team stood by his side, watching a video of his goals and clips of his former team-mates and coaches hailing him. Messi looked taken aback, almost sheepish as some of his greatest moments were played out to the 78,000 spectators. But he also looked happy. Despite his comments earlier this week, suggesting his future may lie elsewhere, it’s almost impossible to see him leaving his home here. The other Barcelona players gave him a guard of honour as he left the field. By contrast, Luis Suarez is still searching for his first Barcelona goal and was denied by Sevilla goalkeeper Beto when he raced on to a clipped through ball. The striker switched positions with Messi after 15 minutes, taking the centre-forward role while the Argentine moved to the right. Messi's position is never easy to describe, as he drifts inside when he fancies, and on one such excursion he was knocked to the ground by Ever Banega on the edge of the box. It was a cheap free-kick to give away and Messi made Sevilla pay a hefty price. He arrowed the ball into the top left corner, leaving Beto clutching at thin air. The scoreboard lit up with a message to congratulate Messi on reaching Zarra's all-time record and the relief on the Barcelona legend's face was clear for the world to see. Relief for having matched the record, relief even for having scored for the first time in La Liga for over a month. Neither obstacle was likely to last long in the face of this footballing giant. The last few weeks have not been a happy time for Barcelona. A couple of defeats, combined with a poor performance away at Almeria have led to a lot of questions being asked about the coach’s tactics and methods. There were questions being asked just a minute into the second half. Vitolo got down the left and fired the ball across. Barcelona’s on loan midfielder Denis Suarez battled with Claudio Bravo for the loose ball, which cannoned off the unfortunate Jordi Alba and into the net. Messi celebrates giving Barcelona the lead with a sumptuous free-kick against Sevilla in the first half . The 27-year-old celebrated his strike in his trademark manner by pointing to the heavens . Messi (far right) watches on as his 20-yard free-kick curls up and over the wall into the top left-hand corner . Messi (centre left) is hugged by his Barcelona team-mates as that goal was his record-equalling 251st in La Liga . Messi's achievement is hailed by the Nou Camp faithful with the scoreboard paying homage to his achievement . Sevilla players celebrate their equaliser in the opening stages of the second half courtesy of an own goal from Jordi Alba . Neymar (centre) restored Barcelona's lead just minutes later, heading home a Xavi free-kick . Neymar wheeled away in celebration of his strike as his impressive start to the season at the Catalan giants continues . The 22-year-old (right) engaged in some samba-style dancing with his club and international team-mate Dani Alves after his goal . But before the stadium had a chance to whistle its displeasure in the usual fashion, Barcelona were back in front. Xavi curled in a free-kick from the left and Neymar rose highest to nod home his 11th league goal of the season. While Messi is the superstar and Suarez is the star signing, Neymar’s own star has been rising higher this season. The Brazilian has become far more effective in front of goal this term, spurred on by his impressive World Cup campaign. Gerard Pique's exile from the Barcelona side was ended by Enrique for this match. His last appearance was in the Clasico defeat at the Bernabeu, where he gave away a penalty. Whether he was missing because of some weak performances or a string of disciplinary offences has never been clarified by the Asturian coach, but regardless, the punishment now appears to be over. Pique won't get away scot free with his role in the Sevilla goal, with both the Spaniard and Dani Alves culpable of switching off, far more to blame than the actual player who put through his own net. Barcelona had dominated the first half, with only poor finishing and a couple of agricultural Sevilla challenges preventing them from further increasing their lead. A brilliant Beto save from Neymar on the stroke of half-time was the closest they came to doing so, while Suarez was denied after Messi had played a sublime ball to Alba, who sought out the Uruguayan. Ivan Rakitic (left) extended Barcelona's lead with a header just after the hour mark at the Camp Nou . Rakitic celebrates in a subdued manner after scoring against his former side on Saturday night . Messi is congratulated by Barcelona team-mates Neymar and Luis Suarez after scoring his third goal of the night . While Suarez has had trouble finding the net, the first few weeks of his Barcelona career - after his lengthy suspension for biting ended - have been fruitful. He has created several opportunities for his team-mates, setting up both Barca goals in a man-of-the-match second half substitute appearance against Almeria. And he made another one here, eking out the perfect cross for Ivan Rakitic to head home from close range. The Croatian diligently finished off the chance but looked mortified at having scored against his former side. He was the star performer in Sevilla’s run to the Europe League final and eventual triumph last season, although his start to life at Barcelona has been mixed. But whatever problems there are at Barcelona will have to be analysed another day. Messi made sure of that. He surged in to meet Neymar’s cross at full-length and poke home from a yard, to become the all-time top goalscorer in La Liga history. If he hadn’t reached it, Suarez would have had an easy tap in. But Messi does reach things that he shouldn’t. No player will overtake him for many, many years. And at only 27, he’s got plenty more goals to add to his tally. He began the task immediately. Messi’s third goal was the best of the night, a sprawling dribble, cutting from right to left, a quick-fire one two with Neymar, a light touch to take it out of his feet, and then one of those low, placed drives from distance that he makes look so fantastically easy. That's what Messi does. He makes things look fantastically easy - even the impossible. Messi applauds the 78,000 fans who witnessed his record-breaking feat at the Nou Camp on Saturday at full-time . Messi is presented with the match ball and congratulated by his Barcelona team-mates in a presentation after the match . | Lionel Messi sits top of the La Liga all-time goalscoring charts with 253 strikes at just the age of 27 . Former Athletic Bilbao star Telmo Zarra's hit 251 goals in 15 years at Athletic Bilbao between 1940 and 1955 . Messi opened the scoring for the hosts with a trademark free-kick in the first half . Sevilla equalised shortly after half-time when Barcelona defender Jordi Alba scored an own goal . Neymar made it 2-1 to the Catalan giants two minutes later heading home a Xavi free-kick . Ivan Rakitic extended Barcelona's lead netting against his former club with a powerful header . Messi broke Zarra's record with his second goal of the night in the 71st minute . The Argentina captain completed his hat-trick on 78 minutes finishing low after a neat one-two with Neymar . | badbd32e04c137bd1a345d5fc57b42363587ca4c |
By . Ruth Styles . PUBLISHED: . 02:02 EST, 10 September 2013 . | . UPDATED: . 02:05 EST, 10 September 2013 . From Mariah Carey's purple-only eating plan to Beyonce's maple syrup cleanse, bizarre celebrity menus are a regular cause of controversy. But while Hollywood's food crazes are usually assumed to be a modern phenomenon, the January 1929 issue of American magazine Photoplay, unearthed by Jezebel.com, proves that there's nothing new about fad diets. In an article entitled Diet - The Menace Of Hollywood, writer Katherine Albert explains why eating like Joan Crawford and other period stars could prove problematic. On Hollywood's unappetising menu is a breakfast of hot water (0 calories) and eight tablespoons of consomme . Actress Joan Crawford looking svelte for the 1955 film Johnny Guitar . 'Diet!,' Albert writes. 'It has put one world famous star in her grave, has caused the illness of many others, has wrecked careers and has become, largely through its practice in Hollywood, the Great American Menace!' Albert then goes on to compare the 'star diet' to a correct diet compiled by one Dr Willis 'from works of the most famous authorities on diet'. On Hollywood's unappetising menu is a breakfast of hot water (000 calories, says Dr Willis) and eight tablespoons of consomme [clear soup], two saltine crackers and a quarter of a pound of tomatoes for lunch - total calorific intake, a meagre 138. For supper, the 1929 A-list diet consists of cottage cheese, two ounces of pineapple and a glass of buttermilk, which together bring the total day's calories to a skinny 305. By contrast, the diet recommended by Dr Willis, which, he says, will have you dropping between two and three pounds per week, includes roast beef lunches and a breakfast of scalloped cod and stewed tomatoes. Albert alleges that actress Pola Negri 'took 10 pounds off' with a 'spinach and egg' diet . The writer blames Hollywood's diet demands for the death of actress Barbara LaMarr, who died aged 29 . Breakfast: . Cup of hot water (calories - 0) Luncheon: . 8 tablespoons of consomme (13Kcal) Two saltine crackers (100Kcal) 1/4lb tomatoes (25Kcal) Dinner: . Cottage cheese (50Kcal) 2oz pineapple (50Kcal) 1 glass buttermilk (67Kcal) Total: 305 . * Don't try this at home . Albert goes on to fulminate against 'Shylock' producers who when they demand a pound of flesh from their actresses, also 'demand a part of the lifespan of the star'. What's more she adds, the Hollywood diet craze is responsible for increasing numbers of tuberculosis cases and will 'produce a race of anaemic tubercular weaklings' if allowed to continue. She also blames Hollywood's diet demands for the death of actress Barbara LaMarr, who died aged 29 of tuberculosis in 1926. Another anecdote concerns Joan Crawford, who, the writer claims, she saw having a lunch composed of just 'a few tablespoonfuls of cold consomme, a dish of rhubarb and half a dozen crackers thickly spread with mustard.' Albert also alleges that actress Pola Negri 'took 10 pounds off' with a 'spinach and egg' diet, comprised of six ounces of spinach and a hardboiled egg for breakfast, lunch and supper. Interestingly, another part of the article deals with camera trickery - blamed for promoting an unrealistic image long before Photoshop was invented. 'A skillful cameraman may arrange his lights so this condition is helped,' she complains. She even writes of a primitive version of liposuction undergone by actress Molly O' Day, who, says Albert, 'suffered acutely' in the aftermath of the operation. Modern Hollywood and its madcap diet crazes might appear to be a chilling modern phenomenon, but as Albert's article shows, celebrity diets have a long and inglorious history. The diet recommended to have you dropping two to three pounds per week, includes roast beef . Breakfast - 374 calories . 1/2 large grapefruit, scalloped codfish, stewed tomatoes, saltine crackers, one cup of coffee, one teaspoon of butter, one teaspoon of sugar . Luncheon - 654 calories . Two large slices of lean roast beef, tomato or mushroom sauce, one medium baked potato, two heaped tablespoons of spinach, two heaped tablespoons of pickled beets, eight slices of cucumber, one glass of buttermilk, one teaspoon of butter, one fruit cup . Dinner - 524 calories . One slice of cold roast lamb, two heaped tablespoons of squash, mint sauce, one tablespoon of green peas, three heaped tablespoons of mustard greens, medium-sized tomato salad, mineral oil or vinegar, two biscuits [savoury scones], half a canteloupe melon, one glass of skimmed milk . Total: 1552 calories. Note: Dr Willis advises dieters to vary the menu each day . | Article published in January 1929 issue of US magazine Photoplay . Blames dieting for the early death of actress Barbara LaMarr . Includes healthy diet from Hollywood food expert, one Dr Willis . | ff442d01ef4aa769d6944a882e964c9b43679eb7 |
By . Ellie Zolfagharifard . PUBLISHED: . 08:24 EST, 24 October 2013 . | . UPDATED: . 08:25 EST, 24 October 2013 . Microgravity is a tricky business. A tiny push at a skewed angle can send an astronaut floating off in the wrong direction. Even a single strand of hair can be enough to propel a body away from a surface, as Nasa astronaut Karen Nyberg recently demonstrated. In a video created to explain the effects of weightlessness, Nyberg used one strand of her own hair to send herself tumbling away from a wall of the International Space Station (ISS). Scroll down for videos... Even a single strand of hair can be enough to propel a body away from a surface, as Nasa astronaut Karen Nyberg recently demonstrated . Nyberg said that the experiment came about following a conversation fellow astronaut Cady Coleman had with Sandra Bullock, star of the film space thriller ‘Gravity.’ ‘One of the things she told her about was how little effort it took to move around in microgravity,’ said Nyberg, who has been at the ISS since May. ‘She even told her that you could take a human hair and use it stretched out to push against a wall or a handrail – and it really takes that little effort.’ Veteran astronaut Catherine 'Cady' Coleman floated some ideas about how Bullock could portray an astronaut for blockbuster Gravity . ‘Since I have the resources, I thought I would give it a try,’ added Nyberg in a video posted by Nasa. After plucking one hair, she pressed it against an ISS handrail and fell backwards in slow motion. Bullock sought tips for portraying microgravity from Coleman, who’s logged more than 4,330 hours in space aboard the Space Shuttle Columbia and the International Space Station. Coleman wouldn’t be qualified to talk about the terror of floating off into space, as luckily she’s never experienced it. But she was able to field Bullock’s questions about how it feels to be an astronaut. In a video created to explain the effects of weightlessness, Karen Nyberg used one strand of her own hair to send herself tumbling away from a wall of the International Space Station (pictured) She told collectSPACE: ‘She wanted to know about what it is like to physically live up there and physically move around. ‘“What would you do with your hands? With your feet? What would be a natural position to work? How often do you see your crewmates? Where do you meet each other?" It was those kinds of things.’ Coleman has seen the trailer to Gravity and describes the scene where Dr Stone is sent spinning into the void as sensationalism, but admitted to collectSPACE that the film is valuable as it portrays 'real people, including women, doing a difficult job'. | Karen Nyberg wanted to show how little effort it takes to move in space . Video shows how, after plucking one hair and pressing it against an ISS handrail, Nyberg tumbles backwards in slow motion . Experiment was inspired by a conversation fellow astronaut Cady Coleman had with Sandra Bullock, star of the film space thriller ‘Gravity’ | b59d8887f8bc17adcf72c1fa4b9f1ffdfb85a6a1 |
Edward Glazer, one of Malcolm Glazer's six children, has put three million shares in Manchester United up for sale, little more than six months after his father's death. Glazer Jnr stands to recoup in the region of $45million (£28.7million) by selling around 87 per cent of his 3.45m 'A' shares. Malcolm Glazer took ownership of United in 2005, but his death in May this year saw his children take an equal split of shares. Edward Glazer has put three million of his shares up for sale at a price worth nearly £29million . Ten per cent of Manchester United's shares are listed on the New York Stock Exchange . Robin van Persie (right) celebrates scoring his second as United beat Southampton 2-1 on Monday night . Companies often have two different types of shares, called ‘A’ and ‘B’ shares. The holders of both kinds of share still own an equal amount of a company. But the main difference is different the shares come with different powers. The ‘B’ shares in this instance come with voting powers which means the holder has much more say in key decisions about a company when there is a shareholder vote. RUPERT STEINER, City Correspondent . A statement released by the Barclays Premier League club and the New York Stock Exchange - where 10 per cent of United's shares are listed - announced the offer of 'Class A Ordinary Shares'. It means Edward Glazer, who serves as co-chairman of Tampa Bay Buccaneers and is co-president of the Glazer Family Foundation, is to receive a windfall from the sale, which could be concluded this week. The other Glazer children with shares are Avram, Kevin, Bryan, Joel and Darcie S. Glazer Kassewitz. The statement read: 'Manchester United plc today announced the offering of 3,000,000 of its Class A Ordinary Shares by the Edward S. Glazer Irrevocable Exempt Trust (the 'Selling Shareholder'). 'The underwriter will have an option to purchase up to an additional 450,000 Class A Ordinary Shares from the Selling Shareholder. 'Manchester United will not receive any proceeds from the sale of any Class A Ordinary Shares by the Selling Shareholder. The offering is expected to close on December 12, 2014, subject to customary closing conditions.' Edward Glazer will retain all his 'B' shares, which give the family overall control of United. Malcolm Glazer, seen here in 2003 (left), died earlier this year and left his shares to his children . | Edward Glazer to sell three million Manchester United shares . Glazer's sale comes six months after death of father, Malcolm . Malcolm Glazer's shares were split evenly to his six children in May . New York stock exchange announced offer of Class A Ordinary Shares . | d7bd1cecd3d2b9e070ffa60cae7956b132fa7f47 |
By . Daily Mail Reporter . PUBLISHED: . 20:56 EST, 9 December 2013 . | . UPDATED: . 21:02 EST, 9 December 2013 . Expectations of continued rises in house prices hit a 14-year high in November, with almost two-thirds of surveyors predicting the value of homes will increase as demand outstrips supply. The Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors (Rics) said on Tuesday that 59 per cent of surveyors forecast prices would rise over the next three months, the highest reading since September 1999. A record level of surveyors also predicted sales will pick up in the coming months. However, Rics warned that without a 'meaningful increase' in the supply of homes, both house prices and rents will become more unaffordable. The Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors said 59 per cent of surveyors forecast price rises over the next three months . It said the reading for the number of surveyors predicting price rises rather than falls is the highest since September 1999 and demonstrates the impact that the recovery is having on an 'anaemic supply' of properties for sale in the housing market. In what Rics said is a 'sharp' pick-up, a balance of 58 per cent more surveyors also reported already seeing house price growth last month. For the second month in a row, each region of the UK saw prices rise. House sales have also lifted strongly compared with a year ago. An average of just over 20 homes per surveyor were sold in the three months to November, compared with around 15 during the same period last year. The housing market has been showing strong signs of recovery throughout 2013 following a string of Government schemes such as Help to Buy and Funding for Lending which have widened mortgage availability and fuelled demand from buyers. A new phase of the Government's flagship Help to Buy scheme was launched in October to give more people with low deposits a helping hand on to or up the housing ladder. The institution warned that without a 'meaningful increase' in the supply of homes then rents and prices would become more unaffordable . The scheme offers state-backed loans to . people with deposits as low as 5 per cent and lenders representing . around two-thirds of the mortgage market have confirmed they will take . part. But experts have said that stronger efforts must also be made to increase the number of homes on the market, with the mismatch between supply and demand putting an upward pressure on prices. Last week, Halifax reported that house prices rose by 7.7 per cent in November, marking the highest increase seen in six years. In his Autumn Statement last week, Chancellor George Osborne announced £1billion of loans to unblock large housing developments, including in Manchester and Leeds, and raising a borrowing limit for councils to fund new homes. Halifax reported that house prices rose by 7.7 per cent in November, marking the highest increase seen in six years . But housing charity Shelter called for 'bolder ideas' for more affordable homes to be built. Simon Rubinsohn, Rics chief economist, said: 'It's no secret that the housing market is on the way up and prices are surging ahead in many parts of the country.' He continued: 'As the Chancellor pointed out last week, housebuilding is on the up, but it is rising nowhere near quickly enough to make up the shortfall that has built up in recent years. 'If there is not a meaningful increase in new homes, the likelihood is that prices, and for that matter rents, will continue to push upwards, making the cost of shelter ever more unaffordable.' The Funding for Lending scheme which has been credited with boosting mortgage availability generally is being re-directed away from households to help small businesses. The number of mortgages on the market has increased by around 40 per cent since Funding for Lending was launched last year. Mr Osborne also announced last week that non-UK residents will have to pay capital gains tax (CGT) on property sales from April 2015. This is expected to take some of the heat out of the London housing market as strong house price growth in the English capital has been put down in part to overseas investors looking for a safe haven to place their cash. | 59 per cent of surveyors forecast price rises in the next three months . Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors said without 'meaningful increase' in the supply, house prices and rents will become more unaffordable . Halifax said house prices rose by 7.7 per cent in November - the highest increase for six years . | 8a9c32052f0621315f02e4d9174baedb5a8c94f4 |
Los Angeles, California (CNN) -- Twelve jurors must decide whether the marriage of a Mexican soap opera actress to a California pizza delivery man was a fact built on love or fiction designed to fool immigration agents. The question is apparently not easy for jurors who told the judge late Wednesday that they needed to return for more deliberations Thursday. Their answer could send the couple to prison. Jurors can compare the tearful testimony of the actress proclaiming love for her husband to evidence that she engaged in a romance with a photographer less than a year after her wedding. The prosecutor argued Fernanda Romero paid Kent Ross $5,000 to be her husband in June, 2005 so she could get a U.S. work visa. "Why would anybody have to be paid to marry her?" asked defense lawyer Michael Nasitir, pointing to the beautiful actress-singer-model. Romero and Ross were both 23 when they had a Los Angeles wedding. Only the bride's mother and a handful of others attended, but Romero said a larger wedding was impossible because he is a Mormon and she's a devout Catholic. There was no honeymoon, which Special Assistant U.S. Attorney James Left argued was evidence of a sham marriage. "You'd figure they could go somewhere, Palm Springs, San Diego," Left said during closing arguments Wednesday. They did have pictures together, which the prosecution suggested were staged to show immigration officials who would decide on her green card. When immigration agents conducted a surprise "bed check" at Romero's Los Angeles apartment in October, 2007, they found her, but not him. They found Ross at a Hollywood apartment, they testified. Romero testified that she really loved Ross when they got married and she intended to build a life with him. The first months were "very loving, fun," she said. "We socialized together, passionate. It was the honeymoon stage." But his drinking and late-night cavorting split them just seven months after their wedding, she said. "We started to fight a lot, sweat a lot, throw things. It was not healthy." Her defense lawyer argued jurors only have to conclude that the marriage was real when it began. "There are all kinds of marriages," Nasitir said. "No one else knows if people are in love." The case is unusual because marriage fraud charges are usually litigated by immigration authorities rather than prosecuted as criminal cases. U.S. District Judge Manuel Real blocked the defense from using much of the evidence they said would show it was only investigated because Romero was turned in by a vengeful photographer angry that she rebuffed his romantic advances. She met Markus Klinko at a Hollywood casting call about the same time her marriage was "on the rocks," she said. Klinko, a 49-year-old Swiss native, is the star of his own reality TV show, Bravo's "Double Exposure." Romero said the relationship initially was "professional and creative," but she eventually engaged in a "short affair" with Klinko as he helped with her modeling career. "I felt very pressured and I was vulnerable," Romero said as she cried. "It was the biggest mistake I've done in my life." Her friendship with Klinko turned into a nightmare when she decided to end the affair, she said. "Mr. Klinko wanted more and more and he knew I wasn't able to give it to him," she said. Klinko threatened to turn her in to immigration officials, she said. "He was losing it, he was very psycho," Romero said. "I was very scared, because he wouldn't stop." The federal complaint against Romero said the immigration investigation began after agents were given evidence gathered by a private detective hired by Klinko. When Klinko testified for the prosecution last week he said it was "completely incorrect" that his motivation was to get Romero deported. Instead, the investigator was gathering evidence to be used in a lawsuit against Michael Ball, the founder and owner of the Rock & Republic fashion company, Klinko said. The criminal complaint named Ball as a target of the federal investigation, alleging that he helped arrange the sham marriage while Romero was modeling for his company. Klinko said his lawyer turned the evidence over to the government only because he feared Klinko might be extorted by Ball. "My case has never been against Fernanda," Klinko said after his testimony. "I wish her the best." They could get between 15 and 21 months in prison if convicted, though such cases usually produce shorter sentences, according to the prosecutor. Romero's show business career began in Mexico at age 16 when she joined the ensemble Frizzby, her Internet Movie Database biography says. The group toured Mexico and Central America, releasing two top-10 singles, it says. She started hosting television shows and appearing on commercials in Mexico when she was 18, it says. Romero has appeared in print and TV ad campaigns for Rock and Republic, Clean and Clear, Pepsi, Apple and JCPenney, it says. "She was cast in Telemundo's original production 'Wounded Soul,' where she was not only a lead actress, but also a lead singer, performing two songs in the soap opera's soundtrack," her online biography says. | Jurors told the judge Wednesday they needed more time to decide . Fernanda Romero is a Mexican actress who also models . The actress allegedly paid a California man $5,000 to marry her . | 238faca7fd18ca20e74768ce2121a512d71b0749 |
By . Chris Greenwood . A whistleblower has been sacked after challenging the rampant spending culture within the Police Federation. Fiona McElroy said she fell foul of a vocal minority after asking ‘difficult questions’ over ‘acts of bullying, inappropriate behaviours and attitudes’. The former senior Whitehall civil servant was brought in to help modernise the press office of the ‘police union’, but was sacked by officials just three months into her role. Luxury: The Police Federation HQ contains a 55-room hotel and 11 two-bedroom grace and favour apartments for top brass . Miss McElroy is understood to have raised ‘serious concerns’ about how Federation funds are being managed and spent. These include concerns over ‘significant amounts of money’ put through on corporate Mastercard credit cards. Some of the four-figure bills are believed to have come after a conference organised by the Scottish Police Federation last November. One source said: ‘There were large bills run up by several individuals. They included significant amounts of money.’ Similar questions were asked in . September when several officers arrived at the National Police Memorial . Day in a hired stretch Humvee. Miss . McElroy also accused officials of bullying at the Federation’s plush . £26million headquarters in Leatherhead, Surrey, which was built in 2007 . and boasts a 55-room hotel with a bar, swimming pool and 11 two-bedroom . grace-and-favour apartments. Questions have previously been raised why the Police Federation – which represents rank-and-file officers – needs such a lavish HQ. Miss McElroy was marched out of its offices last Monday after being told she had ‘alienated’ senior officials. The move prompted her to go public, highlighting the contrast between her treatment and that expected by Federation representatives towards their 130,000-strong membership. David Davis, former shadow home secretary, said there have been 'lurid accusations' about federation spending for many months . In a statement, she said: ‘I offered honest and objective advice based on my extensive experience, made recommendations and asked difficult questions, however uncomfortable that was. ‘This included challenging acts of bullying, inappropriate behaviours and attitudes. It is deeply regrettable that the organisation that represents rank-and-file police officers dismissed me without due process being followed as a member of staff, given that it expects such standards to be applied by other individuals and organisations when it comes to their own members.’ The ugly spat blows open a furious power struggle at the Federation which is still reeling from the aftermath of the Plebgate scandal. An independent review by former Home Office permanent secretary Sir David Normington found a ‘worrying loss of confidence and competence’ and said it needed urgent reform ‘from top to bottom’. David Davis, former shadow home secretary, said there have been ‘lurid accusations’ about Federation spending for many months. He called on it to publish expense accounts and receipts from its senior members for the past five years. He said: ‘There are also clear questions, even raised by the tax authorities, about the use of grace and favour apartments and other subsidised food and drink to the benefit of the national officers, which have no conceivable advantage for the national membership.’ The Police Federation said it could not comment for ‘legal and professional’ reasons’. | Fiona McElroy fell foul of vocal minority after asking 'difficult questions' Former Whitehall official said she was brought in to modernise press office . She raised 'serious concerns' about how Federation funds are being spent . This included 'significant amounts of money' being spent on credit cards . Accused officials of . bullying at the Federation’s £26million headquarters . The building in Leatherhead, Surrey, has a hotel, bar and swimming pool . | d7ee00594b313ae32e18f9687bc90bdc1992f0e8 |
Seoul (CNN) -- Watching the public execution of his mother and older brother, Shin Dong-Hyuk thought the punishment was just. They had planned to escape the North Korean labor camp they were being held in until Shin overheard them and reported them to the prison guards. Just 14-years old, Shin says he felt no guilt in condemning them to death. One of the very few North Koreans to be born inside one of the brutal prison camps, he says the concept of family that exists in the outside world did not exist in Camp 14. 'Escape from Camp 14' a true North Korea survival story . "I had never felt that kind of attachment and love that people outside of prison camps feel towards them," he told CNN. "So they were just one of many criminals in a prison camp." Those, like Shin, who have tried to escape a North Korean political or hard labor camp and have survived to tell the tale, talk of starvation, torture, betrayal and executions. By informing on others, many say inmates could hope for more food or less beatings. Horrific heart-breaking accounts of being quite literally worked to death have emerged over recent years. But the camps continue and Pyongyang still refuses to acknowledge their existence. South Korea's government is trying to officially document the atrocities for the first time, collecting disturbing firsthand accounts from those who have managed to make it to South Korea, including Shin who got out in 2004. A 381-page report from the National Human Rights Commission of Korea is based on the testimony of 278 defectors has recently been published with names of prison guards who carried out torture or executions. "We felt a necessity to systematically manage the examples of human rights violations, this can be used as preliminary data for compensation by the country after unification," said Lee Young Ken, head of the Commission's North Korean department. "This could also psychologically put pressure on North Korean officials who will definitely be able to see this compilation." Human rights group Amnesty International believes up to 200,000 prisoners are being held "in horrific conditions in six sprawling political prison camps." In its annual human rights report released last week, it said, "The combination of hazardous forced labor, inadequate food, beatings, totally inadequate medical care and unhygienic living conditions, resulted in prisoners falling ill, and a large number died in custody or soon after release." Amnesty: World's leaders let protesters down . These camps have been used by the Kim dynasty for years to crush political dissent. Amnesty believes they have been in existence since the 1950s. One defector, who wanted to be identified only as Kim as he has family members still inside North Korea, told CNN inmates face a slow and painful death. He was sent to a labor camp for a year and a half after being caught crossing into China. "We received 120 grams of rotten corn for daily food. So many people with the same year and a half sentence as me didn't survive their term and died of hunger." Kim describes seeing many of his fellow inmates die and having to bury them on a nearby hill. The only hill, he said, where flowers grew well due to the large numbers of decaying bodies beneath the ground. "When I went to bury my friend, I found the hole was too small," he said. "When I asked why, the guy said there was no more room to make a bigger hole. When I dug up the ground with my shovel, I saw about four layers of bodies and human bones." Kang Chol-Hwan is now a journalist in South Korea, a world away from his previous life where he spent ten long years in a prison camp. Sent at the age of nine as his grandfather fell out of favor with the elite, he says he almost died three times from malnutrition and exhaustion. He remembers being forced to eat mice, insects and grass to stay alive. "It was like Hitler's Auschwitz concentration camp, not as large and there is a difference in the way people are killed. Hitler gassed people, Kim Jong Il sucked the life out of people through starvation and forced labor." Kim Jong Un took over from his late father in December 2011 and appears to have changed nothing in the political prison camps. Amnesty says North Korea's State Security Agency detained over 200 officials in January this year, part of an apparent power succession plan. It says some were feared executed, the rest sent to the camps. | S. Korea's National Human Rights Commission documenting abuses in N. Korean labor camps . The report is based on the testimony of 278 defectors, who described torture, starvation, deaths . Pyongyang refuses to acknowledge their existence, despite Amnesty reports of 200,000 inmates . The camps have been used by the Kim dynasty for years to crush political dissent . | 8fd034e08031d710da0d5be2b40a0c0bb648eb6b |
By . Tim Shipman, Deputy Political Editor . PUBLISHED: . 19:46 EST, 6 October 2013 . | . UPDATED: . 07:21 EST, 7 October 2013 . Adam Afriyie, pictured with his wife Tracy-Jane, has been accused of de-stabilising the government . David Cameron moved last night to crush a bid to hold a referendum on British membership of the EU next year as the Tories were pitched into fresh turmoil on Europe. Tory backbencher Adam Afriyie, who has been accused of plotting against Mr Cameron, announced plans to table an amendment to legislation which paves the way for a promised vote in 2017. The Prime Minister has pledged to hold an in-out referendum after renegotiating Britain’s relationship with Brussels following the next election, if he wins. But Mr Afriyie – who is reputed to have 25 supporters lined up for a future leadership bid – said the public was ‘not convinced’ Mr Cameron would stick to his promise. He revealed he will give MPs the chance to vote for a referendum in 2014 instead when Tory James Wharton’s referendum bill is debated next on November 8. In an article for the Mail on Sunday, he wrote: ‘Only by setting an early date can we kick-start EU renegotiation talks and give the British people what they so clearly want – a say on our country’s future with Europe.’ Mr Wharton warned that his bill – which is backed by Downing Street – could be ‘killed’ if the amendment is debated since backbench bills get very little parliamentary time, allowing Labour to talk it out. ‘I’d like to see my bill go through and I think this harms the chances of that happening,’ he said. The amendment is also a major headache for Mr Cameron since the 81 Tory MPs who previously rebelled over a referendum will now come under huge pressure to back the plan for an early vote. Senior Tories accused Mr Afriyie of seeking to ‘destabilise’ the Prime Minister ‘at any cost’ and branded him a ‘fantasist’ with ‘little grip on reality’. Under pressure: The Prime Minister blasted Afriyie's amendment. But many Tories are not convinced . Causing a stir: Adam Afriyie, Tory MP for Windsor, is said to have 25 MPs' support for a leadership coup . A No 10 source said: ‘We will not allow this amendment to be passed under any circumstances. The PM will not let it stand’. Home Secretary Theresa May warned that Mr Afriyie had ‘got it wrong’. Prominent Eurosceptics privately expressed anger that they may be forced to choose between wrecking Mr Wharton’s bill, which they support, and voting against a referendum for which they have campaigned for years. MPs privately expressed incredulity that Mr Afriyie appeared not to have discussed the plan with any of the leading Eurosceptics. Philip Davies, who launched the Better Off Out group in 2006, spoke for many: ‘Should there be a vote, I would be compelled to support it since it’s something I have campaigned for all my career. ‘However, I’ve never known Adam Afriyie care about the subject in his life. It’s totally self-indulgent behaviour. He’s going to put lots of my colleagues in a very difficult position.’ If Mr Afriyie had hoped to use his gambit to boost his chances of succeeding Mr Cameron, it appeared to have failed, with Tory MPs queuing up to condemn his grandstanding. Labour’s Tom Watson and Keith Vaz both backed an early referendum but Ed Miliband’s aides refused to say whether he will vote with his conscience to oppose a vote or seek to inflict a tactical victory on Mr Cameron. ‘We will respond to the amendment after it has been published,’ a source said. Nick Clegg will lay into the Tories this week, using a speech on Europe to warn that Mr Cameron’s EU referendum promise is ‘deeply flawed and bound to unravel’. But UK Independence Party leader Nigel Farage backed an early referendum. | Backbencher Adam Afriyie plans to table an amendment for a vote in 2017 . The Prime Minister has promised an in-out referendum after the next election . Afriyie told Mail on Sunday the public was 'not convinced' by the promise . Cameron faces pressure from 81 Tory MPs who rebelled over a referendum . | adbd0812301d96fbd20f2d7f5085fc95cdb64f92 |
By . Antonia Hoyle for The Mail on Sunday . Made In Chelsea stars Alexandra ‘Binky’ Felstead and Millie Mackintosh are both patients at Mervyn Druian’s London Centre For Cosmetic Dentistry. Dr Druian says naturally gleaming teeth like theirs are always preferable to the artificial, fully veneered finish favoured by the girls from their rival reality show The Only Way Is Essex. He says: ‘TOWIE people tend to be bigger, more brash personalities – they want these big white teeth. It’s one-upmanship to have the whitest teeth possible. Scroll down for video . There's a right way and a wrong way: Millie Mackintosh's natural smile is preferable to Joey Essex's veneers . ‘They often want whiter veneers than we would give them. I’d never let a patient walk out looking foolish. We have turned people away because we don’t think they need veneers.’ He adds: ‘My perfect veneers don’t look like veneers, they look like teeth. ' 'I want my patients to be told they look really well. I don’t want them to be asked what work they’ve had done.’ In addition to whitening treatments, Binky Felstead had a chipped front tooth repaired by Dr Druian after an accident last week when her car went over a bump while she was drinking from a glass bottle. Sharp situation: Binky Felstead was treated for a chipped front tooth after an car accident last week . He says: ‘We used a filling material that blended in so well it looked invisible.’ He adds: ‘Millie has only ever had whitening with us. She’s been in a couple of times and is a lovely girl with very nice teeth.’ Millie, he says, doesn’t need veneers – and nor do scores of others wanting better, brighter teeth. ‘There are lots of ways to make teeth look better. You can try invisible braces – which a dentist can do – or whitening.’ | Natural teeth are preferred over artificial veneers, say dentist . Made in Chelsea girls' own dentist on what not to do to teeth . Recommends invisible braces or whitening over veneers . | 5ec3c1712642e86a544d9926afdf61f033c6696f |
By . Sam Webb for MailOnline . A teenager says he's grateful for 'a second chance in life' after breaking his neck in a freak swimming pool accident. Tristan Green, 18, of Colchester, Essex, was paralysed from the chest down after he dived into a 4ft pool and hit his head on the bottom. He said: 'Some days I don't like the sound of being in a wheelchair but, at the end of the day, I have been given a second chance in life. I could have died.' 'I could have died': Tristan, pictured with his father James, has endured his injuries with stoicism and optimism. The 18-year-old is able to speak about his accident for the first time following windpipe surgery . Tristan with his grandmother. He is set to start a rehabilitation programme that could last nine months . He added: 'It is hard keeping a positive attitude and sometimes I have down days. 'I want to be the big brother my little brother can look up to and I feel like I am not going to be that big brother any more, but that is life.' Tristan has been able to speak about the accident for the first time, after surgeons performed a tracheostomy to put a hole in his windpipe. Speaking from his bed at Addenbrooke's Hospital in Cambridge, he described what happene on the day of the accident, July 26. He was at a friend's house with his girlfriend and they had been swimming in a pool in the back garden in Colchester . Optimism: The teenager is being fed liquefied food through a tube and admitted he cannot wait to eat a Big Mac as soon as his body is ready to take on solids. Pictured with parents James and Dawn . Tristan pictured before the accident with girlfriend Lauren Faulkner. The full extent of his injuries, which included breaking his neck in two places, and a bruised spinal cord, will not be known for about a year . Tristan said: 'I climbed the ladder up the side to dive into the pool. 'My head hit the bottom of the pool, I jolted my neck, that's when I broke it. 'It didn't hurt. I floated to the top of the water face down and was shaking my head to try and get some attention. 'I couldn't move, I thought I was going to drown.' Sense of humor: Tristan gurns for the camera despite his predicament . Tristan's girlfriend Lauren Faulkner, 18, turned him over and along with her friend and his mother, pulled Tristan from the water and put him in a garden chair. Lauren's father arrived, and spotting a lump on the back of Tristan's neck, decided an ambulance was needed. Medics called the fire brigade because Tristan was sitting in a chair and needed to be moved onto a spine board. Tristan had been trying to get on a plumbing and electrical course before the accident happened . They cut him out and he was flown to Addenbrooke's. Tristan said.'The best part about it was having a helicopter ride up to the hospital.' The full extent of his injuries, which included breaking his neck in two places and a bruised spinal cord, will not be known for about a year. He is on a waiting list for Stoke Mandeville Hospital in Buckinghamshire where he could spend up to nine months on a rehabilitation programme. He is being fed liquefied food through a tube and admitted he cannot wait to eat a Big Mac as soon as his body is ready to take on solids. His weight has plummeted 22lbs to 9st. Tristan, who can drink his favourites - Dr Pepper or orange Lucozade - also undergoes daily physiotherapy and is visited every other day by parents James, 38, and Dawn, 42. He also has four siblings, Scott, 25, Zoe, 23, Jodie, 22, and Harvey, two. The nurses have become his friends, keeping his morale going on the days his family have not been able to visit and occupying him with conversation, TV, music and DVDs. Speaking last month, his father, James, 38, said: 'Unless there is a complete miracle, he will be in a wheelchair for the rest of his life.' He told the Colchester Gazette: 'I look at pictures of me and him playing football and break down. 'We have had some hope because he wiggled his left toe and moved his right foot but it could be 18 months before we know the full effects. 'We need to be supportive for him to get through this.' The Facebook page his family set up, Tristan's Road to Recovery, has more than 2,000 'Likes' and has had global messages of support. Tristan said: 'I am still here and hopefully I can walk again but there is the possibility I am not going to. 'I said to my mum and dad: 'As long as it's a pukka wheelchair. 'I hope I can get some feeling in my legs so I can still play football with my little brother when he is older.' Colchester United gave fan Tristan a signed shirt and he thanked the club and said: 'I want to say a massive thank you to my girlfriend and everyone who has supported me. 'My family, my girlfriend's friend and his mother for helping me out of the pool, the air ambulance and the fire brigade.' Tristan had been trying to get on a plumbing and electrical course before the accident happened. | Tristan Green, 18, hit his head on bottom of pool in freak accident . He is able to speak for first time since following surgery on his windpipe . The youngster remains optimistic about recovery from his neck injury . | 025e563ce8d3637cc482438d262309ad35e3d388 |
By . Martha De Lacey . PUBLISHED: . 04:14 EST, 15 May 2013 . | . UPDATED: . 09:01 EST, 15 May 2013 . No, thanks! Russell manages to avoid cakes, despite working in a school canteen . If you've had ever a problem with your weight, a school canteen - where you'll be surrounded by chips, apple crumble and creamy custard - is probably the last place you'd want to work. But that hasn't stopped Russell Robinson, a former morbidly obese forklift truck driver who once weighed a scale-cracking 35 stone, from getting a job as a school chef. The 43-year-old father-of-four started his new job after losing a colossal 22 stone - excess weight he . piled on after losing both his job and his wife. The once morbidly obese driver from Scarborough, North Yorkshire, used to drink up to 40 pints a week and gorged on takeaways. He felt so self-conscious of his bulk - which he attempted to shroud in size XXXXXXL T-shirts (made for him at a specialist shop) that he could barely leave the house. Russell started piling on the pounds in . 1998 after splitting up with his wife and mother of his two daughters, . Paige, now 20, and Megan, 18. He quickly went from 15 stone to morbidly obese. He . developed the life-threatening condition sleep apnoea, which meant he . stopped breathing up to 50 times a night because of his colossal build. Having . failed miserably on different diets, Russell turned to his doctor as a . last-ditch attempt to fight the flab. He was told he was eligible for a . gastric bypass on the NHS and has now slimmed down to a trim 13 stone. Now, . Russell has a new job as a school chef and has even found love with a . new partner. He said: 'My life was a mess. I didn't feel like doing . anything. 'I couldn't afford . to buy fruit and vegetables so I ate c***. I didn't really go to the . pub but I'd drink can after can of lager at home. 'I . didn't own a pair of scales and had no idea how much I weighed. It was . terribly embarrassing. I'd go into the canteen at work and hear people's . snide remarks.' Regular shops didn't stock his size so he had to buy his clothes from specialist stockists. Russell, who works at Filey Secondary . School, North Yorkshire, said: 'I just fell into this cycle and couldn't . get out of it. I missed my kids and felt really depressed. 'I . was eating all the wrong things. I ate foods like Chinese take aways, . burgers, pizzas and chocolate. I just loved my food and it was my only . comfort really.' Hard at work: Russel working in the school kitchen at his new job . After another relationship, he went on . to have another two daughters, Imogen, nine, and Nuala, eight, but when . that failed in 2007, his problems with his weight only got worse. His weight rose to more than 35 stone, and his BMI was critically high at 72.9 - more than three times what it should be. Russ also developed sleep apnoea, . which causes sufferers to stop breathing in their sleep, diabetes, leg . ulcers, high blood pressure - all caused by him being severely . overweight. He said: 'I wasn't sleeping properly . so would nap when I felt like it. I lost interest in everything. I used . to like going fishing and shooting game but I didn't feel like doing . anything. 'Exercise was a . no-no because of my size. My mum was really concerned. She kept . pestering me to do something about it. I tried lots of fad diets and . even slimming pills. All they did was give me a bad tummy.' Out of desperation, Russell turned to his GP for help who agreed he was a suitable candidate for weight loss surgery. Russell opted to have the operation at Spire Leeds Hospital after reading about the surgeon's high success rate. Back in the day: Russell pictured before his gastric bypass . The long wait: Russell waiting for his NHS gastric bypass . He was put on a strict diet to help shrink his liver and managed to almost a stone. In . February 2011, he had a gastric bypass operation, which involved . re-routing the digestive system past most of his stomach. Russell has . since lost 90 per cent of his excess weight and now has a more healthier . BMI of 29. He now works as a chef, making lunch for the school's students and staff but he says being around food is not a problem. Russell said: 'I know what to eat and am now more careful about the choice of food I eat. 'My . diet is much healthier, more fruit, high fibre and wholegrain foods. I . have to take food in smaller quantities so it's important to make sure . every calorie is nutritious. 'I'm smaller now than when I got married. Sometimes it's hard to believe it.' Me at last: Russell now weighs just 13 stone and says he finally feels himself, and his children say they finally have their father back . We could both get in! Russell and his current partner Sarah hold up a pair of his enormous old trousers . Russell has been dating partner Sarah Cooper, 41, for five months and they are now planning to move in together. Russell said: 'Before surgery, I'd practically become a recluse. I wasn't comfortable with myself and the way I looked. 'I'd known Sarah for years through her sister. She knew me when I was big before my operation. 'She's not superficial and says she'd love me whatever weight I was but it definitely gave me the confidence to talk to her. 'Life is brilliant now. I've got my motorbike licence. I'd not been able to get on a bike before because I was so big. 'I do so much more with the kids. I love taking them camping or for long walks. They say they've got their Dad back.'Russell is now hoping to get funding for another operation to remove his excess skin. Sweet denial: Russell, pictured with partner Sarah, is still very careful about what he eats so his weight does not sky-rocket once more . Russell said: 'Life is brilliant now. I've got my motorbike licence. I'd not been able to get on a bike before because I was so big' Back in the day: Russell Robinson with his niece on her wedding day, before he had the gastric bypass and lost 22 stone . | Russell Robinson, 43, from Scarborough, North Yorkshire . Weighed 35 stone when he put on weight after losing job and wife . Father-of-four could barely leave house and suffered from sleep apnoea . Former forklift truck driver is now 13 stone after NHS gastric bypass . Now works as a chef in a secondary school canteen . Is hoping for funding to remove excess skin . | 83612ce9a54ac9d30efe11d1b1180c7e6bc33362 |
Google Glass has already been labelled as being ‘as dangerous as texting’ when worn while driving, and now new research claims it also causes significant problems with vision. A study of Glass users found that the headset obstructs the wearer’s peripheral view, meaning it creates a far larger blind spot, compared to standard glasses. Experts have now warned against wearing the device while performing tasks that require peripheral vision, such as driving and cycling, as it may be dangerous. Scroll down for video . Researchers from the University of California San Francisco found Google Glass (shown being worn by Google founder Sergey Brin pictured) obstructs the wearer’s peripheral view, in particular, an area known as the ‘superior-temporal quadrant’. This means the device creates a far larger blind spot than standard glasses . Motorists and pedestrians both rely heavily on peripheral vision to spot other vehicles, particularly at dusk or at night when light levels are low. Dr Edward Koo, a clinical ophthalmologist at the University of California San Francisco, said the position of the prism that Google Glass uses to project its images to the eye was what caused the blind spots. He said the obstruction created by the prism poses a particular risk to motorists as it could obscure oncoming traffic. 'Google Glass produces a significant blocking effect of the right peripheral vision', Dr Koo continued. ‘The defect would not be compensated by the left eye and thus may negatively impact daily activities such as driving, cycling and running.’ The researchers analysed the vision field of three different volunteers wearing Google Glass, and compared it to them wearing normal spectacles. Texting with Google Glass is just as distracting and dangerous for drivers as using a smartphone. Research has discovered that using the tech giant’s hands-free headset makes motorist delay slamming on their brakes to avoid a collision. And this delay is similar to that caused when drivers use more traditional mobile devices. However, the Glass wearers were able to recover control of their cars faster and more effectively afterwards. The study, carried out by the University of Central Florida, asked 40 people in their 20s to drive in a car simulator either using Glass or smartphones. Their reactions were recorded when a ‘vehicle’ ahead stalled. The researchers compared text-messaging participants’ reactions on each device to times when they were just driving without multitasking. They found the prism of the Google Glass impeded vision in the upper right hand corner of their vision, also known as the ‘superior-temporal quadrant’, while the normal glasses had little impact. Dr Koo said: ‘The superior-temporal quadrant is particularly important in driving as the location of the rear-view mirror as well as the right-side mirror in all US cars is monitored by the right visual field. ‘Motion detected in these mirrors by a normal peripheral visual field is what frequently alerts a driver to possible dangerous situations. ‘In the UK, where the driving position is reversed, the potential blockage of right peripheral vision for on-coming traffic may be even more of a public safety hazard. ‘The right peripheral field is also essential for many other activities such as providing the ability to perceive obstacles and hazards when cycling or jogging on the roadway.’ The researchers, whose findings are published in the journal Jama, also analysed more than 100 images from the internet of people wearing Google Glass to look for variations in the position over the eye. They found that many people wore the devices so the prisms overlapped the centre of their pupil, which they warn could cause further blind spots. The study will be a blow to Google, which has seen its Google Glass devices banned in a growing number of locations due to concerns over privacy. Cinemas in the US banned the use of Google Glass in movie theatres last month, while the Department for Transport in the UK has warned that the device could distract motorists. It is expected to fall foul of similar legislation that bans the use of mobile phones while behind the wheel. Dr Edward Koo, a clinical ophthalmologist at the university, said the position of the prism that Google Glass (pictured) uses to project its images to the eye was what caused the blind spots. He said that the obstruction created by the prism would pose a particular risk to motorists in the UK as it could obscure oncoming traffic . A spokesman for Google Glass (diagram pictured) insisted there were no safety issues when the device is used correctly. He said: ‘Put on your shades, glasses, baseball hat, or hoodie, and you’ll quickly see this study tells us what we already know - wearing something on your face or head may affect your peripheral vision' Google has been working with companies such as Mercedes-Benz to integrate Google Glass into their cars. This, warned Dr Koo, would not be a good idea. However, he and his team are now working with Google to help them develop Google Glass so that it can be used more safely. He said: ‘Our findings in this initial study show that the Google Glass device can potentially have a negative impact on the right peripheral vision of wearers. This can present safety issues not only to the wearers but for those around them as well. ‘Due to these possible public safety implications, we are planning on doing a significantly larger study to further assess the impact these types of devices have on visual function and attentiveness. ‘We reached out to Google prior to release of the study and it was clear that user safety was of utmost importance to them as well. ‘We are looking forward to working closely with them as we develop our next study as this would be a great opportunity for them to be involved and help drive improvement of their device.’ A spokesman for Google Glass insisted there were no safety issues when the device is used correctly. He said: ‘Put on your favourite shades, glasses, baseball hat, or hoodie, and you’ll quickly see that this study tells us what we already know- wearing something on your face or head may affect your peripheral vision. ‘From the beginning, the Glass team has worked closely with a range of experts to develop a device that is safe for use, and after extensive study they have not found any safety issues when it’s used correctly.’ | Study of Glass users found headset obstructs the wearer’s peripheral view . This means the device creates a far larger blind spot than standard glasses . Prism of Google Glass impedes vision in the right hand corner of the eye . This upper area is known as the ‘superior-temporal quadrant’ Experts have warned against wearing Glass while performing certain tasks . Activities that depend on this quadrant include driving, cycling and running . | 8ad2449c3a838432e168f366b90c16456ef6367f |
By . Daily Mail Reporter . PUBLISHED: . 18:13 EST, 11 August 2013 . | . UPDATED: . 18:14 EST, 11 August 2013 . When he was just a baby, 6-year-old Jayden David was diagnosed with a rare form of epilepsy called Dravet Syndrome, which causes him to have violent seizures several times a day. The seizures were so bad that they prevented the Modesto, California boy from walking, playing with friends and essentially living a normal life – he’s been rushed to the hospital by ambulance at least 40 times. To combat the disease, Jayden was prescribed 12 different medications that he has to take every day. In all, the boy takes 22 pills a day. Miracle: Before 6-year-old Jayden David started treating his epilepsy with marijuana, he couldn't even walk up stairs . ‘At one point Jayden had seizures 24 hours a day lasting an hour and a half,’ Jayden’s father, Jason David, told KCRA. ‘I went to my doctor and said, “I don't think Jayden is going to last, he can't sleep, can't eat, he hasn't used the restroom, he can't do anything.”’ At one point, the debilitating disease got so bad for his son that Jason said he considered killing himself. As a last resort, Jason David opted to try a liquid form of marijuana to treat Jayden’s seizures. And it worked. ‘(The) first day I gave him medical marijuana, thank God. (It was) the first day he went seizure free in his life,’ Jason David said. Jayden's father, Jason, said he considered suicide because he was so distraught over his son's rare condition . The marijuana used to treat Jayden’s seizures contains a component called CBD (cannabidiol) that provides the same medical qualities as normal marijuana, but with less of a high. Jayden has been getting a few drops of the CBD a day for the last two years, And his father says the results have been nothing short of remarkable – he plays, he can walk up and down stairs and he even gives his dad high-fives. The pediatrician who prescribes the boy with the medical marijuana said he’s seeing a spike in children with autism and seizures benefitting from medical marijuana. In many cases, it works when other medications fail. Prescription pot: Jayden's pediatrician says he's seeing a spike in parents opting to treat epileptic or autistic children with marijuana . Jason says he wants to share his story to encourage other parents in similar situations to do what they think is best for their children – even if that means using medical marijuana. Jayden’s paediatrician admits that there haven’t been many studies conducted to determine the medicinal benefits of marijuana, which is why doctors have differing opinions about whether it should be used to treat certain diseases. Currently, however, researchers at the University of California-San Francisco currently are studying the affects CBD has on epileptic children. Jayden and his father will be featured in a CNN special by Dr. Sanjay Gupta that examines the benefits of medical marijuana. Gupta wrote a column earlier this week saying that after doing research for the special, he now supports using medical marijuana to treat various illnesses. He previously opposed medical marijuana. The special is set to air Sunday. Flip-flop: Dr Sanjay Gupta now supports medical marijuana after opposing it for years . | Jayden David suffers from a rare form of epilepsy called Dravet Syndrome . At one point, he was taking 22 different pills a day to treat the disease, none of which worked . Since he started using medical marijuana, Jayden started walking and living a much more normal life . | 2410e8b60b95726909525fed81f034725587fe07 |
(CNN) -- When Nike signed a multi-million dollar deal to add Rory McIlroy to their ranks they must have salivated at the thought of the world's top player going head-to-head with stablemate Tiger Woods. Imagine the marketing potential of their twin titans battling it out down the stretch at major championships for years to come, bedecked, of course, in Nike gear. That dream may well be realized in time, and Woods at least has one title to his name this year, but at the most high-profile tournament of 2013 to date both crashed and burned at the first hurdle. World No. 1 McIlroy was eliminated in the first round of the World Match Play Championship by Ireland's Shane Lowry in Arizona, to add to his missed cut at his only other appearance this year, in Abu Dhabi. Woods, the world No. 2, didn't fare any better, losing to Charles Howell III. The other two top seeds, South Africa's Louis Oosthuizen and England's Luke Donald, the world No. 3, went safely through to round two. McIlroy squandered early chances against Lowry, who came to life on the back nine, chipping in for birdie at 11 and 12 before an eagle at 13 put him in the driving seat. The Northern Irishman won 16 to reduce the deficit to one shot but Lowry, ranked 68, held firm to sink a four-foot putt at the last to claim a famous triumph. "I didn't make enough birdies in the end," McIlroy told the PGA Tour's official website. "Shane had a nice little stretch around part of the back nine. I hung in there, but I just didn't do enough." "Deep down I knew I could beat him," a jubilant Lowry said. "I'm not here for no reason. I'm not here to make up the numbers. "I said to Darren, my caddie, walking down 11 or 12, 'He's not liking this one bit. He's the one under pressure, I've got nothing to lose, so let's have a go from here.' "I'm feeling quite good now, but it's important not to get too high now because it's only the first round, and I've got another match tomorrow." Heavy snow curtailed the first day and delayed the start on Thursday as the course was prepared for play. And in fading light, Woods and Howell decided to continue playing in near gloom to reach a conclusion. Woods squared the game on 13 but Howell birdied the 15th and 16th to go two up, wrapping the match up on the 17th. Woods was naturally disappointed in defeat but was pleased with his performance. "I played well, I really did," Woods said. "I hit a lot of good shots out there. "It's the nature of the format. You've just got to beat the guy you're playing against, and I didn't do that today. Chucky won the match." Elsewhere, defending champion Hunter Mahan moved into the second round after a comprehensive 5&4 victory over Matteo Manassero. Donald, the 2011 champion, fought hard to beat Germany's Marcel Siem on the final hole while fellow Englishman, and European Ryder Cup hero, Ian Poulter beat Stephen Gallacher 2&1. Graeme McDowell edged a close game with Padraig Harrington, Jim Furyk defeated Ryan Moore while 2012 Masters champion Bubba Watson and 2012 U.S. Open winner Webb Simpson moved into round two. There were other high-profile departures in the form of 2011 U.S. PGA champion Keegan Bradley, Lee Westwood and 2012 British Open winner Ernie Els. | Tiger Woods and Rory McIlroy both lose in first round of Match Play Championship . World's top two players fall at the first hurdle in Arizona to players outside the top 60 . McIlroy is beaten by Ireland's Shane Lowry while Charles Howell III defeats Woods . Defending champ Hunter Mahan through but Keegan Bradley and Dustin Johnson are out . | cd6df954e62709a145533277109d10b573a7122c |
Former President George H.W. Bush will remain hospitalized through Christmas Day after being admitted for shortness of breath. Family spokesman Jim McGrath said Thursday evening that the 90-year-old remained at Houston Methodist Hospital for a third day but 'had another terrific day and is in great spirits'. He said Bush was visited by his wife, Barbara Bush, as well as son Neil Bush, after being hospitalized Tuesday night in what was reported as a precaution. President Barack Obama and first lady lady sent 'their good wishes to the former president and the entire Bush family during this holiday season', according to White House spokesman Eric Schultz, after hearing about Bush's condition while vacationing in Hawaii. Scroll down for video . Hospital for the holidays: George H.W. Bush, 90 - pictured here on November 3 - has spent a third night at Houston Methodist Hospital after being admitted Tuesday for shortness of breath . THe oldest living president's hospitalization was 'out of abundance of caution', a family spokesperson said. He is pictured here at a Houston Texans game on November 23 . Barbara Bush read 'Twas The Night Before Christmas with Houston Texans player JJ Watt at the Hobby Center for the Performing Arts on Tuesday before her husband's hospitalization was announced . Bush is the oldest living former American president. He suffers from a form of Parkinson's disease that has forced him to rely on a motorized scooter or wheelchair. But he's also skydived on at least three of his birthdays since leaving the White House, including a tandem jump for his 90th birthday in June. Bush spent Christmas 2012 in intensive care at the same hospital while being treated for a bronchitis-related cough and other issues. He was discharged in January 2013, after nearly two months in the hospital. Bush made two public appearances last month. He attended an event at Texas A&M University with his son, former President George W. Bush, and served as the coin-toss captain for the Houston Texans during a Nov. 23 game that honored the US Armed Forces. The elder Bush was a naval aviator in World War II — at one point the youngest in the Navy — and was shot down over the Pacific. Mrs Bush and Watt were the special guests for the Radio City Christmas Spectacular in Houston . Methodist Hospital in Houston is the top-rated hospital in Texas and is nationally ranked, as well . Bush served two terms as Ronald Reagan's vice president before being elected the nation's 41st president in 1988. After one term, highlighted by the success of the 1991 Gulf War in Kuwait, he lost to Democrat Bill Clinton amid voters' concerns about the economy. The elder Bush has skydived on at least three of his birthdays since leaving the White House. In June, he celebrated his 90th birthday by making a tandem parachute jump near his summer home in Kennebunkport, Maine. During the winter, Bush and his wife, Barbara, live in Houston. Bush, also a former U.S. ambassador to China and CIA director, suffers from a form of Parkinson's disease that has forced him in recent years to use a motorized scooter or wheelchair for mobility. Bush's wife, Barbara Bush, made a surprise visit with Houston Texans' JJ Watt at the Hobby Center for the Performing Arts in Houston on Tuesday evening to perform 'Twas the Night Before Christmas.' It's not clear whether she was with the 41st U.S. president when he experienced his shortness of breath . Methodist Hospital is rated as the top hospital in Texas by US News & World Report. It is ranked nationally, as well. Patriarch: George H.W. Bush's son George W. Bush served two terms as president. His son Jeb is currently considering a run for the White House . | Doctors will keep former president, 90, for a third night in Houston hospital after he was admitted on Tuesday for 'shortness of breath' Family spokesman said he had a 'terrific day' for Christmas . He spent Christmas 2012 in the hospital near death . Oldest living president suffers from Parkinson's disease . | 2ccec55f252d3f4d883280d28a9aa259048cea82 |
Talented make-up artist Laura Jenkinson has spent the last year using her chin as a canvas, creating amazing images of popular cartoon characters using her mouth, teeth and lips. The 25-year-old beauty expert paints around her features to make them look as though they belong to the characters using theatrical make-up techniques to create the pint-sized portraits. Laura Jenkinson is quickly becoming an Internet sensation for the amazing cartoon portraits she paints on her chin, in this picture she has recreated the Disney character Stitch . Her paintings include The Cookie Monster, Shrek and Taz the Tasmanian Devil and feature in a series of Instagram images that she has spent the last yearuplaoding . Laura added Robin Williams' Genie from Aladdin to her repetoire last week as a tribute following the actor's death. Londoner Laura can receive up to 1500 'likes'.on popular posts and says that she was inspired by other Instagram accounts. 'I'd seen loads of other fantastic make-up artists on Instagram and I wanted to do something similar and on a bigger scale so I started doing about one a week,' she says. Laura has been working on her collection of images for the past year, pictured here is the Dreamworks character Shrek . Loony chins: Laura creates Taz and Bugs Bunny from the Loony Toons . Laura's images regularly fetch over 1500 'likes' on Instagram, here she has used a blurring effect to create the Cookie Monster's textured fur . Laura recreated Robin Williams' famous Genie following his death last week quoting - 'But oh, to be free. To be my own master. Such a thing would be greater than all the magic and all the treasures in all the world' Although she uses professional tools she occasionally turns to traditional make-up to create her portraits: 'I use theatrical make-up normally, but I occasionally use lipstick if I need to get the exact shade of something' she added. Despite the images looking painstakingly accurate, Laura says that her method of achieving the look is incredibly simple. 'I find a picture and then just hold it up to the mirror as a guide and draw straight onto my face - it's easier than you think! Laura works as a professional make-up artist in London . A chin story: Laura posed upside down for her recreation of Pixar's Mr. Potato head . Timone and Pumba: Laura gets inventive using a strip of paper to fashion a warthog tooth for Pumba (right) Laura works free-hand, holding an image up to a mirror and copying the picture onto her chin, in this image she has painted Nintendo' Super Mario . 'Ironically, drawing onto someone else is more difficult - I think it's more straightforward drawing onto my own face.' Laura says that she is thrilled with the response she has received for her work and that the positive feedback is very rewarding. 'People always say it makes them really happy and it's nice to bring a bit of joy.' Famouse: Laura says that she was inspired by other Instagram users amazing make-up art, here she has recreated the famous Mickey Mouse . It's a dogs life: Laura often includes Disney characters in her creations . Laura tries different poses in each picture to make her characters come to life . | Laura Jenkinson has spent the last year painting cartoons on her chin . Her images regularly received over 1500 'likes' on Instagram . She recently paid tribute to the late Robin Williams by painting the Genie . | c79dc3f9d7cb24f8688ca2b074269c9bb392d3c2 |
By . Daily Mail Reporter . PUBLISHED: . 13:59 EST, 19 November 2012 . | . UPDATED: . 18:37 EST, 21 November 2012 . Two men in their mid-twenties and best friends since childhood died together on Saturday night after their boat capsized in rough conditions on the Great Salt Lake in Utah. The bodies of Logan Hardman, 25, of West Jordan and Chad Tohinaka, 25, of Sandy were pulled from the dark waters of the lake just before midnight on Saturday. Tohinaka was a student at Westminster College in Salt Lake City, while Hardman was a devoted family man who leaves behind a wife, Tasha, a three-year-old daughter Brynnlee and one-year-old son Brody. The best of friends: Chad Tohinaka and Logan Hardman tragically died when their boat capsized on the Great Salt Lake . Devoted family man: Logan Hardman leaves behind his wife Tasha, daughter Brynnlee and son Brody . Chad Tohinaka, 25, was a student at Westminster College in Salt Lake City . The two men, along with a 24-year-old friend, were heading back to shore from one of their regular duck hunting trips at about 4 p.m. on Saturday when the weather suddenly changed. Within seconds, waves flooded their boat, causing it to capsize and plunging all three men into the freezing 47-degree water. The 24-year-old man, whose name has not been released, swam about a half-mile to shore for help. Both Hardman and Tohinaka stayed with the boat, a 12 foot flat-bottomed vessel that the three men had recently purchased. The bodies were located approximately six miles east of the Great Salt Lake State Marina, where they had set sail from earlier that day. The Great Salt Lake is notorious for unpredictable conditions and on Saturday it experienced mild squall conditions, where periods of high wind would pass creating choppy two- to three-foot waves. Hardman and Tohinaka forged a lifetime’s friendship while still in diapers. Hardman’s mother acted as babysitter for the boys at her home in Kearns, where Tohinaka’s mother was a local school teacher who taught Hardman’s three older brothers. Logan Hardman was described as a calm and quiet person with an infectious smile, a passionate husband and father of two and a deeply religious man . Chad Tohinaka was best man at his friend Logan Hardman's wedding to his wife Tasha . Both Logan Hardman and Chad Tohinaka were avid duck hunting fans . ‘It was a wonderful friendship and, you . know, it was nice that they were not alone at the end,’ Tohinaka’s . mother, Karen Tohinaka, told The Salt Lake Tribune. Although they never lived in the same city, or attended the same schools the boys remained the best of friends throughout their lives. 'Logan and Chad have been inseparable since three year's old,' Matt Hardman, a brother of Logan, told Deseret News. 'They grew up that way and kept doing everything out of Jr. high and high school.' When Hardman married, Tohinaka was his best man. Tasha Hardman wrote on Tohinaka's Facebook page: 'Not only did I loose my husband and my kids lost their father but we also lost you a brother, great friend and my kids lost their uncle. 'Thank you for keeping my sweetheart company, it gives me comfort to know that you guys were together and not alone. You will truly be missed, we miss and love you very much. You were an amazing person!' Hardman was described by his family as a calm and quiet person with an infectious smile, a passionate husband and father of two, a deeply religious man and an avid duck hunter. Tragically, his life insurance policy was not scheduled to start until the new year. To assist his wife and children, an account has been established in Logan Hardman's name and individuals interested in donating can do so through Zion's Bank. Tohinaka and Hardman had been the best of friends since they'd been in diapers . Logan Hardman and Chad Tohinaka were both just 25 when they tragically lost their lives on the Great Salt Lake on Saturday . Video: Hunters found dead in Great Salt Lake identified . | The bodies of Logan Hardman and Chad Tohinaka, both 25, were pulled from the Great Salt Lake on Saturday night . They had been firm friends their entire lives and Tohinaka was best man at Hardman's wedding . Hardman leaves a wife and two young children aged three and one years old . Tragically his new life insurance policy wasn't scheduled to start until the new year . | ae2fbfb12632b6d64b959a4043ac711cdcf9527f |
Prince Charles and his wife, the Duchess of Cornwall, arrived in Canada tonight on a break-neck tour of the country. The royal couple will visit three provinces, six towns and cities and undertake a staggering 41 engagements in just three days. The heir to throne is notorious for the pace of his foreign trips on behalf of the UK government, packing more into them than any other member of the Royal Family. Scroll down for video . Prince Charles and Camilla arrived at Robert L. Stanfield International Airport in Halifax yesterday . But this latest trip to Canada - his 17th to the country where his mother, the Queen, is still head of state - is challenging by even his standards. Charles and Camilla arrived on a Canadian Air Force Jet in Halifax tonight where they were greeted at the international airport by dignitaries and then met with the Governor General, the monarch's representative in the country. The Duchess was wearing a cream silk shirt-waister dress with a gold and black tweedy coat by one of her favourite designers, Fiona Clare. She was carrying a black clutch bag given to her by a Canadian friend on her last visit to the country. Camilla was presented with a bouquet of flowers by Grace Elizabeth Lenihan, three, and Molly Jane Lenihan, nine . The couple met with the Governor General His Excellency Mr David Johnston and his wife Mrs Sharon Johnston and exchanged polite small talk in front of the cameras for a few minutes. Asked to stand in a different position for the official photocall, the prince said: 'This is like musical chairs.' The Governor General added: 'You will accuse us of cruel and unusual punishment. ' Charles is later set to take part in a swearing in ceremony after being made a member of the Canadian Privy Council by the country's Prime Minister. The only other member to be awarded the honour is his father, the Duke of Edinburgh, in 1957. Although Canada has welcomed four official visits by the Royal Family in four years - the Queen in 2010, then-newlyweds Prince William and Kate in 2011, and Charles and Camilla in 2012 - the Canadian secretary to the Queen says there is still a deep fascination with the royal family. 'There's a great deal of excitement and expectation about this royal tour,' says Kevin MacLeod, who has worked on some 20 royal tours since 1987. Their official welcome to Canada, where Charles will make his first of four planned speeches, will take place Monday morning near the cenotaph outside Halifax City Hall. Later at the city's Public Gardens, Charles will plant an English oak tree - a tradition started 75 years ago by his grandfather, King George VI. At historic Pier 21 and the Canadian Museum of Immigration, the couple will meet with war brides and veterans of the Second World War. They will also travel to the community of Pictou where they will learn about the province's Celtic roots, visit street stalls and watch a musical performance at Hector Quay. Prince Charles and Camilla, Duchess of Cornwall, speak with Grace Elizabeth Lenihan, three, and Molly Jane Lenihan, nine, as they arrive at Robert L. Stanfield International Airport in Halifax . That evening the couple will fly on to Prince Edward Island for a Victoria Day fireworks display. Tuesday sees them spend the morning in Charlottetown, visiting the Legislative Chamber and attending a youth parliament debate. The Prince of Wales will also be honoured with a medal recognising his contributions to Canada and deliver his second speech of the tour. Charles and Camilla will tour the city's arts centre guided by an actress playing the region's most famous export - Anne of Green Gables - before flying to Winnipeg. On Wednesday, their last day in the country, the couple will undertake a staggering 16 engagements between them. The royal couple will visit three provinces, six towns and cities and undertake a staggering 41 engagements in just three days . The highlight is set to be Charles feeding a polar bear named Hudson at the local zoo and learning about another famous regional bear - Winnie the Pooh. The original Winnie was a female black bear who was bought as a small cub for $20 in Onatario by a Lt Harry Colebourn of The Fort Garry Horse, a Canadian Cavalry Regiment, en route to the Western Front during the First World War. The bear was smuggled into Britain as the regiment's unofficial mascot with veterinarian Lt Colebourn naming her after his home city of Winnipeg. Before leaving for France he decided to leave her at London Zoo where she become something of a local star and much admired, among others, by AA Milne's son, Christopher Robin. Prince Charles was greeted by the Canadian Minister of Justice and Attorney General of Canada, and Member of Parliament for Central Nova, the Honourable Peter MacKay . Christopher Robin subsequent changed the name of his own teddy from Edward Bear to Winnie the Pooh, providing the inspiration for his father's much loved books. Charles and Camilla will leave Canada on Wednesday evening and fly back to the UK overnight. Robert Finch, chairman of the Monarchist League of Canada, said he believed Charles still spoke to Canadians, both young and old. 'Things like the environment, bridging the gap between different religions, these are things that Canadians -- even young Canadians -- really gravitate toward, ' he said. | The heir to throne is notorious for the pace of his foreign trips on behalf of the UK government . Charles and Camilla arrived on a Canadian Air Force Jet in Halifax tonight . Duchess was wearing a cream silk shirt-waister dress with a gold and black tweedy coat . She was carrying a black clutch bag given to her by a Canadian friend on her last visit to the country . Charles will take part in a swearing in ceremony after being made a member of the Canadian Privy Council . | 3a015ee1cc2bad44a23a1b5d77921e25d3b504d9 |
Foreign nurses, midwives and dentists will be required to speak a good level of English before they are allowed to work in the NHS, the Government announced today. The clampdown follows concerns that far too many patients are being subjected to poor care on the wards because of communication failings of staff. Nurses from the continent will in future have to have ‘the necessary knowledge of English’ to speak to patients – and could face language tests. Dentists will have to speak a good level of English to work in the UK under plans new Government plans . Regulators will be able to strike off health workers if there are concerns that their English is not up to scratch. Changes were made to enable doctors to be tested for their language proficiency earlier this year. It followed the scandal in 2008 when a doctor from Germany, Daniel Ubani, administered a massive overdose to a pensioner during his first shift as an out-of-hours GP. Leading doctors have warned that the poor communication skills of some EU nurses is putting patients in danger and say their skills are not up to the same standard of British-trained colleagues. Figures this summer showed that the number of nurses from the European Union allowed to work in Britain has doubled in just four years. There are now 20,914 on the register who can practise in hospitals and care homes compared with 10,244 in 2010. In a written ministerial statement today the health minister Dr Poulter paid tribute to the 'contributions that healthcare professionals from all over the world have contributed, and continue to contribute, to our NHS'. But he said: 'It is essential that they have a sufficient knowledge of the English language in order to provide safe patient care.' Health Secretary Jeremy Hunt introduced English language tests for doctors and now wants it extended to other health professionals . Dr Poulter said the Government had already introduced language controls for doctors and would now push for the test to apply to other professionals in the NHS. He said: 'Earlier this year, changes were introduced to strengthen the law around language controls for doctors by introducing language controls for European Economic Area doctors wishing to practise in the UK. 'Ministers from the four UK health departments are firmly committed to improving public protection by preventing healthcare professionals who do not have sufficient knowledge of English from working in the UK.' | New test follows concerns that too many patients are subjected to poor care . European health workers required to have 'necessary knowledge of English' Regulators could stop foreign nurses working if they did not speak English . | f5b2eaf7ad9bcea1a5c1400ace9217bb2e27d82e |
The White House late Saturday issued a detailed synopsis, or "fact sheet," of the six-month deal regarding Iran's nuclear program. Read the deal (.PDF) Below is a copy of the agreement's details, verbatim from the White House: . Halting the progress of Iran's program and rolling back key elements . Iran has committed to halt enrichment above 5%: . • Halt all enrichment (above 5% and dismantle the technical connections required to enrich above 5%. Iran has committed to neutralize its stockpile of near-20% uranium: . • Dilute below 5% or convert to a form not suitable for further enrichment its entire stockpile of near-20% enriched uranium before the end of the initial phase. Iran has committed to halt progress on its enrichment capacity: . • Not install additional centrifuges of any type. • Not install or use any next-generation centrifuges to enrich uranium. • Leave inoperable roughly half of installed centrifuges at Natanz and three-quarters of installed centrifuges at Fordow, so they cannot be used to enrich uranium. • Limit its centrifuge production to those needed to replace damaged machines, so Iran cannot use the six months to stockpile centrifuges. • Not construct additional enrichment facilities. 20 questions about the deal . Iran has committed to halt progress on the growth of its 3.5% stockpile: . • Not increase its stockpile of 3.5% low enriched uranium, so that the amount is not greater at the end of the six months than it is at the beginning, and any newly enriched 3.5% enriched uranium is converted into oxide. Iran has committed to no further advances of its activities at Arak and to halt progress on its plutonium track. Iran has committed to: . • Not commission the Arak reactor. • Not fuel the Arak reactor. • Halt the production of fuel for the Arak reactor. • No additional testing of fuel for the Arak reactor. • Not install any additional reactor components at Arak. • Not transfer fuel and heavy water to the reactor site. • Not construct a facility capable of reprocessing. Without reprocessing, Iran cannot separate plutonium from spent fuel. Fareed Zakaria: What critics are getting wrong about the Iran deal . Unprecedented transparency and intrusive monitoring of Iran's nuclear program . Iran has committed to: . • Provide daily access by IAEA inspectors at Natanz and Fordow. This daily access will permit inspectors to review surveillance camera footage to ensure comprehensive monitoring. This access will provide even greater transparency into enrichment at these sites and shorten detection time for any non-compliance. • Provide IAEA access to centrifuge assembly facilities. • Provide IAEA access to centrifuge rotor component production and storage facilities. • Provide IAEA access to uranium mines and mills. • Provide long-sought design information for the Arak reactor. This will provide critical insight into the reactor that has not previously been available. • Provide more frequent inspector access to the Arak reactor. • Provide certain key data and information called for in the Additional Protocol to Iran's IAEA Safeguards Agreement and Modified Code 3.1. One agreement, wildly different reactions . Verification mechanism . The IAEA will be called upon to perform many of these verification steps, consistent with their ongoing inspection role in Iran. In addition, the P5+1 and Iran have committed to establishing a Joint Commission to work with the IAEA to monitor implementation and address issues that may arise. The Joint Commission will also work with the IAEA to facilitate resolution of past and present concerns with respect to Iran's nuclear program, including the possible military dimension of Iran's nuclear program and Iran's activities at Parchin. Limited, temporary, reversible relief . In return for these steps, the P5+1 is to provide limited, temporary, targeted, and reversible relief while maintaining the vast bulk of our sanctions, including the oil, finance, and banking sanctions architecture. If Iran fails to meet its commitments, we will revoke the relief. Specifically the P5+1 has committed to: . • Not impose new nuclear-related sanctions for six months, if Iran abides by its commitments under this deal, to the extent permissible within their political systems. • Suspend certain sanctions on gold and precious metals, Iran's auto sector, and Iran's petrochemical exports, potentially providing Iran approximately $1.5 billion in revenue. • License safety-related repairs and inspections inside Iran for certain Iranian airlines. • Allow purchases of Iranian oil to remain at their currently significantly reduced levels -- levels that are 60% less than two years ago. $4.2 billion from these sales will be allowed to be transferred in installments if, and as, Iran fulfills its commitments. • Allow $400 million in governmental tuition assistance to be transferred from restricted Iranian funds directly to recognized educational institutions in third countries to defray the tuition costs of Iranian students. Opinion: Iran deal a risk worth taking . Humanitarian transactions . Facilitate humanitarian transactions that are already allowed by U.S. law. Humanitarian transactions have been explicitly exempted from sanctions by Congress so this channel will not provide Iran access to any new source of funds. Humanitarian transactions are those related to Iran's purchase of food, agricultural commodities, medicine, medical devices; we would also facilitate transactions for medical expenses incurred abroad. We will establish this channel for the benefit of the Iranian people. Putting limited relief in perspective . In total, the approximately $7 billion in relief is a fraction of the costs that Iran will continue to incur during this first phase under the sanctions that will remain in place. The vast majority of Iran's approximately $100 billion in foreign exchange holdings are inaccessible or restricted by sanctions. In the next six months, Iran's crude oil sales cannot increase. Oil sanctions alone will result in approximately $30 billion in lost revenues to Iran -- or roughly $5 billion per month -- compared to what Iran earned in a six month period in 2011, before these sanctions took effect. While Iran will be allowed access to $4.2 billion of its oil sales, nearly $15 billion of its revenues during this period will go into restricted overseas accounts. In summary, we expect the balance of Iran's money in restricted accounts overseas will actually increase, not decrease, under the terms of this deal. Kerry: Israel is safe under new deal . Maintaining economic pressure on Iran and preserving our sanctions architecture . During the first phase, we will continue to vigorously enforce our sanctions against Iran, including by taking action against those who seek to evade or circumvent our sanctions. • Sanctions affecting crude oil sales will continue to impose pressure on Iran's government. Working with our international partners, we have cut Iran's oil sales from 2.5 million barrels per day (bpd) in early 2012 to 1 million bpd today, denying Iran the ability to sell almost 1.5 million bpd. That's a loss of more than $80 billion since the beginning of 2012 that Iran will never be able to recoup. Under this first step, the EU crude oil ban will remain in effect and Iran will be held to approximately 1 million bpd in sales, resulting in continuing lost sales worth an additional $4 billion per month, every month, going forward. • Sanctions affecting petroleum product exports to Iran, which result in billions of dollars of lost revenue, will remain in effect. • The vast majority of Iran's approximately $100 billion in foreign exchange holdings remain inaccessible or restricted by our sanctions. • Other significant parts of our sanctions regime remain intact, including: . -- Sanctions against the Central Bank of Iran and approximately two dozen other major Iranian banks and financial actors; . -- Secondary sanctions, pursuant to the Comprehensive Iran Sanctions, Accountability, and Divestment Act (CISADA) as amended and other laws, on banks that do business with U.S.-designated individuals and entities; . -- Sanctions on those who provide a broad range of other financial services to Iran, such as many types of insurance; and, . -- Restricted access to the U.S. financial system. • All sanctions on over 600 individuals and entities targeted for supporting Iran's nuclear or ballistic missile program remain in effect. • Sanctions on several sectors of Iran's economy, including shipping and shipbuilding, remain in effect. • Sanctions on long-term investment in and provision of technical services to Iran's energy sector remain in effect. • Sanctions on Iran's military program remain in effect. • Broad U.S. restrictions on trade with Iran remain in effect, depriving Iran of access to virtually all dealings with the world's biggest economy. • All UN Security Council sanctions remain in effect. • All of our targeted sanctions related to Iran's state sponsorship of terrorism, its destabilizing role in the Syrian conflict, and its abysmal human rights record, among other concerns, remain in effect. President Obama's legacy moment on Iran . | The White House issues a statement explaining the Iran nuclear deal . It includes details on halting progress of Iran's nuclear program . It also lays out the "temporary, reversible relief" for Iran . | df981e843216522d1c264774d143732ec0510e4d |
Washington (CNN) -- Ten years ago this week, under orders from Gen. Eric Shinseki, then Army Chief of Staff, the black beret became standard gear in the U.S. Army. It was the start of a pitched battle within the Army that would soon find itself fighting two hot wars. Now, just shy of the anniversary, Gen. Martin Dempsey, the current Army chief of staff, has replaced the black beret with the patrol cap as the default headgear for soldiers wearing Army combat uniforms, what most of us would call their camouflage fatigues. A patrol cap is like a camouflage baseball cap with a flat top rather than a rounded crown (think Pittsburgh Pirates circa 1979.) "It's fantastic," one soldier at the Pentagon said when CNN asked about the change. "Awesome," wrote a soldier on the Army's official Facebook page. "Sanity has prevailed." For years, soldiers have complained the wool beret was hot, hard to adjust and took two hands to put on. Others said it looked out of place in combination with the uniform soldiers wore when doing their grubbiest work. But even before Shinseki's order, the idea of having the entire Army wear berets was met with anger by the soldiers already wearing berets, like Special Forces, Airborne troops and especially the Army Rangers. Special Forces, known better as the Green Berets, considered the beret as a symbol of their becoming members of an elite group of soldiers. As did Airborne troops with their maroon berets and the Rangers who had been wearing black berets since at least 1979. Many of these elite soldiers felt that having every soldier wear a beret diminished the work and training they'd gone through to earn their berets. "Originally the black beret was a Ranger tradition," said Butch Nery, president of the U.S. Army Ranger Association. "Now I've gotten used to the tan beret." "My initial reaction to the decision to make the black beret the official headgear of the Army was one of anger and disappointment," Retired Army Major Richard Jones wrote in an official Army Internet post about the beret. At first, he tried to have the decision reversed before eventually getting on board. This latest change means the Special Forces and Airborne troops will keep their green and maroon berets, and the Rangers will stick with the tan berets that they switched to 10 years ago. If it strikes you that the Army is spending a lot of time and money worrying about hats, well not so. First off, the Army doesn't wear hats, it wears headgear or covers. More importantly, the Army says this move will soon save taxpayers about $6.5 million. The savings will come because most soldiers were being issued two berets and two patrol caps. Now they'll be issued just one beret and two patrol caps. The beret won't go away; it will still be the standard head gear for soldiers wearing their Army Service Uniform (ASU), a dress uniform for more formal events. Even some of those who opposed wearing the beret in the field posted on Facebook that they liked keeping the beret for those occasions. "Glad you're still holding onto the beret for certain things, looks great with the ASU!" one soldier posted. | The Army's black beret is being replaced with the patrol cap . "Sanity has prevailed," says one soldier . Some soldiers say the beret is hot, hard to adjust and takes two hands to put on . | 6633e3803b13c89af0b2b6ce5566e560d85831a3 |
By . Claire Bates . A mother saved her seriously-ill son after she realised he could have a brain tumour by searching for his symptoms online. Sabina Jones, 31, knew there was something seriously wrong with her son, despite doctors diagnosing him first with a stomach bug and then with migraines. She pleaded with doctors to give him a CT scan, which revealed the cancer. Kian Jones needed an emergency operation at Birmingham Children's Hospital to remove the inch-long tumour. Kian (centre in hat) with his parents Dave and Sabina and sisters Mya and Tia. The schoolboy had started suffering persistent problems with vomiting, his vision and headaches during the summer . The schoolboy had started suffering persistent problems with vomiting, his vision and headaches during last summer . Mrs Jones and husband Dave said they took him to the Royal Shrewsbury Hospital on three separate occasions, where his condition was firstly dismissed as a stomach infection - and then as migraines. Sabina, from Shrewbury, said the tumour was only discovered in mid-October when she trusted her mother's intuition and pleaded for further tests. Mrs Jones questioned why the tumour wasn't found earlier. She said: 'I was on the computer Googling and looking up symptoms of persistent headaches and vomiting and the site said your GP would normally refer you for a CT scan to rule out anything serious. 'We were quite angry because we felt no one was listening to us. Kian is hoping to start playing football again after he finishes cancer treatment . 'My husband did get angry and we did get a letter of apology from the doctor that said it was migraines. 'I can understand the first time when he went in. But for it to happen again with the same symptoms and him constantly being sick, I though they would do more tests. 'Had we not pushed for the scan, things could have been very different. I think that sometimes they are too quick to fob it off as something that is not important. It is a bit scary really.' When he was first admitted to hospital . on September 1 last year, Sabina said they were told by doctors Kian . may have been suffering some form of gastroenteritis. He is now on the road to recovery and undergoing regular chemotherapy as part of his treatment. Sabina said the family would be attending a meeting with hospital bosses to discuss how the tumour was missed and to seek reassurances the problem will not happen again. She added: 'He is dealing with it amazingly. He is going to school all day every day, other than when he has got hospital appointments. 'He still sees his friends and he wants to try and get as much normality as he can. His school have been brilliant and his close friends have been brilliant. 'He absolutely loves football. They have said hopefully when it is all sorted, he will be able to play again.' A spokesman for The Shrewsbury and Telford Hospital NHS Trust said: 'While we cannot comment specifically on this case, we can confirm that our priority is to make sure people have timely access to safe, high quality services when they need them. 'Brain tumours in children are very rare and can be difficult to diagnose because the symptoms can be similar to those that occur with other much more common and less serious childhood illnesses. 'We have invited the family to meet with the Trust to discuss their concerns and this offer remains open to them.' Friends and family have already organised a charity fun day and a walk up Snowdon to raise funds for Brain Tumour Research. They also hope to pay for a dream holiday to Florida for Kian - after the family were forced to cancel a planned trip to Mexico this summer due to his condition. | Kian suffered with headaches, vomiting and blurry vision last Summer . Parents took him to hospital three times where doctors said he had migraines . Mother insisted on CT Scan after Googling symptoms . | 96b85030c4d7c63351d931eb0436e2021de5dee6 |
Questions surround the death of a 17-year-old Colorado girl who jumped out of a moving car and was struck dead by oncoming traffic on a major highway. Catrina Fox was sitting in the passenger seat as her mother drove on a Colorado highway when she suddenly opened the door and jumped out in the very early hours of Saturday morning. Catrina was hit by a fellow teen who was driving his 2001 PT Cruiser and died at the scene. SCROLL DOWN FOR VIDEO . Tragic: Catrina Fox, 17, was being driven by her mother when she jumped out of the passenger seat of the car into oncoming traffic and died . Mystery: Friends and family have no clear answers about why Catrina decided to jump out of the car Saturday . Witnesses saw something on the highway immediately after the crash and swerved to avoid hitting it. After stopping to see what it was, they found the girl's mother, whose name has not been released, distraught trying to understand what happened. 'That's my daughter. Is she alive?' the woman asked Dean Krakel who stopped his car to see what was going on. He said that it was immediately clear that the girl was dead. 'I've never seen anything like that. She just got hit at full speed,' Mr Krakel told The Denver Post. 'It was horrific.' No reasons have been given for why . Catrina jumped out of the car, though police have said that they do not . believe alcohol or drugs were a factor. Her mother told investigators that the girl kicked out the door and jumped out of the moving car. Catrina worked at a Denver catering . company at the time of her death, but according to her Facebook wall she . was gearing up for a move to California. The . days before her death seemed happy and filled with good news as she . announced that she passed the first half of her high school equivalency . exam and was taken off probation for an unknown prior offence. Scene: Catrina died on Highway 285 near Kipling, Colorado . 'It feels good to be smilin again. i knew i just needed to focus on me for awhile [sic],' she wrote on January 18. Family friend Cali Shields, who owns a gardening shop in town where Catrina's mother works, was left devastated when she heard the news. She told 9news.com: 'The first thing that came to mind was her mom because she works here and I'm really close with her. 'I know she was a little bit troubled and upset about a lot of things. She was in and out of court. '[But] she started just accepting life how it was and being happy about it. I know she started to talk about plans to move to California and she was so excited.' The . boy who was driving the Cruiser that hit and killed Catrina has been . cooperating with police and immediately stopped the vehicle after the . crash. There have been no charges filed against the boy, whose name has also not been released because he is a minor. Catrina was hit by a teenage boy who was driving a 2001 PT Cruiser similar to this one . | 'That's my daughter - is she alive?' asked mother after Catrina Fox inexplicably jumped into the freeway . | 3dab9beba60e55429f5b057b0ac28b145902471b |
Vanishing spray will be used for the first time in English football at the FA Community Shield match between Arsenal and Manchester City at Wembley on Sunday. The spray is used by referees to mark out a line for the wall to stand at free-kicks, 10 yards away from the ball, and disappears after a couple of minutes. It will also be used in the Premier League for the new season after its success at the World Cup. VIDEO Scroll down to watch recently retired referee Howard Webb test the vanishing spray . Now you see it...: The vanishing spray was seen as a big success at the World Cup and is coming to England . FA general secretary Alex Horne said: 'It is great that vanishing spray will be used for the first time in England in this Sunday's FA Community Shield fixture at Wembley Stadium. 'Vanishing spray was a great innovation at the 2014 World Cup, having been trialled in South America, and the FA were instrumental in allowing this into the laws of the game in 2012 through our role in the International FA Board.' Spray on the way: Arsenal will be the first to see the spray in action when they face Manchester City . | Spray used for marking out temporary field lines will be used at Wembley . It was picked up by the FA and Premier League after use at the World Cup . Arsenal and Manchester City will be first to benefit from its use . 2,000 cans of the spray have been ordered for use in the Premier League . | f972f2c647d7da36c47c932db91a4920301e245a |
By . Anna Hodgekiss . PUBLISHED: . 11:57 EST, 25 February 2014 . | . UPDATED: . 12:51 EST, 25 February 2014 . Former Apprentice winner Michelle Dewberry has spoken of her fears that she would die after a 'pimple' on her nose turned out to be a skin cancer. She has also described the agony she was in after surgery to remove the growth - and her fears that she would be left disfigured forever. Since the cancer was removed, she has also undergone reconstructive surgery. Scroll down for video . Worrying: Apprentice winner Michelle Dewberry feared she would die after a persistent red mark on her nose was finally diagnosed as skin cancer . In January, the 34-year-old businesswoman announced she had been diagnosed with Basal Cell Carcinoma, the same condition Hollywood actor Hugh Jackman was diagnosed with late last year. Michelle told The Sunday Mirror: 'When I heard the "C" word I crumbled. It was really harrowing, I thought I was going to die.' Michelle had been worried about a 'persistent pimple' on her face, despite being told by staff at an NHS walk-centre more than a year before it was nothing to worry about. Agony: Michelle after surgery to remove the cancerous growth from her nose. She had been diagnosed with basal cell carcinoma and feared surgery would leave her disfigured forever . It was only when she met a plastic surgeon at a Christmas party - who said it looked serious - that she pushed for a biopsy - which revealed the horrifying truth. Within a fortnight, she had undergone emergency surgery to remove the tumour. As well as being in excruciating pain, she was left with a centimetre-deep crater on the left side of her nose, according to The Sunday Mirror. This has recently been treated by taking skin from her cheek to fill in the hole. She told the newspaper: 'I can’t even explain to you how much pain I was in after the op – I couldn’t eat or sleep because it hurt so much. She added: 'But . I also worried over what it meant for me and the rest of my life. I . felt so ugly. I had a hole cut out of my face and I was so . self-conscious about it I didn’t even want to leave the house.' Terrified: 'When I heard the "C" word I crumbled. It was really harrowing, I thought I was going to die,' Michelle said . Business brain: Hull-based Michelle won the second series of The Apprentice back in 2006, beating fellow finalist Ruth Badger to bag a lucrative job with technology mogul, Lord Alan Sugar . Speaking about her traumatic experience, the Sky Sunrise regular said she had feared for her life. She added that she was angry her concerns about her 'pimple' had been dismissed as nothing to worry about. Speaking about finally getting a diagnosis, the website entreprenuer urged fans to get checked if in doubt about their health, as she warned the condition can be extremely 'destructive' if it goes without being treated. She told MailOnline: 'I wanted to share this because it was a spot on my face, not a mole. It's a common misconception that it's moles that cause this. 'I had the pimple for a year and a half . before it was wrongly diagnosed at an NHS walk-in centre. If you have . something, go and get it checked out. 'I always said I was too busy but . thankfully for me, it's very easy to get it sorted. If it had gone . unchecked, then who knows what might have happened. It's better to be . safe than sorry. The condition is localised but destructive if goes . unchecked.' Scarred: Michelle (pictured before surgery) was left with a centimetre-deep crater on the left side of her nose after an operation to remove the skin cancer . Basal cell carcinoma account for about 75 per cent of skin cancers. The exact cause is unknown but it is thought to be linked to overexposure to UV light. The condition affects about 100,000 new patients in the UK every year. The chance of developing the cancer . is higher in people with a family history of the condition, in people . with pale skin and in those with lots of freckles. In most cases, cancerous lumps are red and firm while cancerous patches are flat and scaly. It is estimated that basal cell carcinoma will spread to other parts of the body in less than 0.5 per cent of cases. The risk is slightly higher in cases of squamous cell carcinoma - another type of skin cancer - which spreads to other parts of the body in about 4 per cent of cases. Treatment for basal cell carcinoma is completely successful in approximately 90 per cent of cases. Michelle . has always been safe in the sun, wearing factor 30 sun lotion on a . daily basis, and not even going abroad until she was 18. Under the knife: Michelle has now had reconstructive surgery to cover the hole in her nose, using skin from her cheek . Hull-based Michelle won the second series of The Apprentice back in 2006, beating fellow finalist Ruth Badger to bag a lucrative job with technology mogul, Lord Alan Sugar. Following her victory on the BBC business-based reality show, Michelle was awarded a position within Lord Sugar's AMSTRAD company, aiding the launch of Xenon Green, a new venture which specialised in computer equipment disposal. After working for the multi-millionaire for 11 months, Michelle left Lord Sugar's employment to set up her own consultancy firm and assist on government initiatives supporting aspiring young entrepreneurs. The businesswoman now presents a weekly programme on Sky Sunrise alongside presenter Eamonn Holmes, as well as running a social buying website. | Businesswoman, 34, announced in January she had Basal Cell Carcinoma . Had surgery to remove persistent red 'pimple' on her nose . Says she was 'in agony' after the surgery in December to remove the cancer . Was left with centimetre-deep crater on the left side of her nose . Since had reconstructive surgery to cover hole, using skin from her cheek . It is estimated that basal cell carcinoma will spread to other parts of the body in less than 0.5% of cases - treatment is effective in 90% of cases . | 5ea71de91c1d3f7707b4ef8d9fb51cbd84cd4260 |
Crawley manager John Gregory has stepped down and will be replaced by Dean Saunders on an interim basis. The League One club have confirmed the 60-year-old former Aston Villa boss will undergo heart surgery in the early new year and requires a lengthy period of recovery. Saunders, who was last in work as manager of Wolves, will step in and be in charge of Sunday's clash with Colchester. John Gregory has stepped down as Crawley Town manager with immediate effect . A club statement read: 'Crawley Town can confirm that team manager John Gregory is stepping down from his position with immediate effect. 'John will be undergoing a major open-heart surgery operation at the beginning of January and afterwards will need a lengthy period of recuperation. This operation needs to be done as soon as possible but is not stress-related. 'The club have appointed Dean Saunders as interim team manager. Dean will be responsible for every aspect of the playing side including coaching, player recruitment and scouting. 'After an illustrious 19-year playing career Dean had spells as assistant manager at Blackburn, Newcastle and with the Welsh national team. He was in charge for three years at Wrexham before spells at Doncaster Rovers and Wolves. Former Wolves manager Dean Saunders is set to take over on an interim basis . 'The club would urge all our supporters to get behind Dean, starting on Sunday when he will take charge of the team for the home game against Colchester United.' Saunders takes over with the Red Devils in the relegation zone in League One following Boxing Day's 4-1 defeat at fellow strugglers Leyton Orient. | Crawley manager John Gregory steps down with immediate effect . He will be replaced by Dean Saunders on an interim basis . Gregory is set to undergo heart surgery in the new year . | f82a9051dd6f91c3a2dd093f2ed41513aaf33bf3 |
Andy Murray's former mentor Sergio Casal has no worries about the Scot's choice of coaches, insisting he has plenty to learn from 'champion' Amelie Mauresmo. Murray's appointment of Mauresmo has come under a measure of criticism, ever since the former women's world No 1 joined forces with him in June. Former British No 1 Tim Henman recently expressed doubts about whether Mauresmo was having the right impact on Murray - a feeling exacerbated when the Scot's season came to a crushing end in a 6-0 6-1 loss to Roger Federer at the ATP World Tour finals. Andy Murray's decision to appoint Amelie Mauresmo as a coach drew plenty of criticism . However, Casal, who mentored a 15-year-old Murray at the famed Sanchez-Casal academy in Barcelona, feels the partnership with Mauresmo, much like the previous one with Ivan Lendl, will be a fruitful one. Speaking at the academy's visit to York, where it delivered a series of performance player, coach, and adult workshops, Casal told Press Association: 'He had Lendl, now Mauresmo. You can always get something from these champions. 'It depends on the connection. But the important thing is that he is connected with champions. 'These champions, always you can learn something from them.' Murray linked up with Mauresmo just before Wimbledon, where the two are pictured together here in July . Murray announced that Dani Vallverdu (left) would leave his backroom team along with Jez Green . Indeed, it was at the Sanchez-Casal academy more than a decade ago that a teenage Murray struck up a partnership with Venezuelan Dani Vallverdu, who later became part of his coaching staff and was highly valued by Lendl. Vallverdu and Murray recently ended their association and Casal, a former world No 3 in doubles, hopes this decision is also for the best. 'They've been together so long,' Casal said. 'They are best friends. I hope there is nothing wrong between them. 'Sometimes you have to make these decisions to make another step. Who knows what is happening inside?' Murray in action for the Manila Mavericks in the International Tennis Premier League with Maria Sharapova . Sergio Casal mentored Murray for 15 years at the Sanchez-Casal academy in Barcelona . A recently engaged Murray is currently playing for the Manila Mavericks in the inaugural International Premier Tennis League, as he looks ahead to the 2015 season. Casal is already proud of his protege's achievements, including the Grand Slam victories of recent years, even if 2014 has not gone completely to plan for the Scot. Should Murray ever need another helping hand though, Casal is happy to oblige. When asked if he would consider ever coaching the 27-year-old again, Casal said: 'We never thought about that! 'But, of course, to be with him, one of the best players in the world, is great. I know him since before juniors. 'The results he has made already are incredible. 'Even winning Wimbledon is so complicated, especially here with the people wanting it, and finally he did it. I think he handled the pressure well.' Sergio Casal was speaking at the Sanchez-Casal academy's UK coaching tour, held in conjunction with Down The Line Sports. For more information visit www.sanchez-casal.com and www.downthelinesports.com . | Andy Murray's decision to appoint Amelie Mauresmo received criticism . Murray removed Dani Vallverdu and Jez Green from his backroom team . Sergio Casal says that Murray will learn plenty from 'champion' Mauresmo . Casal was Murray's mentor at the Sanchez-Casal Academy in Barcelona . | e7ffcfdb3b2f8e4d8a25fafbc9acc816723a2030 |
A top-secret weapon being developed by the US military was destroyed four seconds after its launch from a test range in Alaska early on Monday after controllers detected a problem with the system, the Pentagon said. The Advanced Hypersonic Weapon is part of a program to create a missile that will destroy targets anywhere on Earth within hours - traveling at speeds in excess of 3,500 miles-an-hour or Mach 5. The mission was aborted to ensure public safety, and no one was injured in the incident, which occurred shortly after 4 am EDT at the Kodiak Launch Complex in Alaska, said Maureen Schumann, a spokeswoman for the U.S. Defense Department. 'We had to terminate,' Schumann said. 'The weapon exploded during takeoff and fell back down in the range complex,' she added. The incident caused an undetermined amount of damage to the launch facility 25 miles from the city of Kodiak, Schumann said. Scroll down for video . Detonation: The moment the weapon exploded is captured by Scott Wight and shows the horizon from Cape Greville in Chiniak, Alaska . Officials said that the weapon system was not carrying a warhead when it was aborted. The rocket carrying the Advanced Hypersonic Weapon was terminated near a pad of the Kodiak Launch Complex on Kodiak Island shortly after liftoff, spokeswoman Maureen Schumann said. After an anomaly was detected, testers made the decision to destroy the rocket to ensure public safety, Schumann said. "It came back down on the range complex," she said. "Fortunately, no people on the ground were injured. There was damage, but I'm not sure of the extent of it at this time." The launch complex is about 25 miles from the city of Kodiak. Witnesses watched the rocket lift off at 12:25 am, quickly head nose-down and explode, KMXT radio reported. According to the Washington Free Beacon, the Advanced Hypersonic Weapon is being developed as a joint project between the Army Space and Missile Defense Command and the Army Forces Strategic Command to form the Pentagon's Prompt Global Strike initiative. The Defense Department wants a weapon that can strike targets anywhere in the world within hours using a conventionally armed missile traveling at Mach 5 or 3,500 miles an hour. The missile would be used to hit terrorist targets identified on satellites thousands of miles away or weapons of mass destruction being moved in open ground that only have a small window within which to strike. The disastrous abort of the Advanced Hypersonic Weapon in Alasak follows a failed test by the Chinese military of a similar system. The Wu-14 missile is being developed by China to launch nuclear warheads or to strike ships and is being designed to travel at speeds of up to Mach 10 or 8,000 miles-an-hour. Hong Kong’s South China Morning Post, said that the Chinese test of the Wu-14 three weeks ago failed in similar circumstances to the American test. According to the Washington Free Beacon, Russia too is attempting to develop its own hypersonic weapon. Source: Washington Free Beacon . Kodiak photographer Scott Wight watched the launch from Cape Greville in Chiniak, about a dozen miles from the launch site. He described the explosion as quite loud and scary. A fire afterward burned brightly. The rocket was the booster for the Advanced Hypersonic Weapon, a glide vehicle designed to quickly reach a target. The design is one of several being tested by the Army under the umbrella of the Conventional Prompt Global Strike program, Schumann said. "It's a concept that will allow the Department of Defense to engage any target anywhere in the world in less than an hour," she said. The first flight test of the Advanced Hypersonic Weapon on November 17, 2011, flew the weapon from Hawaii to Kwajalein Atoll in the South Pacific. The test Monday was designed to enhance previous ground testing, modeling and simulation, Schumann said. Traveling at hypersonic speed, the glider also was aimed at Kwajalein and was supposed to cover the 3,500 miles in less than an hour, Schumann said. Experimental: Traveling at hypersonic speed, the glider also was aimed at Kwajalein and was supposed to cover the 3,500 miles in less than an hour . Experimental: This US Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency artists rendering shows the Falcon Hypersonic Technology Vehicle 2 (HTV-2). The US military had to detonate a hypersonic weapon seconds after lift-off on August 25, 2014 due to a technical problem, cutting short a flight test for the experimental project, officials said on Monday . Strike capability: The Falcon HTV-2 will be launched on a rocket into space then will glide back down to Earth. The 2011 test flight lasted only nine minutes before being deliberately crashed as a safety measure due to technical difficulties . It was a setback for the US program, which some analysts see as countering the growing development of ballistic missiles by Iran and North Korea but others say is part of an arms race with China, which tested a hypersonic system in January. Riki Ellison, founder of the nonprofit Missile Defense Advocacy Alliance, said he did not think Monday's failure would lead to the program's termination. 'This is such an important mission and there is promise in this technology,' he said. He said officials aborted the mission after detecting a fault in the computers. Anthony Cordesman, a defense analyst at the Center for Strategic and International Studies think tank, said the technology was best suited for use against smaller, less-developed countries with missiles. 'The United States has never assumed that these ... are going to be systems that you can use against a power like China by themselves,' he said. 'For a country like Iran or North Korea, they could be a very significant deterrent.' The rocket carrying the Advanced Hypersonic Weapon was terminated near a pad of the Kodiak Launch Complex (pictured) on Kodiak Island shortly after liftoff . James Acton, a defense analyst at the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace, said the Pentagon had never been clear about the mission for the weapon, with some viewing it as an effective tool against terrorists and others seeing it as a counter to China or Iran and North Korea. While hypersonic weapons are unlikely to be fielded for a decade, Acton said the fact that Washington and Beijing were both testing the weapons indicated there was a real potential for an arms race. 'I believe the US program is significantly more sophisticated than the Chinese program,' he said. The weapon, known as the Advanced Hypersonic Weapon, was developed by Sandia National Laboratory and the US Army. Schumann said it included a glide body mounted on a three-stage, solid-propellant booster system known as STARS, for Strategic Target System. In a previous test in November 2011, the craft had successfully flown from Hawaii to the Kwajalein Atoll in the Marshall Islands, she said. On Monday, it was supposed to fly from Alaska to the Kwajalein Atoll. Acton said no conclusions could be drawn about the weapon based on Monday's accident because the launcher detonated before the glide vehicle could be deployed. | Rocket carrying an experimental Army strike weapon exploded early Monday after taking off from a launch pad in Alaska . Kodiak photographer Scott Wight watched the launch from Cape Greville in Chiniak . Weapon able to travel at speeds of up to 3,500mph and strike anywhere on Earth in hours . | b46c4cf9da60238764133cd22c63cab3aa4ce8c2 |
Brazilian driver Felipe Massa says Pirelli's choice of tyres for his home Grand Prix next month is 'very dangerous'. The Italian company announced last week it would be taking its two hardest compounds to Interlagos - the hard and medium tyres - due to the high energy demands of the anti-clockwise Sao Paulo circuit. 'Dangerous, very dangerous,' Massa told reporters when asked at the Russian Grand Prix for his opinion on the choice. Felipe Massa described Pirelli's choice of tyres for his home Grand Prix as 'very dangerous' 'I have no idea why they chose medium and hard and it's completely unacceptable.' Formula One's only current Brazilian driver said the conditions at the circuit could be wet and cold and a hard tyre might not provide enough grip in circumstances where drivers needed to take a gamble on dry tyres. Massa, whose concerns about safety have been heightened by the horrific accident suffered by friend and fellow driver Jules Bianchi in Japan this month, also said the track had been resurfaced, which might cause additional problems. 'I already spoke to most of the drivers, I spoke to the FIA, I spoke to everybody, so more than what I did I think is difficult,' said the Brazilian. 'We wait and see.' The Brazilian driver said it could rain at Interlagos, meaning the lack of soft tyres could be dangerous . Pirelli's motorsport head Paul Hembery was puzzled by Massa's comments, pointing out the hard tyre had been raced previously at Interlagos, which hosts the penultimate race of the season. 'It's one of the more aggressive circuits we have on the calendar and has the risk of creating blistering problems. We know that the soft tyre under extreme loads has the potential to blister,' he said. Hembery agreed however that the new asphalt could be a factor and said the company would double check that before the next meeting of the sport's tyre working group. 'If there's unanimous agreement, we can reconsider,' he added, although any change would be based solely on the technical data. Heavy rain at the Japanese Grand Prix contributed to the catastrophic crash of Jules Bianchi . | Pirelli have chosen medium and hard tyres for the Brazilian Grand Prix . Felipe Massa described the decision as 'very dangerous' Pirelli said the same tyres were used last year at Interlagos . The Brazilian driver claimed it could rain during the race . Heavy rain recently contributed to the crash of Jules Bianchi . | 8533ad325149dc9e0625d916854f453058169c91 |
It seems Paddington Bear has come a long way from the wide eyed dufflecoat-wearing marmalade-loving character once adored by children in the 70s. If the British Board of Film Classification (BBFC) is to be believed, cinemagoers heading to watch his latest big screen incarnation can expect 'dangerous behaviour, mild threat, mild sex references (and) bad language' from Britain's best loved bear. However, the PG rating came as somewhat of a surprise to Paddington's 88-year-old creator Michael Bond, who chronicled his adventures in a series of popular books. Scroll down for video . The new Paddington Bear film has been given a PG rating rather than the U expected by creator Michael Bond . The British Board of Film Classification (BBFC) had warned cinemagoers to expect 'dangerous behaviour, mild threat, mild sex references (and) bad language' from Britain's best loved bear . He had still to see the film by the time it was given its certificate, but he said he was 'totally amazed' by the classification advice. The writer, who makes a cameo appearance in the film, said: 'I'd be very upset. I might not sleep well tonight. I can't imagine what the sex references are. It doesn't enter into it with the books, certainly.' The BBFC has since gone on to clarify that the swearing in the film was 'infrequent' and substituted 'innuendo' for 'mild sex references'. The 'infrequent scenes of dangerous behaviour' in the film refer to Paddington hiding in a fridge and skateboarding while holding on to a bus, while 'mild threat' was seen when a taxidermist villain 'threatens to kill and stuff' the famous bear. And among the 'mild sex references' - later revised to 'innunendo' - is a homoerotic 'comic sequence in which a man disguised as a woman is flirted with by another man'. The BBFC has since gone on to clarify that the swearing in the film, starring Hugh Bonneville was 'infrequent' and substituted 'innuendo' for 'mild sex references' The 'infrequent scenes of dangerous behaviour' in the film refer to Paddington hiding in a fridge and skateboarding while holding on to a bus, while 'mild threat' was seen when a taxidermist villain 'threatens to kill and stuff' the famous bear . Ben Whishaw provides the voice for the Peruvian bear in the live-action film, which also features Downton Abbey's Hugh Bonneville, Dr Who star Peter Capaldi and Australian actress Nicole Kidman. Whishaw replaced Colin Firth as the voice of Paddington after The King's Speech star quit, saying he was having trouble finding the voice of the marmalade-loving bear. The film sees Paddington despatched from his native jungle and smuggled on board a boat to England. Ben Whishaw provides the voice for the Peruvian bear in the live-action film, which also features Dr Who star Peter Capaldi and Australian actress Nicole Kidman (pictured) However, the news came as somewhat of a surprise to Paddington's 88-year-old creator Michael Bond, who chronicled his adventures in a series of popular books, who said he was 'totally amazed' by the classification . Recent children's films which have been awarded a universal (U) certificate include The Lego Movie, Despicable Me 2 and Monsters University while Frozen (mild threat) and How To Train Your Dragon 2 (mild violence and threat) were awarded a PG certificate. Announcing the revised consumer 'insight' advice, the BBFC said it had made the amendments after the distributor asked for it to be reconsidered. It now reads: 'dangerous behaviour, mild threat, innuendo, infrequent mild bad language'. In a statement, the BBFC added: 'The content in the film goes beyond the BBFC guidelines at U and the distributor was content with the PG certificate for the film.' Changes to guidelines last year resulted in the body being tougher on bad language at the U level as a result of public consultations. Bond's books have sold 35 million copies worldwide since they were first published in 1958. | British Board of Film Classification (BBFC) warned the new film includes dangerous behaviour, mild threat, mild sex references and bad language' The BBFC has since gone on to clarify that the swearing in the film was 'infrequent' and substituted 'innuendo' for 'mild sex references' It came as a surprise to Paddington's 88-year-old creator Michael Bond . He said he was 'totally amazed' by the classification advice from the BBFC . | e84bc3c98dc540a41f2ad7e5cae41b713ad88e82 |
It was once a sanctuary of silence - where people went to escape the distractions of their home. But the modern library has been transformed into a noisy children's playground - thanks to countless schemes introduced to entice more visitors. Many people have now had enough and a campaign is underway to move Britain's libraries back to to their intended purpose as places of quiet reading. Scroll down for video . Change: The modern library has transformed into a noisy children's playground - thanks to countless schemes introduced to entice more visitors (picture posed by models) An article published in the Public Libraries News last month suggested that 'public librarians, perhaps in the reaction to the stereotypical 'shush' image have sometimes gone out their way to be louder and more energetic and, in doing so, have alienated some of its clientele and core audience.' Some authors, who have now put their weight behind the campaign, say the institutions are desperate to justify their existence in times of budget cuts, reports The Times. But they believe libraries have gone too far - with many now acting as creches, concert halls and dance class venues. Alan Gibbons, an award-winning children's authors said: 'Fashionable activities can retract from reading pleasure and that's right at the heart of what libraries should be about. Balance needed: Culture Minister Ed Vaizey has claimed libraries need to weigh up new community initiatives with the demands and expectations of their users . 'If the peripherals become more important than that, it becomes a problem.' Many libraries across the UK are now holding Baby Bounce and Rhyme sessions where toddlers experiment with percussion instruments while singing nursery rhymes. Cardiff's Central Library hosts music gigs every Saturday, Newcastle's City Library has a creche and the Library of Birmingham offers its own business club for budding entrepreneurs. Culture Minister Ed Vaizey has claimed libraries need to balance new community initiatives with the demands and expectations of their users. There are 4,134 public libraries lending 262.7million books a year and there are 10.3million active book borrowers in Britain. But according to the Chartered Institute of Public Finance and Accountancy's recent survey, the number of people using libraries declined by six per cent and book lending by 8.6 per cent last year. There are 4,134 public libraries lending 262.7million books a year and there are 10.3million active borrowers in Britain . Brian Ashley, Director Libraries Arts Council England said: 'There's a recurring theme in all of this which is that it's all about the age-old stereotype of libraries as a place where some forbidding person tells you to "shut up" or "shhhh", and it's frankly something that most of us who work in libraries would like to consign to history. 'Having said that, we know that many library users value them as spaces where they can be quiet and study or just reflect and we know that people see libraries as trusted safe spaces and that's a quality we would never want to lose.' In January 2011, it was revealed that more than 400 libraries were under threat of closure due to budget cuts - forcing library users to set up the Save Our Libraries Campaign. Phillip Pullman, author of His Dark Materials Trilogy which includes The Northern Lights, got behind the protest. So did Michael Morpurgo, the former children's laureate and author of War Horse, and Mark Haddon, who wrote The Curious Incident Of The Dog In The Night. Last year charity Library Campaign claimed the government was #hiding' the scale of cuts and predicted more than 1,000 closures by 2016. | Once a sanctuary of silence - modern library has become noisy environment . Librarians accused of encouraging activities in bid to entice more visitors . Campaign has been launched to get UK's libraries back to intended purpose . | e311343d72ba15de4a92724ac76cd74bb23ac58f |
Former U.S. President Bill Clinton isn't eyeing a return to the White House just yet, but he is thinking about what people will call him if his wife Hillary – the former first lady – becomes the 45th president. First gentleman? FGOTUS? First man? 'Let's say, if a woman became president, we could – I could be called 'Adam.' I don't know,' Mr. Clinton told cooking show host Rachael Ray on Thursday, according to snippets released before the episode aired. The idea of the legendary lothario as 'first gentleman' usually brings eye-rolls from conservatives and lip-biting from liberals, but Hillary Clinton is the odds-on favorite to win the Democratic Party's nomination next year. Given some of her husband's extracurricular activities during his 8-year presidency, having this particular 'gentleman' in the White House again – this time in the East Wing – would become an endless source of entertainment for late-night TV hosts. TANNED, RESTED AND READY: Bill Clinton said Thursday that it's up to his wife Hillary what to call him if she wins the 2016 presidential contest . Clinton joked with Rachael Ray that as 'first man' his nickname might become 'Adam' READY FOR HILLARY: Mrs. Clinton has been first lady, a US senator and secretary of state – and now reportedly wants the ultimate brass ring . When Hillary ran in 2008, Mr. Clinton told ABC News that he would 'not get underfoot too much' at the White House. 'I don't want to get in the way,' he said then. 'I want to do what I am asked to do and what I am needed to do.' He planned to have an East Wing office and a staff, and also to keep his New York City office at the Clinton Foundation's office. 'It's also not bad for America to have a former president out there helping people solve their problems,' Clinton added. 'I think that I could do a lot of double time, like if she wanted me to go someplace to work with some problem, I could also be doing my foundation work.' In 2007 at the Aspen Ideas Festival, he suggested a twist on 'first lady,' saying a Scottish friend told him to embrace the title 'first laddie' instead.' Officially, the Clintons would be introduced at public functions as 'The President of the United States and President Clinton,' according to White House protocol guidelines. Similarly, when George W. Bush was presdient and his father would visit for formal events, press guidelines referred to them as 'The President of the United States and President Bush.' If former Florida Governor Jeb Bush were to become president and his father were still around, the White House troika would be introduced at his inauguration as 'The President of the United States, President George W. Bush and President George H.W. Bush.' But in the Clintons' orbit, Bill is already thinking past the first female president. 'You know, if the president is a man, you call the president's spouse 'the first lady,' he told Ray, 'so we'll have to cross this bridge if a gay couple [is ever in the White House].' 'We're joking about this,' Clinton said, 'but it's a serious decision. Serious decision for Hillary, serious decision for the country, and the world.' 'Look, I love my wife. Whatever she wants to do, I'm for. I think it'd be good for the country because she's the ablest person I've ever worked with.' 'If she decided not to do it,' he said, imagining the politically unlikely, 'I'd give her the bucket list, and we'd go check 'em off.' That, at least, would remove the quirky question of what to call him. Meet the first gentleman: Clinton could return to the White House with a lot less responsibility this time around . POWER COUPLE: The Clintons could be the ultimate epicenter of American influence if Hillary wins the White House . When 2008 Republican vice presidential nominee Sarah Palin was governor of Alaska, her husband Todd preferred to go by the honorific 'first dude.' The title 'first lady' doesn't actually refer to the president's wife, but to the designated 'hostess' at the White House. 'First Lady' is the title of the hostess of the White House, not the President's wife. America has elected unmarried presidents, whose other female relatives filled the role. James Buchanan never married; Grover Cleveland was wed while in office. Thomas Jefferson, Andrew Jackson, Martin Van Buren and Chester Arthur were widowers when they were elected. The wives of John Tyler, Benjamin Harrison and Woodrow Wilsondied during their presidencies. Technically speaking, America's youngest first lady was Chelsea Clinton – from Jan 3, 2000 to Jan 20, 2000. During those 18 days, her father was still president while her mother had left the White House to become a U.S. senator. YOUNGEST FIRST LADY: Chelsea Clinton was technically first lady for 18 days in 2000, while her father was president and her mother was getting used to being a US senator . So it's conceivable that if Bill Clinton chose to live outside the White House during a Hillary presidency, someone else – like Chelsea's husband Marc Mezvinsky – could be the 'first gentleman.' He's a hedge fund manager on Wall Street, though, so he probably wouldn't like the new ZIP code. Former first lady Laura Bush, in an interview with C-SPAN last year, mused about how the press scrutinized her fashion sense and hairdos, saying the spouse of the first female president shouldn't be let off the hook. 'Maybe we should be that way about the first gentleman also,' she said. 'and really critique the way they look all the time. Their choice of tie, or their hairstyle, or whatever.' 'Or maybe their weight,' she joked. Bill Clinton was on Ray's show Thursday to hep her make a 'healthy game-day chili' for Super Bowl Sunday. | In a riff on 'first man,' Former president told cooking show host Rachael Ray that 'I could be called 'Adam.' I don't know' He would likely still be referred to as 'Mr. President,' the same as today, but he said in 2007 that he liked a Scottish friend's idea: 'first laddie' 'President Clinton' would suddenly no longer be enough to distinguish the two spouses . 'First gentleman' has been the traditional choice in other countries . Sarah Palin's husband actually went by 'First Dude' when she was Alaska's governor . | 7c80afea1ba9b99e4697e4f408d5c198d62cf41d |
By . Hugo Gye . PUBLISHED: . 06:15 EST, 30 April 2013 . | . UPDATED: . 06:20 EST, 30 April 2013 . An anniversary appeal for information on the murder of Stephen Lawrence has prompted two 'very significant' phone calls, police said today. The appeal was broadcast on the BBC's Crimewatch programme last night, a week after the 20th anniversary of the racist attack in Eltham, South-East London. Officers are now following up a number of phone calls received after the programme. Victim: Stephen Lawrence was murdered 20 years ago and a special BBC1 Crimewatch appeal broadcast yesterday sought new information on the case . Distinctive: A man in a green jacket was seen opposite the Coronet cinema near the scene of the murder wearing a green jacket with a large 'V' Detective Chief Inspector Clive Driscoll said they had many calls last night, but two in particular were 'very significant'. 'One could produce a potential . eyewitness to the attack, and one gives very good background information . about suspects already known,' he said. 'In addition to that we have also had . three phone calls about the green jumper or jacket and we will . certainly be making inquiries around those bits of information to verify . them.' Mr Lawrence, an 18-year-old aspiring . architect, was stabbed to death by a group of up to six white youths in . an unprovoked racist attack as he waited at a bus stop in Well Hall Road . with a friend on the evening of April 22 1993. In January 2012 Gary Dobson and David . Norris were found guilty of being involved in the attack and sentenced . to life imprisonment, after a forensic review of the case found . significant new scientific evidence on clothing seized from their homes . following the murder. Gary Dobson, left, and David Norris were convicted of Stephen's killing in January last year. Dobson dropped his appeal last month while Norris continues to fight against his conviction . But police have said that, despite . securing two convictions, the investigation remains open and officers . believe there were people in the area of the murder who have never come . forward. These include two men who got off a . bus at the stop opposite where Mr Lawrence was attacked and walked . southbound along the east side of Well Hall Road; a man who ran from the . area of Well Hall Road roundabout to the bus stop on the same side of . Well Hall Road as the attack; a man who was walking on the east side of . Well Hall south of the roundabout, opposite the Coronet cinema, wearing a . distinctive green jacket with a large 'V'; and anyone else in the . general vicinity, such as those outside the cinema and on passing buses. Mr Driscoll said previously: . 'Although two individuals are serving a life sentence in connection with . this murder, we have always known there were other people involved in . the attack. As such this investigation remains open and my team is . committed to pursuing all viable lines of inquiry available to us. It is . hoped this appeal will assist with our inquiries. 'We believe there were people in the . area that night who may have seen something - not the murder itself . necessarily, but events or individuals leading up to the event. 'I am taking this opportunity to . appeal directly to those people to come forward and speak to us. You may . think you won't remember something from so long ago, but we would still . implore you to come forward.' Anyone with information about Stephen’s murder can call the incident room on 020 8785 8310 or Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111. | Appeal last night by the detective who helped convict two of the murderers . A number of people have phoned in to help, including two 'significant' calls . Gary Dobson and David Norris were convicted of murder last year . | 9b9551feddbcb27f06544696699b8a73e430c6ab |
Climbdown: Fawcett Society's Belinda Phipps has now said the workers' conditions are in 'complete contradiction' to their ethical policy . The Fawcett Society has for the first time conceded it is ‘very concerned’ that women in Mauritius making its ‘This Is What A Feminist Looks Like’ T-shirts are paid just 62p an hour. The Left-wing feminist organisation has for weeks rejected accusations of an ethical blunder after The Mail on Sunday revealed the conditions under which the workers are employed. But the Society has now sent an inquiry team to the island to investigate. Fawcett chairwoman Belinda Phipps made the climbdown yesterday, saying: ‘Obviously we’re very concerned about what’s been brought to our attention. It’s in complete contradiction to our own ethical policy.’ Ms Phipps said that clothing retailer Whistles, which sold the £45 T-shirts – worn by Labour’s Harriet Harman and Ed Miliband, and Lib Dem leader Nick Clegg – was conducting the investigation with Made-By, a charity dedicated to ethical standards in fashion. ‘Whistles are concerned and the government of Mauritius is concerned. What matters to us now is that there is a full and thorough investigation. Whistles are in Mauritius. We expect to have a report from them in about two weeks.’ But the news came after the charity was again accused of ‘shameless hypocrisy’ over its new campaign for a ‘living wage’ in the UK, despite the fact the migrant workers in Mauritius are paid far below the official ‘living wage’ there, and were living 16 to a room in dormitories. Yet When The Mail on Sunday asked the Society whether it supported the living wage in Mauritius – which would represent a significant pay rise for workers producing their T-shirts at the Compagnie Mauricienne de Textile (CMT) factory – we received no comment. The official Mauritian living wage is £1.47 an hour, though the workers making the T-shirts do receive free board and lodging, however basic. Labour leader Ed Miliband in the T-shirt, left, and right, how The Mail on Sunday reported workers' plight . Whistles and the Fawcett Society chose to ignore the living wage – an official Mauritius government benchmark of a basic salary in the country – and instead pointed out the women were being paid above the minimum wage, a figure even the government accepted needs to be reviewed. In a press release last week, the Fawcett Society gave its full backing to the concept of a living wage, at least in the UK. Commenting on figures showing the disparity between wages paid to men and women had closed only a little in the past year, it said more needed to be done to reduce the gender pay gap, and called on the Government to sign up to the living wage in this country by paying it to civil servants and encouraging local authorities to do the same. Fawcett’s deputy chief executive Dr Eva Neitzert said: ‘We urgently need to tackle the unacceptably low wages paid to women. ‘Government should take the lead in supporting the take-up of the living wage.’ Jane Ragoo, a Mauritius union leader, last night condemned the Society over its UK living wage comments, saying: ‘It seems to think it is OK to exploit workers in Mauritius, but not in the UK. It is guilty of shameful hypocrisy.’ | Fawcett Society has finally conceded it is 'very concerned' about working conditions in Mauritian factory . Workers making 'This Is What A Feminist Looks Like' paid just 62p an hour . Clothing retailer Whistles sold the controversial T-shirt for £45, worn by Labour's Ed Miliband and Harriet Harman . | 3ad522a702a0e3d979aa7dbe61361148355336ea |
Football Association general secretary Alex Horne says the total ban on any gambling on football by players or coaches that comes into force on Friday will help the fight against match-fixing. Players, managers, club employees and match officials are now not allowed to place any bet on any football-related matter worldwide. Horne says the ban will remove any grey areas surrounding betting on football - previously players were only banned from betting on a competition with which their club was involved. Confident: FA general secretary Alex Horne believes a new ban on all gambling among football players and staff will help stop match-fixing . Trouble: Tottenham winger Andros Townsend (left) was banned for a month for gambling on football . Last season saw a number of arrests and prosecutions for match-fixing related offences in semi-professional English football, and Horne believes the new rules will target that threat. Horne said: 'We are really proud of the integrity of the game in this country and it is really important that people trust the integrity of what is happening on the pitch. 'There have been some cases and prosecutions [for match-fixing] in this country and we don't want to see it. 'We want to keep our message as simple as possible - and it cannot be more simple that as a player you cannot bet at all on football.' The ban also covers events such as manager appointments and player transfers, and applies to all forms of betting, and players are not allowed to instruct anyone else to place any bet on their behalf. It will cover the top eight tiers of English football, going down to the Isthmian League. A new educational drive will see new videos being produced to drive home the message. These include one from the former Italian player and now Aston Villa academy coach Simone Farina, who won a FIFA award after he called in the police in 2011 after being offered 200,000 euros to influence the outcome of an Italian Cup game that his club at the time, Gubbio 1910, was involved in. Gone: Ronnie Moore was sacked by Tranmere Rovers last season after breaching his contract by betting . Other videos include one making clear that it is also banned to pass on inside information, such as on injuries or transfers, to other people including family or friends. The videos will be distributed to players and clubs by the Professional Footballers' Association, and will also be shown to managers and club captains at pre-season briefings. The FA also believe the betting ban will be so easy to understand that it will cut out any incidents of players being sanctioned for unwittingly breaching rules. Tottenham's England winger Andros Townsend was suspended for a month in 2013 for breaching the rules about betting on a competition with which he was involved, and missed the England under-21 championship in Israel. Darren Bailey, the FA's director of football governance and regulation, added: 'This betting rule change to encompass all aspects of world football provides a simple, clear and straightforward message to all participants concerned, on where the line is drawn.' | Total ban stops players, managers, club employees and match officials betting on any football-related matter worldwide . It follows a number of gambling controversies involving players and managers . A number of current and former Football League players were arrested on suspicion of match-fixing last year . Tottenham winger Andros Townsend received a one-month ban for betting . | 646230784473fc5c5218e5365bdd4ce40c6c8ca2 |
Barcelona gave Jeremy Mathieu and Marc-Andre ter Stegen their first starts but it was the wise old head of Xavi who rescued them against Nice. The Spaniard came on in the second half to pull the strings and converted a penalty to make the score 1-1. Xavi came extremely close to leaving Barcelona this summer, having been linked with moves to both the United States and Qatar, but eventually decided to see out the last year of his Barcelona deal - and having that experience around while the squad deals with huge changes could prove vital. Eye on the ball: Pedro controls the ball with the outside of his left foot as a Nice player tries to tackle him . Masterful: Andres Iniesta holds off Jeremy Pied during Barcelona's second pre-season friendly . Shouting instructions: Luis Enrique signals to his players during Barcelona's 1-1 friendly draw with Nice . Luis Enrique's side had flown to France on Saturday morning after a week's training at St George's Park, to face opponents who are ready for the new season. Nice kick off their Ligue 1 campaign next weekend, but the Catalans still have three weeks to go before La Liga begins. Nice: Hassen (Cardinale 62): Puel (Palun 77), Genevois, Bodmer, Amavi; Mendy, Eysseric (Rafetraniaina 59), Hult (Benrahma 77); Pied (Honorat 59), Cvitanich (Maupay 59), Bautheac (Bosetti 76). Goal: Cvitanich pen 21. Booked: Pied. Barcelona: Ter Stegen; Montoya (Patric 39), Pique (Bartra 46), Mathieu (Ie 61), Alba (Grimaldo 61); Busquets (Xavi 46), Iniesta (Rakitic 46), Sergi Roberto (Samper 46); Adama (Halilovic 46), Rafinha (Munir 46 (Sandro 76)), Pedro (Deulofeu 46). Booked: Iniesta. Goal: Xavi pen 67. They were without Lionel Messi, Neymar, Javier Mascherano and Dani Alves for this clash, all of whom return to the fold on August 5. Barcelona's second pre-season friendly, following their 1-0 win over Recreativo Huelva, featured a lot more of their stars with the Spanish players returning to action. Alex Song is still absent for family reasons, while star signing Luis Suarez is suspended. Instead, it was some of the other summer purchases who got the chance to appear at the Allianz Riviera. Mathieu had a shaky start to his Barcelona career, with a couple of misplaced passes and then a foul on the edge of his own box. The Frenchman has plenty to prove at Barcelona with a €20million fee on his shoulders, a baffling amount for someone about to turn 31. There is pressure on Ter Stegen too, who is expected to be the long-term successor to Victor Valdes. He remained calm, palming a low free-kick away and gathering a long shot with ease early on. However, there was little he could do about the opening goal, when Gerard Pique gave away a penalty. The defender is coming off the back of a poor season and a worse World Cup and shoved over Dario Cvitanich in the box. It was a soft decision to give, but the player picked himself up and rifled it past Ter Stegen. The goalkeeper dived low to his right and got a hand to Cvitanich's effort but it was not enough. Cool finish: Dario Cvitanich made no mistake with his spot-kick, sweeping a shop past Marc-Andre ter Stegen . Applause: Nice forward Cvitanich is congratulated by his team-mates after putting the French side in front . Rafinha - brother of Thiago Alcantara - is also looking to impress this season, but started up front in an unfamiliar false nine role. He made way at half-time along with several of his team-mates as a new look side entered the fray. Sporting director Andoni Zubizarreta hailed Mathieu for his immense pace when he was presented, but the defender was caught out by Valentin Eysseric and had to bring the midfielder down on the right. However it was also Mathieu who headed the resultant free-kick away - his extra height will be a boost for Barca at the back this season. Barcelona were sloppy in the first-half, creating little until the minutes before the interval. Pedro hit the bar with a mis-hit cross, while a surging run from highly-rated youngster Adama Traore was rudely ended with a trip. Pedro cut the free-kick back to Jordi Alba, whose low drive was beaten away by Mouez Hassen. Connection: Nice goalkeeper Johan Cardinale punches the ball away from Barcelona centre-back Marc Bartra . Flawless technique: Andres Iniesta controls the ball brilliantly in front of Jeremy Pied in midfield . Sergio Busqets, having taken to the field for the first time in the No 5 shirt he inherited from retired captain Carles Puyol, made way for Xavi, Ivan Rakitic made his debut, replacing Iniesta. Barcelona should have been level five minutes after the re-start, when Gerard Deulofeu pressured Nice into an error, but Munir El Haddadi fired straight at the goalkeeper when clean through. The game began to open up more in the second half, with Barcelona looking a lot more incisive thanks to veteran midfielder Xavi. He played three sublime passes shortly after coming on, helping Barcelona look significantly more threatening. It was the 34-year-old who pulled Barcelona level, after Munir was taken down in the box by Romain Genevois and the game's second penalty was awarded. Xavi sent Yoann Cardinale the wrong way from the spot, dispatching it into the left-hand side of the net. Young guns: Sergi Roberto, left, and Rafa Alcantara, right, were both given playing time by Barca boss Enrique . They could have added a second a few minutes later, but Deulofeu was selfish and ended up being tackled at the end of a fantastic run. His decision making was the one aspect of his game which was lacking at Everton and he should have squared the ball to Munir. Instead Genevois stole in to sweep the ball away. Sandro had an opportunity late on, curling the ball against the left-hand post in the 82nd minute from close range after Edgar Ie's sliced shot landed at his feet. Enrique won't be too disappointed with the result, with his players still some time away from being fully fit and also without their star names. However, he will hope that the injury which forced Martin Montoya off in the first half is not too serious, and that the side have more fluency on Wednesday night. Next up for Barcelona are Italy's Napoli, who will be a far tougher proposition than Nice. | Veteran midfielder scored late penalty to level the scores in friendly match . Nice took the lead from the spot in the first half through Dario Cvitanich . Barca boss Enrique started new duo Mathieu and Ter Stegen, while Ivan Rakitic, their recent signing from Sevilla, came on at half-time . | d7784e7fb6f86ddf5c27a875931dfe318201dccf |
(EW.com) -- "Game of Thrones" may have broken the Internet with Sunday's episode, but it didn't break its ratings record. "The Rains of Castamere" delivered 5.2 million viewers, down slightly from the show's all-time high set earlier this season of 5.5 million. EW: 'Game of Thrones' Red wedding recap . The performance isn't surprising. EW: 'Game of Thrones' - Rounding up 'The Red Wedding' reactions . The episode aired after the show took a one-week break for Memorial Day weekend. And even though it was a highly anticipated hour among hardcore fans, most casual viewers had no idea the episode contained a shockingly violent wedding sequence as HBO intentionally did not promote the episode as anything out of the ordinary to help preserve the surprise. Expect the ratings to rise for next week's finale, however, possibly to an all-time high. See the original story at EW.com. CLICK HERE to Try 2 RISK FREE issues of Entertainment Weekly . © 2011 Entertainment Weekly and Time Inc. All rights reserved. | Sunday's "Game of Thrones" had a shocking ending . Die hard fans knew what was coming, but HBO didn't promote . The episode did not break records . | 0566204fefd08ea40567efcf93f212a21b44eb33 |
(CNN) -- Suspended New York Yankee Alex Rodriguez has dropped a medical malpractice lawsuit against the Yankees' team doctor and New York Presbyterian Hospital, according to court paperwork filed Thursday. Rodriguez had alleged that the Yankees' Dr. Christopher S. Ahmad had misdiagnosed Rodriguez's hip injury, clearing him for play when a second doctor recommended surgery. CNN National Correspondent Jason Carroll contributed to this report. | The lawsuit was filed against the Yankee's team doctor and a New York hospital . It focused on the alleged misdiagnoses of A-Rod's hip injury . | f7eebab95f01a44919d308352141dd02b26ce78f |
Sky Sports have retained their stranglehold on the Premier League’s live TV rights as part of a staggering £5.136billion deal. The seven packages on offer for the three seasons, starting from 2016-17, went to Sky and BT Sport in what is a 70 per cent increase in value on the current three-year deal for the world’s richest league. Sky are buying 126 games per season — the maximum allowed — for £4.2bn, an 83 per cent rise on their present agreement. In contrast, BT Sport have paid £960m for 42 games per campaign — a 30 per cent increase in the cost of their current 38-game set of rights. Sky Sports pundits (left to right) Graeme Souness, Jamie Carragher, Thierry Henry, Jamie Redknapp and Gary Neville will have more matches to analyse than ever before . The Premier League will continue to be shown on Sky Sports and BT Sport until 2019 in a £5.136bn deal . Graphic charts the significant rise of domestic Premier League TV revenue . But while BT Sport are paying £7.6m a game for their two packages of Saturday afternoon games and midweek matches, Sky have had to fork out £11.1m-a-match for their five sets of matches. They take in Friday nights, Saturday lunchtimes, two slots on Sunday and Monday evening, plus Bank Holidays. Premier League chief executive Richard Scudamore said: ‘I am constantly surprised by the numbers of our TV deals. The little ol’ Premier League is doing quite well.’ A Sky spokesman said: ‘The company will work hard to minimise the impact of higher rights costs on our customers.’ Just nine months ago, Richard Scudamore’s position was threatened by the furore aroused by his sexist email exchange and the prospect of serious heart surgery. Now, the Premier League’s chief executive is basking in the personal triumph represented by the £5bn TV rights deal he has just delivered. £5.163billion . Total cost of the three-season TV package. In comparison the gross domestic product of Rwanda is £4.8bn. £1,887 . Per second to show a game. £960m . Amount paid by BT - £320m per season. £4.18bn . Amount paid by Sky - £1.392bn a season. 12.65 per cent . Proportion of Sky's £11bn annual revenue to be spent on Premier League football. £10.2m . The cost of each game. 70.17 per cent . The increase in price of the overall deal from 2013-16. £11.05m . The amount Sky will pay for each of their games - £4.9m more than current deal (£6.6m per game). £15m . In the first Premier League season (1992-93) the clubs shared less than £15m. £99m . The approximate amount the Premier League's bottom club will receive in the 2016-17 season - up from £62m this season. 16 . The new TV package is worth 16 times the wealth of The Queen . 193,811 . The number of years it would someone on Britain's average salary (£26,500) to pay for the new TV package. 167th . The new deal is equal to the wealth of Facebook co-founder Dustin Moskovitz, the 167th richest person in the world. £55.3m . The amount Cardiff, the Premier League's bottom club, earned in TV money for the 2013-14 season - more than Ligue 1 winners PSG (£33.1m), La Liga winners Atletico Madrid (£31.17m), and Bundesliga winners Bayern Munich (£27.39m). £156m . The approximate amount the Premier League's top club will receive in the 2016-17 season - up from £97.5m this term. £1.5m . The bottom club in 2016-17 will earn approximately £1.5m more than the top club this season. £70m . The new TV package will cost around £70m than the BBC's total revenue in 2013-14. £6.47m . The amount BT currently pay per game - this will increase to £7.62m in the new deal. £15m . The approximate value of the Scottish Premier League's TV rights - roughly the same as 1.5 Premier League games in the new TV package. The Premier League has announced a record £5.136bn TV rights deal to be shared between Sky and BT Sport . CLICK HERE to read all the reaction the new bank-busting Premier League TV deal . With the overseas rights to come, the Premier League will collect more than £8bn for their TV properties for the three seasons starting in 2016. That will see even the bottom club in the richest league in the world looking forward to £99million a season, while the champions will bank £156m. And with each televised game bringing in £10m in rights, the Premier League’s first £500,000-a-week footballer can’t be far away. The haul for the seven packages of 168 live games per season was a 70 per cent increase on the current deal. That was way beyond the most optimistic expectation of any of the top flight clubs, especially as the highlights deal had gone for just a modest 13.5 per cent increase to BBC. Sportsmail had predicted a £5bn return but that was in the expectation that America’s Discovery Channel and Qatar’s BeIn Sport would be fully involved. The strict confidentiality covering the process means it is still not clear whether either network put an offer on the table, though probably neither did. Sky Sports pundits Souness (left) and Henry analyse a recent televised game . BT Sport presenter Jake Humphreys with pundits Michael Owen, Steve McManaman and David James . But in two rounds of bidding, Scudamore and his team of TV strategist David Kogan, lawyer Nick West and Premier League broadcasting chief Paul Molnar were still able to extract £5.136bn from Sky and BT Sport. The price was driven by Sky’s frantic desire to retain their rights at any cost while not losing out to their arch pay-TV rivals. Sky have paid £4.2bn over three years for 126 games a season spread over Friday nights, Saturday lunchtime, Sunday afternoons, Monday nights and bank holidays. They get 10 more games a season than under the current deal but will be paying 83 per cent more. The £2bn increase will inevitably lead to higher subscription costs. While Sky will pay £11.1m a game, BT are paying a more realistic £7.6m for each of their 42 live matches per season. Scudamore said: These are huge companies doing huge things and we are the beneficiaries. Seven packages were available in the auction, five with 28 games per season and two with 14 games per season. THE PACKAGES SKY WON . Package A comprises 28 games on Saturday lunchtimes (12.30pm). Package C has 28 games kicking off between 1.30pm and 2.15pm on Sundays. Pack A has 6 'first pick' games from 38 rounds and B has 9 first picks. Package D is the 4pm Sunday bundle of 28 games - crucially with 18 'first pick' games. Package E is the 'Monday night football' (8pm) bundle, with 18 games on Mondays plus 10 on Fridays; this is the first time Premier League games will be shown live on Friday evenings. There are no first picks in this package. Package G is a bundle of 14 games on Bank Holidays and other Sunday matches with two first picks. THE PACKAGES BT SPORT WON . Package B has 28 games at tea-time on Saturdays (5.30pm) Packages F has 14 games, a mix of midweek and Saturday games including three first picks. Under the current ongoing deals Sky have paid £2.28bn over three years from 2013-16 for 116 games per season, or in other words, get 348 games at £6,551,724 each. BT have paid £738m over three years from 2013-16 for 38 games per season, or in other words, get 114 games at £6,473,684 each. 50 per cent of the revenue is divided equally between the clubs . 25 per cent is awarded on a merit basis, determined by final league positions . 25 per cent is distributed as a facilities fee for televised matches . NICK HARRIS . ‘The Premier League is a success story. It is a great UK export. The Premier League, the BBC, the Queen — these are things that make people feel good about the UK.’ Sky chief executive Jeremy Darroch said: ‘This confirms that Sky is the unrivalled choice for sports fans. We went into the Premier League auction with a clear objective and are pleased to secure the rights that we wanted.’ BT say they are also happy with their increase in games — up from 38 to 42 — though they failed to break Sky’s stranglehold on the main packages and first picks. Virgin Media made a fanciful attempt to delay the auction until their complaint about the bidding process is fully investigated by Ofcom. Chief executive Tom Mockridge said: ‘The auction is a license to print money for the Premier League. There are better ways to structure the auction.’ There are 20 unbelievably rich Premier league clubs who will certainly disagree. | Sky Sports and BT Sport have paid £5.136bn to secure Premier League TV right from 2016-19 . Sky have bought five of the seven packages to retain stranglehold . Sky are buying 126 games a season - the maximum number allowed . The deal means each game will cost a staggering £10.2m . Richard Scudamore revealed his 'surprise' at the size of the new deal . | 378b540aca5e3f70d2d99b7ca430e8454659b017 |
A koala causing havoc on a Sydney road has been 'arrested' and placed in a paddy wagon by police. Officers from the New South Wales Police Dog Unit posted the adorable photos of the tiny criminal on their Facebook page. The koala was spotted running in and out of traffic in Campbelltown, in south-west Sydney, at about 2am on Sunday morning by Senior Constable Barry. Scroll down for video . 'SC Barry stopped and spoke to the Koala about the dangers of running across the lanes of traffic,' the Facebook post read. 'SC Barry had to issue a move along direction to the Koala for hindering traffic! 'After failing to comply and 'move along' numerous warnings were issued and the Koala failed to comply and [Campbelltown police] attended and a short foot pursuit occurred and the Koala was eventually arrested and placed for safety in a police vehicle.' In the photos posted on the social networking site the furry marsupial can be seen in the back of the paddy wagon next to a pair of handcuffs. Inspector Adam Johnson, commander of the NSW Dog Unit, said one of his officers was out patrolling with his two dogs when he spotted the koala on the road. 'If he hadn't have jumped out and grabbed it the koala probably would have been run over,' Mr Johnson said. 'He called for one of the local units to come down and they put the koala in the back cage just while they contacted the RSPCA to check what to do. 'They've just taken those photos with the handcuffs as a bit of humour - a lot of policing's always serious so it's good to have a light-hearted moment.' The RSPCA advised the police to release the koala in a 'suitable location' away from the Campbelltown traffic. 'The Koala was last seen decamping from the Police Vehicle leaving the handcuffs behind,' the Facebook post read. The pictures have received more than 2000 likes and hundreds of comments. 'I love it when the stories are good ones it's a nice break for you guys. Naughty koala I hope he didn't resist arrest,' Finoa Termytelen wrote. 'That is so cute glad they helped him out,' Lisa Owens wrote. Meanwhile, Simone Ussher wrote: 'He must of had a hard night on the eucalyptus.' | Officers from the NSW Police Dog Unit issue koala with 'move along' notice . The koala was spotted running in and out of traffic in Campbelltown, in south-west Sydney, at about 2am on Sunday . Police posted pictures of the tiny criminal to their Facebook page . The pictures received more than 2000 likes and hundreds of comments . | 11fa394548a43ef106a3c9966c9267b57f5b96b8 |
(CNN) -- Marcus Schrenker, the financial manager who officials say faked his own death in a plane crash after scamming his customers, has been found after an apparent suicide attempt, Florida and federal authorities said Tuesday. Marcus Schrenker was taken to a hospital after he was found in Quincy, Florida, on Tuesday, authorities said. The man was found in Quincy, Florida, with marks on his body consistent with a suicide attempt, said Lt. Jim Corder, a spokesman for the Gadsden County sheriff's office. He was taken to Tallahassee Memorial HealthCare, Porter said. U.S. Marshals Service spokesman Peter Swaim said late Tuesday the man has been identified as Schrenker. The service was leading the manhunt for Schrenker, who has been missing since Sunday. A Marshals Service source, who asked not to be named because the case is still under investigation, said federal agents found Schrenker inside a tent at a camp site with a cut on his wrist. He was airlifted to the hospital, the source said. The source would not say how marshals knew to look at the camp site. Schrenker was charged in Hamilton County, Indiana, on Tuesday with unlawful acts by a compensated adviser and unlawful transaction by an investment adviser. Authorities believe Schrenker defrauded investors through three companies he owns before attempting a bizarre and potentially deadly vanishing act. Schrenker took off alone Sunday night from Anderson, Indiana, in a Piper PA-46 en route to Destin, Florida. Over Alabama, he contacted air traffic controllers, saying the windshield had imploded and he was bleeding profusely, authorities said. Police suspect he then put the aircraft on autopilot and parachuted to the ground. The plane later crashed near the Blackwater River in East Milton, Florida, missing a group of homes by only 50 to 75 yards, said Sgt. Scott Haines of the Santa Rosa County, Florida, sheriff's department. "We do consider him dangerous," U.S. marshals Deputy John Beeman said Thursday. "He has shown his disregard for life by letting this plane go unmanned until it crashed into the ground in Florida." Shortly before 2:30 a.m. Monday, hours after the crash, Schrenker showed up at a residence in Childersburg, Alabama, and said he had been in a canoeing accident, according to the U.S. Marshals Service. A resident gave him a ride into Childersburg, and police made contact with him, identifying him through his FAA pilot's license, authorities said. Childersburg is about 35 miles south of Birmingham. Unaware of the crash, the officers took Schrenker to a hotel in nearby Harpersville. After hearing about the crash, they went back to the hotel, where they found that Schrenker had checked in under a fictitious name and was gone, possibly into a wooded area, police said. Officials now believe he fled Harpersville on a 2008 red Yamaha street bike he had stashed at a storage unit earlier, also using an assumed name. Investigators found the unit empty of the motorcycle and with some wet clothes left behind. When leasing the storage facility, Schrenker brought the motorcycle in a brown pickup with a trailer and told the leasing agent he would return for it Monday, according to the Marshals Service. Back in Florida, military aircraft from Whiting Field in Milton, Florida, were dispatched Sunday to intercept the plane after Schrenker reported the emergency. The pilots saw that the plane's door was open, the cockpit was dark and witnessed the plane's crash, according to the Santa Rosa County sheriff's office. Watch what authorities believe happened » . Although Schrenker had said he was bleeding, no blood was found in the downed plane. Before authorities said Tuesday night that Schrenker was found, friends of Schrenker's seemed as mystified as police, who were seeking him in several states. "Why someone would jump out of a plane and leave it on autopilot with his training and his background is beyond me," Tom Britt said. "There's no reason for him to do it other than trying to stage something." Watch Schrenker perform airborne stunts » . Britt said he received an e-mail Monday night from someone who identified himself as Schrenker. The message said Schrenker had been reading accounts of his disappearance on CNN.com and other news outlets and was "disturbed and wanted to set the record straight," Britt told CNN affiliate WRTV in Indianapolis. Britt said the message writer said that he would never abandon a plane and let it crash somewhere but that he "panicked." The writer claimed he blacked out and was disoriented, Britt said. The e-mail also implied that Schrenker might commit suicide, Britt said. The message said, "By the time you read this, I'll be gone." On Monday, a judge in Indiana froze Schrenker's assets at the request of investigators looking into his business dealings, said Jim Gavin, a spokesman for the Indiana secretary of state. The order also applies to Schrenker's wife, who was seeking a divorce, and his three companies, Gavin said. Those companies -- Heritage Wealth Management, Heritage Insurance Services and Icon Wealth Management -- are "the subjects of an active investigation by the Indiana Securities Division," Gavin said. Public documents list Schrenker as president of Heritage Wealth Management in Fishers, Indiana. Court papers contain allegations that Schrenker defrauded several investors. A search warrant related to the inquiry was served December 31, Gavin said. CNN's Ashley Fantz, Kathleen Johnston and Tristan Smith contributed to this report. | NEW: Authorities: Marcus Schrenker apparently attempted suicide, taken to hospital . NEW: Schrenker found in Florida two days after plane crash, authorities say . Police: Schrenker bailed out of plane before crash, fled on stashed motorcycle . Authorities file charges against Schrenker, accused of defrauding investors . | 6453007524f6a6dc7d1467954d839cabf16edf85 |
It’s a country that rejects the Western world but that hasn’t stopped North Korean authorities approving a colourful fashion show, complete with pale-faced models wiggling their hips in far from traditional clothing. Aram Pan, a photographer from Singapore, captured the bizarre display of brightly coloured frocks and suits - seemingly approved by dictator Kim Jong-un - while on his fourth trip to the communist enclave in September. He noted how hemlines are rising and the permitted hues are getting bolder inside the secretive state, upon his visit to the 12th Pyongyang Fashion Exhibition in North Korea’s capital. ‘The skirts overall do seem a wee bit shorter nowadays. There's also the occasional blouse with a lower neckline,’ Mr Pan said. Aram Pan captured smiling models on the odd-looking green runway in the North Korean capital of Pyongyang during his fourth visit to the country in September . A lime-coloured dress with black piping was on of the brightest suits on the runway and was seemingly approved by North Korean authorities . But what surprised him the most about the show was 'that the models all smile'. 'That's completely different to all the pouty stuff we're so used to seeing on our modern fashion runways,' he said. Mr Pan explained that the fashion show is an annual event which has been running for the past 12 years and the structured suits, which bear a passing resemblance to French fashion house Chanel’s designs, will soon go on sale in local shops. ‘It’s attended by local shop owners interested to place orders for new clothes. Every piece of the apparel on display has a number so they can identify the ones they want to order,’ Mr Pan told Daily Mail Australia. The event – likely to be the most glamorous two days on Pyongyang’s annual calendar - was held in an exhibition hall from 15 to 17 September. ‘Locals who aren’t shop owners are also able to attend the exhibition. There were easily over 1,000 people in the hall that day and it was packed,’ Mr Pan added. The women were wearing makeup and had their hair pinned back as they strutted their stuff in well fitted Chanel inspired suits . Numbers were pinned on their jackets so that local buyers could identify the clothes and choose which ones to stock in their shops . The photographer, who also visited North Korea’s only ski-resort – a pet project of leader Kim Jong-un’s – in September, said he noticed that Pyongyang citizens are ‘generally more stylish than their counterparts in other towns but that seems to be slowly changing’. ‘Now, fashion trends seem to be spreading out to the other towns and into rural areas,’ he said. The latest sartorial trends include ‘fancy umbrellas’. ‘I’ve been told they are now all the rage and ladies who own them will whip them out at any given chance’, Mr Pan said. Faux Burberry is also popular, as are red star earrings which make the perfect ‘socialist fashion accessory’, Mr Pan joked. Women also wear red pin badges on their lapels featuring the ‘supreme leader’s’ face. One model posed with a bizarre hand gesture in a white and brown suit featuring bow-detailing at the event which has been held annually for 12 years in the communist enclave's capital city . Traditional North Korean clothing was also on show at the event (seen in the background) but the western-style suits caught Aram Pan's eye, as he noted that women across the country now wear high-heels and shorter skirts . Monochrome suits appeared on the catwalk more than once and so did the colour red. Mr Pan said he did not find out where the models on the runway were from . Lots of the suits being modelled followed the monochrome trend but red, pink and a bright yellow colour were also incorporated into the chic designs. 'Based on my earlier perceptions of North Korean dressing, I must say that there are a whole lot of options for women to choose from today,' Mr Pan said. 'I think it is quite liberating for them.' Mr Pan said reports that trousers had been banned for women are not true. The photographer observed that the hemlines are rising inside the secretive state, upon his visit to the 12th Pyongyang Fashion Exhibition . Thousands of local women and shop owners reportedly turned out to inspect the new designs that were on show . The women felt the material and observed many suits inside the exhibition hall. Despite previous reports Mr Pan said trousers have not been banned inside the country, it's just that many women chose to wear skirts . 'I have dozens of photos of women wearing pants in every area of North Korea. From the farmlands to the city, women are wearing pants everywhere. And I've shot these since my first trip in August 2013,' he reasoned. In the photos, there are numbers pinned onto the models' clothes so that buyers can identify the items they are interested in but the women themselves are not named. 'It didn't occur to me back then to ask the North Koreans where they were from,' Mr Pan said. Mr Pan, a commercial photographer by day who specialises in 360 degree panoramic virtual tours for real estate, hotels and automobiles, has now been on four visits to North Korea. More information on Aram Pan's North Korea 360 photography and video project can be found on his Facebook page and website. Singaporean photographer Aram Pan visited North Korea for a fourth time in September and has once again gained unprecedented access . | Singaporean photographer Aram Pan visited North Korea for a fourth time in September . He attended the communist enclave's annual fashion show in Pyongyang along with 1,000 fashion fans . He described many of the suits as looking 'so Chanel' 'The skirts overall do seem a wee bit shorter nowadays,' Mr Pan noted . The clothes on show will reportedly be sold in shops around North Korea . | 08bc68c1a8bb8f5f234c600aa941cb4b3ecec0d4 |
(CNN) -- What began as an online protest over the controversial case of an alleged rape of a then-14-year-old girl became a street demonstration Tuesday night as hundreds of protesters gathered in a small Missouri town demanding "Justice for Daisy." It was the first physical protest since the case launched a social media fervor driven by online activist group Anonymous. A few relatives of the alleged victim cried as people gathered, telling CNN they were glad to see some people in Maryville, a town of 12,000 residents, finally supporting the girl. Daisy Coleman says a teenage boy raped her in 2012 when she was 14. Coleman's mother, Melinda, says that after her daughter's alleged assault, her children received threats. Melinda Coleman was also fired from her job as a veterinarian at a clinic. The Colemans have since moved from the town in northwest Missouri, about 100 miles north of Kansas City. In April, their house in Maryville -- which had been vacant and for sale -- burned. Some of the protesters who came to the rally on Tuesday were out-of-towners who were so moved by the case they drove several hours to attend. They said they were hopeful that the rally would inspire a wider conversation about rape and rape victims. Melinda Coleman, who was not at the rally, said she was heartened to hear so many people had gathered in support of her daughter. She held back tears of her own as she told CNN's "Erin Burnett OutFront": "I think it's a wonderful sentiment and I'm really touched ... and happy." She said she is ecstatic the case has been reopened after a special prosecutor was appointed Monday. "I think that just the fact that we're being heard and we're getting a chance at justice is huge. All we've ever wanted was to have some justice," she said, adding that she has yet to meet with the new prosecutor. In an interview with Erin Burnett last week, Daisy Coleman described leaving her house during a sleepover and going with a boy who was later charged with sexual assault. The charges against Matthew Barnett, 17 at the time of the incident, were subsequently dropped. A lawyer for Barnett said last week that his client cooperated with authorities and admitted he had sex with Daisy. "While many find Matt Barnett's behavior reprehensible, the legal issue was whether a crime was committed," Robert Sundell said in the statement. Daisy Coleman's friend, Paige -- who says she was raped by a different boy that same night -- had her case settled in juvenile court. CNN does not typically identify alleged victims of sexual assault but has done so in this case because Paige, Daisy and her mother have chosen to go public. CNN has agreed to identify Paige by just her first name. On Monday, a new special prosecutor promised to review the case "without fear and without favor." "I know that this case has raised a variety of concerns in northwest Missouri, so please know this: This case will be thoroughly reviewed," Jackson County Prosecutor Jean Peters Baker said. A judge appointed Baker as special prosecutor days after a different prosecutor, who dropped charges, said he'd request the move. The initial prosecutor, Nodaway County Prosecutor Robert L. Rice, has said he dropped a sexual assault charge against the boy because the girl and her relatives refused to cooperate. "There was insufficient evidence to prove a criminal charge beyond a reasonable doubt," he said in a statement. A charge against the boy's friend who was accused of recording part of the incident on an iPhone was also discontinued. But the case got new life this month after The Kansas City Star featured it and CNN interviewed Daisy and her mother. Why Anonymous wants justice in Missouri rape case . | Hundreds gather in small Missouri town in support of girl who says she was raped . Family left town after the alleged assault, saying they were harrassed . Special prosecutor was appointed after different prosecutor dropped charges . The alleged victim says she was raped when she was 14 . | 4a8eeed558fd1b64e1de5589a56960beee4f4b36 |
(CNN) -- Scores of child soldiers, some of them as young as eight years old, have been rescued from an armed group in the Democratic Republic of Congo, the U.N. mission in the African nation said. The 82 children, 13 of them girls, were recovered since Sunday from the Mayi Mayi Bakata Katanga armed group in the southeastern Katanga province, MONUSCO said Friday in a statement. The children, aged up to 17 years, had reportedly been recruited by the armed group within the past six months, it said. Forty of them have been reunited with their parents. The others are being cared for until they can be returned home, the statement said. "We are extremely concerned by continued reports of active recruitment by Mayi Mayi Bakata Katanga and other armed groups in eastern DRC," said MONUSCO chief Martin Kobler. "Children face unacceptable risks when they are recruited for military purposes. The recruitment of children, particularly those under 15 years of age, could constitute a war crime and those responsible must be held to account." Child protection agencies in the province orchestrated the rescues, MONUSCO said. Since the start of the year, 163 children, including 22 girls, have been rescued from Mayi Mayi Bakata Katanga by MONUSCO and child protection workers, the statement said. The country's mineral-rich eastern part is at the epicenter of a political and ethnic conflict involving its neighbors to the east, Uganda and Rwanda, and has long been embroiled in violence. The region's humanitarian crisis involves 2.6 million internally displaced people, the United Nations says, with 6.4 million people in need of food and emergency aid. Nearly 20,000 troops are deployed in the Democratic Republic of Congo as part of the MONUSCO peacekeeping force. | 82 child soldiers have been rescued from an armed group, U.N mission says . 13 girls were among the children rescued from the Mayi Mayi Bakata Katanga . The children range from 8 to 17 years in age; 40 have been reunited with their families . The Democratic Republic of the Congo has a long history of violence . | e93e2c20be096faccfdf70a7cc4789070f4d509e |
By . Lee Moran . Last updated at 5:01 PM on 9th January 2012 . Burglars broke into Greece's biggest art museum this morning and stole two paintings and a sketch. Pablo Picasso's 1939 Woman's Head and Dutch painter Piet Mondrian's Mill were taken in the dawn raid at Athens' National Art Gallery. They also took a sketch by Italian painter Guglielmo Caccia, donated to the gallery in 1907. Stolen: Pablo Picasso's Women's Head (left) and Guglielmo Caccia's sketch (right) were both taken from the National Art Gallery in Athens . Taken: Piet Mondrian's oil painting Mill was also stolen in the early morning raid . The value of the pieces have not been revealed. But the Picasso, given to the Greeks by the artist himself in 1949, is thought to be worth at least several hundred thousands pounds. Mondrian's 1905 painting Landscape was dropped on the floor as the thieves made their getaway, police said. The burglars entered through a balcony door. They had intentionally set off alarms on several occasions, at 4.30am, without actually entering the building, prompting guards to disable at least one. The burglars still triggered a sensor in the exhibition area, but a guard only got there in time to see a man running off. Crime scene: Greek police collect evidence next to a broken door outside the National Gallery . An official said: 'After the alarm went off the guard discovered that the two paintings were missing. Another was lying on the floor. 'It all happened in seven minutes'. Police are still investigating if any other art is missing. Picasso had donated the cubist female bust 'in homage to the Greek people' for their resistance to Nazi occupiers during World War II. The National Gallery's collection also includes a Mondrian drawing entitled the Study of Flower. In October, police in Serbia recovered two paintings by Picasso stolen in 2008 from a gallery in Switzerland and worth millions of dollars. Warning: Museum bosses said the alarm went off just after 5am but the thieves escaped undetected . In September Greece recovered a painting by Flemish master Peter Paul Rubens stolen from a museum in Belgium in 2001 and arrested two Greeks who tried to sell it to undercover police for about one million euros. And only last week the £2.75 million René Magritte painting Olympia, which was stolen at gunpoint from a Brussels museum two years ago, was handed back. The thieves decided to cut their losses after it failed to sell on the black market. | Sketch by Italian painter Caccia also taken . | e30e177d0fefefbaea73a4643deb17dcbf53a8e6 |
(CNN) -- In a battle of underdogs Detroit and Philadelphia, the City of Brotherly Love came out on top. Philadelphia clearly won the popular vote in our unscientific poll, with 57% of the vote, compared with 43% for Detroit. Philly also won on Facebook with more than 1,750 "recommends," compared with more than 1,575 for the Motor City. "How can this even be close?" asks iReporter and Philadelphian Peter DeCarlo. "Philly beats Detroit on so many levels, just to name a few: food, education, sports, location." His Philly suggestions include the Liberty Bell, Independence Hall, the Philadelphia Museum of Art, the Schuylkill River Trail, people-watching in Rittenhouse Square and sales-tax-free clothes shopping on Walnut and Chestnut streets. "Detroit is more than crime and urban decay," writes iReporter Barbara Smitter, who lives just outside the Michigan city. "It is art and philanthropy and enterprise and community. I have made it a personal mission to get out of my comfy suburban existence and see more of what makes this city so great." Philadelphia . Philadelphia's fans find plenty to celebrate beyond the Liberty Bell and running the "Rocky" steps up to the Philadelphia Museum of Art. Her hometown takes the cake when it comes to food, according to iReporter Katie Eisele, a suburban Washingtonian who was raised in the Philadelphia suburbs and regularly visits her family there. "If you're looking for a fancy, sit-down restaurant, any of the Stephen Starr restaurants are fantastic (like El Vez or Buddakan)," Eisele writes. "My parents also love Moshulu because it is on a beautiful ship right on the waterfront at Penn's Landing. Also, Bistro Romano in Society Hill is a romantic and quaint Italian restaurant, great for a date night out. But if you're looking for more of a grab-and-go type of meal ... Sarcone's Deli, Dalessandro's or Reading Terminal Market are great." Speaking of Reading Terminal Market, that's where you must go "if you're looking to try a lot of different types of food at once," writes iReporter Bob Malin, a lifelong resident. "From the fresh fish brought in the early a.m., to the Amish making lean cuts of any of your favorite meats, to Bassett's famous ice cream and a number of candy shops, it's your one-stop-shop for all things edible." You'll also find the best sports fans in the world, according to Malin. "For a seat with a great view of the game, Citizens Bank Park is a great time," he writes. "Or go to the Linc (Lincoln Financial Field) to see 'The Birds' take on the NFC East. And the Flyers and Sixers are always a good time. ... (H)ockey is a game that Philadelphians can relate to, working hard to succeed." Philly also has world-class art, including "the soon to be relocated Barnes (Foundation), which houses an unbelievable previously private collection of 19th-century impressionist art, the largest mural arts project in the country, and an incredible number of events throughout the summer," suggests commenter Beth Schade of Philadelphia. Coming soon: "The Welcome America festival happens every year for the Fourth of July and is a massive free outdoor concert," Schade writes. "Local favorite the Roots always show up. They are also known as Jimmy Fallon's house band. There are (also) free pop-up shows all over town all summer, featuring lots of local favorites." One of iReporter Eisele's favorite things to do is hike in Fairmount Park, but she doesn't stop there. "While there you can take a stroll along Boathouse Row and see early-morning rowers along the Schuylkill River," she writes. "Visitors can also visit South Street and see the trash mural walls or see a concert at the Theatre of Living Arts. And if you have kids, the Please Touch Museum or the Franklin Institute are great places to keep them (and you) entertained." Detroit . The Motor City is probably most famous for being home to the Motown sound and the top three American automakers. And visitors can still explore the Motown era at the Motown Historical Museum or visit the Henry Ford Museum in the suburbs. However, our Detroit iReporters suggested going beyond the easy mark to explore the soul of the city and its suburbs. Take a stroll through Hart Plaza with its many sculptures to see the city's heart, suggests iReporter Smitter. "A short ride away and you can experience the sights, sounds and smells of Eastern Market and once again be bathed in the culture of this city," she writes. "A jaunt around the corner and you reach the Heidelberg Project," a 26-year-old open air art project on the city's East Side that uses everyday, discarded objects. "Take a bike ride on a Saturday around Belle Isle. And speaking of urban decay, just check out the Packard plant. It has become a haven of street art." John McGraw, an iReporter who visits Detroit several times per month for work, said he loves the spirit of the Motor City as well as its food, sports and culture. "The spirit of Detroit is tough; the city has been through a lot over the years, but there is a feel of determination in the air." His recommendations: "I really love Greektown and ... if you like Mexican food you should try Mexicantown; it's a little off the beaten path but well worth it. You can always hit a ballgame at Comerica Park, Ford Field or see the Red Wings at Joe Louis," he writes. "I also like the Eastern Market, or head over to Slows for some (barbecue)." In suburban Detroit, iReporter Cherl Addington adores "being nestled against Lake St. Clair, the penultimate playground tucked in between the Detroit River and Lake Huron. ... It's like it's our own, smaller, personal backyard lake with Belle Isle tucked in at its tip. Belle Isle's designer, Frederick Law Olmsted, considered it his crowning achievement. ... To sit at the northern end of Belle Isle and look out at Lake St. Clair is to experience one of the most beautiful places on earth." Don't judge a city by its hardest times, suggest our Detroit iReporters. "When I moved to this area from the little city, I had all of the same misconceptions that you hear about," Smitter writes. "Just give it a chance, and you'll find that the city has so much more to offer than crime and fear." Is your hometown or the city where you live now misunderstood or unappreciated? Tell us where you live (or where you grew up) and why you love it so. | From Philly cheesesteak to fine dining, City of Brotherly Love offers many food options . Outdoors types can hike in Philadelphia's Fairmount Park, stroll along Schuylkill River . Detroit has been through a lot but has a spirit that can't be destroyed, iReporters say . iReporter loves to walk through city's Hart Plaza, Eastern Market and Heidelberg Project . | c0754ce12ac5a72eaf6c68b1cb7bea0117ea5020 |
(CNN) -- A nearly five-hour manhunt across Seattle ended Wednesday afternoon when the suspect in a pair of fatal shootings turned a gun on himself as police closed in, investigators said. Detectives believe the man was behind both the triple slaying at a coffeehouse in the city's University District and the fatal shooting of a woman near downtown about a half-hour later, Assistant Police Chief Jim Pugel told reporters. The suspect shot himself in the head but was still alive Wednesday evening, police said. Two men were found dead at the coffeehouse, and a woman wounded in the shooting spree died in a hospital later. Two other men were listed in critical condition Wednesday afternoon. The second shooting left one woman dead in what police described as a possible carjacking about four miles away. Detectives "feel very confident that unfortunately, these are all connected, but fortunately we have the person in custody," Pugel said. He said a plainclothes detective spotted the suspect in southwest Seattle, within two miles of where the sport-utility vehicle seen fleeing the second shooting had been ditched. The detective called in uniformed officers, and the man shot himself as they approached, Pugel said. Barely an hour earlier, police had released security-camera images of the yet-unidentified suspect at Café Racer, in the city's University District. Heavily armed police were used dogs to search the neighborhood around the cafe for much of Wednesday afternoon, neighbors said. "The streets are blocked off, and there's tons of cops," said Joe Backus, the manager of a musical instrument shop next to Café Racer. Police told employees and customers to stay inside while the search was going on, he said. Nearby resident Evan Hill said he could hear the gunfire from his living room. "I counted four or five shots and somebody shouting, and I ran out to my balcony and called 911," Hill told CNN affiliate KOMO. Hill called the cafe a "very mellow" venue that hosts artwork and musical performances. "It makes you kind of angry that it would happen in a place like that," he said. Witnesses to the second shooting told police a woman and man were arguing in a parking lot when the man pulled out a pistol and shot the woman in the head. He took off in a black Mercedes sport-utility vehicle, which was found around noon in a neighborhood a few miles southwest of downtown with a pistol inside, Pugel said. Seattle, a city of about 600,000, recorded 20 homicides in 2011, according to Police Department statistics. Wednesday's rampage brings 2012's year-to-date total to 19. But Mayor Mike McGinn said there have been "multiple tragic episodes of gun violence" around the city in recent weeks. In an afternoon news conference with police, during which news of the suspect's shooting emerged, McGinn said ending that violence was "the highest priority." "We will be working with our police to give them the tools they need to focus on violent offenders with access to guns," he said. "But it's also going to take a focus on the laws that make it too easy for people to acquire guns. And it's going to also take a full partnership with the community to end a culture of violence where young men believe it's OK to attempt to resolve disputes with violence, including guns." | Seattle police link coffeehouse, downtown-area shootings . Four dead, two critically wounded in two incidents . The suspect shot himself as police approached him, police said . | 82eeca89d6e5ff21aa3f7ee8707b26dd77e590ff |
Editor's note: Brandon Ancil is a digital producer and editor for CNN.com. Like many CNN iReporters, he shoots, edits and produces all of his content himself. Below are some tips to editing a video piece from start to finish. Read up, then give Ancil's advice a try in this week's iReport Boot Camp challenge. In the world of video production, it's not a stretch to say that video editors are easily overlooked. Last in line to get their hands on the material, the choices a video editor makes can drastically change the impact a video has. With the right style, tone and technique, an ordinary video can be transformed into a gripping video experience. And once you have the basic tools of how to edit, it's only a matter of time before you're editing like a pro. Review footage . The first step when editing is to get your footage onto your computer. The very next step should be to review it. Watching all of the video you have to work with, from beginning to end, will bring the story back to you. And while you're reviewing your footage, you should also be organizing it. Organization . All editors have their own system of organization. Some lay their clips out chronologically while others set their clips into scenes. First determine how you'd like to organize your clips and then make it happen. Luckily, all editing programs from Final Cut Pro to Windows Movie Maker have one basic organized layout. They include: a timeline (an area where footage can be laid down for review and cutting), a clip bin (an area where transferred clips can be labeled and organized for viewing) and a viewer (the video playback area of your editing program). Whether you're editing a small project or a large one, it's best to keep the elements in your bin well catalogued. Organization will save you time and stop an editor from being overwhelmed by the amount of available footage. At the beginning of an edit, I break down my video elements into three main groups: . B-roll: Any video footage that does not include interviews. SOTs: "SOT" or Sound On Tape, refers to interviews or specific audio for your story. Graphics: Extra elements that are created in pre- or post-production to enhance the story. Make it functional, then fancy . No matter how beautiful or beat-up the shots may be, video storytelling is at its core, storytelling. As an editor, your main responsibility should be to tell the story in the most responsible way. You do this by first arranging your audio from interviews, natural sound and/or a voiceover to create your storyline. Once that is done, you can then begin to add exciting visual elements to enhance the storytelling. Lead with action . Buck the notion that you save the best for last. In video, you've got to grab your viewer's attention and keep it the entire way through. Whether it's compelling video or sound, always lead with an active element that is both integral to the story and interesting to the viewer. Create pace and tension . There's nothing worse than a story that gives it all away in the beginning. As an editor, it's important to create a storyline with tension that builds to keep the viewer watching. If not, you've broken an unwritten promise to the viewer. Audio and music . Music can aid in building pace and tension in a story. Just remember a piece of music should not change the meaning or intent of the story. A way to check this is to simply watch the piece with the music playing -- and then watch it with the music muted. If you find your impression of the story as a whole has changed, revisit your music selection. A music track should complement your story, not compete with it. Also select your music carefully. Don't use trademarked music unless you have the license to do so. Try using music that's available in the public domain. Sites like PD Info can help you identity useable music. Make your edits count . As with shooting, there are many cardinal sins in editing. Among them: jump-cuts, splitting the axis and video effects or transitions. Jump-cut: A jump-cut occurs when an editor makes a cut that appears to have skipped or jumped forward. The easiest example to visualize is in an interview setting. If an editor cuts from one thought too quickly to the next without a camera movement or transition, the cut looks noticeably like it has jumped forward. A way to avoid this is to use "b-roll" to cover those cuts. Splitting the axis: Splitting the axis differs from a jump-cut because of its severity. Instead of little change, crossing the axis is a sudden shot change from one side of your subject to his or her opposite side. To better understand, imagine you're watching an interview. The person is facing the camera with most of their right side toward the camera. Suddenly, the camera angle changes, and you see the opposite side of the interviewee. You have crossed the axis - which is a visually jarring cut, and something that should be avoided at all costs. Video effects and/or transitions: When used effectively (and sparingly), these elements can aid in cleaning up a video. A white flash can help mitigate a jump cut, or a dip to black can add needed pacing to an emotional story. Restraint . The KISS acronym -- "Keep It Simple and Straightforward" has never let me down. Suppressing your desire to add in more elements can oftentimes be your best tool. This may mean eliminating useless transition effects, graphics or excessive shot changes. Finishing touches . After you've edited your piece, take the time to critically review the choices you've made in both story and video. A peer-review is a great tool. Showing your work to someone who hasn't seen it before will provide a fresh perspective on your piece. Listening to the person's feedback will help you fill in holes that you may not have noticed yourself. Tips learned the hard way . Save constantly. No one wants to redo their project. And backup your material. If you have enough space, either keep the footage on your camera or double up your material on another computer. For more tips on video production, check out digital producer and editor Nick Scott's tip on shooting video. | CNN's iReport Boot Camp challenges iReporters to improve storytelling chops . CNN's Brandon Ancil shares his advice on editing video . Show us your editing skills by September 13 . | 215cf3e89949d991650089ca689066ffd39babd9 |
(CNN) -- At the time of his death, Heath Ledger had just concluded his work as the Joker in "The Dark Knight," the sequel to 2005's "Batman Begins." Heath Ledger died in January at age 28. He had been expected to hit new heights of stardom. The buzz surrounding his performance was electrifying. He was remaking the Joker; he wasn't a camp comedian like Cesar Romero or a malevolent clown like Jack Nicholson. He was pure nihilism, with his jagged makeup and ragged hair. Even glimpses of his smile on the "Dark Knight" movie posters were thrilling. And then he was gone. "We have concluded that the manner of death is accident, resulting from the abuse of prescription medications," read the New York City medical examiner's office report, affectlessly. Who knows what could have happened? The hype surrounding "The Dark Knight," partly fueled by Ledger's death, turned out to have been warranted; the film earned critical praise and planeloads of money. Ledger has been posthumously nominated for a Golden Globe and a Screen Actors Guild award and is expected to receive an Oscar nomination, as well. Had he lived, he could have named his price. We'll never know. "Prediction is very difficult, especially of the future," the physicist Niels Bohr is credited with saying. Ledger's movie, "The Dark Knight" -- with its uncertain, bleak Gotham City --seemed symbolic of the year in entertainment. A writers' strike cast a pall over awards season. The paparazzi's favorite target, Britney Spears, was institutionalized for a time. Pixar's brilliant "Wall-E" depicted an Earth abandoned to the waste of consumerism. See some of the year's top entertainment stories » . Even the presidential campaign, source of so many laughs for late-night comedians, was fraught with 3 a.m. phone calls and "terrorist fist bumps." Why wouldn't people be attracted to change and hope? Hollywood, usually a prime provider of optimism, is littered with the stories of lights put out early. James Dean was 24 when a Ford coupe crossed into his lane and hit his Porsche Spyder head-on near Cholame, California. River Phoenix was 23 when he died of a drug overdose outside the Viper Room in Hollywood. They are two of too many. So: On January 22, 2008, Heath Ledger was found dead in a New York apartment. He was 28. Asking "what if" is a dead end. "Saturday Night Live," many years ago, used to mock it: What if Superman grew up in Nazi Germany? What if Eleanor Roosevelt could fly? The past is past, what's done is done, and the future can be fickle, anyway. So many of the year's stories had unexpected outcomes. Consider: For almost two decades, movie audiences eagerly awaited a new Indiana Jones film. This year, they got their wish with "Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull," and the film was widely criticized for taxing the credulousness of even its most dedicated fans. It's one thing to chat with a centuries-old Grail Knight, but surviving an A-bomb by hiding in a refrigerator? Not quite. Then there was the ultimate reality show: the election. If you'd polled media professionals last year, they might have named Hillary Clinton and Fred Thompson as the future nominees. John McCain's campaign was on life-support; Barack Obama's was struggling. We all know how things turned out. And the election also made a star -- a celebrity, if you will -- of Sarah Palin, the Republican vice presidential candidate. Palin had a charisma -- the TV execs call it "breakthrough" -- that, at times, overshadowed the man at the top of the GOP ticket. iReport.com: What was your most memorable entertainment event this year? There was something else about Palin: She looked like Tina Fey, once the "Weekend Update" anchor and head writer for "Saturday Night Live," now the star of the smart "30 Rock." Fey went back on her old show and had great success parodying Palin, driving "SNL" to some of its highest ratings in years. (Palin also looked like "King of the Hill's" Peggy Hill, but unlike Fey, the animated character wasn't a Second City-trained comedy performer who could strike in real time.) Some observers foresee a bright future for the Alaska governor; others believe she'll wear out her welcome. Time, again, will tell. Cast members of "Saturday Night Live" are object lessons: John Belushi and Chris Farley, gone before their times; Robert Downey Jr. (1985-86) emerges from a lifetime of troubles with two hit movies and Entertainment Weekly's Entertainer of the Year distinction. Other notables had a chance to live out three rich acts. Paul Newman, who epitomized the best qualities of a performer and human being -- thoughtful, charitable, capable, courageous -- died in September. Visionary author Arthur C. Clarke died in March; elemental guitarist Bo Diddley died in June. And comedian George Carlin, who viewed life as "a ticket to the freak show" and "a zero-sum game," died in June. Carlin, who reveled in absurdity, had the right attitude to try to figure out "what if." In his surrealist way, he noted that the light at the end of the tunnel could be daylight -- or, maybe, an approaching train. Either way, it'll be here soon enough. "The future," he once said, "will soon be a thing of the past." | Heath Ledger died in January, had been expected to reach new stardom . Year's other events included Britney Spears institutionalization, "SNL" heights . Election crossed over into entertainment realms . | ac4fa4ff66c9c79ab1a7d0f1a4c3eaacbecaf64c |
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