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By . Emma Thomas . PUBLISHED: . 07:16 EST, 4 January 2014 . | . UPDATED: . 07:58 EST, 4 January 2014 . Garish bedclothes have been revealed in a shortlist of the world's worst hotel bed linen compiled by a travel website. The clashing hues of red, blue and orange are often paired with questionable carpet choices and flashy fixtures and fittings leaving travellers dazzled. Chintzy flower patterns and seventies-inspired artwork are included in the 'top 10' of worst interior design. Chintzy: This flowery bedspread stands out a mile in the otherwise bland room . Where to start? The curtains, mismatched cushions and artwork pale into comparison next to the bed linen . Sea view: The only thing that saves this room is the sunny view . Garish: The brightly-coloured bedspreads are made worse by the addition of fake flowers . The travel blog, on Top10.com, holds up shining examples of how not to decorate rooms to give your guests a peaceful night's sleep. Favourites include a bed bizarrely decorated with two clashing patterns, fake flowers above the bed and stomach-churning colours. One room is marginally improved by a sea view but even that can't completely distract from the mismatched shades on the sheets and curtains. Alex Buttle, co-founder of hotel price comparison website Top10.com, said: 'From Manchester to Mecca, Lisbon to Las Vegas, it’s clear that garish colours and bizarre patterns abound globally in the mysterious world of hotel bedlinen. Matching: The owners of this hotel liked the pattern so much, they decided to cover the headboard as well . Clashing: The bedspread's pattern jars with the chequered carpet in this room . Keep those sunglasses on! This room has clashing hues of red, blue and orange . Bizarre: Chintzy flower patterns and seventies-inspired artwork are included in the 'top 10' 'These bedspreads take your breath away. It would be interesting to know what the owners of these hotels were thinking when they chose these outlandish colour schemes.' Mr Buttle gave his own advice for hoteliers that might be thinking of turning their hand to interior design. 'Although we would advocate any hotel owner putting their own personal design stamp on their hotel, there are limits,' he added. 'Simple, neutral colours will always be more appealing. 'It looks like some holidaymakers might need to wear their sunglasses in their hotel rooms as well as when they're out and about.' Nautical theme? These blue bedspreads are 'complimented' by the wallpaper border . Bad taste: The shiny green and pink bedspreads are made worse by the wood panelling . | Chintzy flower patterns and seventies-inspired artwork are examples . Shining examples of how not to decorate rooms have been highlighted . Favourites include a bed bizarrely decorated with two clashing patterns . | b19a82649a568c3200224430fcf1bf0cea02ce43 |
Talk about a vast, isolated island wilderness. Michigan's Isle Royale, one of the few island national parks in the United States, is nestled in the northwest corner of Lake Superior, encompassing 850 square miles of road-less backcountry and water accessible only by a three-hour ferry ride or seaplane. It's so big it has its own lake, Siskiwit Lake. The lake also has its own island, Ryan Island. That makes Ryan Island the largest island on the largest lake on the largest island on the largest freshwater lake in the world. In other words, Isle Royale is a destination. It's not on the way to anything, which makes for special kinds of visitors, park ranger Lucas Westcott said. The average stay is three to four days, compared with just a few hours in other national parks, Westcott said. Repeat visitors return each season to explore the park's 165 miles of hiking trails, coastlines, bays and inlets, red sand beaches and rocky shores. The people who visit Isle Royale really want to be there. "When people come here, it's deeply personal to them," Westcott said. "For most people who come here, it gets in your blood and you can't stop, and that's a remarkable environment for me to do what I do." Park stats: Isle Royale was established as a national park in April 1940. The yearly number of visitors to Isle Royale is around 16,500. Location: Isle Royale is in the northwest corner of Lake Superior. It's accessible by boat or seaplane from points in Michigan and Minnesota. If you go: There is a user fee of $4 per day for park visitors ages 12 and older. There are also fees for the four ferries and one seaplane service and other services at the park. Also required: a backcountry/camping permit if you stay overnight in the campgrounds, at dock or anchor out. The park closes for the winter. Meet our ranger: Westcott is no stranger to geographic isolation. He spent part of his childhood in a home his parents built on a mountain in Stephentown, New York, before moving around the rural environs of western Massachusetts. His run with the National Park Service began with a 2001 college internship at South Dakota's Badlands National Park museum, cataloging fossils and museum artifacts. After completing a master's degree in forestry, he was volunteering at the Lincoln Home National Historic Site when a fellow ranger showed him pictures of other parks where he had worked. One was Isle Royale. Its size and location instantly intrigued Westcott. A few years later, he's living his dream of working there. For a day trip, don't miss: Stoll Trail. Named for journalist Albert Stoll, who campaigned to get the island's preserved status, the 4.3-mile loop begins at Rock Harbor on the eastern side of the island and brings visitors to Scoville Point and back. The trail winds back and forth between forest and shoreline, offering stunning views of Scoville Lake, craggy bluffs and barrier islands. Favorite less-traveled spot: Malone Bay, mainly because of the effort it takes to get there. There's only one nine-mile trail that takes visitors there and back, but it's worth the journey for the gorgeous views of Siskiwit Lake, Westcott said. There are also nice campgrounds and a dock for fishing. Favorite spot to view wildlife: Spotting wildlife throughout the park seems to be by luck, not design, Westcott said. For example, no one had seen the pine marten weasel for decades when it suddenly appeared a few years ago. "If you're quiet while hiking, it might happen," he said. "It's part of what makes it really personal for visitors." Most magical moment in the park: The first day he arrived, Westcott sat on the dock by Ranger III, the largest ferry servicing Isle Royale, and realized just how quiet it was. "You become more attuned to what's going on around you," he said. Ranger's favorite other park to visit: Wilson's Creek Battlefield National Battlefield in Missouri, the site of the first major Civil War battle west of the Mississippi River and one of the best preserved battlefields in the country. Visitors can follow a loop trail to see how the battle unfolded, Westcott said. What's your favorite national park and why? Please share in the comments section below. | Isle Royale is one of the few island national parks in the United States . The park offers 850 square miles of backcountry hiking and camping . It's accessible by boat or seaplane from points in Michigan and Minnesota . | a4ebcb3ef34e07b1910cb088a37c759992352f12 |
By . Daily Mail Reporter . Pele's son Edinho, pictured, was jailed for 33 years after he was convicted of money laundering . The son of former Brazil striker Pele has been sentenced to 33 years in prison for laundering money earned from drug trafficking, Brazilian media reported. Edinho, who played as a goalkeeper for his father's former club Santos, served a jail sentence for drug trafficking between 2005 and 2006. At the time, he admitted to being a drug addict but denied trafficking charges. He was found guilty of money-laundering on Friday by a judge in the beachside city of Praia Grande. Four other men accused of being part of the same gang received similar sentences. Edinho, whose real name is Edson Cholbi do Nascimento, is expected to appeal against the judge's decision but must hand over his passport to the authorities. He may be preventively arrested while a higher court considers his appeal. Edinho, 43, currently works as a goalkeeping coach for Santos. His lawyer was not immediately available for comment. Pele, widely regarded as the best footballer of all time, helped Brazil win the World Cup three times.Brazil is hosting this year's World Cup from June 12-July 13. Brazilian football legend Pele, pictured, has so far not commented on his son's conviction . | Edinho had previously served a jail term for drug trafficking in 2005 . The football legend's son is expected to appeal against the stiff sentence . The 43-year-old goalkeeping coach previously admitted being a drug addict . | 5ee2f6609bb53493e36faa5e2aac5753c193ced6 |
(CNN)Fandom is a tricky thing. People are willing to do some unusual and sometimes dangerous things because of their devotion for a team, player or entertainer. Music fans often reach the height of fandom as they crush themselves to the front of the stage in an effort to get as close to the performers as possible. Entertainment photographer Gabriel Quintao has been capturing the faces in the crowd for a few years now and likens their devotion to a battle scene. "The idea of the essay is to drive the audience into a war environment," Quintao said about his "Front Row" project. "The shades of gray with a lot of contrast associated with the dramatic faces and the desperate acts of the crowd gave me the drama I wanted." Indeed, the images he captures depict the agony and frustration someone might feel in conflict. But amid the pain, there is also joy and excitement as music lovers get a taste of something most people at a concert do not. Quintao's photographs from the Rock in Rio festival in Rio de Janeiro are up-close, personal and intimate. The festival is one of the largest music concerts in the world and has brought together some of the most popular acts of their time: Queen, Prince, Elton John, Katy Perry and, more recently, Beyonce, Bruce Springsteen and Metallica. It draws hundreds of thousands of fans from all over the world to see and hear their favorite acts. But for some people, it is the chance to show the performers how they feel about them. "I realized that people who stay at the first row in these situations don't want just to listen to the music better or to see their idol closer," Quintao said. "They want to prove love to the person on the stage and to prove to themselves that they're brave." The 30-year-old photographer, from Sao Paulo, Brazil, said the crowds who press forward during the music festival is mostly younger and male. However, there is a woman he thinks is in her 60s who is ever-present at many of the venues and somehow makes her way to the first row. From Quintao's photos, it might appear that the action on the stage is secondary to the rush in the crowd. Quintao trains his camera on what he believes is the most unpredictable places to get the most emotional images at the events. "Sometimes the artist behind the microphone just doesn't move, the light doesn't change and a few pictures already present what the gig was," he said. "But the front row is always unpredictable; it changes every time. People reaching their physical limit just to be as close as possible to their idol is much more interesting than the planned and controlled situation happening on the stage." Social media . Follow @CNNPhotos on Twitter to join the conversation about photography. The subjects of his lens have described themselves as proud to go through such pain for their musical adulation, and they proclaim "the front row is only for the real ones" on the Facebook page of his projects. "People who face this situation until the end of the concert go home feeling they've received an honor medal for being strong," Quintao said. "Who wants to see the concert comfortably from an empty space?" While he's never seen a serious injury from his position in the pit, the space between the stage and the crowd, Quintao hopes his photos do justice to the level of emotions portrayed in the name of fandom. He thinks the people in the front row believe they answer to a higher calling. "The aim of this work is to show the power of fanaticism," he said. "I wanted to show how a rock concert can be similar to a religion cult, where sometimes people submit themselves to suffering just to prove their love to their idol." Gabriel Quintao is a Brazilian photographer based in Sao Paulo. You can follow his work on Facebook. | Photographer Gabriel Quintao captures the excitement at the front row of a music concert . He has been taking photos at the Rock in Rio festival for years in Rio de Janeiro . "The front row is always unpredictable; it changes every time," he said . | 6d84b6dacaeb94937a25733db545f70bab8fd82c |
JERUSALEM (CNN) -- Pope Benedict XVI visited Jerusalem's holiest sites Tuesday, touring areas sacred to Muslims, Jews and Christians and stressing the common threads of the three faiths. Pope Benedict XVI prays at the Old City's Western Wall, also known as the Wailing Wall. After visiting the Dome of the Rock, an Islamic shrine, the pontiff prayed at the Old City's Western Wall. Also known as the Wailing Wall, it was once part of Judaism's Second Temple, which was destroyed. Later, the pope was scheduled to celebrate Mass at Gethsemane, the site where the Bible says Jesus prayed to God for guidance the night before his crucifixion. "The Dome of the Rock draws our hearts and minds to reflect upon the mystery of creation and the faith of Abraham. Here the paths of the world's three great monotheistic religions meet, reminding us what they share in common," the pope said at the Islamic shrine after a meeting with the grand mufti of Jerusalem, the city's top Muslim religious leader. "Each believes in one God, creator and ruler of all. Each recognizes Abraham as a forefather, a man of faith upon whom God bestowed a special blessing," the pontiff said. Muslims believe that the Dome of the Rock is where the Prophet Muhammad ascended to heaven, while Jews believe that it is where Abraham prepared to sacrifice Isaac. A short distance away in the Old City is the Church of the Holy Sepulcher, believed to be located on the site where Jesus was crucified and buried. The visit took place under extremely tight security. Security personnel with machine guns could be seen across the Temple Mount. | Visits Dome of the Rock, an Islamic shrine, before meeting city's top Muslim leader . In Islam Dome of the Rock is where Prophet Muhammad ascended to heaven . Pope: "Here the paths of the world's three great monotheistic religions meet" Visit takes place under extremely tight security . | 40cf07072ab3dfaa5daa854ec6948e339d96a398 |
For Jack and Nancy Gatewood, not even death could separate them. A tale of true love, the pair, both 88, met as high school students in Ash Grove, Missouri. They soon became sweethearts and were married for 68 years, until recently when they died less than 16 hours apart in Tulsa, Oklahoma. Mrs Gatewood, who was a homemaker, had been in hospital dealing with complications related to a broken hip, pneumonia and flu before passing away around 5.30pm on January 15. A tale of true love, the pair, both 88, met as high school students in Ash Grove, Missouri (pictured in front of their family home's special oak door) Mr and Mrs Gatewood were highschool sweethearts and married for 68 years, until recently when they died less than 16 hours apart in Tulsa, Oklahoma (pictured on their 50th anniversary) Mr Gatewood, older by seven months, was heartbroken after spending three weeks away from his wife while she was in hospital - the first time they spent an extended time apart since the Second World War - and died without ever learning of his companion's passing, according to Tulsa World. Before his family could tell him of the news of his devoted wife, Mr Gatewood, a retired insurance worker, died around 8.30am on January 16 as a result of cardiac arrest. However, his family believes he suffered from a broken heart. 'I think he was missing her and didn't know where she was,' said son Jack Gatewood II, a pastor in Keller, Texas. He added: 'We believe it was a broken heart. I know that's old-fashioned to say, that it doesn't hold up medically. But she had been gone from his life, and we believe he was grieving for her.' As the time apart was difficult for Mr Gatewood, his family said people at his care home would find him wandering and asking where his wife was while she was in hospital. The couple married in April 1946 upon Mr Gatewood's return from serving in the Navy and then relocated to Oklahoma where they lived for 47 years (pictured on their wedding day) Suffering from dementia, he was unable to remember when they told him. And when she passed away, Jack II was on his way to see his father, who died before he reached him. The last time Mr and Mrs Gatewood were together was in December. Jack II said: 'The last time we saw them together they were kissing and holding hands. We were not expecting them to pass.' The couple married in April 1946 upon Mr Gatewood's return from serving in the Navy and then relocated to Oklahoma where they lived for 47 years. Originally from Three Sands, Oklahoma, Mr Gatewood was living in nearby Everton, Missouri, at the time, when he and his soon to be sweetheart were joined together. He transferred to her high school in Ash Grove following the burning down of his school. The pair began dating their junior year of high school and remained dating throughout Mr Gatewood's two years of serving in the Navy. After they exchanged vows, the couple lived in their midtown home where they raised sons Jack II, Brad, Todd and Marc. They are survived by their sons, four grandchildren and three great-grand children. The reason they were able to stay married for so long was because of their devotion and commitment to each other, said Jack II. He said: 'They were very committed to marriage. They loved each other a lot, they were both faithful and they depended on each other.' As they enjoyed traveling and visits with friends, their favorite time together was spent with family. By standing at the front door to their home, it was even evident family was important with the special door made of oak and that had symbols to mark each of their children. Serving as a model for a successful marriage, their sons said the pair were in sync in everything they did and it was not until later in life that they ever saw their parents argue. Jack II said it was a blessing his parents were able to depart together. Bonded together by love for nearly 69 years of marriage, Jack and Nancy Gatewood of Tulsa, Oklahoma entered into eternal life separately, less than 16 hours apart. Nancy passed away Jan. 15, followed by her husband Jack the next morning on Jan. 16. Jack Gatewood was born in Three Sands, Oklahoma on February 28, 1926. Nancy Gatewood was born in Ash Grove, Missouri on Sept. 26 also in 1926. Having met during high school in Ash Grove, MO Jack and Nancy were married in 1946 upon Jack’s return from service with the U.S. Navy during WWII. After marrying, they moved to Tulsa, OK residing here until their deaths this week. Nancy was a devoted wife and homemaker while Jack built a career in life insurance, working 43 years for Northwestern Mutual Life Insurance Co. until his retirement in 2005. The major focus of their lives was making a home for their four sons and enjoying extended family. They were long time members of Memorial Baptist Church in Tulsa. Jack was a Life Member of the Million Dollar Round Table and served on numerous Tulsa boards. He was also active in the Rotary Club of Southside Tulsa. Nancy was a member of the American Sewing Guild and used her gifted creativity in numerous ways but especially in designing her own clothing. Their favorite times together were spent with family, friends, and traveling. Jack and Nancy are survived by four sons: Jack Gatewood and wife Janie of Keller, Texas; Brad Gatewood and Todd Gatewood both of Tulsa; and Marc Gatewood and wife Alecia of Cape Coral, FL. They also leave four grandchildren and three great-grandchildren. Source: Ninde . | Jack and Nancy Gatewood were residents of Tulsa, Oklahoma for 47 years . She passed away on January 15 and he died morning of January 16 . Couple, both aged 88, spent three weeks apart while Mrs Gatewood was in hospital - first time since WWII . Family believes he died of 'broken heart' They are survived by four sons, four grandchildren and three great-grand children . | 672f36711d92c32dd6d2ed689788b3df03c0a616 |
Manchester United manager Louis van Gaal challenged misfiring loan striker Radamel Falcao to 'prove himself' in the build-up to Saturday's west London clash. The 28-year-old promptly wasted four prime chances to score, including twice failing to fire into an empty net. Despite another off-kilter display, United boss Van Gaal said: 'I think he did well.' Radamel Falcao stands in the middle of the Loftus Road pitch with his hands on his hips . The Manchester United star (left) posted a victory picture with team-mate Victor Valdes on his Instagram . United's Dutch manager added: 'It's not so important what I think, because he wants to score goals. 'And for me I have to judge how he has played. 'Scoring goals is an important aspect of a striker I know, but for me it's also very important if he is an attacking point, that he can play further and that with another striker we are coming into third and fourth phases of our attack. 'And I think he did well.' Van Gaal sent United into action in an unorthodox 3-3-2-2 formation that struggling QPR were still able to pick apart regularly in the first half. Angel Di Maria started up front alongside Falcao, but United were unable to gain tactical control. Falcao smashes a shot towards the Queens Park Rangers goal for Manchester United . Karl Henry (left) and Clint Hill (right) of QPR challenge Falcao during the first-half at Loftus Road . The travelling United fans chanted 'attack, attack, attack' and even 'four-four-two, four-four-two' in demanding a system change - and eventually the Red Devils' boss relented. A switch to a 4-4-2 diamond bore the two-goal fruit vital for victory, but Van Gaal felt it would have been risky to start with that set-up. 'I know in advance that when we play with four midfielders in a diamond that we create more chances, but then the balance of the team is also weak,' said Van Gaal. 'And you've seen it because we had created chances but so had QPR. 'We have to decide every week how we have to play. And that's the question.' QPR's goalkeeper Rob Green (left) rushes out to deny Falcao when the Colombian takes a shot at him . Green dives to his right with his hands out to prevent Falcao from scoring on Saturday at Loftus Road . 'But also with the other system we played against Tottenham Hotspur, maybe you remember the first half we created maybe six or seven more chances than today, and we didn't score. 'So it's always the question, are you effective enough? 'Against Southampton away we scored two out of three chances and we won the game. 'But it was not because we were the better team at that time. 'Last week we were the better team, but in football it is not always the better team who wins. 'In the first half we played like QPR wanted. 'We did the same thing as QPR, playing through the air, long balls, and QPR were better. 'In the second half we changed the shape and that helped also.' | Louis van Gaal had challenged Radamel Falcao to 'prove himself' The misfiring striker failed to find the net in 2-0 victory on Saturday . QPR goalkeeper Rob Green denied Falcao three times at Loftus Road . | f488a43cfe3146d532a99a3de7ef0315c8785798 |
By . Lucy Crossley . ITV's new breakfast show Good Morning Britain fronted by Susanna Reid could face the chop after just one month on air following a ratings slump. Since it launched to a grand fanfare at the end of April, ratings have plummeted as viewers continue to tune in to Reid's former show BBC Breakfast. For the past fortnight the programme has failed to reach the 15 per cent of the audience share bosses reportedly said it needed to survive, and the show is being watched by fewer people than flop Daybreak - which it was brought in to replace. Scroll down for video . Facing the chop? Susanna Reid's ITV breakfast show Good Morning Britain, which she presents along with Sean Fletcher, Ben Shephard and Charlotte Hawkins, could be axed following a ratings slump . Falling ratings: Although around 80,000 people tuned in for the launch show, numbers have slipped since . Reid was Good Morning Britain's big signing to launch the new show after being lured from the BBC, where she had proved to be a popular figure. During Good Morning Britain's launch . week, the ITV show had an average of about 690,000 viewers, while BBC . Breakfast maintained a steady 1.5million. However, last Monday just 270,000 viewers watched the show, according to The Sun, and despite it being a Bank Holiday, 1.17 million people still tuned into the BBC rival - which had a 34.7 percent of the audience share, compared with Good Morning Britain's 9.5 percent. A senior source at ITV admitted that the programme would be unable to continue, unless viewers returned. Replacement: Good Morning Britain's high profile launch came after its predecessor Daybreak, presented in its final months by Lorraine Kelly and Aled Jones, was dropped for low audience figures . Rival: Susanna Reid left BBC Breakfast, here presented by Charlie Stayt and Louise Minchin, earlier this year. The BBC show regularly pulls in average viewing figures of more than one million . 'No-one is expecting to beat the BBC and no-one is expecting to get over a million viewers,' the source told The Sun's Colin Robertson. 'But we do want it to get above 15 percent - or it is toast.' Good Morning Britain's high profile launch came after its predecessor Daybreak was dropped for low audience figures. Between its debut to May 28 Good Morning Britain attracted an average audience of 584,200, 15.2 percent of the audience share, compared with Daybreak's average of 673,800, or 16.6 percent, during the same period last year. In the months before it was axed Daybreak was attracting an average of around 600,000 viewers. Launch: During Good Morning Britain's launch week, the ITV show had an average of about 690,000 viewers, while BBC Breakfast maintained a steady 1.5million . The source suggested that Good Morning Britain, introduced by ITV's director of television Peter Fincham, could continue for the next six months to avoid embarrassment for bosses at the channel. However, following Daybreak the broadcaster could be tempted to do away with a breakfast show completely, and return to showing children's programmes every morning. An ITV spokesman told MailOnline that there are 'absolutely no plans to axe Good Morning Britain', and programme makers are in for 'the long game'. Good Morning Britain (28 April – 28 May 2014) Average number of viewers: 584,200 . Audience share: 15.2 percent . Daybreak (28 April – 28 May 2013) Average number of viewers: 673,800 . Audience share: 16.6 percent . BBC Breakfast (28 April – 28 May 2014) Average number of viewers: 1.49million . Audience share: 36.78 percent . BBC Breakfast (28 April – 28 May 2013) Average number of viewers: 1.49m . Audience share: 34.75 percent . Reid, whose profile increased hugely late last year in the wake of her appearances on last year’s Strictly Come Dancing, is joined on the weekday show by Ben Shephard - a familiar face for ITV breakfast viewers from his GMTV days, as well as Charlotte Hawkins and Sean Fletcher - who were both poached from Sky. The four presenters appear on screen at the same time. For viewers, one of the biggest changes to predecessor Daybreak - along with the presenting team - was the introduction of a glass desk at which the hosts were seated for much of the show, although they moved to sofas later. Many observers have interpreted the discussions around the desk as more of a US-style approach, taking its cue from ABC’s popular Good Morning America. But viewers were divided on the show, with some lamenting the passing of its predecessor while others praised its fast pace and gloss. Ms Reid’s ITV debut initially drew mixed reactions, with criticism that the show looked too similar to its U.S counterpart and that Ms Reid’s figure were obscured by a desk. As the show began viewers took to Twitter to complain that the legs of the 43-year-old - whose pay for the role has been reported as £400,000 and as much as £1million a year - were hidden from view. One viewer commented: 'Why has ITV paid so much for @susannareid100 only to put her behind a desk? Its like buying a Ferrari and keeping it in the garage #gmb.' Another wrote: 'You don't hire Susanna Reid and then stick her behind a desk #getyourpinsout #GoodMorningBritain.' | For the past fortnight the show has failed to reach audience share of 15% . ITV source says programme 'could be toast' if viewing figures fail to improve . Show is being watched by fewer people than Daybreak - which it replaced . Last Monday just 270,000 people tuned in to watch the morning show . Despite it being a Bank Holiday, 1.17million still tuned into BBC rival . ITV denies claims and says programme makers are 'in it for the long game' Programme fronted by Susanna Reid launched in April to great fanfare . | 7afc71bb779108ae6c9a2922749d6ac0280e218e |
By . Damien Gayle . Tenant from hell: Rose Chimuka arriving at Croydon Crown Court . An asylum seeker has been jailed for four years after ripping off landlords in a housing scam that netted her £100,000. Zimbabwe-born Rose Chimuka took leases on family homes across south London then illegally divided them into bedsits and sublet them to dozens of desperate tenants. The 32-year-old packed up to 15 people into each house, pocketing the rents and giving the real landlords nothing. Each time she was found out, Chimuka would disappear and start again elsewhere. The fraudster used fake IDs to convince landlords she was a respectable mother with a well-paid husband. Once she took possession of properties she changed all the locks to keep their real owners out and put beds in every room to maximise the rental value. After being packed with so many tenants, houses were left filthy, smelly and stripped of appliances and valuables. Lost rent and the cost of repairs cost owners up to £86,000 each, The Sun reported. Arriving to check on his property, the owner of one house in Brockley found it stuffed with tenants who thought Chimuka was the real landlady. She even reported another homeowner to police when he tried to gain access to his house. After being convicted of 11 counts of fraud, Chimuka was jailed at Croydon Crown Court. She will be deported after she completes her sentence. The 32-year-old Chimuka packed up to 15 people into each house, pocketing the rents and giving the real landlords nothing . Stuffed with tenants: The house in Brockley, south-east London, which Chimuka rented and sublet, convincing tenants she was the real landlady . | Rose Chimuka crammed up to 15 tenants in each house . Homes were left filthy, smelly and stripped of valuables . Chimuka to be deported after completing her sentence . | 04a6ec1d093d8d965840e57fd0b6a0d86b98dc8e |
(CareerBuilder.com) -- "I met my mentor before I knew what a mentor was or that I would ever need one," says Debra Yergen of Yakima, Washington. Fresh out of college and conducting an interview at a hotel in Seattle as a freelance journalist, Yergen "just connected" with the establishment's public relations director. By the end of the day, the woman asked if Yergen would like to have her as a mentor. Yergen agreed, wanting to be cordial, but "had no idea what this meant." What it turned out to mean was a 15-year relationship during which Yergen's mentor gently guided, inspired, opened doors and offered introductions. "Over the years, she taught me more than I learned in any one college course or in any one job. She was my lighthouse through every professional opportunity and storm," Yergen says. While a person doesn't absolutely need a mentor, workers who have found one are often glad they did. What a mentor can offer . Elizabeth Freedman, author of "Work 101: Learning the Ropes of the Workplace Without Hanging Yourself" and "The MBA Student's Job-Seeking Bible," says that some of the possible benefits of having a mentor include: . Shortening your career learning curve: Most of us opt to work with mentors who have been around the block a few more times than we have, and this is a smart idea. When we work with someone who has more industry knowledge and expertise, or simply knows the ropes better than we do, we're giving ourselves (and our careers) tremendous advantage. Improving your network of contacts: Picture everyone in your Outlook folder or contact file -- and now double it. That's what working with a mentor can do to the number of professional relationships, sales leads or other contacts in your life. Telling you what nobody else will: A good mentor won't hold back. This isn't to suggest you want to work with a mentor who is overly critical or harsh when it comes to giving feedback, but a successful relationship will provide you with honest advice and candid opinions. Where to find one . While there are cases like Yergen's where an established worker clearly offers to serve as a mentor, the relationship often develops more informally within the workplace. Drew Tarvin of New York City, who works in information technology project management in the consumer goods industry, met the person destined to be his mentor while serving an internship. "He was my manager when I was an intern. After getting hired full time and switching managers, it seemed natural to still talk to him on some frequency," Tarvin says. "Since then, our conversations have evolved not just to discussions in our certain area but career guidance, handling the political environment and work/life balance. Professional associations, alumni gatherings and industry events are also good places to find potential mentors. Annette Pelliccio, founder of The Happy Gardener, and organic garden and lawn care company, met her mentor four years ago at a direct-selling convention. Nowadays, she says, "My company probably would be nonexistent without him." In today's tech-savvy world, some find mentors via LinkedIn, Brightfuse and other business/social groups. During a time of unemployment, Pamela Bodley went online searching for information on how to be a good leader and came across a website that spoke to exactly what she needed. "I contacted the leadership expert who wrote the site, explained my situation and asked if he would mentor me," Bodley recalls. "Now, five months later, we speak every week or two on specific business topics, and I have been learning great concepts, skills and techniques." Building the relationship . While directly asking someone to be your mentor can work, Freedman cautions that sometimes it is best to avoid labels, go slow and let the relationship grow. "Even if getting a mentor is what you're going for, remember that the relationship is a two-way street, and like you, your mentor is probably reluctant to spend his limited free time on someone who isn't right for him." She suggests instead identifying who has the kind of career you'd like, who seems approachable and who is able to spend some time with you. Then, once you've found a good candidate, "Reach out: 'John, would you have a few minutes to grab a cup of coffee? I'd love to learn more about your work and how you've been successful within the company.'" It might be the most worthwhile coffee break of your career. © CareerBuilder.com 2010. All rights reserved. The information contained in this article may not be published, broadcast or otherwise distributed without the prior written authority. | Working with a mentor can widen your network of contacts . A mentor can provide you with honest advice and candid opinions . Some find mentors via LinkedIn, Brightfuse and other business/social groups . | 767dc41eed945160d9c5732c356c411942eaf24f |
(CNN) -- The number of states under heat advisories diminished to 15 Tuesday evening. Dangerous heat is expected across parts of northern Texas through Thursday evening, according to the National Weather Service. Dallas, Fort Worth, Arlington and other areas will experience afternoon heat indices of 105 degrees or more through Thursday. Other states still sweltering under heat advisories include Oklahoma, Louisiana, Arkansas, Missouri, Illinois, Indiana, Kentucky, Tennessee, Mississippi, Alabama, Georgia, South Carolina, North Carolina and Virginia. Many Tennesseans should expect the heat index to be between 110 and 114 degrees for the rest of the week, according to the National Weather Service. "I just had to stop once in a while and catch a breath, it was just that tough to breathe," said Marion, Illinois, resident Ceasar Maragni, who opted to stay inside Tuesday after a swampy Monday evening trip to the Williamson County Fair. Even the frozen lemonade vendor was lagging with few customers in the nearly 100-degree evening heat, he said. Other areas of the country not under heat advisories touted new record highs Tuesday. Newark, New Jersey, broke its previous record of 98, set in 1966, when it hit 99 degrees. JFK Airport and Islip, New York, did the same, reporting 97 and 93 degrees respectively, beating 1993 records of 94 degrees at JFK and 91 in Islip. In central Oklahoma, temperatures in some places shot past the 100 mark for the 14th consecutive day Tuesday. Highs in much of the state are likely to flirt with triple-digits for almost another week, according to the National Weather Service. High demand for water amid the heat wave and problems with soil shrinking as the ground warms has resulted in burst pipes and low water pressure in Oklahoma City, prompting officials to issue mandatory water-use restrictions for the first time in at least a decade, according to utilities department spokeswoman Debbie Ragan. More than 200 people have suffered from heat-related emergencies in Tulsa and Oklahoma City since June 17, when the agency issued its first heat alert, said Lara O'Leary, spokeswoman for the Emergency Medical Services Authority of Oklahoma. The heat has been so extreme that a portion of the Cimarron Turnpike in Pawnee County, Oklahoma, buckled on Sunday, creating a 2-foot ramp that sent a motorcyclist flying 150 feet through the air. In addition to the discomfort and potential danger, the heat could wreak havoc on crops, especially corn, said Chad Hart, assistant professor of agricultural economics at Iowa State University. The heat wave comes at a sensitive time for corn, he said. "That's why markets are watching the heat wave. We're entering a period of time when corn pollinates, and so if you get a heat wave in the early- to mid-part of July across Iowa, Illinois and Indiana, it can have a big impact," he said. "The last time we had a big heat wave and drought was in 1988, and that year we saw corn production fall off by over 30% ... so if we think of where we are today with already-high corn prices, a true drought scenario can push prices to highs we've never seen before." Temperatures will return to nearly normal summertime levels by Wednesday throughout the Northeast, said Chris Vaccaro, a spokesman for the National Weather Service. High pressure over the Plains is keeping the weather pattern stable, allowing heat to build and expand up the Eastern Seaboard. A cooler, dryer weather system is nibbling at the northern edges of the heat wave, threatening to exchange high temperatures for potentially dangerous thunderstorms, according to forecasters. There's not quite so much relief in store for residents of the lower Midwest and South. "This has been going on all weekend and will continue into this week," Vaccaro said. In Oklahoma City, forecasters are calling for nearly another full week of temperatures near or above 100 degrees, threatening to break a 1936 record for 22 consecutive days of such heat. Nighttime will bring little solace. While record- and near-record daytime highs are being set, many areas are also experiencing record warm lows at night. For instance, the low temperature of 83 recorded early Tuesday in North Little Rock, Arkansas, set a new record for the warmest low in July, Vaccaro said. Warm nights are a problem for people without air conditioning, he said. "If you're exposed to the outside elements, your body can't cool down at night," he said. The heat has already claimed at least one victim, a 51-year-old man in Granite City, Illinois, who died Sunday because of the excessive heat, according to the Madison County coroner. Mitsunari Uechi was found unresponsive in his mobile home, where the air conditioning was not working. Police described the residence as "extremely hot," Coroner Stephen Nonn said in a written statement. Several high-temperature records have been broken recently. Wichita, Kansas, hit 111 degrees Sunday. The National Weather Service says temperatures of 111 degrees have occurred there only 10 times since July 1888. Forecasters say people should limit outdoor activity during the hottest portions of the day, wear lightweight clothing, drink plenty of water and be watchful for signs of heat exhaustion, which include heavy sweating, pale and clammy skin, weak pulse, fainting and vomiting. CNN's Monica O'Connor, Meteorologist Jacqui Jeras, Ed Payne, Karen Smith and Chelsea Bailey contributed to this report. | The National Weather Service has taken down heat advisories in some states . The heat wave could harm crops, especially corn . Oklahoma City gets a bit of a break after 13 straight day over 100 degrees . Parts of New Jersey, New York also reported record highs . | 5f6c3d5eaa9735ebf126b3618afa27488d31e174 |
Oprah doesn't like first lady Michelle Obama because she's a show off Edward Klein's new book, Blood Feud, alleges. The legendary talk show host was once a close friend and adviser of the president's, but she had a falling out with the first family during the president's first term in office. 'It appeared to Oprah that Michelle was . jealous of her, furious that Barack was seeking her advice instead of . Michelle's,' a source close to Winfrey told Klein. The other woman: Oprah, pictured here in May, thinks Michelle Obama doesn't like her because the president takes Oprah's advice over his wife's, a source close to Oprah told Blood Feud author Edward Klein . 'For her part, Oprah didn't like being with Michelle, because . the first lady was constantly one-upping the president and anybody else . around her. ' At another point in the book Oprah is quoted as saying that the Obamas make her 'jumpy.' Oprah reportedly told a friend that ' "even when the Obamas think they are being . charming, they hold you at arm’s length." ' Obama had no stronger ally than Oprah throughout his first campaign for president, including the time he was competing against Hillary Clinton for the Democratic Party nomination. Winfrey, who is oft labeled as the most influential woman in the world, is credited with securing both the party nomination and the presidency for Obama, attracting a million votes or more for her candidate in the general election, according to two economists. Oprah lent not only her credibility to Barack Obama's campaign, endorsing the Illinois Senator's candidacy before he officially announced his intentions to seek higher office, she barnstormed the country headlining rallies and fundraisers for Barack. The night Obama accepted the Democratic nomination in 2008, Oprah gushed to reporters, 'I've never experienced anything like that.' 'I cried my eyelashes off,' she said. 'And what I saw with Barack Obama was something that was . transcendent and I felt transformational for me as a human being and . for this country. 'I often wondered what it would be like to sit and . listen to Lincoln speak or Roosevelt speak or what it would have been . like to have been old enough to understand what Martin Luther King was . saying 45 years ago today,' Oprah said. 'And what he did brought that home in a way . that I could never have imagined,' she added. 'I didn’t not endorse him.' Scroll down for video . Oprah didn't just endorse Barack Obama in the 2008 presidential election, she barnstormed the country campaigning with him . Oprah is pictured here with then-candidate Barack Obama and his wife Michelle on the campaign trail in Iowa in December 2007 . In January of 2009, Oprah flew to Washington to celebrate with her friends Barack and Michelle. She taped her show in D.C., shared a private dinner with the newly minted first couple, attended several inauguration balls and partied at the White House. That was the first and last time the Obamas laid out the red carpet for Winfrey after they moved into the White House, Blood Feud suggests. Klein writes that 'Oprah had been promised unique access to the White House by Obama if he won. 'She would get regular briefings on administration initiatives and advance notice on programs, which would give her invaluable material for her fledgling cable venture, OWN, the Oprah Winfrey Network,' he said. ' "There were big plans," ' Oprah's confidant told Klein. Instead, the Obama's snubbed Winfrey after Barack settled into his new role as the leader of the free world. ' " It slowly dawned on Oprah that the Obamas had absolutely no intention of keeping their word and bringing her into their confidence," ' the source said. Winfrey retaliated by prohibiting stories about the Obama's from appearing in her magazine, O, and vowed not to campaign for Barack in 2012. ' "Oprah was hurt and angry and will never make up with the . Obamas," ' Winfrey's friend told Klein. ' "She knows how to hold a grudge." ' Oprah blamed Michelle and the president's senior adviser, Valerie Jarrett, directly for double-crossing her. Jarrett, who's described in the book as Michelle's closest friend, blew off Oprah's many requests to chat about how the White House planned to work with OWN. ' " And just as obviously, President Obama didn't interfere on Oprah's behalf, " ' Klein's source said. Best of friends: Oprah . taped her show in Washington, D.C. during Barack Obama's 2009 . inauguration and barely left the first couple's side throughout the . festivities . Given the way she was treated after the 2008 election, it should have come as no surprise to the White House that Winfrey was unavailable to campaign for Barack in 2012. ' "Oprah has turned our back on us," ' former White House Senior Adviser David Plouffe allegedly told Obama during a discussion about the president's re-election campaign. Jarrett reportedly rebuffed Plouffe and told Obama that Oprah would end up getting on board. Klein says Jarrett turned out to be wrong, and Oprah 'refused to help.' ' "Oprah isn't going to do sh*t for us in 2012," 'Jarrett was later forced to admit to the president. ' "She refuses to lift a hand. She's going to announce publicly that she isn't going to campaign for us this time around." ' In January 2012 Oprah told CNN she was a '100 percent supporter' of Obama but wouldn't verbally endorse the president. Four months later Winfrey told CBS' Charlie Rose in an interview that she was 'not going to be out there' campaigning for Obama throughout the summer and fall. 'I’m 100 percent behind our president. I actually love our president, and have the utmost respect for him and that office and what it takes to be there,' Winfrey said. 'I will not be out there because I’m trying to fix a network.' At the time of Winfrey's announcement, OWN had just laid off 30 employees. Oprah and Michelle attend Time's 100 Most Influential People in the World Gala at Rose Hall - Jazz at Lincoln Center on May 5, 2009 in New York City . Oprah and the Obamas appeared to be on good terms earlier this year. Winfrey hosted Michelle's 50th birthday party at her Maui, Hawaii, home in January . While Oprah's decision keep her head down during the election is supported by her own statements, claims that her decision was rooted in anger at the Obamas doesn't jive with previous or subsequent events. In August 2010, more than a year and a half after Barack took office, Winfrey attended the president's 49th birthday party in Chicago. At a Kennedy Center Honors reception at the White House that December, President Obama had nothing but nice things to say about the billionaire businesswoman. 'Michelle . and I love Oprah Winfrey - personally love this woman,' he said. 'And the more you know Oprah, the more spectacular you . realize her character and her soul are and the more you appreciate what a . wonderful, gifted person she is.' The month before Winfrey announced she wouldn't campaign for Obama again, she attended a $35,800 a plate fundraiser for the president a at Tyler Perry's home in Atlanta, Georgia. There, Obama told party guests: 'When Oprah decides she likes you, then other people like you, too. 'She continues to be not just a friend but somebody Michelle and I seek out in thinking about not just the day to day issues … but in trying to keep our focus on the big picture. 'And what she’s done for so many people not just in America but around the world is extraordinary,' he said. Barack the backstabber?: A friend of Oprah's told Klein Obama cast Oprah aside soon after he took office . President Barack Obama shakes hands with supporters after speaking at his town hall meeting today at Minnehaha Park, in Minneapolis . Just this past January Winfrey hosted Michelle's 50th birthday party at her home in Maui, Hawaii. Regardless of how the star-studded event . appeared on the outside, Michelle Obama and her gal pal Valerie Jarret were no longer in . Oprah's inner circle at that point, Klein's book claims. ' "On one level, Oprah enjoyed Michelle's visit to Maui and their girly talk," ' a friend of Winfrey's told Klein of Michelle's visit. ' "They had fun together." ' But Michelle, Jarrett and Oprah also had a serious discussion about Barack's sagging popularity, the source said. ' "Valerie and Michelle thought they could charm Oprah back in their camp and get her to use her megawattage to help them dig out of the hole they're in." ' What they didn't realize was that they already ' "blew it," ' said Winfrey's friend. ' "Once you p*ss Oprah off, she she stays p*ssed." ' | In his book Blood Feud Edward Klein details Barack and Michelle's rocky relationship with talk show host Oprah Winfrey . A close friend of Oprah's told Klein that the Obamas snubbed Winfrey after they moved into the White House . Oprah thinks that Michelle Obama is jealous of her, the source said . Oprah didn't campaign for Obama in 2012 because she was angry at the Obamas, the book alleges . ' "Once you p*ss Oprah off, she she stays p****d." ' | 8ce17d7586c259e7dfdc46287a8111c30d30abb9 |
Their widespread demonstrations over the grand jury verdict have gained international attention. Now, Ferguson protesters are leading in TIME's Person of the Year poll - with just seven days to go. The demonstrators, who are among 50 contenders in the contest to find the 'person' who most influenced the news in 2014, for better or for worse, currently have 10.7 per cent of the vote. They are closely followed by Indian Prime Minister, Narenda Modi, with 10 per cent, student activist Joshua Wong with 7.3 per cent and Pakistani activist Malala Yousafzai with 5.3 per cent. Scroll down for video . Leading: Ferguson protesters are leading in TIME's 2014 Person of the Year poll with 10.7 per cent of the vote. Above, a number of women are pictured demonstratrating in front of the New York Public Library on Friday . Shooting: Unarmed 18-year-old Michael Brown (right) was shot dead by police officer Darren Wilson (left) in the St Louis, Missouri, suburb of Ferguson, on August 9. His death has sparked unrest across America . Second: The demonstrators are among 50 contenders in the contest to find the 'person' who influenced the news the most in 2014. They are followed by Indian Prime Minister, Narenda Modi (pictured), with 10 per cent . The results, unveiled by TIME today ahead of the voting deadline at 11.59pm on December 6, come just a day after thousands of protesters disrupted Black Friday shopping in dozens of U.S. cities. Marching in solidarity with the family of Brown, they took to the streets of San Francisco, Chicago, New York, and Washington, among other places, armed with posters bearing the teenager's face. The unarmed black 18-year-old was shot dead by police officer Darren Wilson in the St Louis, Missouri, suburb of Ferguson, on August 9. On November 24, the grand jury of seven men and five women found 'no probable cause exists' to indict Wilson in the shooting, a decision that has sparked unrest across America. Standing up for what they believe in: Student activist Joshua Wong (left) has 7.3 per cent of the TIME readers' vote, while Pakistani activist Malala Yousafzai, the youngest-ever Nobel Prize recipient, has 5.3 per cent . Politicians: Also nominated in the survey are U.S. President Barack Obama (left), who is tied with Beyonce on 2.3 per cent, and Russian President Vladimir Putin (right), who is currently in fifth place with 4.7 per cent . Succesful: Singer-songwriter Taylor Swift (pictured performing on The Voice on Tuesday), who has recently released her fifth studio album, 1989, has 1.8 per cent of the readers' vote for TIME 2014 Person of the Year . In recent weeks, Ferguson protesters and their focus on racial profiling has been widely commented on across media outlets, likely helping lift them into first place in the TIME reader poll. Also nominated in the survey are singer-songwriter Taylor Swift (1.8 per cent), who has recently released her fifth studio album, 1989, and doctors and nurses who treat Ebola (4.4 per cent). U.S. President Barack Obama and singer Beyonce are tied on 2.3 per cent, Pope Francis is slightly ahead on 2.6 per cent and Orange is the New Black star Laverne Cox has 4.3 per cent of the vote. Meanwhile, actress Jennifer Lawrence - whose naked photos were leaked online by a hacker earlier this year - boasts two per cent, former U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton has 1.3 per cent and Russian President Vladimir Putin is currently in fifth place with 4.7 per cent. Tenth place: Pope Francis, who was crowned last year's Person of the Year, currently stands at 2.6 per cent . Nominees: Actress Jennifer Lawrence (left) - whose naked photos were leaked online by a hacker earlier this year - boasts two per cent of the vote, while Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu (right) has 0.9 per cent . Among the 50: Former U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton currently has 1.3 per cent of the reader vote . At the bottom of the list of 50 nominees is Roger Goodell, National Football League Commissioner, who has recently come under the spotlight for indefinitely suspending footballer Ray Rice. On Friday, the former Baltimore Ravens star - who was filmed punching his wife, Janay Palmer in an elevator in February - won the appeal of his suspension and can now return to the field immediately. Since 1927, TIME has named a person every year who has 'for good or for ill, most influenced the news and our lives in the past year', the magazine states on its website. Although the winner is selected by TIME's editors, readers are encouraged to weigh in by voting for their choice via Facebook, Twitter or on the magazine's voting hub. Reality TV star: Kim Kardashian (pictured) has one per cent of the reader vote, which closes on December 6 . Center of attention: At the bottom of the list of nominees is Roger Goodell (pictured), National Football League Commissioner, who has recently come under the spotlight for indefinitely suspending footballer Ray Rice . Doctors and nurses who treat the deadly virus Ebola are currently in sixth place with 4.4 per cent of the vote . Previous winners have included former U.S. President George W. Bush, Obama, Putin, former Federal Reserve Chairman Ben Bernanke and Facebook founder Mark Zuckerberg. Last year, Pope Francis was crowned Person of the Year. This year's poll's winner will be announced on December 8. The official TIME 2014 Person of the Year will be revealed on NBC's Today Show on December 10. 10.7% Ferguson Protestors . 10% Narendra Modi . 7.3% Joshua Wong . 5.3% Malala Yousafzai . 4.7% Vladimir Putin . 4.4% Ebola Doctors and Nurses . 4.3% Laverne Cox . 3.3% Joko Widodo . 2.8% Chibok Girls . 2.6% Pope Francis . 2.3% Barack Obama . 2.3% Beyoncé . 2% Jennifer Lawrence . 1.8% Taylor Swift . 1.8% Angela Merkel . 1.7% Elon Musk . 1.5% John Oliver . 1.5% Tim Cook . 1.5% Pete Frates and Pat Quinn . 1.4% Shonda Rhimes . 1.4% Elizabeth Warren . 1.3% Hillary Clinton . 1.3% Xi Jinping . 1.2% Bashar al-Assad . 1.2% John Kerry . 1.2% Dilma Rousseff . 1.1% Jack Ma . 1.1% Tom Frieden . 1.1% Christopher Nolan . 1.1% Reed Hastings . 1.1% Kanye West . 1% Janet Yellen . 1% Kim Kardashian . 1% Jeff Bezos . 1% Recep Tayyip Erdogan . 1% Hassan Rouhani . 0.9% Abdel Fattah el-Sisi . 0.9% Benjamin Netanyahu . 0.9% Rand Paul . 0.7% Ayatollah Ali Khamenei . 0.7% Mary Barra . 0.7% Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi . 0.7% Thomas Piketty . 0.7% Travis Kalanick . 0.6% Rick Perry . 0.5% Harvey Levin . 0.4% Ted Cruz . 0.4% Mitch McConnell . 0.4% Charles and David Koch . 0.3% Roger Goodell . | Demonstrators are among 50 contenders in TIME's Person of the Year poll . They currently have 10.7% of the readers' vote amid widespread protests . On Monday, grand jury chose not to indict Darren Wilson in Brown death . Indian Prime Minister Narenda Modi is second in the poll with 10% of vote . Activist Joshua Wong is third (7.3%) and Malala Yousafzai is fourth (5.3%) Other contenders include Taylor Swift, Barack Obama and Vladimir Putin . | 9bc2fa0c7219622e23c5309a642028c3e99855c6 |
It was a landmark moment in her life and should have been one of her family’s most precious memories. But Harmonie-Rose Allen’s first steps are tinged with sadness for her parents. Just weeks after starting to walk, their daughter is to lose all of her limbs to meningitis. Harmonie-Rose Allen is currently in hospital facing amputation of both her arms and legs after she contracted meningitis. She is pictured here with parents Freya and Ross . The 11-month-old is on a life support machine in hospital, suffering what doctors said is one of the worst cases of the deadly condition they have seen. Despite initially being given just a 10 per cent chance of survival, Harmonie-Rose is expected to live – but her arms and legs must be amputated. The tragedy comes just weeks after she took her first tentative steps with a baby walker. Family and friends in her home city of Bath, Somerset, are now hoping to raise more than £40,000 to pay for prosthetic limbs that will enable her to live as normal a life as possible. Harmonie-Rose’s aunt Hannah Hall, 31, said doctors did not think her niece would pull through, adding: ‘The family feel like Harmonie-Rose’s whole life has been robbed.’ The baby’s parents Freya Hall, 20, and Ross Allen first noticed something was wrong on September 27, when she woke in the night coughing . The baby’s parents Freya Hall, 20, and Ross Allen first noticed something was wrong on September 27, when she woke in the night coughing. Mr Allen, a customer service worker, said: ‘She had been a little bit under the weather all week. But we just assumed it was a cold and because she was teething we put it down to that as well.’ They took her to the Royal United Hospital in Bath as she was finding it difficult to breathe, but doctors could not find anything seriously wrong and she was sent home. The next morning Harmonie-Rose turned ‘all limp and she was blue’ and the couple took her back to the same hospital. Following a thorough assessment they were told it was just a virus and were again sent away. Just weeks after starting to walk, Harmonie-Rose was diagnosed with the worst case of meningitis that doctors had seen in years . But hours later she became floppy and lethargic and her parents took her to the hospital for a third time, when a rash was spotted. Harmonie-Rose was then taken by ambulance to a specialist unit at the Bristol Royal Hospital for Children. Her devastated father said: ‘It was absolutely horrible. She was really lucky to survive. ‘Doctors told us it was the worst case they had seen in three years and they really didn’t think she would make the journey to the hospital.’ By the time she arrived at the intensive care unit, Harmonie-Rose’s arms and legs had turned black and her parents were told all four limbs would need to be amputated. The little girl needs two pairs of prosthetics to replace her arms and legs, which will cost around £40,000 . She is still being closely monitored by doctors. The operation will be carried out in the coming weeks. Mr Allen said: ‘We are hoping that we can buy her two pairs of prosthetics – arms and legs that she can walk on. ‘This will cost us about £40,000 – £20,000 per set – and we’re hoping we can get her some pink ones. ‘She’s a little fighter and she is going to keep on fighting. ‘We hope that she can carry on with life like any other children her age.’ Her father Ross Allen said: She’s a little fighter and she is going to keep on fighting. We hope that she can carry on with life like any other children her age’ | Harmonie-Rose Allen, of Somereset, took first joyous steps just weeks ago . But on September 27, 11-month-old went to hospital with bad cough . Turned out to be horrendous case of meningitis and baby's limbs went black . She must now have both arms and both legs amputated in the coming weeks . Parents Freya Hall and Ross Allen desperate to pay for pink prosthetics . Father says: 'We hope she can carry on with life like other children her age' | a96c5847616102fd93d0bdafc11b3b932a2eda11 |
By . Kerry Mcdermott . PUBLISHED: . 06:13 EST, 5 January 2013 . | . UPDATED: . 06:26 EST, 5 January 2013 . A couple have won £1million after an absent-minded friend bought them a EuroMillions ticket instead of the scratchcard they asked for. Claire McManus and her partner Scott Connah, both 30, had asked their friend to pick them up a scratchcard at their local corner shop in North Wales, but she came back with a lottery ticket instead. But the newly-wealthy couple aren't complaining about the mix-up after the ticket won them £1million. Mix-up: Claire McManus and Scott Connah have scooped £1million after their friend bought them a lottery ticket instead of the scratch card they asked for . 'This is the best misunderstanding I've ever had,' said mum-of-three Ms McManus, who said she has barely slept since she learned of the windfall on New Year's Day. 'It is simply amazing. We buy the odd scratchcard but don't normally play the lottery. 'We asked our friend to get us a scratchcard but she came back with a EuroMillions ticket instead. 'The news is still sinking in.' The full-time mother said she had been . nervous about the possibility of impending bad luck after taking down . her Christmas decorations early this year. A . friend had told her doing so was bad luck, but Ms McManus' fears turned . out to be unfounded when stunned Mr Connah called her downstairs on New . Year's Day to double-check their winning ticket. 'I checked it, and checked it again, and then asked Scott to check it, and then we got my parents to check it,' said Ms McManus. 'We just couldn't believe it was real. 'When . we had the ticket confirmed as a winning raffle number the lady from . Camelot said to me: "Congratulations, you're a millionairess". 'I just sat on the floor and laughed and cried. I haven't slept since we won. 'The . funny thing is, we took our Christmas decorations down that day which a . friend told me was bad luck, but I think I'll do it again next year.' The lucky couple are planning to enjoy a family holiday and to fulfill their ambition of buying their own home thanks to their lottery win. They also said they planned to make sure their close friends and family were 'properly looked after' following the happy accident. 'Best misunderstanding ever': The couple became millionaires overnight thanks to the mix-up . | Claire McManus and her partner Scott Connah became millionaires overnight when their friend bought them a lottery ticket by mistake . Couple, both 30, had asked for a scratchcard but their friend returned from the corner shop with a EuroMillions ticket instead . | 5dc265535d587bab1dece519dd0618ee1f11b598 |
By . Leesa Smith . A 'professional mistress' who flaunted her glamorous lifestyle on social media, claiming to have been showered by expensive gifts in her role as a charity worker, has issued a tearful TV apology in China after being arrested in a World Cup betting scandal. Guo Meimei had a huge following on Weibo, China's answer to Facebook, as she posted pictures of expensive cars and from exotic locations, claiming the gifts were given to her as part of her job as a Red Cross senior manager. Scroll down for video . A remorseful Guo Meimei (pictured) concedes it was her vanity that led her to concoct a story that she was a senior manager in a subsidiary of the Red Cross where she was given outlandish 'gifts' as part of the role . In Guo's tearful apology while bowing in orange prison clothes live on TV, she blamed her illicit behaviour on her huge ego . Guo' s lavish lifestyle was being supported by an illegal gambling operation and also working as a professional mistress for Beijing’s rich and famous . Guo confessed to the gambling-related charges which she had been detained for live on television last month which ended the month-long investigation . However, after she was arrested under the country's strict gambling laws, she was forced to confess she was a £30,000-a-night prostitute who had sex with China's rich elite for money and had no connection with the charity. The Red Cross has since struggled for donations since being dragged into the scandal, prompting her to issue an apology on state television, dressed in an orange prison jumpsuit. 'I like to show off,' she said. 'I have the vain mindset of a little girl.' ‘I would like to tell the Red Cross that I’m sorry. I want to apologise even more to those people who are unable to get help.' 'I like to show off. I have the vain mindset of a little girl,' Guo (pictured left and right) admits . Guo (pictured left with a fan) documented her lavish lifestyle on Weibo where she had almost 1.9 million followers . Partial to public apologies, the 23-year-old confessed to the gambling-related charges last month after being arrested after a month-long investigation by a special cross-provincial police unit, the South China Morning Post reported. Guo admitted to operating an illegal gambling venue in Beijing, as well as having sex with men for money. She also confessed to fabricating that she had a 260 million yuan (HK$327 million) gambling debt in Macau in an attempt to get back into the limelight. At the height of her fame - or infamy - Guo had almost 1.9 million followers on Weibo who seemed gripped by her love of luxury resorts, fast cars, upmarket restaurants and Macau’s casino tables. The cyber fame even led her to shoot a self-funded film of her life story last year which detailed how she went from a troubled childhood in Hunan to study at the Beijing Film Academy before becoming entangled in the Red Cross scandal in 2011. The charity, which unlike its counterparts in other countries is linked with the government, has urged donors on its Weibo page ‘to please forget Guo Meimei’. The skyrocketing cyber fame even led Guo to shoot a self-funded film of her life story last year . Guo wore similar orange prison attire when she apologised to the Red Cross during a TV Interview on Sunday . | Guo Meimei blames her big ego on her illicit behaviour in TV interview . She brought down the Red Cross Society in China after fabricating her affiliation with the charity . The 23-year-old was bowing in orange prison clothes when apologising . She supported her lavish lifestyle by illegal gaming and prostitution . Almost 1.9 million people follow her on social media site, Weibo . | 42e202983f5a61a200d88dfc37e2f41bda894625 |
With more than a $10 billion to her name, it's little surprise that Steve Jobs' businesswoman widow likes to treat herself. Laurene Powell, 51, was spotted grinning after a shopping trip in St. Barts with her new beau, ex-Washington D.C. mayor Adrian Fenty, during their Caribbean vacation on Tuesday evening. Fenty, 44, carried shopping bags as he followed his girlfriend to a boat at the dock, presumably to return to their yacht, where they were seen sunning themselves earlier this week. The happy duo looked at ease as they walked together along the dock before being helped into the small boat, where they sat close to each other. Day out: Laurene Powell, 51, and Adrian Fenty, 44, were seen on shore during their Caribbean vacation on Tuesday night after an apparent shopping trip. The couple have been on a Cayman Island yacht this week . All smiles: The couple, who started dating nearly two years ago, looked at ease as they headed to their boat . The couple was first rumored to be dating in the summer of 2013 but these are among the first photos of their budding romance. Powell was left widowed after Apple founder Steve Jobs passed away, aged 56, from complications from pancreatic cancer in October 2011. They had three children together and Powell is also step-mother to Jobs' daughter, Lisa Brennan-Jobs. Fenty, mayor of Washington D.C. between 2007 and 2011, formally announced his separation from his wife of 15 years, Michelle, in January 2013. They also have three children together. Sources told the Washington Post that summer that Fenty and Powell started seeing each other around the same time, but there is no suggestion that Powell had anything to do with the separation. It is believed the two met at a Houston education conference in 2011 and bonded over school reform; Powell is the founder of Emerson Collective, which advocates for education reform, among others, while Fenty's focus during his mayorship with education. Watchful: Fenty, who stepped down as DC mayor in 2011, watched as his girlfriend climbed into the boat . Night out: The couple, who first met in 2011, settled into the boat before heading back to their yacht . Close: Fenty, 44, got close to his businesswoman and philanthropist girlfriend, 51, in the boat . Alone time: The couple has six children and one step-child among them from their previous marriages . The following year, Fenty joined the board of College Track, a non-profit program for underserved students wanting to go to college that was co-founded by Powell. 'Adrian Fenty is one of our country's great advocates for education reform,' she said in a statement at the time. 'His sense of urgency and record of accomplishment is unparalleled.' The pair were first friends, sources told the Washington Post, before they started dating at the start of 2013. In June 2014, the couple was pictured at a French open match together. Powell had married Jobs two years after meeting him when he gave a talk to Stanford Business School while she was a student there. Former flames: Powell is pictured left with her husband, Apple founder Steve Jobs, who passed away in October 2011. Right, Fenty and his wife Michelle are pictured together in 2010, three years before their split . Their wedding took place in March 1991 at a hotel in Yosemite Valley, and the ceremony was led by a Zen Buddhist monk, Kobun Chino Otogawa, in keeping with Jobs' religious beliefs. Their eldest child, a son named Reed, was born six months later, and the couple had two daughters, Erin and Eve, in the years following. While she was on the boards of several companies and charities during his lifetime, it was only after he died that she began to speak publicly to draw attention to the causes that mattered to her. They were married for 20 years and after his death, she inherited an estate of about $10 billion. Despite being one of the richest women in the U.S. she has kept a deliberately low profile as she continues with her charitable work. Since Fenty left the mayor's office, he has focused on acting as a consultant to education tech companies and working as a special adviser at Andreessen Horowitz. | Powell, 51, and Fenty, 44, were seen laughing on shore on Tuesday night during their Caribbean vacation on the island of St Barts . They were earlier seen aboard a luxury yacht flying a Cayman Islands flag . Powell was left widowed when the Apple founder passed away in 2011 . Fenty and his wife Michelle split in January 2013 and he was rumored to be dating Powell later that year . | fc01576f2164cf7452a96f18b914c5c4134a4f85 |
Washington (CNN) -- "Electronic cigarettes" that vaporize nicotine juice to inhale instead of smoke from burning tobacco do not deliver as promised, according to research at Virginia Commonwealth University. "They are as effective at nicotine delivery as puffing on an unlit cigarette," said Dr. Thomas Eissenberg, at the school's Institute for Drug and Alcohol Studies. His study, funded by the federal National Cancer Institute, is the first by U.S. doctors to check the function of so-called "no-smoke tobacco" devices, which are unregulated in the United States for sale or use. The units are shaped like a cigarette and contain a battery that heats a filament to vaporize liquid nicotine in a refillable cartridge. Smokers buy the devices to get around no-smoking restrictions and to attempt to quit conventional cigarettes. Some users nickname what they're doing as "vaping" instead of smoking, to reflect the vapor produced by the heating element. The devices are marketed as an alternative to smoking, but retailers avoid making claims about health or safety. Fans have established a Web site, www.e-cigarette-forum.com. Founder Oliver Kershaw said the site "is the largest e-smokers community online with some 26,000 members, most of whom are in the U.S." Jimi Jackson, a former tobacco smoker in Richmond, Virginia, who sells electronic cigarettes, is convinced there are immediate health advantages in avoiding the known cancer-causing substances in the smoke of a burning cigarette. "I smoked 37 years, and when I found them, I was, like, 'Thank, you Jesus,' " Jackson said with a laugh, as a reporter visited his shop, No Smoke Virginia, coincidentally just a few blocks from where the research was conducted at Virginia Commonwealth. In March, the Food and Drug Administration imposed a ban on continued imports of the devices, pending regulatory review for any health risks. The latest clinical evidence suggests users are not getting the addictive substance they get from smoking tobacco. "These e-cigs do not deliver nicotine," Eissenberg said of the findings he expects to publish in an upcoming issue Tobacco Control, a product of the British Medical Journal Group. This past summer, Eissenberg recruited smokers without prior experience using e-cigarettes to volunteer to use two popular brands of the devices for a set period. The 16 subjects were regularly measured in a clinical setting for the presence of nicotine in their bodies, their reported craving for conventional cigarettes, and certain physiological effects such as a change in heart rate. "Ten puffs from either of these electronic cigarettes with a 16 mg nicotine cartridge delivered little to no nicotine," the study found. But the units may deliver hazardous chemicals, according to preliminary checks by federal regulators. In a notice to importers, the FDA blocked continued shipments after finding diethylene glycol, a chemical used in antifreeze that is toxic to humans. The government's statement noted there are no health warnings on the products, and that "the FDA analyses detected carcinogens, including nitrosamines." The notice of the import ban says "the product appears to be a combination drug-device," that "requires pre-approval, registration and listing with the FDA" in order to be marketed in the United States. A company challenging the import ban claims in federal court documents to have sold 600,000 of the devices in a year's time through a network of 120 distributors in the United States. "We are on the verge of going out of business, which is why we are suing the FDA in U.S. District Court," said Washington, attorney Kip Schwartz, representing a company called "Smoking Everywhere," a U.S. wholesaler that was importing the devices from China. The lawsuit questions the FDA's authority to block shipments of a non-tobacco product, and says the agency has violated its statutory process for product review. Liquid nicotine is available on the open market through pharmaceutical houses and vendors who sell e-cigarettes. A judge January 14 ruled the FDA does not have such authority, but the agency has taken the matter to the U.S. Court of Appeals, which has yet to decide the case. The appeals panel issued a stay against the judge's ruling until it can rule on the agency's appeal. Meanwhile, based on the judge's ruling, lawyers for the importers have filed a request to compel the FDA to lift its import ban, saying the agency is not likely to win its appeal. The filing says "although e-cigarettes have been sold since 2007, FDA has not identified a single instance, either in this Court or below, of an adverse health effect from e-cigarettes." President Obama, who has described himself as an occasional smoker, has been offered one of the devices by Florida Rep. Cliff Stearns. The Republican lawmaker's office said the president did not respond. An administration spokesman last year said the White House was not aware of the offer. In a copy of a letter to the chief executive dated March 26, Stearns wrote, "I have recently given out e-cigarettes to a few members of Congress and they have become quite a hit." Sales of the devices continue at shopping mall kiosks and small storefront retailers, apparently drawing from stock imported before the FDA began to block shipments from overseas suppliers. | Nicotine delivery system same "as puffing on an unlit cigarette," researcher says . Virginia Commonwealth University studies "no-smoke tobacco" devices . FDA has halted imports of the devices as it studies their effect on health . | ccfc6dc7f56b3397f7fb8cfd74003a472a0077c1 |
They're the dinosaurs that wowed cinema audiences in Steven Spielberg's 1993 film classic Jurassic Park - and now you could own them. Ten full-sized dinosaur models used in the block buster are tipped to sell for £100,000. The models include the huge head of the Tyrannosaurus Rex that wreaked havoc on the theme park of cloned dinosaurs and ate other monsters and humans alike. Ten full-sized dinosaur models used in the block buster are tipped to sell for £100,000, including the hulking head of a sick Triceratops that was seen in the film being comforted by the main characters . The models, made out of foam latex and hand-painted in incredible detail, are owned by Don Lessem, who worked as an advisor on Jurassic Park . There are also two whole Velociraptors that were featured in the sci-fi adventure film chasing the two children into a locked room. And the hulking head of a sick Triceratops that was seen in the film lying on the ground being comforted by the main characters is also included in the auction. The models, made out of foam latex and hand-painted in incredible detail, are owned by Don Lessem, who worked as an advisor on Jurassic Park. His company Dino Don Inc has cast the 10 dinosaurs for touring museum exhibitions and they are now selling the models at US auctioneers Profiles in History. Joe Maddalena, of Profiles in History, said: 'These dinosaurs are an embodiment of creativity and talent and are being offered to the public for the very first time. Two whole Velociraptors that were featured in the sci-fi adventure film chasing the two children into a locked room are up for auction . Tense: The scene where the Velociraptors hunted the children in a kitchen is one of the most memorable . 'The Triceratops head is one of the most memorable dinosaurs seen in the first Jurassic Park movie. 'Audiences were in as much astonishment as the characters when they encountered her for the first time, laying ill but breathing deeply. This scene captured audiences and set the tone for the unexpected.' Other Jurassic Park dinosaurs up for auction include a dome-headed Pachycephalosaurus, a baby Tyrannosaurus Rex, a baby Stegosaur and T. rex, and the head and neck of the giant Brachiosaurus. They are being sold on October 17. The models include the huge head of the Tyrannosaurous Rex that wreaked havoc on the theme park . | Ten full-sized dinosaur models from 1993 hit Jurassic Park are up for sale . They include the head of the sick Triceratops and two Velociraptors . The huge head of the terrifying Tyrannosaurus Rex is also being auctioned . The models are being sold at US auctioneers Profiles in History . | 54bc5e741523fe8694116428bb972a9c5df5aa79 |
(CNN) -- Amid all the talk of helicopter parents and Tiger Moms, let us now praise Stealth Dads. Not to be confused with the Absentee Father, who flamboyantly disappoints, the Stealth Dad exceeds expectations without drawing attention to himself. I am the son of a Stealth Dad, as are a number of my friends. Several have lost their Stealth Dads in recent years. For the rest of us, time is precious. The Stealth Dad is at the end of a good run. Social media has made stealth unfashionable, with every utterance now an exhibition. And private family milestones have been outsourced to consultants. When I read about the parent hiring a coach to teach a kid to ride a bike, I mourned for the Stealth Dad. In the end, the passing of a generation will finish the job. Demographers William Strauss and Neil Howe describe Americans born between 1925 and 1942 as the Silent Generation. This is the rich vein of Stealth Dad ore. Stuck between Greatest Generation heroes and look-at-us Boomers, the Silent Generation never produced a U.S. president. Instead, say Strauss and Howe, Silents became America's "facilitators and technocracts." Silents had ready access to college and jobs and avoided heavy war casualties. Silents experienced other frustrations, forever the "gap" in the Generation Gap that divided World War II leadership from 1960s revolutionaries. Strauss and Howe explain that, for Silents, "their solutions -- fairness, openness, due process, expertise -- reflect a lack of surefootedness, but also a keen sense of how and why humans fall short of grand civic plans or ideal moral standards. Silent appeals for change have seldom arisen from power or fury, but rather through a self-conscious humanity and tender social conscience." I like the notion of a tender social conscience. It fits my own Stealth Dad, who married the pretty girl at a Wake Forest College picnic, became a math teacher and then the principal who peacefully integrated the high school in the town of Garner, North Carolina. He served for years as an associate superintendent in Wake County, indispensable in the technocrat role. Once retired, he worked as the business manager for a church. Now, at 76, Wayne Bare keeps marshmallows in his pocket, for his granddaughter Leah. My close friends and I are also generational misfits, too young to be authentic Boomers and too old to line up neatly with Gen X. Stealth Dad attended some, not all, of our sporting events. When Stealth Dad was there, he never threw a tantrum. When he wasn't there, we behaved as if he was. In crisis, Stealth Dad lowers the volume. Stealth Dad doesn't speak up unless he can improve upon the silence. Stealth Dad is parsimonious with counsel. Having been spared a thousand aphorisms, we had no choice but to direct our attention to the specific Stealth Dad behaviors plainly predictive of a successful life. Stealth Dad puts fairness above nearly everything else. I walked to my elementary school. On the few rainy days when my Stealth Dad would drive me, he used our family car. Then he drove back home and set out for the office in a county-owned car provided by the school system. This vehicle was only to be used for work. While he follows rules, Stealth Dad challenges authority. Back in 1968, when many country clubs where still accessible only to whites, my Stealth Dad appointed an African-American man, James Farris, to be golf coach for our town's newly integrated high school. My Stealth Dad was in the audience last month when Farris was inducted into the Garner Athletics Hall of Fame. In the Baptist church we attended through my childhood, there came a time when one half of the congregation grew furious at the other half. If you have spent time in Baptist churches, this is not as consequential as it sounds. Yet in this case, the dispute could not be settled without a public airing of grievances. The hearing would take place during a business meeting that would follow the Sunday service. The only thing the feuding groups could agree on was that my Stealth Dad would facilitate, from the pulpit. There I sat in the church balcony, like Scout Finch looking down at the trial below, learning to turn off the fury and manifest self-conscious humanity. On good days, I can pull it off myself. Happy Father's Day to Stealth Dads everywhere. | John Bare: My father was part of a generation of Stealth Dads . He says today's fathers are more likely to draw attention to themselves, in social media era . He says his father was always there for him when he needed to be . Bare: Stealth Dad doesn't speak up unless he can improve on the silence . | ac3db9310a62362d4e07a57a402649f350855bff |
By . Nick Craven and Martyn Halle . PUBLISHED: . 19:46 EST, 23 March 2013 . | . UPDATED: . 19:47 EST, 23 March 2013 . A senior surgeon has been banned from operating at a children’s heart unit facing closure after it was condemned for excessive death rates. The consultant surgeon at Leeds Children’s Hospital last week agreed not to conduct any more procedures until concerns raised about ‘aspects of his practice’ were investigated. The hospital, already earmarked to lose its cardiac surgery department under an NHS review, last night refused to name the surgeon – one of only four in the cardiac department – and had released no public information about his agreement to cease surgery until contacted by The Mail on Sunday. A spokesman said it had a ‘duty as an employer’ not to name the surgeon. Crisis: Leeds hospital is already earmarked to lose its cardiac surgery unit . Last year, the Children’s Heart Federation said it had ‘major concerns’ about standards of care at Leeds, claiming some babies had been sent home to die and called for an investigation following feedback from parents. The safety of children’s heart surgery at Leeds was also raised two years ago with the Care Quality Commission health watchdog when a report found there had been 20 ‘excess’ or unexpected deaths over eight years to 2008. Hospital bosses stressed the new concerns were not related to mortality or morbidity figures or the row over transferring patients. But they admitted the consultant was already under an earlier restriction from carrying out certain procedures. In a statement, Leeds Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust said: ‘A surgeon in our paediatric cardiac team has agreed not to carry out operations until we have completed an assessment of aspects of his surgical practice. He has been subject to a specific restriction on his practice over a period of time and we review the position on a regular basis. ‘This professional review is being carried out within the trust. It is viewed as best practice and is part of running a safe service.’ Leeds is one of three children’s heart units to be closed after a review in the wake of the Bristol heart scandal in the Nineties in which 35 babies died and dozens more were left brain-damaged. It sparked a sea change in the way mortality rates in hospitals are monitored, especially in cardiac care. In recent months, a huge legal campaign, backed by publicity, has been mounted to keep heart surgery at Leeds following last year’s Safe and Sustainable NHS review, which recommended all surgery be transferred to better-equipped Newcastle. Leeds is one of three children's heart units to be closed after a review in the wake of the Bristol heart scandal in the nineties in which 35 babies died and dozens more were left brain-damaged . The campaign won the first round of a High Court judicial review, which found parts of the NHS consultation had been ‘flawed’. The NHS vowed to continue the closure plans, though another court hearing is due this week. Last night there were calls for operations at Leeds to be suspended to protect children from sub-standard surgery. One leading paediatric cardiologist said: ‘We don’t want another Bristol where all those children lost their lives. There should be decisive action as there was when there similar problems at Oxford in 2010. Then they just stopped doing surgery and it never resumed.’ A senior expert on children’s heart surgery last night said Leeds General Infirmary ‘ought to put the safety of children first’. He said: ‘When we were looking at the reorganisation of children’s heart surgery nationally, Leeds was bottom of the table. If there have been two incidents where surgeons have had stop performing certain operations, it would suggest there are serious issues that need addressing. 'Our number one priority has to be the children needing heart surgery. And they should be getting the best care possible, however far they have to travel to get it.’ The adviser, who worked for former Health Secretary Andrew Lansley, said: ‘We have been trying to reorganise children’s heart surgery for four years and are still unable to implement our plans because of campaigns like the one in Leeds. Based on the inspection reports of the various centres, Leeds did not do very well. The case for keeping paediatric surgery at Leeds is an emotional one. ‘One can understand support for a local centre, where some children have done well, but overall, looking at the interests of all patients, Leeds does not meet the standard. ‘On clinical outcomes, they are misguided. What the campaigners have to think about is all results, not individual personal experiences.’ The reorganisation of paediatric heart surgery has been delayed for many years following publication of the Kennedy Report into the Bristol Heart Babies scandal. Although that report led to the raising of standards, the spread of services over 14 centres is thought to have resulted in children being at risk from surgeons inexperienced in certain types of surgery. Sir Bruce Keogh, NHS Medical Director, said five years ago it would be a ‘stain on the profession’ if paediatric heart surgery wasn’t reorganised. | One of four consultant surgeons from Leeds Children's Hospital cardiac unit agreed not to conduct further procedures . Hospital said it had a duty not to reveal the name of the surgeon . | 3b9b7914782eebc2ea4b69d9ff739b01678c2ee2 |
Havana, Cuba (CNN) -- Cuban President Raul Castro on Saturday proposed setting term limits for public office in a country where two brothers have ruled for more than 50 years. "We have arrived at the conclusion that it is advisable to limit the fundamental political and state offices to a maximum period of two consecutive periods of five years," Castro said at the inauguration of a critical Communist Party meeting. After his 1959 revolution, Fidel Castro was in power until 2006, when illness forced him to hand the reins over to his younger brother Raul Castro. Cuba commemorates Bay of Pigs | Video . Raul Castro was officially elected in 2008. At the Communist Party Congress -- the first in 14 years -- Castro also said it was time for a "systematic rejuvenation of the whole chain of party and administrative posts," including the president of the party and of the Council of Ministers. But he also said Cuba's leadership had failed to prepare a younger generation to take over, leaving them without "a reserve of substitutes who were adequately prepared." | President says 10 years should be maximum . He and brother Fidel Castro have ruled country since 1959 . But younger generation not ready yet, he says . | d257e94d766913f2d85aef6139cae137ce187697 |
(CNN) -- An American imprisoned in the United Arab Emirates after posting a video that parodied Dubai teens will be released this week, a family spokeswoman said Tuesday. Shezanne Cassim plans to fly back to the United States on Thursday, family spokeswoman Jennifer Gore said. There was no immediate response to the family's announcement from the UAE government, which has not replied to previous requests for comment on Cassim's case. U.S. State Department spokeswoman Jen Psaki said Tuesday that after getting credit against his one-year sentence for time served and "for good behavior," Cassim was moved to a deportation facility for processing. "We understand processing will take a few days, at which point he will be returning to the United States," Psaki said, adding that U.S. diplomats have visited Cassim regularly in custody and should do so again Wednesday. Cassim, 29, of Woodbury, Minnesota, moved to Dubai in 2006 after graduating from college to work for PricewaterhouseCoopers. His family says the 29-year-old was arrested in April after uploading a 19-minute video that pokes fun at a clique of Dubai teens influenced by hip-hop culture. In December, he was sentenced to a year in prison and a fine of about $2,700. The charges were not read in court, but the country's main English-language newspaper reported that Cassim was accused of defaming the UAE's image abroad. UAE officials would say only that Cassim "was charged under the UAE's penal code" and was "entitled to the fair trial protections contained in the UAE's constitution." In the 1990s, the label "Satwa G" was coined for a group of suburban teens who were known to talk tougher than they really were. Cassim's video depicts a look at a "combat school" in the Dubai district of Satwa, where these "gangsters" are trained. The training includes how to throw sandals at targets, use clothing accessories as whips and how to call on the phone for backup. Cassim's family said they weren't notified of the charges against him for five months. American gets 1-year prison sentence for parody video . "He tries to put on a brave face," his brother, Shervon Cassim, said in December. "He said that he was doing fine, not to worry about him, but I could just sense that he's a little depressed. My impression is that he's going just a little bit crazy in his cell." Shervon Cassim said his brother made the video "just for fun." "He's a big fan of 'SNL,' 'Funny or Die,' all those shows, and he and his friends just wanted to make a funny sketch comedy in their spare time," Shervon Cassim said. "There was no indication in local law that making a comedy video, making fun of teenagers in the suburbs, was a threat to the UAE's national security." The online comedy community Funny or Die, in fact, rallied to Cassim's support, launching a #FreeShez campaign to correspond with U.N. Human Rights Day on December 10. Cassim ended up serving nine months -- more than half of those before being charged -- before his recent move to a deportation facility, his family said in a statement. The family said it reached out to U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry before his Mideast trip last week, with U.S. Sen. Amy Klobuchar also pushing for his release. "The disregard for freedom of expression, the arbitrary application of this cybercrime law, the constant delays revealed the UAE legal system as archaic and unfair by modern standards," said Susan Burns, the family's U.S.-based lawyer. "However, we are relieved that the UAE finally realized that Shezanne deserved to be released." New Day Blog: Will Ferrell joins fight to free American Shezanne Cassim . CNN's Jamie Crawford and Sara Sidner contributed to this report. | NEW: Cassim got credit for time served, good behavior, U.S. official says . NEW: Family lawyer blasts UAE's "archaic and unfair" legal system . Shezanne Cassim plans to fly back to the United States on Thursday, family says . He was sentenced to a year in prison in the UAE for a parody video . | 232ec639be81ad679620e8d129bf9fbc72102094 |
(CNN) -- The death toll from a New Year's stampede during a church vigil at an Angolan stadium rose to 16 Wednesday, state media said, as details emerged of how the tragedy unfolded. The deadly crush at the gates of the Cidadela Desportiva stadium, in Angola's capital, Luanda, came Monday evening as tens of thousands of people flocked to an event staged by the Universal Church of the Kingdom of God. Three children, aged three and four, were among the 16 people killed, according to state-run newspaper Jornal de Angola. Angolan state news agency Angola Press reported 10 deaths in the stampede as of Tuesday. Meanwhile, Ivory Coast is beginning three days of national mourning for at least 60 people crushed to death after they left a New Year's Eve fireworks display in the West African country's biggest city, Abidjan. Read more: Ivory Coast mourns 60 killed in New Year's stampede . President Alassane Ouattara has ordered a speedy investigation into the circumstances and cause of the tragedy, his office said in a statement Tuesday night. Ouattara went to the scene of the stampede, in Plateau, the city's central business district, Tuesday and has ordered the government to take care of the injured, his office said. The dead in Abidjan included 26 children, 28 women and six men, Youth Minister Alain Lobognon said via Twitter. Interior Minister Hamed Bakayoko said 49 people were injured, two of them seriously. In both incidents, many of the victims died as a result of being trampled or suffocated by the surging crowds. In Luanda, the crisis came when many more people turned up for the vigil than the 70,000 who were expected by the organizers, according to Angola Press. People had been arriving at the stadium since the morning, the Jornal de Angola reported Wednesday, leaving no space for those who arrived later in the day. Witnesses said all the gates were open and that people could also watch the service on big screens placed outside, the newspaper reported. However, anxiety led people to push through a set of the gates into the stadium, causing a stampede, it said. Witnesses told the newspaper the situation was aggravated when bags of holy water by the gates burst in the confusion and created a dangerously slippery surface on the entrance slope. The deaths occurred as a result of crushing and asphyxiation, Angola Press reported, quoting Angola's national firefighters' department spokesman Faustino Sebastiao. Another 120 people were injured, the news agency said. The Universal Church of the Kingdom of God was founded in Brazil in 1977 and has since expanded to more than 100 countries around the globe, according to its website. Its first church in Africa opened in Angola in 1992. Watch: Angola's ghost town: A new town, with few residents . CNN's Laura Smith-Spark and Laura Perez Maestro contributed to this report. | The number killed in a New Year's stampede in Angola climbs to 16 . Three children were among those killed, state-run newspaper reports . Ivory Coast begins three days of national mourning for 60 people killed in a stampede . Most of those killed in Ivory Coast were women and children . | d99a9995c8118e9b8e5d072762a12c85019fd9bb |
Ambushed: PC Nicola Hughes, who was killed aged just 23 in the line of duty when she was gunned down by fugitive killer Dale Cregan in Manchester . Two former Scotland Yard chiefs enraged frontline officers yesterday by opposing full life terms for police killers. Moves to make such murderers die behind bars are a PR exercise and the ‘contemporary version of hanging’, according to Lord Condon and Lord Blair. But Ian Hanson, whose police colleagues Nicola Hughes and Fiona Bone were shot dead in 2012, said the peers should hang their heads in shame. ‘They sit in the splendour of the . House of Lords and do so only by virtue of having had the honour of . wearing the same uniform as those who have given their lives protecting . our communities,’ he said. ‘Yet now they forget their roots and speak in defence of the rights of police murderers.’ The . Greater Manchester Police Federation chairman added: ‘The men and women . of our police service put their lives on the line every day to protect . us all and need our protection. 'An attack upon a police officer is an attack upon every decent citizen.’ Ian . Pointon, who chairs the Kent Police Federation, said there was an . unwritten contract between our largely unarmed police service and the . public. He added: ‘Society . relies on police officers to get out there and protect them and they do . that unarmed, but in return if somebody does kill a police officer they . should die in prison.’ Home . Secretary Theresa May revealed the proposed change in the law at the . Police Federation annual conference last year. It was a popular move . with rank-and-file officers. Before the abolition of the death penalty, . the murder of an officer was a ‘capital homicide’ with an automatic . death penalty. Mrs May said: ‘We are clear – life should mean life for anyone convicted of killing a police officer.’ The current minimum sentence is 30 years and in some cases police killers have been told they will die behind bars. Dale Cregan, the 31-year-old killer of Constables Hughes and Bone, was jailed for a whole life term in June 2013. But . American David Bieber, 48, who murdered PC Ian Broadhurst in Leeds in . 2003 by shooting him at point-blank range, had his whole life term . overturned on appeal. The . Court of Appeal later ruled he could apply for parole after 37 years, a . decision which led one police leader to accuse the judiciary of having . ‘blood on its hands’. Lord Blair, left, branded the move to make police killers serve whole-life sentences 'unnecessary and populist'. Lord Condon, right, said the change 'feels like a piece of symbolic, public relations legislation' Life tariffs are due to be enshrined in law in the Criminal Justice and Courts Bill which is currently passing through the House of Lords. But, during debates, Lords Blair and Condon have both spoken out in strong terms to oppose the clause which introduces whole life tariffs. They were backed by Lord Paddick, who also served as a senior Met officer, and Lord Dear, who led West Midlands Police for five years. Lord Blair, whose tenure as Met commissioner between 2005 and 2008 was dogged by questions about his judgment, leadership and politically correct style, branded the change ‘unnecessary and populist’. He said there was ‘no evidence of judicial complacency’ when it came to sentencing police killers. And he said a whole life term is the ‘contemporary version of hanging’, adding: ‘This measure is simply dangerous, unhelpful and totally misguided.’ Lord Condon, who led the Met for seven years until 2000, said the change ‘feels like a piece of symbolic, public relations legislation’. He fears that a criminal on the run after a police murder might choose to ‘shoot, stab or bludgeon’ other officers as he has ‘nothing more to fear’. Both men pointed out that Harry Roberts, who killed three police officers in 1966, remains in prison and his accomplices have died. Policing minister Mike Penning said: ‘We are making this change because we recognise the unique and dangerous job that police and prison officers do on a daily basis and we place the highest value upon their safety. 'We recognise that the courts already treat these cases very seriously, and it will remain for them to determine the appropriate sentence in each case based on all the facts. But the Government considers that the starting point in these cases should be a whole life order.’ The Criminal Justice and Courts Bill has been working its way through Parliament for several months. It is in the committee stage in the House of Lords, in which peers propose amendments. They will continue their work after the summer recess. Dale Cregan: Killed WPCs Nicola Hughes, 23, and Fiona Bone, 32, while the subject of a huge manhunt after murdering a father and son. The officers died in a hail of bullets and even had a grenade thrown at them after Cregan ambushed them in Manchester in September 2012. The gangster, who has a false eye made of onyx, later handed himself in at a police station. He was convicted of all four murders, plus three attempted murders, and jailed for life. David Bieber: Shot dead PC Ian Broadhurst after officers spotted he was driving a stolen BMW in Leeds on Boxing Day, 2003. Bieber, an American, was eventually caught in a Gateshead hotel room. He was given a life sentence in December 2004 and told he will never be released – however, this sentence was overturned four years later. Could be released in 2041. Magdi Elgizouli: The jobless drifter stabbed WPC Nina Mackay, 25, to death with a kitchen knife as she attempted to arrest him at a flat in East London in October 1997. Elgizouli, a schizophrenic with a pathological hatred of police, was detained indefinitely after admitting manslaughter on the grounds of diminished responsibility. He was released in 2012, with officials ordering that he be housed in an area with few police patrolling the streets in order to protect his mental health. Harry Roberts: The 78-year-old is one of Britain’s longest-serving and most notorious prisoners. He shot dead two officers, and an accomplice fatally shot a third, when his van was approached by plain-clothes police in West London in 1966. The double-killer, who was jailed for life and ordered to serve a minimum term of 30 years, remains in prison today. The slayings prompted calls to reintroduce the death penalty – abolished a year earlier – for those who kill police. In the wake of Cregan's conviction, former Tory chairman Lord Tebbit said it was time to think again of the 'deterrent effect of the shadow of the gallows' Calls to reintroduce the death penalty for police killers have been made repeatedly since the punishment was abandoned in the Sixties. Many believe the decision to end capital punishment in 1965 came with assurances that those who murder police would die behind bars. As recently as two years ago – in the wake of one-eyed gangster Dale Cregan’s murder of two WPCs – senior Tories said criminals who target those protecting the public should face the ultimate punishment. Former party chairman Lord Tebbit said it was time to think again of the ‘deterrent effect of the shadow of the gallows’. His colleague Nick de Bois said: ‘Police officers potentially put their lives on the line every day, and therefore someone who murders a police officer should face the most severest of punishments. ‘Whether that is a life sentence without the possibility of release or the death penalty is something that I believe Parliament should debate, as there is a massive public interest in this. The fact is that these killers don’t fear the law, and they need to.’ The Police Federation, which represents rank-and-file officers, has long called for the death penalty for police killers – or, at the very least, automatic whole-life tariffs. Capital punishment was banned for an initial trial period in 1965, with the last criminal hanged in 1964. The death penalty was formally abolished in Britain in 1969. There was concern at the time, however, that the punishment should be retained for certain forms of murder – including the killing of a police officer. | Lord Blair brands the mandatory sentences 'unnecessary and populist' Lord Condon said it 'feels like a piece of public relations legislation' But their comments are slammed by police officer who lost two colleagues . Measure is part of the government's Criminal Justice and Courts Bill . The proposed law is at the committee stage in the House of Lords . | e34f43151f3107c34ad9380a1f771ce3b42b0718 |
BAGHDAD, Iraq (CNN) -- Five American security contractors were detained in connection with the killing of another American contractor last month inside Baghdad's Green Zone, sources with knowledge of the investigation told CNN Saturday. The body of James Kitterman was found in a car in Baghdad's heavily protected Green Zone. Iraqi and U.S. personnel took the five into custody in an operation inside the Green Zone before dawn on Friday, according to an Iraqi official involved in the investigation into the killing of James Kitterman. The five, who have not yet been charged, were being held by Iraqi security forces Saturday at a jail inside the heavily protected zone, he said. The troops also confiscated weapons during the raid on the suspects' firm at about 4 a.m. (11 a.m. ET), said the official, who spoke on condition of anonymity. The names of the suspects and the company they work for were not released. The U.S. military declined comment and referred questions to the U.S. Embassy in Baghdad. Embassy officials did not immediately respond to request for comments. Kitterman was found bound, blindfolded and fatally stabbed in a car in the district, formally known as the International Zone, on May 22. The 60-year-old Houston, Texas, resident owned a construction company that operated in Iraq. The five suspects knew the victim, a source inside the Green Zone familiar with the investigation said. Both the Iraqi and the Green Zone sources noted that the FBI has been involved in the investigation from the start. Once the suspects are charged and referred to trial, the case would be sent to Iraq's Central Criminal Court, the Iraqi official said. If that happens, it would be the first time U.S. citizens were tried in Iraq since the United States returned the country's government to the Iraqis. CNN's Mohammed Tawfeeq and Alan Duke contributed to this report. | NEW: Weapons confiscated in raid of suspects' firm, official says . Five arrested in death of fellow contractor James Kitterman . Kitterman found bound, blindfolded and fatally stabbed . Victim owned a construction company that operated in Iraq . | 3ea479583a030e29ac3a393842de77336ddb992a |
By . Joshua Gardner . and Ap . 'I'm gonna flip this bus!': Maquel Donyel Morris is accused of attacking a Greyhound driver in Arizona early Thursday, causing the bus to careen into a median, injuring dozens . Dozens were injured early Thursday when a crazed man attacked the driver of a Greyhound bus, causing it to smash into a median in the middle of the Arizona desert. Police say Maquel Donyel Morris, 25, was 'very high' when he assaulted the driver before 2am near Tonopah and nearly caused the bus to swerve into oncoming traffic on Interstate 10 as he screamed, 'I'm gonna flip this bus!' Three of the 41 passengers had to be airlifted from the scene after Morris very nearly accomplished his goal before running off into the desert with his girlfriend only to return 30 minutes later. That's when Arizona authorities placed him under arrest. 'He was hallucinating ... we believe . he was very high,' Arizona Department of Public Safety spokesman Bart . Graves told the LA Times. According to Graves, Morris's girlfriend informed police Graves was under the influence of methamphetamine. Despite . all his efforts, the bus remained upright and none of the 24 people . taken to hospitals had life-threatening injuries, the DPS said. Passengers . say that's thanks in large part to the efforts of the as yet unnamed . driver, who at no point in the terrifying ordeal took his hands off the . steering wheel. While he was being pummeled, the driver called for passengers to 'get this guy off me,' passenger Gregory Forte told KNXV. Scroll down for video . Terrifying: Dozens were injured and three had to be airlifted from the side of I-10 after the bus smashed into the median . 'They're gonna kill me! Call my mom': Morris fled into the desert wilds with his girlfriend before returning 30 minutes later. That's when police arrested him and his bizarre state of mind became all too apparent . 'The passengers descended on him,' DPS spokesman Bart Graves told The Associated Press. The . injuries included a broken sternum suffered by one of the passengers . who helped restrain the attacker, said DPS Officer Carrick Cook, another . DPS spokesman. The attacker and his female companion got off the bus when it stopped and fled into the desert wilds 50 miles outside Phoenix. Thirty minutes later, the couple returned for unknown reasons and the suspect was arrested by highway patrol. The girlfriend told azfamily.com that he was 'paranoid' and 'did not want to be on the bus.' 'Pull him off me!': There were 41 passengers aboard the Dallas-bound bus, some of whom quickly pulled the attacker off the driver around 2am before it came to a stop about 50 miles outside Phoenix . 'He started crying and I knew something was wrong,' passenger Gregory Forte said of Morris in the moments before the attack. 'It was bizarre. I hope I never have to go through anything like this ever again' As he was hauled away in a police car, Morris continued his frightening behavior. 'They're going to kill me,' he screamed from the back of the car to his girlfriend. 'Call my mom!' Morris was taken to a hospital for treatment of a drug-induced condition and was expected to be booked on suspicion of numerous counts of endangerment, assault and aggravated assault, the DPS said. Greyhound spokeswoman Alexandra Pedrini said the bus was carrying 41 passengers, plus the driver. Westbound lanes of I-10 were closed for 30 minutes so helicopters could land and shuttle out the most injured among the passengers. The 20 or so passengers left behind were seen huddled with blankets by the highway waiting for a relief bus to come. Most of them were thankful just to be alive. Could have been much worse: Multiple children and at least two infants were reportedly aboard the bus, though police say miraculously no one sustained life threatening injuries . Creepy: The 20 or so passengers left over after the injured ones were taken to the hospital were huddled alongside the road until a relief bus came to take them to their destinations. Here, the bus as it appeared while still stranded in the I-10 median in the early morning hours . 'I thought we were all gonna die,' Chrissy Sanchez, who was asleep before the attack as many passengers were, told azfamily.com. 'I woke up to this commotion. I remember hearing screaming. ... I realized we were not on the road anymore.' Gregory Forte recalled the moment he knew something wasn't right about his fellow passenger. 'He started crying and I knew something was wrong,' Forte said of Morris. 'It was bizarre. I hope I never have to go through anything like this ever again.' Greyhound spokeswoman Alexandra Pedrini said that, in addition to the police investigation, Greyhound would be conducting their own internal investigation. 'It could have been a lot worse,' Cook said. | 'We believe he was very high': Arizona officials say Maquel Donyel Morris, 25, brutally beat the driver before other passengers pulled him off . Three passengers needed to be airlifted to a hospital after the bus loaded with 41 passengers crashed into a median before 2am . Morris allegedly fled into the desert with his girlfriend amidst the chaos before returning a half hour later, when he was arrested . | 1da74ce83a420249873e0f3d3808acb01122616c |
By . Simon Tomlinson . With its manicured lawns, tropical foliage and neat bungalows, this idyllic setting on the edge of the Florida everglades would make for an ideal retirement community. Miracle Village, however, is home to more than 100 registered sex offenders - half of its population - who have abused minors, viewed child pornography or even molested their own children. Among them are a teacher, a pastor and a sports coach. More than half of the population of this Florida village on the edge of the everglades are sex offenders . Reminiscent of a retirement village: The area has manicured lawns, tropical foliage and neat bungalows . The 24-acre community was built in the 1960s to house sugar cane workers. In 2009 the late Dick Witherow, a pastor with the Christian group Matthew 25 Ministries, began making housing available to sex offenders. Witherow came up with the idea for the village largely because of a Florida state law that prevents offenders from living within 1,000ft of a school, park, day care centre or playground. Some cities and counties have extended that to 2,500ft. Forced out of densely populated areas, Miracle Village offers sex offenders a place to live away from those restrictions - and it's proved so popular there are between 10 and 20 applications from potential residents every week. The village is located about three miles from any other neighbors. It is self-contained, with its own water supply and sewage treatment plant. Registered sex offenders living in the village include Pat Powers (left), the director of the Christian ministry that offers the housing to offenders, and Christopher Dawson (right), 22, convicted of having sex with a minor . In demand: Miracle Village has proved so popular there are between 10 and 20 applications from potential residents every week . 'In the beginning, no one wanted us around,' said Pat Powers, a sex offender who is now director of Matthew 25 Ministries, in an interview in March with the Orlando Sun-Sentinel. 'But it's totally changed, now we're a part of the community.' Married couple David and Lecil Woods said they would have no place to live if it weren't for Miracle Village. David was convicted of a sex offense for engaging in what he claims was consensual sex with his girlfriend at the time, who was 16 years old. 'We had searched for places to live and nobody would rent to us,' Lecil Woods told the New York Times. 'If it wasn't for this place we would be homeless.' The village does not allow offenders who are convicted of violent sex crimes against strangers. Jerry Youmans, the intake coordinator . for the ministry who is also a registered sex offender, told the BBC: 'We . try not to accept people with a history of violence or drugs, or to take . any diagnosed paedophile - that is, someone who can only become . sexually aroused by a child. The village was set up in 2009 by the late Dick Witherow, a pastor with Matthew 25 Ministries, in large part because of state law that prevents offenders living within 1,000ft of a school, day care centre or playground . 'We want to protect the people who are already here and those who were living here before us.' Some children do live in the village, however, as state laws allow sex offenders to live in the same neighborhood as minors, although some may be banned from having contact with them. One such resident is 22-year-old . Christopher Dawson, who is barred from speaking to anyone under 18 after . he had sex with a 14-year-old who he believed was older. He was sentenced to two years' house arrest followed by probation for eight years. After breaching the terms of his licence, he was ordered to the village by a judge. 'It's been a blessing in disguise... I feel as though I have a destiny with Miracle Village. I feel at home and safe here - I love the people,' he said. You can hear more about this story on the BBC World Service programme Assignment on Thursday 1 August. | More than 100 sex offenders live in Miracle Village on edge of everglades . Banned from living within 1,000ft of schools, parks and day care centres . So popular it receives 10 to 20 applications from potential residents a week . | 9f6cc7eeaa2c77f25bc9c7c25ec16c329a498586 |
By . Emily Allen . PUBLISHED: . 11:15 EST, 29 August 2012 . | . UPDATED: . 17:42 EST, 29 August 2012 . Behind bars: Jason Harewood was jailed for robbing a man at knifepoint . A teenage robber who robbed a man at knife-point has been jailed after being caught by an iPhone tracking app. Jason Harewood, 19, had only just been released from prison for a previous knife-point robbery when, covering his face, he pulled a knife on a 42-year-old man in Fortis Green, North London on March 15 this year. Harwood, of Islington, London demanded the victim’s phone, cash card and pin number before warning him not to call police and running off. But the victim quickly rang 999 and, . while being driven around by plain-clothes officers, used a police iPad . and the 'Find my iPhone' app to track his phone to Islington, where he . pointed out Harwood. Self-employed . Harewood tried to run from police and ditched the stolen phone in some . bushes but was arrested shortly after trying to hide on top of garages. Harewood pleaded guilty and was sentenced to four years at Wood Freen Crown Court. Investigating . officer, DC John Martin of Haringey CID thanked the victim for phoning . the police quickly and praised the tracker technology for its usefulness . in bringing criminals to justice. I’d like to thank the victim of this robbery for his diligence in phoning police on 999 at the earliest opportunity and having already installed and enabled the tracker app on his phone prior to the theft. 'His actions enabled police to do what we like to do best, to obtain best evidence and to arrest the offender at the earliest opportunity,” DC Martin said. 'Faced with the overwhelming evidence Harewood realised he had no option but to enter a guilty plea.' DC Martin said he was happy with the lengthy sentence dished out to Harewood. He said: 'Harewood had only been released from prison on licence a couple of weeks before carrying out this robbery, having served one year of a two year sentence for a knife point robbery just streets away the previous year. 'By carrying out a similar offence, he has shown a complete disregard for the criminal justice system and for the right of law abiding members of the public to go about their business without fear. I am pleased that he will not be walking the streets for a significant period of time.' Technology: The victim used a police iPad and 'Find my iPhone' app to track his phone to Islington where he recognised the robber (file picture) Borough Commander Sandra Looby urged people to download tracker apps for their phones and electronic devices. She said: 'This case exemplifies the professionalism and dedication of my officers when it comes to tackling violent offenders and dealing with incidents of robbery and knife crime. 'We’ve had some real successes using tracker technology to trace stolen phones and computers resulting in police returning stolen property to victims of crime, obtaining convictions and also putting those handling stolen goods out of pocket. 'Help us to help you. Search the internet for theft recovery apps or software and see which ones people recommend. While most of the basic tracker Apps are free, the more advanced ones - that take photo’s of the person using the device - do tend to have a cost. 'Only last week my officers arrested someone on suspicion of handling stolen goods after the victim of a theft presented police with photos of someone using their stolen macbook and location information.' 'I urge people to install and activate an appropriate tracker service on their device. Importantly, also set a lock code so that a thief can’t de-activate the tracker while they try to make their escape.' 'Register any serial numbers of valuable electrical items onto the immobilise.com database free of charge, as this also helps us to return stolen property to its rightful owner and to catch the people that help drive theft by their involvement in handling stolen goods. 'Remember, if you’re set to get a new phone, tablet or computer in the coming months, make sure you re-install any tracker or anti-theft software onto it.' | Jason Harewood, 19, had only just been released from prison when he pulled a knife on a 42-year-old man . Victim called police after Harewood stole his phone, card and pin number . He used police iPad and special app to track his phone to Islington, London and Harewood was arrested . | 13f1ac78dbb8b5337678e79760132a23f50dbfd0 |
By . Daily Mail Reporter . PUBLISHED: . 08:29 EST, 26 November 2012 . | . UPDATED: . 19:06 EST, 26 November 2012 . A benefits cheat caught hula dancing on holiday after claiming to be wheelchair bound must pay more than £300,000 or face a longer prison sentence. Abdul Esfandmozd, 52, will have at least five years added to his four-year sentence if he does not pay the money. He claimed to be disabled for ten years, pocketing nearly £100,000 in benefits, but was caught out when council officers noticed fake names on records he was meant to keep of money he spent on carers. 'Living a lie': Abdul Esfandmozd, 52, pocketed public money meant for carers and spent it on exotic holiday and building a property empire . Scam: A raid on his home uncovered pictures of him on holiday hula dancing, diving into a pool and lifting a woman up, as well as home videos of him walking long distances . In August, Esfandmozd was found guilty of fraud, obtaining money by deception and entering into a money laundering arrangement. He had to reappear before Portsmouth Crown Court to hear a judge’s verdict on how the money he made with his scam should be recouped. Despite being exposed as a cheat, Esfandmozd still insisted on using his wheelchair to attend the hearing. Judge Sarah Munro QC ruled that his total gain through crime was £318,593.21 and gave him nine months to pay up. She repeatedly had to ask him to be quiet as he shouted ‘I still trust British justice’ from the back of the court. The sum includes £140,000 from the Department for Work and Pensions that he was not prosecuted for and the profits for two properties that he bought with his ill-gotten money. Out for a stroll: He was found guilty of two counts of fraud, two of obtaining money by deception and three of entering into a money laundering arrangement . Whale of a time: Despite being outed as a liar, Esfandmozd still insisted on using his wheelchair to attend the hearing at Portsmouth Crown Court . Michael Lawther, solicitor for Portsmouth City Council, said: ‘Esfandmozd stole a substantial amount of money from taxpayers. We’re pleased we’ll be able to recover it.’ A Crown Prosecution Service spokesman said that Esfandmozd’s property could be seized to pay the order. Between 2000 and 2010, Esfandmozd claimed £93,730 in disability payments from the council. He said he was incapable of standing or walking without crutches and used an electric wheelchair to get around. He was supposed to spend the money on carers and neighbours were fooled by his supposedly modest lifestyle. But instead he took regular holidays to America, Cyprus and Malta and invested in property. The scam came to light when council officers noticed paperwork for the care work he was supposed to be buying was not in order. Good times: Neighbours were fooled by his supposedly modest lifestyle, but meanwhile the conman was enjoying a luxury lifestyle . Forms on which he was meant to list carers’ names included former England goalkeeper P Shilton, athlete D Thompson and even a Mr D Duck. A raid of his flat in Somers Town, Hampshire, uncovered home videos of him on holiday, dancing, swimming and even lifting a woman up. There were also six hours of home videos of him filmed on holiday in which he was shown walking long distances. Sentencing him, Judge Munro said: ‘You are in my view one of the most dishonest and manipulative individuals ever to have come before this court.’ | Abdul Esfandmozd exposed after holiday photos showed him in grass skirt . Despite claiming £100,000 he was lifting a woman and diving into the pool . The 52-year-old stole money supposed to fund carers he called 'D.Duck' But he still insisted on wheeling himself into court in chair he didn't need . | f0aec303c101822efa334eba9838444313ace886 |
By . Jack Gaughan . Follow @@Jack_Gaughan . Paul Scholes believes England's best chance of beating Uruguay is to isolate Diego Lugano by playing Wayne Rooney as a central striker. The Manchester United forward was put out to pasture on the left-hand side during the 2-1 defeat against Italy on Saturday. And Rooney, despite assisting Daniel Sturridge's first half equaliser, was heavily criticised back home for not helping Leighton Baines enough. Play him through the middle! Wayne Rooney should start as England's central striker against Uruguay . Forthright: Paul Scholes didn't pull any punches again in his Paddy Power online blog . Neat finish: Daniel Sturridge netted England's equaliser against Italy in Manaus on Saturday night . Scholes, writing in his Paddy Power blog, stresses that Roy Hodgson should take that problem out of the equation by starting the 28-year-old up front. 'Wayne Rooney can destroy Lugano, if Wayne is played in his best position,' he said. 'But I’ll say it again, Wayne has to play . up front. 'Rio Ferdinand and Alan Shearer have repeated it on the BBC. Play our best goalscorer in his best position and he’ll get goals. 'His . record at international level supports that. It’s not rocket science.' Rooney's record at major tournaments isn't befitting a player who has been a lynchpin domestically for so many years; it's something he is clearly mindful of himself. Bit of a problem? Rooney was forced to play out wide on the left against the Italians . Get him isolated: Scholes believes Rooney will 'destroy' Diego Lugano if he plays up front . He has been undergoing double sessions in a bid to fine tune match sharpness, and said this week: 'I said from the start I want to do everything I can to make sure I'm ready for these World Cup games and as part of that I was doing extra training a week before the squad joined up.' That doesn't shock Scholes in the slightest. 'I’ve read that Rooney stayed for extra shooting practice after training with England on Monday. It doesn’t surprise me,' he added. 'That’s standard Wayne – he’d be out all day and you’d have to drag him in.' | Rooney was operating from the left against Italy in Manaus . Scholes says Rooney must play up front . Daniel Sturridge scored the only goal for Roy Hodgson's side . Three Lions need points in order to get out of Group D in Brazil . | 6fa1c5378560b7981c82978a323da936a0e79f61 |
Every Sunday Reverend Martyn Pinnock offers communion to the congregation at his parish church in Cornwall. But the cash-strapped vicar was forced to take up delivering a different kind of bread - by becoming a Sainsbury's delivery driver. The 66-year-old combines work for the church with two days a week behind the wheel for the supermarket giants. Reverend Martyn Pinnock has taken a job as a Sainsbury's delivery driver because he is short of cash . He started working for Sainsbury’s five years ago but only regained his religious licence last November after marrying for the second time. Rev Pinnock took charge of the Parish of Tregony and St Cuby with Cornelly near Truro in Cornwall. The grandfather said: 'I’m doing both jobs because I need the money. 'The biggest problem is that having been made the vicar of the parish the church is paying me for half of the time but it’s impossible to be a parish priest for half of the time. Rev Pinnock works for Sainsbury's for 10 hours on Mondays and nine hours on Tuesdays each week . He took over as vicar in charge of the Parish of Tregony and St Cuby with Cornelly near Truro in Cornwall . 'People ring me up when I’m driving. I have to sit down after a day’s driving and then work out what I’m going to say in the pulpit.' Rev Pinnock works for Sainsbury’s for 10 hours on Mondays and nine hours on Tuesdays each week. He returned to the UK in 2008 after a three-year spell in the United States where he worked for electronic company Plessey. The vicar started working for Sainsbury's five years ago but regained his religious licence last year . At that stage he was still in the process of going through a divorce and was not allowed to hold a ministerial licence until he re-married. He said ‘hefty legal fees’ from his divorce were reasons he was short of money. 'It is difficult to juggle two jobs,' said the vicar. 'If you’re a priest and particularly a parish priest, you are considering issues about parish life and everything becomes a bit of a juggling exercise. 'I did reduce my hours at Sainsbury’s, although due to the ten hour and nine hour shift, I am still quite busy and I do cover a big area. 'I’m not sure how long I plan on being at Sainsbury’s - a lot depends on what happens in the church and whether my role in the diocese changes from part-time to full-time. 'However, the idea of not working never appeals to me, I will carry on driving for Sainsbury’s for as long as they let me.' He added: 'I’m thinking about the church all the time. I’m thinking about it but I don’t wear the collar when I’m driving. 'Church for me is about a style of life rather than banner-waving. It most certainly is about seven days a week and not just Sunday. 'I’ve always found that my instinct to be pastorally caring comes out. 'You get elderly folk who are trying to be independent and you try and do as much as you can for them. 'We certainly go to more trouble for people in need.' | The 66-year-old combines work for the church with delivering shopping . While going through a divorce he was not allowed to hold a ministerial licence and so took the job at Sainsbury's . He is now the vicar of a church near Truro in Cornwall . Rev Pinnock said ‘hefty legal fees’ were why he was short of cash . | cb4c5c4824872a1699ac5ff2b143015be2700bae |
Garry Monk has called for the introduction of retrospective action to stop players diving after being ordered by the FA to explain his criticisms of ‘cheating’ Victor Moses and referee Michael Oliver last Sunday. Monk has been given until Monday by the FA to explain the scathing comments he made following Swansea’s 2-1 defeat at Stoke. But Swansea’s manager insisted he stood by his remarks, which included telling Moses he should be ‘ashamed’ of the manner in which he won a soft penalty – a decision by Oliver that Monk branded ‘disgraceful’. Swansea boss Garry Monk believes the introduction of retrospective punishment would improve football . Monk was not happy with the way Stoke winger Moses fell to the ground to win a penalty on Sunday . Swansea defender Angel Rangel was penalised for fouling Nigerian international Moses . 'The penalty against is a disgrace. It's a disgraceful decision. 'Not in a million years is it a penalty and the problem we'll have with it now is a lot of games we're having this season a match-changing decision is going against us constantly and I don't see anything being done about it.' Click here to read Monk's comments in full . Monk, who says he would fine any member of the Swansea team who dives in a match or training, went on to claim that retrospective bans and financial penalties would be the only way to deal with simulation. He added: ‘I've spoken to all our players. I'm not saying a Swansea player will never do it but the rules are there, the players know about it and they know how I feel. ‘I'd like to see retrospective punishment in these situations - a fine and a ban. It's something we need to consider. ‘I don't think the majority of football likes to see it. That's the only way I can see it would make players think twice about doing it.’ Referring to the FA’s call for his ‘observations in relation to post-match media comments’, Monk added: ‘I stand by comments. I spoke about how I felt at the time about Victor Moses and the situation. It was clear for me and I stand by my comments.’ Monk was not happy with the performance of Premier League official Michael Oliver . | Garry Monk was not happy with Michael Oliver's decision to award Stoke City a penalty on Sunday . The Swansea boss has been told to explain his comments to the FA . Victor Moses won a penalty after a collision with Angel Rangel . | df91a920aec40036a6c46e902af551c37d5c4a14 |
(CNN) -- Scientists are studying what caused tsunami-like waves that observers spotted near the New Jersey coast earlier this month. "The source is complex and still under review," the National Weather Service's West Coast/Alaska Tsunami Warning Center says on its website. In New Jersey's Barnegat Inlet, a fisherman said he saw a massive, 6-foot-tall wave surging toward the coast on June 13. Tsunami-like waves were observed at more than 30 tide gauges in areas along the East Coast, the center said. Meteorological factors and the slumping of the continental shelf east of New Jersey may have played a role, the center said. | Fisherman describes a 6-foot wave near the New Jersey coast . Tidal gauges also detect tsunami-like waves . Scientists are studying what caused the waves, the National Weather Service says . | 40c15f028cd445ef77b6b5aea4a56db68e988037 |
(CNN) -- Missouri lawmakers gave final approval to a measure that requires a woman to wait 72 hours from her initial doctor's visit before she gets an abortion. The Republican-controlled House voted 111-39 in favor of the legislation late Wednesday. Gov. Jay Nixon, a Democrat, has not said whether he'll sign it. If the governor signs the bill into law, it will triple the time a woman has to wait to have an abortion in the state. "Currently, Missouri requires a 24-hour waiting period between the time a woman seeks her first consultation and exam from a physician and the time she returns to undergo an abortion procedure," state Rep. Kevin Elmer said in a statement. Elmer, who sponsored the bill known as HB1307, said the legislation would give the woman more time to review her decision. "This bill is a way to give a potential mother some additional time to think about this life-altering decision, and to talk to family and friends who can help provide support during what is undoubtedly a difficult and emotional time," Elmer said in a statement. "This bill is really an effort to balance the rights of the mother with the rights of the unborn child. We are not denying the mother her rights, but simply asking her to give more thought before making a decision that she may later regret." Abortion rights advocates slammed the bill, describing it as an intrusion on personal lives. "Governor Nixon must veto this bill and stand firmly with a woman's right to make her own private medical decisions, including the decision of whether to have an abortion, in consultation with her doctor," said Cecile Richards, president of Planned Parenthood Action Fund. But anti-abortion group Missouri Right to Life said the measure is long overdue. It "will save babies and protect all women, both adults and minors, from abortion clinics seeking to make a profit on an abortion," it said in a statement. The Missouri Senate approved the bill Tuesday in a 22-9 vote after Democrats decided to forgo a filibuster, CNN affiliate KOMU reported. If it's signed into law, Missouri will join South Dakota and Utah, both of which have a 72-hour waiting period. | The Republican-controlled House votes 111-39 in favor of the bill . Gov. Jay Nixon, a Democrat, has not said whether he'll sign it . Missouri currently has a 24-hour waiting period . | d5f28c6dd48ff9c316897fe7754b104a7ab77511 |
Atlanta (CNN) -- "Aimee Day" can't come soon enough. That is the holiday -- date still to be determined -- Andy Copeland hopes for as his daughter Aimee fights off virulent flesh-eating bacteria that turned her life upside down in less than two weeks. Her fight won't be over on Aimee Day. She will likely need dialysis for some time to help her kidneys function, and rehab to adjust to life without her left leg, part of her abdomen and perhaps other body parts that surgeons may still remove because of her disease. Still, on that day, the 24-year-old University of West Georgia graduate student should be able to breathe on her own, after medical staff remove a tube now stuck down her throat that is being used to regulate her oxygen level. And her parents and her sister should, again, hear her voice. "We're going to celebrate that day forever for the rest of your life," Andy Copeland told his daughter as she lay heavily medicated in an Augusta, Georgia, hospital bed. "It's the day that my daughter was delivered from this horrible, horrible disease." Speaking Sunday on CNN, Andy Copeland didn't go into detail about the latest on his daughter's condition as she fights for her life beyond saying, "We're holding up very well here." Yet, as he's done in regular Facebook posts chronicling the ordeal, Andy Copeland was positive about the future. "I have every confidence that Aimee will be able to overcome this," he said. Just last month, she had a full and active life. Aimee was pursuing her master's degree in psychology, with a focus on eco-psychology -- the idea that harmonizing with nature can be a powerful tool in ensuring one's psychological health and vitality. On May 1, she and some friends were out near the Little Tallapoosa River, about 50 miles west of Atlanta, when she grabbed onto a homemade zip line, her family has said. It snapped. That led to a gash in her left calf, and ultimately it took 22 staples to close the wound, according to CNN affiliate WSB. Athough she didn't know it at the time, it was because of that cut that Aimee Copeland contracted the flesh-devouring bacteria, Aeromonas hydrophila. Dr. Buddy Creech, an assistant professor of pediatric infectious diseases at Vanderbilt University, said that Aeromonas hydrophila -- which is "remarkably common in the water and in the environment" -- is one of many bacteria that can cause a flesh-eating process. "When it gets into those deeper tissues, it has a remarkable ability to destroy the tissues that surround it in sort of this hunt for nutrition," Creech said. "When it does that, those tissues die, and you see the inflammation and the swelling and the destruction that can be very difficult to control." Most humans are affected by these bacteria by swallowing them, resulting in diarrhea. Aimee Copeland's case was much more uncommon, in that her wound got "infected and the infection (ran) wild," explained Creech. The pain continued for Aimee after her accident and, on May 4, a friend took her to an emergency room where she was diagnosed with necrotizing fasciitis and flown to Augusta for surgery. She went into cardiac arrest after being removed from the operating table, but was resuscitated, CNN affiliate WGCL reported. It was then, Andy Copeland recalled on his Facebook page, that he was "told that Aimee might not survive the night." She did survive, though surgeries cost her the leg and part of her abdomen. A post Saturday on a blog set up by the University of West Georgia psychology department said more operations are coming: "Aimee will suffer the loss of her fingers, however physicians have hope of bringing life back to the palms of her hands, which could allow her the muscle control to use helpful prosthetics." At one point her lungs "required 100% pure oxygen to be fed to her through a respirator," as the bacteria ravaged her body, her father wrote. By Sunday, she had improved significantly to 33% -- just 12 percentage points shy of 21%, the level of oxygen in air around us. If and when it gets to that point, she can be taken off the respirator. And her family can mark that moment, Aimee Day, on their collective calendar to celebrate this year and every year after. For now, Andy Copeland is busy standing by, conversing with medical staff and expressing appreciation for his "amazingly resilient" daughter, as well as for the medical staff, friends and complete strangers who have shown their support. And the entire family is staying hopeful, fueled in part by the remarkable progress they've seen so far. "The words I hear from the medical professionals to describe Aimee's continued recovery are 'astonishing,' 'incredible,' 'confounding,' 'mind-boggling' and 'unbelievable,'" Andy Copeland wrote Saturday on Facebook. "All those are fitting words. My favorite word is 'miracle.'" CNN's Don Lemon and Jason Hanna contributed to this report. | Aimee Copeland, 24, was infected with Aeromonas hydrophila on May 1 . She's since lost a leg and part of her abdomen and may lose her fingers . Her father says he was told she may not survive, but she has improved . He's awaiting "Aimee Day," when she'll be able to speak and breathe again . | e6b55e8586e6812eb3ae3237ae2447dfe07a62a5 |
By . Lizzie Parry . Repeating her vows in front of loved ones, Lisa Parcel promised to love and honour her new husband. But the 27-year-old had already made one more unconventional yet priceless promise, to donate one of her kidneys to the man standing before her at the alter. Lee Parcel was battling kidney failure when the couple tied the knot a year ago. His devoted partner of 14 years was ready to donate one of her organs, just as soon as doctors said the 33-year-old was well enough for a transplant operation. But time ran out and Mr Parcel passed away before his wife had the chance to fulfill her life-saving promise, donating his own organs to help save the lives of three others awaiting transplants. Lee Parcel passed away with his wife Lisa by his side, before she could donate one of her kidneys to him as a wedding gift . Mrs Parcel said: 'I'm heartbroken but I am a very lucky girl to be able to say I was his wife. 'He was an inspiration to us all. It was so hard kissing you goodbye.' The couple had been together for 14 years before Mr Parcel proposed to the 'love of his life', just before he fell ill three years ago. The diabetic was diagnosed with serious kidney failure, placed on an emergency dialysis treatment programme and warned he needed a transplant if he was to survive. When Mrs Parcel was found to be a match for her then fiancee, the couple could not believe their luck. The 27-year-old told her husband-to-be she would give him the 'ultimate wedding present'. At the time, Mr Parcel said: 'There is nothing I can say or do to thank my wife for a new life - there's no repayment for that. 'What Lisa is doing isn’t just giving me a kidney. It’s a massive operation and comes with a lot of psychological issues. It’s not an easy process for the donor or recipient to endure. 'But she knows how much I appreciate it because she sees what I go through every day, or should I say what we go through every day. 'All we can do is be there for each other.' The couple, from Cardiff, got married in June last year, while Mr Parcel was having daily dialysis. Three years ago Mr Parcel, a diabetic, was diagnosed with serious kidney failure. He was put on emergency, daily dialysis and doctors warned he would need a transplant in order to survive . He passed away with his wife Lisa by his side less than a year after they married last June. He donated his organs to help save the lives of three others waiting for transplant operations . They had hoped to have the transplant operations six months later, and had plans to travel around the world when they had both recovered. But complications with Mr Parcel's health prevented doctors from beginning the transplant preparation process. Mr Parcel's condition deteriorated rapidly and he died with his wife at his bedside in intensive care at the Royal Glamorgan Hospital, near Llantrisant in South Wales. 'I'm heartbroken but so lucky to have been his wife' - Lisa Parcel . Just four days before his death Mr Parcel posted a poignant last message on Facebook: 'It’s such a cruel world.' Knowing better than most the vital importance of donors, Mr Parcel had arranged for his organs to be donated following his death. His wife, Mrs Parcel, a mental health nurse, said: 'After he died Lee had an operation to donate his organs to three people who need them. 'Lee was so strong and brave throughout his life. 'I can only hope we can muster up a tiny bit of strength to get us through this.' To sign the Organ Donation Register visit the website here. | Lee Parcel was diagnosed with serious kidney failure three years ago . He was placed on emergency dialysis but warned he needed a transplant . His fiancee Lisa was found to be a match and promised an organ as a gift . They tied the knot in June last year and hoped for operation soon afterwards . But the 33-year-old was never well enough for transplant surgery . He died with his wife at his side and donated his organs to save three people . Mrs Parcel said: 'I'm heartbroken but very lucky to have been his wife' | ac4916d5e4020efefc35c2cdcbe976dfddc70617 |
Warren Gatland has revealed that a glowing recommendation from one of world rugby's outstanding coaches played its part in New Zealand-born Gareth Anscombe making an unlikely journey from Super Rugby to potential Wales Test star. Anscombe, 23, is among four uncapped players in Wales head coach Gatland's 34-man squad for this season's RBS 6 Nations Championship. Despite making just nine appearances as a Cardiff Blues player, the former Auckland and Chiefs fly-half will report for Wales duty next week, joining forces with fellow number 10s Dan Biggar and Rhys Priestland. The Chief's Gareth Anscombe has received a surprise call-up to the Wales Six Nations squad . Anscombe, who had a spell with Cardiff Blues, was given a glowing recommendation by Wayne Smith . Friday, 6 February: England (Cardiff) Sunday, 15 February: Scotland (Murrayfield) Saturday, 28 February: France (Paris) Saturday, 14 March: Ireland (Cardiff) Saturday, 21 March: Italy (Rome) Anscombe, whose mother was born in Wales, offers Gatland options at fly-half and full-back. And the Wales boss says a conversation he had with Wayne Smith, who worked with Anscombe at the Chiefs and will rejoin New Zealand's coaching staff this year after helping to mastermind their 2011 World Cup triumph, provided an invaluable guide. 'I had a good chat to Wayne Smith about him, and Wayne couldn't speak more highly,' Gatland said. 'He thought he was very coachable, he wanted to learn. 'They were very impressed by him at the Chiefs, both as a player and as a person. 'When that recommendation comes from someone like Wayne Smith, you've got to take notice of that. 'I met with Gareth here (in Wales) with his dad a bit longer than 12 months ago. We sat down and had a chat. Warren Gatland has allowed Anscombe the option of returning to New Zealand to hold out for the All Blacks . 'With his mother being born in Cardiff, we knew that he was an option for Wales, and the discussion was a very general one. 'There was no pressure from us in terms of his declaration, and if he wanted to go back to New Zealand, play Super Rugby and continue the dreams and aspirations to be in the All Blacks, I didn't have a problem with that. 'He went back and had another season with the Chiefs, and I think Gareth then thought that for him to fulfil his dream of playing international rugby, the best opportunity for him was to come to the Blues and make himself for Wales in the short term, and hopefully the long term. 'He has the ability to play at 10 and 15, and goalkick as well. We really want to have a good look at him in this window and see how he goes.' Forwards: Gethin Jenkins (Cardiff Blues), Paul James (Bath), Rob Evans (Scarlets), Aaron Jarvis (Ospreys), Samson Lee (Scarlets), Scott Andrews (Cardiff Blues), Richard Hibbard (Gloucester), Kristian Dacey (Cardiff Blues), Scott Baldwin (Ospreys), Alun Wyn Jones (Ospreys), Jake Ball (Scarlets), Bradley Davies (Wasps), Luke Charteris (Racing Metro), Dan Lydiate (Ospreys), James King (Ospreys), Sam Warburton (Cardiff Blues, capt), Justin Tipuric (Ospreys), Taulupe Faletau (Newport Gwent Dragons). Backs: Mike Phillips (Racing Metro), Rhys Webb (Ospreys), Gareth Davies (Scarlets), Dan Biggar (Ospreys), Rhys Priestland (Scarlets), Gareth Anscombe (Cardiff Blues), Cory Allen (Cardiff Blues), Jamie Roberts (Racing Metro), Jonathan Davies (Clermont Auvergne), Scott Williams (Scarlets), Tyler Morgan (Newport Gwent Dragons), Hallam Amos (Newport Gwent Dragons), Alex Cuthbert (Cardiff Blues), George North (Northampton Saints), Liam Williams (Scarlets), Leigh Halfpenny (Toulon). Anscombe, who helped New Zealand win the Junior World Championship earlier in his career, is joined in the squad by fellow Test rookies in Newport Gwent Dragons centre Tyler Morgan, Scarlets prop Rob Evans and Blues hooker Kristian Dacey. There are no places, though, for 95 times-capped Blues prop Adam Jones or Gloucester fly-half James Hook. Hook's omission is not a surprise - he was left out of Gatland's autumn Test squad earlier this season - yet 33-year-old Jones had been tipped for a recall after Scarlets forward Rhodri Jones suffered a shoulder injury. Anscombe, Tyler Morgan (above), Rob Evans and Kristian Dacey are among four rookies to be called up . But Gatland has chosen Samson Lee, Aaron Jarvis and Scott Andrews as his three tighthead props, raising fresh question marks over Jones' international future. 'It was a long debate about leaving Adam out because we know he has been working hard,' Gatland added. 'We know his experience, and if we do get injuries we can call him in. It is about us developing some strength in depth in that position that we don't have a huge amount of. 'With Adam at the moment we don't see him as a player who comes off the bench, we see him as a starter in that position if he does come into the squad.' Lee is currently sidelined with a neck problem, although every indication is that he will be fit for Wales' high-octane Six Nations opener against England in Cardiff on February 6. Gloucester star James Hook (right) did not make it into Gatland's squad . Elsewhere in the squad, there is a recall for fit-again Scarlets scrum-half Gareth Davies, who joins fellow number nines Rhys Webb and Mike Phillips, with Morgan featuring among the centres. Morgan, who is among seven players to have so far signed a national dual contract in Wales, has also been named in the Wales Under-20 squad for their Six Nations campaign, and he will be released from the senior camp to link up with the age group side. Wales will also face England in their World Cup pool later this year, while the Six Nations campaign also features away games against Scotland, France and Italy, plus a Millennium Stadium appointment with Ireland. | Gareth Anscombe was surprise selection in Wales 2015 Six Nations squad . Warren Gatland revealed a conversation with ex-Chiefs coach Wayne Smith convinced him to pick the former Cardiff Blues No 10 . Tyler Morgan, Kristian Dacey and Rob Evans are the squad's other rookies . | 0ca2abd8b49ddfbe488394e3ef460363262cde28 |
New York (CNN) -- The suspect in a hit-and-run crash that killed a Brooklyn couple and their baby has now been charged with second-degree vehicular manslaughter, the Kings County District Attorney's office announced Tuesday. "While we knew it was a snowy evening and the defendant was speeding, our investigation has developed additional information concerning the nature of Mr. Acevedo's conduct leading up to the fatal crash," said District Attorney Charles J. Hynes. Julio Acevedo, 44, was indicted last week, accused of hitting a livery cab carrying Nathan and Raizy Glauber, both 21, on March 3. According to police, Raizy Glauber was pregnant, and the couple's son was delivered prematurely by cesarean but died the next day. An investigation found that Acevedo was traveling at almost 70 mph, more than twice the legal speed limit for where the accident happened, and fled after the collision, the district attorney's office said. Acevedo was arrested after a friend helped facilitate his surrender in the parking lot of a convenience store in Bethlehem, Pennsylvania, according to New York Deputy Police Commissioner Paul Browne. Acevedo has already been charged with leaving the scene of an incident, the district attorney's office said, and he pleaded not guilty. Acevedo could face up to life in prison if convicted. | Suspect in fatal crash charged with vehicular manslaughter . Julio Acevedo is accused in a wreck that killed Nathan and Raizy Glauber and their son . Raizy Glauber was pregnant, and the baby was delivered by cesarean but died . Acevedo was driving at nearly 70 mph, twice the speed limit, authorities say . | dab2bc228f6892040ea9b734dc0d6e03c8020ea8 |
(CNN) -- Is the much-loved Piaggio Vespa more iconic than the floppy disk? Is the iPod more of a design classic than the Airbus A380? These are the questions we put to some of the world's greatest designers when we asked them to nominate what they believe to be the most iconic industrial design from the last 100 years. This Saturday, the international design community will celebrate World Industrial Design Day. To mark the event, CNN spoke to Gianfranco Zaccai, CEO of global design and innovation consultancy Continuum. Zaccai and his team have been behind some of the most well-known products of the last three decades -- including the iconic Reebok Pump -- and have worked with brands including American Express, PepsiCo and Samsung. CNN asked the celebrated innovator about his views on what constitutes good design at the turn of the millennium. What do you think are the most iconic designs from the last 100 years? Let us know in the comments section below. CNN: What are the three most important principles of good product design? Gianfranco Zaccai (GZ): I think these three principles apply to not just product design, but good design in general: . 1. Empathy: empathy is a realization that you are not designing for yourself but for others. You have to get into the lives of the people who will use it. 2. Pragmatism: realize there are some things you have to deal with to fulfill this type of product or service. It has to fulfill the performance requirement, it has to be cost effective and it has to be producible -- all things you can quantify. 3. Passion: if you just stop at what you can quantify and measure you haven't gone far enough. Think about a great meal you have had. It's not just the ingredients that make it great, but the creativity and sensitivity of cook that makes it special. CNN: How do you keep the spirit of innovation in your company alive? GZ: First and foremost it's about hiring really good, talented people who think holistically about understanding people's lives and then solving problems in a rational and emotional way. It's about surrounding yourself with people with different skill sets and sensibilities where they stimulate and inform each other. The best outcomes come from bringing two or more sensibilities together and the end result is more than the sum of the two people. CNN: What's the best way for an amateur designer to turn a great idea into a reality? GZ: In my mind, there are no amateur designers. They love what they do, they just may not be getting paid for it yet. There are lots of different people who didn't study engineering or design who come up with great ideas. The important thing is for them to step outside of themselves and understand what they are sensing may be reflective of a broader need. They should see what they can perceive about a certain context and come back and re-look at their idea. Then it is time to take it further. Don't be afraid to share it with others who can help make it stronger. The most difficult thing about vetting new ideas is knowing which idea is truly great and which one of those are truly deployable, and then making it real by addressing all of the functional, emotional and cost issues. And lastly, having the perseverance to overcome the organizational obstacles in getting that innovation into a socioeconomic system where it can be disseminated and revenue generating. You have to be able to see the opportunity, develop it, support it and promote it and, almost always, you need creative partners to do all of it. To be the innovator and champion of the original vision is where the passion of an amateur comes in. CNN: How does the environment you work in affect creativity? GZ: An environment is important but it's not just one environment or office that fosters creativity. We allow people to work in different ways. Some space allows our team to work where they can be introspective and concentrate deeply and others that are more collaborative and allows them to interact with others both physically and virtually. CNN: Is product design a science or an art? GZ: It's neither science nor art but some of both. Design tries to leverage scientific and technological opportunities and limitations with an understanding of human beings and their psychological, social, and cultural context. Design is about identifying real needs and desires; solving problems while connecting with people emotionally. Design is about making a positive difference in people lives, which they embrace because of the holistic value it provides. It's functional, fun, enjoyable, uplifting and sustainable. CNN: What are the most common mistakes people make when designing a new product? GZ: I think the most common mistake that people make when designing something new is not really understanding the true issues and thinking that design is all about aesthetics. CNN: What's the best piece of advice anyone has ever given you? GZ: "You don't know what you don't know." A young engineer said that to me once and it's really true. The idea of not starting off anything as "the expert", even if you happen to know a lot about it, is a good way to create new paradigms and not just repeat the past. | Top designers nominate most iconic industrial design from the last hundred years . Escalator, floppy disk, iPod and Airbus A380 among the nominees . Gianfranco Zaccai, CEO of design consultancy Continuum, nominates the Piaggio Vespa . | 0b576a64c5481cedf5102a926ace5a6044f0c96d |
(CNN) -- Days after allegedly causing death and devastation at the finish line of the Boston Marathon, two brothers "spontaneously" decided to head to a new place to unleash terror -- New York City -- that city's mayor said. Dzhokhar Tsarnaev, the surviving suspect in the Boston bombings, told investigators that he and his brother decided to bomb Times Square as they talked the night of April 18 in a Mercedes SUV they'd just carjacked, New York City Police Commissioner Ray Kelly said. The 19-year-old initially told investigators from a Boston hospital bed that he and his brother, Tamerlan Tsarnaev, had talked about going to New York to "party." Then he offered a new account during a second round of questioning Sunday evening into Monday, during which Kelly said Dzhokhar was "a lot more lucid" than the first time he was interviewed. The brothers had five pipe bombs and a "pressure-cooker bomb" -- the latter similar to the bombs used in the Boston blasts -- with them in the SUV that they could have used in New York, Kelly said. Instead, their plan "fell apart" when the SUV ran low on fuel in the Boston area and the Tsarnaevs ordered the driver to pull into a gas station, Kelly said. The driver escaped during the refueling, he said, and police subsequently caught up with the Tsarnaevs -- first in a shootout after which 26-year-old Tamerlan died, then by capturing Dzhokhar on Friday. "We don't know that we would have been able to stop the terrorists had they arrived here from Boston," Mayor Michael Bloomberg said. "We're just thankful that we didn't have to find out that answer." Rep. Mike Rogers, chairman of the House Intelligence Committee, said investigators believe the Boston bombing suspects were planning another attack "likely in the Boston area." "The notion they decided to go to New York was a rushed event after this thing unraveled on them," the Michigan Republican said. Latest developments in the Boston bombings probe . There is no evidence that New York City is currently a target of a terror attack stemming from the Boston bombings, Kelly added. Still, he said authorities are investigating two visits that the surviving suspect made to New York City last year. In one of those trips, in April 2012, Dzhokhar Tsarnaev is photographed in Times Square. Official: U.S. wars in Afghanistan, Iraq motivated bombings . One person pictured in that picture was in federal custody Thursday, as he's been for the last six days, on alleged visa violations. This man, whom a federal law enforcement source said Dzhokhar shared a cell phone with, was originally detained last Friday with another person when federal agents swarmed a residence thinking Dzhokhar might be inside, a federal law enforcement source said. Neither of these two detained men -- both foreign exchange students from Kazakhstan at the University of Massachusetts-Dartmouth, where Dzhokhar also was enrolled -- has been linked to the Boston Marathon attack. Yet investigators hope they can better piece together the suspected bombers' movements before and after the marathon. "These guys are not being cut loose immediately, and there's a reason why," the federal law enforcement source said. Sources: Russia raised concerns about mother, son . While investigators continue to look into the Boston bombings, the killing of a Massachusetts Institute of Technology campus police officer and a violent chase and shootout in Watertown, Massachusetts -- all of which authorities have blamed on the Tsarnaev brothers -- the probe has also been focused some 5,500 miles away in the semi-autonomous Russian republic of Dagestan. That's where the suspects' parents live and spoke to reporters Thursday. Their mother, Zubeidat Tsarnaev, told CNN's Nick Paton Walsh that she didn't want to accept the reality of the bombing, saying it was fake. She has seen a video pushing the wild idea, she said, adding that there was no blood -- and that paint was used instead. Photos: Galleries from the attack and aftermath . "That's what I want to know, because everybody's talking about it -- that this is a show, that's what I want to know. That's what I want to understand," she said. But her disbelief broke down when she spoke of the victims. "I really feel sorry for all of them. Really feel sorry for all of them," she said, her voice cracking even as she remained resolute that her sons were not involved. While her husband Anzor Tsarnaev has said he plans to fly to the United States -- though those plans may be in limbo after Zubeidat said she called for an ambulance for him on Thursday in Makhachkala -- his wife isn't planning to join him. She's wanted on 2012 felony charges of shoplifting and property damage in Massachusetts, according to court officials. The family lived there before she jumped bail; the parents moved the same year to Dagestan. Dead Boston bomb suspect posted video of jihadist, analysis shows . A year before, Zubeidat and her son Tamerlan were both added by U.S. authorities to the Terrorist Identities Datamart Environment, or TIDE, database -- a collection of more than a half million names maintained by the National Counterterrorism Center, an intelligence official said. That came as Russia raised concerns to U.S. authorities about her and her son, sources told CNN. Zubeidat Tsarnaev said the FBI had visited her family "several times" in 2011 with questions about Tamerlan's "Islamic interests." A senior U.S. official with direct knowledge of information from the Russians said that the case then "was extremely thin," adding that Russia wanted Tamerlan Tsarnaev questioned to see if he and others had become "radicalized." U.S. authorities closed the case a few months after opening it. Suspects' mother describes her last conversation with her sons . Suspect's widow is assisting investigation, lawyer says . Putin: 'We were right' Russian President Vladimir Putin on Thursday urged closer cooperation between other countries' security services in the wake of the Boston attack . "If we combine our efforts, we will not suffer blows like that," he said during a live televised call-in session in Moscow on Thursday. The Tsarnaevs are originally from the embattled Russian republic of Chechnya but fled from the brutal wars there in the 1990s. The two brothers were born in Kyrgyzstan and moved at different times to the United States. In his first on-camera comments since the bombing, Putin also lashed out against those in the West who have slammed Russia for human rights abuses in its actions toward Chechnya. The truth about the Chechen threat . "Russia is among the first victims, and I hate it when our Western partners call our terrorists -- who committed some heinous crimes in Russia -- when they call them freedom fighters and never call them terrorists. They supported them," said Putin, accusing unnamed people or groups of providing Russia's foes with political, financial and "media" support. And U.S. authorities have come under fire at home, with lawmakers asking if the FBI and CIA failed to share information. Sources told CNN that Russia had separately asked the FBI and the CIA to look into Tamerlan Tsarnaev in 2011. Sen. Lindsey Graham, a South Carolina Republican, said Thursday he believes "ultimate blame" for the attacks goes to the Obama administration. "The FBI and the CIA are, they have great people but, you know, we're going backwards in national security. Benghazi and Boston to me are examples of us going backward," he said. But a ranking Democrat on a House intelligence subcommittee said Thursday he does not see an intelligence-sharing failure. "This information was put in a database, it was shared among different agencies, it was shared with a joint terrorism task force, and that's exactly what should happen," U.S. Rep. Adam Schiff, D-California, told CNN, referring to the TIDE database. Sources: Suspect was unarmed in boat . More details, meanwhile, continue to emerge about the April 15 bombings as well as authorities' engagement days later with the two suspects. A law enforcement official told CNN Thursday that at least one of the two bombs -- the second to explode -- was detonated by remote control. Rep. Dutch Ruppersberger, a Maryland Democrat and member of the House Select Committee on Intelligence, said that the brothers used a remote control device similar to those used to guide toy cars. While video taken near the scene of the explosions shows Dzhokhar Tsarnaev talking on a cell phone, it is not known whether he used it to trigger a device, a law enforcement official said. Those twin blasts killed three people and injured more than 260 others, 14 of whom had limbs amputated. As of Thursday evening, 34 of those wounded were still being treated at Boston hospitals, including one patient in critical condition. The manhunt for those responsible ended last Friday, when Dzhokhar Tsarnaev was captured after a tense standoff after he'd hidden in a boat in the yard of a home in the Boston suburb of Watertown, Massachusetts. The teenager was unarmed when he was wounded in a barrage of gunfire, and there was no firearm found in the boat, said several sources from difference agencies familiar with the investigation. Authorities previously said in a criminal complaint that there was a standoff involving gunfire before Dzhokhar's capture. Watertown Police Chief Edward Deveau told CNN's Wolf Blitzer on Saturday that it was his understanding that the suspect fired from the boat. This came after Tsarnaev and his older brother allegedly shot and killed Massachusetts Institute of Technology campus police officer Sean Collier in Cambridge. The Middlesex County District Attorney's Office hopes to bring charges against Dzhokhar Tsarnaev for his alleged role in incidents last week in Cambridge and Watertown, spokeswoman Stephanie Guyotte said Thursday. Biden: 'Knock-off jihadis' can't break American spirit . Tragedy in Boston: How to help . CNN's Drew Griffin, Dave Alsup, Carol Cratty, Nick Paton Walsh, Brian Todd, Barbara Starr, Susan Candiotti and Ben Brumfield contributed to this report. | NEW: A congressman says suspects "likely" planned Boston attacks, then changed plans . NEW: Russia voiced concerns to the U.S. about one suspect, his mother, sources say . Police: Suspect told investigators he and his brother decided "spontaneously" to bomb NYC . Dzhokhar Tsarnaev, 19, was "more lucid" the second time he was interviewed, police say . | 1bec91c73b7e2aacedb124de1c44198b85ffba9e |
Along with starring in The Superbowl and her Pieces Of Me stage show at Planet Hollywood in Las Vegas this year, Britney Spears has also unveiled another new lingerie collection. The busy 33-year-old singer launched the Intimate Collection line with pictures of her posing in the racy white underwear design - as well as a sexy black swimwear number. The star teased her 40.8 million Twitter followers with images from new collection saying: 'New season, new sets! Here's my entire Spring/Summer 2015 collection :)' Scroll down for video . Britney Spears has unveiled her new Spring/Summer line for her lingerie brand Intimate Collection . Britney Spear's Intimate Collection . Shop the current collection at Bare Necessities . Visit site . Just like a LBD is a renowned wardrobe staple, a little black costume is a must-have for your swimwear collection. So kudos to Britney Spears for including one in her new Spring/Summer range! Along with some gorgeously decadent underwear which we can't wait to get our hands on, comes this staple swimwear design featuring a flattering cut, sexy plunge front and luxe-looking gold clasp. It's versatile enough to pack for whatever jaunt you're going on, be it a romantic getaway, or a cray cray weekend with the girls. Plus, although it's a basic design, that low-cut front provides just the right amount of sexy undertone. Keep an eye on Brit's website as this cool costume is about to drop any day now. But if you can't wait, then check out our edit of lookalikes below. Our favorite? This Norma Kamali number is a must-have. Bleu Rod Beattie American swimsuit at Zappos . Visit site . Norma Kamali Kamalikulture shirred waist one piece at Revolve . Visit site . Shoshanna soft black ruched halter one piece at Shopbop . Visit site . Melissa Odabash zanzibar halterneck swimsuit at Matches . Visit site . She also introduced the new range to her 4.1 million Instagram followers with a slide show showcasing her new designs. The images see Britney model a mainly pastel-coloured range to complement the Spring/Summer brief. The new line also sees the mother-of-two introduce swimwear to her repertoire as she models a two-piece set while lazing in a swimming pool on a lilo in a plunging colourful one-piece. The new line sees the 33-year-old singer take on swimwear as well as lingerie . The collection sees the Toxic singer showcase an enviable figure that she has been careful to maintain while performing on stage in Planet Hollywood on the Las Vegas strip. The entrepreneur, who also has a perfume collection, releasing 16 perfumes through Elizabeth Arden, unveiled her current collection earlier this month. The singer announced the release to her combined 44.8 million social media followers with a revealing look from the sexy ad campaign. The Toxic singer models the entire range herself showing off her honed physique . Britney was pictured wearing a satin black brassiere and sheer lace briefs that put her toned figure on display, accessorising with a floaty fur-trimmed wrap and pointy high heels. 'Here it is as promised! New collection #Elvira from @IntimateBritney will be on sale next week!' Britney gushed on Twitter on February 5. She also alerted her followers on Instagram to the launch by posting the same photo and writing: 'New collection #Elvira from @intimatebritneyspears will be on sale next week!' The star has been keeping in great shape for her Pieces of Me stage show in Las Vegas . Earlier that week, Britney had shared another image from the collection that showed her posing in pink lingerie. 'May I introduce to you #Elma for @intimatebritneyspears, the first pieces of many in the SS15 collection. Coming soon!' Britney originally teased her total of 44.8M social media followers with another look at her new Spring/Summer Intimate Collection earlier this month . Britney - who soared to fame in 1999 with the help of music video Baby One More Time - certainly knows how to promote interest by now. The pop princess announced plans to launch the lingerie line in summer of 2014, and it is already selling in more than 200 countries. The star's current collection is available online now, however it remains unclear when her new one will become available. The pop princess shared a look from her previous collection with her followers in February . | Britney Spears unveiled four new designs to her Twitter fans . She also released the images as a slide show on Instagram . Latest collection sees singer take on swimwear as well as underwear . | ed764d367a2db22c889c0921101e8c68473328c2 |
The refusal of the US government to pay the $132 million ransom demanded by James Foley's ISIS captors has exposed the grubby payments that compliant European nations make for their kidnapped citizens around the world. Because while the US and the UK categorically do not negotiate with terrorists and present a united front, their NATO allies frequently enter clandestine talks and have paid millions to get their people home. This year alone ISIS and Al-Qaeda are believed to have received ransom payments for three Spanish journalists released in April, and four French journalists who were freed two weeks later. Free: Didier Francois, (center) and Nicolas Henin (right, on the day they were released with Eduoard Elias) in May . Ransom paid: El Mundo correspondent Javier Espinosa (R) and freelance photographer Ricardo Garcia Vilanova alight from an aircraft at the military airbase in Torrejon de Ardoz near Madrid following their release . Freedom: El Mundo correspondent Javier Espinosa (R) and freelance photographer Ricardo Garcia Vilanova arrive at the military airbase in Torrejon de Ardoz, near Madrid following their release . Indeed, the ransom trade has fueled the seemingly inexorable rise of ISIS, pushing it to grow in strength. Just today, Chuck Hagel, the US Defense Secretary called ISIS 'well funded', no doubt as a result of their activities in extorting money in ransom from European governments . 'ISIS is as well funded and sophisticated a group we have seen...This is beyond anything we have ever seen'. FRANCE $58.1m . QATAR AND OMAN $20.4m . SWITZERLAND $12.4m . SPAIN $11m . AUSTRIA $3.2m . According to the New York Times it wants to emulate the business model of al-Qaeda who have raked in upwards of $125 million over the last five years in ransom - - mostly from European nations. According to a statement by the US Treasury in June, ransom payments are now the second largest source of income for terrorist groups, after state sponsorship. But all anti-terrorism experts agree that the paying ransoms perpetuates the problem of hostages. More so, it means that American's stance on non-negotiation is undermined and means Americans face never be released without the use of force. Flow of terror funds: Switzerland, France, Austria and Spain are accused of paying ransoms to terrorist groups along with Qatar and Oman . The leader of Al Qaeda in the Arabian Peninsula has even described kidnappings as 'an easy spoil' giving swift income to his terror network. 'Thanks to Allah, most of the battle costs, if not all, were paid from through the spoils,' the newspaper quoted him as saying. 'Kidnapping hostages is an easy spoil, which I may describe as a profitable trade and a precious treasure.' The most prominent case - involving by far the most money - was that of four French nuclear firm employees who stunned the world when they were returned unharmed after three years in captivity. Pierre Legrand, Thierry Dol, Daniel Larribe and Marc Feret were captured in September 2010 while working on a uranium mine in northern Niger. Their touchdown at a military airport near Paris in October, where they were met by President Francois Hollande, prompted world headlines amid claims a heavy price had been paid. The French government insisted it used diplomacy to free the four men, with Defence Minister Jean-Yves Le Drian saying: ‘France has held the same position for the past three years - we don’t pay.' But the French newspaper Le Monde, renowned for its secret service contacts, reported the country's intelligence agencies paid 20million Euros or $28 million for their release. The New York Times investigation puts this figure far higher - at 30million Euros or $39 million which it is claimed was paid by a state-owned company. Snatched: . Foley was taken by an armed gang in Syria on Thanksgiving Day in 2012. He was then held with other journalists in terrible conditions. They . spoke out about the harsh treatment Foley endured . The New York Times also claims France paid Al Qaeda 12.5million Euros or $16 million in 2011 to free three hostages from France, Togo and Madagascar. The total - $58 million - means France's payments were almost than triple those of the next-highest payer, Qatar and Oman with $19.9 million. Switzerland also paid $12,11 million, Spain paid $10.78 million and Austria paid $3.15 million, while the source of another $21.57 million in ransom money could not be determined. Indeed, according to recently released prisoners, their ISIS captors were extremely aware of their prisoners monetary value, as judged by their nationality. It was six weeks after a failed July 4 mission to rescue James Foley authorized by President Obama involving 'nearly every US military service' that his captors sent his family and the US government a $132 million ransom demand. As well as money, the terror group had also requested the release of Aafia Siddiqui, an M.I.T. graduate and Pakistani neuroscientist with ties to Al Qaeda currently locked up in Texas. Over the nearly two years he was hostage, James Foley's parents received numerous financial demands to secure his release. His family were explicitly told by the government to not discuss the ransom demands with the press nor to name ISIS as his kidnappers. According to Reuters journalist, David Rohde, Foley believed he would ultimately be freed by his own government. 'Foley believed that his government would help him,' says Rohde according to The Wrap. 'In a message that was not made public, Foley said that he believed so strongly that Washington would help that he refused to allow his fellow American captives to not believe in their government.' Ransom: . It has emerged that ISIS demanded a staggering $132m ransom for the . return of Foley. Philip Balboni, the CEO and co-founder of GlobalPost, . the Boston-based website that Foley was reporting for when he was . captured told MailOnline it was considerably higher than for European . captives 'purely because he was an American . His former boss, GlobalPost co-founder and CEO Philip Balboni told WCVB on Wednesday that he spent millions trying to secure his reporter's release. 'You know when you kidnap someone and hold them for almost two years, you don't do it unless you believe there is value in those hostages.' 'We received an email from the captors on Wednesday night of last week stating their intention to execute Jim,' Balboni said. 'The email was full of rage. We pleaded with the captors for mercy, but to no avail.' Now, the failure to free Foley or negotiate his release has backed the president into a corner as he deals with the threat to kill the second hostage paraded in front of the camera on Tuesday, Steven John Sotloff. Indeed, at the end of Tuesday's grisly video, Foley's executioner, who is widely believed to be British, delivers an ominous threat towards the White House. 'The life of this American citizen, Obama, depends on your next decision,' Sick . propaganda: James was forced to say in the beheading video: 'Think . about what you are doing. Think about the lives you destroy, including . those of your own family,' before he was murdered . Inspiration: . Diane and John Foley Snr., told reporters outside their home in New . Hampshire on Wednesday how James was inspired to report in war zones . because of his brothers in the military . The policy of non-negotiation, which the US shares with UK, now puts it increasingly at odds with many of it NATO partners. In an opinion piece for Reuters, David Rohde, who works for the news agency argues that by launching a mission and not paying the ransom contributed to Foley's death. 'The payment of ransoms and abduction of foreigners must emerge from the shadows. It must be publicly debated,' wrote Mr. Rohde, who escaped from the Taliban himself by climbing out of a window. 'American and European policy makers should be forced to answer for their actions.' | Since 2008 it is estimated that ISIS and al-Qaeda has raked in $125 million in ransom payments . Most of this money has been paid by European governments . Ransom payments are now the second largest source of income for terrorist groups . ISIS demanded ransom of $132 million for safe return of James Foley . The United States does not negotiate with terrorists . | 1e667f6c6ed8ddac60c6cb46e4632563c5c38513 |
Stoke defender Phil Bardsley is a doubt for the Barclays Premier League clash against Burnley with a groin injury. The right back limped off during the early stages of the Potters' win over Tottenham on Sunday. And scans have identified a small tear in the former Manchester United man's groin. Stoke defender Phil Bardsley, pictured left with Peter Crouch, is a doubt for the Potters' clash with Burnley . Bardsley limps off with a groin injury during the Potters' win over Tottenham as boss Mark Hughes looks on . Bardsley will spend the international break recovering from the injury and is not ruling out a return against the Clarets on November 22. But if he does not prove his fitness by then, Bardsley should be fit for the visit to Liverpool seven days later. | Phil Bardsley limped off during Stoke's 2-1 win against Tottenham . Scans have identified the right back has a small tear in his groin . Defender is a doubt for the Potters' Premier League clash with Burnley . | 931c3739489f7725c0ca3c1b45166213d5d6f54e |
'You're doing this through text message????' That was the message 38-year-old Christa M. Clark sent in response to a text message she received from her now-ex-fiancee, Buffalo, New York, restaurateur Louis J. Billittier Jr., when he ended their 14-month engagement via-text in July of 2012. But the message Billittier sent next ended up costing him the $53,000 engagement ring he bought for his now-jilted ex-fiancee. 'Parting ring': A text message Louis Billitier (pictured) sent his ex-fiancee referring to her engagement ring as a 'parting ring' cost him more than $50,000 . Prenup: Billittier called off his engagement to Christa Clark (pictured) after the 38-year-old nail technician refused to sign a prenuptial agreement . A New York State Supreme Court judge last week awarded Clark - a nail technician who met Billittier at golf tournament in 2009 - the white gold, 2.97-carat diamond ring, or its fair, market value, based on a text Billittier sent Clark after their breakup, in which he referred to the pricy ring as a 'parting ring,' implying that it was a gift. Billttier reportedly ended the engagement after his much-younger would-be-bride refused to sign a prenuptial agreement. However, Clark's attorney, Beverly Braun, tells MailOnline that isn't true. '[Clark] did agree to the prenup,' Braun says. When asked why Billittier ended the engagement - if Clark agreed to the prenup - Braun said she '[doesn't] want to speculate.' 'The decision speaks for itself,' she said. Billittier's attorney, Richard Sullivan, tells MailOnline that he is 'surprised [Braun] would even say something like that' when told that Braun claims her client agreed to sign the prenup. However, Sullivan says his client has 'no reaction to the [judge's] ruling.' Under the law, courts are typically inclined to side with the groom in disputes over engagement rings - legally, the groom is still entitled to the ring, even if he is the one who calls off the wedding. And just weeks after calling off the wedding - and despite his assurance that it was a 'parting ring' - the 55-year-old co-owner of Buffalo's Chef's Restaurant wanted the ring back. However, because Billittier responded to Clark's outrage over being dumped in a text message by telling her 'plus you get a $50,000 parting ring. Enough for a down payment on a house,' Judge Russell P. Buscaglia ruled that the ring had become a gift, and was no longer part of a contract for marriage. Ladies man: Billittier claimed that the text calling the ring a 'parting ring' was a joke, like a game-show contestant's parting gift . Just weeks after ending their engagement, Billittier began sending Clark text messages threatening to take back the ring if she continued to insult him following the breakup. 'Keep it up, and I will take back the ring as well,' he wrote in one text message dated July 20, 2012. After deciding he wanted the ring back, Billittier sent Clark a text message stating that 'by law have to give it back. You’re nowhere near the person I thought you were. You don’t deserve it.' In his ruling, Judge Buscaglia said that messages were further proof that 'the ring had been re-gifted,' according to BuffaloNews.com. The judge found that Billittier's text messages demanding the ring back indicated that he was suffering from 'giver's remorse,' but that didn't mean he was entitled to the ring. The law typically favors the groom in disputes over engagement rings, even if it is he who calls off the wedding . 'Many gifts are given for reasons that sour with the passage of time,' Buscaglia said in his ruling. However, gift law doesn't entitle to the gifter to recoup the gift just because feelings have changed, Buscaglia ruled. 'Once a gift is given, it is irrevocable,' the judge concluded. Of the text referring to the 'parting ring' - the text that ultimately cost him more than $50,000 - Billittier claimed in court that he meant it as a joke. 'I was being sarcastic, like a game show host – you get a parting gift,' Billittier said. | Buffalo restaurateur Louis Billittier Jr. called off his engagement to his 38-year-old ex-fiancee in a text message after she refused to sign a prenuptial agreement . The attorney for his jilted former fiancee, Christa Clark, tells MailOnline her client never refused to sign the agreement . Billittier told Clark that she could keep the engagement ring as a 'parting ring,' implying that it was a gift . State law usually sides with the would-be groom in disputes over engagement rings . However, a judge ruled that because Billittier referred to the ring as a 'parting ring,' it is implied that it is a gift, and he was simply suffering from 'giver's remorse' | 8e6f38671d29e0eae15edd06ace332519eebcc8d |
(CNN) -- "I'm here, where are you?" It happens all the time. You're waiting to meet a friend and get a call or text like this. "But I'm here," you insist. Even with addresses in hand, exact locations often remain elusive, and meet-ups get missed. The usual response -- a quick look around, squinting to make out some local landmark to tell them to meet you by -- might be okay for some. But having spent ten years in the music and events business, Chris Sheldrick was tired of spending his time telling suppliers, staff, and guests where to look for a venue's back or side entrance. In businesses like his, the small nuisance can become a timewasting burden: "We always had this problem," he says. What3Words (W3W) believes it has found a solution. The start-up, co-founded last year by Sheldrick, divides the entire world into a grid of three meter by three meter squares -- 57 trillion of them in total. Each square has been labeled with a three word sequence. Standing beneath the Eiffel Tower? You're at "shut.tech.requests." Want to meet on the front doorstep of Buckingham Place? Tell a friend "sound.manual.lungs." Climbed to the top of Ayers Rock? That's "snake.removes.gymnast". "Now, anyone can just say 'table.lamp.spoon' and it's much easier than giving a full address and explanation of how to find a location," says Sheldrick. In developed western countries, the precise system could be the answer to countless small problems, and over this summer the company has highlighted how W3W can help in jumbled music festival campsites, and sprawling parking lots. In the developing world, competing address systems can create confusion or, worse, no formal address system is present. How it works . Sheldrick knew the solution was already out there. Google Maps can give you GPS coordinates that will direct someone to a precise location. But remembering the 15 digit code -- or communicating one to a delivery driver down a dodgy phone line while organizing a busy event -- is bound to end in failure. "For human beings, it's completely impractical," he says . What3Words has received $1.5m in start-up funding since it launched last year and the company is now expanding to incorporate more languages. With each new language -- English, Spanish, German, Russian, Italian, French, Turkish, and Portuguese are all available -- each square is assigned an additional name. There's almost 40,000 words of each language in the mix, but W3W has allocated the shortest, most commonly used ones to the areas where they're most likely to be used. So the front steps of the Swedish National Museum in Stockholm are called "calf.router.shunted" if you search in English, but the more common words "skri.elev.skrika" in Swedish. To streamline the process, Sheldrick explains that the team have removed all the homophones from the mix -- so you won't end up wondering if your friend said "teas," "tease," or "tees" -- as well as controversial spellings. Gone, too, are all those explicit words you that you probably wouldn't want to say to direct visitors to your front door. Unfortunately, language is rarely that simple and even three apparently innocent words, arranged appropriately -- say "lazy.trouser.snake" (a roadside plot just outside Hiroshima, Japan) -- are bound to haunt a few addresses. Sheldrick says there's no way of changing each allocated address, but that they haven't had any complaints yet. And, besides, a dodgy name has done no harm to many traditional addresses. Big impact? Sheldrick, meanwhile, is thinking big, and the company is pondering what role the three-word system could offer in countries where development can be obstructed by a lack of a reliable, intuitive, system of addresses. "In a lot of the developing world, addresses are something governments have been working on for sometimes a decade," says Sheldrick. He believes, W3W can offer a ready-made system, allowing governments to forget what to call a place, and to focus on helping the people there. See also: Take a look inside Tehran's transformer house . See also: London's insane luxury basements . See also: Who invests the most in global property? | Startup What3Words aims to replace every address with a simple three word code . CEO Chris Sheldrick says the new system is faster, simpler and more precise . It promises to connect those in the developing world who lack a reliable address system . But what if your three word address was less than flattering? | 8ca579c346c2076578bf07c853cc97a0dfeda0b9 |
Passengers aboard Aeromexico jetliner came in for a fright Saturday morning after two tires on the Boeing 737 blew out as it was prepared for takeoff from Los Angeles International Airport. The plane was taxiing with 129 passengers aboard about 6.30am when tire under the left wing blew out, stranding the plane on the runway. No one was injured and all were safely taken off Aeromexico Flight 18 and boarded onto buses to the terminal, where they took other flights bound for Mexico City. A pair of blown tires on the left side of the Boeing 737 caused the breakdown, according to the National Transportation Safety Board. Collapsed: The wheels of an Aeromexico flight from Los Angeles International Airport to Mexico City collapsed (pictured) during takeoff about 6.30am Saturday . Undercarriage: In this photo, believed to be taken by an airport passenger at LAX, authorities work the scene after a Mexico City-bound Aeromexico jet hit its brakes after the left landing gear collapsed . Arriving prepared: Crews blast the collapsed landing gear with water, believing the undercarriage may have been on fire. However there were no reports of any flames . Authorities work the scene at Los Angeles International Airport after a Mexico City-bound Aeromexico jet hit its brakes after the left landing gear collapsed while it was preparing to depart from a runway on Saturday . NTSB officials do not plan any further investigation, spokesman Peter Knudson said. Aeromexico officials did not immediately respond to requests seeking comment. A preliminary report from the Federal Aviation Administration said the left landing gear had collapsed. The NTSB's Knudson said the blown tires were discovered later. The incident happened at about 6:30 a.m. Saturday and the runway was briefly shutdown until the aircraft was removed. According to The Los Angeles Times, the aircraft remained on the runway until 10.30am. No other flights were affected. Airport officials initially reported mechanical failures at about 6:30 a.m. for the Boeing 737 plane bound for Mexico. All 129 passengers and six crew members were safely evacuated . Evacuated: Passengers were expected to be booked on the airline's four flights later in the day, LAX officials said . | Aeromexico Flight 18 was leaving LAX for Mexico City about 6.30am Saturday . During takeoff two tyres blew out on the left side of the aircraft . There were 129 passengers and six crew aboard . Runway was shut down for four hours . No one was hurt . | 791f7d06527fa19691fd612ad0a1ecc7f78db847 |
The brother-in-law of murdered hostage Alan Henning rounded on the Government yesterday, saying they could have done more to save the aid worker. Colin Livesey said he was ‘angry’ with Ministers for failing to take more action to secure the release of the father of two when they knew about his capture ‘months and months ago’. He was speaking after international condemnation of a video released on Friday night that showed the taxi driver from Manchester had been beheaded by a man believed to be British extremist Jihadi John. Alan Henning was captured by the group on Boxing Day last year as he delivered aid to Syrian refugees . Mr Livesey's anger came as David Cameron, the prime minister, ordered spy chiefs to find the militants killing international hostages so special forces soldiers can go in to either capture or kill them. Just 12 hours after the video was published all but showing the beheading of Mr Henning, Mr Cameron summoned the heads of MI5, MI6 and GCHQ to his country retreat, Chequers, where he instructed them to track down the Islamic State executioners. Intelligence chiefs have reportedly already supplied the government with information about the militant unit which is holding the remaining hostages, among them British photojournalist John Cantlie. But the Sunday Times reports that the intelligence assessments are not detailed enough for a special forces raid because the group is constantly on the move around the desert. The Prime Minister was said to have told special forces chiefs he wants the militants captured dead or alive. Mr Cameron said after the briefing: 'The murder of Alan Henning was absolutely appalling. It is senseless; it's completely unforgivable. Anyone in any doubt about this organisation can now see how truly repulsive it is and barbaric it is as an organisation. 'What we see with this organisation is that there is no level of depravity to which they will not sink. The fact that this was a kind, gentle, compassionate and caring man who had simply gone to help others, the fact they could murder him in the way they did shows what we are dealing with. 'We must do everything we can to defeat this organisation. We must take action against it and we must find those responsible.' The book of condolence in memory of murdered aid worker Alan Henning in the parish church in Eccles . A woman signs the book of condolence: The whole country has united in revulsion at the aid worker's murder . Reverend Cyprian Yobera leading a service in the church where he spoke about Mr Henning at length and asked worshippers to light candles in his memory . 'Our hero': News of the father-of-two's murder has prompted a wave of mourning and grief in the North West . Bouquets of flowers are left outside the door of Mr Henning's home in Salford, Greater Manchester . A woman leaves flowers by the front gate of Mr Henning's family home . British aid worker Alan Henning has been beheaded by Jihadi John in an ISIS video posted online . Mr Livesey, 47, the brother of Mr Henning’s widow Barbara, denounced the Islamic State militants as ‘scum’ and said he prayed they ‘get what’s coming to them’. He said: ‘There was just no need. For a person who went there to give aid, to help their kids, their people in Syria, and for them to do what they have done, there is just no sense in it at all. There are no words in the dictionary to describe how I feel towards them. I’ve just got so much hatred for them.’ His accusations were echoed by Majid Freeman, 26, a friend of Mr Henning who was on the aid convoy in December when the 47-year-old was seized. He said: ‘The Government did nothing to help him. They should have secured his release but instead they abandoned him and left him out there.’ Last night, the parents of the latest American hostage threatened with murder, Peter Kassig, issued an emotional video appeal to his IS captors to ‘show mercy’. His schoolteacher father, Ed Kassig, and mother, Paula, said that the 26-year-old former soldier converted to Islam after he disappeared in October 2013 in Syria, where he was delivering food and medical supplies to casualties of the civil war. Mr Kassig said: ‘We implore his captors to show mercy and use their power to let our son go.’ Barbara Henning has said the family is 'numb with grief' after being told her husband had been killed . Colin Livesey, pictured, described his brother-in-law Alan Henning's killers as 'scum', adding: 'I just hope and pray they get what's coming to them' In a statement issued by the Foreign Office, Barbara Henning said her family and friends were ‘devastated’ after receiving the ‘news we hoped we would never hear’. Alan Henning: 'I am Alan Henning. Because of our parliament’s decision to attack the Islamic state I as a member of the British public will now pay the price for that decision.' Jihadi John: 'The blood of David Haines was on your hands Cameron, Alan Henning will also be slaughtered but his blood is on the hands of the British parliament.' Jihadi John then steps forward to cut Mr Henning's throat and his body is shown lying on the floor. Peter Kassig is then shown kneeling next to Jihadi John. Jihadi John: 'Obama you have started your aerial bombardment in Sham (Syria) which keeps on striking our people, so it’s only right we continue to strike the necks of your people.' Mrs Henning, who had issued a series of emotional appeals for her husband’s release over recent days, said she, her son Adam, 15, and daughter Lucy, 17, were ‘numb with grief’. ‘We always knew that Alan was in the most dangerous of situations, but we hoped that he would return home to us. That is not to be,’ Mrs Henning said. She added that her husband was a ‘decent, caring human being’ of whom she and her family were ‘extremely proud’. The Mail on Sunday has learned that an Islamic campaign group linked to former Guantanamo Bay detainee Moazzam Begg was at the centre of increasingly frantic efforts to free Mr Henning over recent weeks. The London-based Cage UK, of which Mr Begg is a director, tried to persuade the jihadis that it would be un-Islamic to murder an aid worker. Mr Begg, 45, was released from Belmarsh prison on Wednesday after terrorism charges against him were dropped. David Cameron vowed yesterday to use all available means to hunt down those responsible for the beheading. There were hopes that Mr Henning, right, could be freed after a sharia court set up by Islamic State to investigate claims he was a spy found him innocent . The Prime Minister said: ‘We will use all the assets we have to try to help those hostages… and defeat this organisation which is utterly ruthless and barbaric. ‘There is no level of depravity to which they will not sink. No appeals made any difference.’ Lord Dannatt, a former Chief of the General Staff, said his heart went out to Mr Henning’s family and friends but said it was ‘quite harsh’ to blame the Government. He said: ‘We don’t know what our Government has and hasn’t been doing. But I think we are all united in the fact that the so-called Islamic State and these fighters are an abomination and they have got to be confronted.’ Mr Henning was the fourth Westerner and second Briton – after fellow aid worker David Haines – to be murdered. As before, the video depicted Mr Henning, dressed in an orange jumpsuit, kneeling alongside his black-clad, masked killer. In the recording he recited: ‘Because of our Parliament’s decision to attack the Islamic State, I, as a member of the British public, will now pay the price for that decision.’ Muslim leaders had appealed to ISIS over the threat to kill Mr Henning, who was working for an Islamic aid organisation, saying it went against the religion . | Brother-in-law of Alan Henning says he is angry with government ministers . Colin Livesey says they failed to take action to secure the release of hostage . Says that they knew about his capture 'months and months ago' Now David Cameron has ordered spy chiefs to track down the killers . PM signals he is prepared to deploy special forces to get them dead or alive . Accusations were also echoed by a friend who was on also on aid convoy . Majid Freeman says the government 'abandoned' Mr Henning . | 48b962e19df1845cd489732dd1f2a2a9d81c2f0c |
By . Becky Evans . PUBLISHED: . 21:09 EST, 7 January 2013 . | . UPDATED: . 20:04 EST, 8 January 2013 . Researchers believe companies could save millions of pounds by analysing the emails of suspected employers . The most common words used by rogue traders and fraudsters when emailing about their plans at work have been revealed by investigators working with the FBI. 'Cover up', 'write off', 'illegal', and 'failed investment' were used most often by employees carrying out rogue trading and fraud. Ernst & Young's Fraud Investigation and Dispute Services Practice collaborated with the FBI using specialist software to identify more than 3,000 terms. Researchers say the analysis of emails written by employees under suspicion could save companies millions of pounds by flagging concerns before money is lost through fraud. Fraud investigators said that suspicious terms such as 'nobody will find out', 'grey area' and 'they owe it to me' were also among the most used phrases. 'Special fees' and 'friendly payments' were regularly used in bribery cases and phrases such as 'do not volunteer information' revealed concern at getting caught out. Rashmi Joshi, director of the company's Fraud Investigation and Disputes Services, said the research and new technology can help businesses identify rogue trader behaviour earlier. Cover up . Write off . Illegal . Failed investment . Nobody will find out . Grey area . They owe it to me . Do not volunteer information . Not ethical . Off the books . Backdate . No inspection . Pull earnings forward . Special fees . Friendly payments . She said regulators or investigators normally only seize upon telling email traffic when 'the damage has been done'. She told ComputerWeekly.com: 'Firms are increasingly seeking to proactively search for . specific trends and red flags – initially anonymously –but with the . potential for investigation where a consistent pattern of potential . fraud is flagged.' Shee told the website that analysis of language and statistics can help 'identify rogue trader behaviour' in a cost effective way, as well other fraud, abuse and employee misconduct. Also in the research, investigators found that employees often disclose their reservations about the plans with phrases such as 'want no part of this' and 'don't leave a trail'. They also try to rationalise their behaviour in emails by saying 'not hurting anyone', 'won't miss it', 'fix it later' and 'told me to'. The specialist software used by investigators also scanned for phrases that showed the writer did not want to leave a trail, such as 'call my mobile' or 'come by my office'. It was also used to track and highlight changes in tone and language. Among the top phrases used by rogue employees in email were 'cover up', 'write off' and 'illegal', 'failed investment' and 'nobody will find out' | 'Cover up' and 'write off' among most used phrases . Ernst & Young worked with FBI on the research . They say companies can save millions by analysing emails written by suspect employees . | 9b81951fe1da290e79e16f65b13a510af4925a5d |
(CNN)For decades, U.S. climate change policy amounted to a hypocrisy associated with bad parenting: "Do as I say, not as I do." That began to change Monday when President Barack Obama's administration announced its boldest step yet to reduce the nation's biggest source of pollution blamed for global warming -- carbon emission from power plants. A proposed new Environmental Protection Agency rule would reduce such emissions 30% by 2030, compared to the levels in 2005. The move announced by EPA Administrator Gina McCarthy was intended to show the world that the United States would walk the climate change talk, and establish Obama's environmental legacy as he enters the final third of his presidency. "For the sake of our families' health and our kids' future, we have a moral obligation to act on climate," McCarthy said. "When we do, we'll turn risks on climate into business opportunity. We'll spur innovation and investment, and we'll build a world-leading clean energy economy." Obama later made a similar case in a conference call with the American Lung Association, noting that power plant pollution contributes to asthma and other diseases suffered by American kids, especially black and Latino youngsters. "This beautiful blue ball in space" "This is something that is important for all of us," he said, urging support for efforts to work together to help protect "this beautiful blue ball in the middle of space there we're a part of." The announcement, expected for months, prompted immediate protests from the energy industry, Republicans and some Democrats from coal and oil states who complained the proposed EPA rules would harm the economy and raise energy prices. "All the major legislative and regulatory proposals to combat global warming kill jobs and disproportionately hurt lower income people and minorities," the conservative National Center for Public Policy Research argued in a list of "top 10 reasons Washington should not impose new global warming laws or regulations." Nonsense, Obama shot back, noting how similar warnings always greeted major environmental progress in the past, but eventually proved untrue. "What we've seen every time is that these claims are debunked when you actually give workers and business the tools and incentive they need to innovate," he said, citing previous government moves against air pollution and acid rain. Carbon pollution that increased dramatically since the industrial revolution of the 19th century corresponds to the warming of the global climate, and scientists predict rising oceans, volatile weather patterns, changing agriculture zones and other impacts in coming decades that will affect everyone on the planet and require an increasing percentage of national budgets to prevent catastrophic results. Energy industry campaign . A multimillion-dollar campaign backed by the energy industry has sought to debunk the science of climate change, but polls show most Americans believe the planet is warming. Almost a third of America's carbon emissions comes from electricity generation, and the proposed EPA rules announced Monday would give states a variety of options to meet the goal of an overall 30% reduction in such pollution by 2030. Some of the ideas already being used include improving energy efficiency at plants, changing how long they operate each day and increasing alternative energy sources such as wind and solar production. EPA officials concede some of the dirtiest power plants now operating, such as older coal-fired plants, will end up shuttered as the nation shifts its reliance from traditional fossil fuel sources to cleaner alternatives. Coal supplied 37% of U.S. electricity in 2012, compared to 30% from natural gas, 19% from nuclear power plants, 7% from hydropower sources such as dams and 5% from renewable sources such as wind and solar, according to the U.S. Energy Information Administration. By 2030, just over 30% of U.S. electricity will come from coal and about the same amount from natural gas, with wind, solar and other alternative sources providing about 9%, according to the EPA officials who spoke to reporters on Monday on the condition of not being identified. According to the EPA, the proposed new rules would reduce carbon pollution by the same amount as removing two-thirds of all cars and trucks form American roads. It put the cost as high as $8.8 billion a year, but noted health gains such as fewer premature deaths and respiratory diseases along with other benefits would be worth tens of billions of dollars to the U.S. economy. Higher costs or more opportunity? While critics contend the EPA rules will mean higher electricity costs, Obama and members of his administration argued the transformation to a more energy efficient power sector would bring lower electricity bills in the future. For Obama, another key motivation is to give the United States standing to pressure emerging economies in China, India and other countries to also adopt cleaner energy policies. Until now, U.S. calls for all players to participate in global climate change agreement went unheeded because developing countries argued America and other industrialized powers got rich while polluting, and now they should have the same chance to develop. At home, enemies of climate change legislation complained any U.S. steps would be meaningless, putting America at a disadvantage for policies that would do little on their own to reduce overall global emissions. White House spokesman Jay Carney told CNN on Monday that in order to get the kind of global buy-in necessary to achieve the kind of overall cuts in carbon emissions required to make a difference, the United States "has to lead, first of all, and this is an indication that the United States will lead on this very important challenge posed by climate change and global warming." The EPA will hold a public comment period and then revise the proposal over the next year. Under the proposed rule, states would have until June 30, 2016, to submit plans for achieving the reduced emissions target. States that need more time can submit an initial version by that date and explain the need for more time, with a final version due one or two years later, "as appropriate," the proposed rule says. "This is something we put off" According to the EPA , the regulation will "reduce pollutants that contribute to the soot and smog that make people sick by over 25 percent." The agency projects the reductions will avoid 2,700 to 6,600 premature deaths and 140,000 to 150,000 asthma attacks in children. "This is something we can't put off, and the President deserves huge credit for making this his legacy," said David Doniger of the Natural Resources Defense Council. Opponents were equally effusive in their condemnation. "The administration has set out to kill coal and its 800,000 jobs," Sen. Mike Enzi said in the GOP weekly address Saturday. The Chamber of Commerce, a business federation, estimated the new regulations will cost the economy $50 billion a year. Obama's move could affect competitive Senate races in coal industry states such as Kentucky, North Carolina and Colorado at a time when Democrats are trying to keep control of the upper chamber. "By imposing these draconian new rules on the nation's coal industry, President Obama and every other liberal lawmaker in Washington who quietly supports them is also picking regional favorites, helping their political supporters in states like California and New York while inflicting acute pain on states like Kentucky," said Senate Republican leader Mitch McConnell, who is facing a re-election battle in November in the Bluegrass State. "The impact on individuals and families and entire regions of the country will be catastrophic, as a proud domestic industry is decimated — and many of its jobs shipped overseas." Some Democrats doubting . Some Democrats from fossil fuel states who face tough re-election battles, such as Sens. Mary Landrieu in Louisiana and Mark Pryor in Arkansas, expressed concern Monday with the proposed EPA rule but stopped short of condemning outright the need to address rising carbon emissions. Democratic Sen. Jean Shaheen of New Hampshire, who also has a tough re-election challenge from former Massachusetts Sen. Scott Brown, took her own regional approach to the matter, saying the EPA rule was needed to balance regulation of power plants. "For too long, the Midwest has been allowed to lag behind New Hampshire and other New England states in addressing carbon pollution," she said, referring to acid rain regulations that affected her region. "The draft EPA rules will get Midwest power plants to do what power plants in New England have already done and will decrease the air pollution that moves from the Midwest to our states." Shaheen added that "we are already seeing the impact of climate change in New Hampshire, threatening many of our traditional industries and the health of our children," saying she would "carefully review the proposed EPA rules to ensure they protect New Hampshire, but the time for national action is long overdue." Robert Redford: Take the path to clean energy . Opinion: Cleaner air will help save planet . CNN's Holly Yan, Kevin Liptak, and Mary Grace Lucas contributed to this report. | President Obama says critics always wrong with dire predictions . Administration officials say it will build jobs, benefit the economy . The regulations will prevent up to 6,600 premature deaths, the EPA says . Plan will cost up to $8.8 billion annually but bring benefits worth $55-$93 billion, EPA says . | 09348b1884d2602cb5db9f288803c2b91c69835a |
By . David Mccormack . and Reuters Reporter . U.S. health regulators have recommended that healthcare professionals stop prescribing combination drugs that contain more than 325 milligrams of acetaminophen per tablet, capsule, or other dosage unit, citing the risk of liver damage. One of the most commonly used drugs in the country, acetaminophen, is widely used in both prescription and over-the-counter products to reduce pain and fever. Limiting the quantity per dosage unit will reduce the risk of inadvertent overdose, which can lead to liver failure, liver transplant and death, said the Food and Drug Administration. U.S. health regulators have recommended that healthcare professionals stop prescribing combination drugs that contain more than 325 milligrams of acetaminophen including Panadol . It cited the fact that no available data . showed that taking more than the recommended dose provided benefits . that outweighed the added risks. Inadvertent overdose from combination drugs containing acetaminophen - known as paracetamol in other countries - accounts for nearly half of all cases of acetaminophen-related liver failure in the United States, the agency said. 'Acetaminophen overdose is one of the most common poisonings worldwide,' according to the National Institutes of Health. Combination acetaminophen products are commonly prescribed to patients to treat pain from acute injuries, post-operative pain, or pain following dental procedures. Acetaminophen is widely used in both prescription and over-the-counter products to reduce pain and fever . It is commonly used in pain . medications with opioids such as oxycodone (Percocet), hydrocodone . (Vicodin) and codeine (Tylenol with Codeine). In January 2011, the FDA asked manufacturers of combination drugs containing acetaminophen, sold globally under trade names such as Tylenol and Panadol, to limit acetaminophen doses to no more than 325 mg in each tablet or capsule by January 14, 2014. Some of these products still remain available, the agency said. The FDA also suggested that pharmacists who receive a prescription for a combination product with more than the recommended dose contact the prescriber to discuss using a lower dose. In the near future, the FDA plans to institute proceedings to withdraw approval for combination drugs that remain on the market, it said in a statement. The FDA has set the recommended maximum for adults at 4,000 milligrams per day, but it is easier to reach this limit than you might think - with a single gel tablet of Extra Strength Tylenol containing 500 mg. Consumers should not take more than the prescribed dose of any medication that contains acetaminophen, according to the FDA, and should avoid taking more than one acetaminophen product at a time. Drinking alcohol while taking acetaminophen also puts you at risk. The warning does not apply to over-the-counter drugs such as Tylenol, which contains acetaminophen. The FDA said it will address these products in another regulatory action. | Acetaminophen is widely used in both prescription and over-the-counter products to reduce pain and fever . Healthcare professionals have been asked to stop . prescribing combination drugs containing more than 325 milligrams per tablet . The drug is commonly found in Percocet, Vicodin and Tylenol with Codeine . Consumers should not take more than . the prescribed dose of any medication containing acetaminophen . And should avoid taking more than one . acetaminophen product at a time . | d8972c29d33496d080887ca872f6cec84c5bde48 |
(CNN) -- A voluntary recall of eggs because of salmonella fears reached 380 million eggs Wednesday, the Egg Safety Center said. Wright County Egg of Galt, Iowa, which announced an earlier recall last week, added several more batches and brands to the recall Wednesday afternoon. "Wright County Egg is fully cooperating with FDA's investigation by undertaking this voluntary recall," the company said in a statement. "Our primary concern is keeping salmonella out of the food supply and away from consumers. As a precautionary measure, Wright County Egg also has decided to divert its existing inventory of shell eggs from the recalled plants to a breaker, where they will be pasteurized to kill any salmonella bacteria present." After an uptick in salmonella infections, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, and the Food and Drug Administration traced the source and determined it was most likely eggs from Wright County Egg. The company says it is working to determine how the shell eggs are being contaminated. The new recall covers eggs branded as Albertsons, Farm Fresh, James Farms, Glenview, Mountain Dairy, Ralphs, Boomsma, Lund, Kemps and Pacific Coast and are marked with a three-digit code ranging from 136 to 229 and plant numbers 1720 and 1942, the company said. The earlier recall covered the Lucerne, Albertsons, Mountain Dairy, Ralph's, Boomsma's, Sunshine, Hillandale, Trafficanda, Farm Fresh, Shoreland, Lund, Dutch Farms and Kemps brands and are marked with a three-digit code ranging from 136 to 225 and plant numbers 1026, 1413 and 1946. The plant number beings with "P - " and is followed by the three-digit code. Both recalls affect eggs packed in several different sized cartons, from a half-dozen to 18-eggs. Only shell eggs are affected by the recall, the company said. Consumers are encouraged to return the eggs in their original packaging to where they were purchased for a full refund. Salmonella bacteria can be found inside and outside of eggs that appear to be normal. | Recall adds to recall announced last week . Eggs are from Iowa's Wright County Egg . Company says it is cooperating with FDA investigation to find source . | 4f961384bb3230e36722403e6a955801330b4597 |
Andy Murray opened his Valencia Open challenge with a 6-3 6-3 win over Jurgen Melzer, although his performance failed to inspire in the Spanish city. In a match littered with poor serves and unforced errors, the third seed, who won the title here in 2009, just about held the edge to progress through to a second-round meeting with Italy's Fabio Fognini. Murray is playing in his fifth consecutive tournament, having won in Vienna last weekend, and is looking to secure his place at the ATP World Tour Finals next month, but will have to improve significantly if he is to better the result of rival David Ferrer, who is the top seed in Spain and aiming to bump the Scot from his current eighth place in the Race to London. Andy Murray defeated Jurgen Melzer to move a step closer to securing his ATP World Tour Finals spot . Murray keeps his eye on the ball as he looks to return a shot from Austria's Melzer . 7. Tomas Berdych (CZE) - 4,105 . 8. Andy Murray (GBR) - 3,885 . ------------- . 9. Milos Raonic (CAN) - 3,795 . 10. David Ferrer (ESP) - 3,775 . 11. Grigor Dimitrov (BUL) - 3,555 . *Standings on Wednesday October 22 . Murray, who came into the contest with a 6-0 head-to-head record against the Austrian, looked settled in the early stages and was a break up in just the third game when Melzer put a weak forehand into the net. However, his serve then went off the boil and a double fault from the Scot gave his Austrian opponent an immediate break back, although Melzer's wide return in game five again put Murray in the driving seat. Murray battled once more to hold his next service game but this time the outcome was more favourable as the third seed took a 4-2 lead. And although the world No 10 continued to perform below par, the occasional flash of brilliance - coupled with an ill-timed and costly double fault from Melzer - saw the Scot secure the opening set in 41 minutes. It was Melzer who drew first blood in the second set, breaking in the opening game with a tidy forehand across the court. Murray was far from at his best against Melzer but managed to beat the Austrian in straight sets . Murray currently occupies the last Race to London but faces competition from Spain's David Ferrer . It was not a match for tennis purists, with too many unforced errors and ugly shots from both sides of the net, and it was no surprise when Murray broke straight back after Melzer fired wide. An upturn in form then looked on the cards when Murray won his next two service games to love, and his fortunes improved further in game six when he fought back from 0-40 to break once more. Melzer's temper spilled over and the world number 121 smashed his racquet frame in frustration, earning a warning from the umpire. Yet the Briton could not hold on to his advantage, and another poor forehand found the net to leave the set back on serve. The topsy-turvy nature of things continued as a lazy, under-hit shot from Melzer gifted his opponent one more break and left Murray serving for the match. And although he did it the hard way, saving two break points, the Brit eventually emerged the winner thanks to another error from Melzer. | The Scotsman won in straight sets against Austria's Jurgen Melzer . Andy Murray is eighth in the current race for London standings . David Ferrer is hoping to take Murray's Race to London spot . | c1e9b14db9db90861bd56c3b83f819239a0cd93c |
By . Lucy Crossley . PUBLISHED: . 00:41 EST, 9 January 2014 . | . UPDATED: . 08:08 EST, 9 January 2014 . An elderly woman was bitten on her face and body after a rat swept out of the sewers during the recent storms crawled into her care home bed. The woman, aged in her 80s, suffered a number of bites after she was set upon by the creature, which was believed to have been forced out of a sewer by a deluge of floodwater. Staff at privately-run Hadleigh Court care home in Torquay, Devon, were alerted to the rat attack after hearing the terrified woman's screams, and entered her room to find the rodent under her bedclothes. Attack: An elderly resident at Hadleigh Court care home in Torquay, Devon, was bitten on her face and body after a rat swept out of the sewers during the recent storms crawled into her bed . The woman, who has not been named, was immediately rushed out of her room and an ambulance was called to take her to hospital. 'She had a couple of bites on her cheek and her hands were bitten where she was trying to push it away,' a source told the Mirror newspaper. The incident at the £460-a-week care home was today being investigated by the local council, whicj was informed by the Care Quality Commission. The source described the care home as 'well-run and clean', adding that residents were all being properly looked after, but suggested that the recent poor weather had forced the rodent out of the overflowing sewers. South Western Ambulance Service confirmed that paramedics were dispatched to the home early on Sunday morning . 'There’s been an awful lot of rain and maybe the rat wandered into the home because it wanted to get warm and dry,' they said. South Western Ambulance Service confirmed that paramedics were dispatched to the home early on Sunday morning. Staff at the home were not available for comment, with one female worker refusing to open the door to the building. Since mid-December Britain has been battered by a number of heavy storms, which have flooded homes and businesses across the country. Soaked: Since mid-December Britain has been battered by a number of heavy storms, which have flooded homes and businesses across the country, including this property near Apperley, Gloucester . Risk: Millions more people across the south of England have been told to prepare for more flooding this week . Seven people have died and more than 1,700 homes and businesses have been flooded in England since the beginning of the Christmas period, with around 550 properties flooded since the new year. High winds over Christmas also left 250,000 homes without power, with some families waiting days for electricity to be restored. Millions more people across the south of England have been told to prepare for more flooding this week, with rivers in Hampshire, Wiltshire, Dorset, Somerset, Surry, Berkshire, Oxfordshire and the Midlands on alert. There were 102 flood warnings and 181 flood alerts in place, although none of them were deemed severe, which would carry a danger to life. Floods: Tom Ballance uses a stand up paddle board to make his way through Oxford . Forecasters have also warned that wintry weather will replace the storms next week, and temperatures could fall to as low as -11C next week. The dramatic change in the weather may be . driven by a freezing front from the Arctic moving steadily south over . the next few days and meeting warmer, wetter air currently hovering over . the UK. The Met Office spokesman Laura Young said: ‘Into the weekend and next week we are going to see temperatures return to normal levels for this time of year which will make it feel a lot colder and bring a risk of frost, fog, and wintry showers.’ | Woman in her 80s was found with bite marks on her face and hands . Staff at privately-run home found the rodent under her bed clothes . Rat was believed to have been forced out of an overflowing sewer . Rain which has blighted the UK set to give way to more wintry weather . | cc28d5f4bba715cc058012f3e55f8fab686db740 |
(CNN) -- World champion Sebastian Vettel has taken an early stranglehold on this year's championship after his second straight win in the Malaysian Grand Prix at Sepang. Vettel won the season-opener in Austrlia and has now claimed fourth successive victories after two at the end of the 2010 season to clinch the title. Red Bull's Vettel led from start to finish to come home ahead of McLaren's Jenson Button with Nick Heidfeld giving Lotus Renault their second podium of the season. Formula One teams, drivers and circuits . The German has 50 points, 24 ahead of Button, with Lewis Hamilton and Mark Webber, who was fourth in Malaysia, four further points adrift. Hamilton, who had a difficult afternoon, crossed the line in seventh, but was relegated to eighth after being penalized for a coming together with Ferrari's Fernando Alonso. It lifted Sauber's Kamui Kobayashi into seventh, scoring points again for the second straight race. Force India's Paul di Resta secured his second straight 10th place finish on his F1 debut. Red Bull continue to lead the constructors' championship as they bid to repeat their success of last year. Drivers' standings after second F1 race of season in Malaysia: . 1. Sebastian Vettel Ger - Red Bull 50 points . 2. Jenson Button GB - McLaren 26 . 3= Lewis Hamilton GB - McLaren 22 . 3= Mark Webber Aus - Red Bull 22 . 5. Fernando Alonso Sp - Ferrari 20 . 6. Felipe Massa It - Ferrari 16 . 7= Nick Heidfeld Ger - Renault 15 . 7= Vitaly Petrov Rus - Renault 15 . 9. Kamui Kobayashi Jpn - Sauber 6 . 10. Sebastien Buemi - Sui STR Ferr 4 . Constructors' standings after round two: . 1. Red Bull 72 points . 2. McLaren 48 . 3. Ferrari 36 . 4. Renault 30 . 5. Sauber 6 . 6=STR Ferrari 4 . 6=.Force India 4 . | Reigning champion Sebastian Vettel wins second successive race . The victory gives the Red Bull driver the maximum 50 points after two rounds . Jenson Button lies second in the standings after finishing second in Malaysia . Red Bull lead the constructors' standings from McLaren . | eaae20d835a16665cb502ff88a1b7cddd29e5341 |
(CNN) -- Florida prosecutors have asked a judge to tighten conditions or revoke bond for Marissa Alexander, who faces a second trial for firing a gun to scare off her allegedly abusive husband. The Jacksonville woman was sentenced to 20 years in prison despite arguing before trial that her actions were justifiable under Florida's controversial "stand your ground" self-defense law. She was released on $150,000 bond in November after an appellate court struck down her 2012 conviction. In court papers filed Monday, prosecutors argued that Alexander "repeatedly flouted" the limits of her bond by running errands, taking shopping trips and taking relatives to the airport. Under the terms of her release, Alexander was only allowed to leave her home for medical emergencies, court appearances and other pretrial functions, they argued. In a scathing response, Alexander's lawyers wrote Tuesday that each trip had been approved by the sheriff's official supervising her release. "Obviously, including those omitted facts would expose the frivolity of the state's motion," they wrote. Alexander's case had drawn the attention of civil rights leaders, who say nobody was hurt and the sentence for the mother of three was too harsh. Alexander said she was attempting to flee her husband on August 1, 2010, when she picked up a handgun and fired a shot into a wall. She said her husband had read cell phone text messages that she had written to her ex-husband, got angry and tried to strangle her. State Attorney Angela Corey had said the case deserved to be prosecuted because Alexander fired in the direction of a room where children were standing. Corey had said she offered Alexander a plea bargain that would have resulted in a three-year prison sentence -- but Alexander chose to take her chances at trial, where a conviction would bring an enhanced sentence for the use of a firearm. 'Stand Your Ground' laws up to states, not Obama or Congress . | Prosecutors say Marissa Alexander 'repeatedly flouted' bond by leaving home . Her lawyers say she had approval for every trip . Alexander faces a new trial on charges she fired a gun to scare off her husband in a dispute . She had unsuccessfully invoked Florida's controversial 'stand your ground' law . | 95ae0ee3652c8346a65f4a50a2d12c9736117487 |
Mick Jagger's Brazilian ex-lover has told her country to stop 'cyber-bullying' him after he was branded a national curse for backing Brazil in the World Cup. The Rolling Stones singer, 70, was spotted in a VIP box at the Mineirao stadium last night as the host nation was trounced 7-1 by Germany in one of the worst defeats of the tournament's history. His support came to the dismay of fans who had already nicknamed Jagger 'pe frio' - the jinx - for lending his backing to a string of doomed sides earlier in the tournament. Scroll down for video . The jinx! For weeks Mick Jagger has been dubbed a World Cup curse for backing several doomed sides - culminating in his appearance in a VIP box with his son (centre) for Brazil's 7-1 trouncing by Germany . You can't always get what you want: The Rolling Stones frontman was left disappointed in a VIP box with his son Lucas, 15 (right) from Brazilian model and celebrity Luciana Giminez - who later sprang to his defence . Leave him alone! Jagger's former lover Luciana Giminez took to Instagram to defend him from 'cyber-bullying' Three teams lost almost immediately . after Jagger declared they would win, mostly at Rolling Stones concerts . in the countries themselves. Joking Brazil fans had even made cardboard cut-outs of Jagger . supporting rival teams as a good luck charm for themselves after they called him 'pe frio', which literally means 'cold feet'. But . last night he was spotted cheering on Brazil for the crucial match in . Belo Horizonte - wearing an England cap for good measure. He . shared a VIP box with Lucas, his 15-year-old son by the Brazilian model . and celebrity Luciana Giminez, who watched the humiliating defeat . wearing a signed Brazil team shirt. Also in the box was Kia . Joorabchian, the Iranian agent for a number of Brazil squad players. And sure enough, within minutes of the . rock legend taking his seat the host nation was 5-0 down in what would . become one of the worst defeats in World Cup history. Omen: Jagger's nickname in Brazil, 'pe frio' (the jinx), translates literally as 'cold feet' Good company: Among those in the box with Jagger and his son (centre) with player agent Kia Joorabchian . Brazilian news network R7 ran a large . photo of Jagger in the VIP box declaring he was 'invincible!' and 'the . biggest jinx in history'. The . mockery was so huge it pushed Ms Giminez, who had Jagger's child in . 1999, to launch an impassioned defence of him on her Instagram account. 'Mick has been successful for 50 years, he's a good friend and GOOD FATHER to my 15-year-old son. 'He is suffering cyber bullying .... and I would like to ask you guys who do this kind of bullying to think before you do it. 'Even . though it only seems like a small thing, Mick is a person like us all, . and he does not deserve to be treated this way by Brazilians.' She also posted videos of herself in a Brazil shirt describing how sad she was in French. No satisfaction: Dismayed fans believed the 70-year-old Rolling Stones frontman was such a curse that they made cardboard cut-outs of him in Germany's team kit and declaring his support for the rival side . National pride... or national curse? Jagger wore an England cap, while his son had a signed Brazil shirt . Groans: Jagger seemed disappointed at the team's 7-1 drubbing, while his son Lucas was inconsolable . The World Cup has coincided with a Rolling Stones world tour in which Jagger has offered words of support to whichever country his band entertains - often with seemingly disastrous results. Jagger . earned his nickname after he told fans during a show in Rome that Italy . would beat Uruguay and advance to the knockout stages, but the Italians . lost and were eliminated. He then told fans in Lisbon that Portugal would win the World Cup - and they too were eliminated. He reportedly joined Bill Clinton to cheer on the United States, who lost to Ghana in the second round. And after rooting for England against Uruguay, they too were humiliated by two Suarez goals. It is not the first time Brazilians have described Jagger as a curse for the national side. During . the 2010 World Cup in South Africa, some parts of the Brazilian media . claimed their team lost to the Netherlands in the quarter finals because . Jagger wore a Brazil shirt to the game. He's got history: Brazil fans before the quarter-final match. Jagger has been blamed for national defeats before . Anyone but us: Fans used the same cardboard cut-out trick before Brazil's quarter-final clash against Colombia . Slurs: One Brazilian news network, R7, called the Rolling Stones frontman 'the biggest jinx in history' Curse: The World Cup has coincided with a Rolling Stones world tour (pictured) in which Jagger has offered words of support to whichever country his band entertains - often with seemingly disastrous results . | Rolling Stones star dubbed 'pe frio' - the jinx - after backing several losers . Brazil fans made talisman cardboard cut-outs of him supporting opponents . But to their dismay, 70-year-old rocker decided to back host nation instead . He sat in VIP box watching Germany trounce Brazil 7-1 in semi-final disaster . Jagger has since become a figure of mockery in the shamed host nation . Former lover Luciana Giminez defended him against 'cyber-bullying' | f1c1cf48a646d7adce2dcd7e8a762e6e920f081f |
Louis van Gaal has one word for his achievements after three months in charge at Manchester United – great. The Dutchman, who asked to be judged in mid-October when he took over at Old Trafford in July, was asked to assess his performance on Friday and the response was typically blunt. ‘I am always great,’ said Van Gaal. ‘That’s a very easy question. Thank you! VIDEO Scroll down to watch West Brom vs Manchested United: The essential stats you need to know . Ashley Young and Marouane Fellaini were put through their paces ahead of Manchester United's trip to West Brom on Monday . Louis van Gaal insists his work at Manchester United during the first three months of his tenure have been 'great' Fellaini made his comeback against Everton in United's last fixture before the international break . Midfielder Young (right), who has not played since suffering an injury in August, walks to training with suspended captain Wayne Rooney . Robin van Persie was on international duty with Holland this week but the injury-prone striker looked sharp in training on Friday . Anderson, Anders Lindegaard, Juan Mata, Adnan Januzaj and Luke Shaw look relaxed as they begin Friday's training session . AUGUST . Saturday 16 - Swansea (H) LOST 2-1 . Sunday 24 - Sunderland (A) DREW 1-1 . Tuesday 26 - MK Dons (A) LOST 4-0 . Saturday 30 - Burnley (A) DREW 0-0 . SEPTEMBER . Sunday 14 - QPR (H) WON 4-0 . Sunday 21 - Leicester (A) LOST 5-3 . Saturday 27 - West Ham (H) WON 2-1 . OCTOBER . Sunday 5 - Everton (H) WON 2-1 . ‘How do I respond to that? No, I’m not going in the right direction? No. I have confidence in myself and in my players and that is very important. But much more important is that the players have confidence in the manager and his staff. ‘When I respond I’m arrogant because normally I am always moving in the right direction – I have showed that already.’ Despite winning the last two games, United were holding on against Everton and West Ham and Van Gaal believes the players have still to fully embrace his philosophy. He added: ‘I think they do understand the philosophy but they have to perform that philosophy. We have to see if it is going to a higher level. We need more balance in the team. ‘I said that after the match against Everton, and I am looking for balance in the team not only spectacular attacking football, but also when you lose the ball that you have a shape as a team and that you can defend more easily, and kill the game better. ‘That’s also part of the philosophy and also because I am always choosing creative attacking football players. So we are looking for the balance and we shall see if the time I have had was long enough.’ Van Gaal confirmed that there no fresh injuries from the international break but is not sure if any of his current casualties – Phil Jones, Chris Smalling, Ander Herrera, Michael Carrick and Jonny Evans – would be fit to face West Brom on Monday. United were put through their paces on Friday as they prepared for the clash at The Hawthorns and looked to be in decent shape. Ashley Young, who has been out since August because of groin and pelvis problems looked sharp in the session, as did Marouane Fellaini who came on against Everton in the Red Devils' last match after being sidelined through injury. Manager Louis van Gaal watches on during training while Rooney goes through his stretches to keep fit during his ban . Angel di Maria (left) and Daley Blind (centre) were in international action for Argentina and Holland respectively last week . Radamel Falcao (left) and Spanish midfielder Mata (right) are both set to start against the Baggies on Monday in the absence of Rooney . Mata put in a good performance in the match against Everton and will take up the No 10 position again against West Brom . Van Gaal is hoping his side can continue their winning run against West Brom but admits the Baggies will be tough opposition and said: 'We start Monday against West Brom with a victory I hope. 'You can lose in this sport also, only Chelsea haven’t lost. 'Normally every club can lose. But I think West Brom are very difficult to beat especially at home. 'They are a dangerous opponent that is difficult to beat. But there is no club in the premier league that is easy to beat, and that’s the difference with other leagues. 'We have to start with a victory after the international break because we have won the last three games.' Van Persie and Blind, striking similar poses, both played for Holland in midweek but came through the match without any ill-effects . Daley Blind, Robin van Persie and Assistant coach Albert Stuivenberg discuss tactics as they walk to the Aon Training Complex . MIdfielder Darren Fletcher (left, centre) looked relaxed in the training session and Michael Carrick was able to jog as he recovers from injury . Rooney, Young and James Wilson walk to training as the team prepared for Monday's trip to the Midlands to take on West Brom . Phil Jones (left) lifts a weight as he continues his rehabilitation from injury, while Belgian playmaker Januzaj grimaces . VIDEO Title not out of the question - Rafael . | Louis van Gaal insists his performance during the first three months of his Man United tenure has been 'great' Dutchman's team are fourth in the Premier League after two consecutive wins . Ashley Young and Marouane Fellaini took part in training session as they get closer to full fitness . Players returning from international duty such as Robin van Persie and Angel di Maria looked fit . Suspended captain Wayne Rooney also took part in the session as Van Gaal watched on . | 633a2c90ea0db6a7e8ea28d8d7050770611091e6 |
Eating and cooking one's way through a country is one of the best ways to understand and enjoy a culture. The raw ingredients, finished dishes and smells, tastes and traditions in between meld into unforgettable sensory experiences. Tour operators are offering an increasing number of trips that cater to their guests' desire to taste -- and cook -- their way through a destination. These newer excursions go far beyond familiar gastronomic pilgrimages to Tuscany. Hungry globetrotters are keen to visit goat-cheese producers in Iceland, with the likes of food writer and chef Jody Eddy; sample street food in Vietnam on a trip with Artisans of Leisure; or press their own olive oil in Egypt during a journey with Backpacker Concierge. Our list highlights some of the very best culinary tours around, all of which prove that travel has never tasted so good. Artisans of Leisure, Vietnam . After the S-shape curve of the country from north to south, Artisans of Leisure's private, custom Vietnam for Foodies tours take in cultural and gustatory attractions along the way. Trips start in Hanoi, where guests explore the city's famed markets, colonial architecture, historical sites and French-influenced restaurants. Next they hop on a traditional junk for a sail across Halong Bay, whose waters teem with prawns, oysters, squid and snapper that are staples of the local cuisine. Visits to the former imperial city of Hue, a vegetarian Buddhist monastery and the herb farms around Hoi An follow (participants pick lemongrass, basil and cilantro and use them to make fresh spring rolls). Departures: A taste of ancient Greek food . The final stop, in Ho Chi Minh City (formerly Saigon), includes chef-led cooking classes and a street-food tour -- and boundless opportunities for trying snacks such as banh mi (sandwiches), pho (spicy noodle soup), goi du du (green papaya salad) and banh xeo (rice pancakes with pork and shrimp). Eleven-day trips by appointment, from $6,810; 800-214-8144. Austin-Lehman Adventures, Athens and the Cyclades . Travelers who envision Greece as a never-ending series of secluded beaches, ancient ruins and whitewashed fishing villages won't be disappointed here. The weeklong itinerary manages to fold in all the can't-miss sights: the Parthenon in Athens, the sparkling shores of Santorini, the cerulean lagoons of Antiparos and the ever-photogenic sugar-cube buildings of Mykonos. But it also provides an in-depth appreciation for the food and flavors of the region. Guests make visits to groves and farms where they can sample honey, olive oil, feta and graviera (a sheep's-milk cheese). Departures: Top 'how to' vacations . They also take cooking classes -- sometimes in the island homes of local chefs -- and learn to prepare local dishes such as revythada (slow-cooked chickpea stew), domatokeftedes (tomato fritters) and tsipoura (fresh-caught sea bream). eight-day trips (May-October departures), from $5,298; 800-575-1540. Backpacker Concierge, Egypt . Daydreams of an Egyptian holiday usually include lots of stock imagery: the soaring pyramids and Great Sphinx at Giza; the riotous, colorful crowds of the market stalls at Cairo's Khan al Khalili. But until recently most travelers haven't wondered much about the flavors of this desert country -- a situation Backpacker Concierge aims to change with its new bespoke culinary excursions there. Departures: World's top tasting menus . While guests on the tours can see all the quintessential Egyptian sights, they also partake in some truly unusual gastronomic experiences, including touring the country's little-known northern wineries; learning to make Egyptian specialties such as mahshy (stuffed zucchini and cabbage leaves) and duqqa (roasted ground hazelnuts and spices) in a chef's home kitchen; and, in the remote village of Siwa, pressing olive oil and making date honey by hand. Seven-day trips by appointment, from $1,700; 248-507-4666. Caribbean Culinary Tours, Jamaica . Though they are one of the closest holiday destinations for North Americans, the Caribbean islands are home to a singularly vivid and eclectic cuisine. And while many island nations here have their own particular culinary traditions, perhaps none is as distinctive as Jamaica's -- a blend of African, European and Asian influences that gave birth to such signature preparations as jerk-spiced meat and fish, ackee and saltfish, curried goat and festival (deep-fried bread balls). Departures: American chocolate tours . It takes an islander to help visitors properly navigate this gastronomic landscape, and Dominican-born chef Freda Gore does just that by leading her Caribbean Culinary Tours cooking seminars, guiding trips to roadside farmers' stalls, restaurants and rum distilleries and -- in between -- allowing for downtime for sunning, snorkeling and cocktails. April 12-18, from $2,999; 615-609-5421. Epitourean, Lima and Machu Picchu, Peru . A Peruvian tasting tour capped off by a trek to the most dazzling UNESCO World Heritage site on the South American continent? A traveler would need to be scared of heights -- or ceviche -- to pass it up. Epitourean's itinerary provides an array of food-related experiences, including cooking classes -- which teach the finer points of wild-boar carapulcra (stew) and morada (shredded chicken with purple potato and aji amarillo) -- and trips to markets, pisco taverns in Lima and street-food stalls in Cusco. In between gastronomic adventures, however, there is plenty of time to visit historic cathedrals, museums and Incan ruins, the most spectacular of which is, of course, the ancient high-altitude site of Machu Picchu, the figurative and literal peak of the tour. Ten-day trips by appointment, from $3,690; 800-390-3292. Jody Eddy, Iceland . Food writer and chef Jody Eddy, whose cooking resume includes stints at Jean-Georges and Tabla in New York, teamed with Icelandic chef Kjartan Gislason to put together this new culinary adventure for August. Trip participants will enjoy Iceland's breathtaking natural landscapes, soaking in mountain-ringed geothermal pools, hiking alongside thundering waterfalls and sailing to remote north-coast islands. Departures: Most bikeable wine regions . In between, they will visit with growers and producers of distinctly Icelandic products such as smoked arctic char, skyr (a tangy local yogurt), sweet rye bread, reindeer carpaccio and liqueurs made with rhubarb, birch and caraway. Guests will also get demonstrations from and take meals with some of the country's most celebrated chefs, including Gunnar Karl Gislason, whose Reykjavik restaurant Dill (dillrestaurant.is) set the bar for modern Icelandic cuisine. August 16-23, from $3,900. TripFeast, Thailand . Many travelers know Thailand as a street-food paradise, and rightly so. One could easily spend months trolling Bangkok's wok-wielding vendors and snacking on oyster omelets, spicy noodles and barbecued squid. With its Gourmet Thailand tour, however, TripFeast brings guests far beyond the street carts. The Bangkok-based itinerary is built around classes at some of the country's best cooking schools, where refined dishes such as pla goong (spicy prawn salad with Thai herbs) are learned. Guests explore the famous Damnoen Saduak Floating Market and take trips to mussel farms, fishing villages and even a tropical-climate winery along the western edge of the Bay of Bangkok. Visits to Buddhist temples, tuk tuk rides and a night tour of Bangkok's vibrant Chinatown are also on the itinerary. Eight-day trips (March and November departures), from $2,075; 347-380-6959. | Pick lemongrass, basil and cilantro and use them to make fresh spring rolls in Vietnam . Learn to make Greek dishes such as revythada and domatokeftedes in a Greek chef's island home . Enjoy a glass of wine in Egypt's little-known northern wineries . | dd80884b97b2fae1bb3f03a7d9fdf4de08e49f52 |
The company that employed a methadone-affected truck driver who killed a family of three in Sydney's southwest has been slapped with the biggest fine in Australian transport history.Calvyn Logan and his 81-year-old parents Donald and Patricia were killed when a drug-affected, sleep-deprived truck driver slammed his B-double into their sedan in January 2012.Vincent Samuel George was found guilty earlier this year of three counts of manslaughter following the triple fatality on a southwest Sydney highway. Scroll down for video . Vincent George was found guilty of three counts of manslaughter following a triple fatality on a Sydney highway. Patricia and Donald Logan were killed by truck driver Vincent Samuel George. George was driving for company Zaens Pty Ltd, which trades as Lennons Transport.Blood samples revealed the 34-year-old had methadone in his system when he veered onto the wrong side of the Hume Highway near Menangle and crashed into the Logans' car.The trucking company and director Anthony Lennon were charged over almost 200 speeding offences committed between February 2011 and March 2012.After pleading guilty, Zaens and Lennon were ordered to pay the $1.3 million fine in the Downing Centre Local Court on Friday. Vincent George slammed head on into a red Ford Mondeo, killing Calvyn Logan and his 81-year-old parents Donald and Patricia. Magistrate Lisa Stapleton found apart from an induction process, Zaens did not make management responsible for speed compliance.In her judgment, she said Lennon admitted drivers did not always tell the company about their speeding offences."That is not surprising," she wrote.Roads Minister Duncan Gay said the penalty was the biggest in NSW history against a trucking company under Chain of Responsibility legislation."This is a terrible tragedy, there are no winners here, but I hope this decision by the court today brings some small comfort to the Logan family after their tragic loss," Mr Gay said.George will be sentenced in September. | Zaens Pty. Ltd receive biggest fine in NSW history against a trucking company . Speeding offences were committed between February 2011 and March 2012 . It is the same company that employed a meth-addict driver that crashed his truck, killing a family of three in Sydney's southwest . | 553b114ade88fc7dc0b7ad4014207dd81ff75f3b |
Hospitals may be withholding food and drink from elderly patients so they die quicker to cut costs and save on bad spaces, leading doctors have warned. Thousands of terminally ill people are placed on a 'care pathway' every year to hasten the ends of their lives. But in a letter to the Daily Telegraph, six doctors who specialise in elderly care said hospitals across the UK could be using the controversial practice to ease the pressure on resources. Warning: Hospitals may be withholding food and drink from elderly patients so they die quicker to cut costs and save on bed spaces (file picture) The Liverpool Care Pathway, which got its name as it was developed at the Royal Liverpool Hospital in the 1990s, withholds fluids and drugs in a patient's final days and is used with 29 per cent of hospital patients at the end of their lives. The practise is backed by the Department of Health. But the six experts told the Daily Telegraph that in the elderly, natural death was more often free of pain and distress. The group warned that not all doctors were acquiring the correct consent from patients and are failing to ask about what they wanted while they were still able to decide. Claims: Experts say in the elderly natural death is more often pain free (file picture) The doctors say that this has led to an increase in patients carrying a card stating that they do not want this 'pathway' treatment in the last days of their lives. One of the letter's signatories, Dr . Gillian Craig, a retired geriatrician and former vice-chairman of the . Medical Ethics Alliance, told the newspaper: 'If you are cynical about . it, as I am, you can see it as a cost-cutting measure, if you don't want . your beds to be filled with old people.' A . Department of Health spokesman said: 'People coming to the end of their . lives should have a right to high quality, compassionate and dignified . care. 'The Liverpool Care . Pathway (LCP) is not about saving money. It is an established and . respected tool that is recommended by NICE (National Institute for . Health and Clinical Excellence) and has overwhelming support from . clinicians at home and abroad. 'The decision to use the pathway . should involve patients and family members, and a patient's condition . should be closely monitored. 'If, . as sometimes happens, a patient improves, they are taken off the LCP . and given whatever treatments best suit their new needs. 'To ensure the LCP is used properly, it is important that staff receive the appropriate training and support.' | Six doctors say the 'care pathway' practice could be being used in UK hospitals to ease pressure on resources . They say in the elderly natural death was more often free of pain and distress . | 46328ce33f3c11218813eaec0e0d8d6df3592d2d |
(CNN) -- The West is understandably nervous about the election of Mohamed Morsi. The president-elect of Egypt is taking charge of a febrile situation. The economy is contracting and human rights abuses are rampant -- attacks on Coptic churches by Islamic groups have forced an estimated 100,000 Christians to flee the country. Morsi's Muslim Brotherhood is philosophically committed to creating a state governed by Islamic law, and some say that his victory poses a threat to Israel. Now he wants to reach out to Iran. But it would be wrong to conclude that Islamic democracy is a contradiction in terms. Whatever new state emerges in Egypt almost certainly won't be democratic in the liberal, European tradition, and there will be a constant fight to protect the rights of women and religious minorities. But the presumption that Morsi's political Islam is the vanguard of theocratic dictatorship ignores historical and contemporary evidence to the contrary. Islam is simply too complex to be stereotyped as the faith of tyrants. Early Muslim societies, romanticized by Islamists, were decentralized in nature and allowed for a large degree of self-government. The first caliphs were elected by tribal councils, and their powers were limited by legal scholars in a manner that approximates to constitutionalism. Rulers could, theoretically, be impeached; religious pluralism was tolerated. When Umar Ibn al-Khattab conquered Jerusalem in 637, he permitted Christians and Jews to remain in the holy city and worship freely in their own temples. The Covenant of Umar is one of history's first examples of a state guaranteeing religious freedom. The record of modern experiments in Islamic statecraft is tragically mixed. On the good side, Bangladesh, Indonesia, Mali, Senegal, Turkey and now Egypt are all some form of democracy. Even Iran has permitted a degree of popular representation. When the liberal-minded cleric Mohammad Khatami ran for the Iranian presidency in 1997, he was hindered by a media blackout and opposition from Iran's clerical leadership. Yet he won 70% on an 80% turnout and was permitted to serve two terms. (Admittedly, Khatami's achievements in advancing civil liberties were few, and he was hampered by clerical intervention in parliamentary elections.) Alas, there are many more examples across the Muslim world of dictatorships and parties implacably committed to violent fundamentalism. Saudi Arabia, for example, hasn't stopped the bankrolling of terrorism, forces its subjects to live by a strict reading of Sharia law and even tolerates beheadings for witchcraft. But while the Islamic emphasis upon submission to religious authority might have hardened resistance to Enlightenment values of pluralism and civil liberties, the legacy of Western imperialism shares responsibility, too. Central Asian countries such as Turkmenistan and Uzbekistan are former Soviet republics, Iran had its parliamentary democracy subverted by the West in the 1950s, and Saudi Arabian politics have been dominated by the international oil market. In short, the spread of democracy in the Islamic world has either been retarded by autocratic practices imported from the West, or subverted by Cold War politics and economic globalization. Pitted against these savage forces, Islam has sometimes offered a rare vehicle for anti-authoritarian dissent -- from Algeria to China. The fact that Islamic parties, such as the Muslim Brotherhood, have emerged from dictatorships bolstered by foreign arms has colored their politics -- to the degree that they regard Western "democracy" as a byword for imperialism. Nonetheless, there is some evidence that the Brotherhood is a diverse, pragmatic movement more concerned with reducing the influence of the secular state than erecting a theocracy in its place. The Brotherhood has certainly moderated its views in recent years to accommodate shifting domestic attitudes toward the veil, the presence of Westerners or alcohol. An example of a more temperate Islamism might be found in Morocco, where the appointment of an Islamist prime minister, Abdelilah Benkirane, has shown signs of opening the country up. He has promised transparency, a war on corruption and a fairer distribution of wealth. Crucially, anything more radical that the prime minister might try to do is tempered by Morocco's monarch and powerful army. This arrangement sees Islamism expanding popular representation while the political establishment safeguards secularism. We see some of that careful balance in the new Egypt. The military still enjoys enormous power, and it will effectively control the writing of a constitution. The army might be motivated by venial desires to protect its power and patronage, but the fact that Morsi is ultimately answerable to Field Marshal Mohamed Hussein Tantawi, chairman of the Supreme Council of the Armed Forces and defense minister, means his ability to construct any kind of theocracy is severely limited. Although Western unease toward Morsi's Islamist politics is justified by recent experience, the existence of historical and political variation offers hope that Egypt won't become a new caliphate. On the contrary: In democracies, process is all -- and so far the process has been respected by everyone involved. The West's complaint that "the wrong man won" in Egypt mustn't detract from the fact that the country is still undergoing a remarkable, apparently progressive transition -- albeit at the cost of many lives. The people overthrew a dictator and then elected a new leader in free and fair elections. The very fact that the "wrong man" was even allowed to assume the presidency suggests that Egypt is embracing a more humane politics. So far, political Islam has facilitated, not hindered, the building of a democratic country. So far. The opinions expressed in this commentary are solely those of Timothy Stanley. | Timothy Stanley: Many worry that Egypt's Muslim Brotherhood leader will bring theocracy . But Stanley says historic and modern evidence shows Islamic societies can be democratic . He says Mali, Bangladesh and Morocco seek balance between Islam and openness . Stanley: Brotherhood (and military) in Egypt respecting democratic process so far . | 4cac27d7129b625ddd153c322b790c6e3c5eba01 |
A teacher has been arrested for allegedly raping a six-year-old girl at a public school in Bangalore, India, just one week after a nursery student was allegedly raped at a different school in the same city. Police arrested a 37-year-old Hindi teacher named Jaishankar last night after the alleged victim complained to her mother about pain in her genitals. She was taken to a doctor who confirmed she had been sexually assaulted. The mother then complained to the school. Anger: Demonstrators outside the nursery school in Bangalore, India, after a teacher allegedly raped a six-year-old girl in a school bathroom . Parents are furious after a series of rapes by current and former teachers in Bangalore schools of girls as young as three . The girl told police Jaishankar, who is understood to have a daughter at the same school, took her into the bathroom and abused her on two occasions. Police commissioner Alok Kumar said: 'The girl told her mother she was abused on October 28 and 29. JULY: Two gym instructors at the Vibgyor International School arrested and charged with the gang rape of a six-year-old girl. AUGUST: 63-year-old retired government employee teaching at a public school is accused of stripping a girl and molesting her. He is said to have abused seven girls over 45 days. OCTOBER 21: Three-year-old nursery student was allegedly sexually abused at another Bangalore school. OCTOBER 30: 37-year-old Hindi teacher accused of raping a six-year-old in a bathroom . 'We're questioning the Hindi teacher based on initial investigation.' Yesterday a large crowd of protesters gathered outside the school. Chief Minister Siddaramaiah said: 'These cases are taking place particularly in private schools and we have issued circular to the management of the private school that they have to take care of this. We will take note of this and will act on this.' It is the fourth such case in the city since July. Last week a three-year-old nursery student was allegedly sexually abused at another Bangalore school. In July two gym instructors at the Vibgyor International School were arrested and charged with the gang rape of a six-year-old girl. And in August a 63-year-old retired government employee who taught at another public school was accused of stripping a girl and molesting her. He is said to have abused seven girls for 45 days. | Police arrested a 37-year-old Hindi teacher in Bangalore last night . The alleged victim told police he abused her in a bathroom on two occasions . She complained to her mother. Doctor confirmed she had been assaulted . The teacher is understood to have a daughter at the same school . | db8c6b56d6fd9d6febb1edee5a7dd52b12fa7a0b |
If you leave your phone lying around when you leave the room, chances are your partner will take the opportunity to snoop through your texts, emails and internet searches. According to a new survey, four in ten adults regularly check their partner's device behind their back to keep an eye on them - with women most likely to snoop. The fairer sex is also the most suspicious with 44 per cent of women admitting to checking their other halves' phones compared to 36 per cent of men. Six in 10 snoops have caught their partner cheating on them or talking to someone they shouldn't be . Researchers also found 34 per cent know their partner's mobile PIN, 39 per cent know their email account password and 26 per cent know their Facebook password. Some 31 per cent don't know their significant other's PINS or passwords and are happy with that but more than half (54 per cent) would be suspicious if this wasn't the case for them. In fact, just over half believe sharing your mobile PIN or social media passwords is a modern sign of true love and commitment. While six in 10 snoops have caught their partner cheating on them or talking to someone they shouldn't be, more than a third have scuppered a romantic surprise their loved one was planning. The study of 2,000 Britons, commissioned by Samsung, found almost half have gone through a partner's phone in at least one relationship they've been in, with 16 per cent admitting they have done this with pretty much everyone they have been with. Furthermore, 40 per cent regularly snoop through their current partner's mobile to keep an eye on what they are doing or who they are talking to. Women are the most likely to check a partner's phone compared to men, with 44 per cent admitting to it . It doesn't always go to plan though as 34 per cent have ended up ruining a surprise their partner is planning for them, stumbling across their plans for a holiday, weekend away, gift or even a proposal, plus 44 per cent of said snoops have been caught in the act when going through their partner's phone. Text messages are most likely to be checked, followed by their call history, Facebook private messages, emails and even their photo gallery. Internet history and Twitter conversations are also among the things looked at by suspicious people. 1. Text messages . 2. Call history . 3. Facebook private messages . 4. Emails . 5. Photo gallery . 6. Internet history . 7. WhatsApp history . 8. Twitter private messages . 9. Viber history . 10. Skype history . But six in 10 of those who snoop have found inappropriate text messages, Facebook messages, phone calls or internet searches on at least one of their partner's mobiles. When it comes to confessing about their find, 32 per cent would confront their other half even if it meant owning up to their snooping, while a clever 18 per cent would find a way to bring it up without having to admit how they found out. Whilst 23 per cent would keep it to themselves, but keep a closer eye on their partner, 17 per cent would try and forget about it as they shouldn't have been snooping in the first place. Almost one in 20 would break up with their partner immediately. While 27 per cent said their other half wasn't bothered, as they had nothing to hide, 40 per cent said they were angry and 24 per cent said they broke up with them there and then. The phone company commissioned the research for the new Samsung Galaxy A-Series smartphone range. A spokesperson for Samsung Electronics UK & Ireland said: . 'Rather amusingly this research shows that suspicious partners seem to be using them quite regularly to check up on their other half on a regular basis. 'As we head towards the Valentine's season however, it's worth bearing in mind that you might discover something your partner is trying to keep hidden for all the right reasons, such as a secret weekend away they are planning, a special gift or perhaps even a marriage proposal!' | Sharing mobile or online passwords is a modern sign of true love, say 56% . Four in ten Britons in a couple often secretly check their partner's phone . Women (44%) are more likely to snoop on partner's phone than men (36%) | 5c596ed6ca82235530c1956575192bb93819a8c8 |
LONDON, England (CNN) -- MySpace galvanizes protestors to attend mass demonstrations; 1.8 million Britons sign an online petition, leading to widespread press coverage and government embarrassment; and Hillary Clinton and Barack Obama are fighting it out for the Democratic nomination on Facebook. Barack Obama's online support is way ahead of his rivals', including Hillary Clinton's . The Internet is now the focus for campaigners, marketers and activists, each claiming a slice of the virtual pie. We look at the impact of social networking sites on contemporary politics and ask, is the Web the new battleground? Sites like MySpace, Bebo and Facebook give people a tool to interact online and extend their social lives beyond working hours. But what's interesting campaign managers is that they've been seized with such enthusiasm by increasingly hard-to-target teens and young adults -- even Britain's Prince Harry is rumored to have a Facebook account. This marks a crucial development in the Internet's history: Far from being a place where geeks go to hang out with other geeks, the Internet is now as vital a part of the average college student's world as Spring Break. No longer a virtual refuge for lonely nerds, these sites are used daily by bright young things, keen to arrange the latest hot club/bar/gig to visit. And politicians have wised up to this. Howard Dean set the ball rolling in 2004, raising around $50 million in his Presidential nomination campaign by using the Internet to garner large numbers of small-scale donations and pump up his coffers. John Kerry followed suit in his 2004 Presidential campaign against George W. Bush, famously narrowing the funding gap with his Republican rival . But this time round, candidates are plugging in and getting personal. Mitt Romney was the first potential Republican Presidential candidate to launch a Facebook profile; Democrat John Edwards was the first to set up shop in virtual world Second Life; and Hillary Clinton launched her Presidential campaign via her Web site. All of the major candidates for the 2008 American Presidential election have support on Facebook and profiles on MySpace. Right now, these sites are being harnessed most successfully by the Democrats, and notably Barack Obama's campaign. At the time of writing, his supporters include over 161,000 friends on MySpace against Clinton's 42,000-odd and John Edwards's 28,000. (Republican John McCain has 21,000; Mitt Romney trails him on 12,000.) Obama's biggest Facebook supporters' group, "One Million Strong for Barack Obama" had over 320,000 members (as opposed to Hillary Clinton's "One Million Strong for Hillary Clinton," with 5,300); and a growing pool of photographs on Flickr, the photo-hosting online community. What Obama's team seems to understand -- and others grasp with varying degrees of success -- is that it's not just about broadcasting to a hard-to-reach demographic. In order to recruit voters online, candidates must appear to engage with potential supporters on a far more personal level, on their terms, in their environment. These sites tear down the traditional barriers between those in power -- be they celebrities or politicians -- and their fanbase or supporters, providing the semblance -- if not the reality -- of personal involvement and a forum for discussion. If a 22-year-old male from New Hampshire can be "friends" on MySpace with Paris Hilton, goes the thinking, why not Senator Obama? But only time will tell if the winner of this online popularity contest can convert his virtual "friends" into concrete votes. Away from the presidential campaigns, social networking sites also make it easy for activists to cross political boundaries. Net users don't have to buy into a suite of policies; using the web, pressure groups can focus their efforts on single issues instead. News on the virtual street travels quickly across existing networks of friends -- whether it's via email, blogs or messageboards. In 2006, MySpace users spread the word about immigration rights demonstrations across the United States. The Associated Press reported that half a million people turned out to the Los Angeles rally, while a Time poll indicated that two out of three Americans heard about the protests. Of course, the large numbers who attended the protests didn't all read about it on MySpace. But the site did enable grassroots information sharing between large numbers of people who were otherwise hard to reach, keeping them informed and encouraging them to action. It's not just the social networking sites that are drawing campaigners' attention. While Flash mobs -- sudden, unexpected and short-lived gatherings of members of the public, organized by Web sites and text messages -- usually tend towards the surreal (zombie mobs in Toronto, pillow fights in Buenos Aires) they have also been utilized by pressure groups. A flash mob gathered at an Oxfam thrift store in Birmingham, England in 2003, sang "Give it Away" by the Red Hot Chili Peppers, stripped off and donated their clothes to the charity, in what the organizers claimed was the world's first altruistic mob, while in 2004, protestors in Bucharest, Romania, criticized limits to freedom of speech by sealing their mouths with duct tape. Flickr, the social photo hosting site, has also been utilized. Nearly 4,000 members have added their support to the ONE campaign to make poverty history by posting their photo to the campaign's pool of photos, while Oxfam Australia publicize their campaigning by tagging their photos and encouraging others to do the same. Also on Flickr, "Green My Apple" is a Greenpeace-led pressure group of Mac devotees who want Apple to make more environmentally-friendly computers. They post photos of themselves with their Macs to a Flickr photo pool. Quite literally, it's a way of giving faces to the people behind the campaigns. It's not all plain sailing. The Internet has its own style of writing and its own social mores. A lack of experience at navigating the virtual realm can be painfully apparent. Politicians need to be careful about how they engage with their Internet audience. Savvy net-heads have little time for stuffed-shirt proselytizing, whether it's on MySpace or YouTube; having a Facebook profile doesn't automatically make you cool. And engaging with people online can backfire: the British Government, who set up a Web site where the public could create petitions, were sorely embarrassed when 1.8 million people called for planned pay-as-you-drive road charges to be scrapped. The unexpected weight of public opposition to the policy ensured a barrage of rather unwelcome media attention. Online presences are also susceptible to virtual attack. Back at Facebook, the only group coming close to Obama's support is the "One Million Against Hillary Clinton" with over 230,000 members. John Edwards' Second Life headquarters were vandalized by opponents; and a 1984-style pro-Obama video attacking Hillary Clinton and urging Americans to "Vote Different" had garnered over three million views on YouTube at the time of writing. Both attacks were veiled by the anonymity which the Internet provides, and politicians must now be wondering how much dirtier online campaigns will get -- and to what extent they'll escape from Campaign Headquarters' control. And that's where the real power in the Internet lies. Far from being a one-way broadcast, the medium allows people to engage with each other, get involved and focus on the issues they care about most. Most of all, it allows people to take a campaign and evolve it themselves. While this will terrify traditional campaign managers and PRs, who can see quality assurance flying out of the window along with their approved, on-message briefing sheets, is it really a bad thing that the Internet gives regular Joes the chance to broadcast alongside the big guns -- and the potential to beat them at their own game? ................................................... Could online campaigning change the outcome of the 2008 US Presidential election? Will the Internet encourage more people to get involved in political debate? Tell us in the forum -- or read others' thoughts on the future. E-mail to a friend . | Politicians harness Internet social networking sites to target youth . Web-savvy candidates create their own online profiles . Internet helps activists cross political boundaries . But only time will tell if virtual friends will cast real votes . | 2d07c78e4b72417a086cfc914232747683c9c139 |
Four Sri Lankan athletes were stopped by police after cycling down the M74 motorway on Wednesday. The cyclists were pulled over near the exit for Motherwell and Hamilton and advised to ‘get off the road’. A similar episode occurred in Manchester in 2002 when two Kenyans cycled 17 miles down the M61 before being stopped by police near Bolton. On the road: Handout photo taken from the twitter feed @jonny_brownlee with permission of members of Sri Lanka's Commonwealth Games team as they cycle down the M74 . Sally Pearson is set to pull out of the 100 metres as she does not want to risk her fitness for her specialist event, the 100m hurdles. The Australian, the Olympic and Commonwealth champion over the hurdles, has recovered from a hamstring problem and will focus on defending her title. ‘It’s probably more likely that I am going to pull out,’ she said. Full focus: Sally Pearson will drop out of the 100m to concentrate on the hurdles . Three-time world champion Wendy Houvenaghel has retired from cycling and fired a parting shot at the sport. The 39-year-old, who misses the Commonwealths through injury, was controversially left out of Britain’s team pursuit line up at the London Olympic Games and will now work as a dentist. ‘It is a profession where, as a woman in my thirties, I’ll be treated as equal,’ she said. Harry Aikines-Aryeetey is confident there will be three Englishmen in the 100 metres final at the Commonwealth Games — and all have a medal chance. The absence of Usain Bolt is set to make for a more open field and Aikines-Aryeetey believes he and team-mates Adam Gemili and Richard Kilty can challenge for the podium. Aikines-Aryeetey said: ‘I’d like to say that we’re going to have three in the final. ‘Myself, Richard and Adam are definitely good enough.’ Strong: Harry Aikines-Aryeetey predicts three Englishmen will make the 100m final . Canada’s Nic Hamilton has been forced out of the Commonwealth Games track cycling events after crashing into an official. Hamilton suffered concussion while the Glasgow 2014 official suffered a suspected broken collarbone. The velodrome had to be closed for 30 minutes, delaying a visit from the Prince of Wales and Duchess of Cornwall. A Team Canada statement read: ‘Nic does not have any serious injuries other than his concussion.’ | Four Sri Lankan athletes were stopped by police after cycling down the M74 motorway on Wednesday . The cyclists were pulled over near the exit for Motherwell and Hamilton and advised to ‘get off the road’ Harry Aikines-Aryeetey is confident there will be three Englishmen in the 100 metres final at the Commonwealth Games . | bcdfb5ba6dffa46d1686cf2ca7e3565a1acf8191 |
(CNN) -- A coalition of news media organizations has filed suit in an effort to get the government investigation into the Crandall Canyon mine accident opened to the public. Rescuers drill into the Crandall Canyon mine on August 16 to try to reach six miners trapped underground. The group -- including CNN, The Associated Press, The Salt Lake Tribune and the Deseret Morning News -- asked a federal court on Monday to stop the proceedings until a judge can rule on whether to open them. The suit also asked that a transcript be provided of any closed hearings that may have already occurred. The coalition noted that the same court ruled after a similar accident more than 20 years ago that the Mine Safety and Health Administration must make its proceedings public. "Sadly, another mine disaster and more Utah miner (and mine rescuer) deaths have led Defendant here to convene another MSHA panel, this time with a goal of determining MSHA's alleged complicity in the accident," the plaintiffs' attorneys wrote. "This MSHA panel today is basically doing the same types of things that it did 20 some years ago." The Department of Labor, which includes MSHA, has not allowed the news media access to its investigation into the August 6 cave-in of the mine in central Utah. Six miners were trapped and are presumed dead. On August 16, three other people, including an MSHA inspector, died as they attempted to reach the trapped miners, whose bodies have never been recovered. A call to the Department of Labor was not immediately returned. Also joining the suit is the Utah Media Coalition, representing Utah newspapers, television stations and journalism groups. E-mail to a friend . | News media group asks court to stop probe until judge rules whether to open it . Investigation being done by Mine Safety and Health Administration . Media coalition also requests transcripts of any closed meetings already held . Six miners trapped when mine collapsed August 6; three died in rescue try . | 287cdb826ce1f80375c58e757e44e1a7757d03a8 |
On a windy hillside near Copenhagen, Denmark, are the headquarters of a company with a simple goal: to make the smallest hearing aids in the world. Widex, one of the globe's largest hearing aid companies, developed its first model in 1956. Back then, it came with its own battery pack and had to be strapped to the chest. They've been gradually shrinking ever since and 3D printing technology has now enabled the slender machines to vanish almost completely into the ear. "The smallest are less than the size of the tip of a little finger," says Soren Westermann, the Widex CEO whose father co-founded the company nearly 60 years ago. Back then, hearing aid technology had just made a great leap forward following the invention of the electric transistor in 1948. Westermann recalls that when he was born, hearing aids had been hulking, impractical devices "that you wore on your back." But the energy efficiency and relatively small size of the transistor -- which is used to amplify electronic signals -- paved the way for the now familiar "behind the ear" style of hearing aid. Since then, the mechanics have become evermore sophisticated, moving from analogue amplification to digital and from behind the ear to right inside it. Widex are now the pioneers of a manufacturing process known as Computer Aided Manufacturing for Individual Shells for Hearing Aids or, less cumbersomely, CAMISHA. The process takes advantage of recently developed 3D printing technology to create staggeringly precise molds of the ear canal. "First we make the impression of the ear," explains Westermann. "It's still done the old-fashioned way: impression material (liquid silicone) is injected in the ear and as it sets it shows a perfect reproduction of the ear canal." But it's the second stage of production where things get smart. Standing in the Widex lab, Westermann demonstrates how the finely detailed mold is scanned through a 3D scanner taking millions of measurements to create what he calls a "3D point-cloud" representing exactly the inside of a patient's ear. Then, layer-by-layer, a large 3D printer replicates the precise dimensions of the mold using photo-acrylic gel, a type of liquid plastic. Finally, the tiny mechanical components -- consisting of a microphone, a receiver, a battery, and an almost microscopic computer chip -- are inserted into the plastic shell. "The detail that we can reproduce is down to a hundredth of a millimeter," claims Westermann. The precision and efficiency of the process has resulted in the world's smallest ever hearing aids. For Westermann, this is a significant development. "Invisibility is extremely important ... It is so clear that nobody wants to demonstrate or show their hearing loss," he explains. But the CAMISHA process offers more than discretion. Unlike previous models, which blocked large parts of the ear with big plastic shells, the so-called Invisible In-Canal (IIC) hearing aids allow for more sound to be collected naturally by the shape of the ear, and to flow down the ear canal as it would with unassisted hearing, improving the fidelity and range of sound. The fact that the shell is modeled so exactly on the user's ear also prevents any noise from leaking out. According to Westermann, this was the cause of irritating "whistling" in previous models. "The sound will leak from near the ear drum and out between the ear piece and the ear canal. It will leak out there and go back to the microphone, then it will feedback and whistle," he said. In addition to these technical improvements, the precision of the mold, says Westermann, means that it is substantially more comfortable. Previous manufacturing methods, which Westermann describes as more like a form of manual sculpting, allowed for small discrepancies between the silicone mold and the hearing aid, causing potentially significant discomfort. "The ear canal is actually extremely sensitive, so the tiniest irregularity may be intolerable," he says. "Now they are perfect every time. We know beforehand that they can fit, we know they are as small as they could possibly be and we know that we can make them exactly the same every time," he adds. At least for now, however, the premium sound and comfort comes at a premium price. While you can get a conventional hearing aid for a few hundred dollars, the CAMISHA produced models range from about $1,000-$3,000 per device. Westermann, as you might expect, says his customers rarely suffer from buyer's remorse. "We get a lot of feedback letters, feedback from people who say 'I can't imagine why I waited five years to get one of these,'" he says. "People tell us they had forgot the sound of the birds. They were walking in the forest and suddenly heard these birds again and they hadn't heard them for 10 years and they had forgot they were still there. "That makes a lot of difference in your work, to know that you made a difference to somebody else." | Danish hearing aid company develops manufacturing process based on 3D printing . The "CAMISHA" process allows exact molds of a person's ear canal to be produced . As a result, the company has produced the world's smallest, most comfortable hearing aid . | 80c1f695bbddfd799b5ea3123d23e9b11f5e2ba4 |
Hong Kong (CNN) -- Electric shock guns, spiked metal batons and leg and neck shackles. These are some of the torture devices being made and exported by Chinese companies, fueling human rights abuses in Asia and Africa, according to a new report from campaign group Amnesty International. The report says that trade in what it calls tools of torture is flourishing, with 130 Chinese companies engaged in the production and trade of potentially dangerous law enforcement equipment, compared with 28 companies a decade ago. Most of the companies highlighted in the report are state owned, the report said, and openly promote their products at international trade shows and online. While some of the equipment such as tear gas, handcuffs and plastic bullets has legitimate policing uses, Amnesty says many of the devices marketed by these companies are intrinsically cruel and inhumane and should be banned immediately. Chinese officials questioned the report's credibility. "I think you should not ask this question to the foreign ministry. We have no knowledge of it," foreign ministry spokeswoman Hua Chunying told reporters Tuesday. "But I would like to remind you that the organization you mentioned has always had strong bias against China. So I think it's questionable about whether the report is real." "Chinese authorities have done nothing to stop companies supplying these sickening devices for export or to prevent policing equipment falling into the hands of known human rights abusers," said Patrick Wilcken, security trade and human rights researcher at Amnesty International. The report, co-authored with the Omega Research Foundation calls on China to immediately ban the production and trade of inherently cruel and abusive equipment. It also urged Beijing to suspend or deny trade license for the supply of equipment when there is a substantial risk that the equipment will be used to commit or facilitate serious human rights abuses. Amnesty said the global trade in law enforcement equipment is poorly controlled and China is not alone in its failure to regulate the supply of law enforcement equipment to countries where there is a clear risk that it will be misused. It added that all countries should heed the report's recommendations. As many as 29 Chinese companies make electric stun batons that allow security officials to apply painful multiple shocks to sensitive areas of the body such as the groin without leaving long-lasting physical traces. A greater number of companies make restraint devices such as weighted leg cuffs. Spiked batons have been exported to security forces in Nepal and Thailand and have been reportedly used by police in Cambodia, while Chinese made electric shock batons are being carried by police in Ghana, Senegal, Egypt and Madagascar, the report said. Another example highlighted shows how Chinese-made riot control equipment was used to suppress protests against the rising cost of living in Uganda, killing at least 33. "China's flawed export system has allowed the trade in torture and repression to prosper," Wilcken said. The report also documents how electric shock batons, mechanical restraints and other devices are widely used in detention centers throughout China. One practitioner of banned Falun Gong spiritual movement told Amnesty how she was tortured with an electric baton on her face: . "It's a kind of torture the police call 'bengbao popcorn' because your face splits open and looks like popped corn." | Trade in torture devices by Chinese companies flourishing, says Amnesty International . Exports of police equipment are fueling human rights abuses in Asia and Africa, it says. Much of the equipment is "inherently cruel" and should be banned. Some equipment has legitimate uses but can still be misused, it adds. | 31b8eb9ce1db28b6e42d84432c81962ae133c9b7 |
By . Bianca London . PUBLISHED: . 11:42 EST, 16 December 2013 . | . UPDATED: . 05:10 EST, 17 December 2013 . When former Jimmy Choo boss Tamara Mellon announced that she was launching her own collection, the fashion world expected big things. And the designer, who sold her shares in the luxury shoe business in 2011 for £82.5 million, didn't disappoint. Mellon has unveiled a debut collection of ready-to-wear clothing and shoes - including a pair of £1,595 leather legging boots - and she's called on supermodel Karlie Kloss to model them. Recognise her? Karlie Kloss rocks a far more edgy look in the campaign video for Tamara Mellon's new collection . 21-year-old Kloss, who is ranked the seventh top model in the world by Models.com, is the star of Mellon's new campaign, High Heels, Sharp Knives. In a newly-released campaign video, Kloss can be seen donning the legging boots as she struts around an apartment playing a femme fatale carrying a knife and washing what looks like blood from her hands before getting up close and personal with another female. In the short film, shot by Rie Rasmussen, the Victoria’s Secret Angel works red lips and heavy eye make-up as she poses in Mellon's slinky designs and killer red stilettos. Thigh's the limit! Karlie, who is one of the world's most successful models right now, rocks the £1,595 leather legging boots in the video . Debut shoe: Tamara Mellon, who left Jimmy Choo in 2011, has unveiled her £1,595 leather legging boots - appropriately named Sweet Revenge . Mellon describes her leather creation, as sported by Kloss, as 'a thigh boot that pulls right up into a legging. You can wear a sweater over it or a big man's shirt and there's no gap.' Net-a-porter, who are selling the shoe, write: 'Designed for a flawless, all-in-one silhouette, each size of this unique style is constructed with either a XS/S or M/L pant - wear yours with a fitted tunic for the slickest take.' The capsule collection also includes a £725 leather tote, £550 stretch-wool piqué straight-leg pants and £830 fringed wrap-effect leather skirt. Kloss, who recently strutted her stuff in the annual Victoria's Secret show, has quickly become one of the most famous faces in fashion - walking in 64 fashion shows in a single season. She has also starred in campaigns such as Juicy Couture, Elie Saab, and Jean Paul Gaultier . Bad girl: Karlie plays a femme fatale in the short movie, which was shot by Rie Rasmussen . Dark: The short film sees Karlie get up close and personal with a fellow model and take a bite out of an apple after washing what looks like blood from her hands . Mellon's debut range comes soon after she told how her business . partner, Jimmy Choo, did not design a single shoe for the multi-million . dollar brand named after him. During an interview this morning on the Today . show, the 46-year-old revealed that she never received a sketch from . him during the years they worked together; 'Not one,' she declared. Unaware . of Mr Choo's lack of design nous when they joined forces, she said that . she had to quickly hone her skills and use experience from her fashion . writing days as accessories editor at Vogue to guide her. Daring: Mellon (L) describes her leather creation (R), which is a far cry from a dainty Choo, as 'a thigh boot that pulls right up into a legging' Design process: Ms Mellon said that she would . come up with ideas and Mr Choo's niece, Ms Choi would sketch them out . and the two of them would go to vintage stores to look for inspiration . Ms Mellon said from . there her relationship with Mr Choo deteriorated to the point that any . conversation was 'out of the question'. Eventually, after much confrontation, Mr Choo sold his share in the company in 2001. Today, armed with a wealth of business experience, she has finally unveiled her own namesake label. Stretch-wool piqué straight-leg pants, £550 . Wool-blend pencil skirt, £460 . Heaven leopard-print calf hair and elaphe pumps, £595 . Chill Out metallic leather sandals, £325 . Fringed wrap-effect leather skirt . £830 . Stretch-wool piqué blazer, £740 . | Tamara Mellon sold her share in luxury label Jimmy Choo in 2011 . Has now unveiled her own collection, which costs from £325 to £1,595 . Karlie Kloss stars as femme fatale in new video . Wears the £1,595 'Sweet Revenge' leather legging boot . | 13dc2ba187d6419382260aa3d15db99161f4733a |
By . Anna Hodgekiss . PUBLISHED: . 11:11 EST, 5 November 2012 . | . UPDATED: . 12:36 EST, 5 November 2012 . A firefighter has died from cancer just months after celebrating the birth of twin sons. Rob Wright, 39, was diagnosed with acute myeloid leukaemia just three weeks before he was due to marry his wife Samantha in April. The father-of-five was put straight onto an aggressive course of chemotherapy and despite his weakened condition he celebrated his wedding in a small ceremony surrounded by close family and friends. Rob Wright and his wife Samantha were overjoyed by the birth of their twin sons Zack and Owen on July 24. Mr Wright had been diagnosed with acute myeloid leukaemia just four months before . Mr Wright, from Wallsend in North Tyneside, had first fallen ill on March 22. Doctors told him he had glandular fever and did some blood tests. But just a few days later he was in the Freeman Hospital in Newcastle having chemotherapy. 'Even when he was first diagnosed with leukaemia, all he was bothered about was getting married and asking if he would be able to go, recalled his widow Samantha, 26. Mr Wright, a firefighter, underwent four rounds of chemotherapy and both doctors and his family had been hopeful he would make a full recovery . 'He just wanted to get on with it, he just took whatever they threw at him. His phrase was "let's just get on with it". He was very brave throughout it all. 'He was really poorly and we had to cancel the evening do for the wedding.' During treatment Mr Wright underwent four rounds of chemotherapy. Both doctors and his family were hopeful he would make a full recovery. Thinking their luck was turning around, the couple were overjoyed by the birth of their twin sons Zack and Owen on July 24, just as Mr Wright's recovery seemed to be on course. But a routine MRI scan in October dealt the young family a devastating blow - the cancer had spread to his nervous system. Mrs Wright said: 'All the way through . from the first lot of chemotherapy, all the signs were good. They . thought it would be a standard transplant,so it was a massive shock for everybody.' Mr Wright and his wife Samantha had been set to marry this April and the wedding went ahead, despite his diagnosis. Right: with his son Dominic . Doctors . tried giving him radiotherapy but it did nothing to help and on October . 26 he returned home to spend his last days with his family, passing . away on October 29. Mrs Wright added her late husband 'loved nothing more than a challenge', including taking part in 'tough guy' competitions in Wolverhampton, pushing himself to the limit jumping through rings of fire and swimming in frozen lakes. She said: 'If you took all the words from the thesaurus for amazing it still wouldn't be enough to describe Rob. I will miss everything about him. 'He was very popular and full of fun, always laughing, cracking his jokes and very reliable. He would just do anything to help anybody.' Mr Wright has three children from his previous marriage, step-daughters Jordan, 20, and Dayle, 17, and 12-year-old son Dominic. His family are asking for support for the Anthony Nolan Trust, to raise awareness of bone marrow donation. For more information: www.anthonynolan.org . | Rob Wright, 39, was diagnosed with acute myeloid leukaemia just three weeks before he was due to marry his wife Samantha in April . The firefighter had originally been diagnosed with glandular fever . Went on to see his twin sons Zack and Owen born in July before tragically losing his cancer battle last week . | 8d3a602125da67edeab67ea64f14c73bdf2b41bc |
Five passengers are presumed dead after a small plane crashed tragically into the icy depths of a Colorado reservoir Saturday afternoon. It was a recovery mission from the start as crews at the Ridgeway Reservoir worked to fish out the single-engine Socata TBM700 and the bodies of everyone aboard after they fell out of the sky for undetermined reasons around 2pm. Efforts were suspended Saturday evening, in part because responders to the rugged rural area lacked equipment necessary to recover the wreckage and victims from 60 to 90 feet of frigid water about 90 feet from shore. Scroll down for video... Crash: A single-engine private plane dropped out of the sky and into an icy Colorado reservoir on Saturday afternoon and all five passengers are presumed dead . Arduous: It was a recovery mission from the start as responders fought frigid conditions in water 90-feet deep . The plane was flying from Bartlesville, Oklahoma, to Montrose, about 180 miles southwest of Denver, when it went down Saturday, Ouray County spokeswoman Marti Whitmore said. Whitmore said no one is believed to have survived, but no victims have been recovered from the aircraft, which was located about 90 feet from shore in 60 to 90 feet of water. Dive teams from Denver and Gunnison were expected to arrive at the reservoir Sunday afternoon. ‘We have recovered pieces of the tail yesterday, but the fuselage is in the water. We have a good sense of where it is but the water is very cold and very murky, so it is a little bit of a challenge to get in there,’ Whitmore told the Denver Post. The plane was a single-engine Socata TBM700 registered to a corporation in Alabama and en route to Montrose from Bartlesville, Oklahoma. The identities of the occupants were being withheld Sunday until relatives could be notified . ‘We don't have the right resources in the county’ to recover the plane, she said Sunday. The 1996 model plane was registered to Gadsden Aviation of Rainbow City, Alabama, the Denver Post reports. It was en route to Montrose after stopping in Bartlesville, Oklahoma. The flight originated out of Gadsden, Alabama. The identities of the occupants were being withheld until relatives could be notified. | The single-engine Socato TBM700 plunged into Ridgeway Reservoir outside Montrose just before 2pm Saturday . Recovery workers battled icy conditions and water up to 90 feet deep . No cause has been identified . | 711c97122ffa5dc5bbb082adb8cd1850f20d02a9 |
The New York Jets have fired Rex Ryan, the outspoken and popular coach, the team failed for a fourth year in a row to make the playoffs and ended with a pitiful 4-12 record. Jets owner Woody Johnson also fired General Manager John Idzik, who has also been blamed for the Jets' poor performance in the last two seasons. The Jets were the first team to swing the ax on 'Black Monday' - the day after the final game in the regular season when many teams that missed the playoffs fire coaches, general managers and other staffers. Scroll down for video . Axed: Popular New York Jets coach Rex Ryan lost his job on Monday - a move that was anticipated since early November when the team began the season 1-8 . Gone: Jets owner Woody Johnson fired head coach Ryan (left), as well as John Idzik (right), the team's general manager. The two are pictured on Sunday in Miami at the Jets' final game of the season . On Sunday, it was announced that the San Francisco 49ers and head coach Jim Harbaugh were parting ways. Harbaugh announced he was taking the head coaching job at the University of Michigan for a reported $8million-per-year salary. Late this morning, the Atlanta Falcons fired head coach Mike Smith, who started his six-year tenure by making the playoffs four times in five years, but has fielded losing teams the last two seasons. The Chicago Bears also made big moves - firing head coach Marc Trestman and general manager Phil Emery following a 5-11 season that outraged fans. The year was marked by a woeful performance by quarterback Jay Cutler, whom Trestman and Emery signed to a $126million contract extension last season. The Jets move was widely expected in the football world - anticipated for weeks following the Jets 1-8 start on the season. Cut-ler loose: The Chicago Bears fired head coach Marc Trestman (left) and general manager Phil Emery (right) after quarterback Jay Cutler tanked following a $126million contact extension . Falcons coach Mike Smith was fired after fielding two losing teams in a row following four playoff appearances in five years . Ryan himself even saw it coming, reportedly cleaning out his office this weekend in advance of his final game against the Miami Dolphins on Sunday. The Jets won 37-24. Ryan started off his tenure in New York with a bang - winning two straight division championships in 2009 and 2010, just one game shy of making it to the Super Bowl. The next four seasons saw the Jets drop out of relevance. The team went 8-8 in 2011 and 2013 and had a losing record this season and in 2012. The 2012 season saw one of the lowlights of the Jets franchise, the dreaded 'buttfumble.' Jets quarterback Mark Sanchez ran into the backside of his teammate and fumbled the ball - which was recovered by the New England Patriots for a touchdown. Despite the Jets taking on a hapless reputation in the NFL, Ryan remained popular among his players and most fans. He made headlines in the sports world during his tenure for repeatedly boasting that his teams would win the Super Bowl. 'I believe this is the year we’re going to win the Super Bowl. I thought we’d win it the first two years, but I guarantee you we’ll win it this year,' he crowed in 2011. The team went 8-8 and missed the playoffs that year. Even at the end, when Ryan's fate seemed assured, he managed to maintain the loyalty of his players. Wide receiver Percy Harvin, who has only been with the Jets since October, told the New York Post: 'I love him I loved him before I got here, and I’m that much more in love with him now. That’s what guys are still playing hard for him and giving it their all. I’m not going to get into (whether he should keep his job), but I just love playing for him.' | Jets general manager John Idzik also lost his job following abysmal 4-12 record this season . Chicago Bears fired coach Marc Trestman and general manager Phil Emery after 5-11 season . Atlanta Falcons coach Mike Smith fired after two losing seasons and just one postseason win in six years . San Francisco 49ers parted ways with coach Jim Harbaugh, who left for $8million-a-year at the University of Michigan . The day after the last game of the NFL regular season is known as 'Black Monday' - when teams that didn't make the playoffs clean house . | 95a278c430536be1f72223828a695c8083150632 |
The ABC has confirmed that one of its employees was asked to delete a tactless tweet referring to the Sydney siege, that was posted as the event continued to unfold. Geoff Hutchison, a Perth radio presenter, took to Twitter at about 7:11pm on Monday to mock the media's coverage of the event. 'COMING UP on our #sydneysiege special EXCLUSIVE Bertie Beetle speaks of his fears. 'I could be next,' says compound chocolate icon,' Mr Hutchison wrote. Bertie Beetle is the name of an Australian chocolate bar made by Nestle. The ABC has confirmed they asked Geoff Hutchison, a Perth radio presenter, to remove an offensive Tweet that was posted during the Sydney siege . A statement from the ABC released on Tuesday, confirmed that the company's management had requested Mr Hutchison to delete the tweet 'soon after it was posted'. The insensitive post Mr Hutchison wrote on Twitter . 'The tweet contained the views of the individual and are not endorsed by the ABC,' the statement said. 'He is currently on leave but when contacted by ABC to question the appropriateness of the tweet, Geoff suggested he was commenting on the nature of the media coverage. 'Subsequent to the discussion, Geoff chose to take it down.' 'Geoff has expressed his regret that the tweet may have caused any undue concern or upset.' The ABC 720 morning host tweeted constantly throughout the siege as more information came through, mostly criticising media coverage of the event and social media users for spreading unconfirmed rumours. 'Breaking News - no new development on #sydneysiege. We go live to the scene. Reporter, what can you tell us? Nothing. More soon,' an earlier tweet from Mr Hutchison read. The tasteless tweet comes only a few weeks after the ABC was forced to apologise for another controversial tweet regarding the status of cricketer Phillip Hughes, as he was rushed from the Sydney Cricket Ground after just being hit by a bouncer. Mr Hutchison tweeted constantly throughout the siege as more information came through, mostly criticising media coverage of the event and social media users for spreading unconfirmed rumours . It comes only a few weeks after the ABC was forced to apologise for another controversial tweet regarding the status of cricketer Phillip Hughes, as he was rushed from the Sydney Cricket Ground after just being hit . It read: 'Cricket NSW could not confirm if Phil Hughes was alive when he left the SCG,' leading to an uproar from social media users at the premature and unclear tweet. 'The tweet was a mistake. It was meant for internal use, but someone mistakenly tweeted the information,' an ABC spokeswoman told Daily Mail Australia at the time. 'As soon as we noticed, it was taken down and we posted an apology. We do apologise for the tweet.' Mr Hutchison is well-known for his controversial social media comments. In 2010, he deleted his entire Twitter account after posting a series of offensive Tweets during an appearance by Tony Abbott on ABC's QandA program. Pop stars, comedians and Kevin Rudd's daughter are among critics of Rupert Murdoch (above) for his tweet about the Sydney hostage crisis . The above tweet prompted an angry response for failing to mention the siege victims . One of these tweets was: 'Tony, why are you frightened of intercourse with Julia? Is it because we will be watching and measuring?' However Mr Hutchison was not the only person to be criticised for a tweet during the siege in Sydney, with Rupert Murdoch prompting a flood of angry responses from people for choosing to brag about his newspaper rather than mentioning the victims. 'AUST gets wake-call with Sydney terror. Only Daily Telegraph caught the bloody outcome at 2.00 am. Congrats,' Murdoch's tweet said. | Geoff Hutchison, a Perth radio presenter, posted the tweet during the siege . It read: 'COMING UP on our #sydneysiege special EXCLUSIVE Bertie Beetle speaks of his fears. "I could be next," says compound chocolate icon' The ABC has confirmed that management requested Mr Hutchison to remove the tweet . | 681b6e439cebd336f7515058a9cfaa105990c822 |
Britain joining military action against ISIL increases the risk of a terror attack on European soil, will be at greater risk of a terror attack, the EU's anti-terrorism chief has warned. Gilles de Kerchove claimed more than 3,000 Europeans have so far joined extremists fighting in Iraq and Syria. He said countries, including the UK, joining the international coalition against murderous ISIS militants must 'take some measures to protect their citizens' from the threat posed by returning fighters. Gilles de Kerchove claimed more than 3,000 Europeans have so far joined extremists fighting in Iraq and Syria.= . An IS militant fires a rocket propelled grenade launcher during fighting near the Syrian Kurdish town of Ain al-Arab, known as Kobane by the Kurds . MPs are expected to vote in favour of Britain taking part in air strikes against ISIS bases in Iraq. Prime Minister David Cameron warned Britain cannot 'walk on by' in the face of the threat posed by 'psychopathic terrorists'. But Mr de Kerchove said the move raises the risk of retaliation from ISIS on European soil, and could even spur Al-Qaeda to launch an attack to show that it is 'still relevant'. He told the BBC that there had been 'steady growth' in the number of Europeans joining ISIS fighters, hitting an 'unprecedented' 3,000 in recent weeks. Asked if European countries joining military action raises the prospect of a terror attack on European soil, Mr Kerchove replied: 'I think we have to acknowledge that it will. 'That was clear with the French because three days ago ISIL issued a statement saying there would be retaliation against the coalition. 'A French man was kidnapped in Algeria and he has been beheaded. So in a way sadly they did what they announced.' 'So I think countries being part of this coalition will have to take some measures to protect their citizens and assess the risk. 'But this is not only the ISIL, you have Al-Qaeda, through its affiliate Jabhat al-Nusra, and maybe the rise of ISIL may prompt Al-Qaeda to show that it is still relevant.' Prime Minister David Cameron warns ISIS has behaved with 'staggering brutality' as he opens the debate ahead of the vote in Parliament . 'That this House condemns the barbaric acts of ISIL against the peoples of Iraq including the Sunni, Shia, Kurds, Christians and Yazidi and the humanitarian crisis this is causing; . 'Recognises the clear threat ISIL poses to the territorial integrity of Iraq and the request from the Government of Iraq for military support from the international community and the specific request to the UK Government for such support; . 'Further recognises the threat ISIL poses to wider international security and the UK directly through its sponsorship of terrorist attacks and its murder of a British hostage; . 'Acknowledges the broad coalition contributing to military support of the Government of Iraq including countries throughout the Middle East; . 'Further acknowledges the request of the Government of Iraq for international support to defend itself against the threat ISIL poses to Iraq and its citizens and the clear legal basis that this provides for action in Iraq; . 'Notes that this motion does not endorse UK air strikes in Syria as part of this campaign and any proposal to do so would be subject to a separate vote in Parliament; . 'Accordingly supports Her Majesty's Government, working with allies, in supporting the Government of Iraq in protecting civilians and restoring its territorial integrity, including the use of UK air strikes to support Iraqi, including Kurdish, security forces' efforts against ISIL in Iraq; . 'Notes that Her Majesty's Government will not deploy UK troops in ground combat operations; . 'And offers its wholehearted support to the men and women of Her Majesty's armed forces.' The CIA has suggested there might be as many as 31,000 fighters in Syria and Iraq. Mr de Kerchove addedd: 'It is a steady growth. Probably the declaration of the establishment of the caliphate may have played a role.' Britain's decision to join military strikes follows the involvement of the US, France and several Arab nations. MPs have been recalled to Westminster today to vote on British involvement in air strikes against ISIS - also known as Islamic State or ISIL - in Iraq, at the request of the Iraqi government. Prime Minister David Cameron said: 'Of course, some will say that any action you take will further radicalise young people. "I have to say this is a counsel of despair. The threat of radicalisation is already here. Young people have left our country to go and fight with these extremists. "We must take action at home, but we must also have a comprehensive strategy to defeat these extremists abroad." In the debate, former Defence Secretary Liam Fox added: 'You cannot join a Jihadi gap year and come back to the UK with impunity.' Six RAF Tornados have been stationed in Cyprus for the past six weeks and have been flying surveillance flights over northern Iraq. They could begin dropping bombs and missiles within hours of the Prime Minister giving orders after the Commons vote at 5pm. Opening the debate, Mr Cameron said: 'There is no more serious issue than asking our armed forces to put themselves in harm's way to protect our country.' He insisted British involvement in military action in Iraq was necessary and in the national interest, working with local partner countries to build an international coalition. He admitted the 2003 invasion of Iraq by Tony Blair's government 'hangs heavy' over the Commons, but warned today's situation is 'very different'. 'This is not 2003, we must not use past mistakes as an excuse for indifference or inaction,' the PM added. He said the UK has a 'duty' to act and could not leave responsibility for keeping the British people safe to other countries. 'Is there a threat to the British people? The answer is yes,' he said. 'ISIL has already murdered one British hostage and has threatened to murder two more.' Mr Cameron added: 'ISIL is a terrorist organisation unlike those we have dealt with before. 'The brutality is staggering - beheadings, crucifixions, gauging out of eyes, use of rape as a weapon. All those things belong to the dark ages.' | Gilles de Kerchove warns of 'steady growth' in Europeans joining ISIS . Countries joining military action must 'protect their citizens' at home . Also raises prospect of Al-Qaeda attack to show it is 'still relevant' MPs debating the idea of Britain joining air strikes against ISIS in Iraq . | 6044f9d352a256b833ae8590844cc02cf9f2d20b |
A bird with a broken wing has a hero in Tennessee who designed a prosthetic one to help her maintain her balance after a botched wing amputation. Freya the American kestrel came to the Chattanooga Nature Center a year ago from another center in Nashville. Taylor Berry of the Nature center saw the movie Dolphin Tale about a bottlenose dolphin who was given prosthesis to replace a tail lost in a carb trap, reports The Times Free Press. SCROLL DOWN FOR VIDEO . New wing: Freya the bird got a new prosthetic limb to help her balance after a botched amputation wounded her . Concern: 'The amputation was poorly done,' said Tish Gailmard (pictured) , the nature center's director of wildlife' who helped find someone to make a stump guard for Freya . The film inspired Berry and he wondered whether or not a prosthetic could be made for Freya who had trouble balancing due to her injury. 'We were talking about how she was kind of off-balance because of her wing,' he said. None of the caretakers at the wildlife center know the history of the amputation but they are able to recognize how terribly done it is. 'The amputation was poorly done,' said Tish Gailmard, the nature center's director of wildlife. Gailmard's husband knows someone at Fillauer Orthotics and Prosthetics Inc. a Chattanooga company that makes prosthesis for humans. When Gailmard inquired as to whether they'd be interested in making a prosthetic they were flying with excitement at the opportunity. 'They were all over it,' Gailmard said. 'They put her in a patient room and treated her like a regular patient.' Where a wing once extended was just bone jutting out that sometime bled. Fillauer engineer Steve Edwards changed all that when he attached a prosthesis made from thermoformable composite. Duo: Tish Gailmard, the director of wildlife for Reflection Riding Arboretum & Nature Center in Chattanooga, Tenn., works with Freya, an American Kestrel that recently received a custom made prosthetic . Its lightweight material that has the strength of carbon fiber but is malleable when heated up. It took Edwards just two tried to make. 'Just trying to help out, and it's rewarding, too,' he said. 'I like the challenge of these things.' Filhauer said this isn't his first time making an animal prosthetic. He once made a hoof for a little girl's pet donkey. Gailmard is so appreciative for his work on Freya's stump guard. 'It probably weighs a tenth of an ounce. It's protecting her stump, and it's also restoring her balance,' she said. 'I'm so incredibly appreciative to Fillauer. They have just gone way above and beyond.' | Freya the American kestrel came to the Chattanooga Nature Center a year ago from another center in Nashville with an amputated wing . 'The amputation was poorly done,' said Tish Gailmard, the nature center's director of wildlife . Gailmard's asked Fillauer Orthotics and Prosthetics Inc. a Chattanooga company that makes prosthesis for humans to make one for Freya . | ffa5a51459893bee30ad333d97d84dfaa92a5ffd |
Fashion student Wilson PK thought he was going gaga when a superstar singer asked him to send over his designs. The 23-year-old was approached by Lady Gaga's stylists who noticed his designs on show at a New York exhibition. At the time, Wilson PK was working for designer Alexander Wang in New York. Lady Gaga then wore the fashionista's bright orange knit suit when she landed in South Korea last week. Scroll down for video . On trend: Lady Gaga noticed Wilson PK's collection at an exhibition while the fashion student was working for designer Alexander Wang in New York . The graduate of Central St Martins in London said the singer's entourage asked him to send over his entire collection. Lady Gaga later posted photos of Wilson's work on her Instagram page and wrote 'stunning young recent graduate.' Wilson, who is originally from Hong Kong but now lives in London says: 'It's a huge honour. This was the best thing that could have happened. Art pop: Wilson PK (right) pictured at the Cambridge Centre for sixth form studies with Head of Visual Arts Charlie Ritchie (L-R), student Rarinthorn Wanavit and Fine Arts teacher Richard Swift . 'It was really incredible because she mentioned my name, which she doesn't usually do, and she called me a stunning student. I feel very lucky. 'I think she is amazing. She is doing something different and is showing a new aspect of beautiful.' Wilson explained the inspiration for this collection came from his experience of coming out to his parents. Fashion pack: Lady Gaga posted pictures of Wilson's work on her Instagram page . He added: 'They took it really hard - they almost wanted to disown me. For me this collection was very therapeutic.' Wilson's former fashion and textile teacher at Cambridge Centre for sixth form studies, Charlotte Denton-Cowell, said there was 'never a dull moment' with him in her classes. She explained: 'We always knew he would make it big, Lady Gaga wearing his recent outfits will give him fantastic exposure and most certainly give his career a major kick start.' | London-based Wilson PK was approached by Lady Gaga's stylists . They asked the 23-year-old to send over his designs from an exhibition . Lady Gaga posted pictures of Wilson's work on her Instagram page . Also wore his bright orange knit suit in South Korea last week . | 5b365163b32305ef055ce25ac05845714931d8d6 |
By . Daniel Martin, Whitehall Correspondent . Millions of people who pay their energy bills by direct debit are set to receive refunds, it will be announced today. Power firms have caved in to pressure from ministers and will hand back money to householders who are in credit on their gas and electricity. It follows criticism that the Big Six are making millions in interest by hoarding money they make when people pay too much during the year. Action: Millions of people who pay their energy bills by direct debit are set to receive refunds, it has been revealed. Power firms will hand back money to householders who are in credit on their gas and electricity . But one of the big companies – npower – has said it may not follow the other firms in refunding its customers. Energy minister Greg Barker said householders may wish to ‘vote with their feet’ and switch suppliers if npower refuses to follow suit. The energy firms will announce that they will make annual automatic refunds on balances which are more than £5 in credit, as well as reviewing customer accounts every six months. 'Excellent result': Energy minister Greg Barker said the move is 'a good step towards restoring trust in the majority of companies' The move comes after an investigation found that power firms are stockpiling up to £2billion of cash from customers. With more than 13million households paying a fixed amount every month, many are overpaying in the summer, when usage is lower – leading to huge credits on accounts. Industry experts estimated firms were making up to £36million a year in interest, leading to accusations that they were profiteering from customers. Following anger from consumers, the companies held a summit with ministers in November, at which they promised to make changes including a refund if an account was in credit by £75 or more. Further negotiation led to the amount being reduced to £5, which EDF revealed on Friday ahead of the expected joint announcement today. Mr Barker said: ‘This is an excellent result for consumers worried about energy prices, and this is a good step towards restoring trust in the majority of companies. ‘We have still a lot more work to do, but this shows Coalition ministers are capable of delivering.’ Asked about npower, he added: ‘Consumers will look at other energy firms and may well decide to vote with their feet. It is their money at the end of the day. A spokesman for npower, which has 3.5million customers in the UK, said: ‘We’re looking at this suggestion but we need to be sure it reflects what our customers want. Opting out? However, npower has said it may not follow the other firms in refunding its customers (file picture) ‘Our research strongly suggests customers want to be given a choice between a full refund today and keeping their direct debit payments down tomorrow. ‘We’ve had feedback that refunding very low amounts isn’t seen as worthwhile, and we also know many people like to keep their account in credit, as a buffer for next year’s bills. ‘However, we do automatically refund credit balances of over £60, and customers in credit can request and receive a refund at any time.’ | Millions of people who pay energy bills by direct debit will receive refunds . Power firms set to hand money to homes in credit on gas and electricity . Follows criticism that Big Six are making millions in interest every year . Companies earn huge sums by hoarding money when people overpay . Energy Minister Greg Barker says move is 'excellent result' for customers . But npower has said it may not follow other firms in handing out refunds . | f080c717e23c714d1beb9ff739bf2bce5cfbd437 |
(CNN) -- Saudi Arabia's King Abdullah will fly to the United States on Monday for treatment of a herniated spinal disc and a blood clot that is causing him back pain, the country's health minister said Sunday. "The medical team recommended that that he leaves to the U.S. to visit a spine-specialized medical center in order to complete medical examinations and for follow-up treatment," Health Minister Abdullah al-Rabeeah said during an interview with Saudi state television. "But I assure everyone that he is in a stable condition, and that he is enjoying health and well-being, and God willing, he will be back safe and sound to lead this proud nation." Doctors performed tests on the 86-year-old monarch Friday after he complained of back pain and had more tests on Sunday, the state-run Saudi Press Agency reported. His doctors have advised him to rest, but he took calls from Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak and Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad in which the regional leaders wished him a speedy recovery, the news agency reported. Crown Prince Sultan is expected to return to Riyadh while the king is overseas, the Saudi Press Agency said. But there are also questions looming about the crown prince's health: He has lived in Morocco for much of the past year and a half after surgery for an undisclosed ailment in February 2009. The top three figures in the kingdom -- Abdullah, Sultan and Prince Nayef, the country's interior minister and second deputy prime minister -- are all sons of King Abdul Aziz Ibn Saud, who founded modern Saudi Arabia in 1932. But the health of senior members of the royal family is "one of those things that is rarely discussed in the media in Saudi Arabia," said Christopher Boucek, a Saudi Arabia analyst at the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace in Washington, . "They're a little bit more open about this stuff, but this isn't something that's widely speculated about in the Saudi press," he said. Abdullah has ruled the oil-rich kingdom since 2005. But he ran most of the kingdom's affairs for a decade before that on behalf of his ailing half-brother, King Fahd. Since coming to power, he has sought to establish new rules and procedures for many Saudi institutions, giving him a reputation as a reformer in the highly conservative nation. Among his changes has been the creation of a new body to formalize rules of succession and to determine whether a monarch is healthy enough to remain in power, Boucek said. Should Abdullah die or step aside and Sultan takes the throne, that new body -- known as the Bayat Council -- would choose the next crown prince, he said. Nayef is currently seen as a successor to the crown prince, but that position is "not exactly set in stone," Boucek said. Abdullah has recently passed authority over the Hajj, the annual Muslim pilgrimage to Mecca, which is in Saudi Arabia, to Nayef. But he also has turned over command of the Saudi Arabian National Guard, the royal family's own security force, to his son, Prince Mitab bin Abdullah, Boucek said. CNN's Matt Smith contributed to this report. | NEW: Saudi King Abdullah is healthy and in stable condition, minister says . Abdullah is scheduled to leave for the United States on Monday . The 86-year-old king underwent tests Friday after complaining of back pain . | 40a56b5feb0db28e8a7871f714b738e691054eeb |
By . Daily Mail Reporter . PUBLISHED: . 20:05 EST, 16 September 2012 . | . UPDATED: . 04:09 EST, 17 September 2012 . Britain’s most expensive registration plate has been put up for sale for a record-breaking £1MILLION. The plate ‘X1’ has been described as 'exceptional and historical' and was originally issued by Northumberland County Council in December 1903. It is being advertised by Regtransfers.co.uk which have given it a £1 million asking price. Pricey: The X1 number plate - the most expensive in the world - as advertised on the website . This would make it £560,000 more expensive than the plate ‘F1’ which was bought by Bradford-based businessman Afzal Kahn in 2008. It is also 43 TIMES more expensive than the car it is ideally suited for - the BMW X1. The plate would also be perfect for McLaren’s multi-million pound one-off X-1 model. And anyone who forks out the potential seven-figure sum would have to stump up a further £26.50 to have a new set made up and £126 transfer fee. It is thought the plate once belonged to the chairman of a committee in Tynemouth which campaigned for the abolition of the ‘red flag’ legislation. Under the provisions of the Locomotive Act, 1865, the first motor cars were limited to a speed of 4mph in the country and just 2mph in town. Additionally, three people were required to take charge of the vehicle and one of the crew would have to walk 60 yards (55 m) ahead carrying a red flag. The number plate is 43 times more expensive than the car it is ideally suited for - the BMW X1 (pictured) When the committee’s cause was successful, other members were said to have acquired the X numbers 2 to 5. Angela Banh, from Regtransfers.co.uk, believes the plate will sell quickly but revealed it was hard to predict who the buyer would be. She said: 'It could be someone who thinks they have the X-factor, someone with the Chinese surname Xi, or a company with a name beginning with X - like Xerox.' If Regtransfers doesn’t sell the plate over the next two weeks then they will advertise it in an online auction. | The plate has been described as 'exceptional and historical' It is 43 times more expensive than the car it is ideally suited for - the BMW X1 . | 246a3c88a62daa6cb9a6d19b1947f499eda5de28 |
The Duchess of Cambridge has expressed her grief over the death of a 12-year-old cancer patient she met on a visit to the Royal Marsden Hospital. Catherine spent time with leukemia sufferer Fabian Bate, then aged nine, when she and William attended the opening of a new children's wing at the Surrey hospital in 2011. Shortly after the visit, the Duchess, 32, penned a hand-signed letter to the young boy that spoke movingly of how she had been touched by his 'strength of character' and 'positive energy'. Scroll down for video . Touched: The Duchess of Cambridge with Fabian Bate, then aged nine, at the Royal Marsden Hospital in 2011. Catherine spent time with the boy when she and William attended the opening of a new children's wing . Moving: Shortly after meeting Fabian, the Duchess penned a hand-singed letter to the leukemia patient. In it, she spoke of how she had been touched by his 'strength of character' and 'positive energy' Source of strength: Prince William with Fabian, his parents Darrell and Lydia, and sisters Cassia (left) and Oleander during the 2011 visit. Fabian often recalled that William had told him to 'be brave' when they met . Today his parents, Darrell and Lydia, have revealed how their son, who died at home in Hampton Court, Greater London, on Tuesday, drew strength from her words in the years since their meeting. Mr Bate, 52, told the Daily Mirror: 'Just having the memory that the future King and Queen are rooting for you is pretty awesome to have in your armoury and for keeping your child going in the dark times.' In her note, written on St James’s Palace headed notepaper, Kate said: 'This must be a troubling time for you, your parents and your sisters, but I know I left the Royal Marsden assured by how incredibly talented, kind and clever the team at the hospital are. 'Combined with your belief and positive energy, you couldn’t be in better hands.' After being diagnosed in 2006 and undergoing three years of chemotherapy, Fabian went into remission in 2009. But the cancer returned in July 2011 and he had to undergo transplants with bone marrow donated by his sister, Cassia. Prince William and Kate made the visit to the Surrey hospital in October 2011, just six months after their wedding. Tribute: Mr Bate, pictured with Fabian, wife Lydia and daughters Cassia (left) and Oleander, said today that his son has been laid to rest with the 'very personal and special' letter he received from the Duchess . The Duke of Cambridge took over as president of the Royal Marsden following his mother’s death in 1997. In her letter, Kate expressed delight at the news that Fabian’s two older sisters Cassia, now 14, and Oleander, now 20, had been found to be a bone marrow match. The Duchess added: 'I will keep my fingers crossed that your health goes from strength to strength over the months ahead.' Speaking six months after he received the letter, Fabian recalled that it was 'kind' of the Duchess to send him the letter, but said that it made his Mum 'cry a bit'. Inspiring: Fabian, pictured right in 2012, died at home in Hampton Court surrounded by his parents, brother and two sisters, Cassia (left) and Oleander (right), on Tuesday after an eight-year battle with leukemia . Sorrow: A spokesman for the royal couple said: 'The Duke and Duchess are sad to hear the news and their thoughts are with Fabian's family'. Above, Catherine with Fabian during the 2011 hospital visit . After the first letter, the royal couple sent two more letters to Fabian to let him and his family know that they were updated on his progress and treatment and that he was in their thoughts. A spokesman for the royal couple said yesterday: 'The Duke and Duchess are sad to hear the news and their thoughts are with Fabian's family.' Mr Bate said today that his son, who was diagnosed with acute lymphoblastic leukemia in 2006, has been laid to rest with the 'very personal and special' letter. 'I want Kate to know that it wasn't just a letter, it was a message that meant so much. It has stayed with him and it is staying with him now that he is departed.' He added that his son would often remember that William, 32, had told him to be brave during the visit. Speaking a year after the visit, Fabian, then 10, recalled with excitement the day he met the royal couple. He told the Daily Mail: My sisters came to hospital that day because they were excited to see Kate and William. It was funny when William put his arm around Ollie: it made her blush. 'I asked Kate about the wedding — girls like talking about those things — and told her it made everyone very happy. 'She promised to look at my blog Faith4Fabian and one day when we were getting ready to go to Legoland the postman knocked with a letter from her. 'She wrote that it was nice to meet me and she was keeping her fingers crossed. It was kind, but it made Mum cry a bit. Fabian, born in 2002, was first diagnosed with acute lymphoblastic leukemia in June 2006 after his parents noticed that he had developed a small lump on his neck. Due to his initial poor response to the treatment, Fabian was categorised as being 'at high risk of relapse' - which means that he only carried a 60 per cent chance of being cured. But the three years on treatment went better than expected and, apart from minor infections and a case of shingles, he coped very well having few hospital admissions. He remained in remission and in September 2009 he came off treatment. Posting on Fabian's blog, Faith4Fabian, his parents said they 'enjoyed a wonderful period without daily medication'. By July 2011 he had become 'noticeable more lethargic and anaemic' - both typical symptoms of recurring disease - and suspicions were aroused during one of his frequent trips to hospital. A blood test confirmed that he had relapsed but revealed that it was isolated to the bone marrow. As the relapse was 36 months from his initial diagnosis, he was put in the immediate risk category. That year Fabian met the Duke and Duchess when the royal couple, who had married just five months previously, attended the opening of a new children's wing at the Royal Marsden Hospital. Later that year it was confirmed that his sisters, Cassia, then 11, and Oleander, then 17, were perfect bone marrow matches for their brother. Due to a medical complication, Oleander could not donate her stem cells as planned and Cassia had to step in and take her place - with the transplant procedure taking place in 2012. Over the course of his treatment, Fabian had several rounds of gruelling chemotherapy and two bone marrow transplants as well as trying new therapies. He had been due to visit Sheffield to start a biological therapy last month but could not travel because of fever. Source: Faith4Fabian.com . | The Duchess met Fabian Bate at the Royal Marsden Hospital in 2011 . After her visit she penned a hand-signed letter to the young cancer patient . She spoke movingly of how she was touched by his 'strength of character' The 12-year-old lost his eight-year battle with leukemia on Tuesday . His parents said that Kate's letter inspired him and gave him strength . Recalled that Fabian would often say that William had told him to be brave . Fabian's family have set up a trust fund in his memory to support other families dealing with childhood cancer. For more information or to donate to the fund click here . | 5ca833fd266f275452ecfef50fd5229a22718709 |
By . Steve Nolan . Ancient forest: Logs and stumps can be seen underneath the thawing 37 square mile Mendenhall Glacier in Alaska, with some of the trees still bearing roots and bark . An ancient forest which is thought to have been hidden for at least 1,000 years has been discovered beneath a melting glacier. Logs and stumps can be seen underneath the thawing 37 square mile Mendenhall Glacier in Alaska, with some of the trees still bearing roots and bark. Remnants of the forest have been protruding from the river of ice, which flows into a lake near the city of Juneau for around five decades. But scientists from the nearby University of Alaska Southeast have noticed more tree stumps popping up in the past year. The researchers are particularly excited about the discovery because most of the trees are so well preserved with some still in their upright position. The forest is said to have been shielded from the ice by a tomb of gravel which most likely encased the forest as Initial carbon dating tests suggest that the gravel tomb, which is around 5ft high, may have been formed at least 1,000 years ago. As glaciers develop they often emit summer meltwater streams which produce aprons of gravel. Cathy Connor, a professor at the university, told LiveScience: 'There are a lot of them, and being in a growth position is exciting because we can see the outermost part of the tree and count back to see how old the tree was. 'Mostly, people find chunks of wood helter-skelter, but to see these intact upright is kind of cool.' The trees are thought to be either spruce or hemlock, based on the size of the trunks and existing vegetation in the area. But while the find has excited scientists, locals are concerned about the prospect of glacial melting. They are worried about the threat of rising sea levels and the loss of freshwater sources relied upon for drinking water. Retreating: The forest has been discovered at the Mendenhall Glacier, pictured, near Juneau, Alaska . | Scientists found well preserved tree stumps at Mendenhall Glacier, Alaska . Based on the size of their trunks trees are either hemlock or spruce . | af8800de7350a506b404d01d32a7f60468aa9fbf |
By . Dan Bloom . Founder: Prince Charles is 'well aware' of up to 100 potential job losses at The Prince's Trust . Prince Charles' charity for deprived youngsters is axing up to 100 jobs to save on administration costs. The move comes after The Prince's Trust suffered a £2.8million funding shortfall last year which forced it to dig into its reserves. Chief executive Martina Milburn said the Prince of Wales, who founded the charity in 1976 and is still its president, was 'well aware' of the proposed cuts and had backed them to focus on the front line. All 1,300 of the charity's staff are being consulted on the redundancies, which are mostly expected to happen at the charity’s London headquarters. Ms Milburn told BBC Radio 4's The World At One: 'Our head office has become a little too complicated and a bit too top heavy so we are basically slimming down head office and protecting our frontline delivery in order to get ourselves back to sort of break-even budget. 'We are looking at how, as a charity, our admin costs are as low as possible and our money going directly to young people is as much as possible. 'We are currently undergoing a period of consultation but we think it will be between 50 and 100 jobs so we will be going down from 1,300 to about 1,200.' Ms Milburn said the heir to the throne was 'very well aware' of the use of reserve funds and of the move to slim down the staff. 'We felt it was very important to invest in young people in the recession,' she said. 'We have the reserves in the bank to do that and the trustees took the view, along with the executive, that reserves are there for a rainy day and that for young people all around the United Kingdom it was certainly raining. 'The Prince understands basic finances and how you need to make sure that you spend as small amount as you can on administration when you are a charity.' A spokesman said the staff cuts may affect one 'small' element of the trust’s work with young people, but she could not confirm what that element would be because the plans are still out to consultation. However, she said: 'We expect the number of young people we help to remain broadly the same.' President: Prince Charles on a visit to a Prince's Trust centre in Dundee last year. It helps thousands of youths . The trust still has £22 million in reserves and is not in debt, she added. The Prince's Trust was founded to help 13 to 30-year-olds who are unemployed or have dropped out of school. It now has centres throughout Britain which offer enterprise courses, team challenges for people lacking social skills and cash grants of up to £500. The charity has more than 6,000 volunteers and helped a record 55,801 young people in 2012/13, up almost 2,000 on the year before and almost 10,000 on 2010/11. In that time its income rocketed from £40million to £58million - but so did its spending. The charity, whose top executive is paid almost £150,000, spent £80,000 more than it earned in 2012-13. The amount of ready cash it held also dropped by more than £2million in a year. | All of 38-year-old charity's 1,300 staff are being consulted on redundancies . Its founder Prince Charles is said to have backed cuts to protect front line . Charity works with disadvantaged youngsters and some will be affected . But chief insisted the administration cuts are to 'invest in young people' | 0d6fa83a979303a2a7526c21f0c651465b6c767a |
They have been a familiar site at the Queen's heels ever since she was presented with one for her 18th birthday in 1944. But now the Queen - who is known to be inseparable from her beloved Corgis - has decided against introducing any new dogs to Buckingham Palace. She no longer replaces the pets as they die and, as she gets older, she is worried about tripping over the small dogs. Scroll down for video . The Queen's Corgis have been a regular sight during her rule but she has ruled out introducing any new dogs . Queen Elizabeth arrives at Aberdeen Airport with her Corgis to start her holidays in Balmoral in 1974 . The Queen photographed in Windsor Great Park taking snaps of her Corgis in the 1960s . It comes after the Queen declined the offer of two puppies from her granddaughter Princess Beatrice. She asked her grandmother if she would like two of four Norfolk terriers, born to her own dog Ginger last September. A senior courtier told the Daily Express: 'The Queen thought it was a lovely offer but she politely declined. 'The fact is she worries about too many dogs around her feet and the danger she will trip up and hurt herself badly. She is after all 88 and not getting any younger. 'Her corgis are getting on a bit and move along at a sedate speed but a young dog would obviously be very lively and much more active. 'Her main fear is that if she fell and broke her arm or even a leg she would not be able to perform her duties for many weeks if not months, and that would upset her greatly.' While she has a reputation for being rather firm and fierce in other matters, the Queen is ridiculously soppy over her corgis . The Queen relaxes with Prince Philip with their Corgis while reading the newspapers at Balmoral in 1975 . Queen Elizabeth meets members of the Adelaide Hills Kennel Club and their Corgis during a trip in 2002 . Over the years, the Royal Family seem to have embraced dogs as their favoured pets. Formal portraits from the 17th century onwards show them posing with dogs, from pugs to greyhounds, King Charles Spaniels to Corgis. Some pets have even merited their own portraits. When Queen Victoria's beloved Collie, Noble, died at Balmoral in 1887, he was buried in the grounds of the castle and given his own gravestone. A terrier named Caesar belonging to King Edward VII was given even greater status when, having outlived the king, he walked behind His Majesty's coffin in the funeral procession. One of the Queen's Corgis, Monty, appeared in the James Bond scene for the Olympics opening ceremony. Corgis were first introduced to the royal circle by King George VI in 1933 when he bought a Corgi called Dookie from a local kennels. The animal proved popular with his daughters and a second Corgi was acquired called Jane who had puppies, two of which, Crackers and Carol, were kept. For her eighteenth birthday, The Queen was given a Corgi named Susan. She became the matriarch of the royal Corgi line and it was the beginning of a 70-year love affair. Some Corgis were mated with dachsunds to create 'Dorgis', two of which, Candy and Vulcan, still survive, along with the two Corgis Willow and Holly. The Corgis have hit the headlines before - in 2004 one had to be put down after being savaged by an English bull terrier owned by Princess Anne when they ran out to greet her as she arrived at Sandringham for Christmas. Anne was convicted under the Dangerous Dogs Act the year before that after the same dog attacked two children, becoming the first member of the Royal Family ever to acquire a criminal record after admitting letting the dog run out of control. The Corgis have enjoyed life as Britain's most privileged pets. They live in palaces and castles, travel in chauffeur-driven limousines, fly by private plane or helicopter and are carried down aircraft steps by aides. The Queen is said to feed them fillet steak and chicken breast and all the food is cooked from scratch, with a new Corgi menu typed and posted to the kitchen wall daily. They live in a boxroom that holds their wicker baskets, raised a few inches off the floor to avoid draughts. It is situated in the royal apartments, around which the dogs wander at will. | Queen has decided against introducing new dogs to Buckingham Palace . As she gets older, she is worried about tripping over lively small dogs . Declined offer of two puppies from her granddaughter Princess Beatrice . For her eighteenth birthday, the Queen was given a Corgi named Susan . Since then, the Queen has known to be inseparable from beloved Corgis . | 8742d3a8291e57de332a4465a130c04573de4523 |
By . Steve Robson . PUBLISHED: . 20:56 EST, 29 March 2013 . | . UPDATED: . 08:03 EST, 30 March 2013 . The dazzling moons and rings of Saturn have long been one of the most mesmerising spectacles in the solar system. But now NASA scientists believe they may also hold the key to understanding the origins of our universe. New research based on data gathered from the Cassini spacecraft, which is orbiting Saturn, suggests these bodies date back more than 4 billion years. Scroll down for video . The effects of the small moon Prometheus loom large on two of Saturn's rings in this image taken a short time before Saturn's August 2009 equinox . They are from around the time that the planetary bodies in our neighborhood began to form out of the protoplanetary nebula, the cloud of material still orbiting the sun after its ignition as a star. Writing in the Astrophysical Journal, Gianrico Filacchione, a Cassini participating scientist at Italy's National Institute for Astrophysics, Rome, said: 'Studying the Saturnian system helps us understand the chemical and physical evolution of our entire solar system. 'We know now that understanding this evolution requires not just studying a single moon or ring, but piecing together the relationships intertwining these bodies.' Data collected from Cassini's visual and infrared mapping spectrometer (VIMS) have revealed how water ice and also colours -- which are the signs of non-water and organic materials --are distributed throughout the Saturnian system. The spectrometer’s data in the visible part of the light spectrum show that colouring on the rings and moons generally is only skin-deep. Using its infrared range, VIMS also detected abundant water ice – too much to have been deposited by comets or other recent means. The authors deduce that the water ices must have formed around the time of the birth of the solar system, because Saturn orbits the sun beyond the so-called 'snow line.' The Cassini spacecraft observes three of Saturn's moons set against the darkened night side of the planet . Out beyond the snow line, in the outer solar system where Saturn resides, the environment is conducive to preserving water ice, like a deep freezer. Inside the solar system's 'snow line,' the environment is much closer to the sun's warm glow, and ices and other volatiles dissipate more easily. The coloured patina on the ring particles and moons roughly corresponds to their location in the Saturn system. For Saturn's inner ring particles and moons, water-ice spray from the geyser moon Enceladus has a whitewashing effect. Farther out, the scientists found that the surfaces of Saturn's moons generally were redder the farther they orbited from Saturn. Phoebe, one of Saturn's outer moons and an object thought to originate in the far-off Kuiper Belt, seems to be shedding reddish dust that eventually rouges the surface of nearby moons, such as Hyperion and Iapetus. These two global images of Iapetus show the extreme brightness dichotomy on the surface of this peculiar Saturnian moon . A rain of meteoroids from outside the system appears to have turned some parts of the main ring system – notably the part of the main rings known as the B ring -- a subtle reddish hue. Scientists think the reddish colour could be oxidized iron -- rust -- or polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons, which could be progenitors of more complex organic molecules. One of the big surprises from this research was the similar reddish colouring of the potato-shaped moon Prometheus and nearby ring particles. Other moons in the area were more whitish. 'The similar reddish tint suggests that Prometheus is constructed from material in Saturn's rings,' said co-author Bonnie Buratti, a VIMS team member based at NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory, Pasadena, Calif. 'Scientists had been wondering whether ring particles could have stuck together to form moons -- since the dominant theory was that the rings basically came from satellites being broken up. The colouring gives us some solid proof that it can work the other way around, too.' 'Observing the rings and moons with Cassini gives us an amazing bird's-eye view of the intricate processes at work in the Saturn system, and perhaps in the evolution of planetary systems as well,' said Linda Spilker, Cassini project scientist, based at JPL. 'What an object looks like and how it evolves depends a lot on location, location, location.' | Bodies date back to time when our planetary neighbourhood was formed . New research from NASA could help explain evolution of the solar system . Ice deposits found within the rings beyond so-called 'snow line' | 0186a9b089ebf4218011860c92a29bf6a1c82d52 |
By . Nadia Gilani . Last updated at 3:56 PM on 11th November 2011 . The firm jaw, the determined look, the hint of a confident smile - features that would later inspire the millions he led to victory over Nazi Germany. Taken when he was 18, these previously unseen images of Winston Churchill have emerged through the sale of an album belonging to a titled family which has chosen to remain anonymous. The pictures, taken in 1892 when William Gladstone was prime minister and photography was still the preserve of the wealthy, show Churchill alongside his brother Jack. The brothers take it in turns to pose with a terrier outside their Aunt Cornelia's home in Canford Magna near Bournemouth. With a terrier on his lap, Winston poses with his brother Jack outside their Aunt Cornelia's home in Canford Magna near Bournemouth . The dog changes hands and this time Winston stands and his brother sits. Leaning casually against a pillar he gives the camera a charming smile . There is also a picture of the boys' mother Jennie, Lady Randolph Churchill. The American socialite, who was . born in New York, leans elegantly against one of the property's columns. Shortly after the pictures were taken, Winston fell 29ft from a bridge and almost died. He had been chased by his brother and . a cousin and, not wanting to be caught, leapt for a tree hoping to slide . down it, but fell instead. He ruptured a kidney and was in a coma for three days. His father sent the best London doctors down to the coast to treat him. It was as he lay recovering that Winston learned he had failed to get into the Royal Military Academy, . Sandhurst for the second time. He got in at the third attempt. Elegant: Churchill's mother Jennie, Lady Randolph Churchill, looks poised as she leans against a column. The socialite was born in 1854 in Brooklyn, New York . Affectionate: Jack and Winston with their mother Jennie in a charming and relaxed family portrait . The images showing his younger . brother John - known as 'Jack' - are also of interest because his life . was overshadowed by his elder brother. Jack fought in the Boer War - where . Winston worked as a journalist - and World War I and was mentioned in . Dispatches in both conflicts. During World War II he moved into . No.10 Downing Street after his home was bombed in the Blitz by the . Luftwaffe. He worked as a banker in the City of London and died in 1947. The album of 150 images is being sold by auctioneers Bonhams on November 22 and it is expected to fetch £3,000. A spokesman from the saleroom said: . 'Churchill is such an iconic figure that anything new about him always . causes great excitement. 'In one of these photographs the . young Churchill is striking the kind of confident pose that many years . later would become familiar to millions of people round the world. 'And it is not too fanciful to see in these very relaxed early family images the inspirational leader he was to become.' Within two years of these photographs . being taken Churchill attended the Royal Military Academy, Sandhurst . where his adventures as an army officer and journalist began. He travelled to Cuba and saw the Spanish fight the Cuban guerrillas and . wrote about the conflict for the British newspaper, the Daily Graphic. It was while he was there that he acquired a taste for Havana cigars, which he would smoke for the rest of his life. He also saw action on the North West Frontier of India and in Sudan. While working as a journalist during the Boer War he was captured and . made a prisoner-of-war before making a daring escape. Already in a confident pose at the age of seven, left, his determined look stares out from portraits taken as he grows older. From his time as a reporter during the Boer War, aged 25 (right), in Boston, Massachussetts, in 1900 (below left) and as First Lord of the Admiralty during World War I (below right) In familiar pose, cigar in hand, as he leads Britain through the Blitz during World War II . It was this escape which made him a minor national hero for a time in Britain, although instead of returning home, he rejoined General Buller's army and was among the first British troops to relieve the British at the Siege of Ladysmith and take Pretoria in South Africa. Churchill was born at Blenheim Palace in Oxfordshire on November 30, 1874 to the aristocratic family of the Dukes of Marlborough. His father was the charismatic and prominent Tory politician, Lord Randolph Churchill, who served as Chancellor of the Exchequer. His mother, Jennie Jerome, was an American socialite. Rebellious by nature, Churchill generally did poorly at school which he started in Dublin. He later attended three independent schools: St. George's School, Ascot, Berkshire; Brunswick School in Hove, and then Harrow, where his military career began. He eventually left the army in 1899 to take up politics. His political career began when he won the Conservative Party seat at Oldham in 1900, however having become disaffected with the party he joined the Liberals four years later. As President of the Board of Trade in Asquith’s Liberal government he set up labour exchanges and unemployment insurance. As Home Secretary in 1910 he improved safety in the mines and prevented the employment of child miners, although he disappointed radicals by deploying troops in Wales during a miners' strike. Churchill became Prime Minister in May 1940 when Britain was at war with Germany, following the resignation of Neville Chamberlain. He died on January 24, 1965 and was given a state funeral. Since his death, Churchill’s stature has continued to grow. He was recently voted ‘Greatest Ever Briton’ in a major BBC poll, beating Isambard Kingdom Brunel and Charles Darwin. | Family album images emerge of man who would lead Britain to victory over Nazi Germany . Shortly after the pictures were taken, Winston fell 29ft from a bridge while being chased by his brother and went into a coma for three days . | 44b91773447027aec604920c442470caa5da4239 |
PUBLISHED: . 19:03 EST, 19 October 2012 . | . UPDATED: . 19:05 EST, 19 October 2012 . Criticism: In a statement on her website, Halifax MP Linda Riordan, pictured, said she would cease renting her £400,000 South London flat to fellow Labour MP Iain McKenzie . A Labour MP exposed for pocketing £19,000 a year by renting out her taxpayer-funded second home to a colleague was shamed into ending the arrangement last night. In a statement on her website, Halifax MP Linda Riordan said she would cease renting her £400,000 South London flat to fellow Labour MP Iain McKenzie after facing a wave of criticism. The Independent Parliamentary Standards Authority (Ipsa) responded to the public outcry over the issue by announcing it would review rules that allow MPs to rent their homes to other politicians. An investigation by the Daily Mail yesterday revealed that Mrs Riordan was exploiting a loophole in the new expenses rules that allows MPs to rent out their second homes for profit while claiming thousands in expenses to rent a third home from themselves. In her statement last night Mrs Riordan insisted she had acted within the rules and cleared the arrangement with Ipsa. But she added: ‘I now recognise what the perception of this arrangement will look like to my constituents and the wider general public. 'I understand Ipsa is consulting on this and other issues and it is right they look at it. When the tenancy concludes I will cease this arrangement.’ At least 27 MPs are thought to be involved in the practice, including well-known names such as shadow health secretary Andy Burnham, former defence secretary Liam Fox and former defence ministers Sir Nick Harvey and Sir Peter Luff. Four Scots MPs were included in the list of MPs – Labour’s Ian Davidson and Jim Murphy – the former Scottish Secretary – ex-Lib Dem leader Charles Kennedy and SNP Westminster leader Angus Robertson. Portfolio: Riordan's £400,000 London flat which she rented to fellow Labour MP Iain McKenzie for £1,560 a month . Tenant: Iain McKenzie, pictured with his wife Alison McKenzie, had confirmed he was renting the property . Mrs Riordan is thought to be one of . four MPs renting out their second homes to fellow MPs. Mr McKenzie pays . her £1,560 a month in rent – equal to £18,720 a year – which he claims . back from the taxpayer. Mrs . Riordan’s mortgage is thought to be about £560 a month, leaving her a . clear profit of £1,000. At the same time, Mrs Riordan, 59, has claimed . £1,473 a month in expenses to rent another home in London for herself. She also employs her partner, Stephen Roberts, as a ‘senior researcher’ on a salary of up to £42,000 a year. Mr McKenzie said he had not known the flat was owned by an MP when he rented it via an agency, and said he felt uncomfortable about the arrangement. At least 27 MPs are thought to be involved in the practice, including well-known names such as shadow health secretary Andy Burnham, left, and former defence secretary Liam Fox, right . The revelations about Mrs Riordan led to a torrent of criticism in her West Yorkshire constituency yesterday. One local said on the website of the Halifax Courier: ‘This reminds me of Champagne Socialism: YOU have the socialism and I’ll have the Champagne.’ Ipsa said it would review the rules surrounding rentals but it insisted it could not prevent MPs who own a property in London from renting it out for profit. Commons Speaker John Bercow was accused of trying to suppress details of the matter after warning Ipsa revealing the identities of politicians’ landlords would be a ‘security risk’. | Halifax MP . Linda Riordan said she would stop renting her £400,000 South London . flat to fellow Labour MP Iain McKenzie . Parliamentary watchdog responded to the public outcry by . announcing it would review rules that allow MPs to rent their homes to . other politicians . | be3e0dfaf344eac0bebf0d20b554c7b5a5c4a97a |
(CNN) -- Rescuers have found the body of a man who was one of six people aboard a small airplane that crashed Sunday evening near the northern shore of Puerto Rico, the U.S. Coast Guard said. The Cessna 206 single-engine aircraft went down about a half mile off the coast of Quebradillas. The man's body was found Monday less than 150 feet from shore, Coast Guard spokesman Ricardo Castrodad said. The Coast Guard launched two more search missions Tuesday morning for four men and one woman still missing. Authorities have not released their identities, nor the name of the man found Monday. "The Coast Guard will continue to search as long as there is the possibility of finding any survivors," Castrodad said. Eighteen divers will conduct searches Tuesday in the area where the body was found, the Coast Guard spokesman said. Volunteer divers from Arecibo found the body Monday, said Jose Daniel Echeverria, spokesman for the Puerto Rico Emergency Management Agency, which also is involved in the search. As of Tuesday, the Coast Guard will have conducted 12 search operations, eight done by four HH-65 Dolphin helicopters from Air Station Borinquen and four by the Cutter Matinicus, Castrodad said. The search is complicated, he said, by the roughness of the area. "It's like a cliff," he said. "The surf is very rough. It's hard to get in that area." Smaller boats from the emergency management agency and the Puerto Rico Police Joint Forces for Rapid Action are being used because they can reach areas that the Coast Guard cutter cannot, Castrodad said. The private plane, chartered by Tropical Aviation Corp., took off from the Dominican Republic and was on its way to an airport in Puerto Rico when it went down Sunday evening, officials said. The four males and one female onboard were returning to Puerto Rico after spending the weekend in the Dominican Republic, said Noemi Corporan, service manager for Tropical Aviation. The passengers were San Juan residents and had flown to the Dominican Republic on Friday, she said. The airplane took off from Casa de Campo International Airport in the Dominican Republic and was supposed to land at the Luis Muñoz Marin International Airport in Carolina to clear U.S. customs before going on to the Isla Grande Airport in San Juan, the Coast Guard said. A 911 emergency operator notified the Coast Guard at 6:51 p.m. Sunday that an aircraft had crashed into the waters off Quebradillas. Searchers found a debris field in the area late Sunday. In the Dominican Republic, meanwhile, a man who said he spent the weekend with the missing passengers said he urged them not to leave Sunday night because of severe weather. Retired businessman Manuel "Manolin" Lecaroz, 64, told El Nuevo Dia newspaper that the group left because one of them had business to conduct Monday morning. He did not have a premonition, Lecaroz said. "It's just that you can't fly when the weather is bad." The winds and heavy rains that were still being felt in Puerto Rico on Monday had ruined the group's chances to spend the weekend fishing and playing golf in the Dominican Republic, which is 79 miles (127 kilometers) away. "It rained every day," Lecaroz told the Puerto Rican newspaper. "The wind was blowing very hard, so much that we couldn't go out in the boat any day." As they left Sunday night, group members hugged Lecaroz and talked about returning later this month to fish and golf, he said. | Coast Guard launches search missions for five still missing after plane went down . Divers find man's body near shore of Quebradillas, Puerto Rico . Search complicated by the roughness of the area, U.S. Coast Guard official says . Six onboard private plane returning to Puerto Rico from Dominican Republic . | d33bd66df24862142da64e3968774aaf1eaf496d |
Last updated at 5:51 PM on 6th October 2011 . Britain's crazy weather took another nutty turn today as snow fell in the Highlands while farmers in the south picked strawberries - and all just days after the country baked in the hottest October on record. Cairgorm in the Highlands was the first place in the UK to experience the chill of winter as the ski slopes on the Scottish resort experienced the first dump of snow. The mountain range south of Inverness saw temperatures plunge overnight turning the hillside white. Weather shock: The first snow of winter fell overnight in Cairngorm in the Highlands of Scotland just days after thousands enjoyed a heatwave in the South East of England . Deep and crisp and even: Walkers at Cairngorm in the Highlands are among the first to enjoy the frosty delights of winter . The Mountaineering Council of Scotland (MCofS) said the snow had fallen where snow patches from last winter had survived through the summer months. While the south of country baked last weekend, small patches of snow remained on the hillside from one of Scotland's hardest winters on record. With snow falling overnight in the north, there were hailstorms in the Thames Valley in the south, which baked in 85F heat just days ago. Hilly areas and country lanes around Hungerford in Berkshire were briefly turned white when hailstones the size of frozen peas pelted the area. Forecasters are predicting chilly times ahead with frost expected across England at the weekend. Strawberry picking in OCTOBER! Jill Ivens at Hill Farm, Chesterton, with the unseasonable crop . And yet as parts of Britain shivered under wintery conditions, some farmers have been reporting extremely unseasonable events. With farmers in Cambridgeshire picking their second crop of strawberries this year and in north Devon, 'spring' lambs have been born four months early. Farmer Paddy . Ivens is normally turning his attention to pumpkins but this year he is . still picking strawberries. THIS EVENING . Showers will ease, become less widespread and largely confined to . western parts of the UK overnight. Clear spells will develop elsewhere. It will stay windy though, and fall quite chilly in a few sheltered . rural locations. FRIDAY . Blustery at first, although northwest winds . generally easing through the day. There will be sunny spells for most, . although with some showers, mainly in western parts of the UK. SATURDAY . Generally cloudy, with periods of rain and brisk westerly winds for . many. Some drier and brighter spells are likely though, mainly in . southern England. Temperatures a little above normal. Mr Ivens, 48, who runs the family farm with his mother Jill, in Peterborough, Cambridgeshire, was shocked to see an . incredible two acres of his strawberry plants suddenly bearing fruit . again this week. He has . now seen a rush from pick-your-own customers to harvest the late . strawberries, which have made an autumn comeback for the first time ever . at his Hill Farm in Peterborough, Cambridgeshire. Mr Ivens said: 'It is bizarre, we've . been doing pick your own strawberries here for 30 years and this has . never happened before. 'The . hot autumn weather has tricked the strawberry plants into thinking it . is late spring and they are throwing out lots of fruit. 'It's . very strange to see people picking strawberries in October, we're . normally sizing up for the pumpkin market at this time, but the weather . is so good no one is interested in them.' And he is not alone in finding his farm turned upside down by the unpredictable weather. Farmer Edward Gay from North Devon believes the weather has been responsible for 'tricking' his flock into thinking it was time to mate. Sheep usually go to ram during warmer weather in August or September and give birth 20 to 21 weeks later in February and March. Strawberry picking in October: Alexa Grant, two, at Hill Farm, Peterborough, Cambridgeshire . But Mr Gay believes the unusually hot spell in April fooled his flock in Riddlecombe, north Devon, into thinking summer had arrived - and they mated five months early. An unseasonably cold summer followed and the perfect warm spring weather for lambing arrived in the last week. He said he was stunned when the five spring lambs arrived because he had no idea they were even pregnant. It was the second time their mothers had given birth this year - which experts say it virtually unheard of. Un-ewe-usal: A 'spring' lamb was born on September 28, four months early. An warm and dry April, followed by a cold summer washout, fooled the sheep into thinking autumn had already arrived prompting them to mate . Second coming: 'Spring' lambs have been born early in Riddlecombe, Devon, after the weather tricked the flock into breeding out of season . He said: 'It took me completely by surprise. I went down early in the morning to feed the sheep and count them as I usually do. 'I noticed one was missing and found her under a hedge scraping at the floor and creating a bed. It was a hell of a shock. She'd already had lambs once this year. 'Then, when I went around the rest of the flock I saw two others had dropped udders too and I ended up with two sets of twins and one single. 'The only explanation I can think of . is that because we had such a wonderful April they thought it was summer . and had mated again. I've never seen anything like it and it has to be down to the odd seasons we seem to have had this year.' The suddenly wintery conditions sweeping the country is in sharp contrast to the weekend's weather, when three-quarters of a million sun-worshippers . visited beaches in Brighton and Bournemouth as Britain basked in . the third hottest day of 2011, at 30c (86f). Bournemouth council had to pull its . deckchairs and sun-loungers out of storage and shopkeepers across the . South-East reported shortages of ice creams due to the out-of-season . demand. At RAF Finningley in South Yorkshire . on Saturday, forecasters MeteoGroup recorded the 30c high, with . Gravesend in Kent reaching an exceptional 29.6c (85.3f). Both temperatures beat the record for . October – 29.4c (85f) in Cambridgeshire in 1985 – and ensured the UK . boasted better weather than almost all of Europe, the Caribbean, the . Middle East and the Sahara. Laghouat, the Algerian city on the northern . edge of the desert, managed only 22c (72f). Indian summer: Brighton Beach was awash with sunseekers as the temperatures hit as high as 85F . | Walkers hit snow covered peaks after Indian Summer highs at the weekend . 'Spring' lambs are being born four months early due to weather confusion . Farmers are picking crops of strawberries - and it's OCTOBER . Hailstones the size of frozen peas pelt an area where it's just topped 85F . | bb20355c42a329519d1b0bc7cec03dd5a9d1ba21 |
By . David Kent . QPR have made a contract offer to free agent Rio Ferdinand, who was released by Manchester United at the end of last season. The 35-year-old is keen on a move to London and Harry Redknapp is happy to give the veteran defender a one-year deal. The Loftus Road club are prepared to pay close to £80,000 a week to secure the services of Ferdinand, who has also had offers from Aston Villa as well as clubs in Turkey and the USA. Contract: QPR have offered Rio Ferdinand a deal worth £80,000 a week to join the club . Return: The 35-year-old defender is keen on moving back to London after leaving Manchester United . It would be a move back to the capital for the former England captain, who left West Ham for Leeds in an £18million transfer 14 years ago. He then switched to Manchester United two years later for £30m and won six Premier League titles, the Champions League, the FA Cup and the League Cup twice. QPR also want to sign Ashley Williams for £4m from Swansea City. Sunderland have already bid for the 29-year-old centre back but Rangers will challenge for the Welshman's signature. In demand: The veteran defender has also had offers from Aston Villa, as well as club in the US and Turkey . Target: QPR also want to sign centre back Ashley Williams from Swansea City for £4million . | QPR have offered Ferdinand a contract worth close to £80,000 a week . The defender is keen on a return to London after leaving Manchester United . Ferdinand has had offers from US and Turkish clubs, as well as Aston Villa . QPR also want to sign Ashley Williams from Swansea for £4million . | 30dcf8da554176ae49f997a1713111e5734299f3 |
(CNN) -- Robert Kubica has signed a contract extension that will keep him at Renault until the end of the 2012 season. The Polish Formula One driver is lying sixth in the drivers' championship after a string of impressive performances this season. He finished second at the Australian Grand Prix, third in Monaco and fifth in Valencia at the European Grand Prix. The 25-year-old's strong form meant he was linked with a move to rivals Ferrari but he has opted to prolong his stay with Renault. He told Renault's official website: "It was a straightforward decision to continue with a team where I feel at home. "What's important for me is to be in the right atmosphere, with a good group of people, where everybody is pulling in the same direction. "This is what we have tried to build from the beginning of my time with Renault. I think we have already achieved a lot together, and I believe that with plenty of effort, time and the right approach, we can move even further forward. "That is certainly our target, so we will keep working hard and pushing on every front, not just for the rest of this season but also for next year when there are more big rule changes on the way. I am really looking forward to the challenge." Kubica has finished outside the top ten only once this season and he currently stands 44 points off championship leader Lewis Hamilton, of McLaren. This is Kubica's first season with Renault but team principal Eric Boullier said he was delighted to secure Kubica's future. "We are delighted that Robert will remain with us for the next two seasons and I would like to thank him for the faith he has shown in this team," said Boullier. "There have been many rumors surrounding his future in recent weeks, which were a tribute to how well he has driven this year, and we are very happy to have agreed a multi-year deal. "Our clear goal is to become title contenders over the next two years. To do so, we need a driver of Robert's caliber -- somebody who is fast, totally committed and doesn't make mistakes. "His performances during the first half of the 2010 season were flawless, and we hope to achieve great things together in the future." | Robert Kubica extends contract with Formula One team Renault . Kubica signs a deal that takes him to end of 2012 season . Polish driver is in his first full season with Renault . Kubica is currently sixth in drivers' championship standings . | 95d60cb7e8604f96b640294f8be8aabc6c445640 |
A WWII veteran who has suffered chronic pain since he was caught in an explosion has finally been cured of the suffering after he gave in to his wife’s nagging - and had acupuncture. Bernard Martin, 85, had been forced to take 19 painkillers a day to ease the agony of the injuries which have stayed with him for most of his life. The father-of-one was caught in two lethal blasts in Malaysia and Germany in 1945, suffering spinal damage and contracting malaria and leptospirosis, while serving with British forces. Bernard Martin, who served in the Royal Fusiliers in 1946 (pictured right), suffered from back pains and headaches after being caught in an explosion. He eventually found relief after following his wife Gloria's advice . While his injuries healed he was left with lingering pain in his back and headaches which have frustrated him for the rest of his life. He refused to go to an acupuncturist for two years despite his wife Gloria, 79, constantly claiming it had helped her osteoporosis. But he eventually gave in and has made such an incredible improvement medics have taken him off all his medication. Mr Martin said his pain is now 'virtually non existent' and said he is overjoyed to be able to lift his right leg for the first time in 67 years. The retired home furnishings store manager said: 'After the war I tried to put the experience behind me and get on with the rest of my life. I just felt lucky to be alive. 'But my injuries were bad and I have suffered severe pain over the years. The pain would stop me from sleeping and I would wake up in the middle of the night in agony. 'I used to be on so many painkillers a day, 19, and I would rattle. 'Now I take none, my GP is happy for me to stop the painkillers and the pain is virtually non-existent. 'I was a very sceptical man before I had acupuncture - I would never have opted for an ‘alternative’ treatment. 'My wife kept telling me to try it out for about two years. In the end she booked me an appointment and told me I had to go. 'It’s been amazing. I fell like I’ve finally got my life back. I am 85 but I do not feel it. It is brilliant to be able to spend time doing my hobbies and help my wife out with the chores. 'It is so much better not to be sat in front of the television - that is the quickest way to the junk yard.' Bernard fighting fit in the army just after WW2 (left) was forced to take 19 painkillers a day to ease his pain in later life (right) Bernard, from Stowmarket, Suffolk, served as a platoon sergent with the Royal West Kent Regiment and fought in Malaysia for three years during WW2. The veteran was eventually classed as 60 per cent disabled because of his deteriorating condition and medically discharged after 15 years with the Royal Fusiliers. Bernard lost his second toe on his left foot, caught malaria and leptospirosis, was left with crippling arthritis in his spine, lost his hearing and suffered from terrible headaches - ailments which all contributed to his lifetime of pain. He was fit enough to manage a job as a general manager of a furnishing and carpet firm, but suffered extreme pain often waking in the middle of the night in agony. Eventually Bernard decided to have acupuncture and alphastim, which uses electronic stimulation rather than needles, at the Pain Relief Clinic in Stowmarket, Suffolk. Now he is fit and well and enjoys spending his time working on his hobby of wood carving and the treatment is even believed to stem the recurrence of malaria. Acupuncturist Annya Stoddart, who treats Bernard, said: 'You cannot beat a days work when you are making a positive difference to people’s lives. 'We cannot help everyone, but I have treated many people like Bernard who arrive taking a bucket load of painkillers and leave not needing any.' | Mr Martin eventually went to have acupuncture after he gave in to his wife's nagging . He used to take 19 painkillers a day but now doesn't need to take any . | 2b585baa0ba69d8628bf33fc6f3c1fc28a388e32 |
Arsenal will have to make Sami Khedira their highest paid player if they are to tempt him from Real Madrid. The German midfielder is available for £24million but is paid around £8million a year at the Bernabeu. That is more than £150,000 a week and in excess of the £140,000 Mesut Ozil earns at the Emirates. VIDEO Scroll down to watch Arsenal targets Lars Bender and Alexis Sanchez in action . On the move? Sami Khedira is a target for Arsenal but his wage demands could be a stumbling block . Arsenal boss Arsene Wenger is looking to strengthen his midfield and is also interested in Khedira's international team-mate Lars Bender. Leverkusen, however, are reluctant to sell Bender, 25, having only recently tied him down to a new long-term contract. Wenger is also keeping tabs on Southampton's Morgan Schneiderlin while Chile star Alexis Sanchez is close to signing for £30m from Barcelona. | Arsenal boss Arsene Wenger is interested in transfer moves for Sami Khedira and Lars Bender as options for his midfield . Sami Khedira is available for £24million . His wages at Real Madrid are over £150,000 a week however, which is more than the highest paid player at the Emirates - Mesut Ozil . Alexis Sanchez is close to signing for Arsenal at £30million from Barcelona . | a753316a7a82051ce7fba608bf6566bd54db3aae |
A schoolboy says he was punched by a teacher after he joked about his favorite football team. 12-year-old Reginald Wells says he was hit at the Willie Ray Smith Middle School in Beaumont, Texas, in an exclusive interview with 12News Sunday. 'The last person's voice I heard was some girl saying that I should call my mom, and then he like hit me, and I blacked out,' the 7th grade pupil said. Scroll down for video . Hit: Reginald, who is 4ft 11 tall and weighs 80 pounds, pushed the teacher's shoulder and then he claims the adult punched him in the face and knocked him out . Punched: Reginald Wells claims he was punched by the teacher after joking about his football team . Reginald says he stopped in the hallway to speak to a teacher. He said he made fun of the teacher's favourite team and that was when he was hit. 'All of a sudden he just hit me, in my shoulder... And I looked at him like "what the heck?"' Reginald, who is 4ft 11 tall and weighs 80 pounds, pushed the teacher's shoulder and then he claims the adult punched him in the face and knocked him out. Reginald said he woke up a few seconds later. He said: 'The left side of my face was numb, my lip hurt, my head was hurt, like it had been shaken.' Reginald's mother Adrianne says the principal told her what happened, based on what another teacher says he saw. '(The principal) said Reginald was punched, in the shoulder, and then hit two times and uppercut, and then slid across the floor,' Adrianne said. 'It weighed heavy on my heart, because I've never put my hands on my son.' Close up: Reginald said he suffered a cut lip after he was punched to the face . Reginald's mother Adrianne (pictured) says the principal told her what happened, based on what another teacher says he saw . Adrianne says the teacher was fired and escorted off the premises immediately. Reginald said the teacher spoke to him afterwards saying: 'I can't apologize for what I did, I was just having a bad day and I just snapped.' Adrianne says she cannot believe the teacher was not arrested. 'For you to just let a teacher do that to him and just walk off, I can't accept that.' she said. Adrianne filed a report with Beaumont Independent School District Police Department and wants to press charges, but says no one with the school district has contacted her since Friday. She says she is now seeking legal representation. She said: 'I'm just not understanding. I know there's a lot going on with BISD, but first priority is to protect the kids.' 12 News have approached the school district for a comment but they have not yet responded. School: Adrianne says the teacher was fired and escorted off the premises immediately . | 12-year-old Reginald Wells says he was punched in the face . The 7th grade pupil says he was knocked out . School says teacher was fired on the spot . | 469fc6984a8f8484e8ef5d44c1a9499eac4dee7c |
CLICK HERE to read Matt Lawton's full match report from Anfield . Liverpool players returned to training with a noticeable spring in their step following Monday night's impressive 4-1 hammering of Swansea City. Brendan Rodgers' festive revival has seen the Reds take seven points from their last three games to finish the year in eighth place in the Premier League ahead of the New Year's Day visit of Leicester City. Adam Lallana bagged a brace after Alberto Moreno had opened the scoring against Swansea, while a final own goal from former Liverpool midfielder Jonjo Shelvey will also have raised a smile from players at Melwood on the morning after. Most of the players that featured against the Swans, except for Mario Balotelli who made a late substitute appearance, appeared to be rested on Tuesday morning - but it was clear to see how the infectious nature of a good result breeds confidence throughout the club. Liverpool players were laughing and joking during training the morning after defeating Swansea 4-1 . Captain Steven Gerrard (centre) stretches after being rested for the game against Swansea . Brendan Rodgers has guided his side to a festive revival - taking seven points from his last three games . Mario Balotelli (left) and Jose Enrique (right) struggle to contain their happiness at the Melwood Training Ground . Gerrard smiles as he listens to one of his team-mates while Rickie Lambert (right) looks on . Reds stars including Suso (left), Balotelli (centre) and Enrique show the effect that good results have on confidence . Balotelli made a late appearance as a substitute but most of the players at training did not feature against Swansea . Monday night's result was also the first time that Liverpool have scored four goals in a game without Luis Suarez - dating back 34 games to the 4-0 dismantling of Tottenham on March 30 2013, which provided the catalyst for a title run-in that came within two points of being crowned champions. Two-goal hero Lallana admits Liverpool have struggled to live up to the expectations of last season but is confident the side can now kick on in 2015. He told Sky Sports: 'It's a massive, massive result. We said before the game it was important we got back-to-back wins and I thought the lads were brilliant. 'We've turned a corner the last few weeks but we're still not there yet by any means. I always knew it would be different, no disrespect to Southampton, but the pressures are always different coming to Liverpool and a team like this. 'The expectations from last season may have come as a bit of shock to the players and some of the new players but Emre (Can) came in today and was outstanding.' Kolo Toure (left) and Dejan Lovren (right) almost fall over themselves laughing during a sprinting session . Ryan McLaughlin and Suso have seen their opportunities limited this season but still managed to enjoy training . Balotelli is still searching for his first Premier League goal following his £16million move from AC Milan . Simon Mignolet and Mamadou Sakho give each other some support as the squad prepares for their clash with Leicester . Adam Lallana scored a brace (with a little help from Lukas Fabianski) against Swansea . Liverpool scored four goals in a game without Luis Suarez for the first time since defeating Spurs 4-0 on March 30 2013 . Liverpool players celebrate as they finish the year in eighth place following a struggling start . | Liverpool defeated Swansea City 4-1 in their Premier League clash on Monday night . Players including Steven Gerrard, Mario Balotelli and Kolo Toure were in high spirits at training . Brendan Rodgers' side face Leicester City on New Year's Day after picking up seven points from three games . | 1c8ff4d318dc75961111a9fb6218d6370ee2b06d |
(CNN) -- Joe Paterno's family said Friday it intends to appeal the National Collegiate Athletic Association's sanctions against Penn State University in the aftermath of the child sexual abuse scandal. But the family's plans hit an immediate roadblock. "Penn State's sanctions are not subject to appeal," said NCAA spokesman Bob Williams. Calling it "a stark wake-up call to everyone involved in college sports," the NCAA in late July announced a $60 million fine against Penn State University and stripped 14 seasons of football victories from the late Paterno. Penn State President Rodney Erickson said the university had accepted the decision and would not appeal. Former senator to be integrity monitor for Penn State . Wick Sollers, attorney for Paterno's family, said the sanctions caused "enormous damage" to Penn State, students, athletes and Paterno. The sanctions are part of the continued fallout from the child sex abuse scandal involving former assistant football coach Jerry Sandusky, who was convicted in late June of 45 of the 48 counts he faced involving 10 young victims. The NCAA action followed an independent investigation led by former FBI Director Louis Freeh, whose report held Paterno and other top Penn State officials responsible for failing to stop the abuse beginning in 1998. Paterno's family sharply objected to Freeh's findings and criticized the NCAA and university leadership for accepting the report's conclusions. The Freeh report, Sollers wrote, "is incomplete, rife with unsupported opinions and unquestionably one-sided." Soller's letter also argued the NCAA acted hastily and without regard for due process. The family contends it can appeal because Paterno was named in the consent decree and in the Freeh report. Penn State faced a multiyear shutdown of its football program had it not agreed with the sanctions, Erickson told CNN. Complete coverage of the Penn State scandal . CNN's Ross Levitt contributed to this report. | Paterno family wants to appeal NCAA sanctions against Penn State . It argues NCAA relied on flawed report, acted hastily . NCAA said such an appeal is not allowed in this case . | 310150db824e435ff5a5c2882be71f0018c3e138 |
Jeremy Lin, the newly-minted King of New York who has won the affection of the whole city by leading the Knicks to five straight wins, has finally found an apartment of his own... in suburban White Plains. The night before his stellar performance that beat the New Jersey Nets last week, Lin crashed on the couch at a teammate's apartment after he found himself without a place to stay. Now he has rented a $3,800-a-month two-bedroom apartment in a Trump highrise in downtown White Planes, New York. Now he as another incredible win to his name, as Lin scored the vital 3-point shot right at the buzzer of Tuesday night's game against the Toranto Raptors. Linsanity: Tuesday night's win is sure to fire up even more excitement about Lin's stunning turn of late . Upgrade: Jeremy Lin has snagged a lease on an upscale apartment at Trump Tower in downtown White Plains . Lin credits his success on the court and his sudden rise to fame to his decision to put his fate in the hands of God. 'Sometimes you come up against a mountain and you end up making the mountain seem bigger than God,' Lin told the San Jose Mercury News. 'I was on pins and needles. I was putting all this unnecessary pressure on myself. Now, I feel like I'm free out there.' Lin is a Taiwanese-American from Palo Alto, California, who was raised in the Chinese Church in Christ in nearby Mountain View. He has maintained his devout Christianity through playing at Harvard University and a rocky and uncertain start to his professional basketball career. His Christian devotion and meteoric rise to stardom is reminiscent of Tim Tebow, the Denver Broncos quarterback who improbably led his team to the playoffs this fall. Lin takes to the court tonight -- only his fifth game as a starter in the NBA -- in Toronto when the Knicks face off against the Raptors. New digs: The upscale apartment in White Plains is home to several other Knicks players and some New York Rangers, as well . Downtown: Lin's building is prime real estate... in the suburban city of White Plains in Westchester County . In the span of five games, Lin has gone from warming the Knicks' bench to the cover of Sports Illustrated. And until now, had no home in New York. The 6-foot-3 point guard slept on his brother's couch at his apartment on New York's Lower East Side. His new digs are modest compared to the multimillion-dollar mansions of his extravagantly-paid star teammates. But they're palatial for a guy whose bed was a sofa up until last week. The apartment building, which is home to several other Knicks players and a few New York Rangers, boasts 9-foot ceilings, marble bathrooms, cherry wood floors and a built-in sound system, the New York Daily News reports. From the 20th floor, Lin should be able to see New York City -- the town he now runs -- in the distance. Breakout performance: Jeremy Lin has become an overnight sensation for his explosive play on the court since the game against the New Jersey Nets last week . Famous couch: Jeremy Lin crashed here, at Landry Fields' apartment, before his stunning performance against the New Jersey Nets . Lin is currently on the minimum salary contract for the Knicks -- a two-year, $1.2 million deal. However, some are worrying that the team will be unable to afford to keep him around at the dramatically higher salary he will no doubt demand now that he is a starting player. Lin said admit the success and ravenous media attention, he is trying to stay focused on surrendering control of his life to God's will. 'If you look back at my story, doesn't matter where you look, but God's fingerprints are all over the place where there have been a lot of things that had to happen that I couldn't control,' he told the Daily News. The night before his February 4 breakout game against the New Jersey Nets, NLin found himself homeless. The sofa where he usually slept at his brother Joshua's Lower East Side New York City apartment was taken -- there was a party that night there. Believe the hype: Lin, a devout Christian, seemed equally excited about the Tuesday win in Toronto . So Lin shacked up at the modest White Planes, New York, home of teammate Landry Fields. And crashed on his coach, a simple brown sofa. The couch is now one of the most famous pieces of furniture in NBA history. The next day, Lin, 23, captured the hearts of New Yorkers and the attention of basketball fans around the country with his explosive play -- a career-high 25 points, five rebounds and seven assists. He's gone from sitting on the bench to the Knicks' starting lineup as the team has gone on a five-game winning streak. And it all began on a couch. 'Ladies and gentlemen, the one and only couch made famous by @JLin7! Let the bidding begin,' Fields tweeted Sunday afternoon. Lin, a 6-foot-3 point guard who played for Harvard University, said the couch was 'decent, but not huge.' After his stunning performance against the New Jersey Nets, Lin told reporters about his accommodations the prior night: 'Thank you to Landry for hosting me. I think I might just move in with him,' he said. WATCH THE VIDEO HERE . | Lin had been sleeping on his brother's couch but moved to Landry Fields' sofa the night before the New Jersey Nets game . Lin now has a contract for $620,000 a year, compared with more than $18M for the other New York Knicks stars . Scored the winning 3-point shot right at the buzzer Tuesday night . | f7256ff0a0616f2b5f0816d4812af5d1d15a8ada |
Glenn Hoddle feels Tottenham lack a special player and that they will struggle to make the top four unless the north London club can get one of their strikers firing. Tottenham currently sit 10th in the Barclays Premier League after an inconsistent start to the season which has seen Mauricio Pochettino's side win as many games as they have lost in their first 15 matches. Hoddle, who made 377 appearances for Spurs during a 12-year stay at White Hart Lane before managing the club between 2001 and 2003, feels a few new players could lead to a decent run of form which could see them break into the top four. Glenn Hoddle (right), who played for and managed Tottenham, believes the club lack world class players . 'He may want to bring in some fresh people. Whether Daniel (Levy) is going to be up for that remains to be seen,' said Hoddle. 'It is very difficult nowadays. There is a lack of world class strikers and midfield players which control the game, express themselves and that is what I think they miss. They have some good players but they don't have a special player.' And Hoddle also feels Pochettino has not been able with his current squad to play the type of pressing football which brought him so much success at Southampton. 'There's a lot of talent there and the manager will try and get best out of the talent there,' Hoddle said. Tottenham manager Mauricio Pochettino has so far failed to get the best out of his squad . Defender Vertonghen reacts while sitting on the White Hart Lane pitch against Crystal Palace . 'He's tinkered with it (their style of play), I saw them at home to Everton they were very positive, at Southampton he wanted a tempo and he got it. 'The personnel at Tottenham are different - they won't press as hard. It is something they have worked on at Spurs and something they will try and improve on. 'They have got to put a really good run together (to break into the top four). If you win two or three games in this league and it can turn around. The strikers have to start scoring goals, I think then the team can feed off that.' Roberto Soldado is one of the forwards Tottenham need to start firing, with the former Valencia striker, who cost Spurs £26million at the start of last season, netting just once in the league this season. 'It hasn't happened (for Soldado) yet,' Hoddle, who is coaching at QPR and working with Zapsportz.com, said. 'He could move somewhere else and embarrass Tottenham and do well. 'He needs confidence. A few more goals and you will see the best of him.' Roberto Soldado looks frustrated for Tottenham during their 0-0 draw with Crystal Palace at White Hart Lane . | Tottenham are currently 10th in the Premier League table . Glenn Hoddle feels Tottenham lack a special, world class player . The former Spurs man believes they won't make the top four as a result . Hoddle said Roberto Soldado could leave and play well at a different club . | 09c56c96896e121ecae247b52cec0282117ea224 |
AUGUSTUS: FROM REVOLUTIONARY TO EMPEROR By Adrian Goldsworthy (Weidenfeld & Nicolson £25) The Roman emperor Augustus surely has a good claim to be considered the greatest leader in history. At 18, he made himself undisputed ruler of Rome and the most powerful man on Earth, governing an empire that was not only mostly peaceful, but prosperous under him. Not bad for a sickly teenager, whose eyes were described as being as widely spaced a horse’s, and whose limbs were marked by scaly skin. At 18 Augustus made himself undisputed ruler of Rome and the most powerful man on Earth . His rise to power followed years of bloody civil war. Not everyone supported Augustus’s rule, but most agreed it was preferable to continuing slaughter. Grateful Romans hailed him as the son of a god and father of his country. In private, as ancient historians such as Suetonius record, they identified more pungent qualities, among them his taste for married women and a vicious temper. Goldsworthy’s preferred description of Augustus is ‘warlord’. Ambition, political acumen, sleight of hand and plenty of good fortune smoothed Augustus’s path to supremacy. For almost six decades he dominated the violent world of Roman politics. Underpinning everything was military support on an unprecedented scale. Despite a dodgy track record on the battlefield — he had a knack of falling ill and missing the worst of the fighting — Augustus was a military dictator. He worked hard to keep Rome’s armies on his side. Augustus was as slippery as any politician. He devised an approach to government that was transformed into a one-man tyranny by his successors, including the lunatic Caligula. Under Augustus’s heirs, the Empire had all the trappings of monarchy, despite Augustus claiming that he had restored the Republic, a system intended to prevent excessive power on the part of any individual. Goldsworthy’s is not a radical reinterpretation of Augustus. He presents a man who, in his youth, was ruthless, cruel and occasionally vindictive. With age came mellowness and, for much of the time, a velvet glove disguising the iron fist. For good measure, he commissioned splendid buildings, restored temples, improved the road system and struggled to clean up elections. He also did his best to improve Rome’s morals, despite the many affairs that punctuated his 50-year marriage to Livia, whom he stole from a fellow senator. He even banished his own daughter and granddaughter on charges of adultery. Ambition, political acumen, sleight of hand and plenty of good fortune smoothed Augustus’s path to supremacy . Goldsworthy’s aim is to examine the Roman emperor as if he were the subject of a modern political biography. He mostly succeeds. At times, Augustus disappears from view, victim of the author’s relish for the details of warfare. After 2,000 years, and with patchy source material, it is impossible to identify Augustus’s motives clearly, beyond concluding that he was spectacularly determined and a workaholic. Goldsworthy’s mastery of his material is assured. He is undoubtedly correct to demolish many of the more colourful rumours reported by ancient historians. Suetonius, for example, claimed that Augustus tore out a rival’s eyes with his own hands on a misplaced suspicion that the man intended to stab him, and that he once offered to have sex with an older politician in return for 3,000 gold pieces. As a result, Goldsworthy’s Augustus is a more elusive, less likeable character. Matthew Dennison is author of The Twelve Caesars (Atlantic) | At 18 Augustus made himself undisputed ruler of Rome . He became the most powerful man on Earth . His rise to power followed years of bloody civil war . Historians said he had taste for married women and a vicious temper . Ambition, political acumen, sleight of hand and plenty of good fortune smoothed Augustus’s path to supremacy . | ce18eddd75c2fb638555b2667ba58e8b15bb1766 |
For many people the chance to drive a supercar, particularly a rare Ferrari that is one of only around 300 ever made, is a dream. But one driver saw the experience go badly wrong when he apparently lost control of the car and collided with a lamp post. The Ferrari F50, which is estimated to be worth around £850,000, was left with a badly damaged rear. Scroll down for video . The Ferrari F50 is worth an estimated £850,000 and repairing the car could prove a costly job for its insurers . Repairing it is likely to be expensive and could make the crash Britain's most expensive involving one car. The Ferrari, which is not understood to have been written off, is thought to be the most valuable car involved in a crash since Rowan Atkinson badly damaged his £3m McLaren F1 in 2011. He has since received a £1m insurance payout for the crash to repair the supercar. The Ferrari F50 is one of 349 of the cars ever made and was produced to celebrate the 50th anniversary of the Italian car manufacturer. The rare Ferrari was left with a badly damaged rear after the driver appeared to lose control at a roundabout . The Ferrari F50 is one of 349 of the cars ever made to celebrate the car company's 50th anniversary . It is seen by some as an 'F1 car for the road' and can go from 0 to 60mph in just over three seconds. Seamus O'Brien, 49, from Leicester, was one of the first people to arrive at the scene of the crash, which took place on Wednesday morning on the A43 in Northamptonshire. The Ferrari F50 is one of 349 of the cars ever made . It has a top speed of 202mph . The car can go from 0-60mph in 3.6 seconds . It has a 4.7-litre V12 engine . Horsepower is 520bhp. The car is estimated to be worth £850,000 . It was introduced in 1995 . The car has two doors and two seats . Has a removable hard top . The last F50 was produced in Italy in July 1997 . He said: 'I was driving on the A43 near Brackley and saw the Ferrari wrapped around the lamppost. 'There was a chap wearing a Ferrari T-shirt stood besides another chap and another car had put its hazard lights on to block the lane which was 50 yards off the westbound roundabout. 'It looked like a test drive gone wrong and they had clearly come around the roundabout to head towards Silverstone and applied too much power. 'They're very unforgiving to drive and despite the very dry weather conditions, the driver clearly gave it too much welly and spun the car into the lamppost. 'Nobody was hurt apart from some seriously damaged egos.' A spokesperson for Northamptonshire Police said: 'We were called at 11.11am on Wednesday morning to reports a silver Ferrari was involved in a collision with a lamppost. 'The lamppost and the car were damaged, but there were no injuries.' Rowan Atkinson lost control of his McLaren F1 supercar, leading to repairs on the £3m car which cost £1m . Mr Bean actor Rowan Atkinson last year received a £1m insurance payout to cover repairs after he badly damaged his McLaren F1 supercar in 2011, breaking his shoulder in the crash. Atkinson lost control of the 240mph car, thought to be worth more than £3million, in August 2011. After veering off a slippery section of the A605 near Peterborough, it hit a tree and burst into flames. | Ferrari F50 is one of only 349 made to celebrate company's 50th birthday . It goes from 0-60mph in 3.6 seconds and has top speed of 202mph . Driver crashed car into lamppost, badly damaging rear of the vehicle . Cost of car means this could be one of the most expensive single crashes . | d182cac9010e4f22de6ded92aa9512faaccf4b5b |
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