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(CNN) -- A Miami man is in a swampy situation after he was caught trying to trade a live alligator for beer at a Florida convenience store. Fernando Caignet Aguilera, 64, was cited by officials December 10 after he trapped the 4-foot alligator at a nearby park and brought it to the Santa Ana Market, according to Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission spokesman Jorge Pino. Aguilera then walked up to the counter asking for a 12-pack of beer in exchange for the alligator. The clerk called Miami police instead. Pino told CNN that never in his 25-year career in law enforcement has he heard of a person capturing an alligator for the purpose of exchanging it for alcohol -- or anything, for that matter. Saying Aguilera apparently needed to "quench his thirst buds," Pino called the incident an "extremely unusual situation, and a sad situation for the alligator." The alligator was unharmed and returned to the wild by wildlife officials, Pino said. Aguilera was not injured in the process of trapping and transporting the gator. He's been charged by wildlife officials with taking possession and selling an alligator, which is a second-degree misdemeanor. He faces up to six months in jail and a $500 fine. Pino was unsure if Aguilera requested a specific brand of beer. | Man traps small alligator in Florida park, tries to exchange it for beer . The alligator was unharmed and returned to the wild by wildlife officials . Man faces up to six months in prison and a $500 fine . | d889afd87e25a2100fbca3d0901febacab344ced |
By . Associated Press . and MailOnline Reporter . Killer: Robert Hansen, pictured in an old mugshot, has passed away of natural causes aged 75 . Alaska serial killer Robert Hansen, who admitted to killing 17 women and raping 30 more before he was portrayed by John Cusack in a movie about the slayings, has died of natural causes aged 75. Hansen, a former Anchorage baker who earned the nickname 'the Butcher Baker' after abducting and hunting down women during the 1970s, passed away at 1.30am on Thursday at the Alaska Regional Hospital. He was transferred to the hospital on Wednesday after being in declining health for the past year, Alaska Department of Corrections spokeswoman Sherrie Daigle said. She added that it appeared as if he died of natural causes but the exact cause of death will be determined by the medical examiner. Hansen was serving a 461-year sentence after being convicted in 1984 of murdering the women. He confessed to killing 17 young women, mostly dancers and prostitutes, during a 12-year span but he was convicted of just four of the murders in a deal that spared him having to go to trial 17 times. He also confessed to raping another 30 women in that time. He had been incarcerated at the Seward state prison and was moved May 11, 2014, to the Anchorage Correctional Center to receive medical attention. In 2006, Hansen rejected a request to be interviewed by The Associated Press. Scroll down for video . Caught: Hansen is pictured in 1983 after he was caught and admitted to killing at least 17 women and raping 30 others in Anchorage in the 1970s and early 1980s. He was a quiet baker and married with children . Creepy: Hansen, a licensed pilot and hunter, is pictured with the horns from a record Dall sheep he killed before he was arrested. Sometimes he would let his victims go and then hunt them down with his rifle . 'I do not care so much for myself, but you journalist (sic) have hurt my family so very much,' Hansen wrote in a typo-riddled, unsigned letter from Alaska's Spring Creek Correctional Center in Seward. Hansen had owned a bakery in a downtown mini-mall in the 1970s and 1980s. He lived across town with his wife and children, who knew nothing of his other life. Construction of the 800-mile trans-Alaska oil pipeline in the 1970s brought prostitutes, pimps, con artists and drug dealers to Alaska's largest city, all aiming to separate construction workers from some of the big money they were pulling in. Many who looked for quick riches left as abruptly as they arrived in Anchorage, making sudden disappearances commonplace. Killed: Among his victims, he killed Andrea Altiery (left) and kept her necklace as a trophy. Police also believe he murdered Megan Emerick (right), who was just 17 when she vanished in 1973 . Victims: Sherry Morrow, 23, (left) was last seen in 1981 and shot while naked before she was dressed and buried in a shallow grave. Paula Goulding (right), a 17-year-old dancer, was killed in the same way . Glenn Flothe, a then-trooper who helped put Hansen behind bars, told the Anchorage Daily News in 2008 that Hansen's victims initially included any woman who caught his eye, but Hansen quickly learned that strippers and prostitutes were harder to track and less likely to be missed. John Cusack portrayed Hansen in a 2013 film about the killings, while Nicolas Cage played the detective . Hansen would abduct the women and take them to remote places outside the city. Sometimes, he would drive, and other times he would fly his private plane. A licensed pilot, Hansen told investigators one of his favorite spots to take his victims was the Knik River northeast of Anchorage. Many of the bodies were found there in shallow graves. Investigators have said that in some instances Hansen would rape the women but return them to Anchorage, warning them not to contact authorities. Other times, he would let the women go free in the wilderness and then hunt them with his rifle. In June 1983, one of his victims, Cindy Paulson, managed to escape his car as he loaded his plane to take her to his cabin. He had already tortured and raped her, and she was still handcuffed when she ran from his car to flag down passing traffic. She described the kidnapper and his plane to authorities, but when police questioned him, he had an alibi and a gentle demeanor, so they let him go. But after some bodies were found by hunters in the area, investigators re-visited suspects and realized he fit the profile. His alibi - two friends - also admitted they had been lying. They searched his plane, home and car and found he had some items, including jewelry, that had belonged to the women. Only 12 bodies of the 17 women Hansen confessed to killing have been found. The others were never located. Hansen became the subject of a 2013 film titled, 'The Frozen Ground,' which starred Nicolas Cage as an Alaska State Trooper investigating the slayings. Actor John Cusack portrayed Hansen. | Robert Hansen was serving a 461-year sentence for the killings when he passed away on Thursday, apparently of natural causes . Hansen, 75, had been convicted in 1984 of killing four of the women in a deal that spared him having to go to trial 17 times . His victims were mostly prostitutes who moved to Anchorage during the construction of an oil pipeline in the 1970s . He would sometimes let them go free in the wilderness before hunting them down with his rifle . The killings were the subject of 2013 movie 'The Frozen Ground' | 4f2168a72c476da8b8ac97cd2fcf839ea1f80ad7 |
A husband and father of three officially has the World's Widest Tongue, according to Guinness World Records. Byron Schlenker, 46, told Syracuse.com his daughter examined the width of his tongue, after she saw the previous record listed in a copy of the Guinness Book of World Records from 2012. Schlenker's tongue is 8.3cm wide - beating the record of 7.9cm, the website reported. Amazing! Byron Schlenker broke the Guinness World Record for the world's widest tongue . It's official! Schlenker and his tongue are seen inside the new edition of the Guinness Book of World Records . Schlenker told Syracuse.com he contacted Guinness, which said he was able give money for a company employee to examine his tongue in-person - but 'just let it go and forgot about the whole thing' after discovering he was able to submit pictures himself. Guinness later reached out to Schlenker and used 'a doctor and two notaries to measure his tongue using a hard, metal ruler,' according to the website. 'I would have never done it if they hadn't contacted me back,' Schlenker told Syracuse.com. 'It wasn't something I'm striving for. I don't mind if someone beats my record or not.' Speaking of his photo shoot, Schlenker told the website 'They had me licking ice cream cones and they lined up Tic Tacs across my tongue. Strange encounters: Schlenker says people who know of his tongue have asked them to lick their books . 'I had to stick out my tongue for three hours. It's a muscle like anything else, and can get bigger. If I measure, my tongue now, it's about 8.6 cm.' He told KEYE, saying 'People get excited and sometimes it catches you off guard. They're like, "Can you lick my book?" I'm like, "I'm not licking anything." But it's just fun.' Schlenker told MailOnline he saw his picture inside the book for the first time during a recent shopping trip to Target with his daughter. Schlenker told MailOnline he did not spread the news he broke the Guinness World Record until the book was published, because the company told him people would likely come forward and try to one-up him. He also said he didn't initially believe Guinness when he was told the media would eventually reach out and be interested in his story. 'I said, "I hadn't seen anybody do anything with their tongues besides Miley Cyrus and Gene Simmons,"' Schlenker said. Schlenker said he agreed with commenters on the Syracuse.com story, who have been alternately grossed out and shocked by his tongue. 'I have to agree with them; it is gross,' he told MailOnline. 'But it is funny at the same time.' Schlenker said his wife 'wasn't on board 'til Guinness [offered] to fly me to Rome for a TV special.' 'Other than that, [she thinks] this is kind of weird,' he told MailOnline. His daughters, however, think it is 'hysterical.' | Byron Schlenker, a husband and father of three, broke the Guinness World Record for the World's Widest Tongue . His tongue is 8.3cm wide - beating the record of 7.9cm . Schlenker's daughter reportedly examined the width of his tongue, after she saw the previous record listed in a 2012 copy of Guinness Book of World Records . A doctor and two notaries were employed to examine Schlenker's tongue . | 6af88c76f37010b2915645aaff8cf41c95b7edf7 |
(CNN) -- Spain's Jose Manuel Lara claimed only the second European Tour title of his career with victory over Englishman David Lynn in a playoff at the end of the Austrian Open in Atzenbrugg. The 33-year-old, the winner of the 2007 Hong Kong Open, carded a best-of-the-day eight-under-par 64 to finish on 271 (-17), level with joint overnight leader Lynn -- who posted a 68 for his final 18 holes. The pair finished three strokes clear of Sweden's Alexander Noren, England's Danny Willet, who led with Lynn after the third round before falling away with a 71, and European Ryder Cup star Graeme McDowell (69). However, on the first extra hole, Lynn needed three shots to find the green and Lara was abe to putt out for a par to seal victory -- and secure his European Tour card for 2011 in the process. Lara had missed nine cuts in a row before his fourth-place finish at last week's KLM Dutch Open and he carried that form over into this week's event. "I was expecting something good. I was hitting the ball really well last week," Lara told the official European Tour website after his win. "I wanted to win this tournament and the way I played this week, in my best dreams, I never imagined that." Lynn's runner-up performance ensured he kept up an impressive record of finishing inside the top 100 on the Race To Dubai for an 11th consecutive season. "Second place is a good finish so I can take heart from that and I've played some great golf this week. It's just disappointing it hasn't come off in the end," said the 36-year-old. | Jose Manuel Lara claims the second European Tour title of his career . The Spaniard defeats David Lynn in a playoff at the end of the Austrian Open . Lara, 33, adds the Austrian Open to his success in the 2007 Hong Kong Open . European Ryder Cup star Graeme McDowell finishes in a tie for third position . | a207fe3f81dbe331454f5f0412bfe1b47bc606a6 |
A Youtube diet 'guru' from Australia puts her ultra-slim body down to an extreme diet, which can see her eat nothing but bananas for an entire day. Known as 'Freelee the Banana Girl' she advocates an extreme, low processed, low-fat, high-carb raw vegan diet. It's a regime that recently came under fire when fellow Australian Loni Jane Anthony announced she had kept up the diet throughout her pregnancy, insisting that both she and her baby suffered no ill-effects. Consuming between 2000 and 5000 calories a day, Freelee remains ‘raw until four’ - meaning she eats no cooked or heated food whatsoever until 4pm. She usually eats 'mono meals' consisting of a huge amount of a single fruit, such as two entire pinapples, five mangoes, two litres of orange juice, 1.4kg of apricots, or 20 bananas. Scroll down for video . Freelee the Banana Girl advocates her raw high-carb vegan diet through her YouTube channel and website . Freelee the Banana Girl sits admits a sea of bananas, dates, oranges and other fruits . Freelee thinks nothing of eating five mangoes or two whole pineapples in one sitting . Often appearing in her videos in bikinis and bearing her washboard stomach, Freelee shows fans how to eat 'Raw until Four' After 4pm she will often eat a cooked meal, again, usually a single ingredient in large qualities, such as 3.5kgs of potato baked in the oven, or another meal of fruit. Having suffered from both anorexia and bulimia in the past, Freelee claims that adopting her low fat, high carbohydrate, raw, vegan diet saw her shed 40lb or 2st 12lb as well as clearing up her acne, chronic fatigue syndrome, low thyroid function and terrible digestion. Often receiving negative comments for being too thin, Freelee, who also writes about her diet on her website, has nonetheless gained 166,000 subscribers on her YouTube channel preaching the benefits of her lifestyle. Freelee tends to eat 'mono meals' consisting of a single ingredient - usually fruit- in large quantities . Freelee, who is not she about showing off her figure, claims that adopting her low fat raw vegan diet saw her shed 40lb or 5st 7lb . Freelee claims that adopting her low fat raw vegan diet saw her shed 40lb or 5st 7lb . Freelee also credits her diet with clearing up her acne, chronic fatigue syndrome, low thyroid function and terrible digestion . Sporting a washboard flat stomach and lean limbs, it is easy to see why many are won over, especially since a key point of her diet is never to restrict calories, often eating well over daily calorie recommendations. Freelee is so passionate about her way of life she has even authored an Ebook on how to follow her diet, as well as her Facebook page, website, blog and YouTube channel. However several dieticians have spoken out about the dangers of cutting entire food groups out of your diet, and one aspect of Freelee’s lifestyle in particular, her excessive consumption of bananas, raises real concern. Eating 30 bananas a day on a regular basis, Freelee has posted a video to prove to those who doubted her that she can eat up to 50 bananas in a single day. Freelee has posted a video to prove to those who doubted her claim that she can eat up to 50 bananas in a single day . Freelee blends up to 20 bananas at once in order to ingests the high qualities . Freelee claims that except some initial bloating directly after each smoothie (pictured), her stomach remains totally flat throughout the day . In the video breakfast consists of 20 . bananas in a smoothie with coconut water and vanilla drops, which adds . up to around 2,000 calories. Freelee . follows this with a ‘lunch’ of 10 bananas, again pulsed into a smoothie . with coconut water, and a dinner of another 20-banana smoothie. In total, Freelee consumes 51 bananas in the video tutorial. Totaling about 5,000 calories, Freelee claims that, apart from some initial bloating . directly after each smoothie, her stomach remains totally flat . throughout the rest of the day. Freelee says: ‘You don’t have to eat this many bananas - I’m just trying to show you that you have to eat big to be lean. 'There are so many people out there saying restrict your calories to lose weight but it’s not true. ‘You need to smash in the carb calories. And that’s why I do videos like this; to show people. ‘I’m a lean bean; skinny arms and stomach, everything is lean on me and I never restrict my calories. Sporting a perfectly flat stomach and lean limbs, it is easy to see why many are won over, especially since a key point of her diet is never to restrict calories . ‘But I have been doing this long-term, and the results are accumulating. I’m fit and I’m healthy and these are results that come with time from this lifestyle but you’ve got to carb up!’ Bananas are very high in potassium, a mineral essential for survival but which the body, especially the heart, is particularly sensitive to. A single medium banana contains an average of 422mg of potassium, and while it would be nearly impossible to cause a cardiac arrest through consuming food, eating excessive levels can put a strain on the kidneys, which have to filter out the excess. British Dietetic Association spokesperson, Aisling Pigott says: ‘This interesting and alternative diet advocated by the Banana Girl appears to have helped the lady that promotes the diet, however conflicts with traditional healthy eating advice which recommends variety, portion control and moderation. Often garnering comments for being too thin, Freelee has nonetheless have gained 166 thousand subscribers on her YouTube channel preaching the benefits of her lifestyle . Freelee captioned this picture on her Instagram account: 'Seven years of eating 90% more of my calories from fruit and more fruit than any other female on the planet, averaging between 2,500 and 3,500 calories a day. Judge by results vs theory folks because the proof is in the banana pudding' ‘There are some benefits to the diet. For example, a well-balanced vegan diet can be extremely healthy if managed correctly, however all vegans should pay particular attention to their iron and calcium intake in addition to a Vitamin B12 supplement. ‘Raw fruit and vegetables retain more vitamins and minerals than cooked fruit and vegetables and . Controversial Instagram sensation Loni Jane Anthony hit headlines recently when she boasted she's 'living proof that you don’t have to become a whale when you’re pregnant'. The Australian social media star first came under fire six months into her pregnancy, when she claimed she would continue her plant-based diet - which involved eating 20 bananas a day - throughout pregnancy. She says her diet has kept her in 'good shape'. ‘The Banana Girl promotes home cooked food and including less processed food as per traditional healthy eating advice . ‘However, the negative points of this diet are quite concerning. This diet contains no food sources of vitamin B12, limited calcium and little iron . ‘Poor intake of vitamin B12 and Iron over an extended time can lead to vitamin B12 and Iron deficiency anaemia characterised by tiredness, upset stomach, poor skin colour and easy bruising . ‘Poor intake of calcium over a long time leads to low bone mineral density and brittle bones. ‘There is no element of portion control incorporated into these recommendations and based on scientific evidence and research, this is unlikely to lead to any weight loss if foods are consumed in the quantities recommended. ‘A small amount of fat is required for optimal health due to fat soluble, this diet recommends 10 per cent of calories coming from fat (38g/fat/day) which may not be sufficient to meet the needs of all individuals. ‘The sugar and carbohydrate content of this diet is extremely high. A high sugar and carbohydrate diet is linked with poor dental health and poor blood sugar control in those with diabetes or at risk of diabetes . ‘Eating large amounts of one food - for example bananas - can displace essential nutrients available from other foods . ‘In summary, I would always encourage my clients to include more raw fruit and vegetables in their diet, aiming for a variety of raw and cooked fruit and vegetables alongside a healthy balanced diet of portion controlled (about the size of your fist at each meal) starchy carbohydrates (such as bread, rice, potato, pasta) and protein (meat, eggs, beans or pulses) with two to three portions of calcium enriched foods/day (dairy or dairy alternatives) and limited fat, sugar and processed foods.’ | Freelee the Banana Girl broadcasts diet from YouTube channel and website . Follows a high carbohydrate, law-fat, 'raw until four' vegan diet . Mainly eats 'mono meals': large amount of a single fruit or vegetable . Meal could be two whole pineapples, 3.5kg of potatoes or 20 bananas . Claims adopting the diet helped her lose 2st 12lbs and stay slim . | 11fc4f30e58f6539672ef92b6d1ab4fed8b35658 |
Los Angeles (CNN) -- The Los Angeles Kings will have to wait until at least Saturday to see whether the Cinderella skates fit. The Kings lost to the New Jersey Devils 3 to 1 in Game 4 of the Stanley Cup finals Wednesday, in a game that could have clinched L.A's improbable run to its first ever Stanley Cup Championship. The Kings lead the series 3 to 1 and game 5 with be played Saturday in New Jersey. If the Kings win Saturday, the series would end in New Jersey to the chagrin of some. "I want them to win the Cup in six games so we can see them win here in Staples Center," said Joey Giffee, as he held his ticket for the sixth game in Los Angeles. A record crowd of 18,867 fans were at a fever pitch Wednesday night, but the Devils hushed the crowd with three third period goals. "I wanted to see blood and guts and L.A. take them down,"said Ann Marie Love, standing outside the arena. For most of the game, the Devils and the Kings remained in a tight scoreless battle. New Jersey goaltender Martin Brodeur and Los Angeles goalie Jonathan Quick seemingly put up walls in front of their nets in a defensive struggle. Among the celebrities in attendance were longtime Kings fans Matthew Perry and Alyssa Milano, along with Will Ferrell, who made a raucous video cheering the Kings that went viral throughout now-hockey-crazy Los Angeles. Kings fans, most dressed in their home team's black, roared throughout the contest and chanted "MVP" each time Quick stopped a serious scoring chance by the Devils. From the start, the Los Angeles Kings seemed doomed to be underdogs. They are a hockey team in a land without snow or even ice. They couldn't even find a puck for their first practice in 1967. Not even the Great One, Wayne Gretzky, could bring the team a Stanley Cup. And to marginalize them further, the Kings had to compete for fans against other local teams, some legendary: the Lakers, the Dodgers, the Angels and the Clippers. But the Kings are positioned to win their first Stanley Cup in the franchise's 44-year history. The Kings have been having a Cinderella run, entering the playoffs as the lowest seed in their conference. But they have been nearly unbeatable, with a 15-3 playoff record. In his 39th season as the announcer for Kings games, Hockey Hall of Famer Bob Miller said the anticipation was unbearable. "It is emotional for me, and I'm wondering what it's gonna be like when it actually happens and I see (team captain) Dustin Brown lift that Stanley Cup, because there were years that a lot of us in the organization felt, 'will we ever see this?' " Miller said. At their first practice in 1967, after the league awarded a franchise to Los Angeles, the team's pucks were "stored under boxes and equipment, and they had no puck," Miller said. A Hollywood producer borrowed a puck that had been a gift from the Montreal Canadiens and gave it to the team, Miller said. "They've come a long way since the days of one puck, that's for sure," Miller said. The Staples Center in downtown Los Angeles, home of the Kings, is seeing a run on team apparel. It's an unlikely scenario because the arena usually sports the colors and merchandise of the Lakers and Clippers, the NBA teams that both call it home. "I'm so fired up right now that I got up this morning, put shoes on and came down here to get this jersey. I had a T-shirt. I said, 'I need a jersey to keep me for real, be there for them. Let's be there when they end it!' " fan Vincent "Butch" Frankel said. "That's gonna be Wednesday night! Kings goin' to go all the way!" Inside the stadium, fans were anxious. "I've been a Kings fan for 40 years and had a season's seat for 25 years," said Cheryl Baggs, holding a plastic cup of white wine. "I've waited a long time for this, so it's chardonnay now, and I hope it's champagne later." Grabbing a beer at a concession stand, Daniel Medina said he was glad to see the Kings as the successful ones this time of year now that the Lakers and Clippers have been eliminated from the playoffs. "It's just great to see the focus on the Kings now instead of those other teams," Medina said. Two other fans drove in from Las Vegas, five hours away. "They underachieved all season, and so I think that now they are actually living up to their potential and showing everybody that they really were the team to beat," said Emily Kolbus, who was joined by her friend, Kaleigh. Kings have found a way to be better . Actor and rapper LL Cool J, more of a basketball fanatic, has even caught the fever. "Normally during this time of year, I'm watching the NBA playoffs, but a friend of mine invited me to the hockey game, and I decided to take him up on his offer, and I gotta tell you, it did not disappoint," he said. "You know, the hockey games live, the hockey match live, is some serious business. It's serious. It's great." | Kings are having a Cinderella run in the playoffs . They are up 3-1 in championship finals going into Wednesday's game against New Jersey . The hockey team entered the postseason as the lowest seed in their conference . | ded6406fdffb6745d18913a50a18caca60e885e1 |
LOS ANGELES, California (CNN) -- Fires in central and southern California raged Saturday as triple-digit temperatures mixed with dry conditions continued to fuel the flames, torching thousands of acres and threatening scores of homes. Firefighters look on as fire rages near Ocean View Drive in Los Angeles on Saturday. Authorities confirmed three civilian injuries from a growing blaze known as the Station fire burning through the Angeles National Forest-La Canada Flintridge. The blaze nearly quadrupled in size from 5,500 acres Friday to more than 20,000 acres, officials said. The blaze, which grew to more than 20,100 acres, was 5 percent contained early Sunday, officials said. It was upgraded to type 1 brush fire -- the most severe classification. "Today what happened is what I called a perfect storm of fuels, weather and topography coming together ... essentially the fire burned at will," Mike Dietrich of the U.S. Forest Service said Saturday. Authorities consider the Station fire an anomaly, as it is not driven by strong winds as most California wildfires. Watch CNN's Reynolds Wolf explain what's driving the fire » . "The fire has been very active on all fronts," U.S. Forest Service spokeswoman Randi Jorgensen said. The fire threatened about 10,000 homes in Los Angeles County and 900 homes were evacuated, she said. Watch close-up views of the fast-moving fire » . "Basically, all the homes that back up to the National Forest in the La Canada-Flintridge are in danger from the fire," Jorgensen said, adding that fire officials have told residents to be prepared for possible evacuation orders. The Station fire disrupted power to 750 homes. More than 750 workers have been dispatched to control the blaze, which started Wednesday afternoon. Watch iReport images and descriptions of the fire » . Jorgensen confirmed one injury involving heat exhaustion. A wildfire also hit San Bernardino National Forest, burning 2,200 acres, fire officials said. The blaze, called the Cottonwood fire, started Thursday afternoon about 10 miles from the southern California city of Hemet, officials reported. That blaze was about 10 percent contained Friday evening. Hemet is about 85 miles southeast of downtown Los Angeles. Firefighters fully contained another fire that torched 230 acres about 20 miles southwest of downtown Los Angeles on Friday. The blaze, called the Palos Verdes fire, forced 1,200 people to evacuate and destroyed five homes and two other buildings. Another fire in the Angeles National Forest had burned more than 2,100 acres. The blaze, called the Morris fire, started Tuesday. That fire was about 85 percent contained Friday evening, officials said. | The Station fire "very active on all fronts," U.S. Forest Service spokeswoman said . The Cottonwood, Palos Verdes and Morris fires were all ablaze late Friday . Homes in the Angeles National Forest-La Canada Flintridge area in danger . | 17b1605fc59f43259b8e2b4ae46c160561eb95e5 |
(The Frisky) -- Like the David Letterman Debacle wasn't bad enough, now we have the story of Steve Phillips, the ESPN analyst, who had an affair with a 22-year-old coworker. Unfortunately for the 46-year-old sports dude and married father of four, his latest dalliance (and apparently there've been others before her) turned bunny boiler when he broke it off with her. Brooke Hundley, the jilted junior, allegedly went ballistic; repeatedly emailing and calling Phillips' long-suffering wife, tricking their 16-year-old son into an online flirtation, and then finally showing up at the family home, scaring the crap out of everyone. Lucky for Hundley, the Phillips's declined to press charges, but her reputation, both professionally and personally, is shot. (His too. He's since been fired from ESPN and has entered a treatment facility.) Obviously, being some cad's side action is always a sucker's game, but if you're going to do it, do it right. The Frisky: If he's not on the market, shop elsewhere! Choose carefully . It's bad enough that you're "dating" a married guy, but when you start sleeping with someone who's in a position of authority over you, you're screwing yourself twice. Every good grade will be chalked up to your romance with the professor and every promotion, credited to time served on your back. Don't kid yourself that nobody in your class or office knows, because people aren't blind and you're not that slick. Don't go home with him . Maybe he's too cheap to pay for a hotel room, could be he secretly wants to get caught . . . then again, maybe he's just a sociopath, but I can't even tell you how many times I've heard about a marriage dude bringing his girlfriend back to the house he shares with his wife and kids -- usually when everyone's out of town, but not always. Letterman even took his mistress on vacation with his family! Whatever his motivation, resist. You're already hurting this woman by having sex with her husband; at least have the decency to stay out of the bed they share. The Frisky: Can couples get past infidelity? Accept that you're No. 2 . Married guys will tell you a lot of things in their quest to bed you. That they haven't slept with their [insert bitchy descriptor here] wives for [insert insanely long period of time here] and that they're only staying together for the [kids/finances/etc.]. You need to know going in that you will always come second. (Or third. Or fourth.) Sure, you might get expensive gifts, but you'll also be spending nearly every holiday by your lonesome, you'll never meet his friends, and plans will be canceled on a moment's notice if something more important (i.e., anything) comes up. The Frisky: How to handle being the other woman . You're not his first . . . When an acquaintance of mine started an affair with a married coworker, she was furious when I suggested this might not be the first time he'd strayed during his very long marriage. She screamed that I was a cynic and that their love was a special flower they alone shared. (On the conference room floor.) Okay, she didn't use the term "special flower," but that was the gist. A week later I got an embarrassed call back reporting that, contrary to what he'd told her, he'd been straying since his wedding day. A cheat and a liar -- who would've guessed?! The Frisky: 10 ways to punish a cheater . ...And probably won't be his last . Most guys don't leave their wives for the women they're seeing on the side. Yes, I know -- your grand passion is "different." Snort. But what if he actually does splinter the family into bits and make a (semi) honest woman out of you? According to the Web site, "Beyond Affairs," only 3 percent of men marry their affair partner and out of those, only 3 percent of those marriages last. And why would they? You're committing to a relationship that was built on lies and deceit. On second thought, maybe you want to rethink this whole "other woman" thing. The Frisky: How do you define cheating? TM & © 2009 TMV, Inc. | All Rights Reserved . | Woman rarely come out ahead after having affair with married men, columnist says . ESPN fired Steve Phillips and Brooke Hundley's reputation is shot after affair . Writer says women should realize men rarely cheat just once . Quotes Web site saying 3 percent of cheaters wed, 3 percent of those marriages survive . | 48b0773105960838fad659b1da5807415f6d3712 |
(CNN) -- The New Jersey Attorney General announced criminal charges Friday against state troopers involved in the unauthorized high-speed State Police escort of a caravan of high-performance sports cars dubbed "Death Race 2012" by local media in March. Authorities allege Sgt. First Class Nadir Nassry, 47, and Trooper Joseph Ventrella, 28, led the caravan of exotic, high-speed sports cars down a state highway to Atlantic City without proper authorization and drove at unsafe speeds, endangering other motorists on March 30, 2012. According to the Attorney General's office, the drivers of the cars were part of a sports car club that included former New York Giants running back Brandon Jacobs. Before the high-velocity trip, prosecutors say, the troopers altered their license plates by using black electrical tape to change the numbers. Nassry is said to have instructed the other drivers in the caravan to "conceal or partially conceal their plates using tape or other means," according to a press release from the office of Attorney General Jeffrey S. Chiesa . "No one is above the law, and the public expects and deserves a higher level of conduct from our state troopers, most of whom deliver admirably and professionally in that regard," Chiesa said. "The conduct alleged here jeopardized public safety and undermined the trust the public places in law enforcement and the State Police. Serious misconduct by any state trooper must be met with serious discipline and, where warranted and appropriate, criminal charges." Ventrella's attorney could not be reached Friday, but Nassry's attorney, Charles J Sciarra said his client acknowledges running the escort was a bad idea, but that he refutes allegations he altered his license plate. He points to Nassry's 25 year service record as proof. "Sgt. Nassry denies the charges, admits the escort was a mistake and has moved to retire as a result, and will fight these charges and for his well earned pension after an otherwise unblemished career." For their alleged part in the license plate changes, Nassry was charged with third-degree tampering with public records or information and fourth-degree falsifying or tampering with records. Ventrella was charged with fourth-degree falsifying or tampering with records. "The alleged actions of these two troopers in altering the license plates of their troop cars were clearly intended to conceal their involvement in conduct that they knew was wrong," said Chiesa. State Police officials revealed new Standing Operating Procedure addressing escorts Friday too. The new procedure outlines when escorts are authorized and places an emphasis on public safety a statement said. Authorities also announced disciplinary charges against four other troopers in connection with a similar State Police escort involving similar vehicles in 2010, and disciplinary charges against a trooper who improperly handled a speeding ticket issued to a member of a driving club in his Lamborghini in 2010. The Attorney General's office said that while their investigation remains open, it is "unlikely" any of the sports car drivers will be charged with any crimes. "Here is the real issue," Sciarra said. "My client denies he told anyone to tape their plates while some unknown number of affluent exotic car owners explained their taped plates by saying the trooper said to do it. Why are affluent exotic car owners' words given any more credence by this administration than a decorated public servant? The administration may not want to ask tough questions of affluent exotic car owners with who knows what kinds of connections, but we will." Nassry and Ventrella have been suspended without pay since April 23. If convicted of the criminal charges, both troopers would lose their jobs and pensions, face large fines and possible jail time. Nassry faces 3-5 years in prison and Ventrella faces 18 months. | New Jersey AG announces criminal charges against state troopers . Troopers were involved in unauthorized high speed police escort of sports cars . Incident dubbed "Death Race 2012" by local media in March . | bf07ab426aeeacf138e0c3543ed042764d70f0ab |
(Mashable) -- Windows 7 is now the world's most popular desktop operating system, according to the August report from Net Applications. In August, Windows 7 had a 42.76% market share, a fraction of a point more than Windows XP's 42.52%. Windows XP was released in 2001. The much-maligned Windows Vista sits at third place with a 6.15% market share, followed by Mac OS X 10.7 and Mac OS X 10.6 with 2.45% and 2.38%, respectively. All in all, older versions included, Microsoft controls some 92% of the market. It took three years for Windows 7 to become the world's most popular OS. Microsoft's desktop operating system, which was launched in October 2009, will soon be replaced by a newer version — Windows 8. Windows 8, which is scheduled to go on sale on October 26, will be Microsoft's first operating system designed to work just as well on tablets as it does on desktop computers. Users running Windows XP, Vista or Windows 7 will be able to upgrade to Windows 8 Professional for $39.99 via an online download. © 2013 MASHABLE.com. All rights reserved. | Windows 7 is now the world's most popular desktop OS, according to a report . It surpasses the venerable Windows XP, which is 11 years old . Microsoft controls some 92% of the market for desktop operating systems . | 3fbc1301627b2864b1c8d27204912be03d34b8f3 |
(CNN) -- The University of Connecticut men's basketball team cannot compete for next year's national championship after the NCAA denied the school's appeal of a postseason ban based on its athletes' academic performance. The Huskies earlier had been ordered to sit out the 2013 NCAA tournament, because of its past players' sub-par academic performance rate. Led by longtime coach Jim Calhoun, the program had won that tourney last spring and, thus, captured the national title. The University of Connecticut appealed that ruling, but to no avail, both the school and the NCAA said Thursday. "It is disturbing that our current players must pay a penalty for the academic performance of students no longer enrolled," University of Connecticut President Susan Herbst said in a statement. "No educator or parent purposefully punishes young people for the failings of others." The NCAA defended the decision, with spokesman Erik Christianson stating "schools have known since 2006" about the "serious penalties, including postseason restriction" for programs that did not meet set academic requirements. "Also, in UConn's first waiver denial, NCAA staff noted the men's basketball team's overall lack of academic achievement and minimal academic progress over several years," Christianson said by e-mail to CNN. The move is a result of the NCAA's decision to implement a recommendation, backed by U.S. Education Secretary Arne Duncan and the Knight Commission on Intercollegiate Athletics, to penalize programs that did not or were not on track to graduate at least half of their student athletes. "If you can't manage to graduate half of your players, how serious is the institution and the coach and the program about their players' academic success?" Duncan, who played basketball while attending Harvard, told reporters last spring. "Are you actually preparing your student athletes for success -- is it just on the court or in life?" The NCAA notes that a 930 APR, or academic performance rate, equates to a program being at the fulcrum to meet that criteria -- with higher scores indicating that a program is on track to graduate more than half its players, and lower ones indicating it is not. The APR score for the UConn men's basketball's team, based on data from the 2009-2010 academic year, was an 893, according to the NCAA's website. That led to the NCAA immediately determining that the Huskies must offer two fewer scholarships, as well as setting the stage for next year's postseason ban. Any university team in an NCAA-sanctioned sport had to "achieve a 900 multiyear APR or a 930 average over the most recent two years to be eligible" for postseason play during the 2012-2013 school year, according to Christianson. Because the NCAA is "still in the waiver process," there is no "exact figure" yet as to how many other programs will be penalized like Connecticut's men's basketball team, added Christianson. The academic standards will get even more stringent next school year, the spokesman noted. By then, a 930 APR score average will be required over four years, or at least a 940 for the two most recent years, for an interscholastic athletics program to compete in a 2014-2015 postseason tournament. The University of Connecticut said, in its release issued Thursday, that its men's basketball team is well ahead of that requirement. That includes a "nearly perfect 978" APR score for the squad that won the national title and a "perfect APR score" for the fall 2011 semester. "While we as a university and coaching staff clearly should have done a better job academically with our men's basketball student athletes in the past, the changes we have implemented have already had a significant impact and have helped us achieve the success we expect in the classroom," Calhoun said. This isn't the first blow by the NCAA to the Huskies program, which traditionally has been among the best in its Big East conference and the nation as a whole. In February 2011, the NCAA suspended Calhoun for three conference games, reduced the number of scholarships and mandated recruiting restrictions after determining that team staff members violated rules by exchanging 150 calls and 190 text messages with prospective recruits and providing complimentary game tickets. The NCAA's infractions committee also found that Calhoun knowingly allowed a booster and certified NBA agent to participate in recruitment and make prohibited financial contributions to a potential student athlete. The coach responded that he was "very disappointed with the NCAA's decision in this case." A 2005 inductee into the basketball hall of fame, Calhoun has won three NCAA national championships in his career -- including his last 26 seasons with the Huskies -- and ranks sixth all-time with 873 victories, according to the official UConn athletics website. CNN's Greg Botelho contributed to this report. | NEW: The NCAA had noted UConn's "minimal academic progress," a spokesman says . The 2013 tournament ban is tied to the Huskies' expected graduation rate . U.S. Education Secretary Arne Duncan had pushed for penalties for sub-par academics . UConn coach Jim Calhoun says his program has shown drastic improvement . | 67ad49bf20c5d512bbb62cd21c6bb12f2a7c1c1c |
By . Emma Clark and Emma Reynolds . PUBLISHED: . 06:18 EST, 9 October 2012 . | . UPDATED: . 09:44 EST, 10 October 2012 . The Israeli army has deployed a missile defence system near the Lebanese border, just days after its warplanes shot down an unidentified unmanned aircraft. The Patriot surface-to-air missile was deployed from Israel's northern city of Haifa, an army spokesman said today. He refused to say if the battery's deployment came in response to Saturday's drone, which was widely believed to have originated in Lebanon. Scroll down for video . Retaliation? The Patriot surface-to-air missile was deployed from Israel's northern city of Haifa, left, and defence minister Ehud Barak, right, said the country took the incident very seriously . In their sights: The video released by the Israeli Defence Force shows the downing of a drone that entered the country's airspace on Saturday . The drone has been link to Lebanon's . militant group Hezbollah, which has advanced Iranian weapons and has . deployed similar aircraft in the past. Israel has deployed Patriots in Haifa during its war with Hezbollah in 2006 and on other occasions. The Israeli Defence Force yesterday . released video showing the moment its jets intercepted the mystery drone . that crossed into the Jewish state's airspace from the Mediterranean . Sea yesterday. The rogue drone, highlighted in red in these pictures, was intercepted flying above the Negev desert in the south of the country and shot down by an Israeli fighter jet. A military spokeswoman said nobody was injured when the jet was brought down in the south of the country. Lieutenant Colonel Avital Leibovich said Israeli systems on the ground alerted the air force to the drone during the morning. She . said it flew over the Gaza Strip but did not originate from the . Palestinian territory, prompting the country to launch an investigation . into the drone's starting point. Lt Col Leibovich did not give more details, but Israeli media reported that it might have been an intelligence gathering drone sent to investigate their Dimona nuclear reactor - and that it was not carrying explosives. Israeli jets scrambled to intercept the unmanned aircraft that crossed into their airspace from the Mediterranean Sea, a military spokeswoman said . The mysterious drone was shot down on Saturday over the northern Negev desert . It was not clear where the drone originated but military officials said it did not appear to have taken off from Gaza . She claimed the Israeli Air Force was in control throughout. 'We had monitoring contact from the ground and from the air,' she added. 'We alerted jet planes that escorted . the unmanned aerial vehicle and due to some operational considerations . we decided to intercept the unmanned aerial vehicle in the northern . Negev area, which has no population.' Iran-backed Lebanese militia Hezbollah has launched several drones into Israel over the past few years, including the Iranian-made drone that was shot down in 2006. Israeli jets intercepted the mystery drone and brought it down without incident. File photo of an air force fighter jet at the Hazor base in southern Israel . Another one launched two years earlier crashed in the Mediterranean. Relations between Israel and Iran are strained with tensions particularly high over Tehran's nuclear programme, which the West believes is intended for atomic weapons. Tehran insists its atomic program is for peaceful purposes only. Israel has hinted that military action should be taken to prevent Iran from getting nuclear bombs. Lt Col Leibovich would not elaborate how the unmanned vehicle was brought down but said troops were searching for debris from the drone. Defence Minister Ehud Barak congratulated the military in a statement, saying: 'We view this incident of attempting to enter Israeli airspace very severely and we will consider our response later.' | Army spokesman would not confirm if this was response to Saturday's unmanned aircraft . Drone was widely believed to have originated in Lebanon with Hezbollah . | bf4a5cc5444a39a14c4f927c44213f5935c40b0d |
By . Daily Mail Reporter . For most parents, having grandma take care of the children once in a while is a godsend. But it seems she may not be sharing the benefits – at least not if she does it too often. Looking after the children for five days a week or more can make grandmas less mentally sharp, a study claimed yesterday. Staying sharp: Grandparents who look after their grandchildren once a week stay mentally alert for longer, research has found . It found those who did so performed poorly in a test of working memory and mental processing speed. However, grannies who looked after the children just once a week showed improved mental agility. Margery Gass of the North American Menopause Society, which published the study in its journal, said: ‘We know that older women who are socially engaged have better cognitive function and a lower risk of developing dementia later. But too much of a good thing just might be bad.’ The research, carried out by the Women’s Healthy Aging Project, looked at 120 Australian grandmothers aged 57 to 68. Each woman was given three tests of mental sharpness. Nana knows best: Caring for children was found to have a particularly positive effect on grandmothers . Those who spent one day a week taking care of their grandchildren performed best in two of the tests. But those who lent a hand for five days or more fared significantly worse in the test that looked at working memory and mental processing speed. The researchers also found that the more time grandmothers spent taking care of the grandchildren, the more they felt their own children had been demanding of them. This suggests that mood may have affected the result. The investigators are already following up the project with more research. Although other studies have examined the relationship between mental sharpness and being socially engaged, this is the first to look at how it affects grandmothers. After the menopause, women are at an increased risk of developing Alzheimer’s and other cognitive disorders. ‘Because grandmothering is such an important and common social role for postmenopausal women, we need to know more about its effects on their future health,’ said Dr Gass. ‘This study is a good start.’ | Grandparents benefit from looking after children once a week . Researchers found it increases mental sharpness, combating Alzheimers . However if tasked with childcare five days a week it is detrimental . Back to Mail Online home . Back to the page you came from . | 4dfc8bbfe0f73ba8644d47144b0cc80cf850e00f |
By . Bianca London . It beat 'twerking' to be crowned word . of the year by editors of the Oxford English Dictionary and it seems . that the power of the selfie shows no sign of abating thanks to image . conscious Brits. A new study reveals that Brits are so selfie obsessed that the average woman spends an entire month of her life capturing her own face. But it isn't a case of 'I woke up like this', with the study revealing that women spend a total of 753 hours taking, deleting, retaking and touching up their social media selfies to look picture perfect. Scroll down for video . That's a lot of selfies! A new survey reveals that image-conscious British women spend an entire month of their lives taking selfies just like selfie fan, Miranda Kerr . So how do we do it? The study revealed the top five tricks women use to make sure they look their best in their selfies are: using soft mood lighting (51 per cent); shooting from a downward angle (47 per cent); adopting a slimming body pose (46 per cent); using smartphone filters (37 per cent) and ‘smizing’ - a term coined by Tyra Banks that means smiling with our eyes (29 per cent). The ladies of Cardiff favour using filters, 20 per cent of Southampton women love the pouty ‘duck face’, often adopted by Kim Kardashian, and 63 per cent of Newcastle women use flattering lighting in their snaps. A quarter of women confessed that they would never upload a photo of themselves online without resorting to at least one of these quick-fix tricks first. The selfie capital of the UK was revealed as Belfast, where over 84 per cent of respondents take at least one per week. Which pose do YOU adopt? Some of the tricks women use to retouch selfies include the pouty duck face, loved by Kim Kardashian, left, and smizing - a term coined by Tyra Banks that means smiling with our eyes, as shown by Miranda Kerr . This was closely followed by Birmingham (81 per cent) and Newcastle (76 per cent). In contrast, women from Cornwall are least likely to post selfies, with only 54 per cent doing so each week. With the rise of online dating apps, such as Tinder and LinkedUp, it seems that the pressure for women to aspire to perfection on social media platforms has never been higher. Almost two thirds (61 per cent) of the women questioned said that they felt the increasing popularity of dating sites and apps has also intensified the pressure to look good online. In fact, single men, take heed: 71 per cent of women admit they would be seriously put off if a prospective beau looked nothing like their dating profile picture on a first date. A spokesperson for The Body Shop said: 'It’s clear that the rise in popularity of selfies has really ramped up the pressure for us to make that all-important first impression online. 'However, The Body Shop has always been committed to activating self-esteem and we are passionate about giving women the tools to feel more confident in their skin.' Added pressure: Almost two thirds (61 per cent) of the . women questioned said that they felt the increasing popularity of dating . sites and apps like Tinder, right, has also intensified the pressure to look good online - something Rosie Huntington-Whiteley has mastered, left . | Women spend 753 hours taking, deleting and editing selfies . Using soft mood lighting and a downward angle are top tricks . Duck face favoured by Kim Kardashian is popular pose . | 1816186224fd6da375d8aa705397408786a38b48 |
(CNN) -- With the new iPhone 5S and 5C due out this week, smartphones are top of mind. And while many are oohing and aahing over the new vibrant color choices for Apple's coveted phone, sometimes a custom case is much more personal. But customization isn't just for your case; turns out, there are all sorts of new accessories and apps that let you add personality (and sometimes even functionality) to your mobile device -- whether it's new or not-so-new. Brit + Co.: 100 creative DIY wall art ideas to decorate your space . Cases . What better way to combine your love for the analog and digital worlds than with this cross-stitch case? It comes blank with multiple colors of embroidery thread for you to stitch your own designs. (Cross-stitch newbies, don't worry -- it has simple patterns you can follow!) If you'd rather customize your case with photos, a company called Casetagram will let you turn your favorite Instagram pics into a personalized case. It offers case sizes for iPhones, iPads, Android phones, and even some BlackBerry devices. Brit + Co.: Our 4 favorite things about Apple's new line of iPhones . For a case that will really turn some heads, turn to a custom wooden version from JackBacks. These bespoke cases are made from materials like walnut and bamboo, CNC cut and then laser-engraved with any design of your choice. The company offers phone cases, Macbook covers, and even wooden sunglasses for you non-Apple users. If you're an exercise fanatic, you'll want to check out Underfuse, a company that designs iron-on cases specifically so that you can attach your phone, keys and other essentials to your workout gear instead of having to hold them in your hand. Brit + Co.: 40 genius no-sew DIY projects . Many phone cases are now doubling as functional objects as well. A clipboard case lets you keep scratch paper handy just in case you're not yet into taking virtual notes. If you're a handyman or handywoman, you'll appreciate the added bonus of this measuring tape case or the ReadyCase, which includes many of the capabilities of a Swiss army knife. And finally, for those who might not be rushing to get one of the new gold iPhones but still want to show off a shiny metallic case, check out the Incase Chrome Slider Case. Brit + Co.: How to turn wine bottles into tumblers . Accessories & Docks . Smartphone accessories are becoming much smarter, cooler, and better designed for today's digital lifestyle. For instance, the Areaware phone dock is made of solid wood (it also comes in a variety of bright colors) and is meant to resemble one of the original digital flip clocks that likely sat on your bedside table decades ago. The modern woman will see the value in a new brand called Everpurse, which has a patent-pending design on a handbag with a smartphone charging pocket inside. Just drop your phone in and it will automatically start charging the battery. No cords required. Brit + Co.: Life lessons: How to waterproof your shoes . One of the more progressive smartphone accessories may be the gTar, an iPhone-compatible electric guitar that actually teaches you how to play music. It's made out of solid basswood and works with hundreds of music apps, so that you can learn to create, compose and play all at once. Wallpaper and Apps . If you're not up for a new case but still want to make your phone one-of-a-kind, try updating your wallpaper background with something meaningful. While a photo is the classic way to spruce things up, a custom quote or design is also great to throw into the mix. Here's a free downloadable design (get it for Android, iPad or iPhone 5) featuring Maya Angelou's famous quote, "You can't use up creativity. The more you use, the more you have." And if you're one of those people who is always forgetting what day it is, you might be interested in Red Stamp's calendar wallpaper. It updates every month and works for PCs, iPhones, iPads and Android devices. Brit + Co.: The 25 best couple costumes ever . To browse even more ways to reinvent your phone -- from DIY ideas to innovative cases and accessories -- explore more ideas from Brit + Co. | The new colored iPhones are no reason to stop accessorizing . Custom iPhone cases don't have to stop at phones: They can be guitars . Decorate the inside of your iPhone as well with a custom wallpaper . | 550d04ff6617d22ea4428e0366ec062fc0cacca8 |
New York (CNN)The United Nations is looking into claims that ISIS -- already considered the wealthiest terrorist group on record -- may be harvesting organs from slain civilians and gaining financial benefits by trafficking the body parts, officials said Wednesday. But Britain's ambassador to the U.N., Mark Lyall Grant, said the issue has not been officially discussed. Grant said there was no proof or evidence of the claim made by Iraq's ambassador to the United Nations. The Iraqi ambassador, Mohamed Alhakim, on Tuesday urged the Security Council to investigate the deaths of 12 doctors in Mosul, Iraq. He said they were killed after refusing to remove organs from bodies. "Some of the bodies we found are mutilated ... that means some parts are missing," he told reporters, adding that there were openings in the back of the bodies where the kidneys would be located. "This is clearly something bigger than we think," Alhakim said. The plunder of bodies for usable organs and tissues is widespread, according to Nancy Scheper-Hughes, director of Organs Watch, a University of California, Berkeley-based documentation and research project. "Organ theft during wars, civil wars, dirty wars, wars involving undisciplined armies is not uncommon," Scheper-Hughes, chair of Berkeley's doctoral program in medical anthropology, said in an email. The U.N.'s Iraqi mission on Wednesday said Alhakim was not granting interviews. "At this point we're not in a position to corroborate what he says, but obviously any source of illegal financing of groups such as ISIS or other extremist groups is extremely worrisome," U.N. spokesman Stephane Dujarric told CNN. Nickolay Mladenov, the U.N. special envoy handling Iraq, said the organ theft claim would be investigated. "We have seen these reports as well," he said. "However, I do not want to hasten to confirm anything before we study them in greater detail." Mladenov said reports that the group "is using a human trafficking as part of its sources of income" have circulated for months. "I cannot speak to the extent of that issue until we finalize our analysis of the problem but if one looks at the broader picture, it is very clear that the brutality and the tactics that (ISIS) is using expand by the day." The U.S. State Department said it was aware of the "deeply disturbing comments" about the alleged organ trafficking but wasn't able to confirm them. "We also have no reason to doubt them given other similar atrocities that have been documented and other heinous crimes for which ISIL has proudly taken credit," the State Department said, using another acronym for the militant group. Alhakim said there is a market in Europe for the stolen organs. The terror group has taken over airports where the body parts could be flown out in deals arranged between middlemen and buyers, he said. The mutilated bodies have been found in shallow graves over the last several weeks, he said. Speaking to the Security Council at a regular meeting on Iraq on Tuesday, Alhakim cited what he said were crimes of genocide by ISIS -- "without even mentioning the traffic of human organs and the theft and trafficking of archaeological items and oil." "These terrorist groups have desecrated all human values," he said. "They have committed the most heinous criminal terrorist acts against the Iraqi people -- whether Shia, Sunni, Christian, Turkmen." Last month, Turkey's semiofficial Anadolu news agency and other outlets reported that ISIS had announced the opening of a medical school in its main stronghold in northern Syria. "Dead bodies, once they are disarticulated, pulverized, processed, freeze-dried, etc., are so far removed from the 'human' person that they are simply commodities," Scheper-Hughes said. "The demand for fresh organs and tissues ... is insatiable." Scheper-Hughes said fresh kidneys from "the brain dead or from those executed with the assistance of trained organ harvesters are the blood diamonds of illicit and criminal trafficking." How ISIS is run . ISIS has been defined as the wealthiest terrorist group on record, using a combination of black-market oil sales, extortion and sophisticated social media to raise money to fund its expansion into Iraq and Syria, according to the U.S. Treasury. The terrorist group pulls in about $1 million a day, according to the Treasury. Extortion, such as demanding money from truck drivers and threatening to blow up businesses, is another revenue stream for the group, in addition to robbing banks and gold shops. The income helps finance a growing stream of suicide attacks and assassinations, officials said. It also aids the recruitment of Sunni tribal fighters and finances spectacular prison raids that liberate hundreds of fighters, as well as attacks on police patrols. ISIS controls vast areas of northern and western Iraq, as well as much of northeastern Syria -- and exercises draconian authority in areas as far apart as Anbar in western Iraq and Aleppo province in northern Syria. The group also continues to pick up endorsements and pledges of allegiance from other jihadist groups, most notably in Libya and Egypt. Everything to know about the rise of ISIS . CNN's Richard Roth and Laura Koran contributed to this report. | U.N. officials say no confirmation so far of claims by Iraq's U.N. ambassador . Mohamed Alhakim: "This is clearly something bigger than we think" ISIS is considered the wealthiest terrorist group on record . | 5deafdfeecf7ba7767ad08e6b1318b7647990412 |
A dangerous shrimp that could decimate British waterways has been found in the UK. The killer crustacean - branded a 'voracious predator' by the Environment Agency has been found in the Worcester and Birmingham canal following previous sighting in the River Severn. It arrived in the UK from Eastern Europe, and feeds on fish, sparking fears it could dramatically change the UK's delicate marine ecosystem. Public enemy number one: The 'killer shrimp' that could decimate Britain's waterways. The Environment Agency today issued a high alert warning people to look out for it. Adults are up to 30mm in length. The body is curled and semi-transparent. They have two pairs of antennae and large, powerful mandibles. Newly hatched young are about 1.8mm in length and resemble adults. According to the Department of Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, . the killer shrimp is 'a voracious predator' that 'kills a range of . native species, including young fish, and can significantly alter . ecosystems'. Regarding its cousin, the Environment Agency says it is 'uncertain at this stage what its impact might be'. Experts have scrambled a team of investigators dedicated to tracking the shrimps’ movements and how quickly they are spreading throughout the country. The Environment Agency’s Area Manager for Worcs, David Throup, said; 'We are concerned that this invasive species has been found in the Midlands. 'We now have a dedicated team whose focus is to establish the degree of the problem, and whether the shrimp has spread wider than the locations already found. 'We are treating this as a priority so that we can come up with a plan to help contain its spread as far as possible.' The alien shrimp - proper name . Dikerogammarus haemobaphes - is a relative of a non-native species that . has migrated from Eastern Europe. The . new shrimp was first discovered in the River Severn but has now been . found in two canals, showing the creature has spread over a distance of . more than 20 miles. Anglers and other users of Midlands . waterways are being urged to check, clean and dry all their equipment . after use, especially nets, and to drain, clean and dry boats and . kayaks. The Birmingham canal where the shrimp was spotted . Experts have already begun capturing the shrimps in British waters. The new shrimp was first found after samples were taken from the River Severn by Severn Trent Water near Worcester, but has since been found in two canals, showing the creature had spread over a distance of more than 20 miles. This is the first time the shrimp has been found in the UK. The shrimp at different stages of its life . British Shrimp form a valuable part of the UK's marine ecosystem - but there are fears a new Eastern European species could cause havoc. | Fears shrimp could upset delicate ecosystem . Anglers and other river users urged to keep an eye out for the creature as Environment Agency scrambles team to search for it . | 726df2e2adb83927215a0becec8953915f7245b9 |
By . Daily Mail Reporter . Pushing down prices: Thousands of shoppers have flocked to discount chains such as Lidl . Discount stores such as Aldi and Lidl have forced average shop prices down at the steepest rate for eight years, figures reveal. The overall price of clothing and consumer goods fell by 1.8 per cent last month compared with the previous June. And the figures from the British Retail Consortium/Nielsen shop price index show the price of clothes was down by 13.7 per cent year-on-year. The price of food rose by 0.6 per cent in June, but this was the lowest level of inflation since the index began. Once the mainstay of the working classes, cheap discount stores now have discerning shoppers with a wide range of incomes among their regular customers. The rise of German chains Aldi and Lidl saw hundreds of thousands of customers ditch the ‘Big Four’ supermarkes, Asda, Sainsbury’s, Tesco and Morrisons, which have seen a race-to-the-bottom price slashing. It means consumers are benefiting from the fastest drop in prices since the trade association began compiling data in 2006. Helen Dickinson, British Retail Consortium director general, said: ‘June saw plenty of good news for cash-conscious customers, and confirms that retailers have continued to work hard to help budgets go that bit further over the summer. ‘This is the deepest level of deflation in non-food and the lowest rate of inflation for food since 2006 when our records began. ‘Added to this, we see that consumer confidence is at its highest level since April 2005.’ She said that the supermarket price wars, triggered when Morrisons slashed its charges for 1,200 basic products by up to 60 per cent in May to take on the German discounters, was behind the record figures. Mrs Dickinson said: ‘Fierce competition among grocers has driven food price inflation to record low levels and with some grocers having announced plans to keep prices down, consumers stand to benefit for a while to come.’ Price war: Morrisons slashed the prices of basic items by up to 60 per cent in May to take on German firms . She continued: ‘The backdrop was equally promising with stable commodity markets and the continued strength of sterling suggesting inflation is set to remain low in the medium term. ‘Although of course, a strong pound is not so good for those retailers exporting, one exciting and growing area in British retail. ‘However, it is clear that retailers are making sure these positive economic benefits in the home market are being passed on to consumers while they themselves will cheer on the very low Producer Price Index – an indication of the cost pressures they face. ‘While the economic recovery continues to gather pace it was not all good news as household disposable incomes remain under pressure. ‘Interestingly, while wage rises remain lacklustre throughout the economy, the squeeze on disposable incomes is not coming from retail but other areas if the economy such as leisure and recreational activities. ‘With shop price inflation at a record low this is undoubtedly an excellent time to go out and find a bargain.’ | Price of clothes and consumer goods fell 1.8% from June 2013 to last month . Drop is fastest since British Retail Consortium began its records in 2006 . It comes after Aldi and Lidl gained thousands of cash-strapped customers . | a620a8109b1980dea619636dc3e7ca1f4cc66555 |
Las Vegas (CNN) -- Police are on an "intense" and "extremely focused" nationwide manhunt for the occupants of a black Range Rover at the center of a shooting on the Las Vegas Strip that claimed three lives. The incident involved a Maserati that was shot at and subsequently crashed into a taxi, which caught fire. The driver of the Maserati, whom family identified as Kenneth Cherry Jr., died at a hospital. The taxi driver and a passenger also died. The shots were fired from the Range Rover, which Las Vegas police spokesman Bill Cassell said could be anywhere. Police have received multiple reports of vehicles that match the description, but "at this point, we have no information that the vehicle in the crime has been located," he said Friday. Cassell declined to say whether there was one suspect or several, citing the ongoing investigation. Cherry, an aspiring rapper known as Kenny Clutch, was driving his Maserati on Thursday when someone in the Range Rover fired several shots at his car as it headed north on Las Vegas Boulevard. The Maserati continued into the intersection of the boulevard and Flamingo Road and collided with a taxi, which caught fire, killing cab driver Michael Boldon, 62, CNN affiliate KVVU said. "It is gut-wrenching," Boldon's younger brother, Tehran Boldon, tearfully told KVVU. "My life mission will be to see them punished and brought to justice for the senseless thing they did." In a separate interview Friday with CNN, Tehran Boldon said that his brother's son is a limousine driver on the Las Vegas Strip and he called his father to warn him to avoid the area after seeing a car afire -- not realizing that the taxi on fire belonged to his father. "He saw the accident and he tried to warn his dad to say avoid Flamingo (Road)" because he knew his father was nearby at the Rio casino, Tehran Boldon said. "He called and he didn't get a response. So his father was the fatality in that accident that he was being warned to avoid. "We lost a real patriarch and brother," said Tehran Boldon. The son, 36, works the same shift as his father did. The father's body was burned beyond recognition and was identified by his cab assignment, Tehran Boldon said. He is also trying to provide the coroner's office with his brother's dental records, he said. A passenger in the taxi also died. A passenger in the Maserati and three others were injured in the pileup, Sheriff Douglas Gillespie said. The Clark County Office of the Coroner/Medical Examiner was conducting an autopsy of Cherry, 27, a representative said Friday. The office wasn't releasing further information Friday about Boldon or his passenger. The fire closed a block and a half of the Strip near some of its biggest draws: Caesars Palace, the Bellagio, Bally's and the Flamingo. Police collected surveillance video from the casinos. The shooting took place two blocks from where rapper Tupac Shakur was killed in 1996. Cherry prominently features his Maserati in a music video on YouTube. "Out of everyone I know in the rapping industry, there is no way I would have ever, ever expected to find that he was shot on the Las Vegas Strip in such an aggressive manner," said Vicki Greco, Cherry's attorney. "He didn't have a (criminal) record or a history. He was just a good kid trying to make it and be a good father." Cherry had two children, she said. See an iReporter's video of the fire . "First time in Vegas, and then, like, the whole thing, what you know from movies only -- I was shocked," said Christine Gerstenberger, who was visiting from Germany. Thursday's incident started about 4:20 a.m. with a dispute in the valet lot of the Aria hotel, about a block away, Gillespie said. Investigators haven't confirmed the cause of the altercation, but he said it spilled onto the street. The Maserati's passenger and other witnesses are helping detectives piece together what happened, he said. The "top priority" for police is to find those who were inside the Range Rover, which sped away from the intersection. John Lamb, who was inside Caesars Palace, told CNN affiliate KLAS that he heard the commotion and saw the taxi on fire from a window. "There was a loud bang, and I heard two other booms. I looked out my window at Caesars Palace ... and could see the fireball," he told KLAS. Man kills 3, himself in Southern California shooting . CNN's Matt Smith, Tom Watkins, Jason Hanna, Deanna Hackney and Michael Martinez contributed to this report. | NEW: An autopsy is being performed on aspiring rapper Kenneth Cherry Jr., 27 . Son sees cab afire, not realizing it was his father's, and calls to warn him . "He called and he didn't get a response," relative says . There is a nationwide manhunt for the suspect or suspects . | 00eba10e15485b053b2246b587b83a8c51394601 |
PUBLISHED: . 18:09 EST, 25 September 2013 . | . UPDATED: . 18:09 EST, 25 September 2013 . Lazy: Two thirds of Brits are putting themselves at risk of heart disease and strokes by not doing the recommended daily amount of exercise . Two thirds of Britons are putting their health at risk by doing less than the recommended amount of exercise. The World Heart Federation says 67 per cent fail to achieve the suggested 30 minutes a day of brisk walking, while 29 per cent do less than nine minutes a day, putting themselves at risk of premature death. It warns that inactivity increases the risk of heart disease and stroke. A study by the group ahead of World Heart Day on Sunday suggests Britain is among the least active countries. In contrast, 48 per cent of people in Spain walk briskly for more than 30 minutes a day, while 54 per cent of Brazilians and Indians do the recommended amount. Meanwhile, the least active part of Britain is the Midlands, with 74 per cent not doing enough and a staggering 35 per cent walking for less than nine minutes per day. Scots are the most active - 39 per cent do the recommended amount of exercise and one in six do more than an hour a day. The study found one in three Brits questioned had no idea how much time they spend walking. The World Heart Federation is now urging people to increase their physical activity to protect their health. Chief science officer Dr Kathryn Taubert said: 'Awareness is the first step to a healthy heart. Paying attention to how much we walk should be as simple as watching what we eat. 'On World Heart Day, we are urging people to take action to protect their hearts. 'By reaching the recommended minimum 30 . minutes of moderate exercise, which includes brisk walking, at least . five days a week, many premature deaths can be prevented.’ The World Heart Federation recommends 30 minutes of brisk walking a day. Spain, India and Brazil are all ahead of Britain in the exercise stakes . The study also found men are the lazier sex, with 72 per cent doing less than the required 30 minutes of ‘brisk walking’ five days a week, compared to 63 per cent of women. Having children may encourage us to get out and walk more, as 37 per cent of those with young kids do at least 30 minutes of exercise each day, compared to just 32 per cent without. The World Heart Federation and healthcare group Bupa are launching a free walking app in a bid to encourage people to get moving. | Brits are failing to achieve 30 minutes of brisk walking each day . World Heart Federation warns inactivity increases risk of heart disease . Spain, Brazil and India are all ahead in the exercise stakes . | 64f15b0eb9ce30b9056f2a78cbbfde21474c73f9 |
Millionaire homeowners at the exclusive Sandbanks resort say rowdy stag and hen parties renting luxury mansions are making their lives a 'misery'. Angry residents launched a campaign after several multi-million pounds holiday homes in the exclusive beach-side destination in Dorset became popular as weekend 'party houses'. Some of the properties were being rented out for up to £1,000 a night - and because they are so big, groups of up to 30 partygoers were staying in them for nights out in nearby Bournemouth. Millionaire homeowners at the exclusive Sandbanks resort say rowdy stag and hen parties renting luxury mansions are making their lives a 'misery'. The property above is one of those listed for rent in the area by Deluxe Holiday Homes . A judge has upheld a noise abatement notice handed to letting agent Michele King by Poole Council following a string of complaints from residents. Pictured is one of the properties offered for rent by Deluxe Holiday Homes . Some of the properties are rented out for up to £1,000 a night. Pictured is an example of a home available for rent near the coast . Deluxe: A number of upmarket mansions, like the one above, are being listed for rent by letting companies in the area and have become popular among those looking for a luxury getaway . Residents in neighbouring properties said they were regularly having to endure noise from all-night parties while some reported having to ask revellers to remove sex dolls tied to their verandas. But that could all be set to change after a court ruling that could see landlords and letting agents fined up to £20,000 if they allow guests to run riot at their properties. In the first decision of its kind, a judge upheld a noise abatement notice handed to letting agent Michele King following a string of complaints about a property managed by her Deluxe Holiday Homes business. Mrs King appealed the notice handed to her from Poole council, arguing she could not be held responsible for the noise coming from the property as she was not the one staying there. But District Judge Stephen Nicholls dismissed the appeal, stating that Mrs King should be accountable for the disturbances. The ruling means landlords and lettings agents will now be held accountable should complaints be made about groups staying in their houses, and could be liable for fines of up to £20,000 if they flout noise abatement orders in future. Residents in neighbouring properties say they have suffered sleepless nights from homes rented out by stag and hen parties. Pictured is another of the homes offered for rent in and around Sandbanks . Residents declared the judge's decision 'a significant victory' but warned it only protects them against large groups making excessive noise . Houses in Sandbanks (pictured from above), a tiny sandy peninsula at the mouth of Poole Harbour, can sell for as much as £10million . Two football managers own property in the Sandbanks area (shown on the map) - QPR boss Harry Redknapp, who owns a harbour-front mansion, and former Crystal Palace manager Tony Pulis . Residents declared the decision 'a significant victory' but warned it only protects them against large groups making excessive noise. Steve Cameron, a 55-year-old IT consultant, formed the Party House Action Group with his wife Jen after the property next door to theirs became a party house. He said: 'We have been fighting this ever since the first noise abatement order was issued on a party house three years ago. 'Living next door to one has been sheer misery for us and our neighbours. 'From spring through to autumn each year we have been unable to sleep with our windows open and we have been constantly woken up in the early hours by large groups coming back from nights out. 'While this ruling is not the complete answer it's a step in the right direction because it means letting agents and landlords who specialise in short-term rentals can now be held accountable for the behaviour of their guests. 'They face a £20,000 fine for flouting the noise abatement order so hopefully that will be enough to encourage them to take responsibility for what goes on at their properties. 'What it doesn't do is prevent these houses being rented out to huge groups of people in the first place, it only stops them from making noise deemed excessive. Michele King runs a number of luxury houses in the Sandbanks area catering for groups ranging in size from 10 to 26 people . Steve Cameron (pictured), a 55-year-old IT consultant, formed the Party House Action Group with his wife Jen after the property next door to theirs became a party house. 'It also takes a long time to go through the application process to get a noise abatement order.' Terry Stewart, president of the Branksome Park, Canford Cliffs and District Residents' Association, added: 'We are very glad of the court's ruling. 'Neighbours of the party houses have really suffered over the last three years.' Cllr Xena Dion, a spokesman for environmental health at Poole council, said: 'We are truly pleased with this decision. The council takes the issue of noise disturbance very seriously as it is extremely distressing for neighbours. 'This case has caused a huge amount of distress to local residents and officers have dedicated a significant amount of effort to resolve it. 'The court's verdict means we can now continue using this legislation to tackle any similar incidents in the future.' Mrs King runs a number of luxury houses in the Sandbanks area catering for groups ranging in size from 10 to 26 people. Sandbanks is known for both its picturesque beach and the high value of its property . Located on a small peninsula stretching across the mouth of Poole Harbour in Dorset, Sandbanks is known for both its picturesque beach and the high value of property. By area Sandbanks and surrounding Lilliput, Branksome Park and Canford Cliffs, nicknamed 'Britain's Palm Beach', boast the fourth highest land value in the world and the UK's largest concentration of expensive properties outside London. Sandbanks' popularity is attributed to its seclusion, and every home in the community is within just a few minutes' walk of the beach, with most of them enjoying stunning views over the harbour or out to the English Channel. Houses were first built on Sandbanks in the late 19th century, but it was not until the 1960s when a property boom saw the peninsula - measuring less than half a square mile - become more and more built-up, turning into a Millionaires' Row filled with luxury beachfront mansions. The property market on the peninsula has shot through the roof in the past few years, with many houses being demolished and replaced with cutting-edge new properties to meet demand. In July 2009 a 1,393-square-metre (14,990 sq ft) empty plot of land on the peninsula was put up for sale for £13.5 million – the equivalent of nearly £10,000 per square metre. Earlier this year a bungalow bought for just £1,000 almost a century ago (around £40,000 in today's money) and now a luxury holiday home was reported to be worth £5million - a 500,000 percent increase in value. In April, a tatty 1950s three-bedroom Sandbanks bungalow which would be worth just £200,000 in most other parts of the country went on sale for an eye-watering £2.25million. In March, an empty plot on the exclusive enclave went on sale for £3million - double what it had sold for before its old bungalow was knocked down. Last year, 15 homes were sold for a combined total of £80million as Sandbanks' s reputation has continued to grow. Notable residents include a number of well-known names in football such as Crystal Palace manager Tony Pulis, former player and manager Graeme Souness, Queen's Park Rangers manager Harry Redknapp and his son Jamie. Computer magnate Sir Peter Ogden is also said to have a home there. The five-bedroom house she was given the noise abatement notice for is advertised on her website under the heading 'live the Sandbanks dream' and says it sleeps up to 20 people over three floors. Her website also offers to organise stag and hen dos and provide naked butlers for those staying at her houses. Mrs King declined to comment after her appeal was dismissed. Houses in Sandbanks, a tiny sandy peninsula at the mouth of Poole Harbour, can sell for as much as £10million. Two football managers own property in the Sandbanks area - QPR boss Harry Redknapp, who owns a harbour-front mansion, and former Crystal Palace manager Tony Pulis. Graeme Souness, the ex-Liverpool player and manager and now Sky TV pundit, has a home in nearby Branksome Park as does former Tottenham player Darren Anderton. Up until recently, cricket legend Geoffrey Boycott owned a house on Sandbanks. | Sandbanks residents launched a campaign after several homes became popular at weekends as 'party houses' They claim their lives have been made a 'misery' as a result of stag and hen groups holding all-night parties . Residents in neighbouring properties reported having to ask revellers to remove sex dolls tied to their verandas . But a recent court ruling could now see landlords and letting agents fined up to £20,000 if they let guests run riot . It comes after a judge upheld a noise abatement notice given to letting agent Michele King by Poole Council . It followed a string of complaints about one of the properties managed by the Deluxe Holiday Homes business . | f15c8f0bb921ebe19a3bd07d12e70ed0a7bf688c |
At first glance you might think Vince Cable has adjusted pretty well to Mars' hostile environment. Despite the chilly −63 °C temperatures and lack of oxygen, the MP appears relaxed, wearing just a suit and tie. But the Secretary of State for Business is in fact visiting a test yard in Stevenage, Hertfordshire, designed to replicate Mars. The new Airbus Defence Space ‘Mars Yard’ measures 98ft (30 metres) by 43ft (13 metres) and contains more than 300 tonnes of sand meaning engineers can test the next generation of vehicles destined to explore the red planet. Explorer? British Business Secretary Vince Cable stands with the 'Bridget' rover on the Mars Yard at Airbus Defence and Space in Stevenage. The Mars Yard provides a test bed area for prototype rover vehicles that may be used to obtain data from the surface of Mars . Europe's first Mars rover will be able to autonomously navigate up to 230 ft (70 metres) a day with no outside guidance from ground control. The next generation ExoMars rover will be tested in the Mars Yard to give the Guidance, Navigation and Control team a chance to finalise its sophisticated autonomous navigation system. Vince Cable said: 'The ExoMars rover represents the best of British high-value manufacturing. 'The technologies developed as part of the programme, such as autonomous navigation systems, new welding materials and techniques, will also have real impacts on other sectors, helping them stay on the cutting edge. The Bridget (pictured, left) and Bryan rovers (pictured, right) are shown on the Mars Yard test area at Airbus Defence and Space in Stevenage. The Mars Yard will be used up until its launch and will also be kept available after the rover has landed on the surface of Mars in 2019 . 'Not only is it hugely exciting that Europe's next mission to Mars will be British built, but it is incredibly rewarding to see the benefits of our investment in the European Space Agency (ESA) creating jobs here in the UK.' The facility was opened by Vince Cable as well as Chief Executive of the UK Space Agency, Dr David Parker and Director of Science and Robotic Exploration at ESA, Alvaro Giménez. Dr Giménez said: 'A facility like this enables us to develop sophisticated navigation systems to “teach” Mars rovers how to drive autonomously across the Red Planet. This will be a fantastic resource for the ExoMars rover team and for future missions to come.' Surreal: Ben Nye, Rover Guidance Naviagation and Control engineer for Airbus Space and Defence, is pictured making final adjustments to the Mars Yard at Airbus Defence and Space in Stevenage . The walls, doors and all interior surfaces are painted a reddish-brown colour mimicking the background colour on Mars, and the yard also includes a large mural of the Martian landscape. These features ensure the rover navigation cameras see as realistic a Martian landscape as possible. The Mars Yard will be used up until launch and will also be kept available after the rover has landed on the surface of Mars in 2019 in case engineers need to address any problem by simulating the situation on Earth. Life on Mars: The walls, doors, and all interior surfaces are painted a reddish-brown colour mimicking the background colour on Mars, and the yard also includes a large mural of the Martian landscape . Manufacture of the rover will begin early in 2015 after construction of an advanced clean room at Airbus’ Stevenage site and mission launch is planned for 2018. Colin Paynter, Head of Airbus Defence and Space in the UK said: 'ExoMars is a hugely fascinating programme and the new yard brings us one step closer to launch.' | The new Airbus Defence and Space 'Mars Yard' has been unveiled at the company's complex in Hertfordshire and features 300tonnes of sand . The yard will be used to test the autonomous navigation system of Europe's next generation ExoMars rover . Manufacture of the rover will begin early in 2015 and mission launch is planned for 2018 . | e094baa5dd78c640efc359bbc80905ccf0cbaecc |
By . Associated Press . and Daily Mail Reporter . A man who was just 17 when he brutally beat his parents to death before throwing a party with their bodies still inside the house has been sentenced to life without parole. Tyler Hadley beat his parents, Mary Jo and Blake Hadley, to death with a hammer at their St Lucie, Florida home in 2011, then spent three hours clearing up their blood so he could have a party. In February, Hadley pleaded no contest in February to two counts of first-degree murder and on Friday Judge Robert R. Makemson handed Hadley two life sentences. Sentenced: Tyler Hadley, who murdered his parents, walks from the courtroom after being sentenced to life in prison without parole at the St. Lucie County Courthouse in Florida on Thursday . He branded the crime brutal, heinous and premeditated. Hadley's attorney had argued for two 30-year sentences, to be served concurrently, with a review after 20 years. Hadley couldn't receive a death sentence because he was 17 at the time of the killings. A fellow inmate has said Hadley signs autographs and refers to himself as 'hammer boy' behind bars. After the shocking crime, a friend of Hadely's, Markey Philips, recounted that two weeks before the horrific murders, the teen had seemed withdrawn when they hung out at his home. In court: Circuit Judge Robert Makemson called the crime brutal, heinous and premeditated . Stress: Ryan Hadley, who'd previously called his brother a 'pathological liar', listens to the verdict . Emotional: Family members exit the court after Hadley was given two life sentences on Friday . Hadley, who had been in trouble with the law in the past for arson and was a known drug taker and underage drinker, told the friend that he 'wanted to kill his parents and have a big party after' - because nobody had ever done that before. The friend did not take him seriously. On the morning of the killings, Hadley was asked by a friend if the party he had been bragging about all week was still on and if he was going to kill his parents, to which he reponded: 'no but im gonna.' He took three ecstasy pills and used a claw hammer to murder his parents, authorities said. That night, about 60 people gathered for a party at the family's Fort Pierce home, playing beer pong, smoking cigars and drinking while the victims' bodies were locked in their bedroom. Friends described Hadley as being in a . good mood and hospitable during the party. One friend said Hadley had . planned to hold a second bash the following night. Victims: Mary Jo and Blake Hadley were beaten to death and locked in their room as their son partied . Plan: Hadley locked his parents' bodies in their bedroom then threw a party for 60 people downstairs . At the party that night, Hadley asked an unidentified friend to step outside to talk and told him about the killings. The friend was shown a bloody footprint in the garage and, ultimately, the bodies in the bedroom, police said. Word of the killings eventually made its way around the party, police said. The friend tipped off police, leading to Hadley's arrest early the next morning. Hadley told a friend interviewed by police that his father had punched him in the face several times, according to investigative files previously released by prosecutors. But a fellow inmate said Hadley told him . he'd never been beaten or molested, the files stated, and the man's . brother, Ryan Hadley, called his parents 'awesome' and said his brother . was a 'pathological liar.' Scene: Hadley told a friend about the killing and word spread around the party before the police were called . Stains: Hadley told an inmate that he knew his parents loved him because they didn't try to stop him . Evidence seized from the home hinted at some mental problems for the defendant, including a receipt for a mental health center and a bottle of an antidepressant medication, authorities said. An inmate, Justin Toney, said that Hadley was famous throughout the prison and had signed autographs. He said Hadley knew he had 'shocked the world' and realised something about his parents as he allegedly attacked them with a hammer. 'I said, "Did they try to stop you?"' Toney asked about the attack. 'And he was like, "No, that's how I knew that they really loved me."' | Tyler Hadley given 2 life sentences on Thursday for the gruesome murders of his parents, Mary Jo and Blake Hadley, at their Florida home in 2011 . He didn't face the death penalty because he was 17 at the time . Beat his parents to death after boasting to friends that he was going to kill them and throw a party because no one had done that before . Stashed their bodies in a bedroom while he partied with 60 friends - until he told them what he had done and the police were alerted . He is known as 'hammer boy' in prison and has signed autographs . | a344ae33e8ed8d050d077c5b909dc4b9c909751e |
(CNN) -- European Champions League holders Bayern Munich have been drawn to face Manchester City in the group stages of the continent's most prestigious club competition. The German champions are now led by former Barcelona coach Pep Guardiola, who secured 14 trophies for the Catalan club during his four seasons in charge. Guardiola has a hard task repeating Bayern's feats of last season when under Jupp Heynckes they won the Bundesliga, the German Cup and the Champions League crowns. At the draw in Monaco, Bayern's Franck Ribery was also named European Footballer of the Year, beating Barcelona's Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo, who plays for Real Madrid. "It's always nice to win this trophy; it's a special moment for me to be here," he said. "It was an extraordinary year for us, we'd wanted that trophy for so long and to play at Wembley was fantastic. I think Bayern deserved to win the cup after such a long time." Despite huge investment in their playing squad, and winning the English Premier League title in 2012, Manchester City have failed to make it out of the group stages in the past two Champions League competitions. Russian club CSKA Moscow and Viktoria Plzen, from the Czech Republic, complete the line-up in Group D. Spanish champions Barcelona have been drawn in a particularly tough looking group alongside Italian giants AC Milan, Dutch title winners Ajax and Scottish champions Celtic. Celtic famously beat Barcelona in the group stages of last year's competition, and booked their place in the group stages with a last-gasp victory over Shakhter Karagandy from Kazakhstan on Wednesday night. English side Arsenal face a tough test to emerge from Group F alongside last year's beaten finalists, Borussia Dortmund of Germany, Napoli from Italy and French side Marseille. Carlo Ancelotti's first Champions League campaign as manager of Real Madrid sees him face Italian champions Juventus, Galatasaray from Turkey, and Denmark's FC Copenhagen. Jose Mourinho has been handed a favorable draw in Group E as Europa League winners Chelsea pulled German side Schalke, FC Basel from Switzerland and Romanian outfit Steaua Bucharest. English Premier League champions Manchester United will also be content with their draw in Group A as they face Ukrainian side Shakhtar Donetsk, Germany's Bayer Leverkusen and Real Sociedad from Spain. French champions Paris Saint-Germain have been drawn alongside Benfica, from Portugal, Greek side Olympiakos and Anderlecht, from Belgium, in Group C. In Group G Portuguese side Porto have been drawn against Atletico Madrid, Russian side Zenit St Petersburg and Austria Vienna. The first round of group matches will be played on 17-18 September. Champions League group stage draw in full: . Group A: Manchester United, Shakhtar Donetsk, Bayer Leverkusen, Real Sociedad. Group B: Real Madrid, Juventus, Galatasaray, FC Copenhagen. Group C: Benfica, Paris Saint-Germain, Olympiakos, Anderlecht. Group D: Bayern Munich, CSKA Moscow, Manchester City, Viktoria Plzen. Group E: Chelsea, Schalke 04, FC Basel, Steaua Bucharest. Group F: Arsenal, Marseille, Borussia Dortmund, Napoli. Group G: FC Porto, Atletico Madrid, Zenit St Petersburg, Austria Vienna. Group H: Barcelona, AC Milan, Ajax, Celtic. | European Champions League group stage draw held in Monaco . Holders Bayern Munich drawn in a group with big spending Manchester City . AC Milan to face Spanish giants Barcelona, Ajax and Celtic in Group H . Bayern Munich's Franck Ribery named European Footballer of the Year . | 113fcca6d1ebcc2882d34f2e1612e9d4f9628fee |
By . Associated Press . PUBLISHED: . 15:13 EST, 22 May 2013 . | . UPDATED: . 15:13 EST, 22 May 2013 . Lagging behind: Evian has been having trouble competing with other designer water brands, and it hopes to catch up with its sleek new bottle . Evian is giving itself a facelift to keep up with its sleek, young competitors on store shelves. The water, which is owned by French food and beverage company Danone, is unveiling a new bottle for the first time in 14 years as it looks to reinvigorate its image and win back market share in the premium water category. Instead of the contoured bottle that has long defined the brand, the new look has cleaner lines, reminiscent of the cylinder-like shape of the Smartwater bottle. Evian's makeover comes at a critical time, given the brand's languishing sales performance in an industry where looks play such a big role. Of course, premium waters such as Evian, Fiji and Smartwater are able to command higher prices in large part because of the claims they make about how they're sourced or processed. But the superficial factor is high, too: distinct bottle shapes set them apart and bestow a sense of status. 'People buy these brands to display them,' said John Sicher, editor of Beverage Digest, an industry tracker. 'They don't want a bottle that looks like it's a private label product.' Evian, which is sourced from springs in the French Alps, entered the U.S. market in 1978 and for many years was synonymous with premium water. In recent years, however, it has lost market share with the rise of newer players such as Coca-Cola's Smartwater and Fiji, which comes in rectangular bottles and is owned by Roll Global, the maker of Pom Wonderful. Last year, Evian's sales volume rose just 0.4 percent, compared with a 19 per cent increase for Smartwater and a 4 per cent increase for Fiji, according to Beverage Digest. And its market share was just 0.3 per cent of the bottled water category, down from 1.2 per cent a decade earlier. Eric O'Toole, president of Danone Waters North America, noted that Evian's contoured bottle was original when it first arrived in the U.S. but that it became more commonplace over the years as competitors imitated it. More recently, he said the trend has shifted toward cleaner lines. SCROLL FOR VIDEO . Before or after?: The new Evian bottle is pictured at right, but it doesn't look much different from the current design . 'What the other waters did was put pressure on us to contemporize Evian,' O'Toole said. 'We realized that our bottle had become a little bit old and dated.' Evian's push to win over more customers comes as consumption of bottled water has surged over the past decade, with Americans cutting back on soda and other sugary drinks. But the bulk of that growth has come from more affordable waters, such as Nestle's Poland Spring and the smaller store brands that are typically sold in bulk cases at supermarkets. For major companies such as Coca-Cola Co. and PepsiCo Inc., selling water in those big cases isn't as profitable as selling heavily marketed drinks like soda or sports drinks. Premium waters are different, however, because people are willing to fork over more money for them too. Evian, for example, can cost between 20 per cent and 80 per cent more than other bottled waters depending on the package size, O'Toole said. The advantages of such premium waters are debatable, of course, with each brand's popularity hinging on claims of what makes them unique. Evian's new labels, for example, will include a short explainer on the back that states "each drop filters through layers of mineral-rich glacial sands" in the French Alps. Water babies: A popular ad campaign for the company featured babies dancing and roller skating in order to illustrate their 'live young' image . Fiji, meanwhile, claims to be from an underground aquifer 'hundreds of feet below the edges of a rainforest.' And Smartwater boasts of being 'vapor distilled,' meaning that Coca-Cola essentially puts tap water through a process that strips out the chemicals, then 're-mineralizes' it to improve the taste. Beyond the story lines of what makes their waters special, however, Evian's new bottle underscores the importance of appearances. In addition to the cleaner lines, the bottle will bear a label with a simplified logo that's affixed like a sticker, rather than a wraparound label that's held together by glue. But it will still have a blue tint and ridges at the top intended to evoke the French Alps. It debuts in the U.S. next month, starting with the 330 mL and 500 mL bottles, with an online and print ad campaign set for July. Japan and Canada will get the new bottles toward the end of the summer. Timing for Europe, including France, hasn't yet been determined. | Evian's new bottle is reminiscent of the streamlined looks of Smartwater and Fiji - two of Evian's main competitors . Last year, Evian saw only marginal sales compared with other designer waters . | a30a700093b4a96f48d816cfd7fc6469a77e763a |
A German nurse today admitted to killing 30 patients in his care because he was 'bored' and wanted to show off his 'excellent' resuscitation skills. Nils. H., 38, is being tried for three specimen murders by injecting patients with a dangerous medicine. The ex-nurse went on trial in Oldenburg in northern Germany in September and today claimed responsibility for dozens of deaths at the clinic he worked at. Nils. H. (pictured left concealing his face as he arrives for his trial) today admitted to killing 30 patients in his care because he was 'bored' and wanted to show off his 'excellent' resuscitation skills . After he was arrested, the nurse explained to police 'I was bored' - and prosecutors say he was keen to show off his CPR skills. According to the prosecution, if the first attempt at resuscitation was a success, he would sometimes make a second attempt. The nurse, whose full name is withheld under German privacy laws, used Gilurytmal, a medication which should only be used by doctors under strict supervision, it was said. Side effects include an irregular heartbeat, a drop in blood pressure and uncoordinated functioning of the heart muscle. Prosecutors in the district court of Oldenburg said Nils. H. (pictured) could be involved in more than 150 deaths . Though the nurse is facing charges over three murders and two attempted murders, the state prosecutor said he could be involved in more than 150 deaths. In cooperation with the police, the state prosecutor is currently investigating the deaths of 174 patients who died during Nils. H.'s shifts at a clinic in Delmenhorst, near Bremen, between 2003 and 2005. The investigators will also look into deaths at Nils. H.'s previous jobs in Oldenburg and Wilhelmshaven and dozens of bodies will be exhumed. In 2008, Nils. H. was sentenced to seven-and-a-half years for the attempted murder of another patient. He gave his patient an overdose of heart medication, with the man narrowly escaping death. The ex-nurse went on trial in Oldenburg in northern Germany in September and today claimed responsibility for dozens of deaths at the clinic he worked at . The death rate in the Delmenhorst clinic nearly doubled in the time Nils. H. worked there, and use of the heart medication also increased dramatically. But it took nearly a decade before an investigation was launched, angering relatives of the dead who are demanding information. A senior doctor who gave evidence in September said Nils. H. was a 'passionate medic' who made a good impression on staff at the clinic. But the doctor added: 'I found it strange that he was always on hand when patients were being resuscitated, often helping younger doctors with intubation - inserting a breathing tube into a patient's airways.' 'No one wants to believe that a colleague would rather kill patients, instead of helping them,' said Erich Joester, a lawyer for the clinic. He said that the increased death rate had been attributed to a number of causes rather than a rogue individual. Sorry we are not currently accepting comments on this article. | German nurse Nils. H. has claimed responsibility for dozens of deaths . Has been on trial in Oldenburg, northern Germany, since September . The 38-year-old's full name is still withheld under German privacy laws . He was accused of injecting patients with a dangerous medicine . Prosecutors believe he may be responsible for more than 150 deaths . | cc0af4cbf5897ab76ddebc5658e9a614610f6fe6 |
By . Ryan Gorman . PUBLISHED: . 23:14 EST, 20 November 2013 . | . UPDATED: . 10:26 EST, 21 November 2013 . A veteran federal agent and his school teacher wife were found dead in their Virginia home early Wednesday morning after gun shots were heard by their two daughters. Paul Parisi, 46, and Jannine Parisi, 47, were found at about 5am by officers called to the home after their two daughters fled to a neighbor’s house to call for help. The two girls were unharmed. Police have ruled out a third person being the shooter and are investigating the twin killing as a 'domestic situation,' officials told local media. Scroll down for video . In better times: Paul Parisi, 46, (center right) and Jannine Parisi, 47, (center left) pictured with their two young daughters . Investigators haven’t detailed who the aggressor was, or any other details surrounding the shooting, but have said there is no threat to the public. ‘At this point, we are investigating this as a domestic situation,’ an official told WTOP. Mr Parisi was an arson and explosives agent with the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms, said reports. He had been with the agency for two decades. ‘Our thoughts and prayers are with the family members who have suffered a tremendous loss today,’ the agency said in a statement. ‘We request that the family’s privacy be respected so that they can grieve in private.’ Mrs Parisi was a physical education teacher at a local middle school who was beloved by her grief-stricken students. ‘You could come to her for anything,’ one of her former students told the Washington Post. ‘She was more than a teacher, we were all her children.’ A home becomes a crimes a crime scene: The Parisi's Virginia home teemed with investigators well into the night . A 'domestic situation': Officials called the incident a domestic dispute and said there was no threat to the public . Mr Parisi had been with the ATF since 1993, his wife a teacher at the school since 2005. Students were sent home with a note written by the school’s principal. ‘Today has been a very emotional day at Franklin as we learned of this tragedy... Our thoughts are with Jannine's family and friends during this extremely difficult time.’ The picture of happiness: Family and neighbors said the family seemed perfectly normal . Relatives were mortified by the sudden death of the outwardly happy couple. ‘Jannine was the sweetest person in the world,’ her brother-in-law told the Post. ‘You couldn’t have picked a worse person for something like this to happen to.’ The Parisis were married for two decades, he added. Shocked neighbors spoke of how the family was always outside running, playing basketball or spending time together. One neighbor called the Parisis were 'a wonderful family' when speaking to WTOP. 'We socialized with them - just all-around nice people. It's a shame,' the neighbor added. ‘It's a little shocking to think it happened right around the corner,’ neighbor Bob Young told the Post. ‘It's pretty tough. Hopefully the kids are OK. I'm not sure what's going on in the house.’ ‘My girls played basketball with their youngest daughter,’ another neighbor told NBC Washington. One neighbor sang a different tune to CBS Washington, one that painted a much darker picture of the family. ‘I didn’t know there was any problems going on in that house until a couple of months ago when there was an ambulance and police officers,’ said Jinnie Maluff. ‘I feel really bad about it because maybe we could have done something to be of more support, she added. Another neighbor told the Post of how despite living next door to the Parisis, he had no idea the family was unhappy. ‘You are so busy in your own life that you don’t find out about your neighbor’s issues, you just wave and say ‘Hi.’ | Paul and Jeannine Parisi were found dead early Wednesday morning in their Virginia home . Their daughters were in the house and fled when they heard gunshots . Authorities have categorized the incident a 'domestic situation' | 77c52469d7e7417c80cf96785e50163ad14b6209 |
Police forces are appealing for motorist's dashcam footage in a bid to catch dangerous drivers. Dashboard-mounted cameras, which cost around £70 to install, are used by thousands of drivers in the UK. Many use them to protect against false claims or insurance premiums. But now forces are planning to make the . most of the cameras - and are appealing for drivers to send in footage . of other motorists breaking the law. Scroll down for videos . Appeal: Police are calling for drivers to submit their dashcam footage - such as this series which captured a driver hitting an elderly man - so they can catch more dangerous drivers . Hit: The 75-year-old man can be seen stepping out into the road while the driver speeds forward . Justice: The motorist - who was driving near Heathrow - was prosecuted and disqualified . Some cameras have already been used to catch dangerous drivers. Shocking footage taken by one driver in Southall, Heathrow, of a driver hitting an elderly man and then driving off led to a prosecution. The driver of a red vehicle can been seen speeding along for several minutes before attempting to overtake another motorist on a single carriageway. Crash: A Surrey police car can be seen stopped in the middle of a single carraigeway . Smash: The driver of a blue BMW then piles into the side of the car . Hit: The officer is sent flying and both cars are badly damaged . The footage shows the man stepping in to the road and the driver hitting him - before speeding off. The driver was disqualified thanks to the video. Other videos taken of dangerous UK drivers show a HGV narrowly avoiding a pile up on the A13 towards Dagenham. The distracted driver can be seen travelling along in the slow lane before swerving to avoid hitting another HGV. Lorry: The green Artic lorry (left) can be seen travelling along in the slow lane . Near miss: The driver then swerves around another lorry and into a white truck . Dangerous: The white lorry is then forced to swerve into the central reservation . The lorry then narrowly misses another vehicle in the dramatic video. Meanwhile in Surrey - dashcam footage shows a police car easing out of a junction and an officer getting out of the vehicle. Moments later a BMW, driving at some speed, smashes into the side of the police car - sending the officer flying. Stupid: The driver of a black KA can be seen attempting to U-turn at a busy junction . Dangerous: The driver then almost reverses into a motorist behind . Turn: The driver eventually makes their way back down the road . Other footage shows a lorry not moving over when a car attempts to join a dual carriageway and a driver of a Ford KA doing a u-turn in the middle of a busy junction. Paul Marshall from the Association of Chief Police Officers told The Times: 'Increasing use is being made by the public of digital cameras to record evidence of offences which can be used by the police service to support prosecutions.' Matt Stockdale of PoliceWitness.com - a . site that helps drivers submit footage to police - said: 'PoliceWitness.com is merely a conduit that helps the public assist the police. 'The incidents we report to the police are from members of the public who have inadvertently captured acts of inconsiderate or dangerous driving on their dash cams, set up to record their journeys whilst they go about their daily business. 'The main reason dash cams are a growing phenomenon, is people recognise the need to protect themselves, their vehicle, their insurance costs and their driving licence, which in some cases could mean their livelihood.' | Police appeal for public to send in 'dashcam' footage of dangerous drivers . Thousands of drivers now using £70 cameras across the UK . Footage has already caught numerous motorists breaking the law . | e649b5e4e8224d25f3bafa60396e6c395f9a56ee |
A university freshman was found dead on the banks of the Mississippi river on Sunday after he reportedly froze to death, police said. Jacob W. Anderson, 19, was discovered near the Stone Arch Bridge and close to campus of the College of Liberal Arts in Minneapolis. Mr Anderson, who is originally from Orono, Minnesota, was a popular student at the school who played lacrosse, friends said. University of Minnesota freshman Jacob Anderson, from Orono, was found dead on Sunday morning on the banks of the Mississippi river . The student's body was found just before 9am close the bridge, police said after they received a 911 call. There were no signs of foul play and that the death was being investigated. The University of Minnesota, where Mr Anderson was enrolled, would not comment on the teenager's movements prior to his death. No official cause of death had been released for the 19-year-old who died on a night when temperatures dropped to one degree below zero. The cause of death is set to be announced by the Hennepin County medical examiner. Neighbor Roxane Gehle told the Star Tribune that the former Orono high school student was 'a kid that you loved to have around'. The 19-year-old student was found dead close to the Stone Arch Bridge over the Mississippi river . A police car patrols the bridge over the Mississippi close to where a student was found dead on Sunday morning . She added that she . spoke with the teenager's parents recently, adding that 'he was really . enjoying the start of his freshman year. He had made some great . friends'. The school released a statement identifying the man as Jacob Anderson. It also said he was a freshman studying in the College of . Liberal Arts. Vice Provost for Student Affairs and Dean of Students Danita Brown . Young said the school will reach out to the family to offer 'support and . resources'. The 19-year-old student was enjoying his first year of college and had made a lot of friends, a neighbor said . | Jacob W. Anderson, 19, was discovered near the Stone Arch Bridge in Minneapolis, Minnesota . Teenager's body was found on Sunday morning after temperatures dropped to 1 degree below zero during the night . | 58cec3ec40a30c06bf6589bb833c5511c8db117b |
Diego Costa says he does not want to get caught up in a 'club vs country war' but has declared himself fit for Spain. Jose Mourinho has stated that Costa is struggling to play so many games amid concerns over his hamstring injuries. Brazil-born Costa pulled out of their most recent qualifier against Macedonia with a hamstring problem. Diego Costa in action during Chelsea's 1-0 win against Sporting Lisbon on Tuesday . Costa hopes to join up with the Spanish national team despite an ongoing hamstring injury . Mourinho, who has continued to play his £32m summer signing despite the long-running injury issue, suggested last week that Costa needed to use the next international break to recover properly. But the striker has said he is fit and wants to be named in Spain's squad for their Euro 2016 qualifiers against Slovakia and Luxembourg. 'I hope I am okay to go with Spain,' Costa told Marca after completing Tuesday's 1-0 Champions League Group G win at Sporting Lisbon. 'If I played 90 minutes it is clear that I am fine, I am feeling better all the time, and it is the boss's [Vicente Del Bosque's] decision.' The Blues forward has scored eight goals in six Premier League games . Asked after whether he feared a 'war' could break out between Mourinho and Spain coach Del Bosque, the Brazil-born player said: 'I do not believe that could happen. I have already had enough with the issue about Brazil. Now I must stay relaxed to be able to work and do things well, with the national team too.' Despite declaring his fitness, Costa admitted he has needed special training to enable him to overcome his hamstring problem, which hampered him regularly through the final stages of last season when he was at Atletico Madrid. 'During the week I am working in an intensive way with the physios, because I have some issues from a while back,' he said. Jose Mourinho (left) may be hoping Vicente del Bosque doesn't select Costa for international duty . | Diego Costa hopes to be selected for Spain's forthcoming international matches . Chelsea striker has been nursing a hamstring injury for several months . Jose Mourinho has claimed that Costa has been doing 'almost nothing' in training between matches . Costa played 90 minutes for Chelsea as the Blues defeated Sporting Lisbon on Tuesday . | 47d37928f1c1ade53e0146833c30c9a78bac97e7 |
By . Emma Thomas . PUBLISHED: . 13:40 EST, 25 December 2013 . | . UPDATED: . 13:42 EST, 25 December 2013 . A couple have been left devastated this Christmas after thieves stole their car and the ashes of the woman's father. Michael Savage and his wife Mel had travelled to a friend's house in Loughton, Essex, from West Bridgford in Nottinghamshire, during the wet and windy conditions on Monday. Due to the poor weather, they ran inside and left lots of Christmas presents and the urn containing the ashes in their BMW, Essex Police said. Scene of the crime: The couple had parked the car in Lower Park Road . Mr Savage, 29, said his wife's father 'travels with us to all significant family gatherings so that he can share in the occasion'. 'We just leapt in the house as the wind was howling. We know we shouldn't have left the presents and the ashes in the car, but we just wanted a hot drink and some rest after battling down the motorway for over three hours. 'We are staying with our close friends over Christmas and then travelling to my parents' home on Boxing Day so we brought down with us a boot full of Christmas presents. 'We are just sorry to all our friends' children who will have to wait several more weeks for some new presents. 'My father-in-law's ashes reside with us in our Nottinghamshire home, but he travels with us to all significant family gatherings so that he can share in the occasion. 'If anything, we appeal to the thieves to contact the police with the location of the ashes so that we can have Mel's dad back with us.' Essex Police said the car was stolen between 11pm on Monday and 10am yesterday from outside a house on Lower Park Road. The black BMW 118d has a registration of PY08 NZW. A police spokesman said: 'We're desperately looking to find this man's car and his wife's father's ashes as well as the thieves who stole it. 'With this in mind, sightings of this car or anyone who saw people acting suspiciously near the junction of Lower Park Road and High Road in Loughton overnight should contact us.' Anyone who knows of the whereabouts of this car is urged to contact Essex Police on 101. | Michael Savage and his wife Mel had their car stolen . Couple had driven from Nottinghamshire to Loughton, Essex . Father-in-law's ashes were in the car as they take them to family gatherings . | c3c17dce64a86794eec830b05b88d386e83decb3 |
(CNN) -- Where would you find the most Christmas spirit in the world? It's hard to say for certain, but if a global competition were to be held, the Philippines would have an excellent shot at winning. The southeast Asian island nation has the world's longest festive season -- and pulls no punches in its celebratory zeal for the period, with lavish light displays, masses, and festivals held throughout the country from September until January. One of the most populous nations in Asia, the Philippines is an overwhelmingly Christian nation. Approximately 90% of Filipinos are Christian and 80% of those are Catholic, an influence gleaned from the country's period as a Spanish colony from the sixteenth century until the end of the nineteenth. As a result, while many countries concentrate on the commercial side of Christmas, Filipinos attend several masses throughout the Christmas season and faith forms an intrinsic part of celebrations. A traditionally Filipino event is Simbang Gabi, a series of masses held over nine nights culminating in Christmas Eve. It is believed that if you make a wish after completing the nine masses, it will come true. As early as September, when the dark nights come, it is not unusual to see a series of spectacular Christmas displays popping up in malls, parks and open spaces across the country. Student Christian Ian V. Bordo from Laguna province in the Philippines loves the beautiful 'parols', lights created by artisan Francisco Estanislao in 1928 and originally made of bamboo and paper that are hung up throughout towns and villages. "[The parols are] as important to Filipinos as the Christmas tree to Western culture -- without parols Christmas wouldn't be complete," he declared. "The lanterns were used by people to light their paths during the ritual Yuletide dawn masses called 'Misa de Gallo' [midnight mass], because electricity was unavailable at the time in many rural areas." Such lanterns are now more likely to glow with electronic lights, but the ethos remains the same -- a guiding light in the darkness for worshippers wanting to congregate and pray. To Stephanie Masalta, the striking lanterns are a comforting indication that Christmas is on its way and a fond reminder of how her community comes together every year to string up the beautiful lights. "Even I cannot help myself from smiling whenever I pass by that street and think of how devoted Filipinos are in celebrating Christmas," said Masalta, who lives in San Pedro, Laguna. "This happens only once a year, so residents combine their efforts to put them up." Student Martin Jarmin from Los Baños, Laguna, says the light displays in his town's local gardens regularly dazzle residents. "The lighting of the park during the Christmas season is done yearly and now became a huge attraction to people not only from [my] area, but from the outside, too," he said. Decorations can also inspire a competitive spirit. Student Miaflor Tatlonghari said that in some local villages, they organize contests for the most beautiful Christmas decorations. The tree set up by her home in Santa Rosa City was at least 30 ft tall - and larger ones are not uncommon. Photos: Santa sightings around the world . Martin Jarmin also mentioned another Christmas tradition of which Philippines residents are fond -- gathering together to make and enjoy food specifically made for the Christmas season. For example, Christmas Eve, or Noche Buena, is traditionally when families come together to host a large festive meal. The celebration is well known in Spain and Latin America and stems from the nation's colonial past. In addition to the aforementioned Christmas Eve dinner, scores of delicious, and often highly unusual, dishes are prepared for Filipinos to gorge themselves on. These include puto bumbong, glutinous purple rice stuffed into bamboo tubes with butter, sugar and coconut, and keso de bola, balls of cheese with red waxy coverings. iReporter Mae Anne Alejandrino from Cabuyao in Laguna province loves the mouth-watering Christmas delicacies from food stall sellers who set up beside an enormous display of Christmas lights, showcasing the dizzying breadth and variety of Filipino cuisine. "At Christmas, we cook our own barbeque and hotdogs and buy several kinds of rice cake called 'bibingka'," she said. "We Filipinos would always decorate our center table with colorful fruits and rice cakes. We would also prepare fruit or 'buko' [a type of young coconut] salads for dessert. But amidst the festivities, some iReporters felt it important to send in reminders of those who face a more austere Christmas. iReporter Janoah Ami Soriano's poignant images showed the plight of children forced to leave their homes after a series of deadly typhoons caused severe flooding in August in some parts of the country. Having lost most of their belongings, many relied on Catholic charities to provide them with some Christmas spirit. "I saw that the parents were more excited to receive presents than the kids and the moment was heart-melting," he said. "Helping others is a tradition in the Philippines at Christmas, especially those who are really in need." His touching iReport is a reminder for those celebrating Christmas -- in the Philippines and beyond -- that many of us have much to be thankful for this holiday season. Show us what the Christmas festivities look like in your part of the world . | The Philippines has the longest Christmas season in the world -- from September to January . The festive season is marked by traditional masses, spectacular light displays and family gatherings . Traditional paper and bamboo lanterns known as 'parols' light up many Filipino villages and towns . Some villages organise contents for the best Christmas decorations . | 256a58e361e7acadc2370f79a59a4a7c588350b4 |
By . Ryan Gorman . and Wills Robinson . Incredible footage has emerged of two . oil workers running for cover as they try to avoid being caught up in a tornado as . it swept through a trailer park. Dan Yorgason began filming as the vortex touched down in an oil field south of Watford City, North Dakota, on Monday. The massive twister injured nine people, severely damaged . 15 trailers and ruined equipment at the Bakken Oilfield, about . five miles outside the city. Scroll down for videos . The video by Dan Yorgason shows a tornado in a worker's camp near Watford City, North Dakota, in the heart of the state's booming oil patch . The pair flee to their pickup truck, but keep the camera rolling as the twister continues on its path of destruction . As . the tornado approaches in the distance, alarms begin to sound in the trailer park and Yorgason shouts: 'It's about to go right over us.' He adds: 'We've got nowhere to go. It's heading right for us. I don't want to be sitting here.' One of the pair then grab the keys to their pickup truck so they can take refuge in the front seats. Sat in the cabin, they watch as the tornado carries on its path of destruction alongside the vehicle. 'I don't know where it's going': The vortex appears to stop as the pair are in the cabin of the vehicle . With the windows to the vehicle open, they start shouting: 'Look at everybody just running.' The vortex then appears to stop next to the vehicle and the pair say: 'It's just sitting there. 'I can't tell which way it's going. It looks like it's breaking apart.' Baseball-sized hail fell during the storm and the tornado was on the ground for an entire minute, witnesses said. Cloud: Dirt and debris flies across the caravan park as the tornado sweeps through the area . A woman who captured another video of . the vortex can be heard repeatedly praying and saying 'we've got nowhere . to go' as a man in the background kept shouting to people that a . tornado was coming. The desperation and panic in her voice is haunting. One . witness posted to Facebook that the twister started on a Hess oil . field, but MailOnline was not able to independently confirm. Massive: The tornado stuck the Bakken Oilfield, about five miles outside of Watford City, North Dakota . From afar: A picture taken a few miles from the dangerous storm shows how large it was . The critically injured person is currently being treated in a local hospital, officials said. The other eight were treated and released. An initial report by KXMB suggested a trailer with four children in it had gone missing, but all people were later accounted for, officials said. A shelter was set up for people whose homes have been destroyed, an official told In Forum. Of the 15 trailers damaged, 15 were completely destroyed, KFYR reported. Devastating: A total of 15 trailers housing oilfield workers were destroyed, eight entirely . Destroyed: About half of the 15 trailers damaged by the twister were completely destroyed . 'Oh my Jesus': The woman who took this video is heard desperately . praying over and over again for safety from the terrifying tornado . William Bunkel, who works for a . trucking company, said that he was in Watford City with some co-workers . when the tornado warning came. They had just moved their vehicles inside . because of large hail when they spotted the funnel cloud. "We saw it form, come out of the sky, hit the ground and go back up into the clouds," he said. Bunkel, 38, took photos of the twister and estimated that it remained on the ground for nearly a minute. He said he couldn't see any debris. 'It was a little bit too far away. We just saw the clouds and the rotation,' he said. The tornado warning for the area . was later lifted, but McKenzie County emergency management officials were . asking people to stay off the roads because emergency vehicles were . having a difficult time reaching the scene. The oil boom has fueled a population boom for the area, bringing in tens of thousands of people looking for work. Close up: This terrifying shot was taken right near the tornado, the photographer appears to have cheated death to take it . Dangerous: Baseball-sized hail rained down on the surrounding area, destroying everything it hit . Beat up: Hail dented this truck in multiple places and smashed its windshield . Cracked: This windshield was all but smashed in by the giant hail . Many live in hastily-assembled trailer parks or man camps, which contain pre-fabricated structures that can resemble military barracks. Some companies rent blocks of hotel rooms for employees to live in, and some workers sleep in their cars or even tents. Housing developments are constantly popping up in big areas of town that didn't exist on maps a couple of years ago. But they are still not enough to keep pace with demand and oil money has pushed rents to among the highest in the nation, even rivaling trendy neighborhoods in the country's largest cities. A simple one bedroom apartment in the oil boom hub city of Williston can easily cost $2,000 per month in rent. Even a spot to park a trailer can cost over $800 per month. Watford City, is about 30 miles southeast of Williston. | Dan Yorgason captured the dramatic scene in Watford City, North Dakota . After realising there is no escape, they decide to take refuge in a truck . Nine people were injured including a 15-year-old girl . More than a dozen trailers housing workers were damaged . Officials have not said where it ranks on the Fujita Scale of F1 to F5 . | 95ba5af84913e4d5555c3e86ea700fcd2cbd9428 |
Arsenal are set to explore a move for Manchester United forward Danny Welbeck to help ease the loss of injury victim Olivier Giroud. As Sportsmail revealed on Tuesday, Giroud is facing an extended period on the sidelines after sustaining an ankle injury against Everton on Saturday. Arsene Wenger will move to strengthen his forward line before next week's transfer deadline, and Welbeck features on the club's list of options. VIDEO Scroll down for Wayne Rooney and Danny Welbeck take part in fan Q&A . Target: Arsenal are set to make a bid for Manchester United's out of favour forward Danny Welbeck . Replacement: Welbeck could be brought in to replace the injured striker Olivier Giroud . Not first choice: Welbeck has not started either of United's Premier League games this season . Crocked: Arsenal need to replace Giroud, with the striker set to be out for more than three months . Heartache: Giroud scored the equaliser against Everton on Saturday but went off injured soon after . VIDEO Giroud injury scare for Wenger . Sportsmail understands the Gunners were keen on Welbeck prior to Giroud's injury, but fears over the Frenchman has seen their interest intensify. It is believed Welbeck would give serious consideration to a move to the Emirates Stadium. But whether United would sell the England international to a rival remains to be seen. Queens Park Rangers frontman Loic Remy is also a realistic option for Arsenal. Paris Saint-Germain striker Edinson Cavani is a long-term target for the club, but a move for the Uruguayan seem remote given the vast cost of any deal. Option: QPR's Loic Remy is also being considered by Arsenal, but his wage demands could be an issue . Priced out: Uruguayan striker Edinson Cavani is highly rated but will likely be too expensive for Arsenal . | Arsenal are set to swoop for Manchester United striker Danny Welbeck . The England international is interested in a move to the Emirates . First-choice striker Olivier Giroud is likely to be out until after the New Year . United may be reluctant to sell to Arsenal after the Gunners' refusal to sell them Thomas Vermaelen . Arsene Wenger is also considering a bid for QPR's Loic Remy . Paris Saint-Germain striker Edinson Cavani will likely be too expensive . | f3b436a39aee7c6306a0fa478e71b4d4a2092f52 |
That blue Burberry suit worn by Nine morning presenter Karl Stefanovic for a whole year, to prove a point over sexism, has now been sold. The Today show host has handed over the famous threads to the lucky highest bidder on Ebay, Hamilton Island Weddings' managing director Rohan Gull purchasing it for $6400. But because all the proceeds are going to a worthy cause, the White Ribbon campaign to end violence against women, he pitched in a little bit more to take the bid to $10,000. The infamous blue suit worn by Karl Stefanovic (pictured middle) for a year went to Hamilton Island Weddings and they forked out $10,000 for it . Karl's 'infamous' blue suit sold for $6400 on Ebay . Today show co-host Karl Stefanovic worn the exact same cheap Burberry suit on air to prove a point about the double standards women face, especially in the television industry . All proceeds from its sale go to the White Ribbon Australia charity, a campaign to end violence against women . Ex seven weather presenter Grant Denyer, who got married by Hamilton Island Wedding's says he has plans to maybe wear the suit when he renews his vows . 'We were inspired by Karl for wearing the suit for a whole year and were shocked when reading into the statistics, so that made us want to make a donation,' said Mr Gull. Stefanovic wore the Burberry blue suit every day for a whole year, just changed his shirt and tie, and made the internet go 'a little bit crazy' all to make aware the double standards women face, especially in the television industry. Ex seven weather presenter Grant Denyer, who got married by Hamilton Island Wedding's says he has plans to maybe wear the suit when he renews his vows. On twitter he wrote, 'I was married by Rohan&AMAZING @HIWeddings team! I'm renewing vows now just 2 hire THE @karlstefanovic suit!' The little bit 'stanky' suit was auctioned off on Ebay with a starting bid of $1000, and was described as super comfy, stylish and cool, but it may need to be dry cleaned. He is a big advocate for the White Ribbon campaign and believes it's something everyone should be aware of. 'This issue needs to be addressed from the highest levels of society in terms of the law and the way our perpetrators are sentenced,' he told Fairfax Media. 'Hamilton Island Weddings saw a chance to buy Karl's suit as a great way for the jacket and pants to live on and continue to raise money for White Ribbon,' said Mr Gull. Channel Nine presenter Karl Stefanovic (pictured) conducted the year-long experiment into the double standards faced by his female co-host Lisa Wilkinson (pictured right) After revealing that he wore his Burberry suit every year for a day the Today show presenter decided to put it up on auction on Ebay to raise money for Charity White Ribbon Australia and it sold for $6400 to Hamilton Island Weddings, who then bumped it up to $10,000 . They are now making a call out to all future Hamilton Island grooms, groomsmen and wedding guests to make a donation which gets them the privilege of wearing the suit at their wedding. 'We're guna have to get the exact size to give to people, have it measured,' he said. As for whether they are going to dry clean it before they let anyone wear it? 'We might leave it up to the first person that wears it,' he said. As for the rules of wearing the suit and how much people have to donate to be able to don the blue jacket and pants, it's wide open. 'Leaving it open to rules of wearing the suit, keen to see what people will donate, hopefully decent bids.' 'I think will get a lot of people, even wedding guests who would be willing to wear a good novelty suit, I've inspected it and it’s a nice suit.' Stefanovic's experiment sparked worldwide media interest from websites like the BBC and New York Post . Mr Gull said they only starting bidding towards the end of the auction and the price jumped significantly but they were able to end up winners after quite a few bids. He'll be flying back to Hamilton island on Thursday and says he plans to document the suits travels on social media. As for whether there's plans of maybe a shrine, to showcase the suit, possibly! 'Might have to put it in a safe,' he said. After Stefanovic revealed his everyday workwear, he said he had not received one complaint about his repetitive attire over the past year, but his female co-host Lisa Wilkinson regularly copped criticism about the way she looked. Stefanovic (pictured with Richard Wilkins (left) and Ben Fordham (right) said he had not received one complaint about his repetitive attire over the past year, now his 'infamous' blue suit is up for sale on Ebay . He said no one had even noticed his choice of attire while women got the brunt of everything from the colour they wore to thousands of tweets about something wrong they said. 'I'm judged on my interviews, my appalling sense of humour – on how I do my job, basically. Whereas women are quite often judged on what they're wearing or how their hair is ... that's (what I wanted to test),' Stefanovic told Fairfax Media. Stefanovic's experiment also sparked a media frenzy worldwide with interest coming from websites like the BBC and New York Post. Feminist website Jezabel were among those to weigh in on the experiment. Reporter Isha Aran wrote: 'As hilarious and interesting as this is, he simply proved something we all already know, the double standard women deal with on a day-to-day basis'. | Karl Stefanovic's blue suit sold on Ebay for $6400 . Hamilton Island Wedding, who purchased the suit, increased the total to $10,000 . All proceeds will go to the White Ribbon's campaign . Future Hamilton Island grooms, groomsmen and wedding guests can wear the suit for a donation. Karl wore the suit every day for a whole year to prove a point of sexism and the double standards women in TV receive . It has not yet been dry cleaned . | 32089e7f0b58add4ee37106ef50da9cc916bddf0 |
By . Ryan Gorman . PUBLISHED: . 18:42 EST, 23 November 2013 . | . UPDATED: . 01:01 EST, 24 November 2013 . A Pennsylvania woman brought home more than she bargained for when a black widow spider hitched a ride in a bunch of grapes. Yvonne Whalen, of Monaghan, made the horrifying find this week while washing the fruit before eating it. The scary spider was one of two hiding in the bunch, the other died after spending a week in her refrigerator. The woman’s discovery is only the latest in a series of disturbing finds in fruit across multiple states. Deadly: Black widow spiders have enough venom to kill children and the elderly if bitten . ‘I saw the spider come up [over the grapes],’ she told ABC27. ‘I quickly dropped the colander and screamed.’ Ms Whalen explained her initial instinct was to flush it down the sink, but she instead she trapped it in a plastic container and looked for a similar spider online. It didn’t take long for her to discover she had a brush with a juvenile black widow spider. Horrified: Yvonne Whalen explains who the creepy crawler climbed out from the bunch of grapes as she washed them . Shocked: She dropped the colander and screamed, her suspicions were soon confirmed with an online search . ‘Had I known this could happen, I would have paid much more attention,’ she added. Ryan ‘The Bugman’ Bridge, a local insect expert, confirmed the woman’s suspicions to the station. ‘They are dangerous,’ he said, ‘they are venomous.’ Trapped: Ms Whalen fought her initial instinct to flush the spider down the drain, instead saving it to confirm it was a black widow . Local expert: Ryan ¿The Bugman¿ Bridge confirmed the spider was 'unmistakeably' a black widow . Ms Whalen notified Giant, the supermarket where she bought the grapes, and explained she only wanted to make sure this did not happen to anyone else. ‘I gave them a call to let them know that I found the spider, I wasn't expecting anything in return,’ she said. The chain sent her a gift card and pledged to be more diligent inspecting fruit, according to the station. Spiders have also been discovered in grapes in Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri and Wisconsin, according to Food Safety News. It is not uncommon for the deadly creatures to be found in grapes, according to Fox News. Black widows are immediately noticeable because of the red mark on the back of their otherwise all-black bodies. They carry enough venom to cause problems for humans, and can even be fatal in some cases. | Black widow spiders have been found in bunches of grapes in four states . The most recent discovery came in Wisconsin . | 91ae72c4e31d29bb2082b7b5111e6a87d08f2c56 |
By . Daily Mail Reporter . PUBLISHED: . 19:57 EST, 17 July 2013 . | . UPDATED: . 20:28 EST, 17 July 2013 . CIA bosses copied gadget ideas from James Bond books and films for its own secret agents in the Fifties and Sixties, new research has revealed. In return, the boss of the American secret service may have persuaded author Ian Fleming not to pension off his most famous creation at the height of his popularity. U.S. spy chiefs developed their own version of two Bond devices it had seen, one used by 007 in Goldfinger, the other used by one of his enemies in From Russia With Love. If it's good enough for 007... CIA bosses copied gadget ideas from James Bond books and films for its own secret agents in the Fifties and Sixties, including this tracking device featured in Goldfinger . The first is the pocket size, magnetic tracking device which, in the film, Sean Connery subtly slips into the boot of Goldfinger's Rolls Royce to track him down after their golf match. The second is the spring loaded poison-tipped blades which flick out from the shoes of villainess Rosa Klebb as she tries to stab Bond in From Russia With Love. The revelations come from newly declassified letters between Bond author Ian Fleming and CIA chief Allen Dulles, as well as published interviews with the legendary American spymaster. And it suggests that the Americans successfully managed to produce their own version of Rosa Klebb's blades but were not so successful in making a Goldfinger-style tracking device. Ironically, both were used at the height of the Cold War when there was very little love from Russia towards the West. Spiky: The U.S. foreign intelligence agency also made its own version of the spring loaded poison-tipped blades which flick out from the shoes of villainess Rosa Klebb as she tries to stab Bond in From Russia With Love . The letters and interviews have been analysed by Dr Christopher Moran of the University of Warwick for the specialist publication Journal of Cold War Studies. And they reveal the relationship between Fleming and Dulles mirrored the warm friendship between Bond and his fictional CIA buddy Felix Leiter in many of the books and films. The two got on so well that Dulles even managed to persuade Fleming to use his books to boost the CIA's image around the world, something which was also seen in the films. Pen pals: CIA chief Allen Dulles, left, and James Bond author Ian Fleming, right, regularly communicated by letter, with the writer even telling the spymaster he needed to come up with more gadgets to fight the Russians . Dr Moran said: 'There was a surprising two-way influence between the CIA and the James Bond novels during the Cold War, stemming from the mutual admiration between Allen Dulles and Ian Fleming. 'This ranged from the copying of devices, such as the poison-tipped dagger shoe in From Russia With Love, to the agency using the 007 novels to improve its public profile. 'It's even more striking that this was going on at time when mentioning the CIA was strictly off-limits for the US media and cultural establishment, whereas Fleming, as a British author, could say what he liked. 'For a long time, the James Bond books had a monopoly on the CIA's public image and the agency used this to its advantage.' Fleming and Dulles communicated regularly by letter. Dulles was a fan of the novels and also spoke about them warmly in published interviews with magazines. One letter shows Dulles persuading Fleming not to pension Bond off in 1963, just a year after the release of the first 007 movie, Dr No, had made the character a worldwide sensation. Another has Fleming telling Dulles that the CIA needed to come up with more gadgets and devices if it wanted to take a lead in the Cold War. | CIA chief Allen Dulles and Ian Fleming regularly wrote to each other . The U.S. spy agency copied at least two of Bond's gadgets, it's emerged . One was the tracking device 007 uses in to trace Goldfinger's lair . The other was the flick-knife shoes seen in From Russia With Love . | e59617fb38521d1dc88bf26d4c137690cd73e17a |
By . Roger Dobson . Heavy snorers – and their long-suffering partners – have been given hope by a titanium tulip-shaped implant for the nose. The metal mesh device is inserted at night and opens up like the petal of a flower to prop open the airway while the wearer is asleep. It is then removed each morning. AlaxoStent is also suitable for sufferers of obstructive sleep apnoea, a more extreme manifestation of the problem in which breathing stops for short periods. At night, the soft tissues of the back of the mouth, nose and throat relax and may narrow. Snoring is caused by these tissues vibrating during breathing. It is estimated that a third of men and almost one in ten women are regular snorers. The noises can also be a sign of obstructive sleep apnoea or OSA, which is estimated to affect around four per cent of middle-aged men and women. In OSA the airways close completely, blocking the flow of air into the lungs during sleep for more than ten seconds and up to more than two minutes at a time. Left untreated, OSA can increase the risk of high blood pressure, heart attack, stroke, and type 2 diabetes. Risk factors for snoring and for OSA include being overweight, alcohol use, being over 40, having a large neck, using some medications including sleeping pills, smoking, and being menopausal, where hormonal changes can lead to throat muscles relaxing. OSA is also three times more common in those with diabetes, and twice as likely in those who suffer with chronic nasal congestion. Treatments range from lifestyle changes, such as losing weight and stopping smoking, to soft tissue implants and surgery. Continuous positive airway pressure or CPAP, which involves using a device to assist with breathing during sleep, is considered one of the most effective therapies for moderate to severe OSA. It involves wearing a mask over the nose to deliver a continuous supply of compressed air during sleep to prevent the airway from closing. Common issue: It is estimated that a third of men and almost one in ten women are regular snorers . Although effective, it has been estimated that between 25 and 50 per cent of patients are unable to use them long term. Some find the mask difficult to get used to, while some have problems with the noise of the CPAP pump. Unlike CPAP, the AlaxoStent does not require a pump or electrical supply, and the wearer can move around with it in place. The device consists of a 160mm piece of braid or mesh made from nitinol, an alloy of nickel and titanium that springs back into shape after being handled. The braid comes in a long, 4mm-wide flexible tube which the patient inserts into a nostril and pushes through the nasal cavity and into the throat while lying down. After the tube is pushed into the airway, the user retracts it, leaving just the mesh in place. Once out of the tube, the mesh returns to its pre-formed size and shape, and the end in the throat expands like a tulip flower to become 17mm wide, thus preventing the surrounding soft tissue from collapsing. The end of the braid protruding from the nose is taped to the cheek of the user, and in the morning, the patient simply pulls the mesh out of the nose. The developers say the challenge of insertion is no greater than that of putting a contact lens into the eye. A study at the ENT University Hospital of Erlangen, Germany, also found that the new method worked as well as CPAP therapy. If nasal congestion is the reason for problem breathing, another shorter device – the AlaxoLito Nasal Stent – is designed to keep open the nasal airways alone. It has also been shown that it increases air flow by 47 per cent in healthy volunteers, raising the possibility of other uses. Testing of the technology during jogging, cross-country skiing and mountain hiking suggests that it could improve breathing through the nose and sports performance. According to researchers, breathing through the nose increases the blood oxygen content by 10 to 15 per cent compared with breathing through the mouth. Both devices are approved for use with patients in the European Union, Canada and India. Bhik Kotecha, a snoring specialist and a consultant ENT surgeon at the Royal National Throat, Nose & Ear Hospital in London and at Queen’s Hospital in Romford, Essex, has used the device on some of the first British patients. ‘It is approved for use in the UK and we now have the results from a study involving our first ten cases,’ he says. ‘We found it was very effective for some patients, especially those whose snoring involves vibration of the soft palate. It is less suitable for patients where snoring is due to the collapse of the tongue base or for very severe OSA. ‘This device is a useful addition because while CPAP is the gold-standard treatment, compliance is variable, and the results from surgery are not always predictable, so that any benefits are not necessarily sustained.’ Chris Challis, a 40-year old software engineer, who lives with his wife Steph in Cambridge, was one of the first people to have the stent in the UK. ‘Having tried mouthguards and being prescribed CPAP, I found that the stent is the best, quietest and most comfortable of all the options available,’ he says. ‘CPAP was very noisy and was worse to live with than the snoring, according to my wife, plus it is not portable. I enjoy camping and going to festivals but I couldn’t take CPAP with me to them. ‘It was also very uncomfortable and my wife hated it. The mouthguards I’ve tried all tend to fall out during the night or move enough to cease being effective by the early hours of the morning, which is when Steph would most likely wake up. ‘Initially it was a tough learning curve – inserting something through your nostril every night is not the most pleasant of experiences – but it is worth it. I can now insert it without a mirror. ‘The stent has provided both of us with more undisturbed nights of sleep than all the other methods combined.’ There are several surgical techniques to correct snoring, although these are not usually available on the NHS. However, these are only effective on a specific cause of snoring – when the problem lies with the soft tissues at the back of the mouth. One option is for surgeons to use a blade or laser to trim away the uvula – the piece of tissue that hangs from the roof of the mouth. The laser option is thought to be less risky in terms of bleeding and post-operative infection, although there is evidence that it is less effective. | The new titanium implant is inserted into the nose overnight . AlaxoStent props open the airway while the wearer is asleep . Suitable to treat snoring, sleep apnoea and help with nose breathing . | 7bab200bd0eb7513227992b850f1c9cadf4cc505 |
By . John Stevens . A disabled man called police after after a UKIP MEP tried to take a megaphone from him after he used it to question him about his expense claims. Roger Helmer, was caught on camera rushing over to try and grab the megaphone after he was heckled during a campaign visit. The 70-year-old, who is standing as an MP in the Newark by-election on June 5, had gone to Retford, Nottinghamshire, on the Ukip battle bus when he was ambushed by Labour protesters. Clash: Mr Helmer (second right) and Mr Challinor (in the orange top) were caught tussling in Retford on camera . His spokesman last night claimed he had just been trying to get hold of the megaphone ‘so he could reply to their questions’. Mr Helmer was speaking to a local journalist in a coffee shop in the market square when he was approached by Labour activists with placards reading: ‘Helmer publish you expenses’. David Challinor, a local councillor and former miner who is registered as disabled following an industrial accident, was shouting ‘please give us your expenses’ through a megaphone when Mr Helmer approached him. In footage, Mr Helmer can be seen quickly going over to him and reaching to try and get hold of the megaphone. Mr Challinor had been urging Mr Helmer to publish his expenses claims during the election campaign trip . Then Mr Helmer and others descended on the group. His spokesman claims he was 'responding' Mr Challinor, who has had five operations on his right arm with which he was holding the megaphone, told the Retford Times: ‘In politics everyone has a right to protest. I am really shocked - I’m protective of my arm as after my accident it was nearly amputated. ‘They kept harping on about whether I was proud of myself but I am proud to stand up for my views.’ Local MP John Mann wrote on Twitter: ‘Roger Helmer’s response to questions about his expenses is to attack protestor in Retford. ‘He broke off press interview to lunge across precinct at expenses protestor in Retford this afternoon. ‘Police have requested and been sent footage of the Helmer incident.’ After the incident, Mr Helmer wrote on Twitter: ‘Sorry to spoil a good rumour, but I’m afraid I have not been arrested by the police. Mr Helmer's associates could be seen physically handling Mr Challinor as he (second right) went for the mic . Mr Challinor and Mr Helmer ended up face-to-face after the physical tussle in Retford, Nottinghamshire . ‘Idiot Rent-a-Mob in Retford demanding I publish my expenses. But they’ve been on the website for years.’ His spokesman, Paul Oakden, added: ‘Roger had gone to talk to the local press and local people. There was a group of people with a megaphone. 'He tolerated it for so long and then went to talk to the group. He tried to get hold of the megaphone so he could reply to their questions. 'He has not had any contact from the police and has not been arrested. The man alleged to be a Labour councillor. He should be ashamed of not being prepared to have a sensible discussion.’ Nottingham Police last night said it was making enquiries following a report of the dispute. | Roger Helmer, standing as Newark MP, was ambushed in Retford . Caught on camera rushing over to try and grab the megaphone . His spokesman last night claimed he was trying to 'reply to questions' | 7fc485bfe54fea2a37ab819eab41a8e7b93943f3 |
By . Ryan Lipman . A Sichuan man has caused public outcry in China after photos of him violently stripping his young daughter and dragging her 100 metres down a street emerged online - but police at the scene did not consider this abuse. The disturbing scenes were captured by a bystander who took the photos on a smart phone from within what could be a shop as the incident took place. Weibo, the Chinese equivalent of Twitter with more than 300 million users, has gone into a frenzy over the images. Shameful: The father of a young girl stops on a street to remove her top as scenes of drama unfold . It was reported by Shanghaiist that the man in the images lost his patience after the little girl refused for hours to wear her jacket. After loosing his temper, the man is pictured aggressively taking his daughter's top and jacket off before dragging her violently by the wrisits about 100 metres down the road - and with each step of his rage unknowingly documented. According to the neighbours, contrary to the images, the father has never laid a hand on his daughter and a spoils her by buying her everything she wants. There are unconfirmed reports he bought the her the jacket he later stripped off. In the first photo (above), the man, dressed in jeans and winter jacket, sits his young daughter down on the side of the road and starts taking her top and jacket off in what is clearly chilly weather. Aggressive: As the father continues to lose his patience, he forcefully removes the top from his young daughter, covering her vision . From here it appears he is losing his patience as he lifts his daughter to her feet. With the jacket covering her head and eyes, the young girl loses her footing and is unsteady on her feet as she dangles. Sadly a woman walking by watches on but does not intervene and continues walking off. Once the little girl's jacket is off, her upper body is naked and exposed in the cold weather. But unfortunately her father is far from finished and continues his abusive behavior by using one hand to grab the little girl forcefully by her wrists. With worse scenes yet to come, the man used his force to latch onto his daughter and by doing so, the little girl is pulled backwards unsteadily onto her bottom towards him with one leg in the air. Why?: After removing her top, the man uses one hand to grab his daughter by the wrists and starts dragging her down the road. A passerby pictured in the photo continues walking by as this happens . Once he has a firm grip of her, the man starts dragging the distraught child into the middle of the road and down the street. With her hands pulled back above her head she is unable to free herself and has no choice but to be dragged on her bottom against her will as her feet dangle in front of her. Shockingly, despite the lack of intervention from at least two people walking on the street, it is reported the police did not charge the man with child abuse. Police briefly got involved in the case, but decided that the incident was not severe enough for child abuse charges as, according to them, there was not any "obvious beating or abuse". Shocking: Once his daughter's jacket and top are off, the man forcefully drags her down the street in the cold . | China reacts to shocking images capturing a father's disturbing treatment of his young daughter on a street . Police did not consider the incident serious enough to lay child abuse charges . Neighbour claims the man pictured has never laid a had on his daughter . | 92fef473f2c83769543baf799147433540dc44e0 |
(CNN) -- A sheriff says he's closer to finding the motive behind the fatal shooting of a Louisiana pastor who witnesses say was killed by a former deacon as the horrified congregation looked on. Calcasieu Parish Sheriff Tony Mancuso said Tuesday the alleged gunman's wife had filed a rape complaint with police against Tabernacle of Praise Worship Center pastor Ronald Harris on September 25, two days before the shooting. In the complaint, the woman said Harris had raped her several months ago, according to Mancuso. He declined to release the report, saying it was part of the murder investigation against former church deacon Woodrow Karey. Mancuso said he had not determined whether a rape had occurred. Witnesses told police that Karey walked into the Tabernacle of Praise Worship Center around 8:20 p.m. Friday and shot Harris twice -- the first time as Karey entered the church and then again at close range after Harris had fallen to the floor. Deputies arrested Karey after he called 911 and told the dispatcher what he had done. He is charged with second-degree murder. Karey told authorities that a week earlier he'd found text messages from his wife to the pastor. He believed, Mancuso said, that they were having sex and he confronted his wife. Days after the confrontation, Karey's wife filed the police report accusing the pastor of rape, Mancuso said. Authorities had not yet investigated the rape accusation by Karey's wife. "We had not had an opportunity yet," Mancuso said. "Before we go to an accuser, we like to get the facts straight before we begin questioning." Talisha Harris, the pastor's daughter, was in the church when her father was gunned down. She said Karey entered the Lake Charles church as she was leading the 65 people in the sanctuary in the singing of "Our God is a Great God." Karey fired his shotgun almost immediately, hitting a plant, Talisha Harris said. The second shotgun blast struck Ronald Harris in the back. Then, Karey approached the fallen pastor, fired once more and "stood there to watch him take his last breath," she said. The gunman ran, leaving a church in chaos. "People were screaming," Talisha Harris said. "They were under the pews." The slain pastor's son, Ronald Harris Jr., told CNN Monday that the family was "trying to be strong." He said his father and Karey had been close friends. Armed in church . While rare, church violence is not unheard of. In 2012, a former maintenance employee fatally shot a church volunteer at a house of worship just outside of Atlanta. Earlier that year, six people were killed at a Sikh temple in Wisconsin by a white supremacist who then killed himself. Shreveport, Louisiana, pastor Ed Gonzalez said he was once approached by someone in his office with apparently violent intent, CNN affiliate KSLA reported. "He walked in my office and told me God told him to take me out," the station quoted Gonzalez as saying. The man eventually backed off, but the experience led Gonzalez to conclude the churches are easy targets. He now carries a weapon, as do several other members of his church. "Pastors need to awake and realize that we live in a world of turmoil, hatred and bitterness, so they have to do something to protect those sheep," he told KSLA. "As long as there is sin on this earth we're going to have violence." CNN's Tina Burnside and Rick Martin contributed to this report. | NEW: Slain pastor's family "trying to be strong," son says . Investigators are trying to sort out whether rape or affair played role in killing, sheriff says . Pastor Ronald J. Harris was singing when gunman entered . Woodrow Karey, a church deacon, has been charged with second-degree murder . | 2045f581e958dd9f98e390cb727b6451161c48c1 |
A 'giant rat' measuring 4ft from nose to tail has been caught and killed by a pensioner with a lump of wood on his farm. Brian Watson, 67, from Waskerley, Consett in County Durham, was made aware of the monster's presence after his granddaughter's boyfriend cried out while mowing the grass. Mr Watson said: 'I heard him shouting there was a large rat. I came running round the corner. I managed to grab some wood on the way.' Scroll down for video . Death threats: Brian Watson, 67, from Waskerley in County Durham has been targeted by animal rights activists after this picture of him holding a 'giant rat' he had killed emerged last month . The creature was so heavy that Mr Watson broke a paddle when trying to scoop it up . 'It wasn't very fast. I managed to kill it there and then. I've never seen a rat as big in my life before.' One reason it was quite slow is that it might have been pregnant. 'I think it was due to drop young 'uns,' Mr Watson added. Some observers believe the creature was a coypu - a large South American rodent, also known as a river rat or swamp beaver, which is bred for its fur. Farmer: The pensioner later incinerated the creature's body after word of the monster spread . Some believe the animal was in fact a coypu, a South American rodent bred for its fur . After killing it, the grandfather tried to scoop it up with a paddle - but it was so heavy that the paddle broke. The . incident first came to light when Mr Watson's friend, Bri Mitchell, . posted a picture of the rodent after it had been caught, on Twitter. Mr Watson said: 'We left it for a few days, but word got round so we decided to destroy it and we chucked it on the fire and got rid of it that way.' The RSPCA is seeking further information on the incident from members of the public. A spokesman for the charity said: 'We would urge anyone with more information about this incident to contact our cruelty line and we will look into it further.' Durham Police said today that they are not currently investigating the killing of the animal. | Brian Watson, 67, picked it up with paddle which broke as 'rat' was so heavy . | cd7ca9eb7059210306aac4a157fd24177a13ac52 |
By . Victoria Woollaston . If photos are too still, but videos move too much there is now a compromise, in the form of a ‘Moju’. A Moju is an animated photo that appears in 3D. As the phone is twisted in the viewer’s hand, this image 'moves' from left to right to show the image in more detail. It is created using 24 individual shots captured by the free Moju app, and the results appear as a mix of GIFs, Vine clips, Instagram photos and lenticular prints. Lenticular printing is a way of producing images that give an illusion of depth. The images are printed onto strips of plastic on cards. As the cards are moved in a person’s hand, the photos appear to change or move; known as a 'hologram effect.' The Moju app, developed by Mok Oh in California, uses a similar principle to create its animated images. For each Moju, the user takes up to 24 shots of an object or landscape from different angles. These shots, when taken in succession, are stitched together to form the single, finished image. As . the user twists the phone in their hand, the app rotates through each . image from left to right to make the object appear to move in 3D. It can also be used to create time-lapse images, and Instagram-style filters can be added to each Moju. To take a Moju, users press the camera button in the top right-hand corner of the app. Photos . can be captured by either pressing the blue button up to 24 times, as . the phone is moved around the object, or by holding down the blue button . to enable Burst mode. Burst mode captures photos in quick succession. Moju animations are created by snapping up to 24 shots of the same object from various angles, pictured left. The finished images, pictured right, appear to move as the phone is twisted from left to right and the result is a mix of GIFs, Vine clips and Instagram images. A finished Moju can be viewed on the app's news feed . To take a Moju, press the camera button in the top right-hand corner. Photos . can be captured by either pressing the blue button up to 24 times as . the phone is moved around the object, or by holding down the blue button . to enable Burst mode. Burst mode captures photos in quick succession. The spanner icon removes the previous shot, while the Undo arrow resets the sequence. To take animated selfies, click the Flip button. Once happy with the Moju, click the post button, select whether it’s a private or public post and add a caption. To take animated selfies, users can press the Flip button from an on-screen pop-up menu. Once happy with the Moju, users click the post button, select whether it’s a private or public post, and add a caption. A finished Moju can be viewed on the app's news feed, which resembles the feeds of Vine and Instagram, and they can be shared on Facebook or Twitter. 'Moju is a whole new way to capture and share life’s best moments - with motion!', explained the developers. 'It’s as simple as point-and-shoot up to 24 frames, then pivot or twist the device to see your images come alive. 'Create and share selfies in a whole new way and see your friends facial expressions change as you twist the device; capture the sun setting over time; take Mojus of your favorite places and things in a three-dimensional way.' | Moju animations are created by snapping up to 24 shots of the same object . Users move the camera around the subject to shoot it from various angles . Saved mages appear to move when the phone is twisted from left to right . The result is a mix of GIFs, Vine clips and Instagram images . | 846e04417cd75f183586d9bd7fb46eb3a46d00e6 |
A new female action figure is leading a campaign to encourage young girls to challenge the traditional beauty standards promoted by Barbie and other mainstream fashion dolls. The plastic blonde heroine, which comes complete with its own construction kit and zipline, is the brainchild of toy company GoldieBlox, an independent start-up that wants to ‘disrupt the pink aisle’ and inspire girls to rebel against conformity and become engineers. To promote the new toy, GoldieBlox has released an edgy video that is reminiscent of Apple's famous Orwellian '1984' Super Bowl ad. It features an ominous Big Sister character who drones 'You are beauty, and beauty is perfection' as a line of pink-clad girls solemnly pluck identically dressed dolls from a conveyor belt in a dystopian factory setting. Pure heroine: GoldieBlox has created a new female action figure who comes with a construction kit and her very own zipline . 'Fashion dolls teach girls to value beauty over brains. One is sold every three seconds,' the spot tells viewers. Eventually a rebel wearing denim overalls and a toolbelt emerges from the pack with a hammer and smashes the machine, encouraging her peers to kick off their sparkly heels and have some fun. Set to Metric's Help I'm Alive, the clip ends with the action figure emerging on the belt brandishing a tiny hammer, as the words 'In 2014, GoldieBlox breaks the mold with an action figure for girls' appear on screen. Dressed for success: She comes in a tomboyish ensemble, consisting of overalls, red Chuck Taylors and a toolbelt . Hanging tough: The toy's ability to suspend from the 13-inch zipline is mean to improve children's spacial skills and introduce basic engineering principles . In good shape: The plastic figure has articulated shoulders, hips, knees and joints, and her hands and feet are 'designed for action' The GoldieBlox Zipline Action Figure, which costs $24.99, has articulated shoulders, hips, knees and joints, and her hands and feet are 'designed for action,' according to the company's website. She comes dressed in a tomboyish ensemble, consisting of overalls, red Chuck Taylors and a toolbelt. The toy's ability to suspend from the 13-inch zipline is meant to improve children's spacial skills and introduce basic engineering principles. Orwellian twist: To promote the toy, GoldieBlox created an edgy video with an Big Sister character who drones 'You are beauty, and beauty is perfection' as a line of pink-clad girls pluck identically dressed dolls from a conveyor belt . Don't think pink: 'Fashion dolls teach girls to value beauty over brains. One is sold every three seconds,' the spot tells viewers . GoldieBlox, founded by Stanford-educated engineer Debbie Sterling, generated buzz last year with a clever ad that showed three young girls creating a Rube Goldberg machine. The company manufactured an interactive book series and construction set starring a young inventor named Goldie after a hugely successful Kickstarter campaign. 'When I spent time with families to observe how boys and girls played, I found that with construction toys, girls were asking, "Why are we building it?" or "Why should we care?"' Ms Sterling told Time in February. Rebel with a cause: A nonconformist wearing denim overalls and a toolbelt emerges from the pack with a hammer and smashes the machine . Breaking the mold: The clip ends with the action figure emerging on the conveyor belt with a tiny hammer . 'So my aha moment for how to appeal to girls was to kind of toss out the instruction manual and instead write stories about this girl engineer. She builds things to solve problems and help her friends.' She added: 'By using KickStarter we were able to show that there actually was a market demand for this engineering toy for girls that initially I had been warned was very niche and wasn’t marketable.' | GoldieBlox’s new figurine comes complete with her own construction kit and zipline . The toy company wants to encourage girls to ‘break the mold’ and become engineers . | 40be7715444c3b5b65213d0d4175005cba526f6f |
If an airline loses or delays your bag, can you trust it to let you know how much money you're entitled to? One passenger says don't count on it. She's suing Delta Air Lines for breach of contract, alleging that the carrier leaves fliers in the dark about the compensation they're entitled to when their bags vanish. The U.S. Department of Transportation requires airlines to pay up to $3,300 per passenger if bags are "lost, damaged, delayed or pilfered" on a domestic flight. But lawyers for Susan Miller say Delta "uniformly and systematically" ignores this rule and often tells passengers they are only entitled to $25 to $50 a day in expenses. Delta has not responded to a request for comment, but it's not the first time the company has faced this complaint: Last year, the DOT fined the airline $100,000 for failing to comply with the government rule. Miller, a Florida resident, says she flew on Delta from Miami to Las Vegas in November of 2010. When she arrived at her destination, Miller discovered that the airline had lost her baggage, leaving her without any warm clothes or essentials, according to a class action complaint filed in the U.S. District Court in Southern Florida earlier this month. Miller then had to spend more than $315 to buy replacement toiletries, medication and other items, but when she raised the issue with Delta, she was told nothing could be done to help her, the court documents say. The bag turned up a couple of days later, her attorney David Tucker said. DOT spokesman Bill Mosley declined to comment on this specific case, but said in general, carriers are not supposed to limit compensation when passengers are forced to buy essentials after their bags are delayed. Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood has echoed this sentiment in the past. "Travelers should not have to pay for toiletries or other necessities while they wait for baggage misplaced by airlines," LaHood said in a 2009 memo warning airlines not to improperly limit reimbursements. A few weeks after her flight, Miller made a claim with Delta for her expenses, which was "rejected and/or ignored," her lawyers say. "What happened to (Miller) happens every day to Delta passengers whose bags are delayed," the complaint alleges. "Such tactics allow Delta to pocket millions and millions it would have had to pay out if it had abided by its contracts with passengers." Miller is suing on behalf of herself and other Delta passengers who have found themselves in a similar situation. The class action is asking for a jury trial to award direct, compensatory and punitive damages. | Passenger says Delta lost her bag, then did nothing when she spent $315 for necessities . Government requires airlines to pay up to $3,300 per passenger if bags are lost or delayed . Lawsuit says Delta "uniformly and systematically" ignores this rule . The airline was fined $100,000 over the issue last year . | e9e760dba3234593cc061895581157aa37b2e6f8 |
(CNN) -- South American soccer officials hope to take their showpiece tournament to the United States in 2016 for a centenary celebration that could have big benefits for all concerned, but this week's announcement appears to be somewhat premature. CONCACAF, which runs the game in North and Central America and the Caribbean, said talks regarding what would be a historic tournament are still ongoing, though it is open to the possibility of having the likes of superstars Lionel Messi and Neymar parading their skills in front of sellout crowds. World governing body FIFA has also yet to sanction the event -- which would involve 10 South American nations, the U.S. and Mexico plus four other countries from the CONCACAF region -- in the busy international calendar. The Copa America, which has featured guest nations from CONCACAF since 1993, was last staged in 2011 -- when it was won by Uruguay. The next edition is due to be held in Brazil in 2015, one year after it hosts the 2014 World Cup, while the CONMEBOL federation hopes to stage an additional Copa in the U.S. 12 months later to mark the ruling body's 100th year of existence. "Even though playing the 2016 Copa America in the CONCACAF region with our teams and those from CONMEBOL would be a wonderful experience for all fans, we are still in the midst of talks and negotiations between all parties involved in this decision," CONCACAF general secretary Enrique Sanz said in a statement. "This is an idea we are hoping to materialize but we are still evaluating and discussing before it becomes official but the intention is definitely there." Cape Verde to open Africa Cup of Nations . CONCACAF's continental tournament is the biennial Gold Cup, which Mexico won in the U.S. last year. Mexico and Japan will be guest nations at the 2015 Copa. While the prospect of holding the tournament in the U.S. may have great appeal, Sports Illustrated's senior soccer writer Grant Wahl expressed concerns over whether FIFA would allow it. "The U.S. television money for big soccer tournaments is now quite large -- the U.S. rights for 2018 and 2022 World Cups went for a combined $1.1 billion, which will probably be the highest rights fee for any nation in the world," Wahl told CNN. "There are big questions in terms of will FIFA sanction an event like this and put it on the official calendar? Will FIFA require clubs to release their players for it? None of that has been made public in terms of any agreements." Can Falcao help Atletico Madrid reign in Spain? The opportunity to compete against teams such as Brazil and Argentina, boasting the likes of Neymar and Messi, is one which Wahl feels could benefit a U.S. team currently playing minor nations such as Panama and Guadeloupe in the Gold Cup. "The U.S. national team is still trying to improve and the best way to do that is to play meaningful games against good competition," he said. "It is hard in the Gold Cup because other than Mexico, there are not many difficult opponents for the U.S. in CONCACAF. "To be able to have an important competitive tournament between World Cups is really big for U.S. soccer. It puts U.S. soccer in the public eye in the United States more if you have something like that." Wahl is confident the tournament would be a big hit with U.S. sports fans. "This would sell out NFL stadiums," he said. "Not just for the U.S. team, but for every team involved. Mexico plays more games in the United States than it does in Mexico right now because it can sell out NFL stadiums. "It is an ongoing process. There isn't one big bang event which will suddenly make soccer as big in the U.S. as it is in Europe and South America. But this has been a pretty steady growth over the last two decades. "I think it will happen in the end, but you want countries to send their best teams. That's not a guarantee at this point." | Announcement that the 2016 Copa America will be in the U.S. yet to be confirmed . South American federation plans to move tournament to celebrate its centenary . CONCACAF is open to the idea, but insists talks over the proposals are ongoing . Soccer expert Grant Wahl suggests the tournament could be lucrative for CONMEBOL . | b2a67661c3be246ede8397898b8d67d8eaeaa02f |
Rasheda Ali-Walsh, the daughter of Muhammad Ali, says her father is 'doing fabulous' as he battles pneumonia in hospital. The former heavyweight champion,72, was admitted to a Kentucky hospital with a mild case of pneumonia at the weekend. But his spokesman today said Ali's doctors hope to discharge him soon, and Rasheda, 44, told DailyMail.com her father is recovering well, adding: 'He's doing fabulous, he's quite remarkable.' On the mend: Boxing great Muhammad Ali has 'vastly improved' following a bout with pneumonia for which he was hospitalized at an undisclosed location Saturday morning . Prayers: Rasheda Ali-Walsh says her dad is 'doing fabulous' and that she hopes to see him for Christmas . Rasheda - one of Ali's nine children, who has a twin daughter Jamillah- added: 'We're all so pleased that he's recovering, he's quite the champion. 'We're going to see him in a couple of days over Christmas and I'm looking forward to it, you never know with pneumonia, but we're going to see him and I want to thank everyone for all of their prayers.' Ali spokesman Bob Gunnell said today that Ali's doctors hope to discharge him soon from the hospital where he was admitted on Saturday, adding his condition had 'vastly improved' 'Because the pneumonia was caught early, his prognosis is good with a short hospital stay expected.' Gunnell said. Ali and his wife, Lonnie, have homes in Arizona, Michigan and in Louisville. Ali, who suffers from Parkinson's disease, was diagnosed with the brain disease about three years after he retired from boxing in 1981. Ali's public appearances have diminished in recent years as he continues to battle Parkinson's disease, but he still enjoys getting out and watching sports and visiting friends. Beloved: Rasheda Ali-Walsh with her dad, champion Ali in July . Happy birthday Daddy! Rasheda posted this picture of her with her father on his birthday in Janary . 'Greatest of all time': Ali, who suffers from Parkinson's disease, was diagnosed with the brain disease about three years after he retired from boxing in 1981. Here, he's pictured at after beating Sonny Liston to gain the heavyweight title in February 1964 . Ali appeared in public in September at a ceremony in his hometown of Louisville for the Muhammad Ali Humanitarian Awards. Ali did not speak to the crowd but posed for photos with award winners, including former NFL great Jim Brown. Brown leaned over and whispered to the seated Ali during the photo session. Later, Brown said he told Ali: 'You're the greatest of all time.' Ali retired from boxing in 1981 and devoted himself to social causes. He traveled the world on humanitarian missions, mingling with the masses and rubbing elbows with world leaders. Ali received the Presidential Medal of Freedom from President George W. Bush in 2005. The Muhammad Ali Center, in Louisville, is dedicated to Ali's humanitarian causes and showcases his boxing career. | The three-time heavyweight champ checked in to a hospital at an undisclosed location on Saturday . 72-year-old Ali has battled Parkinson's disease for years, an illness that can cause problems with swallowing and sometimes lead to pneumonia . He and his wife Lonnie have homes in Arizona, Michigan and in Louisville . His daughter Rasheda Ali-Walsh tells DailyMail.com she will see her dad at Christmas - as his spokesman says he's 'vastly improved' | 112be785416ef8eb2c1858a72e3f8348959799ee |
(CNN) -- There is a hidden revolution at work that can transform the lives of a billion of the poorest people on the planet. The dream of health for all, even the poorest of the poor, can become a reality because of recent breakthroughs in technology and health systems. Scientific results that our Millennium Villages Project team published this week in The Lancet, coupled with broader trends around the world, should be a wake-up call: We can end the deaths of millions of young children and mothers each year by building on recent innovations. In 2006, the Millennium Villages Project and impoverished communities around Africa jointly embarked upon the fight against extreme poverty, hunger and disease. The idea was to use low-cost, cutting-edge technologies to overcome ancient scourges like malaria and mothers dying in childbirth. Today, there is no deep mystery about what to do to stop these deaths, since the diagnostic tests, medicines and procedures are known. The challenge is to scale up these life-saving approaches. In four years, starting from conditions of massive death tolls and a lack of health services, the Millennium Villages were able to reduce the deaths of children under 5-years-old by around 22%. The progress is continuing as low-cost health services expand. The lessons extend far beyond this specific project. Poor children die of three main categories of disease: infections, nutritional deficiencies and conditions around childbirth. The technologies and procedures to fight all these causes of death are improving dramatically. Therein lies a great hope. Consider malaria, one of the biggest killers of children in Africa. A dozen years ago, all seemed lost: The standard medicine had lost its efficacy as the parasite became resistant; insecticide-treated bed nets were little used because they had to be regularly retreated with the insecticide, a practical burden that poor villages could not manage; and diagnosis required that the mother and sick child trek to a distant clinic in the desperate hope the clinic had a functioning laboratory. Now all this has changed. A new generation of low-cost and highly effective medicines has been deployed. The nets now last five years without the need for retreatment. A trained village-based worker, as part of an expanded health system, can make the diagnosis at the household using a simple rapid test, without the need for a life-and-death journey to a distant clinic. The Millennium Villages have slashed malaria deaths, but much more to the point, malaria deaths are falling sharply across Africa, down by around one-third from their peak roughly a decade ago. The advances are widespread. New vaccines can fight diarrheal and respiratory diseases that have traditionally killed vast numbers of children. Thanks to vaccines, deaths from measles have plummeted, and polio is on the verge of eradication. New medical procedures can end the transmission of the HIV virus from mother to newborn. Technologies to support higher farm production and low-cost nutritional supplements can bolster inadequate diets. Perhaps most important, information can flow through even the remotest of villages, thanks to the massive increase in mobile telephones across regions that just a few years ago had no phones at all. The spread of mobile phones may mark the fastest global uptake of a technology in history. From a few million mobile phone subscribers worldwide in 1990, the number has climbed to more than 6 billion today, with more than 250 million subscribers in Africa. Mobile connectivity and the spread of wireless broadband are greatly strengthening rural health systems. In all of the Millennium Villages, and in more and more villages around the continent, lay community workers are bringing health services from the clinics right to the community. Mobile phones are critical in supporting these outreach workers, enabling them to call the doctors and nurses for advice, summon an ambulance or connect to a computerized expert system via text messaging. The big picture is thrilling. Globally, deaths of young children are falling. In 1990, the worldwide deaths of children under 5 totaled around 12.5 million. By 2010, the deaths were down to around 7.6 million. Yet this technology-based revolution in human well-being is at the risk of stalling. The improvements required international help to support the expansion of services in the poorest regions. The Global Fund to Fight AIDS, tuberculosis, and Malaria and the U.S. PEPFAR initiative to fight AIDS exemplify the new kinds of support introduced during the past decade. Total funding for primary health care in the poorest countries has risen by roughly $15 billion per year from the low levels of aid a dozen years back. That's a good sum, but modest in the scheme of things, amounting to around $15 per person per year from the high-income countries, with a combined population of 1 billion. It's about half the support needed to complete the job. Alarmingly, the funding has come to a standstill and has even started to decline. The United States and Europe claim they can't afford to do more because of budget crises, but the needed sums could be filled many times over just by ending the loopholes that allow the richest companies to park their profits in Caribbean tax havens. If children continue to die by the millions, it will be the result of misguided priorities, not true budget limits. Instead of making excuses for lives lost, let us celebrate the remarkable progress we are making and commit ourselves to finishing this historic and worthy task. The opinions expressed in this commentary are solely those of Jeffrey Sachs. | Jeffrey Sachs: Health innovations can save millions of poor children each year . Sachs: Cell phones, fast diagnostic tests, better medicines changing global health . But this revolution in poor countries is threatened by funding cuts, he says . Sachs: Wealthy nations must not abandon the programs just as they are paying off . | 46044b7e546f4a0797c9da3f60d0391a08e5c575 |
When it comes to moving your life abroad, expats should head to Switzerland if they want to improve on their quality of life. But it's best not to move to the UK or US, both of which ranked near the bottom of the best places in the world for expats to live. Switzerland, Singapore, China and Germany were voted the best places in the world for what they offer expats, while Egypt was rated the worst place to live abroad in the HSBC expat survey. Switzerland was ranked as number one by expats looking for a well-balanced, high quality lifestyle, according to the seventh Expat Survey. And Singapore, China, Germany and Bahrain followed in the rankings in the report commissioned by HSBC Expat. But the UK and the US ranked in 33rd and 30th place out of 34 for quality of life for expats, with the UK just one spot above the bottom country, Egypt. The Expat Explorer survey, conducted by YouGov, is one of the largest global surveys of expats. This year, nearly 9,300 expats from around the world shared their views on quality of life, financial wellbeing and the ease of raising a family abroad. But while Switzerland topped the pile of 34 countries who fulfilled the sufficient criteria to complete the survey. While life in the UK offers expats careers, property and, interestingly, the potential to find a partner, it was not enough to prevent it languishing in penultimate place on the list. Expats are most likely to head to the United Kingdom in pursuit of better job prospects (31 per cent) or to be with family and partners (31 per cent), but this year's survey reveals that expats there are also among the most likely to fall in love in their new country. Half of expats (50 per cent) there say that they have found a life partner since moving – second only to Italy (57 per cent) and higher than the global average of 36 per cent. There is one country worse off than the UK however, Egypt, which is perhaps hardly surprising considering the civil fighting going on there over the last few years. In data obtained by MailOnline, New Zealand ranks on top as the country where the highest number of expats are likely to remain in the country with an incredible 90 per cent. The UK fares somewhat better, with 72 per cent of expats living here likely to remain on these shores. Dean Blackburn, head of HSBC Expat, said: 'There are a great many decisions involved in making the move abroad, ranging from consideration of finances and managing money, right through to integrating into the local community and arranging childcare. 'While Asia continues to excel as a region for those looking for higher salaries, the Middle East draws career minded expats and New Zealand offers a great opportunity for those looking for quality of life and a good place to raise a family. 'This year's Expat Explorer league table shows that there are many countries that offer a good balance, providing expats with a rewarding and exciting experience.' From a financial wellbeing perspective, Switzerland emerges as a destination to advance career prospects and receive a healthy salary while also maintaining a good work / life balance. One quarter (25 per cent) of expats in Switzerland earn more than USD200,000 p.a., yet over half (51 per cent) report a better work / life balance since moving. Expats in Switzerland also have a lot of confidence in the local economy, with almost half (47 per cent) saying they are very satisfied with the state of the local economy – the highest proportion for any country included in this year’s survey. Switzerland topped the pile of the best quality of life for expats - perhaps it's not hard to see why . Expats in Italy - the country was ranked in 31st position out of 34 for overall standard of living . Many expats in Switzerland comment on the country’s high quality of air and pleasant surroundings, with three quarters (75 per cent) agreeing that this is an improvement on their home country. Expat parents also report that Switzerland offers benefits for families too, believing their offspring are now safer (81 per cent), enjoy a better quality of life (77 per cent) and receive a better education (65 per cent). Asia: a hotspot for high earning expats . Asia emerges from this year’s survey as the best region for financial wellbeing, with nearly one fifth (19 per cent) of expats earning over USD200,000 p.a. and 65 per cent saying they have more disposable income since relocating. China is home to the largest proportion of high-earning expats in the world – nearly two-fifths (38 per cent) earn over USD200,000 p.a and over three quarters (76 per cent) have more disposable income than they did at home. Elsewhere in Asia, around a quarter of expats in India (24 per cent) and Hong Kong (23 per cent) earn over the USD200,000 p.a. mark, with 56 per cent and 63 per cent respectively saying they have greater disposable income than before. The Middle East attracts career-minded expats . Nearly three-quarters (74 per cent) of expats in the Middle East report that they are satisfied with their host country’s current economic outlook - the highest of all regions in this year’s survey. Countries in the Middle East continue to attract career-minded expats seeking to boost their earning potential, with nearly six in ten (56 per cent) expats who move to the Middle East doing so for better job prospects and over a third (35 per cent) moving to increase their income levels. But it’s not all hard work – the survey reveals that the majority of expats in Bahrain enjoy a better work / life balance (62 per cent) and more enjoyable commute into work (68 per cent), in comparison to their home countries. New Zealand: the winner for expat experience and family life . Expats this year voted New Zealand as the best destination for expat life experience and raising a family abroad. The country ranks as the easiest place for expats to set up a new life, making it a popular option for expats young and old to enjoy a high quality lifestyle. New Zealand is the destination where expats are most likely to move in order to improve their standard of living (54 per cent), as well as benefiting from the pleasant climate and picturesque scenery (89 per cent), friendly local people (75 per cent) and a good work / life balance (71 per cent). Expat parents living in New Zealand also commented on the improved health and wellbeing (78 per cent) and safety of their children (87 per cent), as well as saying they are bringing up more confident and well-rounded individuals (58 per cent) since moving. | Switzerland top of the pile for a high quality of life for expats . Survey considered economics, experience, raising children abroad and expenses . UK disappointingly finishes 33 out of 34 in overall table of countries submitted . But UK has a high percentage where likelihood to find a partner is concerned . China tops the table for expat economics, while New Zealand is best country to raise children . | 01dde2429cee3546b5aa6fbe574fefebe62e7d82 |
(CNN) -- A house that tracks your every movement through your car and automatically heats up before you get home. A toaster that talks to your refrigerator and announces when breakfast is ready through your TV. A toothbrush that tattles on kids by sending a text message to their parents. Exciting or frightening, these connected devices of the futuristic "smart" home may be familiar to fans of science fiction. Now the tech industry is making them a reality. Mundane physical objects all around us are connecting to networks, communicating with mobile devices and each other to create what's being called an "Internet of Things," or IoT. Smart homes are just one segment -- cars, clothing, factories and anything else you can imagine will eventually be "smart" as well. But there's a catch: So far, most Internet of Things products have been a messy tangle of different wireless protocols and brands. Many can communicate with their own apps and ecosystems but haven't found a way to play nice with each other. The Nest thermostat, which can adapt to your energy-consumption habits, is just one example. These standalone devices and ecosystems are running their own proprietary software and speaking different languages. Your smart toaster is humming along in French, for example, while your fridge is babbling about dairy expiration dates in Japanese. Now chipmaker Qualcomm is trying to give the industry a major push with an open-source project that can link all these disparate pieces. Qualcomm is hoping its platform, called AllJoyn, could act as a sort of universal translator for the industry. Over the past four years, Qualcomm has been working on its AllJoyn protocol to connect devices from different manufacturers, even if they have different communication standards. It wants to be the de facto language your fridge, lightbulbs and garage door all use to communicate. "The only way that vision can be realized is if we turn this into a true panindustrial effort with companies all over the world," said Liat Ben-Zur, Qualcomm's senior director of product management. Choosing a standard . Many standards already help smart devices communicate, though none has emerged as a dominant option yet. Some companies, such as SmartThings, Lowes and Revolv, depend on a physical hub to link devices. Experts say this market will struggle to really take off until someone can convince the major players it's in their best interest to work with other brands. "We could see a few large ecosystems emerge for (the Internet of Things), such as we have today with Android, iOS and Windows. But consumers like to have choices and will demand that closed systems learn to communicate with each other," explained Karen Bartleson, president of the IEEE Standards Association. If there are too many different ecosystems, people will find a way to connect them -- much like how the problem of multiple phone chargers is being solved by micro-USB, she said. "Because (the Internet of Things) is so vast and varied, it will be hard to come up with a 'one size fits all' standard," said Bartleson. "Instead of a single, dominant communication standard for IoT, there will likely be several that serve different purposes." A company with as much industry clout as Qualcomm might have luck bridging some of the gaps. It's a smart business move: The wireless technology giant makes many of the chips found in smartphones and tablets. It also sells the chips that will go inside smart thermostats, security systems, cars and everything else. But the connected-things revolution will only work if all the companies and products find a way to break out of their silos and work together, according to Ben-Zur. "Oftentimes we kind of think about the evolution of the Internet in two revolutions. The first revolution was the connected Internet," she said. "The second kind of revolution was when we suddenly went to the mobile Internet." Being able to access the Internet from our pockets isn't just revolutionary because it is portable. The devices collect and share information about us using built-in sensors, such as accelerometers and GPS. The Internet becomes a two-way street where we share context about our location, environment and habits so it can serve up customized information. A third revolution . Ben-Zur predicts the Internet of Things will be the third revolution. Sensors will show up in more and more devices and turn them into sponges that soak up data about our habits, environment, movements and health. A smart smoke detector, for example, might also gather information about the pollen count in a house. A home security system's motion detectors can track a family's movements and location over time, sharing information with a central heating or cooling system to customize each room's temperature. But it's still to early to say for sure how all these devices will chat with each other and whether Qualcomm's AllJoyn or some other option will take off. The exact killer apps for the Internet of Things are also a mystery. We won't really know how the technology will change our lives until we get it into the hands of creative developers. "The guys who had been running mobile for 20 years had no idea that some developer was going to take the touchscreen and microphone and some graphical resources and turn a phone into a flute," Ben-Zur said. The same may be true when developers start experimenting with apps for connected home appliances. "Exposing that, how your toothbrush and your water heater and your thermostat ... are going to interact with you, with your school, that's what's next," said Ben-Zur. | With the Internet of Things, regular appliances and objects could evolve into tech products . Sensors will appear in cars, homes, toasters, clothing and more . One company is trying to connect all of those devices with a common language . Expert: Connected devices are the Internet's third revolution . | 1abf3260ab82aea0f39bd491880b55b1e2cec3ad |
By . Chris Pleasance . A dog-walker accidentally killed six pets after locking them in the back of a hot truck for 45 minutes then lied and said the animals had been stolen. Emma Paulsen sparked a week-long hunt for the dogs - Buddy, Teemo, Oscar, Mia, Molly and Salty - after saying they had been taken from her truck when she left for ten minutes to use a bathroom. But last week Paulsen confessed to pet investigators that the animals, including her own dog, died after she locked them in her pickup for 45 minutes. Emma Paulsen, a dog walker, has admitted killing six animals, inlcuing Molly (pictured) a German shepherd-blue heeler cross, after locking them in the back of her truck for 45 minutes on a hot day . Paulsen dumped the dogs' bodies in a ditch then lied to owners, telling them their pets had been stolen, sparking a week-long hunt (pictured, pit bull Mia, left, and Poodle-Bouvier mix Teemo, right) She now faces a fine of $75,000 (£44,500) or up to two years in prison. The SPCA, which is leading the . investigation, will recommend that authorities pursue animal cruelty . charges, said Marcie Moriarty, the organisation’s chief prevention and . enforcement officer. Paulsen reported the dogs missing on May 13 after taking them for a walk in a park in Brookswood, British Colombia. Speaking to the Globe and Mail Alesha MacLellan, co-owner of Petsearchers Canada, said: 'From the get-go, the story didn’t make a whole lot of sense. 'The washrooms were in sight of where the truck was parked. I’m trying to grasp how someone could so quickly retrieve six dogs that they do not know and get them into another vehicle without anyone seeing. It seemed far-fetched.' In fact, the . animals had died of heat exhaustion. In an attempt to cover up her crime, . Paulsen dumped the bodies in a nearby ditch and claimed the animals had . been stolen. Petsearch Canada added: 'Emma disclosed that all six dogs were in the back of . her vehicle with the side vent windows open and water available, as she . had done hundreds of times. 'All six dogs . perished from heatstroke. Upon arriving and Emma seeing . her beloved charges deceased, she went into a blind panic at the . thought of notifying the families and the possible repercussions. 'In a . complete state of shock and panic, Emma made a desperate attempt to . cover up what had happened and concocted a story to explain the loss of . the dogs.' Paulsen told pet detectives the truth, and now faces up to two years in jail after the British Columbia Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals recommended pressing charges (pictured, Rottweiler-husky mix Oscar) Writing on a Facebook page dedicated to the dogs, Jenn Ortner, who owned Boston terrier Buddy (pictured) said she was 'devastated and heartbroken' adding 'the tears just won't stop' The Royal Canadian Mounted Police confirmed the dogs’ deaths last week and said that they were still investigating, adding that no charges had yet been filed. Prosecutors will have the final say on whether to charge the dog walker, Moriarty added. Writing on a Facebook page, Jenn Myers Ortner, who owned black and white Boston terrier Buddy, said: 'These dogs were our worlds and now we are all devastated and heartbroken. 'I am not sure if we will ever truly mend from this. The tears just won't stop.' | Emma Paulsen was looking after six dogs including her own pet, Salty . All died of heatstroke after she locked them in pickup truck for 45 minutes . Paulsen dumped bodies in ditch and told owners the pets had been stolen . After a week-long search she admitted her crime to pet investigators . She now faces up to two years in jail on animal cruelty charges . | e2eb9c0686e95fe1454174034bc5829643665586 |
By . Sara Malm . PUBLISHED: . 11:08 EST, 21 January 2013 . | . UPDATED: . 11:27 EST, 31 January 2013 . The Spaniards already boast some of the weirdest festivals in the world, such as the bull running of Pamplona and the world’s biggest tomato fight, but this one definitely tops the list. The annual Jarramplas Festival in Piornal involves hundreds of villagers attacking a man dressed in a devils mask with 15,000 turnips. The best part? No-one really knows why. A young man from the village is selected to be the 'Jarramplas' - the scape goat - and dresses up in a costume made from colourful strips of fabric, donning a devil-like mask with great horns and nose. Turnip tradition: People throw turnips at the 'Jarramplas' as he makes his way through the streets beating his drum during the Jarramplas Festival in Piornal, Spain . Strange custom: The bizarre annual holiday sees a male villager dress up as devil-figure Jarramplas and run through the streets of Piornal whilst he is pelted with turnips . Turnip target: The Jarramplas' costume is made from hundreds of colourful strips of fabric and he wears a big mask with horns and a snout as he runs through the village banging a drum . The Jarramplas then enters the . streets, banging his drum to call out the villagers who gather in their . hundreds with armfuls of turnips. They chase the Jarramplas around the . village, continuously pelting him with the rock-hard root vegetables at . every possible chance they get. It is a centuries long tradition and is celebrated every January on Saint Sebastian Day in the . village in Extremadura, western Spain which has just over 1,500 . inhabitants. There are several theories behind the Jarramplas tradition, most point to a connection between the festival and punishing cattle thieves. Five-a-day: Although the origin of the festival is undetermined, the vegetable pelting symbolise the expulsion of everything bad . Nowhere to run: As is tradition, the crowd has cornered the Jarramplas outside the local church where they furiously throw the rock-hard turnips . Topsy turn-y tradition: Every year hundreds travel to the little village in Extremadura, which has 1,500 inhabitants, to pelt a man in devil costume with big root vegetables . Theory is that the pelting of the . Jarramplas with turnips originates in the punishment and expulsion of a . cattle thief by American Indians, witnessed by the first conquerors. Another is that it mirrors the punishment of the cattle-thieving giant Cacus by Hercules in Greek mythology. However, in modern times, Jarramplas is a devil figure and the turnip throwing symbolise the expulsion of everything bad. The Jarramplas Festival is not the . only odd celebration in Spain - and surprisingly not the only one which . involves throwing vegetables. Lads game: The part-takers in the turnip-throwing is predominantly young men who compete in throwing the most turnips the hardest . Feeding the beast: The village imports 14,000 turnips every year to throw at the Jarramplas . La Tomatina is an annual food fight . in Bunol, Valencia which sees thousands of people travel from all over . the world to thrown tomatoes at each other. Last year over 50,000 participants . threw more than 150,000 rotten tomatoes on the streets – a tradition . which has been going on since 1945. Bull runs are held across Spain but the most popular one is the annual run in Pamplona, which is broadcast live on television. About 200-300 people are injured in . the Pamplona bull run every year, and 15 people have died since 1910. Most were gored to death by the 18-strong bull heard. Annual madness: The centuries old Jarramplas festival takes place annually every January 19-20 on Saint Sebastian Day . Duck: Two women take cover behind a door grate at the Jarramplas, already wading through turnips, makes his way through the streets beating his drum . Job done: This year's 'Jarramplas', Juan Jose Prieto, 26, is cheered on by the crowds after his run through the village is finished . | Annual Jarramplas festival held in Piornal, Spain, this weekend . Celebration sees man in colourful costume and mask get pelted with turnips . Exact origin of the festival is not known, but is believed to drive out the devil . | 81a2953930e182e4372b0b1bb970d60dbf52b469 |
By . Sam Webb . PUBLISHED: . 05:26 EST, 21 May 2013 . | . UPDATED: . 11:20 EST, 21 May 2013 . Trekking across the world's harshest and most remote regions sounds like a tough enough challenge - but imagine doing the whole thing on a unicycle. Canadian Kris Holm has traversed the Great Wall of China, descended a 6000-metre volcano and braved the mountains of the Himalayas while riding on a single wheel. As these breathtaking pictures show, he . is not afraid of tackling any terrain - from perilous cliff edges to . jagged mountain tops. Vista: Kris Holm on the Moab White Rim in Utah. The brave unicyclist has crossed 14 countries and beaten some of the world's most difficult terrain . Epic: An amazed Chinese man watches Holm perilously ride the side of the Great Wall of China . Mr Holm has travelled across some of the toughest terrains in the world, including Himalayan country Bhutan and the jungles of Bolivia. He said: 'I do get some odd looks sometimes on my travels. They know me round where I live, but abroad people do give me funny looks. 'Actually in countries like Mongolia and Bhutan it wasn't necessarily because of the unicycle, they just shrugged me off as Western so I must be doing something weird. 'Some of them actually thought it was what Westerners do, ride unicycles all the time. If only that was the case. 'I have travelled on the Great Wall of China, descended down Licancabur, a 5950-metre volcano in Bolivia, and climbed the third highest mountain in North America.' Leap of faith: Mr Holm fearlessly drops from a rock in sun-baked Utah . Brave: Mr Holm on the North Shore, Canada. Such is his skill that he has even beaten two-wheeled competitors in trial competitions . Kris was the first rider to bring mountain unicycling to a mainstream audience through film, television, and magazine features. He has appeared in over 200 international media features, including numerous television segments and 18 films that have screened at festivals in over 30 countries, according to his website. He added: 'A unicycle can go just as many places as a two-wheeled bike. Obviously over a flat distance two wheels are faster, but actually up and down hill it doesn't make that much difference.' Amazingly, Holm, who can reach speeds . of 50mph, became the first unicyclist to reach the podium in an event . against his two-wheeled cousins in the gruelling seven-day mountain BC Bike Race in 2010. Riding high: The extreme unicyclist balances on the edge of a cliff in Mexico . Author: Mr Holm has written a book about his adventures called Mountain and Trials Unicycling . He added: 'I actually finished third last year in the BC Bike Race as the only competitor among 500 riders on one wheel, that was amazing.' Holm started uni-cycling in 1986 aged just 12 after getting the bike as a present. He said: 'I was like any kid, I just kept practicing and soon I was riding. Learning to ride a unicycle is just like anything else it's 95 percent practice. 'Where I live in Canada there is a lot of outdoors and I love to go out on the trials, so a lot of people are used to seeing me.' In 2010 Kris became the first unicyclist to reach the podium in 3rd place against his two-wheeled cousins in the gruelling seven-day mountain BC Bike Race . Mountain king: Mr Holm in Bhutan. He designs and sells his own mountain unicycles . He has helped popularise the fringe sport through his appearances in TV documentaries and features in numerous magazines . 'When I first started unicycling I was probably one of the only people in the world to try and ride the same trials as two-wheeled bikes but now there are more and more people willing to give it a try. 'I also design my own unicycles which are made for those who want to give trialing a go, it's a lot cheaper than mountain biking to buy a unicycle so who knows maybe more and more people will do it.' His talents saw him scoop the 2005 European, 2002 World, and 1999 North American unicycle trials championships. He has also written a book about his adventures, Mountain and Trials Unicycling. Ford: Mr Holm in Monguni , Mongolia. Extreme terrain holds no fear for the Canadian, who has ridden unicycles since 1986 . Balance: In the mountain kingdom of Bhutan . | Canadian extreme sports fan has tackled some of the world's most difficult terrain on his trusty unicycle . He has braved landscapes as varied as the Himalayan country of Bhutan to the jungles of Bolivia . Now he has written a book about his one-wheeled adventures at the furthest reaches of the planet . | a691853cb42f4e9aa3f403a193c4d27d56f8b098 |
PUBLISHED: . 17:01 EST, 26 January 2014 . | . UPDATED: . 09:46 EST, 27 January 2014 . Cull: The Western Australia government began placing baited hooks on drum lines off popular beaches in the state capital Perth and to the south to kill white, bull and tiger sharks (such as the one pictured) over 10ft long . A large shark was killed off the west Australian coast on Sunday, the first under a contentious new state government culling policy aimed at curbing fatal shark attacks. The Western Australia government on Saturday began placing baited hooks on drum lines off popular beaches in the state capital Perth and to the south to kill white, bull and tiger sharks over 10ft long. The policy is a response to seven fatal shark attacks in Australia's southwest in three years. Government spokesman Simon Beaumont said the first shark was killed by a government-contracted commercial fisherman on Sunday morning off Castle Rock near the town of Dunsborough, 155 miles south of Perth. The shark was longer than three meters (10 feet) and was one of the three targeted species. Beaumont would not say which of the three species it was. Once the fisherman had confirmed with fishing authorities that the shark was the required species and size, he shot it and dumped the carcass at sea, Beaumont said. The policy has divided the community since it was announced several weeks ago and led to thousands of people demonstrating on Perth beaches against the shark cull. Activists have threatened to sabotage the drum lines and threatened one fisherman who had accepted a government contract to catch sharks off Perth. He pulled out, citing the threats. The federal government last week gave state authorities a special exemption from environmental laws to kill white sharks, a protected species. Environmentalists argue that there is no evidence that the cull will reduce shark attacks. They argue it could even increase the shark danger by giving water users a false sense of security. 'To think that we're wasting this opportunity to tag and to find out more about these creatures, that we're just going to slaughter them and dump them - it's just such a waste of life,' Rae Threnoworth, member of marine conservation group Sea Shepherd, told Ten Network television. State Premier Colin Barnett was heckled by members of the public over the shark's death as he officiated at a citizenship ceremony in Perth on Sunday. 'I get no pleasure out of seeing sharks killed,' Barnett told reporters. 'But I have an overriding responsibility to protect the people of Western Australia. That's what I'm doing.' Protection: The policy is a response to seven fatal shark attacks in Australia's southwest in three years . | Western Australian government has placed baited hooks on drum lines to kill white, bull and tiger sharks over 10ft long . Policy comes after there were seven fatal attacks in the past three years . The first shark was killed by a government-contracted fisherman . Animal was shot off Castle Rock, near Dunsborough and dumped at sea . Activists threaten to sabotage drum lines and demonstrate against cull . | 3687bea2906363d57b4b6de913e88ed4e30cf391 |
A chip shop owner has removed a ‘racist’ banner boasting that the business now had ‘English owners’, after his predecessor received threats to burn it down. Previous owner Paul Bradbury - who put the sign up at the Chippy on the Green in Padiham, Lancashire, after taking it over last August - has gone back to Liverpool with his wife Rachel after shutting up shop. The couple had put a banner outside which said ‘Under new management with English owners’ - but Mr Bradbury said that he received two threatening phone calls from people calling him racist. Edited: Sotos Orfanides, the new owner of the Chippy on the Green, has adapted the sign to read 'Under new management with English meals' Gone: Original owner Paul Bradbury (pictured last year) - who put the sign up at the Chippy on the Green in Padiham, Lancashire, after they took it over last August - has gone back to Liverpool with his wife Rachel . They left the shop and moved away from the area earlier this year - and new owner Sotos Orfanides has now adapted the sign to read ‘Under new management with English meals’. Mr Orfanides, who is originally from Cyprus and also owns a Greek restaurant in Liverpool, had previously been renting the Chippy on the Green to Mr and Mrs Bradbury. Sign: The Bradburys had put a banner outside which said 'Under new management with English owners' He said: ‘I don’t think the original sign was racist, but there was a big thing about it being racist. No one is racist in this shop. They were English and they were serving some English food. ‘I changed the sign because people were calling and threatening to burn the shop down. I care about the business, so I changed it. Paul and Rachel went back to Liverpool because of the threats. They weren’t racist.’ The shop had previously been run by . English people of East Asian and of Greek descent. It used to sell . English and Chinese food, kebabs and pizza under Mr and Mrs Bradbury but . is now going to mainly sell fish and chips. A . Lancashire Police spokesman said at the time of the threats: ‘Police . officers from the Padiham neighbourhood team went to the shop after . becoming aware of the threats. ‘The owner told officers he did not want to pursue the matter and so we can’t take any further action.’ The shop was reopened last week after a refurbishment and is being managed by one of Mr Orfanides’s relatives. Mr . Bradbury’s story was featured in MailOnline last August, and he said: . ‘I’m not racist. Anyone who thinks I’m a bigot is narrow-minded. ‘People . want to know they are going to be served by somebody English. People . have said to us that they are glad somebody English is serving them and . that the sign made them want to come in. In the past: The shop had previously been run by English people of East Asian and of Greek descent. It is pictured here in September 2009, four years before Mr and Mrs Bradbury took over in August 2013 . ‘They’ve never had anyone in the shop before. We are advertising that we are English. 'You wouldn’t want your fish and chips served to you by someone Turkish, or from wherever, because it wouldn’t be as good a recipe as it would be from somebody English. 'I changed the sign because people were calling and threatening to burn the shop down. I care about the business, so I changed it' Sotos Orfanides, new owner . ‘It doesn’t matter what colour or race you are, we’ll serve you. We welcome everyone here. I won’t be taking the sign down. 'We don’t want to upset anyone and we aren’t racist. We wouldn’t be serving foreign food if we were racist.’ Gordon Birtwistle, Liberal Democrat MP for Burnley, said: ‘They are now advertising what the shop sells. I’m not interested in who is selling the food, just what they are selling.’ | Previous owner Paul Bradbury put sign up at shop in Padiham, Lancashire . But he has now gone back to Liverpool with his wife following the threats . New owner Sotos Orfanides, originally from Cyprus, has now adapted sign . Sign on building now says: 'Under new management with English meals' Mr Orfanides and Mr Bradbury have both denied original sign was racist . | 5a22751bcd89d9c568d96a133e71eccca162238d |
By . David Martosko In Washington . President Barack Obama said during a rare public session answering reporters' questions that he was unaware of any efforts to prevent survivors of the 2012 Benghazi, Libya terror attack from testifying before Congress about what they experienced. 'I'm not familiar with this notion that anybody's been blocked from testifying,' the president said Tuesday in response to a question from Fox News Channel correspondent Ed Henry. 'They’ve hired an attorney,' Henry told Obama, 'because they're saying that they've been blocked from coming forward.' 'What I'll do,' the president offered, 'is I will find out what exactly you're referring to.' Scroll down for video . Obama claimed ignorance of alleged efforts inside the U.S. State Department to clamp down on whistle-blowers who want to testify about the Benghazi terror attack and its aftermath . 'What I've been very clear about from the start is that our job with respect to Benghazi has been to find out exactly what happened, to make sure that U.S. embassies not just in the Middle East but around the world are safe and secure, and to bring those who carried it out to justice.' The White House has yet to take a formal position on the hundreds of Americans who lived through the Sept. 11, 2012 attack that claimed the lives of U.S. Ambassador to Libya Chris Stevens and two others. 'There are some survivors of that terror attack who say they want to come forward and testify - some in your State Department,' Henry said, 'and they say they've been blocked. Will you allow the Benghazi survivors to testify?' he asked. Mortar rounds, rocket-propelled grenades, gunfire and arson: The U.S. Consulate compound in Benghazi, Libya was destroyed Sept. 11, 2012, on the anniversary of the al Qaeda attack that killed thousands in New York City, at the Pentagon, and in Shanksville, Pennsylvania . Obama gave the question a brief answer, insisting that he didn't know about alleged efforts to keep the survivors quiet. 'I'm not familiar with it,' he reiterated, later adding, 'I'll look into that.' Fox News reported Monday that at least four CIA and State Department career officials have retained lawyers to help them with plans to provide sensitive information to Congress about the Benghazi attacks. It's unknown whether those potential whistle-blowers were part of the U.S. contingent on the ground in Benghazi. One of them reportedly has information about the federal government's inner-workings during the months before the Sept. 11, 2012 attack when the diplomatic mission in Libya unsuccessfully sought tighter security, during the attack itself, and during the crucial week afterward. It was in those first days that U.S. Ambassador to the United Nations Susan Rice falsely claimed a spontaneous protest, inspired by a YouTube video critical of the Muslim prophet Muhammad, resulted in the consulate's destruction. Then-Secretary of State Hillary Clinton testified before a congressional committee about Benghazi, asking 'What difference does it make?' whether the death and destruction was preplanned or spontaneous . Victoria Toensing, the man's attorney, told Fox News . that her client has been threatened by unnamed persons in the Obama . administration who have warned about the impact on his career if he . cooperates with Republican investigators in Congress. 'It's frightening, and they're doing some very despicable threats to people,' Toensing said. 'Not . "we're going to kill you," or not "we're going to prosecute you . tomorrow," but they're taking career people and making them well aware . that their careers will be over.' Utah Republican Rep. Jason Chaffetz told Fox News in March that he only had access to a 'handful of people' when he visited Libya shortly after the Benghazi attack, and that he has not been given access to other survivors in the months that followed. 'We want talk to the survivors. They won’t do that,' Chaffetz said of the Obama administration. 'And then the president has the gall to go on television and say "Oh, we're providing all the access"? Baloney. Bull-crap. That is not happening.' | At least four career officials have hired lawyers as they prepare to share sensitive information with Congress . Would-be State Department whistle-blowers claim harassment, intimidation . Obama: I'm not familiar with this notion that anybody's been blocked from testifying' | 341fcf4fb2b92f587d56fa293aeb3510a3e87c02 |
Crumbs Bakery has learned the hard way that building a business on a fad is no cakewalk. When Crumbs, the New York City-based chain that built its business around cupcakes, shuttered all of its 48 remaining locations Monday, it seemed like an abrupt ending for a company that opened a decade ago to ride the wave of popularity of the sugary treat sparked by the TV series Sex and The City. But Crumbs' rise and fall isn't surprising when considering the company's dependence on a culinary craze. In fact, it's the latest cautionary tale for businesses that devote their entire menus to variations of a single product. Scroll down for video . Harbinger of doom: Crumbs shuttered all its 48 locations a week after the struggling cupcake shop operator was delisted from the Nasdaq . How Crumbs crumbled: Experts say Crumbs Bakery's bankruptcy was caused by over-expansion at a time when demand for cupcakes leveled off . Krispy Kreme, for instance, expanded rapidly in large part on the cult-like following of its doughnuts. But sales started declining and the company ended up closing some locations. Last year, restaurant industry researcher Technomic said Krispy Kreme had 249 locations, down from 338 a decade ago. The chain has broadened its menu more recently. Executives at Krispy Kreme, which celebrates its 77th anniversary later this week, weren't available for comment. A similar fate befell Mrs. Fields, which is known for its cookies. The chain has suffered in part because of the ubiquity of places that sell cookies, and it was down to 230 stores last year, from 438 a decade ago. TCBY had 355 stores last year, down from 1,413 a decade ago. Part of the chain's problem is the competition, given the proliferation of frozen yogurt places. A representative for the parent company of Mrs. Fields and TCBY wasn't immediately available. Companies that only offer one item can fall victim to a number of risks. For one, trendy products tend to attract competition from big and small players that want to jump on the bandwagon. For instance, Starbucks and Cold Stone Creamery have been trying to capitalize on the cupcake trend with cake pops and ice cream cupcakes, respectively. Where it all started: The cupcake craze can be traced back to Sex and the City (pictured), which popularized the frosted mini-cakes sold by Magnolia bakery in the 90s . Diversified: Magnolia, which now has 7 U.S. locations, offers a variety of desserts, including cakes, pies, cookies and brownies . Being beholden to a single item also makes companies more susceptible to customers' whims and changing tastes. There's always a new fad: frozen yogurt; chopped salads; freshly squeezed juices, and even gourmet toast. Entrepreneurs may be eager to open stores selling these products, but there's always the danger that fickle customers will move on to the next thing. 'A cupcake shop today can't survive on just cupcakes,' said Darren Tristano, a Technomic analyst. To combat the risks, many chains diversify their menus. And several have prospered by moving beyond their flagship products. Dunkin' Donuts, for instance, has been pushing aggressively into specialty drinks and sandwiches, with a focus on boosting sales after its morning rush hour. And Starbucks has introduced a range of new foods and drinks in its cafes, including premium bottled juices and salad boxes. The coffee chain even plans to expand wine and beer offering in evenings to as many as 1,000 locations over the next several years. Magnolia, another popular New York City cupcake shop, is credited for sparking the cupcake craze after it was featured in Sex and the City. Downsizing: Krispy Kreme, which celebrates its 77th anniversary this week, had 249 locations last year, down from 338 a decade ago . Streamlined: The chain Mrs Fields took a hit because of the ubiquity of places that sell cookies and closed down nearly half of its 438 storefronts . Freeze out: The frozen yogurt business TCBY had 355 stores last year, down from 1,413 a decade ago, because of stiff competition . The chain, which opened in 1996, has endured while many of the cupcake shops that opened up in its wake — including Crumbs — focused on just cupcakes. That's in part because Magnolia, which now has 7 U.S. locations, offers a variety of desserts, including cakes, pies, cookies, brownies and banana pudding. Sara Gramling, Magnolia's spokeswoman, said the company is learning about the dangers of focusing too heavily on one product, as well as expanding too quickly. 'We'll be mindful of those lessons,' she said. Still, some chains manage to persevere by carving out a niche where there aren't many competitors; Auntie Anne's and Cinnabon have expanded locations over the years. As for Crumbs, the company noted in a statement late Monday that it was evaluating its 'limited remaining options.' That will include a Chapter 7 bankruptcy filing. Crumbs did not provide comment beyond its statement. While some business analysts were quick to conclude that Crumbs’ collapse heralded the end of the decade-long cupcake trend, others suggested that the bakery chain was a special case. Decade-long fad: Crumbs first opened its doors in March 2003 in Manhattan. The company went public in 2011 but has been suffering as the cupcake boom has deflated . David Sax, author of The Tastemakers: Why We’re Crazy for Cupcakes but Fed Up With Fondue, described Crumbs’ failure as ‘a classic tale of overexpansion and borrowing too much money,’ adding that it was no indicative of the state of the cupcake industry at large, reported the Washington Post. In Sax’s retelling of the story, Crumbs’ fatal flaw was that the chain continued opening more and more stores even as demand for cupcakes levelled off. By 2013, the bakery had 70 locations, which brought in less than $650,000 each. Last cupcake: Before the Crumbs empire crumbled, employees at Likeable Media in New York City bought this sprinkled cupcake from the now-shuttered shop on 42nd Street for $3.95 . Four years earlier, each of Crumbs' 25 locations raked in $1.2million in sales. Sax insisted that the frosted mini-cakes have a bright future. ‘This is much more a story about one company’s mismanagement of its product line than it is about the hatred or falling off of one particular American pastry,’ he said. ‘When the housing market crashed in 2007 or 2008, it wasn’t like people stopped investing in real estate. ‘The death of Crumbs doesn’t mean the end of every other cupcake bakery.’ The news of the chain’s bankruptcy comes less than two weeks after the Nasdaq announced it would stop trading Crumbs, which went public in 2011. Crumbs had seen a steep decline in profitability since its debut on the market: In its quarterly report from March, the company posted an accumulated deficit of $28.8million. Outside the Crumbs on 42nd Street, near Times Square, disappointment was palpable Tuesday afternoon. A pregnancy craving brought Neicy Robinson of the Bronx to another Crumbs location before she walked to the Bryant Park store and realized they had all closed. ‘I don’t know what’s going on. I’m so lost,’ she said. ‘I just want some cupcakes!’ Lots of dough: The bidding on the baked rarity started at $250, but those who wish to buy it now can do so for $1,000 . But those craving that one final sugary, moist bite still have a chance to get their hands on the last Crumbs cupcake, USA Today reported. Before the Crumbs empire crumbled, employees at Likeable Media in New York City picked up a sprinkled cupcake from the now-shuttered shop on 42nd Street for $3.95. Instead of wolfing down the dessert, enterprising staffers decided to put it up for sale on eBay with an opening bid of $250. Those diehard fans of the defunct bakery who do not want to wait until Friday when the bidding ends can snap up the cupcake right now for $1,000. | Crumbs Bakery shuttered all its remaining 48 locations Monday . Food trend experts say Crumbs' fatal flaw was over-expansion and borrowing too much money . The bakery chain that went public in 2011 posted deficit of $28.8million in its quarterly reported released in March . Other businesses focusing on a single product like Krispy Kreme and Mrs Fields have been closing down locations . Dunkin' Donuts has expanded into specialty drinks and sandwiches to diversify its product line . New York City firm that bought one of the last Crumbs cupcakes for $3.95 is now selling it on eBay . | 414d4d43c88e9851f4517a0248333fc58bde9f4e |
By . Meghan Keneally . Donald Sterling has stepped back from his defensive stance and agreed to pass controls of the LA Clippers basketball team to his wife. Donald Sterling and his estranged wife Shelly have joint ownership of the basketball team and the NBA made it clear that they were going to push for Donald to sell his portion in light of his racist recordings. Shelly has repeatedly announced that she has no plans to sell her portion of the team and she felt that she is in no position to be forced to sell her stake since it was her husband who made the racist comments while unknowingly being recorded by an alleged girlfriend. Scroll down for video . Throwing in the towel: Donald Sterling has reportedly handed over the control of his half of the NBA basketball team to his wife Shelly, who had control of the other half . Negotiations: Shelly Sterling, seen here with her attorney Pierce O'Donnell, has been in talks with the NBA ever since her husband's racist recordings were leaked in hopes that she can keep her half of the team . TMZ first reported on Friday that Donald has surrendered his controlling stake of the team and given it to his wife, which comes after repeated assertions that he would do no such thing. Shelly and her team of lawyers has reportedly been negotiating with the NBA separately from her husband since the scandal broke in an effort to insure that she is not faced with a force sale like her husband after he was issued a lifetime ban from professional basketball. 'Shelly Sterling's preference has always been to find a way to resolve this dispute amicably with the NBA in a mutually satisfactory manner,' her lawyer Pierce O'Donnell told TMZ, though he would not say anything further about the details of the sale. ESPN reports that the NBA has not formally accepted this arrangement and she may be forced to sell the team as one whole unit rather than being able to keep her own shares. NBC reported shortly after that Shelly has agreed to voluntarily agreed to sell the team. CNN followed up with a confirmation from an unidentified source familiar with the situation. On the sidelines: Shelly Sterling, seen at Thursday night's home game, will reportedly be handling the sale to keep it separate from her husband . The announcement comes after the NBA . filed charges that would force Sterling to terminate his ownership of . the team, and he was given five days to determine his response. That . deadline would expire on Tuesday, but he appears to have come to a . decision with a few days to spare- though it is not official whether or . not the NBA will accept his move, though it does seem likely considering . what NBA commissioner Adam Silver said at a press conference earlier . this week. 'Shelly Sterling's preference has always been to find a way to resolve this dispute amicably with the NBA in a mutually satisfactory manner' -Pierce O'Donnell, her attorney . 'It is . their team to sell, and so he knows what the league’s point of view is, . and so I’m sure if he wanted to sell the team on some reasonable . timetable, I’d prefer he sell it than we go through this process. So if . that’s what you mean by man‑to‑man, I’m open to that,' Silver said. They already ruled against his first request, which was to have a three month delay to evaluate his options, but it comes as no surprise that the NBA denied this as they hope to put the issue behind them for fear of losing fan support and the threat of a player walkout. Two other reasons for why the Sterlings may have been motivated to sell rather than bring the issue to a vote among the owners is that the owners may have convinced them that it would be worse for the league to do so. The clearest reason, however, is that the longer the Sterlings are associated with the team, the lower the team's selling price will be as sponsors continue to stay away from the Clippers and the players themselves are less likely to want to stay on board if there is no indication that the Sterlings will cut ties. One deadline on the horizon is the NBA draft in late June. The team would be less appealing to prospective players if the Sterlings are still associated with the team at that point, or if there is no clear sign that they are in the process of extracting themselves from the leadership positions. Speculation of who may buy the team continues to swirl, as moguls Oprah Winfrey, Larry Ellison and David Geffen have been reportedly considering the purchase, which is expected to have a price tag of about $1billion. | Donald and his estranged wife Shelly Sterling have a joint ownership of the LA Clippers and now she is reportedly in full control of the team . She has reportedly agreed to 'voluntarily' sell the team . That would fit with what the NBA said would have to happen since Donald Sterling has been banned from the league for life . Shelly and her legal team have been negotiating with the NBA separately from her estranged husband ever since the recording leaked . | ee9b000ae485ebcb35de54663305fb8035649a97 |
(CNN) -- World No. 1 Victoria Azarenka is facing a race against time to be fit for the U.S. Open after succumbing to the frenetic schedule of women's tennis. The Belorussian was forced to withdraw from the Montreal Cup with an injury to her left knee midway through the first set of her opening match against Tamira Paszek on Thursday. With just 17 days until the start of the competition at Flushing Meadows, the Australian Open champion's hopes of adding to her sole grand slam triumph look slim. The 23-year-old reached the semifinals of Wimbledon last month, before going on to compete at the London 2012 Olympics where she won bronze in the singles and gold in the mixed doubles on Sunday. The workload has taken its toll on Azarenka, who will now also miss next week's Cincinnati Masters event. "The last week took so much energy out of me that I had absolutely no time to recover, and my body is feeling it," she told reporters. "It was a little bit too quick of a transition for me to come and start the training, and I felt my knee just wasn't in good shape. "It's unfortunate because I was really looking forward to playing here. I have really enjoyed being here. I tried yesterday and today it just got worse. I can't see the point of continuing to play if I can't give even 50% of my game." Azarenka, who has never made it past the fourth round at the U.S. Open, said she needs rest and recuperation if she is to line up in New York later this month. "I hope it's a short-term thing. I have to just stop and take a little bit of time off because I had absolutely no rest for a long period of time. I just need to settle it down and go from there. Hopefully there's nothing serious about it," she said. "If I cannot play here, there is no chance for me to play anywhere else. My first goal is to get healthy and make sure I'm 100% ready to play the U.S. Open." The hectic schedule claimed another victim when world No. 2 Maria Sharapova also pulled out of the WTA Tour event in Cincinnati. The French Open champion, who was defeated in the Olympic final by Serena Williams, missed Montreal due to a stomach virus. The Russian hopes to recover in time for the U.S. Open, which she won in 2006. | Victoria Azarenka is struggling for full fitness after heavy schedule this season . Australian Open champion will also miss next week's Cincinnati Masters . Belarus star is hoping to make it past fourth round at Flushing Meadows for first time . Second-ranked Maria Sharapova withdraws from second consecutive event due to illness . | cdb14b3aeb18b147edb93b5f97dd12f7dd620fc1 |
By . David Kent . FIFA has fined the Argentine Football Association 30,000 Swiss francs (£19,540) as punishment for the displaying of a provocative banner relating to the Falkland Islands. The world governing body opened disciplinary proceedings against the AFA last month after national team players held up a banner stating 'Las Malvinas son Argentinas', which translates as 'the Falkland Islands are Argentinian', before kick-off in a friendly against Slovenia in La Plata on June 7. Scroll down for video... Controversial: The Argentina players posed with a banner which read: 'The Falkland Islands are Argentinian' Not the first: Boca Juniors also posed with the banner ahead of a match against River Plate on March 30 2014 . The message was displayed in support of an on-going campaign to claim sovereignty of the islands, a British Overseas Territory in the South Atlantic Ocean. A statement from FIFA said the AFA had been fined and issued with a reprimand after it was deemed to be in breach of Article 60 of the FIFA stadium safety and security regulations ('political action') and Article 52 of the FIFA disciplinary code ('team misconduct'). The AFA was notified of the terms of FIFA's decision on Friday. No cigar: Lionel Messi's (R) Argentina were eventually beaten 1-0 by Germany in the World Cup final . | Argentina players unfurled provocative banner in friendly against Slovenia . Banner translated as 'Falkland Islands are Argentinian' FIFA has taken action by fining the Argentina FA 30,000 Swiss francs . Lionel Messi's team eventually lost to Germany in World Cup final . | 89f3b7767d16af5a59b6e8ed6e27e897ee5fb9e9 |
(CNN) -- Jersey, Guernsey, Holstein; the world's dairy cattle breeds bear the names of some of the wettest, lushest, and greenest places in Europe, testament to the fact that to produce milk you need a lot of water. Industry experts say one cow must consume three liters of water a day to produce one liter of milk. For high-performing cattle that's equal to 150 liters a day. Saudi Arabia --with an average annual rainfall of just 2.3 inches (59mm) -- might seem an unlikely candidate to be among the world's top 10 dairy producers, but its mega-dairy Almarai has grown to be one of the biggest food producers in the Persian Gulf. Leslie Butler, a dairy economist at the University of California, says the vast milking plants that dot the Persian Gulf region employ an industry standard known as the "Californian model" to run dairies in some of the driest regions of the world. "The Californian model is simply that you don't have to grow all your grass and raise your own feed crops, you can import feed and water and all your input and house a thousand head of dairy cattle on just 40 acres of land," Butler told CNN. He said as long as the water and feed could be sourced, then dairy operations of this type were sustainable. "The other side of sustainable, of course, is whether they get the price they want for the milk they produce, but I assume that they do," he said. From food security to big exports . Established with the help of Irish agribusiness pioneers Alastair and Paddy McGlucklin in 1977, Almarai began modestly with just 300 head of cattle as part of a Saudi push to achieve food security through self-sufficiency -- a government response to the oil shocks of the 1970s. Forty years later and the company is a diversified regional giant selling juices, poultry, baked products and infant formula. With a total herd of 135,000 dairy cattle, Almarai's installation at Al Kharj 80 kilometers (50 miles) south of the capital Riyadh, houses one of its largest herds of 67,000. The company's statistics are staggering: the entire herd produces 2.5 million liters of milk a day -- an average of 40 liters per cow per day roughly double the European average. Technology to beat the heat . The secret to making a dairy successful in one of the world's most arid environments is to apply technology -- and a lot of it. At normal desert temperatures that can reach as high 50 degrees Celsius, milk production would normally plummet, the produce would spoil quickly and dangerous bacteria would form. However, every step of the process of keeping the Holstein milking cows at a perfect temperature of between 21 and 23 degrees Celsius (70 and 73 degrees Fahrenheit) is automated. Read more: Dubai builds big for Expo 2020 . Overhead misters in the open-sided sheds that house the herds send out clouds of moisture that wet the flanks of the herd to keep them cool. Fans also keep them dry and prevent puddles from forming. As well as computers that monitor the temperature and humidity in the installations, workers put the cattle through stationary water jets - a process that ensures the milk is not contaminated with manure - before the cattle are milked four times daily. After the cows are milked, the mega-factory goes through the process of pasteurizing the dairy products, bottling and packaging it. Almarai's fleet of 1,000 refrigerated tankers then deliver it to 55,000 stores in six Gulf nations. Water worries . Saudi is not the only Gulf State to have automated its milk production. In the nearby United Arab Emirates, the Al Ain Dairy Farm, the largest in the UAE and a competitor to Almarai, has per cow yields at 10,000 liters a year, almost the equal of Almarai's 12,400 liters a year. However, critics warn that the high yields of Almarai and other Gulf dairies carry a cost. Seen from Google Earth, the irrigation pivots of Al Kharj stand out like green crop circles in the rocky brown of the desert. Just 40 years ago, Saudi Arabia's underground store of fossil water was estimated at 500 cubic kilometers, enough to fill Lake Erie, according to a report published by University of London SOAS. Read more: Oxford, Yale or Abu Dhabi? It estimates four-fifths of the aquifers are now depleted. With practically no rainfall to replenish them, it has been reported that the government intends to phase out wheat production by 2016. Many of the irrigation pivots at Al Kharj stand unused and the Saudi government is coy about their future. In the meantime, Saudi investment in land near the headwaters of the Nile in the Gambella region of Ethiopia has caused controversy. Human Rights Watch, in a 2012 report, said that foreign investors from Saudi and China had acquired large tracts of land and that it had evidence that some 70,000 indigenous people in the western Gambella region were relocated against their will to new villages that "lack adequate food, farmland, healthcare and educational facilities". The Oakland Institute, an NGO, issued a critical report on Saudi Star's Gambella investment in Ethiopia in June last year, alleging that the company failed to conduct an environmental impact assessment and that residents reported the threat of force from Ethiopian authorities if they did not resettle. Meanwhile, the Saudi government has denied that its investment in the region has uprooted the region's indigenous people. "I never heard of even a single displacement," Saudi Agriculture Minister Dr Fahd bin Abdulrahman Balghunaim said in media reports. "If you or any other correspondent will show us a clear displacement or land grab or whatever by Saudi investment, please let us know. I assure you there are none whatsoever." | Saudi Arabian dairy has become one of the biggest in the region . Almarai began as a small farm in 1970s with 300 cows . Situated in one of world's most arid regions, indoor farms rely on 'California model' Critics point to high use of water and depletion of ancient underground water reserves . | d73eb4e3136284234335c678259765986c24ac2b |
By . Daily Mail Reporter . PUBLISHED: . 12:40 EST, 9 December 2013 . | . UPDATED: . 13:44 EST, 9 December 2013 . Controversy: President Vladimir Putin dissolved Russia's main news agency . President Vladimir Putin today tightened his control over Russia's media by dissolving the main state news agency and replacing it with an organisation that is to promote Moscow's image abroad. With the stroke of a pen, Putin abolished RIA Novosti and created a news agency to be known as Rossiya Segodnya, or Russia Today. It is the second in two weeks strengthening Putin's hold on the media as he tries to reassert his authority after protests against his rule. Most Russian media outlets are already loyal to Putin, and opponents get little air time, but the shake-up underlined their importance to Putin keeping power and the Kremlin's concern about the president's ratings and image. Conservative news anchor, Dmitry Kiselyov has been appointed as the new organisation's chief. The controversial journalist - described as a 'powerful propagandist' - provoked outraged after once saying the organs of homosexuals should not be used in transplants. 'The main focus of... Rossiya Segodnya (Russia Today) is to highlight abroad the state policy and public life of the Russian Federation,' said a decree signed by Putin. Sergei Ivanov, the head of the presidential administration, told reporters that the changes were intended to save money and improve the state media. But the new organisation has strong similarities to APN, a Soviet-era news agency whose role included writing articles about 'the social-economic and cultural life of the Soviet people and items reflecting Soviet society's point of view on important internal and international events'. RIA said in an English-language article about Putin's step: 'The move is the latest in a series of shifts in Russia's news landscape which appear to point towards a tightening of state control in the already heavily regulated media sector.' Defiance: Putin's regime has faced growing popular resistance, such as this authorized opposition protest against the alleging mass fraud in parliamentary polls in central St.Petersburg in 2011 . Crackdown: Russian police detain a protester demonstrating against the 2012 election of Putin which was mired in accusations of widespread fraud . Rossiya Segodnya's focus on building up Russia abroad could solidify Putin's grip on information by further limiting sources of news for Russians whose TV screens are dominated by state-controlled channels. Putin's decree appeared to have little effect on the two other major Russian news agencies, state-run Itar-Tass and private Interfax, but it could benefit both by making RIA's replacement less of a competitor domestically. Itar-Tass is the successor of the Soviet official Tass agency, while Interfax has more leeway as a private agency but is restricted by the Kremlin's dominance. Loyal: President Putin named Dmitry Kiselyov, pictured, as the head of Russia Today . The new head of Rossiya Segodnya has been described as a 'powerful propagandist' by a prominent member of parliament, Alexei Mitrofanov. But said this was a good thing and that he was suitable for the job. In his third term, after weathering protests led by urban liberals, the 61-year-old Putin has often appealed to conservatives and championed the Russian Orthodox Church as a moral guide for society. Kiselyov has proved a loyal Putin supporter as a television presenter, at times making provocative remarks. In 2010 he said homosexuals should be banned from donating blood or sperm and last year said they should also be banned from donating organs. Putin has been Russia's dominant leader since he was first elected president in 2000. He began his third term in the Kremlin in May 2012 after stepping aside to serve for four years as prime minister because of constitutional limits. The opposition staged big street protests against him for several months from December 2011, following a parliamentary election they said was rigged. The demonstrations have faded but Putin's popularity ratings have declined from their peak during his first two terms - from 2000 until 2008. The Kremlin extended its grip over radio and television broadcasting on Nov. 26 when the media arm of state-controlled Gazprom bought mining tycoon Vladimir Potanin's Profmedia. Through the deal, the ex-Soviet gas ministry - now Russia's largest firm by revenue - will add TV and radio stations, cinemas and film production and distribution assets to a sprawling portfolio built up around commercial channel NTV. The Kremlin already funds an English-language TV channel called RT which was initially known as Russia Today. It is not clear whether the two will operate separately and RT's head, Margarita Simonyan, said she had been unaware of the move. The new organisation will be created in RIA Novosti's headquarters in central Moscow. The fate of its journalists and other employees was not immediately clear. RIA Novosti was created as the Soviet Information Bureau in 1941, after Nazi Germany invaded the Soviet Union, and issues reports in Russian and foreign languages. | New agency's mission is to project Russia's image abroad . Putin names controversial conservative news anchor as chief . Second shift in Russian media industry in two weeks . | 9ead4bd9f4c546f4c9854e0e0289c5f8a1302254 |
Click here for the latest leaderboard from The Open Championship . Caroline Wozniacki take note. Rory McIlroy is looking down on the rest of the field from a great height after consigning black Fridays to the ether in the most spectacular manner imaginable — at The Open Championship. The Dane had wielded her stiletto by informing the world via social media that she could finally wear her heels for the first time in three years. Trust her former fiance Rory to respond by showing a clean pair to everyone at Royal Liverpool and banishing all talk about what the heck happens to him on Fridays. Size doesn’t matter in golf, and certainly not when you play like the Northern Irishman. VIDEO Scroll down to watch Open leader Rory McIlroy say he wasn't put off after he was interrupted by a pheasant on the eighth green . Top of the pile: Rory MicIlroy watches on after his tee shot at the 143rd Open Championship at Royal Liverpool . Destined for the top: McIlroy looks on as he stands in front of the leaderboard - which he sits comfortably on top of after his second round . Feathered friend: McIlroy negotiated the awkward task of dealing with a green-invading pheasant to set himself up with a lead after his round on Friday . The 25-year-old followed his first-round 66 with another one to open a four-shot halfway lead over American Dustin Johnson. Here was a vivid demonstration of all the cruel beauty links golf possesses. Pity all the ball strikers who had the worst of the weather on Thursday afternoon and again on Friday morning. Those in that half of the draw, such as defending champion Phil Mickelson, world No 1 Adam Scott and leading home hope Justin Rose, must have played a golf course that was three or four shots harder over the first 36 holes. As if Rory doesn’t have enough going for him, they must have thought. How helpless they must have felt as McIlroy went on one of his usual Thursday rampages on Friday. This morning, something like a meteorological armageddon is due to visit these parts, with six hours of heavy rain predicted. So Rory may well have soft greens to play with when he goes out in the third round. Has fate already decreed the destination of the Claret Jug? Mind you, it’s one thing for Mother Nature to offer a helping hand; quite another to take full advantage. There were plenty of form players in McIlroy’s half of the draw who didn’t capitalise, including the highly fancied Henrik Stenson and Graeme McDowell. And then there’s Tiger Woods. Struggling . for form: Tiger Woods shot a five-over-par round of 77 to leave him . just inside the cut-mark at The Open Championship in Hoylake . Getting . out of the long stuff: Woods watches his shot from the rough on the . tenth hole at Royal Liverpool Golf Course in Hoylake during his second . round . The American ripped up his blueprint for Hoylake but it backfired spectacularly. In five rounds at Hoylake he had used a driver on only two occasions. Here he used it on both the first and second holes and the result was he double bogeyed the former and bogeyed the latter. He could probably have taken a seven iron off both tees and done better than that. Thereafter the driver remained sheathed for a while and a more customary service was resumed. Par followed par but that start had hurt him deeply. The first hole on this course for the members is the third in The Open. How Woods (right) must have wished it was the first for him as well. By the time he got to the 17th, he was still after his first birdie of the day. Forced to gamble, out came the driver. Cue more calamity. Another horrific slice and his ball disappeared out of bounds. Reload time and this one was a duck hook. The resultant triple bogey seven meant he needed to birdie the last to make the cut. Sensibly he left the driver in the bag. He was six over par on the four holes where he’d used it. By the side of the par five 18th green in two, he holed a tricky seven-footer to avoid the ignominy of consecutive missed cuts for the first time as a professional. Beautiful day: McIlroy and his caddie JP Fitzgerald wait on the eight fairway before he secured his third birdie of a highly impressive round . Beautiful day: McIlroy watches his tee shot on the tenth on an afternoon of fine weather at Royal Liverpool as he took a five shot lead . Scouting: McIlroy lines up his putt at the fifth hole on an impressive display at Royal Liverpool as he established a decent lead . By the side of the par five 18th green . in two, he holed a tricky seven-footer to avoid the ignominy of . consecutive missed cuts for the first time as a professional. Clearly, those in the unlucky half of the draw have plenty of catching up to do. Scott is nine behind, while it was rough luck on Rose and Mickelson. Both shot rounds of 70 which were highly commendable in the morning but were rendered average in the afternoon as they trail by 10 and 12 shots respectively. It’s not just McIlroy they have to catch either, but a stack of good players as well from the draw’s most favourable half. Four shots behind are two Europeans in Spaniard Sergio Garcia and Italian Frankie Molinari and two Americans in Ryan Moore and Rickie Fowler. The wind was still blowing significantly when McIlroy’s approach to the opening hole failed to hold the green and he didn’t get up and down for a par. All those ugly stats were whirling in the brain: 59 under par for first rounds; seven over for second. McIlroy responded with three pars before taking up the birdie on offer at the long fifth. Now the wind was dropping and the glint in McIlroy’s eye could be seen a mile off. He knew he had been presented with a massive opportunity. How he seized it. Easy does it: A successful shot from the rough on the 12th hole meant that McIlroy was able to maintain his lead at the top of the leaderboard . Versatile: It was a great day for McIlroy as he set up a lead that any of the opposition from the field will struggle to claw him back in from . A pheasant running across the eighth . green seemed appropriate as McIlroy made three birdies in four holes . around the turn. The man who won the 2011 US Open by eight shots and the . 2012 US PGA Championship by seven was pulling away once more, and . history has moved into view again. Only two players have won three . majors at an earlier age and they just happen to go by the Christian . names of Tiger and Jack. On . his 28th birthday, George Coetzee did his best to conjure up some . support over the weekend by revealing he is a lifelong Liverpool fan. It . would be wrong to underestimate him, too. Think what another South . African of similar age and similar status at the time did at St Andrews . in 2010, when Louis Oosthuizen pulled away from the field. Coetzee . showed his liking for links golf when he opened with a pair of 69s at . The Open at Royal St George’s in 2011 — his first-ever major. These . 36 holes were more impressive however. To emerge from his half of the . draw with a five under par total was a great effort. The next best from . his half was Scott on three under. Finally, . no one would begrudge Tom Watson being in the kinder half of the draw. At 64 years of age he followed up his opening 71 with a 73 to make the . cut. The greatest links golfer of all time has still got it. Focus: The Northern Irishman watches his tee shot on the fourth hole during the second round . | McIlroy went into the second round of The Open as the overnight leader on six under par . He doubled that tally with another brilliant round on Friday . Northern Irishman overcame early wobble to lead the European charge at a blustery Royal Liverpool . He reclaimed the lead with a birdie on the downwind par-five fifth hole - narrowly missing from 40 feet for eagle . And he then went two ahead with another birdie on the sixth as he took control on 'Freaky Friday' On the ninth hole a pheasant ran across the green before McIlroy stood up and drained the putt . Birdie on the 10th helped to further his lead ahead of Francesco Molinari in second place . Friday demons put aside with a birdie to move him four clear on the 15th before another on the 18th . McIlroy is looking to complete three-quarters of a career Grand Slam by winning Open at Royal Liverpool Golf Club . | 9f3b15d2f7ce4c255cd053c96bbfceed26bf67c6 |
Ngqwara, South Africa (CNN) -- For weeks, South Africans have been holding a vigil for their first democratically elected president, Nelson Mandela. The 94-year-old statesman has been lying in a hospital in Pretoria for more than a month. Away from the capital, in the rolling farmlands where Mandela was born and raised, many South Africans believe his precarious condition has been adversely affected by a messy public dispute between members of his family. "Some of us believe it could be that the suffering [Mandela] is enduring in the hospital at the moment has to do with the fact that his dispute has not been resolved," said Patikile Holomisa, a lawmaker as well as the president of the Congress of Traditional Leaders. "We believe that our ancestors through their spirits are looking after us," Holomisa added. "When we displease them, they bring calamity; all sorts of discomfort to the family." The family dispute erupted into full public view last week when one of Mandela's daughters took one of his grandsons to court, after accusing him of secretly moving the remains of three of Mandela's buried children from the family cemetery in 2011. Makaziwa Mandela embraced her attorney when she won the case in a regional high court in South Africa's Eastern Cape Province. "It's a private matter," was her only comment to the media at the court. The next day a sheriff used heavy metal pincers to snap open the padlock on a gate at the village of Mandela's grandson, Mandla. South African authorities retrieved three coffins and bought them for reburial in Qunu, the small village where the former president maintains a modest home. "I still feel that it was a premature act," said Mandla Mandela, in an exclusive interview with CNN on Wednesday. "The issue should have been exhausted through internal structures of the family and unfortunately that wasn't seen," he added. The 39-year-old grandson was speaking on a windy hilltop in the village of Ngqwara, where he had just distributed blankets to several dozen elderly men and women. The crowd began the ceremony by reciting prayers. Later, some elderly women sang and danced in gratitude after receiving their donations. Mandla Mandela is a chief, or traditional ruler, in this poverty-stricken corner of South Africa. In this deeply traditional heartland, there are other prominent community leaders who agree that the Mandela family should have turned to distinctly African methods of mediation to solve their dispute, rather than Western-style courts. "If the people are going to abandon the roots to which Madiba belongs and go and hang on to the branches of a foreign tree, such as the Westernized courts, then there is going to be a problem," said Holomisa. The Mandela family dispute has exposed differences between the culture and values of rural black South Africa and the country's modern legal and medical system. Some here argue it is unnatural and unfair to keep an ailing man alive with modern medical machines. Others fear Mandela may suffer longer in hospital, because the remains of his three children were moved without accompanying prayers. "There was no ritual that that was performed when the bones were moved," explains Vuyo Teti, a 25-year-old agricultural university student. "The old people are saying you need to consider the spirit and the spiritual being, not only the bones." Though raised in Qunu, Mandela migrated as a young man to South Africa's largest city Johannesburg, where he eventually opened the country's first black law firm. Mandela then spent the bulk of his adult life, either imprisoned by the former Apartheid regime or struggling in freedom to establish democracy in South Africa. Over the last decade, he retired from public view and chose to move back to the land of his childhood. Traditional community leaders like Holomisa cite that as proof that Mandela wished to return to his roots. "He straddled both worlds, the African and the western," said Holomisa. "This man was a traditional man," he added. "And in the twilight of his life, he should be allowed to be who he was." | In South Africa's heartland many believe Mandela's condition harmed by family dispute . Dispute over burial site of three Mandela children was settled in court . Traditionalists say African methods of mediation should have been used to solve the dispute . One said: "When we displease [our ancestors] they bring calamity" | c4d8e263fc1f32e3be601744113b68daf570cc29 |
(CNN) -- Alex Rodriguez will never be remembered as the greatest slugger in baseball, or as the greatest third-baseman, and -- despite the recent headlines -- probably not even as the biggest cheater. But he will go down in record books for something: Having the worst contract in American professional sports history. This is not a title that we hand out lightly, because teams have handed out some doozies over the years. Michael Vick got $135 million over 10 years from the Atlanta Falcons, and for that money, they got a quarterback who completed 54% of his passes and went to prison for animal cruelty. Jerome James signed with the Knicks for $30 million, then averaged a grand total of three points a game. Barry Zito got $126 million from the San Francisco Giants and essentially forgot how to pitch. Rick DiPietro signed a $67 million contract with the Islanders, but now the goaltender couldn't stop a beach ball -- which is an issue because that deal doesn't run out until 2021. And then, there is Bobby Bonilla's deal with the Mets. The money-strapped baseball team in Queens is still paying the retired outfielder more than 18 players on their active roster and will continue paying him $1.2 million through 2035 (when Bonilla is 72) as part of a mind-blowing buyout deal. Still: The Rodriguez deal tops them all for its sheer size and stupidity. On December 13, 2007, the Yankees signed him to a 10-year, $275 million contract loaded with incentives that, five years later, is an anvil on the payroll for even the richest team in baseball. Why is it the worst? Let us count the ways: . 1. The Yankees had a chance to move on. They had moved on, in fact, if you believed the strong words that came out of the team's Tampa, Florida, offices during a tumultuous two weeks. Scott Boras, who was Rodriguez's agent at the time, announced in the middle of a World Series game that his client would void the remaining three years and $72 million of the massive and ill-fated $252 million deal he had signed with the Texas Rangers as a free agent. In some corners of the Yankees organization, the news was met with a sigh of relief. Rodriguez was productive in his time with the team, but controversial. And he had, at that point, wilted in the postseason. The idea that the team would bring him back was scoffed at. The Rangers were still paying $7 million a year from the original contract as part of the trade terms to the Yankees, and GM Brian Cashman insisted that the team had no intention of losing that subsidy. "If a player doesn't want us, we don't want them," said Hank Steinbrenner, who had assumed control of the team as his father, George, had started to decline. "That chapter is closed." But Rodriguez, who had 54 home runs and 156 RBI in an MVP season in 2007, was a big star the team wanted for its profitable YES Network and its new $1 billion stadium. So that chapter was reopened. 2. They had no competition. Bringing back Rodriguez, in itself, wasn't an awful move. He was still a productive player in his prime. But somehow, the Yankees were given all the cards in the negotiation and still tossed them face-up onto the table. All around baseball, teams were scoffing at the idea of giving A-Rod a reported $350 million deal. The White Sox didn't want him. The Angels didn't want him. There were so few landing places, it seemed entirely possible, if not probable, that Rodriguez's gamble to opt out of the deal would backfire. So what did the Yankees do? They crawled back to the table and gave him a raise, a deal that would pay him $27.5 million a year with a series of $6 million bonuses for climbing up the all-time home run list. To quote Newsday at the time: "(Hank Steinbrenner) wanted Rodriguez back so badly that he not only reversed a very loud and public proclamation, he wound up bidding against no one but himself in his mad rush to secure A-Rod's services." All it took was an apology from Rodriguez (who says it doesn't pay to say you're sorry?), and A-Rod had his 10-year deal. 3. His production failed to meet the salary from the start. Make no mistake: The numbers were very good. A-Rod earned $95 million in the first three years of his deal, and for that he batted .286 with a .537 slugging percentage, 95 home runs, 256 runs and 328 RBI. And the Yankees won the 2009 World Series, with Rodriguez a driving force during an epic postseason run. Some will say that one October justified the entire contract. Still, the decline began quickly. In 2011-12, Rodriguez missed 103 games to injury and saw his batting average dip to .274 with 34 home runs and just 119 RBI in the two seasons combined. Despite his 647 career home runs, he was so bad in the postseason last October, Yankees manager Joe Girardi dropped him from the lineup entirely, and he hasn't played since after offseason hip surgery. Nobody is sure when he'll be ready again. Which is bad enough. But the Yankees still owe Rodriguez, who turns 38 next month, $28 million in 2014, $21 million in 2015 and $20 million each in 2016 and 2017. If he can't get on the field now, what can the team possibly expect to get from him in his early 40s? And that doesn't even factor in ... 4. The cheating scandals. Note that the word scandal is plural here. After insisting for years that his success was not a product of the "Steroids Era" in baseball, a Sports Illustrated report reveal that he had, in fact, failed a test for illegal substances in 2003. Bleacher Report: Rodriguez responds to latest allegations . So more than 200 journalists packed a news conference in Tampa in February 2009 to listen as Rodriguez explained that, from 2001 to 2003, he had used steroids while with the Texas Rangers. But only with the Rangers. "My mistake was because I was immature and I was stupid," Rodriguez said. "I blame myself. For a week here, I kept looking for people to blame, and I keep looking at myself." He insisted that he was clean during his time with the Yankees. But now, according to an ESPN report, Major League Baseball plans to suspend him 100 games for his alleged use of performance-enhancing drugs obtained through a Miami-area anti-aging clinic. The Yankees? Disappointed is the word managing general partner Hal Steinbrenner used. "There have no doubt been times when we've been disappointed in him and we've conveyed that to him and he understands that," he said. "But look, everybody's human and everybody makes mistakes. If you've got a guy over the course of 10 years, there's going to be times any of us make mistakes. "It's a big contract," Steinbrenner said. "We all hope he's going to act like a Yankee and do the best to live up to it." The founder of the clinic, Tony Bosch, is reportedly set to meet with baseball officials Friday. Does he have enough credibility or evidence to support the suspensions of a reported 20 players? Many people around the sport aren't sure. For the Yankees, the question is something else entirely: If A-Rod actually is suspended, will it be enough to get them out from under the worst contract in professional sports history? A-Rod denies performance-enhancing drugs reports . The opinions expressed in this commentary are solely those of Steve Politi . | Steve Politi says Alex Rodriguez's contract is the worst in sports history . The Yankees still must pay him more than $90 million over the next four years . Rodriguez will be 42 when the contract finally runs out . Rodriguez has hit 647 career home runs but has yet to play this season because of injury . | 8d294d3aee9ce7befb3797e9e31b8e709cd4a517 |
(CNN) -- Too few Americans are willing to talk about sexually transmitted infections, or STIs, but we simply cannot afford to avoid these discussions any longer. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recently released data showing just how common and costly STIs are in the United States, especially for America's youth. Each year, we have 20 million new STI cases, half among teens and young adults ages 15 to 24. Across the nation at any given time, there are more than 110 million total infections, including new and existing infections. While the number of new infections is roughly equal among young women and young men, the health consequences of untreated STIs can be much more serious for young women, including losing the ability to have children. Every year, about 24,000 women in the United States become infertile because of an STI they probably didn't even know they had, because most infections have no symptoms. Left untreated, common STIs such as chlamydia and gonorrhea can also cause chronic pelvic pain, ectopic pregnancy and increase HIV risk. Human papillomavirus, or HPV, is by far the most common STI, representing nearly three-quarters of all STI cases. While the vast majority of HPV infections will not cause serious harm, some infections will persist and can lead to cervical cancer. Beyond the impact on an individual's health, STIs are also a significant drain on the U.S. health care system. Recent data place the cost of treating STIs at nearly $16 billion annually. Infections among young people account for nearly half of that cost (approximately $7.8 billion ). Young people are most at risk for several reasons. They are more likely to have multiple sex partners. Young women are biologically more susceptible to STIs, and many young people may be reluctant to disclose their risk behavior to a doctor, because of embarrassment, stigma or concerns about confidentiality. The good news is that all STIs are preventable and most are curable. But, because most STIs have no symptoms, testing is the necessary first step to treatment. CDC recommends annual chlamydia screening for sexually active women 25 years old and under. Annual gonorrhea screening is also recommended for sexually active women with new or multiple sex partners and women who live in communities with a high burden of the disease. Sexually active gay and bisexual men should be tested at least annually for HIV, syphilis, chlamydia and gonorrhea. All Americans should be screened at least once for HIV. In addition, for those who have not previously received the HPV vaccination, CDC recommends vaccination for all teen girls and young women through age 26, as well as teen boys and young men through age 21. To increase the early diagnosis and treatment of STIs, CDC is reaching out to health care providers and young people at risk throughout the nation with messages about the importance of screening. But many more voices will be required to stop the silent, continuing toll of STIs. In our communities, we must speak out against the shame and stigma that has too long been associated with STIs. Parents and caregivers need to open the door for frank, honest discussions with their children about STIs and behaviors that can place them at risk. And physicians need to talk to their young patients about STIs, risk behaviors and effective prevention methods. Sexually active Americans should talk with their doctor about STIs and which tests may be right for them. A little knowledge about STIs and regular screening can go a long way. It's also important for those who are sexually active to talk openly and honestly with partners about STIs, and to use condoms consistently and correctly. The severe health and economic toll of STIs in America is entirely preventable. With increased awareness, prevention, testing and treatment we can bring this hidden epidemic into the spotlight and safeguard the health of young people while saving the nation billions of dollars in the process. The opinions expressed in this commentary are solely those of Gail Bolan. | Gail Bolan: Each year, we have 20 million new STIs cases, half of them among young people . Bolan: The health consequences of untreated STIs can be more serious for young women . She says most STIs have no symptoms, so testing is the necessary first step to treatment . Bolan: STIs are preventable and most are curable, but we need to raise get the word out . | 1308d7b3e4cb9fb185383ee558c3f9827d1acb41 |
Authorities say up to 2,000 people have been evacuated due to a wildfire that burned two homes and threatened neighborhoods in dangerously dry foothills of Southern California's San Gabriel Mountains wildfire. Police say the fire was started by three . people throwing paper in a campfire. They were booked on charges of . recklessly starting a fire.The suspects were identified as Clifford Eugene Henry, 22, of Glendora; Jonathan Carl Jarrell, 23, of Irwindale; and Steven Robert Aguirre, 21, a Los Angeles transient. Los Angeles County Fire Chief Daryl Osby says one resident suffered minor burn injuries in the fire being fanned by gusty Santa Ana winds that spit embers into the city below. Scroll down for video . Fire-prone area: In the last serious wildfire in the area, two firemen lost their lives and 89 houses were destroyed . Grand home: A fireman calls for more water as the fire burns a portion of the former Singer home, of sewing machine fame . This locator map shows Glendora, and the fires are raging just to the north . Thick smoke: Rita Abouchedid covers her face from heavy smoke as fire approaches her home on Kregmont Drive in Glendora, California . Destruction: A car and house burn in The Colby Fire above Glendora after nearly 2,000 residents were evacuated and two homes burned in a wildfire that started early Thursday when three people tossed paper into a campfire in the dangerously dry foothills . Dramatic skyline: A large fire plume rises above the downtown skyline from the fast-growing Colby fire in Southern California from the Baldwin Hills Scenic Overlook Thursday morning . A fast-moving wildfire called Colby Fire is seen in a NASA satellite image captured just after 12:00 PM local time (20:00 GMT) in this January 16, 2014 picture provided by NASA . From space: A NASA satellite image captured just after 12:00 PM local time (20:00 GMT) in this January 16, 2014 picture provided by NASA. The wind-whipped blaze erupted before dawn in the Angeles National Forest north of Glendora . Careless: Authorities say three people have been arrested for starting the fire by throwing paper into a campfire . The three men arrested for starting the fire are Robert Aguirre, Clifford Eugene Henry and Jonathan Carl Jarrell . At least two-and-a-half square miles . of dry brush were charred in the wilderness area about 25 miles . northeast of downtown Los Angeles. The area, which has been historically dry, has been buffeted by the winds which have raised temperatures into the 80s. The . blaze has charred at least 125 acres above a neighborhood abutting a . canyon of Angeles National Forest, just north of the San Gabriel Valley . community of Glendora. Evacuations have been ordered for houses at the edge of the fire, which started about 5:50 a.m. Threatened: Southern California authorities have ordered the evacuation of homes at the edge of a fast-moving wildfire burning in the dangerously dry foothills of the San Gabriel Mountains . Ablaze: A structure burns in the San Gabriel mountain brush-fire in Glendora, California today . Out of control: A resident on the roof of a house talks on the phone as a wildfire burns in the hills just north of the San Gabriel Valley community of Glendora, California . Hazardous: Local schools have canceled classes and residents have been forced to evacuate their homes in the face of the blaze . Too close for comfort: A fast-moving wildfire makes it way up a hill towards a house in the hills just north of the San Gabriel Valley community of Glendora . Aerial view: The fire is raging out of control in the hills north of Los Angeles thanks to three people lighting a campfire . Toll: The fire has claimed one home and injured one person so far . The notorious Santa Anas, linked to the spread of Southern Californians worst wildfires, picked up at daybreak. The extremely dry Santa Anas blow downslope and can push fires out of the mountains and into communities below. TV news helicopters spotted embers igniting palm trees in residential yards as firefighters with hoses beat back flames lapping at the edges of homes. Glendora police said officers were going door to door ordering residents to leave. Citrus College, located in the heart of Glendora, canceled classes for the day. On guard: A Los Angeles County Sheriff blocks a road in a Glendora neighborhood while a wildfire burns in the hills . Dry and windy conditions: The wildfire is being fanned by the Santa Anas as it burns in the hills just north of the San Gabriel Valley community of Glendora, California . Support: Family members comfort each other as they evacuate their home as firefighters battle a wildfire in Azusa, California . Dangerously close: A firefighting helicopter passes over the hills behind homes as a wildfire burns just north of the San Gabriel Valley community of Glendora . The Los Angeles County Fire Department deployed seven engines and three helicopters to the fire, which was reported around 5:50 a.m. (PST) and was growing rapidly. Officials added to the firefighting aircraft with a water-dropping Super Scooper plane. The fire erupted abruptly, said Jonathan Lambert, general manager of Classic Coffee in Glendora. 'All of a sudden a customer came in, "Have you seen the fire?" "No, we haven't." We went outside and it's been moving incredibly quickly down that hill,' Lambert told KNBC-TV. The last catastrophic fire in the San Gabriel Mountains broke out in 2009 and burned for months. The flames blackened 250 square miles, killed two firefighters and destroyed 209 structures, including 89 homes. California is in a historically dry era and winter has brought no relief. Anxious: Residents watch the progress of the San Gabriel mountain wildfire which has charred at least 125 acres by the Angeles National Forest . Fighting fire: Commuters make their way along the 210 freeway as firefighters battle a wildfire in the hills just north of the San Gabriel Valley community of Glendora . Desperate battle: A homeowner attempts to water down a tree which could easily spark and burn on his property while a wildfire burns in the hills . Serious measures: A firefighting helicopter makes a water drop over homes threatened by the out-of-control wildfire . Prevention: Mark Davis (center) and Fred Lambertson carry a water hose to spray water around Davis' property . Red flag warnings for critical fire weather conditions were posted from Santa Barbara County south through Los Angeles to the U.S.-Mexico border, along the spine of the Sierra Nevada, and in areas east and north of San Francisco Bay.Fires that struck windy areas of the state earlier in the week were quickly quashed by large deployments of firefighters, aircraft and other equipment before the flames could be stoked by gusts into major conflagrations. Rapidly spreading: The fire in the dangerously dry foothills of the San Gabriel Mountains is fanned by gusty Santa Ana winds that spit embers into neighborhoods in the city below, igniting trees . Under threat: A helicopter drops water on a fire burning near homes on Thursday in Azusa, California . Fire fighter try to protect the main house as fire burns a section of the Singer Mansion in Glendora, California . Air relief: Helicopters dropping fire retardant try to snuff out the fire started in the Angeles National Forest . Gas: Gas from a ruptured line burns as water from a broken main floods Balboa Boulevard in the Granada Hills section of Los Angeles . Protection: Flames rage in sections of the Singer Mansion as firefighters try to protect the main house . Ravaged: A man looks over the smoldering ashes where his house used to stand . Evacuated: Firefighters douse a burning home with water after families were evacuated from the vulnerable neighborhood . Inferno: A brush fire rages in the mountains over Los Angeles as air support tries to extinguish the overwhelming blaze . Eerie: Cathy Doherty waits to be evacuated from her home as smoke has filled the sky in the Los Angeles valley . Large parts of Southern California below mountain passes, canyons and foothills have been buffeted all week by the region's notorious Santa Ana winds. Spawned by surface high pressure over the interior of the West, the Santa Anas form as the cold air flows toward Southern California, then speeds up and warms as it descends in a rush toward the coast. Some of the most extreme gusts reported by the National Weather Service topped 70 mph. These offshore winds also raise temperatures to summerlike levels. Many areas have enjoyed temperatures well into the 80s. California is also under the influence of a persistent upper-level ridge of high pressure anchored off its north coast that has also kept the region generally warm, dry and clear. A group of 27 orange-clad Los Angeles County Inmate Firefighters are among the 800 or so personnel tackling the Colby fire. Under a scheme developed by the county, eligible prisoners are transferred from Los Angeles County Jail to the Los Angeles County Fire Department Inmate Fire Suppression Camps. ‘This is a way to keep them out of county jail, offer them training and an education’, said Nicole Nishida, spokesman for the LA County Sheriff’s Department. One incentive for working on a county fire crew is that each day of work equals a day off their remaining sentence. California Department of Corrections inmate fire crews move into position at the Colbert Fire . | Three people have been charged with recklessly starting a fire . Police say they started the fire by throwing paper into a campfire . The wildfire is burning out of control near homes in the foothills of the San Gabriel Mountains . Police went door-to-door this morning evacuating residents . Up to 2,000 people have been evacuated . The blaze has charred at least 125 acres and being fanned by the Santa Anas wind, which is likely to force it closer to communities . The last fire in the area burned for months and claimed 89 homes and the lives of two firefighters . | 19ebcacb94c8101564320ecc4fe2370d5e1f5c01 |
By . Martin Robinson for MailOnline . Victim: Emma, now 24, (picture posed by model) who was raped every week by a paedophile ring, says she kept the clothes she was abused in but South Yorkshire Police lost the evidence and told her a prosecution was unlikely . A 13-year-old schoolgirl 'raped once a week, every week' by an Asian gang from Rotherham saved the clothing she was abused in and handed it to police but they lost the evidence and encouraged her to drop the case, it emerged today. Emma was forced to drop the charges after officers told her it was 'her word against theirs' and it was unlikely her attackers would ever end up in court. After two years of countless rapes her parents, who made persistent complaints to South Yorkshire Police and Rotherham Council, sent her abroad so she could escape her abusers once and for all. Emma, now 24, was one of 1,400 victims habitually abused by men in the town – almost all of them of Pakistani origin - and many of the paedophiles are still walking the streets, she said. Police treated the victims with contempt, turning a blind eye to their plight and in many cases holding them responsible. No officers or council employees have faced disciplinary action. Emma believes she was initially targeted because she was a virgin and suffered two years of violent sex attacks because detectives refused to protect her. 'They (the gang) started introducing alcohol and soft drugs and then at 13 I was sexually exploited by them', she told the BBC's Today programme. 'I had never had a boyfriend or anything and one man singled me out. I thought we were friends but then the main perpetrator raped me quite brutally in front of a number of people. 'From then on I was raped once a week, every week. Then they made me have sex with whoever who wanted to have sex with me. 'I reported it to police after three months of sexual exploitation started. I'd saved all my clothes I had been raped in and gave it to police as evidence. ‘But they lost the clothing so there was no evidence and said it was my word against his and said it wouldn't result in a conviction or make it to court. ‘The men were parking outside my house and threatening my family and the police said they couldn't offer any protection so I dropped the charges'. Crimes: Emma was one of 1,400 children from Rotherham abused on an industrial scale in the town, pictured . Emma's case contains a common threat as the majority of the girls suffered vicious threats of violence against them and their families stopped them going to the police. Some were ‘doused in petrol and threatened with being set alight, threatened with guns, made to witness brutally violent rapes and threatened they would be next if they told anyone’, the shocking report said. Emma said 'My sexual exploitation went on until I was 15 as the authorities so my parents decided the best thing to do was move me out of the country. 'What we have heard there are a lot of young people who suffered the same because these people were able to walk the streets and go unpunished'. She was asked why her parents could not prevent her from leaving the house and falling into the clutches of the sex ring. She said: ''My parents locked me up as many others did. Locked them in bedrooms and the house to stop them going out. I went out because I had no choice because they threatened to get my mum, to gang rape her. They gang raped me why wouldn't they do that to her. They used to follow her, knew where she went at one time'. South Yorkshire Police told MailOnlline: 'An initial allegation of rape was made, but later withdrawn. After the complaint was withdrawn, four items of clothing, two coats and two pairs of trousers, could not be found to be returned to the girl. South Yorkshire Police paid £140 to the complainant for the loss of property. 'A second allegation of rape was made in 2003. Police conducted another thorough investigation, a suspect was identified and evidence was presented to the Crown Prosecution Service whose decision it is whether a person can be charged and prosecuted. 'Under previous legislation, a person under the age of 22 had a defence against an allegation of rape if they had reason to believe the complainant was over 16-years-old. 'CPS considered a like submission from the suspect, as well as the evidence provided by the complainant, and decided not to proceed with the case. 'This case has been reviewed by the Force following previous complaints. The allegations were treated as seriously in 2003 as they would be today and disciplinary action was not necessary or appropriate'. | Emma, now 24, says she was told by police case wouldn't make it to court . Schoolgirl was 'raped once a week, every week' by gang still walking streets . Paedophiles threatened to gang rape her mother - so she kept going back . Scroll down to hear audio of her ordeal in her own words . | a1604d73611b1a908149a7072cc83d7c6befceb0 |
By . Damien Gayle . PUBLISHED: . 05:55 EST, 21 December 2012 . | . UPDATED: . 13:10 EST, 21 December 2012 . Instagram has abandoned wording in its new terms-of-service agreement that sparked outcry from users who feared it meant their photos could appear in advertisements. In a blog post published late last night, the popular mobile photo-sharing service says it has changed back the advertising section of its terms of service to the original wording. There was outrage this week after the app published new terms on Monday which appeared to give it rights over all its users' photos and data to promote 'sponsored content'. Anyone who did not agree with the new terms were invited to delete their accounts. U-turn: Instagram has announced it will abandon controversial sections of its new terms of service after a celebrity-led user backlash against wording that appeared to give it rights over uploaded photos . But the aggressive strategy failed when a string of high-profile celebrities users, including reality TV star Kim Kardashian and actor Seth Green, took to Twitter to say they would delete their Instagram accounts. The service's celebrity users were among the many to join a chorus of criticism as a widespread media and public backlash gathered pace. Instagram, which allows people to add filters and effects to photos and share them easily on the Internet, was acquired by Facebook earlier this year for $715million (£440million). In a blog post last night, Instagram . co-founder and CEO Kevin Systrom apologised for a failure to . 'communicate our intentions clearly.' The . terms of service changes pertaining to advertising have been reversed, . he said, and restored to what they had been before the changes announced . on Monday. The updated . terms also appear to omit a controversial provision which had stated . that if a child under the age of 18 used the service, it implied his or . her parent had tacitly agreed to Instagram's terms. Apology: Instagram co-founder and CEO Kevin Systrom published a blog late last night where he announced the policy reversal . However, the new terms still contain a mandatory arbitration clause, which is not included in terms of service for other leading social media companies like Twitter, Google, YouTube or even Facebook itself. That immunises Instagram from many forms of liability, according to legal experts. Internet experts said Instagram had been very aggressive in asserting its rights to user information and inviting anyone who did not agree to delete their accounts within a few weeks. The updated terms still say that anyone who accesses Instagram agrees to be bound by the new terms which are slated to go into effect on January 19. Also, Instagram kept language which gave it the ability to place ads in conjunction with user content, and 'that we may not always identify paid services, sponsored content, or commercial communications as such.' Outrage boiled over after Instagram adopted several sections from Facebook's terms of service which seemed to reveal how it hoped to operate as a profitable business in the future. Foremost among them was the company allowing itself to put users' names, likenesses, photos and actions online next to any product it is paid to promote. Instagram's home page describes the service as 'free', however the new terms made clear that users effectively hand over the rights to their pictures and personal information as a quid pro quo in exchange for access. Clause two of updated the Rights section of Instagram's new terms of service said: 'You agree that a business or other entity may pay us to display your username, likeness, photos (along with any associated metadata), and/or actions you take, in connection with paid or sponsored content or promotions, without any compensation to you.' What this seemed to mean was that Instagram can now takes its users' identities and data and put them next to any business partner who pays for the privilege of advertising on the site. Angry: Amongst those threatening to leave Instagram are Kim Kardashian, Kendall Jenner and Khloe Kardashian . Kim and Khloe Kardashian, Natasha Bedingfield and Jordin Sparks were among the string of celebrities who lined up to criticise the move on Twitter. 'YIKES! Bye instagram,' Sparks tweeted, while Bedingfield added: 'Bummer.' Reality superstar Kim tweeted: 'I really loved Instagram :-( I need to review this new policy. I don't think its fair.' Her sister wrote: 'Wow…I just read over Instagram’s new policy…so sad, looks like I might be deleting my Instagram after Jan 16. I hope something changes.' 'I really loved Instagram': Kim uses the photo ap to take and share countless photos from her life . Following the outcry at the new terms, the photo-sharing app immediately moved to water down the new terms, with Mr Systrom writing a blog post addressing the issue entitled 'Thank you, and we're listening', where he said the company had heard 'loud and clear' from 'confused and upset' users. Yesterday the language that had appeared to allow Instagram advertisers to display user photos without compensation have been removed from updated terms of service. Instagram representatives could not immediately be reached for comment. Mr Systrom stressed in his latest blog post that the company had no intention of selling the photos that users post on the service. 'Going forward, rather than obtain permission from you to introduce possible advertising products we have not yet developed, we are going to take the time to complete our plans, and then come back to our users and explain how we would like for our advertising business to work,' he said. | Controversial sections of new policy reverted to their original form after massive backlash among users . Instagram CEO Kevin Systrom apologises for failure to 'communicate our intentions clearly' Kim Kardashian among the string of high-profile users who had publicly spoken out against the new terms . | 0e2d53c061690aa188a4379b56ae84ca9b5d8df3 |
A mother who is blind was able to see her newborn son for the very first time after using a special piece of high-tech eyewear. Kathy Beitz, 29, from Guelph, Ontario, was able to use a device that allowed her to see her baby just hours after he was born. In a YouTube video, that is quickly going viral, she gasps and says 'Oh my god!' as she holds baby Aksel in her hospital bed for the first time. 'Look at his long toes,' she says. 'I think he looks like us.' Scroll down for video... First look: Kathy Beitz, 29, is legally blind, but high-tech eyewear allowed her to see her son on the day he was born . You're beautiful: The video which has gone viral, captured the first time Kathy Beitz ever saw her baby . Sight for sore eyes: The eSight device is equipped with a video camera. The images captured from the camera are enhanced and projected onto high definition screens in front of the eyes . Ms. Beitz was diagnosed with Stargardt disease, a genetic condition that causes macular degeneration, when she was 11. While she now has some peripheral vision, she developed a blind spot in the centre of her field of vision and is legally blind. The special glasses developed by the firm eSight is equipped with a video camera from which the images are enhanced and projected onto high definition screens in front of the eyes. About 140 people have eSight glasses in North America, . What a feeling: 'My husband and I got to have the family experience of looking at our brand new baby, and bonding with him and falling in love with him' Getting to know you: 'The moment I got the glasses, I was very ready to put them on,' said Beitz. 'I got to see that he had my husband's feet and toes, and I got to see that he had my lips' The wearer can then adjust the contrast, brightness and shadow to make things easier to see. 'Their eyes actually perceive more when they look at the screen than they can with their natural eyesight,' said Taylor West, a spokesman for eSight to CBC. 'For the first baby that I get to actually look at being my own is very overwhelming,' she told the camera. 'The moment I got the glasses, I was very ready to put them on,' said Ms Beitz. 'I got to see that he had my husband's feet and toes, and I got to see that he had my lips. 'My husband and I got to have the family experience of looking at our brand new baby, and bonding with him and falling in love with him.' The glasses have changed her life profoundly. She said they make it much easier for her to care for the infant, go to the grocery store and complete other tasks that would otherwise be difficult. Feeling every inch: The device, launched in 2013, sells for $15,000. The company has a fundraising department that helps people purchase the eyewear . Seeing is believing: The glasses cost $15,000 and work by capturing real-time video and enhancing it for the legally blind to see . What a view! Kathy Beitz has 20/2,400 vision. Legal blindness is defined as vision being worse than or equal to 20/200 vision with correction . At a cost of $15,000, the device doesn't come cheap, however, the company has a fundraising department that helps people purchase the glasses. The company is even trying to persuade insurers to make a contribution through healthcare plans. Ms. Beitz sister also suffers from Stargardt disease and now works for the company that developed the spectacles. She says she is forever grateful that her sister decided to purchase the glasses for her, although over time she will pay her back. A number of efforts are underway to help raise money for the device and include using crowdfunding. and a campaign based around Ms Beitz's story using the hash tag #MakeBlindnessHistory. 'Being a person with a disability who has two children of her own, she knew the struggles of being a legally blind or blind parent. So she was very adamant about getting the glasses for me and work with me to use them, so when I did have him, I got to experience everything that she didn't,' said Beitz. 'When I knew I was getting the glasses, I got very excited. I knew then I would be able to read books to the baby and be a part of that experience ... it gave a huge independence to my parenting skills.' | Kathy Beitz, 29, is legally blind - she lost her vision as a child and, for a long time, adapted to living in a world she couldn't see . Technology called eSight glasses allowed Kathy to see her son on the day he was born . The glasses cost $15,000 and work by capturing real-time video and enhancing it . Has Stargardt disease, a condition that causes macular degeneration . | 778914f138a4efabdaf234680436dae0b979fb15 |
Wayne Rooney is ready to sign his new mega deal at Manchester United - so it's little wonder he was all smiles at training on Friday morning before catching the train to London for Saturday's game with Crystal Palace. The striker will pen a five-and-a-half-year contract at Old Trafford, which should keep him at the club for the remainder of his career. Sportsmail revealed on Thursday that the finer details of the deal had been sorted but image rights issues were holding up confirmation. VIDEO Scroll down for David Moyes answering questions on Rooney deal . Bon voyage: Rooney (second left) and team-mates Tom Cleverley, Rio Ferdinand and Danny Welbeck arrive at Wilmslow station ahead of their train journey south for the match with Crystal Palace on Saturday . Back on track: David Moyes' squad caught the train to London on Friday ahead of their game with Crystal Palace . All smiles: Wayne Rooney is ready to sign his new £300,000-a-week at Manchester United . Thumbs up! The deal is thought to be for five-and-a-half years, representing a massive win for David Moyes . Main man: The England striker has been a standout for the Reds this season in trying circumstances . Bobbing! David Moyes took training in a club bobble hat while Rio Ferdinand grinned from ear to ear . But that has been rectified and the deal . will be announced imminently, with Rooney earning £300,000-a-week. In . re-signing, he presents a major coup for David Moyes. It had looked as if the 28-year-old would be leaving for pastures new last summer, with Chelsea keen to land the England man. But Moyes stood firm and has cajoled some of the player's best performances in a red shirt over the last few months. He has been the only United forward to have consistently hit the net throughout a campaign that hasn't gone according to plan. Rooney was in high spirits, and so too were his under-fire team-mates. You'd . be forgiven for thinking Carrington would be a place for hard graft in a . bid to arrest a catastrophic Manchester United campaign. But . the training ground looked an altogether chirpier place, with players laughing and joking ahead of their trip to Crystal . Palace. Improve! Juan Mata wants to hit the ground running for Moyes' side after his £37m move from Chelsea . Happy lads: Robin van Persie and Shinji Kagawa beamed at Carrington, even though the latter is frustrated . Moyes has endured a difficult start to life as Reds boss, with United languishing seventh in the Premier League. They've only won one of the last five league games, including an embarrassing 2-1 defeat at Stoke City. The . alarming slump - that had looked like picking up before New Year - . hasn't stopped Carrington being a hive of joviality though; the news of Rooney's impending contract can only have boosted morale. Shinji . Kagawa, Robin van Persie and Juan Mata were all snapped sharing a joke . as Moyes attempts to relieve the sort of mounting pressure which looks . to have derailed their campaign. Jokers: The United players, including Antonio Valencia, shared a joke in training on Friday morning . Willing runners: Adnan Januzaj and Ryan Giggs were put through their paces ahead of Palace away . | Manchester United ready to announce Wayne Rooney's new deal . The striker will pen a five-and-a-half-year contract . Bumper deal will be worth £300,000-a-week . | 68111a7ad4e4860f20ceab1b79c2fe2dbbcc39e5 |
(CNN) -- For more than three years, Hallie Twomey has struggled with the suicide of her 20-year-old son, C.J. She searched his belongings for a note with a clue of what tormented him. She sought counseling and attended support groups. Nothing helped, she said. Now, a plea initially to Facebook friends throughout the United States to help C.J. "see the mountains that he never got to climb, see the vast oceans that he would have loved, see tropical beaches and lands far and away" by scattering his ashes has turned into an international effort. Strangers from India to Jamaica are spreading his ashes in tribute to the adventurous young man. A separate Facebook page called "Scattering CJ" has more than 4,000 likes. "How do you say thank you for that?" Twomey asked in an interview with CNN. "It's been so much and so amazing but I'd give it all back if I could have C.J. It doesn't go past me that it's Christmas, and holidays are so hard for us. I just wish I had him and none of this." Still, the outpouring of support since her "Scattering CJ" page went up November 11 has been a source of comfort. On Facebook, the pictures and videos chronicle the places: From the Grand Canyon to the Caribbean, from Australia to Morocco, C.J.'s ashes have been spread. "Quite frankly, I spent the first two weeks doing nothing but crying," Twomey, of Auburn, Maine, said. "I just wasn't prepared for what people were sharing and how somebody who has absolutely no connection to me could be affected." Along with the ashes, Twomey sends a note and a small photo of C.J. in a Boston Red Sox T-shirt. His ashes have even been scattered at Fenway Park, home of his favorite team. His mother asks the recipient to think about her son and the people he helped through organ donation. She also asks that in their thoughts, they remind him that "Mom and Dad love him, and that Mom is sorry." Many of those scattering the ashes have also been affected by suicide or have outlived their children, she said. "I'm so touched," she said. "I've lost all faith in pretty much anything since C.J. died. I don't pray anymore. I'm just not spiritual. I think this was such an effort for me to put my faith -- not to be dramatic -- in mankind. That's been wonderful." For three and half years, Twomey said, she has regretted the argument she had with her son moments before he stormed out of their home and shot himself in his car. "C.J. and I fought terribly literally two seconds before he put a gun to his head and my last words to him were not nice," she said. "I didn't tell him I loved him. I didn't hug him." Twomey said C.J. had been upset about not making an Air Force special forces team. After being honorably discharged, he returned home. "He seemed OK," she said. "I didn't see any major life changes or severe depression." More than 150 packets, each containing a small portion of ashes, have gone out so far, with 300 other people offering to extend C.J.'s journey. She has spent nearly $600 on postage, Twomey said. "My biggest fear was that C.J. would be forgotten and every time somebody writes a comment or offers to take him on this journey, he's being thought of," she said. "That's so powerful." National Suicide Prevention Lifeline . 'How can I help my child?' | A mother's Facebook plea for help in scattering son's ashes becomes an international effort . From the Grand Canyon to the Caribbean to Australia, C.J.'s ashes are spread . Many of those scattering ashes have been affected by suicide or have outlived their children . | 3987b6d2d4250c9748decfc84e71afbb4426696d |
Forget points on the board, it’s about followers on the web these days. At least, that is, according to Manchester United executive vice-chairman Ed Woodward. The Old Trafford chief made the bizarre attempt to satisfy investors this week by highlighting the impact signing for the club has had on the social-media popularity of players such as Daley Blind, Angel di Maria and Radamel Falcao. Manchester United's Daley Blind has had a 73 per cent increase in Twitter followers since joining the club . In the case of Blind, Woodward pointed to his 73 per cent increase in Twitter followers, a figure which equates to 173,000. However, if Blind’s motivation for joining United was simply to maximise ‘retweets’ and ‘favourites’, perhaps he should have signed for Chelsea, Liverpool or Arsenal. For Sportsmail can reveal the big winners of this summer’s Twitter Transfer Tussle. We have obtained numbers from Twitter which disclose the growth in following for close-season signings from each Premier League club. Chelsea midfielder Cesc Fabregas has attracted 900,000 followers since his £30million switch from Barcelona . Liverpool striker Mario Balotelli has added 462,000 followers since his £16million switch . And we can reveal that it is Chelsea’s Cesc Fabregas who has attracted the most new followers since his £30million move from Barcelona. The Spaniard’s numbers are up by 900,000, taking his total to 7.42m. Mario Balotelli, meanwhile, has added 462,000 in the wake of his arrival at Liverpool. Woodward, however, may well point to percentage increase as a true barometer of social-media success and Blind – at 73 per cent – still outdoes Fabregas (14 per cent) and Balotelli (16 per cent). But none of those three can compete with the 203 per cent rise enjoyed by Calum Chambers following his move from Southampton to Arsenal. Ex-Southampton defender Calum Chambers (second left) has a 203 per cent rise since joining Arsenal . Newcastle Ayoze Perez has 28,000 followers on Twitter - a 197 per cent rise since joining the Magpies . Manchester United midfielder posted this picture to his twitter account on Thursday afternoon . The 19-year-old is up from 84,000 to 255,000 in just four months – now those figures really would have Woodward purring. But Chambers isn’t alone in recording a three-figure percentage jump. Newcastle’s Ayoze Perez is up 197 per cent to 28,000. The 21-year-old - a previous unknown in the Spanish second tier - has scored three times in his last three matches to announce his arrival on the Premier League stage following a £1.6m move from Tenerife. Hull defender Andrew Robertson notched for Scotland against England on Tuesday night and he is another enjoying new-found notoriety, the former Dundee United youngster seeing his following rocket 123 per cent to just over 12,000. Andrew Robertson (left) and Eric Dier have seen their Twitter following increase triple-fold . Eric Dier, at Spurs, is up 150 per cent to 44,000, while West Brom’s Brown Ideye has nearly trebled his following. Other summer signings have not been quite as lucky, Crystal Palace’s James McArthur has only attracted 2,900, while Leicester’s Marc Albrighton has added just 1,500. But does any of the above really matter in comparison to Premier League points? Only at Old Trafford, it seems… . James McArthur (right) has only attracted an extra 2,900 followers since moving to Crystal Palace . | Daley Blind has had a 73 per cent rise increase in his Twitter since joining Manchester United this season . Cesc Fabregas has attracted the most followers this summer with 900,000 . Arsenal's Calum Chambers has had a 203 per cent rise on Twitter up to 255,000 followers since joining from Southampton . | 03ebc04f473862678bfab17595bccd92ec6bc84d |
These are the shocking final moments before a 27-year-old camera assistant was killed by a freight train on the set of the biographical film 'Midnight Rider'. The footage, captured on a camera mounted inside the CSX locomotive, shows Sarah Jones and other crew members trying to flee from the railroad bridge they were filming at in southeast Georgia . But while they and stars, including William Hurt and Wyatt Russell, were running for their lives, the metal bed that was being used as a prop in the movie was still lying across the track. Seconds later, the bed was struck by the train, killing Miss Jones, who was in her first day of shooting on the film about the Allman Brothers Band singer, Gregg Allman. Six other workers were injured. SCROLL DOWN FOR VIDEO . Moments before impact: A camera mounted inside a CSX locomotive shows the final moments before camera assistant Sarah Jones, 27, was killed by a freight train on the set of the biographical film 'Midnight Rider' Fleeing: The shocking footage hows Sarah Jones and other crew members trying to flee from the railroad bridge they were filming at in southeast Georgia. Far right, actors William Hurt and Wyatt Russell flee . 'A deadly weapon': But while those involved in the movie were running for their lives, the metal bed (pictured in white) that was being used as a prop in the movie was still lying across the track. It was hit by the train . The video was unveiled by ABC's 20/20 on Friday, more than eight months after the crash on the bridge spanning the Altamaha River, where filmmakers were allegedly shooting without permission. The footage includes a breakdown of the train's position at various points leading up to the incident. At 26 seconds before impact, the vehicle needed a mile to stop and the engineer blew the whistle loudly. Twenty-three seconds later, Hurt, Russell and two crew members were spotted running along the 30-foot high trestle toward the train in a bid to make it to safety. Others could be seen holding their hands over their ears to block out the deafening sound, while some were captured desperately clinging on to the sides of the bridge. Three seconds on, the train smashed into the bed, which workers had not been able to move off the track in time, turning it into a 'deadly weapon' that 'pushed' Miss Jones into the vehicle. Speaking to the program, hairstylist Joyce Gilliard, who suffered an arm injury in the crash, said those involved in the shoot had been told that if a train comes, 'you have 60 seconds to get off the track'. Fatal: This still - captured by the train's camera- shows the train about to smash into the bed, which workers had not been able to move off the track in time. The bed then hit Miss Jones, 'pushing' her into the train . Fast-paced: The train continues to speed across the track, while Miss Jones, who was in her first day of shooting of the film about the Allman Brothers Band's Gregg Allman, dies. Six other workers were injured . Talented camera assistant: Miss Jones was just 27 years old when she was struck by the train and killed . Referring to Miss Jones's death on February 20, she added: 'At first it was like a quiet, like people were in shock at what happened. I remember hearing somebody say "Oh my gosh, she's dead".' Following the fatal crash, Miss Jones's parents, Richard and Elizabeth Jones, from Columbia, South Carolina, launched a lawsuit against director Randall Miller and others involved in the film. After carrying out a number of inquiries, investigators determined the filmmakers went onto the railroad bridge to shoot the footage after CSX Transportation denied them permission. A letter to location manager Charley Baxter, broadcast in the 30-minute program, seemingly confirms officials' findings, reading: 'Unfortunately CSX is not able to support your request.' Last job: During the 20/20 report, photos of Miss Jones's final hours as a camera assistant were also unveiled, including one of her working beside Hurt (pictured), who was lying on the bed on the train tracks . Filming: The bed was being used in a dream sequence that involved Allman lying down and seeing his late brother across the bridge. Above Miss Jones (pictured in green) is seen with actors involved in the film . At the scene: Miss Jones is pictured with hairstylist Joyce Gilliard, who suffered an arm injury in the crash . Meanwhile, Miller is reportedly captured saying "that's not my job" when asked questions on why he didn't know that there could be a train barreling down on his crew. The Jones's attorney, Jeff Harris, said: 'You don't shoot on a railroad track unless you have permission to be there.' Miss Gilliard, who is also suing Miller and others involved in the shooting added: 'They wanted to get the shot, so whatever it took to get the shot is what they did. 'The entire crew was put in a situation where we all had to basically run for our lives.' Dedicated: During her career, Miss Jones also worked on the set of The Vampire Diaries, where she was described as a 'cosmic sister' by actor Ian Somerhalder. Above, she is pictured with a film camera . A smiling Sarah Jones: After carrying out a number of inquiries, investigators determined the filmmakers went onto the railroad bridge to shoot the footage after CSX Transportation denied them permission . Scene: Attorney Jeff Harris, said: 'You don't shoot on a rail track unless you have permission to be ther' On Thursday, Mr Harris said the Joneses have decided to dismiss all claims against Allman - an executive producer of the film based on his life story - after reviewing evidence in the case. 'It is clear that Mr. Allman ... had no involvement in any of the decisions that resulted in Sarah's death,' he said in a statement. Allman - who was dismissed alongside two others - was among 10 individuals and eight corporations named as defendants in May when the Joneses filed their lawsuit in Savannah. The couple is still seeking damages from others, including Miller, railroad firm CSX Transportation and Rayonier Performance Fibers, which owns the property surrounding the crash site. Fighting back tears: Speaking to the program, a tearful Miss Gilliard (pictured) said those involved in the deadly shoot had been assembled and told: 'You have 60 seconds to get off the track' Denied request: A letter to the film's location manager Charley Baxter, broadcast in the program, reads: 'Unfortunately CSX is not able to support your request' - relating to their request to shoot on the bridge . Miller and three other filmmakers have also been indicted on criminal charges of involuntary manslaughter, a felony punishable by up to 10 years in prison, and trespassing in rural Wayne County where the crash occurred. Allman's attorney, David Long-Daniels, said the singer had little involvement with the movie other than licensing the rights to his memoir, 'My Cross to Bear', to the filmmakers. 'We're delighted the Jones family has dismissed us,' Long-Daniels said. 'We remain very sorrowful for the tragedy they have endured with the loss of their daughter.' The Jones family's attorneys said they also dropped claims against Michael Lehman, an executive producer on the film, and Open Road Films, a film distribution and marketing company. Charged: Earlier this year, a jury returned charges of involuntary manslaughter and criminal trespass against Midnight Rider director Randall Miller(left) as well as his wife and business partner, Jody Savin (right) During the 20/20 report, photos of Miss Jones's final hours as a camera assistant were also unveiled, including one of her working beside Hurt, who was lying on the bed on the train tracks. The bed was being used in a dream sequence that involved Allman lying down and seeing his late brother across the bridge, according to The Hollywood Reporter. It also aired a 911 call from the set following the fatal train crash, in which someone is heard requesting an ambulance, saying 'someone got hit by a train'. During her career, Miss Jones also worked on the set of The Vampire Diaries, where she was described as a 'cosmic sister' by actor Ian Somerhalder. Parents: Following the fatal crash, Miss Jones's parents, Richard and Elizabeth Jones (pictured), from Columbia, South Carolina, launched a lawsuit against director Randall Miller and others involved in the film . A beloved daughter: On Thursday, it emerged the Joneses have decided to dismiss all claims against Allman (right) - an executive producer of the film - after reviewing evidence in the case. Left, Miss Jones . On Friday, Miller and producer Jody Savin's attorney told ABC that the filmmakers believed they had permission to be on the tracks from Rayonier. They added: 'They had no reason to believe that anyone would be placed in danger. They will live with the sorrow of Sarah's death for the rest of their lives.' The attorney's comments followed an earlier prepared statement from Miller and Savin in which they said the crash and Miss Jones's death 'will haunt us forever'.. A railroad safety expert also pointed out that the crew had no way of knowing when a freight train might speed down the track because there is no train schedule 'like a major airline might publish'. Production on 'Midnight Rider' was halted after the crash. The case is ongoing. | Sarah Jones killed by freight train while working on set of 'Midnight Rider' New video, captured on train camera, depicts last moments before crash . Footage shows 27-year-old and other crew members fleeing from bridge . But metal bed being used as film prop was still lying across rail tracks . Seconds later, train struck bed, which 'pushed' Miss Jones into vehicle . In case of train, workers told: 'You have 60 seconds to get off the track' Biographical film based on Allman Brothers Band singer Gregg Allman . Miss Jones's parents launched a lawsuit against director Randall Miller . Officials say filmmakers went onto railroad bridge without permission . Miller and others accused of involuntary manslaughter; case continues . | 6febb98d3c98835ab8696a14242c04113e5e95ce |
Duke University student Miriam Weeks - who made headlines earlier this year when it was revealed she performs in pornographic films under the name Belle Knox - has come out in support of legalizing prostitution. In an op-ed column for Rolling Stone, Weeks announces that she is 'proud to classify [herself] as a sex worker.' Weeks writes 'The time has come for the world's oldest profession to be legalized in the so-called Land of the Free for public health, safety and opportunity.' Speaking out: Miriam Weeks, a Duke University student who performs in pornographic films as Belle Knox, has come out in support of legalizing prostituion . Adult film star: Weeks decided to perform in pornographic films as a way of covering her college tuition . Weeks, emphasizing a separation between sex work and human trafficking, claims 'The fact of the matter is that most sex workers enter the industry via their own consent and genuinely enjoy their work.' Weeks decided to perform in pornographic films as a way of covering her college tuition, was flown to Los Angeles by a company in order to perform over the Thanksgiving holiday -- and the next semester was outed by a classmate that had spied her work, after he earlier said he would keep her alter ego a secret, Rolling Stone reported in April. Weeks told the music magazine that a number of issues she dealt with growing up - going to parties, her nude photos being spread, committing self-harm due to depression - were not factors for her adult film career. In the past year, she appeared multiple times on television, speaking on 'Piers Morgan Tonight,' 'The View,' and 'Dr. Drew on Call,' wrote a number of essays for the women's website xoJane, and also landed an internship with Pornhub.com. 'In porn, I can speak openly about my experiences without fear of punishment, work in a safe and professional environment and play a vital role in the creative process,' she says in her Rolling Stone column. 'Of course, not everyone can be a porn star, but more sex workers could enjoy this same level of autonomy and fulfillment if prostitution was legalized.' Weeks argues in her column that safer sex workers and reduced rates of sexually transmitted diseases are linked to legalized prostitution . Weeks argues in her column that safer sex workers and reduced rates of sexually transmitted diseases are linked to legalized prostitution, citing research from the National Bureau of Economic Research. The adult film actress also dismisses the 'Swedish model,' in which clients who seek out prostitution are prosecuted. She writes 'Every client and sex worker has a story to tell, and the current regime of criminalization over compassion only mutes their voices and pushes them to the fringes of society where danger may lurk. 'Although porn is legal, I am nonetheless proud to classify myself a sex worker and call on my colleagues to stand up for our right to make a living, access the same protections as everyone else and not feel ashamed for doing honest work. We are nobody's rescue project, and we deserve rights, not handcuffs.' | Miriam Weeks is a college student at Duke University . She made headlines earlier this year when it was revealed she performs in pornographic films under the name Belle Knox . Weeks decided to perform in pornographic films as a way of covering her college tuition . | d50ca0cbec453a5e93ae0b87094fac562bb59293 |
(CNN) -- The mother of Kenneth Bae has left North Korea "more anxious than ever" to bring her imprisoned and ailing son home. In a statement she released Tuesday, Myunghee Bae said she was able to visit her son three times and was relieved to see his health was improving. "I was happy to see him and to hold him, but it broke my heart to leave him behind," she said. "I am more anxious than ever to bring him home. His year-long imprisonment has taken a heavy toll not only on Kenneth but on the whole family; every day the pain and anxiety continue to carve a deep scar on all of our hearts." Earlier this year, Bae, a Korean-American, was sentenced to 15 years in a North Korean labor camp for what the government called "hostile acts." His family had not been able to see him for almost a year since his November 3 arrest in North Korea. Myunghee Bae, of Lynwood, Washington, said that she pleaded with the North Korean authorities to let her visit her son, and expressed gratitude for granting permission. She arrived late last week, with the goal of encouraging her son who has become ill, according to a website dedicated to Kenneth Bae's freedom. In a prison interview released in July, Kenneth Bae had spoken of health problems including diabetes, high blood pressure, fatty liver and a back problem. He looked noticeably thinner and wore a blue prison garment streaked with sweat and dirt. His family say he has lost more than 50 pounds. "My heart was broken into pieces when his prison interview was released on July 3," said his mother, in an earlier statement. "His appearance was very shocking, he looked so different, and he lost so much weight. I could not believe that prisoner was my son." Bae was moved to a hospital for serious health problems, his sister, Terri Chung had told CNN in August. In previous interviews, Chung has said that her brother suffers from health problems including severe back and leg pain, kidney stones, dizziness, blurred vision and loss of vision. He was already dealing with diabetes. His family and friends have asked North Korea for mercy and the United States for help in securing his release. U.S. officials have repeatedly called on North Korea to release Bae. In August, the two countries appeared close, but North Korea rescinded an invitation to a U.S. envoy. Ambassador Robert King, President Barack Obama's special envoy for North Korean human rights issues, had been expected to fly to Pyongyang to try to win his freedom. In previous instances, North Korea has released Americans in its custody after a visit by some U.S. dignitary -- in recent cases, former Presidents Jimmy Carter and Bill Clinton. Bae was arrested last year after arriving as a tourist in Rason City, a port in the northeastern corner of North Korea. His sister says that Bae is the owner of a tour company and was in North Korea for work. The North Korean government accuses Bae of setting up bases in China for the purpose of "toppling" the North Korean government, encouraging North Korean citizens to bring down the government and conducting a "malignant smear campaign." The country's state media also says that Bae had planned what it called a "Jericho operation" to bring down North Korea through religious activities. They have suggested that Bae could have been sentenced to death, but avoided it through "candid confession of his crimes." "I plead with our government to do everything in their power to secure my son's release soon," Myunghee Bae said Tuesday. | Myunghee Bae said she was able to visit her son three times . Bae has been sentenced to 15 years in North Korean labor camp . His mother says she was alarmed by her son's appearance in a July prison interview . | c5231d114929c8d0d64e5b556e316d49165e275e |
A bigamist married his second wife on the same beach in Mexico where he honeymooned with the first - who only found out about his latest wedding when she went on Facebook. Adrian Linham, 43, secretly dated Hayley Totterdell for three years while his loyal wife of seven years Liz, 37, thought their marriage was running smoothly. He spent a lot of time away from the couple's marital home near Bristol saying he was working in Bangor, north Wales for his job as a scuba diving instructor. But was actually splitting his time and living just 16 miles away with Hayley - who he then married in Riviera Maya, the same place he had honeymooned with his first wife. Hayley's family and friends were all blissfully unaware he was already married. Liz knew nothing about the ceremony until she received a letter from her mother-in-law saying she was sorry to see they had divorced and Adrian had remarried. Scroll down for video . Adrian Linham married wife Liz in Weston-Super-Mare in 2007 before the couple honeymooned in Mexico . But after several years of marriage, Linham met Hayley Totterdell, who he then married at the same resort he had visited with his previous wife six years earlier . Liz then went online and found dozens of pictures of her grinning husband embracing his new bride - on the same beach where they went on honeymoon. Scuba diving instructor Linham even had the same best man at both weddings. Linham has now been jailed for 18 weeks for bigamy - but new wife Hayley is sticking by her husband. Linham has two children from a previous partner and one with Liz, while Hayley has two children from a previous husband. Mother-of-one Liz said: 'I didn't think stuff like this happened in real life and I certainly didn't think it would ever happen to me. 'I genuinely didn't know what was going on. I never thought for a moment that he'd gone and married someone else. Liz has spoken of the extent of Linham's lies after he was jailed for bigamy this week . 'It has completely altered the way I look at everyone. I look at people now, who I have known and trusted for years, and think 'can I really trust you'?.' Liz and Adrian met at his brother's wedding in 2000 and became an item in July 2006 after he divorced his first wife. They got engaged in 2007 and married just months later at Rookery Manor in Somerset before jetting off to Riviera Maya in Mexico for their honeymoon. But throughout their relationship, Linham would stay at their marital home near Bristol less and less - sometimes coming home as little as once or twice a month. In spite of this Liz thought their marriage was still going strong and she gave up work to look after their daughter, now aged four. 'He would tell me he loved me every day and he'd say how he couldn't be without me,' she said. But she was shocked to discover that he had been leading a double life and had been seeing Hayley Totterdell for more than three years. Liz was aware of Hayley's existence but had been told she was merely the wife of Linham's psychiatrist. Hayley was blissfully unaware that Adrian was already married and only found out about his previous marriage when he was arrested. They are believed to have got engaged in August 2012 after he proposed on the same beach where he honeymooned with Liz. Then, in May 2014, Linham told Liz he was going away for a longer stretch in Bangor to oversee exams - but actually flew back to Mexico for his wedding to Hayley. None of Hayley's family knew he was already married and he is believed to have told best man Mark Stapleton that he had already divorced Liz. After the wedding Adrian returned to the UK and carried on living his double life as if nothing had changed. Liz only found out about the wedding three months later when she received a letter from Adrian's mum, who she had not spoken to for a while. 'I got a letter from his mum on 21 August 2014,' she said. 'It said that she was sorry to hear Adrian and I had gotten divorced and that she hoped I was dealing with it ok.' She then went on to say that she had been on Facebook and seen Linham's wedding pictures to Hayley and hoped that his new marriage hadn't affected me too much.' Linham is believed to have got engaged to Hayley in 2014, when he proposed on the same beach he and Liz had visited shortly after they were married in 2007 . Neither his not Hayley's family were aware of his secret wife at the ceremony at the same resort later that year . She added: 'It was such a huge shock to me, I went on to Facebook and found the pictures pretty much straight away. 'I didn't read the whole letter - I tore it up into tiny pieces and threw it away, I had just picked out certain parts of the letter. 'Those parts of the letter are still whirling around in my head, especially the bit about 'Mrs Hayley Linham' - she took his name.' Liz added: 'I called him to confront him but he yet again denied it - I just went into meltdown. 'He totally denied it and told me not to be so silly. But that was it - I haven't spoken to him since. 'It's just been like a total nightmare. I actually remember saying this is the kind of thing you'd read about in the newspapers and magazines.' Liz has since discovered the catalogue of lies which Adrian told her in order to conduct his secret double life. She recalled how she waited at home all day one Christmas Day for Adrian to return home only for him to arrive late in the evening. Linham told his wife he was away for work but was secreting living at his bride-to-be Hayley's house (pictured) - which is on the other side of Bristol from his marital home with Liz . It later transpired he had spent the day with Hayley before telling her his mum had died in order to duck out and return to his wife. He then returned home to Hayley, describing his mother's funeral in full detail - despite the fact she is still alive. In December 2013 Liz suffered a miscarriage at 7pm one evening but Adrian left her by 7am the next morning to go and see Hayley. The love rat also tricked Liz into redecorating Hayley's second home in Swanage, Dorset - asking her to paint the bedroom, and her children's bedrooms, convincing her it was his boss' home. Liz said: 'I'd always known about Hayley but the way he'd speak of her was just "oh she's loaded, her and her husband have got more money than sense so I do as many jobs as possible at their house to rinse them". 'He even took me to Hayley's second home in Swanage on two separate occasions, the first time I actually helped him set up for a party he was throwing for her and the second time I helped him redecorate. 'I painted her bedroom and both of her children's bedrooms as he told me it was his bosses house and we could stay there if we painted.' Liz had no idea her husband was seeing another woman and believed their marriage was still going strong . Linham had the same best man, Mark Stapleton, at both weddings, but Mr Stapleton is believed to have been completely unaware he had not divorced Liz . Liz was so furious she reported his actions to the police and he pleaded guilty to one count of bigamy at North Somerset Courthouse in Weston-super-Mare, Somerset, yesterday. Chair of the bench, Peter Searle, sentenced Linham to 17 weeks in prison and ordered him to pay £1,000 compensation and put into place a restraining order. He told Linham, who has two children from a previous relationship: 'The length of deception is nothing short of incredible. You have shown no remorse and have humiliated your wife.' Sue Baker, defending, told the court he admitted bigamy when he was arrested and intended to get divorced from his first wife when he returned from the wedding 'but he was putting the cart before the horse'. Linham has now begun divorce proceedings, the court heard. | Two-timing husband lived double life with wife and girlfriend of three years . He then proposed to and married his new girlfriend in Riviera Maya, Mexico . Ceremony held on same beach he had honeymooned on with first wife . First wife found out when her mother-in-law wrote to her about 'divorce' She investigated and found husband's new wedding photos online . She has a child with bigamist, who has two from previous partner, while new wife also has two children from past marriage . Husband had same best man, who was unaware of scam, at both weddings . Bigamist is now jailed for 18 weeks - but new wife is standing by him . | c368bb2f158099b0290a9a09796b6e745f654537 |
Standard & Poor’s . puts France on warning that its AAA credit rating is at risk while . Britain’s is 'stable' By . Tim Shipman and Hugo Duncan . UPDATED: . 05:57 EST, 19 December 2011 . A week ago it was Britain that looked isolated from Europe following David Cameron’s veto of a eurozone treaty. But yesterday it was France and its president Nicolas Sarkozy who seemed to have no friends left after a devastating triple whammy. First, French prime minister Francois Fillon was rebuked by Nick Clegg, who said a series of provocative comments about the British were ‘simply unacceptable’. French President Nicolas Sarkozy and French Prime Minister Francois Fillion are looking increasing isolated after both launched attacks on Britain . Secondly, amid fears that the floundering French economy is heading for the rocks, a report revealed that nervous British banks pulled almost £20billion out of the country between July and September. Thirdly, German Chancellor Angela Merkel . told David Cameron she wants to resist Mr Sarkozy’s grandiose plans to . redraw EU rules and undermine Britain’s interests in the EU single . market. World Bank President Robert Zoellick has said he is 'deeply troubled' by the row between Britain and France over resolving the euro zone debt crisis especially at a time when the region's economic problems are far from solved.'I have been deeply troubled over the past couple of days to see some of the commentary going across the English Channel, not only comments from France but also from Brussels, and others,' Zoellick told the Atlantic Council.Zoellick said it was important in the face of the deep financial and economic crisis engulfing the euro zone that European leaders acted responsibility.'They need to be careful because I think you've got a tinderbox out there in both political and economic terms.'He cautioned that populist political tensions often led to protectionism. 'The European Union should be the last place we see internal protectionism,' he added. Mr Cameron’s relationship with Mr Sarkozy – forged during the war in Libya – appears to have broken down, with Downing Street announcing that he has ‘no plans’ to talk to the president. On Wednesday, Mr Sarkozy dismissed the . Prime Minister as an ‘obstinate kid’ over his use of the veto in . Brussels. And Mr Fillon put the boot into Britain, declaring: ‘Our . British friends have a higher deficit and debt [than us] but it seems . the ratings agencies have not yet noticed.’ Early yesterday French finance minister Francois Baroin took another pot shot at the UK just 24 hours after the head of the Bank of France called for the UK’s credit rating to be downgraded. ‘The economic situation of Great Britain is very worrying,’ said Mr Baroin. ‘From the point of view of the economy, it is preferable to be French than British at the moment.’ Amid British fury at the attacks, Mr Fillon was forced to ring David Cameron’s Europhile deputy Nick Clegg and explain himself. A Cabinet Office spokesman said: ‘Mr Fillon made clear it had not been his intention to call into question the UK’s rating but to highlight that ratings agencies appeared more focused on economic governance than deficit levels. ‘The Deputy Prime Minister accepted his explanation but made the point that recent remarks from members of the French government about the UK economy were simply unacceptable and that steps should be taken to calm the rhetoric.’ Taking no prisoners: Deputy Prime Minister Nick Clegg told Mr Fillon his comments were 'simply unacceptable' No 10 suggested that the aggression was the result of sour grapes over Britain’s veto last week and pointed out that ‘numerous international organisations’ have endorsed the UK’s plans to tackle the deficit. Ratings agency Standard & Poor’s has put France on warning that its AAA credit rating is at risk while Britain’s is ‘stable’. And it emerged that British banks voted with their feet over the summer and cut their exposure to France by £18.8billion or nearly ten per cent, to £177billion. A report by the Bank of England underlined just how worried is the City of London about the French economy and its exposure to the eurozone. British banks also pulled a combined total of £13billion out of debt-ridden Italy and Spain and invested in Germany and the U.S. instead. Fair weather friends? Firm allies just last week, German Chancellor Angela Merkel (right) today distanced herself from Mr Sarkozy . Last night another ratings agency, Fitch, announced it is considering downgrading the ratings of Italy, Spain, Ireland, Belgium, Slovenia and Cyprus. It said that ‘a comprehensive solution to the eurozone crisis is technically and politically beyond reach’. With criticism that the treaty unveiled last week was a ‘Loch Ness monster: most people have heard about it but no one has seen it’, Brussels officials yesterday offered fresh details. Eurozone countries will have to get their total debt levels below 60 per cent of national income and limit annual budget deficits to 3 per cent of GDP. But Chancellor Merkel told Mr Cameron yesterday she wants the new deal to concentrate on new rules to enforce fiscal discipline – not result in an assault on the single market. | Nervous banks pulled £20bn out of France between July and September . Merkel says she wants to resist Sarkozy's plans to redraw EU rules . Ratings agency considering downgrading ratings of Italy, Spain, Ireland, Belgium, Slovenia and Cyprus . Standard & Poor’s . puts France on warning that its AAA credit rating is at risk while . Britain’s is 'stable' | ef731105b9a6d22cb05d09f4db69d47630e1df91 |
The World Health Organization says the number of Ebola deaths has passed 5,000. The U.N. health agency said Wednesday that overall 14,098 people are believed to have been infected with Ebola, the vast majority of those in the West African countries of Guinea, Liberia and Sierra Leone. Of those, 5,160 have died. There are some signs that the rate of new infections may be slowing in Guinea and Liberia, but they are surging in Sierra Leone, it said. In addition, the agency said that there are still areas of Liberia and Guinea where transmission remains high. The agency has said even these unprecedented tolls are likely an underestimate because many sick people have been too afraid or unable to seek care. Ebola fear: A dozen people have been quarantined in Mali's capital after the death of 25-year-old nurse Saliou Diarra was confirmed to have been caused by Ebola . The news comes as a dozen people were quarantined by authorities in Mali after a 25-year-old nurse died from Ebola on Tuesday. Family and colleagues who had been in contact with the nurse, identified by family as Saliou Diarra, have been quarantined in order to prevent Ebola from returning to Mali. Mr Diarra died yesterday after he treated an imam from Guinea who died with Ebola-like . symptoms in the capital Bamako. The imam from the border town of Kouremale was never tested . for the disease and his body was washed in Mali and returned to . Guinea for burial without precautions against the virus. Two aid workers said that another person who lived in the . house where the imam stayed in Bamako had died this week and was . buried without being tested. A doctor at the Pasteur Clinic where the nurse worked - one . of Bamako's top medical centres - is also suspected to have . contracted Ebola. Mali, the sixth West African nation to record Ebola, must . now trace a new batch of contacts just as people linked to its . first and only other case - a two-year-old girl who died last . month - completed their 21-day quarantine on Tuesday. A police officer stands guard outside the quarantined Pasteur Clinic in Bamako, where Saliou Diarra worked as a nurse and treated the Guinean man . Emergency programs coordinator at Mali's Health Ministry Samba Sow, second from right, speaks to journalists at a news conference in Bamako . Concern is growing at the time it took between the imam . dying and the steps needed to contain the deadly disease being . put in place. Dr. Samba Sow, head of Mali's Ebola response, said . the imam died on Oct. 27, two days after going to the clinic. 'This case shows the lack of training of doctors in Bamako. This training should have been done six months ago,' one aid . worker told Reuters, asking not to be named. The government said in a statement on Wednesday that Mr Diarra was confirmed to have Ebola on Tuesday and died later that . evening. All necessary steps to identify people who had come . into contact with the nurse had been taken, it said. Ousmane Doumbia, secretary general of the health ministry, . said 70 people had been quarantined. The Pasteur Clinic was . locked down by police on Tuesday night. Mali shares an 800 km (500 mile) border with Guinea, which . alongside Liberia and Sierra Leone, has been worst affected by . an outbreak that has killed nearly 5,000 people this year. The . two-year-old girl had also brought Ebola to Mali from Guinea. Meanwhile, British Foreign Secretary Philip Hammond visited several Ebola treatment centres in Sierra Leone to see the challenges of the epidemic first hand. Commenting ahead of the visit, Foreign Secretary, Philip Hammond, said: 'The UK is leading the international effort to defeat Ebola in Sierra Leone. 'I shall be getting an update on our intervention and seeing how our support is making a difference when I meet members of our Armed Forces and health workers who have joined the fight to end Ebola. Visiting: Philip Hammond (centre) talks to locals during his visit to the new Ebola treatment centre under construction in Port Loko, Sierra Leone . The Foreign Secretary also visited an Ebola healthcare worker training centre at the Siaka Stevens Stadium in Freetown, Sierra Leone . | Mali's second Ebola victim, a 25-year-old nurse,died on Tuesday . Family and colleagues have now been quarantines for safety . Nurse had treated Guinean imam who died from 'Ebola-like' symptoms . Mali's first Ebola victim, a two-year-old girl, died last month . | aff17d659fc752510698dc518257e7c8c20f503e |
Reg Winsor pictured with the tools he uses to fix potholes so effectively his local council has offered him a job . Tired of pleading with the council to repair potholes blighting his village, Reg Winsor took matters into his own hands. The retired builder, 72, picked up his tools once more, and took just 15 minutes to fix a notorious hole – known locally as ‘the crater’. Officials at Devon County Council were so impressed with his work they approached him about tackling other potholes in the area. He has now assembled a group of 50 volunteers, dubbed ‘Reg’s army’, to carry out the repairs. Mr Winsor said he was forced to take drastic action after the council repeatedly ignored his complaints about potholes near his home in Ilsington, Dartmoor. The local authority has an estimated repair backlog costing £758million for its 8,000 miles of town and country roads. The day after Mr Winsor fixed ‘the crater’, he was approached by two officers from the highways department, who suggested he train to become a volunteer ‘road warden’. He said: ‘I’d been complaining about this pothole for months and even though I was going through the right means, nothing was done. ‘It’s simple really – they haven’t got the money to do it, so I just decided to do it myself. ‘The Tarmac was given to me by local labourers and the rest I had.’ While Mr Winsor maintained that it is the council’s responsibility to fix the roads, he said residents should be more willing to help. ‘Mr Average is more than happy to sit there moaning about it but doesn’t do anything,’ he said. ‘I know we pay council taxes for repairs like this, but at the end of the day we may as well just fix them now. ‘We need to do it as a team, together everyone achieves more.’ Scroll down for video . Mr Winsor, a parish councillor, said his team would compile a list of potholes in the area and work to fix them as soon as possible. But predictably, they could find themselves hindered by bureaucracy. The local authority said Mr Winsor will be liable for any issues arising from his repairs until he undertakes formal training. Mr Winsor fills the pothole with asphalt and then uses an iron bar to compact it (pictured) The pothole Mr Winsor fixed (pictured after it was filled) was such a nuisance it was nicknamed 'the crater' His team will also only be allowed to fix minor defects that the council does not deem urgent enough to repair immediately. The cost of repairing Britain’s potholes stands at £12billion, according to a recent report. Around £32million a year is paid out in compensation for injuries and damage to cars caused by poorly maintained roads. Councillor Stuart Hughes, Devon’s cabinet member for highways, said: ‘Devon County Council is looking to respond positively to offers of help from local members of the community like Reg.’ Parking charges and fines made councils in England a record £667million last year. The surplus was up 12 per cent on the previous year, and the fifth annual rise in a row, according to figures from the RAC Foundation. Its director, Professor Stephen Glaister, said: ‘Over the same period, spending on local roads has fallen about a fifth in real terms.’ Communities Secretary Eric Pickles accused councils of ‘daylight robbery’ by ‘ripping off drivers with exorbitant parking charges and unfair fines’. Westminster had the biggest surplus in 2013/14, with £51million. | Reg Winsor grew tired waiting for pothole, called 'the crater', to be fixed . He decided to do it himself using asphalt and his own basic tools . Devon County Council officials were so impressed they offered him a job . He now has an army of 50 volunteers who help him carry out repairs . | fd6c0d0dceea374e0c07b15901ab0a001bdf2520 |
By . Lizzie Edmonds . PUBLISHED: . 16:20 EST, 3 January 2014 . | . UPDATED: . 20:20 EST, 3 January 2014 . A group of street children in Old Delhi have opened their own bank. The bank, known as the Children's Development Khazana (CDK), was set up and is now run by children in the Fatehpuri neighbourhood of Old Delhi. The bank was established on the principle the children would make all the rules and . decisions. Show them how it's done: Street children queue up at the counter to deposit money at their very own bank . Deposit: Children wait to deposit their earnings at the bank - called the Children's Development Khazana . NGO volunteers from child rights organisation Butterflies, however, assist the day-to-day running of the bank and sort out any logistical issues. Children . aged nine to 18 can deposit a small amount and get 3.5 percent on their deposits. It is open seven days a week and is run by perhaps the youngest manager in the world - 13-year-old Sonu. He said: 'I ran away from home and started working at a tea stall. It was bad. Then I met some volunteers who told me about the bank. I came here. Now I go to school and I am the (bank) manager also. Patience: Those who hold an account may deposit a small amount and get 3.5 per cent interest . Earnings: The bank is managed by 13-year-old Sonu (left) who joined the bank after running away from home . 'Kids make deposits. They can withdraw anytime if they have to buy something like clothes or eatables. The bank is open seven days a week.' Fourteen-year-old Sheru, who lived on a railway platform, is a regular. He said: 'I . have started saving money in the Children's Bank. I sell water bottles. I put all the money that I earn into my account. I have saved Rs 5000-6000 so far. I want to save more in the future.' Work: Sonu worked briefly in a tea stall before joining the bank - which is overseen by charity Butterflies . Saving up: A child makes a deposit. Some members have saved up as much as £50-£60 through the bank . Open all hours: Sonu runs a tight ship and his bank is open seven days a week . Sheru says he wants to become a photographer when he grows up. He hopes to save enough to buy a camera one day. Raheemam, 15, who works as a rag . picker, also has an . account. She . said: 'I used to lose my money. One day, I met a sister (NGO . volunteer). She told me about the children's bank. So I came here. 'Now I . work more freely. I know my money is safe. I can withdraw money when . the need arises.' Paperwork: Four members show their pass books - which are needed to make a deposit . Pass book: Information such as name and date of account opening is included in the document . Charity program manager at Butterflies, Shashidhar Sabnavis, said:"Street children were telling us that they lose their money. Or they tend to spend their money here and there. "So, we at Butterflies decided on the idea of operationalizing a bank for them. "They use their savings in the khazana . (bank) to meet their future needs. "Some of them use their money to go . for higher education, or vocational training. Some of them use it to . start small business enterprises.' The charity also provides education, shelter and care for Delhi's vulnerable children. Future: It is hoped the members, two with passbooks pictured, learn life skills while staying at the shelter . Education: The NGO also runs classes for the children (pictured) and offers them shelter and food . Learning: Many of the children were not in school - one class pictured - before they joined the NGO . A teacher working for the organisation Firdaus Ahma said: 'Some kids here have jobs. They work in shops or tea stalls. We talk to those kids and motivate them to study and join our classes. 'This helps us bring them into the mainstream. 'When kids start depositing their earnings in the bank. That is an education for life. They will inculcate the habit of making savings. This will become a habit and help them in the future.' The CDK initiative has won numerous accolades, leading to them expanding the scheme to other parts of Delhi. Studies: A class takes place inside the shelter - which has won numerous awards for its work with children . Facilities: The children are given computer training (pictured) while at the shelter . Now Butterflies plan to introduce the initiative in Pakistan, Afghanistan, Bangladesh as well as some parts of Africa. Sharon Jacob, a child rights activist, said: 'This program has to go out and reach as many needy kids as possible. It can change lives. 'This is a bank for the kids who live their life on the streets. The bank motivates these kids - it offers them a future.' | Street children in Old Delhi have opened the bank for nine to 18-year-olds . Members can deposit a small amount and get 3.5 per cent interest . Bank, called Children's Development Khazana, is managed by Sonu, 13 . Overseen by NGO Butterflies, which also provides schooling and shelter . | 6b5d3d9947d42b8e11d7ebef094d449bdc857cc9 |
By . Connie Allfrey . Guests staying in Hilton Hotels will soon be able to unlock the door to their room using a smartphone. Hilton Worldwide has announced plans to do away with key cards, and for holidaymakers to be able check in and out using their mobile phone. By the end of 2014, members of the company's rewards program, Hilton HHonors, will be able to choose their rooms using digital floor plans at any of the company's 4,000 hotels worldwide, from Homewood Suites, and Canary Wharf, to Waldorf Astoria Resorts. Digital direction: Hilton has announced plans to allow smartphone users to gain access to rooms via an app . On the go: Hilton guests will be able to choose their room - and check in and out - using their smartphone . The HHonors app, available for apple and Android devices, will revolutionise the hotel experience enabling guests to skip the check-in completely. It is expected to launch in the United States next year and is following hot on the heels of Conrad Concierge - an app that enables guests to make dinner reservations, order room service and chat with a concierge. Hilton, which recently went public in December after six years of private-equity ownership, has invested £325m in IT infrastructure over the past seven years, . Members of Hilton HHonors will be able to choose their rooms using digital floor plans at any of the company's 4,000 hotels worldwide . New direction: The HHonors app, available for apple and Android devices . 'The tremendous scale of our world-class operating platform enables us to quickly and nimbly introduce exciting enhancements for our guests at all of our hotels worldwide' said Christopher Nassetta, president and chief executive officer of Hilton Worldwide. 'The other big hotel players, Marriott International and Starwood Hotels & Resorts Worldwide, have also debuted apps with similar capabilities. While Choice Hotels International allows Ford drivers to use the vehicles' hands-free system to search for available rooms via a voice-controlled reservation system. | Guests will be able to select and customise rooms on smartphones . App set to launch by the end of 2014 for Hilton HHonors members . System to revolutionise hotel experience by skipping out check in . | 80e83d339b2bece488c0167449e7921a2af53b31 |
Forget give the dog a bone, this pampered pooch would likely dine on filet mignon and lobster given half the chance. Bella Mia, a three-year-old full-breed Maltese from Great Neck, New York, is said to be one of the richest dogs in the world with a six-figure trust fund under her collar. Last year, her owner Rose Ann Bolasny gave her a $100,000-a-year allowance to play with towards weekly paw-dicures, haircuts and designer shopping sprees. The 60-year-old accountant, who has two adult sons, says Bella Mia is the 'daughter she never had' and likes to refer to her as a child instead of an animal. Scroll down for video . Shine bright like a diamond: Bella Mia, a three-year-old full-breed Maltese from New York, is said to be one of the richest dogs in the world with a six-figure trust fund under her collar . Dressed to impress: Last year, her owner Rose Ann Bolasny gave her a $100,000 allowance to play with towards weekly paw-dicures, haircuts and designer shopping sprees . The canine boasts more than 1,000 outfits in her specially designed walk-in closets and jazzes up ensembles with diamond and pearl jewelry. Touching on Bella Mia's penchant for fashion, Rose Ann said: 'Everyday [she] will go to the closet and we'll pick out what she will be wearing that day; it may be a pair of trousers or it may be a little jump suit. 'She has many ball gowns, coats, sweaters, pajamas, onesies, and she has skirts and she has dresses and she has jeans and blankets. 'And hats and hats and more hats and shoes - she has a pair of Uggs.' Bella Mia has her own bedroom complete with a double bed. Pretty in pink: Touching on Bella Mia's penchant for fashion, Rose Ann said: 'Everyday [she] will go to the closet and we'll pick out what she will be wearing that day; it may be a pair of trousers or a little jump suit' Unbreakable bond: The 60-year-old accountant, who has two adult sons, says Bella Mia is the 'daughter she never had' and likes to refer to her as a child instead of an animal . Spoiled rotten: Bella Mia has her own bedroom complete with a double bed . Fine-dining: The pooch (seen above with her owners Rose Ann and Walter Bolasny) is regularly spoon-fed at the dinner table and treated to five-star restaurants when traveling the world . She is regularly spoon-fed at the dinner table and treated to five-star restaurants when traveling the world. Rose Ann, who shares her home with retired husband Walter, 82, is also mother to sons Robert, 38 and Louis, 32. The dog-lover said: 'When my son came home with Bella Mia I wasn't sure I wanted a dog. I was hoping to spend some time traveling with my husband after my sons left home. 'But when he walked through the door with her it was love at first sight. When I first saw her and they put me in her arms my heart just melted.' And on her third birthday in April last year, the charming canine entered into the couple's trust fund after they changed their wills and now stands to inherit a newly purchased house in Florida. Rose Ann said: 'Prior to doing it I discussed having Bella Mia included in the trust fund with my sons and they totally understood. 'I explained to them that I know they love Bella Mia very much but I wanted to make sure that if anything happens to us she was taken care in the way that she's used to. Costume drama: Bella Mia is seen in her bedroom, strewn with clothing all over the floor . What to wear! The canine boasts more than 1,000 outfits in her specially designed walk-in closets and jazzes up ensembles with diamond and pearl jewelry . Getting comfortable: The dog's bed features plush toys and a bedside lamp . Not just a pretty face: But despite living an incredibly opulent lifestyle, Rose Ann is quick to point out the positive work her pet does . Giving back: As a charity dog, Bella Mia goes to the Ronald McDonald House each week as well as different nursing homes . Modeling shoot: Initially Rose Ann's approach to pet ownership was more standard - until she joined a meet up for Maltese dog owners in New York . getting into character: She soon discovered a world of pet clothes and animal fashion shows . 'My sons at that point were not part of that house because it's a recent purchase. 'It was Bella Mia's third birthday and my husband and I wanted to leave her that house for her birthday.' But despite living an incredibly opulent lifestyle, Rose Ann is quick to point out the positive work her pet does. As a charity dog, Bella Mia goes to the Ronald McDonald House each week as well as different nursing homes. Initially Rose Ann's approach to pet ownership was more standard - until she joined a meet up for Maltese dog owners in New York. She said: 'There was a world out there that I had absolutely no idea existed - I walked in and all these dogs were dressed in clothes.' 'I had like little harnesses for Bella Mia but she certainly didn't have a wardrobe. Proud owner: Rose Ann poses at home in front of pictures of her dog . New York state of mind: At just a few months old Bella Mia won the prestigious Westminster New York Fashion Show - and developed a taste for the finer things in life . Wheely happy: Rose Ann says that some people might think she's overly extravagant with the money she lavishes on Bella Mia but they don't realize what joy the pet brings . 'So afterwards I went to one of these doggy places and I bought about a half a dozen dresses and jewellery and bows and ribbons. 'They were having a contest that day and I entered Bella Mia into the contest and it was actually the first contest she had ever won. So we were hooked from there.' And at just a few months old Bella Mia won the prestigious Westminster New York Fashion Show - and developed a taste for the finer things in life. Next on the schedule is being bridesmaid at a wedding for her fellow four-legged friends, which she will attend with her boyfriend, Bogey. Rose Ann says that some people might think she's overly extravagant with the money she lavishes on Bella Mia but they don't realize what joy the pet brings. The doting owner concluded: 'We love her with our whole heart and soul and what I love more about her is that she proves that beauty is not just a pretty face, beauty radiates from the inside out.' | Bella Mia is a three-year-old full-breed Maltese from New York . She is said to be one of the richest dogs in the world . Last year, her owner Rose Ann Bolasny gave her a $100,000 allowance . The 60-year-old accountant says Bella Mia is the 'daughter she never had' and likes to refer to her as a child instead of an animal . | d7345d81e7e9eee8d7b0140cb7076db1b4c4cc7a |
Jonathan Parker was suspended after pupils' parents complained his comments were racist . A teacher has been suspended after being accused of racism over satirical Facebook posts about Ukip and Muslims. Jonathan Parker wrote a series of messages on the social network last May in which he 'blamed Muslims' for Sainsbury's running out of pork chops, and jokingly urged followers to 'Vote Ukip'. Parents of pupils at Washwood Heath Academy in Birmingham, investigated among other schools amid claims of the spread of Islamic extremism as part of the Trojan Horse scandal, considered the remarks racist and complained. Mr Parker was suspended as a result and is currently being investigated by staff at the school. Among his posts, the teacher said he was writing a book 'about students' which he would call 'Fifty Shades of c***'. In response to a friend who wrote: 'Muslims cause cancer,' the teacher replied: 'Muslims cause paedophilia,' and in a separate post he wrote: 'Sainsburys have run out of pork chops. I blame the Muslims. Vote UKIP.' 'Bloody tax dodging immigrants. If they paid their own way we'd have more money for health, education, public services and pensions. Right I'm off for a STARBUCKS. Vote UKIP,' was another, while a separate message read: 'Halal meat used in curry houses up and down the country! Hands off our national dish! Vote UKIP.' His comments were considered 'inflammatory' by a parent at the school which is still reeling from an Ofsted investigation into claims Islamic extremism was being promoted by teachers. Scroll down for video . 'Teachers should not be saying this kind of stuff even as a joke. It is racist. 'The language used at a time when tensions are high in the city is completely unprofessional. 'Teachers have a duty outside of work to uphold the professions standards and all this has done is fuel the fire within the community. 'They are highly inflammatory comments when you consider most of the pupils are Muslim at the school.' The teacher was accused of racism after posting a string of 'highly inflammatory' comments on Facebook (above) A 15-year-old pupil added: 'He's always been a popular teacher so we were very shocked when we saw these comments. 'A lot of the pupils are furious about what has happened and were upset and offended that a teacher we trust could say these things.' But a friend of Mr Parker said the posts were intended as jokes to poke fun at the Ukip during last May's European Elections. The man, who did not want to be named, said: 'The messages were to friends only and were satirical, made at the time of the European elections last May, directed against UKIP by sending up the anti-Islamic aspects of their campaign.' Washwood Heath Academy was among schools investigated as part of the Trojan Horse scandal over claims teachers were promoting the spread of Islamic extremism in secular schools . Washwood Heath Academy headteacher Bev Mabey said confirmed a staff member had been suspended in June. 'Washwood Heath Academy Trust can confirm a member of staff has been suspended. 'An investigation is ongoing and it would inappropriate to comment further at this time.' Washwood Heath teaches 1,400 boys and girls from the age of 11 to 18, most of whom are Muslim. This summer, 57 per cent of students achieved 5 A* - C grades at GCSE including English and Maths. | Jonathan Parker was suspended from Washwood Heath Academy . PE teacher wrote a series of Facebook posts described as 'racist' 'Blamed Muslims' for Sainsbury's running out of pork chops in one . In another he replied to a friend: 'Muslims cause paedophilia' A friend of Mr Parker said posts were made in jest and satirised Ukip . Parents of pupils at Birmingham school described them as 'racist' School was among those investigated as part of Trojan Horse scandal . Looked into amid claims teachers were spreading Islamic extremism . | a3b4cc1b2b952adaa98102c39ef62c8d06cac9aa |
By . Daniel Mills . Friends of Philip Vassallo gathered at the crash scene where they left flowers and hand written notes . A Sydney teenager who was tragically killed when his car collided with a ute in Sydney's western suburbs had a passion for cars, but loved none more than the one he died in - his refurbished Nissan Datsun. Friends of Phillip Vassallo, 17, say they are in disbelief over the tragic crash which claimed the life of the popular teenager on Friday night and left his passenger, friend Justin Galea, with severe injuries. Police said the Penrith road where the teenager died is a popular street racing circuit, but friends - including one who said he saw the tragedy unfold - said Philip was not speeding or taking part in the illegal activity before he died. A police spokeswoman wouldn't comment on whether speeding or street racing was a factor, but an earlier police statement confirmed Philip was killed when his car collided with a HiLux utilitiy both travelling east along Andrews Road. It is understood he was performing a U-Turn outside the place he worked before crashing. Police are investigating whether the vehicle he spent his money, heart and soul on, was modified with a high-performance engine that would would have made it illegal for him as a provisional licence holder to drive. But despite this his friend Andrew Xiberras, who said witnessed one of his 'best mates pass away,' took to Facebook to dispel any suggestion that Philip was speeding. 'Take it from the person who saw one of his best mates pass away. There was no street racing or drinking while we were out,' Adrian Xiberras wrote on Facebook. Another told media at the scene that Philip wouldn't put his life in jeopardy because he 'didn't want anything to happen' to the beloved Datsun he was driving. 'I never knew him to be a silly driver because he loved that car so much and didn't want anything to happen to it,' Angus Erhl said. Philip Vassallo, 17, spent the money he earned as a Mechanic on his Blue Datsun ute . Philip's own personal profile, and many other comments relating to the news of his death, have been flooded with love hearts and messages of disbelief. 'You were only seventeen, taken way to soon buddy. We remember you as that bubbly, kind hearted, outgoing boy. You will be dearly missed,' Lauren Xerri wrote. Those close to the 17-year-old also gathered at the scene of the accident on Saturday laying flowers and writing messages of love and support. A group of school friends sat silently at the scene, coming to terms with the tragic circumstances which claimed the life of their young friend and lover of all things motor vehicles just hours earlier. More... Woman dead after Sydney car crash . Family lose son in ATV crash only two weeks after daughter was killed in horrific car accident . The Sun Herald reported that Philip was a second year apprentice who spent the money he earned on his Datsun. His friends posted a photo on social media of them holding up car parts along a blue Datsun ute. Police Inspector Mark Cook said the crash was a clear reminder to young motorists, of which 35 between 17 and 25 have died on NSW roads this year, to take care. 'They need to take their time, be rested, not travel too close and don't use a mobile phone or text or even drink and drive,' he told The Sun Herald. Andrews Road near Penrith is a stretch of road police say is commonly known to be popular with illegal street racing . | Philip Vassallo, 17, died when his Datsun collided with a Hilux Ute in Sydney's western suburbs . The Hilux driver was uninjured but Philip's passenger sustained serious injuries . Police are investigating whether speed or street racing was a factor in the teenager's death . Friends of Philip, including a witness, believed he was not racing illegally . He was a car enthusiast with a passion for the one he was killed in . | ec180568a19f45f073254385d7a1c9a6dc12d04a |
'Make us a brew’ and ‘I’m starved’ are well known and understood phrases in Britain - but they do not tend to be taught in English lessons. As a result, foreign nurses in the NHS are having such difficulty understanding some patients they are being sent on intensive courses to help them understand local dialects. Greek and Italian staff recruited to work at Wolverhampton’s New Cross Hospital are to be sent on the courses after struggling to grasp the strong local dialect. Foreign nurses at Wolverhampton's New Cross Hospital are to be sent on a course where they will learn the local dialect because they are struggling to understand patients with strong Black Country accents . The nurses are fluent in English, but the distinctive dialect in the Black Country has left them baffled. As a result, nearly 80 staff will be sent on a six week course at the University of Wolverhampton to be versed in local sayings like ‘bostin’ which means ‘great’ and ‘I cor’ for ‘I can’t’. David Loughton, chief executive of the Royal Wolverhampton NHS Trust, said it made sense to teach the nurses some Black Country language. He said: ‘You can teach English to people overseas but the dialect needs to be taught here. The nurses will learn phrases such as 'make us a brew' while they are on the six week course . ‘It just makes sense to do it. The English they know is probably not the language they’ll get thrown at them in hospital. ‘Even the ones that are proficient in English will have to do some further education in terms of the Black Country dialect.’ University spokesman James Allen said the university was more than happy to tweak their lessons a touch to add a bit of local flavour. He added: ‘It won’t be a case of ‘I cor do that’ they’ll soon be asking ‘ow bist yow?’ ‘We’re proud to be working with the hospital in providing English classes to their new nursing staff. ‘As part of that we’ll be teaching the nurses the nuances of the Black Country dialect, which they will need when dealing with patients.’ Initially nurses were going to be hired from India, China and the Philippines because of a shortage of qualified nurses in the UK, but this soon changed to southern Europe. The nurses will be paid a salary of £21,500, as is consistent with NHS guidelines. The recruitment drive follows criticism for the trust from national health body the Care Quality Commission. They demanded action be taken after a hospital inspection revealed that at night there was just one registered nurse for every 10 patients. Bostin' - this is a commonly used word meaning amazing, very good or excellent. Our kid - a Black Country term for a younger sibling. Babby - a Black Country variation of the word baby - it can also be shortened to bab. Fittle - a local term for food. Yampy - someone who is going mad or is silly/has done something daft. To lamp - to punch someone - 'lamping' is beating someone up. Ta-ra a bit - this means goodbye and see you soon. Blarting - a Black Country word for crying or bawling. Donnies - a local term for hands - particularly used when talking to children. Source: Birmingham Mail . | Nurses at Wolverhampton's New Cross Hospital will be sent on the course . The Greek and Italian staff speak English but struggle with the local accent . The six week long course will be held at the University of Wolverhampton . | 13189488007280b3815aa080a85a2e05ab747b57 |
(CNN)MERS-CoV, short for Middle East Respiratory Syndrome coronavirus, first surfaced in Saudi Arabia in spring 2012. As of June 8, more than 1,000 cases of MERS have been confirmed in 25 countries, according to the World Health Organization. Two of those cases were in the United States. There have been over 400 deaths worldwide. Here are five things you should know about MERS: . It's a coronavirus . MERS is in the same family of viruses as SARS (severe acute respiratory syndrome -- coronavirus) as well as the common cold. However, unlike SARS, which sickened more than 8,000 people in 2003 and killed 773 worldwide, MERS does not spread easily between humans -- at least not yet. The virus acts like a cold and attacks the respiratory system, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has said. But symptoms, which include fever and a cough, are severe and can lead to pneumonia and kidney failure. Gastrointestinal symptoms such as diarrhea have also been seen, according to the WHO. The average age of MERS victims is 51, officials say, although the ages range from 2 to 94. Researchers don't know how MERS spreads . Although all MERS cases have been linked to six countries on the Arabian Peninsula, limited human-to-human transmission has been seen among people in close contact with patients, including health care workers. Although such transmission appears to be limited, health officials are concerned about MERS because of its virulence -- it can be fatal in up to one-third of cases, Dr. Anne Schuchat, assistant surgeon general for the U.S. Public Health Service and director of the National Center for Immunization and Respiratory Diseases, said Friday. "The virus has not shown to spread in a sustained way in communities," the CDC says on its website. The WHO and CDC have not issued any travel warnings related to MERS, although the CDC suggests travelers to the Arabian Peninsula practice "enhanced precautions." And "you are not considered to be at risk for MERS-CoV infection if you have not had close contact, such as caring for or living with someone who is being evaluated for MERS-CoV infection," according to the CDC website. Camels appear to be a link in the MERS chain . Camels may be one clue. In a paper published earlier this week, researchers said they had isolated the live MERS virus from two single-humped camels, known as dromedaries. And in February, scientists published a finding that nearly three-quarters of camels in Saudi Arabia tested positive for past MERS exposure. MERS was also found in a bat in Saudi Arabia, the CDC says. "The way humans become infected from an animal and/or environmental source is still under investigation," the WHO said last month. It may have a seasonal pattern . Officials have noted a surge in MERS cases this spring, and a similar increase was also seen last spring, Schuchat said on Friday. But they don't know whether the factors that lead to MERS may have a seasonal pattern, or whether the virus changes to become more easily transmissible. There are no treatments and no vaccine . As of now, doctors can treat symptoms of MERS, such as fever or breathing difficulties, Schuchat said. However, there is no vaccine and no specific medicine, such as an antiviral drug, that targets MERS. | MERS has shown limited human-to-human transmission . It's in the same family as SARS and the common cold . There is no treatment and no vaccine . | 5f227b1f236dd02f006f8eee05442333f12fcecb |
By . Mark Duell . Last updated at 11:27 PM on 16th December 2011 . Planned legislation to attack internet piracy will give the government too much power to close websites, a group of internet founders have warned. A collective of more than 80 of the internet’s creators have claimed a new bill could damage America’s credibility and create ‘fear and uncertainty’. The founders of Google, Twitter, Yahoo! and other major websites have also slammed the Stop Online Piracy Act being . considered in Congress. Worried: Vint Cerf, one of the 'fathers of the internet', is in a group who have claimed the bill could damage U.S. credibility and create 'fear and uncertainty' ‘If enacted, either of these bills will create an environment of tremendous fear and uncertainty for technological innovation,’ the group warned. ‘(They will) seriously harm the credibility of the United States in its role as a steward of key Internet infrastructure,’ they said in a letter, reported AFP. The inventors, engineers and developers are worried about the bill in the House of Representatives - and a Senate version called the Protect IP Act. Their major concern is that U.S. authorities could soon be able to close ‘an incredible range of useful, law-abiding sites’ with the bills. Downloads: The group's major concern is that U.S. authorities could soon be able to close 'an incredible range of useful, law-abiding sites' with the bills . ‘Both bills will risk fragmenting the internet's global domain name system and have other capricious technical consequences,’ the group said. 'If enacted, either of these bills will create an environment of tremendous fear and uncertainty for technological innovation' Stop Online Piracy Act group . Vint Cerf, one of the ‘fathers of the internet’, is one of those who signed the open letter to Congress in an attempt to stop the bill happening. The group is worried that the extra censorship being considered could put the U.S. on a par with notorious online policing in China and Iran. But the laws have been backed by the music and film industries, manufacturing groups and the U.S. Chamber of Commerce, reported AFP. Unhappy: Google's executive chairman Eric Schmidt, pictured, has called the bill 'draconian' and policy counsel Katherine Oyama has also criticised it . Google has been one of the most outspoken opponents of the anti-piracy legislation and has urged lawmakers to think again. It wants politicians to instead work on legislation that cuts off revenue to rogue sites via the courts and avoids any 'collateral damage'. Google’s executive chairman Eric Schmidt has called the bill 'draconian' and the company's policy counsel Katherine Oyama has also criticised it in public. The company, in solidarity with tech giants Yahoo!, Facebook, Twitter, eBay and others, has run full-page advertisements in major newspapers. It also banded with AOL, eBay, Facebook, LinkedIn, Mozilla, Twitter, Yahoo! and Zynga to file a formal complaint in a letter to key lawmakers. Other critics, including website Reddit, launched an effort to combat the proposal by placing 'Stop censorship' titles over their own logos. The Stop Online Piracy Act has pit internet giants, consumer groups and freedom of speech advocates against film studios and record labels. The House bill would allow a private party to go straight to a website's advertising and payment providers and request they sever ties. 'Anyone with an axe to grind could send a notice without first involving law enforcement (or) judicial process,' Google's Katherine Oyama fumed. But advocates of the legislation say current law leaves few options for copyright holders whose products end up on foreign websites. The U.S. Justice Department could also request court orders to compel search engines and other sites to block domain names or search results. | 80 of internet's creators write open letter to Congress . Stop Online Piracy Act is currently being considered . Fears over authorities gaining too much online control . | 43f7c78c1fe4dbc2a9aea00708dbf0fe999f6a8c |
By . Francine Wolfisz and Mark Duell . PUBLISHED: . 11:11 EST, 9 September 2012 . | . UPDATED: . 09:25 EST, 10 September 2012 . A woman has been killed and a man is fighting for his life after a horrific crash with their motorbike at a speed trials event. 38-year-old Charlotte Tagg, from Suffolk, was riding in the sidecar of a black Honda Asco when the motorbike crashed during the Brighton Speed Trials on Saturday. Witnesses said the bike failed to stop at the end of the track at the Dukes Mound end of Madeira Drive in the seaside town and smashed straight into a barrier. Under investigation: Police are appealing for witnesses to the crash in Madeira Drive, Brighton . The 64-year-old driver, from London, . was taken to Brighton’s Royal Sussex County Hospital following the crash . at 6.15pm and is said to be in a critical condition. Sergeant Huw Watts of Sussex Police’s Road Policing Unit said: ‘Although formal identification has not yet taken place we believe that the woman who tragically died at the Brighton Speed Trials is Charlotte. ‘Our thoughts are with her friends and family at this time. ‘We are continuing to investigate the circumstances surrounding the collision and would still like to hear from anyone who witnessed the incident and has not yet spoken to police.’ Leonard Wooller vice chair of Brighton and Hove Motor Club said: ‘We don’t know what the cause of the accident was and we will have to wait for the results of the investigation. ‘We’ve not had a fatality at the event for many, many years. ‘It was a great event that unfortunately started slowly because police were investigating a stabbing in Madeira Drive and ended badly with this accident.’ Fatal crash: The female passenger of this black Honda Asco died and the male driver is in critical condition following the collision at the Brighton Speed Trials . Tragic: According to witnesses, the bike hit a barrier after failing to stop at the end of the track . Allan Weyman, who was visiting the event from Watford, said: ‘I was there and saw the driver and pillion passenger lining up to do their run earlier in the day and thought at the time what an extraordinary looking machine unlike any of the others. ‘I as concerned to see the helicopter land as I approached the scene of the crash looking down from the main road, and by the general body language of those on the scene plus the police presence I feared the worse. ‘My heart goes out to the woman’s family and the driver of the machine.’ Tens of thousands of spectators had headed to the seafront for the historic speed trials with almost 400 motorists scheduled to take part in the quarter mile drag run along the seafront in classic cars and bikes. No other vehicles were involved, but . the road was closed as oil spread across the tarmac following the . collision. Sussex Police have now asked for any witnesses to come . forward. A spokesman for Brighton Speed Trials . told the East Anglian Daily Times: ‘We work incredibly hard throughout . the year to ensure the safety standards are met. ‘It’s a tragic accident that’s happened and we need to find out exactly what happened before we do anything else. ‘Obviously our condolences go out to the family of this woman. It’s awful and a horrendous thing to happen.’ 'Our condolences go out to the family of this woman. It’s awful and a horrendous thing to happen' Brighton Speed Trials spokesman . The speed trials, which are organised . each year by the Brighton and Hove Motor Club and showcase a wide . variety of cars and motorbikes, were first held in 1905. Following the crash, people left condolence messages on the Brighton Speed Trials Facebook page. John Dyson, of Upminster, north-east . London, said: 'I have just heard the horrifying news. Our hearts go out . to the families concerned for the loss they will have to endure for the . rest of their lives.' Historic: The Brighton Speed Trials have been running since 1905 and showcase cars and motorbikes . Sunny days: Brighton beach (pictured yesterday) was packed at the weekend as people enjoyed the weather . Another racing fan, Ian Stevens, left . the comment: 'Sad when things like this happen. Thoughts go out to . family, friends and those that had to deal with the incident.' Just hours earlier, a stabbing in Madeira Drive had threatened to postpone the speed trials. Police were called to the scene just after 2.30am, where they found a 60-year-old man with serious injuries. He was taken to hospital and is in a serious condition. A 30-year-old man was arrested. | Suffolk woman Charlotte Tagg was racing in sidecar of black Honda Asco . Male driver left in critical condition after it smashed into a barrier . Hours earlier, a 60-year-old man was stabbed close to crash scene . Brighton Speed Trials team works 'incredible hard to ensure safety' | 507e643f31c05565454e380e008559e62a8a849b |
WASHINGTON (CNN) -- Actor, author and Parkinson's disease activist Michael J. Fox spoke with CNN's "Larry King Live" to be aired Thursday. Michael J. Fox: "I still travel with my kids, and I'm with them part of the day, every day." In the interview, Fox, who was diagnosed with Parkinson's in 1991, talks about his new book, which he describes as "a memoir of the last 10 years." In it, he explores the nature of optimism. He also talked about his family, a new approach to acting and President Obama's lifting of a ban on stem cell research, among other things. Here are some excerpts from the show. Larry King: He's founder of The Michael J. Fox Foundation for Parkinson's Research. He's a best-selling author -- the new book is "Always Looking Up." By the way, he has got an ABC special, "Michael J. Fox: Adventures of an Incurable Optimist." It airs on May 7. You remain -- is it easy to be an optimist? Michael J. Fox: Well, for me it's second nature. It's just the way I look at life. And it's certainly a challenge now for most people to be optimistic, obviously, with all of the troubles we have and the problems that the country is facing. But I think it's exactly in those times when our optimism kicks in highest gear. I think -- there's an expression that I like that I always use: "Don't wish for a lighter load, wish for broader shoulders." And I think that people are really -- I see a lot of broader shoulders these days, people are really working on the delts, you know? King: What was it like when you were diagnosed? Fox: Well, you know, it's hard to describe it, because I was so young, I was 29 years old. And so Parkinson's is not what you expect to hear. I had a twitch in my pinky and I figured it was some kind of nerve damage or I'd done something probably athletic. ... But then I got this diagnosis, and I thought the guy was kidding. And then it was shock, and then I had a certain amount of fear and I started to react to it in certain ways. I started drinking more heavily as a way of self-medicating it. And it took me -- you know, it's funny, because I sit and talk about "Always Looking Up" and being optimistic, and accept the losses and move on or find new gains, but it took me about seven years, I think, to really get to the point where I could tell people about it. ... I was diagnosed in '91, and it wasn't until '98 that I admitted publicly that it was a situation I was facing. King: It is not life-threatening, is it? Fox: No. And I would say you don't die from it, but you -- up to now, you'll definitely die with it if you have it. ... King: Why did you write the book? Fox: The book was -- I wrote the first book because I had to, I think I had to kind of tell that story just for myself, just kind of to acknowledge all of the work that I had done on getting through that journey. And then this book was -- I thought about writing another, and I thought about people responding so positively to the optimism in the first book. And so many people wanted to talk to me about that. So I thought, well, optimism: What is optimism? And so I started to think about it more kind of empirically, writing a book about optimism as a subject, and interviewing researchers about it and talking to people who are optimistic and traveling to places where people are optimistic and all of this stuff. ... So I had to kind of tell it -- I couldn't tell, talk about optimism without -- and separate it from my experience. I had to make it part of my experience. So then, having done that, and written this book, which is really a memoir of the last 10 years, I still have these questions about optimism. So I went to ABC and I said, 'There was a thing I was going to do a book on, but I'd like to do a documentary special on.' And they said, great. And so we've been traveling around, talking to optimists. We went to Bhutan, which is a country in the Himalayas that actually measures its gross national happiness along with its GDP. King: Really? Fox: Yes. And it makes decisions on its development as a country based on how to affect the happiness of the people. And the people are uniformly happy. It's amazing. ... King: Speaking of optimism, in March, President Obama lifted the ban on federal financing for embryonic stem cell research. You've long fought for that. You've got to feel like a -- it has come true. ... Watch Fox's talk about the lifting of the ban » . King: When you act, is it hard? Fox: Oh, yes. I don't have any access to the same tool kit that I always had. But it's like anything. It's like, you find new ways of doing things. And in those new ways, you maybe are able to do things you couldn't do before in ways you might not have approached before. And that's my whole kind of philosophy of life is -- in dealing with Parkinson's or any kind of setback or loss, is that if you avoid it or it creates a hole that you try to fill up with other stuff, with your ego and your needs and your wants and your control issues, then you're just going to dig deeper in a hole. But if you just recognize, 'look, it is what it is' -- now what's around it? I mean, the only thing that I don't have a choice about is whether I have Parkinson's. Everything else I have a choice about. ... Fox explains how he handles the bad days » . King: Parts of your book are a love letter to your wife, Tracy. Without being saccharine, how important has she been? Fox: I couldn't have made the journey that I've made without her. And certainly I wouldn't have this family that I have. And three-quarters of our children were born after the diagnosis. And we knew what we were facing, what we were dealing with, and had some sense of what the prospects were, although they've turned out a lot better than we could have imagined. I mean, I'm 20 years after diagnosis, and there's very little that I don't do now that I used to do. I still travel with my kids, and I'm with them part of the day, every day. King: How old are they now? Fox: My oldest is 19 -- he'll be 20 next month. And the twins are going into high school next year; they are 14. And then I have a 7-year-old. | Fox gratified Obama lifted ban on federal money for embryonic stem cell research . He says the research doesn't guarantee a cure, but it can't hurt . Fox has some bad days, but he tries to separate the physical from the emotional . | fb3c5b6ff747491268eef5d74cdf01f2f0ab9232 |
Kurdish fighters from Iraq have finally arrived in Kobani in northern Syria to reinforce Syrian Kurds in the battle against ISIS for control of the town. A Kurdish activist in Kobani said late Friday he saw more than 100 Kurdish fighters known as Peshmerga cross over the Turkish border with their vehicles to the embattled city's west, near a key hill called Tal Shair. Another witness said he saw a large convoy of armed vehicles pass his house, headed toward the unofficial border crossing on the city's western side Friday evening. They were accompanied by Turkish military, as they drove on the Turkish side, he said. This is the largest reported crossing of reinforcements to help the the Syrian Kurds defending the besieged Kobani. It's unclear whether more help is on the way. ISIS, the Sunni Muslim extremist militant group, has been fighting to take Kobani for about six weeks, hoping to add it to the territory it already captured in parts of Syria and Iraq for what it calls its new independent Islamic nation. Word of the Peshmerga's arrival follows complaints from Syrian Kurds, accusing Turkey of causing delays in the fighters' arrival. The Peshmerga were supoosed to arrive Thursday night or Friday morning, according to Polat Can, spokesman for Syrian Kurdish fighters, part of the People's Protection Units, or YPG. "We do not know why it is delayed. We think the delay is caused by Turkey," Can said Friday morning. "ISIS has been focusing its attacks on the border gate for the past five days to prevent Peshmerga and other support from coming, but they have not made progress. We have taken back some areas," Can added. Syria has been embroiled in a three-year civil war, with government troops battling ISIS and other rebels elsewhere, leaving Kobani's ethnic Kurds to defend the city, with U.S. airstrikes -- part of a larger U.S.-led coalition effort against ISIS in the region -- intermittently taking out ISIS targets in the area. Meantime, the airstrikes against those targets continued Thursday and Friday as part of Operation Inherent Resolve with four more carried out in Syria and Iraq, Central Command said in a Facebook post. "Separately, U.S. and partner nation military forces conducted four airstrikes in Iraq Thursday and today using fighter and remotely piloted aircraft against ISIL terrorists," Central Command said. | Peshmerga are now inside Kobani proper . A large contingent of Peshmerga arrive late Friday . Pershmerga arrival is largest reported crossing of reinforcements so far . More airstrikes carried out in Syria and Iraq against ISIS targets . | f008c1f4f70dbdcccca7dd6b2b483e5ca306d364 |
By . Stuart Woledge . PUBLISHED: . 11:42 EST, 12 August 2013 . | . UPDATED: . 11:51 EST, 12 August 2013 . A Facebook page in France inciting racial hatred and calling for the elimination of Roma gypsies has been taken down following a public outcry. Adopte un Gitan - translated into English as Adopt a Gypsy - caused outrage with one rights' group in France when it was posted earlier this month. Roma group Amaro Drom, based in Bouches-du-Rhone in the south of the country, reported the matter to police for incitement of racial hatred, when it got wind of the page, which received 800 'likes'. Outrage: The Facebook page that was accused of inciting racial hatred has been taken down, but not before it was 'liked' by 800 users . The page labelled Roma gypsys . 'thieves'. One image on the page showed members of the musical group the Gypsy . Kings covered in yellow stars reading 'Jew'. President Véronique Labbe told English speaking news service The Local: 'We cannot allow this flood of hatred against the gypsy community on a social network.' In her complaint, shared on her blog, . Ms Labbe pointed out that one post on the page read: 'Gypsies? We shouldn’t adopt . them, we have to eliminate them.' Ms Labbe argued the people who 'liked' the page should be reprimanded and has urged that Facebook be monitored more closely in future. She said: 'I . hope the police will look at social networks more closely, because . anyone young or old can start a page or open an account and incite . racial hatred against Roma people or anyone they want. It should not be that way.' She is refusing to let the matter lie, saying the page was closed down, only to reopen last Tuesday. She said: 'Well, it was already closed down once, and then it was opened again on Tuesday – why? 'So this is definitely not the end of the story.' Adopte un Gitan: In the latest attack on Roma gypsies in France, a Facebook page was set up reportedly calling for their 'elimination' The UK's life president of the Gypsy Council Hughie Smith backed Ms Labbe. He said: 'This does not surprise me at all. It's nothing new as far as we're concerned. 'We've had it for centuries, people trying to get rid of us and we're still here. 'It sounds to me as if it's a load of . crackpots. I think Facebook should be providing some kind of filter for . this kind of thing. 'It's always been going on, but there are pockets in different parts of this country that are worse than others and we've got to work hard to be accepted.' The page's creator has not yet been identified, although Ms Labbe told English speaking news webisite RFI she believed neo nazis were behind it. A rival Facebook page was set up in answer, called 'For the closure of Adopt a Gypsy.com'. That has already received 1,207 people as members. The public prosecutor has said it is too early to determine the next steps. Attacked: Roma gypsies were branded 'thieves' on the Facebook page, which has now been taken down . The Facebook page is not the first time France has seen racist comments directed at the Roma population. Last week a mayor in central France threatened to kill himself if travellers returned to his village. And last month, centrist French deputy Gilles Bourdouleix allegedly suggested 'maybe Hitler didn’t kill enough gypsies'. He later resigned over the matter. Bourdouleix was said to have made the comments under his breath during a meeting with travellers at a camp in the western town of Cholet, where he is mayor. Earlier in the summer, the European Roma and Travellers Forum (ERTF) announced it would be suing Jean-Marie Le Pen, founder of the far-right National Front, for incitement to racial hatred. The 85-year-old right-wing firebrand made comments in Nice on July 4th where he labelled the local Roma community a 'smelly' and 'rash-inducing' presence in the southern city. The following day, the city’s mayor and centre-right UMP deputy Christian Estrosi also caused outrage by labelling the Roma community 'criminals' and proposing tougher measures for dealing with them, including installing video surveillance in Roma and traveller camps. | Roma gypsies branded 'thieves' in the latest attack in France . The website page, which called for their 'elimination', received 800 'likes' A photo of the pop band Gypsy Kings was doctored to spell 'Jew' Calls now made for Facebook to take a tougher stance against racists . | ed9ebd016bf272f7734beb38c32d8cdd171536fe |
By . Corey Charlton . First Lady Michelle Obama has been quick to step in and dispel her husband's joke the White House pastry chef's pies are so good he must put crack in them. The well-timed rebuff came during the LGBT Pride Month reception at the White House yesterday. The two were speaking on stage when President Barack Obama decided to give a shout-out to the White House's long time executive pastry chef Bill Yosses. Scroll down for video . President Barack Obama and his wife Michelle at the function where he joked about the special ingredient . Obama said Yosses' pies were so good he was nicknamed 'The Crustmaster'. 'We call Bill "The Crustmaster" because his pies, I don't know what he does - whether he puts crack in them.' Laughter broke out and Obama paused slightly before the First Lady, standing beside him, clarified: 'No he doesn't, there's no crack in our pies.' Obama recovered: 'I'm just saying when we first came to the White House, I don't know if some of you remember this, the first year, my cholesterol shot up. I thought, it's the pie! 'So we had to establish like a really firm rule - no pie during the week.' He then finished his anecdote saying Yosses was leaving after seven years at the White House and he would be sorely missed. | Obama jokes White House pies are so good they might have 'crack' in them . Despite laughter, First Lady quickly clarifies: 'There's no crack in our pies' Chef's work is so delicious President Obama created a no weekday pies rule . | 260f6fdf80b21e6dfba3fdd0b13064af02e8ed61 |
New York (CNN) -- A man who stabbed a New York City taxi driver three years ago after asking whether he was Muslim will serve 9½ years in prison. Michael Enright, 24, pleaded guilty two weeks ago to attempted murder in the second degree as a hate crime and assault in the first degree as a hate crime, the New York Supreme Court clerk's office said. Enright was sentenced Tuesday. In addition to his prison term, he must serve five years of post-release supervision, the clerk's office said. "This was a horrendous crime against an innocent New Yorker. The victim, a native of Bangladesh and the father of four children, has been working and living in our diverse city for nearly three decades. There is no place for bigotry in New York City." District Attorney Cyrus Vance said at Enright's guilty plea proceeding. The taxi driver, Ahmed Sharif, suffered slashes across the neck, face, shoulder and hand in the August 2010 attack, the New York Taxi Workers Alliance said. Enright made an eloquent statement to the court, blaming himself, taking responsibility for the crime and apologizing to the victim, his lawyer, Lawrence Fisher, told CNN on Wednesday. Fisher said he thought the sentence was "severe" for a case in which the victim was released from the hospital within hours. Prosecutors originally recommended 18 years in jail for Enright before dropping it to 9½ years. The minimum sentence is eight years, according to his lawyer. In previous court appearances, Enright's lawyer said his client suffered from post-traumatic stress disorder and alcoholism. After being released on bond with an ankle bracelet, Enright successfully completed both in- and out-patient alcohol rehabilitation, performed community service projects and attended Alcoholics Anonymous, where he became a lecturer and sponsor, according to Fisher. "He's made great strides and has been clean and sober for over two years since he's been released," Fisher said. According to Bhairavi Desai of the Taxi Workers Alliance, Enright, then 21, allegedly began conversing with Sharif before asking whether he was Muslim. Enright then cursed and allegedly shouted, "Assalamu alaikum, consider this a checkpoint." "Assalamu alaikum" is an Arabic greeting that means "peace be upon you." Sharif was then stabbed. Bleeding profusely, he stumbled out of his taxi and managed to flag down a police officer who arrested Enright, the union representative said. Enright, who was a student at the School of Visual Arts in Manhattan, had shot a film on American soldiers serving in Afghanistan, said the director of Intersections International, a nonprofit group that partially funded the trip. Enright was intoxicated the night of the arrest, according to police, who found an empty bottle of scotch in his backpack. The attack occurred amid public debate over plans to build an Islamic cultural center and mosque to be called Park51 two blocks from the site of the September 11, 2001, terrorist attacks on the World Trade Center. CNN's Jessica Naziri and Ashley Fantz contributed to this report. | NEW: Defendant took responsibility, apologized, his lawyer says . Michael Enright, 24, pleaded guilty two weeks ago to hate crime charges . Taxi driver Ahmed Sharif was slashed on his neck, face, shoulder and hand in 2010 . Enright's lawyer has said his client suffered from alcoholism and post-traumatic stress . | 29168d395222544e619407ca513691c8804b69f1 |
By . Daily Mail Reporter . Two sisters were killed in an automobile accident early Friday morning on a Delaware road with a long history of tragedy. Ashlyn and Devyn Sisson, 23 and 22 years old, respectively, were traveling down Paper Mill Road, just north of Newark, Delaware, when the older sister lost control of her 2002 Plymouth Neon, crossed a low concrete median and slammed into a utility pole, killing both women. Their deaths are the ninth and tenth automobile fatalities on that stretch of road since 2000. SCROLL DOWN FOR VIDEO . Tragic: The Sisson sisters, Ashlyn (right) and Devyn (left) were killed in a tragic car accident early Friday morning . The car the sisters were in jumped the median and crashed into a utility pole on a road known for fatal accidents . The two sisters crashed as they were driving home from work at The Greene Turtle Sports Bar and Grille in Newark, where co-workers were grieving the loss of the two young women. 'This is a tragic loss for us, the Turtle family and the . restaurant,' restaurant manager Jerry Mazurowski told Delawareonline.com. He went on to say that the Sisson sisters had worked at the restaurant since it first opened in December of 2012, adding that 'they were great young ladies.' Initial reports show that drugs or alcohol were not a factor in the crash. However, neither sister was wearing her seatbelt. 'They always wore their seat belts,' friend Sydney Pensky told the publication. 'They even put the seat . belt on the dog, Sephora.' History: The Sisson sisters are the ninth and tenth fatalities from car accidents on Paper Mill Road since 2000 . Sephora was Ashlyn's husky, which is now being cared for by family members. Pensky says that if the sisters weren't wearing their seatbelts, it was likely because 'they must have been trying to get out.' Pensky says the women were as close as two sisters could be . 'They were always together like yin and yang,' she said. 'They never . left each other's side. They just got matching tattoos of yin and yang.' The girls' friend says that she is at a loss for what could have caused the crash, as it happened on a road they frequently drove. 'They weren't drinking, they weren't smoking, they were sober,' Pensky said, adding that 'I think there must have been a deer or something.' Authorities are still investigating the crash on the road that has seen several fatal accidents over the last several years. Close: The two sisters did everything together and recently even got matching yin and yang tattoos . According to Delawareonline.com, four construction workers from Mexico were killed in October of 2007, when they collided with another vehicle near the same intersection where the Sisson sisters were killed. The driver of the second vehicle was an unlicensed 17-year-old who had been drinking and also died. Another fatal crash occurred in 2000, killing a Pennsylvania man. Alcohol was factor in that crash, as well, according to the publication. A 23-year-old woman was killed in 2010 when her car crossed over the median near the same intersection on Paper Mill Road, overturned and struck a utility pole. Another crash - this one in October of 2011 - took the life of a 40-year-old woman after a 21-year-old man who later was charged with manslaughter, driving under the influence and driving with a suspended license caused a six-car accident when he rammed into the back of a stopped car near the intersection where the two sisters were killed. | The two sisters were driving home from work when their care went off the road and hit a pole . Ashlyn and Devyn Sisson were inseparable, like 'yin and yang,' one friend recalled . Drugs or alcohol were not a factor in the crash, authorities determined . Neither woman was wearing a seatbelt, which friends say is not like them . One friend suspects a deer ran in front of their car, causing the women to veer off the road . | e484c39d0ebefba997549853b966c6bce5b2b7be |
By . Craig Hope . Follow @@CraigHope01 . Hatem Ben Arfa is an £8million target for Serie A side Roma. Sportsmail understands Newcastle’s management team have lost patience with the France forward, whose form and fitness have dipped since the turn of the year. Ben Arfa is out of contract next summer . and, with a new deal on Tyneside unlikely, the club could . cash in at the end of the season with reports emerging from Italy suggesting Roma are keeping tabs on his situation. Out of shape: Hatem Ben Arfa (right) is short of form and fitness and Newcastle have lost patience . Target: Roma coach Rudi Garcia (left) wants Ben Arfa, which could suit Newcastle manager Alan Pardew . Il Sussidiario have said that the former Marseille man is a target of Roma coach Rudi . Garcia, who sees him operating in the playmaker role. The paper have also . credited Arsenal and Inter Milan with an interest. Meanwhile, Newcastle . boss Alan Pardew and his backroom staff have attempted to tailor a . training programme for Ben Arfa in a bid to bring about an improvement in his form. But the 27-year-old remains far from peak fitness and was visibly out of shape during his last appearance as a substitute at Stoke earlier this month. One on occasion during that match he overran the ball and was clattered into by an opponent, suffering the dead leg which was said to have kept him out of last weekend’s defeat by Swansea City. He subsequently returned to France and it is thought he is unlikely to appear when Newcastle travel to Arsenal on Monday night. Out: Ben Arfa limps off after being injured against Stoke and will probably miss Monday's clash with Arsenal . | Ben Arfa short of form and fitness since turn of the year . Forward missed Swansea loss with injury and unlikely to feature at Arsenal . Gunners and Inter Milan also interested in Ben Arfa, say reports in Italy . | 3c35896fb5b7a240fbf5583b3c33b8aa5bafcbb5 |
By . Claire Bates . UPDATED: . 06:11 EST, 28 December 2011 . Hospital patients in Wales are to be served healthy food that meets mandatory nutritional standards next year - but England will not follow suit, campaigners said today. NHS patients in Wales will receive meals that limits the amount of saturated fat and salt but provides plenty of protein, fruit and vegetables. Food for thought: Nutritious meals are essential to patient recovery . Patients must receive seven to eight drinks per day, water jugs must be changed three times a day and snacks must be available 24 hours a day. All hospitals have been told they must implement the standards, which are being phased in from January, and must be completely in place by 2013. However, no such criteria has been set for hospitals in England. It follows the news that more than one in 10 patients rate hospital food as poor, according to a survey of more than 60,000 NHS patients. The Good Food for Our Money campaign is now calling on Health Secretary Andrew Lansley to follow Wales' lead and implement a system in England. The campaign is a coalition of groups including the National Heart Forum, Patient Concern and the Royal College of Paediatrics and Child Health. A poll of 1,000 people for the group found 84 per cent thought hospitals in England should have to meet minimum standards too. Some 72 per cent were unaware English hospitals do not have to meet minimum standards. Support: The Prince of Wales, Patron of the Soil Association hosted a reception this month for hospitals who are serving local, organic food to their patients on a budget. Pictured with TV chef James Martin . Alex Jackson, co-ordinator of the Good Food for Our Money campaign, said: 'Introducing legally binding standards for hospital food in England is the simplest and most effective way to improve patients' meals. 'It's unacceptable that hospital patients in Wales will be guaranteed healthy meals but patients in England will not. 'Andrew Lansley must listen to the people and introduce these standards as a matter of urgency.' Katherine Murphy, chief executive of the Patients Association, said: 'Patients in hospital need every support to get better and back to their families as soon as possible. 'A healthy and nutritional meal is one of the key steps on the road to recovery. 'Patients must be given nutritionally balanced and healthy meals as standard when in hospital. 'Wales is leading the way when it comes to free prescription charges and it is excellent they are guaranteeing healthy meals in their hospitals. 'Andrew Lansley needs to sit up and take notice and make these initiatives apply in England.' The Prince of Wales, who is Patron of the Soil Association, showed his support for nutritious hospital meals this month by hosting a reception for hospitals who are serving local, organic food on a budget. A spokeswoman for the Department of Health said: 'Hospitals must provide good food and the help needed to eat it - it's an essential part of hospital care. 'We have set binding standards - good hydration and nutrition is a condition of a hospital's registration with the regulator, the Care Quality Commission. 'We have also introduced Government Buying Standards, which hospitals must consider when planning food services. 'The amount of money hospitals are spending on food has gone up over the past five years, and waste is going down. 'Many trusts have excellent food and are serving healthy, fresh meals to their patients whilst staying within budget. 'These trusts set a precedent for others to follow and the whole NHS should be learning from the best trusts.' Earlier this year chef Lloyd Grossman accused NHS bosses of thwarting his attempts to reform hospital meals. The food specialist headed a £40million revamp of NHS menus amid great fanfare in 2000, pledging to replace soggy sprouts and lumpy custard with healthy and tasty dishes. But the initiative was scrapped just five years later, after Mr Grossman left in frustration at the lack of progress. Grossman, who was not paid for his involvement in the initiative, told Channel 4: ‘It seemed so obvious and it still seems so obvious that if you give patients better food they will be happier, they will heal more quickly. ‘There was kind of a prejudice against common sense.' | Welsh patients will receive at least seven drinks a day and have snacks available 24 hours a day . English hospitals do not have to meet even minimum standards . | 803443f56cfd748fc58a1db613c861803fb227f5 |
By . Kirsty Walker . PUBLISHED: . 17:28 EST, 21 August 2012 . | . UPDATED: . 18:02 EST, 21 August 2012 . Pressure is mounting on the Government to reduce air passenger duty after 100,000 people contacted their MPs complaining the tax is unacceptable. The UK now has the highest air passenger tax in the world, prompting warnings it is damaging the economy by hitting industry and finances. Around 75 MPs have also signed an Early Day Motion calling for more Treasury research into the tax, which soared by 8 per cent this year and is an average of £92 per family for a trip to Europe. Complaining about tax: The UK now has the highest air passenger tax in the world and pressure is mounting on the government after 100,000 people complained . The Fair Tax on Flying campaign, run by an alliance of more than 30 airlines and tour operators, says the tax is deterring both UK holidaymakers heading abroad and foreign travellers hoping to visit Britain. The cost of APD for a family of four flying to the United States or Egypt is £260, while those heading to the Caribbean are charged £324. Australia is the most expensive, with taxes reaching £368. Listen: Former LibDem leader Charles Kennedy hopes the Government will listen to complaints and explore the true economic consequences . Virgin Atlantic has calculated this year’s rise in APD will cost passengers an estimated £600million this summer. Over the past seven years, the tax has risen by 360 per cent. Chancellor George Osborne expects to collect £2.2billion in 2011-12 from APD revenues, rising to £3.9billion by 2016-17. Brian Donohoe MP, chairman of the All-Party Parliamentary Group on Aviation, said: ‘For 100,000 people to have written to MPs to make their voice heard is an astonishing show of opposition to the current levels of Air Passenger Duty and concern about the impact they are having on both ordinary families and on the economy. 'I trust the Chancellor takes notice of public opinion and commissions an independent study to look at how APD is damaging the UK economy.’ Former LibDem leader Charles Kennedy is one of the MPs to have signed the motion, which expresses concern about the ‘financial impact on families and their ability to fly’. He said: ‘I hope the Government will . listen to the thousands who have written to them and undertake a . comprehensive impact assessment to establish the true economic . consequences of the increase of APD.’ Other countries: The Netherlands and Spain have reduced or abolished flight tax after realising it affected visitor numbers . Countries, such as the Netherlands and Spain, have reduced or abolished flight tax after realising it was affecting visitor numbers, which in turn had a detrimental effect on the economy. APD was first introduced in 1994 with a £5 rate for the UK/EU and £10 elsewhere. Darren Caplan, chief executive of the Airport Operators Association, added: ‘It is clear beyond any doubt that Air Passenger Duty is now one of the most hated stealth taxes in the UK.’ | The Government is being pressured to reduce air passenger duty after it soared by 8 per cent . The UK now has the highest APD in the world . Around 75 MPs have signed a motion calling for more Treasury research into the tax . | 5d8254b2f4dc99bdab45d70f4bcd1443755aafd6 |
Miami, Florida (CNN) -- Responding angrily to a campaign ad from Newt Gingrich accusing him of being anti-immigrant, Mitt Romney insisted during last week's Republican debate at the University of North Florida in Jacksonville that he has no problem with immigrants. Perhaps not. But the dishonest and cynical way in which the former governor of Massachusetts has dealt with the immigration issue on the campaign trail shows that he has a problem being consistent. In Iowa, New Hampshire and South Carolina, Romney attacked Texas Gov. Rick Perry and former House Speaker Newt Gingrich for immigration proposals that Romney said amounted to "amnesty" for illegal immigrants. But last week, in Florida, where Hispanics account for 22.5 percent of the population, we caught a glimpse of a kinder and gentler Romney. He told the Hispanic Leadership Network, a center-right group, that he would create a "temporary worker permit" for the estimated 11 million illegal immigrants in the United States. However, Romney said, when the permit expires, workers wouldn't be forced to leave the United States. Instead, they would decide their next move themselves depending on their job prospects. His hope is that, at this point, many illegal immigrants would simply "self-deport." Good luck with that. Like former Wyoming Sen. Al Simpson used to say: "There is nothing more permanent than a temporary worker." People fall in love. They get married. They have children. And it becomes harder to remove them, even if we wanted to. Besides, it's not clear that Romney wants to remove anyone. The idea of voluntary deportation is absurd. I bet none of this is going over very well with the voters in the first three primary states who cast their lots for Romney, thinking he was going to be tough on illegal immigration only to find out that he doesn't even have the stomach to forcibly deport undocumented immigrants. Maybe Romney should ask President Barack Obama for pointers. The Obama administration has deported more than 1.2 million illegal immigrants and offers no apologies. Meanwhile, in a telenovela unique to the Florida primary, a group of Latinos who supports Romney called on Gingrich to yank a commercial labeling the frontrunner "anti-immigrant." A similar request came from Florida Sen. Marco Rubio, who while not endorsing Romney, defended him against the charge that he was anti-immigrant. Who does Rubio think he is? His own history with the immigration issue is spotty at best. In 2011, Rubio joined Rep. Lamar Smith of Texas in his efforts to require businesses to participate in a government-run "e-verify" program which is supposed to tell them if a Social Security number is authentic. Rubio also supports the Arizona immigration law -- and presumably others like it around the country -- which forces local and state law officials to enforce federal immigration statutes. In addition, he opposes the DREAM Act, which would give legal status to illegal immigrants who go to college or serve in the military because he considers it "part of some broader effort to grant blanket amnesty." Last week, in a good speech to the Hispanic Leadership Network, Rubio acknowledged that many Republicans -- including himself -- have been slow to condemn anti-immigrant rhetoric from other Republicans. Still, I don't care what Rubio says. Romney has, in this campaign, advanced a tone that is "anti-immigrant." It was Romney who -- bringing back a tactic he used in 2008 against Arizona Sen. John McCain -- painted Rick Perry as soft on illegal immigration. Romney attacked Perry for signing a bill in the Lone Star State that allowed undocumented students to attend state colleges and universities and pay in-state tuition rates. The narrative that Romney pushed was simple: "Illegal immigrants are takers. They take advantage of in-state tuition rates. They take spots in university campuses that should go to U.S. citizens. They take, take, and take some more." Never did Romney mention all that illegal immigrants contribute to society -- by paying taxes, increasing productivity, creating competition, and doing jobs that Americans won't do. Later, with Perry vanquished into the single digits, Romney used the same line of attack against Gingrich, accusing him of advocating a kind of amnesty for illegal immigrants after Gingrich said that he wanted to provide undocumented workers with a "red card" that allowed them to work legally in the country. Romney accused Gingrich of letting illegal immigrants take jobs from American workers. Now as he competes this week for Hispanic votes in Florida -- and, on Feb 4, in Nevada, where Latinos account for 26.5 percent of the population -- Romney must be hoping that Latinos have bad memories. We don't. We never forget a slight. And, in that respect, Romney has given us plenty to remember. Follow CNN Opinion on Twitter . Join the conversation on Facebook . The opinions expressed in this commentary are soley those of Ruben Navarrette Jr. | Ruben Navarrette Jr. says Mitt Romney has been inconsistent on the immigration issue . He says that on the campaign trail, Romney had advanced a position that is anti-immigrant . Navarrette: But in Florida Romney has softened his stance . He says that Latinos don't forget so easily Romney's previous anti-immigrant rhetoric . | 2ecc3a05d40283ad4a52a18de5213e5c87f24e3d |
By . Snejana Farberov . PUBLISHED: . 17:00 EST, 24 April 2012 . | . UPDATED: . 17:01 EST, 24 April 2012 . A former boyfriend of fashion designer Calvin Klein was arrested Tuesday morning for allegedly stashing cocaine and punching a man he brought home with him after a night on the town. The 20-year-old victim told police he suffered a cut to the face during an early-morning fight with 22-year-old Nicholas 'Nick' Gruber at his Greenwich Street penthouse. The victim told the New York Daily News that following the altercation, he considered going home, but decided to call the police instead after seeing blood on his face. Boy toy: Calvin Klein's ex-boyfriend Nicholas Gruber, 22, is accused of punching a man and stashing cocaine . When officers arrived on the scene shortly before 5 am, they said Gruber tried to avoid getting handcuffed by waving his hands in the air. Police also observed that Gruber shoved his hand down his pants in what appeared to be an attempt to hide something, sources told the Post. According to the New York Post, the model and gay porn star was later strip-searched at the 6th Precinct in Manhattan, where police reportedly found cocaine stashed in his underwear. Gruber was charged with possession of a controlled substance, misdemeanor assault and resisting arrest. Gruber gained notoriety after being seen at social events in the Hamptons and around Manhattan in Klein's company. According to multiple reports, the two dated for nearly two years before seemingly growing apart in January. Klein, 69, has not publicly acknowledged the relationship with the much younger man. | The 20-year-old victim told police he suffered a cut to the face during a fight with Nicholas Gruber at his penthouse . Police say Gruber shoved his hand down his pants in an attempt to conceal cocaine . Gruber, 22, and Klein, 69, reportedly dated for two years before growing apart in January . | 9ff842079c3b56c815ee18c18602a30a7dc079cd |
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